It might just be me, but to be talking about this match with one team of the two being in the FA Cup final, and for it to be Stoke rather than us feels a little strange. I don’t mean to be disrespectful when saying that, but if you asked 100 football supporters who were the better team, most would say us. Anyway, I wish Stoke all the best in the FA Cup and hope they can go on to win it.
Watch out for Delap
Anyway, enough of that it is time to look at the upcoming game against Stoke. As everyone knows Stoke are a difficult team to play against. Whether it is down to the way Tony Pulis has set his team up as being hard to beat, the infamous throw ins of Rory Delap, or just a bogey team hoodoo, we will be approaching the game with a certain degree of trepidation.
I can’t praise Stoke enough for doing what they have done and cementing their place as a mid table team in the Premier League since they came up. Certainly there are many other teams who would love to manage it after promotion from the Championship, and although I find their style quite smothering and lacklustre, I can’t help but acknowledge what Tony Pulis has done with the team. He has and still is progressively building a solid set of players. If people were to suggest a few years back that Kenwyne Jones and John Carew would be playing for Stoke with Eidur Gudjonsson on the bench, most would have laughed. Still, they are and that is the level of player we will have to face on Saturday, although it may only be Jones who is on the pitch.
Formation wise I think 4-4-2 will be what remains the same formation. In reality I see Heskey up front again with an unchanged team from the last match against West Ham. Like any game this is winnable on a good day for Villa. However I think Stoke are going to stifle how the game is played, and therefore I wouldn’t be surprised if it turns out 1-1 with a late goal either way to nick it.
Statistics
Stoke have not won a match home or away since Boxing Day 2010. Stoke’s last win was against Blackburn and was an away win.
Aston Villa are the only club in the Premier League with a fully selectable squad. Stoke on the other hand have 4 injuries with Faye (hamstring), Carew (back), Higginbottom (knee), and Sidibe (achilles) out.
Villa’s record of the last ten matches is W4 D2 L4. Stoke’s record is W2 D1 L7.
Stoke are only 2 points behind Villa at present, and have a game in hand, meaning that Aston Villa will invariably play the more attacking game.
Stoke have only scored 3 goals in 2011, whereas Aston Villa have scored 8.
On home form, Villa would be 11th in the table. On away form, Stoke would be 19th.
Darren Bent is currently Villa’s joint top league scorer despite only joining in January. However if either Young or Downing score one more goal than Bent in the match, it would make them the highest league scorer. Ashley Young is the overall top goal scorer with 8 goals, which include 2 league cup goals.
Best wishes to Mister Houllier
As many of you are aware, Gerard was taken into hospital on Wednesday night following a health scare. He is being monitored over the next few days, and this means Gary McAllister will be the man in the dugout on Saturday. We would just like to take the time to wish Gerard a speedy recovery, and we hope to see him back at the club once he is well enough.
Also best wishes to Mrs T
Sadly the Mrs had to go back into hospital on Thursday morning due to possible post-op complications. What this means from me is that there might be a delay on my Saturday report, so it might be up on Sunday instead. I’m sure you’ll join with me in wishing her all the best during her hospital stay and afterwards in recovery.
So it is Stoke up next? What are your thoughts? Also, is it just me who always think that Stoke wins are given long odds even though they play better than that? If you fancy a flutter, remember you can get live odds in the sidebar on the right.
The Author
