Aston Villa vs THE SUPER CLARETS Match Thread

[whiffa]

Good afternoon everyone, today we visit Villa Park. Let's back the lads!

Here's Madge with the team news:

[whiffa]

Today's opponents:

[Murger]

Ekdal injured?

[CoolClaret]

Sticking with the back 5 then!

Should have enough pace at the back there to keep up with Watkins, but still think Ugochukwu is too good to be on the bench.

We can get at these, let's have it.. UTC!

[Roosterbooster]

Sticking with the back 5 then!

You'd imagine so. Tuanzebe central with Esteve and Laurent either side

Also possible that it's a 3 man midfield of Laurent, Florentine and Cullen. Tuanzebe and Esteve could be a central back 2

But I'd be surprised away from home

[Goody1975]

Sticking with the back 5 then!

Should have enough pace at the back there to keep up with Watkins, but still think Ugochukwu is too good to be on the bench.

We can get at these, let's have it.. UTC!

Not necessarily, Tuanzebe coming in may release Laurent further forward. I know there shouldn't be sentiment in selection but Laurent doesn't deserve to be dropped, Ugochukwu will find his way in sooner rather than later.

[CoolClaret]

You'd imagine so. Tuanzebe central with Esteve and Laurent either side

Also possible that it's a 3 man midfield of Laurent, Florentine and Cullen. Tuanzebe and Esteve could be a central back 2

But I'd be surprised away from home

That's how I interpreted it as well - unless it changes in/out of possession as we have done at times.

[Herts Clarets]

Back 5 with 2 defensive midfielders in front?

[Dark Cloud]

Ekdal has to injured to not even make the bench and as has been mentioned, I'd definitely be starting Big Les ahead of Laurent who tbf has performed pretty well.

[willsclarets]

Swap Laurent for Les in the midfield with a back 4 and that's close to our best side I'd say.

[summitclaret]

Bit concerned only 1 defender on the bench. Pires injured?

[Murger]

Magic Mike not making the bench again is a joke.

[ollieclarets8]

Swap Laurent for Les in the midfield with a back 4 and that's close to our best side I'd say.

I was thinking the same thing.

[Bacchus]

Ekdal has arguably been our best CB this season. His seeming inability to stay fit for for any period of time is a real shame.

[taio]

Bit concerned only 1 defender on the bench. Pires injured?

Worrall and Humphreys

[Murger]

Bit concerned only 1 defender on the bench. Pires injured?

Worrall and Humphreys.

[summitclaret]

Bit concerned only 2 defenders on the bench. Pires injured?

[Quickenthetempo]

Hopefully this is the last game for a while of 5 at the back.
We have conceded 116 shots in 6 games. Nearly 20 a game.

I think we need to beef up the defensive midfield area and try and stop these shots.

[RVclaret]

Ekdal has arguably been our best CB this season. His seeming inability to stay fit for for any period of time is a real shame.

Matt Scrafton says he has been told no injury..

[Procrastinate B]

Telling that Worrall still doesn’t get in. Not that I want to denigrate him or anything, but he seems low down the pecking order.

[ollieclarets8]

Bit concerned only 1 defender on the bench. Pires injured?

Worrall and Humphreys

[ollieclarets8]

Telling that Worrall still doesn’t get in. Not that I want to denigrate him or anything, but he seems low down the pecking order.

A Championship defender imo and at best, someone to bring on when defending a lead/point in the last few minutes.

[Murger]

Matt Scrafton says he has been told no injury..

You’d think he’d take Worralls place on the bench then.

[Tribesmen]

Afternoon all from a sunny 24c here in Rhodes , now was all set to watch the game in a pub but as the wife said " its too cold to be sitting watching football outside " you have to wonder what she would say at watching a game at the Turf in December .
Just hope we can get something from todays game as i think we need a bit of luck on our side for a change .

[Bacchus]

Matt Scrafton says he has been told no injury..

Curious. Hopefully just some other non-serious reason for being unavailable today. I'd find it really odd for him to be completely dropped from the squad otherwise.

[Vino blanco]

Looks very, very defensive set up to me. Not confident, can’t see us scoring. I really hope I’m wrong.

[northernpowerhouse]

Can't understand not playing a midfield three of Cullen, Florentino and Ugochukwu. Feels like Parker is overthinking it with this five at the back, it's not worth it if it means leaving out someone as good as Les.

[claretburns]

The Ekdal absence might be down to the old "Hamstring International break" injury.

[expoultryboy]

Just boarded a flight to Porto , so I'll be panicking all the way hoping for a Burnley win . Gutted I'm not there , but I've got a ticket for the Benfica match tonight . Other halfs not to happy (cost me in duty free !! ) .

[dermotdermot]

Magic Mike not making the bench again is a joke.

Quite ridiculous this.

[ollieclarets8]

Quite ridiculous this.

I keep forgetting we still have him.

[claretburns]

For anyone wanting a bit of footy before the first team at 14:00, the under 21s currently 0-0 with Chelsea with half an hour to go:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IPX36oUZcA

[CoolClaret]

Can't understand not playing a midfield three of Cullen, Florentino and Ugochukwu. Feels like Parker is overthinking it with this five at the back, it's not worth it if it means leaving out someone as good as Les.

Yeah, got a feeling we will see those three together in our next game, with the international break giving a bit of extra time to gel a new midfield shape/structure - as well as perhaps throwing Leeds' prep off.

[RVclaret]

Looks very, very defensive set up to me. Not confident, can’t see us scoring. I really hope I’m wrong.

Interesting view. Exact same set up we played v Forest and City, and scored in both!

[CalamityClaret]

Can't understand not playing a midfield three of Cullen, Florentino and Ugochukwu. Feels like Parker is overthinking it with this five at the back, it's not worth it if it means leaving out someone as good as Les.

3 very similar players imo. Primarily defensive midfielders.

[PhiladelphiaChris]

Curious. Hopefully just some other non-serious reason for being unavailable today. I'd find it really odd for him to be completely dropped from the squad otherwise.

Maybe he is ill?

[JohnMcGreal]

Maybe he is ill?

Someone spotted Ekdal on a flight to Copenhagen from Manchester yesterday afternoon.

[BurnleyFC]

Very defensive line up when I don’t think it’s a bad time at all to be playing them.

And Worrall making the bench ahead of Ekdal is a strange one.

[JohnMcGreal]

https://www.reddit.com/r/FantasyPL/comm ... ton_villa/

[ollieclarets8]

https://www.reddit.com/r/FantasyPL/comm ... ton_villa/

Quite a funny read and on the link posted on there.

"Airport guy confirmed"
"Joe Worrall 15 pointer incoming"

[Buxtonclaret]

Afternoon All, from some sodden, windy hills.
The perfect day for our first away win.

COME ON UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU CLARETS!!

[derryclaret]

Afternoon all from Derry, all quiet after the visit of storm Amy, I think we'll get something today COYC!

[Tribesmen]

Afternoon all from Derry, all quiet after the visit of storm Amy, I think we'll get something today COYC!

How bad was it Derry ?

[dougcollins]

Afternoon all from a sunny 24c here in Rhodes , now was all set to watch the game in a pub but as the wife said " its too cold to be sitting watching football outside " you have to wonder what she would say at watching a game at the Turf in December .
Just hope we can get something from todays game as i think we need a bit of luck on our side for a change .

Watched many games in the Arena bar in Rhodes Town, great food in there too.

[Wo Didi]

Just boarded a flight to Porto , so I'll be panicking all the way hoping for a Burnley win . Gutted I'm not there , but I've got a ticket for the Benfica match tonight . Other halfs not to happy (cost me in duty free !! ) .

Hi expoultryboy I was in Porto on Thursday for Red Star's europa league game. I don’t know if you’ve been before but it’s a beautiful city and it's a fantastic stadium, just a shame about an 89th minute goal to lose 2-1. I'll also miss our game today as travelling to Kruševac for Red Star's game v Napredak. Enjoy your trip

[jojomk1]

Looks very, very defensive set up to me. Not confident, can’t see us scoring. I really hope I’m wrong.

It's the Premier League
Parker doesn't do attacking football at this level after his two stints at Fulham and Bournemouth

[derryclaret]

How bad was it Derry ?

Vicious for about an hour then moved away slowly, no power cuts or trees down so got off lightly

[THEWELLERNUT70]

I'm not feeling this line up if I'm being honest and you know me I rarely have a go at Scott. But I'm worried about Tuanzebe in defense because from what I've seen he looks short of full match practice and Laurent, who's done ok so far but he's now part of a weakened defence. Surely it was a time to beef up the midfield and not simply change the players

Anyway upwards and onwards

[brexit]

just realised we are in black

[Firthy]

just realised we are in black

Better than being in the red