Villa (H) - Sat 26th Sept. 3pm

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

it's going to be miserable

[DJS]

All the sh*t stuff to one side, does anyone think we'll actually win.

 

For some bizarre reason, I do.

[New York Red]

Not me. They've given us a dogs life at home.

[DJS]

Yeah but mainly thanks to Benteke.

[realtarragona]

Ings and Sturridge up front. Firmino buzzing around. Coutinho and Milner ahead of Lucas in midfield. Back four with Sakho in. Bogdan starting.

 

Would be my choice.

 

But would just settle for not seeing some type of

4141 variation with Ings playing deep/out wide and Sturridge isolated. Which I worry might happen as Benteke is out.

[The Hitman]

We're going to flippin murder them.

[Hassony]

We're going to flippin murder them.

 

Haha

[McBain]

Oh no we're playing again so soon?

[baja the hut]

Villa always do well against us. Hope we turn it around.

[RBM]

When's Gary doing the press conference?

[Will]

Double Agents

 

In advance of our first meeting of the season on Saturday, YNWA looks at the careers of some of those who have represented both Aston Villa and the mighty reds.

 

Current double agent players

Christian Benteke signed from Aston Villa for £32.5m last July, after netting 49 times in 101 games since arriving from Koninklijke Racing Club Genk for a reported £7m in August 2012. He has so far struck twice in six reds outings. Centre-half Tiago Ilori signed from Sporting Clube de Portugal for £7m in September 2013, but has yet to make a senior appearance, only making it to the bench on three occasions to date. He moved to Villa Park on loan earlier this month, but is yet to make the first team.

 

James Milner arrived on a free transfer from Manchester City in July, so far playing seven times, many as captain in the absence of Jordan Henderson through injury. He joined Villa on loan from Newcastle United for a season in August 2005, scoring three times in 33 games. He made the same move for £12m three years later, bagging another twenty goals in 96 games, being named as the PFA’s Young Player of the Year for 2009/10. He left Villa Park to join City in August 2010 for £26m plus Stephen Ireland.

 

Joe Cole signed for Aston Villa from West Ham United on a free transfer last June, scoring once in just sixteen outings to date. He notched just five times in 42 reds outings after joining on a free transfer from Chelsea in July 2010, spending a season on loan at Lille OSC Métropole before returning to West Ham United for free in January 2013. Aly Cissokho signed on loan from Valencia in August 2013 for a season, making nineteen appearances. He joined the Villains permanently la year later, so far playing 27 times, but is spending this campaign on loan back at Porto.

 

In charge

Gérard Houllier took over as Villa boss in September 2010, appointing Gary McAllister as his Assistant. Houllier led the Villains to fourteen victories in 39 games in charge before stepping down the following June, although he was recovering from a heart problem for part of this time. Houllier was appointed as joint Manager at Liverpool in July 1998 alongside Roy Evans, taking sole charge four months later. He led us to the UEFA Cup, FA Cup, two League Cups, UEFA Super Cup and FA Charity Shield in his six years at Anfield. McAllister was one of his most inspirational signings, arriving on a free transfer in July 2000. He netted nine goals in 87 reds games before moving back to Coventry City as Player/Manager, having helped us to claim five trophies in 2001. He too left Villa Park in June 2011, and is now back at Anfield as a First-team Coach.

 

Kevin MacDonald was in charge of the reserves at Villa Park until June 2012, leading them to a hat-trick of Reserve League South titles and one national play-off success. He took charge of the first team on a temporary basis for the first eight games of the 2010/11 season. He struck five goals in 64 reds games after signing from Leicester City for £400,000 in November 1984. Mark Walters signed pro forms at Villa in May 1982, scoring 39 times in 181 first-team appearances until Graeme Souness signed him for Rangers in December 1987 for £550,000. He rejoined Souness at Anfield in a £1.25m deal in August 1991 and bagged nineteen goals in 124 reds games. He also spent time as head coach of Villa’s Under-14’s. Mark Waller joined the reds to look after first-team medical matters in 1993, and was the doctor involved when Houllier suffered his heart problems at Anfield in October 2001. He left the club in June 2010, moving on to Villa for a year.

 

Other recent double agents

Winger Stewart Downing arrived at Anfield from Villa for £18.5m in July 2011. He scored seven times in 91 reds outings, having spent two years at Villa following a £12m move from his hometown club Middlesbrough. He bagged eleven goals in 82 games for Villa, and was named their Player of the Season in his second campaign. However, he left L4 to join West Ham United in August 2013 for a £6m fee.

 

Scott Carson spent the 2007/08 season on loan with Villa, keeping nine clean sheets in 36 outings. He joined the reds from Leeds United for £750,000 in January 2005, with Paul Harrison going on loan in the opposite direction. Carson made just nine first-team appearances while at Anfield, only managing to keep two clean sheets, and was sold to West Bromwich Albion for £3.25m in July 2008. Brad Friedel left Blackburn Rovers for Villa Park in July 2008, playing 131 times before joining Tottenham Hotspur on a free in June 2011. The American keeper joined the reds from US side Columbus Crew for £1m in December 1997. He went on to appear 31 times between our sticks before moving to Ewood Park on a free transfer in November 2000.

 

Emile Heskey joined Villa from Wigan Athletic for £3.5m in January 2009, notching just fifteen times in 111 outings before being released in May 2012. He joined the reds from Leicester City for a then club record £10.5m fee in March 2000, and struck sixty goals in 223 games, helping us to claim the UEFA Cup, FA Cup, two League Cups, UEFA Super Cup and FA Charity Shield in his four years at Anfield. He was sold to Birmingham City for £6.25m in May 2004. Stephen Warnock played 67 reds games, notching once, before moving to Blackburn Rovers in January 2007 for £1.5m. He moved on to Aston Villa in August 2009, notching four times in 104 appearances for the Midlands outfit before joining Leeds United on a free transfer in January 2013.

 

Patrik Berger joined the reds from Borussia Dortmund for £3.25m following an impressive Euro ’96. He scored 35 times in 196 games, helping us to claim the UEFA Cup, FA Cup and FA Charity Shield, before joining Premiership new boys Portsmouth in June 2003. He then joined the Villains in July 2005, and played just 32 times for them as he once again struggled with injuries, netting twice. He was released in the summer of 2008, returning to his homeland to join Sparta Praha.

 

Peter Crouch joined Aston Villa from Portsmouth for £5m in March 2002, netting just six times in 43 games before returning to the south coast to sign for Southampton for £2m. He arrived at Anfield in July 2005 in a £7m deal, and struck 42 times in 134 outings, helping us to claim the FA Cup and FA Community Shield, before rejoining Pompey for a fee of up to £11m in July 2008. Robbie Keane spent two months on loan with the Villains from LA Galaxy from January 2012, bagging three goals in seven games. He joined the reds from Tottenham Hotspur for £19.3m in July 2008, but only netted seven times in 28 games before making the return journey for an initial £15m fee the following January.

 

Cup winners for Villa

Sam Hardy was one of our all-time great keepers, signing for £340 from Chesterfield in May 1905 and playing 240 times in his Anfield career. In his first season he conceded just 26 goals as we won the League. He was sold in May 1912 for £1,500, becoming the first player to switch straight from the reds to Villa, going on to help them to two FA Cup Final wins and playing 183 senior games for them, as well as four during wartime, before moving to Nottingham Forest for £1,000 in August 1921. Centre-half Jimmy Harrop joined the reds for £250 from Rotherham Town in January 1908, notching four goals in 139 games before joining Villa for £600 in June 1912, with whom he won the FA Cup the following year, netting four goals in 170 games and playing another twelve during the war before joining Sheffield United in March 1921.

 

Two reds went on to win the League Cup with Villa, Ian Ross in 1975 and Ray Houghton in 1994. Ross joined the Villains for £60,000 in February 1972 after his most successful season at Anfield, when he played just twenty League games. He captained Villa into the First Division, and then Wembley victory, notching three times in 205 first-team outings before moving to Peterborough United for £20,000 in December 1976. Houghton had five great seasons at Anfield, winning the League and FA Cup twice each as well as the FA Charity Shield, while grabbing 38 goals in 202 games. In summer 1992, Graeme Souness sold him to Villa for £900,000 following a pay dispute. He played 121 times for the Villains, notching eleven times, before joining Crystal Palace in March 1995.

 

Kenny’s first

Steve McMahon became Kenny Dalglish’s first signing, arriving from Villa in the first direct move in that direction for £375,000 in September 1985, after playing 91 times for the Midlands side. He had joined Villa from Everton for £175,000 in May 1983. He won three League titles, the FA Cup and two FA Charity Shields in his six years back on Merseyside, netting fifty times in 277 games before moving to Manchester City for £900,000 in December 1991.

 

1990’s double agents

Steve Staunton scored six goals in ninety appearances in his first spell at Anfield, joining Aston Villa for £1.1m in August 1991 after five years with the reds. After eighteen strikes in 263 games for Villa, he re-signed in July 1998, and made a further 58 first-team appearances, netting just once this time around before returning to Villa Park on a free transfer in December 2000. He played 87 times in his second spell at Villa Park, again only hitting the target once, before moving on to Coventry City in August 2003.

 

Stan Collymore was sold to Aston Villa for £7m in May 1997. He had bagged 35 goals in 81 reds games after his British record £8.5m signing from Nottingham Forest in July 1995. He went on to net fifteen times in 61 games for the Villains before joining Leicester City for free in February 2000. Dean Saunders signed from Derby County for a British record £2.9m fee in July 1991, scoring 25 goals in 61 appearances as the reds won the FA Cup, before being moved on to Aston Villa for £2.3m in September 1992, with whom he top scored in each of his three seasons, bagging 49 goals in 142 outings in total, before rejoining Graeme Souness at Galatasaray for £2.35m in July 1995.

 

David James joined Villa for £1.7m in June 1999, after 277 games for the reds. He only stayed for two seasons, playing 85 times, before joining West Ham United for £3.5m. Øyvind Leonhardsen joined the reds from Wimbledon for £3.5m in June 1997. He scored seven times in 49 reds games before being sold to Tottenham Hotspur for £3m in August 1999. He left there for Villa on a free transfer in August 2002, netting three goals in 23 games for the Villains.

 

More striking stars

South African Gordon Hodgson joined from Transvaal in November 1925, after impressing on a reds tour. He was a prolific marksman, holding our scoring records until the 1960’s, with 241 in 377 games, including nine in the League against the Villains, and an amazing seventeen hat-tricks in all. He moved to Villa in January 1936 for £3,000, netting eleven times in 28 games before joining Leeds United for £1,500 in March 1937. Dave Hickson was Phil Taylor’s last signing in November 1959, and a controversial one at that, making the short trip across Stanley Park. He had previously spent just two months at Aston Villa, arriving from Everton for £17,500 in September 1955, netting just once in twelve games before moving to Huddersfield Town for £16,000. He actually struck twice against Villa on his reds bow, netting 38 times in total in 67 reds games.

 

Tony Hateley joined Villa for £22,000 from Notts County in July 1963, netting 86 times in 148 games before moving to Chelsea for £100,000 in October 1966, from where he joined us for a then record £96,000 fee in July 1967. In his first season he grabbed 27 goals in 52 games, but injuries took their toll, and he was sold to Coventry City in September 1968 after a total of 28 strikes in 56 outings, funding the purchase of Alun Evans, who became England’s first £100,000 teenager when he arrived from Wolverhampton Wanderers later that month, our new record signing. He never established himself, and joined Villa for £72,000 in June 1972 after losing his place to Kevin Keegan, having struck 33 times in 111 reds games. He grabbed sixteen goals in 74 fixtures for Villa, joining Walsall in December 1975 for £30,000.

 

Milan Baroš joined Villa for £6.5m in August 2005, having bagged 27 goals in 108 reds games after arriving from Baník Ostrava for £3.2m in December 2001, helping us to claim the Champions League and Worthington Cup. He struck fourteen times in 51 games for the Midlands outfit, before joining Olympique Lyonnais in a swap deal with John Carew in January 2007.

 

Other double agents

Bert Goode struck once in seven reds outings after signing from Chester in May 1908, moving to Wrexham in June 1910 and then Villa for £250 the following April, bagging a brace for them as they beat us 5-0 at Villa Park in December 1911. He struck three times in seven games for Villa before joining Hull City for £300 in May 1912. Richard Money signed from Fulham for £50,000 in May 1980 but only made seventeen reds appearances, before moving on to Luton Town in April 1982. He later became youth team coach at Villa Park. John Price signed from Fordhouse youth club in October 1954, but played just one senior game, at left-back at Leeds United in November 1955, before signing for Villa in March 1957.

 

Half-back Tommy Gardner signed from Orrell in April 1929 but played only five reds games before moving on to Grimsby Town in May 1931. He was eventually capped twice for England during his stint at Aston Villa. Other double agents include Frank O’Donnell who struck once in two Wartime appearances for the reds. He gained six Scotland caps as well as scoring in the 1937 FA Cup Final for Preston North End. He joined Villa from Blackpool in November 1938 for £10,500, netting fourteen goals in 34 games, as well another seven in fourteen Wartime games before joining Nottingham Forest in March 1947. Forward Jonathan Cameron signed from Villa in 1892, netting five times in nine reds games.

[lfc003]

i'd love us to sack off the 3 at the back and play the following

 

--------------- Mignolet ---------------

- Clyne - Skrtel - Sakho - Moreno -

----------------- Lucas ----------------

------ Milner --------- Emre Can -----

------------ Phil Coutinho -------------

------- Sturridge ------- Ings ----------

 

Subs: Bogdan, Kolo, Gomez, Allen, Lallana, Firmino, Origi

 

Even with injuries there's a decent PL team there that should challenge for the 3rd and 4th spot

[Will]

Down Memory Lane

 

YNWA takes a look at past memorable League meetings at Anfield as Aston Villa pay their 91st League visit on Saturday. Our record against the Villains is fairly good, with 54 wins, nineteen draws and seventeen defeats to date. However, we have only won seven of the last seventeen Anfield meetings, although immediately prior to that we experienced just one defeat in 28 home League meetings.

 

Most recently

Adam Lallana made his reds bow a year ago, as we lost 1-0 thanks to an early Gabriel Agbonlahor strike, with Philippe Coutinho hitting a post late on. We came back from two goals down to draw 2-2 in January 2014. Andreas Weimann scored before Christian Benteke grabbed one of his five goals against us, before Daniel Sturridge pulled a goal back in first-half stoppage time. Steven Gerrard levelled from the spot. We lost 3-1 in December 2012, with Benteke bagging a brace and Weimann also netting before Gerrard struck our late consolation. We were held to a 1-1 draw eight months earlier when keeper Alexander Doni made his reds bow, following Pepe Reina’s sending off at Newcastle United. Chris Herd scored early on with Luis Suárez heading a late equaliser after we had struck the woodwork on three occasions.

 

Pepe’s century

Pepe Reina kept his hundredth clean sheet in the League, in a new club record 198 games as we won 3-0. David N’Gog and Ryan Babel both netted their final reds strikes while Martin Škrtel played his hundredth game for the club. Maxi Rodríguez added the third as ex-reds boss Gérard Houllier was given a warm welcome on his first return to L4. Fernando Torres missed the game as he became a father for the second time that day, to Leo.

 

Also recently

We lost 3-1 in August 2009 to bring our run of 31 home League games unbeaten to an end. The visitors opened the scoring when Lucas Leiva inadvertently nodded a free-kick he had conceded past Pepe Reina. Curtis Davies headed in when unmarked at a corner to double the lead. Dirk Kuyt hit the post before Fernando Torres finally reduced the deficit. However, Steven Gerrard then conceded a needless penalty that was converted by Ashley Young.

 

We won 5-0 in March 2009 with Steven Gerrard bagging his first League treble that included two penalties, meaning that he had successfully converted spot-kicks in three consecutive fixtures. Dirk Kuyt opened the scoring before Albert Riera grabbed his fifth and final reds goal, while Pepe Reina kept his hundredth clean sheet in a club record 197 games. Brad Friedel was sent off for the visitors when conceding the second penalty, although this was later rescinded. Michael Owen netted our 400th Anfield goal in the Premiership as we drew 1-1 in January 2003, with Dion Dublin equalising with the last of his seven goals against the reds.

 

Recent debutants

Centre-back Martin Škrtel made his reds debut as a substitute for the injured Álvaro Arbeloa in our 2-2 draw in January 2008, our fourth successive tie in the League. Yossi Benayoun gave us the lead before Villa hit back through Marlon Harewood and a Fábio Aurélio own goal in the space of three minutes. Peter Crouch came off the bench to bag a late leveller. A Mark Delaney own goal was enough to separate the sides in January 2004 as on-loan keeper Paul Jones made his reds debut, becoming our oldest post-war debutant aged 36 years and 267 days.

 

Reds farewells

Fernando Morientes scored his twelfth and final reds goal in our 3-1 win in April 2006, with Steven Gerrard grabbing a brace. Nando’s goal was our 300th against Villa in all competitions, while Gareth Barry struck for the visitors. This brought us to 48 points from home League games that season, our highest ever tally in a 38-game season. Djimi Traoré made his 141st and last reds appearance in this game. Barry was on target with the first of his four goals past us to date as Mauricio Pellegrino played his thirteenth and final reds game as we won 2-1 in May 2005, with Djibril Cissé marking his first start on his return from a broken leg with a brace, including one from the spot, as Igor Bišcan also made his final reds outing, playing his 118th game, with Dietmar Hamann turning out for the reds on the 250th occasion.

 

Gordon Hodgson netted his 241st and last reds goal in our 3-2 win in November 1935. Lance Carr converted a penalty, with Jimmy McDougall also on target. Eric Houghton bagged the last of six goals against the reds, with Harry Broome nabbing one of his five. Danny Shone and Dick Forshaw scored to hand us a 2-0 win in December 1921, with keeper Frank Mitchell playing his eighteenth and final reds game.

 

Clinching the title in May

In 1979, Alan Kennedy, Kenny Dalglish and Terry McDermott scored as we won 3-0 to secure our eleventh League title in a game postponed from New Year’s Day. We clinched our next with a 4-1 win in the same fixture the following year. Avi Cohen put through his own net, and then scored his only reds goal at the right end. David Johnson netted twice, to add to a Noel Blake own goal.

 

September hat-trick heroes & dismissals

In 2000, Michael Owen scored a hat-trick inside the first 33 minutes to hand us a 3-1 win, becoming the first red to notch two first-half hat-tricks in the League. 36 years earlier, Bobby Graham bagged a treble on his League debut, as we thumped Villa 5-1, with Ian Callaghan, Roger Hunt and future red Tony Hateley also netting. Steven Gerrard was dismissed in 2001 after scoring in our 3-1 defeat. Jerzy Dudek made his reds bow in this game, with Dion Dublin, Lee Hendrie and Darius Vassell netting for the visitors. Eighteen years before, future red Steve McMahon was sent off for Villa, as Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush scored in our 2-1 win.

 

Three straight 3-0 wins

We went 3-0 up inside eight minutes in March 1996, through Steve McManaman and two from Robbie Fowler. Bjørn Tore Kvarme made his reds bow in a comfortable 3-0 win in January 1997, as Jamie Carragher opened the scoring with his first ever senior goal in his first start. Stan Collymore and Robbie Fowler were also on target. We also triumphed 3-0 in September of the same year, with Karlheinz Riedle grabbing the third in the final minute to add to strikes from Steve McManaman and Robbie Fowler.

 

All sitting comfortably

Neil Ruddock scored the first goal in front of the newly re-opened seated Kop as we won 3-2 in October 1994, with Robbie Fowler adding a brace. Guy Whittingham and ex-red Steve Staunton struck for the visitors.

 

Red centurions

Dirk Kuyt, Peter Crouch and Luis García all scored in the final third of the first half as we won 3-1 in October 2006, with Dirk’s father watching him in a red shirt for the first time. Xabi Alonso reached a century of reds appearances in this game, as Gabriel Agbonlahor bagged the Villains’ consolation. Michael Owen saw his penalty crash back off the bar but not over the line as we were held to a goalless draw in March 2000. Jamie Carragher was playing his hundredth reds game. Robert Robinson and Jack Parkinson both netted twice as we triumphed 5-0 in December 1907, with Arthur Goddard also on the scoresheet. Forward Joe Hewitt reached a century of reds games that day.

 

Reds debutants

Dave Hickson scored both goals in a 2-1 win against one of his former clubs in November 1959, on his reds debut following his controversial move across Stanley Park. His arrival put an extra 15,000 on the gate as he was treated to a hero’s welcome as Villa ended a run of fourteen games unbeaten. Peter McParland struck for the Villains, doing so again in the away encounter later in the season.

 

Left-half Jack Bamber and full-back Tommy Lucas both debuted in our 2-1 victory in September 1919, with Fred Pagnam and Donald Mackinlay on target. Romany right-half Rab Howell made his reds bow in our 4-0 win back in April 1898, with inside-forward Frank Becton scoring his 42nd reds goal in his 86th and final reds game and Thomas Robertson, John Walker and Hugh Morgan also netting in our final game of the season.

 

Level pegging

Ex-Villain Steve McMahon grabbed a late equaliser as we were held 3-3 in September 1986, with John Wark netting twice, including a penalty. Steve Hodge struck one of his six goals against the reds, with Garry Thompson also scoring and Allan Evans converting a spot-kick. We drew 1-1 in May 1983, with Craig Johnston on target after Nigel Spink had saved a penalty from Phil Neal. The referee ordered it to be re-taken, but he then saved his second kick as well! Gary Shaw struck for the visitors.

 

More momentous wins

We set a new record of sixty consecutive home League games without defeat in November 1980 as Kenny Dalglish struck twice in a 2-1 victory. Our biggest Villa win, 6-1, came in October 1953, despite the scores being level with twenty minutes remaining. Sammy Smyth grabbed a brace to add to goals from Billy Liddell, Bob Paisley and Jimmy Payne, and a Danny Blanchflower own goal. Dave Walsh’s consolation was one of his four strikes past us.

 

Balmer again

Jack Balmer bagged a brace with Albert Stubbins and Berry Nieuwenhuys also on the scoresheet as we won 4-1 in December 1946, with Dickie Dorsett bagging one of his four goals past us. Balmer was actually netting in his seventh consecutive game, in which time he had struck fifteen times in total. Former hero of both sides of Stanley Park, Fred Geary, presented the visiting side with the match ball from the 1897 FA Cup Final before the game as this had been taken home by the defeated Everton side on the day.

 

Rare defeats

In November 1977, Villa inflicted on us one of just eleven home League defeats throughout the whole of the 1970’s, winning 2-1 thanks to an Andy Gray brace, the last of his four strikes against us, with the reds benefiting from a Frank Carrodus own goal as Jimmy Case played his hundredth reds game. We were beaten 6-3 in November 1914, with Jimmy Nicholl netting a brace and Tom Miller also on target for the reds. Full-back Bob Crawford played his 114th and final reds game, missing a penalty, with Harry Hampton striking one of his fifteen goals against the reds, Joe Bache scoring the final one of his nine, and Clem Stephenson scoring one of his five, with Harold Edgley netting twice and Tommy Barber also on target. Our first ever meeting with Villa in September 1894 resulted in a 2-1 defeat, our first ever League loss, with Harry Bradshaw netting our goal.

 

Other memorable meetings

Peter Thompson struck twice as we won 3-1 in October 1965, with Ian St. John also scoring. Chris Lawler made the first of 316 consecutive reds appearances in this game. Ian St. John, Ian Callaghan and Peter Thompson were all on target as we won 5-2 in October 1963, with the scoring rounded out by a double from Roger Hunt. Future red Tony Hateley bagged a brace for the visitors. Left-back Eddie Spicer netted the first of his two reds goals, with Albert Stubbins and Jack Balmer also on the scoresheet was we were held to a 3-3 draw in December 1947. Trevor Ford struck the first of his seven goals against the reds, with Jackie Martin and Sailor Brown also on the scoresheet. Outside-left Gordon Gunson bagged his first reds goal in March 1930, with Jimmy Smith also on target in a 2-0 victory.

 

Harry Hampton and Clem Stephenson netted for the visitors with Sam Gilligan grabbing our consolation in a 2-1 defeat in April 1912 in what was keeper Sam Hardy’s 240th and final reds game prior to joining Villa, while Bobby Robinson also turned out for the 271st and last time. Robert Robinson struck a brace with Arthur Goddard, Alex Raisbeck, from the spot, and Sam Raybould also on the scoresheet as we won 5-2 in November 1906, with Tom Chorlton having a penalty saved. Joe Walters netted the first of his five goals against the reds, with Albert Hall also scoring. We drew 3-3 in November 1899 when John Walker, Hugh Morgan and Alex Raisbeck were on the scoresheet. Keeper Harry Storer put through his own net, with Jack Devey bagging one of his seven goals against the reds and Albert Wilkes also on target.

[Jonesy]

You can get 9/1 on betfair for Macca to leave a New York pub before the game has kicked off.

[Hassony]

When's Gary doing the press conference?

 

O'Driscoll treated like a dog

[dorgie]

Timmy will have these up for it. He probably thinks if they impress he'll be putting himself in the frame for Liverpool job. And with our owners, he might be right.

[Hassony]

let's hope we can continue this unbeaten run we're on at the moment, 3 games and counting

[Molby]

Should smash these as Villa are really crap and Sherwood is a semi-moron

 

We looked much better against Norwich with Ings and Sturridge

Further improvement could come from shifting Milner wide

[smithdown]

I am going to have to listen to an esteemed fellow forumite just behind me spend the first fifteen minutes asking wtf Can is doing in defence again and everyone will fall silent again as he runs through every sensible reason he shouldn't be there. Some heads will be in hands. There will be some gentle sobs from women and children. Hip flasks will be passed round and drained by Villa's fourth corner. That's the plan anyway. Actually it might be better if we lose the toss, thinking about it.

[Cam]

Timmy will have these up for it. He probably thinks if they impress he'll be putting himself in the frame for Liverpool job. And with our owners, he might be right.

but also

[McBain]

i'd love us to sack off the 3 at the back and play the following

 

--------------- Mignolet ---------------

- Clyne - Skrtel - Sakho - Moreno -

----------------- Lucas ----------------

------ Milner --------- Emre Can -----

------------ Phil Coutinho -------------

------- Sturridge ------- Ings ----------

 

Subs: Bogdan, Kolo, Gomez, Allen, Lallana, Firmino, Origi

 

Even with injuries there's a decent PL team there that should challenge for the 3rd and 4th spot

Can is weird. He only plays well in midfield when he's playing in defence

[Conrad]

Goalkeeper

Clyne-Skertl-Sahko-Moreno

Lucas

Milner-Coutinho-Lallana

Sturridge-Ings

[smithdown]

 

 

Goalkeeper

Clyne-Skertl-Sahko-Moreno

Lucas

Milner-Coutinho-Lallana

Sturridge-Ings

I'd lose lallana and move Moreno there, Sakho lb with Gomez next to Skrtel

Also...Bogdan was beaten at his near post but would anyone pick him yet?

[Flasher]

Can is weird. He only plays well in midfield when he's playing in defence

 

That's beautiful, and probably true.

 

I really like Can. He clearly cares and always tries. Like most, I'm entirely sure where his best position is yet, but there's clearly a decent player in there that wants to do well.

I'd lose lallana and move Moreno there, Sakho lb with Gomez next to Skrtel

Also...Bogdan was beaten at his near post but would anyone pick him yet?

 

Why would you play players out of position? In this case Sakho and arguably Moreno.

[smithdown]

 

That's beautiful, and probably true.

 

I really like Can. He clearly cares and always tries. Like most, I'm entirely sure where his best position is yet, but there's clearly a decent player in there that wants to do well.

 

 

Why would you play players out of position? In this case Sakho and arguably Moreno.

Well The kid Gomez would be in his position with an experienced international either side and Sakho would play as a solid defensive lb not that different to where he is in a three but clearer responsibility for the left side - Moreno is more use going forward than back there anyway and Would know he wasn't leaving a right legged kid exposed behind him so can skip freely down the wing. So while it may at first look like moving them out of position it can be easily explained that this is playing to their strengths. If they didn't understand that and break out in big grins I would go over it again until they did.