Aston Villa vs Manchester United pre-match thread

[Martyn Smith]

Jeez there's some negativity on here.

Given the last two home performances and the way we fell apart Boxing Day can you really blame people?

[Meanwood Villa]

Right now I'd be astounded if we don't lose because our last two home matches have been shite and it's them. But this team has bounced back before so I'm just hoping we're all pleasantly surprised come Sunday evening.

[cdward]

For gamblers, believers in fate and the just downright lugubrious, this game is taking place on my birthday. We have no chance.

I still remember the game on my birthday in 2009.
I had a house full of guests, we were beating them 2-1 with 10 minutes to go and we lost 3-2, 17 year old Macheda scoring the winner in the 93rd minute.
The neutrals watching all couldn't believe we lost the game, the Villa fans amongst us just shrugged our shoulders and told them, this is what happens.
Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.
Do they have any players struggling to hit form? if so they will score the winner
Villa to lose 3-2.

[coreyfeldman]

We're still 4th and have lost 2 league games since November. We've followed each loss with a win.
The level of negativity is pretty ridiculous tbqh

[Ads]

We've just put in a performance every bit as cowardly, lacking in effort and cohesion as we put in the year we were relegated. Imagine being able to say we were more insipid than when we got beat by them under Gerrard. That was an absolutely shameful performance where we've managed to embarrass ourselves to a wider audience against mid-table dross. There's negativity on the pitch.

[Somniloquism]

With Holjund, Rashford and Garnacho all with pace, and Fernandez able to pick passes if not closed down, I'm not sure why people who watched the Newcastle, Manure at their place and Chelsea performances feel like we are going to win this?

[Rigadon]

With Holjund, Rashford and Garnacho all with pace, and Fernandez able to pick passes if not closed down, I'm not sure why people who watched the Newcastle, Manure at their place and Chelsea performances feel like we are going to win this?

We can't be as bad again.  That's what I'm hoping anyway.

[cdward]

More reality than negativity.
The press are saying our bubble has burst, hard to disagree.
Since we blew the chance to go top at Xmas, we look like a mid table team.

[chrisw1]

Feels like it's going to be a struggle.  I'm not sure we can stop them having a field day down our wings even if Torres is back.

Hopefully Unai can come up with a bespoke plan, but it's hard to be optimistic for this one.

[PeterWithesShin]

Ideally we win of course, but a draw isn't a disaster. Keeps them 8 points and 20 goals behind with another game gone. Lose and put in another stinker and alarm bells will start ringing.

[VillaTim]

there are too many weak points in our defence that i can't see how we keep them out unless we play this game totally differently . The whole back 4 of Cash Carlos Lenglet Moreno are very poor and full of errors

[Nii Lamptey]

there are too many weak points in our defence that i can't see how we keep them out unless we play this game totally differently . The whole back 4 of Cash Carlos Lenglet Moreno are very poor and full of errors

For once, I entirely agree with you.

[Ads]

Torres 10% fit is better than Lenglet. He gas to come in.

[London Villan]

The way he warmed up at half time I thought he was coming on. The early goal changed that decision.

It was the same thing with injury time - I am convinced the conversation between the 4th official and our bench was about the length of time he was going to show (easily 7 or 8 minutes) and they were happy to take 4 mins... When the time was show Torres gave the 4th official some grief but was told to sit down by McPhee. Never seen that before.

[ozzjim]

1-3 loss. Going to be messy. Emery has to go low block, debt space in behind and do them on the counter, which is what has hurt United all season. Without Konsa we don't have pace in behind, matches and no pre season are catching up with Moreno. Kamara is getting pressed so quickly on the ball at home and has few options and Doug has dipped in form at home for sure, so we need a big shift to get anything.