West Ham United vs Aston Villa Pre-Match

[Demitri_C]

1-1 draw and I’d snap your hand off for that right now.

That wouldn't be a bad result at all tbh

[Tuscans]

Ollie Watkins will be in the squad against West Ham but Unai Emery planned to meet with him either Friday evening or Saturday morning to decide on whether he will start the game.

[Bad English]

How much do these players trouser each week for not being quite able to start a game? Tsk!

[Des Little]

Ollie Watkins will be in the squad against West Ham but Unai Emery planned to meet with him either Friday evening or Saturday morning to decide on whether he will start the game.

Kinnell so it’s Crazy Horse or Rogers as a false 9?

[AV84]

I'd nearly want Duran to start just for the craic.

[Meanwood Villa]

Aye, Duran goal and doing the stupid arms symbol in front of their fans would be funny

[VillaTim]

1-5

[Accent Guy]

Ollie Watkins will be in the squad against West Ham but Unai Emery planned to meet with him either Friday evening or Saturday morning to decide on whether he will start the game.

This isn't a surprise. I said as soon as he didn't play at Dortmund that it's unlikely he will start against West Ham. I suspect he will come off the bench.

[Dogtanian]

I’m proper looking forward to today, which usually means a catastrophe.

I hate WHAM! away. A ballache to get to, a nightmare to get away from, an absolutely terrible stadium, loud wankers talking like they’re in a Guy Ritchie film… and we never win.

Time to change that, Villa. 

[Demitri_C]

If ollie isnt starting duran wont either. If ollie is benched (which i dont think he will) i think he will go with rogers up top.

I hope he doesnt as i dont think rogers is as good up front

[AV84]

I suppose the thing is that Duran hasn't played in preseason either. Granted he didn't actually play for Colombia over the summer, but Watkins didn't play an awful lot for England either.

I had my doubts over whether Duran was a 90 minutes player last season, and after this summer I have even more doubts, but one way of looking at it is that it's the exact opportunity he wanted, and if he's serious about his commitment to us, now would be the time to show it.

[Clampy]

First games are always tough to call. They've brought a few in but we might be playing them at right time before they click. I'll go 2-3. Rogers with two and Duran to score the winner and set off the saft bubble machine whilst celebrating.

[PaulWinch again]

Two bits concern me, I don’t think we’ve necessarily addressed what was resulting in us conceding plenty last year. Although perhaps Onana’s physicality might help. Also being in a position whereby neither of our striking options have played any preseason for us is not great.

Perhaps we’ll click, but it feels like that’s a hope rather than an expectation. You add to that our first day record, our record at West Ham, and Unai’s record against their manager and it feels very difficult.

[Clark W Griswold]

Martinez
Cash
Konsa
Pau
Digne
Onana
Tielemans
McGinn
Rogers
Bailey
Watkins
And I’m really in 2 minds whether to start Nedeljkovic but will hold back for the opener.

A cagey 1-1, we don’t usually do well there so I wouldn’t be too upset with that.

[DB]

West Ham win, 1st games of the season regularly throw up odd results and certainly don’t define the season.