Aston Villa v West Ham United Pre-Match Thread

[JUAN PABLO]

-----------Guzan
Lowton-Vlaar-Baker-Clark
-----Westwood-Delph
Weimann-N'Zogbia-Gabby
----------Benteke

I wouldn't throw Sylia yet, Clark or Lichaj left back.

i would go with this team, too early for sylla
kea would be ok in there in place of delph if needed, he looked pretty good saturday

I thought KEA looked totally anonymous on Saturday, I agree about it being too early for Sylla though.

Holman still made him look loke Osain Bolt

[sonlyme]

I see many folk are like me concerned about the direct football West Ham will bring - however for me the key lies not in having as many six footers as possible at the back - it will be about controlling the midfield and stopping good quality balls coming into our box in the first place.  West Ham will bring physical power and hard work - we have to match them in the middle - not get over run and look lightweight as we did for the final fifteen at Goodison.

Westwood is getting better and better - but he is still lightweight.  Delph can play but needs to add some composure to both passing and tackling.  El Ahmadi was for me a waste of a shirt at Everton. He has not found his way yet.  Bannan can play (despite the misplaced abuse) but like Westwood is lightweight.

To be honest - I would pack the midfield with five and play the beast up front all alone.

We showed some lovely vision when playing through-balls against Everton - Benteke finished one and Wiemann should have finished the other.  The quality of the passes in both cases split one of the Premierships best defences wide apart.

One goal and none conceded would do me fine.  To do this we need to stifle West Ham's creativity - we need to win the game in midfield.

We can play as many six footers as we have - but unless the ball in is stopped - and our big lads learn how to leap - then this will happen again and again.

[Chrisupnorth]

Some good points Sonlyme. Carroll will be drooling at the mouth at the prospect of playing against our shaky central defence, so cutting his supply off at source will indeed be crucial. A five man midfield sounds about right to me. However, not Delph. He's far too eager in the tackle and concedes too many unnecessary free kicks that will hurt us. Get good service into Benteke and behind the lumbering James Collins and he could also be in for a field day. Another must win game.

[eamonn]

I only saw the Everton highlighs but KEA won possession from Pienaar that led to our first goal. Just to balance out the reports that he was totally anonymous.

By the way, pre-match thread, come on! This has grown to four pages but it just ain't the same y'know?

[Mazrim]

I thought KEA was alright to be honest. Hopefully he'll improve as the season winds on.
He's an experienced player and we could do with it.

[N'ZMAV]

KEA was decent. Offered more presence than Bannan.

[Mazrim]

I reckon 3 from Sylla, Delph, Westwood and El Ahmadi (and Gardner when fit) as the three points of the diamond behind N'Zogbia, with Holman, Ireland, Bannan, Johnson and Carruthers fighting it out for N'Zogbias back up.

[eastie]

I reckon 3 from Sylla, Delph, Westwood and El Ahmadi (and Gardner when fit) as the three points of the diamond behind N'Zogbia, with Holman, Ireland, Bannan, Johnson and Carruthers fighting it out for N'Zogbias back up.

Westwood delph and sylla for me with nzogbia in a free role ahead of them and weimann benteke up front.

[tomd2103]

As well as Carroll's aerial threat up front, I am also a little concerned about Nolan in the attacking midfield position.  He tends to play in quite an advanced position and we might need a midfielder to drop back and stop him getting the ball in space.  With the fact that they like to get the ball out wide, I would also go with a 4-5-1, just to give the full backs that extra bit of protection.  I do think they are weak at the back and if Benteke positions himself up against the CB playing alongside Collins then he could have a field day.

[nick harper]

We played West Ham at Villa Park in 1987, in Feb/March I think. We won 4-0 and thought we'd turned a corner. We hadn't.

Possible deja-vue on Sunday.

[DrGonzo]

Guzan
Lowton-Vlaar-Baker-
KEA-Sylla
Westwood
Weimann-Benteke-Agbonlahor

As for LB, fuck knows.

[Mazrim]

Oh I fully expect to see that twat's stupid duck celebration again. He always seems to score against us.
Carroll will of course get one from a corner or set piece as our defenders are wrestled to the ground in the process whilst the ref shrugs.

Still, 4-2 Villa.

[PaulWinch again]

I was thinking the same, Carroll anytime goal scorer must be easy money. We just need to play to our strengths, which are attacking and just go at them.

[WestleyArmsAV]

Have also gone 4-2 to us - Carroll doesn't concern me, Nolan is their threat, stop him and we stop West Spam.

[eamonn]

We played West Ham at Villa Park in 1987, in Feb/March I think. We won 4-0 and thought we'd turned a corner. We hadn't.

Possible deja-vue on Sunday.

I can't remember the last time we hammered someone in the league (i.e by three goals or more).