West Ham United v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[kippaxvilla2]

0-1 - Ray Stuart penalty 81 minutes.

Won by Goddard? Or Devonshire?

Hmmm not sure on that one - anyone?  I was only 10.

[mr woo]

Well given this season's trend for mild improvement over last years equivalent fixtures, I'll go for the draw.

Probably 1-1.

Benteke to get the goal.

[Merv]

This:
Guzan; Vlaar, Clark; Baker; Bacuna, Westwood, Dylla, Delph, Tonev; Benteke, Weimann.

Or this:
Guzan; Bacuna, Vlaar, Clark, Lowton; Tonev, Westwood, Sylla, Delph; Weimann, Benteke.

Please. Assuming Gabby's injured. If fit, swap him for Weimann.

[kippaxvilla2]

If they are playing 4-6-0 and we play counter attacking, surely it is going to be nought nought to quote Hugh Johns.

[ADVILLAFAN]

I would hope that we play Lowton at left-back, Baker is never suited to that position.

Any idea who the referee is for this one?

[Legion]

Referee: Howard Webb. Assistants: D Cann, S Massey. Fourth Official: K Hill.

[sendô WHU]

Afternoon all.

This is an interesting one. A team with no fit, recognised striker - although we do have Petric and Maiga - against a team that performs best on the road when counter-attacking with pace. Will this be a world first at a professional football match with both teams trying to make the other team take the ball so that they can nick it back and break? There's an outside chance, it has to be said.

Realistically the 4-6-0 thing has been and gone. It was a stroke of genius by Allardyce at Shite Hart Lane against the Lillyshite filth, albeit one enforced on him, but coming out before the Citeh game and telling the world he'll keep it up his sleeve and wont play it every week, and then proceeding to play it every week, was about as predictable as his defending a shit performance with the "we had chances to win it" excuse because we won a couple of corners and one of them almost hit Winston Reid's head (if he was 9ft tall). So having said all that, don't be surprised if Allardyce perseveres with it for this match.

Nonetheless I have an inkling that Carlton Cole will start. Allardyce has stated that the midweek league cup game vs Burnley was the equivalent for him of a third pre-season game, which in Allardyce talk is an ingenius double bluff that surely no-one could ever possible construe as Can't Control starting up top in a 4-5-1. Be afraid Villa fans. Be very afraid.

Anyway, 4-5-1 is the correct way to go for me. You can't play counter attacking with no striker at home against a team that plays counter attacking. I suspect if we are 4-5-1 it will be

Jusskalineninenien

Demel...Tomkins...Reid...Rat

........Noble....Morrison........

Downing....Nolan....Diame

.................CCole................

It might be Joe Cole instead of Diame. Personally I'd go for Diame and bring Joe Cole on second half.

As to the result, I'm not sure. I don't think there'll be a lot in it. Truth be told, neither side are great at the moment. West Ham will keep it tight at the back and in midfield and will probably concentrate on set pieces against a Villa side that will probably sit back a bit more.

I'm going to Liverpool for a 1-0 win. I'm not really sure who to, so I'll stick my neck out and say the home side. In any case, we need a win in this one. You have to beat the teams around you, as Allardyce likes to say, so West Ham need to be beating Villa at home.

[silhillvilla]

Ken McNaught needs to keep his hands down when defending their crosses into the box

[ADVILLAFAN]

I think Petric is injured Sendo and Carlton Cole isn't up to speed fitness wise.

Thanks Leeg.

[saunders_heroes]

Mercifully we're away from home so I'm going for a 2-1 win.
Make it happen, Villa!

[paulcomben]

"Villa have conceded the opening goal in seven of their Premier League fixtures this season, more than any other side.
They have only taken one point from the last three matches and failed to score in that time.
Paul Lambert has won more away league games (seven) as manager of Aston Villa than he has at Villa Park (six).
Christian Benteke has missed two penalties this season. There have only been six penalties missed in total in the top flight this term."

We pay a TV licence fee for depressing summaries like that.

[Phil from the upper holte]

Villa win for me, Fat Sam said they have loads of injuries and we play on the counter so I'm going for a tight 2-1

[Phil from the upper holte]

Sendo, I thought Sam had declined to re-sign Cole?

[ADVILLAFAN]

Hoping Baker is in central defence, cancel them out a bit from set pieces.

[Phil from the upper holte]

I would hope that we play Lowton at left-back, Baker is never suited to that position.

Any idea who the referee is for this one?

I heard that Lowton isn't playing because he and Lambert had a falling out, I think he's girlfriend had a baby and they have moved back to Sheffield which has caused a rift as Lambert likes players to live in a 30 mile radius, anyone else heard anything similar?