League Match 3: Aston Villa travels to Reading
By Josh Tonti
Another occurrence of mid-week football! Oh Championship, how we’ve missed you dearly. Aston Villa travels to Reading FC in a match-up of winless second division clubs.
Expect several changes on Tuesday on account of two variables. One, Villa have another match on just two full days of rest. There are bound to be one or two switches simply to keep the squad fresh in league play.
Secondly, the team was simply awful over the weekend. A change in personnel and/or formation is needed to compete for three points. In case you missed it, Leandro Bacuna transferred to Reading on Sunday. I suppose there’s a chance he could make The Royals’ teamsheet against the club he spent the previous five years at.
Reading have had their own problems this season. Fulham’s Tomas Kalas was sent off 30 seconds into their own match over the weekend. Despite playing against ten men for 89+ minutes, Reading could only manage a 1-1 draw through Liam Kelly’s strike.
The Royals tend to use a 3-back system with Wales international Chris Gunter on the right flank and ex-Manchester United youngster Tyler Blackett on the left. Aston Villa will get to see Tiago Ilori again after he spent six months on-loan from September 2015 to January 2016. The loan was later cancelled by both clubs after he failed to make a single appearance.
For Villa, Ahmed Elmohamady is out after suffering a mouth injury in the Cardiff defeat. He might need surgery, but the club has yet to announce what’s exactly wrong. André Green is a question mark too, as the game might come too soon for his groin injury.
Mile Jedinak and Jonathan Kodjia remain out.
PROJECTED ASTON VILLA XI: Johnstone; De Laet, Chester, Terry, Taylor; Bree, Onomah, Lansbury, Bjarnason; Adomah, Hogan.
SUBSTITUTES: Steer, Samba, Hutton, Hourihane, O’Hare, Hepburn-Murphy, Agbonlahor.
Full disclosure: This is definitely not the system/personnel I would roll with, but what I think Steve Bruce could opt for away from home.
Gabby Agbonlahor needs a break after an anonymous 90 minute showing against Cardiff City. Likewise, Alan Hutton is replaced by both James Bree and Ritchie De Laet with the former taking up an advanced right midfield position.
With more security in the wide areas, expect Scott Hogan to flourish.
Next: Steve Bruce's Tactics Leave Much To Be Desired
WHEN: Tuesday, August 15, 2017, 3:00PM EST
WHERE: Madejski Stadium, Berkshire, England
PREDICTION: 2-1 Aston Villa (Hogan, Bjarnason) (Swift)
I expect Aston Villa to recover admirably with a flurry of changes. Scott Hogan gets a goal in league play, while Birkir Bjarnason tallies as well. Villa win 2-1 in encouraging fashion away from home.