Aston Villa vs Kit Stealers pre-match thread - Sunday, Oct 31st - 4.30pm

[Risso]

The pre-match press conference should be interesting.

[dave.woodhall]

0-2

A cold,wet Sunday made worse by a Home Defeat, I'm afraid I can't see it any other way.

I don't expect you ever would.

[sid1964]

Hoping for a win 2-1 but this is a real tough test, they will be on a high after beating City in the league cup.

Every time we play West Ham I think of a few games, Boxing day 75, the opening day win in 76-77 season, the F A Cup game (which still angers me!) and the Ince goal for them in a season where I thought we would be relegated

[ChicagoLion]

Really need to grind out a 1-1 here.

If we can get back to our standard in September we're more than capable of that as games v them are pretty much always close matches.

Insane to think we'll play anything other than 4-3-3 in this so interested how it looks as think they actually play 3-5-2.

They play 4 2 3 1

[Bobby Boy]

Much depends on how we set up as everyone has said throughout the week (and if Bailey starts).

532 - Villa 0 West Ham 2
433 - Villa 1 West Ham 1

[LeonW]

The performance is almost as important as the result IMO. If the players don’t put up a fight after the wolves debacle and Arsenal, then something is wrong. I’d also quite like to see a return to the good football Smith has served up before. Traore and Bailey out wide in a 4-3-3 please Deano. And if it’s a choice of either Watkins or Ings, it’s Ings for me. Watkins may offer more in his work rate (which may still be debatable, don’t know the data) but in front of goal with a chance to take there's only one winner.

[ozzjim]

1-3...Soucek, Antonio, Benrahma for them. McGinn for us.

[ozzjim]

The performance is almost as important as the result IMO. If the players don’t put up a fight after the wolves debacle and Arsenal, then something is wrong. I’d also quite like to see a return to the good football Smith has served up before. Traore and Bailey out wide in a 4-3-3 please Deano. And if it’s a choice of either Watkins or Ings, it’s Ings for me. Watkins may offer more in his work rate (which may still be debatable, don’t know the data) but in front of goal with a chance to take there's only one winner.

In a 4-3-3 Watkins is so pivotal to make it work. Ings doesn't work the line or provide the outlet to bring others into the game in the same way.

[RamboandBruno]

Smith surely wont stick with the 352.
They are one of the form teams in the division, carrying on from their excellent  season last year. On current form they should beat us, but they are not going to finish top 4, meaning they will lose a fair share if games along the way.
Bailey to tear it up, 2-1 Villa (Bailey, Ings).

[Three Spires Villa]

Horrible kick off time, horrible day, 0-2 to West Ham

[KRS]

Need to stop the rot…expecting another defeat but hoping for at least a draw but think their DM will out smart our DS.

[Demitri_C]

Its incredible how much we have spent yet are nowhere near the level of west ham. Cant say the maanger has not been backed. Another loss for me

[Dr Butler]

tough game against a in form side, loads of them in our village still dreaming about the east end and that they all knew a dodgy geezer or two.....

please smash them Villa, so I can sit smugly in the pub next week.

UTV
The Doc

[Risso]

No excuses really. A home game after more than a week off with just about everybody fit, and West Ham played in the week. A decent performance is the absolute minimum requirement.

[manic-road]

West Ham are a well organised physical side who are hard to break down, I think we will lose 0-2.