Starting eleven v Villa

[jojomk1]

Getting my twopence in early

Pope
Lowton, Tarks, Mee, Pieters
Brownhill, Cork, Westwood, McNeill
Wood/Barnes, Jay Rod

Grealish (love him or hate him), will be the key in this game as he was last season

Brownhill did a great job on nullifying Zaha last season and should be given the task of trying to sort Grealish on Weds

Would prefer the mobility of Jay up front but fear that will be a step too far for SD after Liverpool

[bfcmik]

I would think it will the same as the Liverpool starting XI with the exception of Pieters for the injured Taylor

[leelad]

Agree with bfcmik.

[claretandy]

Grealish has been playing as a number 10 recently.

[Gordaleman]

I think Villa's defence will cope easily with Barny and Wooden if they play, so I'd give JayRod and Vyds a chance. At least they make our attack look exciting and given a decent run, they would be hard pressed to score less than the so called main strikers.

I'd certainly start Cork as well.

[Marney&Mee]

As the old adage goes, you can't change a winning team. Pieters for Taylor and we go again

What a difference a week makes. We didn't even look like scoring v Utd and West Ham. Now we play villa and chelsea with confidence sky high

[Firthy]

Pope
Lowton Tarks Mee Pieters
Brownhill Cork Westwood McNeil
Barnes JRod

[MT03ALG]

Any news on the injury to Charlie Taylor ?

[Quickenthetempo]

As the old adage goes, you can't change a winning team. Pieters for Taylor and we go again

What a difference a week makes. We didn't even look like scoring v Utd and West Ham. Now we play villa and chelsea with confidence sky high

I can't see the full fa cup team starting, despite winning.

[Top Claret]

Pope
Lowton Tarkowski Mee Pieters
Brady Westwood Cork McNeil
Wood Barnes

You can't drop Barnes after the shift he put in at Anfield. I would drop Wood but I don't think Jay and Barnes would work

[NewClaret]

I do think we need to find a way of nullifying Grealish. Last year we gave him a lot of space and he tore us apart. If that means playing Brownhill right for a game, I'd be fine with that.

Agree we most likely have to stick with Barnes/Wood but I also think with Mings they are strong in the air, so would at least like to see Vydra and JRod at some point.

[GavlarClaret]

Pope
Lowton Tarks Mee Peters
JBG JB JC AW Mcneil
Wood

Brownhill the one to support the attack with Westwood/Cork feeding him and the wingers. Cannot let Villa run the midfield with Grealish in the class he has so more bodies in midfield would help.

We'll likely manage that by playing direct to a Barnes/Wood front 2 by winning freekicks and hold up play but I'd love them 3 in the middle at the same time, I think with football playing wingers we'd play some really good football - maybe an argument for Jay up top instead of Wood for that reason

[Slurpy]

Looks like its going to be

Pope
Lowton Tarky Mee Pieters
JBG Cork Westwood McNeil
Wood Barnes

[Newcastleclaret93]

Pope
Lowton Tarks Mee Pieters
Gudmundsson Cork Westwood McNeil
Jay, Barnes

[BurnleyFC]

Pope

Lowton, Tarky, Mee, Pieters

Brady, Brownhill, Westwood, McNeil

Barnes, Jay Rod

[fatboy47]

As Burnley fc... But I'd play Bardsley rather than Lowton and hope he boots the wee sh1te Grealish up in the air.

Brownhill can forget anything constructive and sit on Grealish for the full 90.

[boatshed bill]

Same as the Liverpool game.

[CHEWBACCA]

Why oh why do people think anyone other than Barnes and Wood will start up front?
Come on,you should all know the stubbornness drill by now . !

[tiger76]

Why oh why do people think anyone other than Barnes and Wood will start up front?
Come on,you should all know the stubbornness drill by now . !

I suspect SD will start both, but Jay's showing at the weekend must be giving him a dilemma, personally I'd start Jay & Wood, I know the latter is badly out of form, but this pair showed last season how effectively they can link up, look no further than Jay's thunderbolt at OT for evidence of that.

Pope
Lowton Tarks Mee Pieters
Brownhill Cork Westwood McNeil
Wood Jay

We need to nullify Grealish, stop him and you generally stop Villa, so Brownhill can do the donkey work and harass him all night, and if possible I'd give Jay some licence to roam in a number 10 type role, and allow him to link up with the midfield, Villa have improved immensely this term, however I'm still not convinced about them at the back, and we need to give them something to worry about.

[Devils_Advocate]

I think we should give it a real go and start with all four strikers.

McNeil's defending and work rate has come on leaps and bounds so with Taylor out he can fill in at Left Back.

Finally we need some legs and work rate in the middle of the park so Id give Westwood a rest as whilst he has a lot of quality he is a bit lazy and strolls around too much for my liking

Pope
Lowton Tarks Mee McNeil
Jay Brownhill Cork Barnes
Wood Vydra

[BleedingClaret]

Expect this team

Pope

Lowton, Tarky, Mee, Pieters

Brady, Brownhill, Westwood, McNeil

Barnes, Wood

The idea that we won’t play Brownhill is an unappreciation of the value of off the ball workrate and putting a foot in

[Leisure]

I think we should give it a real go and start with all four strikers.

McNeil's defending and work rate has come on leaps and bounds so with Taylor out he can fill in at Left Back.

Finally we need some legs and work rate in the middle of the park so Id give Westwood a rest as whilst he has a lot of quality he is a bit lazy and strolls around too much for my liking

Pope
Lowton Tarks Mee McNeil
Jay Brownhill Cork Barnes
Wood Vydra

Give it a rest!

[burnley007]

I reckon Cork+Westy in the middle with Brownhill on the right, but keeping a close eye on Grealish.