Another stupid kick off time means it has to be another Villa game.
I think the headline sums this one up pretty well actually.
I don’t mean I don’t have a clue in general (although some might think that), but it’s more that we’re capable of any result possible and we’re already showing major inconsistency.
My points prediction for the games up to christmas have already gone out of the window, after all.
We’re just so hard to predict aren’t we?
Look at the teams we’ve beaten and then the teams we’ve lost to and you’d pretty much say that it’s 100% the opposite of what you’d expect.
Add in the fact that we’ve lost three games at home and won three games away already and well, what chance have you got?
I think I’ve given up with predictions for a while and anything now will be more based on hope.
Squad news and Guilbert and Hause are both training, but won’t be ready.
Keinan Davis is apparently fit, so will almost certainly make the bench, but it’s doubtful he’ll start, although questions have been asked about Smith going with two up front. I just don’t see it.
I’ve just seens a report that Traore is doubtful, but I’m not seeing anything to back that up.
The main news(?) is that Ross Barkley is out and the question is who comes in to replace him?
The clever money says it’ll be Conor Hourihane, but it was interesting that Dean Smith preferred Traore over him when Barkley went off last week.
It makes you wonder how much the manager rates the Irishman, but there’s no other logical starter.
Lansbury was notable for his absence when the Mail did a training ground article and there may have been a simple explanation for that, but I don’t think he’d be in the frame anyway.
Our squad is horrendously thin isn’t it? and the question will inevitably be will we be entering the market for reinforcements in the window? but that’s for another day.
As for the Hammers, Michail Antonio could return tonight having missed three matches due to a hamstring problem.
Andriy Yarmolenko has been in self-isolation because of a positive Covid-19 test and it’s not known if he’ll be ready.
They’re fully fit otherwise.
So no predictions based on logic then and it’s purely heart-based.
Where, even so, I’ve got us to lose this one, 0-1.
Well, I might as well. Everytime I say draw or win, I invariably get it wrong.
UTV!
Comments
106 responses to “West Ham – Villa; I don’t have a clue.”
leeds poveda he cut in the box and was fouled against chelsea, but being a honest player,he stayed on his feet and i think he ran into a traffic and shot widely. but had he gone down, he would have got leeds a pen. another reason why you go down if theres contact. referee do not understand the game.
leeds were soundly beaten today, score didnt reflect the dominance of chelsea. leeds looked fooked too. could there players be starting to doubt themselves ?first time i seen him head low like they were at the end
Barkley out again. Even though he was due to be ready for this game. Put all your money on Wolves as we will look like last seasons team with Grealish being marked out the game.
I think too many fans are being pessimistic here. We are miles better than last season, but are making silly mistakes and being punished for it. The last two games were an absolute sickener, and I’m still seething on the 6 points dropped, but I’m not particularly angry at the team or any individual. The wins over Pool and Arse were no flukes. We just need a calmer head in defence, and a bit more luck up front. Don’t forget these players are still relatively new to each other. This season we have so many players who are potential match winners it’s crazy,and we still have yet to see McGinn return to his best form.
Keep the faith and ask Santa for the above!!!!!
You are right. Those 2 game should have been 6 points if you look at our dominance throughout the game and chances not taken. We would be top 4 now with 2 games in hand!…but instead we are beginning to look over our shoulder at the teams below thinking we need some points on the board ASAP and you can just feel that edginess creeping in to the team.
My concern is that good performances without points won’t continue forever. Wolves away is a tough one and I don’t think we will get anything from it. That would mean we are closer to the bottom than the top. Suddenly players become less comfortable in possession and scared of making mistakes. Burnley at home we would expect a win but we seem to be losing these games at the moment. It’s a pity that we lack strength in depth to keep players on their toes. I still think we have an important January in getting rid of a few individuals such as Lansbury and sign or loan a couple to bolster our first team.
In the spirit of eternal optimism, and with Jimenez sidelined, I’m going for a draw.
Must be odds on as we haven’t managed one yet this season – but then what do I know?
My heart and head thinks we will get better we are a good team now just need a bit more kuck and composure.
Luck
badger / hitch one of you is slacking lmao its 12.30 ko derby day. we need a preview. i know its christmas nearly so we forgive but get a move on please lol
its nice to see other fans post about how pleased they are well more happier than this time last season. we are progressing, sometimes you can play well and not get what you deserve for one reason or another. holte mentioned in hos post we got robbed at the end of last two. so that and we missed or chances and gifted one or two in both them combined to us slipping up,
but heard smith state performances are there and the results will follow. its usually been the opposite with us play crap and defend for the entire game and sneak a win from a set piece. we are a totally different beast under smith. we are quite decent with the ball and very strong at countering fast, we are getting better without the ball too.
today is a difficult game. wolves also love countering and thats their speciality, they sit deeper and counter. were we press higher and try to counter winning ball higher. not sure how this game will play out. somebody is gonna have to change their game slightly. i think we are a match for most and wolves are no different . if we can get another high performance, with no errors we will give them a game. i think it start cagey,this game could be decided on the team which doesn’t over commit themselves
leeds last two games have been revealing. they looked buggered in both last night they were themselves first half but they couldnt take their chances. second half they stopped working totally buggered. they will have to start picking up points or they will end up being dragged into a relegation fight. hahaha
forgot to post my prediction 2 2 draw