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

[Lobsterboy]

I'll go for a 2-2 draw with Bent and Ash scoring for us

No doubt any 2 from Can't Control, Der Hammer or Robbie Bloody Keane for them!

Joking aside would be happy with a point as long as other results went our way

[DrGonzo]

They have real issues at the back, think Bent could bag a hatfull... I might be lying to myself but if we can score early on it could be a walk in the Park.

0-3

[Matt Collins]

We just need to make sure we don't lose. Back to MON style again. Cuellar at right back. Petrov and NRC in the middle. Logic says play 433 with makoun in there too. But we could play gabby up top and look to exploit their defence with direct play on the break. Gabby could drop wide if we need 3 in the middle.

Upson looks all over the place and I don't like the look of tomkins or da costa either.

But they are strong in centre midfield, esp if Parker is fit. And they have lively fwd options too, though piqiuionne and the guy from inter have faded after bright starts.

Likely to be raucous which doesn't bode well. Plus every time we look to be on the right track we fuck it up

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

1-0 to us.

Not just back to back wins, but back to back clean sheets too !

Having said that, given the circumstances, a draw with a maintenance of a 5 point gap would not be bad.

[WikiVilla]

Cuellar at right back. Petrov and NRC in the middle. Logic says play 433 with makoun in there too.

I like the sound of that, but perhaps with Delph in for Makoun

[PaulTheVillan]

West Ham 1-3 Villa

Friedel
Walker Dunne Collins Young
Downing Makoun NRC Young
Heskey Bent

[garyshawsknee]

Think first goal is important,especially if we get it,as their crowd will turn on them and they could crumble.

I'd take a draw though as it'll keep a gap between us,and they have to go to Chelsea and City soon,and also i'm in the West Ham end,so don't wanna do fake applause surrounded by cockneys,mockneys and Essex boys.

2-2.

[SaluteIanTaylor]

0-0, boring.

[andyh]

0-0, boring.

That'll do

[JUAN PABLO]

West Ham 1-3 Villa

Friedel
Walker Dunne Collins Young
Downing Makoun NRC Young
Heskey Bent

Im thinking Heskey , only so he can earn some bloody wages for a change...

[peter w]

You didn't see the one at Villa Park then?

You haven't really thought that one through, have you Peter?

So you didn't say...

From the WHU games I've seen this season, they certainly put the effort in and aren't actually that bad a team.

...then?

[WikiVilla]

a dull 0-0, last on MOTD will be fine this week

[SoccerHQ]

This won't be 0-0.

2 all.

[Monty]

West Ham 1-3 Villa

Friedel
Walker Dunne Collins Young
Downing Makoun NRC Young
Heskey Bent

That could work, though it would mean we have to sit deep, keep it tight and look for the ball out to Heskey on the counter. A viable tactic, but with our defensive record it's definitely a risky one.

[Greg N'Ash]

One of my nasty feelings about this one

2-1 or 2-0 to them, just think they will want it more than us and they will have targeted this match as very winnable...

I was mightily concerned last week about how many of our players really wanted it against Newcastle given how pivotal the game was

Petrov definitely, Gabby and Collins maybe but not really any of the rest....

Think much the same. realistically they have to win their 3 home games to stay up. lose this and they've only really got a possible 6 points from home. Their away games are nasty with chelsea and Citeh and wigan away won't be easy. 38 points ain't enough imo. a draw ain't much cop either.  we on the other hand would class a draw as a good result, but i think they'll want it more