Match Prediction: Aston Villa in Germany versus Hamburg
Monday, 15 December 08, 02:25 PM · Comments (46)
First things first, we are through to the next stage of the UEFA Cup and as tournaments go, winning this group might not be the best thing in the world that can happen and I'm not convinced Martin O'Neill is overly concerned, however I suspect he'd love to finish in first place.
The away support are going to want to see a bit of fight though and I don't think they'll be disappointed, however it's likely that Martin O'Neill will use this match to rest a few players and that a few fringe players will be starting.
But I also suspect the bench will be full of first team players and I hope that we stick with the 4-5-1 formation that the team has played of late and seem to be getting used to.
Hamburg will be no push over though and they'll want to win this, if only for German pride and playing at home. Their manager will also want to beat English opposition and they have the luxury of a long break after this game so they're likely to play their best available side as they all have a big rest coming up.
But like I said, we are through and while this will provide an opportunity for Martin O'Neill to rest certain players it will also give those players an opportunity to stake a claim and they're certainly going to get an opportunity, in a very big arena.
Hamburg average well over 50,000 a game and had 51,200 for the visit of Ajax in November when they lost 1-0. They'll likely have a similar figure and the atmosphere is sure to provide a fitting stage for the likes of our fringe players to go show what they are about.
It's going to be a tough game but ultimately one that comes down to who wants the win more, which will come down to which manager wants to finish top of the group more. Martin O'Neill wants that, I'm sure, but like I've suggested above, I think he's more likely of the two managers to be resting his better players and ultimately that may determine the result.
Our youngsters and fringe players are good and that is why I'm going to predict a draw but I wouldn't be surprised if we stole this and if there is a winner on Wednesday night, that team wins the group.
In football everything is possible and winning in Germany wouldn't surprise me.
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46 Comments · Add yours
Will the 4-5-1 work if GABBY and ASH don't play? I don't think either will be asking to be rested as they are riding the crest of a wave.
I would like to see SALIFOU and DELF get another run. Too many changes will upset the balance of the team. This is not a win at all costs. I will be keeping my fingers crossed we dont pick up any injuries.
I just think it's important to continue the formation - as much for the players that are playing but also for the fringe ones, so they start to get used to how we are playing, so if they are called upon to step up, they are at least familiar with it and can fit in easier ...
i think if we dont see marewood on wednesday then i think we can presume the bloke is off in january.
i wwould like to see gardner play more central and also expect to see shorey start along with guzan, salifou and young fonz.
the second crop need to show they are better than against zelina and really is their last chance to impress this season so i think a win for the villa
I'd rather see Gardner start in central mid than Salifou to be honest, I thought he was poor against Zilina. Both Sali and OSbourne let their midfield have far too much time on the ball and I think it will be a shame not to see Gardner given a go in his prefered position after they failed to grab hold of the game at VP.
Many players will be rested of course as we all know MON values the league much more than UEFA, which he's quite right to do.
I can understand resting some players, but I hope the lineup will be better than the one used against Zilina. And I want to see Gardner play too, I think he could prove to be a good sub when one of Villa's midfielders is having an off day.
Friedel
L. Young Davies Knight Shorey
NRC Gardner Sidwell Saifou A. Young
Gabby
Ashley and Gabby are both flying at the moment. They're both young. Lets start 'em both and keep the run going.
Real Madrid or not, would you want to work for Ramos after the Spurs fiasco?
New Real Madrid boss Juande Ramos wants to bring Aston Villa's Ashley Young to the Bernabeu, but the club fear they may have to pay up to £27m for the in-form winger. The Spanish giants have already enquired about Portsmouth midfielder Lassana Diarra and have been told they must pay £18m. (Spanish newspaper Marca, 1210 GMT)
apparantely they have been put off by the valuation of diarra so if they wont pay 18for him then why would they come in for ash for 28 million even though ash is better
I can't believe for one minute that MON wont be putting out anything less then our strongest possible side for this one.
This is very much a showcase game! Hamburg are a well respected European side with bags of ability!
In reality we should be putting out a second string team and not worring about where we come in the group. Once your in the knockout phase if your good enough we shouldn't be afraid of getting anyone and lets be honest West Ham away is 10 times more important. 4th is there for the taking this season and this has to be our priority.
I hope he plays a strong team too. I don't like it when he changes nearly every position because its like watchin a reserve match. I would rather him rest just a few players. E.g. Cuellar, Friedel, Milner and Petrov.
Guzan
L.Young Davies Knight Shorey
NRC Sidwell Barry Young
Gabby
I know thats wrong sorry....
I would Prob Play Gardner in midfield too..
I agree with AK - rest the front two we just dont have sufficient cover.
I think my team would look like this:
Guzan
L. Young Cuellar Davies Shorey
Gardner Reo-Coker Sidwell A. Young
Harewood Delfouneso
I'd rather Gardner was central but I think Reo will need to boss the midfield against a team like Hamburg so having him there will be helpful. Plus Milner obviously needs a break, and I think Sidwell will be more useful than Salifou or Osbourne, so Gardner probably needs to go out wide. Gabby to come on if we're not looking threatening.
Play the same team we did last time out,Show the rest of europe were not botherd about getting an easy route and were confident well beat anyone with our fisrst team.Last chance saloon for our fringe players.
We need to win it, because it means we can then go top of the group, and should hopefully have an easier first game, as we would play 3rd then!
But at the same time, I can see us playing a weaker side to rest players, and you know what I think our so called 'second string' players will want to and will do the job come wednesday!
I just hope Osbourne doesn't play. He's completely out of his depth.
Anyone seen the latest bullshit doing the rounds on the Sky gossip pages? Apparently we're swapping Agbonlahor for Solomon Kalou and 6 million in January.
guzan
cuellar davis knight shorey
gardner reo coker sidwell milner
delfouneso harewood
i think villa will lose this game though or draw at best.
anyone got any guesses on who villa will sign first in january?
I would just rest Laursen for this game and bring carlos in the middle and put shorey on the left and luke back to right.
Take a goal lead and then after an hour , i would take off Ash, Gab, and bring on fonze and gardner with intent to keep the ball and not concede.
European football at this stage, i feel, is all about getting the result and not going all out and scoring a shed load of goals....we have got a very busy crimbo coming up so lets get this result sorted and keep our boys fit for this festive battle and the potential to solidify our champions league prospects.
P.S ive got a very funny feeling we are going to sign dean ashton this january. I dont know why, and i dont even know if i like the thought of it, i can just see it happening.
I would be happy if we sign owen and valencia tho!
I hope we don't field a poor side as its cost me and 21 of my mates a small fortune and even more grief of the women to go to this game a week before Xmas.
Mind you after a full day of visiting Hamburgs finest bars we could play Dr Venglos and big fat Ron up front and I probably wouldn't notice!
See you in the reaper bar Damo!!
I like the thought that we've come so far since MON arived that we are having this discussion, and talking about playing a twelve year old striker (Fonz might be a bit older than that - but not much).
Milner needs to play for his own sake, and for Damian's sake. Now that we're 4th in the prem MON will probably keep a couple of key players out of the fray for safety's sake.
Those of you going - have a great time. UTV
im going to the game and cant wait
i have seen hamburg play this year and they have a lot of big, slow defenders. this would encourage me to play young and gabby....if this happens i have no doubt that we will be able to win.
we dont want to finish 3rd due to the quality of the teams coming out of the champions league so at least a point is vital
u.t.v
flying to hamburg via dublin tomorrow with 10 pals,i just hope i make it out of dublin hic hic lol
is it 1st v 2nd in another group and and 3rd v champions league losers or 1st v 3rd
rest players and hope for the best. If we really want to win this competition we'll have to beat the best sides at some point, and if we're not yet quite up to winning the whole thing then let's go out early and concentrate on giving top 4 our very best shot
It's 1st v 3rd places and 2nd v CL dropouts, So i'd prefer to win this. There are some good sides coming out of the CL. But I think we can beat them and still rest players. Like was said above. We don't need to go all out. Wouldn't like wholesale changes but fringe players like Gardner, Brad version 2 and the Fonz could really prove themselves in a game like this.
Reply to Jaymo:
i agree, and after the last game a makeshift defence wont do brad2 anygood
Damian
Could you remind me of what Fabio Capello sid about 3 of our players, and which players please?
HI
Dont think it would be too bad if we rested the players for this game, cause even if we lose this game and finish 3rd we will stay away from the CL rejects and should be able to cope, rember if Gabby gets injured were F****d as we have no one else ready to come in and do a job, this is why come Jan our manager has to move fast and at least get one striker in fast and not leave us all stewing like he normally does in the transfer windows.
Reply to maindog:
Really dont think this would be a bad thing, gives you more goals than Heskey. (but i think he is injured and out until after Jan so would be surprised).
I like the way MON has been talking up Ashley lately - good player though he is - so that he can justify putting a huge transfer figure on his head if he needs to.
According to hunchers.com, Hamburg will win 2:1 . . .
LINK
ye i think we shud play most of are best players but ata 4-4-2 formation Friedal, young, cuellar, davies, shorey, milner (if fit) sidwell, petrov young, delfounso, either gabby or harewood.this is why we need heskey for these games rest carw and have heskey and delfonso upfont it wud make fonzo a legend withina e year. we shud go for either martins ,owen (in summer) crouch or defoe.
A string of star names were left at home as Martin O’Neill and his Villa team headed off to Hamburg this morning.
Gabby Agbonlahor, Gareth Barry, Ashley Young, Martin Laursen and James Milner have all been rested for tomorrow night’s UEFA Cup clash in Germany and did not travel, while Isaiah Osbourne has been ruled out with illness.
LINK
Given the 20 man squad that has been named, with 6 unproven youngsters amongst it, i'd say we're going to lose. HSV will probably be looking to play a stronger team, and definitely a more experienced team.
I'm not too bothered, we're already through to the next stage, and from the looks of it we have a good chance of breaking that top 4 bridge, so i'd rather we prioritise getting that spot in the league, rather than finishing top of UEFA Group stages. Can't imagine MON would play this same team in the Knockout stages.
Agree with your team selection above Chris, we need to blend the regulars with some fringe players, but not to the extent we did against Zilina - we were awful in that game, Sali and Osbourne were useless! Glad Osbourne is ill and misses the trip to Hamburg. Would like to see MoN play the likes of
Friedel
Young Cuellar Davies Clark
Gardner NRC Sidders Shorey
Harewood and Delfounso
at least give the travelling fans value for money!!
Oh yeah, match prediction was the name of the thread
Playing the above team, Villa to edge it 2-1 otherwise lose me thinks (especially if Zat "Let's duck under the ball" Knight plays!)
So we'll play kids and fringe players and probably plop it like the Znilznz game. no bother.
The kids will get a game in front of 50,000 away fans and I want us to get a big team in the next round. We're taking names in the Prem. A lot of good teams in the UEFA cup are looking at Villa and thinking "eau, I 'ope we can avoid zose guysh..."
good times.
If he doesn't play Knight and Harewood we should do OK.
Reply to Ugly_Betty:
I actually hope he does play Harewood tomorrow....
result - home win (our second team never wins)
players - give shorey and harewood 90 reocoker salifoo and sidwell in centre mid.
delfonsooooooo on his own up front or starting as a two is a no no. bring him on as a super sub if they go ahead.
Reply to the truthful economist:
Slavia Prague ring a bell?
...No I know what you mean, they probably aren't strong enough to beat a team like Hamburg away.
Reply to bluey:
See ya there bluey... For all those on here that can't make it look out for the big claret and blue flag with "Aston Villa Pride Of the Midlands" on it. That will be us Daventry Villa boys on tour. Come on you second string lions!!!
Flying in about 6 hours I can't sleep! Looking forward to many beers over there and hopefully a villa win!
On the piss my lord!!
See you all out there!!
guzan
young cuellar knight shorey
gardener nrc sidwell sali
hare delfouneso
tomorrow il be on to moan about the preformance and not taking the game seriously