Chelsea vs Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread - December 28th - 5.30pm

[eamonn]

At least Hause can match Giroud aerially

[gpbarr]

I think we will get beat 2-1 in a good contest. We have not got the squad depth they have and the rapid sequence of games will take some energy from us I think here.

But regardless the transformation has been nothing short of extraordinary and I see the club pushing into the top 6 next season.

Exciting times at last!

[Meanwood Villa]

Feeling confident about this one, always was with our away record and how we've played against supposedly superior teams on paper. We're in better form and higher than them in the table so should have nothing to fear.

Given I've been nervous last few games that's probably torn it for us!

[Jon Crofts]

Shades of Christmas 89. 3-0 on Boxing Day followed by a victorious trip to Stamford Bridge.

2-1 Villa I hope.

Remember it well, hammered Man U 3-0  at home Boxing Day, beat Arsenal 2-1 at home a few days later, then on New Year’s Day went down to Chelsea and humped them 3-0, Daley, platt and Ormondroyd from memory. I was only 15 and my older brother who is a chelsea fan, got me a ticket to the away end and drove, met me after and drove us home in a fowl mood, seem to remember Liverpool drawing away at forest later that day and it really seemed like the league title could be on.
For tomorrow, let’s not under estimate Chelsea, they are not playing great but have talent Throughout the team, but then so do we. I’d be happy with a draw, a win and I’d start to think something special might be on. A defeat would be gutted as always but not distraught.
For me the most interesting thing is the centre back partnership. Mings has made some gaffs this season but is still one of our leaders on the pitch. Hause has done really well but I do think that Burnley, wba and to a certain extent palace have played to his strengths a little bit by hitting high long balls into the box. Chelsea will play it on the floor, he’s not brilliant with the ball at his feet so hope he’s not exposed. Also Martinez likes to roll the ball out to Mings and Konsa, I’m less comfortable with the idea of hause playing this way.
However we’re on a roll, same team, 1-3 villa (Watkins 2, El Ghazi).

Fond memories of this one, went with the old man, we were brilliant and we all got locked in afterwards for our troubles.

[Lastfootstamper]

Another difference between the two sides today is that one of them won't be making changes because the manager was right royally peed off with the attitude last time out.

[Morleys left boot]

  Just reading that someone named Mark Lawrenson thinks we will get beat today ,don't  think he ever says anything else about us  ,what a knob !
1-1 for me  Ollie's  luck to change

[rob_bridge]

  Just reading that someone named Mark Lawrenson thinks we will get beat today ,don't  think he ever says anything else about us  ,what a knob !
1-1 for me  Ollie's  luck to change

Some people get paid for doing nothing much badly. Lawro is one such person

[richtheholtender]

Big chance for us tonight. I think a win will really make people take note of us.

[john e]

biggest difference in this game from last season is confidence and belief

I went down last season courtesy of a fellow H&V poster and we never really believed we could get anything out of the game and the same for all the top end sides

this season that’s the best thing that’s happened we aren’t afraid we take the game to everyone with confidence
Yes having better players does make a massive difference but you still need to believe in yourselves and express that on the pitch which is exactly what we’ve been doing

it’s not going unnoticed
I was reading a twitter thread from a Man Utd site yesterday they asked the question ‘how many points out if the next 4 games’
it was heartwarming to see how many of them thought we would be the biggest test

things have changed down in B6 and changed for the better
no more so than we are all expecting a good performance today against a side people were tipping to challenge for the title

maybe we won’t get the result we want but it’s not a forgone conclusion like so many years before

1-3

[RamboandBruno]

  Just reading that someone named Mark Lawrenson thinks we will get beat today ,don't  think he ever says anything else about us  ,what a knob !
1-1 for me  Ollie's  luck to change

He backed us to beat palace but seemingly grudgingly, otherwise he virtually always backs us to lose or draw. Last time out he said ‘we’ve been up and down all season’. Really compared to who, Liverpool maybe, but otherwise our record stands up against anyone in the league to date. He really doesn’t like us, can’t think why, a certain 7-2 humiliation maybe!!

[Morleys left boot]

He probably  said  we were very lucky  and if we wouldn't have
Got our seven they would have come away with a 2 nil win!
He just gets on my tits

[olaftab]

Chelsea had a bit of a shocker on Saturday. Lampard laid into his players for lack of desire and effort. Unfortunately that could produce a reaction against us. So I am not expecting much but a point would be very good.

[ktvillan]

Every so often BBC shows a comparison table based on Lawrenson's predicted results.  We are usually well down on where we are, around bottom 5, and others like Leeds are well up, around top 6.  He invariably predicts a defeat for us.

He seems to be one of the few people in the country who has failed to notice the radical improvements we've made over last season, and his predictions seem to be a reflection of that team, not this one.  However he is not alone in falling for the Leeds hype.  He's basically a gormless twat.

[ChicagoLion]

Maybe Lampard isn’t all that, talks a good game but I just can’t help thinking there is a touch of “I am Frank Lampard and therefore I am a great manager”

[ktvillan]

Oh an I've gone for a draw today - Fwank will rotate so they'll be a bit fresher and there might be a reaction to their bollocking after Arsenal.