Welcome to the first installment of the Friday Strategy Session. Each week I'll take a look at the matchup problems Villa can cause for their hapless opponents. This week I examine the possibility of using Carew as a substitute. The analysis will get better in the coming weeks, I promise.
According to the club website, it looks probable that Ashley Young and John Carew will be on the roster, if not necessarily in the starting XI, for Villa on Sunday. If Young is healthy, he will of course start but I think O'Neill would be wise to sit Carew until the second half, even if he's back to full health. With a big man like Carew, the temptation to play the long ball is often too great to ignore, but if he doesn't come in until around the 65th minute or so this could work entirely in our favor. After City have gotten a little worn down chasing after Luke Moore, Gabby and Ashley for more than an hour, suddenly we bring in the Norwegian Nightmare (come on, you know you want to call him that) and he can use his large frame to easily beat defenders to the ball. They won't have as much strength to push him off the ball or jump as high when we're on set pieces. Now if we can just convince the referees that his size does not make him immune to fouls...
*No, no cupcakes, not really. Sorry.
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