It’s going to be a very brief preview, as I quite simply want to get us back to talking about the Villa.
The biggest news of course, is that Benteke the Beast will be back for this game and his re-appearance can’t come quick enough for me.
I’d like to see his return combined with Gabby being “rested”, myself, but very much doubt that’s going to happen for one minute.
I know that’ll be controversial, given that Gabby was our biggest threat on Saturday, but there is reasoning behind it.
My thinking is that we’ve become more reliant on Gabby than we really ought to be.
Hence we ought to go with Benteke up front, with Weimann behind him, just to see if it works or not.
It then leaves us the option of pulling Benteke off if he’s tired through lack of games or pulling Weimann off, if he’s his often ineffective self.
And bringing Gabby on as an impact player against a tiring Palace defence.
Like I said, it won’t happen, but I just get the feeling Gabby is beginning to get a little too comfortable at the club. Whether that’s because he’s a genuine favourite of Lambert’s, or he just has too much clout, I don’t know.
So onto the headline question.
Am I confident?
I’m afraid not.
Even with Benteke back, I’m not sure we have enough of a cutting edge in the middle.
The big question there, is will Cole get another start after being somewhat a revelation against Burnley?
I’d expect so, myself.
I can’t see past another draw, but that would be four on the trot, which I just don’t see happening at all.
Hence I see it being a one nil win.
“Which way?” I hear you ask.
God only knows.
But if we don’t get anything from this game, we’re surely going to be in for a poor Christmas aren’t we?
I so want to say I think we’ll pinch it, but I really have my doubts.
We won’t get anything down there 2-1 palace
I’m going for a win don’t ask me why 0-1.
I’m going for a win. I know a lot of you will disagree with me, but I do feel confident about the game. I don’t think it will be an easy one, but it will be entertaining. I only hope that the curse does not continue and things that can go wrong, do not go wrong.
This is a big game and if we play how we played against Burnley with Benteke up front, I easily see more than one goal being scored by us. We are Villa though and there are a lot of “ifs”
I’m going 2.1 to us Mr Cheese only because Bentekes back will give everyone a lift.
Agree with you completely. I think with Benteke back, we will be able to feed off him, especially if we play how we played on the weekend.
My only fear, and it is a big fear is that I do not want Villa to become a one man team and build their entire squad around an individual that will eventually leave.
True but we’ve not much choice at the moment we’ve been without benteke for ages and we’ve shown we can’t cope without him. Let’s fa bentekes goals and bents goals is the only reason we stayed up the past few years
I was thinking this morning that I would have liked to see bent and benteke start alongside each other…. that is the only way I can see bent being reintegrated into the team. Other than that, I still feel that the squad has changed too much to accomodate bents style of play.
another toughie fixture, unlike burnley they won’t attack, leaving us space for us to counter them. this game will be like looking in the mirror, two classic countering teams,which might cancel each other out. but benteke returns this will be the telling factor, i hope. palace are dangerous down the wings, using bolaise,puncheon and zaha, so hopefully our full backs will be aware of this danger.
benteke will leave, its inevitable, the club, fans and players and manager are ambitious but these aren’t matched by lerner,his only goal is to sell the club. until this changes, players and managers will come and go. benteke will score goals until a better opportunity comes calling, then without consulting the manager, lerner will sell and pocket the money
we have gone from a big club to a feeder club, since lerner bought our club, its been dramatic fall from grace
palace 1 a villa 1 or 2 lol edge your bets
That says it all Nath;
“another toughie fixture”.
Which really shouldn’t be.
We should be beating these sort of teams (no disrespect to Palace), it’s as simple as that.
And if we can’t, you have to wonder what sort of teams we can beat.
I know, some will cite the better teams, who have to come at us, which makes them beatable on the counter.
I said we were in trouble last season, but we scraped it.
I really believe this season is going to end up worse, as even the newcomers have us sussed.
Which is quite simply why Lambert has to go.
He’s a one trick pony and the trick isn’t even very good.
I won’t even go into your “Palace are dangerous down the wings” comment.
We don’t even have that in our toolbox.
Yet still you seem confident?
Fair play, as I can’t knock anyone who believes, but REALLY????
i am confident we aren’t the villa of old, we have a weaker squad annually since lerner sacked mon, this is simple mathematics we finished 15 th for the last 3 seasons or there about”s. meaning there are 14 better teams for us to play, weaker clubs than us are few but even them weaker ones like leicester and QPR have a bigger player budget than us. when you consider nzog bent vlaar and delph soon to be leaving. sooner or later a villa will get relegated its a certainty
i should correct, since mon walked out of this ambitious club.
…and now it’s perfectly clear why he walked/pushed.
I think it’s a game where we have to win the battle and earn the right to play. If we play like we did in the first half v burnley but for 90 mins we have a chance. Cole and Benteke will give us a whole new dimension going forward.
This is so true Badger – Lambert’s tactics are one dimensional and unimaginative. I still believe our players are better than the results we are getting. I’d probably rate our squad as 12th in the league. A better manager, playing in a positive way, could push for top 10. This is his third year and we’re not seeing any signs of progress. Other teams, like West Ham and Southampton, are improving and leaving us in the dust.
Spot on nath
I think it will be another draw for us
Gabby was our biggest threat? The only reason he was a threat was because he was closest to their goal! Benteke and Weimann up top with a creative player in behind them (Cole, Grealish…)
Sadly, more likely Lambert will go back to his 4-3-3 with Gabby on the left!
Benno, he looked odds on to score in the early part of the game, I thought.
Of course he didn’t, but you know what I mean, I’m sure.
As I suggested in the post, I agree with your thinking, that we should try a game without Gabby for a change.
As a sidenote, Villa are swapping out the dugouts;
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-install-new-dugouts-8205608
If we lose to Palace and Leicester, I hope they’re bombproof, as surely Lambert will then face the wrath of the fans?
Hopefully it won’t come to that though.
I fancy Tekkers to smash one in tonight and then get sent off.
I thought Gabby was pathetic for a large chunk of the game inc the whole 2nd half. He has a can’t be bothered attitude knowing he’ll be picked for the next game regardless……He’ll then score a tap in and then do that arsehole celebration…!!!
Drop him for Benteke. Weimann works hard but thats it, wouldn’t mind at all if he’s replaced too, for Grealish perhaps. Grealish is 10x more direct and will give the Palace defence a harder time than Weimann. Then when he’s knackered bring on Weimann for his energy??
This is a huuuge game for us (oh how we’ve declined) but I think we can produce if we stay attack minded. 1-2.
spot on helenius
gabby isn’t a striker, proof if needed, has been these three games, pathetic is not strong enough. forget holding ball up,bringing midfielders in, leading the line, strikers score goals or we are told this. gabby lacks the finishing to be a striker. cole was a danger for burnley he used his brain to create openings. laid one for gabby, but he tamely passed it back to goalie arms.
time to try benteke with cole behind with grealish /weimann or robinson as a front three if they provide the beast with half the chances we created against burnley he will have himself a hat~trick
1-1.
Benteke and Cole up top for me. Robinson and Grealish on either wing, Sanchez and Cleverley in the middle. Same back five as last week. I just want Gabby and Weimann dropped for a game, Gabby more than weimann to be honest so id settle for one or the other! Tough game tonight, If Benteke plays like he did against spurs and doesn’t get sent off I think we will win 1-3. Hoping this new benteke chant gets some air time tonight!!
What is the chant?
I like the sound of that attack/midfield, Adam. Why not give it a go?! The alternative isn’t working! Drop lovechilds Westwood, Weimann and Gabby for a bit – they’re too comfortable.
Bency, what would your ideal line up be?
My ideal lineup would be Real Madrid
with the team we currently have inc injuries, i’d like to see..
Guzan
hutton-clark-okore-Cissokho
westwood-cleverly-Grealish
Cole
Gabby-Benteke
I’d keep gabby in because I feel his speed and persistance causes a lot of pressure and with Benteke actually there and able to hold the ball up, things could happen. If it doesn’t work, i’d swap gabby out for Robinson and give the lad a shot.
Sorry, Mr Cheese. It’s hard to give a proper answer on what my ideal line up would be, as there’s a few players who seem to show potential, but we haven’t really had a proper chance to look at them yet. I’m still undecided on players like Sanchez, Grealish and Robinson, but think they’ve got potential and deserve a run of games to show us what they can offer.
If everyone is fit, I’d probably go for this lineup at the moment, but it would be a bit of an experiment:
Guzan
Cissokho
Vlaar (c)
Okore
Hutton
Sanchez
Cleverley
Robinson
Grealish
Cole
Benteke
Bench:
Given
Senderos
Westwood
N’Zogbia
Bent
I’m still not 100% convinced that Guzan is better than Given, but I think we’ve destroyed Given’s confidence, so there’s probably not much point in playing him. I also think Bent was probably the best goalscorer we had, if played in the right system. Again, I think we’ve destroyed him. We’ve done this with so many players over the years. I blame bad management. Fair play to Hutton for coming back stronger.
What’s the new Benteke chant?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IKPOvxAt88
Yeh Badger I am feeling confident brother I think we will Nick it.Im hoping for a 4-2-3-1 formation with Cole the AM behind Benteke.I think we’ve got enough tonight and think they’ve got a couple out.Going to go 3-1 Villa utv
According to Livescore… The team line up is as follows…
4.3.1.2
guzan
hutton-clark-okore-Cissokho
Cleverly-Westwood-Richardson
Cole
Gabby- Benteke
I am livid that Richardson is starting the game, truly livid. I really do not trust the player and honestly believe that Grealish should get the go ahead to start, LIVID.
Why Richardson?! Cleverly and Westwood are too similar for my liking. I’d swap Richardson and Gabby for Robinson and Grealish. Let’s show a bit of adventure for a change!
I like it and I don’t see why it shouldn’t be tried either. If it fails, then we have some energetic subs to bring on because I think both gabby and wiemann would be good to bring on to up the pace.
i could understand him not playing sanchez, i am not sure, hes used to playing too many games with 2 days rest between games,also the same intensity as in england. but gabby could also be rested, for a grealish or robinson, i hope cole didn’t burn himself out, its a big ask for him to play another hour here.
Lambert never goes for it! Why is he so negative?
I’m not keen on Richardson up to now, but I suspect Grealish will get a decent run out, when the midfield three do their usual nothing.
The lack of goals from the midfield is a total joke and proves where our problem is, imo.
Surely Lambert can see this???
Flying in the face of History? Most of the predictions above.
Palace are a Hit and Run team of exactly the type we do not like facing. Down the middle they are bruising hard men, out wide they are very fast. Discipline is not their strong point so they may not finish with 11. Nath says they won’t attack? Eh? I will be very surprised if they don’t.
A midweek game in South London. When did we last win one of those? I think it may have been v Charlton at Selhurst Pk when they were squatting during the Valley rebuild. A long time ago anyway. I give Villa no chance at all if they made the journey by coach in one go from Birmingham – in that case 2-0 Palace. If they came down yesterday and stayed at Selsdon Park then we might do better, but only if we keep our foot on the gas should we go one up.
when you take sentences out of CONTEXT you will come to the wrong conclusions lmao
they won’t attack LEAVING space like burnley afforded the villa strikers, can’t explain fairer than that.
learn to read the full sentences then you see the bigger pictures
only change Sanchez for benteke
Really happy to see Richardson has not started… Shame the youngsters haven’t had a chance to start.
Angry to see us playing 4-3-3 as well. Does this man have no other thoughts?
just seen the team and villa’s is very attacking and this could well be a mistake, i do hope if gabby and weimann are the wide players they track back, cos they will be strong down the sides and quick.
beers chilled 🙂 lucky pants ironed and on 🙂 lets hope for a win