WakefieldVillan

                  Kalinic / Steer (not fussed) 

Elmo        Elphick       Mings       Hause

                         Whelan

            Grealish        Carroll (if fit)

El Ghazi            Abraham            Kodjia 

Subs: other GK, Taylor, Jedinak, Hourihane, Green, Adomah, Davis 

Presuming no Chester and Lansbury.

Prediction 2-2 

1000 pages and here's hoping to a 1000 more....

But somehow, I doubt it.

The only consolation of Jack's injury is that potential buyers may be put off (by the price tag) and we get to keep him a bit longer, but I for one wouldn't begrudge him if he leaves to better things in the summer.

I said at the start of the season if he gives us one more season that would be best for all parties, but it pains me to say that I feel a move now might be the best for his career.

Whatever happens, I hope it doesn't become a disrupted summer of "will he stay or will he go" as we need to be fully focused right from the start of pre-season with as much of a settled squad as possible to hit the ground running.

It would be a major boost to start the season with Jack and the likes of Axel, Mings, Mcginn and Abraham but I guess that's for another thread.

Hopefully see him back in the team on Saturday, he is a genuine class act and our results without him emphasise this greatly.

17 minutes ago, rodders0223 said:

Oh, he decided to play for the first time in a year. Cheers Albert.

I hope the week you contract expires you break your leg.

**** off.

Wow! Seriously?!

I'm not Albert's biggest fan, well I am not a fan at all and I hope this is the last season we see him in a Villa shirt, but comments like that are just pure filth.

The line up is pretty much as expected, with the wide players being the only ones rotated and it's hard to say whether it makes us stronger or weaker to be honest.

I remember Smith saying in one of his early interviews that he always liked to have '3.5 goals" in his starting eleven and his first few selections showed that, I feel that he is going against what he believes in with this selection. 

Abraham is the one goal and you have a goal between maybe Hourihane and Green, I don't see much more goal threat. I think we might well be tightening up now but he/we need to get the balance at both ends of the field.

Going to be interesting to see Smith's team selection today after Wednesday's poor performance. I feel only Kalinic, Mings and McGinn actually deserve to keep their shirts but unfortunately given our current injury situation we haven't got the (right) replacements with Tuanzebe, Chester, Grealish, Carroll and Lansbury all out.

I hope to see no Adomah and Taylor for starters, but wouldn't be surprised to see both. 

With what's available I'd probably go; 

                    Kalinic

Hutton  Elphick   Mings    Hause

                    Whelan

           Hourihane  McGinn 

Kodjia            Davis          Abraham 

For me none of our wide players having been showing any kind of form, Tammy I think would put a shift in and still be a goal threat cutting in, Davis can hold the ball up better and allow McGinn and Hourihane to play off him, ignoring Kodge's faults he still has the ability to produce moments of class. 

No Barnes or Gayle is a bonus for us, I think we might edge this 2-1. 

I thought he was shockingly bad first half on Wednesday night but improved slightly in the second half but that wasn't exactly a difficult achievement.

I'm not going to completely rule him out as a dud though after just 2 games, however underwhelming they have been. He hasn't played that much football (it clearly shows) but least there is a bit more of a physical presence with him over Taylor, I don't think we've much to lose at this stage.

Our recent results against these leave me feeling apprehensive for Wednesday night but hopefully the team can be boosted by Friday's remarkable comeback.

I would start with the same eleven that finished that game, providing Chester and Grealish are still sidelined. Would be a boost to see Jack on the bench sometime soon, seems like an eternity since he hobbled off at the Hawthorns.

Hard to call this. Usually I would say I would take a point in this kind of fixture post-match, but single points aren't enough for us. We need to attack from the off, press high, play with confidence and purpose and hopefully if we can take our chances we may edge it 1-2 or 2-3.

UTV 

Was shocking last night, extremely bad. Not sure if his legs have totally gone or whether it was lack of match fitness; maybe a combination of both. I know Sheffield United players took their foot off the gas and sat back in the closing stages, but the difference Whelan made when he was on the pitch was like night and day compared to Mile.

I think his time is up in the summer, but he's not been the worst player to grace the claret and blue shirt and obviously has decent traits but passing a football sure aint one of them  

2 hours ago, GENTLEMAN said:

I’m intrigued to see how this develops, I really think he’ll be a success under Wilder and with his current squad, which should help us shift him. I think it’s the restart he needs to regain his confidence. He’s been poor for us thus far and just wasn’t a good fit at all, but need him to refind that Brentford form, so we can get some return on him.

I'm equally intrigued. I think he will fit in and if he can regain some confidence, I expect him to grab a few goals. 

Would be happy with this one, decent combative midfielder, experienced, not afraid to put a tackle in, would add some aerial pressence and more mobility than Whelan or Jedi. I think he would compliment McGinn and Grealish hugely. 

Hope it goes through 

I'm firmly on the fence with this one;

100% agree that is time at Villa has been very disappointing to say the least, one five game period aside, he's either been very poor, substitute or injured. He was definitely the wrong signing at the wrong time. A player that really struggled in a 'system' that didn't suit his game.

Is that Hogan's fault? Is that Bruce's fault? I would say a bit of both to be honest. A player does need to try to adapt his game to get game time, but asking him to come on as a substitute and hold up play whilst it was being hoofed up field was just plain ridiculous.

With Smith coming in I was hoping that he would get the best out of him, the 'Brentford' Hogan but thus far it just isn't happening, playing one up top and the form of Tammy contributing to this, but also, lets face it he has been pretty terrible.

As a striker (more than any other position I would say) you need to be brimming with confidence to get the best out of you and you can tell that he is bereft of this and it shows.

I would love for him to find some form here as I think 'some' of the criticism is a little harsh but it doesn't look like it is going to happen so hopefully we can still get a decent fee rather than sending him out on loan, my worry is that he will go elsewhere and he will score goals.

I guess time will tell. 

Must say, pretty underwhelmed with that selection, was hoping not to see Adomah and (to a lesser extent) Whelan. Then when you add Taylor, Hutton & Elphick (though the latter has been doing ok) its not great on paper.

Hopefully Smith knows what he's doing and can guide us to a victory and a decent performance or I think the doubters will be out in force later.

1 hour ago, sir_gary_cahill said:

My team:

Kalinic

Hutton Elphick Chester Taylor

McGinn Jedinak Grealish

El Ghazi Abraham Green

Smith would pick Hourihane over Jedinak though

Have I missed something? Please tell me I have

The only way I would play 2 up top is to sacrifice a defender and go 3-5-2 otherwise I think we would get over-run in midfield. I don't think Smith would adopt this formation but if he did, I'd like to see something like this, which would at least eliminate our terrible full backs and may get us back to the quick high-press football we were playing at the start of Smith's reign;

                       Kalinic 

      Elphick    Chester    Hause

                       Jedinak

El Ghazi   Hourihane McGinn   Green

                  Hogan    Abraham 

Could quite easily swap Hogan for Kodge or Davis, Bree into the back 3, Elmo (dare I say) for El Ghazi...

Just hope we can get back to winning ways, Ipswich are 5/1 with some bookies, I don't think it's that clear cut at all.

Is this another case of one of our players becoming a 'better' player just because they haven't played for us for a while?!

That aside, I wouldn't be adverse to a recall and for Smith to have a look at him close up, he looks like he has decent attributes but he will need to show a LOT more than he did prior his loan move(s).

2 minutes ago, Dave J said:

I make you right - this may sound odd but even during his free scoring patch - he left me dissapointed many times tbh 

Me too.

I thought goals aside, his overall game showed flaws. His time is up for me! 

Bowen - What a surprise.

1 hour ago, lukesmith17 said:

We have also been linked with Matt Penney a Left back from Sheff Wednesday 

Would be an upgrade on Taylor (who wouldn't)?! 

He had a decent game at Villa Park a few month ago. Only 22 I think, so has time on his side and one that Smith could improve as a player. A bit lightweight, but quite quick and skilful in the games I have seen him play. 

Was under the impression he'd signed a new contract not that long ago though might be wrong. Definitely wouldn't be against this signing though if it happens. 

I would be amazed if it is anything other than a public apology for 'spygate' (unfortunately!)

Fair enough, I am on my own with the Hourihane at LB one then   but my reasoning's one last time  

1) The general consensus is both Taylor and Hutton are sh1t. Both have been extremely poor for a long time now and we are still conceding goals with either in the team. They don't tackle well (Hutton to a lesser extent), they both allow wingers to cross time after time and both are positionally found wanting.

2) Taylor contributes absolutely nothing to us going forward and Hutton (although slightly better) is allowed by the opposition to run to the opposing box then 99% of the time lose it and be caught out of position.

3) Hourihane is hardly dominating from central midfield, but he has (usually) good set pieces, can pass a ball an is a lot more comfortable in possession. Therefore playing him in this position allows us to keep the ball better which means in theory less defending and also allows us to put someone stronger centrally.

I am not for one minute saying for this to be a regular thing, the need for a left back is ridiculously important and it is crazy we have been left in the situation we are, I just think that it would be worth a gamble as opposed to the other tried & tested failed options.

Anyway, you will be pleased I am not manager   

10 hours ago, Kiwivillan said:

Reverse Gareth Barry. I was thinking along these lines the other day. Can't be worse than current crop of fullbacks surely?

Well that's where I'm at. Not ideal, but any worse than Taylor / Hutton I'm not too sure and at least he should be comfortable on the ball. Ideally of course, we need a new LB in this window!

13 hours ago, daggy_333 said:

That sounds like a horrendous idea mate. He doesn't tackle when he plays in midfield. I'd sooner keep Taylor there and I think he's bloody awful.

Fair dos mate, I get what you are saying about the tackling element, but is Taylor's tackling / defensive skills much better? I'm not too sure and he offers absolutely nothing going forward.

My mate was at the game on Saturday (Leeds fan) first time he's seen Villa live and he couldn't believe just how terrible Taylor was both in possession and without the ball, I suppose my thought with Conor there would be at least he would be better on the ball - Plus the fact that he doesn't tackle when playing in central midfield is probably worse than at LB (IMO).

I'd actually try Hourihane at LB and see how he does, he's not pulling up any trees in the centre of the park but he's got a decent left foot so should be comfortable on the ball and starting attacks and we can still use him for set pieces as and when. I don't think he can do much worse than Taylor or Hutton to be honest. Leeds do it with Allioski whos naturally more attacking and he looks very decent, anyway just a thought as I'm getting more and more fed up with our full back 'options' with every game!

15 minutes ago, Rugeley Villa said:

I must admit, I fail to see much of a big deal about it. Yes, it shouldn’t be done, and if you get caught you must take it on the chin. Bit OTT from some people though. 

This is where I am and I hate Leeds. People asking for them to be hit with a points deduction is ridiculous. 

I'd be tempted to try something different, not formation wise, but a couple of role changes, it is clear that we are struggling at LB and I would try Hourihane there and see how he goes. Watching Leeds on Friday night and it doesn't seem to do them any harm playing Allioski at LB and he can't be much worse than Taylor was yesterday. He should at least be comfortable on the ball. I would also start Davis up top and have more of a focal point to bring the midfielders in. So maybe something like this, depending on injuries..

                     Kalinic

Bree   Elphick  Chester   Hourihane 

                    Lansbury 

            O' Hare     McGinn 

El Ghazi                            Abraham

                       Davis

Subs: Steer, Hutton, Hause, Whelan, Kodjia, Hogan, Bolasie