OutByEaster? Posted January 1, 2016 Moderator Share Posted January 1, 2016 So, assuming Westwood, Sanchez and Ayew are out I'd go with this formation and team: -----------------------------Guzan------------------------------ Hutton----------Okore------------Lescott----------Cissokho ---------------Bacuna---Veretout----Gana------------------- Traore--------------------------------------------------Grealish ---------------------------Gestede----------------------------- On the basis that at times we can play like this: -----------------------------Guzan------------------------------ Hutton----------Okore------------Lescott----------Cissokho Bacuna---------Veretout----------Gana------------Grealish ---------------------------Gestede---------------------------- And still stay pretty solid even if Traore gets lost from time to time - that way we can take all the best of him, without thinking we can turn him into a defensive player between now and Saturday. The weakness there is Grealish needing to take a lot responsibility down that left flank - I don't think Sinclair is enough of a midfielder to do it, but the next alternative is Richardson. I'd drop Richards on form. I think the other two have looked more solid. If the balloon on Okore's knee is still up then Richards would have that spot. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srsmithusa Posted January 1, 2016 Share Posted January 1, 2016 28 minutes ago, OutByEaster? said: So, assuming Westwood, Sanchez and Ayew are out I'd go with this formation and team: -----------------------------Guzan------------------------------ Hutton----------Okore------------Lescott----------Cissokho ---------------Bacuna---Veretout----Gana------------------- Traore--------------------------------------------------Grealish ---------------------------Gestede----------------------------- On the basis that at times we can play like this: -----------------------------Guzan------------------------------ Hutton----------Okore------------Lescott----------Cissokho Bacuna---------Veretout----------Gana------------Grealish ---------------------------Gestede---------------------------- And still stay pretty solid even if Traore gets lost from time to time - that way we can take all the best of him, without thinking we can turn him into a defensive player between now and Saturday. The weakness there is Grealish needing to take a lot responsibility down that left flank - I don't think Sinclair is enough of a midfielder to do it, but the next alternative is Richardson. I'd drop Richards on form. I think the other two have looked more solid. If the balloon on Okore's knee is still up then Richards would have that spot. Maybe I can't count, but your second appears to be missing a forward. Based on your text, I'm going to assume you meant Traore paired with Gestede? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutByEaster? Posted January 1, 2016 Moderator Share Posted January 1, 2016 10 minutes ago, srsmithusa said: Maybe I can't count, but your second appears to be missing a forward. Based on your text, I'm going to assume you meant Traore paired with Gestede? No, I mean we have a formation that's then specifically designed for a 4-4-1 with Traore being wherever he ends up on top of that. A 4-4-1 plus Traore with no particular position. It's a formation that means he doesn't have to take any responsibility for doing anything but the things he's good at. When he's missing we still have Bacuna protecting Hutton. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New_Jersey_Villa Posted January 1, 2016 Share Posted January 1, 2016 I've been the eternal optimist since joining these boards, but if we don't win this one even I think we're screwed. Happy new year from the US to all Villa fans. Let's hope 2016 is our year. UP THE VILLA 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brumstopdogs Posted January 1, 2016 Share Posted January 1, 2016 We managed to beat Sunderland 4-0 away about 10 months ago and went there with a positive line up of: Guzan, Okore, Clark, Bacuna, Lowton, Cleverley, Sinclair, Delph, N'Zog, Gabby and Benteke. Looking at that line up you can see we really went for it and we had lots of players in that team capable of scoring or if not at least creating chances. No surprise we also managed 8 shots on target. IMO we need to again not be afraid and play an attacking line up and go for the win from the 1st minute of the match - not the 80th or 90th. We can beat them but unless we radically change our approach to games we're not going to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJT123 Posted January 1, 2016 Share Posted January 1, 2016 Guzan Richards Okore Lescott Bacuna Gana Sanchez Veretout Adama Gestede Grealish 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KSV Posted January 1, 2016 Share Posted January 1, 2016 1 hour ago, KJT123 said: Guzan Richards Okore Lescott Bacuna Gana Sanchez Veretout Adama Gestede Grealish This but Sanchez is out. Throw in young Lyden Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney_avfc Posted January 1, 2016 Share Posted January 1, 2016 Rushian Hepburn Murphy has been training with the first team ahead of this game (and Gary Gardner). I can see him making the bench given we're short up front with Ayew's suspension. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sir_gary_cahill Posted January 1, 2016 Share Posted January 1, 2016 3 minutes ago, Barney_avfc said: Rushian Hepburn Murphy has been training with the first team ahead of this game (and Gary Gardner). I can see him making the bench given we're short up front with Ayew's suspension. How do you know that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney_avfc Posted January 1, 2016 Share Posted January 1, 2016 Was on the Birmingham Mail website a few minutes ago. Just went back onto it to get the link and the article has gone. But there was photos of him training. Will check again in a few minutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sir_gary_cahill Posted January 1, 2016 Share Posted January 1, 2016 Thanks, I saw it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutByEaster? Posted January 1, 2016 Moderator Share Posted January 1, 2016 Just reading that Cissokho might not be ready - for me that means Gardner starting in midfield and Bacuna to left back. Our current midfield depth goes: Veretout, Gana, Bacuna, Gardner, Lyden - we have to play with three because of our lack of physical presence, and one of them is our back up left back despite being a right back by nature. It's no real surprise we're where we are is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theboyangel Posted January 1, 2016 Share Posted January 1, 2016 3 minutes ago, OutByEaster? said: Just reading that Cissokho might not be ready - for me that means Gardner starting in midfield and Bacuna to left back. Our current midfield depth goes: Veretout, Gana, Bacuna, Gardner, Lyden - we have to play with three because of our lack of physical presence, and one of them is our back up left back despite being a right back by nature. It's no real surprise we're where we are is it? I agree Bacuna will continue at LB for this match With all of the suspensions/injuries etc I'd expect us to line up as follows: ....................Guzan Hutton.Richards.Lescott.Bacuna .....Veretout.Gana.Richardson .....................Gil ..........Gestede.Sinclair I already fear the worst. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Posted January 1, 2016 Share Posted January 1, 2016 God we are in such a mess as a club Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Brumstopdogs Posted January 1, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted January 1, 2016 Richardson should not play under any circumstances! 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutByEaster? Posted January 1, 2016 Moderator Share Posted January 1, 2016 I think we're going to wind up with a straight choice between Gardner/Lyden in central midfield and Bacuna at left back or Bacuna in midfield and Richardson at left back. I have a feeling the latter will out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul33 Posted January 1, 2016 Share Posted January 1, 2016 If Richardson or Sinclair plays then we are relegated for absolute definite !!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimzk5 Posted January 1, 2016 Share Posted January 1, 2016 Just don't see us getting anything from this, I think the reason we do so well up there is the combined age of sunderlands defence is 234, they struggled against the power and pace of benteke and gabby, without these & ayew our attack will no doubt consist of long balls for gestede to fall over trying to control. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wainy316 Posted January 1, 2016 Share Posted January 1, 2016 I don't know if we'll lose but I know for sure we won't score. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KHV Posted January 1, 2016 Share Posted January 1, 2016 ---------------------------------------------------Guzan----------------------------------------------- Hutton-----------------------Richards-----------------------Okore-------------------------Bacuna --------------------------------Gueye-------------------------Gardner--------------------------------- Sinclair----------------------------------------Veretout------------------------------------Richardson --------------------------------------------------Gestede------------------------------------------------- Bunn,Clark,Lescott,Grealish,Traore,Gil,Hepburn-Murphy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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