Peter Griffin Posted August 11, 2021 Share Posted August 11, 2021 I think Smith is too cautious to play 3 CB and have Cash and Targett as wingbacks. Particularly for the first game I think he will play a formation the players are used to and will start with as many of last year's players a possible. I expect the usual back 4. Nakamba and McGinn in the middle and El Ghazi to start. Fitness will determine if Buendia and Watkins start and I expect to see Traore start on the right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post newhavenhibby Posted August 11, 2021 Visiting Supporter Popular Post Share Posted August 11, 2021 Good luck on Saturday lads and lasses. Always a great buzz around the first game of the season, especially to see how you get on without Jack and how the new lads settle in. Obviously up here, we will be watching SJM and see how he plays without Jack with him and whether Smith changes his role in midfield. Watford is a reasonable fixture and on paper should be winnable. Having said that Watford can be quite a stodgy side, especially at home so should be a fascinating game. All the best. 'mon Villa 6 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sne Posted August 11, 2021 Share Posted August 11, 2021 Mike Dean eh? Swell! Might as well prepare for an absolute shower of shit and him making himself the center of attention. Is he never going to retire? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulC Posted August 11, 2021 Share Posted August 11, 2021 I just want to see Watkins and Ings up front together and I don't think Smith likes playing three at the back so I don't have a clue about the formation and side for Saturday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMelvillan Posted August 11, 2021 Share Posted August 11, 2021 very excited to see the formation and line up for saturday. at some points over the last few years the line up was painfully predictable based on us simply choosing our 11 least rubbish players. The concept of having options, and the challenge of trying to keep a squad of talented players rotated and happy is such an un-villa like problem to have! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KMitch Posted August 11, 2021 Share Posted August 11, 2021 Scared that we'll be without too many key players up front. it's possible that all of Buendia, Watkins, and Bailey will be out and we'll have to rely on an unfit Traore and a frustrating El Ghazi to make things happen for Ings up top. Hopefully Ashley Young will get some minutes and score against his boyhood club for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted August 11, 2021 Moderator Share Posted August 11, 2021 Smiith hopeful/expects Watkins will be available for Watford. Knee is bruised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjw63 Posted August 11, 2021 Share Posted August 11, 2021 3 hours ago, sne said: Mike Dean eh? Swell! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post NurembergVillan Posted August 11, 2021 Moderator Popular Post Share Posted August 11, 2021 On 10/08/2021 at 16:00, alreadyexists said: It was before my time too, I would love to see it! Sounds amazing I haven't been able to find one yet. It was from the days when VT had a "front page" with articles that would show up in NewsNow etc. I've just found another messageboard that had quoted the article I wrote after we relegated in Newcastle in 2009, though. This thing went quite viral at the time, considering it was before Twitter was the home of viral football untruths... Quote Following defeat at the hand of Aston Villa today, relegated Newcastle United are seriously looking into the possibility of joining the Scottish Premier League. Newcastle United could join a rejigged Scottish Premier League as early as the 2010-2011 season, owner Mike Ashley announced this evening following his club's relegation from the English Premiership. The SPL has long been dominated by Celtic and Rangers "the Old Firm" and the prospect of northern English clubs joining them would lead to increased TV revenue and a dramatic rise in international interest. With Europe an increasing obsession, clubs like Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool desire a reduction in the size of the Premiership. But in Scotland's case an INCREASE in the size of the league by adding northern giants such as Newcastle, Middlesbrough and Blackpool would give the league added appeal. No one should doubt the seriousness of Newcastle's intentions in heading North. Mike Ashley, Newcastle's majority share-holder, said on Sunday that a move was "inevitable", adding that he felt "let down" by both Sky Sports and the Football Association whom he claimed had given him "assurances" that Newcastle would avoid the drop. But defeat against Champions of People's Hearts, Aston Villa, put paid to those "promises". Brian Quinn, Celtic's chairman, claimed at Celtic Park on Sunday that the top Premiership clubs "relish" the prospect of joining the Old Firm, a view endorsed by a fat man with no shirt on outside Villa Park after Newcastle's lacklustre defeat. The Premier League insist there are "no plans" to change the structure of the 20-strong division. But with Newcastle no longer under their jurisdiction the Toon Army would be free to move to the Scottish league where Ashley claims they would "get the love and respect" they "deserve". Jumping borders may concern UEFA, not to mention the Scottish and English FAs, but Newcastle know their lawyers would have a case at Brussels where, in a world altered by Bosman, they could argue restraint of trade and movement. UEFA might struggle to explain why Monaco can play in the French League, Cardiff City and Swansea in the English but Newcastle cannot in the SPL. "This club deserves to be in the Champions League year-on-year", Ashley concluded, "and a move to Scotland - our natural home some would say - means our amazing fans would get what they deserve". The SportsDirect mogul went on to add that "the additional revenue generated would benefit the Scottish game immensely. I'm sure that the Scottish fans would be grateful to have us there and we'll show English football what they're missing. We were badly let down this season. Sky Sports and the Football Association promised me that they would ensure our Premier League survival if I appointed Alan Shearer as Manager for a publicity stunt. Now I'm left feeling that I've been made to look a right "publicity stunt" myself." 2 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NurembergVillan Posted August 11, 2021 Moderator Share Posted August 11, 2021 Found one, from May 2004 I think - Quote Ladies and gentlemen, Sunday brings about this season’s final visit to London, Britain’s most carcinogenic tourist attraction. We’ve not had much success darn sarf in 2004/5, but get ready to roll out the barrah tomorrow because with Tottingham Snotspurts as our hosts, 3 points are guaranteed. Whilst in London, take advantage of the early kick off to spend the afternoon having a look round some of the second city’s places of interest. Albert Square, for instance, would be an excellent starting point- particularly as the local residents have a lot in common with the fans of this week’s opposition. They’re a miserable bunch, Spuds fans, and with good reason. Despite signing somewhere in the region of 20 (twenty) players in the last two years, the club are still only the third best in their home city. That makes them the London equivalent of West Bromwich Albion. They do manage to include several celebrities amongst their pathetically populated fan base, though - most notably the annoying, hairy faced piano botherers Chas and Dave. But it wouldn’t be fair to say that the supporters of the Premier League’s only team with a chicken on its badge are purely miserable. They are also hopelessly deluded. Visitors to pubs around Shite Fart Lane can expect to be bored to tears with tales of what a big club the two-time league title winning (including as recently as 1961!) Spurts are. Apparently, they’re ahead of the other clubs in the chasing pack as they are investing in youth. Not before time though, as the members of their last FA Youth Cup winning side have nearly all retired. Let’s not take anything away from this revolutionary initiative, however, as the likes of Mbulelo Mabizela, Callum Davenport and the previously good Andy Reid have brought some much needed humour to the Premier League with their woeful performances. They’re not alone in the ranks of shocking Spurts players past and present, either. Not many teams can list such poor players as Mitchell Thomas, Erik Thorstvedt and former bluenose Jose Dominguez in their hall of fame. And let’s not forget the man who scored the winning goal in the 1987 FA Cup final, the “big boned” Gary Mabbutt. The best player never to get 50 caps for England if you believe the taxi driving season ticket holders at the Lane. Yep. Him and Jason Lee. Speaking of big boned, let’s take a moment to consider the Spods coach, Martin Jol……. That’s enough. You’ll have nightmares. Not that his baby-eater features stop him from being idolised by the fools in white shirts, however. He’s done a good job, to be fair, but it would be nice to see him smile for any reason other than because he’s breaking wind. But it’s time to discuss the real reason why we must beat Tottenham Hotspur. We must beat them because the rest of the Premiership wants us to. They are despised far beyond the confines of nearby Highbury. But not because they are a nasty team, though – far from it. It’s the fans. Nobody likes them because, in the true style of Cockernee wideboys, they have an over inflated opinion of themselves and can’t help but voice it at every available opportunity. It pains them to accept that Sol Campbell joined Arsenal because they are by far a bigger club (who they even imitated by wearing a red shirt during the early years of the club). It hurts when they look into the trophy cabinet and see it’s plentiful yet rusty contents. They hate the fact that when the Premier League started they were part of the “big 6” yet are now simply part of “the other sixteen”. Now that may not sound too different to ourselves, for sure, but the thing is that we have acknowledged this turn around in fortunes and are battling hard to get back into contention. Starting with three points tomorrow to push us closer to Europe. Meanwhile the Spurts still swan around as if anyone outside Seven Sisters still cares that they exist. And that’s the reason why we must beat them tomorrow. Because they aren’t swans at all. As the badge clearly shows, they’re nothing more than cocks. Anyway - please limit any comments relating to this. Don't want us taking this topic in a wayward direction. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alreadyexists Posted August 11, 2021 VT Supporter Share Posted August 11, 2021 50 minutes ago, NurembergVillan said: Found one, from May 2004 I think - Anyway - please limit any comments relating to this. Don't want us taking this topic in a wayward direction. Incredible! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoelVilla Posted August 11, 2021 Share Posted August 11, 2021 If Buendia and Bailey miss the game and with Traore unfit I want both Ings and Watkins to play. If Watkins not injured of course. Formation? Going all FM and play a narrow 4-3-3 with Cash and Targett providing the width. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Griffin Posted August 11, 2021 Share Posted August 11, 2021 6 hours ago, sne said: Mike Dean eh? Swell! Might as well prepare for an absolute shower of shit and him making himself the center of attention. Is he never going to retire? Deeney has to see Red in the game Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BleedClaretAndBlue Posted August 11, 2021 Share Posted August 11, 2021 Hurry up Friday I want the press conference!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darrenm Posted August 11, 2021 Share Posted August 11, 2021 3 hours ago, NurembergVillan said: topic Yeah I don't want to have a marathon session wading through stupid puns. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dounavilla Posted August 11, 2021 Share Posted August 11, 2021 Got my ticket today but going to have to sit with the Watford fans. Nothing worse than not being able to cheer if Villa score. I live in Watford so at least it's a short trip home. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevonIsAPlaceOnEarth Posted August 11, 2021 Share Posted August 11, 2021 10 hours ago, sne said: Mike Dean eh? Swell! Might as well prepare for an absolute shower of shit and him making himself the center of attention. Is he never going to retire? Read an amazing stat last week. Mike Dean has given over 7% of red cards in Premier League history, going back 1992. Unbelievable. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VillanOfAston Posted August 11, 2021 Share Posted August 11, 2021 This match has been shamefull for us since 2015. But guess what since 2015 we have been less than good (Cr*p) - until now. Let this weekend be the turning point for us to reach our Bright Future. Sir Elton can't help them any more! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gompedyret Posted August 11, 2021 Share Posted August 11, 2021 If Watkins plays I really hope he gets a hat trick just to set the tone for the season. Then afterwards we can have headlines like "Watford walloped by Watkins!". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwivillan Posted August 12, 2021 Share Posted August 12, 2021 1 hour ago, Gompedyret said: If Watkins plays I really hope he gets a hat trick just to set the tone for the season. Then afterwards we can have headlines like "Watford walloped by Watkins!". I've gone Ings instead of Watkins in FPL so prefer Ings hat trick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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