Ok, we’ve all been very understanding of the injury crisis and accepted the goal-less draws that have come our way over the last three games.
BUT, we simply cannot go to Villa Park this afternoon and defend for our lives and just hope that something happens to break for us in their penalty area.
Villa are bottom of the League and their defence is very poor so we have to make it pay. We cannot be in a mood of gifting them ground, points and any kind of morale boosting result.
We really do need to get on the front foot and make it happen for us. I think I was proved right about Jelavic – he’s not got any line leading virtues for me and I’d be tempted to play Antonio through the middle and push Kouyate up behind him with Zarate down the left.
Look, these are not poor players. They have a lot about them and if we let them loose they can beat Villa who really are not a good side. We need a win – plain and simple.
This defensive way of playing is all well and good and it’s been understandable but the trouble is once you get into this mindset it isn’t easy to break it when the flair players come back.
The back four looks after itself and with Noble and Song in front doing the holding, there is plenty of opportunity for Kouyate to join in with the likes of Zarate, Valencia and Antonio. We have enough to in this and I expect us to 2-1.
But Jelavic? He’s not for me!
You almost called it correct big fella (Leroy), a stone wall penalty kick awarded in the last five mins would have almost certainly seen your score line prediction come true.
Totally agree, I would play that front 4 and perhaps with Valencia on left, Antonio on right and Kouyate down the middle. I would play Zarate up top. I would also give Obiang a run in midfield for Noble.