Villa have possibly the best attack of the teams in the relegation battle. They also have a very porous defence who have conceded in every game since God knows when. Logically, then, it seems that we should try to spend as much of the game as we can in their half rather than sitting back, letting them have the ball, and playing for 0-0. I wonder what we will do.
Tactics huh? I reckon Hughton is going for the 10-0-0 formation to secure a draw. Benteke will score in the 93rd minute of stoppage time from the half way line.
completely agree vietnam, as we know full well lambo doesn't concentrate on defence but attack. we need to match this with all out attack, but we all know Hoots won't. I do believe he will play 442 though a la reading, with holt and kamara up front.
Agree with Max: "I do believe he will play 4-4-2 though a la Reading, with Holt and Kamara up front", as that's the right way to go. Villa can be open to breakaway attacks and KK has the pace to make that happen (as he did against Reading with the breakaway shot into the corner that led to the first goal). This is not the game to sit back! Johnson and Howson in front of the defence, with Howson joining attacks. OTBC!
Time for action and the time to take the game to Villa. Sitting back and defending deep will invite them onto us - attack is the best form of defence ! If we've got the ball, they can't score, so attack our asses off !
We played a 4-4-2 in the cup game..........just saying. Also, when we played Villa away we played a 4-2-3-1 and we deserved to win that match. Villa play an aggressive 4-4-2 diamond setup like Lambert did with us and they have Benteke and Weiman who ripped us a new one in the Cup game. We were total over-run in midfield and paid a heavy price.
Humiliating as that Cup defeat was, I remember it as being pretty close until they got their second goal. We then went on the attack and opened up in midfield, as we had nothing to lose, and they got two late goals as a result. Pretty sure we won't do this on Saturday. Going for a 4-4-2/4-2-3-1 as against Reading.
We should play 4-4-2 and use Snodgrass and Pilkington/Bennett as proper wide, attacking wingers. Whenever we played with the diamond, we always struggled against teams that played with a lot of width as the diamond is a very narrow formation that leaves the full backs very exposed, or if hit on the counter leaves the wings completely free for someone to charge down. If we get the ball out wide early and let the wingers run at the full backs it cuts off a massive supply root for Benteke and Weimman as the full backs need to sit back and defend instead of getting forwards.
Bring back the diamond, Fox at the base, Wes behind Holt and Jackson and take it to them.... In all honesty I think it'll be the 4-4-2, wes and pilks as potential game changers and tettey held back in case we need to hold on.
I just thought I would post up the definition of "forward" as I have forgotten what this means. for·ward /ˈfôrwərd/ Adverb Toward the front; in the direction that one is facing or traveling. Adjective Directed or facing toward the front or the direction that one is facing or traveling: "forward flight". Noun An attacking player in basketball, hockey, or other sports. Ahhhh yes I remember.
Sorry Billy, if we start with Fox, Wes and Jacko, we'll get slaughtered, they are each very skillful players, but you'd only have to breathe on them to bully them off the ball!
Bit unfair that Dave. Those guys played a big part in last season's success and were probably all in the side together at one time or another.
Sorry redruth but they are easily bullied off the ball, each of them, that's more than a quarter of the team!
But with just a win against Villa being the priority, I don't see Villa as having any bullies in their team either. I wouldn't pick Fox or Jacko to start either for what its worth but for different reasons.
They played a lot together from about february until the end of the season last year, just as we secured our safety time, when we played some great football, kept the ball and had a go at teams. Reminiscing with the suggestion rather than being realistic. I do think that Hoolahan could be crucial to our safety though, can just see him making something where our rather bland midfield doesn't without him.
I am of the opinion it makes very little difference who plays. Hoolahan or Howson, Holt or Kamara, Holt and Kamara, Tettey or Howson. The football is still the same.
Don't give them any space or time to breath. I want to see us put their young defence under pressure lets make them nervous because the mistakes will then hopefully follow.
