Aston Villa (H) - Tue 22nd April, 20:00 | PL | Pre-Match Thread

[WesthoughtonJohn]

They are blessed with the 2 things we aren't pace and mobility. Could be a season defining game.

Short of the cup final, should we get there, I reckon it is to be honest.

 

[Norbert D]

Villa looked good.

We'd be 4 points ahead with 4 to go if we beat them, so this a must win!

They are effective down their left so we'll need to play a defensive RB imo.
I'd play Khusanov there and put Foden in front of him.
I'd also go with a pacy front three and go at them from the off!

Ortega

Khusanov
Dias
Gvardiol
O'Reilly

Foden
Gonzalez
Kovacic

Savinho
Marmoush
Doku

COME ON CITY!!!!

Foden has been a passenger this season, maybe come on as a sub.

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

Good win for Villa that given the week they have had.

Still tight at the top!

Pressure building on Forest now.

 

[Jonas.shaffer]

Villa has probably had their two best performances of the season back to back. Tuesday should be a cracker.

I'd stick with the same XI, bar maybe dropping De Bruyne and/or Bernie, certainly the latter if Bobb is fit and ready to start.

 

[Jonas.shaffer]

Could be a season defining game.

That's over the top. We're currently 1/11 to get top five. It would take a pretty massive collapse to not get it at this point.

 

[DelToro]

That's over the top. We're currently 1/11 to get top five. It would take a pretty massive collapse to not get it at this point.

A collapse similar to the one we had earlier this season?

 

[Legal Alien]

Foden has been a passenger this season, maybe come on as a sub.

This is the second of three big games for us and so Pep will need to rotate, especially as he also has a lot of fit players who can come in.

I don't think we can afford only two defenders in our back 4 in this game and O'Reilly will play and i think it's too early for Akanji to start, so i'd put Khus there and put a runner in front of him and someone who will give him an easy pass.
I'd usually put Bernie there but as he played today, it has to be Phil for me.

 

[mscenterh750]

Villa have been great this season and we haven’t but we’re still above them, scored more than them and conceded less than them and we’re only 5 points off the tarquins. We will win this game. Today was a harder game. Villa will come at us and we’ll pick them off.

 

[DenisLawBackHeel74]

We can afford to take a point with the win today …..

 

[marco]

Voted for a draw, they are playing well

TBH i'd settle for the draw now

 

[marco]

We can afford to take a point with the win today …..

a point would be excellent

 

[ninjamonkey]

They're very well suited to exploit our weaknesses, they attack quickly and directly, that will cause us a lot of problems. Their main weakness lies in their high line but you can be almost certain we won't look to exploit that even once which means playing into their hands and trying to best them. Not a team I'm looking forward to playing. Rashford is almost guaranteed to be a problem for us. A game we have to win though. Beat them and a 4 point cushion with 4 games remaining should be enough to ensure we finish above them.

It's tempting to say Akanji and khusanov to come in and flood the back 4 with as much pace as possible but not sure changing the back 4 that much is wise. Personally I'd bring in akanji if he's fully fit for O'Reilly, nothing against him but the experience will be key here and they will 100% target the ball behind O'Reilly if he starts.

Assuming no more injuries and no other players returning

Ortega
Nunes
Akanji
Dias
Gvardiol
Kovacic
Gonzalez
Gundogan
Kdb
Doku
Marmoush

 

[Ethan23]

a point would be excellent

No It wouldn't be excellent. We're playing a club, 2 league positions below us, when we're apparently in a crisis

 

[Semper aggressus]

O’Reilly is on fire he’d be the first name on the team sheet for me. Give the lad confidence while he’s playing well and scoring.

 

[Gundoggin]

Huge home game . Win it and we go 3rd then an FA cup semi final at Wembley a few days later . Our season starts here .
CTID

 

[Jonas.shaffer]

A collapse similar to the one we had earlier this season?

Yes.

 

[SWPISHOME]

Ortega

Nunes
Dias
Gvardiol
O'Reilly

Nico Gonzalez
Kovacic
Grealish

Doku
De Bruyne
Marmoush

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

Ortega

Nunes
Dias
Gvardiol
O'Reilly

Nico Gonzalez
Kovacic
Grealish

Doku
De Bruyne
Marmoush

Can’t see Grealish starting any games now.

 

[ysmsa]

What's up with Khusanov?

 

[Mike N]

Time for us fans to turn up on Tuesday.