[Archived] Villa Semi Final Match Preview

[SoccerHQ]

Who's injured for you guys then?

I'd imagine Shimbomba will slot back into the back 4 somewhere but not sure on the rest of your line up.

You going 4-5-1 for Dunney and Carlos to head away the countless long balls up to Di Santo or going 4-4-2?

[mellison24]

Who's injured for you guys then?

I'd imagine Shimbomba will slot back into the back 4 somewhere but not sure on the rest of your line up.

You going 4-5-1 for Dunney and Carlos to head away the countless long balls up to Di Santo or going 4-4-2?

Not a clue. If Sam has any brains about him, he'll listen to us and go 442 or 4312. Most likely 451 though

[Amo]

Here's my line up:

*Robinson

Jacobsen - Samba - Givet - Chimbonda

Emerton - Salgado - Nzonzi - Hoilett

Dunn

Kalinic

* I don't want to play Robinson, but I don't feel Jason Brown is any improvement.

Yes, I've gone for a 4-4-1, because I believe Dunn dropping back will give us extra legs in midfield against Villa's pace and energy. I also believe with Hoilett, Emerton and Chimbonda pushing forward, we'll have enough width and movement to get Kalinic & Dunn in on goal.

[mellison24]

Here's my line up:

*Robinson

Jacobsen - Samba - Givet - Chimbonda

Emerton - Salgado - Nzonzi - Hoilett

Dunn

Kalinic

* I don't want to play Robinson, but I don't feel Jason Brown is any improvement.

Yes, I've gone for a 4-4-1, because I believe Dunn dropping back will give us extra legs in midfield against Villa's pace and energy. I also believe with Hoilett, Emerton and Chimbonda pushing forward, we'll have enough width and movement to get Kalinic & Dunn in on goal.

I'd go with that provided it's a passing game. Pedersen to replace Dunn in the hole, should he be unfit. Olsson on the bench to try out on the left wing when Salgado/NZonzi tire (Emerton into the middle, Hoilett on the right, Olsson on the left).

A good formation my man!

[S15]

Seconded -

My expectations for each game used to build up as soon as the final whistle of the last game is blown.

Souness used to p me off with his pre-season comments that the main aim was to remain a premiership team.

I think Souness talked a lot of @#/? in his pre match interviews, I don't for one second believe that man ever sent a team out to do anything other than win, and I'm certain his comments were always intended to take the pressure off his team.

[Nelsta]

Shame Sam wont go with it, It'll be Di Santo bumbling about upfront on his own, Whilst the rest of the team admire Villa Players running past them.

[Presty On Tour]

About 10 past 8 I should think.....

If you are going to phone up and buy your ticket to pick up, they usually sell them over the phone until 3 hours before kick off. Otherwise you'll hae to queue when you get here.

I'm going to phone just after 9 and book my ticket in the BBE!

Have to go because we are so close to Wembley and we need all the support we can get to make it happen and sod the 300 mile road trip!

Should be in Blackburn for about 5-6ish, pick up my ticket then the Ewood Arms and the Aqueduct for pre-match atmo! I'll be the one in full voice with the funny accent if anyone want to say hello.

[dixonbrfc]

Here's my line up:

*Robinson

Jacobsen - Samba - Givet - Chimbonda

Emerton - Salgado - Nzonzi - Hoilett

Dunn

Kalinic

* I don't want to play Robinson, but I don't feel Jason Brown is any improvement.

Yes, I've gone for a 4-4-1, because I believe Dunn dropping back will give us extra legs in midfield against Villa's pace and energy. I also believe with Hoilett, Emerton and Chimbonda pushing forward, we'll have enough width and movement to get Kalinic & Dunn in on goal.

Robinson

Jacobsen - Samba - nelson - Chimbonda

emerton - dunn - Nzonzi - Hoilett

Kalinic - Di santo

that is my team, if we play 4-5-1, i think we will hear some complaints during the game (first min to last min)

[RovertheHill]

I heard the Grane Road was closed this morning. What's the roads round Ewood like?

[cletus]

What's the roads round Ewood like?

Tarmac with white lines down the middle

[92er]

I heard the Grane Road was closed this morning. What's the roads round Ewood like?

According to BBC North West this morning, the Grane Road didn't seem to be closed for long.

[Hughesy]

I heard the Grane Road was closed this morning. What's the roads round Ewood like?

Not sure about ewood - but i Was coming from Bolton to Darwen on the A666 at around 6.30pm and the traffic was bumper to bumper at about 5mph due to snow & ice.......

[tomphil]

I ask why the inconsistency in support? 5000 fans at Wigan but about 300-500 at Man City. Yes it was a Monday night and a very difficult looking game but why can't we take more supporters to a game in such close proximity? As for the examples, I believe they were decent examples to use.

As for another comment about giving the media more fuel for the fire, I'm afraid support like what we had at City is really not going to help.

To be fair it was a bit of a one off, weve never taken that few to city before even for tv games. The possabillty of the game not goin ahead at all meant not many tckts sold before the game, it was only confirmed as def on at lunchtime monday then add to that how fed up people are with the rubbish served up in away games there was the beggining of the back lash against the boss i think. You go on like its like that all the time but everyone including opposition supporters or gobshite stewards know its not. It should act as a wake up call the players, manager etc though.

[Tom]

Just checked my receipt and my tickets were meant to be delivered, now some 10 days later, nothing.

If I ring up will they give me duplicates on the day?

also is there still space on the free travel for the away leg? Who's using it?

[philipl]

If the footballing public have a brain cell between them, Ewood will be a complete sell-out tomorrow night

- it is a Cup semi-final

- Sam is a wounded beast fighting for his entire managerial career. If he fails tomorrow, he gets sacked and he is remembered as good but ultimately a flop.

- chances are he is going to go with the tactics which knocked Chelsea out so this is not going to be a yawnyawn Sam re-run.

- Villa can be very good fun to watch so with Rovers going for it, tomorrow night will be a classic

- and the crowd get a chance to play Emperor Nero. It is like the gladiators all over again. Thumbs up or thumbs down?

[my_name_is_Earl]

Sam has to play with two up front definitely for this one. If he doesn't and we concede, he'll face immediate boos from most Rovers fans. Anyone who thinks we should play a defensive formation for this leg is not intending on going to Wembley. We need to approach the game on the front foot, trying to take the game to Villa, they'll be a bit stiff with the longish break they've had and we need to start getting in their face from the off.

What'll probably happen is we'll be two down before the 70th minute and then, from out of nowhere, we'll just start keeping the ball on the deck looking like a good team....that'll last for about ten minutes until Allardyce sees the players aren't playing to his tactics and comes down from the stands to tell them that they've all been naughty boys

[dixonbrfc]

If the footballing public have a brain cell between them, Ewood will be a complete sell-out tomorrow night

- it is a Cup semi-final

- Sam is a wounded beast fighting for his entire managerial career. If he fails tomorrow, he gets sacked and he is remembered as good but ultimately a flop.

- chances are he is going to go with the tactics which knocked Chelsea out so this is not going to be a yawnyawn Sam re-run.

- Villa can be very good fun to watch so with Rovers going for it, tomorrow night will be a classic

- and the crowd get a chance to play Emperor Nero. It is like the gladiators all over again. Thumbs up or thumbs down?

"clap clap clap"

GER IN TO EM!

[JAL]

If the footballing public have a brain cell between them, Ewood will be a complete sell-out tomorrow night

- it is a Cup semi-final

- Sam is a wounded beast fighting for his entire managerial career. If he fails tomorrow, he gets sacked and he is remembered as good but ultimately a flop.

- chances are he is going to go with the tactics which knocked Chelsea out so this is not going to be a yawnyawn Sam re-run.

- Villa can be very good fun to watch so with Rovers going for it, tomorrow night will be a classic

- and the crowd get a chance to play Emperor Nero. It is like the gladiators all over again. Thumbs up or thumbs down?

or a stay of execution until Sundays main event.

[philipl]

or a stay of execution until Sundays main event.

Do you think Sam would go if we win 3-0 tomorrow and lose 3-0 on Sunday?

Tomorrow is the date at the Coliseum, make no bones about it.

[Blue n White Rover]

Do you think Sam would go if we win 3-0 tomorrow and lose 3-0 on Sunday?

Tomorrow is the date at the Coliseum, make no bones about it.

I'd want him out if that was the case.

League is our main priority. I couldn't give a toss what happens tommorow as long as we beat Fulham on Sunday!!

[philipl]

Let's put things in context, at this stage of the competition, the Carling Cup is SERIOUSLY BIG MONEY.

[Blue n White Rover]

Let's put things in context, at this stage of the competition, the Carling Cup is SERIOUSLY BIG MONEY.

Premier League survival is SERIOUSLY BIGGER MONEY!!!

[Hughesy]

Let's put things in context, at this stage of the competition, the Carling Cup is SERIOUSLY BIG MONEY.

Really - how much will it be worth?!

[Tris]

I heard the Grane Road was closed this morning. What's the roads round Ewood like?

Grane Road has the same characteristics as Roman Road, so if there's any hint of high wind tomorrow I'd use another route ...

If anyone's driving in from the Bury / Edgworth direction for the game tomorrow, be aware that currently Roman Road is closed between Blacksnape (just past the Red Lion) and the Crown and Thistle at Grimehills.

I drove back to Darwen yesterday evening that way and it was incredible, the wind was whipping the snow off the moors and causing it to drift up against the banked snow at the side of the road and all over the road surface - it felt like being in a full-on blizzard even though no snow was actually falling.

The room between the walls of banked snow was barely wide enough for one car. It was like being in a microclimate in the high alps.

[Blue n White Rover]

Really - how much will it be worth?!

LOADS!!!!

The prize money is awarded by the Football League - The winners of the Carling Cup win £100,000 and the runners-up £50,000. The losing semi-finalists each take home £25,000.

http://www.carling.com/contactus/footballQ.html