Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: olaftab on September 18, 2019, 09:42:48 PM
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Sunday 22 September KO 4.30PM The Emirates stadium.
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Arsenal are a different beast at home. Think we should play both Marvelous and Luiz in this one, with Grealish taking El Ghazi's place out wide and Trezeguet (not sure if 1 game ban or 3?) in for Jota.
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I think 2 0 to the Gooners , it’s a free hit for Dean Smith because the Arsenal are such strong favourites. Will he stick with the same team and formation?
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Big football day in London on Sunday with 4 matches being played. Travelling fans from Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Manchester and Liverpool all descending upon the Town but not a problem for Metropolitan Police unlike the West Mids boys.
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Big football day in London on Sunday with 4 matches being played. Travelling fans from Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Manchester and Liverpool all descending upon the Town but not a problem for Metropolitan Police unlike the West Mids boys.
I'm planning to make it kick right fucking off near Stamford Brook. Any scarfers would be advised to take shelter in the nearest Montessori school, because the micro-breweries and cheese delis will be teeming with some of my top boys - some of whom will have books. Hardback books.
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I think it's time for Dean to stick another defensive midfielder in, my vote goes to Conor to improve our set piece play.
1-1.
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Defeat
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Draw
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Up to Wes to bully their two twins at the back. Pull their hair if necessary.
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I've missed the seats at Arsenal, I love a seat that tries to push my wallet out of my back pocket as it rises after I stand.
I haven't missed the queue for the tube though. And if Gunnersaurus strays too close to me he's going to find himself short of a bit of stuffing.
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I'm going for a 1-1 draw.
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another clean sheet please Villa...:)
UTV
The Doc
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A dull 0-0 would do nicely
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D 1-1.
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Can't wait! ;D
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3-3
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Tough one to call. Our solid defence vs their excellent attackers and our misfiring attackers vs their crap defence. I think it will come down to SJM and whether he has his scoring boots on.
I'm going for a draw but would like to see two from Luiz, Nakamba and Hourihane starting.
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Well we won't win in reality so a bore 0-0 will do
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‘Running in, please pass’
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Arsenal are shite. 1-2 Villa. FTF!
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1-2 Villa.
This is the weekend the rest of them sit up and take notice.
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C’mon Villa! ;D
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Defeat
That's the spirit!
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From Gregg Evans writing for The Athletic -
Aston Villa return to the scene of their ultimate humiliation on Sunday as they visit The Emirates Stadium for the first time since that fatal Premier League game at the end of the 2015-16 season.
The battered and bruised claret and blues bowed out of the top flight after a 4-0 defeat to Arsenal and memories from that embarrassing day still send shivers down the spine.
Strangely, the scoreline itself wasn’t necessarily the problem, although Villa were horribly exposed having already suffered the killer blow of relegation. It was, however, a disconnect between the players and those in the stands that had ripped apart a club heading into the Championship without a manager and with the owner at the time, Randy Lerner, desperately seeking a way out.
Such were the struggles, vexed Villa fans celebrated back-to-back corners against the Gunners as if they had won the league. Individual players were booed and tactical decisions were questioned and vilified.
What made things worse – for Arsenal, also – was that Leicester City has just been crowned champions and the rest of the division were left to rue their own mistakes.
Two managers and two takeovers later, Villa now find themselves back with a fresh outlook and a strong togetherness.
Jack Grealish, the only remaining Villa player to have featured on that day, is the club captain, yet even he winces when he thinks back.
“I hardly played in the second half of that season but I was put on to have a run-out against Arsenal,” Grealish told The Athletic.
“It was obviously a very hard day because you look into the stands and you see all the fans mocking the players.
“We took a spanking. Some of the young lads played and it was tough because when you’re already relegated, it’s hard to get motivated.”
It wasn’t just the Villa fans who were left wondering what might have been, either.
Arsenal squeezed into second place with the win – toppling rivals Tottenham, who lost 5-1 at Newcastle – thanks to an Olivier Giroud hat-trick.
The Frenchman was actually heckled by his own supporters prior to his trio of strikes. Many felt he was a symbol of Arsenal’s struggles that term as Leicester ran riot to cause the biggest upset in Premier League history.
For Villa, the consequences were more severe. Relegation out of the top division for the first time in their history followed and five players from that day would never start for the club again.
Mark Bunn, the goalkeeper who was unfortunate to score an own goal as Mikel Arteta’s strike cannoned off him deep into stoppage time, told The Athletic: “It was one of the toughest seasons and positions I’ve ever been in. The whole squad will probably say the same. It was a horrible day.
“No-one wants to be a part of the squad that has let down the fans and then gets relegated.”
Bunn believes Villa should have stuck with Tim Sherwood, the boss who was sacked just 10 games into the season.
Remi Garde took over but then walked away after two wins in 20 league games, while caretaker boss Eric Black was left to pick up the pieces.
All three are currently without a job in football, while the playing careers of Bunn, Joleon Lescott and Micah Richards – three players signed at the start of that difficult Premier League season that ended in agony at Arsenal – have all since ended too.
Speaking to The Athletic this week, Richards recalled the difficulties:
“It was dreadful. We just weren’t good enough. When you are out there and your own fans are booing you, that is tough.”
Lescott was targeted by Villa fans, largely for the infamous ‘pocket tweet’.
After the 6-0 thrashing by Liverpool in February 2016, he posted a picture of a Mercedes on his Twitter account.
He’s since spoken publicly about it, stressing on multiple occasions that it was an accident, but Villa fans are in no mood to forget and forgive.
One dressing room source explained why the criticism towards Lescott was ‘harsh and unjustified’.
Villa fans booed as he was taken off injured against Arsenal in his final outing for the club but he would never be one to hide or shirk responsibility.
“Joleon used to be out there training first, all the time,” The Athletic has been told.
“He used to stay back late in the afternoon working on things to make him better as a player. He was getting old and his knees were hurting but he did everything he could do to be in the best shape possible.
“He was a good pro and I’ve seen some bad ones over the years, that’s for sure!”
There’s a feeling now, three-and-a-half years on, that Villa weren’t far off a respectable side, rather more a mismatch of players who just needed the proper organisation and guidance.
Midfielder Ashley Westwood, often a scapegoat during his time in the Midlands, was named Burnley’s player of the season last term.
Jordan Ayew scored the winner against Villa for Crystal Palace last week. Adama Traore is finally starting to look like a player at Wolves. Idrissa Gueye now plays for Paris Saint Germain and Scott Sinclair has scored Champions League goals in three of the four seasons since.
Jordan Veretout didn’t feature on the final day of the season but now plays for AS Roma and looks very much an elite performer.
Two youngsters that did, Jordan Lyden and Kevin Toner, have now left the club for Swindon and St Patrick’s Athletic respectively, having needed to take a step down in search of a rise again in the future.
And there hasn’t been much to shout about for Aly Cissokho, Leo Bacuna or the three previously-mentioned retired players since, either.
But Villa have proved that with change, anything is possible. They will be there in north London this weekend in a better position than they were last time, regardless of the result on Saturday.
Maybe it’s time for this current Villa crop to finally make amends and repair the damage that was caused when they were last in town.
Grealish will be the only one to really appreciate it if they do.
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Relegation out of the top division for the first time in their history.
Shows what he know about us!
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That is because Football began in 1992™
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"two managers later"? Are you sure Gregg?
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1-2 Villa.
This is the weekend the rest of them sit up and take notice.
It's only Arsenal. We should be beating teams like them.
0-1 Villa (McGinn from 55 yards)
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Id like to see luis , Conor and Marvelous if possible. Jack further up.
Drop Hotter and ELG
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oh score
1-1
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"two managers later"? Are you sure Gregg?
We must not question him as I heard that The Athletic only engage the best football writers.
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Heaton
Freddy Angels Merciless Taylor
Doug Marvellous
SJM Jack Trez
Wesley
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2-0
More of the same, we'll see effort but nothing where it matters
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"two managers later"? Are you sure Gregg?
Write's on decent article with Jack Grealish and he's back to his shit best
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We need to be pragmatic here. We know we're fairly solid at the back with plenty of defensive cover available and I think we need to use it. Arsenal are the quintessential tippy tappy overplay specialists so we need to crowd them out and allow them no space. They have pace so we'll need to defend deep. If we go toe to toe we'll get mullered. Wesley has been way too isolated and if we allow this to happen again David Luiz can actually look a decent playing playing out the back, put him under pressure and he'll make mistakes. So we must get Grealish playing closer to Wesley and get Jack on the ball where it matters, winning free kicks in their final 3rd. Then send the big lads up and cause them problems at set pieces, this is why Hourihane must get a run too. This is not the game to start Jota or AEG.
Heaton
Freddie - Engels - Mings - Taylor
Douglas - Marvelous
SJM - Hourihane
Grealish
Wesley
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regardless of the result on Saturday
It's on Sunday, Gregg ::)
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2-0
More of the same, we'll see effort but nothing where it matters
Ah, it’s frustrating all that effort the players muster in areas of the pitch that don’t matter, isn’t it? ;D Or perhaps you meant the tunnel?
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"Aston Villa are vulnerable defensively, but can counter-attack with John McGinn and Jack Grealish, while Wesley is a handful up front. It should be comfortable but I don’t think it will be and there will be goals"
Charlie Nicholas. Sky.
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Can't see us getting much at Arsenal. Their defence was a shambles last week, but think our front three will make them look like Maldini and Baresi. 2-0.
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Heaton
Freddie - Engels - Mings - Taylor
Douglas - Marvelous
SJM - Hourihane
Grealish
Wesley
I like it
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For me id go with this
Heaton
Guilbert, Engels, Mings, Taylor
McGinn, Luiz, Marv, Jack, Targett
Wes
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Arsenal to win by two goals.
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just cant see where the goals are going to come from.
McGinn was unlucky against WHam, but Arsenal are better than WHam
That said, Wesley might find the target after the Arsenal ignore him.
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Heaton
Freddy Angels Merciless Taylor
Doug Marvellous
SJM Jack Trez
Wesley
Swap the advanced midfield three so McGinn is more central, Jack on the left and Trezeguet on the right and that is pretty much what I would go for.
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just cant see where the goals are going to come from.
McGinn was unlucky against WHam, but Arsenal are better than WHam
That said, Wesley might find the target after the Arsenal ignore him.
Agree. TBH the only player who looks to have potential for scoring is SJM. Maybe there’s a way of playing that gives he more opportunities.
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From Gregg Evans writing for The Athletic -
Aston Villa return to the scene of their ultimate humiliation on Sunday as they visit The Emirates Stadium for the first time since that fatal Premier League game at the end of the 2015-16 season.
The battered and bruised claret and blues bowed out of the top flight after a 4-0 defeat to Arsenal and memories from that embarrassing day still send shivers down the spine.
Strangely, the scoreline itself wasn’t necessarily the problem, although Villa were horribly exposed having already suffered the killer blow of relegation. It was, however, a disconnect between the players and those in the stands that had ripped apart a club heading into the Championship without a manager and with the owner at the time, Randy Lerner, desperately seeking a way out.
Such were the struggles, vexed Villa fans celebrated back-to-back corners against the Gunners as if they had won the league. Individual players were booed and tactical decisions were questioned and vilified.
What made things worse – for Arsenal, also – was that Leicester City has just been crowned champions and the rest of the division were left to rue their own mistakes.
Two managers and two takeovers later, Villa now find themselves back with a fresh outlook and a strong togetherness.
Jack Grealish, the only remaining Villa player to have featured on that day, is the club captain, yet even he winces when he thinks back.
“I hardly played in the second half of that season but I was put on to have a run-out against Arsenal,” Grealish told The Athletic.
“It was obviously a very hard day because you look into the stands and you see all the fans mocking the players.
“We took a spanking. Some of the young lads played and it was tough because when you’re already relegated, it’s hard to get motivated.”
It wasn’t just the Villa fans who were left wondering what might have been, either.
Arsenal squeezed into second place with the win – toppling rivals Tottenham, who lost 5-1 at Newcastle – thanks to an Olivier Giroud hat-trick.
The Frenchman was actually heckled by his own supporters prior to his trio of strikes. Many felt he was a symbol of Arsenal’s struggles that term as Leicester ran riot to cause the biggest upset in Premier League history.
For Villa, the consequences were more severe. Relegation out of the top division for the first time in their history followed and five players from that day would never start for the club again.
Mark Bunn, the goalkeeper who was unfortunate to score an own goal as Mikel Arteta’s strike cannoned off him deep into stoppage time, told The Athletic: “It was one of the toughest seasons and positions I’ve ever been in. The whole squad will probably say the same. It was a horrible day.
“No-one wants to be a part of the squad that has let down the fans and then gets relegated.”
Bunn believes Villa should have stuck with Tim Sherwood, the boss who was sacked just 10 games into the season.
Remi Garde took over but then walked away after two wins in 20 league games, while caretaker boss Eric Black was left to pick up the pieces.
All three are currently without a job in football, while the playing careers of Bunn, Joleon Lescott and Micah Richards – three players signed at the start of that difficult Premier League season that ended in agony at Arsenal – have all since ended too.
Speaking to The Athletic this week, Richards recalled the difficulties:
“It was dreadful. We just weren’t good enough. When you are out there and your own fans are booing you, that is tough.”
Lescott was targeted by Villa fans, largely for the infamous ‘pocket tweet’.
After the 6-0 thrashing by Liverpool in February 2016, he posted a picture of a Mercedes on his Twitter account.
He’s since spoken publicly about it, stressing on multiple occasions that it was an accident, but Villa fans are in no mood to forget and forgive.
One dressing room source explained why the criticism towards Lescott was ‘harsh and unjustified’.
Villa fans booed as he was taken off injured against Arsenal in his final outing for the club but he would never be one to hide or shirk responsibility.
“Joleon used to be out there training first, all the time,” The Athletic has been told.
“He used to stay back late in the afternoon working on things to make him better as a player. He was getting old and his knees were hurting but he did everything he could do to be in the best shape possible.
“He was a good pro and I’ve seen some bad ones over the years, that’s for sure!”
There’s a feeling now, three-and-a-half years on, that Villa weren’t far off a respectable side, rather more a mismatch of players who just needed the proper organisation and guidance.
Midfielder Ashley Westwood, often a scapegoat during his time in the Midlands, was named Burnley’s player of the season last term.
Jordan Ayew scored the winner against Villa for Crystal Palace last week. Adama Traore is finally starting to look like a player at Wolves. Idrissa Gueye now plays for Paris Saint Germain and Scott Sinclair has scored Champions League goals in three of the four seasons since.
Jordan Veretout didn’t feature on the final day of the season but now plays for AS Roma and looks very much an elite performer.
Two youngsters that did, Jordan Lyden and Kevin Toner, have now left the club for Swindon and St Patrick’s Athletic respectively, having needed to take a step down in search of a rise again in the future.
And there hasn’t been much to shout about for Aly Cissokho, Leo Bacuna or the three previously-mentioned retired players since, either.
But Villa have proved that with change, anything is possible. They will be there in north London this weekend in a better position than they were last time, regardless of the result on Saturday.
Maybe it’s time for this current Villa crop to finally make amends and repair the damage that was caused when they were last in town.
Grealish will be the only one to really appreciate it if they do.
Bloody hell I thought the Athletic was to be the ultimate in football journalism!
Gregg are you sure you actually know anything about the Villa?
Riddled with errors and innacurracies, I think I'll stick to Heroes and Villains!
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We could play McGinn as a second striker/attacking midfielder, a bit like how Lampard used to. That way Grealish can still play box-to-box without them tripping over each other, or without shunting Grealish out to the wings, where I'm not sure he'd be effective.
This loses McGinn's ball-winning and running across the pitch though.
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Heaton
Freddie - Engels - Mings - Taylor
Douglas - Marvelous
SJM - Hourihane
Grealish
Wesley
I like it
I like it too but Targett ( if fit) for Taylor
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Great article from Gregg Evan's there.
Gets my vote as Twat of 2019
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I think we can get a draw. Arsenal are great up front but we’ve proven ourselves very solid at the back. We are weak up front but Arsenal are nothing to be feared in defence. I reckon 1-1.
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Not sure who the interviewers are but I would imagine the average supporter could come up with more relevant questions such as why does Grealish have to play so deep and what is happening on the training track to sharpen up our forward play or maybe where are the goals coming from.
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It’s been that way for ages. The questions are absolutely dreadful. And not just that as fans we get a fraction of press conference. Just the shit club employee questions like isn’t Villa Park great at night and aren’t the fans great for the billionth time and not the national media ones that might be a little more insightful.
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Not sure who the interviewers are but I would imagine the average supporter could come up with more relevant questions such as why does Grealish have to play so deep and what is happening on the training track to sharpen up our forward play or maybe where are the goals coming from.
Its sycophantic garbage.
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Not sure who the interviewers are but I would imagine the average supporter could come up with more relevant questions such as why does Grealish have to play so deep and what is happening on the training track to sharpen up our forward play or maybe where are the goals coming from.
Its sycophantic garbage.
It's*
:P
I never get why people expect the club interview to be anything but a fluff piece.
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I hope Carles Sanchez doesn't play.
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Them 3 Us 0.
They have manure "two league wins in 20 years, none for the last 13" away the following week. It's safe to say they'll be going all out against us for the 3 points.
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Couple of pre match quotes from Dean Smith that I think would suggest that we may be quite unlikely to see Luiz and Nakamba both starting anytime soon.
"In midfield we're playing a one and a two at the moment," Smith told BirminghamLive . "With a one and a two you get two midfielders closer to Wesley [McGinn and Grealish]. If I played a two and a one [in a 4-2-3-1, for example] you get one less closer to him!
"I'm quite happy with the system at the moment and, more importantly, the players are. The system's worked well and we'll continue with that."
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Couple of pre match quotes from Dean Smith that I think would suggest that we may be quite unlikely to see Luiz and Nakamba both starting anytime soon.
"In midfield we're playing a one and a two at the moment," Smith told BirminghamLive . "With a one and a two you get two midfielders closer to Wesley [McGinn and Grealish]. If I played a two and a one [in a 4-2-3-1, for example] you get one less closer to him!
"I'm quite happy with the system at the moment and, more importantly, the players are. The system's worked well and we'll continue with that."
This bodes ill, I fear. To my eyes it's the system that's letting us down. And I think I know a little bit more about football than the highly-paid professionals we have looking after the team at the moment.
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Couple of pre match quotes from Dean Smith that I think would suggest that we may be quite unlikely to see Luiz and Nakamba both starting anytime soon.
"In midfield we're playing a one and a two at the moment," Smith told BirminghamLive . "With a one and a two you get two midfielders closer to Wesley [McGinn and Grealish]. If I played a two and a one [in a 4-2-3-1, for example] you get one less closer to him!
"I'm quite happy with the system at the moment and, more importantly, the players are. The system's worked well and we'll continue with that."
Could be bluffing I suppose. I'm not quite sure there's a place for them both but I can see why people are suggesting it.
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We are in for a pasting if he only plays one DM - his press conference was not encouraging that he has yet realized we are too weak in the middle
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In France, I can watch this game tomorrow night at 7.45pm on RMC Sport 2. So it's phone and laptop off between 5pm and 10.30pm.
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Ian Wright for them, Guy Whittingham to equalise for us, Bosnich will save a penalty and Andy Townsend will grab a late winner for the Villa.
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No matter what system we use, and if we lose, I doubt it will be of ManCity levels. Though if we have a go at them and we could come away with something.
UTV!
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Couple of pre match quotes from Dean Smith that I think would suggest that we may be quite unlikely to see Luiz and Nakamba both starting anytime soon.
"In midfield we're playing a one and a two at the moment," Smith told BirminghamLive . "With a one and a two you get two midfielders closer to Wesley [McGinn and Grealish]. If I played a two and a one [in a 4-2-3-1, for example] you get one less closer to him!
"I'm quite happy with the system at the moment and, more importantly, the players are. The system's worked well and we'll continue with that."
That’s fine except I have not seen SJM or Jack get near to Wesley often.
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Predictions that Jon Toss might award Villa a penalty tomorrow suggest a lack of memory of his failure to do so when Jack was the recipient of a neck-lock in the area in the 2015 cup final.
My view is that Friend is employed to try and make some of the others look less shite!!
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4-2 Villa, A fantastic win that will leave us all hot and sweaty, that probably sounds a bit gay but its meant to imply blood pressure racing, extreme excitement, stuff like that. Come on you Villa boys let's see some dogged determination, show these London 'boyz' how its done.
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Ian Wright for them, Guy Whittingham to equalise for us, Bosnich will save a penalty and Andy Townsend will grab a late winner for the Villa.
JD from H&Vs last Villa game before emigrating to New Zealand I think?
We could have been wearing the same shirt tomorrow too (green and red site) if they hadn't put its debut back to our game at Man City.
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We are in for a pasting if he only plays one DM - his press conference was not encouraging that he has yet realized we are too weak in the middle
No offence but I'll back Deano on this one
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I do understand people’s concerns, but I certainly think we need to give Luiz more than three games before making that definitive a judgement on the current midfield set up.
Targett coming into the team and hopefully giving us an extra attacking outlet on the left should make a difference as well.
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Think the lack of quality from wide areas has really shown. Jota looks crap against PL full back with pace, athleticism and strength. We knew El Ghazi would blow hot and cold. Need Trez to show up.
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Not feeling very confident about this one. Quite glad it's not on TV.
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I'm going. They will fuck us.
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I suspect we will take a kicking.
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Any win will see us propelled to giddy heights. We've got enough to do these, and I dread seeing David Luiz with a smugger grin than normal upon that vizzog.
0-summat. Jack to get one of them.
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3-1 win. A goal each for SJM, Jack and Guilbert.
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Man City’s 8-goal fest against Watford is an indicator of the wide gulf between “them” and us. Let’s pray that a similar pasting doesn’t happen to us this afternoon.
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Man City’s 8-goal fest against Watford is an indicator of the wide gulf between “them” and us. Let’s pray that a similar pasting doesn’t happen to us this afternoon.
It's an indicator that a billion pound squad like Man City has, is significantly better than Watford, us, Arsenal and everybody bar Liverpool.
They finished 28 points above Arsenal last season, who finished closer to 14th than Man City.
The week before Arsenal chucked away a 2-0 lead and conceded 31 chances against Watford.
We may likely be beaten, maybe well beaten as they're much better at home, but let's not pretend they're even remotely close to Man City or even the best side we've played this season.
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Man City’s 8-goal fest against Watford is an indicator of the wide gulf between “them” and us. Let’s pray that a similar pasting doesn’t happen to us this afternoon.
I wouldn't worry, Alan.
I watched that Man City game, and although they were on another planet to Watford, Watford didn't help themselves defensively. They were atrocious, no passion, no communication...they look down already in my opinion. Their midfield also had a shocker.
We on the other hand look well organised defensively. It's been the most impressive thing about our return to the Premier League.
We may well lose, but we won't lose 8-0.
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Lose? Nah, I’m going so an extremely optimistic 1-2 for me 🤔
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Someone told me it was live on Amazon prime
Anyone confirm?
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I think we can get something out of this game. The Arses have a soft underbelly; if everybody does their job and I include Deano in that, we may surprise a few people. Heaton to be MoM. Come on Villa boys! UTV!
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Someone told me it was live on Amazon prime
Anyone confirm?
Someone's pulling your leg. Amazon only have games beginning on the 3rd December.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/b?node=17025299031&ref=dvm_uk_sl_gen%7Cc_80470588524503_m_P7qPV0OG-dt_s_
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I'd be tempted to throw in Hourihane but that would mean taking away an attacking threat which is the one area we are lacking at the moment so it's a tough one to call. That said, West Ham caught us on the break a couple of times last week and they only had 10 men.
I think they might have too much for us but I think it will be closer than some people are suggesting.
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I'd be tempted to throw in Hourihane but that would mean taking away an attacking threat which is the one area we are lacking at the moment so it's a tough one to call. That said, West Ham caught us on the break a couple of times last week and they only had 10 men.
I think they might have too much for us but I think it will be closer than some people are suggesting.
Exactly my thinking. Drop Jota. Get SJM further forward to support Wesley
It will be backs to the wall for long periods but Arse fell apart second half last week and their defence is poor. We need to get at them
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I'd be tempted to throw in Hourihane but that would mean taking away an attacking threat which is the one area we are lacking at the moment so it's a tough one to call. That said, West Ham caught us on the break a couple of times last week and they only had 10 men.
I think they might have too much for us but I think it will be closer than some people are suggesting.
Given the lack of goals I actually think it's harder to justify starting three attacking players atm.
I do think a decent move would be bringing in Hourihane or Luiz, playing extra man in midfield and then having maybe Trezeguet off Wesley.
Keep Jota and El Ghazi as second half subs if we're still in the game.
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I assumed with the KO time today it was on Sky, just found out it isn't. Any idea if it's on elsewhere?
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I assumed with the KO time today it was on Sky, just found out it isn't. Any idea if it's on elsewhere?
Arsenal tv or AVTV. Failing that it should be out there on tinterweb somewhere.
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Hourihane in, with Marvelous and McGinificent.
Grealish to play the left of the front 3. Jack is not a central midfielder. You play him as a 10, or you play him as a 'free' wideman. He's been poor this season, but where he's being played isn't helping. Probably AEG on the right to provide some pace along that side with Guilbert.
I'd actually be tempted to give Davis a game. Just to rough it around a bit and get others in the game. But SJM and Conor would need to break beyond him.
We need Arsenal to have one of those 'Arsenal' days. The kind that means they're a million miles from the top spot because they can't beat bottom end sides they should be roasting. What we don't want is them to have the other type of Arsenal day when they're pinging it around for fun an shit us 5-0 with barely a bead of sweat lost (see FA Cup Final 2015).
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I agree with that. In fact, I'd like to see Jack pushing up and staying close to Wesley.
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I’d like to be in 12th in the table tonight
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I assumed with the KO time today it was on Sky, just found out it isn't. Any idea if it's on elsewhere?
Arsenal tv or AVTV. Failing that it should be out there on tinterweb somewhere.
Is AVTV still showing matches live if you’re abroad? Can’t find the option?
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I assumed with the KO time today it was on Sky, just found out it isn't. Any idea if it's on elsewhere?
Arsenal tv or AVTV. Failing that it should be out there on tinterweb somewhere.
Is AVTV still showing matches live if you’re abroad? Can’t find the option?
Audio only. This is only a guess, but I'd have thought the Sky deal precludes the clubs selling their games to overseas viewers. Would think that was a Championship only deal.
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Lacazette out for Arsenal, might mean Ozil coming back in. Emery under pressure already and Luiz has had a horror start there. First goal will be crucial.
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Hoping for classic Luiz gaffe today.
Come on Villa!
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Hoping for classic David Luiz gaffe today.
Come on Villa!
Fixed
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Hoping for classic David Luiz gaffe today.
Come on Villa!
Fixed
Ha, was just going to say something similar!
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Hoping for classic David Luiz gaffe today.
Come on Villa!
Fixed
Ha, was just going to say something similar!
Thanks chaps! Luckily for me, there's only one Luiz going to be playing today 😂