Watford v Aston Villa Match Thread

[Ian.]

Moan about Nkamba, El Ghazi and Trezuguet being poor. Said players get dropped. Players replaced. Moan about replacements.

That’s my thoughts as well!

[German James]

Any pm with kinky would be appreciated

Sent you a Christmas card.

[mike]

There’s about 3 people who’ve posted on this thread that have made any sense. Everyone’s virtually written us off before we start.

1. We played two days ago, most of the premier league won’t be playing the same 11 today as Boxing Day;

2. The same people slating El Ghazi and Trez are now slating the replacements pre match. Do you just enjoy slating your own club constantly;

3. If you don’t want Jota and Lansbury in the team who do you want in the team?? There is no point slagging Smith if you have no reasonable ideas of what you want;

4. I don’t think Grealish will be on the left, I think it’ll be Hourihane with Jota on the right and Lansbury/Luiz in the middle. I think Smiths actually been less attacking with this team with an attempt to be less open in the middle.

We may lose this game, we’ll know soon enough, but the endless negativity is grating. As I’ve said before did anyone think we wouldn’t be in a relegation battle this season after coming 5th in the championship. On New Year’s Day last year we were lucky to scrape a draw at home to mid table QPR

Those are very fair points, but having spent over £100million in the summer, I expected us to be doing a bit better than this. And to spend that money and still be playing Lansbury begs question. I really, really hope I’m eating humble pie and chips tonight.

[itmustbe_it is!]

There’s about 3 people who’ve posted on this thread that have made any sense. Everyone’s virtually written us off before we start.

1. We played two days ago, most of the premier league won’t be playing the same 11 today as Boxing Day;

2. The same people slating El Ghazi and Trez are now slating the replacements pre match. Do you just enjoy slating your own club constantly;

3. If you don’t want Jota and Lansbury in the team who do you want in the team?? There is no point slagging Smith if you have no reasonable ideas of what you want;

4. I don’t think Grealish will be on the left, I think it’ll be Hourihane with Jota on the right and Lansbury/Luiz in the middle. I think Smiths actually been less attacking with this team with an attempt to be less open in the middle.

We may lose this game, we’ll know soon enough, but the endless negativity is grating. As I’ve said before did anyone think we wouldn’t be in a relegation battle this season after coming 5th in the championship. On New Year’s Day last year we were lucky to scrape a draw at home to mid table QPR

Agree with this. All negative posts about the lineup should be made to include their preferred option, not just "Bloggs?? What the f**k is he thinking?"
Most players who got slated here after Norwich have been replaced, not sure who else people wanted to see in there?

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Sarr up against Targett will be fun.

[garyshawsknee]

Spot on Mike. Lansbury and Elmo are Championship standard. The fact that they are playing says a lot about our recruitment.

[RamboandBruno]

There’s about 3 people who’ve posted on this thread that have made any sense. Everyone’s virtually written us off before we start.

1. We played two days ago, most of the premier league won’t be playing the same 11 today as Boxing Day;

2. The same people slating El Ghazi and Trez are now slating the replacements pre match. Do you just enjoy slating your own club constantly;

3. If you don’t want Jota and Lansbury in the team who do you want in the team?? There is no point slagging Smith if you have no reasonable ideas of what you want;

4. I don’t think Grealish will be on the left, I think it’ll be Hourihane with Jota on the right and Lansbury/Luiz in the middle. I think Smiths actually been less attacking with this team with an attempt to be less open in the middle.

We may lose this game, we’ll know soon enough, but the endless negativity is grating. As I’ve said before did anyone think we wouldn’t be in a relegation battle this season after coming 5th in the championship. On New Year’s Day last year we were lucky to scrape a draw at home to mid table QPR

Those are very fair points, but having spent over £100million in the summer, I expected us to be doing a bit better than this. And to spend that money and still be playing Lansbury begs question. I really, really hope I’m eating humble pie and chips tonight.

Fair point but unfortunately the markets obscene, West Ham spent 45 mill on one player and down by us. I really hope we at least get a point too

[ez]

I think it's now safe to assume Wesley cannot be dropped for league games.

[itmustbe_it is!]

I think it's now safe to assume Wesley cannot be dropped for league games.

Because we have no viable other options. Don't say Kodjia.

[Clampy]

Everyone complained how shite our wingers were, so they are dropped. Lansbury and Jota deserve a chance.

‘Deserve’ ?

Maybe ‘due’, but never ‘deserve’

Lansbury maybe doesn't, Jota does.

[Legion]

We'll murderise 'em.

[Luke8]

Find it a bit hard to believe that many people have a really good opinion on Lansbury or Jota as we have barely seen they play.

[Goldie.7]

How is Keinan Davis still injured? Every time we get an injury it's months and months out.

It's beyond a joke now, 3 weeks out BTW.

[hilts_coolerking]

As I’ve said before did anyone think we wouldn’t be in a relegation battle this season after coming 5th in the championship.

Yes, quite a few did.  Have a look at the poll on the Realistic Expectations thread a few pages back.  35% of people thought we'd finish 8th-12th.

[Chris_Jephcott]

On a serious note, that midfield is what’s concerning me. It just looks quite light on paper, I might well be proven wrong though and will happily admit to that at the full time whistle!

I also think we do miss Ming’s leadership from the back line too. He might do the occasional slip up, but his leadership experience is priceless to us.

I want to see us be up for a game and play some good football. And be entertained for the first time in the league for a while. I fear Pearson will get the old Salt Grinder out today and pull one over us.

If we do the unthinkable and win, it would be perfect as we can start looking up more than down.

I still stand on 3-1 to Watford though.