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Albion blog: Villa thriller
Friday 9th January 2009, 9:05AM GMT.
Albion blogger Jarrod Hill picks his starting XI, bemoans a liability and gets into derby mood ahead of the trip to Villa.
The Saturday lunchtime kick-off sees the two midland Premier League clubs go head to head, in a game where there is more than just local pride at stake.
Villa are still on course to achieve a top four finish and a place among Europe’s elite, the Champions League. Their season has gone from strength to strength, with pundits are tripping over themselves to tip them as the team to break the elusive top four.
Our own ambitions are somewhat moderate in comparison – we just want to stay up.
Although the game will not determine either teams ultimate fate, it will certainly have a contribution. Possibly more so for Villa, who lose or draw will see it as a huge set back from a game they are expected to win.
Albion on the other hand would welcome a draw as a point towards safety. A loss would be hard felt, but by many fans expected.
Indeed I have already heard fans say that the Middlesbrough game is more important. It’s at home, against a team close to us in the league and represents a greater opportunity of a win.
Personally I am of the opinion that EVERY game represents an opportunity to gain points, no matter who the opposition are. Mowbray certainly has some tough decisions to make regarding the team selection.
I am not going to try and second guess what he will do (I never get it right anyway). Instead I will pick my team and give reasons for my decisions, then sit back and watch you lot shoot me down, but hey – football is all about opinions.
I will start with formation. It is no secret that we have struggled to keep clean sheets this season, so I believe we have to start attacking teams in order to get goals and results.I am going with 4-4-2.
Goalkeeper Scott Carson has nothing to prove to Villa fans and, had there not been a falling out over the Gareth Barry transfer saga with Liverpool, I believe he would be in the opposition’s goal mouth come the game. He is my first choice keeper and returns to a ground he knows well.
Choosing our fullbacks for the game has caused me my biggest headache. Villa’s biggest strength this season has been their wing play, Ashley Young and the rejuvenated James Milner are causing better sides than us huge problems.
If Gianni Zuiverloon is fit, then he is my choice at right back. If not, I would choose Graham Dorrans. Carl Hoefkens for me is a liability, so I would rather play someone out of position who has pace and can tackle, than watch ‘the Hoff’ get torn apart by Villa’s pace.
On the left I would stick with Marek Cech (another option would be to switch Paul Robinson to the right), he has played well and deserves to keep his place in the team.
The two centre-halves pick themselves, unless Abdoulaye Meite has recovered in time (which looks unlikely) so Jonas Olsson and Leon Barnett are our only real options.
In midfield, I would play Robert Koren and Jonathan Greening in the middle, Chris Brunt wide left and – if fit – James Morrison wide right.
I have stated on a number of occasions I see Borja Valero and Greening as two players who slow the play down. When they play together have a negative effect on our attacking play.
Up front I would go for the returning Luke Moore and Roman Bednar. Moore will be keen to impress and Bednar has the best strike rate of any forward at the club.
My bench would be Dean Kiely, Valero, Simpson, Dorrans/Robbo, and – if fit – Kim Do-Heon.
The bench would give us different options to change the game as and when required. Well that would be my team, what would be yours?
I just hope that by the time the Middlesbrough game comes round, I will have at least two new players to choose from! Up the Baggies!
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my team :
carson
zuiverloon, donk, olsson, robinson
koren, greening, brunt
morrison, bednar, simpson
bench – kiely, barnett, cech, dorrans, valero, beattie, teixeira (if fit) or kim
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morning bomber, interesting blog mate, and i would reckon if you’ve gone 4-4-2 that means we will start 4-5-1. Good call regarding dorrans, a position that might suit him, equally interesting call to look at robbo at right back although i think its unlikely. Its a shame for carl, i believe its a confidence thing, but like you i dont think he’s the man for the job on saturday. I would settle for the point aswell but a part of me just wants to see them go for it, you just never know. I could have gone to the game, a mate i play poker with is a villa nut, but id have to sit with the vile, and when we score (which i believe we will ) you juist know what the outcome will be. as you say up the baggies mate, keep on believing
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Jarrod.
It won’t surprise you to see me disagree with you on this one. I agree that the wings are important but I still think that if You have Cech at LB and Brunt in front of him M O’N will be rubbing his hands. Brunt does little to help his full back and Cech is often not there to help. On the other side I agree that Hoff at RB would be murdered, no disgrace there Villa’s wingers are capable of doing this to most full backs, I’d play Robbo there with Cech in midfield. If Zuiv is fit I’d play him there and Hoff in front of him, Hoff still looks good going forward and has awareness of defensive play. This may look defensive but you still have four wide players who can all defend to varying degrees but likewise all like to get forward. As you say, it’s all about opinions.
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Morrison wide right, he will cause Luke Young problems. Also, Simspson on the left, Reo Coke Head is not not a natural right back and Simpson’s pace will cause him problems.
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Why do you think that 4-5-1 is less attacking than 4-4-2? I believe that we create more chances with 451, but we just don’t take them – that’s the problem (eg Wigan away etc).When we played Villa at home, we did alright at 451, but when Mowbray changed to 442, we hardly had another kick, let alone create any chances.
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I am having a little flutter. Albion 1-0 scorer Zuiverloon. Mark my words I have had a dream.
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Sutton Hoo
I completely agree with you – Cech left midfield and Robbo behind.
Same on the right Zuiv or Hoff at right back, with Mogga midfield.
The Valero/Greening debate lingers on – I don’t really like Greenings influence on a game when he plays in a 4 man midfield – too slow (as has been stated on many occasions) and not enough forward passes.
In a 5 he looks better when he sits deepest, but needs to be surrounded with attack-minded players who can anticipate a pass – this is where Valero will come into his own eventually IMO – and I think Kim is the player to base that system around.
For Saturday I’m expecting us to start 451 with Koren, Greening and Valero occupying the middle berths and the left and right as above.
Up front, on his own, Moore – just because of the old adage that you’ll score against your old team – seems as good a reason as any other I’ve heard!
Prediction?
Don’t be surprised to see the history books get re-written…….
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tm will play this defensivley and might even save players as it “worked” against chelsea ,i still hope he always plays two up front otherwise teams have nothing to worry about,herierdson is needed to sure up the defence,i rate tm highly but our problems are the same as last year..defence and attack!!!a draw is a massive result at villa
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hilltopbaggie
One word for that mate QPR!!!!
Said id never do it again but nevers a long time!!
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Your post loses all respect when you suggest an attacking midfielder plays right back, or the most left footed left back in the league plays right back !!!
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mboy
I see 4-4-2 as more attacking due to watching us this season, when we have 5 in midfield we imvariably play Valero with Greening which results in a slow build up play.
Sutton Hoo
Roobo and Hoff in midfield?
Stay off the sauce mate!!
Only kidding, i value your opinion and it may work, i just dont rate the Hoff, sorry.
It also means who are you leaving out of the midfield??
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I do not think it is the game to gamble dorrans at full back, AY may just murder him. I just hope zuibe is fit. On the left for me it has to be Robbo at LB and Chech LM. defensivley brunt is awful and it would leave robbo/chech too exposed. Moore and Simpson up top for me, i know Bedner has done ok and works his socks off but i still do not believe he is a prem quality player. Lets just hope its our time.
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Morning jarrod. I’m with you with Carson and back four. Cech certainly deserves to keep his place, but lets just hope Barnett performs better than the last time we played villa! Midfield is tough. Obviously Morrison on the right. In the middle I’d have to go with Koren and Valero. For me Greening’s forms been terrible recently, and I know Valero’s aint been great but he’s capable of supplying some great balls to the strikers instead of passing back to the defenders like Greening! On the left, like you, Brunt, even though he lacks the pace to be a real threat at this level. Up front, without doubt Luke moore. I think since he’s been starting him up front in a 4-4-2 he’s looked very threatening. With him I’d play Simpson. As we’ve struggled for goals all season and we’ve finally got someone who can score and who wenger sees as a future arsenal star, he’s got to play in my view. I watched him play against wigan in the cup and I was impressed. If tex is fit he should definately feature at some stage in midfield. Boing Boing! We can do it!
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matt82
Its an opinion mate, what would be your team??
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cant agree with brunt he hasent put any effort in all season,aye boing boing robbo
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wba bomber
Therefore, you are saying it’s the personnel rather than the system, is that correct?
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hi hilltop nice to see you back,just go in the vile end mate clap like a seal and they wont know any diffrent,aye boing boing donk mozza
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ay it nice to have a proper derby where all the home section is sold out cant remember last time that happened,aye boing boing jonno
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number 6 kim is far to lightweight and since hes signed for us has contributed zilch. My team would be if all were alive and well.
Goal. Hoult
RB. Howe
Lb. Stratham
CB. Moore
CB. Wile
MR. Ashcroft
ML. Cunningham
CM. Robson
Cm. Sneekes
CF. Regis
CF. Brown
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Bomber
I await the hoots of derision, but why not Greening at right back, he has filled in there before, and looked comfortable, plus his experience against Ashley Young could be priceless.
Robbo at left back, with cover from Marek Cech at left midfield.
Koren and Valero centre midfield, i would love to see Valero`s contribution without the influence of Greening, and a fit Morrison or Tiexeria right midfield.
Up top any two from Roman, Simpson and Moore.
Open fire.
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mboy
Kind of!! (who would be your eleven??
Also we have acheived more results playing 4-4-2 than 4-5-1.
Also i agree with many fans regarding Brunts form, but i chose him due to his set peice delivery. I see set peices playing a large part in this game.
Im more confident of playing Villa without Carew, lets face it, he won the game for them at our place!!
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morning terry, how are you mate. Bomber, got the tee shirt mate
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lukey boy
No Hope??
By that i mean no Bobby Hope??
If we are going along that route ill go for
Hoult
Statham
Wile
Wilson
Balis (Penalty Taker)lol
Cunningham
Robson
Bomber
Hope
Astle
Allen
Bench Regis, Batson, Taylor, Carson, Kaye, Richardson.
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Morning gents.
Here we go then, I’d go for Carson in goal, simple, I think we’ll all agree on that.
RB – Zuvi, he’ll be fit I’m sure, we need his pace.
LB – Cech, again, we need his pace
CB – Olsson and Barnett. Olsson has been excellent all season and Barnett has the pace to hopefully keep up with Gabby Agbonlahor. Without John Carew playing the aerial threat with which Villa disrupted us so much at home will be lessened….just watch out for the diving and set pieces!!
RM – Mozza. Player of the season, again, I’m sure he’ll be fit
LM – Dorrans. Inexperienced, but has impressed me with his pace, work ethic and willingness to get a ball into the box, as well as take on players.
CM – Greening and Koren. Greening is more of an influence on a game than Valero for me, can pick passes, works hard and should not be dropped. Koren because of his ability to get in opposing teams faces and disrupt their play. Can also pick a pass and has an eye for goal. I think he’s been wasted out wide this season in TM’s willingness to stick with Valero and Greening
CF – Bednar. Our best striker and workhorse
CF – Moore. This was a tough call, as I thought about putting Simpson in for a full debut due to his pace potentially getting the better of Davies and Knight. I went for Moore purely because of the old addage of scoring against your old club (those straws look like fun to clutch at!!)
Bench – Kiely, Donk, Robbo, Valero, Simpson, Beattie, Kim.
No Chris Brunt for me, as he has not impressed me at all recently and I don’t think he warrants a place in the team.
This will NOT be the team that plays though, just what I would go for. I expect the team to be:
Carson, Zuvi, Robbo, Barnett, Olsson, Mozza, Valero, Brunt, Koren, Bednar.
PREDICTIONS: My head says lose 2 – 0, my heart says sneak it 1 – 0
By the way, anyone who’s going for a beer before hand, we’re going to the Square Peg Weatherspoons in Brum about 9am.
‘I love the smell of dole money in the morning!!’
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CARSON
ZUIVERLOON OLLSON BARNETT
MORRISON KOREN VALERO DORRANS CECH
MOORE SIMPSON
3-5-2 AND WHY NOT.BY ATTACKING MILNER AND YOUNG WE CAN KEEP THEM ON THE BACK FOOT AND NOT VICE VERSA.ZUIV AND MOZZA CAN DOUBLE UP WHEN WE LOSE POSSESSION AS CAN CECH AND BARNETT.DON,T SIT BACK TOMORROW-TAKE THE GAME TO VILLA AND ATTACK! “THEY DONT LIKE IT UP EM “AS SOMEONE ONCE SAID.
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13.wbabomber
Opinions need to possess a little common sense. Plying Dorrans or Robbo at left back are ridiculous suggestions.
I’d go
Carson
Zuiverloon
Barnett
Olsson
Robbo
Mozza
Greening
Valero
Cech
Bednar
Moore
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Sorry, i meant right back before i’m slated ! :-)
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I agree with those above that it would be nice for 4-4-2 and really go for it but I expect TM to play safe with 4-5-1. When we have 5 in midfield more often than not we go backwards.
I also love the idea of Ceck in front of Robbo and Morrison on the right.
I hope you are right about Valero and he is worth that price tag. Currently if we could I would sell him!
He also hope Tex comes back soon to give us some creativity going forward.
I prefer Koren in the middle with Greening but only both on a good day!
Here’s to 2-1 to us! Boing Boing.
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how will i now who you are in the square peg ( the uks longest bar ) will u be wearing a red carnation in your lapel???
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Lukey boy
Kim was our best player until he got injured
just needs time to get his confidence back.
Tony Mowbray must go 4-4-2 to give us any chance.
Carson
Zuiverloon Barnett Olsson Cech
Morrison Valero Koren Greening
Simpson Moore.
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28 – I have a cunning plan to make me clearly distinguishable and here it goes…..ready?
I will be wearing an Albion top with ‘Ned’ and the number ’7′ on the back of it!
I will more than likely be close to an exit as to ensure easy access to places that I am able to go and fill my lungs with poison legally.
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Nedball, I hope the team has 11 players. It`s going to be hard enough as it is
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31 – Oh ar!!
Forgot about Bednar day I?!
Sorry everyone, me stomach’s rumbling and I can’t concentrate.
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wbabomber
I’d go 4-5-1.
Carson
Zuiverloon and Robbo fullbacks
Barnett and Olssen in the middle
Brunt and Morrison out wide.
Koren with either Greening or Valero in the middle.
Kim or Teixera just behind the front man.
Probably Bednar up front.
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31 – I’ve just re-counted and there’s 11 on there!! Carson, Zuvi, Cech, Barnett, Olsson, Mozza, Dorrans, Koren, Jesus, Bednar, Moore.
Can someone bring me a sarnie? I’m starving!!
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matt82
I chose Zuiverloon at right back, i spoke about alternatives if he is not fit, i dont rate the Hoff hes slow and gets caught out of position frequently. Who would you play at right back if Zuivs not fit??
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Jarrod – we get 7 subs on the bench these days.
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Antonjwba
I didnt know Mowbray has signed a new player
CECK!Classic!!
MY ALBION 11:
Carson/Zuiverloon/Barnett/Olsson/Robinson/
Cech/Greening/Koren/Morrison/Moore/Bednar.
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Nedball,
I think 31 meant your predicted team rather than your chosen 11:
Carson, Zuvi, Robbo, Barnett, Olsson, Mozza, Valero, Brunt, Koren, Bednar
A 4-4-1 system would certainly take Villa by surprise!
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38 – Oh, I didn’t even look at that one! I’m giving up even trying to post stuff now until my Subway has been devoured!!!!!
P.S. Brunt’s missing from it
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“KIm was our best player until he got injured”
Come on andrew, apart from his shot at arsenal i cannot recall any other contribution kim has made.
Dont base your post about kim on player ratings you read in the sun chief.
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Nedball
Meatball with double cheese is my favourite sub!!
Deeeeeliccccioussssss!!!
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Me personally i would play 5 in midfield with 2 up top and 3 at the back.Everything comes through the Viles midfield and in this way we could stiffle them. Carson in goal, back 3 of Barnett Olsson and Donk. Midfield from left to right, Cech
Koren Greening Valero Morrison, Up top Moore Bedner.
Boing Boing!!
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41 – I’m back and hopefully I can start to make sense again now. (I live in hope!)
Footlong chicken and bacon on Herb and Cheese bread……it’s done the job!
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In my opinion, we need at least 8 points from our away games and at least 14 points from home games. That’s 6 wins and 4 draws – 22 points from 18 games at least. We’re not going to win all the games where we target wins and conversely, I’m hoping we should not lose all the games we are expected to lose. I think Mowbray’s mindset is changing. I think he’ll try to go for it and attack teams more away from home. Keeping possession, slowly building and creating the odd chance has not worked away from home as we generally come unstuck at the back at some stage. 3 goals away from home is very poor. We’re now well into the season so the time for caution has gone. I think we should be more adventurous away from home to try to create more scoring opportunities.
I hope he starts at Villa.
I’d play
Carson
Loon/Hoff
Barnett
Olsen
Robbo
Morrisson
Greening
Koren
Cech
Bednar
Moore
We have not started many games away from home with 2 up front. If we can’t keep possession up top then replace one of the strikers with Simpson at half time. We need to have more of the play in attack not just trying to keep the ball in midfield. If we go for it more then we should start scoring more goals and pick up a few more points away. Simplistic maybe, but it has not worked away from home so far.
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Everyone seems to have forgotten Simpson my team
Carson
Zuvi Barnett Olsson Robbo
Morrison Koren Greening Cech
Moore Simpson
Subs Hoff Donk Brunt Valero Bednar Beattie + Keeper
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45 KB
We haven’t forgotten Simpson – on the evidence of last week (against inferior opposition), he isn’t ready yet.
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The talk of all out attack sounds great in theory. Yeah the Villa may not like it up em but then neither do we. I’d love a win but realistically a draw would be a great result.
Let that be a lesson to you Anton, always use your spel cheque. Otherwise you could end up looking reely sally.
18 Lukey.
Do you really think Lee Ashcroft is our best right sided midfield player of the last 50 years? Or am I missing the joke?
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mboy
For heavens sake man, he played for 45 minutes,
firstly wide right and then down the middle.
He has to get used to his team mates, and more importantly is was a SHOCKING display by the whole team, Lionel Messi would have struggled to look ready.
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number 47 lee ashcroft certainly isnt one of our best players ever, just a personal favourite of mine.
It was close between peggy ashcroft and dave gilbert
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Lukey boy
What about his man of the match performance
against Bolton!
To be honest Iam not botherd on team selection
I just hope Chris Brunt isnt in the starting
line up then I`ll be happy.
HE LOOKS 10 STONE OVER WEIGHT TO ME!
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49 Lukey.
Like it.
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