Aston Villa vs Everton pre-match thread

[bilsim]

Our record against Everton since returning to the Premier league is very good, that continues on Sunday. 3-1.

[algy]

Another Sunday match for no reason.

I am afraid that's what happens when you are part of the big 3.

[Dave]

Our record against Everton since returning to the Premier league is very good, that continues on Sunday. 3-1.

I didn't realise it was as good as it is - last time we lost to them in the league, Rudy Gestede scored for us. Nine wins, four draws since then.

Looking at their forum, they ain't confident. Keane suspended, Gueye and Ndiaye still in Morocco, Kiernan Stately-Home injured for another month.

McNeil always seems to have his one good game of the season against us though, and you'd imagine Grealish will be up for it.

[Somniloquism]

And Pickford.

[Brend'Watkins]

Kiernan Stately-Home 

[VILLA MOLE]

Kiernan Stately-Home 

He has looked good when I have seen him, Lord knows he has to

[danno]

Think Ndiaye is a good player, glad he's not available.

[Colhint]

Kiernan Stately-Home 

They bought him from the national trust

[Brend'Watkins]

Kiernan Stately-Home 

He has looked good when I have seen him, Lord knows he has to

He’s definitely one of their better players. He’s very difficult to Marquis.

[Demitri_C]

Bet barkleys gutted to be misisng this

[brontebilly]

Really could do with Martinez back for this one. He hasn't been great at set piece time this season but Moyes will target Bizot all day if he's there. Only selection decision is at left back really. No issue if Digne is picked but Maatsen can help get around the back of Jake O'Brien. I think we are going to be too strong for them. 3-1.

Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen, Bogarde, Tielemans, McGinn, Buendia, Rogers, Watkins.

[eamonn]

Kiernan Stately-Home 

They bought him from the national trust

I need a fix cos I'm going down.

[Smithy]

Really could do with Martinez back for this one. He hasn't been great at set piece time this season but Moyes will target Bizot all day if he's there. Only selection decision is at left back really. No issue if Digne is picked but Maatsen can help get around the back of Jake O'Brien. I think we are going to be too strong for them. 3-1.

Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen, Bogarde, Tielemans, McGinn, Buendia, Rogers, Watkins.

Moyes might target the keeper at set pieces, but I quite like our tactic of leaving three attackers up on defensive corners now. Reduces congestion in the box (making fouls on the keeper more obvious), and makes teams more reluctant to commit all of their best defenders forward. 

I'm sure it's just an evolution, and it will probably change again next game, but I like that we're coming up with solutions to things that we've all noticed were a problem!

[brontebilly]

Really could do with Martinez back for this one. He hasn't been great at set piece time this season but Moyes will target Bizot all day if he's there. Only selection decision is at left back really. No issue if Digne is picked but Maatsen can help get around the back of Jake O'Brien. I think we are going to be too strong for them. 3-1.

Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen, Bogarde, Tielemans, McGinn, Buendia, Rogers, Watkins.

Moyes might target the keeper at set pieces, but I quite like our tactic of leaving three attackers up on defensive corners now. Reduces congestion in the box (making fouls on the keeper more obvious), and makes teams more reluctant to commit all of their best defenders forward. 

I'm sure it's just an evolution, and it will probably change again next game, but I like that we're coming up with solutions to things that we've all noticed were a problem!

Agreed, it's also pragmatic really, recognising our limitations defending in the air but if we clear it at all then we have a real chance of breaking on them. That's without a real speedster in the team, Maatsen maybe, but lots of good footballers likes of Rogers, Buendia and McGinn are all very good on counters.

[fredm]

This started in a CL match against Arsenal. The opposition saw that Arsenal were scoring for fun off free kicks and corners so they put three men up on the half way line. The look on the Arsenal players faces was a delight to behold!!