Villa Game

[cherrypie7]

Villa Park December 2018 created hostilities of late, for sure.

We were two nil down after 20 minutes, pulled two back in five second-half minutes to draw level. First goal by half-time substitute Jack Clarke with a stunning right-foot curler [his first goal for the club] & was followed by a Pontus Jansson header with Roofe scoring the winner in 95 min - the 'Roof' came off in the Doug Ellis NE 'away section' & didn't go down well, Villa fans on pitch taunting Leeds fans, smoke bombs being hurled from our section & Stewards stood powerless as Leeds players joined in with our celebrations.

Remember this game very well but had no idea about fan issues.

[denver11]

Think Rodrigo in his best position up front, or Gelhardt. This thing with James as main striker waste of time, at a push Harrison would be better, but it all comes down to lack of squad depth.

It's straightforward for anyone else but Bielsa. Joffys a striker so play him.

[denver11]

Is the lead poster of this thread's avatar Che Guevara???? Not sure but sure looks like him.

It could be Wolfie Smith
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizen_Smith

[Monaco_Totty]

Gerrard plays the solid back four in defence with flying wing-backs, so most notably they're patiently always 'recycling the ball' around the defence & the base of midfield to start attacks - but now have Coutinho on loan so not sure how they'll use him in the 4-3-2-1 they use as 'Villa’s defensive shape' under Gerrard always has the team sit in a deep defensive block & engage with their first line of pressure around the halfway line, all the tactical reports I've read suggest they do this like clockwork.

Whoever plays up front will have to pull the Villa defenders apart constantly for sure & as ever every chance created must be taken in this game as it will become end to end stuff.

My brother was telling me that it appears Targett & Cash are instructed by Gerrard to provide the width & quickly put low crosses into the box for one of the front three to attack, so from a goalkeepers perspective a nightmare scenario & for our defence no silly rash challenges inside the box. Interesting to see who'll we have on our bench as the game progresses to conclusion.

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Gerrard plays the solid back four in defence with flying wing-backs, so most notably they're patiently always 'recycling the ball' around the defence & the base of midfield to start attacks - but now have Coutinho on loan so not sure how they'll use him in the 4-3-2-1 they use as 'Villa’s defensive shape' under Gerrard always has the team sit in a deep defensive block & engage with their first line of pressure around the halfway line, all the tactical reports I've read suggest they do this like clockwork.

Whoever plays up front will have to pull the Villa defenders apart constantly for sure & as ever every chance created must be taken in this game as it will become end to end stuff.

My brother was telling me that it appears Targett & Cash are instructed by Gerrard to provide the width & quickly put low crosses into the box for one of the front three to attack, so from a goalkeepers perspective a nightmare scenario & for our defence no silly rash challenges inside the box. Interesting to see who'll we have on our bench as the game progresses to conclusion.

Gerrard’s teams work hard without the ball too which is why I am worried that they may win the ball back in bad places for us.

Getting the first goal and not going behind seems to be crucial for us

[denver11]

Targett went to Newcastle so he'll not be steaming forward.

[Monaco_Totty]

Yep, Targett signed for Newcastle this week on loan & Villa signed Frenchman Lucas Digne from Everton on loan, so maybe the full back we can get an error from will be steaming backwards chasing our flying wingers.

[joellufcprice]

Gerrard plays the solid back four in defence with flying wing-backs, so most notably they're patiently always 'recycling the ball' around the defence & the base of midfield to start attacks - but now have Coutinho on loan so not sure how they'll use him in the 4-3-2-1 they use as 'Villa’s defensive shape' under Gerrard always has the team sit in a deep defensive block & engage with their first line of pressure around the halfway line, all the tactical reports I've read suggest they do this like clockwork.

Whoever plays up front will have to pull the Villa defenders apart constantly for sure & as ever every chance created must be taken in this game as it will become end to end stuff.

My brother was telling me that it appears Targett & Cash are instructed by Gerrard to provide the width & quickly put low crosses into the box for one of the front three to attack, so from a goalkeepers perspective a nightmare scenario & for our defence no silly rash challenges inside the box. Interesting to see who'll we have on our bench as the game progresses to conclusion.

Targett will do well to do that from St James Park seen and given he barely played for Gerrard

[UbiqueLUFC33]

Seems ages since we last played.

Villa fans forum views on the match.
https://www.villatalk.com/topic/2268...-match-thread/

There are some truly spectacular bottom feeders on that forum. I was going to respond to some of their delusional fantasies but decided I couldn't really justify the oxygen it would have wasted in registering to post.

[spaldy]

Looks like Che plagarized Andy's term.... ball bags.