West Ham United vs. Aston Villa: Pre-Match Thread

[Monty]

I remember lots of times when we should have been breaking but instead played redundant triangles in our own half

It's not always possible to break very quickly, sometimes the angles are shut off for you (and teams will do this especially against us because we have a reputation for counter-attacking well). In those situations, it's better to keep the ball. I seem to remember us very much looking for the out-ball every time we could.

[WikiVilla]

Maybe Its as we are comparing it to the "true" breakaway flare and devastating pace we had under MON ?

[Monty]

Maybe Its as we are comparing it to the "true" breakaway flare and devastating pace we had under MON ?

Yes, when we would give the ball away more often but were so set-up to counter that it could be devastating.

[UsualSuspect]

From McAllister on official site: "The management team use one of the world leaders in sports match analysis, tracking technology and data creation while scouts give them detailed dossiers on the opposition for each given weekend."
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And it takes until the closed season to work out who to mark at corners!!

[UsualSuspect]

They have to attack, we should attack because its our best suit and we have more firepower. Could be an open game and I'm tipping Villa for a 3-1 win.

I'd pick a team for a running battle.

...............................Friedel

Walker...........Collins..........Dunne..........Young

..........Makoun......Reo Coker......Delph

Downing...................Bent....................Young

Marshall, Cuellar. Clark, Petrov, Albrighton, Agbonlahor, Heskey

But I'll think we'll see the same team from Sunday.

We should have be using a similar line up months ago, get the ball forward quickly and use the pace in the side

[Ads]

We don't do back to back wins, West Ham will have more desire for this and will come from behind to win
West Ham 2 - 1 Villa

Cole
Der Hammer

Bent

Like all the desire they've had so far this season?

[timeoutbigbar]

2-0 to them.  We'll look out of sorts and they'll look slightly better, putting us right back in the shit should results go against us.  Why aren't i a ray of sunshine this afternoon

[DeKuip]

Der Hammers 2   The Villa 0
Ba Ba                  Blank Sheet

I thought you were about to burst into a Nursery Rhyme there.
Ba Ba Blank Sheet

I was, but Avram versus Houll sounded a bit forced for the next line.

Anyway can't stop, I'm on my way to St Ives.

[peter w]

Win and I can get on with being disappointed, annoyed, dismayed at a crap, waste of a season. Lose and its back to biting nails and worrying.

[TonyD]

You could argue this is one of the most important games of the season.  Win, and I'd say we're definitely safe.  We'd be 8 points clear of West Ham, and could breathe a bit of a sigh of relief.  Lose, and we'd be right back down in the shit.  I'm going for a draw, as I think we'll prolong the agony a bit longer.

Yep I go with all this.     I reckon 2.2

Come on you villa boys!

[Pete3206]

From McAllister on official site: "The management team use one of the world leaders in sports match analysis, tracking technology and data creation while scouts give them detailed dossiers on the opposition for each given weekend."
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And it takes until the closed season to work out who to mark at corners!!

He doesn't say that they actually read them.

[The Left Side]

I think Der Hammer will bag a goal against us this weekend in a 1-0 defeat.

[WALTERS WARRIORS]

1-0 Villa Bent .... A nail biting assault at the end .....

[bertlambshank]

Fuck em. Porno FC nil Villa 7.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

We don't do back to back wins, West Ham will have more desire for this and will come from behind to win
West Ham 2 - 1 Villa

Cole
Der Hammer

Bent

Like all the desire they've had so far this season?

From the WHU games I've seen this season, they certainly put the effort in and aren't actually that bad a team. They've a very decent midfield and whoever GH puts out there will have a battle on their hands. They've recently put in some good performances (Man Utd, Everton and Spurs) so I'm not expecting a walk in the park. The only positive is they look weak at the back, especially Upson, so we really need to create chances for Bent who can really punish them. I expect them to go 442 for this one, mainly to stamp out the treat of Ashley and Downing, plus trying to dominate the midfield.

I'd take a point now but expect us to go down 2-1. I just get the feeling they'll want it more than us and at this stage of the year, that counts a lot. Saying that, if we can get an early goal we could really hurt them. We're long overdue a top performance so you never know.