Probably gonna miss the game as I shall be in Ohio

Would happily take a draw right now but three points are more than possible as villa will need the win, just hope they don't score early as it will become far more difficult.

Saiss, N'diaye is the biggest decision Nuno will have to make and I would go with Saiss for this game but both have their merits. Pretty sure he will go with Bonatini again ahead of Afobe which is fair enough in this type of game.

Live @ http://www.ja606.co.uk/articles/viewLiveArticle/386417
One match ban enabled

Thanks Adders

I wonder if he might be tempted to go with a front 3 of Bonatini, Afobe and Cavaleiro. Jota looks like a spent force to me and maybe needs a 2-3 week rest.

Ruddy
Doc Bennett Coady Boly Barry
Cav Ndye Neves Jota
Afobe

Should be a good game, we've lost only once at home this season but Wolves will be the best team we've played. Shame Neves is back as he'll cause a lot of problems. I'd take a draw but could go either way. It's games like these that I wish we had our best striker (Kodjia), particularly as Hogan has gone back to being poor again.

I'd expect Villa to line up as:

................Johnstone................
Elmo.....Chester.....JT.....Taylor
.................Tuanzebe...............
......Hourihane......Grealish......
Snodgrass..Grabban..Adomah

One of Hogan or Grabban has to make way, but Grabban's been scoring so think he deserves it. Tuanzebe if fit looked quality when he played so would put him back in the team.

I'll go 1-1 but really hoping we can nick it.

Afobe up on his own he won't like that 55, you'll have him chucking his dummy out again.

Neves will play on Saturday but cannot think of any reason why we would want to make any other changes to the starting 11 that played so well last night

yiou know .. not all brummies are thick ......................



Well if you've listened to the Dingles this season then we should expect to get beat 79-0 by the Barcelona of the Midlands (Premier League winners 2018/19 and Champions League winners 2019/20) with every goal a sweeping move with all 11 of their world-class players including the goalkeeper touching the ball with a Cruyff flick before an overhead, rabona finish into the top stamp of the net whilst all of our players and fans bow down in a 'we're not worthy' style pose...

An away game at Villa and I would think that Nuno willl go for a more defensive midfield, which would mean Saiss and Neves. A shame really as N'Diaye had a good game according to reports. But as it's a squad game, points are more important than individual players holding on to their places.

I think to say that Jota needs a rest is a wee bit naive as we just had a game cancelled. Keep the same front three, as all players have off days.

It'll be interesting to see if Batth keeps his place, as I've read he wasn't at his best.

So I'd take a draw right now as it's going to be a difficult game.

Up the Wolves.

Am I the only one that thought Batth's performance on Wednesday was OK. He was certainly involved in the first 2 goals, and not much got past him in our area. Or was I watching a different match.

I'd keep him in, and probably go with Saiss alaongside Neves, although N'Diaye can count himself unlucky

Front 3 I would give Afobe a start, alongside Jota and Cav, but any 3 from Cav, Costa, Jota, Bonatini and Afobe could work.

Finally, every time I see MGW I am more impressed, will he get a start before the end of the season? Hope so but not this weekend.

I thought so too wulfrun. Danny has more to offer as an attacking threat than Bennett.
Don't agree about starting with adobe.

Bricks and mortar is the way to go

That's the skill of the manager. Bringing Batth in at the right time and encouraging him can make him perform at his best. An interesting idea to put Afobe on from the start. That could work if his goal against Leeds has given him confidence.

Radrizzani clarified his comments in a further tweet tonight, saying: “Firstly I would like to be clear that I have great respect for Nuno Santos and his team who have performed extremely well throughout the course of this season.

“I used last night (sic) fixture to raise long standing concerns that I have regarding agencies having direct influence within clubs which I believe could breach EFL rules.

“The aim is to open a transparent debate regarding the rules and motivate the institutions to be vigilant with anything that can spoil the fairness of the competition which I am encouraged to see the EFL taking seriously as per their statement earlier today.

“I believe it is vital for clubs in the Championship and beyond to operate on a level playing field."

Read more at: https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/efl-to-meet-with-wolves-following-leeds-united-owner-andrea-radrizzani-s-outburst-1-9053241

comment by Wulfrunnut (U17298)
posted 3 hours, 7 minutes ago
Am I the only one that thought Batth's performance on Wednesday was OK. He was certainly involved in the first 2 goals, and not much got past him in our area. Or was I watching a different match.

I'd keep him in, and probably go with Saiss alaongside Neves, although N'Diaye can count himself unlucky

Front 3 I would give Afobe a start, alongside Jota and Cav, but any 3 from Cav, Costa, Jota, Bonatini and Afobe could work.

Finally, every time I see MGW I am more impressed, will he get a start before the end of the season? Hope so but not this weekend.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
No you are not the only one that thought Batth had a good game. I think his ball distribution has improved noticeably since the last time I saw him play. I think he will keep his place on Saturday.

I’d go for:

Ruddy
Batth Coady Boly
Doherty Neves N’Daiye Douglas
Cav Bonatini Jota
​
I think we look a better all round team with Bonatini. He comes deep to get the ball and if the centre half goes with him, it creates space for Jota and Cav. If not, then he links the play well with the midfield and forces the opposition slightly narrower, which affords Doc and Barry more space. He just needs a goal.

It is a different dynamic with Afobe, who doesn’t link the play so well and instead wants to run channels and get in behind. We don’t really play in that style. I don’t think we would have had the chances we had in the first half with Afobe on the pitch, but likewise I don’t think Bonatini would have been in the position to score Afobe’s goal. Bonatini gets it on the balance of our overall team play for me.

Neves first name on the team sheet. N’Daiye just ahead of Saiss for me however, both have their own merits so I trust Nuno to pick the one most suited for the occasion.

Batth to keep his place. Don’t think he did anything to lose his place and he gives us another threat at set pieces with Barry’s delivery.

Ruddy
Batth Coady Boly
Doherty Neves Saiss Douglas
Cav Bonatini Jota


Saiss for N'Diaye due to the extra discipline in the role which may be key against a good Villa side but not that fussed either way as we are still better than they are.

Batth, Bennett......meh, either or, neither weakens that much more than the other and Batth brings extra aerial ability.

comment by Cinciwolf-Wolves, passing the ball since 2017 (U11551)
posted 3 hours, 40 minutes ago
Bricks and mortar is the way to go
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Are they Portuguese?

If not, get rid

That would be the team I would go with too Tam and I would be surprised if Nuno opted for anything different to that. Alongside Neves I think N’Diaye is getting better by the game and offers something in more areas of the pitch than Saiss

comment by Sir Halfy ...40%Chinese40%Portuguese20%NPD (U11570)
posted 28 minutes ago
comment by Cinciwolf-Wolves, passing the ball since 2017 (U11551)
posted 3 hours, 40 minutes ago
Bricks and mortar is the way to go
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Are they Portuguese?

If not, get rid
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Steve Morgan is a man of bricks and mortar. So Sunny kept telling us.

Perhaps Cinci is pining for the old days.

From what I've seen this season I would rate our performance against Villa in the reverse fixture as our overall best. We absolutely murdered them for the full 90 mins and should have had more.

Bonatini must start as although he winds me up with his reluctance to shoot he links up wonderfully with the others. Just get a goal man!

Batth did fine last night but Bennett has been fantastic all season and would be very harsh for him to be dropped again.

Ruddy
Bennett Coady Boly
Doc Neves Saiss Douglas
Cav Leo Jota

Saiss or N'Diaye - whoever compliments Neves best against a decent Villa midfield. I would think Saiss but fine with either.

Ruddy
Batth Coady Boly
Doc N'Diaye Neves Douglas
Cav Bona Jota

Think that is close to our strongest side. You could argue between Batth and Bennett but as Nuno went for DB last match and he helped keep a clean sheet plus play a role in our first two goals, I expect he will keep his place Saturday.

Danny played 90 minutes in the first game v Villa this season too and that seemed to go ok 😉

1 more day until the next scintillating match thread instalment.......,your lucky to have me (and Gem to a lesser degree)

T minus 24hr till carrot (T-#TC)

Same 11 for me, with the exception of Nev for N’daiye