Matchday 26 - Aston Villa Vs Nottingham Forest. Saturday 24th February. Kick off 3pm.

[Trents]

I'd agree with not changing a winning team but I think away at Villa we'd need a more defensive minded midfielder in for Danilo. Probably Kouyate or Yates. Maybe Sangare to slot back in there.

Will be interesting to see if Nuno throws Aina back in too.

 

[Red Dog in a Forest]

They will play the high line. Both Emery and Ange are quite set on it being the way they play and they are both good enough at it to get more points from doing it than they lose from being caught out not doing it.

Our wide players are all quick and so is Nico and MGW through the middle.

If everyone's fit we could go unchanged but with some of the AFCON lads on the bench. It'd send out the wrong impression to bring those in when the lads who played yesterday did so well

I was thinking the same with the AFCON players. Give them some minutes off the bench and then potentially start them vs Man United mid-week.

However, Villa (besides their defence) aren’t a particularly big side, so we could see Sangare and Yates in the middle as part of an Away side?

Saying that, no-one deserves to lose their place. As long as Nuno watches the Cooper (Villa) tape, we can get three points there.

 

[Monkman]

It would be a bit harsh on Tavares as he was pretty good and is forming a nice little understanding with CHO, but I think I'd prefer Aina for this with the threat they have on their right. Aina is also no slouch going forward.

 

[ARedChester]

1-2 to the mighty REDSSSS

Awoniyi and Elanga, their pace along with Tavares will rip them a new one. Plus Dominguez the workhorse will be all over them.

 

[Farmer Jack]

That f*cking badge is some of your finest work yet

 

[Statto]

That f*cking badge is some of your finest work yet

Surely it's a w*nking badge not a f*cking badge though?

 

[tomw94]

Selz
Williams Felipe Murillo Aina
Sangare Dominguez
Elanga MGW CHO
Awoniyi

Bring back Aina for this for his 1v1 defending, we will need it vs Villas front line. Pretty sure Bailey plays on the right and he is in superb form, Aina is our best chance at cancelling him out.

Harsh to drop Danilo but it’s time for Sangare to show he will be our main man.

 

[GOBIAS]

Selz
Williams Felipe Murillo Aina
Sangare Dominguez
Elanga MGW CHO
Awoniyi

Bring back Aina for this for his 1v1 defending, we will need it vs Villas front line. Pretty sure Bailey plays on the right and he is in superb form, Aina is our best chance at cancelling him out.

Harsh to drop Danilo but it’s time for Sangare to show he will be our main man.

Looks good to me Tom

 

[enlightened]

Using the reverse psychology that worked last Saturday - we lose!

 

[Beasty]

Very tough game, will take a point and run. Can't see him changing the starting xi unless injury dictates but will be good to get some strength back on the bench.

 

[Abdooonk]

I thought Danilo was brilliant on Saturday. Can't think why we would drop him for Sangare who has shown little for us so far and wasn't great at Afcon either.

 

[MaxiRobriguez]

Sels
Williams Felipe Niakhate Murillo
Yates Dominguez
Elanga MGW CHO
Awoniyi
​

Would be my side, probably set-up in a low block with Yates and Domginuez being far less dynamic than Dominguez and Danilo were vs West Ham. Be plenty of opportunity to get ball wide and run at them so central midfield support less of a requirement, much more important they protect the back four in this one.

Niakhate back in to do the same job he did on Watkins earlier on in the season. Murillo shifting over to the left because he can actually defend unlike Tavares and can find the passes into CHO over the top. Murillo can fill in at CB when Niakhate wants to take a long throw high up the pitch as well.

 

[Morpeth]

Same team again please.

 

[Ian Storey Moore]

We'll get something from this, their high line will suit us big time.

 

[Project Zeus]

Villa have been shakey at home recently, and their high line is perfect for our rapid counter game.

It's obviously a really tough game, but the ingredients are there for a shock result.

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[valspoodle]

After the game at the CG they must be aware of the threat posed by our pacey forwards. Or perhaps they are arrogant enough to believe that they have the defenders to cope and so have nothing to fear.

Should be interesting.

 

[Captain Sinister]

After the game at the CG they must be aware of the threat posed by our pacey forwards. Or perhaps they are arrogant enough to believe that they have the defenders to cope and so have nothing to fear.

Should be interesting.

I reckon Villa will go all defensive: park the bus at home, and hope to catch us on the break.

 

[Steve B]

Elanga & Big T licking their lips at that high line.

 

[MASE]

Villa have been shakey at home recently, and their high line is perfect for our rapid counter game.

It's obviously a really tough game, but the ingredients are there for a shock result.

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This.

Id go with
Sels
Williams Felipe Murillo Tavares
MGW Dominguez
Elanga Reyna CHO
Taiwo

If your going to hit Villa on the break, put the player at the base who can get it out the quickest. Thats MGW, assuming Reyna is up to it, Id go this way. We could take Villa so many times on the break the defensive side of the formation would become immaterial.

Villa 0 - Forest 3.

 

[tomw94]

I thought Danilo was brilliant on Saturday. Can't think why we would drop him for Sangare who has shown little for us so far and wasn't great at Afcon either.

I agree it is harsh but our whole summer recruitment was based around chasing this guy, he simply HAS to step up at some point.
It is unfortunate for Danilo but you can not drop Dominguez.
Either way if I see Danilo keeps his place I will still be happy has he had a good game against West Ham.

 

[PynchonForest]

Nuno will need his tactics spot on in this one. If Emery insists on the high line then there is our opportunity to exploit. Not certain Emery will stick to his guns. He's a smart manager and pragmatism is a wise ideal at certain times. We may be able to sneak a point here.

 

[Steve B]

We’re going to have a pretty strong looking bench by next week. Let’s hope it stays that way. Think only Wood is currently on the injured list isn’t he? Got to be a first for about 5 years.

 

[Gyros Peter]

We’re going to have a pretty strong looking bench by next week. Let’s hope it stays that way. Think only Wood is currently on the injured list isn’t he? Got to be a first for about 5 years.

Wood and Montiel... that we know of!

 

[Quntib Hollox]

We’re going to have a pretty strong looking bench by next week. Let’s hope it stays that way. Think only Wood is currently on the injured list isn’t he? Got to be a first for about 5 years.

Montiel?

 

[Steve B]

Oh yeah Montiel. But overall that’s not bad compared to recent years where we seem to have had at least 6 out permanently