Well, they keep coming thick and fast and today it’s Wet Spam at home. Both teams are going well, with our opponents in 5th position in the league. A win tonight would see us overtake them on goal difference and we’d still have two games in hand. Obviously that would be nice.
West Ham lost at home to Liverpool on Sunday and didn’t create much, but they’d won their four previous games, including a notable win at Everton.
We’ve been a lot more erratic in winning just two of our previous five games, albeit two of those were away to the Manc clubs who we always struggle against.
So the Hammers have the better form, while we’re at home. I’m not sure that’s a good thing for us, but I think us getting the better results away is probably coincidence more than anything.
Squads then and we’re in very good nick, considering it’s the middle of winter and a lot of the first team have played the vast majority of the games up to now.
Hause is still out, as is Wesley. The aim is for the latter to be back this season, but I’m not convinced that will happen. I know his was a serious injury, but Heaton suffered the same in the same game and was fully fit a while back. Something doesn’t ring right to me, but it’s pretty academic at the moment, because if Smith stays with one up front, Wesley has as much chance of starting as I have. It would be nice to have him on the bench or as a viable option just in case Olly gets injured, which he probably will at some point.
As for West Ham, they’re in good shape too. The only news is that Jesse Lingard who signed on loan from Man Utd will be available.
Prediction time then and my default position tends to be a draw because it’s nice and safe and not at all controversial.
But having looked at the table, we’ve only drawn two games this season, hence I think I’m going to have to choose.
I’m still tempted to say a draw, because it keeps nagging me that if we play like we did against Southampton I think we’ll definitely lose.
But we’re always capable of goals and if we fire on all cylinders, I think we can win comfortably.
I’m going to stick my neck out and say we’ll win, 2-1.
Here’s hoping and UTV!
Utter rubbish tonight and why didn’t we sign lingard I thought we were interested in him a few years back he’s the type of player we like hungry with something to prove.
Players looking knackered to me sorry just no energy. Covid19 catching up and too many games in a short time. Another defeat against arsenal coming up.
Never mind we should be safe from relegation. Plus teams now working out stop grealish and you stop villa. Same as teams have found out Sheffield United.
Just so tied.
Newcastle were reasonable when they came back from isolation and then went terrible…..we have been terrible against Newcastle…..Southampton and now W.Ham.
BUT El Ghazi hasnt played and he was slow as well – but i dont think he had a chance with 2/3 on him as soon as we slowly passed to him.
Worse thing tonight was Emi…thought it was Guzan 2nd half….
el ghazi hadn’t played much football certainly hadn’t started any lately. he was poor first half. surely that is not down to tiredness ??? our flare players struggled tonight cause hammers starved um of the ball and space.
they did a number on grealish and we lost a major player in our game. when hammers regained the ball it was high past our midfield and our defence was exposed
they won no complaints from me. gutted but that is football. hammers were really poor against pool. they certainly didnt play like they did tonight, they were on it from the first whicstle to the final
good night god bless me
Stop Grealish, stop Villa. We all suspected it and last night demonstrated it – even though he assisted the Watkins goal – Wets Ham managed to strangle him for long periods.
I admit to not seeing the whole game but what I did see was of concern particularly around our absent midfield and it’s failure to adapt to West Ham’s tactics.
McGinn was anonymous and Barkley tip tapped with the ball repeatedly losing it in dangerous positions and El Ghazi – well at his ineffective worst. The passing was woeful – it was like half the team had never played together.
There wasn’t the usual protection of the back four by Luiz / McGinn – Lingard (sic) was continually finding lots of space and ran the game – why weren’t we in for him? 20 shots allowed when the defence has prided itself on restricting the opposition to a Scrooge like few.
Martinez had his worst game in a Villa shirt; probably should have saved the third goal and his distribution was poor again by his high standards. However, it would be harsh to over criticise for one poor game.
Tired bodies, tired minds?
The danger is – and I’m as guilty as any other fan – is over expectation. Smith, the team and everyone at Villa Park are doing a brilliant job. We’re in a strong position way and above anyone’s expectations this season but there’s a lot more to do to get us to a top 6 or even top half side.
I cannot add to what’s been said, you all seen it lastnight we are a spent force and only 1 player that can drive us forwards. Stop him game over, that’s what they did, why oh why did Dean put el-Garzi on ? Why didn’t he see we needed a new midfield player that they knew nothing about. It’s over lads mid table for us.
The Warrior here and last night’s game was pure shite no one had a clue bring on fresh blood were supposed to have all the best young starlets in the country that everyone wants so what’s the problem come on Dean bring on the young ones. VTID
Management lacking nous again. Moyes plays 2 right backs to double up on Grealish. Smith – I thought – had trumped that by playing a left winger El Ghazi so Grealish could swap to the right.
That is what could have happened, and as was proved too late when Grealish did swap to the right side, there was a hole in the Hammers defence. But No. Smith sends them out with one player double-covered and the other on the wrong wing. Traore comes on but plays in-field not on the right.
In two home games now Martinez has gone to pieces once he has conceded the first, even if it wasn’t his fault. Midfield was anonymous – what happened to them driving forward and taking a shot? New player is needed in there.
Hammers also forced Villa to play a predictable sequence by pressuring Konsa and marking Cash. That forces this repeated outcome. Konsa plays the ball to his left to Mings, Mings hits it long to Watkins or Grealish up our left wing. total comfort for West Ham and their left sided players can move into space, they won’t be needed to defend and can be ready in space if West Ham win the ball on the other wing.
Before last nights game I was quietly confident of beating Arsenal. With only a two day gap surely Smith will have to utilise his squad. I can see Sanson making his first start and possibly even Nakamba. I would drop Barkley and McGinn and also give Trezeguet a run out instead of Traore. The back four pick themselves at the moment so they will have to be ready.
The positive is we are still in a good position and a couple of wins would make last night less significant. I think it will be hard to maintain the quality of our football with so many games in a short space of time. Winning ugly like we did against Southampton is something we need to work at. Last night was a game where West Ham rolled up their sleeves for the battle and we wanted to play beautiful football. Unfortunately you have to win the battle first before the quality of our players shines through. Too few of our team looked like they were at it for whatever reason. Tactically too Moyes won that and Smith took a long time realising Grealish wasn’t getting any success from his two markers before eventually moving him to a more central position where he had more joy.
Unfortunately we aren’t blessed with top back up players for every position. Hopefully this will be addressed in the summer.
I’ve just seen that Jack contributed £2k to a funeral.
Fair play to him.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/jack-grealish-pays-funeral-aston-23445504
I’m contemplating a write-up on yesterday’s game, but more likely I’ll combine it with a preview for Arse tomorrow.
arsenal can not defend like hammers, one thing which villa struggle with is players ganging up on grealish. i do not believe arsenal will stifle their own game to stop us. another words they will believe they can beat us playing their game. so we will get space something hammers denied us.
we will bounce back in a few hours when the game kicks off again. we tend to answer a defeat with a good solid performance so back us to win 2 0 early prediction
Come on Ladies! We’re allowed an off night. Everyone can be remarkably shite every now and then. Problem with Jack being marked out of the game, is that McGinn, Barkley and several others, including the fantastic Martinez had off days too.
Whatever the reason, it was a gutting result, but keep with the big picture.
I think we’ll stuff the Arse the weekend.
P. S. Nath, keep on with the ranting! We’d have 50% less to read on this site if it wasn’t for your enthusiasm!!!