Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest pre-match thread

[LeeS]

...Forest have benefitted more than any other team in the lea from subjective VAR decisions going in their favour (awarding/denying pens, fouls in the build-up to goals etc - not offside black/white stuff), so it would be nice to see us balance the books a bit with a nice subjective VAR decision going in our favour :-)

I understand the sentiment, but I'd much prefer it if VAR played zero part in this game (or any other game, to be honest).

[VillaTim]

If we have another very marginal goal disallowed it's going to start looking very suspect.

[Smithy]

They were EXTREMELY lucky to win against us at their place. Emi beaten from distance twice in one game? As rare as rocking horse shit. Plus we had the chances to score three or four, even against them parking the bus.  We should have more than enough to beat them at home, even after our recent wobbles at VP.

Win and we go five points clear of 5th place, it's the perfect incentive.  I also read somewhere in the last week or so, that Forest have benefitted more than any other team in the lea from subjective VAR decisions going in their favour (awarding/denying pens, fouls in the build-up to goals etc - not offside black/white stuff), so it would be nice to see us balance the books a bit with a nice subjective VAR decision going in our favour :-)

We were awful away. The only decent chance we had was the Watkins header he should have done better with. Other than that, I seem to recall a couple of very easy saves from Zaniolo and Diaby, but that was about it.

Yeah we were deservedly beaten at their place. We had a lot of the ball at 2-0 down but rarely looked threatening.

It's strange, because I seem to remember Zaniolo having a really good headed chance after about 10 minutes, probably better than Olliie's, and thinking we should be level.  Plus a couple of other headers in and around the box.  None "guilt-edged" as such, but good enough to be doing a lot better.

Even though we played poorly by our standard, and them well by theirs, I still think they were incredibly lucky to win, given their two goals were from shots that far out.  To get one of those go in a game is pretty rare.  Two? Unheard of (unless you're playing us, apparently).  Play that game ten times and we win 8 of them.

I'd be much more concerned if it felt like they'd "worked us out" that night.  They're a different proposition under Nuno, but I have every confidence Unai will have us ready.

[TonyD]

It's not on PeacockTV.  I was looking forward to watching it at my Miami beachfront house.   

[usav]

It's not on PeacockTV.  I was looking forward to watching it at my Miami beachfront house.

I'm probably missing a joke, but it most certainly will be on either Peacock or USA Network.

[TonyD]

It's not on PeacockTV.  I was looking forward to watching it at my Miami beachfront house.

I'm probably missing a joke, but it most certainly will be on either Peacock or USA Network.

It's not listed on Peacock as one of the matches.  Lots of other matches but not us.

[usav]

It's not on PeacockTV.  I was looking forward to watching it at my Miami beachfront house.

I'm probably missing a joke, but it most certainly will be on either Peacock or USA Network.

It's not listed on Peacock as one of the matches.  Lots of other matches but not us.

NBC Sports show every game, it’s part of the contract.  It will be on one of the mediums I listed.

[TonyD]

It's not on PeacockTV.  I was looking forward to watching it at my Miami beachfront house.

I'm probably missing a joke, but it most certainly will be on either Peacock or USA Network.

It's not listed on Peacock as one of the matches.  Lots of other matches but not us.

NBC Sports show every game, it’s part of the contract.  It will be on one of the mediums I listed.

So I can use my login to get NBC ?

[usav]

I just looked, the game is on USA Network, which is a NBC channel you get with your cable/satellite/streaming TV provider.  So unless you have one of those, you are out of luck.

[Rory]

FTF. Based on nothing, I'm going 6-1 Villa.

[OCD]

We'll have to be well prepared for their transitions as they do have some threats in their team. We need to control the game and take our chances though.

[Dogtanian]

If we'd have got the first goal at theirs, we'd have won. They got that first one though and then defended like crazed demons afterwards. And fair play to them.

[Brazilian Villain]

It was a pretty easy win, we had no idea hoe to get past the 11 behind the ball.

If we score first we win.

Agree with this. If they score first a Nuno side will just sit back and be tough to break down.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Forest will sit deep and play on the counter, the sooner we score the sooner their game plan goes out the window.

I'm expecting a very energetic Forest side, they have some more than decent footballers there and Nuno has got them playing and believing. Expect them to try and press the shit out of us, they won't give us a second. We've struggled against those tactics recently so I'm hoping we will be more prepared.

I'm not sure it's the type of game for Tielemans as he can be a bit of a passenger, maybe better off the bench. I'd throw Big Tim in there to support Dougie (who needs to own the game) and SJM. Bailey should have fun up against former Benfica B and Arsenal bench warmer, Nuno Tavares. He's big and can run but Leon should be able to turn him inside out. As previously mentioned, Forest dominated West Ham at the weekend, they'll be confident and believing they can get something. It's up to us to prove them wrong.

[Skerra]

Don’t know if it’s ever been mentioned before but, apparently, Liverpool have some players that are injured!!