Aston Villa v West Ham - Pre-Match Thread

[PaulWinch again]

                     Olson
Nedelijkovic Bogarde Swinkels Maatsen
Ramsey Onana Barkley Rogers
                 Buendia
                  Watkins

If we play that back 5 we’ll get smashed.

[ChicagoLion]

Hate to say this (and I genuinely do haye 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 look 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.

Of course we will, anyone expecting to turn up and watch our best available team is going to be dissapointed.
Everton Arsenal Monaco will be the priority.
3 very tough away games.

[ChicagoLion]

                     Olson
Nedelijkovic Bogarde Swinkels Maatsen
Ramsey Onana Barkley Rogers
                 Buendia
                  Watkins

If we play that back 5 we’ll get smashed.

I think that he might play Diego or Konsa but expect him to rest Mings as our only left sided CH.

[tomd2103]

                     Olson
Nedelijkovic Bogarde Swinkels Maatsen
Ramsey Onana Barkley Rogers
                 Buendia
                  Watkins

If we play that back 5 we’ll get smashed.

I think that's pretty much what the side will be though (except I think Philogene would replace Ramsey in the above line up). 

With Carlos and Torres out, I very much doubt we will risk playing Konsa or Mings.

[PaulWinch again]

Yeah I’m not saying it won’t happen, but that is very callow and weak. We definitely need some defensive cover.

[olaftab]

                     Olson
Nedelijkovic Bogarde Swinkels Maatsen
Ramsey Onana Barkley Rogers
                 Buendia
                  Watkins

NO, NO and THRICE NO. This is most important match of the season. Play the best available XI, the great and glorious FA cup is not to be messed about with.

[olaftab]

With Carlos and Torres out, I very much doubt we will risk playing Konsa or Mings.

What's he going to save them for, another mundane League match against Everton?

[brontebilly]

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

Ramsey needs the minutes a lot more than Rogers. We can't afford for Cash to get injured with our upcoming schedule so Kosta will need to play. Konsa can take time to reflect on his recent performances and attitude from the bench. The real issue from the Palace defeat was not the starting team really but the subs effectively were Emery throwing the tie.

Martinez
Kosta, Carlos, Mings, Maatsen
Onana, Barkley
Bailey, Buendia, Ramsey
Watkins

Likes of Cash, Tielemans, Konsa, Rogers in reserve and Emery needs to use the bench properly this time.

[PaulWinch again]

                     Olson
Nedelijkovic Bogarde Swinkels Maatsen
Ramsey Onana Barkley Rogers
                 Buendia
                  Watkins

NO, NO and THRICE NO. This is most important match of the season. Play the best available XI, the great and glorious FA cup is not to be messed about with.

It’s not in the managers eyes (or mine to be honest, although I value it higher than Unai).

[Clampy]

With Carlos and Torres out, I very much doubt we will risk playing Konsa or Mings.

What's he going to save them for, another mundane League match against Everton?

Whilst I dont think he will drop both of them, it's not always about the next game.

[Hookeysmith]

Definately rest a few

Mings
Digne
Cash
Tielemans
Kamara

and replace with

Swinkels
Maatsen (especially as they have no Bowen)
Ned
Buendia
Onana - surely he will want to play his way back in for the Everton game

I think Wet Spam will not go strong as they are certainly not in a great place in the league and have a derby with Fulham mid week and another against Palace on sat after

[rob_bridge]

Martinez
Ned
Carlos
Mings
Maatsen

Onana
Barkley
Ramsey

Bailey
Rogers
Watkins


1-2 (if Spam give a shit) otherwise we win on penalties

It is the lowest priority left for us. Sad but true.

[eamonn]

Why wasn't this game on last weekend? I thought the first weekend of January was always Round Three time. Is it because there was one less league game between Christmas and New Year than usual?

Also, what happened to the mid-season break where one set of league fixtures are spread-across two weekends? There's no Euros/World Cup next summer so no need to worry about finishing in late May. Or has that World Club Cup condensed things?

[Nii Lamptey]

Bollocks to all this resting of players malarkey..... The FA Cup is our best chance of silverware (*and long overdue). 5 day break before Everton away should be plenty of recovery time.

What an absolute shitshow Friday is going to be if it's a skeleton crew. Less home fans than any other game, lots of season ticket holders not taking up their seats due to inflated prices/christmas/extortionate CL tickets, you couldn't write how much of a fuck up this Heck guy is for our club.

WIN THIS BLOODY CUP. PLEASE VILLA!!

[tomd2103]

 

With Carlos and Torres out, I very much doubt we will risk playing Konsa or Mings.

What's he going to save them for, another mundane League match against Everton?

Unai Emery has been quoted a number of times saying that the league is the priority, followed by the Champions League. 

I agree with your sentiments as I would love to see us win the FA Cup, but the additional midweek league game plus back-to-back Champions League games is a very tough schedule for an already stretched squad.