A.Villa v West Ham United

[fraser]

Massive match Sunday and we need to take something but a win will take and keep us out of the bottom three. 

Hopefully Summerville is back and if he is just one decision for Nuno to make and that is which of the centre backs misses out... Really tough decision for him as Disasi has been great since arriving, Dinos and Todibo were both outstanding against City. 

If Summerville isn't fit I'm guessing he'll go for another midfielder and hope he does as I'd prefer not to go three at the back again. 

[John Drake]

Villa’s poor form coincided with injuries to Tielemans, Kamara and McGinn. Only McGinn is back by now. On top of that Watkins has played like a donkey for most of the season and they only have Abrahams in reserve. The main threat will be Rogers – any chance of an injury tonight?

[fraser]

tough this one. What we wouldn't give for a win but a Villa side smarting from defeat against Man Utd and probably needing to win to keep CL qualification on track will be a tough prospect.  Think we'll play ok but realistically will be defeated 2-1 in this one. It's going to go to the wire......

They've lost 4 of their last 6 league games only Forest and Spurs are in worse form over the last 10... It isn't just Man U who have beaten them. 

[nychammer]

tough this one. What we wouldn't give for a win but a Villa side smarting from defeat against Man Utd and probably needing to win to keep CL qualification on track will be a tough prospect.  Think we'll play ok but realistically will be defeated 2-1 in this one. It's going to go to the wire......

[Nutsin]

I think we will come home with all 3 points. I’m going for a 2-0

[Mex Martillo]

If Summerville is fit it's back to our winning 4-4-2 for me.

Hermansen
Wan Bissaka, Mavropanos, Disasi, Diouf
Bowen, Soucek, Fernandes, Summerville
Tatty, Pablo

We can win this. Form says we should win this!

[Rossal]

Id rather push Diouf forward if Jimmy's out, than have that monster inflatable anywhere near it.

I think Pablo, only got taken off last week as he was coming back from that injury.

If Jimmy's out I expect they'll start same as v Man City 

Wouldnt be against this and playing Mayers LB.  He has looked solid and think they play Bailey or Buendia wide right who he is capable of taking care of 

[honky cat]

Id rather push Diouf forward if Jimmy's out, than have that monster inflatable anywhere near it.

I think Pablo, only got taken off last week as he was coming back from that injury.

If Jimmy's out I expect they'll start same as v Man City 

[Leonard Hatred]

WE WILL DEFEAT ASTON VILLA BY TWO GOALS TO ONE. 

YOU CAN TAKE THAT STRAIGHT TO THE BANK.

STAND ON ME. 

[honky cat]

I agree, it worked for City but we need that extra body higher up the pitch. Fingers crossed for a Jimmy recovery, if not put the Sumo wide left

I thought he was fucking awful when he came on against City a short sprint then looked fucked. 

 

On that 'behind the scenes' film, he looked fucked by the time he reached the carpet, jogging from the dressing room. 

[Mad Ferret]

The conversation about defence on this thread so far shows how difficult this call will be to make.  CBs at RB, Mavro out despite that performance, Mavro in but who to leave out.

It's a tough call.

Not like @Mad Ferret not to have chimed in by now to suggest anything is fine as long as Potts isn't in the Club.

Fucking hell son, rent free or what.

Fwiw, how many people you see putting Potts in their predicted lineups these days? He's been shown to be utter gash.

[Tomshardware]

Personally, I'd play Todibo right back instead of the give away a goal a game AWB. The top teams do it a lot with CB's, Arsenal are gonna win the league doing it. Gives us more stability, bit more arieally, and we won't be constantly targeted there. I also think he's quick enough and good on the ball to get forward at times, and he'll be over their winger like a rash.

That's a good shout, Todibo is also pretty good with the ball as well.   I like AWB but he has been at fault for goals quite a lot this season.

[stubbo]

The conversation about defence on this thread so far shows how difficult this call will be to make.  CBs at RB, Mavro out despite that performance, Mavro in but who to leave out.

It's a tough call.

Not like @Mad Ferret not to have chimed in by now to suggest anything is fine as long as Potts isn't in the Club.

Just seen he has and Scarles got the treatment lower down! 

[stubbo]

The conversation about defence on this thread so far shows how difficult this call will be to make.  CBs at RB, Mavro out despite that performance, Mavro in but who to leave out.

It's a tough call.

Not like Mad Ferret not to have chimed in by now to suggest anything is fine as long as Potts isn't in the Club.

[Massive Attack]

Can't shift out Mavropanos after that obscene herculean effort. 1st name on the team sheet!

[Rossal]

Mavro was unreal against City but for me our best pairing is Todibo and Disasi. Both quick, both good on the ball and both got a clean sheet last time away from home at Fulham. 

[Eerie Decent]

Personally, I'd play Todibo right back instead of the give away a goal a game AWB. The top teams do it a lot with CB's, Arsenal are gonna win the league doing it. Gives us more stability, bit more arieally, and we won't be constantly targeted there. I also think he's quick enough and good on the ball to get forward at times, and he'll be over their winger like a rash.

[El Scorchio]

He is quickly running out of time now to justify all the 'fuss' Nuno made with him, in fact I've almost given up on him being of much use at this point. Not a big deal financially, but we could have brought someone else in instead.

Not sure we could, for the absolute pittance we paid. We didn't even use our second loan slot in the end after sending Igor back. That tells a story about the state of things.

Possibly, think he's on 70k. There is always someone out there, christ even Lingard would have been better, but yea fair shout on the second loan slot.

Agree on the wages but I suppose that's the going rate now mad as it is- especially when you're desperate. The deal at least was 1 mill and then fuck all obligation if we go down which is good as we wouldn't be lumbered in the champ. I don't remember if there were any obligations if we stay up, though. The option of an extra year? Which I should think we wouldn't take. It is at least better than deals we've made in the past where from desperation we've signed similar players at similar situations and been stuck with them for 3-5 years. Hello Danny Ings, Luis Boa Morte and a truck load of others! I guess there was no-one better for that sort of favourable deal who was willing to come to a club who looked certs for relegation at the time.

I'm certainly not going to pretend he's made an impact at all aside from that first half against Brentford, but at least we can cut ties quickly and easily at the end of the season.

[Massive Attack]

Think it will be a draw and be happy enough with that but my god if we win it it'll turbo charge our survival chances and set us up nicely to stay up.

[Manuel]

I thought he was fucking awful when he came on against City a short sprint then looked fucked. 

He is quickly running out of time now to justify all the 'fuss' Nuno made with him, in fact I've almost given up on him being of much use at this point. Not a big deal financially, but we could have brought someone else in instead.

Not sure we could, for the absolute pittance we paid. We didn't even use our second loan slot in the end after sending Igor back. That tells a story about the state of things.

Possibly, think he's on 70k. There is always someone out there, christ even Lingard would have been better, but yea fair shout on the second loan slot.

[Come On You Irons]

Yes, absolutely massive game and we are due a win at Villa.

They are on an awful run of form and still have loads of key players out injured. It's about time we bloody did them!

[twoleftfeet]

Stop Rogers, stop Villa.

Simple as that.

At our place he was the difference between the 2 sides.

[El Scorchio]

I agree, it worked for City but we need that extra body higher up the pitch. Fingers crossed for a Jimmy recovery, if not put the Sumo wide left

I thought he was fucking awful when he came on against City a short sprint then looked fucked. 

He is quickly running out of time now to justify all the 'fuss' Nuno made with him, in fact I've almost given up on him being of much use at this point. Not a big deal financially, but we could have brought someone else in instead.

Not sure we could, for the absolute pittance we paid. We didn't even use our second loan slot in the end after sending Igor back. That tells a story about the state of things.

[El Scorchio]

We need more attacking impetus against Villa than we did against City, and their midfield being their strength, we need to get more in there to counter it particularly if they have players coming back from injury. (Just our luck if so)

Two at the back, and then pop Summerville back in if he's fit, if he's not then it's either Traore (although I suspect he'll be kept for later in the game) or an extra CM. It's a real shame we don't have that natural 10/AM player.

[Council Scum]

I think this is a tricky selection, whether Summerville is available or not.

It could be argued the centre backs (all three of them) are currently our form players, and anyone we bring in will be inferior to them (Traore, Lamadrid, Kante, Wilson, etc).

Mavropanos was our best player last game.  Disasi has been our best player in recent times in defence and is undroppable.  And Todibo replaced Mavropanos twoleague games ago.

I like others would like to see Summerville back in, and 2 at the back...but it becoes very hard to know who to leave out.

My guess is even if Summerville is back, he'll start from the bench ("coming back from injury") and we'll start with a 3 at the back setup (same line up as last game).

Fwiw, if he did leave a CB out I fancy it would be Todibo.

Agreed 

[fraser]

I think this is a tricky selection, whether Summerville is available or not.

It could be argued the centre backs (all three of them) are currently our form players, and anyone we bring in will be inferior to them (Traore, Lamadrid, Kante, Wilson, etc).

Mavropanos was our best player last game.  Disasi has been our best player in recent times in defence and is undroppable.  And Todibo replaced Mavropanos twoleague games ago.

I like others would like to see Summerville back in, and 2 at the back...but it becoes very hard to know who to leave out.

My guess is even if Summerville is back, he'll start from the bench ("coming back from injury") and we'll start with a 3 at the back setup (same line up as last game).

If Jimmy is fit he has to start, when Taty and Pablo are pressing from the front is when he needs to be on the pitch to take advantage of the chaos especially as he will still be match fit it would only be 2 weeks