Paul Lambert will have to shuffle the pack for tomorrow’s League Cup game against Tottenham, because after the Norwich win Aston Villa have lost Benteke to injury and Agbonlahor, Delph and Luna have all suffered knocks. Westwood has suffered a thigh injury and that is the reason he missed out on Aston Villa’s win over the weekend. Long-term causalities still include Okore (knee), N’Zogbia (Achilles) and Gary Gardner (back).
However, there is very limited information about Matthew Lowton. Anthony Pearson tweeted to me with this:
They said on BT Sport before kick-off that he’d been totally left out and wasn’t injured, had no reasons.
That’s all I have, so it appears as though Lowton isn’t injured. So will he return for the League Cup? If Lowton doesn’t return it’s looking likely that Jed Steer will have another go in goal, replacing Guzan tomorrow. Sylla, Helenius and Bennett are also likely to start for tomorrow’s game.
These injuries maybe the cause of the intense Premier League start that Aston Villa were handed. Villa played against Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool within the same week, then played against Rotherham in the League Cup. Good thing Lambert bought in 7 new players and there is squad depth this season, let’s hope the new boys (and some old!) can impress.
This just proves to me that the fixture list needs sorting out too many games in quick session its a joke stupid sky times need to go everyone should play at the same time once on sat then cup games on wed gives teams time to recover not a game every 48hours stupid no wonder players are out
Agree some of their ko times beggar belief. Who the fuck in their right mind wants to see a game on sat at 5.30 Ffs. Completely fucks the day up another reason I don’t buy a st. Sunday games should be 5 not 4 then don’t have to rush back to watch sat 12.45 rarely around to watch to many better things to do and only watch when villa play. Much better when all games where sat 3pm or 7.45 on a wed. It’s totally unfair as teams in relegation or title/CL contenders can suffer a huge disadvantage. Imagine if we were seriously pushing for fourth and upsetting the status quo they would have the power to make sure we play at the worst times to fuck us over.
Is Gardner definitely a long term injury again (or still)? I was hoping he’d be back fit by now, that’s what we were being told.
I believe he’s still out, however Lambert really want’s to give him a chance in the first team. He won’t be going out on loan
Agree about the fixtures list – cramming the Chelsea game in was a bit of a joke and surely put us at a disadvantage to other teams.
I don’t think it does disadvantage us Wev got that game out the way and played them before they got in their rythm and beat us 8.0 again. Also outlet players will have a rest when everyone plays game in hand.
I think it was a disadvantage. Playing 3 games in 6 days of the first week is tough for any player.
I also think if we played Chelsea a week later, I think we would’ve gotten something out of that game. They haven’t been playing well and I think the ‘Mourinho vibe’ won them the game.
well spurs have got just as much to deal with, they’ve got 3 games in 10 days although admittedly they’ve got ‘slightly’ better strength in depth than us.
certainly looks like we’ll be getting to see something of hellenius and sylla then and a few others.
spurs looked very decent against Cardiff, the Cardiff keeper played a blinder, could’ve been 4/5 nil.
I think we may be in for a few lean days ahead at VP the next few days with the visit of man city following spurs. maybe they will approach the games too confident and we can stick it up em but anything out of the next 2 games will be a massive achievement.
Can’t see anything other than a Spurs win, it will be a case of how many we let in.
There was a time that playing Spurs was something you could look forward too : /
I’m looking forward to it, especially if Helenius gets a look in. I have a feeling he could become a first team player, if only he’s given a chance. Like Kozak and Benteke he’s tall, good at corners and has excellent placement of the through ball, both of which we saw in pre-season. I’d hazard a guess at Tonev on left wing, Wiemann on right, Kozak in the middle, Helenius behind, Sylla to the right and probably Delph to the left. Please please please not KEA. Sylla looks better and needs game time. Plus he is going to want to impress.
Sylla has to start today, I think he’s a good player but just hasn’t been given the chance. If he plays well, I can see him coming into the side in place of either Westwood, El Ahmadi or Tonev.
Helenius looks good, well at least did in Denmark. I want to see more of him, his technical ability is fantastic and I think he could play well.
Tonev also has a good future, if and only IF he stops being so selfish and tries to create more.
Tonev vs Kyle Walker. I’d like to see Gabby there (he’d run rings round Walker) but with Benteke out he has to be fit for the ManC match. Tonev needs to be passing the balls to the people who score goals: Kozak, Helenius and Wiemann and causing hell down the left wing, Walker will be looking to get forward as per usual, we need someone to get in behind him and also keep him back and not making runs. Wiemann needs to get his scoring boots on soon, doesn’t he? I think he has the energy to play today and Saturday but he also has the ability to cause havoc and score goals.
I wonder if Steer will only be firing off long balls in the direction of Kozak? I suppose if Kozak and Helenius both play he’ll have a choice and it will make it slightly harder for Spurs to surround two players, rather than just Benteke. Assuming Steer and Helenius start. Hell, assuming Kozak even starts, we need him on Saturday too!
I noticed in pre-season that Steer was a lot more precise in his ball placement.
I don’t think Agbonlahor will start, remember the Man. City league cup game last year? Lambert played many players that weren’t getting into the first team. That included Agbonlahor and N’Zogbia.
I think he’ll do the same, those players that haven’t been playing so far, will get a chance.
I’m still not sure about Steer, but today will be a big test for him, so let’s hope he can impress.
I’d like to agree with you, but I just have no idea how Lambert will set up his team today. I don’t think anyone know’s really.
What’s Boas moaning about, he’s tell the papers its an unfair advantage, Rose, is out and Defoe groin strain might not make it, he’s paid all that money has players in depth can pick two sides if he wants and still moans.
It’s apparently unfair that we’ve had an extra day to recover and the schedule is all wrong. Cardiff on Sunday and us today, it’s not exactly Arsenal (away), Chelsea (away) and Liverpool (home) in a week, is it?
Such a shame about Gardner being injured. He needs to be playing and we all need to see what he can do. Aside, that is, from scoring stunning free kicks.
Boas can’t complain too much, we had 3 games in 6 days in the first week of the Premier League season against the top teams!!
All the top managers in the game would’ve lost their minds over it, we just had to get it over with.
It’s all psychological bollocks gk make us think we are favourites to put pressure on us. Though lambert has responded well saying city match us the priority and we will rest players. Fair play
Quite right Adam2231, that what was on my mind , I should have said that in my first post, always the same top flight clubs cannot do wrong , but if they don’t like they moan. Even so they can still put better side out than us.