We'll be out muscled from start to finish.
We'll be out muscled from start to finish.
Burnley must be wanking themselves silly waiting for this one.You can bet Westwood will deliver one of his floaty corners in front of the away end and after waiting thirty seconds for it to descend, Woods will nod it in unopposed
Home win - comfortable 3-0 with Westwood dominating the midfield battle.
They will kick the crap out of us, play the long ball, out 'game manage' us, which is what Sean Dyche teams do. Win or bust for me where Dean is concerned. I never make score predictions generally as I like to say we lose every time and therefore, I'm always happy to be proven wrong. But this one is a must win. Dean has to pick a side that will go toe to toe with Burnley. This is not a game for pansies or show ponies. Pick a tough side, if we have one. No Grealish, thanks to his stupidity, at a time when we need him most, certainly Dean does.
The last time we beat them at theirs was on 12/09/1936, the same day that Fred Perry beat Don Budge to become the first foreigner to win the US National Tennis Championships.
That is an incredible stat .......and posted by a former Burnley legend ?The last time we beat them at theirs was on 12/09/1936, the same day that Fred Perry beat Don Budge to become the first foreigner to win the US National Tennis Championships.
28 visits to Turf Moor in league and cup without a single victory.
This is a game where we definitely need to try the Christmas tree.
It's gotta be a better option having a tree up front instead of Wes.
/baddumtish
Can’t wait for Jay Rod to score the winnerWith ear cupping celebration.
That's not firThis is a game where we definitely need to try the Christmas tree.
It's gotta be a better option having a tree up front instead of Wes.
/baddumtish
The City fans will never mock when they remember Spruce Rioch.
Can’t wait for Jay Rod to score the winner
Can’t wait for Jay Rod to score the winnerWith ear cupping celebration.
Just like you new that bluenose twat would score for Watford.
That's not firThis is a game where we definitely need to try the Christmas tree.
It's gotta be a better option having a tree up front instead of Wes.
/baddumtish
The City fans will never mock when they remember Spruce Rioch.
Can’t wait for Jay Rod to score the winnerWith ear cupping celebration.
Just like you new that bluenose twat would score for Watford.
I hate deeney. The first goal was a complete and utter fluke. One of the jammiest goals you will see and the other was a pen. Wiat till jan when mings is back you wont have it so easy
Wait till Jan when Mings is back you wont have it so easyI hope Mings will have cut out the fannying about that was creeping into his game.
1-3
No idea how other than the team might finally pull it's collective finger out it's arse and put a shift in
I’m thinking 0-2 to Villa. Don’t know why but I just think Watford was the bottom. This will be the start of a comeback
Same old same old.
You keep battering your head against a wall, you keep getting a headache.
4-0 to the mediocre but properly coached side in claret and blue.
Will it be the shocking Green kit?
Been saying it for weeks but Hause at LB and Targett LW seems logical to me. We get ripped apart down that side consistently, Jack and Targett's link up is one of the more positive attacking moves we have and keeps them close together and keeps Hause in the side.
I'd goHeaton
Guilbert - Engels - Mings - Hause
Nakamba - Hourihane
El Ghazi - Grealish - Targett
Kodjia
Been saying it for weeks but Hause at LB and Targett LW seems logical to me. We get ripped apart down that side consistently, Jack and Targett's link up is one of the more positive attacking moves we have and keeps them close together and keeps Hause in the side.
I'd goHeaton
Guilbert - Engels - Mings - Hause
Nakamba - Hourihane
El Ghazi - Grealish - Targett
Kodjia
That's certainly adventurous. Presume however that Targett is out tomorrow.?
Been saying it for weeks but Hause at LB and Targett LW seems logical to me. We get ripped apart down that side consistently, Jack and Targett's link up is one of the more positive attacking moves we have and keeps them close together and keeps Hause in the side.
I'd goHeaton
Guilbert - Engels - Mings - Hause
Nakamba - Hourihane
El Ghazi - Grealish - Targett
Kodjia
That's certainly adventurous. Presume however that Targett is out tomorrow.?
Yup, he's having his braces removed tomorrow morning.
What a ridiculous kick off time - no one gives a feck about the fansIt could be a blessing. I will be having New Year's Day lunch with SWMBO's family so I won't be allowed to watch.
I discussed elsewhere that I think we've lost all semblance of coherence and structure both on and off the ball. There was no time between the ugliness of Norwich to Watford to change anything tactically.Someone close to Dean should print this and put it in his hand. Right system, balanced with square pegs in square holes. Surely if we can work it out why not him....
For me, if I were Smith I'd see this as a must not lose, as if we do, I think he'll be sacked with the cup game giving two weeks before the next league fixture and enough time for Poch (it could happen!) or not Poch (boooo!) to add to the squad, given the new structure we have.
I think the absence of two leaders in McGinn and especially Mings has added to the bewildering muddle on the pitch.
For me I'd go 352 as it would let us keep a balance between how many men we commit forward, letting the full backs/wing backs push on without fear and also provide support up top;
Heaton
Hause
Mings
Konsa
Taylor
Grealish
Nkamba
Douglas
Guilbert
Kodjia
Wesley
If Davis was fit, I'd drop Wesley. I've gone with Douglas over Hourihane as Connor is seldom visible away from home, while Douglas has mistakes and can be lightweight, yet he is quick and picks a pass. As one of the two 8s with Grealish, I think attacking is more suited to him. He never hides at least.
The system gets Jack on the middle too.
Smith ought to be telling Nakamba to clear his mind and really identify to him his roll; you're to sit in a pocket of space no more than 15 yards in front of that defence. You compress space and when in possession you find Doug or Jack and if not, you hit it long into the channel, where one of the front two will be expecting it, along with the wing backs.
It's always been a hard place for us to go and the confidence and form being shot to pieces doesn't give much hope.
B'ham Mail reckon Taylor will return at Left Back with Mings returning alongside Konsa, meaning Hause misses out? I sincerely hope not! I hope Smith remembers how Rodriguez out jumped a weak Taylor for Burnley's first goal at Villa Park. With the likes of Barnes and Chris Wood upfront, we need height and strength at the back. But Smith will probably opt to put Taylor back in. He has a habit of not doing the obvious!
What's the chances of Mings playing? Sounds a bit doubtful from the BBC preview.
What's the chances of Mings playing? Sounds a bit doubtful from the BBC preview.
Just apply the formula.
Villa player "doubtful" - will not play
Opposition player "doubtful" - will play, and will probably score.
Over the last 4 games they've averaged 0.25 shots on target. If ever a 0-0 was likely, today is that day.not the worst result in the world.
Quite a pleasant day up here in Tory heartland.
Playing its mings and engels at cb. Hause at lbEngels?
Burnley will be too tough, physical, strong and streetwise for us today - we're too soft, if they score first then we're done.I got this wrong. I'm happy. 8)