Cup Final One (of three) - pre-match

[Delphinho123]

Reading their forum, they have issues in central midfield. I don’t think Livermore is fit, Brunt is getting on and the other young lads aren’t up to it. I fancy us to win that battle.

We need to attack as a form of defence. Keep the ball as far away from their front two as possible who are good enough to cause us problems.

We’re probably the better team on paper but this one will be extremely tight. 

[chappy]

Even though it’s only a four day week I think work is going to drag!

[Herman22]

10 minutes ago, chappy said:

Even though it’s only a four day week I think work is going to drag!

It’s Monday morning and I’m not working and this week is already dragging. 

Getting through the Norwich game unscathed was the only result that mattered. The fact Grealish, McGinn, Mings and Abraham were all rested tells you all 4 will start. I think the team almost picks it’s self at the minute. Only decisions are who plays holding midfield and who gets the call on the wing Green or Albert. I think I’d go with this:

Steer

Elmo Tuanzebe Mings Taylor

Whelan

Green McGinn Grealish ElGhazi

Abraham

[mjmooney]

2 hours ago, Delphinho123 said:

Steer, AEM, Mings, Tuanzebe, Taylor, Whelan, Grealish, McGinn, El Ghazi, Green, Abraham

I'm just a little unsure about Green in that lineup. 

[VillaCas]

Squeaky bum time, but I believe going through it last year will help us immensely this time round. 

WBA are fading and I think made a mistake letting Moore go when they did. They’re decent going forward but we are better all round than them

I also fancy Derby to beat Leeds and I think our experience and current form will see them off in the final

Amazing from Smith and team!

 

 

[John]

We bossed them on their own patch in December and had it not been for their twice hand balled equaliser from Rodriguez, we would have won it. They ran out easy winners at Villa Park with the help of once a Villain Gareth Barry, but we were still without Jack, who they had injured at The Hawthorns. That injury may have cost us automatic promotion, as we were on a great run before it and went on a superb one upon his return.  

I worry about the treatment that they are likely to dish out to Jack, McGinn and Tammy. I'm also concerned that Gayle (unlike Jack despite what they say) dives for England (particularly inside the box). They claim they wanted us in the playoffs, but we know that they and no other club really do. 

We last beat them at Villa Park (twice) 4 years ago. Since then they have won both matches in 2015 and 3 months ago. Our last win at The Hawthorns was in 2008 and we have drawn our last two games there. Overall, we have won 65 and have drawn 33 of the 146 league games that have been played between the two clubs.

There is unfinished business for us, following the two meetings between the clubs already this season. There was only a place and 4 points between the two clubs in the final league table. It won’t be easy for either of us, but I would really like to take a 2 or 3 goal lead to the away leg and for our players to come out of this tie uninjured. Just win it for us Villa!

[Robbie09]

Feeling very confident about this game. Just got a sneaky feeling we’ll give them a hiding and make the 2nd leg less nervy

[rjw63]

Grind these stripy shirted words removed into the Villa Park turf WITH A JACKBOOT ON THEIR NECK.

Please.

[El Zen]

I know better than to be arrogant about it, but I think they won’t know what hit them. It will be a matter of not being wasteful in front of goal, because I think we’ll dominate them in open play. 

[chrisp65]

if we play to the whistle we'll be fine

[Czechlad]

We have the experience. We did this before, and we have leaders in this team. Terry, Jack, Chester, Hourihane, Whelan, Adomah, Kodjia, Elmo, Taylor, Hutton, etc they were all with us last season. They know what it was like to lose that match and they know what it takes to win. All on the line. This is it. We need to win. 

[Brumstopdogs]

 

 

[walesavfc]

We need to be on top of the Ref everytime they put a tackle in on Jack, They will be frightened to go near him if we are always on the back of the ref everytime he is tackled

[alreadyexists]

I’m nervous already!

I would go;

                  Steer

Elmo    Mings   Tuanzebe   Taylor

Adomah  Whelan  McGinn  El Ghazi

              Grealish

                               Tammy

 

Got my ticket, can’t blooomin wait!

[alreadyexists]

4 hours ago, rjw63 said:

Grind these stripy shirted words removed into the Villa Park turf WITH A JACKBOOT ON THEIR NECK.

Please.

Here’s one, get him!

[BleedClaretAndBlue]

I cant wait to unleash a rested SJG, SJM, AEG on these bums

3-1 Villa

[Tomaszk]

52 minutes ago, alreadyexists said:

I’m nervous already!

I would go;

                  Steer

Elmo    Mings   Tuanzebe   Taylor

Adomah  Whelan  McGinn  El Ghazi

              Grealish

                               Tammy

 

Got my ticket, can’t blooomin wait!

The only tweak from this Dean might do is Green in for Adomah. Or if he feeling ballsy af Kodj in the starting XI as well.

[alreadyexists]

1 hour ago, Tomaszk said:

The only tweak from this Dean might do is Green in for Adomah. Or if he feeling ballsy af Kodj in the starting XI as well.

I did think about Green tbh, and Kodjia can be very good cutting in from the wing. I don’t think Kodj has the defensive abilities though so I wouldn’t start with him on the wing, or up front unless Tammy isn’t fit. 

[ferguson1]

[markavfc40]

I'd imagine 99% of us would agree on 9 of the players to start on Saturday - Steer, Elmo, Mings, Axel, Taylor, McGinn, Grealish, El Ghazi and Tammy. The only debates are Whelan or Hourihane and Green or Adomah.

I think with one eye on the second leg and Whelan perhaps not able to start two games in four days Smith will go with Hourihane in the first leg. I also have a feeling he'll go with the more attacking option of Green and if we can take a lead to the Hawthorns we'll then see Whelan and Adomah start.