Zhan_Zhuang Posted March 3 Share Posted March 3 10 hours ago, alreadyexists said: Ah fair enough, I remember going to this game back in 2008, but I don’t remember how he played. My memory of him is generally poor though, but glad he had a decent game then. I do agree with you, I think overall he wasn't good for us. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferguson1 Posted March 3 Share Posted March 3 ........................Martinez......................... Cash……….Konsa……..Lenglet.......Digne ................Luiz............McGinn............... Diaby.............Tielemans..........Zaniolo ........................Watkins......................... Hopefully get a foothold in the game and start to rest key players early in the second half. Give decent minutes to KKH, Chambers, Iroegbunam, Rogers and possibly Duran. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leeroy Posted March 3 Share Posted March 3 On 25/02/2024 at 18:35, alreadyexists said: This is how we lined up last time we faced them… that’s not a bad line up to be fair!! (With the exception of Nicky Shorey ) It's not a bad team, but only Laursen, Barry and Ashley Young would get in our team now. Luke Young v Cash is close I suppose, but think I just favour Cash. Cuellar was loved by a section of the Villa fans but I always thought he was awful technically and a really clumsy defender, although defensively he was decent I suppose. Reo Coker could put in a tackle but was shite on the ball and at passing. Petrov was classy but immobile and not really a defensive midfielder. Gabby was showing potential at the time but only really had pace, his first touch was terrible. Milner was a decent winger but much better in the middle, Bailey much better as a winger. I think the Ajax team we faced in 2008 had a young Luiz Suarez in it, also pretty sure Vertonghen was in their team who later moved t Spurs and was a very good ball playing centre half. They also had a very clinical Dutch striker called Huntelaar. I think I mentioned at the time that we should try to sign all of these players but MON being MON and only interested in the English or Scottish leagues, he was never going to be interested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StewieGriffin Posted March 3 Share Posted March 3 Ajax playing Utrecht in about 20 minutes, no idea if it's on UK tv or not Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthEastVillan Posted March 3 Share Posted March 3 1 hour ago, StewieGriffin said: Ajax playing Utrecht in about 20 minutes, no idea if it's on UK tv or not 1-0 up at HT. Not on tv though, so no idea how they're playing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshVilla Posted March 3 Share Posted March 3 4 hours ago, Leeroy said: It's not a bad team, but only Laursen, Barry and Ashley Young would get in our team now. Luke Young v Cash is close I suppose, but think I just favour Cash. Cuellar was loved by a section of the Villa fans but I always thought he was awful technically and a really clumsy defender, although defensively he was decent I suppose. Reo Coker could put in a tackle but was shite on the ball and at passing. Petrov was classy but immobile and not really a defensive midfielder. Gabby was showing potential at the time but only really had pace, his first touch was terrible. Milner was a decent winger but much better in the middle, Bailey much better as a winger. I think the Ajax team we faced in 2008 had a young Luiz Suarez in it, also pretty sure Vertonghen was in their team who later moved t Spurs and was a very good ball playing centre half. They also had a very clinical Dutch striker called Huntelaar. I think I mentioned at the time that we should try to sign all of these players but MON being MON and only interested in the English or Scottish leagues, he was never going to be interested. Very good ball playing....but not in the way you'd think. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyM3000 Posted March 3 Share Posted March 3 Would rotate a lot, the Spurs game is massive. CL qualification is much more important than winning this for me. Emi Chambers Konsa Lenglet Digne McGinn Luiz Tim Rogers Diaby Watkins 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted March 3 Share Posted March 3 I think this will be the sort of game that the players will want to play in. Getting into Europe was a big incentive last season and this would have been the kind of trip that they would have had in their sights. It is no great distance to travel and I think UE may think about going strong again, although not risking any players that are coming back from injury and he will probably be looking to give most of our regulars 45 minutes again. Pity we have Spurs in between the two matches, but West Ham away, could be pretty big too. I think we may start: Emi, Matty, Lenglet, Pau, Digne, Iroegbunam, McGinn, Douglas, Zaniolo, Diaby and Watkins. Bringing on Konsa, KKH, Moreno, Tielemans and Rogers for the second half or for much of it. I see Coral has Ajax at 10/3 to win at home and we are odds on to win there at 7/10. I hope they are right, they often are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMightyVillans Posted March 3 Share Posted March 3 If ramsey fit enough then he can start. If not then maybe Mcginn on the left and tielemans up with watkins. Martinez Cash Konsa Lenglet Digne Diaby Tim Luiz Ramsey Mcginn Watkins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wedge Posted March 3 Share Posted March 3 (edited) I'd go with (but as always will back whatever El Maestro decides as let's face it, he knows far more than all of us combined!): Emi Cash Konsa Lenglet Digne Luiz McGinn Tielemans Bailey Watkins Diaby Subs: Olsen, Tim, Torres, Moreno, Pau, Ramsey (if fit enough), Rogers, Zaniolo. Edited March 3 by wedge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
troon_villan Posted March 3 Share Posted March 3 Would be quite happy to keep it tight, stay in the tie and focus on Spurs and turning Ajax over at home. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DakotaVilla Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 Hopefully this will be the slowest and most boring one paced turgid game of the season. Kill the game with minimum expenditure of energy and zero injuries and then look to finish them off at VP after Spurs. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugeley Villa Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 I think we need to be professional but I can see it being an exciting game. A draw would be a good result away from home but I can see goals in this one from both teams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubberman Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 Pretty sure we'll start with the strongest team available and sub on when (hopefully) settled. Unai will take this seriously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fightoffyour Posted March 4 VT Supporter Share Posted March 4 On 03/03/2024 at 11:05, Leeroy said: Reo Coker could put in a tackle but was shite on the ball and at passing. Petrov was classy but immobile and not really a defensive midfielder. How many times Nige would make a great atckle and then just kick it back to the opposition Can't wait for this game, going to celebrate with a few Frinkandels after. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
omariqy Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 Hard one this. Do we go full strength or change a few or change wholesale. Wholesale changes and it would look something like this: Martinez Cash Lenglet Torres Digne Diaby Irogebunam Tielemans Ramsey Zaniolo Rogers A few changes Martinez Cash Lenglet Torres Digne Diaby McGinn Luiz Rogers Watkins Tielemans Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DakotaVilla Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 I doubt they’ll risk Pau considering he missed Luton and will be pleasantly surprised if Jacob is fit enough. Question is do you play Lenglet and Chambers or maybe Konsa and Pau play a half each if they are fit enough. If Ramsey isn’t fit enough then you play Watkins and Bailey for a half each. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommytenjobs Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 I think this is going to be the game where we can afford to rest a few as a draw or narrow defeat would be 'fine'. Dull and insipid 0.0 would be fine by me. Pass them to death with our reserves and keep energy in the bank. That said.....its a romantic fixture and my heart says....go full strength and try to spank them. Most likely is the top option I think as we always have home leg to come. Under lights, big euro night....love to be there but not sure I can this time. Last night I remember like this was inter with God showing Baresi how to do it. I'd go...... Gk- new aussie lad Lb - moreno (keep digne for spuds) Cbs - longlet and konsa (keep pau for spuds) Rb - KKH (we've gone strong on cb ro cover his involvement) doubt emery agrees with me. I will bow to his slightly better experience.... CM- mcginn and youri (doug too important for spuds) ACM - Bailey, zaniola, diaby Cf - Rogers (ollie too important for sun. Win that and we have fourth. He can always come on for 30 mins if we need to nick a goal. Again.....I don't think emery will do this. But I would fwiw. Just think we can overrun them at vp and spurs......need to keep a foot on their throat. No more injuries to give them hope. Vtid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingman Posted March 4 Author Share Posted March 4 8 hours ago, DakotaVilla said: Hopefully this will be the slowest and most boring one paced turgid game of the season. Kill the game with minimum expenditure of energy and zero injuries and then look to finish them off at VP after Spurs. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinRichardsonsMoustache Posted March 4 Share Posted March 4 Not going to pretend that I know anything about Ajax atm, but Skysports tells me that they're fifth in their league, four points behind AZ. Last two matches have been the first clean sheets they've seen for a while: 03.03.24 Ajax 2 - 0 FC Utrecht 25.02.24 AZ 2 - 0 Ajax 22.02.24 FK Bodø/Glimt 1 - 2 Ajax 18.02.24 Ajax 2 - 2 NEC 15.02.24 Ajax 2 - 2 FK Bodø/Glimt 11.02.24 SC Heerenveen 3 - 2 Ajax 03.02.24 Ajax 1 - 1 PSV 27.01.24 Heracles Almelo 2 - 4 Ajax 21.01.24 Ajax 4 - 1 RKC Waalwijk 14.01.24 Go Ahead Eagles 2 - 3 Ajax 07.01.24 Ajax 2 - 1 Hannover 96 21.12.23 USV Hercules 3 - 2 Ajax 17.12.23 Ajax 2 - 2 PEC Zwolle 14.12.23 Ajax 3 - 1 AEK Athene 09.12.23 Ajax 2 - 1 Sparta Rotterdam 06.12.23 RKC Waalwijk 2 - 3 Ajax In short, they're not what they used to be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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