Aston Villa v Chelsea Match Thread

[SoccerHQ]

Can understand logic in unchanged team as we played o.k on Wednesday but worried we'd hit the wall on the hour mark and the subs really didn't help us.

Surprised at some of the Chelsea selections. Reece James was brilliant at RB against us in the away game and the front 3 is pretty slow compared to what they could've selected. Loftus Cheek has also barely played in 18 months.

However Pedro, Tammy and Pulisic will give them plenty of energy from hour mark so that is a concern.

[richtheholtender]

That’s Samatta off to score goals elsewhere then

[Jon Crofts]

Can’t see past a heavy defeat. 1-4.

[AlexAlexCropley]

Jeez,biblical rain in Stourbridge.Is it raining in B6?

[SoccerHQ]

Inevitably the same team.

And bench I think !

all so predicatable. Lampard likely knew what out team would be on Wednesday and that injuries aside we won't make a sub today until the 65th minute.

If he had made four changes he would be getting slaughtered by the "doesn't know his best team" moaners. We were generally alright, but lacking a bit of spark on Wednesday. No reason whatsoever to make wholesale changes or be whinging before a ball is kicked if we didn't make changes for the sake of it.

I can see the pros and cons really. Makes sense to keep the same backline given we finally kept a clean sheet. However I'd have left McGinn out for this one and put in Nakamba. Saved SJM for Newcastle as he really struggled to get into the game on Wednesday so think at this point he can be more effective off the bench.

Probably will be at 70th minute mark. We need to be winning.

[Steve67]

Famous last words but that isn't the Chelsea side I expected and we might scrape a draw out of this.  Saying that, their bench is better than our team!

[Mossie Hennebry]

Can’t see past a heavy defeat. 1-4.

I was thinking the very same.

[Legion]

Oh well.

[gpbarr]

Chelsea are going to have a field day here - wrong selection for me. Its like Dean thinks a draw would be a good result - too little, too late.

[curiousorange]

Hate Giroud. Crap yet loves a goal v Villa.

[hilts_coolerking]

This was never going to be the game to go gung ho.  As others have said, while it's far from ideal, a point isn't a total disaster.  We looked reasonably solid, if uninspired, on Wednesday and that's what's required today.  What we absolutely do not need is to go down 3-0.

[Toronto Villa]

Inevitably the same team.

And bench I think !

all so predicatable. Lampard likely knew what out team would be on Wednesday and that injuries aside we won't make a sub today until the 65th minute.

If he had made four changes he would be getting slaughtered by the "doesn't know his best team" moaners. We were generally alright, but lacking a bit of spark on Wednesday. No reason whatsoever to make wholesale changes or be whinging before a ball is kicked if we didn't make changes for the sake of it.

I can see the pros and cons really. Makes sense to keep the same backline given we finally kept a clean sheet. However I'd have left McGinn out for this one and put in Nakamba. Saved SJM for Newcastle as he really struggled to get into the game on Wednesday so think at this point he can be more effective off the bench.

Probably will be at 70th minute mark. We need to be winning.

And we don’t need wholesale changes. I thought Konsa was ineffective at RB. Much rather see Guilbert who was training and appears to be fit or Elmo. More balance. And play Samatta instead of AEG. But what’s maddening is that Dean Smith will play the same way. We’ve seen it all season. And we will lump the ball up to KD all game and a top side like Chelsea will hit us on the counter if he can’t make it stick and bring other players into the game

[Taylor]

He’s starting to get on my nerves now

Really? I know how you feel.

[curiousorange]

I have to say it feels a little like an Eric Black team sheet. "Chalk it up, lads. Onto the next one."

[Lastfootstamper]

Jeez,biblical rain in Stourbridge.Is it raining in B6?

Might be heading that way, darkening skies over Smethwick way. Mind you, all forecasts had it being hairily stormy on Wednesday, which didn't transpire to that level.