Aston Villa v West Ham - Pre-Match Thread

[Dave]

Friday 10th January, 8pm

Martinez
Cash
Konsa
Mings
Maatsen

Onana
Kamara
Ramsey

Bailey
Rogers
Watkins

0-1

[cdbearsfan]

Draw? There's no replays any more.

[PaulWinch again]

Please can we play well in the Cup.

[TaxDodger]

Please can we not piss about picking Olsen or Gauci.

I'm certainly fine with giving Buendia/Maatsen etc. a start, but our odds of winning drop so dramatically if we change the goalkeeper that it really isn't worth the minimal benefits of giving Emi a rest and someone else a run out.

[Dave]

Draw? There's no replays any more.

Could still be a draw in ninety minutes.

*nods sagely*

[PaulTheVillan]

Similar to Leicester. Rubbish game, scrape through by a single goal.

Martinez
Cash Konsa Mings Maatsen
 Onana Kamara
Bailey Barkley Ramsey
Watkins

[Demitri_C]

Is this durans last banned game  for us?

Wouldnt mind having barry on bench for this one

But start maatsen and maybe bogarde with mings give him some game time keep everything  else same

[dcdavecollett]

No Rogers?

[simboy]

Is this durans last banned game  for us?

Wouldnt mind having barry on bench for this one

But start maatsen and maybe bogarde with mings give him some game time keep everything  else same

i'd be surprised if Barry is anywhere near this or any other game until the window closes, at least for us. They are working out what to do with him and, as i think has been said a number of times before, he cannot play for three clubs in one season.

if Buendia starts I think we can assume Emery has taken the same view of the FA Cup as he did of the League Cup - nice if we get through but not a priority.

[Demitri_C]

No Rogers?

Id have him on bench and save him for everton personally

[Brend'Watkins]

Rogers will be available and should play, probably at the expense of Ramsey. 

[Nev]

Firstly the negatives:

The KO day and time.
The uncomfortable feeling that the 150 years thing has been used just to sell more tickets.
6k West Ham fans in the ground.
Emery doesn't see this glorious trophy as a priority.

The positives:

It's the FA Cup

The verdict:

We will undoubtedly field a weakened side and bow out meekly but the romantic in me still harbours dreams of us lifting the Cup. It's probably me but this fixture just doesn't feel right in any way.

1-3

[devilla]

A Friday night FA Cup KO, live on terrestrial telly and an opponent struggling for results. What could possibly go wrong?

[ChicagoLion]

                     Olson
Nedelijkovic Bogarde Swinkels Maatsen
Ramsey Onana Barkley Rogers
                 Buendia
                  Watkins

[tomd2103]

Hate to say this (and I genuinely do hate to say it), but I think the fixtures in the remainder of January will mean we will field a very weakened side on Friday night.

The decision to put midweek Premier League fixtures on after the FA Cup 3rd round weekend is a baffling one and probably gaurantees many teams will be feeling weakened sides this weekend.

We looked jaded again at the weekend and with injuries mounting up a bit, I think having to play 6 games in 3 weeks could really take it's toll.  Therefore, I can see a very weakened side being fielded on Friday.