Here we go again, it’s been only 48 hours since the last round of Premier League fixtures. Don’t you just love festive fixtures? You might if you’re not an Aston Villa fan. Villa are yet to win in four Premier League games and have since suffered defeats to Fulham, Man. Utd, Stoke and Crystal Palace. From those four fixtures Villa have only scored once.
Things aren’t to merry in Wales either, Swansea are failing to replicate their form of last season. The added pressure of Europa League has seen the Welsh team winless in their last five fixtures. Swansea are a point above Villa and both teams will be eager to get some much needed points on the table.
Team News:
Aston Villa are still without striker Christian Benteke and key defender Ron Vlaar. Ashley Westwood will be available following a suspension.
Michael Laudrup has already announced he plans on making major changes to the team that lost to Chelsea in the midweek. Striker Michu, midfielder Nathan Dyer (both ankle), Michel Vorm (knee) missed the boxing day fixture against Chelsea and will likely miss out again. Leon Britton is fit again following a broken toe and is set to feature.
Match Facts:
Swansea have lost eight of their nine previous league trips to Villa Park (W1), failing to score in all eight defeats.
Aston Villa have won only seven points in their nine Premier League home games this season (W2 D1 L6) – no side has won fewer (Fulham and Sunderland also with seven).
The Villans have not lost five successive Premier League matches since January 2001 (the only time it has happened to them in the PL previously)
Aston Villa have scored just one first half goal in their last 13 Premier League games, and have not scored a single first half goal at home this season.
Aston Villa have failed to score in five of their last six Barclays Premier League home games.
Predicted Lineups:
Guzan
Lowton-Baker-Clark-Bacuna
Westwood-Delph
Albrighton-Tonev-Agbonlahor
Kozak
Bony
Routledge-Shelvey-Hernandez
Britton-De Guzman
Taylor-Williams-Chico-Rangel
Tremmel
Match Prediction:
Aston Villa 0-2 Swansea
I’ve lost all faith in the team, I tried to be positive but it’s so difficult. I reckon both teams will change their starting 11’s by a large extent. So I’m fairly confident I predicted both sides wrong. Either way, Swansea have a great team and like all away teams will feel as though they can snatch the three points. And that’s a major problem for Villa. All away teams will be coming to Villa Park with a psychological advantage over the home side. I want Villa to win, and they could, but deep down I wouldn’t be surprised if we lost yet again.
Comments
87 responses to “Aston Villa Vs Swansea – Preview”
I’d like to see Gardner and Helenius start. Both have something to prove and are going to want to fight to get into the first team, especially after all these bad results. Nah, I reckon Herd will start instead of Baker and it will be good old Delph/Westwood/Sylla behind Gabby/Kozak/Albrighton.
Agreed Foxy. When are we ever going to find out whether Gardner or Helenius are any good. They deserve a run out IMO
You shouldn’t forget that Helenius scored in two pre-season fixtures. I reckon theres more to come of him. He just needs to be given a chance
And Helenius should have won a penalty when he had his shorts pulled down.
Yes, Gardner and Helenius! I’ve got a strange feeling one of them will start but I’ll probably be wrong 🙁
0-5 swansea not a hope im affraid to say.
I can see a thrashing as well this the worst team i have ever watched
I would not play Helenius, the only player to suit the style of play atm is Bowery, Hoofball into the box is a favourite of lower league strikers. Kozack just falls over everytime the ball goes near him and moves out of position throughout the game.
KEA should never be allowed to play again honestly the man cannot pass it forward,
Dont play Luna play anyone but Luna i thought Warnock was bad but in stepped Stevens then when i thought it could not get any worse he signs Bennett. Bennett is bad but fuck me Luna is useless.
Give Gardner a game and fine any player who does not pass forward, hoofs it and passes it back to Guzan. I mean the players are bad enough but the fucking tactics are shocking.
LAMBERT OUT and Lerner if you are reading this sack him NOW
Aston Villa tactical lesson number 1 (out of 3):
Hoof to striker. If you have the option to go forward, pass back instead to Guzan, who can kick further than you.
Aston Villa tactical lesson number 2 (out of 3):
Always pass sideways when you have the option to go forward, especially if you have lots of space ahead of you but the person you’re passing to doesn’t.
Aston Villa tactical lesson number 3 (out of 3):
Width is your enemy. Always play narrow, run into cul-de-sacs and if there’s no one to pass sideways to and you can’t get back to Guzan give the ball away so the opposition can use its wingers it fielded because it knows how to play Aston Villa. They will allow Guzan to get the ball back, who on his own accounts for 50% of Villa’s possession.
Pretty much sums up our tactics atm, along with shut your eyes and hoof it hoping Gabby can do the 100m sprint for 90 minutes. We are so shit, it is very obvious Lerner has not watched a single second of our football this season or Lambert would be sacked.
Tactical lesson number 4 if you can’t string 2 passes together just boot it anywhere and hope for the best!
Already covered in lesson number 1! That’s why our strikers are all tall, with the exception of Gabby and Andi, which is why they’ve been pushed wide.
True. What about tactical lesson 5. My chairman and I havnt got a fuckin clue so we will do the honourable thing and fuck off and let proper football people with ambition run this great club. That would be the best tactic of all IMO
GIDDY mate heard they are to borrow the score board from Edgebaston don;t want LAMBERK getting frost bite having to use his toes to keep count of the score.
I’ve not posted for a while, basically because I am disillusioned with football and especially Villa. I now am only certain of going to matches for my grandson who absolutely loves his football. Thanks Lambert and Lerner for ruining what used to be a great experience. Ffs do something – sack, sell, whatever.
Poor kids having to watch that shite every week. Get them an ipad instead a million times more entertaining than that dross. My mate had to corporate tickets to go today and still can’t be arsed. He says the amount of alcohol he’s have to consume to get him thru the monotony of watching us play isn’t worth the liver damage.
Lol Mate i hope the third official has got his abacus at the ready.
We will win today 2-1……30% possession MAX and 3 shots MAX…..This is how we roll these days……And Lambert will get more time and possibly more money to blow on players who may do us a job next year in the Championship!!!
In all honesty, I know it’s wrong, but if we lose today, I hope its an absolute tonking!!!!!!
It’s awful but I would take a thinking today if we can get rid of this joker
did we not beat Swansea 2-0 at villa park last year? did we not get a 2-2 at Swansea last year? there weaker today so why can we not repeat it?
Its my opinion that Swansea play exactly the type of footy which we can benefit from? ok our form and morale may not be the best but the boys know we can beat this lot!!!!!!!!
Arnt we weaker to though. Fwiw I think we will win today as lamberk just seems to fluke a win when the pressure is on. By tonight his his lemmings will be liking his arse again
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2530204/Paul-Lambert-beginning-lose-Aston-Villa-fans-support.html
Good article from Moxley at the Mail
Standard 0-2 win for Swansea, as is the norm for away teams at VP.
My only hope for today is that this afternoons defeat provokes a bad enough reaction for lamberk to walk or be sacked.
That’s what I’m hoping for but lamberk will get a jammy win like he did v city and tell us all what a world class team we have mumble mumble
Swansea will be having at least 80% possesion, so we will 100% be playing hoof and chase for 90mins.
I think we will win today. They will be fucked after Chelsea game and loads of injuries.
Its not as busy at VP I could have left an hour later than I normally do. No traffic on the M6 at all.
No one can be arsed probably
Im at kenilworth rd it’s buzzing here plus i watch a decent game of footy.uth
Tonev in for ma Ffs
WTF has Gardner done wrong….not even on the bench!
I don’t get the persistent use of 4-3-3. Why no go for a 4-4-2 with tonev left and bacuna right and gabby and helenius /kozak up front
Just seen his choice of what he calls a team, 2-1 Swansea. Fuck all them so called injury players off, frighten to play at Villa Park.
AGBONLAHORRRRRR. Come on boys! Massive game for the Villa.
Shit means lamberk is staying. Ideal opponents for us as we can play like away team
Don’t know about that more like a massive game for Lambert!
Part of me wants us to get well and truly stuffed just to get rid of the clueless twat.
Well Swansea have more of the game 1-1 fuck um
Anyone at vp calling for lamberks head
They will Oohah, up till now we are second best , said 2-1 Swansea stands out like a sore arse.
I have never witnessed such poor passing….and that includes Sunday League pub teams.
FFS….its like the opposition are playing in the same fucking colours…..fucking pathetic!
What bollox i thought i heard right.
Giddy….WTF has happened to Kiddy? 3 0 down and a man sent off. Are you villa in disguise? 🙂
All Swansea ripping us apart, things are getting worse, we have not gone into their half since the goal.
I can hear boos as they come off
Good about time tge lemmings woke up and smelt tge coffee. Win lose or draw lamberk has to go
I think lambert and villa have their sports mixed up, I think we’re under the impression we’re playing squash, the ball comes to you and you hit it back as hard as you can and wait for it to come back and hit it forward again, and so on until eventually you miss it.
commentator said ‘villa have been under tremendous pressure since scoring’ that’s not pressure, that’s just normal, we get the ball, we give it away, we get the ball, we give it away.
I heard we should be behind at ht so nothings changed there then.we’re a pl joke i bet teams are queing up to play us.shite
sorry to say giddy they’re all over us, its business as usual really, nice finish by gabby but from then its been just a matter of time.
can only hope for better 2nd half but unless we start well and bag a goal i can only see us getting beat at the moment.
27% possession in the first half. Disgraceful.
I hear there running a riot over us 2nd half,ain’t lambert been sent to the stands yet as he does fuck all in the dugout.shite
I hear villa chasing shadows my moneys on the shadows.
We’re trying hard but it seems we can’t take throw ins anymore
I hear Jack Shit is going on and Jack’s just left the building. ..
Oddly enough Barry Bannan is running the show at the Etihad.
…and then Citeh score.