Aston Villa vs West Ham Match Thread

[Toronto Villa]

Fair enough Milner's in. He's atop player, and no point sitting him out if he can contribute. It would be a complete freak if he suffered a nasty injury, and he's generally been very healthy throughout his career.

Looks like we'll play 4-4-1-1 with Ash in the hole behind Carew, Albrighton and Downing switching flanks with Milner and Petrov in the middle. I expect Petrov to play a slightly more advanced role than he did under MON, but mainly a holding position. Good to see Clark get the nod. He's got all the qualities to make it.

Let's roar them on!!!!

[Small Rodent]

No Delfounesco?

[Countryside Villain]

Great to see Albrighton given the nod along with Clarke.  Quite surprised to see Milner in the team. I do hope, despite everything, the fans are behind him and he gives his all.

Just hope we get through injury free.

[BannedUserIAT]

"Hello and welcome to Villa Park"

God that always makes the hairs on the back of neck tingle.

[Irreverent ad]

No Delfounesco?

I was thinking that. Interesting that he has selected Weimann ahead of him

[Toronto Villa]

Kevin Mac's programme notes from the OS:

Good afternoon everybody and welcome to Villa Park for our first Barclays Premier League game of the season against West Ham United.

It is due to unforeseen circumstances that I have been given the honour of assuming the role of caretaker manager of the football club.

This will be the first game of a long season in which we will be trying to replicate some of the success of the past few years.

Having been at the football club for 15 years and now having been given this responsibility, I intend to do everything within my power to start the season positively.

I was sad and disappointed when I heard about Martin O'Neill's resignation. He was a very good manager for myself and was supportive and generous in passing on his knowledge to the coaches in the reserves and academy set-ups.

In fact, last pre-season he gave me the opportunity of working with the first team, which provided a valuable insight.

Obviously, I have known most of the players here in my capacity as reserve team coach but working in close conjunction with him then and throughout his four years at the club will have helped me in identifying the strengths of the squad now.

Our pre-season was somewhat staggered by the late arrival of some of the players from the World Cup but this gave the opportunity to some of the younger players to impress. The experience of playing alongside the senior players will hopefully enhance and speed up their development and in time, I hope, they will make as great a contribution to the team as those who have been regularly involved for some time.

Today we welcome West Ham with their new manager, Avram Grant, and his backroom staff which includes a good friend of mine, Kevin Keen.

The Hammers, like ourselves, have a proud history and their present group of players will demand our utmost respect and attention during this afternoon's game.

We will need to be very focused and our concentration levels will have to be of the highest order.

Allied to your vociferous support, this will give us the best opportunity to compete and try to win the game.

Finally, I know what kind of atmosphere you are capable of generating here at Villa Park and I hope this afternoon will be no different from the first minute to the last.

Your loud and positive support could make a vital difference to our team.

Nicely done by K-Mac. He seems a top bloke who's coming off a very difficult week. I believe we'll see a much more open Villa display, free of stress. It will be a nice little gift for the new boss.

[PaulMcGrathsNo5Shirt]

Villa to win 2-0 with a brace from Milner.

[BILL DE VALL]

Milner to score
footballs funny like that
come on the Villa
computer dont fail me now

[Toronto Villa]

No Delfounesco?

I was thinking that. Interesting that he has selected Weimann ahead of him

I thought Fonz looked a little tired against Benfica when he came on. He's not had much rest really when you think of it and he's still very young. Weimann has had a very good pre-season, so it's a good choice. Plus, nice to know we've got some options amongst the reserves.

[toplad4u]

Would be interesting if Kevin gets the assitant role to who ever takes over wouldn't have to worry then for all the new coaching staff needing time to get to know the players.

[Irreverent ad]

Villa to win 2-0 with a brace from Milner.

Are you hoping for him to get injured today, so you can keep your login name?

[tim]

No Delfounesco?

I was thinking that. Interesting that he has selected Weimann ahead of him

I thought Fonz looked a little tired against Benfica when he came on. He's not had much rest really when you think of it and he's still very young. Weimann has had a very good pre-season, so it's a good choice. Plus, nice to know we've got some options amongst the reserves.

Weimann's a new one on me... Promising?

[Toronto Villa]

Would be interesting if Kevin gets the assitant role to who ever takes over wouldn't have to worry then for all the new coaching staff needing time to get to know the players.

I think if he didn't get the main job, the new bloke will bring in his own people. Kevin Mac has a job for life down there along with Sid, and Tony McAndrew, so he'll just go back to developing the reserves. Something he is quite brilliant at.

[hawkeye]

streams any one?

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Would be interesting if Kevin gets the assitant role to who ever takes over wouldn't have to worry then for all the new coaching staff needing time to get to know the players.

My thoughts exactly. I think once he's had a taste of first team management it'll be be difficult for him to step back down to the Reserves.