Match thread vs Luton

So what sort of line-up should we expect then? Personally I want to see a better pattern to our play and a different system.

.................Gollini..............

..Richards..Okore..Baker..Amavi...

...........Tshibola..Lyden......
...............Veretout..........
.........Adama.......Grealish...
...............Mccormack.......

I'd play Gollini again to get that error out of his system. Amavi and Adama need game time and I think this would be perfect. Ross also needs to get the rust out of his legs so an hour in this game should serve him well ahead of Saturday. And if Veretout is still around then I'd throw him in aswell to get some football in his boots. Bring on Green and Murphy later on in the game to give them more experience aswell.

Not sure how RDM will approach this one. ....full strength or will we see some kids? Is Elphick  injured then otherwise can't see why he's not in your line up? Depressingly as it's against Luton I'd say keep Hutton at rb. That's how desperate it is,  to think I've actually said play Hutton. ...oh dear. ....

Same side except Gestede, Bacuna, Cissokho, Hutton, Westwood and Gardner please

we could do with a win, but I feel RDM will play a "weaker" eleven, it pains me to say it, but the League Cup is of no concern to us this year, we have extra league games that we need to be ready for.
I never thought I would say this, have a become a modern day fan ?

De Kuip wrote:Not sure how RDM will approach this one. ....full strength or will we see some kids? Is Elphick  injured then otherwise can't see why he's not in your line up? Depressingly as it's against Luton I'd say keep Hutton at rb. That's how desperate it is,  to think I've actually said play Hutton. ...oh dear. ....

He took a knock on the head on Sunday so is there any point playing him? I don't think it's worth it.

Richards and Amavi into the back four ... and Okore for Elphick if needed. (I'd like to see him with Elphick but RDM seems to have ruled that out)

A midfield three of Tshibola plus any of Gardner, Westwood, Veretout, Lyden with him.

And then Grealish in behind Ayew and McCormack. That's a front 3 of real creativity for me and where better to try it out than a relatively meaningless game.

Try it for an hour and if that's not working throw on Rudy and Adama for some width and pace and put some crosses in.

I like your lineup @mefromhere

If there was any thought that Elphick was concussed he would have been withdrawn so he's an option. But given it's a long season, I think the manager will take the opportunity to rest players when he can. I'll add a poll (thanks for starting this thread, @AstonThriller ) so get voting.

Villa win with a different starting 11 from Sunday. Who, not a clue.

I think we will win at a canter. I'm expecting Elphick to be rested and Okore start with probably Richards at RB. Maybe Amavi at LB to see how close to fitness he is. Tish to start and Green.

I think he will start McCormack and Ayew together to keep them working on their partnership but rest one or both in the 2nd half

Joppe84 wrote:Same side except Gestede, Bacuna, Cissokho, Hutton, Westwood and Gardner please

Did RDM play anyone out of position on Sunday? Ayew is a striker but showed last year he can play virtually anywhere up front. He didn't track back to defend properly though, so shouldn't be a winger. Number 10 though, with a new striker?

I can't remember the last time we played a match with everyone in their correct position.

Talking of which, Okore plays on the right. Perhaps that's why he's not been tried alongside Elphick (I refer you to Clark and Baker's partnership a few years ago).

...............................Gollini..........................
Richards...........Elphick..........Baker........Amavi
...................Tshibola.............Westwood..........
.........Green...............Grealish..............Ayew..
...............................McCormack....................

As I see it we don't have the luxury of changing too much and simply dismissing any fixture as meaningless and disruptive to our league campaign. We need to find a way of putting in good performances and picking up wins, and getting players into form and getting on a good run. We might be able to concern ourselves with rest somewhere around Christmas if we have earned the right and sit a few points clear of 3rd place. And so we should send out the closest we possibly can to a "1st" team as well as getting some players some game time, players that we want in that 1st team that are short on minutes. For me that means putting Hutton & Cissokho to one side as they were dreadful against SW, as was Gardner. I want to see a team on the field that looks functional and competes for an entire game, not one half.

I just tolerated a repeat of that game (only the first half so far) and Gardner was even worse than I remember. I think if I watch it AGAIN, he'll be playing for them :)

So I dunno if he needs dropping or playing to get his form up/help RDM decide if he has a future.

Trotters wrote:I just tolerated a repeat of that game  (only the first half so far) and Gardner was even worse than I remember. I think if I watch it AGAIN, he'll be playing for them :)

So I dunno if he needs dropping or playing to get his form up/help RDM decide if he has a future.

Veretout should be our man but has apparently lost his confidence. If we do get in an experienced midfielder to boss the midfield I suspect it will be him and Tshibola in the middle. I thought the latter looked good when he came on (bearing in mind it's his first match for some time). It's a conundrum though, RDM started the two central midfielders with experience in Gardner and Westwood and it didn't work, and we have Tshibola who is likely going to need some time to settle but who else? As much as I don't think Sanchez has it in him to play a full match, I'd rather see him alongside Gardner. Tshibola should be playing in the cup matches until he's up to speed. The irony of the 4-2-2 setup was we just sold Sinclair, who actually does get back to defend, and is a good winger. The other thing is if Traore does come back into the team it can't be as a right winger in a 4-4-2 because he can't defend for toffee!

There's a lot for RDM to untangle there.

I nearly forgot - without Lescott we have no backup for left-sided central defence. I can see someone decent coming in (who is it from West Brom linked with us - does he play on the left?) and Baker moving back to (capable) backup.

I think we will win 2-1.

2-0 win for me.

1-1

Joppe84 wrote:Same side except Gestede, Bacuna, Cissokho, Hutton, Westwood and Gardner please

Joppe mate one could argue that changing 6 players from Sunday isn't really the 'same side'?

But I don't disagree except it may be difficult to change all the midfield 3? Take out Westwood and Bacuna and put in Tish and Lyden? Also play 2 up top in Ayew and Mac with Grealish in a free role? And we must have some full backs in the reserves so play them!

DelboyVilla wrote:

Joppe84 wrote:Same side except Gestede, Bacuna, Cissokho, Hutton, Westwood and Gardner please

Joppe mate one could argue that changing 6 players from Sunday isn't really the 'same side'?

But I don't disagree except it may be difficult to change all the midfield 3? Take out Westwood and Bacuna and put in Tish and Lyden? Also play 2 up top in Ayew and Mac with Grealish in a free role? And we must have some full backs in the reserves so play them!

Anyway, we can probably do it. To send a message more than anything. Get Lyden in for Hutton, or another acedemy player. Get Bennett or Amavi in for Cissokho. Get Grealish in for Bacuna. Tish in for Westwood. Anyone in for Gardner. Murphy for Gestede.

Agree with all of that although maybe use Green.

I'd like to see Lyden given a run, too, but I wonder if he might be a little too lightweight??

I'd also be interested to see how Bennett gets on.

Bloody hell where is everyone?

Team news:

Bunn, Richards (c), Okore, Baker, Amavi, Gardner, Tshibola, Grealish, Green, Ayew, Mccormack

For me that's exactly what I would have picked. And It gives me even more confidence in RDM because I'm thinking this is how we'll set up..

....................Bunn...............

..Richards..Okore..Baker..Amavi..

.............Gardner...Tish.....
..................Grealish..............
.......Green.................Ayew...
.................Mccormack.....

So the balance should be so much better tonight than it was on Sunday. Hope they put on a good display and give Roberto some headaches ahead of Saturday.

My lad just sent me a photo of the away end entrance he's gone in via. Genuinely looks like he entered the ground through someone's terraced house lol
Happy with the team for this game.

Thought Ayew should have scored then

Holy shit off the bar!

Bloody he'll how close from grealish crashed against the post

Goal Ayew! !!