Aston Villa v Chelsea Pre match

[ASHTONVILLA]

I have a strange feeling of optimism on this one, think we will get an unexpected win. 1-0 Watkins.

[Simon Page]

We have the full west London trio over the course of a week and I can totally see a case for thinking our best hope of a win is against Chelsea.

In truth, though, we are impotent in front of goal, devoid of confidence, there's an air of gloom about the place, our creative players appear to be wearing concrete boots, any team that can pass at speed will waltz through us and our manager appears way out of his depth. They, on the other hand, have better players, an intelligent manager, a spring in their step and the skills to turn it into a testimonial-style stroll. There's really only going to be one outcome.

Villa to win 4-0.

[Toronto Villa]

I have a strange feeling of optimism on this one, think we will get an unexpected win. 1-0 Watkins.

that's real optimism about Watkins scoring

[pauliewalnuts]

I have a strange feeling of optimism on this one, think we will get an unexpected win. 1-0 Watkins.

that's real optimism about Watkins scoring

Yep, it was entirely plausible up to that bit.

[Martyn Smith]

True disclosure of this Villa side is long overdue. The last time I was able to get to VP was for Gerrard's debut home match v Brighton last November. I am hoping that my next visit, Sunday week, will also be for a manager's home debut

0-3

[Risso]

Watkins has a permanently bemused, slightly guilty look on his face similar to mine when I've promised the wife I'll do something vaguely DIYish like fixing a broken drawer, not doing it, then not having any legitimate excuse for my failure. If somebody else manages to score, he looks like I look when I'm being told about a friend's amazing holiday abroad, ie trying to fake a smile but really being pissed off that it's not me.

[LeeB]

Watkins has a permanently bemused, slightly guilty look on his face similar to mine when I've promised the wife I'll do something vaguely DIYish like fixing a broken drawer, not doing it, then not having any legitimate excuse for my failure. If somebody else manages to score, he looks like I look when I'm being told about a friend's amazing holiday abroad, ie trying to fake a smile but really being pissed off that it's not me.

In that instance he looks like me when my wife is volunteering information about her workplace dynamics

[ChicagoLion]

We'll set up and play similar to how we did v Man City.  It won't be pretty, it won't be exciting and we may get a point. SG will come over as mildly smug with the outcome.   

Man City was quite exciting though. We were the better team second half and the atmosphere was absolutely amazing.

So why he didn’t build on that performance I have no idea.

He said "sometimes you just have to be pragmatic."
I reckon being pragmatic for EVERY game would be a pretty good idea.

The set up looked like he had Kamara and Luiz in a twin DM role.One of the few times this season we looked like we had a structure.
Next game he dropped Luiz and went back to 4 3 3 and bought in Coutinho and that is how he has set up all season.

[wince]

Anything but an embarrassing defeat. I despair supporting us sometimes and sick of us trading on our past as a big club. Bout time we acted like one went out and twat cuntish clubs like Chelsea who bought their successes and to me will always be a tinpot club. Come in villa fuck the fuckers and start acting like a club that can do more than whimper like the cowardly lion.

[pauliewalnuts]

Anything but an embarrassing defeat. I despair supporting us sometimes and sick of us trading on our past as a big club. Bout time we acted like one went out and twat cuntish clubs like Chelsea who bought their successes and to me will always be a tinpot club. Come in villa fuck the fuckers and start acting like a club that can do more than whimper like the cowardly lion.

To be fair, we've had a better record against Chelsea than most over the last decade plus.

[Ian.]

I have a strange feeling of optimism on this one, think we will get an unexpected win. 1-0 Watkins.

that's real optimism about Watkins scoring

I have funny feeling we’ll sneak something from this.

[Taylor]

We'll set up and play similar to how we did v Man City.  It won't be pretty, it won't be exciting and we may get a point. SG will come over as mildly smug with the outcome.   

Man City was quite exciting though. We were the better team second half and the atmosphere was absolutely amazing.

So why he didn’t build on that performance I have no idea.

I think part of it is down to the opposition. Man City don't set up ultra defensively, so in the 30% of the match when you have got the ball, you can hurt them, which we did. Our problem is breaking teams down. Southampton were ultra defensive and shit and we struggled but managed to get one in. Leeds first half we were OK, but after the sending off they kept everybody behind the ball for the rest of the match. Forest did that from the word go. When faced with a static wall of opposition, our players have no idea whatsoever, and just end up passing it sideways and back before hoofing it forwards.

I'm hoping that bizarrely we'll do better against Chelsea because they'll come to play. Probably a forlorn hope, but you've got to hang your hat on something.

Absolutely this. It seems all a lesser team has to do against us is defend deep, and better teams just play normally. We had a good night against city, not sure it will happen on Sunday.

[Jon Crofts]

A straightforward 3-0 home defeat.

[wince]

Anything but an embarrassing defeat. I despair supporting us sometimes and sick of us trading on our past as a big club. Bout time we acted like one went out and twat cuntish clubs like Chelsea who bought their successes and to me will always be a tinpot club. Come in villa fuck the fuckers and start acting like a club that can do more than whimper like the cowardly lion.

To be fair, we've had a better record against Chelsea than most over the last decade plus.

I’m haunted by 23/12/12.....

[PeterWithesShin]

We've won 5 of the last 33 against them. I'm not hopeful.