Villa v Litex Lovech – Pick your team

By: Martini Extra Dry | October 1st, 2008

The second leg of the UEFA Cup first round against Litex Lovech is nearly upon us and we go into the home leg with a two-goal head start, after winning 3-1 in Bulgaria. The lead we have is comfortable but it’s still game on and Litex will be coming at us with both barrels.

The first leg saw Villa matched, if not outplayed, by the Bulgarians, with the claret and blue boys never seeming to settle into the game fully, but thankfully lady luck smiled on us that day. Firstly, we were gifted a goal by a comedic error at the back by Litex. Secondly, during a goal mouth scramble we saw a Maradona tribute act take to the stage. The third goal was well deserved by Petrov, who has been brilliant for the Villa recently. We fought hard but rarely showed the attacking brilliance that is terrifying Premier league defences this season.

The team that started the first leg was as follows:
Friedel
L Young – Cuellar – Laursen – Shorey
Gardner – Barry – Reo-Coker – Petrov – Milner
Agbonlahor

John Carew and Ashley Young were both absent from the game and their presence was greatly missed. Ashley gives Villa a dimension that no other player can offer so well, he attacks defenders and scares the shit out of them, then cuts inside and either lets fly with a shot or dinks a perfectly weighted pass or cross for the boys to get onto. We have many other talented wingers at the club but none can hold a candle to Ashley (in fact, very few in the whole Premiership can; Ronaldo and Joe Cole are all that spring to mind). Carew was also a massive loss to us that night as he holds the ball up excellently and is also Young’s main target man.

So who should start the second leg? Everyone is fit (except Bouma of course), everyone is eligible and, hopefully, everyone is up for it. Goalies available are Brad Friedel, the first choice keeper so far this season; Brad Guzan, just one rocky appearance so far in the QPR embarrassment; and Stuart Taylor, seemingly out of favour and I fully expect him to move on in January, he is more than capable of a successful career as a first choice keeper for a lower half Prem club or a top half Championship side.

Full backs are limited, with new boys Luke Young and Nicky Shorey almost automatic choices, their only replacements being the midfielders Barry and Gardner. Centre backs are not so easy to pick, very few would opt for Zat Knight, but then it’s a tough decision to choose two out of Carlos Cuéllar, Martin Laursen and Curtis Davies. Stephen O’Halloran is also available but isn’t yet pushing into the first team.

Midfield is undoubtedly our strong point, we have great strength in depth here. Gareth Barry is getting back to the form that made him the hottest news of the entire summer; Stiliyan Petrov is now playing the way we were constantly assured by Celtic fans that he was capable of; Nigel Reo-Coker is turning out to be more versatile than anyone (myself included) gave him credit for; Craig Gardner is a good bloke to have around but sadly not quite first team material; Ashley Young, for me, is the first name on the teamsheet, start there and build a team around the hero; James Milner is still trying to convince the gaffer of his first team credentials so you can rely on a strong effort from him; Steve Sidwell would be in a similar position but unfortunately for the lad he will struggle to get into the team with Barry still around, it’s a bit of a kick in the teeth for him really as his main motivation to leave Chelsea was being in this situation; Moustapha Salifou is a huge fan favourite but again will struggle to get into the team, through no lacking of his own, just through the brilliance of those around him; Wayne Routledge is a capable winger and useful to have in case of injuries and as a sub but I don’t see him starting many, if any, games this season; and Isiah Osbourne is another Villa fan, like Gardner, Knight and Agbon, but he will sadly see very little football for the new improved Villa.

Up front we have the big man, John Carew, another name that is almost an automatic choice for me, a vital target for Young and Milner/Reo-Coker; Gabriel Agbonlahor, joint top scorer in the Prem so far, along with Carew and Zaki (Wigan), a whippet capable of making even veteran defenders shit their shorts; Marlon Harewood came under very heavy criticism after the QPR game, which for me was a little harsh but I do agree that he hasn’t quite got it to be a starter; Nathan Delfouneso, maybe it’s his time to shine as the ’super-sub’, not that I think Harewood should be ignored but maybe give them both a chance from game to game.

So with that essay of a players list done, it’s time for me to show you mine and then you show me yours. Here goes:

Friedel
L Young – Davies – Laursen – Shorey
(maybe Cuellar once I’ve seen more of him & Bouma when he’s fit)
Milner – Barry – Reo-Coker – A Young
(I opted for giving Milner a start to show what he’s capable of and to use Coker over Petrov as he can defend better, as we are only really defending a lead)
Carew – Agbonlahor

What’s your opinions? Click comment and let us know, the more experimental the better!

[Added after kick off]
Actual starting line-up:
Friedel
Young – Cuellar – Knight – Shorey
Milner – Petrov – Salifou – Routledge
Young – Harewood

Looks like O’Neill has got the very much in mind, Gareth Barry and John Carew not even featuring on the bench. Cuellar, Knight, Salifou, Routledge, Milner and Harewood getting a chance to prove theirselves tonight.