Aston Villa (H) Team News

[Geez]

Source: Official Site

New arrivals Eidur Gudjohnsen, Younes Kaboul and Kyle Walker go straight into the squad for Saturday's big Premier League clash against Villa.

Neither were available for Wednesday's FA Cup replay at Leeds United, although Eidur can now play in the fifth round at his former club Bolton. Younes and Kyle are cup-tied.

Ledley King is fit again and both Luka Modric and Wilson Palacios come back into the frame after being on the bench for the 3-1 win at Elland Road.

Roman Pavlyuchenko remains a doubt with a groin problem and although Aaron Lennon is also out with his groin injury, there is encouraging news on his progress. "He's getting closer," said Harry.

"He's working with the fitness coaches at the moment.

"He's not doing ball work yet but he's running again in straight lines and will soon be checking, twisting and turning again. He's on his way back."

Benoit Assou-Ekotto (hip), Jonathan Woodgate (groin) and Carlo Cudicini (wrist, pelvis) remain sidelined.

Meanwhile, in terms of the role of captain following Robbie Keane's loan departure to Celtic, Harry added: "Michael Dawson has been captaining the side and Ledley King can as well, it's not a massive problem.

"They are both terrific characters and if it's not one of them, there are many other players who can do it.

"Whoever takes the armband I've got faith in them to be able to carry out what I want from them on the pitch."

[StanSpur]

If fit i'd like to see Eidur come off the bench in the second half to stop the inevitable long ball to crouch game we will play. Wilson in for Jenas, King for Bassong and Modric for Krancjar - although i'd be tempted not to change anything from the very proffessional performance

[Twaddle]

Gomez
Charlie, Dawson, King, Bale
Bentley, Wilson, Hudd, Modric
Defoe, Crouch

Subs
GK, Kran, Kaboul, Bassong, Eidur, JJ, Pav

(Suddently forgotton how many subs we can name. Doh!!)

[spurs_viola]

If fit i'd like to see Eidur come off the bench in the second half to stop the inevitable long ball to crouch game we will play. Wilson in for Jenas, King for Bassong and Modric for Krancjar - although i'd be tempted not to change anything from the very proffessional performance

Agree entirely. The "long ball to Crouch" game is getting really hard to take and will damage our prospects - we cannot expect Defoe to come up with the goals every game and need an effective partner for him up front. Someone who could link up with him well and score goals too.
How long will that "groin injury" last?...

[mattstev2000]

If fit i'd like to see Eidur come off the bench in the second half to stop the inevitable long ball to crouch game we will play. Wilson in for Jenas, King for Bassong and Modric for Krancjar - although i'd be tempted not to change anything from the very proffessional performance

I'd like to see Eidur in from the start to try and get a bit of technical quality back up front probably with Defoe. At the moment, everytime I see Crouch + Defoe as our forward line I die a little inside...

Crouch can always come on as an impact sub later in the game if necessary.

[StanSpur]

I agree matt but it has to be said that crouch did do a good job on wednesday and that will keep his place. Also there have been doubts over Eidur's match fitness so i doubt he'll get the nod from the start - not this week anyway.

He did get a couple of goals for the reserves during the week though so there may be a chance.

[mil1lion]

Kaboul to come on and score the winner.

[spursbhoy67]

The irony for me is that Crouch is better on the ground than he is in the air. He is not one to make clever runs in behind defenders, but can hold the ball and is comfortable with it on the deck. I thought at times on Wednesday that we played into his feet more and we kept better possession of the ball. When we hit and hope to his head we lose shape and it requires more runners from midfield which we don't have in JJ, TH or WP.

[ricardo_archibald]

"..he's running again in straight lines"

Good to hear that Lennon has no hangovers from his injury...

[spurs_viola]

"..he's running again in straight lines"

Good to hear that Lennon has no hangovers from his injury...

:-) Yeah, noticed that too - the hangover must have been really bad this time, huh - lucky it's over now...:wink: Need him back asap.

[dickyid]

The irony for me is that Crouch is better on the ground than he is in the air.

He seems to get LESS height when he jumps. I really don't get how.

[steveitr]

He seems to get LESS height when he jumps. I really don't get how.

Excuse the pun but he actually crouches when he jumps watch against villa!

I really hope we don't go long ball against villa as they have some big players and i think they will beat crouchy in the air, but we will see

COYS!!

[DefoeFan]

I wouldn't play king ahead of Bassong, Ledly (on occasion) is bottling 50/50 tackles but understandably so..

We can't afford to do that, it could be very costly..

Huddlestone seems to keep getting chances to improve his game so why not bassong?. Seems unfair to me.. Especially when huddlestone got such a pasting from hansen on MOTD against Birmingham..And rightly so. Passing parallel 20 times a game when were trying to push forward and geting rid of the ball like a Hot potato is not promising.. Come on huddletone Just ONCE i'd like to see you dribble and take someone on..

I would also like to see Gudjohnson at some point if were not doing to well or were winning by a 2 goal margin with 15-20 mins on the clock.

[StokeSpur]

I'd stick with Daws & Bassong but Harry probs wont, they have been in great form.

Remember, kaboul had Judas along side him to make up for his naivety, does anyone think Daws and Kaboul would be a defensive pairing good enough to rely on?

I'm hoping for

Gomes
Charlie, Daws, Bassong, Bale
Bentley, Palacios, Kranky, Modders
Defoe, Crouch

while i dont like how we play with crouch in the side, Keane has gone, Pav is injured and Eidur aint match fit so we're left with little choice. I guess Harry could ask em to keep the ball on the floor deck though lol.

If we can repeat the performance of wed's night we'll stick it to Villa.

COYS

[GlennHoddle]

I wouldn't play king ahead of Bassong, Ledly (on occasion) is bottling 50/50 tackles but understandably so..

We can't afford to do that, it could be very costly..

Huddlestone seems to keep getting chances to improve his game so why not bassong?. Seems unfair to me.. Especially when huddlestone got such a pasting from hansen on MOTD against Birmingham..And rightly so. Passing parallel 20 times a game when were trying to push forward and geting rid of the ball like a Hot potato is not promising.. Come on huddletone Just ONCE i'd like to see you dribble and take someone on..

I would also like to see Gudjohnson at some point if were not doing to well or were winning by a 2 goal margin with 15-20 mins on the clock.

Agree on your Ledley/Bassong comment as i feel Ledley should be our 4th choice centre back used if all others are injured, leave them build up an understanding.
But that has been exhausted in many other threads so leave it be.

On Hudd dribbling, there's not many central midfielders you see dribble and take someone on is there? i can't think of one?
To me thats the job of the wingers.
Take no notice of Hansen, he is a clown

[sak11]

several points...
1) i agree, hansen is a bit of a dick
2) dribbling and beating people is not hudds, game, his game is quick one touch passing which, mostly, is highly accurate and effective at pulling the defence out of position and thus creating space. Ok so he passed is sideways a lot against brum, so what, as long as we keep possession then we have the chance to create something and not the opposition. Not every ball can be a killer ball.
3) Dribbling centre midfielders who can dribble... there are loads ... e.g. fabregash ? But as i said, that is not hudds style...

[JoeT]

For now at least, the Crouch/Defoe partnership is coming along quite nicely and i.m.o. shouldn't be broken up....esp. against a strong side such as 'Villa. As has been said, Gudjohnsen maybe could get a run out near the end, if we are behind.

[chadders]

Hansen - you can't win anything with kids... Enough said!

[jolsnogross]

1) King will probably get the nod, which is harsh on Bassong. Also somewhat risky given Villa's counter-attacking pace and style.

2) It takes 2 players to make a pass. Criticizing Hudd for sideways passing is harsh, especially if the options ahead of him aren't creating passable options for him. Keeping possession and sideways passing is fine as long as it happens with decent tempo. It causes defenders to have to constantly re-evaluate the defensive shape.

3) It's funny how Hudd gets flak as the passer for sideways passes, but long-ballers don't get flak for lumping it, Crouch does. The Crouch-Defoe partnership is hard to argue with based on the numbers. Crouch has goals and assists to back his case up and it's harsh to blame him when defenders lump it at him - he's prefer a pass along the floor too. Having Gudjohnsen is a good option if we need a change.

4) Before the Leeds game, I didn't harbour much optimism about the Villa game. Having said that, Villa away was an immensely enjoyable game that we controlled well and deserved more than a point. More of the same would be great. And with Younes back, we might get a 4-4 cracker.

[DefoeFan]

. More of the same would be great. And with Younes back, we might get a 4-4 cracker.

God I hope not, My nerves coudn't take it. :wink:

[fatspur]

I'm hoping for

Gomes
Charlie, Daws, Bassong, Bale
Bentley, Palacios, Kranky, Modders
Defoe, Crouch

Harry might, he's started with 3 attacking midfielders recently. Personally I would put Hudd in for Kranjcar. He makes himself available and does the simple things well, keeps things moving

[spud]

I'd
Remember, kaboul had Judas along side him to make up for his naivety, does anyone think Daws and Kaboul would be a defensive pairing good enough to rely on?

I do, and for two reasons:

1. Kaboul is a better player now than when he left us, and
2. Dawson has been the senior man of the pair (when playing with Bassong) for much of the season and has been immense. He has developed to the extent where he doesn't need a senior player alongside him any more.

My only problem would be the two of them becoming acclimatised to each other's play, but training will sort that out.

[davidmatzdorf]

I see that people are seriously suggesting that Kaboul should start even if King is fit. That will not happen. Nor should it. I am one who thinks Kaboul is very talented and likely to make a star CB in time, but there is an element of lunacy entering into the discussion when people start concluding that it's better to pair a newly-arrived defender with Dawson than a seasoned world-class international like King.

As for the "settled defensive pair" argument, it sounds good, but recent events shed doubt. We kept some clean sheets with Dawson & Bassong, then we put in King and we kept some more. These guys can play together and I don't think there is any disruption caused by inserting King, when he's fit, in place of Bassong. They're all good and they've been playing like a team recently.

[DC_Boy]

crouch and defoe have done brilliantly for us - so why anyone would want to change it is beyond me

it's when they don't start the trouble has occurred

it's already cost us probably 3/5 points v wolves and hull and a realistic shot at top 4

why risk losing our last frail chance by not starting them?

[DC_Boy]

i want king to be fit for bolton - so probably playing him tomorrow is a reasonable risk - as it keeps him fit and has 8 days to recover

[gloryglory]

1) King will probably get the nod, which is harsh on Bassong. Also somewhat risky given Villa's counter-attacking pace and style.

2) It takes 2 players to make a pass. Criticizing Hudd for sideways passing is harsh, especially if the options ahead of him aren't creating passable options for him. Keeping possession and sideways passing is fine as long as it happens with decent tempo. It causes defenders to have to constantly re-evaluate the defensive shape.

3) It's funny how Hudd gets flak as the passer for sideways passes, but long-ballers don't get flak for lumping it, Crouch does. The Crouch-Defoe partnership is hard to argue with based on the numbers. Crouch has goals and assists to back his case up and it's harsh to blame him when defenders lump it at him - he's prefer a pass along the floor too. Having Gudjohnsen is a good option if we need a change.

4) Before the Leeds game, I didn't harbour much optimism about the Villa game. Having said that, Villa away was an immensely enjoyable game that we controlled well and deserved more than a point. More of the same would be great. And with Younes back, we might get a 4-4 cracker.

I come and go from this site, and threads like this are why. Jolsnogross is spot on, but why are so many players getting flak when we are doing well? And why is Harry?

Huddlestone good. Crouch good. Bentley good. Bale good. Pick your boo boy of choice, and chances are they're a good player, even if some (Jenas, King) are off form. It's all good.

[will8587]

As for the "settled defensive pair" argument, it sounds good, but recent events shed doubt. We kept some clean sheets with Dawson & Bassong, then we put in King and we kept some more. These guys can play together and I don't think there is any disruption caused by inserting King, when he's fit, in place of Bassong. They're all good and they've been playing like a team recently.

Oh yeah? In recent events, as in the four games King has played in the past two months, we've conceded goals in two of them. In the same time period, Bassong has started eight games, and we've conceded goals in only three of them. So they both have been rather effective in defense, though credit to Bassong in playing in more clean sheets than King has played total.

The most worrying thing, though, is that in the 12 starts King has made this season, he's had to be subbed out in a third of them, three of which were injury/fitness related and not strategic (the other against Liverpool is arguable whether it was fitness or strategy). That's a horrible record, especially considering how much time King has been given in between his sporadic starts. Even when King is "fit", there's still a high risk that he won't make it through the whole game.

I appreciate everything King has done for the club. He's a legend and all, but I don't think he should be our first choice CB any longer. His health creates too many concerns, and we already have an excellent young CB to fill the void.
Unfortunately, I think it's time we move on.

[lazarus]

Tomorrow's a critical game. Lose it; and we're possibly dropping down to seventh in the table. Win; and we put a gap between us and one of our main competitors for fourth.

Harry's been there and done that, so he knows its the big games where you bring out your experienced pros. And when we've got an experienced pro of the quality that King possesses; why would we play an inexperienced but talented youngster? Who may have a 'Gardner moment' at a critical point in the match?

No:

Gomez
Charlie Dawson King Bale
Bentley Palacios Hudd Modric
Defoe Crouch

Crouch and Bentley subbed for Gudjonsen and Krancjar at some point.

And King only gets subbed so much because Harry's trying to preserve him.

[t-baggins]

To say Harry's been there and done it before is bollocks... When has he managed a side thats finished in the top 4 of the premiership?

I think he's still learning... This year will be massive for him, and Spurs regardless of our final position.

The Villa game is MASSIVE!!!

I'm worried about Bale getting injured!

Tonight he will go

Gomes
Charlie Dawson King Bale
Bently Palacious Huddlestone Modric
Defoe Crouch

Alnwick, Walker, Kaboul, JJ, Kranjar, Eider, Bassong

[browndchl]

I'd like to see Harry stick with the same back 4 we had against Leeds. At least we know that they're all going to last the 90mins (barring injury). If Ledders starts, then we know that a sub will be needed at some point leaving us with only 2 attacking changes possible.

Kaboul gives us good cover for the back line and also for Wilson, whilst Niko gives lots of cover for attacking options.

[GlennHoddle]

well said will, agree 100%

[Son_Of]

crouch and defoe have done brilliantly for us - so why anyone would want to change it is beyond me

it's when they don't start the trouble has occurred

it's already cost us probably 3/5 points v wolves and hull and a realistic shot at top 4

why risk losing our last frail chance by not starting them?

alleluia!