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Definitely not going to deny his limitations in certain areas with the ball at his feet but I think potter will want him all over the pitch as a disruptive force as much as he can be in order to just press and break stuff up and annoy the opposition. Because say what you will about his skilfulness, you know Soucek is the guy who will endlessly run through walls for his team if asked to and lead by example and get others to follow, plus chip in with goals if you can engineer a situation to get him opportunities. Could be important in the first weeks while just keeping things simple and working on more sophisticated stuff in training.
The difficulty with Soucek is that the game mostly passes him by in open play. Hardly has a touch and has miserable passing accuracy stats. He can be useful in both boxes, but he needs better footballers around him to compensate for his weaknesses. Hence, his best contribution was when Rice and Lingard were in midfield alongside him.
Sir Alf" wrote: ↑09 Jan 2025, 17:17
Todibo is injured unfortunately. Flew to France earlier this week.
Would imagine Potter wont be able to change too much after 2 days at West Ham. Strangely Lopetegui got closest to a formation that suits our players in the last game at Citeh IMO. We lost 4-1 from Lop still trying to get players to do things they cannot or are uncomfortable with or simply mess it up. AWB was caught upfield again and for 2 goals there were huge holes in midfield again with players not knowing when to press or pressing at the wrong time. I think Rico Lewis had 9 touches waltzing through midfield unchallenged then to Harland, then goal.
But the 4-2-4 without Lop confusing players with to try pressing so high etc did seem better suited to me. It allowed Summerville, Paqueta, Kudus at times to help out in midfield and we contained them well for a lot of the match especially first half. We created 17 chances to their 10. Our finishing was very poor and we should have been 2 up in the first 30 mins.
Anyway will be very interesting in how Potter sets us up. Longer term I expect Soucek not to fit his way of playing but for now he is one of the few that is disciplined positionally so should feature. Hopefully Alvarez will not be expected to cover too much ground. He cannot do it.
Would be great to get a result but for me its as much about how we play and if can reduce the number of chances we give away.
I think he’s going to lean pretty heavily on Soucek for a little while for that workrate in midfield, get him going up and down and probably to get him in positions to score. Maybe he and Alvarez together in front of the defence.
I also think there will be a positive bounce. This move will excite some of the players with the prospect of playing a much more forward thinking dynamic and tactically based game.
As said Villa have Champions league & are trying to get top 4 again so would expect a few to be rested
Youd hope Potter will be trying to establish his best side so would pick from everyone available
Hopefully sees this idea of AWB at left back at the slightest opportunity as nonsense. Keep him at right back & if Emerson isn’t right play Scarles
How seriously are villa taking this? Doing well in champions league and in the hunt for Europe again. A fixture pile up in the next few months won't be in their best interests.
If Potter can motivate the team quickly, I fancy our chances.
Don't have the foggiest idea really of how this will go but do feel more optimistic than i did earlier in the week now the Spaniard has gone!
Villa haven't been the same as last season, they did beat us first up but lost a few that surprised me in the past months, hopefully we get some kind of new manager bounce, expect all our lot will want to make a good impression and also hope they buy into the Potter set up, be interesting to see how he does this first game an all, only 1 day training but you would think he could get a pretty good idea of who he wants in each position, granted injuries may well sway the decision.
Villa obviously will be favorites but only my heart sees a Hammers win, head as said hasn't got a clue what to expect..........
I'd imagine we'll lose, but will take a bright start and some positive play with the new gaffer as would be nice to actually leave the bar area of an away ground to watch the game for once!!
Mad Ferret" wrote: ↑09 Jan 2025, 17:11
Just seen that Villa will be wearing a one-off black 150 anniversary kit, which means there’s a chance we will actually be the side in claret and blue at Villa Park.
We’ll prob end up wearing the 3rd shirt.
That would be a first us in Claret & Blue at Villa Park. It might even confuse their players and them passing to us!
All I will say is that I expect us to be more competitive in this game and during the remainder of the season with Potter managing the team rather than 'loser Lop'. So glad that fraud has been bombed out.
Todibo is injured unfortunately. Flew to France earlier this week.
Would imagine Potter wont be able to change too much after 2 days at West Ham. Strangely Lopetegui got closest to a formation that suits our players in the last game at Citeh IMO. We lost 4-1 from Lop still trying to get players to do things they cannot or are uncomfortable with or simply mess it up. AWB was caught upfield again and for 2 goals there were huge holes in midfield again with players not knowing when to press or pressing at the wrong time. I think Rico Lewis had 9 touches waltzing through midfield unchallenged then to Harland, then goal.
But the 4-2-4 without Lop confusing players with to try pressing so high etc did seem better suited to me. It allowed Summerville, Paqueta, Kudus at times to help out in midfield and we contained them well for a lot of the match especially first half. We created 17 chances to their 10. Our finishing was very poor and we should have been 2 up in the first 30 mins.
Anyway will be very interesting in how Potter sets us up. Longer term I expect Soucek not to fit his way of playing but for now he is one of the few that is disciplined positionally so should feature. Hopefully Alvarez will not be expected to cover too much ground. He cannot do it.
Would be great to get a result but for me its as much about how we play and if can reduce the number of chances we give away.
Just seen that Villa will be wearing a one-off black 150 anniversary kit, which means there’s a chance we will actually be the side in claret and blue at Villa Park.
El Scorchio" wrote: ↑09 Jan 2025, 15:27
Either way this is a free swing for him. It's a shame it's the cup and it's a tough fixture but it's not really on him if we lose.
True, but you know the inevitable 'Potter Out' thread will be up on WHO within seconds of the final whistle.
Actually excited to see how this goes. Not that it means I think we will magically be excellent and win, but curious to see how we line up, who he picks and if there's anything he's been able to impart to the team in a very limited time- we should at least see an extra 10% effort across the park from everyone.
Either way this is a free swing for him. It's a shame it's the cup and it's a tough fixture but it's not really on him if we lose.
Aston Villa vs West Ham United | FA Cup 3rd Round | 10.1.25 | Predictions & Match Thread
