This is the thread for discussion on the Aston Villa Starting XI, opinions, banter, general chat etc.

Current starting XI...

Gk - Freidel
Rb - Cuellar / L Young
Lb - Warnock
Cb - Dunne
Cb - Collins / Cuellar
Lm - Downing
Rm - A Young
Cm - Petrov
Cm - Milner
F - Agbonlahor
F - Carew

Obviously this is subject to transfers with Milner possibly heading out. NRC seems fit and could push for a spot depending on fitness and form, and as things stand, Villa are currently one of the only teams to not have made any moves in the transfer Market. MON usually buys late, I just hope anointed transfer doesn't become a debacle resulting in us forgetting to buy!!

Also, one thing to note is the Villa have been playing 4-5-1 so far in pre-season with A Young playing 'in the hole'. Scored a lovely goal against Peterborough and set up the other. Will be interested to see if O'neill sticks with that for the opening game.

Racing Post agrees with TheTon (see above) over their best XI, Cuellar getting the nod at right-back and Collins in the middle. They add: "There is virtually no cover for Gabriel Agbonlahor and John Carew with Emile Heskey past his best and Nathan Delfouneso still raw. With Fabian Delph crocked until 2011[*], there is little in the way of replacements for a mdifield that picks itself and there is no pressure being put on the first-choice defence".

7th or 8th spot for Villa I reckon, unless they can bring some competition for places in.

[* more like October or November this year from what I hear]

Possible that Downing moves inside to replace Milner and Albrighton/new signing plays wide ?

so who thinks albrighton will be a definite starter?

now that the two big boys are gone...

Nothing's official yet aint it?

IF both Young and Milner goes I dont see Villa buying both a new winger and an offensive central midfielder. Albrighton would probably then be a very good pick. Until anything gets official there's not much to say though.

For those that think Young and Milner are both definitely going..........

GK - Freidel (Guzan)
RB - Cuellar (L Young)
CB - Collins (Clark)
CB - Dunne (Davies - when fit)
LB - Warnock (L Young)
RM - Albrighton
CM - Reo-Coker (Sidwell)
CM - Petrov (Hogg/Delph/Salifou )
LM - Downing
CF - Carew (Heskey)
CF - Abonlahor (Delfounso

Players in brackets are basically the back-ups. Not good, is it?

Doesn't it seem more likely atm that neither will be leaving? Assuming that Milner bolts but A. Young stays, where does this leave Albrighton? Will Ashley operate through the middle, with Albrighton on the wing?

If Young stays and Milner goes, i think MoN may have played Downing in the middle, Albrighton and Young out wide. The more sensible, experienced option would to play NRC (who has looked good to me in pre-season), with Young and Downing out wide.

That said, MoN is gone, and i've absolutely no idea how McDonald sees it. If it was me, i think i'd play 4-5-1 (which i think MoN may have been working towards anyway...)

--------------Brad-----------------
Cuellar - Dunne - Collins - Warnock
-----------NRC - Petrov-------------
Albrighton----------------Downing
-------------Young------------
-------------Gabby------------

(although that doesn't look as good as it did in my mind (maybe Gabby wide right, Carew through the middle)

That doesn't look half bad - the tom-toms have it Young has looked like fish in the water operating in the hole during the pre-season.

Carew being planted on the bench would be a shame, though.

I agree. Carew is very much a fans favourite and we know from watching him that it only takes one good cross and he'll normally connect. Playing Young 'in the hole' means limiting the frequency with which he can whip the balls in from out wide - his best feature!! So, i agree it may not be the right line-up, but there is something in that formation for me.

Young Davies Dunne Warnock on Saturday ?

Davies is out with a knee injury. Clark will probably start at centre half.

From the very good www.astonvillacentral.com website

http://astonvillacentral.com/wp-content ... 3-1_01.jpg

(davies or, more likely, clark in for the injured cuellar.)

--------------Friedel-----------------
L Young - Dunne - Clark/Davies - Warnock
-----------NRCoker - Petrov-------------
Albrighton----------------Downing
-------------A Young------------
-------------Agbonlahor------------

All Villa fans, how bad is Carews injury? Was he just rested for rapid or is the knock on the knee likely to keep him out for Sunday? Any info appreciated.

What do fans reckon of Petrov's chances of staying a regular once Ireland is established?

Petrov is club captain. I don't see him being dropped any time soon. Ireland will most likely play alongside him in the middle.

Re Carew injury : Don't know is the short answer. Most of the starting XI were rested and Gabby is still injured so would guess big John will start at St James.

Cheers, I might be swapping Petrov for Cameron Jerome in a squad/auction game. I'm sure you'd approve!

Which one in? Zigic and Derbyshire will forge a little partnership in my opinion so would have concerns about Jerome!

Petrov in. I'm fine for strikers now Balotelli has signed so Jerome is surplus to requirements (like at Brum?)

Can just see it being a straight Ireland for Milner swap, as the only change for the Newcastle game.

Cuellar, Collins, Sidwell, Agbonlahor and Weimann all injured.

Off topic, Ton, but Gary O'Connor started against Sunderland. Expect Ziggy to be used as a sub until he is up to Premiership pace.

I would agree, hence the use of the term 'forge', and not 'start'
By all accounts Zigic caused a lot of problems for Sunderland when he came on last week.

Sorry, still off topic - will move it to the right thread if I get chance

No sign of Young going so what now? I'd have thought:

Young Petrov Ireland Downing
Carew Agbonlahor

I see Richard Dunne went off at half time yesterday. No news on bbc site and not seen MOTD. Anyone got any injury news?

What are the Villa faithful's views on Ciaran Clark's chances of holding down a regular starting berth with players returning from injury?

Gerard Houllier's decision to spend a possible £24million on Darren Bent has surprised everyone, but it does actually make complete sense.

While he is an expensive addition, Bent's goal-scoring record should in the short-term end Villa's woes near the foot of the Premier League and safeguard their valuable top-flight status.

In the long-term, Bent's arrival for an initial £18m will enable Houllier to play 4-3-3, which I am told is his masterplan.......

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion ... 76961.html