Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: PeterWithesShin on November 30, 2025, 04:08:12 PM
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Weds Dec 3rd, 19.30 KO.
We win again.
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If we win this again my balls will really start to tingle.
And we will.
2-1 Villa FTF 8)
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1-0 Villa
Matty Cash from 35 yards. 1 shot on goal, 10 against.
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0-4.
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They are in decent form. Bring back Ollie as he scores against them :)
Still think we will nick it
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Draw, they'll have their tails up after a good win at Forest and Danny Welbeck will probably score.
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Can’t see us winning this. A draw would be good.
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They are in good form, I’d take a point.
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They are a good team but they also seem to let us play our stuff rather then trying to stop us. It will be an interesting match.
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A point would be great. No injuries and then beat Arsenal..
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We always win this and there is no reason to think differently this time.
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Brighton have crept up the table, well it feels like that to me, they are so boring I can't be arsed to look for their results. The ground is racked off, and while their continued presence and lack of struggle in the PL is to be admired, they are so unremarkable I couldn't tell you who their Manager is.
This scenario makes it all the more painful when we get beaten by them, something I don't think will happen, but perhaps we won't win either. I met a mate on the Holte yesterday who informed me he was going to the game, I said you'd better leave now. Fucking jaunt.
1-1
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Brighton have crept up the table, well it feels like that to me, they are so boring I can't be arsed to look for their results. The ground is racked off, and while their continued presence and lack of struggle in the PL is to be admired, they are so unremarkable I couldn't tell you who their Manager is.
Not the only one.
I caught the Forest - Brighton match and when the second went in, they showed a kid on the Brighton bench with the comment of "when Brigton lost 7-0 here last season <forgotten> burnt his pre-match notes in front of the squad. He won't be doing that this time". I realised that was their manager. Some inkling of him being the youngest ever manager at early 30's has leaked in since but you would have thought a record breaker would stick in your mind but nope. I still expect Di Zerbi to be there and always shocked when his name is brought up at Marseille.
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Tough game. I would take a point now if offered.
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They're a decent team but they're very reliant on Gomez, I think I'd play Onana in this one to help us box the midfield.
I'd bring him in for Buendia and let Tielemans play a little further forward and push Rogers to the left. Now we've given Malen a start I think we need to stick with him for a few and because I want the extra man in thge middle that would be my only change. If it isn't working I'd look to get Watkins on fairly early to play alongside Malen.
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They're a decent team but they're very reliant on Gomez, I think I'd play Onana in this one to help us box the midfield.
I'd bring him in for Buendia and let Tielemans play a little further forward and push Rogers to the left. Now we've given Malen a start I think we need to stick with him for a few and because I want the extra man in thge middle that would be my only change. If it isn't working I'd look to get Watkins on fairly early to play alongside Malen.
I was thinking yesterday that maybe an extra body in midfield may have offered us more control than we got. I suppose it’s the balance between being secure in our defensive shape and then offering something going forwards so we don’t look blunt in attack.
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I think this game is geared up perfectly for Rogers to have a stormer right through the middle of the park
Same starting team as Sunday with bringing Watkins, Onana on when / if required
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They're a decent team but they're very reliant on Gomez, I think I'd play Onana in this one to help us box the midfield.
I'd bring him in for Buendia and let Tielemans play a little further forward and push Rogers to the left. Now we've given Malen a start I think we need to stick with him for a few and because I want the extra man in thge middle that would be my only change. If it isn't working I'd look to get Watkins on fairly early to play alongside Malen.
I was thinking yesterday that maybe an extra body in midfield may have offered us more control than we got. I suppose it’s the balance between being secure in our defensive shape and then offering something going forwards so we don’t look blunt in attack.
Yep, I'm normally ok with us being, broadly, a 4231 but sometimes pushing that 10 a little deeper to add a body in midfield might help without making us too narrow. My only criticism of Emery at all is that sometimes we get a bit clumped up in midfield and make ourselves a little too easy to mark. With the squad we have I'd even like to see Watkins and Malen both play (with Rogers at 10) and push them out a little wider so we don't really have a 9 but instead 3 players who all have the option to rift into there or drift elsewhere to find space and move defenders.
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They are 5th, 2 points behind us, they've scored 5 more and conceded 5 more. A draw is a good result but we should be looking for a win.
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They are 5th, 2 points behind us, they've scored 5 more and conceded 5 more. A draw is a good result but we should be looking for a win.
We always beat these, unless they get a dodgy penalty and we have Robin Olsen in goal.
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The last two times we didn't beat them we also had Carlos in defence as well.
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The last two times we didn't beat them we also had Carlos in defence as well.
You’ve started something
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Ollie's record against this lot is fire. Let him torture the Seagulls.
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Tough match. Draw for me with a side of possible win
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We always beat these ****** and their annoying 'am local but supported Liverpool until 10 years ago' fans.
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We always beat these ****** and their annoying 'am local but supported Liverpool until 10 years ago' fans.
And whichever inexplicably young hipster manager they have at the helm.
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We always beat these ****** and their annoying 'am local but supported Liverpool until 10 years ago' fans.
Lived there 20 years ago when I was a student. Not a single local I met supported B&HA, everyone supported Chelsea.
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We'll win & Ollie will find his scoring boots.
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I wonder if Malen and Watkins will start together
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Very tough game. Fortunately games aren't decided on paper but it will require us being at our most clinical best.
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I expect Emery to leave Tielemans out for this one. Maybe Maatsen to get a go at left back too. Easy decision to drop Malen but likely he would get a lot more space to run into away at Brighton than at home to Wolves.
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Easy decision to drop Malen? You're mad. It's more a question of where Malen plays and whether it's worth the risk of bringing back Watkins as somebody will have to be dropped. My guess is Buendia, at least until half time. The real problem of bringing back Watkins is it would lead us short in midfield. At Villa Park I could just about see it but not Brighton away. They're a very tidy footballing side and the midfield battle will be decisive.
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Can’t see McGinn lasting 90 mins either. Unai’s usual tactics in games like this is to suffocate it for 60-70 mins then go for it.
Can see onana starting and us being very solid for most of the game.
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I'm not sure whether I'd start Onana tomorrow or keep him until Saturday. If he plays both, he'll probably pick up another knock.
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Martinez
Cash Konsa Torres Digne
Kamara. Onana
Rogers. Tielemans
Malen. Watkins
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Easy decision to drop Malen? You're mad. It's more a question of where Malen plays and whether it's worth the risk of bringing back Watkins as somebody will have to be dropped. My guess is Buendia, at least until half time. The real problem of bringing back Watkins is it would lead us short in midfield. At Villa Park I could just about see it but not Brighton away. They're a very tidy footballing side and the midfield battle will be decisive.
I didn't see the game at weekend but reports here and elsewhere suggest Malen had no impact leading the line. In that sense I think it's an easy decision to swap Watkins in for Malen again. I don't think away at Brighton is the time to go with two up top from the start. McGinn and Rogers will definitely start. One of Buendia or Tielemans I guess for the other spot.
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Malen had little impact against Wolves because of the low block. It would have been the same for Watkins. Malen is in form and should start against Brighton.
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3 big games in a week will naturally mean some rotation. Both tactically and to manage fatigue.
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Malen had little impact against Wolves because of the low block. It would have been the same for Watkins. Malen is in form and should start against Brighton.
Plus if we want to retain the ball it's a no brainer.
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Easy decision to drop Malen? You're mad. It's more a question of where Malen plays and whether it's worth the risk of bringing back Watkins as somebody will have to be dropped. My guess is Buendia, at least until half time. The real problem of bringing back Watkins is it would lead us short in midfield. At Villa Park I could just about see it but not Brighton away. They're a very tidy footballing side and the midfield battle will be decisive.
I didn't see the game at weekend but reports here and elsewhere suggest Malen had no impact leading the line. In that sense I think it's an easy decision to swap Watkins in for Malen again. I don't think away at Brighton is the time to go with two up top from the start. McGinn and Rogers will definitely start. One of Buendia or Tielemans I guess for the other spot.
He'll probably play the big French lump on the right, for his defensive cover, thus further reducing the likelihood of Malen playing alongside Watkins.
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Martinez
Cash Konsa Torres Digne
Kamara. Onana
Rogers. Tielemans
Malen. Watkins
I'm with you, Drummond.
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A quick look at a Brighton forum and it's similar to a Palace pre-match thread on here.
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Martinez
Cash Konsa Torres Digne
Kamara. Onana
Rogers. Tielemans
Malen. Watkins
I'm with you, Drummond.
McGinn?
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It wouldn't surprise me if he is rested for saturday. He played a rare 90mins on sunday.
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Martinez
Cash Konsa Torres Digne
Kamara. Onana
Rogers. Tielemans
Malen. Watkins
I'm with you, Drummond.
McGinn?
Yes odd leaving our best player ( on current form) out.
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Martinez
Cash Konsa Torres Digne
Kamara. Onana
Rogers. Tielemans
Malen. Watkins
I'm with you, Drummond.
McGinn?
Yes odd leaving our best player ( on current form) out.
Give him a breather for this one so he's in tiptop condition for Saturday, is my thoughts.
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Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen, Kamara, Onana, McGinn, Rogers, Buendia/Tielemans, Watkins.
Nailed on I'll want likes of Maatsen and Onana hooked at half time but we have to rotate players.
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Martinez
Cash Konsa Torres Digne
Kamara. Onana
Rogers. Tielemans
Malen. Watkins
I'm with you, Drummond.
McGinn?
Yes odd leaving our best player ( on current form) out.
Give him a breather for this one so he's in tiptop condition for Saturday, is my thoughts.
Yeah right.
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What's your team then?
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These next two games could really propel us into serious Champions League contenders and even to the heights of making a challenge for the league. The pessimist in me though tells me that these types of games are exactly the ones that we fail to step up to. Prove me wrong Villa.
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What's your team then?
As above except SJM and Maatsen for Digne Watkins.
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We’ll need to be better than we have been the last couple of league games to get something here.
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I imagine it will be the usual keep it tight until half time and then expand second half.
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We're on the cricket channel tonight, I've heard Bumble will be doing the commentary.
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What's your team then?
As above except SJM and Maatsen for Digne Watkins.
I reckon McGinn is more likely, whereas Maatsen not so much.
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For me let's go with
Bizot, Garcia, Lindelohf, Bogarde, Maatsen, Hemmings, Onana, Guessand, Elliott, Watkins, Sancho
This team should be more than good enough to beat Albion.
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These next two games could really propel us into serious Champions League contenders and even to the heights of making a challenge for the league. The pessimist in me though tells me that these types of games are exactly the ones that we fail to step up to. Prove me wrong Villa.
The games like wolves and Ipswich and sheff utd in the past worry me . I actually think we go up a level against the likes of BHA and Arsenal. Shame its 2 day quick games ,so have to rotate but like when we beat arsenal and 115 that season , Villa always suprise me.
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Realistically one or two of McGinn/Bouba/Youri as well as Digne will probably not start. Watckins has a good record v this lot so likely to see him back too especially as Malen better off the bench than Ollie. Maybe see Bogarde and Onana.
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If we get something here it’ll be a good result.
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I reckon this will be our first draw in yonks.
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Looking for four points from the next two games.
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Simon Jordan has backed us to win , shit he is crap at predictions
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Apparently Brighton haven’t lost at home since we beat them there 0-3 in April.
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Apparently Brighton haven’t lost at home since we beat them there 0-3 in April.
I'd say we're their Palace, but that would only make them try to engineer some long distance derby with us.
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Looking for four points from the next two games.
That's my expectation for tonight and Saturday.
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Simon Jordan has backed us to win , shit he is crap at predictions
What does Tony Blackburn reckon?
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Simon Jordan has backed us to win , shit he is crap at predictions
What does Tony Blackburn reckon?
He reckons he should've known better.
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Looking for four points from the next two games.
I'd bite your hand off for 4 points from the next two.
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Looking for four points from the next two games.
I'd bite your hand off for 4 points from the next two.
Aye, me too!
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Elliott not in the team again, even with Barkley out injured.
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Interesting line up. Guesswho starts, Youri on the bench. Still no sign of Harvey.
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Onana and Guessand suggests a more workmanlike selection tonight. Big nights for Watkins and Maatsen.
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This is going to be Guessand's night.
Said no one ever.
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Looking for four points from the next two games.
I'd bite your hand off for 4 points from the next two.
I'd be happy with two draws.
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(https://i.ibb.co/Q7rgg0hf/IMG-1535.png) (https://ibb.co/Q7rgg0hf)
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Looking for four points from the next two games.
I'd bite your hand off for 4 points from the next two.
I'd be happy with two draws.
We will win both. Ollie will score in both.