Aston Villa v West Ham United Pre-Match Thread

[VillaAlways]

Dunne to slot in

Slot in? Squeeze his fat arse in more like!

I've said draw but obviously im hoping for a win

The Goalzone with Tom Ross · 14,321 like this.
about an hour ago ·
VILLA: No new injury concerns. Richard Dunne has suffered a set-back though - manager says he's 'a long way' away.

They must have known this a week ago.Yet they still didn't buy/loan a centre half in the window.
We won't see Dunne in a Villa shirt again that's for sure

[jonzy85]

Dunne to slot in

Slot in? Squeeze his fat arse in more like!

I've said draw but obviously im hoping for a win

The Goalzone with Tom Ross · 14,321 like this.
about an hour ago ·
VILLA: No new injury concerns. Richard Dunne has suffered a set-back though - manager says he's 'a long way' away.

Trappatoni said today/yesterday that he spoke with Dunne and he said he will be back in 2 weeks.

[villan1975]

Paul Lambert believes Aston Villa need at least five wins & a couple of draws out of the remaining 13 to avoid relegation.

With Villa on 21 points & without a win since mid-December, Lambert says that victory at home to West Ham is essential.

"We must stop conceding so many unnecessary corners. It's time we turned our good performances like last week at Everton into wins. We need at least 5 wins but that also depends on how other teams are going."

Lambert said that Richard Dunne has had another setback with his groin problem & will return to the USA for further treatment. 'It's a blow because we miss his leadership & experience. He's weeks away from playing for us."

[Mazrim]

Paul Lambert believes Aston Villa need at least five wins & a couple of draws out of the remaining 13 to avoid relegation.

With Villa on 21 points & without a win since mid-December, Lambert says that victory at home to West Ham is essential.

"We must stop conceding so many unnecessary corners. It's time we turned our good performances like last week at Everton into wins. We need at least 5 wins but that also depends on how other teams are going."

Lambert said that Richard Dunne has had another setback with his groin problem & will return to the USA for further treatment. 'It's a blow because we miss his leadership & experience. He's weeks away from playing for us."

And he knew Dunne was fucked before the window closed, which makes me increasingly angry that he didn't get a centre half in.

[ajmant]

How the heck does Lawro have this down as 1 -0 to Villa? Last clean sheet?

[DrGonzo]

Didn't realise Collins was injured, shame.

[Jockey Randall]

How the heck does Lawro have this down as 1 -0 to Villa? Last clean sheet?

It actually wouldn't surprise me to see that result. West Ham have scored the least amount of goals away from home in the league. We can also afford to push up when we have the ball as they haven't scored on the counter attack all season so we could have them pinned back for sustained periods. I think our best chance of a win would be 0-0 half time, and score as late as possible in the 2nd half so we don't have to hang onto a lead for long. It's certainly one of the more probable results. I'm going to be positive and go for a 2-0 though.

[VillaAlways]

How the heck does Lawro have this down as 1 -0 to Villa? Last clean sheet?

Oh FFS

[David_Nab]

Dunne miles away from team according to Lambert today

Westwood also a doubt with a bug

[ajmant]

Westwood would be a big miss.

[OasisVillain]

There've been some 'must win' games over the past few weeks but given how they went this has become the biggest 'must win' of the lot. I think we'll eek out a 1-0 win tomorrow, can't see us winning by any more than the odd goad, if at all

[cheltenhamlion]

First goal is key. If we get it I can see them losing interest.

[Jockey Randall]

I bloody hope Westwood is fit. We need all the bodies we can get in there at the minute, especially our best centre mid. Would be annoying if Pogatetz made it ahead of Tomkins for them as well.

[PaulWinch again]

Oh god I hope Westwood is fit.

[eastie]

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has no fresh injury concerns ahead of his side's trip to face Aston Villa on Sunday.

The Hammers defensive duo James Collins (hamstring) and George McCartney (knee) are still out but all of the Hammers' internationals returned from midweek duty unscathed.

Modibo Maiga is back at the club following Mali's exit from the African Cup of Nations but is unlikely to feature.

Meanwhile, Alou Diarra has claimed he was "conned" into signing for West Ham.

Provisional squad: Jaaskelainen, Spiegel, Reid, Tomkins, Pogatetz, O'Brien, Demel, Nolan, Noble, Diame, O'Neil, Collison, Jarvis, J Cole, Taylor, C Cole, Vaz Te, Carroll, Maiga.

 

Aston Villa midfielder Fabian Delph has recovered from an ankle injury after a two-game absence and is included in the squad for Sunday's home fixture with West Ham.

Fellow midfielder Karim El Ahmadi has also shaken off a knock to the knee sustained during the 3-3 draw at Everton last weekend.

Villa manager Paul Lambert will run a fitness check over a third midfielder in Ashley Westwood, who is currently suffering from illness, but hopes of a return for defender Richard Dunne have been dashed by a recurrence of his groin problem.

Provisional squad: Guzan, Given, Marshall, Lowton, Vlaar, Clark, Lichaj, Stevens, Baker, Bennett, El Ahmadi, Delph, Sylla, Ireland, Westwood, Dawkins, N'Zogbia, Bannan, Holman, Benteke, Agbonlahor, Bent, Bowery, Weimann, Burke, Johnson, Williams, Carruthers.