MATCH THREAD "CARDIFF CITY V ASTON VILLA" MATCH THREAD

Cardiff City v Aston Villa


Will be updated daily


Tuesday 11th February 2014.

' CARDIFF CITY '

Cardiff City manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says winger Craig Noone should be available for selection despite nursing an injury.
Noone was left on the bench in the defeat by Swansea on Saturday.


Solskjaer is ready to rip up the side which started that Liberty Stadium humiliation, with his former Molde duo Magnus Wolff Eikrem and Mats Moller Daehli coming straight in for the must-win clash against fellow strugglers Villa.




This game features two managers - Solskjaer and Lambert - who have won the European Cup as players, but are now rolling up their sleeves for a fight to avoid Premier League relegation.
Aston Villa haven't been below 13th place in the table since September, and yet the threat of slipping into the bottom three has never been more than two bad results away. If results were to go against them this midweek, Villa could find themselves just one point above the drop zone.
“There is obvious pressure, but the lads can certainly cope with that. They've reacted well to Saturday in training”
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on his players' response to derby defeat by Swansea.


At least Lambert's side still have something of a cushion. Cardiff come into this game just one point off the foot of the table. Such is their poor goal difference, even a win here won't lift Solskjaer's side out of the relegation zone.
There are new alarm bells ringing in the Welsh capital, not just because of the disappointing derby defeat against Swansea, but many of Cardiff's relegation rivals are showing they are up for the fight. West Ham and Crystal Palace both won at the weekend, while Norwich and Fulham earned unlikely draws against the two Manchester clubs.

Cardiff have lost five of their last six league games, with four of those defeats coming under Solskjaer. The size of the task he has inherited has become very apparent. Known as the "baby-faced assassin" as a player, he now needs to summon those predatory instincts as a manager.


Solskjaer is ready to rip up the side which started that Liberty Stadium humiliation, with his former Molde duo Magnus Wolff Eikrem and Mats Moller Daehli coming straight in for the must-win clash against fellow strugglers Villa.

Spanish central defender Juan Cala is also likely to get the nod ahead of Ben Turner as Solskjaer seeks to bolster a back four which creaked terribly against Swansea.

Jordon Mutch and Craig Noone, controversially omitted for the derby, are also pushing for a recall. So too is striker Fraizer Campbell as Solskjaer looks to make as many as five changes.As well as Turner, the places of Peter Whittingham, Kim Bo-Kyung and Kenwyne Jones are under threat, while Craig Bellamy is unlikely to play two matches in the space of three days.


City going in to this game with 1 win and 4 defeats out of their last 5 league games since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over the management.

Juan Cala could make his first appearance for Cardiff City.




' ASTON VILLA '


Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert has doubts over on-loan Chelsea defender Ryan Bertrand and captain Ron Vlaar.
Bertrand hurt his ribs when he collided with a post in Saturday's 2-0 loss against West Ham, while Vlaar missed that game with a hamstring problem.

Aston Villa's form on the road is certainly vulnerable, with only one win in their last six games away from home. Villa's derby win over West Bromwich Albion has been their only victory since New Year's Day.

Villa after a recent run of poor results including last Saturdays 2 nil defeat at home to West Ham are now involved in the relegation fight.



Possible City side:-


Possible Villa side:-


Last 5 meetings:-
23 Feb 1974----Cardiff City 0-1 Aston Villa----League Division Two
28 Dec 1974----Cardiff City 3-1 Aston Villa----League Division Two
09 Apr 1975----Aston Villa 2-0 Cardiff City----League Division Two
23 Sep 2009----Aston Villa 1-0 Cardiff City----Carling Cup
09 Nov 2013----Aston Villa 2-0 Cardiff City----Premier League

Fact:-
The last time the two sides met in Cardiff, the score was 3-1 to Cardiff. Although that was at Ninian Park on December 28th, 1974....

Prediction:-
Not making one this time.

Villa fans' views:-
http://www.villatalk.com/index.php/topi ... is-thread/

Just go out and play like we got nothing to lose. Throw everything at them. 2-0 city.

This would do it:

Marshall
Theophile-Catherine Caulker Cala John
Medel Gunnarson
Noone Daehli Zaha
Campbell

Despite the result and performance yesterday I really can't see OGS making many changes for Villa on Tuesday. In my opinion change Mutch for Kim and maybe Campbell for Bellamy and that would be the limit of any changes.

I know many feel Whitts has looked in need of a rest for sometime but it is a fact that only Whitts and Caulker have started each PL game this season.

I expect that to continue on Tuesday.

Kev, good shout with the team, think we could really do some damage like that. But maybe have Bellamy on instead, he showed so much passion and some real nice runs yesterday.

One thing is for certain and that's we won't keep a clean sheet so we are probably going to have to score 2 or 3 to win

One thing is for certain and that's we won't keep a clean sheet so we are probably going to have to score 2 or 3 to win

Villa are better away than they are at home. They've beaten the likes of Southampton, Arsenal away, drawn to Liverpool etc

One thing is for certain and that's we won't keep a clean sheet so we are probably going to have to score 2 or 3 to win

Villa are better away than they are at home. They've beaten the likes of Southampton, Arsenal away, drawn to Liverpool etc

Oh joy. It's a win or bust game though so let's see how badly we want to stay in this league. I'd go with your team except I think bellers will be in for Campbell.

One thing is for certain and that's we won't keep a clean sheet so we are probably going to have to score 2 or 3 to win

Villa are better away than they are at home. They've beaten the likes of Southampton, Arsenal away, drawn to Liverpool etc

Oh joy. It's a win or bust game though so let's see how badly we want to stay in this league. I'd go with your team except I think bellers will be in for Campbell.

Agreed. One positive is Villa will be without Ron Vlaar (their captain and best defender). They're usually poor without him so I put Campbell in the team for the pace that he'd offer us running at their back 4.

One thing is for certain and that's we won't keep a clean sheet so we are probably going to have to score 2 or 3 to win

Villa are better away than they are at home. They've beaten the likes of Southampton, Arsenal away, drawn to Liverpool etc

Oh joy. It's a win or bust game though so let's see how badly we want to stay in this league. I'd go with your team except I think bellers will be in for Campbell.

Agreed. One positive is Villa will be without Ron Vlaar (their captain and best defender). They're usually poor without him so I put Campbell in the team for the pace that he'd offer us running at their back 4.

Bertrand is struggling as well. Injured his ribs yesterday.

We need Cowie to come back in for his legs to sit next to medel and close out villas midfield . Everything seems to come through Delph and bacuna . Stop them you stop villa !

Not usually a big fan of cowie but in certain games he is the best man for the job and this is one of them . His hustle and bustle attitude with non stop energy is exactly what the team is lacking .

-------------------Marshall ----------------

Theopile----caulker----Cala--------John

--------------Cowie-------Medel-----------

Noone------------Bellamy------------Zaha

-------------------Campbell----------------

Marshall
keV caulker calca John
Medal. Cowie
Mutch
Noone. Zaha
Cambell
Lewis
Fabio
Turner
Whitts
Gunner
Matts
Jones

Agreed with the OP's team.

One thing is for certain and that's we won't keep a clean sheet so we are probably going to have to score 2 or 3 to win

Villa are better away than they are at home. They've beaten the likes of Southampton, Arsenal away, drawn to Liverpool etc

Oh joy. It's a win or bust game though so let's see how badly we want to stay in this league. I'd go with your team except I think bellers will be in for Campbell.

Agreed. One positive is Villa will be without Ron Vlaar (their captain and best defender). They're usually poor without him so I put Campbell in the team for the pace that he'd offer us running at their back 4.

Good point and I think without him they only have youngsters so we need to test them early and continue to do so throughout. We need goals as I don't trust our ability to defend.
Pressure on both sides. Release daehli!

One thing is for certain and that's we won't keep a clean sheet so we are probably going to have to score 2 or 3 to win

Villa are better away than they are at home. They've beaten the likes of Southampton, Arsenal away, drawn to Liverpool etc

Oh joy. It's a win or bust game though so let's see how badly we want to stay in this league. I'd go with your team except I think bellers will be in for Campbell.

Agreed. One positive is Villa will be without Ron Vlaar (their captain and best defender). They're usually poor without him so I put Campbell in the team for the pace that he'd offer us running at their back 4.

Good point and I think without him they only have youngsters so we need to test them early and continue to do so throughout. We need goals as I don't trust our ability to defend.
Pressure on both sides. Release daehli!

Agreed. We look far to easy to score against. Hopefully Cala can stop that now. I think this could be the game for Daehli to make his mark!

Agree with the OP's team, with a Daehli coming on later in the match to keep the speed and intensity up

Despite the result and performance yesterday I really can't see OGS making many changes for Villa on Tuesday. In my opinion change Mutch for Kim and maybe Campbell for Bellamy and that would be the limit of any changes.

I know many feel Whitts has looked in need of a rest for sometime but it is a fact that only Whitts and Caulker have started each PL game this season.

I expect that to continue on Tuesday.

I hope youre wrong about Whittingham but I fear you msy not be

Is Benteke back playing now?

edit : bollocks, he is, oh well Turner and Caulker will have him

Could see this being a bore draw. 0-0

Cardiff City - Aston Villa Preview: Solskjaer seeking to bounce back from derby defeat

The Welsh side lie just one point off the bottom and take on Paul Lambert's men who have managed just one win in their last six attempts

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/match/109566/ ... la/preview

1 clean sheet in 13 surely a goal fest

TEAM NEWS: Bertrand doubt for Villa's trip to Cardiff

ASTON VILLA could be without on-loan Chelsea defender Ryan Betrand for their mid-week clash with Cardiff.

By: James DickensonPublished: Mon, February 10, 2014

Villa travel to Cardiff tomorrow night having suffered a home defeat to struggling West Ham at the weekend.

And Bertrand is a doubt for Paul Lambert's side after damaging his ribs after colliding with a post at Villa Park.

The full-back signed from Chelsea in mid-January until the end of the season and has already made four appearances for his temporary team.

Villa could again be without centre-back Ron Vlaar for the second successive match due to a hamstring problem.

Aston Villa provisional squad: Guzan, Steer, Clark, Baker, Luna, Bertrand, Vlaar, Bennett, Lowton, Bacuna, El Ahmadi, Albrighton, Westwood, Delph, Sylla, Holt, Gardner, Tonev, Helenius, Weimann, Agbonlahor, Benteke, Bowery.

--------------------Marshall--------------------
Theo-----That Spaniard---Caulker----John
-----------Medel----------Gunnarsson-------
--Noone----------Mutch--------------Zaha
------------------Campbell-------------------


Get back to basics ffs and play people who at least try, Gunnarsson will give 110%.

--------------------Marshall--------------------
Theo-----That Spaniard---Caulker----John
-----------Medel----------Gunnarsson-------
--Noone----------Mutch--------------Zaha
------------------Campbell-------------------


Get back to basics ffs and play people who at least try, Gunnarsson will give 110%.

I agree with you here Willy regards Gunnar. He may not be everybody's cup of tea but in the right midfield formation he offers that little extra bite. I would play him alongside Medel Mutch and Eikrem for away games without any doubt.

MArshall

Fabio
Caulker
Cala
John

Medel
Eikrem

Daehli
Mutch
Zaha

Jones

http://www.whoscored.com/Matches/720730/Preview/?

Agree that 4231 seems to be our best formation to what we have, we have some pace out wide, work horses that can sit in front of the back 4 and Bellers/Mutch you can operate in the middle of the part and behind the striker.

Camp and Jones offer to options up front as well, and could work together

Think we need Cowie in to stop Bac and Delph, rattle Delph and he can be error prone too. If we just sit back and let them do what they wont, we could see another 3 goals shipped in our net.

We need Cowie to come back in for his legs to sit next to medel and close out villas midfield . Everything seems to come through Delph and bacuna . Stop them you stop villa !

Not usually a big fan of cowie but in certain games he is the best man for the job and this is one of them . His hustle and bustle attitude with non stop energy is exactly what the team is lacking .

-------------------Marshall ----------------

Theopile----caulker----Cala--------John

--------------Cowie-------Medel-----------

Noone------------Bellamy------------Zaha

-------------------Campbell----------------

I like that team!

Cardiff City vs Aston Villa 2014 – Preview


If you lose at home against a relegation rival, the only way to make up for it, is to beat another one away from home, three days later. Enough said. Over to Mr Lambert. UTV



Solskjaer on Cardiff shipping an average of two goals a home game

“We do concede too many goals at the moment to have any chance of winning games. We can’t let in two goals and just expect to score three.

“We have also conceded too many goals at home, although Saturday’s game was the first time we have gone in level at half-time under me.

“The second half was disappointing so this is something that we have to address. We simply have to stop letting in the amount of goals we are at the moment.

“Villa at home is a chance to get points but Villa are a very good away team and we know we are facing a tough team.”

http://www.myoldmansaid.com/cardiff-cit ... aer-leaks/?

Marshall
KeV mc
Caulker
Calca
John
Medal
Mutch
Wolf
Matts
Zaha
Cambell

Lewis
Turner
Fabio
Whits
Jones
Noone
Bellamy