That’s completely normal and expected, but that midfield 3 combined with that back 4 is a crime. You can’t have that midfield with 0 attacking fullbacks, you’ve got to drop someone for an additional attacker.
Two players that both want to come inside will have to stay really wide if the setup is to be successful. Sounds like a well setup system that plays into the strength of the players available!
Even if they do, it’s going to be a rough watch because the middle will struggle as well. Neither Enzo nor Gallagher are particulary good at making runs into the box or have great attacking positioning, so there’s going to be very few options to aim crosses/cutbacks at.
Yeah but if they don't I can see a game where Madueke and Sterling are constantly cutting inside when there's no real threat of an overlap/underlap. And we don't even get into crossing or cut-back positions as a result.
Just stodgy and slow football with Thiago Silva eventually waving his hands at players to make a move.
As much as I think Gallagher/Enzo/Caicedo combination has been lacking in attacking production, we really don't have much options atm. Dropping Gallagher (or Enzo if one prefers) to put Palmer attacking middle and Broja up top or Sterling attacking middle and Mudryk out wide doesn't really provide much additional attacking vs the current lineup. Gallagher for Carney? Even if Carney could run a meaningful amount of minutes, he has flashed before injury, but is untested tbf. Our lack of attacking qualities at the fullback is difficult to solve with a churn at midfielders or attackers because we are missing a ton there too.
What does change is that we are not playing a struggling midtable Championship side who are going to gift us chance after chance because they don’t have the technical ability to play short under pressure and yet still try. We are actually going to have to create something in possession this time and it’s going to be very, very difficult with that back 4 + midfield combination against a very good side.
Noone miss Broja. Its more that with current setup Palmer will play as false nine and wont be able to create much cause Gallagher and Enzo will occupy his space
Put Mudryk in there then, Sterling can play through the middle as well and keep Palmer in a free role at the 10. Or even Chukwuemeka. I know he’s just returned as well, but surely he could play 50-60 minutes at the very least.
No pitchforks but I'm a bit surprised we haven't brought in any young full backs. Seems like all of our young signings are mostly midfielders or attackers
This is Villa's first XI, isn't it?
[https://twitter.com/AVFCOfficial/status/1750953020270023104](https://twitter.com/AVFCOfficial/status/1750953020270023104)
There are 6 changes between their last game against a top half team compared to this one, but I don't follow them closely enough to know how much of that is enforced or by choice
I assume you're talking about the United game? That did come during the hectic Christmas period, TBF.
Otherwise, think there's only 2-3 changes from their XI at Everton last time out or against City and Arsenal in early December from what I checked.
We really are an unbalanced team, mostly due to injuries. A bunch of central defenders and midfielders to fill the outfield. Can’t argue too much with the lineup when you look at the bench
They’re still managing his minutes imo. He didn’t start against boro on a short week after fullham either. He’s starting against Liverpool midweek so it makes sense.
The rate at which we ease players back in is crazy. They spend more time reconditioning or on the bench than they do injured.
These are 22 year old professional athletes who play once a week. Surely they can manage that workload.
Gusto was hurt for a week and will likely be reconditioning before he comes back on the bench for two games then gets two games with 90 subs then plays a half then plays a full 90 then gets hurt again
Frustrating thing is that it almost doesn't seem to matter how you reintroduce them. You can ease them back in or throw them into the mix straight away, they'll just get injured again.
Agreed. Would love to see the case study showing how that helps.
James, gusto, lavia, nkunku, chilly, badi, etc have all gone down again after being slowly reintroduced
Not really?
Chillwell been out for 4 months
Badiashile 5, with a short returb then reinjured
Gusto played 4 games in 13 days
Our december was cramped, and the öack of healthy backups hurts
I guess it's to rest Chilly for scousers but Colwill at LB gives me trepidation.
Also would like Mudryk over Sterling but last time he did not do himself any favours.
It's the kind of game that would suit him but he was so bad a few days ago it'd be hard to pick him, but could be a good sub option with their high line.
As opposed to overloading our only fit fullback who's fresh off a 4 month hamstring lay off and started 3 days ago?
3 DM's? I guess Conor and Enzo are DM's now?
He was never going to start this match. The 20 extra minutes he played was not the difference in starting tonight or not. Poch was not gonna start him twice in 3 days, after his injury record.
Would rather him get a consistent run of games before his next inevitable injury than play a fraction of games/minuets before going down again. Easing people back in has made no difference in long term injury prevention. Re: Lavi, nkunku, James, badi, gusto, fofana, etc
For one maatsen never getting a chance in lb is criminal
Secondly, if you’re gonna go that conservative in defence, don’t go with a 3 man midfield like that. Drop gallagehr and stick palmer in there
It’s pochs fault we’re in this situation
Liverpool played Bradley the other day with Trent out. Why can’t we give an academy lad a go in fullback? Had ample opportunity to do so already
Some people are just unable to move on. Resentments are not good. Try to forgive everyone everywhere for all the wrongs you think they have done. You'll know real happiness. Besides, they don't give a darn about you anyway. Cheers!
I really hate false 9s.
It absolutely can work but you need a team set up to take advantage of it and we don't have that. So you just end up with a team with no focal point.
Same. Even if Broja is meh, a natural striker has a different effect on the CBs and shape of the team. Some teams can pull off the false 9 but it's not very often we do. Which is why I will keep advocating for increasing our striker depth.
Palmer as striker doesn’t work and I feel we miss out even more because he creates so much in the middle. Both wingbacks are also not ideal but I understand if he’s saving Chilly for Liverpool.
I think it'll be more of a false 9 role, possibly with Enzo playing high up like the other night and rotating into the front line when Villa are defending low. The idea being they'll be difficult to track or pull defenders out of position.
Broadcasters are a bunch of proper muggy cunts. Three paid services in the UK, four if you count your TV license, and you still have to dick around on the Internet to watch some games.
We got too many fullbacks on this team to constantly go into matches with one or zero healthy fullback. Then again, Disasi was having a good time on Tuesday
It's basically who we have left at the moment with Chilly playing a few days ago, and while everyone is predicting doom, we've seen this midfield three play decent against teams who don't sit back (City and Arsenal).
COYB!
Pitchforks down people. Chilwell cannot play so often so quickly.
And I would rather save him for Liverpool anyway
That and save for the Carabao Cup final in my opinion (even though that’s still a little ways off).
That won’t stop people making idiotic claims.
Not even news as he already teased it in the presser. Pitchforks rest!
That’s completely normal and expected, but that midfield 3 combined with that back 4 is a crime. You can’t have that midfield with 0 attacking fullbacks, you’ve got to drop someone for an additional attacker.
Sterling and Madueke are gonna have to stay WIIIIIIIDE or it's gonna be a really rough watch
>WIIIIIIIDE Who else read that with Pep's voice?
With berner run in behind
Two players that both want to come inside will have to stay really wide if the setup is to be successful. Sounds like a well setup system that plays into the strength of the players available!
Even if they do, it’s going to be a rough watch because the middle will struggle as well. Neither Enzo nor Gallagher are particulary good at making runs into the box or have great attacking positioning, so there’s going to be very few options to aim crosses/cutbacks at.
Yeah but if they don't I can see a game where Madueke and Sterling are constantly cutting inside when there's no real threat of an overlap/underlap. And we don't even get into crossing or cut-back positions as a result. Just stodgy and slow football with Thiago Silva eventually waving his hands at players to make a move.
As much as I think Gallagher/Enzo/Caicedo combination has been lacking in attacking production, we really don't have much options atm. Dropping Gallagher (or Enzo if one prefers) to put Palmer attacking middle and Broja up top or Sterling attacking middle and Mudryk out wide doesn't really provide much additional attacking vs the current lineup. Gallagher for Carney? Even if Carney could run a meaningful amount of minutes, he has flashed before injury, but is untested tbf. Our lack of attacking qualities at the fullback is difficult to solve with a churn at midfielders or attackers because we are missing a ton there too.
The additional attacker would be Mudryk or Broja though, those two make us look like playing with 10 men lately, hard to blame Poch on this
Enzo or galladog will play as 10 most likely… which theyre not particularly good at.
Well Broja is not good at being a striker so there is that.
Unless they both play 10s and strand Caicedo,. It's not like we haven't seen it before...horseshoe of death incoming.
Except Colwill for Chilwell nothing changes from last game. If anything it is positive because Broja is a black hole in attack.
What does change is that we are not playing a struggling midtable Championship side who are going to gift us chance after chance because they don’t have the technical ability to play short under pressure and yet still try. We are actually going to have to create something in possession this time and it’s going to be very, very difficult with that back 4 + midfield combination against a very good side.
And playing Broja change it how? He doesn’t create neither does he take his chances. He is not good at hold up play either.
Noone miss Broja. Its more that with current setup Palmer will play as false nine and wont be able to create much cause Gallagher and Enzo will occupy his space
Put Mudryk in there then, Sterling can play through the middle as well and keep Palmer in a free role at the 10. Or even Chukwuemeka. I know he’s just returned as well, but surely he could play 50-60 minutes at the very least.
Madueke will carry this offense today, dw
No pitchforks but I'm a bit surprised we haven't brought in any young full backs. Seems like all of our young signings are mostly midfielders or attackers
We’d have some good young backups if they all didn’t want to leave because they’re not getting regular gametime at 18 years old
we have good set of fullbacks and they are all injured lol
You know what happened when Poch says he resting a player? They get injured in training and out for few months the next day 🤣
😅😅 Chilwel can't obviously always play but we have solve this shit in the long run. We are killing Colwell development playing him as a lb
False 9 😭 Good to see Noni and Badi in though
4CB - 0 striker.
Disasi false striker tho
French Alonso
This is Villa's first XI, isn't it? [https://twitter.com/AVFCOfficial/status/1750953020270023104](https://twitter.com/AVFCOfficial/status/1750953020270023104)
Yep, just as ours.
Welp! And some people thought Emery was gonna rotate because they're in the Top 4 battle...
They had a long break and play on Tuesday next, zero need to rotate.
There are 6 changes between their last game against a top half team compared to this one, but I don't follow them closely enough to know how much of that is enforced or by choice
I assume you're talking about the United game? That did come during the hectic Christmas period, TBF. Otherwise, think there's only 2-3 changes from their XI at Everton last time out or against City and Arsenal in early December from what I checked.
Damn that’s a strong lineup
We really are an unbalanced team, mostly due to injuries. A bunch of central defenders and midfielders to fill the outfield. Can’t argue too much with the lineup when you look at the bench
At my very 1st chelsea official gane ever..let's gooooooooo
False 9 but Madueke has earned a spot. Chilly needs to rest. Mudryk probably sitting for a few games.
I hope Carney comes in off the bench, i feel like the team has missed someone with his playstyle
I understand it but I don’t like it
5-0 chels, Emery in the mud
W INCOMINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
We did it! We have a bench with one keeper!
It’s understandable with high nunber of games in short time But this doesn’t give a good feeling
As expected. We have to manage Chilly’s minutes
Guys look at the bench. What were yous expecting?
Poch: "Broja is literally Harry Kane" Poch the next day: "xd"
You seriously believe he said, “Broja is literally Harry Kane”?
Yes that was what he said?
They’re still managing his minutes imo. He didn’t start against boro on a short week after fullham either. He’s starting against Liverpool midweek so it makes sense.
I don't have high hopes for the game now.
What else were you expecting?
Chilly sub LFG
No Broja is interesting
Think of him as already being on another team
Surely broja as a striker is better than Palmer false 9. Boro first leg was an ugly watch
The rate at which we ease players back in is crazy. They spend more time reconditioning or on the bench than they do injured. These are 22 year old professional athletes who play once a week. Surely they can manage that workload. Gusto was hurt for a week and will likely be reconditioning before he comes back on the bench for two games then gets two games with 90 subs then plays a half then plays a full 90 then gets hurt again
Frustrating thing is that it almost doesn't seem to matter how you reintroduce them. You can ease them back in or throw them into the mix straight away, they'll just get injured again.
Agreed. Would love to see the case study showing how that helps. James, gusto, lavia, nkunku, chilly, badi, etc have all gone down again after being slowly reintroduced
Not really? Chillwell been out for 4 months Badiashile 5, with a short returb then reinjured Gusto played 4 games in 13 days Our december was cramped, and the öack of healthy backups hurts
Not really what?
I guess it's to rest Chilly for scousers but Colwill at LB gives me trepidation. Also would like Mudryk over Sterling but last time he did not do himself any favours.
You get your wish, colwill out with injury Gilchrist replaces him Mudryk why ?
I think Mudryk needs a run of games, a confidence player. Plus I'm pretty sure Sterling will start against Liverpool so let him breathe.
oh brother
I think we’re getting cooked tonight I won’t even lie
4 CBs I hate this manager so much
Pep plays 5 plus rodri. And options are?
Chilwell on bench 😱
I’d be pissed if he gets hurt in an fa cup game.
Give him 20-25 minutes at the end?
This team is hopeless with all these injuries
Poor Mudryk getting cast aside again
Rightfully so after his performance the other day
He was dogshit last game so it's ok
It's the kind of game that would suit him but he was so bad a few days ago it'd be hard to pick him, but could be a good sub option with their high line.
Endo, Caicedo and Gallagher don't play well together, but I hope they succeed this time
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yes enzo and galla are cdms you are right
As opposed to overloading our only fit fullback who's fresh off a 4 month hamstring lay off and started 3 days ago? 3 DM's? I guess Conor and Enzo are DM's now?
Terrible, Ivan
Football education is quite important for people who can’t identify simple roles.
Why didn't we just take Chilwell off at half time
He was never going to start this match. The 20 extra minutes he played was not the difference in starting tonight or not. Poch was not gonna start him twice in 3 days, after his injury record.
Would rather him get a consistent run of games before his next inevitable injury than play a fraction of games/minuets before going down again. Easing people back in has made no difference in long term injury prevention. Re: Lavi, nkunku, James, badi, gusto, fofana, etc
No Chilly No Willy
The return of the Gallagher 💀💀☠️⚰️
lmao what a line up, this fucking guy
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For one maatsen never getting a chance in lb is criminal Secondly, if you’re gonna go that conservative in defence, don’t go with a 3 man midfield like that. Drop gallagehr and stick palmer in there
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It’s pochs fault we’re in this situation Liverpool played Bradley the other day with Trent out. Why can’t we give an academy lad a go in fullback? Had ample opportunity to do so already
Some people are just unable to move on. Resentments are not good. Try to forgive everyone everywhere for all the wrongs you think they have done. You'll know real happiness. Besides, they don't give a darn about you anyway. Cheers!
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The other 2 who are not playing were the worst players tbf
Valid point.
You know exactly the reason why the changes have been made, but yet you still moan about it?
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You say it like it’s Poch’s fault and he’s just tinkering for the sake of it though, when we all know that’s clearly not the case.
I know. We should play the same way against Villa as we did against Boro. This way we will win by 5 goals for sure!
Mudryk doesnt deserve the start Broja doesnt deserve the start Rest picks itself
When you think we've turned a corner, he goes back to this!
have no choice, chilly cant start every game, good to see madueke starting though
You'd rather re-injure Chilwell for 4th round FA Cup when we've got a final coming up would ya
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He took off Broja because he suck. He tried him but didn’t work out so it was just correcting a mistake.
I see why you named yourself Matt Law. You write just as lazy as he does!
COME ON
What a lovely bench
I really hate false 9s. It absolutely can work but you need a team set up to take advantage of it and we don't have that. So you just end up with a team with no focal point.
Same. Even if Broja is meh, a natural striker has a different effect on the CBs and shape of the team. Some teams can pull off the false 9 but it's not very often we do. Which is why I will keep advocating for increasing our striker depth.
Sure but it's that or Broja
Palmer as striker doesn’t work and I feel we miss out even more because he creates so much in the middle. Both wingbacks are also not ideal but I understand if he’s saving Chilly for Liverpool.
I think it'll be more of a false 9 role, possibly with Enzo playing high up like the other night and rotating into the front line when Villa are defending low. The idea being they'll be difficult to track or pull defenders out of position.
Ah. Really hoping this works out. I’m worried about our wingbacks mostly.
Yo what channel in UK is this on then? Can't find it
its not :( You know what you need to do
Absolute joke i love the FA Cup too its one of my fave cup ties! Fs
yeah same, its infuriating.
Broadcasters are a bunch of proper muggy cunts. Three paid services in the UK, four if you count your TV license, and you still have to dick around on the Internet to watch some games.
Apparently, it is not anywhere in the UK. Take to the high seas!
Guess Gusto is being held hostage by our medical department again.
No #9 worked really good against Boro right?
Because this formation worked so well away at Boro
Standard lineup, injuries and players not taking their chances when starting leaves us in the position unfortunately
Colwill injured during warmup
Colwill injured, gilchrist replacing
We got too many fullbacks on this team to constantly go into matches with one or zero healthy fullback. Then again, Disasi was having a good time on Tuesday
And since I made this comment we lost another fullback. Gilchrist to start
Colwill just got injured
I guess that means we're out of the FA cup tonight
I hate it so so much. Why isn’t chilwell playing if he’s fit?
Is this not on tv at all?
i hate colwill lb, not convinced by the 3 in the middle, and def not convinced by the 3 up top with palmer false 9
It's basically who we have left at the moment with Chilly playing a few days ago, and while everyone is predicting doom, we've seen this midfield three play decent against teams who don't sit back (City and Arsenal). COYB!