Been a funny old weekend, the Manchester result and the QPR beating Chelsea, all the nicer to watch after our 3 points on Saturday. Funny how 3 points make the temperature feel a few degrees warmer, the wind not so biting and the Sunday roast that bit more enjoyable. But thatâs one step complete and this weekend is even more important because a good home win will consolidate those 3 points, move us further up the table but more importantly it will be the start of a potential roll. Its certainly a game with all the ingredients, big Eck coming to town and of course Mr Bent making a visit. We the fans are all looking forward to Bents return but the team must not get carried away with it, we know all about his threat but lets look at our threat. A team who must be on a high after last weekend and importantly a team who cant sit back. Mig knows Gordon is soon back and Westwood is after him. Richardson and OâShea both know that Bardo wants back and in midfield ever place now has a player ready to grab a place. Sess seemed to revel in the free role he was given and both Bendy and Wickham seemed to revel in him having that free role. Bendy got his goal, looks better every game and will be wanting to impress at home, I also think he is the type who will want to show Bent he is not missed. Wickham, well we can debate all season as to whether he should have been played earlier but what is beyond argument is the longer the game lasted, the better he looked. The lad looks to me like he has an attitude, confident verging on cocky and thatâs just what you need to be a top striker. I am trying not to let my mind run away with Wickham but I have very high hopes for the lad on what I admit is very little viewing time. A good game on Saturday could catapult the lad to the edge of cult status but we need to remember he is still 18. Villa with the Bent factor will be far from easy but I have a feeling it could be easier than we think. The team should be up for it and the crowd will certainly be up for it, a good start is vital so its everything crossed time. My only fear is that if Bendy and Wickham hit it off, and I hope they do, I just hope that Bruce and Short donât fall into the, well we donât need a striker in January, trap.
Of course not, man for man I think we're better than Villa and these are the games we should be winning.
Given Hutton Dunne Collins Warnock Bannan Herd Petrov N'Zog (sshh don't mention his name) Agbonglahor Bent They line up something like this, not sure about the midfield though. Man for man each team has their strengths.... Edit Herd will be banned so maybe replaced by Ireland or Albrighton.
Agree with this. We've got to be looking to win home games against teams like Villa who are likely to be similar to us this year.
For me, if we are to be a proper premier team all home games bar maybe United, City and Chelsea we sould be looking for a win. Spurs and yes Newcastle a draw would not be the end of the world. Villa lost last weekend, 10 men I know but lost all the same, we won. We have invested in a new team and man for man we need to be at least equal to teams like Villa so with home advantage a win it needs to be.
This is really another must win game, SB is scraping by atm another loss at home, goals scored with the striker he sold/wanted more money/screwing his daughter etc is just awful. We need a good display and win on Saturday which will be helped if Catts and Elmo are kept away from the pitch. I am torn between Bardo for LB or Rico, I think Rico is better going forward and Bardo the better defender, still nice choice to have
Spot on and he simply cant change the team. I am a big Bardo fan but Richardson does not deserve to be dropped so same again and continue on from the second half on Saturday.
I agree, think we're quite evenly matched. Man for man, I would say... Given Mig (although Given hasn't exactly been in top form this season) Hutton O'Shea Hutton possibly better going forward but O'Shea just shades it for me - he's a defender first and foremost Dunne Brown Goes without saying Collins Turner Still not entirely comfortable with Turner though he does seem to be getting better game by game Warnock Richo Same as the Hutton / O'Shea scenario - Warnock is the better defender imo Albrighton Larsson no brainer Bannan Colback Havn't seen much of bannan tbf PetrovVaughan close one but Petrov offers more of a goal threat N'Zogbia Sess Zog has been poor this season and has his knickers in a twist - a lucky escape? Agbonlahor Wickham Gabby is in the form of his life whereas Wickham has only got one full game under his belt so far Bent Bendtner Bent isn't on form, and can't hack pressure. He will falter badly with 40,000 people booing his every touch imo. Besodes that, I think Bendtner is the better all-round striker anyway based on what I've seen so far. With the home advantage, I won't be happy with anything less than all 3 points!
we should be going for the win and the 3 points points that come with. Win: Happy Draw: slightly disappointed (but not end of world) Lose: Unhappy Bent is not in great form right now, but we cant afford to write him off. He is a complete ****er, but nobody can deny his eye for goal.
Bent will obviously have a point to prove so I'm wary of him but we should (and I do) be expecting home wins against mid-table opposition.
We have to start and play an attacking line up to even begin to think about winning games. I will wait and see what line up we field before I consider our chances of beating villa. If Bruce bottles it and goes 5 in midfield and Bendtner on his own, he should be slaughtered. Is a point okay? No. We really should be beating them if we are to progress.
Well Ancelloti wants to manage again in the premier league, so i hope we get a good run going before Jan and Niall gets a billionaire in quick, but i do want Steve bruce to succeed with SAFC and lets hope the team have 'Gelled' now and keep Bent out on sat, and stick with the same team, starting Bardo though.
That wee **** Hutton should have been banned. Cheers for injuring RoI's in form striker a couple of weeks before our Euro play-offs
Not too sure about the Villa game they have a point to prove after getting beat off WBA and, of course we have D.Bent coming back for his first visit since going (so is bound to score). Still think we should be looking at games like this to get 3 points from however, it'll all come down to the team picked as to the outcome of the game.
