Rob182

... I hope not I think you're spot on. I'd agree with this. Although I'd prefer MON to put a bit of faith in the rest of his squad. I'd go for - Guzan Beye Collins Davies L Young A Young Sidwell Milner Delph Carew Fonz I'd like to see a weakened side but we need to get a win. Maybe if we're one or two up I'd bring off Milner/ A Young and get a little glimpse of a reserve.. Maybe Barry Bannan! (unless he's on loan and I forgot..)

Had to chose the middle option. Simply because; I don't think he's too leightweight but I do think that using him as a defensive midfielder would be a waste. He should be further forward with Milner, ripping up defences and scoring wonder goals!

It is a BIG concern! I think it's because Milner joins Downing or Young on the wing and leaves Petrov in the middle.. (the majority of the time is when Downing is playing on the right; he's hesitant to take on players so Milner overlaps) Another midfielder HAS to be on MON's wishlist for the summer. I wouldn't mind if we reverted to a 4-5-1 or 4-3-3 permanant tactic and had a different CM with Milner pushing up behind our Striker - but the way we currently play either works really well or doesn't work at all (the contrast from the first and second half against Burnley exemplifies this perfectly)

just a few points from me.. Ash MOTM - Back to his best! Almost got a 2nd goal with a decent free kick. Downing - a close second! He didn't play amazing first half (but no-one did, bar Ashley), Second half he seemed like a different player and he was determined to get a hat-trick! More of this please Downing! Cuellar... Martin!! Stop playing a centre back on the right!.. Too many times he hoofed the ball upfield when Luke Young would have taken on his man instead Petrov - controlled the midfield well enough, but again his feet looked rooted to the ground when a few tackles would have helped - and his tendancy to pass backwards and kill our attacks is doing my nut in. 3 well-earned points, bring on Crystal Palace!

And Me! I think he had a few average games in January but he is a quality player who can pick a pass and I predict a goal from him against Burnley! Friedel L Young Cuellar Dunne Warnock A Young Milner Petrov Downing Heskey Gabby ^ I predict this squad from MON. I'd prefer to see Delph brought on at some point in the game and I'd prefer to see Fonz in Heskeys place.

I was quite optimistic before the game because they were showing us to be playing a 4-3-3 with Young, Heskey & Downing further up the field and Milner, Petrov & Delph as a 3-man midfield. Maybe MON wanted to play a very attacking & positive side but ended up having our wide men tracking back because of Palace's midfield? Overall I'm happy that we're through but I'm a bit disappointed that we can't beat a Championship side with an almost full-strength squad

I agree with this fully. I have no stats to back this up, but I think they have a tendancy to send a lot forward. Corluka, Bale, Bentley, Huddlestone, Crouch, Defoe and Modric all seem to get forward and have shots on goal at some point or another. I'd like to think that we can catch them on the counter a couple of times. Another goal please Gabby!

If Petrov is injured then I'd prefer to either see Sidwell in a 4-4-2 or Delph in a 4-5-1 (I'll let Martin decide which) I really hope that MON doesn't play Petrov if he is slightly suffering! There's having faith in a player and then there's having too much faith. Unfortunatly, MON seems to have the latter when it comes to Petrov. I'll go for a 2-1 Villa if Petrov isn't injured or we play Sidders/ Delph. If Petrov is played and not 100% then I'm going to regretfully say 2-0 to the COCKneys.

I'm not as cool as MrWeedMcGrass.. but I think I'm getting there! From left to right.. VT users 'Lapalfan', Me and 'Paddywhack' Both these pictures are 18 months + old !! (Who updates myspace anymore? ... not me!) EDIT: upon reflection... the second picture is about 18 months old, the first picture is 4 years old ( time flies!!!)

Fulham can be tricky so this was a good win! Gabby took his second superbly. Not sure if anyone else spotted this.. When Gab scored his first, Smalling was on his knees (after failing to stop super-gab) and just before Gab ran off to celebrate - it looked like he pushed Smalling, attempting to push him over lol

Typical of villa! The day that Ash seems to come smack-bang back into form, Downing has a shocker! Ash MOTM I hope next game we have the real Downing back and Young maintains this level of performance

What a romantic and poetic post. Like the football of old. It brings a tear to my eye... ... Come on you **** viillaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No snow on Hagley Road, no way it'd snow bad enough to get cancelled now.. I'm so excited! And I just can't hide it! I'm about to lose contr.. you get the idea.

Downing had a good game, I'm enjoying his return to action and I'd assume he's fully fit (or almost!) I can't decide whether I prefer him on the right or the left though.. On the right he tends to cut inside and likes to run with the ball (he is good at it too! He took on 2 or 3 players each time he did it) but on the left we would have a natural, left footed player.. Which I think can only improve our performances.. There were a few occasions yesterday where Ash tried to make a left-footed pass down the line but just scuffed it and gave away a throw.. I like the way our players can switch, but I think MON should tell Ash to stick on the right and cross from deep (instead of running into the corner to do a bit of trickery and force a corner which is, more-often-than-not, dealt with)..

It's been said before and I'm going to reiterate... We need a new Milner chant!!! He's too good to be stuck with "There's only one James Milner".. Jimmy Milner is Brazilian, We wont sell for 30 Million, ................. **** brilliant, Jimmy Jimmy Milner, Fill in the gaps anyone?

I came into work at 7 so that I could leave at 3... 3 minutes left!!!!! Come on Villa!!!! hmmm... Dunne to score from a corner, Ash from open play, Milner to be our central-midfield-beast as usual!

Colours indeed!!! Dioufs not playing, and I think he is the only real danger in Blackburn No colours for me though I'll be wrapped up in a big green parker.. Quadrophenia-esq !

Milner has slipped over and bruised his hip!! (OS) .. but Martin says he'll be fit and available. phew! You scared me for a minute gaffer! 3-1 or 3-0 villa

I think the only people who shouldn't be over-confident are the players - and I'm sure MON will sort them out mentally! We are much stronger than we were when we lost to them (Downing addition/ Milner moved to middle), they do have key players injured and we'll be buzzing after out current form! (Liverpool and Arsenal games aside)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/low/football/league_cup/8451967.stm Jason Roberts injured, Benni McCarthy doubtful.. This game is looking better by the minute!! I hope it's not postponed again!

4-1 man city, we drew 1-1 with man city, we should beat blackburn 4-1 !

We'd be gutted if we lost (or even drew) and it would knock our confidence.. Imagine how it'd effect us if we won 9-0 !! (not saying it'd be positive... just saying, it'd effect us) Gabby 4, Carew 1, Milner 1, Ash 2, Dunne 1 What a lovely day that'd be! :winkold:

I saw this also and was a little confused, Ash certainly won't be dropped, i wouldn't be against Reo getting a game though... In the article it says Luke Young missed training with a slight niggle (but should be fine to play). Maybe they have the Youngs mixed up? Yeah that was my guess.. I, like everyone else, think we need to win this! We've dropped points against the smaller teams and we can't keep our grasp on the top 4 if we continue! I'm predicting a 2-0 win and a similar game to the Sunderland league game. Villa dominating with Wigan having a few chances. Us to out class them when it comes to finishing and defending. 1-0 by 50 mins, 2-0 by the 70th ! Friedel L Young Dunne Cuellar Warnock Downing Milner Stan A Young Gabby Heskey (if he slips over in the snow on the way to the DW - then Carew to replace Heskey)

I wonder why SSN are predicting our team to be - Friedel, Luke Young, Cuellar, Dunne, Warnock, Reo-Coker, Milner, Petrov, Downing, Agbonlahor, Carew I don't recall Ash being injured/doubtful :s Is this just SSN and their super reporters forgetting one of our key players?

I'd join in! Just like when nobodies come off the bench for our opponents "Who?".. When Fonz comes on "Heeyyyyy!" (with the two-thumbs-up!) Had Beye starting performing a bit more often - I'd have liked to hear: "Sunday Monday, Habib Beye. Tuesday, Wednesday, Habib Beye.." etc (To the tune of Happy Days (obviously))