Manchester United v Villa pre-match thread

[itmustbe_it is!]

Come on Villa boys, let's do these today! Make no mistake this is a big game for them when Aston Villa come to town. Their theatre of silence won't know what's hit them when the Villans from Aston show up. Sing long and proud.
If we can play for the full 90+ minutes, take advantage of our dead ball situations like last Monday and have unbiased officiating (slim chance of that really) we can get something from this game, hopefully 3 points! Come on Dean Smith's claret and blue army! UTV!

What did you have for breakfast? I want some !

[The Man With A Stick]

Gutted this isn't on TV today as I really fancy us to get something up there.

[tomd2103]

Start of what looks a tough week of games on paper.  Really hope that we go out there and play with ambition and have a real go at them.

[Demitri_C]

I’d take a point if offered now

[purpletrousers]

My first trip to OT. Will probably lose my voice on behalf of those not travelling. Wife almost forgiving me, little AV (5months old) seemed to just enjoy 10mins Newcastle highlights and DS presser, gotta be a good omen!

[Clampy]

I think i'd make one change for today, Marvellous for Douglas. I've got a good feeling about it alongside that gut feeling that the jammy bastards will get lucky somehow. Having Kevin Friend overseeing things will hinder us at some point as well no doubt. Anyway, i'll go for 2-2. El Ghazi and McGinn for us.

[PeterWithe]

3:0

[Villa Lew]

If United play like they did for the first 70 mins at Brammall Lane, we'll win, but if they play like they did for the last 20 minutes, then it'll probably be the same old story. Here's hoping for the former.

[brontebilly]

If United play like they did for the first 70 mins at Brammall Lane, we'll win, but if they play like they did for the last 20 minutes, then it'll probably be the same old story. Here's hoping for the former.

They still conceded a late equaliser in that last 20 mins. This is the worst United side in 30 years, a genuine midtable team. Talented up front but wayward, poor in midfield, average at back.

It's their lack of cover in midfield that McGinn and Grealish particularly will be looking to exploit. The occasion got to our players somewhat at Tottenham and Arsenal earlier in the season when points should have been got, can't afford that today.  Grealish penalty, 0-1.

[ChicagoLion]

We have come up short against Arse and Spuds because we played the occasion and reputation, not the team in front of us.
We are good enough to get something against them but I am not sure we have the mentality to do so.

[SoccerHQ]

There was a stat I saw the other day, couldn't believe it so had to actually go through the seasons and Soccerbase to verify it.

We have only scored more than one goal at Old Trafford v them in one game since 1993, the 3-2 defeat in April 2009.

I think that sums up the on pitch coma we seem to go into up there when off the top of my head I can recall 5-6 times we've gone to Arsenal and Liverpool and scored at least two goals. We also had those 4-4s at Spurs and Chelsea in 07/08.

I think we've only scored more than 1 up there 4 times since winning 3-4 there in 1930. The 3-2 you mention, the 1-2 win in '83, a 2-2 draw in 1962 and 3-3 in 1980.

It's really bonkers. Of course they've had some incredible teams in the recent past but more recently plenty of mediocre teams yet season in season out we go there and can hardly string three passes together. Compared to other top away grounds where we at least have a go, I've seen us win three times live at the Emirates in the last decade after all, similar record at Anfield.

[BoVillan esq]

I'm going with the 'take a point comment', a draw would do nicely, a win incredible, so lets go for this, come on you Villa boys.

[Mister E]

Just about to set off, knowing that we have the worst away record in the Prem League at the moment. Need to address that today.

[Bad English]

I’d take a point if offered now

By default, I like to think that if I were 'offered' a point I would say 'fuck off we're Villa and we are going to spank you off the park so hard you'll be begging us to stop and 'offering' six points just to make the pain go away'.

I will take three points and 60,000 exploded blood-vessels on Alex McPurples nose. FTF!

[dave.woodhall]

Don't build your hopes up. Accept that we're going to lose; anything else will be a bonus.