Herman22

I thought DS said when we signed him that there was a buy clause? I assume if we have sent him back we won't be making the signing permanent? Pity we didn't get a chance to see him play, I think if he was fully fit he wouldn't be getting on the bench at the minute anyway.

Of the senior players that expire this summer the only one I would even consider holding on to is Whelan and maybe Steer as he's only 26. Bunn, Elphick, Hutton, Jedi, Richards can all go. Besides Richards I don't dislike any of these players but just don't think they will add much to the team and I'd prefer to see younger players get a place on the bench.

Bruce will set up to not get beaten, and I think that will play into our hands. We will have all the possession and I would think the majority of the chances. The question is can we take those chances. The keeper Westwood has been in cracking form recently so finishing is going to have to be good to get past him. Also, SB will be well organised from set plays and will no doubt target the likes of Taylor and Hause. Expect long balls from the back landing on Taylor, SB will put someone who can head the ball at RM. I don't see anything other than another win.

With Tuanzebe and Lansbury also fit we will have quite a few players to choose from. Getting on the bench isn't guaranteed.

Conor was good in both games for Ireland in the last week. MOTM against the mighty Gibraltar and scored the winning goal against Georgia. I hope he will continue his good form for the rest of the season.

I was thinking the same thing. I think DS will look at the last three performances and not want to change the back four. The only goal conceded in those games was a cross. But it would be a huge boost to have Tuanzebe on the bench. Hourihane coming back and Lansbury must be close to fit now? It's going to be tough to make the bench, never mind the team.

I used Sterling as he has no connection to England besides moving there as a child. He qualifies to play for England, not through grandparents or parents but because he has become a citizen by naturalisation. England used the rules to their advantage just like the majority of countries do. I think international fans are annoyed with players like Grealish and Rice as they have played with Ireland for years only to play with someone else at senior level. That is a place that could have been given to a player who will benefit the senior teams. Today Rice has been called up to the England squad despite playing twice for Ireland at senior level. The cynic in me thinks an agent gets in these players ear and convinces them that playing for England means better contracts and bigger sponsorship deals. But who knows.

Indeed! I just hope he stays fit for the remainder of the season. Besides the obvious attack, he took a few heavy tackles in the game too. Great he was taken off when he was, the rest will help him tonight.

There is no doubt Ireland have someone who performs this role. As do every other country! There are players who are eligible to play for multiple countries and international teams will always want the best talent. England did it with Raheem Sterling and no one is complaining about that, except probably Jamaicans!

This is another reason Jack isn't liked. He played his entire international career to date with RoI and then said he wanted to play senior for England. There are a lot of bitter Irish fans out there! I used to go to quite a lot of the RoI games and when I'd say I'm a Villa fan people who be straight onto Jack, giving him abuse for changing.

Do we know who the ref is yet? I'm hoping since it's on Sky and it's the derby we might get an Premier League ref. The first 10-15 mins will tell you how the ref is going to approach this. They will target players like Jack, Hourihane, Taylor, ElGhazi, who they will see as threats or people they can rough up. I'll be in Stockholm at the weekend so if anyone knows a pub that's showing it I'd appreciate the name!

I agree with you. But also Whelan's played an awful amount of matches. A bit of experience in the centre of the park is important, especially if it gives more freedom to Conor and Jack.

For once, Smith has some positive selection headaches. I don't think you can change the team that battered Derby at the weekend. Elphick is out so that's a forced change but I'd go with: Steer Elmo Hause Mings Taylor Whelan Adomah Grealish Hourihane ElGhazi Tammy That leaves McGinn, Kodija, Jedi, Carroll, Kalanic, Green and BB on the bench. I hope we don't get another defender injury as we have no defender on the bench. Jedi can go CB but no one who can cover RB.

I haven't heard DS talk about him, any idea of the injury or when he's expected to be back?

McGinn still suspended, Grealish unlikely to start even if he's fit, Hutton, Chester, Tuanzebe, Lansbury all out. I think the team selection will be pretty straight forward. If we are going to play two up front, I'd be tempted to get Davis on. He's a very good hold up player and would be more of a threat in the air that Kodija. He hasn't made the bench of last so he could be injured again?

I saw Tuanzebe in the crowd yesterday before the United Liverpool game. DS doesn't mention him in the press conferences anymore, is there any guideline on when or even if he will play again this season?

We are looking light in midfield for this one. Grealish out, Carroll out, McGinn suspended. Hopefully, we go with: Kalanic (if fit, otherwise Steer) Hutton Elphick Mings Hause Whelan Green Ramsey Hourihane ElGhazi Abramah I've not heard much about Chester but if he's fit I would put him in place of Elphick. *EDIT* I've just seen on the OS Twitter that Chester is out too. So the above team it is.

I’ve always found it difficult to understand our fans. Players can be terrible for years (Hutton being an example) but are worshipped by the fans. Then you get the likes of Hourihane, bought for a small fee and has performed well (by no means exceptionally well, but us done in generaly ok) gets such abuse from fans. I think sometimes people want to blame someone for defeats and he’s the target at the moment.

Looking at the re-build that is going to need to happen this year I would give DS all of next season to get things right. He has inherited an ageing squad who, IMO, cannot play the type of football he wants. I think the signing of the RB from France is a sign of things to come. Between contracts expiring and sales we could see 12-15 players leave in the summer. We should look to build the squad around a core of players we have. For me, that should be Kalanic, Chester, McGinn. If you can add Mings to that, happy days. I'd love for Jack to stay but I don't see that happening. DS will need his transfer fee to fund the rebuild with no more parachute payments coming.

I've only just seen the highlights as I was away all weekend, but goals turn games. And the chance Tammy missed in the first half would have made this a very different game. Hopefully, Jack will be back for the next game, but he has been out for some time so don't expect him to start. Also missing McGinn for two games is a big loss. We need 9 wins to get anywhere near the play-off places. I can't see it but I will hope.

I think tonight's game shows the problem with Villa at the moment. We were outplayed, outworked and generally outclassed. But we had two huge opportunities, if either of them hits the back of the net I think we win that game. We wake this morning say "we played shit, but got 3 points and that's all that matters". Instead, we are looking at another year in this shithouse league. The two people the chances fell to are interesting too. Albert hasn't scored in about a year and never looking like putting that one away. Hourihane is a good player but pace isn't his thing and he was always trying to get the shot away early to avoid getting caught. Last point, there is only one way to break a high press and that is to move the ball quickly and be brave in possession. Last night showed me that Elphick and Hutton cannot play in a team that keeps possession. I don't question either's commitment but if you want to keep the ball on the ground they aren't you men. Still 100% behind Smith, I'll start asking questions if we are in this position this time next year.

Deserve nothing from this game. Best two chances, but a really poor performance. Also Hutton is beyond useless!

Really poor 80mins. Lucky to be still in the game. We all know we can’t continiue to draw, time to push for it. Get Kodija on.

Could that be a back 3/5? Adomah getting the nod over Green at LWB due to his defensive work rate!

Interesting to see what DS does with his starting line up. Both Green and Whelan were good off the bench last day so expect both to start. I don't see Chester coming back in just yet so I don't expect too many more changes. Likely: Kalanic Hutton Elphick Mings Taylor Whelan Hourihane Green McGinn ElGhazi Abraham