Hull v Aston Villa Tuesday 10th February 7.45pm

Wow .... This is the BIG one! Who would have thought that playing Hull could be a defining moment for us. We desperately need three points, it doesn't have to be pretty, but it does have to be a win. Hull performed a smash and grab against Man City yesterday, and we showed a glimpse of style against Chelsea, so it should be a cracker .... right? Probably not, but I'll take a dour game if we can only bring home the six points. That's right, it's a 6 pointer!

I've gone with a win solely because whenever he needs a result the lucky horseshoe up Lambert's arse seems to pull one out

I get the feeling we'll score a couple of goals! 1-2 Villa!

I probably need to go for a lay down before I get sectioned.

I've gone for draw. I predict two nervous teams resulting in a crap game.

So expect a free-flowing 4-4 or something now 

He needs to get the tactics and formation spot on, he'll go for the safe option of playing the same boring formation and team.

I would go for something abit more attack minded

4-2-3-1 (same defence) Delph/Westwood or Sanchez as the 2 Sinclair Gill Weimann as the 3 with Benteke as the striker

Gabby being the impact sub along with whoever else

Ideally N'Zogbia would be in the 3 but he just won't work hard enough so that's why Weimann is in.

I wonder whether Hull know that Mourinho thinks we're a good team? They'll be quaking in their boots!

Can't call this. If we played with some of our second half form against Chelsea we might Nick it 1-0. But we are Villa so who knows. I'll sit on the fence with a draw, not enough to get Lambert sacked but enough to put us in real peril.

Lambert will be proud of the effort and couldn't have asked for more.

However, we'll be going again.

During the Lambert reign I've seen nearly every single fixture described as a "must win" game for us, but I truly think this match against Hull is probably the most important game we've had since I can remember.

We scored against Chelsea, nearly grabbed a point before Ivanovic broke our hearts, and we actually look threatening with Gil in our team. Hopefully this will give us a platform to pull off a win against Mr. Potato Head's side. Anything less than that and I fear the worst going into this run of must win fixtures.

avfc85 wrote:He needs to get the tactics and formation spot on, he'll go for the safe option of playing the same boring formation and team.

I would go for something abit more attack minded

4-2-3-1 (same defence) Delph/Westwood or Sanchez as the 2  Sinclair Gill Weimann as the 3 with Benteke as the striker

Gabby being the impact sub along with whoever else

Ideally N'Zogbia would be in the 3 but he just won't work hard enough so that's why Weimann is in.

Almost 100% agree here. No way would I start Benteke though...he has been horse shit for weeks and weeks now. When left out on Saturday, did he come on fired up looking to prove a point? Did he bollox...he was crap...again!
In fact, when he came on I sensed that we lost our spark....I'm not sure there is a lot of belief in him at the moment out on that pitch. For all his lack of any ability...Gabby moved those 2 centre backs around at times...Benteke never does that in my view.

Other than that, totally agree....Gil is the key...would be tempted to just give him licence to roam, he'd very difficult to pick up then.
Let's remember though that the Hull players thought Jack Grealish was a threat ( ), and decided to kick the shit out him......how will they react to a proper player like Gil? Someone will take him out sooner or later.

0-1 , Gabby to score , he does play well every 8 games or so, he is well overdue a good game , then again we are playing Mr Potato Head !  4-0 Hull , Lambert to get new contract !

Davies headed Hat trick from set plays

Gil has been great so far, so bound to be cack tonight (the Lambert effect), Hull win 1-0, 92nd minute winner from a corner..

We simply have to win tonight. This is genuinely 100% a relegation decider. If we lose I can't see us recovering. If we drop into the bottom 3 it's all over as we don't have the character required to pull ourselves out of it. Fortunately for us byrnleys next 2 games are utd and Chelsea away but even so.

Problem is it's a must win for both teams, so it's huge pressure. The mentally tougher side and manager should win tonight.

We have to score goals and we have only one real goalscorer in the team, Benteke has to play and we have to make sure we keep getting the ball into his feet. It's alright dropping him as a kick up the arse, if we had the time and the players to fill in for him. WE DONT! So Benteke has to play and we have to change our tactics to make sure that he gets so much of the ball (to feet, not head) that he's just got to score!

If Benteke doesn't start scoring we won't survive. Make it happen Paul!

In Gil we trust.

Christ, how bad has it got that I'm putting all my faith in the only player we have that hasn't yet had the natural talent coached out of him?

villabromsgrove, why wouldn't you play to Benteke's head , are you talking long ball from the back (ie Guzan) or from out wide ?

VillaBill wrote:villabromsgrove, why wouldn't you play to Benteke's head , are you talking long ball from the back (ie Guzan) or from out wide ?

I wouldn't play to Benteke's head because when you do that you're not actually giving him the ball, all that happens is that he flicks it on and there is no Villa player within yards of it every time! The opposition pick up the second ball from all his headers.

It's fine hitting crosses and free kicks to his head if he's in the box and can have a go at goal, but otherwise we have to get it to his feet so that he can make something happen.

Anyone getting nervous?

Jae1411 wrote:We simply have to win tonight. This is genuinely 100% a relegation decider. If we lose I can't see us recovering. If we drop into the bottom 3 it's all over as we don't have the character required to pull ourselves out of it. Fortunately for us byrnleys next 2 games are utd and Chelsea away but even so.

Not quite sure where this thinking comes from...we got out of it several times 2 years ago...and I don't think we fell into bottom 3 last year or this?
We don't 'have' to win. A point would be ok and may actually be decent depending how other results go.

I think we'll win by the way

villabromsgrove wrote:We have to score goals and we have only one real goalscorer in the team, Benteke has to play and we have to make sure we keep getting the ball into his feet. It's alright dropping him as a kick up the arse, if we had the time and the players to fill in for him. WE DONT! So Benteke has to play and we have to change our tactics to make sure that he gets so much of the ball (to feet, not head) that he's just got to score!

If Benteke doesn't start scoring we won't survive. Make it happen Paul!

Sorry mate but this years stats and (more telling) performances just don't say the same.

On his game Benteke is a class act...no argument...but how long can we wait?

Lacklustre is not the word.

I'd have money on the same starting XI tonight. I would be happy enough with that apart from Cleverley. I think Sinclair in for him and we will have away too much for Hull....especially with the pace of our front line against Dawson and Bruce.

If we have to play 433 it needs to be Sinclair and Gil around Benteke.

4231 with Sinclair, Gil and Weimann behind Benteke would also work.

442 with Benteke and Weimann. Gil and Sinclair wide. Delph and Sanchez would be ideal!

Fully expect to see the armband on Gabby on his own up top with Cole, Cleverley and Richardson in. Oh what Lambert has reduced me to ...

villabromsgrove wrote:Anyone getting nervous?

Allways nervous watching villa since Lambert has been in charge, a few beers help, but a must win tonight.
Need to move away from the bottom of the league. 
Hull will be up for this game, I just hope we can win.

I tend to agree with Mardy regarding the result. I view it more of a mustn't lose than a must win. However, win, lose or draw it's still a long way to go. I remember when we beat Chelsea last season and thought we'd coast our way to safety after that. Stupid boy!