West Ham v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[timeoutbigbar]

The real question is, who's going to play out wide? I'm hoping for Zog and Bannan.

Still see Bannan as a more central player.  Maybe if we continue with the wide players tucking in and fullbacks going beyond them. 

The team I'd go with:

                                Given

       Lowton      Clark         Vlaar            Lichaj (or a new LB if we have one)

                 El Ahmadi     Gardner

           Zog             Ireland           Holman
 
                               Bent

   

[eastie]

The real question is, who's going to play out wide? I'm hoping for Zog and Bannan.

Still see Bannan as a more central player.  Maybe if we continue with the wide players tucking in and fullbacks going beyond them. 

The team I'd go with:

                                Given

       Lowton      Clark         Vlaar            Lichaj (or a new LB if we have one)

                 El Ahmadi     Gardner

           Zog             Ireland           Holman
 
                               Bent

   

Swap gardner for bannan and id agree !

[Monty]

The real question is, who's going to play out wide? I'm hoping for Zog and Bannan.

Still see Bannan as a more central player.  Maybe if we continue with the wide players tucking in and fullbacks going beyond them. 

The team I'd go with:

                                Given

       Lowton      Clark         Vlaar            Lichaj (or a new LB if we have one)

                 El Ahmadi     Gardner

           Zog             Ireland           Holman
 
                               Bent

   

Swap gardner for bannan and id agree !

I agree with that, but I still think we'll play the narrow diamond with no wingers and Weimann behind Bent up front.

[cjm]

Yep, pessimism sinks in for this one I think, the old curse of playing a newly promoted club, as mentioned. Them with a sell-out crowd, 'Ammers Are Back, media love-in in the build up and the fact that it appears we still can't really defend I can't see us winning it.
Fancy us to take the lead but can see them getting a late equaliser or winner.
Of course, I hope I'm wrong and we coolly pass the ball around them all game and patiently pick them apart for a comfortable win. But I can't see us getting a clean sheet or create enough to win without one.

[CJ]

Think Allardyce's brand of hoofball - now supplemented with James Collins' cannonball boots - will test our new/relatively makeshift defence.  Given looked shaky at the Euros too, so can't see us keeping a clean sheet.  Hopefully CNZ and Ireland will turn up and Bent can start the season on a high. 2-2

[Chipsticks]

The real question is, who's going to play out wide? I'm hoping for Zog and Bannan.

Still see Bannan as a more central player.  Maybe if we continue with the wide players tucking in and fullbacks going beyond them. 
   

So do I, but in the absence of Super Marc I'm struggling to figure out who's going to be opposite Zog.

[Monty]

The real question is, who's going to play out wide? I'm hoping for Zog and Bannan.

Still see Bannan as a more central player.  Maybe if we continue with the wide players tucking in and fullbacks going beyond them. 
   

So do I, but in the absence of Super Marc I'm struggling to figure out who's going to be opposite Zog.

I'd say it'll be Holman if we do play wingers, but I'm unconvinced that we will.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

The real question is, who's going to play out wide? I'm hoping for Zog and Bannan.

Still see Bannan as a more central player.  Maybe if we continue with the wide players tucking in and fullbacks going beyond them. 
   

So do I, but in the absence of Super Marc I'm struggling to figure out who's going to be opposite Zog.

I'm struggling to understand how N'Zogbia can claim a first team place based on his Villa appearances over the last 12 months.

[ldavfc4eva]

3-1 villa, bright start early on with Nzog getting a belter, Collins header to equalise followed by a long drawn out second half. Holman to make it 1-2 in 80th minute before bent finishes the match off.

Simples...

[Mortimer's Bear]

2-0 Villa, Bent (2)

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

I think we will come first in this and pick up another Gold.

Oops sorry, I think we will win 2-0 (Bent, Holman) and pick up 3 points.

[Monty]

I think we will come first in this and pick up another Gold.

Oops sorry, I think we will win 2-0 (Bent, Holman) and pick up 3 points.

Well, I'd be disappointed if we got bronze.

[bertlambshank]

8-0 Villa Bent with 7 and a goal from Given.Collins sent off after 37 seconds for kicking the ball to the Moon.

[gervilla]

The Academy Of Football 2 Aston Villa F.C. 3 (Bent 2 Vlaar )

[pedro25]

I'd play a narrow 4 of Bannan, El Ahmadi, Ireland and Holman in midfield with N'Zogbia just off Bent.  One - one, N'Zogbia.