Aston Villa vs West Ham Pre-Match Thread

[Summers]

I'm more confident with McAndrew in charge than I was with O'Neill.. not sure why. A 2 - 1 win, Hitz for them. Young & Albrighton for us.

OK, but how do you feel about MacDonald being in charge?

I feel like reading McAndrew above got into my head, I used it as a basis of "Does the Mac have an a.. or not?" As I'm forgetful on stuff like that. Then I copied the formers mistake. Ah well.

[Sister of Top Cat]

I think we're going to lose 2-1 in stoppage time to a Hitzlsperger special.  And there'll be lots of booing which MON will go on about endlessly to the press over the coming weeks.

I've changed my mind (it's a woman's prerogative don't you know) and in the light of yesterday's events I now think we'll win as the players will be well up for it and will want to prove a point.

[Beijing Villan]

Given all the recent news I am really looking forward to this game. This is not a knock at MON more the intriguing thought that with a new man at the helm I wonder what sort of formation, tactics and players we will see.

With MON as manager we could probably all predict the on pitch 11 and the tactics, with McDonald in charge who knows? 442, 433, 4231, 4213? Anything is possible. Who will start? NRC, Sidwell, Albrighton, Downing, Cuellar, Young, Collins maybe even the Fonz?

A lot of things are up in the air which makes this first game all the more interesting.

[Monty]

Given all the recent news I am really looking forward to this game. This is not a knock at MON more the intriguing thought that with a new man at the helm I wonder what sort of formation, tactics and players we will see.

With MON as manager we could probably all predict the on pitch 11 and the tactics, with McDonald in charge who knows? 442, 433, 4231, 4213? Anything is possible. Who will start? NRC, Sidwell, Albrighton, Downing, Cuellar, Young, Collins maybe even the Fonz?

A lot of things are up in the air which makes this first game all the more interesting.

Absolutely, not least because MacDonald's worked with the young players in the reserves and knows them better than most. Especially if we do actually sign Ireland by the weekend, I'd like to see Albrighton given a chance, with Downing on the other wing (whichever it is at whatever point in the game), Gabby, or Carew if Gabby's not fit, up front on his own supported by Young and Ireland from midfield, with Petrov sitting. Those two attacking midfielders might be lightweight, but they both work very hard and cover ground quickly in the centre of midfield.

[mozza]

Prior to MON's walk out I'd gone with a 1-1 stalemate-

I'm really up for this match now, not just because it's opening day and I'm guesting 4 friends
from Dublin -

Hopefully the events of the last couple of days and whatever happens before saturday will
galvanise the support and players to get a positive performance and result-   

[Ads]

Prior to MON's walk out I'd gone with a 1-1 stalemate-

I'm really up for this match now, not just because it's opening day and I'm guesting 4 friends
from Dublin -

Hopefully the events of the last couple of days and whatever happens before saturday will
galvanise the support and players to get a positive performance and result-   

Does this new optimism mean you’re coming to Vienna?!

[BannedUserIAT]

Question (especially for those who have witnessed reserve matches):

What sort of game strategies does MacDonald employ? Does he have his own favourites amongst those that MON forgot? Can we expect to see exciting attacking football or will he be more conservative and just 'steady the ship' as much as he can? Does he use substitutions when things go pear-shaped? Who will be his assistant on game day?

[UK Redsox]

The only change to the MoN-type team that I expect to see on Saturday is Marc starting. No one will have seen more of him than MacDonald.

[nicardinho]

The referee for the match is Mike Dean (Wirral)

Last season, he oversaw 4 Villa games and 2 West Ham matches. Of these 6, 3 were draws with 2 away wins.

He will be assisted by Halliday and Flynn, with D'Urso 4th official.

[Mazrim]

Kevin Mac plays a fairly attacking game, uses subs and is tactically astute.
Fans of any kind of tactics are in for a treat as we haven't really had any worth mentioning under MON.
But he's not gung-ho and it wont be a massive departure to how we've been playing.
That said, this isnt reserve football so who knows how he sees our first team playing.

I'm particularly looking forward to players moving into space to receive the ball though and perhaps doing the same for throw ins.
If Ireland is settled in by then I think we'll play thusly:

---------------------------Friedel

Young-----------Cuellar---------Dunne----------Warnock

-------------------Petrov---------Reo Coker

----------------------------Ireland

-----------Agbonlahor-------------------------Young

----------------------------Carew

Guzan, Clark, Beye, Downing, Albrighton, Heskey, Delfouneso


That's how I'd play anyway.

[Dr Butler]

Bumped into a few of the local West Ham season ticket holders and they generally are not looking forward to this match and would be very happy with a draw.

Looking forward to the match and seeing the old ground again.
UTV
The Doc

[richard moore]

Kevin Mac plays a fairly attacking game, uses subs and is tactically astute.
Fans of any kind of tactics are in for a treat as we haven't really had any worth mentioning under MON.
But he's not gung-ho and it wont be a massive departure to how we've been playing.
That said, this isnt reserve football so who knows how he sees our first team playing.

I'm particularly looking forward to players moving into space to receive the ball though and perhaps doing the same for throw ins.
If Ireland is settled in by then I think we'll play thusly:

---------------------------Friedel

Young-----------Cuellar---------Dunne----------Warnock

-------------------Petrov---------Reo Coker

----------------------------Ireland

-----------Agbonlahor-------------------------Young

----------------------------Carew

Guzan, Clark, Beye, Downing, Albrighton, Heskey, Delfouneso


That's how I'd play anyway.

You never know, we might even see a goal scored with some cunning, revolutionary passing through the middle of the park. Certainly some pass and move would be a fantastic start to the new era and as Maz says, moving for throw ins would be just the icing on the top of the cake. That plus a decent corner and free kick...

[Rob Gee]

Oooooh pass and move, yes please!

They kept playing THAT Gabby goal against Bolton on SSN when MON walked, any kind of movement along those lines would be lovely to see again.

[JUAN PABLO]

Kevin Mac plays a fairly attacking game, uses subs and is tactically astute.
Fans of any kind of tactics are in for a treat as we haven't really had any worth mentioning under MON.
But he's not gung-ho and it wont be a massive departure to how we've been playing.
That said, this isnt reserve football so who knows how he sees our first team playing.

I'm particularly looking forward to players moving into space to receive the ball though and perhaps doing the same for throw ins.
If Ireland is settled in by then I think we'll play thusly:

---------------------------Friedel

Young-----------Cuellar---------Dunne----------Warnock

-------------------Petrov---------Reo Coker

----------------------------Ireland

-----------Agbonlahor-------------------------Young

----------------------------Carew

Guzan, Clark, Beye, Downing, Albrighton, Heskey, Delfouneso


That's how I'd play anyway.

     I probably would too  ,    and not the MON bring Heskey on for Carew 77th minite... If Carew needs to come off, put on Albrighton with GAbby up front ...

[BannedUserIAT]

MacDonald has to play something very different doesn't he? Otherwise it'll look like he's sticking the finger up to Randy and saying that he agrees with MON's selections.

Cheers, Maz. Looks a cracking line up. 4-2-3-1 being very flexible and very exciting. Hopefully the lads have had a few run-outs with the Kevin Mac to learn what this "pass" and "move" means. My guess is that many have forgotten!