mikeyp102

I can agree with a lot of this, I suppose it depends on the position of the player and situation in a match. For example CB is very hard to blood young players on because a mistake can lead to conceding a goal which could lower confidence. However, a winger/forward is less likely to have an impact on a defeat because in theory if they lost the ball in the attacking third, there should be enough cover in place. The same as game situation, if it is tight then it is a risk bringing on the youngster as it could affect the result. But if the result is seemingly already decided (winning/losing by a comfortable margin, with a short time frame left) then in my eyes putting the young player on for a few minutes is a better option than a tried and tested player.

Exceptional examples - not many 18yo get a £5m signing-on fee for example Ok so what about the likes of sterling, suso, wisdom etc at Liverpool? They were all given run outs at a young age.

Jimmy Milner with two assists and a goal tonight against the European champions, and people still think he would leave city for us. Still think if he had gone to utd instead of city he would have played more in cm and be one if the best players in the country. He could've meant that scholes wouldn't have had to come out if retirement.

I hope not

With the new manager and unlucky to lose to spurs this could be a tricky tie as they'll be fired up. This could play into our counter attacking hands though. Think it'll be 433 Guzan Lowton baker Clark bacuna Kea Westwood Delph Andi Benteke gabby

Very good goal will do his confidence wonders

Didn't Burke get a couple minutes last yr? But agreed with the rest

Frimpong hasn't been the same since petrov broke him

If you could get him fit and we weren't paying his full wages Richards would be an incredible signing. Really can't see lambert going for it though

Be interesting to see if he gets a match day squad place now vlaar injured. Think he would be a better option than herd for sub cb

Flicking between bbc live feed and here. So happy now. Can't wait for motd

The three first teamers from last week don't make starting line up tonight

I would drop the beast but can't see it happening. Then again watching motd last night showed southampton struggling to contain 442, but surely that will be looked at in their training. I actually think it will be the same starting line up as Saturday. Away from home this is normally affective, but we need CB to up his game, as without him holding up the ball the counter attack won't work

At the German market today I tried the reindeer burger. Very tasty

Worst game in a villa shirt

The lack of movement is appalling. We can't even keep possession from throw ins as no one moves. We seem to lack people with a "football" brain

Worst performance in a villa shirt today. No excuse for being lazy and not even trying. Not doing his World Cup chances much help. Lukaku must be miles ahead of him now. Needs to be dropped to give him a kick up the backside

First twenty minutes Sunderland were absolutely bricking it and were there for the taking. Unfortunately we stopped pushing and allowed Sunderland to gain in confidence. Can't break a team down, never looked like scoring. Awful turgid performance. Benteke had his worst game by far in a villa shirt and should've been taken off earlier.

This should be a fairly easier game but knowing villa we'll find a way to make it hard. I think we'll go: Guzan Bacuna. Vlaar. Clark. Luna Delph. Westwood. Kea . Gabby Kozak Benteke Be looking for gabby to run both channels (even though probably will stay more left. With the fullbacks to offer more width

It was the last day of the loan window, so I'm not sure it was an emergency loan.

It's not the first time he was exposed in his own. Against Cardiff every time they attacked it was 2v1 on the right hand side

Do you think he will start? Yeah I do. Think lambert likes him and the beast up top. With either andi/ gabby to come off the bench.

Think he will score on sat

Looked like he helped out benteke and that they enjoyed playing together. Thought nzog would play best if he was in andi's position and not in midfield. But then andi was playing decent last yr.

Libor looked better, but I still don't think we'll see him at his best until we are putting better balls into the box