ender4 Posted April 1 Share Posted April 1 Let’s kick some ass and take the pressure off for the away leg. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Ceemo Posted April 4 Popular Post Share Posted April 4 The French Authorities towards the end of March changed the fixtures for PSG and Lille to help them in Europe. Lille were set to face Marseille before us and then Monaco between the first and second leg. Two massive game for them in the chase for Champions League football. They have allowed Lille to postpone the Monaco game until later in the month and so they now have a week between both legs whilst we will have to face Arsenal. It certainly makes things more difficult. Have watched Lille's last two games against Brest and Lens. Very good side. Press very well and play very controlled football. They aren't particularly an exciting side and aren't going to hammer you as well as unlikely to get hammered. Outside David, their squad don't score enough goals. First game against Brest, they were the better for most of it but conceded a soft goal and had to settle for a point. They pretty much dominated throughout against Lens in the North Derby, until Lens scored late on and they had a little bit of panic but deservedly won. They face Marseille on Friday night in another big game. Chevalier looks a good prospect in goal, whilst centre-back Yoro is linked with some of Europe's biggest clubs. Captain Benjamin Andre is 33 but is probably playing as well as ever in midfield, alongside former Spurs and Newcastle player, Bentaleb. Another former Newcastle player in Cabella is on the books but would be unlikely to start. David is well known up top and Zhegrova looks a very good player and your typical winger. 2 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marka Ragnos Posted April 5 VT Supporter Share Posted April 5 (edited) 13 hours ago, Ceemo said: Very good side. Press very well and play very controlled football. They aren't particularly an exciting side and aren't going to hammer you as well as unlikely to get hammered. Any Championship or PL clubs whose style or recent form reminds you of Lille? Crystal Palace? Edited April 5 by Marka Ragnos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Ceemo Posted April 5 Popular Post Share Posted April 5 5 hours ago, Marka Ragnos said: Any Championship or PL clubs whose style or recent form reminds you of Lille? Crystal Palace? Yeah Palace would be a very good comparison in that certainly under Hogdson they didn't seem to be very much a big risk-taking side. David is a better striker than what Palace have at the moment though and Lille are better defensively for sure, although it hard to compare the two leagues. The French League certainly this season has been very, very defensive on the whole and so Lille are not only ones in that aspect. You look at Lille in Ligue 1, and they have scored just 39 goals from 27 games but only conceded 24. They have had a couple of 3-0's and a 4-0, but generally their games have been tight. In Europe, in what was a easy group, they scored 10 from their 6 games but only conceded twice. They beat Sturm Graz comfortably in the knockout stage and so haven't really had a challenge in Europe. I'd expect them to come to Villa Park next week and sit back with a low block and soak up the pressure and counter with the front 3. Paulo Fonseca is a serious coach and Emery will have his work cut out for him. 2 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ceemo Posted April 5 Share Posted April 5 (edited) Lille playing Marseille now. Marseille in the quarter-finals of the Europa League so a good barometer of where Lille are at the moment. UPDATE: 0-0 at half-time almost predictably. Pretty boring watch. Lille looking the likelier to break the deadlock. Zhegrova had a excellent chance saved and Alexsandro Ribeiro had a good header tipped over by Lopez. Plenty of long balls over the top from Lille looking for the pace of the wingers and then sitting in a low block when Marseille attack. Very little play in the middle of the pitch. 1-0 Lille. Loose pass by Marseille intercepted by David who is fouled in the box. He steps up and put Lille in front almost out of nowhere. 2-0 Lille. Lille have been ok, but Marseille have been absolutely terrible. Unable to make simple 5-yard passes. Cabella pounces on another mistake and sticks it in the top corner. 2-1. Freak goal rebounds off in somehow as the defenders got into a terrible tangle. Come from nowhere for Marseille. 3-1 Lille. Another mistake by Marseille. This time a poor clearance, and Lille work it well on the right before Gudmundsson finishes it. Finished 3-1. Lille just sat and waited for the Marseille mistakes and came alive when they did. Lille played almost exclusively on the counter-attack the whole game and it worked like a charm. Zhegrova and David are quite clearly their best players. They come alive in that final third and have loads of spark. To beat them for me, you need to get around their workmanlike midfield in Bentaleb and Andre who protect the back four. Villa need physicality in there which McGinn should provide and get at that back four. Edited April 5 by Ceemo 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marka Ragnos Posted April 5 VT Supporter Share Posted April 5 (edited) 2 hours ago, Ceemo said: Yeah Palace would be a very good comparison in that certainly under Hogdson they didn't seem to be very much a big risk-taking side. David is a better striker than what Palace have at the moment though and Lille are better defensively for sure, although it hard to compare the two leagues. The French League certainly this season has been very, very defensive on the whole and so Lille are not only ones in that aspect. You look at Lille in Ligue 1, and they have scored just 39 goals from 27 games but only conceded 24. They have had a couple of 3-0's and a 4-0, but generally their games have been tight. In Europe, in what was a easy group, they scored 10 from their 6 games but only conceded twice. They beat Sturm Graz comfortably in the knockout stage and so haven't really had a challenge in Europe. I'd expect them to come to Villa Park next week and sit back with a low block and soak up the pressure and counter with the front 3. Paulo Fonseca is a serious coach and Emery will have his work cut out for him. This is incredible stuff. Thank you, seriously. It's fascinating. Sounds like we're up against a dangerous and very implacable opponent. (But I am also trying to work out how someone could know so much about French football, live in Ireland, be Villa, and ... have a Cleveland Browns avatar? ) Edited April 5 by Marka Ragnos 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ceemo Posted April 5 Share Posted April 5 10 minutes ago, Marka Ragnos said: This is incredible stuff. Thank you, seriously. It's fascinating. Sounds like we're up against a dangerous and very implacable opponent. (But I am also trying to work out how someone could know so much about French football, live in Ireland, be Villa, and ... have a Cleveland Browns avatar? ) Lille will almost certainly will be in the Champions League next season so if we want to compete at that level, this will be the sort of the game ahead of us next season. And yes, I'm a football fan just as much as being a Villa fan at the end of the day with a keen interest in the sport in general and love to keep up to date and watch other leagues/players in general. Have only really got down to watching Lille fully since the draw was made in fairness, but would have seen them here and there throughout the season. As for the NFL, for us here, it is perfect to follow on Sunday evenings throughout the dark winter. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben1505 Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 What’s our predictions for both legs? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M_Afro Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 I think that this will be a welcome relief for the players, allowing them to escape the pressure of the PL. I’m expecting a really big performance as we bounce back from some poor performances in the PL. 3-0 win to the Villa and hopefully a springboard to a good end to the season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lerner's Driver Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 Could easily be disappointed with the result here. Not entirely sure we cope with pressure very well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlobalVillan Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 15 hours ago, ben1505 said: What’s our predictions for both legs? I think we will go out in this round tbh. It would be a shame but then, we never expected to be in such a good position in the league and CL qualification is so close now that this has become a bit "2nd fiddle". 1-1 at VP and then a defeat in France is my prediction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alakagom Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 16 minutes ago, GlobalVillan said: I think we will go out in this round tbh. It would be a shame but then, we never expected to be in such a good position in the league and CL qualification is so close now that this has become a bit "2nd fiddle". 1-1 at VP and then a defeat in France is my prediction. I mean right now CL qualification hinges on English teams doing better in the cups..If Leverkusen beats West Ham and Bayern beats Arsenal it's gonna be 50/50, City won't have it easy vs Madrid. Our CL qualification might literally be dependant on us progressing to semis and finals. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben1505 Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 Dougie can go all out in these two games as he has no premier league to worry about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
479Villan Posted April 6 Share Posted April 6 I think Thursday is: Martinez Konsa Carlos Pau Digne Bailey Tim Dougie McGinn Tielemans. Watkins If Cash is back, natch he slots in and replace Carlos. And that is your best lineup to protect your midfield, and still spring forward. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVTuco Posted April 7 VT Supporter Share Posted April 7 We have to win this. Hopefully Cash is back by Thursday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugeley Villa Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 Very tough game this, but as the competition goes on you have to play better teams. We really could do with winning but even if it was a draw you’d still say we have a good chance of getting the result over there, but yes let’s hope we go over there with the advantage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjw63 Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 Re-sign El Ghazi in case it goes to penalties. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alakagom Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 7 hours ago, Rugeley Villa said: Very tough game this, but as the competition goes on you have to play better teams. We really could do with winning but even if it was a draw you’d still say we have a good chance of getting the result over there, but yes let’s hope we go over there with the advantage. Lile lost 1 home game this entire season, and that was in September, we really need to win at home. Hope we show up with right mentality 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugeley Villa Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 1 hour ago, Alakagom said: Lile lost 1 home game this entire season, and that was in September, we really need to win at home. Hope we show up with right mentality I agree but if not I wouldn’t write us off easily Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VillaChris Posted April 7 Share Posted April 7 They are much much better than Ajax imo (who lost 6-0 today). Very good striker in David who will probably be the best CF we've faced in this competition and got decent players in midfield aswell. I would hope for a one goal lead to take over to France and then it's another Ajax type slow the game down and play for a 0-0 scenario to get through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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