Chelsea v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[UK Redsox]

If Vlaar is fit I expect that he'll start, maybe in place of Herd.

Gabby, however, isn't worth a place in the starting lineup and is only worth a place on the bench because none of us have any idea whether Bowery is any good

[Toronto Villa]

If Chelsea are tired after Japan (and I dont see how they can't be) it will show if we're on our game.
Its one thing going through the motions against a championship team but being streched physically by a much better team will tell.

I fly a lot in my job and often decent distances. Jet lag is a funny thing in that it doesn't really hit you immediately. It's like day 3 or 4 that you just feel bagged and lethargic. It will effect them and playing them this weekend might give us a little advantage from that perspective. They have a lot of quality amd we'll still need to be at them, but if it is still close in the final 20 minutes our energy and fitness might just be the difference.

[The Man With A Stick]

Gabby might be handy to bring off the bench if they're tiring after 60-70 minutes.

[not3bad]

Gabby has been injured, not sure if he's back yet.  But yes, would be good to bring off the bench when the opposition are tiring.

EDIT: Just seen PWS's post and it doesn't like like Vlaar or Gabby will be ready.

[danno]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20818205

looks like Terry will still be missing for them.
Not sure if this is good or bad news to be honest.

He's not exactly the quickest, I'd have fancied Weimann to
cause him problems.

[Matt Collins]

You'd hope that our forwards (4 in 5 and 5 in 6 respectively) would cause Luiz and Cahill problems if we give them the service. Neither of those two is the best positionally wise.

[bob]

Seems like a good lad, Matthew Lowton. He can string a sentence together, brilliant interview from him.

[bob]

Looking ahead to this game it seemed like one we'd lose, but fuck it. The team, the manager and the fans are all on top form.

Let's just go down there and win.

[silhillvilla]

The Tokyo flight is an absolute killer - 13 hours. I know they'll have been in first class but even so I can't believe how fresh they looked the other night.
Hopefully they've had their Xmas party tonight too so will be wrecked come Sunday afternoon .

[Ger Regan]

From the Guardian's 10 things to look out for this weekend:

Having returned from the Club World Cup and got that tricky Capital One Cup tie at Leeds United out of the way with a minimum of fuss, the next challenge facing the Chelsea manager, Rafael Benítez, is a tricky home match against Aston Villa, who finally roared into life against Liverpool last weekend. The prospect of Paul Lambert's fearless and sprightly young terriers playfully snapping at the ankles of the creaking war horses of Chelsea makes for an intriguing prospect and victory for the visitors will certainly enhance the popularity among neutrals of a Villa side it's become worryingly fashionable to like in recent weeks.

Although unbeaten in their last five league matches, Aston Villa's record in the Big Smoke is not good this year. They've drawn one and lost four in London in 2012, but at 15-2 appear to represent many people's idea of a value bet to take all three points.

[silhillvilla]

The Guardian really is growing on me

[Dave Clark Five]

Villa win 1-0 with a defender scoring.

[glasses]

Villa win 1-0 with a defender scoring.

Cahill O.G. would be nice. Or is he banned?

[Brian Taylor]

Villa win 1-0 with a defender scoring.

Only 1-0..Keep the faith 3-1..

[ciggiesnbeer]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/20818205

looks like Terry will still be missing for them.
Not sure if this is good or bad news to be honest.

He's not exactly the quickest, I'd have fancied Weimann to
cause him problems.

It is good news. Terry remains an excellent player , particularly his distribution from the back and perhaps more importantly as a leader for Chelsea.

Glad he wont be playing.

Hazard, Mata & Oscar scare the everloving crap out me though