Chelsea v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[eastie]

Looked up the score for home game and it is Villa 1 Chelsea 2 in May and we should be lot better and hopefully we will get a draw.

Surprised you needed to look it up - it was only 3 league games ago.

[Big Dick Edwards]

Chelsea will have a days less rest than us before they try to contend with our high energy game. The players should go there full of confidence after yesterday. We certainly can't do as badly as we did at Stamford Bridge last season.

[warleyboy]

Went for a draw at Arsenal, going for the same at Chelski....2-2 Benteke, Gabby

[avfc_1874]

I'd take draw. Can see us conceding at least 2.

I would love us to get a last minute winner courtesy of the ball smashing off & breaking John Terry's jaw though 

[Dr_Fegg]

Whats it like as an away trip?

I'm down in London on Wednesday and might see if I can get a ticket, which having seen the prices I'm sure wont be an issue.

I've a feeling we might sneak this on 2-1 but a solid performance and a draw would be acceptable and show the league the "kids" wont be pushed around this season.

[Marton]

Amazing how a good day like yesterday can make you start the next day with a smile, isnt it

Even if the win at Arsenal was unexpected, any points from this will be a miracle. Yet, our attackers are a nightmare for any side....
One thing that I hope they can improve on is that first pass when we win the ball in midfield. KEA and Delph harassed  the shit out of likes of Walcott yesterday,
but with all them turnovers yesterday, they really need to convert more to counters. We have all that pace on both flanks but the transition to attack has to be faster.

I kinda prefer Sylla as the 3rd midfielder to KEA but he was really good yesterday and probably earned himself another start. So many sequences yesterday where you see
an Arsenal player being aggressively chased down by 2 Villa players, and KEA was almost always making the initial challenge or in close support for the follow-up.

[regular_john]

I expected 0 points from these first two games, so even if we lose here we'll be 3 points better off than I thought we'd be. Predicting a Chelsea win, just hope it's not another mullering!

[Stevie_boy]

On an optimistic note, let's not forget we were Mourinho's bogey team during his last spell at Chelsea. They only beat us once, if I remember right...

[eamonn]

Whats it like as an away trip?

I'm down in London on Wednesday and might see if I can get a ticket, which having seen the prices I'm sure wont be an issue.

If you're feeling generous I'll let you buy me a ticket and you can kip on me sofa, I'm only a ten minute walk down the road.

[SoccerHQ]

On an optimistic note, let's not forget we were Mourinho's bogey team during his last spell at Chelsea. They only beat us once, if I remember right...

At Villa park yes. I believe it's the only English ground Mourinho has managed at more than once he's yet to win at.

They regularly beat us at Stamford Bridge, I went down for that Carling cup game they spanked us 4-0.

[gpbarr]

2-1 defeat, but with a respectable performance that allows us to head into the Liverpool game with good confidence. I'd like to see Jonas come in for this game alongside Vlaar and then if Vlaar plays badly again, drop him for the Liverpool game

[Olneythelonely]

2-1 defeat, but with a respectable performance that allows us to head into the Liverpool game with good confidence. I'd like to see Jonas come in for this game alongside Vlaar and then if Vlaar plays badly again, drop him for the Liverpool game

Who is Jonas?

[mrastonvilla]

A draw would be a good result, although Lambert probably won't play for one. Will be interesting to see what team is selected.

[maidstonevillain]

All of a sudden this is a no pressure game, and good to get it out of the way early in the season. We will have relaxed and confident players wanting to show what they can do. If we can stop our goal difference from going into the negative, we will have had a very good return from the first two games. If we sneak a draw it will be a real bonus.

2-1 Chelsea.

[PeterWithesShin]

2-1 defeat, but with a respectable performance that allows us to head into the Liverpool game with good confidence. I'd like to see Jonas come in for this game alongside Vlaar and then if Vlaar plays badly again, drop him for the Liverpool game

Who is Jonas?

I'm guessing it's Okore.