West Ham vs Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

Arsenal highly unlikely to drop any points to Wolves, so we need to win to keep up. This is the level we now occupy.

[Villafirst]

1-2 victory. Hopefully Torres is okay for Sunday. A slight worry with Mings still out for at least another 2 weeks. This will be a tough game.

[brontebilly]

2-1 us (Watkins, Malen).

This line up if Torres is for, if not Lindelof to be in for him.

Martinez
Cash
Konsa
Torres
Maatsen
Kamara
Onana
Tielemans
Watkins
Rogers
McGinn

Do we really need Onana? Hardly broke sweat last night so unlikely to be fatigued but might get away with bringing in Buendia and having Kamara and Tielemans as the two in midfield.

[Villafirst]

2-1 us (Watkins, Malen).

This line up if Torres is for, if not Lindelof to be in for him.

Martinez
Cash
Konsa
Torres
Maatsen
Kamara
Onana
Tielemans
Watkins
Rogers
McGinn

Do we really need Onana? Hardly broke sweat last night so unlikely to be fatigued but might get away with bringing in Buendia and having Kamara and Tielemans as the two in midfield.

Absolutely Onana has to start. Same line-up as the Arsenal game. West Ham have physicality so we need to counter that. Kamara, Onana, Tielemans and McGinn to start.

[Smirker]

F365's preview of the weekend:

Team to watch: Aston Villa

How many times have we seen unlikely title challengers emerge only to immediately sh*t themselves and slink back whence they came the second things get real? It’s not even always just Chelsea.

Aston Villa have inserted themselves directly into this title race after a 10-game run featuring nine wins culminating in that sensational stoppage-time winner against Arsenal that prompted an entire team of adult humans to go full toddler. You’ve all seen the video. Absolute cinema. Never mind the Celebration Police; it’s the Dignity Police who should have been making house calls to Arsenal players this week.

It was a huge moment, though. One swing of Emi Buendia’s right boot was the difference between Arsenal maintaining a comfy six-point lead over Villa or seeing it trimmed to three, with Man City taking advantage later to move even closer at two points back from Arsenal – which is nearer to the Gunners than they were after 15 games in either 2022/23 or 2023/24 and we all know how those panned out.

The problem for Villa is that they’ve had to set an absolutely absurd and dare we say it unsustainable pace to get to where they are and if title contenders they are to be then they will have to keep sprinting as best they can.

Especially this weekend, because Arsenal are playing Wolves. So there is no margin for Villa when they head to the London Stadium for the Claret and Blue Derby against West Ham.

On paper it shouldn’t be a problem, because West Ham are sh*t. But they’re a ticklish kind of sh*t now under Nuno Espirito Santo; one that even Liverpool were able to easily subdue and eventually overwhelm with competence but a team nonetheless now capable of preying on those who turn up with any uncertainty or self-doubt as Newcastle and Burnley both have in recent weeks.

Villa shouldn’t have that problem, but imposter syndrome can kick in at the funniest times, and the entire country declaring you title contenders can absolutely be one of those times.

haha, that's a good write up. Some humour too. I'll have to pay attention to these. Link mate?

[Nev]

So my Sister (with a favour for the Rags) is mercifully in Dubai over Christmas but has invited us to dinner on Sunday to exchange pleasantries, whatever they are. I foolishly asked what time and she said 2pm. As a result of which I will be spectacularly rude and look at my phone throughout the meal.

Our winning run will end eventually and what better place than Stratford? comfortably the worst place I have ever been to in London, and it didn't include a visit to the stadium we all own.

1-1