Aston Villa vs West Ham pre-match thread

[Behind Bluenose Lines]

I'm going for a Desmond again.

John McGinn to score in a league game: there, I've said it!

[Hopadop]

Fortress Villa Park to stand firm - 2-0 Cash and Watkins.

[dicedlam]

I'm going for a Desmond again.

John McGinn to score in a league game: there, I've said it!

I just hope McGinn doesn't come back with is usual International break hangover. He is critical to the way we play.
2-1

[brontebilly]

Think we will be utterly reliant on Luiz and Kamara dominating midfield to win today. Strange attitude to have given our form at home but having to start one of Bailey or Zaniolo out of position is far from ideal. Huge test for Konsa and Torres to deal with their physicality.

[AV84]

I'm going for a Desmond again.

John McGinn to score in a league game: there, I've said it!

I just hope McGinn doesn't come back with is usual International break hangover. He is critical to the way we play.
2-1

He didn't play in the friendly, did he? Hopefully he's well rested.

[Brazilian Villain]

Will be tricky today, but would like 3 Villa wins in the next 7 days please.

[AV84]

Interesting stats on the club site, we haven't beaten West Ham since 2015, and we haven't beaten a David Moyes side since 2010.

[Brazilian Villain]

Interesting stats on the club site, we haven't beaten West Ham since 2015, and we haven't beaten a David Moyes side since 2010.

That's actually made me more optimistic, today's the day!

[jwarry]

Interesting stats on the club site, we haven't beaten West Ham since 2015, and we haven't beaten a David Moyes side since 2010.

I was going to say not beating a Moyes side is astonishing and then I remembered which managers we had when we’ve played Everton, MU and WH.  I suspect Deano might have turned him over though

[Risso]

Interesting stats on the club site, we haven't beaten West Ham since 2015, and we haven't beaten a David Moyes side since 2010.

I was going to say not beating a Moyes side is astonishing and then I remembered which managers we had when we’ve played Everton, MU and WH.  I suspect Deano might have turned him over though

He didn't though, and in one game they had ten men for ages under him.

[Goldenballs]

Need to score first or we'll struggle I think.

[tomd2103]

Results not great for us yesterday. No slip ups today please.

Decent run of fixtures now up to the Spurs game at the end of November.  Win them and it should firmly establish us at the top end of the table.   

[JUAN PABLO]

zaniolo starts

[Dick Edwards]

There was a little spell back in the mid to late 70s where we would put 3 or 4 past them without much bother.  I would welcome a return to something like that.

I think we'll still win as Emery will have a cunning plan for their demise. 2-1

Boxing day 1978* there was around 51,000 at Villa Park for the Gray/Deehan show. A fabulous performance from the lads and we ran out 4-1 winners. Brilliant day.
*some stats might be wrong as I was still three sheets to the wind after Christmas day 

boxing day 1975.
I know because it was my first ever game

I think it was also Dennis Mortimer's Villa debut. We'd signed him from Coventry only a couple of days earlier.