I know it's only Tuesday and I know the match is on Sunday but I'm fed up waiting and I don't think the potential for any injuries is going to have an impact on this result - maybe just the number of goals scored, so I'm moving ahead with it, because I'm desperate for some Villa banter.

Recently, Martin O'Neill came out and said that home form was the key. Well, I disagree with him. I think our form away from Villa Park is the key to where we finish this season and while he has said we've got to be better at home, I think it fairly easy to say that when and I may be wrong here, we haven't one back to back home matches in the league this season, with four at home left.

Our away form has gotten us to where we are and it's our home form that has let us down, but right now, we've got to try and find that form again and quickly, there is no point harping on about what has already happened.

It's just a pity that we've got Manchester United away this Sunday because they are the best team at home in the league. This match is only going one of two ways and all the money is on home win.

There is some good news, if that is what you are looking for, in so much that United will be without Vidic, Scholes and Rooney through suspension. The only worrying thing is, it will be Tevez, Hargreaves and Brown replacing those three (I don't know this, I'm only trying to demonstrate the quality in the squad).

Manchester United is always going to be one of the hardest places to go and when you look at the league table and look at the home column, you'll see why. They've won twelve of the matches they've played at Old Trafford and up until Liverpool gave them a lesson the other day, they'd only dropped points against one other team, Newcastle on the opening day.

Now, the bookies don't fancy us much. PaddyPower have us at 15/2 and United at 2/5 and if I were still in the game of predicting and doing it seriously, I'd say this is only going one way; a home win, but I'm not in that game any more, I'm in the hope game and I when it all comes down to 90 minutes, absolutely anything is possible.

First and foremost, Martin O'Neill has to play five across the middle. If he plays 4-4-2 then we've lost, simple. He also has to drop Carew and Heskey and stick with Gabby up front. Then, he's got to play Petrov, Barry and Sidwell (if fit) across the middle with Milner on the right and Young on the left.

Defensively, we need to be on our game and this is why we have to play Shorey, Laursen, Davies and Young. I'm picking Shorey, not because I'd rather see him there long term, only because you've got to fancy he's fitter than Bouma and as long as you're playing five across the middle and Young will be supporting him, you've got to hope it will be okay. You've also got to hope that Laursen is fit, if he's not, I'd put Carlos in the middle for him, but I fancy he'll be playing.

My only concern with changing the formation, which absolutely has to happen, is the time it's going to take the likes of Young and Milner to adapt to how they've got to play again. Some of you may remember I've slated Milner all season, but you may also remember that I said he maybe just needed time to adapt to playing with five in the middle, as it's a different game and I think he did.

Towards the last few games of us playing five across the midfield he was getting much much better and it was a shame to see the manager change it, then to start playing our most expensive signing ever at right back.

But, even if it does take time, we might as well start that learning curve against United and stand a chance of stealing something. If we go there playing 4-4-2 Sir Alex is going to know exactly how to beat us and most Aston Villa fans will see it happening too.

Playing with five across the middle, while not guaranteeing we won't get beat, gives the lads a fighting chance and gets them back into the rhythm of five across the middle for Everton the week later.

So, that is my preview. Not maybe the best one I've ever done but I just had to start talking about Villa again, as I was getting so bored reading about Gareth Barry and England.

Comments (35)

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Pete Hutton said:

... Great blog Damien we can only hope MON listens....

Comment 1, made on March 31, 2009 at 9.04 am

Pete Hutton said:

... 1st Sorry Damian hit an e rather than a.....

Comment 2, made on March 31, 2009 at 9.08 am

Ramon Maklouf said:

... Not your best blog Damian? Mate, it is one of your best for a while to be honest. I'm not saying your others are rubbish, I'm saying this is a great blog Damo and it gives the optimist real hope. I agree, like everyone I

Comment 3, made on March 31, 2009 at 9.32 am

Jake Gardner said:

... we can do them if we play 451. gabby has alot to prove to shut the boo boy's up! i think he can and i know he can YES WE CAN!!!!!

Comment 4, made on March 31, 2009 at 9.34 am

Ramon Maklouf said:

... Not your best blog Damian? Mate, it is one of your best for a while to be honest. I'm not saying your others are rubbish, I'm saying this is a great blog Damo and it gives the optimist real hope. I agree, like everyone I suppose we need to play 5 in the middle if we stand any chance of stealin something ... or keeping the score reasonable . Agree with the Gabby concept as a lone striker because we know it has worked for us in the past, but I wouldn't seeing Carew play that lone front man... Altho to test it against Manure will probably not bring the benefits we need it too.. Sorry about original message. I've tryed typing this stupid reply about 5 times now... UTV YES WE CAN

Comment 5, made on March 31, 2009 at 9.37 am

Chris Harper said:

... Good post Damian. The team selection that you chose seems to be the best way forward. As many people have stated, 4-5-1 away from home and against the top teams is the only way we'll get anything from a game. 4-4-2 is better when playing against 'lesser' teams that won't dominate the Midfield. Im sick of saying this but hope to god O'Neill plays either Bouma or Shorey at LB and Luke Young RB. The idea of players out of position for no real reason has wore thin.

Comment 6, made on March 31, 2009 at 9.49 am

Mike Carter said:

... People this is Manchester United we're talking about. We're going to lose no matter what we play!

Comment 7, made on March 31, 2009 at 9.51 am

jacetheace said:

... i'd play nrc in the middle with barry and petrov

Comment 8, made on March 31, 2009 at 10.08 am

andrew said:

... I agree with viva,it dosen't matter what team or formation we play.Every1 and his dog knows we just dont beat UTD.Damage limitation is the aim of the game here.

Comment 9, made on March 31, 2009 at 10.11 am

CSM said:

... Good optimistic article Damian, I hope this carries on for the rest of the week! I would personally play Gardner ahead of Sidwell, I think he deserves a start and this game is perfect for him to show what he can do.

Comment 10, made on March 31, 2009 at 10.13 am

Matthew N. Gravis said:

... As a United-fan, I still don't believe in a victory on Sunday. Both teams are in a slump form-wise, and with wounded ego's around the pitch, we might see a really tense game. Tevez will most likely play -even though he's jaded due to 12 hours on a plane..., and mainly since we don't have any other options.. (With Rooney suspended, and Berbatov is injured) My guess is that we'll play with Tevez as a lone striker, with Ronaldo pushed slightly up the field. Leaving a midfield of Park, Carrick, Anderson and Fletcher. In defense Fergie will most likely field Evra, Rio, Evans and O'Shea on the right back. And there is your key for success. If Young is "on", he'll make sure that O'Shea is subbed at half-time. (I sure hope so...)

Comment 11, made on March 31, 2009 at 10.31 am

greg said:

... He's Scabby, He's Crabby He'l cum on your sisters tits, He's Scabby, He's Crabby He'l always find the clit, He knocks 'em up, but can't knock em in, he's got so many birds pregnant it must be a sin It's gabby,it's gabby, It's gabby Agbon-la-whoooooooorrrrrrre!!!!!!!!!

Comment 12, made on March 31, 2009 at 10.36 am

Chris Harper said:

... Greg, good confidence boost for the lad....

Comment 13, made on March 31, 2009 at 10.41 am

Paul Egan said:

... Interesting to hear some wariness about playing us from a Man U fan, Matthew N. Gravis! I agree with 4-5-1, but I don't think we can drop Carew. He is the only striker we have who looks like scoring at the moment and it may have been a different game at Anfield had Reina not kept out his first half effort. I'd just stick Bouma back in at left back - he'll be relatively solid. Add Laursen to the back line and either Reo-Coker or Gardner in the middle with Petrov and Barry and we'll have a chance of getting a result.

Comment 14, made on March 31, 2009 at 10.44 am

Michael said:

... man u dont lose 3 league games in a row, man u dont lose 2 home games in a row, man u dont lose at hom every often, villa dont beat man u, villa never get anything at old trafford. im usually optimistic when we play man u and think maybe this time we will, but not this time, the best we can hope for is a 1-0 defeat and for arsenal and everton to lose. we need to focus on the rest of the games - everton is a must win, and then after that we couldnt of wished for an easier ending to a season so anything less than 17 points from the last 8 games will be a poor return and considering arsenal still have to play man u, liverpool and chelsea then 4th place is still up for grabs.

Comment 15, made on March 31, 2009 at 10.59 am

greg said:

... villa chris... sorry i was reading back old web-sites and was reading bout da 3 birds he supposedly knock up in a month, the mans a legend, at least he didnt put it on the web-cam!! old news i know........

Comment 16, made on March 31, 2009 at 10.59 am

adam curley said:

... any news on laursen.wasnt he supposed to be back for the manure game

Comment 17, made on March 31, 2009 at 11.20 am

TechnoTurkey said:

... If we win this one then all of my recent misery will vanish in a flash, unfort I can't see anything other than a defeat. The most important thing is to make sure that we do not suffer such a beating as we did against Liverpool.

Comment 18, made on March 31, 2009 at 11.25 am

Keith said:

... Agree that we should play 4-5-1 but with Carew up front. Heskey should be employed selling programmes! adamskin b30 - Laursen no hope of being fit for this match mate.

Comment 19, made on March 31, 2009 at 11.26 am

Chris Harper said:

... Why not Keef? Nothing has been said about Laursen recently. Bouma played in the reserves last night too so he has a good chance.

Comment 20, made on March 31, 2009 at 11.43 am

adam curley said:

... shame about laursen. id like to see 4-5-1 with varew up front and gabby on the wing and milner inside

Comment 21, made on March 31, 2009 at 11.48 am

adam curley said:

... i meant carew

Comment 22, made on March 31, 2009 at 11.48 am

crazyhobo said:

... good post. however at this moment in time i disagree in dropping carew for gabby

Comment 23, made on March 31, 2009 at 11.51 am

Michael said:

... gabby has just been called into the england squad, looks like theres no hope of owen ever playing for 3 lions again. laursen said the other day that he tried to do too much in training over in dubai and has suffered a set back, i think he will be back end of april, start of may unfortunately.

Comment 24, made on March 31, 2009 at 12.03 pm

Chris Harper said:

... You sure Mickey?

Comment 25, made on March 31, 2009 at 12.06 pm

Chris Harper said:

... you're right! Thats good news...if he comes back ok! He needs a lift and I think this could be it

Comment 26, made on March 31, 2009 at 12.11 pm

croni said:

... good blog damo, pretty much agree with you on everything petrov looked world class against ireland, although he only had to contend with the likes whelan and andrews hopefully he'll be able to reproduce on sunday against utd utd are missing big players so we could come away with something if recapture our form

Comment 27, made on March 31, 2009 at 12.31 pm

Ian Stockton said:

... Totally agree with everything you've said Damian, apart from one selection, i'd stick NRC in the middle and not sidwell. NRC for me deserves a chance there, Sidwell has had his over and over again and done nothing. I think NRC will be loking for a move in the summer, he's going to put everything into centre mid to gt his move. Play him there and both the club and NRC are winners.

Comment 28, made on March 31, 2009 at 12.59 pm

Dan Price said:

... drop carew and play gabby? how long has it been since youve been to a villa game? Carew is far more likely to score against utd... or anyone that gabby is!

Comment 29, made on March 31, 2009 at 1.03 pm

Damian said:

... Dan Price When did it start to go wrong for Gabby? Figure that out and you'll figure out why I've written what I've written .. All I'm saying is, before we changed, it was going fine - so let's go back to the way it was. I've also said above and on countless times before that these young players need time to adapt to change - maybe the change in formation is just taking Gabby a bit of time to adapt to. Don't get me wrong, Carew is doing well, but I don't think he's the right type of player to be playing as a lone striker when one of the most important elements might just be speed.

Comment 30, made on March 31, 2009 at 1.10 pm

jacetheace said:

... Id Play five in the middle with NRC on the right and young behind Gabby/carew

Comment 31, made on March 31, 2009 at 2.47 pm

rockyvilla said:

... would like to see carew start to soften them up and gabby to use his speed later in the match.would have Ash, Barry, Petrov, Reo and Milner in mid, with Bouma (if fit enough)/Shorey, Cueller, Davies and Luke across the back. think big john would see it as a snub not starting while Gabby's England call up might give him extra confidence coming off the bench. Think main priority is to cancel out thier midfield Reo in there to do that.Then attack down wings and cross for Carew. Think this game is WINNABLE but also could get hammered,the lads need to "turn up". UTV

Comment 32, made on March 31, 2009 at 3.50 pm

Ken Bonker said:

... It matters not how many we play across the middle, we are doomed I say....doomed.

Comment 33, made on March 31, 2009 at 8.24 pm

Nigel said:

... I agree totally with the formation of 451. I am absolutely bamboozled by how MON can't see it's our best chance of winning matches. I's as though he has been brainwashed or something. By the way, he stumbled on that formation in the first place as Carew got injured and Harewood was not deemed good enough, hence he played Gabby as the lone striker. I hope he (MON) somehow stumbles on it again very soon

Comment 34, made on March 31, 2009 at 9.08 pm

Rich Clark said:

... martin is far too stubborn to play 451 now hes got his bumchum upfront. 3-0 to united. or 4-0 if they come back to form

Comment 35, made on March 31, 2009 at 9.23 pm | url

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