Aston Villa vs Swansea Pre-Match Thread

[eastie]

Just for the record aswell, whilst they were hopeless as a team it's KEA who gets easily turned over and loses possession for the palace breakaway and goal. It's something KEA is always vulnerable to as he is so weak on the ball and his touch and passing are very poor.

Kea is awful but in fairness Delph lost possession several times on Thursday .

[Lastfootstamper]

Delph was poor, but as I said on the match thread, playing in a 2, they did not act as a partnership in there at all, neither of them covered round for the other etc. Was very annoying to watch.

I commented to those around me about that. The distance between them at times was ridiculous, one up, one back, no pass out of trouble available, huge space in the middle of the park that palace filled every time we inevitably lost possession. Discipline and concentration is what's required when playing as a two.

[mr woo]

Come on lads, there's several reasons to be positive about this one

Swansea are playing their second AWAY game in two days. They're also distracted by Europe this season. Michu is not playing. The dreadful Jonjo Shelvey will almost certainly start.

I think the palace embarrassment could produce a backlash and positive response amongst the players. The law of averages says we will win one eventually.

Drop KEA, who appears to lose every single 50-50 block tackle he makes and replace him with Herd, who is at least prepared to grit his teeth and get stuck in. Shelvey will go missing if he thinks he's in a battle.

Drop Andi. Stick GG in as part of a central midfield three with Gabby and Marc wide. Put Kojak up front and the back four that ended the Palace game in defence, light the blue touch paper, sit back and wait for the three points to roll in.









My prediction - 2-0 to Swansea.

[VillaAlways]

Looks like the media have latched on to villa as the club " to drop like a stone"  The mail has an article on Villa and the Sun talks about how the crowd turned on the team.  BB is quoted as saying how hard it is to play with the crowd on your back and the piece implies we were like that during the game.  For me thsts bollocks.  Despite geing one of the worst displays I can remember the crowd were encouraging to the end.  No one should be allowed to blame the support for the inadequacies at the club!

Yes, we are playing absoloutely dire football under a clueless manager and somehow that's the fans fault. Barry Bannan can piss off too , with his antics off the pitch and his sub standard performances on them and he wonders why he got a bit of stick?

[mr woo]

P.s. Shelvey to get both goals.

One thirty yard screamer and one Maradona-esque mazy run from his own penalty box.

[chrisf]

I'm as certain as the next man that we'll get beaten today. Bizarrely you can get 7/4 on a Swansea win with us only slightly longer at 9/5 ...

[Ads]

Guzan, Baker, Clark, Lowton and Luna.

Westwood deep, Gardner for a change, Delph more advanced. Bacuna and Gabby wide of Kozak and we as a team, press and press and press.

[Tugby Villain]

Lambert won't put out this team, but here's how I'd set up:

Guzan

Lowton
Vlaar (still injured?)
Baker
Tony Moon

Bacuna
Gardner
Delph

Albrighton
Kozak
Agbonlahor

[Clampy]

Delph was poor, but as I said on the match thread, playing in a 2, they did not act as a partnership in there at all, neither of them covered round for the other etc. Was very annoying to watch.

Delph wasn't up to his normal high standard against Palace but he wasn't poor.

[ez]

0-0 if we're lucky.

[baddowvillans]

So the new Cardiff manager will have £25m to spend and Palace and Fulham have also indicated they will be in the market.  Sunderland are also lijely to back the improvement under Poyet and west ham will almost certainly buy a striker or two.  So will Randy release funds and if he does should PLbe the one spending it.

what is clear is that there will be a lot of competition so I believe we must focus on quality and not quantity

[MonsXI]

What I'd give for an early goal, god knows where it would come from!

[Steve kirk]

Praying for a win, dreaming of a win, desperate for a win, Villa 0 Swansea 2

[garyshawsknee]

If we don't get an early goal, its gonna be another tough watch. I just can't see what he can do to freshen the team up,throwing Bacuna and Gardner into the midfield sees the most obvious thing, can't see him doing it though. Least Gardner will be fearless, he plays looking forward and makes forward runs,something we have been missing for god knows how long. KEA and Westwood in midfield shouldn't enter PLs mind. UTV.

[eastie]

Swansea play good passing football - i fear they will cut us to ribbons if they score first - heads will drop and it could be a long afternoon.
An early villa goal would provide a much needed lift to all .