Written by cherrycarl2004
Personally believe there should be wholesale changes following the opening day Premier League draw with newly-promoted Sheffield United.
4-2-3-1
Artur Boruc (although Aaron Ramsdale was good)
Adam Smith
Steve Cook
Nathan Ake
Charlie Daniels
Jefferson Lerma
Philip Billing
Joshua King
Harry Wilson
Ryan Fraser
Callum Wilson
Harry Wilson would pressure Jack Grealish for me and Lerma and Billing would sit back. Their wingers could be dealt with ease by our full-backs. Fraser, King and C.Wilson would constantly press the back 4, targeting Tyrone Mings to get him nervous. Will be a hard Match but grit and determination is not what is required against these teams. we need to show our class and assert our authority and dominance. if we get an early goal, we could silence the crowd which would be vital.
Tinpot Club wrote…
Here’s how I see the situation ahead of Villa
We have a full back solid defensively but offers nothing in attack (Diego Rico)
A full-back who can’t play as a wing-back but decent as an overlapping full-back (Smith)
Two Central Midfielder’s who provide a decent defensive screen but no creativity (Lerma and Billing)
A creative wide player who likes to drift inside (Harry Wilson)
A winger who rarely tracks back defensively (Fraser or Ibe)
A striker who linked well with Callum in pre-season (Dominic Solanke)
So putting it all together
Ramsdale
Smith Cook Aké Rico
Wilson Lerma Billing Fraser (or Ibe)
Solanke
Wilson
It’s not perfect and hindsight will probably make this look stupid later but as a set of partnerships complimenting each other, I think it looks a well-balanced XI.
Written by davygravy…
Anyone have any thoughts about Smithy left-back and bringing Jack Stacey at right-back? I would still worry about using Charlie Daniels up there, to be honest, think they would target him. Stacey and Smith both fast and strong enough to keep them at bay down the flanks.
I think Solanke has to start, with Callum, just as they linked well in pre-season. Dom is strong, he can hold the ball.
Harry has to also come in for me, he’s a sensible player, he’s not a flying winger so will be solid but also, if we do aim for set pieces, he’s also an upgrade on what we saw yesterday. Its a shame about Danjuma as I’d also have him on the left side. We know Lerma and Billing aren’t flair players in central midfield but maybe this kind of game is one for just being solid in there. Get the ball to the flanks or to Solanke and work from there.
I don’t want to build Villa up to be as good as Man City either….but realistically, probably a home sell out, very noisy, their team will be well up for it, so we will need to be solid but with an outlet. As we saw yesterday, once Spurs had worked their own stuff out, their class told. Not saying we are on Spurs level but….lets respect Villa but not be scared of them.
Ramsdale
Stacey / Cook / Ake / Smith
Harry / Lerma / Billing / Fraser
Solanke
Callum
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