Match Prediction: West Brom at Villa Park
Friday, 09 January 09, 05:16 AM · Comments (83)
This match is going to go one of two ways; either it's going to be a tight, scrappy and probably boring game where we scrape a 1-0 win or the floodgates are going to open and poor useless Jack Woodward is going to be aplombing all afternoon.
I want to believe we're going to mental and score five while West Brom fans leave early, but part of me thinks we're not going to and it's going to be the scrappy boring win.
See what I've done; I've given you my prediction in the first paragraph of my post and it's a win. I just can't see us losing this match even if there is a little man sitting on my shoulder telling me that Newcastle were bottom when we played them and nobody really expected us to lose that one either.
It's just that West Brom are not that good away from home and seem to leave their bottle on the coach. They've only picked up four points all season and have lost eight games away.
Now, this isn't really going very far and Martin O'Neill is calling for a positive atmosphere tomorrow, which I quite fancy will be the difference between the scrappy 1-0 win and the mauling for West Brom.
I just can't see West Brom doing it. I know it's possible and I know that we've lost to worse teams, but they're going to be low on confidence, despite a couple of good results at home recently, and they're heads are going to drop after the first goal.
A little bit of team news for you; Barry, Luke Young and Gabby should be back but Laursen and Carlos are probably not going to make it. It's probably not that much of a concern as West Brom have concerns also and I fancy they're not going to come here and play two up front.
Talking about formations, I think it's vital we go back to 4-5-1 for tomorrow with a real attacking purpose. With five in midfield we'll dominant and with the likes of Milner and Young pushing forward at every opportunity, supporting Gabby and creating space, Sidwell, Barry and Petrov will have every possible channel to play through and the likes of West Brom won't be able to deal with it.
So, my prediction is clear, it's three points for Villa - but how the match turns out really does depend on formation, the fans and above all that - how the players come out for the first half.
Victory tomorrow will put us above Manchester United, for a day anyway and only one point behind Chelsea. To put things into some real perspective, we'll also only be four points off the lead.
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83 Comments · Add yours
I just hope Luke Moore doesn't come back to haunt us with a late equaliser, that would be typical
We need to get into The Baggies straight away, if we come out with a laid back superiority complex as happens now and again, we may be in trouble as Albion can knock it around quite well.
Sidwell needs to get his finger out and have a decent game, fed up with hardly seeing him during the course of 90 minutes.
think it will be a lot tighter than we hope as west brom will just sit back and we know what we are like at home when teams get men behind the ball. if we score early could be 3 or 4, if not prob a scrappy 1-0. either way 3 points is all that matters.
on a different note - quote below from oneil today re suspensions/injuries - sorry to be critical but how does a premiership manager not know this exactly from the start of the season!
“We have got four players on four bookings.
“I thought the cut-off period which would allow those bookings to pass was a bit closer than it is. I thought it might be the beginning of February but it appears it is at the end.
If we dominate, wouldn't we be playing 4-3-3?
I always get nervous with derbies. I think Albion will score but also think it'll be a narrow win. That'd do for me though and I agree with your summary overall about what'll make the difference between a nervy finish and a 'deckchair' one
Slightly off point but I'm torn on whether I want Albion to go on from defeat here and escape relegation. I like the thought of a load of Midlands team in the top flight but that will mean hard games against teams that our rivals at the top will see as bankers.
Your statement 'It's just that West Brom are not that good away from home and seem to leave their bottle on the coach. They've only picked up four points all season and have lost eight games away.'
This is no normal away game for them. This is their away day of the season, they will be up for it. Its far to dangerous to under estimate them.
I can see it being one of those games where we really need to win to kick on our great start to the season but we just dont get the break through. I pray i am wrong but i really dont fancy us for some reason, 1-0 baggies, Luke Moore.
I know he is shite but how often does it happen when a player returns, comes off the bench, it hits his shin and flies in!!!
Tonebone,
Very good point, that shouldn't happen... I'd be interested to know whether it is his fault or one of his team that led to the misunderstanding.
TheMachine
Yes - it would be 4-3-3 but if we play a strict 4-3-3 and they play even 4-4-2 or 4-5-1 we'll be run over in midfield. The point of 4-5-1 is to be equal or dominant in midfield but when attacking to attack down both flanks, quickly.
i think a sound 4-1 thumping will be handed out tomorrow the same score as paul mcgrath thinks aswell
2-1 Villa. If i get my lucky jumper washed and dried in time 3-0 Villa.
Sorry, Damian, was teasing... I know what you mean and totally agree with you. With JC out of the team, 4-5-1 is definitely the right way for us, I feel. It may well be the preferred option when he or Marlon's replacement is available too.
In the thunder of a derby, we need to win some ball in centre-mid in the first quarter of the match and assert ourselves and having Petrov, Barry and Sidwell all in there should do the trick.
Can I just say that Jack Woodward gets on my tits. I'm not quite sure why, but he does.
Delago
Do you need any help with the laundry?
Formations only matter when the opposition have the ball, when we are attacking then players look for space and move around. 4-3-3 or 4-5-1 are the same thing. I still don't like this formation with Gabby as the middle man at home, doesn't hold the ball well enough for me. He is better playing off Carew or even wide right. But with our small squad and injuries the team picks itself at the moment.
Off subject, but this is nice to read.
LINK
Reply to keefvilla:
Naw thanks mate. I already have a team of people working on it!
If we had Laursen and Carew then i would be confident that we would beat them easily as our set peice traet would probably be too much for them. This threat is virtually non existant at the moment so if our midfield turn up and give the same type of sub par performances they have done so in a lot of games this season then we might struggle to break them down. Then again if we do get an early gaol to force them to push on we could put 4 past them. I find it really hard to be confident in Villa lately even though results have been good the performaces have not been fantastic.
I predict a 5 - 0 win and the Birmingham Mails "man at the Villa" reporting that we scored 3 lucky goals, 2 were offside and we were very lucky not to lose.
I shamefully predict a 2-1 to the Albion.
There's no real logic in this. Just two things:
1. They haven't won at our place for years, and years, and years. Statistically they are due one.
2. Our recent run of eeking out results has got to end soon.
hope I'm wrong, but there you go.
So, the prediction is: the club that’s fourth is going to beat the club that’s bottom.
Furthermore, the game will be scrappy and have almost no goals.
Or it won’t. In which case it will be exciting and have lots of goals.
I think I preferred the transfer speculation.
To be fair to ‘is nibs, I’m beginning to realise that writing about a successful club, like us under O’Neill, is more difficult than writing about a club that’s failing, like us under Ellis. Bitching about life is the natural state of a football fan. So it’s a lot easier when you’ve got something to bitch about. When you’re coming apart at the seams bitching is not only natural but also noble.
If we lose tomorrow, this blog will be swamped will apoplectic, screaming screamers. It will be unpleasant but it won’t be boring.
Who's Jack Woodward?
Albion have a decent PL record at VP. Don't see a defeat, worst case scenario a draw.
I find it tough to predict a win for us every week because if we lose it hurts even more - i'm still pissed off with boro @home and to a lesser extent toon away.
Off the subject but I've just spotted this crock of sh*te reporting by the BBC LINK Anyone else spot their mistake?....
wonder which team they've over looked....again...UTV
Following his car crash in a tunnel near Manchester Airport, Christiano Ronaldo was injured. However, police confirmed that the road was closed for 30 minutes while he rolled around on the carriageway.
It's not even just discounting us as challengers, it's simple case of looking at the goals scored column. Dunces!
Reply to keefvilla:
WAS NOT INJURED.........Doh!
Reply to keefvilla:
I can see us handing West Brom a good old hammering for them to go back to the fizzy pop league with next season.
I cant see us getting beat by them, i think west brom will come with big balls and try to attack us leaving acres of room for young and gabby to tear them apart
lol... I assume he was looking in his mirror before clipping the wall. His compact, probably.
Reply to TheMachine:
He was moaning that the wall wasn't back 10 yards
Right, obviously we all want to be Albion... what result would people refer from Man U v Chelsea?
On the basis that I expect them to win title (playing all major teams at OT), I think I want Man U to win, let us close a bit on Chelsea but as long as we win tomorrow, we can take positives from any result there
err... 'beat Albion' not 'be Albion', I assume no-one who doesn't already support the Baggies has ever aspired to do so
An early goal (from Gabby) and a made-to-order 3-1 win over the Baggies to cap an excellent couple of weeks and keep the drive for third (or second) on track.
My 'made-to-order' wins don't include goals for the other team... ah, a consoltaion to keep the Baggies' fans less troublesome on their way back up the Handsworth Road. I like your thinking.
Let's just make sure our 3 all come first... and early. I find one-sided derby matches far more agreeable having got the taste since last year
"Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill has told Sky Sports News that selling players is not on his agenda during the January transfer window."
Does that mean Harewood, Shorey etc staying?
I think this just means that his focus ison brining in players rather the selling current players on.
I still think at least one of shorey & harewood will go.
Yes, I think they'll still go too but only if we can get our targets so they'll probably move late in month.
Wigan's new guy has work permit hearing next week. So Heskey situation will get resolved about then one way or other. I'd have been concerned if he said buying players wasn't on his agenda
These are the only possible players linked with villa left that haven't been rubished or have ended up going somewhere else:
Zayate
Nzogbia
Jovanovic
kenwyn jones
Heskey will go to liverpool and joe cole is going nowwhere.
Personally i think the most likely will be Nzogbia.
dont want charles his comments about rather signing for Arsenal done it for me, would be like using us as a stepping stone or stop gap till they manage to find some money
I dont mind who we sign out of the players mentioned.We are in desperate need for fresh legs.The team has done superbly with the players available but we still require a bit more quality in certain positions.strength in depth is not great either.Spend some dough Martin so we stay where we belong.In the top four not mid table.
slightly off topic has anyone else seen this
LINK
Rafa has gone mad in the begining of the mind games with Fergie and as someone put it on the other thread Heart attack contender number 2
Just gave it out on radio that MON has got Prem Manager of the month. That's the kiss of death then...!
It still makes me laugh that we got £3m for Moore
2-0 tomorrow, but 3 points vital!
utv
The reason moore left villa was because he walked into mon's office demanding that he played him and martin told him where to go.the fact we got 3mill for him after this is quite amazin.not that i'm complaining and i am sure we will let him now what we think of him tomorrow.2 0 to villa gabby and young.
N'Zogbia apparently said that he had a small preference for Arsenal, which is understandable given he would be eligible for CL football this season, and because of the French connection. But he also said that Villa are a great club. I think he was just being completely honest, and I would have no problem with him pitching up at the Villa having said what he has. If MoN wants him, I would be more than happy. Although I'm sure he'd be brought as a winger, but his ability to fill in at fullback would be very useful. Assuming Bouma comes back into the team when fit, this would mean that with N'Zogbia and Young we'd have ample cover at left back. I would be more than happy with N'Zogbia and a quality striker, with Harewood and Shorey leaving. Provided we didn't have a major injury crisis, I think we'd still be capable of making a title challenge.
As for the game tomorrow, I think Damian's prediction(s) is/are about right. 3 points is all that matters (though a performance a la Arsenal would be nice).
Reply to Tonebone:
surely it doesn't matter if O'Neill knew or not, he won't be telling players to hold back from a challenge because of a booking. If it is an issue that he felt needing addressed (i.e by taking players off the field having secured a result)he has done it in time anyway?
Reply to __AA__:
Ash Young player of the month again also
Is Gabby fit?
Reply to MFVillan:
yep
5-0.
Churchil write some more. You make me happy.
Reply to Nan_was_a_fan:
Evening Nan. Thank you.
I've just posted something on the previous thread. I don't think it will make you happy.
I bet we don't use any subs.
Reply to Nan_was_a_fan:
Now you're being controversial.
Reply to MFVillan:
His numerous girlfriends suggests that he is but I'm not placed to comment
Healthy debate Churchil.
If we draw 0-0 will Albion I'll be cross. Like AA suggested somewhere, we should start with Salifou and then bring Young on for the last 15 minutes. We need real quality coming off the bench.
Think MON, think for heavens sake. I'm just a keyboard and I hatch better plans than him.
Reply to Nan_was_a_fan:
Do you think Young (I assume you mean Ashley) is ready to replace Salifou? It would be a bold gesture.
You gotta change things around. Look at Pool, they always bring Gerrard off. Chelsea always take off Lamps. You gotta rest your key men.
You can't expect Salifou to maintain those levels week in week out for 90 minutes. Bloody hell in '81 we had a squad of 42 equally talented individuals.
Reply to TheMachine:
You are right on the same line as me. I think an early goal would put Albion on the back foot and I see exactly the scenario you paint, a 3-0 lead and then a late goal for the Baggies after Villa have taken their foot off the gas (and MON has taken off a few players to give them a bit of rest).
George, are you trying to be funny? Subs? Subs? Goodness me.
Naughty Nan, wash yer mouth out, yer been provocative agen fella.
Reply to keefvilla:
keefvilla that was brilliant
Reply to marmite61:
Yeah, nice one. Made me smile.
I agree with your assessment Damien. I think it's easy to forget that this is a derby and derby's are always much more competitive and scrappy. However, WB are low on options up front and as you've said have struggled away from home. We should win this, but it won't be given to us on a silver platter.
how dare you poke fun at jack woodward
Shame Henri Paul wasn't driving Ronaldo in that tunnel.
Can't wait for this match, will be in the Lower Holte cheering all the way. I think 3-1 win, sitting pretty 3-0 until near the end where we take our foot off the gas.
Reply to Nan_was_a_fan:
Me too!!
Did you see the car he drove away from training in.Courtesy car?
I want to know his insurance company.
it says on the official website that ashley young is the first player in premier league history to win player of the month 3 times in a calendar year not bad
i was not happy when we paid about 10m to watford for young but now i think he is value for money he has already played nearly 100 games for us and 15 goals does anyone no how many assists he has had i bet its alot
i think tomoro will be 3-0 villa
villa dave without doubt an inspired signing,good interview in the Daily Mail today.
3-1 tomorrow as George said we'll take our foot off the gas.
UTV
Reply to Nan_was_a_fan:
You missed the point nan. It means that if Ash is on the bench, just think f the quality we would have on the pitch. You know, a bit like I wish I was paying £1000 per week income tax..!
marmite61 do you think luke moore will score wba goal
Reply to villa dave:
I bloody well hope not
but it wouldn't surpise me!!.
You know how our defence can switch off.
WHOOPS try surprise!!!
I do know our defence is not as good without Laursen in it just hope knight can do well again
I must admit i along with almost everyone on here were critical of Zat but for me i think he has been very good the last few games, think the goal against Arse and that great tackle at the weekend and he's a Villa fan so hopefully he has a future at VP,though of course he is not in the same class as our captain
just a few thoughts
anyone notice that we havent played WELL since we beat arsenal or at least the 1st half against them the time we drew. im including the utd match in that btw. dont get me wrong im delighted were winning, but that wont last forever unless we pick up our preformances
also, ive been thinking on the same lines of who mon hasnt refuted so far as by far the most accurate way or sussing who we may buy, as mentioned earlier.
jfk said he hasnt got offers for zog, so he's lieing clearly. that fella claiming he was inthe press, be he truthful or not, has probably got that correct.
honestly i could see heskey in, but wigan wont sell us valencia as well if that happens. one other tops. perhaps zog, tho im far from pleased with his arsenal comment. he must be an idiot if theres no truth in it. hes not very good either, wouldnt improve our 1st 11.
tomorrow unnerves me, esp with the confidence, dare i say complacency, that is seemingly present going into this game. still i predict a narrow (lucky) victory
on the aforementioned complacency; does anyone share the fear that a little has crept into webcam's game recently? i hope im wrong on that
UTV
Celtic villain as has been stated before i think that Ashley is being marked more than ever and the pitch last weekend didn't help,made him look poor,though i wouldn't say he is complacent,still tracks back and works hard.
Totally agree we haven't played well recently,but lets be positive and change that tomorrow and stuff the baggies!! hopefully!!
I don't share the fear re: Ash at all but it is true that we haven't played great in the past few weeks so am a little apprehensive about tomorrow.
Still, a few other attributes have therefore come to the fore in last few games : resilience, determination, fitness, Zat's left foot, perseverence.
We are 2nd in the form table over the last 6 of the 7 games you refer to (and will go top with a win tomorrow) so I guess that's a little reminder that winners have many attributes, not just skill and form. Ever player is good at this level but they're not all winners but we have a few in Claret andBlue.
Well, ok, I exaggerate to maker the point, not all players are THAT good
As long as we improve on the way we played last match... 2-0. If we play as badly as we did against Gillingham (let's not forget they were a League 2 side)... 1-2
3-1 villa. villa scorers sidwell, gabby, davies
I think it all depends on how WBA approach the game , if they come looking for a point ie playing deep then we will be lucky to get a 1-0 victory.
But if they come out and give it a go then are superiority in all departments will overwhelm them .
Personally I think they will give it a go ,so 3-1 villa for me , Gabby x2 and Petrov .
villa 2-1 wba
bt yh, bannan should b on the bench n if we go 3-0 up then bring him on n let him show every1 wt he can do.
agbonlahor and barry
dnt fink tha moore will score agenst us thoguht tbh. even knight can handle him.
bt tbh, ive bin every impressed wiv knight in his last 3 game!
hoping 4 a gd performance n hopefully a clean sheet.
oh yh, and i think barry bannan deserves a shout on the bench. in the game where he played in the uefa cup he waz our best player wen he came on.
he's a classy young player and will make the grade, i dnt fink delafonso will
he's jst a gd set-peice taker as a.young
I agree with others that Ash is being heavily marked.
This is GREAT.
The reason we are able to score so many at the moment without having a particularly talented central midfield is because teams have to make a big decision against us. They either stop Gabby, Ash and Milner or they shut down the middle.
Petrov has looked better because teams have given him space in oirder to cover Young etc. When they start to worry about central midfield they give Young a little bit more freedom and he's gone.
Teams are at last having to think really carefully when playing the Villa.
One last comment before the game.
Please can we win some headers somewhere on the pitch today?