West Ham vs Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[Ger Regan]

Richards has to play RB. If I see anyone else back there, I'll shoot someone.

Why? He's a liability anywhere he plays.

[simon ward 50]

Richards has to play RB. If I see anyone else back there, I'll shoot someone.

Why? He's a liability anywhere he plays.

Stick him up front!

[Abbeyfealeavfc]

Worth reading some comments made by journalists connected to PlainDealer in 2012 describing Lerner's ownership of the Cleveland Browns.
Described as "pathetic, the most irrevelant billionaire in the world, a recluse, delivered so little following fanfare, hires turned out to be dismal for the most part, not a good owner and not a lucky one either."
Not my words but ones I'm sure Villa fans can identify with.

[Mossie Hennebry]

Richards has to play RB. If I see anyone else back there, I'll shoot someone.

Why? He's a liability anywhere he plays.

I think he is our best option at RB. Maybe have Bacuna play in front of him and switch Gil to the left, but I wouldn't have Bacuna as an out-and-out full back.

[Clampy]

Richards has to play RB. If I see anyone else back there, I'll shoot someone.

Why? He's a liability anywhere he plays.

I think he is our best option at RB. Maybe have Bacuna play in front of him and switch Gil to the left, but I wouldn't have Bacuna as an out-and-out full back.

When Richards plays, we tend to leak goals, apart from the Albion game and that's because they didn't bother to have any shots on target. Our unbeaten little run came with a back four of Bacuna, Okore, Lescott and Cissohko.

[Malandro]

Richards has to play RB. If I see anyone else back there, I'll shoot someone.

Why? He's a liability anywhere he plays.

Stick him up front!

I tell you what its not such a stupid idea.

How long did our dry period last under Lambert? Doing something as absurd as a defender up top might have worked.

I'm sure Micah up front would out score Agbonlahor.

[sendô WHU]

Greetings Villains. It's been a while since I was on here.

This thread has made sad reading for me. It takes me back to our last relegation season, and pains me to see loyal fans expecting the bare minimum of fight, determination and the basic level of tactical nous and commitment from the players to be constantly disappointed by insipid performances.

The unfortunate thing now is, you are as good as relegated, and the players know this - as does your board, which is evidenced by the lack of transfer activity in January. At the very least though, your players should want to play on for a bit of pride.

I'm not sure how to call this. The obvious tactic for Villa would be to sit back and play for a 0-0 looking to score on the break or set pieces. Playing at home to the bottom team with us going so well, certain sections of our crowd will expect an easy win, but football does not work like that. If we score early on, I can see you lot rolling over and us strolling to a win. Keep it tight and get to half time 0-0 and you can nick something.

You can get 40-1 on Ayew first scorer and Villa to win 1-0, surely worth a flutter for an ardent Villa fan. I will be bunging a nicker on it. However my smart money will be going on Antonio to score first and West Ham to win 3-0 at 75-1.

[eamonn]

Welcome back Sendo, we'll meet again one sunny day.

[Pat McMahon]

Sendo, you probably haven't seen much of us so you may be surprised at how poor we are tonight. Will be interesting to hear how bad you think we are compared to your boys back in 2011 (I think).

[levico]

Got a feeling that the dam will burst tonight.

More injuries, Garde's own morale at rock bottom, the players knowing that the club has officially given up and the travelling fans fuming.

Could be a cricket score.

[Duncan Shaw]

Sendo, what is this "score" thing that you refer to?

[Malandro]

I wouldn't be betting on us keeping a clean sheet. Its taken a few miracles to scrape the few we have managed.

I have fond memories of meeting and watching Slaven play for West Ham, so its nice to see him as your manager.
Nice bloke and its a pleasure to see you back on here too. Good luck, although I don't anticipate you will need it this evening.

[sendô WHU]

Good to see you all haven't lost your sense of humour through adversity.

Sendo, you probably haven't seen much of us so you may be surprised at how poor we are tonight. Will be interesting to hear how bad you think we are compared to your boys back in 2011 (I think).

Well I suppose one small mercy is you don't have Uncle Avram as manager or big fat Benni McCarthy up front.

[Duncan Shaw]

Good to see you all haven't lost your sense of humour through adversity.

Sendo, you probably haven't seen much of us so you may be surprised at how poor we are tonight. Will be interesting to hear how bad you think we are compared to your boys back in 2011 (I think).

Well I suppose one small mercy is you don't have Uncle Avram as manager or big fat Benni McCarthy up front.

Wait until you see Gestede, or even fat Gabby tonight!!

[sendô WHU]

Gestede seemed to cause us problems in the game at Villa Park. I assume we were just obliging him his one good game a season, as we seem to do for struggling strikers.