Match Thread Aston Villa 0-1 Everton. Sunday 18th January 2026 @ 16:30

[Jamo Martinez]

Johan Cruyff thought he was best on the wing...

It's interesting how formations have changed over the years. When I grew up watching our 80s side, it was always two strikers - a partnership up front. We had Heath and Sharp, Gray and Sharp, and Lineker and Sharp. Cottee and McAvennie was the feared Hammers variant. Rush and Dalglish, of course, was legendary. Archibald and Crooks, Withe and Shaw, Mariner and Brazil...

I almost feel like I sleptwalked through the last 40 years. One up front would have been considered massively defensive in the days of peak Serie A when the greatest strikers in the world struggled to score. Indeed, there was a reason Maradona and Platini dominated the scoring charts in Italy rather than Rummenigge or Elkjaer. The front-man was marked to within an inch of his life. You needed to go further out the pitch to see any freedom. In England, this would have been considered cowardy defensive nonsense. Nowadays, few strikers in England score many goals. Most of the summer signings have flopped...for everyone.

I'm actually not convinced that one up-front is here to stay. I think, like long throws, two-men strike forces will slowly return...and be heralded as innovative tactical masterstrokes when they do...

I always thought this was due to him being from the total football school and put players in different positions to develop their understanding of team mates' movement and make them more complete players.

 

[Jamo Martinez]

I was actually watching this on Saturday.
When Sunderland passed through midfield they always had 2 or even 3 players as high up the pitch as their forward.

When we had possession in midfield Dibling was doing nothing, Rohl didn't know what to do and McNeil was just McNeil.
We leave our striker so isolated it is almost untrue. Add our wide players slowing the game down as well and the lack of quality in both our strikers and we stand no chance.

We defo need to get more players in the box when we attack. People complain about Grealish slowing the move down but there's often only one or two players in the box when he gets hold of the ball. He's used to having more options to aim for.

 

[T LEAFE]

I was actually watching this on Saturday.
When Sunderland passed through midfield they always had 2 or even 3 players as high up the pitch as their forward.

When we had possession in midfield Dibling was doing nothing, Rohl didn't know what to do and McNeil was just McNeil.
We leave our striker so isolated it is almost untrue. Add our wide players slowing the game down as well and the lack of quality in both our strikers and we stand no chance.

It's just basic coaching

 

[PhilRegan]

The El classico , el Ghazi derby , what a game

 

[Alanbileysfeathercut]

Draw.

 

[Sharpattack]

Our best chance of a result against them was earlier in the season but we wasted it due to the two ‘strikers’ we have. Expect more of the same from those two deadbeats but this time Villa will be ruthless. 3-0 them.

 

[smileychap]

agree with everything except for the McNeil can do anything bit....

Sorry, but 1 up front clearly does not work. Unsure why people are against playing the 2 up front together... Maybe not in this game as we are going to be camped in our 18 yard box for 90 mins, but certainly games at home.

Totally.

 

[smileychap]

I would prefer neither upfront..

Remember when we played Timmy Cahill up top...let's do that again.

If we are not buying anybody in this window, then we go Branthwaite and JOB as our CB's and Keggers up top. Or Illy or KDH?

Can it be worse than what we are currently doing?

Sep w, when is Branthwaite back?

 

[smileychap]

Pick
Garner tark obrien keg azza

Dibs arms tims greygrey


Bazza

Nothing to lose except the game . The current setup gets demolished

Yeah I sort of see it as a free hit, respect and best wishes to traveling fans, hope you see a performance.

 

[davids]

We're away from home so maybe there's a glimmer of hope but I can't see us getting even a point at Villa.

It's sadly one of the too many games to write off.

 

[anton66]

Our best chance of a result against them was earlier in the season but we wasted it due to the two ‘strikers’ we have. Expect more of the same from those two deadbeats but this time Villa will be ruthless. 3-0 them.

They were really poor and there for the taking. Look at them now.

 

[Furey1878]

Well, we're due a win at Villa Park, and against these in the league in general. Don't think it's coming this weekend though.

 

[Number_25]

I just want to see some effort.

 

[trueblue84]

I feel like they're going to smash us. I think we can go into this with no expectations.

I just hope we have some players back for the Leeds game. Them doing the double over us and another home loss would be unforgivable.

 

[davids]

I just want to see some effort.

Not a lot to ask,is it.