Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: Toronto Villa on October 28, 2021, 08:14:13 PM
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This is going to be really hard. Not only a message test on the pitch, but for fans who have been really good to Dean Smith. Another poor result and even his most ardent supporters will be struggling to find ways to defend him. We are not maximizing our talent and we have plenty.
Another grim afternoon
2-1 West Ham - Ings for us.
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They've scored 6 goals in their last 6 league games. Suggests we score twice we have a very good chance of winning the game.
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Im just hoping to see some fight and togetherness. I think that's almost more important than the result after the no show at Arsenal
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They've scored 6 goals in their last 6 league games. Suggests we score twice we have a very good chance of winning the game.
I’m more concerned that we’ve conceded 12 in that time.
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I’m wanting to see a team set up to win, not to try not to lose.
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There is very little to like about this bunch of Eastender kit stealing no marks who now play their home games in a souless bowl acquired by ex bluenose dirty book sellers using tax payers money. The game most often recalled by us is due to the behaviour of their fans rather than any memorable exploits on the pitch.
Total major honours of 0 league titles, 3 FA Cups, 0 League Cups, and 1 Euro Cup winners Cup in their 126 history seems a poor return. Which makes it all the more remarkable that in 1966 they apparently won the World Cup !
3-0 to the real claret & blue. UTV. FTF.
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Maybe no Emi Martinez this weekend who is in Argentina with his dad who is sick
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I don't mind West Ham at all but hope we thump them on Sunday (but think we'll win it in a tight game).
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they're good at what they do - Antonio is a handful, and Bowen's bound to score.
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Maybe no Emi Martinez this weekend who is in Argentina with his dad who is sick
Hopefully nothing too serious as his Dad looks fairly robust and relatively young in Emi's social media posts.
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0-2
A cold,wet Sunday made worse by a Home Defeat, I'm afraid I can't see it any other way.
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Villa 1 West Ham 3
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Everything hinges on the formation. I fear the worst if the manager persists in playing 3 CB's. It's regressive, terrible to watch and both players and fans hate it.
I'd take 433 and a draw right now.
1-1
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Dean, this is the team:
Steer
Cash. Konsa. Mings. Targett
McGinn Luiz. Ramsey
Bailey. Ings. Traore
Attack and defence in equal measure. By all means swap Bailey to the left and put Buendia on the right but for fuck sake do not got 352.
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Really need to grind out a 1-1 here.
If we can get back to our standard in September we're more than capable of that as games v them are pretty much always close matches.
Insane to think we'll play anything other than 4-3-3 in this so interested how it looks as think they actually play 3-5-2.
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The pre-match press conference should be interesting.
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0-2
A cold,wet Sunday made worse by a Home Defeat, I'm afraid I can't see it any other way.
I don't expect you ever would.
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Hoping for a win 2-1 but this is a real tough test, they will be on a high after beating City in the league cup.
Every time we play West Ham I think of a few games, Boxing day 75, the opening day win in 76-77 season, the F A Cup game (which still angers me!) and the Ince goal for them in a season where I thought we would be relegated
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Really need to grind out a 1-1 here.
If we can get back to our standard in September we're more than capable of that as games v them are pretty much always close matches.
Insane to think we'll play anything other than 4-3-3 in this so interested how it looks as think they actually play 3-5-2.
They play 4 2 3 1
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Much depends on how we set up as everyone has said throughout the week (and if Bailey starts).
532 - Villa 0 West Ham 2
433 - Villa 1 West Ham 1
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The performance is almost as important as the result IMO. If the players don’t put up a fight after the wolves debacle and Arsenal, then something is wrong. I’d also quite like to see a return to the good football Smith has served up before. Traore and Bailey out wide in a 4-3-3 please Deano. And if it’s a choice of either Watkins or Ings, it’s Ings for me. Watkins may offer more in his work rate (which may still be debatable, don’t know the data) but in front of goal with a chance to take there's only one winner.
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1-3...Soucek, Antonio, Benrahma for them. McGinn for us.
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The performance is almost as important as the result IMO. If the players don’t put up a fight after the wolves debacle and Arsenal, then something is wrong. I’d also quite like to see a return to the good football Smith has served up before. Traore and Bailey out wide in a 4-3-3 please Deano. And if it’s a choice of either Watkins or Ings, it’s Ings for me. Watkins may offer more in his work rate (which may still be debatable, don’t know the data) but in front of goal with a chance to take there's only one winner.
In a 4-3-3 Watkins is so pivotal to make it work. Ings doesn't work the line or provide the outlet to bring others into the game in the same way.
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Smith surely wont stick with the 352.
They are one of the form teams in the division, carrying on from their excellent season last year. On current form they should beat us, but they are not going to finish top 4, meaning they will lose a fair share if games along the way.
Bailey to tear it up, 2-1 Villa (Bailey, Ings).
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Horrible kick off time, horrible day, 0-2 to West Ham
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Need to stop the rot…expecting another defeat but hoping for at least a draw but think their DM will out smart our DS.
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Its incredible how much we have spent yet are nowhere near the level of west ham. Cant say the maanger has not been backed. Another loss for me
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tough game against a in form side, loads of them in our village still dreaming about the east end and that they all knew a dodgy geezer or two.....
please smash them Villa, so I can sit smugly in the pub next week.
UTV
The Doc
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No excuses really. A home game after more than a week off with just about everybody fit, and West Ham played in the week. A decent performance is the absolute minimum requirement.
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West Ham are a well organised physical side who are hard to break down, I think we will lose 0-2.
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3-5-2 - we lose. A proper formation and we have a chance. Don’t mess it up this week Dean.
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I’m thinking 1-1 and hoping Emi makes it back from Argentina. If it’s a straight choice between Ings and Watkins, then it has to be Ings based on current form although I’d like to see them both in cos I’m sure it’s gonna click
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It will be interesting to see if Smith plays a 3rd centre half - they are dangerous at set piece goals and have a lot of height in their team
Maybe Hause will play left back and therefore his height and heading ability will help us defend corners etc...
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I watched the mid week Cup game when Moyes rested half the team and still found a way to beat City. I fear for us in this one. 1-3
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I’m thinking 1-1 and hoping Emi makes it back from Argentina. If it’s a straight choice between Ings and Watkins, then it has to be Ings based on current form although I’d like to see them both in cos I’m sure it’s gonna click
How is it going to click? It doesn't just happen. With both of them in, it's too hard to build a team to actually provide them with the service they need.
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It will be interesting to see if Smith plays a 3rd centre half - they are dangerous at set piece goals and have a lot of height in their team
Maybe Hause will play left back and therefore his height and heading ability will help us defend corners etc...
He hasn't done that since the Championship, so can't see him dropping Targett to do it now.
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Come on Dean bin the 3 cbs and focus instead on all our attacking options. We need to make West spam fear us going forwards in front of a loud, supportive home fan base.
Whatever people’s feelings are about the current situation at Villa anything less than full support for the team on the pitch will give the cookeneys impetus.
If Martinez doesn’t play I fear the 3 cbs will remain, but our team selection and formation needs to be brave. UTV!
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Looks like Sanson is on the naughty step then...."ill" apparently and won't feature on Sunday!
Time will tell if he goes same way as Engels and Gulibert.
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welcome to the bomb squad, Morgan.
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Looks like Sanson is on the naughty step then...."ill" apparently and won't feature on Sunday!
Time will tell if he goes same way as Engels and Gulibert.
Ha ha, that was utterly predictable!
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Martinez in though.
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Looks like Sanson is on the naughty step then...."ill" apparently and won't feature on Sunday!
Time will tell if he goes same way as Engels and Gulibert.
Ha ha, that was utterly predictable!
'Sick' of not playing?
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Horrible kick off time, horrible day, 0-2 to West Ham
Yes, yes and, sadly, yes.
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Seems Bailey isn't starting, 4-3-3 with Ramsey in midfield and Watkins and Buendia either side of Ings is general expectation.
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ings up front for me , drop Watkins . Bailey to start , If Sanson is not 'fit' , Id go with JJ . Buendia on the right .
no 3 at the back please . 1 1 bailey Antonio
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0-2
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Signs are that the rot is setting in quickly. Doubt if the players are entering into this match with any real optimism let alone us fans.
Braced for a miserable, cold wet evening with an easy win for West Ham.
It’s going to take a while to turn things around.
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Probably end up with the win won’t we? Tough game but the porn barons are looking to get out if the papers are to be believed. 1-2 prediction
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It will be a tough game but I want to approach it the way we were a few months ago with confidence.
If we play the formation that suits the players and the team it at least will give us a chance. If we lose playing that then that's fair enough.
If we play the same players and formation that we did against arsenal then I don't have any sympathy for Dean Smith and we will already be at a disadvantage before the game starts.
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Illness for Sanson… yea I believe that Dean!!
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He did say JPB was ill too though.
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Why wouldn't Bailey be starting?
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Why wouldn't Bailey be starting?
He said they were having to wrap him up in cotton wool and that he was blowing after 45 minutes against Arsenal. Didn't sound like somebody who was going to start, but who knows. I'd rather take the game to them from the start and then take him off after an hour if necessary.
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Why wouldn't Bailey be starting?
He said they were having to wrap him up in cotton wool and that he was blowing after 45 minutes against Arsenal. Didn't sound like somebody who was going to start, but who knows. I'd rather take the game to them from the start and then take him off after an hour if necessary.
THIS. If hes fit enough to play at all then were better starting him and trying to control/get in front of the game. All this smith waiting to change things/subs until games gone cant continue
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We win 2-1. Injury time winner, after we go behind in the game (Watford home win/Konsa vibes)
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Why wouldn't Bailey be starting?
He said they were having to wrap him up in cotton wool and that he was blowing after 45 minutes against Arsenal. Didn't sound like somebody who was going to start, but who knows. I'd rather take the game to them from the start and then take him off after an hour if necessary.
To be fair he didn't look fully fit v Arsenal but Bailey simply has to start. If Smith hadn't overused 5 at the back I actually wouldn't have been totally against Hause coming in for this one...to match West Ham physically. But after the Arsenal debacle, he simply has to switch back and get more ball players on. A midfield three is an absolute must.
-----------Martinez
Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett
Ramsey, Luiz, McGinn
Traore/Buendia, Watkins, Bailey
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1-0 villa
Martinez
Cash, Konsa, Mings, Hause
Buendia Luiz, McGinn Bailey
Ings, Watkins
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The performance is almost as important as the result IMO. If the players don’t put up a fight after the wolves debacle and Arsenal, then something is wrong. I’d also quite like to see a return to the good football Smith has served up before. Traore and Bailey out wide in a 4-3-3 please Deano. And if it’s a choice of either Watkins or Ings, it’s Ings for me. Watkins may offer more in his work rate (which may still be debatable, don’t know the data) but in front of goal with a chance to take there's only one winner.
In a 4-3-3 Watkins is so pivotal to make it work. Ings doesn't work the line or provide the outlet to bring others into the game in the same way.
Ings definitely doesn’t harass or offer an outlet as much as Watkins. But if Bailey offers that instead, i’d go with Ings because I think Ings’ link up play (particularly in small spaces) is better than Watkins and his finishing is more reliable.
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1-0 villa
Martinez
Cash, Konsa, Mings, Hause
Buendia Luiz, McGinn Bailey
Ings, Watkins
That two man midfield would be a disaster against Benrahma, Soucek and Rice
Has to be 3 in midfield and 2 widemen/forwards with one central striker
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1-0 villa
Martinez
Cash, Konsa, Mings, Hause
Buendia Luiz, McGinn Bailey
Ings, Watkins
That two man midfield would be a disaster against Benrahma, Soucek and Rice
Has to be 3 in midfield and 2 widemen/forwards with one central striker
Agree, have to drop a striker.
Doesn't make a difference though as West Ham win easily, they have won 3 and drawn 1 of their last 4 away games, too good for us whatever system we deploy!
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I can't call this at all. Not until I know the team and formation.
When I have seen West Ham this season, Declan Rice has looked very impressive.
Possibly his last season at the club?
On another note, I'm looking at the programme notes from the WH v Villa game from March 1966.
It lets us know that Villa captain, Phil Woosnam has been struggling with a bad back but has also recently experienced problems with his car refusing to start!
Different world :)
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We’re gonna win.
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43rd anniversary of my first fixture. So a repeat 4-1 would be nice.
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First ever Villa game at VP was against these in March 1997. 0-0 and was so exciting it didn't end make the season VHS review.
Read a match report and apparently Frank Lampard broke his leg but don't remember anything at all apart from how green the grass looked!
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Be very interesting to see the team selection for this one. Feels like we have to revert back to a more familiar system, get a few players back in regular positions and in the process make some sacrifices. I’d go to the back four, get Ramsey in the middle with Luiz & McGinn and have Bailey & Buendia off Watkins.
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Not the game Dean needs right now. Form wise they are in it, we are not. Squad doesn’t look happy. The Sanson drama. Moyes isn’t an idiot. They have Antonio who is a beast. Our strikers aren’t working together.
0-3 defeat. Boos, and the pressure is truly on.
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Not the game Dean needs right now. Form wise they are in it, we are not. Squad doesn’t look happy. The Sanson drama. Moyes isn’t an idiot. They have Antonio who is a beast. Our strikers aren’t working together.
0-3 defeat. Boos, and the pressure is truly on.
Unfortunately we don't get to pick and choose.
Lets rip up the form book get the right formation and stick it too em.
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I suspect they will try and rough Bailey up if he plays. And Buendia is not at all suited to playing in the centre against their lot either.
I'd go with a 4 at the back too.
Martinez
Cashki Konsa Mings Targett
McGinn Nakamba Luiz
Buendia Ings Bailey
I'd then be bringing Watkins, Traore on to confuse matters for them and see how the midfield is doing before choosing who else to try.
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I suspect they will try and rough Bailey up if he plays. And Buendia is not at all suited to playing in the centre against their lot either.
I'd go with a 4 at the back too.
Martinez
Cashki Konsa Mings Targett
McGinn Nakamba Luiz
Buendia Ings Bailey
I'd then be bringing Watkins, Traore on to confuse matters for them and see how the midfield is doing before choosing who else to try.
I can sort of the see the point of trying Nakamba in this one, but I think Rice and Souček would just pass him to death. I think I'd start Ramsey, hopefully Bailey as well and just go at them from the start. Bring Marvelous on if by some miracle we manage to play well and take the lead.
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I suspect they will try and rough Bailey up if he plays. And Buendia is not at all suited to playing in the centre against their lot either.
I'd go with a 4 at the back too.
Martinez
Cashki Konsa Mings Targett
McGinn Nakamba Luiz
Buendia Ings Bailey
I'd then be bringing Watkins, Traore on to confuse matters for them and see how the midfield is doing before choosing who else to try.
I can sort of the see the point of trying Nakamba in this one, but I think Rice and Souček would just pass him to death. I think I'd start Ramsey, hopefully Bailey as well and just go at them from the start. Bring Marvelous on if by some miracle we manage to play well and take the lead.
change things in response to the circumstances of the game, heresy.
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I know it's controversial but I don't think our three with Ramsey would be strong enough to break them up and disrupt their play.
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I know it's controversial but I don't think our three with Ramsey would be strong enough to break them up and disrupt their play.
I don’t think I have seen a Nakamba Luiz pairing work from the start, it should do but it doesn’t..
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My wife was thrilled when she realised Villa are on TV followed by 7 hours of NFL.
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1-2. Late consolation goal for us.
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My wife was thrilled when she realised Villa are on TV followed by 7 hours of NFL.
7 hours is the length of one NFL match isn't it?
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We need to ensure we're looking after the ball better, so it has to be a genuine 3 in midfield.
With Ramsey in there to support McGinn as he pushes on, when he loses the ball, the midfield shouldn't be so easily bypassed with Luiz sitting.
The 2-3-1 in a midfield and attacking set up leaves us too open. With an effective 1-2, where the 2 are high energy runners and ball carriers, I think we can add more attacking impetus, but with less risk.
When you're playing a 2 that aren't particularly dynamic like Rice and Soucek, but they're physical, then it's not something we're going to win by going toe-to-toe with them, so our best bet is to put them in positions they don't want to be in.
Spurs played a flat 3 and while that disrupted West Ham in midfield, I felt they didn't offer an awful lot and anyway, we do not have 3 ball winners to pick.
Watkins would sit out for me to let Beundia play right and Bailey left, with Ings centrally.
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Set-pieces sexy again thanks to wily West Ham
http://digitaleditions.telegraph.co.uk/data/774/reader/reader.html?social#!preferred/0/package/774/pub/774/page/110/article/238212
I'd call that fair warning.
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Be a real filip to beat these.Let's go back to playing without fear.3-1 us
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Just got to win tomorrow. There’s every chance that Leeds will beat Norwich and only our superior goal difference will protect us from a bottom 3 place.
Really don’t want to be back down there again.
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We are now bottom 6. This makes tomorrow even more significant.
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I'm going for 1-1 draw but I really hope we in.
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I'm going for 1-1 draw but I really hope we in.
Oh,we in baby,we in.
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Twatter rumours ings and luiz out of tomorrow's game
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Twatter rumours ings and luiz out of tomorrow's game
Tenuous
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It's only going to be better performance and Dean knows because of what happened last week. So I don't even mind if it's 3 at the back though rather not but his strong words identifying the issues then I'm sure will see us go at it from the first whistle.
"I can’t accept the first half performance because we got dominated physically. We didn’t win enough headers or second balls. We can talk about tactics, we can talk about systems but unless you do the basics it is going to be a struggle"
That is a very fair point what Smith said so can't see us being like that again whatever system we go 3-5-2, 4-4-2, 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 it'll be a very much stronger effort than last week
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Twatter rumours ings and luiz out of tomorrow's game
Blimey if Bailey can't start then I guess that means front 3 of El Ghazi-Watkins-Buendia.
Two out of form players and AEG hasn't started since August. Hmmm
Probably Nakamba-Ramsey-McGinn aswell which already has second best feel on what West Ham will put out centrally.
*quickly checks if West Ham are still above evens to win.....*
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Why can't Bailey start?
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Why can't Bailey start?
Because the manager said he was blowing after 45 minutes last match and they're still carefully managing his fitness this week? So dosen't suggest he can manage 90 minutes yet so just a question of do we want Everton style cameo or him in for an hour?
I'd say him starting would give a massive lift to the crowd so I'd throw him in to improve the atmosphere.
Some rumours Rice is out for West Ham so that would benefit us as Noble is well past it as a starter these days so you'd like to think SJM would dominate the old boy.
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Twatter rumours ings and luiz out of tomorrow's game
Blimey if Bailey can't start then I guess that means front 3 of El Ghazi-Watkins-Buendia.
Two out of form players and AEG hasn't started since August. Hmmm
Probably Nakamba-Ramsey-McGinn aswell which already has second best feel on what West Ham will put out centrally.
*quickly checks if West Ham are still above evens to win.....*
Why not Traore? Or even Carney?
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Why can't Bailey start?
Because the manager said he was blowing after 45 minutes last match and they're still carefully managing his fitness this week? So dosen't suggest he can manage 90 minutes yet so just a question of do we want Everton style cameo or him in for an hour?
I'd say him starting would give a massive lift to the crowd so I'd throw him in to improve the atmosphere.
Some rumours Rice is out for West Ham so that would benefit us as Noble is well past it as a starter these days so you'd like to think SJM would dominate the old boy.
Two immutable truths:
1. Rumours about injuries to our players are always true.
2. Similar rumours to players of the opposition never are.
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Why can't Bailey start?
Because the manager said he was blowing after 45 minutes last match and they're still carefully managing his fitness this week? So dosen't suggest he can manage 90 minutes yet so just a question of do we want Everton style cameo or him in for an hour?
I'd say him starting would give a massive lift to the crowd so I'd throw him in to improve the atmosphere.
Some rumours Rice is out for West Ham so that would benefit us as Noble is well past it as a starter these days so you'd like to think SJM would dominate the old boy.
Two immutable truths:
1. Rumours about injuries to our players are always true.
2. Similar rumours to players of the opposition never are.
In potential evidence that I am always wrong, Bailey is the player appearing in the pre-match promo email from the club.
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I have purchased tickets for India v NZ instead of joining the Dubai Lions to watch the match. This alone should be sufficient to guarantee victory I trust.
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We are now bottom 6. This makes tomorrow even more significant.
WHam are playing with confidence, and we just arent, other than maybe Ramsey and Bailey?
Why cant we play Norwich when we need to? :)
We could get lucky.
Of our last 3 games it was only Arsenal that we rolled over, so it can be fine lines between a draw (or more) and a loss.
There's always hope that it will click.
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Well we can’t be shit forever and West Ham can’t keep winning and we’re due a win against these. 2-0 Villa, Ramsey and Bailey to score.
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Similarly to Craig Bellamy to declaring "I'm Craig Bellamy. I don't play for shit football clubs" when he was linked with Blues, I'm Sexual Ealing and West Ham are a shit football club. That Craig Bellamy played for.
I don't care how well they're doing or how many games they've won. They're a tinpot yoyo club. I therefore predict a 3-0 loss.
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Let’s get back to playing with the same spirit, swagger and attack minded principles we showed at West Ham a year or so ago. It can be done I fancy with the correct starting eleven. Hoping for a different result obviously! UTV
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Well we can’t be shit forever and West Ham can’t keep winning and we’re due a win against these. 2-0 Villa, Ramsey and Bailey to score.
That's sort of my semi-optimistic take this morning, Ian. We can play well, and so hopefully things will click today. Lose though, and we're probably three points off the relegation places assuming Leeds beat Norwich in the earlier game.
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I think the team Drummond put up a couple of pages back is way to go for this one I think. A midfield of McGinn, Luiz and Nakamba might not be the most creative but it might stop them playing.
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Rumour going around Mings and Ings dropped with Luiz out injured. Probably BS though.
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I think the team Drummond put up a couple of pages back is way to go for this one I think. A midfield of McGinn, Luiz and Nakamba might not be the most creative but it might stop them playing.
Buendia right, Bailey left and Ings up front for me.
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This weather will make things fun!
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This weather will make things fun!
Rain all clears up by about 2pm.
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Rumour going around Mings and Ings dropped with Luiz out injured. Probably BS though.
I’ve heard this too. Ings out for quite a while apparently. Where is the source of this (Twitter) rumour?
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They'd both deserve it tbh.
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I've woken up rather more optimistic than I have felt all week so I'm almost looking forward to the match.
As for the rumours, Mings hasn't got a leg to stand on if he's dropped because he hasn't had a leg to stand on recently where he looked like he's been playing in Grealish's Nan's slippers. An injury to Ings, while not wanted might force the managers hand in terms of selection.
The big coat is coming out today mind.
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The rumours comes from a blag account who "exclusively confirmed" Bailey was starting against Arsenal.
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Rumour going around Mings and Ings dropped with Luiz out injured. Probably BS though.
I’ve heard this too. Ings out for quite a while apparently. Where is the source of this (Twitter) rumour?
Ings in or Ings out? Check the Villa players Fantasy Football squads for the definitive answer...
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Ings is conspicuously absent from the shooting drills in the OS video of Friday's training session. Out I reckon.
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Ings is conspicuously absent from the shooting drills in the OS video of Friday's training session. Out I reckon.
Well, that would take away one of Dean's headache inducing decisions. Ollie on his up front it is then.
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Greetings Villans.
I'm surprised to see so much pessimism here. From the outside looking in you seemed to do some decent business in the summer with signings coming in. I caught bits of the 3-0 vs Everton the other week and you looked good. You seem to be a bit Jekyll and Hyde at the moment. Is the manager not sure of the best team? Injury problems? Ings and Watkins certainly looks like good options for a pair of strikers.
West Ham will almost certainly line up 4-2-3-1, with the same team as vs Spurs last week. Coufal may come back in after injury.
I see a lot of discussion above re 3 at the back or 3 in midfield to counter West Ham - 3 in midfield would be more effective IMO. Spurs did this last week well, it disrupted the flow in midfield and hampered counter attacks. Where they failed is none of their 3 ball winners were creating anything, and their attackers offered nothing. I can't help but feel Watkins will be itching to score after VAR disallowed one by the length of his hair at our place last season. I certainly can't see Villa sitting back and looking to counter at home, surely the fans won't stand for that?
Still, best of luck today and for the season.
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Little Man's first ever Villa game. Apologies in advance.
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Little Man's first ever Villa game. Apologies in advance.
I'm phoning the NSPCC
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I can’t see the optimism for this one. Post Man U game, this is the one I was concerned about the most. Thought probably we would do Spurs as they were on a bad run, wolves also were. Arsenal we’ve seemed to have the run of the green over them in recent years, but West Ham look a quality side this season. I’d happily settle for a point beforehand.
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The rumours comes from a blag account who "exclusively confirmed" Bailey was starting against Arsenal.
Not sure how many times we have to go over that.
Unsubstantiated rumour of Villa player being out injured = always true.
Unsubstantiated rumour of Villa player being back unexpectedly early = never true.
The Vlaar Rule.
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Greetings Villans.
I'm surprised to see so much pessimism here. From the outside looking in you seemed to do some decent business in the summer with signings coming in. I caught bits of the 3-0 vs Everton the other week and you looked good. You seem to be a bit Jekyll and Hyde at the moment. Is the manager not sure of the best team? Injury problems? Ings and Watkins certainly looks like good options for a pair of strikers.
West Ham will almost certainly line up 4-2-3-1, with the same team as vs Spurs last week. Coufal may come back in after injury.
I see a lot of discussion above re 3 at the back or 3 in midfield to counter West Ham - 3 in midfield would be more effective IMO. Spurs did this last week well, it disrupted the flow in midfield and hampered counter attacks. Where they failed is none of their 3 ball winners were creating anything, and their attackers offered nothing. I can't help but feel Watkins will be itching to score after VAR disallowed one by the length of his hair at our place last season. I certainly can't see Villa sitting back and looking to counter at home, surely the fans won't stand for that?
Still, best of luck today and for the season.
Welcome mate. Decent comments there. My money is on a score draw but we are as you say a jekyll and Hyde type team this season.Good luck for the season but not today obvs. It's quite refreshing to see a club like West Ham sticking it to the self entitled "big six" god I fucking hate that term.
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Similarly to Craig Bellamy to declaring "I'm Craig Bellamy. I don't play for shit football clubs" when he was linked with Blues, I'm Sexual Ealing and West Ham are a shit football club. That Craig Bellamy played for.
I don't care how well they're doing or how many games they've won. They're a tinpot yoyo club. I therefore predict a 3-0 loss.
I'm confident we'll win but I was thinking more 1-0
I agree West Ham been getting too big for their boots lately
Maybe they win the league Cup and good luck to them for that but they aren't in the top 4 best clubs in England and should be nowhere near Champions league football.
They aren't even the same quality of a Leicester in my eyes just a hard working effort and some good organisation by Moyes.
I don't mind them finishing ahead of Spurs and Arsenal as that's funny but Champions league they are having a laugh.
There best player can't even get in the Man Utd team and they wouldn't pay the money.
I be more worried if Lingard was still there.
Mings will deal with Antonio who I'm sure us due to limp of injured.
Apart from last season often seem to draw with these lot when most of time should have beaten them
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Greetings Villans.
I'm surprised to see so much pessimism here. From the outside looking in you seemed to do some decent business in the summer with signings coming in. I caught bits of the 3-0 vs Everton the other week and you looked good. You seem to be a bit Jekyll and Hyde at the moment. Is the manager not sure of the best team? Injury problems? Ings and Watkins certainly looks like good options for a pair of strikers.
West Ham will almost certainly line up 4-2-3-1, with the same team as vs Spurs last week. Coufal may come back in after injury.
I see a lot of discussion above re 3 at the back or 3 in midfield to counter West Ham - 3 in midfield would be more effective IMO. Spurs did this last week well, it disrupted the flow in midfield and hampered counter attacks. Where they failed is none of their 3 ball winners were creating anything, and their attackers offered nothing. I can't help but feel Watkins will be itching to score after VAR disallowed one by the length of his hair at our place last season. I certainly can't see Villa sitting back and looking to counter at home, surely the fans won't stand for that?
Still, best of luck today and for the season.
West Ham have impressed me a lot last season and this season. They have goals in the team and ricks in their make-up too. You could also say the exact thing about Villa. We score a decent amount and ship goals quite a lot too. The Everton game was excellent, the Wolves game certainly wasn't. Also, I give credit to West Ham's form whilst also having to contend with European football.
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If we play like we did in the first half last week, then the crowd will turn on the team and Smith, hopefully Bailey will start, but it looks like once again he'll be on the bench. Got to somehow stop the rot, without any confidence going for a draw.
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Antonio v Mings. Whose your money on?
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Antonio v Mings. Whose your money on?
Mings will be fine in a back 4 next to Konsa. 3 x CBs needs all of them to have the ability to play ball which evidently doesn't suit Mings.
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Antonio v Mings. Whose your money on?
Mings will be fine in a back 4 next to Konsa. 3 x CBs needs all of them to have the ability to play ball which evidently doesn't suit Mings.
The corner that lead to Arsenal's first goal came about because Konsa and Cash were clueless as to who their man was or where they ought to have been. It's a shoddy set up, stick to what we know.
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Hope you’re right mate
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Antonio v Mings. Whose your money on?
Hause.
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Did Sanson pick up his illness whilst kicking water bottles around??
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You seem to be a bit Jekyll and Hyde at the moment.
The irony. You seem to say one thing on here and then something completely different to your West Ham chums.
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Greetings Villans.
I'm surprised to see so much pessimism here. From the outside looking in you seemed to do some decent business in the summer with signings coming in. I caught bits of the 3-0 vs Everton the other week and you looked good. You seem to be a bit Jekyll and Hyde at the moment. Is the manager not sure of the best team? Injury problems? Ings and Watkins certainly looks like good options for a pair of strikers.
West Ham will almost certainly line up 4-2-3-1, with the same team as vs Spurs last week. Coufal may come back in after injury.
I see a lot of discussion above re 3 at the back or 3 in midfield to counter West Ham - 3 in midfield would be more effective IMO. Spurs did this last week well, it disrupted the flow in midfield and hampered counter attacks. Where they failed is none of their 3 ball winners were creating anything, and their attackers offered nothing. I can't help but feel Watkins will be itching to score after VAR disallowed one by the length of his hair at our place last season. I certainly can't see Villa sitting back and looking to counter at home, surely the fans won't stand for that?
Still, best of luck today and for the season.
Which one of your faces is that coming out of?
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Antonio v Mings. Whose your money on?
Hause.
Mings is fine dealing with Antonio who is over rated. And only scored one goal vs Villa.
Like chiellini and bonucci would have no issue with him.
Villa will deal with him and actually Antonio isn't even 6ft so it's a myth he's called a big man.
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Antonio is strong and wide, doesn't need height to bully defenders. And Mings in the same breath as Bonucci and Chiellini??
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We win 2-1. Injury time winner, after we go behind in the game (Watford home win/Konsa vibes)
That'll be nice. Will be a better journey home on the first evening after the clocks go back than otherwise!
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Antonio v Mings. Whose your money on?
Hause.
Mings is fine dealing with Antonio who is over rated. And only scored one goal vs Villa.
Like chiellini and bonucci would have no issue with him.
Villa will deal with him and actually Antonio isn't even 6ft so it's a myth he's called a big man.
Hmmm, we'll see
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You seem to be a bit Jekyll and Hyde at the moment.
The irony. You seem to say one thing on here and then something completely different to your West Ham chums.
Do I? I said the exact same thing on KUMB. It doesn't seem apparent whether Villa will show up or not. Good performances seem to be followed up by bad ones.
Are you still upset because I described Villa as a one man team on KUMB last day of the 19/20 season when you nearly went down at the LS?
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Which one of your faces is that coming out of?
I've only ever been polite and courteous on here.
If you don't want me commenting then tell me and I will stop.
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Gone for a draw, I think we'll come out positive and aggressive but risk getting caught ont he counter.
1-1 Bowen and Watkins with the goals.
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Just about to set off for Villa Park. Looking forward to this one, just hope that there have been some frank conversations during the week and we will be more organised and solid.
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You seem to be a bit Jekyll and Hyde at the moment.
The irony. You seem to say one thing on here and then something completely different to your West Ham chums.
Do I?
Yes! Can’t be arsed trawling through your posts, I’ve got a game to go to.
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Ominous feeling about this one. I fear a bit of the Bolton's all those years ago where the crowd turned.
Mind you, if rumours are true re Ings out might force his hand and save his behind
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No luiz or ings
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Luis and Ings out
Mings and Axel on bench
Makamba, Ramsey and bailey start with Hause
According to BBC
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The rumours comes from a blag account who "exclusively confirmed" Bailey was starting against Arsenal.
Well those runours were correct both out
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I'd love to see Aaron Ramsey get his first appearance today. Preferably coming on when we're 2 or 3 goals up.