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

[brontebilly]

We're not blessed in that department. Maybe Lansbury replacing Jota?

Lansbury was beyond useless at Sheff Utd. Mobility of a snowman. Lansbury, Taylor, Kodjia to mention three are nowhere near good enough even for a decent championship team and I've no faith in Jota either.

Nakamba's confidence is on the floor but we have no option but to play him and Luiz in a two in front of the back four. Hourihane is a liability in that role at this level but can play further up the pitch.

[RamboandBruno]

We're not blessed in that department. Maybe Lansbury replacing Jota?

Lansbury was beyond useless at Sheff Utd. Mobility of a snowman. Lansbury, Taylor, Kodjia to mention three are nowhere near good enough even for a decent championship team and I've no faith in Jota either.

Nakamba's confidence is on the floor but we have no option but to play him and Luiz in a two in front of the back four. Hourihane is a liability in that role at this level but can play further up the pitch.

Nakamba was impressive in some games earlier in the season, Liverpool at home in particular, but he has been awful for the last few games, not through lack of effort but just his first touch and decision making. Was totally culpable for southamptons 3rd which was unforgivable at that stage in the game and made virtually exactly the same mistake yesterday but got away with it. I think it was significant Smith hooked him literally a couple of minutes later.

I agree that Hourihane sometimes struggles in the same role and generally disappears from some games, but simply because of his goal threat and set piece ability he has to be in for me. When we’re not playing well a set piece could be a get out of jail card.

The winger situation is really concerning as AEG is so off form and Trez is looking like a headless chicken. Sticking with the 433 means Smith will have to play one of them and given that I think AEG has more ability. I think has great feet and can pick a pass but is so slow and lightweight he just can’t go with him on the wing. I think he could do a job just behind Wes but that would mean moving jack out wide again, which is a waste of his talent. The other thing he could do is play Hourihane on the left and Lansbury alongside Luiz, not the most thrilling prospect.

[RamboandBruno]

I was talking about Jota being slow

[wittonwarrior]

Take a point now

[Rudy Can't Fail]

We're not blessed in that department. Maybe Lansbury replacing Jota?

Lansbury was beyond useless at Sheff Utd. Mobility of a snowman. Lansbury, Taylor, Kodjia to mention three are nowhere near good enough even for a decent championship team and I've no faith in Jota either.

Nakamba's confidence is on the floor but we have no option but to play him and Luiz in a two in front of the back four. Hourihane is a liability in that role at this level but can play further up the pitch.

Nakamba was impressive in some games earlier in the season, Liverpool at home in particular, but he has been awful for the last few games, not through lack of effort but just his first touch and decision making. Was totally culpable for southamptons 3rd which was unforgivable at that stage in the game and made virtually exactly the same mistake yesterday but got away with it. I think it was significant Smith hooked him literally a couple of minutes later.

I agree that Hourihane sometimes struggles in the same role and generally disappears from some games, but simply because of his goal threat and set piece ability he has to be in for me. When we’re not playing well a set piece could be a get out of jail card.

The winger situation is really concerning as AEG is so off form and Trez is looking like a headless chicken. Sticking with the 433 means Smith will have to play one of them and given that I think AEG has more ability. I think has great feet and can pick a pass but is so slow and lightweight he just can’t go with him on the wing. I think he could do a job just behind Wes but that would mean moving jack out wide again, which is a waste of his talent. The other thing he could do is play Hourihane on the left and Lansbury alongside Luiz, not the most thrilling prospect.

And therein lies our problem; utter confusion; asking players to play in roles they're not used to and/or not effective in.
If Trez is a headless chicken, AEG is a headless peacock. Play him closer to Wesley? He missed the two biggest sitters of the season yesterday. Neither are wingers, neither give me confidence other than coming off the bench as they don't understand/can't play effectively for 90 minutes. When both start it's like starting with 9 men and we wonder why we're so poor.

As others have pointed out, Marv was great when he owned the defensive role. We then try and add Luiz or Conor to play alongside him. Why? Neither are suited for the role and we wonder why it all goes pear shaped. We should now be fine tuning rather than rebuilding the midfield every game. Look how shit SJM became during the season because we kept swapping and changing.

The same could be said for the defence though I'm more confident that is the easiest department to sort out. The only real doubt is who plays left back. Sort out defence and midfield and the attack will soon benefit and more importantly so will results. Dean needs to focus on where to play the players and stick with it. It's little surprise recently we look so often like a team that met for the first time 20 minutes before kick off.

We need to be right up for it tomorrow. Beat Watford and we've pretty much secured one of the relegation places. They'll understand the importance of the game. Will we? I bloody hope so.

[SoccerHQ]

Think the middle three will be Luiz, Hourihane and Jack. Can see Jota getting a start but then we'll be pretty slow on counter attack.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I fear the same.

[adrenachrome]

Paradoxically, Watford's good recent form might work in our favour. If they go all out, we will have chances on the break.

Pessimmism of the intellect, optimism of the will.

[Footy-Vill]

Play Konsa in midfield . Defensive slot.

Watford have some physical presence about them so villa need to go best and try to hold on
The weak ness of some of the villa boys is most concerning.
Can see a few being shrugged off even if up for the challenge

Still take a 1-2 win.

[PeterWithesShin]

Lower lower Watford
Lower lower Watford
HIGHER HIGHER VILLA
HIGHER HIGHER VILLA

[Abbeyfealeavfc]

I'm going to this (my 1st away of the ssn), so looking forward to it. Come on the Villa boys! If Mings is fit I'd play:
Heaton, 
Freddy, Konsa, Mings and Hause.
Hause has proven he can play LB. Also he would add extra height and physical presence when defending set pieces. If Mings is unfit, Hause plays left CB and Taylor comes in. I don't think you can play Freddy and Targett in the same team away from home.
In midfield I'd play Luiz as DCM (he gets the nod purely for his goal line clearance vs Norwich) and hope for the best. I'd also play Hourihane and of course Grealish as a No.10.
In the wide positions I'd play Elmo on the right, so that there is obvious cover when Freddy inevitably goes on one of his marauding runs. I'd play ElGhazi on the left. Imo Villa are better with only 1 of Anwar or Trez in the team. Anwar gets the nod because he's been playing Smith's system longer and I think he likes cutting in and shooting from that position. He will feel more comfortable with a full back behind him that can hold their position. Obvs Wes plays as the lone striker only because Deano won't pick anyone else to play there at the moment.
This team hopefully would make us stronger defensively, but also by playing all our current top scorers with the exception of Trez (who is an obvious replacement for Anwar), we still have goals in us without having to rely on Wes to find the net. It also gives us a set piece threat ourselves especially if both Mings and Hause are playing.
A draw wouldn't be a disaster, but let's win this game! UTV!

[RamboandBruno]

We're not blessed in that department. Maybe Lansbury replacing Jota?

Lansbury was beyond useless at Sheff Utd. Mobility of a snowman. Lansbury, Taylor, Kodjia to mention three are nowhere near good enough even for a decent championship team and I've no faith in Jota either.

Nakamba's confidence is on the floor but we have no option but to play him and Luiz in a two in front of the back four. Hourihane is a liability in that role at this level but can play further up the pitch.

Nakamba was impressive in some games earlier in the season, Liverpool at home in particular, but he has been awful for the last few games, not through lack of effort but just his first touch and decision making. Was totally culpable for southamptons 3rd which was unforgivable at that stage in the game and made virtually exactly the same mistake yesterday but got away with it. I think it was significant Smith hooked him literally a couple of minutes later.

I agree that Hourihane sometimes struggles in the same role and generally disappears from some games, but simply because of his goal threat and set piece ability he has to be in for me. When we’re not playing well a set piece could be a get out of jail card.

The winger situation is really concerning as AEG is so off form and Trez is looking like a headless chicken. Sticking with the 433 means Smith will have to play one of them and given that I think AEG has more ability. I think has great feet and can pick a pass but is so slow and lightweight he just can’t go with him on the wing. I think he could do a job just behind Wes but that would mean moving jack out wide again, which is a waste of his talent. The other thing he could do is play Hourihane on the left and Lansbury alongside Luiz, not the most thrilling prospect.

And therein lies our problem; utter confusion; asking players to play in roles they're not used to and/or not effective in.
If Trez is a headless chicken, AEG is a headless peacock. Play him closer to Wesley? He missed the two biggest sitters of the season yesterday. Neither are wingers, neither give me confidence other than coming off the bench as they don't understand/can't play effectively for 90 minutes. When both start it's like starting with 9 men and we wonder why we're so poor.

As others have pointed out, Marv was great when he owned the defensive role. We then try and add Luiz or Conor to play alongside him. Why? Neither are suited for the role and we wonder why it all goes pear shaped. We should now be fine tuning rather than rebuilding the midfield every game. Look how shit SJM became during the season because we kept swapping and changing.

The same could be said for the defence though I'm more confident that is the easiest department to sort out. The only real doubt is who plays left back. Sort out defence and midfield and the attack will soon benefit and more importantly so will results. Dean needs to focus on where to play the players and stick with it. It's little surprise recently we look so often like a team that met for the first time 20 minutes before kick off.

We need to be right up for it tomorrow. Beat Watford and we've pretty much secured one of the relegation places. They'll understand the importance of the game. Will we? I bloody hope so.

I meant Jota playing just behind Wes not AEG, missed out his name from the sentence though. Clutching at straws with the suggestion though.

[RamboandBruno]

I'm going to this (my 1st away of the ssn), so looking forward to it. Come on the Villa boys! If Mings is fit I'd play:
Heaton, 
Freddy, Konsa, Mings and Hause.
Hause has proven he can play LB. Also he would add extra height and physical presence when defending set pieces. If Mings is unfit, Hause plays left CB and Taylor comes in. I don't think you can play Freddy and Targett in the same team away from home.
In midfield I'd play Luiz as DCM (he gets the nod purely for his goal line clearance vs Norwich) and hope for the best. I'd also play Hourihane and of course Grealish as a No.10.
In the wide positions I'd play Elmo on the right, so that there is obvious cover when Freddy inevitably goes on one of his marauding runs. I'd play ElGhazi on the left. Imo Villa are better with only 1 of Anwar or Trez in the team. Anwar gets the nod because he's been playing Smith's system longer and I think he likes cutting in and shooting from that position. He will feel more comfortable with a full back behind him that can hold their position. Obvs Wes plays as the lone striker only because Deano won't pick anyone else to play there at the moment.
This team hopefully would make us stronger defensively, but also by playing all our current top scorers with the exception of Trez (who is an obvious replacement for Anwar), we still have goals in us without having to rely on Wes to find the net. It also gives us a set piece threat ourselves especially if both Mings and Hause are playing.
A draw wouldn't be a disaster, but let's win this game! UTV!

This sounds completely sensible. UTV

[JJ-AV]

Heaton
Guilbert - Konsa - Mings - Hause
Luiz - Conor
Anwar - Jack - Targett
Wesley

Don't lose it

[Nii Lamptey]

This one has Deeney written all over it. They interviewed him after the Sheffield Utd game, and all he kept mentioning throughout was the upcoming game against us.

Bluenosed tosser.

3-0 them.