Fulham v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[Legion]

I am expecting a goal fest - so it will likely turn out 0-0.

Spoiler for Hiden:

[Ron Manager]

Well Berbatov probably wont be selected and Darren Bent cant play in this one so we might as well sling five in the middle and counter attack at speed. Gabby is very suited to this style of play. If Ron Vlaar is fit 0-2 to us. If he's not fit could be a 1-1.

[Lastfootstamper]

Sunday 8.12.13 1.30pm KO Craven Cottage

0-4 away win

Kozak 4, 16, 33, 69

Good to see the optimism back!!
Having shown I'm not the new Legion with the effect of my non-attendance at the Sunderland game, I shall be working my result-guaranteed magic on this one by being there. Once more, the footballing world will be left scratching its head at how a team which sees so little of the ball can clinically bag another three points on its travels. Us to win by at least three, Gabby to set the ball rolling five minutes before half-time, then, when they come out to play, Kozak to twist the knife, CB to pour salt on, and another screamer from an unexpected source to rub it in, long-overdue comedy own goal for them. Cor wait!

[paulcomben]

Tricky one this. Nailed on Villa win until last Monday, but now they have a new manager's first home game and will be very fired up indeed. We should keep it tight for 45 while Lambo susses out their tactics. Therefore, we will probably be 0-3 down by half time.

[chrisf]

0-4 away win

Kozak 4, 16, 33, 69

Are you mad? Kozak is shit. There's no way he'll score at those times. He'll do something shit like score on 58,59,60 and 61. Because he's shit.

[GarTomas]

Tight nervy but a 0-1 win.  El Ahmadi to score.

[eastie]

Tricky one this. Nailed on Villa win until last Monday, but now they have a new manager's first home game and will be very fired up indeed. We should keep it tight for 45 while Lambo susses out their tactics. Therefore, we will probably be 0-3 down by half time.

His first home game was last night and they lost!

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

They will score.
We will score more, with Benteke on the score sheet.

[SoccerHQ]

We should win but we've underwhelmed the last few years at the cottage which always seems to be a winnable away ground. I went last year which was a terrible excuse of a football match. Nice place though.

The worry I have is Fulham won't keep on losing for eternity and they really should've got something against Spurs.

Vlaar out is a blow so I'll go 2-2.

[Toronto Villa]

excellent news everyone. The Useless One has us down to lose this weekend. Jim Kerr of Simple Minds has us down to win. I know who's expert opinion I'm going with

Fulham v Aston Villa (13:30 GMT)
Performance-wise, Fulham were very good despite losing at home to Tottenham on Wednesday.

It might sound hard to believe but Dimitar Berbatov was running around. Maybe he is playing for a January move - who knows?

 Dimitar Berbatov has scored one Premier League goal this season, against Crystal Palace in October

The Cottagers did not really do a lot wrong against Spurs but they could not get the second goal they needed and, once Tottenham equalised, there only really looked like being one winner.

But if Fulham play like that again against Aston Villa, I can see them getting the three points. Villa are very good on their travels, as we saw against Southampton, but I do not see them winning two on the spin away from home.

Lawro's prediction: 2-1

Jim's prediction: "I like Fulham and I love going to Craven Cottage. But I like Villa boss Paul Lambert more and I think he is going to get a 2-1 win."

yes Lawro, because could it be possible the team with the second best away record in the league win two consecutive games away from home?

[walsall villain]

0-4 away win

Kozak 4, 16, 33, 69

Are you mad? Kozak is shit. There's no way he'll score at those times. He'll do something shit like score on 58,59,60 and 61. Because he's shit.

Are you mad? He will be booked for celebrating with fans after his first and then booked and sent off after repeating it with his second.

[chrisf]

0-4 away win

Kozak 4, 16, 33, 69

Are you mad? Kozak is shit. There's no way he'll score at those times. He'll do something shit like score on 58,59,60 and 61. Because he's shit.

Are you mad? He will be booked for celebrating with fans after his first and then booked and sent off after repeating it with his second.

You're right. He's so shit he won't score four shit goals at the wrong times because he'll be sent off after only two shit goals. He really is shit.

[paul_e]

nice to see you all just think Kozak's shit, at least you're not writing him off.

[chrisf]

nice to see you all just think Kozak's shit, at least you're not writing him off.

He's too shit to write off just yet.

[ciggiesnbeer]

I thought it was a calf strain and he was withdrawn as a precaution? I was a pit bissed at the time, though.

I hope you are right. I thought something had "gone" so he had to come off. I admit to not paying much attention though I was too busy shitting myself as I often do when Villa play