There’s no denying it is there?
This is a tough game, away to what I called the most complete side we’ve played this season and frankly I’m just wondering how many we’re going to lose by.
Squad news and Leicester are very comfortable. Wes Morgan and Filip Benkovic both came off injured on Saturday, but they were only back up defenders playing in a side that had been much rotated. Otherwise they’re all good and Jamie Vardy has recovered from a tight calf. We could have done without him starting, but no such luck for the Villa eh?
I’m sure I don’t need to tell anyone that we have Heaton, Targett, McGinn and Wesley all out injured and that’s a major part of our first eleven.
And it’s frankly so much of the side, that I’m sorry, but I don’t think we have a prayer tonight, with it probably only being a case of trying to keep the score down.
The good news is that Tyrone Mings is fit, but Kienan Davis is apparently not even training, so we have Kodjia as our only option up front.
That’s not necessarily a problem in itself, if we can go back to how we were playing earlier in the season, where lots of players were chipping in with goals, but that looks unlikely given that we seem to have so many players out of form or lacking confidence.
So I don’t see us getting many goals; maybe one.
Leicester are another story.
I can see them scoring plenty, if they’re on fire.
Will Smith go 3/5 at the back again?
I think I’d be tempted to do so, in the hope of only suffering a one goal deficit, but I can see Smith deciding to go for it and apply his general “the best form of defence is attack” type of play.
In which case, I think I’m going to go for a 1-3 loss.
I worry that it could be a lot worse than that, to be honest, which means that the return leg would be pretty meaningless.
Hence I hope it’s a close result, because League cup semi finals invoke brilliant memories at Villa Park.
Fingers crossed, then.
Notice there’s no hint that I think we can win this?
Sticks out a mile Badger 3-1 it will be, they will have too much to offer us.
3 at the back so sense as prevailed. No Kodjia in squad so is he injured or primed for a move? Front 3 of Grealish, El Ghazi and Trezeguet. Keep it tight and you never know when it comes to a semi final 2nd leg at Villa Park.
Just hope it’s not really embarrassing
Blimey, Kodjia isn’t even on the bench. Pending a transfer, I’d guess.
Wow, this side looks weak;
Nyland; Konsa, Mings, Hause; Guilbert, Douglas, Nakamba, Taylor; El Ghazi, Trezeguet, Grealish
Subs: Kalinic, Elmohamady, Chester, Hourihane, Lansbury, Jota, Vassilev
i do not like us playing back three against leciester. it worked well against burnley but they had a really off day and their forwards are much slower and good in the air. i suspect foxes will play quick one twos and counter us fast. the back three will have to be totally clued up for 90 plus minutes. they will have to pick up deep runners and mark one forward between them
no kodija will mean we have a quick forward line too. this is the correct way to beat them. kodija would only slow the breaks downs. which would play into their hands, we might struggle to retain the ball at times.
not seen their team. if vardy plays we will probably get hammered. but if they rest him we might shock them. hard one too call. 2 2 draw
also adding to the back three. when they have the ball they will be pressed. that will be rodgers game plan. they will riush these defenders to make a passing error. our defenders will play out they must be very careful not to get sacked
I’m sorry but Nakamba is piss poor. Hourihane over him every time for me.
The reality of it is we will have a back 5 with 4 in midfield and a lone front man which will be rotated between the front 3 IMO. I remember Barcelona a few seasons back playing without a recognised striker and it actually improved them. Not making any comparisons obviously because majority of our players are championship quality.
Kodja is he injured ?, If not he’s being sold me thinks.
vardy is playing i change my prediction 2 2 scrapped i will go 4 1 foxes.
we have to carry a threat or get run over. i cant see us keeping enough ball in there half
Hmm, we’re actually playing some nice, tight, close passing, while being closed down quickly, in the middle.
Quite encouraging.
But Leicester have their first chance.
Apparently Kodjia is ill!
Hmm, there’s a lot of it about to be fair.
Vardy gets in behind far too easily and that’s a worry.
Our passing is just awful
we have to change this formation quick. we have too many defenders and holding mids when we get the ball we have no options to pass too. we can not keep the ball.
I just don’t believe that
Guilbert …….
Yes!!!
Guilbert!
1-0
Say that again , good job we have goal villa
we scored no way. our second real attack
El Ghazi just drops a lovely ball in, inviting a simple one.