madras Posted August 5, 2023 Share Posted August 5, 2023 7 minutes ago, LV said: I can’t see Eddie starting Tonali yet. Unless there are injuries of course. Think he’ll want him to bed in a bit more tactically and get used to the PL like he did with Bruno initially. I'd agree if everyone were fit. However with Willock still out and Longstaff having a disrupted pre season I think Tonali will play more than Eddie would want ideally. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alberto2005 Posted August 5, 2023 Share Posted August 5, 2023 There is also the argument that if Bruno and Botman had gone straight in they might have just hit the ground running anyway, there seems to be an assumption that giving them time definitely helped them (and it may have) but we'll never know for sure. With Tonali I don't think it's paramount to start him straight away just on the basis we have a lot of cover in that position at the moment. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LV Posted August 5, 2023 Share Posted August 5, 2023 6 minutes ago, madras said: I'd agree if everyone were fit. However with Willock still out and Longstaff having a disrupted pre season I think Tonali will play more than Eddie would want ideally. That’s a good point Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erikse Posted August 5, 2023 Share Posted August 5, 2023 3 hours ago, Alberto2005 said: There is also the argument that if Bruno and Botman had gone straight in they might have just hit the ground running anyway, there seems to be an assumption that giving them time definitely helped them (and it may have) but we'll never know for sure. With Tonali I don't think it's paramount to start him straight away just on the basis we have a lot of cover in that position at the moment. Botman started already from GW 2. I think he did pretty well in the early stages. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geordie_once_removed Posted August 5, 2023 Share Posted August 5, 2023 I think it will be a similar team and system to the one that ended the season. So Tonali won't start. A big factor behind him being the No 1 target I think is that he will allow for a wider variety of tactical changes/system to be applied before and during games. I see him playing this off the bench game changing role in this game. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skeletor Posted August 5, 2023 Share Posted August 5, 2023 Gonna guess the usual back 5 plus Bruno, Big Joe, Anderson, Gordon, Isak and Miggy starting this one. Purely based on pre-season. Tonali getting Bruno'd into the team after a period of time. Eddie already said Barnes is behind the other players physically at the moment. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanji Posted August 5, 2023 Share Posted August 5, 2023 Joelinton hasn’t played as a right center mid all preseason mind you. So in this instance we’re assuming he plays that role? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUPERTOON Posted August 5, 2023 Share Posted August 5, 2023 This is probably how Villa will line up next week Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbandit Posted August 5, 2023 Share Posted August 5, 2023 At home I’m definitely backing us to win against that line up first game of the season, partly due to them having a couple of new bodies in there who won’t be completely up to speed Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viana Posted August 5, 2023 Share Posted August 5, 2023 12 minutes ago, SUPERTOON said: This is probably how Villa will line up next week Very interesting. Pau operating as a left-back likely means Villa will be a back three in build up. It's an idea I first saw Guardiola use in the Premier League and Howe copied it with us (using Dan Burn as the CB/LB hybrid). It'll negate his weakness in the air and give them greater strength when defending counter attacks. My wonder is whether Bailey and Diaby will fancy doing the back tracking required. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUPERTOON Posted August 5, 2023 Share Posted August 5, 2023 2 minutes ago, Viana said: Very interesting. Pau operating as a left-back likely means Villa will be a back three in build up. It's an idea I first saw Guardiola use in the Premier League and Howe copied it with us (using Dan Burn as the CB/LB hybrid). It'll negate his weakness in the air and give them greater strength when defending counter attacks. My wonder is whether Bailey and Diaby will fancy doing the back tracking required. He played there last week in pre season, didn’t look great tbh but obviously it was only a friendly. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Viana Posted August 5, 2023 Share Posted August 5, 2023 4 minutes ago, SUPERTOON said: He played there last week in pre season, didn’t look great tbh but obviously it was only a friendly. Yeah, it's a different skillset tbf. I know Burn gets pelters from some sections of our fan base, but the fact he can transition between the two roles in-game is important. It's a mindset shift as much as anything. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NSG Posted August 5, 2023 Share Posted August 5, 2023 (edited) Pope Trippier Schar Botman Burn Anderson Bruno Joelinton Almiron Isak Gordon Subs: Dubravka, Livramento, Lascelles, Targett/Miley, Longstaff, Tonali, Barnes, Murphy,Wilson. Edited August 5, 2023 by NSG Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skeletor Posted August 5, 2023 Share Posted August 5, 2023 Actual options on that bench Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brummie Posted August 5, 2023 Share Posted August 5, 2023 (edited) 2 hours ago, SUPERTOON said: He played there last week in pre season, didn’t look great tbh but obviously it was only a friendly. Played there the first half of our game at Valencia tonight and clearly, won't be doing it next week (i had assumed he would do), much better when Digne came on. Coutinho has looked brilliant these last few showings, and Philogene is going to get the nod ahead of Bailey I think. I also thought Tielemans looked excellent again. It's nice to have options. Edited August 5, 2023 by brummie Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Venkman Posted August 6, 2023 Share Posted August 6, 2023 12 hours ago, gbandit said: At home I’m definitely backing us to win against that line up first game of the season, partly due to them having a couple of new bodies in there who won’t be completely up to speed And Tyrone Mings. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanshithispantz Posted August 6, 2023 Share Posted August 6, 2023 *brummie klaxon* apparently Mings has been pretty faultless and the whole "just press him and we'll win" tactic doesn't work anymore, which is a shame. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Optimistic Nut Posted August 6, 2023 Share Posted August 6, 2023 Not many press as intense as us mind. Blew them away up here. They're good and capable of beating us but a lot of people over-rating Villa imo. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
loki679 Posted August 6, 2023 Share Posted August 6, 2023 8 minutes ago, Optimistic Nut said: Not many press as intense as us mind. Blew them away up here. They're good and capable of beating us but a lot of people over-rating Villa imo. Took us to pieces pretty comprehensively at their place. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Optimistic Nut Posted August 6, 2023 Share Posted August 6, 2023 4 minutes ago, loki679 said: Took us to pieces pretty comprehensively at their place. I overbuilt Brighton in my head for a similar reason start of last season. Could have been a similar score but they weren't all that up here. They're capable of a top 6-7 push but I'd expect us to finish above them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanshithispantz Posted August 6, 2023 Share Posted August 6, 2023 Their results for over half a season were CL form weren't they? They've been very good in the transfer market too. We'll beat anyone at SJP (other than Man City) when on it, but Villa do look very strong like. There's very little between the two squads or managers from what we've seen imo. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cronky Posted August 6, 2023 Share Posted August 6, 2023 They've got a better squad but we've got a better manager. Home advantage should tip things our way, but it'll be close. We've risen to the occasion so many times over the last year and a half. It's still scary but I've given up betting against us. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Optimistic Nut Posted August 6, 2023 Share Posted August 6, 2023 2 minutes ago, Cronky said: They've got a better squad but we've got a better manager. Home advantage should tip things our way, but it'll be close. We've risen to the occasion so many times over the last year and a half. It's still scary but I've given up betting against us. I'm definitely seeing something different to Villa clearly. I was thinking we have the better squad but Emery is the leveller. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pancrate1892 Posted August 6, 2023 Share Posted August 6, 2023 I'm nervous for this one. Villa have improved massively since we took them apart at home 4-0. The last 2 meetings they've cut through our defence easier than any other team I can think of. However, we are at home and it's going to be jumping. My only concerns are that Emery seems to have played his core 11 together for most pre season, and our first 11 won't play together until that game. Whilst this might see villa come out the blocks strong (we've seen that before) maybe the game will be won second half through our subs who might be sharper Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skeletor Posted August 6, 2023 Share Posted August 6, 2023 40 minutes ago, Optimistic Nut said: I'm definitely seeing something different to Villa clearly. I was thinking we have the better squad but Emery is the leveller. I think this is more accurate. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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