Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: kippaxvilla2 on August 04, 2015, 05:26:53 PM
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I have always wanted to start one of these.....
2-2 - Sinclair, Ayew
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Kippax, you do realise if we lose we'll hunt you down and slice you up into carpaccio?
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I've gone for 2-2 as well.
I hate it when we start against newly-promoted teams.
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We always lose to newly-promoted teams. It'll be two-one to the blue rinse brigade with an injury time winner.
We'll beat Man U though. We never lost at home to them in August.
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I think we'll have a few 6-6 draws this season, especially if we get Traore.
I'm hoping this one will be 5-6!
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I have this horrible feeling it'll be 0-1 point from our first two games, and that this will be the 1. Still think this might be an enjoyable season, though.
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a win please....and hopefully a great performance.
UTV
The Doc
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3-1 Villa. They'll come at us but we now have immense pace in the side to hit them hard on the break. After half time we will break their back with a quick second. They'll rally, get one back, but as they push on Ayew will race clear to add a 3rd.
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When did Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic drop the latter part of their moniker? When i was a kid i think they had the longest name in the league.
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1-0 Villa. Kozac the hero.
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Splitters.
Bournemouth 0 Villa 4. Possibly more if we sign Traore.
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3-2 loss with them scoring in the 94th minute! We then go on a 12 match unbeaten run.
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(http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/nighthawk-alloallo/images/e/eb/OfficerCrabtree250.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20110503214221)
Bone mouth Un (Macdogal) Ville de Aston Deux (Mcmern et Luckeadd)
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Stickied and poll added.
Them 1 Us 4
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http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VvGHbzBArYQ
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I've got a lot of respect for their manager and how far they've come in the last 5 or 6 years, and they were a hard nut to crack in January, albeit with us under the guidance of TSM2. Would prefer to have played them a bit later in the season as they'll try to get off to a flying start in what I think will be a long season for them. 2-2 draw
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3-2 win with their 2nd coming fairly late and making the match thread a very nervous place for a few minutes.
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They've also got 7 or 8 players to gel in to their team so I can see this one being a bit messy. I'd settle for a draw but there should be a gulf in class once the passion and excitement of their first home PL calms down a bit. Need to make sure we don't concede early.
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I am going for 3-2 away win :)
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2-1 to them. Simply through being more well drilled as a team but some encouraging displays from out lads and a Gestede header.
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The last four years have conditioned me to look at a game like this as a certain loss.
2-0 Them
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0-0
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1-2 Villa
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What an absolute potato skin this is, at least it's not live on TV.
Having said that I think we will win 3-2 in an end to end belter.
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What an absolute potato skin this is, at least it's not live on TV.
Having said that I think we will win 3-2 in an end to end belter.
You sure it's not a hot banana?😉
Otherwise I'll take mine with a source cream and chive dip thanks.
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Really think we'll lost this one. We're short of match fit attackers and this isn't the time to be going to a newly promoted team. Especially with our defence
Still excited for the season but can envisage a sticky start
Prove me wrong villa
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Who's going ? Number off,from the left........
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Who's going ? Number off,from the left........
Can't make it which is a shame as I'm down on South Coast for couple weeks on and off
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Always tricky being first up to a promoted team. Going for a 2-2.
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What an absolute potato skin this is, at least it's not live on TV.
Having said that I think we will win 3-2 in an end to end belter.
It's on live TV out here. Saturday will be quite ace. Watch the early kick off then the Villa game 10am.
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I think we'll crush em, 3 or 4 - 1.
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3-1 with Richards from a set piece.
Hate playing newly promoted teams early on.
We will have a slow start to the season.
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What an absolute potato skin this is, at least it's not live on TV.
Having said that I think we will win 3-2 in an end to end belter.
It's on live TV out here. Saturday will be quite ace. Watch the early kick off then the Villa game 10am.
Last live villa game I watched in canada (Vancouver) was the 2-2 with SHA when we threw it away late on (something's never change), think it was like 5am then I had to go back to bed and try and sleep it off.
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The last four years have conditioned me to look at a game like this as a certain loss.
2-0 Them
Haven't we won our last two opening games both away from home?
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The last four years have conditioned me to look at a game like this as a certain loss.
2-0 Them
Haven't we won our last two opening games both away from home?
Stoke 1-0
We lost at West Ham 0-1
We drew at fulham 0-0 or 1-1 ?
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Nah Arsenal 1-3 was in 2013, great day, thought we were in for a good season....
Our record against newly promoted teams away early on in season is horrendous, I presume someone has already posted it.
I normally don't go along with these sayings but certainly if you're a newly promoted team you want Aston Villa at home early on.
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2-0 win...somebody French will score.
and it is indeed ace, TV...can't beat watching the Villa live on the telly in the morning and then having most of the day left to celebrate :)
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1-3. Goals from Jordan, Jordan, Jordan and Hutton.
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2-2 for me, high scoring score draw
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Too many memories of bad defeats to newly promoted sides early on. Newcastle being the worst by some distance
Think we'll go
Guzan - Hutton Richards Clark amavi - Bacuna Westwood gueye Sinclair - ayew Kozak
Looking at Bournemouth I think they can match that man for man except in the middle of the park, but they're obviously much more settled as a side. They've brought in lots of new players but retain the core squad that did brilliantly last year - top scorers and second best defence
A defeat and potentially a bit of a bad one for me. Hopefully that wouldn't do the nerves too much damage
Also hope I'm just conditioned to being overly pessimistic and we'll do better.
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Tough game. I'd be happy enough with a point, I wouldn't be surprised if we lost this one.
We'll beat Man Utd though.
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It will be tough but can see us scoring a few and conceding a few too. Could be 3-2 either way, hopefully will be us. 3-2 Villa.
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We're 3-1 with the bookies for those who fancy us, evens Bournemouth. I have no idea to be honest, newly promoted team vs team comprised of players largely new to the premier league. Lots of goals seems reasonable.
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I think with so many new players, it'll take us a while to gel. Also, teams newly promoted always play out of their skin early on and this is their first ever game in the top flight.
3-1 to them.
I actually think we have a better chance of getting something at home to Manure, than away here.
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1-1 Rudy to head in his first Villa goal.
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I heard butch Wilkins say Bournmouth have also signed as many players as we have,
so with a bit of luck they will still be getting used to playing together like us
I would take a draw as I think it is the worst time to play Bournmouth, so i'l go 1-1
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Yeah but they haven't sold half their first team. That's the difference
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0-0 draw.
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2-0 win.
Nous sommes la célèbre Aston Villa et nous allons gagner la ligue
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A belter of a 3 - 3 draw and first on MOTD!
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Villa all over them and then they score in injury time! Same old!
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We'll win! The Blue Rinse Brigade won't know whats hit them.
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0-2 away win.
Kozak
Sinclair
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The last four years have conditioned me to look at a game like this as a certain loss.
2-0 Them
Haven't we won our last two opening games both away from home?
I was more thinking about our performance vs. newly promoted or lower league sides where we tend to not perform as we should.
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Yeah but they haven't sold half their first team. That's the difference
But they can't play all of them.
Either
The majority of the new signings sit it out = Bournemouth no better than the team that got promoted that the manager thought needed 8 new players.
The new signings play = Bournemouth in the same boat as us.
A good chunk of the new signings play = potentially no-mans land with not enough of the new higher quality players on the pitch to make a difference and not enough of the old hands on the pitch to provide the coherence of play that got them promoted.
Or he goes the last one and gets lucky with the blend to get the best of both worlds.
He's got a 1 in 4 chance of getting it right and could be filled with doubt as to which way to turn.
Sherwood on the other hand has no doubts as to which way to go and can focus exclusively on one solution.
The only thing that can cloud his thinking right now is if there's another deal or 2 in the offing.
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I'd take a draw. Think we'll have quite a few high scoring games under Sherwood, so let's go for 3-3 and a Sinclair hat-trick.
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I don't think it'll take very long for Callum Wilson to really wind up our fans.
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When did Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic drop the latter part of their moniker? When i was a kid i think they had the longest name in the league.
1971 according to the excellent Football Club History Database.
Linky (http://fchd.info/BOURNEBA.HTM)
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Them 2 - 3 Us
Matt Damon and Jeremy Renner for them.
Barney Greenway's hat-trick for us.
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Does anybody know any boozers in Birmingham likely to be showing this match?
I asked in mooch bar yesterday but they said they no longer show Saturday 3pm games.
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Early Villa goal, they will then have to attack more which will leave them open to our counter attacking....Villa win 3-0.
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I like your optimism.
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2-2
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I have been saving up all my optimism for the last 5 years...and now is the time to let it out....lol
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They'll score first, we'll win, 3-1
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Villa win. With odds at 3/1 I'll be putting a tenner on us. In fact, as I'm suspecting that the bookies might be underestimating us this season, I'll be putting a tenner on all our games. I wish I'd started when Sherwood took over, in fact, £10 a game bet would have netted over £100 profit.
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Does anybody know any boozers in Birmingham likely to be showing this match?
I asked in mooch bar yesterday but they said they no longer show Saturday 3pm games.
Behans Bar Hall Green definitely is
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No idea of the score ....just almost certain that Bournemouth will score ....there will not be many teams getting nil against us
We really don't know what the team will line up like so it really is an unknown
My heart says 3-1 Villa my head says 3-1 to them
Clattenburg to referee
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A robust 2-0 win for us. Defensively sound, with a couple of goas from people who are a bit French.
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Rudy G got the winning goal against Bournemouth at the start of last season so am expecting nothing less this year, them 2 us 3
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bournemouth 2
Luther Blissett 2
Villa 3
sinclair
veretout
ayew
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2-1 win for us I hope it's a start of a winning run.
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Too many memories of bad defeats to newly promoted sides early on. Newcastle being the worst by some distance
Think we'll go
Guzan - Hutton Richards Clark amavi - Bacuna Westwood gueye Sinclair - ayew Kozak
Looking at Bournemouth I think they can match that man for man except in the middle of the park, but they're obviously much more settled as a side. They've brought in lots of new players but retain the core squad that did brilliantly last year - top scorers and second best defence
A defeat and potentially a bit of a bad one for me. Hopefully that wouldn't do the nerves too much damage
Also hope I'm just conditioned to being overly pessimistic and we'll do better.
Think Gestede will definitely start up front, surprised to see we are proposing to go 442 or 4411, think any midfield with Westwood part of the central two has the danger of getting over run especially against Bournemouth. Dont think Ive ever seen Bacuna play well on the right of a midfield four either.
Id prefer something like the below and go a bit more direct
------------Guzan
Hutton, Richards, Clark, Amavi
-----Bacuna, Sanchez, Gueye
------Ayew, Gestede, Sinclair
Subs Bunn, Baker, Crespo, Sanchez, Veretout, Gabby, Grealish
Going to be the strongest Villa squad in a while on opening day - no room for Gil, Cole, Kozak, Bennett, Senderos, Richardson, Gardner, Robinson, Nzog, Tonev in the squad above
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Does anybody know any boozers in Birmingham likely to be showing this match?
I asked in mooch bar yesterday but they said they no longer show Saturday 3pm games.
Not been in either for ages but two places that used to show games were Après on Summer Row and the Royal in Sutton.
I'm also looking for somewhere to watch it, so would also appreciate any advice.
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Too many memories of bad defeats to newly promoted sides early on. Newcastle being the worst by some distance
Think we'll go
Guzan - Hutton Richards Clark amavi - Bacuna Westwood gueye Sinclair - ayew Kozak
Looking at Bournemouth I think they can match that man for man except in the middle of the park, but they're obviously much more settled as a side. They've brought in lots of new players but retain the core squad that did brilliantly last year - top scorers and second best defence
A defeat and potentially a bit of a bad one for me. Hopefully that wouldn't do the nerves too much damage
Also hope I'm just conditioned to being overly pessimistic and we'll do better.
Think Gestede will definitely start up front, surprised to see we are proposing to go 442 or 4411, think any midfield with Westwood part of the central two has the danger of getting over run especially against Bournemouth. Dont think Ive ever seen Bacuna play well on the right of a midfield four either.
Id prefer something like the below and go a bit more direct
------------Guzan
Hutton, Richards, Clark, Amavi
-----Bacuna, Sanchez, Gueye
------Ayew, Gestede, Sinclair
Subs Bunn, Baker, Crespo, Sanchez, Veretout, Gabby, Grealish
Going to be the strongest Villa squad in a while on opening day - no room for Gil, Cole, Kozak, Bennett, Senderos, Richardson, Gardner, Robinson, Nzog, Tonev in the squad above
Gestede not played one pre season game. Westwood will def start. Wd prefer 433 too tho not sure Kozak can play lone role.
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3-2 Villa win
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Westwood will play.
Pretty sure Kozak will start...Gestede to come on if we are walking it/fu**ing it up.
UTV!
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2-1 defeat.
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Guzan
Bacuna Richards Clark Amavi
Sanchez
Gueye Veretout
Ayew Gestede Sinclair
3-1 Villla Win
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Why didn't Gestede feature vs Forest? Is he injured?
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I have a funny feeling that Joe Cole will start, to add a bit of Premiership experience. He seems to have been playing a but deeper in pre-season, and has looked pretty good too. I think we'll line-up as follows;
Guzan; Hutton, Richards, Clark, Amavi; Gueye, Westwood, Cole; Ayew, Agbonlahor, Sinclair.
Subs; Bunn, Baker, Bacuna, Veretout, Sanchez, Kozak, Gestede.
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3-1 to us. Kozak with 2 and Gestede.
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I too can see Cole being selected.
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Think this will be a hard game,especially will so many new faces. Think they will Nick it 2-1.
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Has there been any other season, where we've been 3rd in the league, alphabetically?
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Bourne mouth have made six or seven new signings too!
Villa to win both to score is 7/1
3-1 villa !!
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3-2 to us seems a popular view and it weighs in at 40/1.
Will have a £5 on that
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i think we will win 2-1. i see us scoring goals this season but letting in alot
i think we will line up like this
guzan
hutton richards clark amavi
gueye veretout sinclair
ayew agbonlahor gestede
i thinks we still need a quality right back
not too sure about crespo
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Them 0 Us 3
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Another repeat of the opener from last season would be nice but i'll take a point
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Gone for a draw- I know they were the dog's bollocks last season, but they'll find the Prem a bit tougher than the C'ship this season and hopefully we won't be a dire as we were.
Still be tricky for us there though, esp first game of the season.
Score draw on the coupons.
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I think it'll be a dose of reality after the giddiness of all those signings. First on seeing the teamsheet we'll be able to put out. I think it will include players who scored a total of two premier league goals last year.
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I know little about their team or ours.
So I'll plump for a five nil away win.
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I think it'll be a dose of reality after the giddiness of all those signings. First on seeing the teamsheet we'll be able to put out. I think it will include players who scored a total of two premier league goals last year.
and their teamsheet will contain players who scored a combined total of zero premier league goals last year.
Given the number of changes in our squad I think that's just as relevant to our chances as your statement is.
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Genuinly don't know which way this will go, A newly promoted club playing one of last seasons strugglers on the opening day usually goes one way but we are so unpredictable that we are just as likely too wreck the 'party' and twat them 0-3 as what we are too lose 2-1 too a 96th minute scrambled shit of a goal sucked in by the crowd, having siad all that i'll go 2-2 with Sinclair and Ayew scoring.
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I fancy a win. I think one or two of our debutants will have an impressive day.
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Genuinly don't know which way this will go, A newly promoted club playing one of last seasons strugglers on the opening day usually goes one way but we are so unpredictable that we are just as likely too wreck the 'party' and twat them 0-3 as what we are too lose 2-1 too a 96th minute scrambled shit of a goal sucked in by the crowd, having siad all that i'll go 2-2 with Sinclair and Ayew scoring.
Made me smile, there speaks a true Villa fan!
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Pretty much everyone expects them to win. I do too. But hopefully that will play in our favour.
Any fitness updates on the likes of gestede, gabby?
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Pretty much everyone expects them to win. I do too. But hopefully that will play in our favour.
Any fitness updates on the likes of gestede, gabby?
who's everyone? Because I very doubt that and certainly not everyone on here.
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I think it'll be a dose of reality after the giddiness of all those signings. First on seeing the teamsheet we'll be able to put out. I think it will include players who scored a total of two premier league goals last year.
It will also include players who didn't play in that team last year.
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We'll win.
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Possibly a creditable 1-1 draw. Goal from Kozak.
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Fuck the fuckers.
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Mr Merson reckons that if we lose on Saturday we will find ourselves in a relegation battle.
Is he serious, it is a bit early doors for doom n gloom.
Seriously merse, grow up.
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Pretty much everyone expects them to win. I do too. But hopefully that will play in our favour.
Any fitness updates on the likes of gestede, gabby?
who's everyone? Because I very doubt that and certainly not everyone on here.
Betting markets are probably the best indication of popular consensus. Bournemouth evens, us 3-1. Most pundits too.
I think we could do with the season starting in a week or two.
If Tim can get the sort of reaction he did for much of last season we'll be fine but I think we'll need to do some adjusting. Bacuna in midfield and Kozak up front won't fill me with too much confidence
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Mr Merson reckons that if we lose on Saturday we will find ourselves in a relegation battle.
Is he serious, it is a bit early doors for doom n gloom.
Seriously merse, grow up.
;D
I can see what he's getting at though.
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Mr Merson reckons that if we lose on Saturday we will find ourselves in a relegation battle.
Is he serious, it is a bit early doors for doom n gloom.
Seriously merse, grow up.
I genuinely can't believe he gets paid to give his opinion on football.
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Mr Merson reckons that if we lose on Saturday we will find ourselves in a relegation battle.
Is he serious, it is a bit early doors for doom n gloom.
Seriously merse, grow up.
he ain't the brightest so I wouldn't worry too much
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Pretty much everyone expects them to win. I do too. But hopefully that will play in our favour.
Any fitness updates on the likes of gestede, gabby?
who's everyone? Because I very doubt that and certainly not everyone on here.
Betting markets are probably the best indication of popular consensus. Bournemouth evens, us 3-1. Most pundits too.
I think we could do with the season starting in a week or two.
If Tim can get the sort of reaction he did for much of last season we'll be fine but I think we'll need to do some adjusting. Bacuna in midfield and Kozak up front won't fill me with too much confidence
Bloody hell Matt, are we playing Chelsea away or something? I know last didn't quite go as planned but it's not like the squad is even the same. Have some faith, grow a pair and stop being so bloody miserable. It's a new season, be happy. There's plenty of time this season to get depressed surely not before it's all got going.
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I hope TS and the staff have drummed it into the players this week the difference in pace of the game between preseason and Premier League. I fully expect Bournemouth will come out of the traps fast so they need to be focused from the first whistle and ride the storm early on...ideally grab a couple of goals on the counter and be clinical in front of goal.
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At our very shittest last season we beat Bournemouth. Let's not forget that.
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Mr Merson reckons that if we lose on Saturday we will find ourselves in a relegation battle.
Is he serious, it is a bit early doors for doom n gloom.
Seriously merse, grow up.
;D
I can see what he's getting at though.
Merse has a point. We are such an unknown quantity this season and have lost two key players. Bournemouth is the sort of game we need to win.
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Merson's on TV because he's an idiot though. People laugh at the way he constantly messes up the pronunciation of players names so he's therefore considered entertaining. It shouldn't really be a surprise that he thinks that one game, the first game at that, might determine a side's whole season. No wonder he's a failed manager.
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Mersons a fucking genius! "If you take away a couple of the good results they had last year they could struggle" You know were you heard it first come May.
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Was at a sportsmans lunch last Xmas in brum where he spoke. 95% was about arsenal and 4% about his time at Boro, 1% villa. As he was in brum you'd have thought he may have adjusted his repertoire a bit.
Ray parlour was far more entertaining.
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It's sad when a talented sportsman has to play court jester to get a job. See also Lloyd, David.
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Is he playing court jester or is he one and Sky have taken delight in using it?
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Is he playing court jester or is he one and Sky have taken delight in using it?
Bit of both, he ain't mensa yet he ain't 100% retard . He's created a certain brand that sky need to offset others.
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Pretty much everyone expects them to win. I do too. But hopefully that will play in our favour.
Any fitness updates on the likes of gestede, gabby?
who's everyone? Because I very doubt that and certainly not everyone on here.
Betting markets are probably the best indication of popular consensus. Bournemouth evens, us 3-1. Most pundits too.
I think we could do with the season starting in a week or two.
If Tim can get the sort of reaction he did for much of last season we'll be fine but I think we'll need to do some adjusting. Bacuna in midfield and Kozak up front won't fill me with too much confidence
Bloody hell Matt, are we playing Chelsea away or something? I know last didn't quite go as planned but it's not like the squad is even the same. Have some faith, grow a pair and stop being so bloody miserable. It's a new season, be happy. There's plenty of time this season to get depressed surely not before it's all got going.
I'm not miserable. I'm looking forward to this season more than I have in ages. I think we'll be fine and fun to watch. I think we'll finish above West Ham and possibly palace and Everton
I just think we're going to lose on Saturday
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Has there been any other season, where we've been 3rd in the league, alphabetically?
No. We've been in the top flight at the same time as both Accrington and Arsenal but never at the same time as the former had disappeared before the latter cheated their way into the First Division.
The only other A-team we've played in league football is Saturday's opposition in the 1971-72 Third Division.
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Has there been any other season, where we've been 3rd in the league, alphabetically?
No. We've been in the top flight at the same time as both Accrington and Arsenal but never at the same time as the former had disappeared before the latter cheated their way into the First Division.
The only other A-team we've played in league football is Saturday's opposition in the 1971-72 Third Division.
And they're no more an A team than Milan are.
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Have we ever played aldershot ?
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The FA classes them as an A-team. That's why we've been ball number three in the Third Round of the FA Cup since they got promoted from the third tier.
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Have we ever played aldershot ?
No.
We've never played Doncaster or Bradford either.
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Pretty much everyone expects them to win. I do too. But hopefully that will play in our favour.
Any fitness updates on the likes of gestede, gabby?
who's everyone? Because I very doubt that and certainly not everyone on here.
Betting markets are probably the best indication of popular consensus. Bournemouth evens, us 3-1. Most pundits too.
I think we could do with the season starting in a week or two.
If Tim can get the sort of reaction he did for much of last season we'll be fine but I think we'll need to do some adjusting. Bacuna in midfield and Kozak up front won't fill me with too much confidence
Bloody hell Matt, are we playing Chelsea away or something? I know last didn't quite go as planned but it's not like the squad is even the same. Have some faith, grow a pair and stop being so bloody miserable. It's a new season, be happy. There's plenty of time this season to get depressed surely not before it's all got going.
I'm not miserable. I'm looking forward to this season more than I have in ages. I think we'll be fine and fun to watch. I think we'll finish above West Ham and possibly palace and Everton
I just think we're going to lose on Saturday
Finishing above West ham is a real possibility, Everton I think is unlikely. Even at their worse they should still easily be a top 8-7 club.
Saturday is a tough one just because its always dangerous playing a newly promoted side at their ground on the opening weekend. But I don't think the result will reflect either teams season it will just give either one a slight boast if they won.
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I think this is the season Martinez finally manages to successfully introduce his famous Wigan defending at Everton, in full.
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Finishing above West ham is a real possibility, Everton I think is unlikely. Even at their worse they should still easily be a top 8-7 club.
How did they finish 11th then last season? That was worse than their worst presumably?
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Away win. Vive la Villa revolution! (or should that be revillation....)
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Ted McDougall and Phil Boyer are not fit so its a win for the Villa. Andy Lochead with a header.
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I had a dream last night that we won and Gestede scored from a header (cross from the left, for what it's worth).
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Finishing above West ham is a real possibility, Everton I think is unlikely. Even at their worse they should still easily be a top 8-7 club.
How did they finish 11th then last season? That was worse than their worst presumably?
To be honest I didn't know Everton finished 11th I knew they had a below par season, but I think they will probably bounced back this time.
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I had a dream last night that we won and Gestede scored from a header (cross from the left, for what it's worth).
So an Amavi cross to Gestede you're saying *places sneaky bet*.
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Lawro surprise surprise has us down to lose 2-1
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Any sense of injury / fitness updates yet? I think we did a press conference earlier . Can't see owt
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Has there been any other season, where we've been 3rd in the league, alphabetically?
No. We've been in the top flight at the same time as both Accrington and Arsenal but never at the same time as the former had disappeared before the latter cheated their way into the First Division.
The only other A-team we've played in league football is Saturday's opposition in the 1971-72 Third Division.
Really ? Oh I see - you mean disappeared from the 1st Div
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Everyone's talking about their first game in the prem. but it could be the same for half our team. 0-2 Kojak and Veretout amarvi MOM ......
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Lawro surprise surprise has us down to lose 2-1
To be fair, we always do crap against newly promoted teams early on, it was the fixture I most wanted to avoid.
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Lawro surprise surprise has us down to lose 2-1
To be fair, we always do crap against newly promoted teams early on, it was the fixture I most wanted to avoid.
Pompey away first day of the season always comes back to me for some reason
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Lawro surprise surprise has us down to lose 2-1
To be fair, we always do crap against newly promoted teams early on, it was the fixture I most wanted to avoid.
Pompey away first day of the season always comes back to me for some reason
Urgh.
Mellberg dropped by O'Leary to prove an unnecessary point and Barry sent of in the last minute for mouthing off to a linesman?
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Lawro surprise surprise has us down to lose 2-1
To be fair, we always do crap against newly promoted teams early on, it was the fixture I most wanted to avoid.
Pompey away first day of the season always comes back to me for some reason
Lambert's first match at West Ham is another.
Can't be bothered to trawl through the stats, but it certainly feels like a truism that newly promoted teams start well (unless you're called Burnley)
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This is effectively a home game for Peter McParland
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Lawro surprise surprise has us down to lose 2-1
To be fair, we always do crap against newly promoted teams early on, it was the fixture I most wanted to avoid.
Pompey away first day of the season always comes back to me for some reason
Urgh.
O'Leary's first game? Mellberg dropped to prove an unnecessary point and Barry sent of in the last minute for mouthing off to a linesman.
Living down here, I seemed to know coach loads of Pompey fans as well at the time. They've all gone very quiet now mind you.
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Lawro surprise surprise has us down to lose 2-1
To be fair, we always do crap against newly promoted teams early on, it was the fixture I most wanted to avoid.
Pompey away first day of the season always comes back to me for some reason
Lambert's first match at West Ham is another.
Can't be bothered to trawl through the stats, but it certainly feels like a truism that newly promoted teams start well (unless you're called Burnley)
I always say it, but even Derby County when they got 11 points all season (I think), got a draw in their first game.
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Lawro surprise surprise has us down to lose 2-1
To be fair, we always do crap against newly promoted teams early on, it was the fixture I most wanted to avoid.
Pompey away first day of the season always comes back to me for some reason
Lambert's first match at West Ham is another.
Can't be bothered to trawl through the stats, but it certainly feels like a truism that newly promoted teams start well (unless you're called Burnley)
We won the Ashes that day. Could be an ominous omen.
Oh no, I'm thinking of when O'Dreary was there. Ignore me.
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Lawro surprise surprise has us down to lose 2-1
To be fair, we always do crap against newly promoted teams early on, it was the fixture I most wanted to avoid.
Pompey away first day of the season always comes back to me for some reason
Urgh.
Mellberg dropped by O'Leary to prove an unnecessary point and Barry sent of in the last minute for mouthing off to a linesman?
Yep. What a f*****g disaster that day was.
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Didn't Berger score for them, you know like when he was still good.
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I can see us losing 3-2 to a 93rd minute goal
I know;I am such a killjoy!
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This is effectively a home game for Peter McParland
Apparently he has the dubious honour of commentating with Jack tomorrow
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Is anyone else down here already?
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This is effectively a home game for Peter McParland
Apparently he has the dubious honour of commentating with Jack tomorrow
Do you think he still practices his shoulder charges?
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Just looked out the bar window to see a bloke in full gimp outfit walk by. I really do hope that it's his Stag weekend
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Just looked out the bar window to see a bloke in full gimp outfit walk by. I really do hope that it's his Stag weekend
You sure that wasn't a mirror?
zing
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Team news from the mail suggests the sort of 442 shape and team many of us were expecting. Quite a few of what you'd hope would be or best players not included (gestede, grealish, Gil, veretout plus gabby).
Doesn't look too convincing to me with Bacuna on the wing and Kozak leading the line. A lot of emphasis on amavi, Westwood and gueye I suspect
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-team-news-new-9814134#ICID=FB-Birm-avfc
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Just looked out the bar window to see a bloke in full gimp outfit walk by. I really do hope that it's his Stag weekend
You sure that wasn't a mirror?
zing
Sorry Tom, the gimp mask wouldn't go with the natty cocktail dress that I'm wearing :o
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Bit worried about the game tomorrow looks like it has come to soon for us in terms of injuries and new players settling in.Thinking now a draw will b a decent result
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Bit worried about the game tomorrow looks like it has come to soon for us in terms of injuries and new players settling in.Thinking now a draw will b a decent result
Never will be too soon with that attitude 😉. 2-2. A good result under the circumstances.
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I do not think Bournemouth could have wished for a much better opening game of the season.
At home to a team that narrowly escaped relegation, have lost its 3 best players having been battered 4 -0 in an FA Cup Final.
I think it is a massive game for them.
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I do not think Bournemouth could have wished for a much better opening game of the season.
At home to a team that narrowly escaped relegation, have lost its 3 best players having been battered 4 -0 in an FA Cup Final.
I think it is a massive game for them.
It's strange how Vlaar can go from useless to one of our best players to suit the narrative and give that most of tomorrow's team is unlikely to have played in the cup final that's going to be of even less significance than it would normally have been. Still, as long as you're happy.
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I do not think Bournemouth could have wished for a much better opening game of the season.
At home to a team that narrowly escaped relegation, have lost its 3 best players having been battered 4 -0 in an FA Cup Final.
I think it is a massive game for them.
It's strange how Vlaar can go from useless to one of our best players to suit the narrative and give that most of tomorrow's team is unlikely to have played in the cup final that's going to be of even less significance than it would normally have been. Still, as long as you're happy.
I think Vlaar was our best central defender but had a poor injury ravaged season, there is no denying that the other 2 were pretty important. I am not massively confident about the game or the season to be honest. A good start could do wonders for us though. I was also pointing out that how big an occasion this is for Bournemouth, a loss for them would be pretty dispiriting under the circumstances.
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I do not think Bournemouth could have wished for a much better opening game of the season.
At home to a team that narrowly escaped relegation, have lost its 3 best players having been battered 4 -0 in an FA Cup Final.
I think it is a massive game for them.
It's strange how Vlaar can go from useless to one of our best players to suit the narrative and give that most of tomorrow's team is unlikely to have played in the cup final that's going to be of even less significance than it would normally have been. Still, as long as you're happy.
I think Vlaar was our best central defender but had a poor injury ravaged season, there is no denying that the other 2 were pretty important. I am not massively confident about the game or the season to be honest. A good start could do wonders for us though. I was also pointing out that how big an occasion this is for Bournemouth, a loss for them would be pretty dispiriting under the circumstances.
There's a bit of a difference between "best central defender" (which is very debatable) and one of the best three players in the team, and under what circumstances would losing to us be more dispiriting than losing to any oither team?
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I really hope that Birmingham Mail team is wide of the mark.
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Fifa tells me that we'll win 3-1. Scott Sinclair hattrick.
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Not long now.
Feel like I'm about to get on The Smiler at Alton Towers.
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Hang on, this is Bournemouth away.
Not Utd, Ars , Chelski or #ity.
Yes, newly promoted, full of passion, Blah. Blah in other words a potential banana skin.
But fuck, if we have not drilled that into the team and turn up surprised by all of the above, then I will despair.
Treat it with caution but we should not be crapping ourselves. One of our worst teams of last season beat them.
As a kid my Nan took me there on Holiday, do they still have that lift that goes from the beach to the road.
I can , if I try hard enough still smell the candy floss and ice cream.
Come on Villa start with a bang.
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Hope we get to see Gestede tomorrow. Got a good feeling about him, he just looks the part.
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Every media pundit predicts that the club with 100+ years in the top division will lose to the PL virgins. Embarrassing. Just prove them wrong and give us back a shred of pride, Villa.
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The Mail must be right about the team, logically. But, if Lambo was back, it would be Brad-Hutton, Richards, Clark, Bennett (Amavi secretly injured) - Sanchez (Westwood unexpectedly had baby), Gueye-Nzogbia, Robinson, Sinclair-Gestede. So FFS just be grateful.
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The more I read about Jordan Ayew makes me think it will not be quiet with him around. I now understand that he holds the record for the fastest sending off in French football. That fact concerns me. I just hope Tim Sherwood knows what he is doing with this addition to our ranks.
If Adebayor rolls up (as I suspect he will) we will then have two 'mavericks' on our hands. Not sure this is a good idea at all for club morale.
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Come on you Lions!
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I always look for lucky omens.
Its Spinky’s birthday tomorrow, obviously a good sign.
Also, see the pattern:
August 8 2009 h Fiorentina W 1-0 (pre-season games, even Heskey scored)
August 8 1995 a Portsmouth W 2-0 (pre-season)
August 8 1989 a Bromsgrove Rovers W 4-0 (pre-season)
August 8 1987 h Coventry City W 3-2 (pre-season)
They turned out to be good seasons. Conclusion: Should be a good season if we win! :)
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I think we need to adopt a two part strategy towards tomorrow's opponents, which would consist of:
A) fucking them up, and
B) getting into them
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I'm getting a case of the nerves now, after the transfer frenzy of a week I was quietly confident but now looking at the line up in the mail it looks crap to me and full of ifs and buts and very lightweight. I'd take a draw tomorrow.
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This lot are shite. 3 points for the Villa.
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As utterly shit as we were at the time we played them last season we managed to win. And I believe they were top of the league at the time and very confident. They'll be nervous tomorrow and I still think Villa win.
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only seen one bloke in a Villa shirt so far and he was too pissed for me to talk to
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As utterly shit as we were at the time we played them last season we managed to win. And I believe they were top of the league at the time and very confident. They'll be nervous tomorrow and I still think Villa win.
That was their second string though
If we had a fitter squad who'd played a few games together I'd be confident. I'm optimistic for the season
But would be happy with a draw definitely
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I really hope that Birmingham Mail team is wide of the mark.
I don't think he's got too much choice. Who else comes in given injuries and lack of Match sharpness?
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Don't like this sudden dependence on 4-4-2, just hope it's temporary until all the new signings are fully fit.
4-3-2-1 worked well enough for the run in last season so I was hoping we'd stick to that as we've rarely looked convincing over the years playing just two central midfielders.
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I'd definitely want three in midfield. Think that's our best chance for the season and tomorrow. Westy, gueye and veretout would seem to have a good balance
In the preseason games it has at least been noticeable that the wide midfielder is tucking in quite a bit. But I do think it's a mistake to take Bournemouth on 442. They're much more used to it.
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Them 1-2 Villa
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I'm going for a draw. Given that I know next to nothing about them and next to nothing about our new signings I cannot give any logical reason for my prediction.
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The Mail must be right about the team, logically. But, if Lambo was back, it would be Brad-Hutton, Richards, Clark, Bennett (Amavi secretly injured) - Sanchez (Westwood unexpectedly had baby), Gueye-Nzogbia, Robinson, Sinclair-Gestede. So FFS just be grateful.
The Mail being right about the team and logic doesn't add up tbh. They are almost as far behind the times as some of the twitter in the know people
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1-2 Clark & Ayew to score
Can't wait for this tomorrow!!!
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It is going to be a tough start, but if we can get through 20 mins hopefully things will get better and we have pace on the break and Bournemouth will always try to play football and may get found on the counter attack (fingers crossed). Had a few quid on the new Zidane to score the first goal, he better start lol
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Win today please Villa.
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The more I read about Jordan Ayew makes me think it will not be quiet with him around. I now understand that he holds the record for the fastest sending off in French football. That fact concerns me. I just hope Tim Sherwood knows what he is doing with this addition to our ranks.
If Adebayor rolls up (as I suspect he will) we will then have two 'mavericks' on our hands. Not sure this is a good idea at all for club morale.
Pleased to see you're so optimistic about Sherwood's decisions
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Fight like dentists
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4-4-2 and we'll get battered in midfield an lose. 4-3-3 or variations of same - and Richards/Clark play full 90 - we win.
1-1 draw.
Nothing but apocryphal on my part, but teams that win the Championship generally fare the worst of the promoted team in the next season. First up away to any one of the three is tough, but I'm glad we're not playing Watford.
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Fight like dentists
LOL
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I really hope that Birmingham Mail team is wide of the mark.
Given how poorly the Mail report on Villa, why should they be believed about their team prediction
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It is going to be a tough start, but if we can get through 20 mins hopefully things will get better and we have pace on the break and Bournemouth will always try to play football and may get found on the counter attack (fingers crossed). Had a few quid on the new Zidane to score the first goal, he better start lol
We've signed Jordan Zidane?
I must have missed that one.
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From what I've seen, their defence leaves loads of room behind it so we should go with our paciest attack. Also, the fact it is their first game in the premier, and that their fans will be really up for it means they will probably push forward even more. So we might be best served to sit deep and hit on the counter.
We don't have the quality to grab the game by the scruff and silence the crowd in the first 10-20mins.
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B'muth seafront crawling with Villa this morning.
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Let's face it, none of us have a clue what the starting formation will be, let alone if we're going to be a cohesive unit with so many new signings.
It's a tough first match and I'll be more than happy with a draw and to see some positive signs for the future.
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I'm going to safely predict we won't be last on MOTD.
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The plus side for us today is that Bournemouth's pre match talk will not include mentioning us as they won't have a clue about most of our players and how Sherwood is going to set the team up.
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Gorgeous day down here on the south coast, safe trip down if you are coming. An Ashes and Villa double header would do very nicely. Hope springs eternal, please just let us see some decent football of which we can be proud, a bit of a method to our madness and some sort of long-term plan centred around the way we intend to play, some goals, decent defending and excitement that isn't centred around us being in the bottom five
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Didn't realise they'd signed Sylvin Distin ! He must be in his 40's . Hope Gestede gets a start perhaps with Kozak or Gabby
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The team I'd play:-
Guzan
Hutton Richards Clark Amavi
Guieye Westwood Veretout
Ayew Gestede Sinclair
2-1 to Villa
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Didn't realise they'd signed Sylvin Distin ! He must be in his 40's . Hope Gestede gets a start perhaps with Kozak or Gabby
37 I think
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Heart says a 2-2 which would be a nice steady start, head says we lose by the odd goal, I hope I am completely wrong and its 3-2 Villa like in Big Rons first game away at Sheff Wed another time when we were unsure how we would fare due to lots of changes, pretty sure we were 2-0 down at one point on that occasion
Cmon Villa make us happy
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Imaginr that. Two down and then three up. Ooh that would be nice! Veretout to come off the bench and burst through to get a late winner . .
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Now the featured 10am match in the U.S. on NBC Sports Network
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SSN reporting Okore out with knee injury.
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We've known that for ages. Out till September I think.
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Hope winning the Ashes is not an omen. 2005, newly-promoted team away, 0-4, Harewood hat-trick.
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It's on the telly live in Casey's bar , Ibiza
Result
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Hope winning the Ashes is not an omen. 2005, newly-promoted team away, 0-4, Harewood hat-trick.
Could be worse
We could end up buying their centre forward for about £8M more than he's really worth 3 years later. Oops.
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It's on the telly live in Casey's bar , Ibiza
Result
Would love to be there, though it is Ibiza type weather here on the south coast. Also the commentary match on R5
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Getting unusually excited...
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Going to pop down the road in a bit to see if I can find it being screened anywhere.
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Getting unusually excited...
Same here.
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Getting unusually excited...
Same here.
Getting, unusually nervous (more than excited)...
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I see the BBC really, really want Bournemouth to win:
"Eighteen years ago, Bournemouth fans saved the club with a bucket collection at the Winter Gardens concert hall. They've survived administration, winding-up orders and the sell off of the stadium. The club's amazing journey is the very stuff of fantasy football.
"But Tommy Elphick admits 'the fairy story has to stop here'. The team needs to get to work fast to make sure they stay up. They'll be targeting games like this for a win.
"Players who've longed for years to play at this level will be hungry to rip into a Villa side being rebuilt by Tim Sherwood. The Vitality Stadium will be bedlam. Bournemouth can nick an historic win."
(http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/live-experience/cps/512/amz/vivo/live/images/2015/8/8/16c4e8ec-6605-4e8b-a7e2-5f415cf9e8bf.png)
Smash them, Villa please!
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2-1 Villa. Westwood with the winner
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I see the BBC really, really want Bournemouth to win:
"Eighteen years ago, Bournemouth fans saved the club with a bucket collection at the Winter Gardens concert hall. They've survived administration, winding-up orders and the sell off of the stadium. The club's amazing journey is the very stuff of fantasy football.
"But Tommy Elphick admits 'the fairy story has to stop here'. The team needs to get to work fast to make sure they stay up. They'll be targeting games like this for a win.
"Players who've longed for years to play at this level will be hungry to rip into a Villa side being rebuilt by Tim Sherwood. The Vitality Stadium will be bedlam. Bournemouth can nick an historic win."
(http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/live-experience/cps/512/amz/vivo/live/images/2015/8/8/16c4e8ec-6605-4e8b-a7e2-5f415cf9e8bf.png)
Smash them, Villa please!
As are Radio 5, I don't think we've been mentioned once as they cream themselves over Bournemouth. I expect the BBC are very disappointed they aren't playing one of the Sky 4 teams. I hope we f*****g smash them too.
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I've got no problem with them wanting Bournemouth to win. I probably would too if they weren't playing Villa.
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Yeah it's a great story
Hopefully the expectation will be a bit much for them
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Any team news?
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Veretout starts. No Kozak at all. Bacuna right back. Ayew Gabby Sinclair up top.
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I've got no problem with them wanting Bournemouth to win. I probably would too if they weren't playing Villa.
What I have a problem with is us being treated as making up the numbers and as an irrelevance to the proceedings. No one ever does that to us in my book. Ever.
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Not that I’m against Bacuna playing right-back, but he didn’t play there all pre-season.
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Veretout starts. No Kozak at all. Bacuna right back. Ayew Gabby Sinclair up top.
Obviously looking to use the pace of those three, I think the theory runs that they play a high line. Also, they will come on to us, egged on by the crowd's expectations so I suspect Tim thinks we can catch them on the break. Bacuna at right back is very ominous but at least he will contribute more than Hutton in an attacking sense
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That's:
Guzan
Bacuna Richards Clark Amavi
Veretout Gueye Westwood
Ayew Agbonlahor Sinclair
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That's:
Guzan
Bacuna Richards Clark Amavi
Veretout Gueye Westwood
Ayew Agbonlahor Sinclair
Get Richards to RB, Okore in when he's fit, Gestede in ditto and perhaps Sanchez to replace Westwood and that might just end up being an exciting and decent team
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Heard the team. Still have no idea. Formation, style, personnel; despite all my best efforts to keep up, I'm utterly clueless on all fronts.
4-0 us.