West Ham United v Aston Villa Pre Match Thread.

[VinnieChase84]

We're going to have to watch Antonio very carefully.  At the age of 30 and a career that has mostly amounted to the square root of fuck all, he's now decided this is the time to turn into Ronaldo and has got 8 goals in his last 6 games.

Lets not forget that half this total came in one game against the worst side in the league

[Ads]

The midfield of Aston Villa is inferior to the midfield of West Ham.

We have Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek in our midfield

I assume the second sentence is supposed to be some mic drop moment?

[VinnieChase84]

I guess the 3rd kit gets a run out.

Hopefully the game is the same outcome the last time we wore it away to a team playing in claret & blue

[kippaxvilla2]

According to an update I’ve seen Bowen is only 50-50 to face us.  Bowen is starting then.

[PeterWithe]

According to an update I’ve seen Bowen is only 50-50 to face us.  Bowen is starting then.

He was limping at the end of the Man Utd game

[Meanwood Villa]

Been bricking it since Wednesday morning. If we play like we have last few games we'll be OK.

[ChicagoLion]

According to an update I’ve seen Bowen is only 50-50 to face us.  Bowen is starting then.

He was limping at the end of the Man Utd game

so was Antonio

[Villan82]

I really hope Arsenal and Everton take early leads so that we can relax.

[brontebilly]

We coughed up a few set pieces against a below par Arsenal (nine corners and a few free kicks in and around the final third) the other night. Impressive for them that they still didn't manage a shot on goal even with that.

We concede that many against West Ham and they will have shots on goal. In the few Wham games I've seen since the restart they clearly work on it and it's a fruitful source of chances for them.

They also bullied Yanited off the ball at times on Wednesday.  OK, Yanited aren't what they were, but you don't often see teams do that at OT.

Keep it tight the first 30 minutes or so (or ideally an early goal for us) and we'll be reet, McGrath willing.

Don't fancy us if we go behind and have to chase the game.

United looked a bit tired after the Cup games. Very flat and West Ham dominated a lot of the second half from what I saw, not sure why OGS wasn't running his bench but anyway. They had some kid right back who kept Rashford quiet but think he might find the going a lot tougher against Grealish. Cresswell limped off at left back so lets hope he is out too. They thoroughly dominated midfield so that's where our trio need to be well up for it. Bowen looks a fine addition but it's an average enough team let's be honest with nothing to play for.

Hourihane will retain his place and that gives us set piece options. McGinn showed definite signs of improvement so hoping he can get in behind Rice and Noble who both lack pace. Will need Grealish at his best but their right flank is definitely vulnerable so I expect most of our good play will come down that side. I think we will do it, 2-1.

[JD]

All we need to do is beat the kit stealing, stadium stealing, pretend cockney shitty jellied eel eating, porn dwarf run  twats.

Not that I don't like them but c'mon Villa smash the mockney twats.

[ROBBO]

I am able to see all the games on Sunday so will probably watch Bournmouth at the start, ninety odd minutes of watching the Villa might see me off.
Quetion is does the matches start at 1.00 or is there an hour talkfest first?

[JD]

Robbo it will be 1am your time, it's 3am over here.

Hope you are well and not suffering too much with the second lockdown in Melbourne. It's sounds pretty crappy over there.

[Skerra]

My suggestion would be 4-1-4-1
               
                            Reina

Guilbert     Konsa            Mings      Targett

                            Luiz

Trez.         Grealish     Hourihane    McGinn

                            Samatta

                             

[Drummond]

McGinn showed definite signs of improvement so hoping he can get in behind Rice and Noble who both lack pace.

There's just a tiny flaw in that plan.......

[ROBBO]

Robbo it will be 1am your time, it's 3am over here.

Hope you are well and not suffering too much with the second lockdown in Melbourne. It's sounds pretty crappy over there.

Thanks JD, yes it's a real pisser and self inflicted too by a lazy health minister.