FA Premier League

Aston Villa 2:2 Manchester United

Villa Park

Kick-off
Sat, 15 January 2022 @ 5:30pm GMT
Status

Closed

Discussion Your Lineup Prediction

  • Status
    Not open for further replies.
    It’s a great time for the managers to show their skills.

    Ralf is having to learn about his team, learn how to be a manager again and learn about English football, all at the same time.

    But playing Villa back to back will give him a chance to tweak his approach and hopefully show an improvement.
     
    I fear Coutinho balling it against us much like we saw when we met the scousers in that Europa League tie in 2016
     
    DDG
    Dalot Lindelof Varane Telles
    McFred
    Sancho Bruno Lingard
    Ronaldo​
     
    I hope Sancho plays. He is the only Wide-Forward we have that isn't a greedy selfish basterd. And actually tries to create high-percentage chances for the striker rather than cut inside constantly and have low-percentage pot shots like Rashford and Greenwood

    also Lingard deserves a start.
     
    Last edited:
    Shane88 said:
    3-1 Villa.

    Bookies are finally copping on with the prices against us.

    Villa will be owed a big decision or two as well.
    Click to expand...


    bet on City to win every week and United to lose. Cheeky double must pay good odds.

    yeah I reckon VAR might try to even it out by giving a lucky decision to them on Saturday. It's a shame as I'd rather get top 4 than win the FA Cup.
     
    SonyaCross493 said:
    If Ronaldo played like Cavani did tonight he would get massive criticism. But whatever agendas again.. :rolleyes: besides Cavani will get an injury soon as sadly he can't stay fit or psychologically is a problem..


    Rashford needs the most dropping but you've dropped Ronaldo..
    Click to expand...
    Cavani needs to improve but at least the man runs his ass off.

    Ronaldo is a legend, but he is more harm than good right now. He can't deal with the pace of the game right now, he provides nothing off of the ball and on it he was providing exceedingly little. So many attacks just break down at his feet because he just tries some random flick. He's not a striker. He's not a winger. He's a passenger outside of the box. Considering we barely get in the box as a team.... It's just dumb to use him as a regular.

    And yes, IMO right now at least, every player in our team who is most liable for cheap giveaways and don't do their bit defensively needs to be dropped. Ronaldo is guilty of both. Rashford has been guilty of both lately. We need to get back to basics and look after the ball responsibly, we need to make better decisions on the ball, we need fewer dumb mistakes, and most of all we need the full team to be fully committed to win the game and have the work rate to match. Ronaldo just can't do that right now at his age, but he has his uses as a squad player for sure. Maybe once we actually start playing like a coherent team again there will be a bigger use for Ronaldo, but until then, he is making things worse.
     
    Think McGinn is suspended for them and maybe one other - only bit of hope in us maybe, very slightly possibly not getting hammered in midfield. I'd rather we be a little less upfront till we can start at least keeping possession and not being so easily played through.

    Play Fred, VDB and Matic as a 3. Upfront get Sancho, Ronaldo and Elanga or even bloody hell start Lingard or Martial while he is still on our books. Greenwood/Rashford are just a handicap as starters right now and Cavani probably more suited for a bench role after starting today.
     
    Think Elanga needs to start for Rashford and Sancho for Greenwood and I’m guessing Ronaldo for Cavani but the press already have their cocks in the hands with the thought of cuntinho scoring for Slippy G on his debut, almost has an air of inevitability about.
     
    We need to start with a team more like we finished Mondays match. If we go out with a similar starting line up then it’s going to be a hard watch.

    Drop Lindelof, Rashford - as they were shocking
    Suspended - McTominay, Shaw

    We need to get Elanga, Donny, Lingard all starting as they actually showed some urgency when on.

    Luckily McGinn is suspended for them. Coutinho debut - you just know don’t you.

    Unless we are 100% better than last night then this is going to be a home win, Var won’t save us this time.
     
    The good news is I don't think we can be any worse.

    For some reason I trust our away form a lot more than the home form too.
     
    Shite, tumescent performance.

    Can't see how we'll fluke a win this time round, especially away and with shaw and Mctominay missing. Expect more dropped points. I suspect RR will be considering his position if we lose this, he looked utterly despondent on the touchline last night.
     
    KiD MoYeS said:
    Definitely need to be drinking for this one.
    Click to expand...
    KiD MoYeS said:
    I think we should organise a drinking game for this one, might as well have a bit of craic watching this shite.

    Take a drink everytime a Man Utd player fails at a simple pass.

    Take a drink everytime Aston Villa effortlessly break through Man Utd's midfield.

    Take a drink everytime de Gea touches the ball, goal kicks count.

    Be pissed before halftime.
    Click to expand...
    Ah yes, enjoying the half five tea time kick about with a nice cuppa tea. Though if I drink that much I’ll certainly have pissed before half time, bladder isn’t what is used to be! :wenger::lol:
     
    We seem to have reverted to the tumescent 4-2-3-1 with McFred in midfield already under Rangnick.

    I am hoping it's just a case of teething problems but if anything we look as bad as we did under Ole already which is worrying.

    I wouldn't be surprised to see us get a trouncing, which is embarrassing but sadly not all that surprising.
     
    Why can't we just play a 4-3-3 with Bruno as a false 9 to gain us some more control of a match. Rangnicks tactics are mind-boggling.

    De Gea
    Bissaka - Varane - Lindelof - Shaw
    McTominay - Matic - Fred
    Greenwood - Bruno - CR7
     
    This wll be an interesting test of Ralf I think (some might say his first real test).

    There's been a lot of talk about the various formations we've used so far, with none of them really providing any control in midfield. The only one that has is the diamond that we ended the game with yesterday, but even that is such a small sample size.

    He's had direct exposure now to just how strong Villa are in midfield, so I'm hoping we'll actually start with three or four bodies in there so as to not get overrun. Would be concerned if we start with two in there again and have a repeat of yesterdays performance.
     
    We can not start with the formation we played for most of last night.
    4-4-2 is my preference, if we play 4-2-2-2 or 4-3-3 we will be over run in midfield again as quite simply are midfield is crap. Play a more solid team and we have a chance.
     
    Ronaldo and Bruno up top with Lingard and Sancho in behind hopefully.
     
    De Gea
    Dalot - Lindelof - Varane - Telles
    Matic - Fred
    Greenwood - Bruno - Sancho
    Ronaldo

    2-0 Villa.
     
    Elanga for Rashford please, showed plenty of hunger and desire in his limited time. VdB and Telles in for suspended McT and Shaw, rest same.
     
    Comfortable 4-0 win. Bruno hattrick, De Gea with the end to end goal after catching their goaltender far out.
     
    Would like to see:

    DDG
    Dalot - Lindelof - Varane - Telles
    Matic
    VDB - Fred
    Greenwood - Bruno - Sancho​
     
    Ralf switched systems to a back 3 at half time at Wolves and we had more of the ball in the second half and a measure of control. In the cup game at Villa he switched to a diamond in the 70th minute by bringing in Donny for a striker and once again we got some control. If he is going to have any credibility here he has to ditch the 4-2-2-2 from the start and actually play a system that suits the players he has at his disposal. He can go in a number of directions but we need a system that gives us a minimum of 3 bodies in the middle of the park. Based on what we have available I would line up like this if Slabhead and Ronnie are fit again;

    DDG

    Dalot Varane Slabhead Telles

    Matic

    Fred DVB

    Bruno

    Greenwood Ronaldo
    ​
    If Ralf does not fancy the diamond then we could just revert to a straight 4-3-3 which would presumably see us sacrifice DVB for another attacker alongside Mason and Ronnie. He could also go back to the tried and trusted 4-2-3-1 but several weeks on from the sacking of Ole it would be an incredible comedown to basically pick the same players and formation that he believed in.
     
    Berbasbullet said:
    I’d like to see this tested. Not convinced by Bruno as a false 9 though.
    Click to expand...
    I think Bruno would be fine, but it would probably work better with an in-form Rashford there to run in behind as one of the other forwards.

    It's more about making the midfield a stronger and more balanced unit while keeping our most creative player in the team. This is the only way I see if working without reverting to a back 3.
     
    youngrell said:
    I think Bruno would be fine, but it would probably work better with an in-form Rashford there to run in behind as one of the other forwards.

    It's more about making the midfield a stronger and more balanced unit while keeping our most creative player in the team. This is the only way I see if working without reverting to a back 3.
    Click to expand...
    Completely agree regarding the midfield and think the trio you have selected compliment each other nicely.

    One big problem I think we have is that no one is capable of holding up the ball, the slightest bit of pressure and they lose it. Absolutely no strength in this team.

    Would love to see that 11 trialled though.
     
    DDG

    Dallot
    Lindelof
    Varane
    Telles

    Fred
    Matic

    Jadon
    Bruno
    Greenwood

    Ronaldo

    Looking forward to see Matic, which says a lot about our performances these days
     
    Last edited:
    Status
    Not open for further replies.
Post-match discussion

Man of the Match

Bruno Fernandes image Bruno Fernandes 43% of 239 votes

Runners-up

Show more results

Player Ratings

5.4 Total Average Rating

Highest Rated Player

Lowest Rated Player

Compiled from 253 ratings.
Submit your ratings
View full results

Score Predictions

93,77,38
  • Man Utd win
  • Aston Villa win
  • Draw

Detailed Results

  • 19% Aston Villa 1:2 Man Utd
  • 13% Aston Villa 1:1 Man Utd
  • 12% Aston Villa 2:1 Man Utd
  • 12% Aston Villa 2:0 Man Utd
  • 7% Aston Villa 0:2 Man Utd
  • 6% Aston Villa 0:1 Man Utd
  • 6% Aston Villa 1:3 Man Utd
  • 6% Aston Villa 3:0 Man Utd
  • 5% Aston Villa 3:1 Man Utd
  • 4% Aston Villa 2:2 Man Utd
  • 2% Aston Villa 0:0 Man Utd
  • 2% Aston Villa 0:3 Man Utd
  • 2% Aston Villa 1:0 Man Utd
  • 1% Aston Villa 0:4 Man Utd
  • 1% Aston Villa 0:5 Man Utd
  • 0% Aston Villa 4:0 Man Utd
  • 0% Aston Villa 4:2 Man Utd
  • 0% Aston Villa 2:3 Man Utd
  • 0% Aston Villa 2:4 Man Utd
  • 0% Aston Villa 1:4 Man Utd
  • 0% Aston Villa 2:5 Man Utd
  • 0% Aston Villa 1:5 Man Utd
Compiled from 208 predictions.
Show more results Score Predictions League Table

Match Stats

  1. Aston Villa
  2. Man Utd
Possession
55% 45%
Shots
13 13
Shots on Target
9 6
Corners
3 6
Fouls
8 13

Referee

David Coote

Man Utd Lineup

Substitutes

Lineup Predictions League Table View your Lineup Prediction