sir_gary_cahill Posted March 9, 2020 Share Posted March 9, 2020 2 hours ago, Farlz said: Reina Guilbert - Engels - Mings - Targett Luiz - Nakamba - Drinkwater El Ghazi - Samagoal - Grealish Leicester aren't exactly in great form so it wouldn't surprise me if they turn us over because that's Villa. It's crunch time now, these players need to step up. I'd take a point tonight. This would be my side too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
handsworthvilla Posted March 9, 2020 Share Posted March 9, 2020 I'm confused by peoples desire to see Drinkwater starting. He hasn't even been on the pitch yet whilst we've been ahead in a game. I'd go Hourihane, at least he can move 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sir_gary_cahill Posted March 9, 2020 Share Posted March 9, 2020 1 minute ago, handsworthvilla said: I'm confused by peoples desire to see Drinkwater starting. He hasn't even been on the pitch yet whilst we've been ahead in a game. I'd go Hourihane, at least he can move I think Drinkwater is a much better footballer than Hourihane and Drinkwater has Premier League experience before this season 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Willard Posted March 9, 2020 Share Posted March 9, 2020 Same team as the final with Elmo RW and Grealish in midfield would be my guess. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobzy Posted March 9, 2020 Share Posted March 9, 2020 1 hour ago, PaddytheVillan said: If we play like we did against Leicester in any of the recent games, we'll probably lose. We massively rode our luck, and I suspect a team with Champions League ambitions will not be so profligate again. They had something like 40 shots against us in two games. Without wishing to state the obvious, we need to shore up the defence. And I really, really don't want to hear anyone "taking positives" if we lose in the last minute. We were lucky to an extent in the away leg, but most of those 40 shots were from distance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam2003 Posted March 9, 2020 Share Posted March 9, 2020 1 hour ago, Spray said: If the opposition goes 2-up against us, it's pretty much game over and 3 points for them. According to the betting website I was just looking at, the average loss rate if you’re 2-0 down is 98%, so this is true for most teams. But yes, I don’t see us popping in three vs Leicester tonight if we are two down. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrBlack Posted March 9, 2020 Share Posted March 9, 2020 Something I never thought I'd hear myself say...I'd start Elmo for this game. Did a cracking job on the final and with Samatta's apparent heading ability I think an elmo cross is our best chance of scoring from open play. Would consider the same team that started the final, as it gives us options from the bench to change shape or bring on more offensively minded players if needed. I think Grealish getting silenced against City is less likely to happen against Leicester, but if it does can just switch him out wide. Feeling optimistic for some reason, possibly the length of time without a league game making me forget how poor we've looked lately, but I'll take it. A draw would be a great result, a loss is not a disaster but piles the pressure on even more. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Posted March 9, 2020 VT Supporter Share Posted March 9, 2020 Just please dont give them an easy goal! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRO Posted March 9, 2020 Share Posted March 9, 2020 (edited) 2 hours ago, Rob182 said: My apologies if I have misread your countless comments about clean sheets and how eleven 0-0s would probably see us safe, and “it makes you think” hints towards how we could have set up differently. So that I understand your vague and persistent ‘wink wink’ comments about not leaking goals.... you just want us to ‘improve the defensive side of our game’. Well I’d say every villa fan wants the same. But it’s strange that many others don’t constantly harp on about keeping clean sheets or grinding out a few draws. It’s almost like they understand our teams limitations and don’t keep hoping for something that a team cobbled together in one summer can’t reasonably provide. Your examples of where Jack could play in ‘better defensive sides’ is rather amusing. Of course I’m going to say that Chelsea, Man Utd, Liverpool and Man City are better sides. How could I not? You left me an open goal there. The better question would be how would Jack do in a team that defends well, but is also closer to our level (ie: recently promoted). Perhaps he’d have done just as well at Wolves last season, but then again, they essentially already had a Premier League quality team when they got promoted, so didn’t need to invest as heavily and widespread as we did. Maybe we’d be better considering how he would play in a team closer to us by league position, like a Brighton/ Palace/ Newcastle type team. I think it’s inevitable that, should Jack have been playing for a team that sets up ‘better’ defensively, with a more rigid approach and stable set-up (but not parking the bus, as you seem to think is a negative) that he would produce less in an attacking sense. Look at Zaha, he’s a great player, but (simplistically) has scored 3 goals this season. He’s a big influence to Palace, but his attacking outlet would undoubtedly be way better if a team set up to attack more often. Lastly, if you were equally frustrated with Bruce’s offerings, you did a bloody good job of disguising it. I don’t recall you commenting and hinting about what could have been if we’d attacked better on many occasions under Bruce. Definitely not as much as you do towards Deano’s deficiencies. No ....like you....i challenged folk's misconceptions of him.....perhaps the amount of that confused you....i just responded to it at the rate it arrived. Check my posts, i rarely promoted Steve Bruce, just challenged the vitriol against him, there is a difference if you care to look for it......fortunately Dean hasn't experienced that. i think you will find i said hypothetical on the 0-0s, check your sense of humour....it would be close to impossible, but there is a point there, crystal palace just managed 3 on the bounce, i would take that now. there is no vague and wink wink, you are creating your own agenda.....and on the point of others not mentioning clean sheets, so what, its irrelevant....its my posts your addressing, i have my opinions, like they have theirs....but suggest or imply, i am the only one concerned with our defensive record is laughable and far to creditable to me.....many posters have exercised their displeasure. I have to disagree with you in principal, there has been a clear reluctance by some posters to accept our poor defensive capabilities or mask over them with a veil of inevitability due to circumstances, I don't buy that......to say we all know, that we have defensive issues is disingenous.....don't keep making a case against it, if you know, thats just as irritating to some as me banging on about it. Let me ask you a straight question........would you trade off the spectacle for survival? Edited March 9, 2020 by TRO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KentVillan Posted March 9, 2020 Share Posted March 9, 2020 11 minutes ago, TRO said: I have to disagree with you in principal, there has been a clear reluctance by some posters to accept our poor defensive capabilities or mask over them with a veil of inevitability due to circumstances, I don't buy that......to say we all know, that we have defensive issues is disingenous.....don't keep making a case against it, if you know, thats just as irritating to some as me banging on about it. Let me ask you a straight question........would you trade off the spectacle for survival? The big disagreement is over how much Dean Smith is responsible. I think he takes far too much flak for having an inexperienced, defensively weak squad (especially when Heaton and McGinn are injured, and Mings has been in and out of the team). We have one genuine DM in the whole squad, and he can't pass a football properly. We have Neil Taylor as a genuine starting option at left back. We have a right back who can't speak English. Etc. Etc. Smith can't work miracles. Compare Bruce's defensive set up in 2017-18: Johnstone, Elmo, Hutton, Chester, Terry, Jedinak with our current setup of Reina, Guilbert, Targett, Engels, Mings, Nakamba. It's hardly a massive improvement is it? Clearly the second list of players (Reina excepted) have age on their side, but that won't happen overnight. People seem to be behaving as if Dean Smith has had it all served up on a plate for him, and he has **** an open goal. It's nonsense. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomaszk Posted March 9, 2020 Share Posted March 9, 2020 433 with Reina in goal. Hourihane starts in midfield with Doug and Marv. Elmo, Samatta, Grealish up front. No Vardy for Leicester. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stratvillan Posted March 9, 2020 Share Posted March 9, 2020 3 hours ago, Farlz said: Reina Guilbert - Engels - Mings - Targett Luiz - Nakamba - Drinkwater El Ghazi - Samagoal - Grealish Leicester aren't exactly in great form so it wouldn't surprise me if they turn us over because that's Villa. It's crunch time now, these players need to step up. I'd take a point tonight. Elmo Nakamba Dougie L in midfield for me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Junxs Posted March 9, 2020 Share Posted March 9, 2020 1 minute ago, Tomaszk said: 433 with Reina in goal. Hourihane starts in midfield with Doug and Marv. Elmo, Samatta, Grealish up front. No Vardy for Leicester. Is this inside information or your guess? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomaszk Posted March 9, 2020 Share Posted March 9, 2020 2 minutes ago, Junxs said: Is this inside information or your guess? Elmo told me. I trust him. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farlz Posted March 9, 2020 Share Posted March 9, 2020 Great we get to watch another Conor Hourihane disappearing act 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farlz Posted March 9, 2020 Share Posted March 9, 2020 Doesn't really matter if Vardy isn't starting for Leicester because his replacement Iheanacho must have half his career goals against us 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mat Kendrick's Dentist Posted March 9, 2020 Share Posted March 9, 2020 12 minutes ago, Farlz said: Great we get to watch another Conor Hourihane disappearing act Better than watching a Drinkwater special! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BleedClaretAndBlue Posted March 9, 2020 Share Posted March 9, 2020 Anwar and Davis the impact subs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brumstopdogs Posted March 9, 2020 Share Posted March 9, 2020 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAMAICAN-VILLAN Posted March 9, 2020 Share Posted March 9, 2020 The good Connor better turn up tonight. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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