Watford vs Aston Villa pre match thread - Dec 28th - 3pm

[SoccerHQ]

Think they'll have too much for us, 2-0 defeat.

[Axl Rose]

0-0

[achilles]

Team for me (and DS lol):

                             Heaton

       Elmo       Konsa         Hause    Taylor

     Guilbert    Douglas     Hourihane    Targett

                             Grealish

                        Wesley/Kodjia

Think that side gives us defensive stability while offering us attacking options out wide with Grealish having a totally free role, I would like to see Kodjia play but it won't happen unfortunately!

Hope for a win but at least a draw, MUST NOT lose!

That's the kind of team Alex McLeish might have picked. Four full backs !

If Mings is fit he comes back in. Targett to come out with Hause shifting over to left back for me. Given he got the winner, Hourihane will probably come back in but I'd move him further forward on the left of a 3 with Grealish and maybe Jota for a change. Drop AEG and Trez.

McLeish never had wingbacks like Guilbert and Targett, they give us an attacking option whilst giving us defensive cover. If you haven't noticed we concede all the time from crosses so we have to cut them out especially with Deeney playing for Watford.

[cdbearsfan]

This is a DO NOT LOSE. A win is always needed but a draw would be acceptable given the state of the table. We need to start getting more points on the board, and our performances will get better with confidence from not losing week in week out.

This is how I feel, too. Win if you can, but FFS please don't lose.

[TonyD]

I’d play 4 3 1 2
Heaton
Guiilbert Konsa Hause Taylor
Lansbury Marvellous Luiz
             Jack
        Conor Kodja

[olaftab]

Pearson will set them up to bully us so I hope Dean counteracts that.

[brontebilly]

Pearson will set them up to bully us so I hope Dean counteracts that.

All our midfield options have been bullied physically and outran in recent games. With the exception of Grealish, you could pick any combination of them and still be disappointed. Watford are still 19th for a reason though so we should be going all out for a win. The only option Smith has really is to play physically stronger full backs (Elmo, Hause), particularly if Mings is fit.

[Lastfootstamper]

A face-saving 8-0 win please, Villa.

[PeterWithesShin]

Them 1 Us 2. AEG and Grealish for us, don't care about them.

[Lastfootstamper]

Hourihane has to play, he has an understanding with Grealish. He has to play, and he has to be close to Jack too. With no McGinn, and the wingers looking like they've forgotten how to play football, I can't see us creating much otherwise.
So of the team that started against Norwich, I'd leave out Targett, Luiz, El Ghazi, Trez and Wesley. Fuck knows who'd replace them, mind. Hause to LB if Mings is back. Davis in if he's fit, Kodjia on the left, Lansbury on the right. Summat like that. I don't know.

[ROBBO]

Targett on the wing is a good shout as he certainly isn't a full back, he might supply a bit more aggression than El Ghazi.

[Bobby Boy]

The Christmas schedule is crazy. Saturday after a Thursday game?

Their bluenose striker will be champing at the bit. 2-1 them.

[OzVilla]

Not confident about this at all, similar to Sheffield Utd the other week. They’ll out work us, out run us and be right in our faces. We’re just too sure submissive as a side in these situations right now.

2-0 them Deeney will score,  you just know it.

[Bad English]

I'll take three points whether 'offered' or not. Ta!

[garyshawsknee]

Despite yesterday's win I don't think we'll get anything out of this one, think they'll out battle us. Would drop both full backs and both wide men. Trez and El Ghazi offer nothing at the moment, time to try Jota.