Aston Villa v Crystal Palace Pre-Match Shenanigans

[VillaTim]

Ollise is out injured so he won't be a threat but they are a well drilled side who if they get their noses in front will be hard to unlock.

[AV84]

This is an important game for getting a feel for where we are.

So far we have hammered some poor teams, and been hammered by some good teams.  I think a win is important today - as is no more injuries. 

Still trying to gague where we are - there are always going to be ups and downs, and we have been very lucky since Unai came in - but this season some of the challenges we all knew could happen are.  We have a lot of games, we have key players out injured, we have our one senior goal scorer off form.

I feel the same, it's very hard to judge where we are based on the games we've played so far. Even the games we lost we seemed to be completely switched off in from the start, so it's difficult to even judge where we are agaisnt the top teams. Maybe that's me being overly optimistic, and maybe we are just that much "worse" than Liverpool, but it feels like we didn't perform at all in those games.

Obviously I'll take 3 points however they come, but I feel like a couple of 1-0 wins against tough opposition would do us the world of good right now.

[Monty]

I thought (and will keep saying until I literally burst like Mr Creosote) that the Newcastle result was a bit freakish. They deserved the win, but they just had one of those days and we had one of those days and the scoreline was a bit exaggerated. Liverpool, they had us absolutely from the first minute, much more like our win over Newcastle in April. I think we and the Saudis will finish closer to each other than to Liverpool this season.

For that to happen, though, we really have to start winning games like this. Palace are a good, tough side - and we have to get used to the idea of beating good tough sides as a matter of course for our ambitions to mean anything.

[Clampy]

I sense a steady win today. 2-0. Luiz penalty and Watkins.

Dave to get thrown out the Terrace View for tutting too loudly at the beer prices.

[VillaTim]

The media are already onto us following the batterings at Newcastle & Liverpool. They very much see us as mid table and last season was a blip. Games like today we have to win. Huge game.

[Ian.]

The media are already onto us following the batterings at Newcastle & Liverpool. They very much see us as mid table and last season was a blip. Games like today we have to win. Huge game.

If that really is the case that the media think this, I don’t mind us being under the radar.

[Hookeysmith]

Yet we are above Red filth, Chelsea and Saudi...if you listened to the press last season was an anomaly and we are bang average.

Today a win is very important to addressee balance

I also fancy Brighton to get something against the scum

[VillaTim]

Yet we are above Red filth, Chelsea and Saudi...if you listened to the press last season was an anomaly and we are bang average.

Today a win is very important to addressee balance

I also fancy Brighton to get something against the scum

Yah the press are trying to say we were right all along , Villa last season was a blip and this season is more representative

[Beard82]

I am happy with us being under the radar.  I'm a long way from concerned - we have a great manager and some very good players.  Progress will sometimes be 2 steps forward and 1 step back - but we're not exciting to the media- because we're not throwing money at things and were not one of the sky six.  I don't see why the media seem to be loving Newcastle so much - Howe has done a great job - but they are just another side of the existential threat to football via sports washing and a desire for football to be turned into WWE.

The injuries and departures of Archer and Phil have left me feeling we're a little light, and Carlos & Pau are getting up to speed, but if we stick with the process I truly believe we'll get there. 

[Keeno]

I am happy with us being under the radar.  I'm a long way from concerned - we have a great manager and some very good players.  Progress will sometimes be 2 steps forward and 1 step back - but we're not exciting to the media- because we're not throwing money at things and were not one of the sky six.  I don't see why the media seem to be loving Newcastle so much - Howe has done a great job - but they are just another side of the existential threat to football via sports washing and a desire for football to be turned into WWE.

The injuries and departures of Archer and Phil have left me feeling we're a little light, and Carlos & Pau are getting up to speed, but if we stick with the process I truly believe we'll get there. 

Yeah fully agree. Very early days yet - we're about where I thought we'd be given the injuries. I think a steady 2-0/3-1 today. A clean sheet would be nice, and Olise/Guehi being out today are big injuries for them.

[ASHTONVILLA]

I think Watkins will score today.

2-0 Watkins and Bailey.

Any news on injuries? I am hoping Moreno is close to fitness now, be nice to see him on the bench. Also hoping Carlos is available.

[Bad English]

It's going to the Keystone Kops for the first 8 minutes and 0-1 by the ninth minute. I can feel it in my toenails.

[RamboandBruno]

I think Watkins will score today.

2-0 Watkins and Bailey.

Any news on injuries? I am hoping Moreno is close to fitness now, be nice to see him on the bench. Also hoping Carlos is available.

Moreno has trained so on the bench I reckon, Emery has said Carlos is out.

[Monty]

Cash-Konsa-Torres-Digne would be a sensible back four in the circumstances.

[RamboandBruno]

Cash-Konsa-Torres-Digne would be a sensible back four in the circumstances.

Yep agree.
I think the only potential uncertainty with the starting 11 is Bailey or Zaniolo. I would like to see Zaniolo unleashed at Villa Park, but think he might start with Bailey. So,

Martinez
Cash
Konsa
Torres
Digne
Kamara
Luiz
McGinn
Watkins
Diaby
Bailey