Leonardo Ulloa came off with a bruised calf last week but he should be fine for this week. Wes Morgan returns from suspensions but Paul Konchesky is now suspended for 3 games for violent conduct. So here is what I would play Hamer De Laet Wasilewski Morgan Simpson Albrighton Cambiasso Drinkwater Schlupp Ulloa Wood Subs- Smith, Moore, Mahrez, James, King, Vardy, Nugent
problem is that schlupp is the natural replacement but simply HAS to play at LM as far as i am concerned.
I'd put Schlupp there for the Man City game even though both of them were missing for Villa's second goal.
the problem is that he has sort of made that LM berth his own though and we have no real 'genuine' other LM option
Schlupp got back but was drawn inside because Wasyl had given the ball away in their half and was stranded out wide ... not sure but I did wonder why Knoch was so incensed with Hutton .. wonder if it was because he felt responsible for not picking him up for the goal etc and Hutton was perhaps rubbing it in before that 'incident' .....
This line up has been going through my mind ... Schmeichel Schlupp Moore Morgan Simpson Cambiasso Drinkwater/James Mahrez Nugent Wood Ulloa ... with Nuge being asked to create rather than score ...
I can't believe that people are still persisting with advocating 2 up front when we get annihilated in midfield week in week out. Getting outnumbered in midfield against the likes of Man City doesn't bear thinking about. If Villa found it easy to do then what will Man City do? I see people are putting Wood's name in the starting line-up. I know he's one of Ed's favourites but I'm afraid that, for me, he is one of those unfortunate players who manages to live up to his surname. For a big guy he is so lacking in strength and determination and moves with no real purpose. With his lack of ability on top of that he doesn't even come close to a start in the Prem for me - but only my opinion. Man City have some pretty tasty options in midfield and, if we don't manage to match them numerically and get at them quickly, they will destroy us. They do like to spread it wide to their full backs so we will need our wide midfielders to preferably stay awake this week and put in a real shift defensively, if that's not too much to ask. Our defensive options, or lack of credible options, is a big concern. In Morgan and Wasilewski we have two defenders who are too slow to react and can't win a header between them. Moore is quicker across the ground but weak in the air and positionally awful. This type of game for us is one where we might be better to concentrate on damage limitation. What we don't want is a thumping great home defeat to lower morale even further and get the fans on the players' backs. I'd be happy with a 0-2 and a committed performance.
......................Kasper Simpson.....Wassy...Morgan....Schlupp ..............James......Cambiasso ....De laet.........Mahrez..........Allbrighton .....................Ulloah Use the pace of De laet further forward giving Mahrez a free role behind Ulloah
You make some good points undoubtedly ... but with Kompany likely injured a front two of Ulloa and Wood should cause Mangala and Demichelis some real concerns - similarly they are missing Silva (although YaYa does seem to have recaptured his form) and Aguerro ... this might just be the time to be bold...
We'd have got the 3 points if Aguero was injured for our match, he was an absolute menace, and he would've had a field day v your leaky defence. So that's a bit of a bonus & ups your chances considerably. Bit of a one man team
Not just numbers it's quality as well. I think King should be back in - they played well with him in at the start of the season. He is good positionally and gives the team balance. Agree with you on Wood, no more than a last 10mins sub. Pearson knew the squad he had to go into the season with and now the frailties are showing big time Need a win from somewhere and quickly. Let's hope Roma hammer City and then they have a much delayed journey back!!!
Nope, red card has been rescinded. http://www1.skysports.com/football/...ky-has-red-card-against-aston-villa-rescinded
