Stevomanila

I don't think this will be the line up but I would play a 4-2-3-1, and if everyone played to the best of their ability, eg players like Sanchez having a blinder and Guzan & Amavi cutting out the defensive errors etc, we can get a point out of this which would be a great result; Guzan Hutton, Richards, Clark, Amavi Gana, Sanchez ( I think this is the best protection we have for our back 4) Bacuna, Gil and Grealish (Bacuna to whip in early, low crosses behind their back 4 for Ayew to get on the end of, Gil in the #10 role where I think he is best suited and Grealish staying wide left, then cutting in and linking with Ayew and Gil with some intricate one twos around the box) Ayew (to be replaced most likely with Sinclair on the 60-70 minute mark depending on how he is doing) This gives us the likes of Sinclair as mentioned, Traore, Veretout and Gestede to come on and make some sort of impact when players in the starting line up like Sanchez will surely tire. I really hope Garde is in the stands so he can assess just what a big task he has ahead of him but I believe that if he builds confidence in the squad, we have more quality in it than a few other squads and we will have just enough to survive.

Playing with confidence and causing teams problems, honestly think we can win it but would be very happy with a draw too obviously. Assuming Gabby is back would go 4-3-3, bags of energy in the middle and threats going forward...I'm not quite sure what this weird feeling is, not felt it for years, maybe 'optimism' and 'belief'!? Guzan Bacuna Okore Vlaar Cissokho Cleverly Westwood Delph Gabby Benteke Grealish

Same here mate, in Manila, loads of Scouse glory fans, pub will be packed with them, can't wait for the game but hope they are silenced early on!

Well, since you're asking I'll be watching in Manila at a bar called Heckel & Jeckel and it will be full of scouse fans! Sadly I think I am one of very few Villa fans in The Philippines! Game kicks off at 10pm, here, if you leave tomorrow from the UK you could make it just in time for kick off

In light of our injuries and suspensions I would go; Guzan (harsh on Given but Guzan is our #1 and we are playing to get into the FA Cup Final) Hutton Vlaar Baker and Okore (quick and a better player and defender than Richardson) Bacuna Cleverly Delph Grealish Cole/Gil in the hole Benteke And we will win 2-0

Danishlad I like the idea of a 3-5-2 also for this one but would tinker a little, basically Delph on the left, (and Clark at back instead of Baker), Delph has more pace and energy and can deliver well from the left, and though I don't think he will start would love to see Gil given a free role behind the strikers, if not also happy seeing Grealish in there. Think we can win this 3-2 and we are due a headed goal from a corner/ set piece from one of our center backs, so Clark to score, with Gabby and Benteke completing the thriller. Come on you Villa boys! Guzan Okore Vlaar Clark Bacuna Cleverly Sanchez Delph Grealish or Gil Gabby Benteke

Thanks for the highlights Chewie, couldn't get the game where I was, cracking hat-trick, horrible defending.

I would go for a defensive 4-5-1 as I think as much as I'd like us to go for it, Chelsea are so much better technically than we are, we would get ripped to shreds if we try to outplay them. So; Guzan Hutton Vlaar if fit or Baker, Okore Cissokho Delph. Clark. Sanchez ( yes he had a shocker vs le Arse but has been one of our better players thus far) Gil. Cole. Gabby Pace up top, play into channels and whip early balls in hard and low. Benteke been poor but see how game goes and bring him on for Gabby at half time and put Sinclair on for Cole. Prediction, 4-0 to Chelsea Cnuts, hopefully not by half time

As some of you have already rightly said, showing up 8 minutes into the game could be detrimental to the performance and result and is a safety hazard, though I can understand the idea behind fellow fans wanting to try something...I think a better show of fan solidarity would be to watch the entire match, cheer on the lads, and then stay in the stadium for 8 minutes after kick off and then all leave together. During the 8 minutes fans could either hold up agreed upon signs and/ or hold up or shout out whatever the hell they want, BUT as posted also in this thread, Lerner already wants to sell, so 'Lerner Out' seems a bit pointless...

I agree that Vlaar has to play but we should keep Clark in the team as he is playing well, I think he could sit in front of the back 4 though protecting it with Sanchez in a 4-2-3-1 as follows, allowing Delph to get forward too- I think we should have a right **** go at them, and worry if we play 5 at the back we will be too defensive and it will only be a matter of time before they score against us; Guzan Lowton, Okore, Vlaar, Cissokho Sanchez, Clark Gabby Delph Grealish Benteke 2-1 Villa!

Agreed may as well try it, I would go 4-4-2 as follows; Guzan Hutton Okore Clark Cissokho Lowton Sanchez Westwood Grealish Gabby & Robinson

Loving the optimism, please share what you are on, I need some too

Thanks for posting those mate.

And looking at some of the blokes on it was the artwork done by Rolf Harris? Back to topic, am really hoping the appointment of Keane, improved contract of Donacien and at least talk of new contracts for Vlaar, Gabby and Delph, point to some movement in the takeover department, I will be very concerned if Randy is still in charge come the start of the season.

Me too! Me three, though had a thought, if Indians do take us over it could make for some cracking half time food.

20-1! #*^% Man City and #%*^ the bookies! That should be the team talk right there. Would love a Villa smash and grab tonight ala Southampton away! I can't see it happening but would love it and couldn't give a toss who wins the league out of 3 highly unlikeable options. Hoping Bowery has another great game and that we see some of Grealish and Robinson tonight too. Up the Villa.

Hang on a minute, surely a coaching team of Luc Nilis as manager bringing in many young Belgians accompanied by a coaching team of the Djemba twins scouring all corners of Africa for the latest Drogba's, Essien's and Kanu's, Juan Pablo Angel adding that South American flair and Mark Bosnich brought in as our new goalkeeping coach. What could possibly go wrong?

I am really anxious about this game too and yes we have underperformed for large parts of a very disappointing season... However I am hopeful for 2 reasons; 1) Our better players are capable of good performances. If the following players have a blinder today, (which they have all done in the past) Guzan, Vlaar, Bertrand, El Ahmadi, Delph, Westwood, Weimann, Albrighton, Gabby etc then we can and should get a result. If those players show the quality we know they are capable of and give it everything they have, we will be okay. 2) Belief and positivity are a huge thing, not just in sport but in many if not all facets of life in terms of gaining success or achieving goals in whatever you strive for. If number 1 happens today, then the belief amongst the players will grow and that will feed into the fans and coaching staff at the ground and that positivity will feed back into the players further improving performances all over the pitch. This in turn will give the players confidence to beat a man, to put that cross in, to make that clean tackle, to take that shot, that chance. I am hopeful that those 2 things can happen today because if they do, we are staying up and with this rumored takeover on the horizon, we will surely only move up the table in the future, back in with a shout at the glory days of old. Up the Villa.

I don't get to many games these days but when back at Xmas a few years back I recall the late December game in 2010 when we lost 4-0 away to Man City. Our fans as usual were brilliant that day and though we had bugger all to cheer we did a bit of 'let's pretend we've scored a goal' followed by huge cheers and wild celebrations. The Man City fans applauded us and it was god banter. Those I met out later that night said what great support we had. Assuming we get some sort of result vs Hull (which of course is up in the air in itself) instead of booing everyone off, (and imagine how the likes of Robinson would feel if we did) fans could take the 'let's pretend we've won the league' approach followed by wild celebrations and cheering...it will still get a clear message across that things were nowhere near good enough but in a more classy, sarcastic way, just a thought.

Well maybe another ray of hope for the game, I dreamt that Cech made a blunder to let in a villa goal, the crowd went wild as if we had won the game ( the only unrealistic part about the dream was that I scored the winner!) Having said all that, today at 10am over here in Manila we have our last local league game of the season, I joined the team halfway through the season and have not scored yet, so if I score today, a Cech blunder later to send the Villa faithful into dreamland looks certain right?!?!

I would go 4-4-1-1 as follows to shake things up a bit, because, well why not?; Guzan Lowton Vlaar Baker Bertrand Albrighton Westwood Clark Delph Benteke Gabby I am dreading the game and hoping beyond all hope for a win to the villa, a nervy 1-0 affair is my prediction...

There we have it, a Villa loss then. Team or player on a bad run, never fear Villa will ALWAYS make it better for them. On TV as well, double whammy. Yep. Could be another 6-0. Hold on, or are we missing a pattern here? How about; Newcastle 0-5 Aston Villa Stranger things have happened... ...such as in 1939 when it rained frogs in Wiltshire...

2-1 to the mighty Villa and onwards we march!...I fancy us for this with Everton lacking some key players. Come on you Villa boys!

I'm going for an outrageous 5-1 home win to the Villa as per our trouncing of the scum back in April 2008. What a day that was! Benteke hat-trick, Gabby with 2!

I fear the same thing but hoping we can nick a point.