Chelsea vs Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[London Villan]

I hope Bailey is nowhere near the starting line-up.

Kamara for Donk in Brontebully's line-up for me.

[AlexAlexCropley]

Chuckle brother bound to score .
Hope we can put in a performance like last season what a cracking day out that was but we seem lacking the team buzz

He's injured isn't he?

[VillaTim]

Chuckle brother bound to score .
Hope we can put in a performance like last season what a cracking day out that was but we seem lacking the team buzz

He's injured isn't he?

oh not sure .
Please please no Bailey , he's a waste of a shirt in away games

[Richard]

So 8 games in, 5 wins, 3 defeats, 21 for, 13 against - obvious what the issues are ie defence and defensive midfield. Too much chopping and changing personnel wise, missing Mings in particular.

Cast iron 1 1 draw it is then. Watkins for us, over priced numpty for them.

[AV84]

Bbc predictions thing has a Villa fan on this week. Some MMA guy from Birmingham. Anyway, he backs Villa and Sutton says he's backed Chelsea to pull themselves together too many times now so he's going for a draw, which means Chelsea will probably win. How much do these guys get paid?

[OCD]

over priced numpty for them.

Can you be more specific?

[Proposition Joe]

Last season, Unai Emery managed to turn Villa into an Unai Emery team, and we could go to Chelsea with no fear.

This season, Villa have turned an Unai Emery team back into Villa. Villa away at a team who can't buy a win and have a bunch of misfiring players needing a goal? We know how this plays out.

[Skerra]

Richard, I just knew someone would say Watkins for us. Please, don’t put a bet on that!!

[Ads]

They were hugely meh against Bournemouth, who I though bullied them a bit. Kamara lacking at the moment for me, maybe Dougie or Donk at 6.

[Sexual Ealing]

Last season, Unai Emery managed to turn Villa into an Unai Emery team, and we could go to Chelsea with no fear.

This season, Villa have turned an Unai Emery team back into Villa. Villa away at a team who can't buy a win and have a bunch of misfiring players needing a goal? We know how this plays out.

100% this. I don't even know how anyone thinks anything else. It is a cast iron certainty that Chelsea will use their comprehensive victory against us as a springboard for their season. Or maybe it'll be an oasis in their continued poor form. But they will beat us.

[Hillbilly]

 

Whichever team scores first wins.

What if no one does? 

Unai don’t do nil nil.

[VillaTim]

So 8 games in, 5 wins, 3 defeats, 21 for, 13 against - obvious what the issues are ie defence and defensive midfield. Too much chopping and changing personnel wise, missing Mings in particular.

Cast iron 1 1 draw it is then. Watkins for us, over priced numpty for them.

bit misleading that given 8 of those were vs the Scottish pub team
We've faced 2 top 6 sides and they've swept the floor with us , big issues in defence and midfield.
The Palace win was a good result but i heard we didn't play well for large chunks of the game

[Rigadon]

I'm glad we're playing Chelsea this weekend, as it gives us the chance to put the disappointing results we've had so far into some context.  They aren't the same threat as they used to be, and nether are they going to be so ordinary as they have been for the past year.  A result there would be a good way to get back on track and feel the optimism that is a bit on the wane of late.  Having JJ and Moreno back in the starting 11 would be a great boost.

[AV84]

Assuming Ramsey and Moreno are both back in the running for starting now, what's the lineup?

Personally I think we should stick with the back 4 of  Cash, Konsa, Pau, Digne. Controversial, I know, but it feels like midfield is where we keep losing games. Putting Ramsey back in there and trying to get some consistency with how we play is the main priority, I think. The knock on effect of that should be an improved defence and more goals, hopefully.

That said, I wouldn't be mad if I saw Moreno on the starting lineup this weekend. Bit given he hasn't played yet, I'd think a runout at the end of this, and as much of Everton as possible, would be a more gradual way of working him back in.

Martinez

Cash
Konsa
Pau
Digne

Luiz
McGinn
Ramsey
Diaby
?
Watkins

Not sure whether to stick with Kamara in mid, or go for Zaniolo (or Bailey 👀) and play a sort of 4-3-2-1 kind of thing?

[VillaTim]

Think Chelsea will score in the first 5 mins and that will be that . Jackson with the goal .