Tricky week coming up….

A quirk of the fixture schedule means we are due to play 6 English teams in our last eight games, which means less traveling and more rest/training in the business end of the season, which no doubt benefits us. That run of games starts today with a tie against the Potters, managed by Muz Muz. Stoke have struggled off late with 5 losses out of 6, even if they won their last one. Led by Hector Herrera (90), Stoke will prove to be a tricky test. In the first round, we did dispose of them 5-0 at home, but can we do it on a cold rainy night at Stoke? I hope so. Another big win would be welcomed as our GD isn’t the best compared to our rivals.

Moving over to the Youth Cup, the boys will be staying back at Villa where there will be a match played between the Youth Team and everyone else not going to Stoke. Will be a good test. The game will not be televised for some reason though.

In goal, we have Ander Bardaji (78), who was signed in exchange for Mark Bunn from Real Sociedad. Hasn’t really had a chance, but he will have now, in between the sticks against Atalanta. Lewis Kinsella (73), Jordan Turnbull (78), Tommie Hoban (82) and Florent Hadergjonaj (83) will make up our defence. While Turnbull has been spoken off in the last post, Hoban was signed from Watford early on in the season while Florent came in from (aptly) the Young Boys. Kinsella, meanwhile, is a Villa graduate.

In midfield, Jake Forster-Caskey (83) and Ole Selnaes (83) will run the engine room. Jake moved in from Brighton and Hove Albion while Ole was from Rosenborg. In the attacking midfield/wings, Ryan Fraser (82), from Bournemouth and the talented and twinkle-toed Jack Grealish (83), also captain will play. Hoping Jack can create some magic.

Finally, in attack, we have Luka Belić (77), in as a free agent (West Ham), and Carl Robinson (77), another Villa graduate.

On the bench, everyone else will be there, including Kevin Toner (70), Riccardo Calder (72), Rushian Hepburn-Murphy (75), all Villa graduates, and Courtney Duffus (75), a free agent (Everton). Apart from the four eligible to play, Janoi Donacien, 75-rated and 22 years old, will also be there sitting on the bench as a spectator. The poor guy will probably leave at the end of the season. The two youngest players of the main team, Rubén Garcia (87) and Jordan Veretout (88) will relax on the bench.

Coming to Atalanta, managed by Sean Cass, his team looks about the same as mine but he has midfielder Victor Cameras (85) who will pose a threat along with Prince Guano (83) in defence. Tough to predict how he will play, but given he has three 82-rated forwards he could choose between a 4-3-3 or a 4-3-1-2 with a CAM/CF. Seems a bit top heavy though, but we shall see. Shall be a good game.

So that’s it for now, I’ll round up the Stoke and Atalanta games together next Thursday, hope we can win both or at the least draw.

Cheers!

Come on you Villans!