50/50 according to physioroom. He’ll want to play, without a doubt. Manquillo is competent there, but he might be needed for left back with Targett out and Dummett still injured.
Villa will also be sweating on the injuries that Emi Buendia and Coutinho picked up in the second half against Leeds, but Gerrard is hopeful both will be fit and ready to go for the weekend clash.
Looks like Villa are vulnerable defensively. 2-2 and 3-3 home draws. ASM------------Wood---------------Fraser ------Joelinton-Shelvey-Willock--------- Manq----Burn-----Lascelles------Trippier ------------------Dubz------------------------ I'd keep Bruno away from starting and bring him on earlier. I'd bring him on around 60 mins if we are losing, 80 mins if we are winning. I'd start Lascelles because you pick off current form. Lascelles was solid last game, Schar was dreadful.
One thought that worries me greatly is how much we still rely on ASM and how much we are hoping he stays fit for the rest of the season. Christ I ****ing hate how we didn't sign another attacking option. We have to pray ASM stays fit despite him always being injured at least once per season for a stretch of games.
Bruno to start for me but apart from that agree with Tash - out of the 2 CB's Schar would be the one to miss out for me if Burn is fit to start. Wood is an issue though, from what I've seen he is doing well winning his aerial battles but when he does win them he's totally hapless once it's on the floor or he has possession on the deck. Checked yesterday and he had a 30% completion rate on his 20+ passes. Great he's winning balls and knock downs but then it isn't leading to much. I'd be tempted to move Big Joe in a false 9 position up top and tell him "don't worry about scoring goals just get us possession up top and let the midfield get beyond you" as he can win battles and has a good work rate to track back once the midfield are past him but better distribution than Wood then you can get also Bruno in the midfield.
Careful, Pouchy might start calling you all kinds of nasty names if you dare call Wood into question. I do dare, though - he's ****ing gash. But we've got no choice til Wilson's back. We have just completely bossed Everton and Big Joe/Little Joe in midfield was pivotal, so don't rock that apple cart. Shelvey - Bruno is the big question. LB is the main issue. We do have cover. Worst case it's Manq, Lascelles, Schar, Burn from right to left.
Yeh, he never won anything, his passing was dreadful and he created nothing. We just won two on the bounce and youre going all Roland about it and demanding we change it all.
Well having gone all Roly - I'm gonna go Chaos and say - your entitled to your opinion but your wrong. Only joking and I do get that train of thought but think Joe would do a similar (if not better) job up top and we can get our current Brazilian international into the squad with out disrupting the team to much. I'm not sure Joelinton could do worse than 30% pass success tbh and while I appreciate Wood's work rate off the ball, you'd get the same from Big Joe - The best bit of Woods game Tuesday night was when ASM & Willock got into the box with ~5 mins left and both ended up on the floor with cramp and Wood belted back to the LM position while Willock and ASM - understandably - wandered back. Think we've got to find a way to get Bruno in and I'd chop Wood or Shelvey personally but think I'd give Shelvey the edge on their performances since Wood's arrived. Watch Wood bag a brace against Villa now...
Eh?! I'm guilty of many, MANY things but I haven't asked to change anything? All I've said is Wood is dogshit, but we've got not choice but to play him until Wilson is back so hope for the best (and expect the worst). Strongest XI was close to the one that beat Everton, with Burn in for Schar (probably) and Bruno for Shelvey (almost certainly). That's the XI. If I'm not mistaken, our upturn in results seems to have coincided with putting 3 in central midfield........
After my campaign defending Joelinton, I'm now starting a new one defending Wood. I feel like an American, its one war to fight after another. Chris Wood is doing alright. He needs a goal for sure, but I reckon he's gonna do the job required. So **** off Roly
Yeah, but your defence of Joelinton is null and void because even today he's a ****ing awful striker. Potentially a superb midfielder, but awful striker. So please crack on - I look forward to Wood eventually forming a decent CB partnership with Dan Burn in the coming months to "prove you right". Because whilst he may well need a goal, I've no idea how he's going to score one given his inability to even shoot/head properly. A ludicrous miss vs Leeds, which he then topped with a pathetic header vs Everton. Dreadful stats aren't helping him either. He's been markedly worse than Daryl Murphy, Antoine Sibierski and Peter Lovenkrands, who all cost less than Wood has in his salary alone. His name's befitting though, when I see him stood static I instantly think "wooden". I've seen trees move quicker. Nah, this one's going in the "wtf were we thinking" filing cabinet, ironically just one letter behind Xisco. Weghorst is an immobile lump, a Dzyuba/Akinfenwa piece of meat. He's twice the player Wood is, half the cost.
Hi guys, this will be my first game for about 10 years. Not being from the area it's not easy to get to games but I've finally made an effort to go. I'm looking for some advice on where to park on the day as it's the first time I'm making the drive myself. Looking forward to it. please log in to view this image
Welcome. Good to see you post. In answer to your question I would advise a car park. Pleased to be of help.
Why do we even have Gayle on the bench, he never comes on and it's a waste of a bench place. Let's hope and pray Trips starts, other I less Burn si the stand in, and Manq in for Targett.
