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?
Comments
134 responses to “Villa – Preston; Lansbury to be our saviour?”
We need a second.
Bloody hell, this sounds really good!
Pen!
Adohmah fouled.
Adomah to take, I think.
2-0 !!!!!!
YESSSSS!!!!
Goal .
Best performance this season, apparently.
And another good crowd.
Great get in there I wish this fucking meeting hurried up
Have live score on my phone ,saying Westwood scored.
a bit of a scramble, I think Dave.
It must have been hard to tell.
Sounds like we’re murdering them!
Blimey, what a turnaround.
Hutton playing a blinder.
Is that the same Hutton you don’t rate Badger 😄😄
In fairness, I’ve always supported him overall.
But yes, I slagged him last week.
Have Preston got off the coach?? Just seen the stats
My friend at game she says it’s best we’ve played all season. Anyone know why Jedinek not playing
No-one knows Oohah.
Thanks we can’t afford to sell our best players hope giddy is wrong
RM at Fulham for talks (rumour).
At Fulham for talks about a loan move sky reporting don’t make sense that one
Jedinek?
That must be a face-saving thing, I reckon Giddy.
Players getting in the box.
Coms saying the wider players pairing well.
Westwood give the ball away, but it comes to nothing.
Lansbury making a big difference to the midfield.
Best 45 mins for 2 years!
according to Morley.
Our goalie could have done a bit more though (joke).
Sounds brilliant.
Set piece header from preston goes wide.
2-0 HT.
Great performance up to now.
We need to make it a 90 min game.
Let’s hope so. My friend at Villa just me she said that Lansbury is making Westwood look good. He must be the messiah if he can do that 😄
Welcome home Oohah, pack that job up mate your better talking to us, yes just been told we are playing better, good news that.
Ha ha. Happy days Bill
No changes.
I forgot, it’s a 4-1-4-1 with Westwood in front of defence (Giddy).
No JV??? I suppose as it stands Bruce ain’t fucked up
Johnstone punches for practically his first touch.
3 on 3 and Grealish shoots at the goalie.
Gabby running all over the place.
Morley practically said “about time”.
Lol. We’re even winning possession stats unbelievable
Quick counter then and Gabby ran 80 yards.
Grealish poor then.
Green crosses well, but gabby couldn’t get on it.
Adomah playing well.
Sod’s law, we start to get some service and it looks like RM’s off.
Corner and Baker was close.
Bruce must have a replacement RM??? Surely
You’d think so, wouldn’t you Giddy?
All very strange.
Preston coming back into it.
Robinson subbed off for Preston.