Aston Villa vs Chelsea Pre-Match Thread

[tomd2103]

I think this will be a better game for lowton and Bennett. They don't play with wingers crossing the ball and anyone forward player out wide usually look to cut in. That should suit our style of play and won't see Lowton and esoecially bennett isolated. They look to get overlapping full-backs - as do we - but our front 3 threat should negate that by counter-attacking as soon as they lose the ball.

If they score early and get on top then we may struggle to get back into it as we'll need to chase it. But they need the 3 points (as of course do we) so if its 0-0 (yeah right) they will have to push on more so creating more space and opportunities for us. They're last game is at home against Everton whilst Arsenal and Tottenham have two relatively 'easier' games to overtake Chelsea.

They will come at us with a full strength team and are likely to take the points. But, knowing how they play, if we can avoid conceding early (or at all would be nice) this could be set up nicely for us.

Agree Peter.  If they play Hazard and Oscar they won't have the type of pace out wide that seems to trouble our full-backs (even though Hazard and Oscar are top players). 

[Concrete John]

A loss last night and I would have expected a strong team Saturday and us to lose.  A win and it's the reserves and I'd then fancy us to win.  So what does a draw do? 

I think it's 3 points to secure top 4 and they have Everton at home last day.  Benitez will want another trophy on his CV, so will he gamble a little?  A lot of ifs and maybes attached to this game now.

Fuck it though - Villa 2-1 and Benteke to smack the shite out of Terry!!   

[supertom]

I think we'll get a result. Not sure we'll win it. I don't see a clean sheet either. I'm hoping Ferninny Torres plays as he couldn't hit a barn door with an Emile. Catching them on the break is key. Gabby can score against anyone, as he's proven over the years, so I fancy him to get one. Tekkers owes the Chelski backline a nightmare. Luiz needs to be targeted. We need to get Gabby at JT as well.

2-2. Gabby and Tekkers.

[Villafirst]

Agree, Luiz has terrible positional sense. Benteke will bully the long-haired ponce. Villa to win 2-1. Should be well up for revenge after the drubbing in December.

[Hoppo]

Supertom i agree with you on most things but Tekkers??? Its a shite nickname. Just call him The Beast.

[not3bad]

Benteke will bully the long-haired ponce.

Sideshow Bob deserves no less!

[Colhint]

After a mauling from Christian, he'll probably promise never to touch Bart again

[eamonn]

'Nando hasn't scored a league goal since they twatted us. And Lampard didn't play last night so might start. That would be a recipe for the perfect storm a few months ago but not now. We'll keep both the blighters out. Ba and Benteke will both score though and chat affable en francais at both half and full times. 1-1.

[MoetVillan]

Im going for a win.  My wife was born in Chelsea, and she hates going to this fixture, as when she does, we win.  Shes coming to the game.  I think ours is the only ground that Jose went to as a Premiership ground that he didnt record a win at.  And he is much better than FSW.  Chelsea look good going forward, but that final is playing on their mind, and switched off a few times last night, perfect for our forward line.  3-2 win

[Ads]

Tores has struggled since it became apparent he wasn't a girl. Even the addition of a gimp mask has failed to re-kinddle any kind of form.

[lovejoy]

Lampard will break the record.
Villa never do it the easy way.
Draw and we're waiting for Wigan to not win on Tuesday.

[manic-road]

1-1 Gabby

[gpbarr]

2-4

Think we'll score (we always have goals in us now) but they are likely going to score more. We need to seriously sort out the centre half issue this summer because if we can tighten up at the back, that would be worth 15 points right there which would put us in the top half of the table.

We'll be safe - Wigan wont win at Arse either which way

[Gompedyret]

Only one thing is fairly certain - Chelsea will score. I hope we'll score more but alas, this one goes to Chelsea.

I still hope, though - it would be amazing to see John Terry jump up and down furiously after Gabby's third goal of the day.

[eastie]

Chelsea could rest a few and lose this game knowing that they will still still be ahead of spurs going into the last game whatever happens - it just means they would probably have to beat everton on the last day at the bridge to confirm champions league - i think benitez will take this gamble and expect him to make at least 6 changes on Saturday.