West Bromwich Albion v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[Legion]

I got the joke. Funny, but true.

[UK Redsox]

I've just done a "Scrabble - Instant Win" on the National Lottery website.

The £75,000 word was "Hawthorns". I had all the letters apart from the "S".

Meaningless, I know but amusing nonetheless

[Percy McCarthy]

There is no width, there is no pace within the side, we are pedestrian and we are built primarily to stop the opposition rather than take the game to our opponents.

.

Talk about your own team.
 
They're obsessed I tell ya.

[adrenachrome]

We lack width for sure but we have pace aplenty.

[brontebilly]

Looking forward to what should be a good game. Dont think missing Westwood weakens us all that much especially in a feisty derby game such as this one. I expect Cleverley will be fit but think this would be the ideal game for Bacuna in any case. Richardson ought be well up for the game against his former club if he gets the nod too. Gabby should be able to get plenty of joy from Andre Wisdom and Benteke looks very dangerous at the moment. At the other side, Anichebe made a mug of Clark a couple of seasons back at Goodison but wont be able to man handle Okore as handy. Sessegnon has played well against us before but they are struggling for goals. With Gardner and Mulumbu in midfield, they will have plenty of bite but wont create all that much.

Think we will have too much with Benteke back, 2-1 Villa.

-----------------Guzan
Hutton, Okore, Clark, Cissokho
--------------Sanchez-----------
--------Bacuna, Cleverley/Richardson
Weimann--------------------------Gabby
------------------Benteke-------------

[dave.woodhall]

A bit of a view from the darkside. http://thebirminghampress.com/2014/12/a-week-at-the-hawthorns/

[Lizz]

0-2 to us. My optimistic gene thinks it's time we scored and kept a clean sheet.

[kippaxvilla2]

1-1 - we are favourites to win, which means we won't.

[dave.woodhall]

1-1 - we are favourites to win, which means we won't.

We're nowhere near favourites. Best price you can get on that lot is 23/20, and on us 3s.

[kippaxvilla2]

Really, that does surprise me.

[dave.woodhall]

Really, that does surprise me.

Me too, but that's obviously where the money is. And without wishing to tempt fate, 3/1 Villa looks good value.

[Legion]

*Runs to bookies with £100*

[tomd2103]

Looking forward to what should be a good game. Dont think missing Westwood weakens us all that much especially in a feisty derby game such as this one. I expect Cleverley will be fit but think this would be the ideal game for Bacuna in any case. Richardson ought be well up for the game against his former club if he gets the nod too. Gabby should be able to get plenty of joy from Andre Wisdom and Benteke looks very dangerous at the moment. At the other side, Anichebe made a mug of Clark a couple of seasons back at Goodison but wont be able to man handle Okore as handy. Sessegnon has played well against us before but they are struggling for goals. With Gardner and Mulumbu in midfield, they will have plenty of bite but wont create all that much.

Think we will have too much with Benteke back, 2-1 Villa.

-----------------Guzan
Hutton, Okore, Clark, Cissokho
--------------Sanchez-----------
--------Bacuna, Cleverley/Richardson
Weimann--------------------------Gabby
------------------Benteke-------------

Not sure I'd want Bacuna in central midfield for this game and would probably go for the Sanchez, Cleverley, Richardson option. 

[PeterWithesShin]

*Runs to bookies with £100*

I reckon it's just McLeish wearing a mask.

Irvine seems determined to pick a team not to lose rather than to win a game. He’s stressed that he’s not a cautious head coach and claims he approaches every game with a positive attitude.

[Marlon From Bearwood]

What's the latest on Cleverley's fitness?

Losing him AND Westwood would be a big blow.