In other news we have Gateshead at home in the 3rd round of the FA Cup. Looking forward to holding out for a 0-0 draw and AFI telling us he's "just delighted to be in the hat" for the 4th round.

Teix -

Could go either way but you are more rubbish than we are

Irvine will be gone by Sunday Morning.

UTV

Could go either way but you are more rubbish than we are
.........................................................................
Is that because you just beat Lesta?

Vile will do us.

0-1 - Gabby.

Irvine sacked the following Monday and replace by Downing for the next 3 months as we aimlessly hunt for another number 2 to take the reigns and work along side the untouchables.

Blahh

Anyway....

Team of play -

Foster
Gamboa McAuley Lescott Pocognoli
Gardner Mulumbu
BERAHINO Sessegnon Varlea
Anichebe.

Team AFI will play -

Foster
Wisdom McAuley Lescott Pocognoli
Dorrans Morrison Mulumbu Gardner Berahino
Anichebe

Could go either way but you are more rubbish than we are
.........................................................................
Is that because you just beat Lesta?

.........................................................................

Id guess, it's because we are lower in the table. With less wins.

True.

I do think this is crunch time for AI.

I'd have one change from JH's team:

Foster
Gamboa McAuley Lescott Pocognoli
Gardner Mulumbu
Sessegnon Morrison Varela
Anichebe

I think JP is already looking for Irvine's successor. If the recruitment team is to be believed, under the days of Dan Ashworth we'd have started looking as soon as Irvine was appointed.
Teix is bang on the money when he says the sad thing is this was all so predictable. We all saw this coming.
It's just so unlike JP to jeopardise the club's PL status by making such an obviously poor appointment.
I would be talking to Tony Pulis right now, trying to work out how he could work within our structure.
He would soon have this team working.

Villa will do us.

0-1 - Gabby.

Get your money on it

Double with Irvine gone by Monday Morning latest

If brave treble with Lescott to get sent off

UTV

Benteke didn't score on Sunday. Think he'll be out to make amends for that. And Gabby seems to do well in derbys.

No matter what the form is, it is a derby and both teams will be aiming to come out on top. It should be a competitive game. But in the end form may count, and I reckon Villa should score at least a couple of goals, which may be enough.

If you lose, replacing Irvine might not be that easy. From the way Pulis left Palace, he's choosy about what setup he works under, and JP's way of doing things may not be to his liking.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

Nice to see Villa this confident.....

Think it will be a close one. Villa short in midfield and this could prove a problem.

WBA are desperate for the points otherwise they could really be in trouble over Xmas.

I would be more than happy with a draw to keep our unbeaten run going.

PS if we can't mention old big ears, could you lot not mention the Birmingham Senior Cup

Two great old clubs with loads of history - should be a cracking match.

It usually is, it also usually ends all square.

Villa losing Westwood could have a bearing. He's been looking good this season.

comment by cddvilla (U18324)
PS if we can't mention old big ears, could you lot not mention the Birmingham Senior Cup
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Now that made me laugh out loud - really appreciated that!
And deal.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

I do not think we are confident at all.

There isn't much to choose between the sides but with our regular midfield missing makes Albion favourites.

Time for others to step up

We do have Benteke though and he could be the difference

Lets just hope its not mind numbing

OK Westwood will be missed. And Cleverley. But I wouldn't write off our midfield just yet. Sanchez is getting better and better and is a cert to play. For for the other three positions we have N'zogbia, Richardson, Bacuna, and Grealish competing. And Weimann itching to get back in somewhere. We can put out a decent midfield. Add a pretty solid defence and Benteke and Gabby up front. We've other half decent players on the bench; Herd, Lowton and Robinson.

If we turn up I'm confident we will win. And I think we'll turn up.

Mike Dean is ref.

It will end in a 7 a-side.

Last chance saloon for Irvine. A comfortable win for Villa and he's a goner!

So what should he do on Saturday? Pretty simple really. He needs to go for it. If Berahino doesn't start he's pretty much committing suicide. I also don't understand what Varela needs to do to get in the side. Our midfield is full of tidy players but none of them really carry much of a threat in the final third. Varela seems to be the only option to sort that problem out.

So my line up for Saturday? I'd go for the following 433:

Foz
Gamboa GMac Lescott Poco
Gardner Mulumbu Dorrans
Berahino Anichebe Varela

If we lose, let's at least go down all guns blazing!

Varela should start being as how he has been given a 30 min run-out in the last 2 games.

AI also hinting that Ideye is almost ready...whatever that means.

Perhaps AI is hinting that Ideye is almost ready for the African Nations ............