Aston Villa vs Watford Pre-Match Thread

[Lastfootstamper]

Whenever i've seen Vardy's goals for Leicester, a few of them have involved him running through the middle and outpacing the other team's defence. I wonder if that's something Traore could do, rather than sticking him out wide and relying on him to get crosses over?

Tempting. Makes us a bit unpredictable. Looking for crosses means playing Rudy up top, and would be our only plan of attack, and opposing sides can focus on stopping that. With Traore through the middle and Gil in and around, it'd give Watford a bit more to think about, make them play a bit deeper, then maybe we'll find out if Ayew's any good at exploiting room. It would leave us naturally narrow, but hopefully between those three they'd be able to stretch them across the pitch. Amavi is a big miss, so if McCafu has been working on his final ball, that'd be a big help on the threat front.

[Legion]

I'm going to get shot here but how about Traore one side, Ayew the other and errrr Gabby through the middle. Veretout, Gueye and Sanchez midfield 3 and back 4 of Okore, Clark, Richards and Hutton?

Yeah it's Gabby again but i'm completely out of ideas for the centre forward position. Ayew is wasted their, Gestede is a carthorse. Saturday might be one of Gabbys 2 games a season where he turns up.

Shot? For having an opinion?

[PeterWithesShin]

*shoots Legion*

[Musicmaan]

This could be the long awaited turning point. Being a sometimes illogically optimistic villa fan I'm gonna say this is the game we will look back and laugh at when we're sitting pretty in the league.
Villa 3 Watford 1.

Even if our situation improves,  I can't see us 'sitting pretty in the league' but I seriously hope I'm wrong.

[ChicagoLion]

We are desperate for a win and they will be desperate not to lose.
We have no goalscorer or left back and a dodgy Goalkeeper.
We will do well to get a draw 1-1.

[ez]

A hard fought 0-0 draw.

[wittonwarrior]

My heart is already saying 6-0 Gray hatrick, followed  by a rare Carrodus  goal, a little run through and Mortimer power drive.

Bump back to earth - will take any sort of result right now.  A fluky own goal, a goal keeper error or some other miracle.  This is building  up to be  a big  game, expectations not too high.

[Proposition Joe]

Bet365 yesterday had us marginal favourites over both Watford (and the draw I think as well), which I found rather odd. Let's hope they/the punters are onto something that frankly I am not seeing.

Watford away play a flat back 10 don't they so we might need to give Adama a go for that bit of unpredictability.

[gpbarr]

I see another loss - Watford have been impressive away from home, there is huge pressure on us, and Remi can't work miracles so fast.

It'll get worse before it gets better.

0-2

[aj2k77]

It'll get worse before it gets better.

Worse? We lose almost every match, it can't get any worse, it can only get better or the norm continue.

[damon loves JT]

I'm sorry if this is naive - but is there any chance that Adama could play in the middle, rather than as a wide player? Could he be converted into a striker, like Henry or Dwight Yorke?

[richard moore]

0-0 written all over it for me

[Steve67]

2-1 win. Own goal and a penalty.

[wittonwarrior]

Point of order - how can it get worse than the 4-0 at Goodison?

[brontebilly]

have to win this one or I think we will be sunk to be honest

Physically strong team needed, match them physically and tactically then hope one of our players bundles them in

Lescott over Richardson for some extra height, Richards has to be taken out of centre back even if its Crespo coming in

Its a horrible side but Grealish and Traore havent offered anything in months

Think Gestede may have some more luck against lesser defenders, he scored against these last season. If not working in first half, then pop Ayew up front and put Sinclair or another of our lightweight options on the left instead

-----------------Bunn
Richards/Hutton, Okore, Clark, Lescott
--------Sanchez, Gueye------
Gabby, Gil/Veretout, Ayew
------------Gestede-------