Loads. Maybe 30 games including the cups, if he stays fit. Ash and Downing have gone, Marc has to carry the burden now cuz RL ain't spending diddly, the tight a***.

Does Albrighton fit into a defensive 451 formation and have the skill to effectively double up as a fulll back?

If so he will get games

This is MA's year. He will have a good season and get plenty of games. We have no other right-sided wingers.

Expect plenty of assists and the odd goal. I've picked him. Just hope he stays injury-free.

Disagree AussieVillan. I fear MA is a one trick pony who became all too predictable last season, hence his form tailing off after a promising 3 months. Teams have worked out how to contain him and with the quality of defender in the EPL these days, you need more than raw pace and a quick change of direction to make an impact. Miles behind the likes of Young or Downing in terms of technical ability, so for me, best used as a substitute for the last 20 mins. He also lacks defensive discipline.

I really hope I'm wrong as when he's on his game (like how he destroyed West Ham at VP), he really is an exciting player to watch, but he needs to add more to his game if he's going to make any progress on last season. Time is still on his side though

yes rozzer, but we can say the same about ash, who got found out. that's the problem with attacking players, coaches like Eck will find a way to shut em down! hang on, he's our coach now; damn!

Boy from Brum, you're right about Ash's form declining since his first full season, but he still had enough quality and versatility to more than merit a place in the starting XI, become an England regular and earn a move to the biggest team in the country, so I don't really think it's a fair comparison.

Rozzer,

So we stick MA on the bench. Who do you propose is a better right winger than him in the current squad?

As long as Albrighton can whip the crosses into Bent, i'll happy. He has an extremely bright future and he is one that we definately need to tie down on an extremely long term deal.

AussieVillan, who says we even need a right winger? We don’t have to play two wide men. Bannan is capable on the right (something AMc has experimented with) or Ireland, if he gets his act together and I think Gabby can do a job there too. I felt he was totally ineffective on the left under GH, but he is more comfortable wide right and has put in quite a few games there. Not much to choose between him and MA, but I can’t see where else Gabby fits into the team and he does offer more consistency and discipline than MA. MA is undoubtedly more of a natural winger, but his deficiencies I referred to earlier may ultimately count against him.

I think he’d cause Riise plenty of problems going forward tomorrow, but we all know how dangerous his left foot is and he would need to track back to close him down when they are attacking, so it’s a very tough call.

I guess we will see soon enough and I hope your optimism comes to fruition.

Rozzer,

I also hope my optimism comes to fruition. Each time i've been down to watch Villa, home or away, last season, I have been unimpressed with Gabby on the wing. Far from his natural position. He is far too direct with his runs and lacks any real ability to turn with the ball and send a dangerous ball in from the wings or byline. MA for me, is the only option at the moment for wide-right. He and Zoggy are definately our starting wingers. Bannan is far from the finished article yet, and I feel he would be better served this season as a 'super-sub' playing just behind Bent. But again, being too optimistic, as I can't see McLeish opting for such an attacking formation, but, as you say, time will tell.

UTV

Gabby was a bit of a sulk having to play out wide last season and to some extents, I sympathise with him because he is a striker and definitely not effective on the left. That said, he has to accept that as long as we have Bent fit, he’s likely to be a bench warmer unless he’s prepared to knuckle down and do a job elsewhere. It’s really up to him.

He is an option on the right and although like you say, he’s not massively productive there, he puts in a shift and is always an outlet and nuisance with his pace.

Remember as well that with Bent, his preferred service is not necessarily from the wings. We don’t play with a target man now and if you look at most of Bent’s goals last season, they came from creativity in the centre. For that reason, I would be prepared to sacrifice a second winger for a quality player just off the main striker – Ireland would be the ideal foil for Bent if he could show a return to form, maybe N’Zogbia or Bannan otherwise.

Anyway, my lift for the match is nearly here. Ticket: check, Red Bull: check, Cool Bag Full Of Beer: check – COME ON!!!!