The Mighty Aston Villa vs Swansea Pre-Match Thread

[Goldie.7]

Us 1 Them 1

[pooligan]

I think we will win but i do not think it will be as easy as a lot of Villa fans seem to think. They area decent side but since selling Bony have struggled for goals. I go for a 2-1 home win.

[robbo1874]

Gone for a hard fought point - I think we might struggle a bit in this game, but not so much that we will lose it. 1-1, or 2-2.

Hope I'm wrong and stuff them.

[atomicjam]

2-1 Villa win.

[PeterWithesShin]

OS

Tim Sherwood insists there must be no complacency from his players - or from the fans - as Villa head into what the boss believes is a pivotal game in the season.

Sherwood admits that spirits are high at the training ground and in the stands as the claret and blues charge into Saturday's encounter on the back of three wins in all competitions.

They include two victories over the Baggies and a 4-0 thumping of Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

Sherwood says he will keep the minds of his players focused on the job in hand, which is to claim all three points this weekend as they eye Barclays Premier League safety.

But he also put out a heartfelt appeal to supporters, who he hopes won't get too carried away by their good run.

Sherwood wants them to scream their lungs out for the lads throughout the 90 minutes in a match he knows is of the utmost importance.

His plea comes at the perfect time, after meetings between the club and supporters.

It's been decided to make part of the Lower Holte - L7 and L8 - a special designated singing section - starting with the Swansea game.

A number of supporter groups brought the idea to Villa at a consultation session.

Supporters are encouraging other likeminded fans to help create a wall of noise.

This will be music to Sherwood's ears as he looks to make B6 a fortress.

He said: "This game is huge.

"The fans are going to be very important for us, especially this weekend.

"They can't come with the expectancy that we're going to roll teams over. We have to earn the right.

"We are going to need them with us.

"We want to make it difficult for Swansea - and the fans can help us do that.

"We cry out for them. We need them on Saturday with us to make it a real cup final atmosphere - because let's face it, it is a cup final, it's a pivotal game for us.

"If we can win this one, there is a little bit of breathing space there.

"We're by no means done. But there's that little bit of breathing space going into a long break for international duty.

"We still have a lot of hard work to do.

"The boys have responded to what I have asked them to do. We need to continue that in the home game against Swansea.

"I think it's really important that we don't rest on our laurels. There's still a lot of hard graft to get through. The boys realise that.

"It's important that we send that message out to the fans as well.

"They can't come expecting us to roll teams over 4-0 - it's not going to happen. You have to earn the right.

"We are going to need them with us. We ask them now to stick with us on Saturday because it's a very pivotal game towards our safety."

Sherwood is a big admirer of Swansea and the job Garry Monk has done to continue the free-flowing football of the Welsh side, also nurtured by the likes of Brendan Rodgers and Roberto Martinez.

He knows exactly how they will go about their task - and he insists the claret and blues must stop them playing.

He added: "We know how they play. I thought they outplayed Liverpool the other night.

"I thought they were unlucky not to go in ahead at half-time.

"We know how they try and do things. They have a unique way of playing.

"But we just need to make sure we keep the ball off them. If they have it, we get it back as quickly as we can.

"We know we have got pace in our side that can hurt any team. We expect to hurt them on Saturday.

"If you let them play, they can hurt you. Our intention is not to let them play.

"You get higher up the field and put pressure on them. If they play through you with good play, we hold our hands up and say well done.

"But we hope and expect not to be saying that.

"They will be under immense pressure all over the field and especially higher up the field.

"If we win the ball back in their half we are only one pass away from Gabby or Christian putting the ball in the net again."

[Lastfootstamper]

"But we just need to make sure we keep the ball off them. If they have it, we get it back as quickly as we can.

"We know we have got pace in our side that can hurt any team. We expect to hurt them on Saturday.

"If you let them play, they can hurt you. Our intention is not to let them play.

"You get higher up the field and put pressure on them. If they play through you with good play, we hold our hands up and say well done.

"But we hope and expect not to be saying that.

"They will be under immense pressure all over the field and especially higher up the field.

"If we win the ball back in their half we are only one pass away from Gabby or Christian putting the ball in the net again."

Love that last sentence.

Simple game, innit.

[JUAN PABLO]

I'd keep the same team . Maybe Sinclair might be lucky to start.

Villa win. 3 1

[Witton Warrior]

OSSherwood wants them to scream their lungs out for the lads throughout the 90 minutes in a match he knows is of the utmost importance.

His plea comes at the perfect time, after meetings between the club and supporters.

It's been decided to make part of the Lower Holte - L7 and L8 - a special designated singing section - starting with the Swansea game.

A number of supporter groups brought the idea to Villa at a consultation session.

Supporters are encouraging other likeminded fans to help create a wall of noise.

This will be music to Sherwood's ears as he looks to make B6 a fortress.

Interesting development...

[AVH87]

Thinking about it, I've gone for a draw, but this is the least likely result under Sherwood. We've played 5 under him so far and not drawn any. While he was at Spurs he drew only 3 of 22 games for them. He goes for the win and doesn't really worry about picking up the odd point here and there, ala McLeish and Paul Lambert.

[Des Little]

What kind of attendance are we expecting tomorrow?  Any ideas?

[AVH87]

Holte is a virtual sell out. However the Upper Trinity is empty as usual and the Doug Upper has quite a lot of availability towards the Holte.

I'm guessing 35-36k. Swansea shifted their initial 1600 and got an additional 1300 which are on general sale.

[rob_bridge]

He is right in that if you let them play they will. And are effective.

I remember the Villa Park game under McDoom v this lot. With his approach we made them look like Real Madrid in their pomp. Quite literally.

[villa `cross the mersey]

Holte is a virtual sell out. However the Upper Trinity is empty as usual and the Doug Upper has quite a lot of availability towards the Holte.

I'm guessing 35-36k. Swansea shifted their initial 1600 and got an additional 1300 which are on general sale.

Me and VCTM jnr have bought tickets for the Upper Trinity (last 5 games) so look out for the Merseyside Massive tomorrow onwards - or ............... stewards in yellow jackets evicting two scallies every home game from now until May - shall I produce a bed sheet banner and hang it over the side of the stand? - Suggestions for its content anyone?

[Rudy Can't Fail]

HMP Walton Family.

[villa `cross the mersey]

HMP Walton Family.

Must try harder !!! Us Formby types can afford decent briefs so Walton is not an option