Aston Villa v Portsmouth, live from Villa Park, match prediction and punt
Wednesday, 15 October 08, 04:09 AM · Comments (35)
I really do dislike these international breaks, mostly because I don't have as much interest in the national team but also because I believe, as a country, we should be given automatic qualification to these tournaments as the country that invented the game.
Okay, that last bit is a joke and while I'm actually watching the games now, which I sort of stopped doing under Sven and second choice Steve, I still prefer my Aston Villa. Still, we're playing on Saturday and even Martin O'Neill is stressing how important this game is, so I guess it must be.
Now, as it's Wednesday we don't have any firm team news but it doesn't look good for Gabby as he picked up a hamstring injury in the U21 match at Villa Park yesterday, which also ruled him out of joining up with the full squad - that's twice he's gotten himself injured after getting a call up- I bet he's kicking himself - still, his time will come.
But I think we have enough in the squad to deal with the odd injury and while I'm sure the club will be doing everything to get Gabby fit for Saturday a hamstring injury isn't something to mess around with and depending on the severity it might be more than just a few days out - you certainly don't want him running around for two or three days after it.
But, we've got Marlon Harewood and there is always the option of playing with just Carew upfront and two wingers and three central midfielders which might be the preferred option for O'Neill as Portsmouth did us twice last season and are definitely no pushovers.
We lost 3-1 at home and 2-0 away last season against Portsmouth and while they're maybe not a team you'd fancy to score five against us in one season, it's a reminder that they can't be taken lightly, however we need the three points and I think we'll get them.
I'm not going to go into details as to why I think we'll win, as they're all quite complicated but I think Martin O'Neill is doing more with the players mentality than a quick chat before the game; he's changing the way they think about football, which doesn't happen overnight and as time goes by, we're going to get better.
I also think playing at Villa Park is going to be a factor and I can't help but think about what Ron Saunders used to ask in his programme notes. Villa Park really can be a 12th man and it's matches like this, where as teams we are quite even, that the 12th man really needs to be in full voice.
Anyway, we've got England tonight and I'm mostly interested to see if Barry plays as I think it could be a factor in Sidwell playing on Saturday, but either way, like I've said, I think we'll win on Saturday so I'm having money on us at 5/6.
We'll also be doing the live text commentary from about 2pm, so if you're stuck in front of your PC, come back then and we'll keep you up to date.
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35 Comments · Add yours
Villa's last few performances have not exactly been great so i do not expect to get much out of Portsmouth. However, if we can keep a clean sheet, there is every chance of three points. Feed the hare
It seems to me as if this is going to be on of those games in which we either win by a large margin or we lose by a large margin. Its gonna be a midfield battle either way
PETROV FOR MOTM
Yah screw Harewood we should play
-------Friedel-------
L.Young(really rate him, Mr Consistent) Davies(maybe cuellar) Laursen Shorey
Milner Reo-Coker(maybe Sidwell) Barry Petrov Young
Carew
Sorry guys but I'm going for 3-0 to Pompey!
Agree with the line up Villaftw. In no way should Deadwood start the game. If play two up front then give Delboy a go. I really cant see Marlene being with us after the jan transfer window. It sounds like the Doyle deal is virtually done.
Pompey are a strong and attacking team, but away they can crumble. I am not sure how many players that have had away over the last week or so on international duty but I would bet it is quite a few, possibly travelling further distances than our intls.
I am going for 2-0 Villa or 1-1 if harewood plays.
I agree that VP definately needs to be the 12th man. At the Sunderland game after Cisse scored the fans didn't do what they'd normally do, stay quiet and moan about it, but started singing 'Villa Villa Villa'. I think that really helped the team on, and we've gotta make sure we carry on that.
I'll be at the game on Saturday, i'm worried about how good Pompeii have been so far, but I think if the team concentrates enough we can work past them. Portsmouths defence is a weak point, sometimes Campbell and Distin are caught out and James is bound to make a mistake, so we need to make sure we jump on those chances.
If Gabby doesn't play I expect Milner to start with a 4-3-3.
well if we play harewood hes got to be on form cuz i no most villa fans dont like him but hes good wen hes on form. if we am guna rest anyone rest gabby n bring him on in the second half, as well as sidwell. the defence betta be up 4 the game or we.ve lost it. as for the result i think it will be a 3-1 win for villa, with defore scorin for pompy and carew score in and barry to get the 3rd.
4-3-3 when attacking then to 4-5-1 with young and milner tucking in when defending.
Shorey Barry Young
Freidel Laursen Petrov Carew
Davies Reo Milner
L.young
lol dont know whaqt happend there i did set it out in a 4-3-3 line up
Beware of Defoe, if any of you actually support the Villa religiously you'll know what he invariably does to us. If we can close him down,(namely play cuellar instead of davies), then i think we'll be well on the way to victory. remember muntari and taylor flogged us last year. both have moved on.
Do you not think that Gabbys "Hamstring Injury" is Oneils way of stopping him going to Belarus (Where he wont play anyway) and get back into training ?
I like the look of the 451 though with Milner and Young on the wings.
Im villa through and through but i think well do great just getting a draw. i want us to win but losing is a real possiblilty.
While Portsmouth are certainly better up front and dangerous with Defoe and Crouch, this team is much worse in the midfield with Muntari and Mendes gone. I think the 4-5-1 is an excellent idea for the match and if the Villa can swamp Pompey in the midfield then they can win the game. Cuellar should start in this match in my view given the threat we face in the Pompey strike force. A narrow 2-1 win to the Villa.
P.S. How is Bouma doing in his rehabilitation and when will he come back?
Defoe is hitting them well at the moment. I reckon he'll score. But i think if we can keep them to 1 goal we'll have 'em 2 - 1.
Bouma won't be running even yet I expect. Think is christmas is the earliest we'd see him.
I would like to see sidwell at some point against pompey.
Doyle still top corcer with 8 in the champ.
Think Milner will play as Gabby will be rested and also think Cueller will come in as he was so much stronger than Davies when he came on against Chelsea!
Plenty of goals, but put your bets on 3-2 Villa
I just cant see us winning! Maybe a draw
Everyone will mark A.YOUNG ' we are getting too predictable with passing & going forward and we can't keep a clean sheet for a bung?
But then gain we don't have carson?(thanks) and they don't have Muntari!(great goals) but i still think they'll snatched the points in the last ten minutes!
1-2 To them
I saw gabby running to much for the ball in the 1st half last night! I thought to myself he is going to pop that hamstring if he's is'nt careful and sure enough i come back from work opened the lid, and read gabby's out with hamstring! So you never know it could be true (villarobin)
After last year's results we really do need to spank Pompey at VP. I like the conspiracy theory from Villarobin, I wouldn't put it past MoN to sell that idea to Gabby. Damian, in paragraph three above you write about Gabby's injuries before international call-ups, you then go on to suggest that these are self-inflicted. Now, whatever many of you think of Gabby I am sure that he would not kick himself just before an England game.
Bit off topic i know, but seeing as conspiracy theories is the talk, what does people think of old Tommy Sorensen?
I think he's probly just a bit bitter.... I never did like him anyway...
well the game plan is!!kick defoe of the pitch!hack crouch down and theres a big part of there threat gone! bout time villa got a little dirty!haha
well it matters too who plays the better game
From a pompey point of view I dread when we play at VP, most times you guys run us ragged. I agree that our attack is very good and poses a good threat but our away form isnt the best and if Villa get their noses in front I cant see us coming back from it. I really hope im wrong (im sure you think otherwise) but I dont you have anything to worry about. Keep a look out for belhadj and traore linking up down the left, very fast players. They have been our source of assists this season and giving defoe and crouch alot of the ball in dangerous places. Not sure how they will fair against the big tackling tactics of Mo'N. The best team will win, play up pompey.
Villa_Fan_Phil, Tommy is obviously bitter about being demoted - who wouldn't. I also think he has a point about Carson, again can't blame him there. Also can't blame MON for looking to improve the team. What amazes me is the way he's accused MON of "trying to ruin his career", he shows classic signs of a paranoid personality disorder. He would fit in to the avfcblog pretty well. Phil, why not come inside the forum, debate this and other subjects, and test your own sanity.
There was a post last week about ppl going off topic ,if u want to discuuss tommy go to the forum ffs
@ vfp
That, Hooly was the gist of my post, only rather more delicately put.
this is a must win game to see where we are with the also rans if we want top four then we need to be beating the pompies...
Why are there so mnay Villa fans on here saying we are going to get beaten? Do you really not support the team, or just want the "Oh I am glad I was wrong when we win"? I think we can beat anyone at home and would never say otherwise! Yes, it will be tight but they have lost players, still think Kranjcar is out, and we can play a lot better than we did against them last season. Get behind the lads, get down to VP and lets have the place rocking.....
i cant wait to voice my opinion to redknapp with the 40,000 other villa fans about the nice things he said about us last season the fat git!
Andy, you should know by now we don't take anybody in the forum mate. lol
I don't think Gabby should be played or Barry for that matter, Sidwell and the Hare for me with Gab on the bench (if fit).
Rsam i dont get your pop at barry,i thought he had a good game for england last night,even though he had to work his cock off covering for stevie (im the star of any team i play in and i will play where i want)gerrard
my only change for sat would be quellar for davies(who i think in time will become the best central defender at the club),and if gabby isnt fit bring in milner and play carew on his own upfront,NOT THE HARE PLEASE MR ONIELL
ref to last post i meant quellar will become the star man of our defence ,i like the way he presses the ball so high up the pitch when anything is played through the middle,Mr defoe you have been warned
i think that mon will be dissapointed if gabby can't play.
their aging centre backs would hate playing against gabby but they wouldn't mind carew or harewood.
glen johnson vs ashley young is the key to the match.
ashley young has had a good rest and glen johnson has been in the england set up so will be a bit jet lagged? i hope!
I think Cuellar and Sidwell will be the key to winning this match. But alas it will be 2-2.
Pompeyfan I wish your team good luck the rest of the season except for this weekend and whatever weekend the Villa go to Fortress Fratton.
In the Netherlands game Carew looked to be playing as a lone striker and he was outstanding. The Dutch couldn't handle him and he was unlucky not to score. And Norway was really unlucky to lose.