Yesterday, the Evening Mail came out with a handy little tool that allows you to build your team and share it.
Hence I’ve nicked it and it’s as you see above.
It includes Elphick in defence, as it seemed at the time that Nathan Baker wasn’t going to make it. It now seems that he might be fit though and if he is, you’d expect him to start.
Rumour has it the young Andre Green might feature for this one and if he does, I’d put him straight in as he crossed a lot more than we’d seen earlier in the game.
There could be an argument for going with Grealish and bringing Green on later I suppose, but no, I’d put him in from the off.
I’ve gone for Tshibola in the middle, as I think he’s looked the liveliest, but you could go with Gardner, who’s worked well previously with Henri Lansbury, our great new hope.
Lansbury is a great signing and at somewhere between £2.8 and £3.5 million, a very good piece of business as hopefully we’ll see a bit more dynamism better linking with the attack
But we have to be realistic I think, as the player hasn’t actually played since early December, which means he might not be quite match-fit. Hence I’m not going to set my expectations too high.
How good would it be to see him get a goal on his debut, though?
The only other debatable position is Gabby upfront.
That’s not something I’d choose, of course, but it’s what I suspect Steve Bruce might go with.
I’ve said before that I think there’s something not right about McCormack, where the player’s not happy or Bruce just doesn’t rate him.
Not that it makes much difference as we’ve hardly had any shots on target in the last few games.
Now I’ve said that, watch Bruce decide to go with a two up front, although I don’t see who makes way.
Preston are doing nicely thank you and are in ninth place with three points more.
They have a good away record and haven’t lost away in 8 games.
Which should be interesting, as we haven’t lost at home at all this season, so one of those runs could end today.
So how do I see it all going?
Preston don’t tend to have much possession and when we do, we don’t have a clue what to do with it.
It’s got to be a draw for me and probably 0-0.
That’s a bit under-ambitious, I know, but it’s better than the sneaky feeling I have that says we’re going to get beat.
I just don’t see where the goals are going to come from and if you’re not scoring, you’re putting yourself under the cosh before you start.
That said, with Lansbury playing, we might actually see some movement and link-up play to get the sriker(s) involved a bit more.
Fingers crossed.
Preston’s player to watch?
Well it’s got to be Callum Robinson hasn’t it?
Their top scorer and we gave him away for £50k. Another brilliant piece of Villa business, eh?
It’s not a 5-4-1 either.
It’s just how it came out and I couldn’t be bothered to shuffle the players about.
4-5-1 obviously.
Westwood?
OMG, what do managers see in him?
Johnstone, Hutton, Baker, Chester, Amavi, Adomah, Lansbury, Westwood, Grealish, Green, Agbonlahor. Shite.
Going to use Westwood in front of the back four I would guess – and take a more attacking approach. We shall see.
Anyone else think Lansbury apart, that’s a really lightweight midfield?
Is Jedinak injured?
Neither Jedinak or McCormack in squad – does that signal the end for RM – beginning to think so.
I’d say so Hitch.
Seemed ridiculous a few weeks back, didn’t it?
If so, that’s yet another disastrous bit of business 🙁
Badger; the big problem as ever is who is actually going to put the ball in the net and we have precious few options on the bench unless he decides to put Chester at CF and lump balls into the box 🙂
Subs: Bunn, Richards, Elphick, Bacuna, Tshibola, Gardner, Davis.
Here’s the subs, hey Liverpool beaten by Swansea 3-2 shock.
Not very impressive. First 11 is average with Agbonlahor a stand out problem. Bench is weak. No game changer. I’ve got low expectations today but that’s hardly new.
Ok, prediction 2-1 Villa, Chester got his mate back in Clark sound defence, Gabby will make us eat our words, but a win for us.
Nice to see Green getting a run. Here’s hoping we some actual forward passes from mid-field. If we do 3-1 Villa
I can see lansbury being on his own in the middle running his bollox off for everything, being thrown in the deep end or what
Hoping Kodija and Ayew (yes Ayew) get early exits from AFCON. Neither are actually playing – at least they can’t get injured!
Same here Hitch.
Very little hope after seeing that line-up, I’m afraid 🙁
What’s wrong with jedi?? RMs absence possible move away. I’m with you badger it certainly doesn’t scream 3 points does it?
Tony Morley saying RM’s not fit.
That’s either rubbish or a total joke.
Green sounding lively.
Green heads wide and should have scored.
We sound ok.
Another good cross from Grealish, but no-one on the end of it.
Sounds good now though.
How’s. Lansbury doing at work unfortunately I’m going by this site only
1-0 Adomah or Gabby.
Get in!
Ad arms Badger,
Yes, the coms weren’t sure, but it seems Adomah prodded in.
Tony Morley says he’s enjoying this and we look more balanced.
Moving from the back with decent pace, which makes a nice change.
Not heard much about Lansbury, Giddy.