Aston Villa Vs. Manchester United

this is not gonna be easy. We will need to be at our best defending set pieces. I dont think Villa will have a go at us, they have been smashed by us many times and have had some success lately playing us tight.

No Gary Neville please, he was absolutely owned by Villa last season.

VDS
Brown Vidic Evans Evra
Fletch Anderson Carrick
Valencia Rooney Nani

If Anderson isn't available Id go with Scholes or Giggs in the middle. Nani cannot be dropped at the moment.
 
They'll no doubt sit back, and hoof balls up top and hope to have a bit of luck. We have a great record at Villa Park though, and we go into this game in great form. I fancy us to win.

VDS

Rafael
Evans
Vidic
Evra

Carrick
Fletcher
Scholes

Nani
Rooney
Park

I'm going for a 3-1 win. The momentum is with us at the moment, and Villa haven't looked great in recent weeks. Granted they have a good defence, but I think we will have a lot of the ball and it'll just be a case of when and not if we score.
 
VDS

Rafael Vidic Evans Evra

Nani Carrick Fletcher Giggs

Rooney Berbatov

Revenge please. The defeat at OT was one of the most frustrating this season.
 
They'll no doubt sit back, and hoof balls up top and hope to have a bit of luck. We have a great record at Villa Park though, and we go into this game in great form. I fancy us to win.

VDS

Rafael
Evans
Vidic
Evra

Carrick
Fletcher
Scholes

Nani
Rooney
Park

I'm going for a 3-1 win. The momentum is with us at the moment, and Villa haven't looked great in recent weeks. Granted they have a good defence, but I think we will have a lot of the ball and it'll just be a case of when and not if we score.

They are a better side away from home. I think, if we apply ourselves well, we can dispense a good thrashing.
 
They defeated us at OT, but our defense consisted of Carrick and Fletcher. I think we will defeat them by a one goal margin. It will be a tight match as Villa's defense is in extremely good form. Think we will start with a 4-4-2 as there is no other reason why we would have substituted Berbatov after 60 mins in the Pompey match.

VDS
Nev/Rafael-Brown-Evans-Evra
Valencia-Carrick-Fletcher-Nani
Rooney-Berbatov
 
They'll no doubt sit back, and hoof balls up top and hope to have a bit of luck. We have a great record at Villa Park though, and we go into this game in great form. I fancy us to win.

VDS

Rafael
Evans
Vidic
Evra

Carrick
Fletcher
Scholes

Nani
Rooney
Park

I'm going for a 3-1 win. The momentum is with us at the moment, and Villa haven't looked great in recent weeks. Granted they have a good defence, but I think we will have a lot of the ball and it'll just be a case of when and not if we score.

I'd go with that team as well.
Probably Giggs should play a part though.
 
--------------------------Van Der Saar----------------------


---Rafael---------Brown-----------Evans-------------Evra---



------------------------Fletcher---------------------------


-----------------Scholes-----------Carrick-----------------


---Nani------------------Rooney--------------------Giggs----



Subs:Kuzczak, Vidic, DeLaet, Gibson, Park, Berbatov, Owen
Shape: Keep the back 5 (only change Rafael for Neville to cope with Villa's pace on the flanks with Ashley Young and Gabby Aghlabonhor, James Milner). Midfield of 5 to fight for possession. I predict it will be a feity cup game with lots of meaty challenges and fast attacking football.
Martin O Neill's teams usually set out to attack. Hopefully this will leave spaces at the back for Rooney and Nani to exploit.
Prediction:0-2 away victory for us. Rooney, Scholes
 
whats the latest with Anderson

Deserters deserve to get shot in the back....or benched for upto a month in Fergie's case. I don't want him in the side after his antics. We are more then sorted there with Carrick, Scholes and Fletcher.
 
4-4-2 for me, Villa's stronghold is the defense ... I think United could handle Villa's midfield with 4 better than Rooney can handle the defense alone.

If not Berba... Owen.

Yeah id agree with that id rather see us go 4-4-2 for this one aswell and the fact both Rooney and Berba were subbed yesterday suggests its at the very least in fergies mind, with Berba not having played in the previous 3 matches there was certainly no fatigue issue with him there so i can only assume he was taken off with an eye on the Villa game, same with Rooney.

If we do go 4-3-3/4-5-1 then a front 3 of Nani - Rooney - Giggs would be my prefered trio, think Giggs is an absolute shoe in to start this one given he was rested completly yesterday.
 
It'l be 4-5-1. Obviously.

--------------VDS-----------

Rafael---Brown---Evans----Evra

------------Carrick------------
----Scholes--------Fletcher----

Nani-----------------------Giggs
------------Rooney--------------
 
I think we should approach the game the same way we approached the Arsenal game, Villa are a good side full of young and exciting players in a way similar to Arsenal'sthough Villa have more steel.


Villa is a long ball team, Arsenal actually try to play football.

We may have to rely on Berbs to get a goal here.
 
They defeated us at OT, but our defense consisted of Carrick and Fletcher. I think we will defeat them by a one goal margin. It will be a tight match as Villa's defense is in extremely good form. Think we will start with a 4-4-2 as there is no other reason why we would have substituted Berbatov after 60 mins in the Pompey match.

VDS
Nev/Rafael-Brown-Evans-Evra
Valencia-Carrick-Fletcher-Nani
Rooney-Berbatov


Please no Gary Nev. He doesn't have the pace to live with Villa's wingers.
Agreed on the rest 4-4-2 it should be with Giggs on the left and Nani on the right instead of Valencia.
 
Agreed. Giggs and Scholes should be well rested and ready to go. Giggs on the left and Nani back on the right where he belongs.
 
-----------VDS-----------
Rafael--Vidic--Evans--Evra
--Fletch-Scholes-Carrick--
Nani-----------------Giggs
---------Rooney----------

Subs: Kuz, Brown, Fabio, Valencia, Park, Berbatov, Owen
 
van der Sar

Rafael Brown Evans Evra

Carrick
Fletcher Scholes
Valencia ...................... Nani

Rooney

---------------------------------
Kuszczak; Neville; De Laet; Giggs; Park; Berbatov; Owen​


Should be a win. 1-0 United, with a Rooney winner.
 
For some reason I was under the impression this was on ESPN next week, gutted.
 
VDS
Brown, Vidic, Evans, Evra
Fletcher, Scholes, Giggs
Valencia, Rooney, Nani

Scholes to run the show and Fletcher to win us everything, Giggs to tear them apart through the middle and the front 3 to reap the benefits.
 
------------back-four-----------
----Fletcher-----------Carrick---
-------------Scholes------------
-----Nani--------------Park------
---------The White Pele---------

Valencia will play in the 4-4-2 formations. He is more of a 'traditional' winger. Gets crosses in, cuts in not so often. Better suited with 2 forwards if you ask me
Nani is more direct, so he'd be my first choice in the 4-5-1. Gives Rooney a 'partner' sort of, in attack.
Park will provide the 'legs'
Don't care much, who's in the defense, as long as we have VDS in goal
Carrick-Fletcher are a must
Scholes- for the vision and creativity /Giggs might be an option too, though Scholesy will start IMO/

I say 3-1 United. Goals from Rooney, maybe Fletcher, Scholes from a distance...
 
Vidic, if fit, is preferred to Brown. However Brown and Evans are doing well at the moment so it might be questionable to throw Vidic in during such a big game. However, I am sure that he will be able to cope well.
I'd stick with Brown-Evans, to be honest - both have performed really well.

If Vidic was to move into the side though, I'd play Brown at right-back, but - then again -, we have Rafael, who's been in fine form in the last weeks... :wenger:
 
Please no Gary Nev. He doesn't have the pace to live with Villa's wingers.
Agreed on the rest 4-4-2 it should be with Giggs on the left and Nani on the right instead of Valencia.

I was putting Neville there because Rafael was injured for the Pompey game, we don't know if he will be fit for Villa game or not.
 
Villa have a strong back line - i'd like to see us play 2 up front against them.

VDS
Brown-Vidic-Evans-Evra
Valencia-Scholes-Fletcher-Nani
Rooney-Berbatov

Stay solid at the back and we can win 1 - 0

I'd love Anderson to come on and do well.
 
Villa have a strong back line - i'd like to see us play 2 up front against them.

VDS
Brown-Vidic-Evans-Evra
Valencia-Scholes-Fletcher-Nani
Rooney-Berbatov

Stay solid at the back and we can win 1 - 0

I'd love Anderson to come on and do well.

Definitely wouldn't drop Carrick for this, has been coming into his best form lately and when he plays well we seem to tick just that little bit more.
 
Scholesy will get his 100th in this game.. He always performs well at Villa Park so be sure to look for a screamer.. And yes, we need to pay back for the loss at OT(although I didn't see that game)..

Also Owen should play at least 30mins in this one. Their slow defence will not like him one bit me thinks...
 
Looking forward to this one, I shall be there. Going to be hard though! We will need a rock solid performance in all departments to get a result here.
 
Looking forward to this one, I shall be there. Going to be hard though! We will need a rock solid performance in all departments to get a result here.

correct

3 points are massive here!
 
No way, theres still plenty of points left to be won after this game.
 
van der Sar
Rafael Brown Evans Evra
Carrick
Fletcher Scholes
Nani Rooney Park
--
Subs: Kuszczak; Neville, Vidic; Giggs, Valencia; Owen, Berbatov

Aston Villa 1-2 Man United
Agbonlahor ............ Park
................................. OwnGoal​

Going to be tough, but we should have no fears. We can play full strength since we don't have a game before AC Milan. Hopefully win and keep the pressure on, Chelsea have a tough game too, though. Maybe Anderson to come in, but just look at that bench :drool:
 
It'll be 451.

I hope Scholes doesn't play, I want him rested for Milan.

Milan game is 7 days away. He won't play at the weekend, but I'm pretty sure he'll play Wednesday night.

VDS

Rafael
Evans
Vidic
Evra

Nani
Carrick
Fletcher
Scholes
Giggs

Rooney

It'll be a tough game, this, and I think the first goal is key. Villa will no doubt look to get the ball and hoof it up as they usually do when they come up against one of the big 3. We're on a good run though so I expect us to prevail, and added to that we have quite an outstanding record at Villa park. The result at OT earlier in the season was one of the more frustrating games of the season. I'm going for a 3-1 away win. Key night aswell with Everton hosting Chelsea.
 
Starting XI: -------- Van Der Sar -----------------------
Rafael ------- Vidic ---------------- J.Evans ------- Evra
--------- Scholes ----- Fletcher -------- Giggs ----------
Nani ----------------------------------------------- Park
----------------------- Rooney -------------------------

Bench: Kuszczak, Brown, Anderson, Carrick, Valencia, Berbatov, Own Goal