Administrator Stan 18,432 Posted October 29, 2021 Administrator Share Posted October 29, 2021 Kick-off 16.30 Live on Sky Sports VS Last 3 Meetings 03/02/2021 - Aston Villa 1-3 West Ham 30/11/2020 - West Ham 3-1 Aston Villa 26/07/2020 - West Ham 1-1 Aston Villa Recent Form Aston Villa - LLLWL West Ham - WWWWL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reluctant Striker 134 Posted October 29, 2021 Share Posted October 29, 2021 From the Villa perspective, it has been such a deflating run, following the impressive 3-0 home vs Everton & 1-0 at Old Trafford wins. Even if they are perceived as 2 of the softer top half sides. Since then, defeats to both Spurs & Wolves by 1 goal, 2 of the early season crisis clubs. And a real reality bomb drubbing at The Emirates. Frankly this Villa side needs key players fit & playing. And will probably be doing very, very well to be close to 11th again this season. Disappointing in so many ways, as really pushing on into the top half was clearly the objective. While West Ham are pretty much where Villa want to be. They are in European football. And seem very legitimate contenders to be there again next season. For me, this match will either be a very, very nervy 1-0 home win, or a very emphatic away win. Rice vs McGinn in midfield could be a rather fascinating battle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Gonzo 8,200 Posted October 29, 2021 Share Posted October 29, 2021 I've always thought of West Ham as London-based Villa impersonators, because of the kits. Random thought for this match thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny 2,217 Posted October 29, 2021 Share Posted October 29, 2021 Smith needs to put a run of good performances and wins together now, famous for having a bad run and a good run but when his teams perform well they really play well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reluctant Striker 134 Posted October 31, 2021 Share Posted October 31, 2021 Well, it is a return to 4-3-3 for Villa. Chosen or enforced? It sems there are some stories I need to dig into, as the line up & bench aren't initially self explanatory. Watkins starts. Ings doesn't. Ings is not even on the bench. Buendia & Bailey start as wing-attackers, for the 1st time together I believe. Not entirely sure why Mings is on the bench. Or where Douglas Luiz is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Stan 18,432 Posted October 31, 2021 Author Administrator Share Posted October 31, 2021 Good goal by Johnson. But slack defending from Villa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Stan 18,432 Posted October 31, 2021 Author Administrator Share Posted October 31, 2021 Watkins equalises for Villa. 1-1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Stan 18,432 Posted October 31, 2021 Author Administrator Share Posted October 31, 2021 Wasn't level for long. No-one getting close to Rice and he scores from long distance. 1-2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny 2,217 Posted October 31, 2021 Share Posted October 31, 2021 Unfortunate for Villa as they'd been on top for a while and deservedly equalised. Rice's goal knocked them sideways Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Stan 18,432 Posted October 31, 2021 Author Administrator Share Posted October 31, 2021 How the hell has Hause not seen red there?? Forearm to the face on Fornals. Instead Konsa gets a red for denial of goalscoring opportunity bringing down Bowen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber RandoEFC+ 7,694 Posted October 31, 2021 Subscriber Share Posted October 31, 2021 Funny how a Villa player did that to Demarai Gray when we were there at 0-0 and it wasn't even a foul and they went on to win 3-0 yet in the space of just a few weeks the rules have been changed to make it a red card offence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny 2,217 Posted October 31, 2021 Share Posted October 31, 2021 I really like Dean Smith but he's going to do well to keep his job at this rate, going down to ten men doesn't help anyone but I just don't feel like Villa know their best eleven/how they want to play Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reluctant Striker 134 Posted October 31, 2021 Share Posted October 31, 2021 Villa are in the relegation battle. First time in Dean Smith's reign he must be under pressure. He has been backed financially. There was genuine belief, in the squad & with the fans. But that's in tatters after 4 progressively worse defeats. There are 3 winnable matches before the Grealish derby early November.. but much more signs of 1st season defensive problems than I feel ok with. Starting to remember why I look forward to World Cups & Euros at this stage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devil 1,179 Posted October 31, 2021 Share Posted October 31, 2021 West Ham are serious business now, wonder how long they can keep up this form. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber RandoEFC+ 7,694 Posted October 31, 2021 Subscriber Share Posted October 31, 2021 Sky Sports turning the narrative dial up to 11 on this game. The standard of analysis gets worse every season but it sells to the masses doesn't it. All geared towards generating commentary highlights for this season's Premier League Years and other montages, and clips to go viral on Twitter. I'd love a genuine challenger to them which is better than BT. I like the approach The Athletic take to their journalism and they give good analysis and get well-sourced inside knowledge on big stories instead of just click bait rubbish. A television equivalent of that would be ideal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6666 1,311 Posted October 31, 2021 Share Posted October 31, 2021 I really thought Aston Villa would be quite good this season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber Dan+ 1,919 Posted October 31, 2021 Subscriber Share Posted October 31, 2021 I think Villa's fears are being realised a bit in that Grealish really was carrying them. They look a bit of a collection of individuals to me. West Ham look really good, game in, game out they impress me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Gonzo 8,200 Posted October 31, 2021 Share Posted October 31, 2021 United should consider this Moyes fella Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devil 1,179 Posted October 31, 2021 Share Posted October 31, 2021 7 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said: United should consider this Moyes fella It might have worked out for him at United if he hadn't brought his Preston North End backroom staff with him. If he'd have worked with Sir Alex's backroom staff he'd have had more of a chance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber RandoEFC+ 7,694 Posted October 31, 2021 Subscriber Share Posted October 31, 2021 Moyes seems to flourish in the particular set of circumstances you get at an upper mid table club. Relatively simple football, try not to have any weaknesses, not much more to it than that. I don't know about his time in Spain but Sunderland were too shite to coach and organise the weaknesses out of the team and the relatively predictable simple football doesn't cut it at the highest level which saw him found out at Man Utd. Winning the 6th-10thish mini league on a regular basis is his sweet spot. I'm actually sort of happy for him for his success at West Ham. If he wins a trophy for them though then I really will be absolutely fucking done with football. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Gonzo 8,200 Posted October 31, 2021 Share Posted October 31, 2021 29 minutes ago, Devil said: It might have worked out for him at United if he hadn't brought his Preston North End backroom staff with him. If he'd have worked with Sir Alex's backroom staff he'd have had more of a chance. I actually agree with you 100% Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devil 1,179 Posted October 31, 2021 Share Posted October 31, 2021 1 minute ago, Dr. Gonzo said: I actually agree with you 100% It must be a regret of his, whilst you've got to respect the fact he wanted to do it his way the club should have been stronger and told him the job is yours but the transition needs to be made with the staff in place now. Moyes would have still taken the job, how would you turn United down at that point in time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Gonzo 8,200 Posted October 31, 2021 Share Posted October 31, 2021 57 minutes ago, Devil said: It must be a regret of his, whilst you've got to respect the fact he wanted to do it his way the club should have been stronger and told him the job is yours but the transition needs to be made with the staff in place now. Moyes would have still taken the job, how would you turn United down at that point in time. I think ego got in the way of being practical and realising that he was making a big step up and the pressure was much higher. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reluctant Striker 134 Posted November 1, 2021 Share Posted November 1, 2021 6 hours ago, Dan said: I think Villa's fears are being realised a bit in that Grealish really was carrying them. They look a bit of a collection of individuals to me. West Ham look really good, game in, game out they impress me. Grealish was certainly the star player in the Villa side. I guess any club losing a star player would go through a transition season. And Villa were only 11th last season too. Some eye catching Covid empty grounds results, but also very very erratic. And as I have suggested around here a few times, there have been injury problems. Especially, or even exclusively, among the wingers. Trezeguet is still out. Buendia & Bailey have had problems. Its far from ideal that Buendia, Bailey & Ings have not yet started the same match. They were the Grealish replacements. And yet, in form, fighting for his place, established at the club, penalty taker, suddenly shimmying full backs, El Ghazi has hardly been seen since Watkins & Ings were both fit to play. I do love Dean Smith, what he's done for the club. And I do think it is kind of nice having a genuine fan in charge. Knowing they really understand the club, it's ethos, it's culture. But a big part of me is thinking perhaps if things have gotten worse by the end of November.. it may be time to bring in a new man. No idea who that would be. But it's Southampton (a), Brighton (h) & Palace (a) next. For me, I'd almost say it needs to be 5 points minimum. Or Plan B & start with Man City. If I was one of the billionaire owners, I think that is what my brutal plan would be right now. I'd be seriously looking around for replacement options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waylander 166 Posted November 1, 2021 Share Posted November 1, 2021 I watched a bit of Villa last season as was interested in how Barkley would fit in. Of course in doing that you get to see Grealish and I couldn't make my mind up on him. Plenty of tricks drawing fouls yet little end product for me. Yet I guess he frightened the opposition and normally drew out two defenders. I though buying Ings was a shrewd move though he does miss a few games with injury and think McGinn is a decent midfielder. Not sure the manager will last given their current run of form which would be a shame given their decent form last season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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