Or am I?
Let’s face it, after the shoeing we got from Arsenal last week, we’re not exactly favourites to win this one are we?
Many of us have predicted another hammering, with some even predicting double figure goals on Chelsea’s part.
I have a sneaky feeling that won’t happen though and there will only be a goal or two in it.
Not that I’m expecting us to win, because it really wouldn’t surprise me if we fail to score yet again.
What’ll be more important is if Lambert doesn’t attempt the same ridiculous tactics that he did last week.
And I don’t think he will, hence I don’t see that many goals.
Another capitulation, as we saw last week though, would surely have the fans calling for Lambert’s head.
Wouldn’t it?????
But even then, it’s possibly already too late for a change, a view that I suspect is exactly how the club’s hierarchy think. Lambert’s staying, whether we like it or not.
For me, the truth is I never expected anything from the Arsenal game or this one, so losing won’t quite be that much of a big deal. It was just the manner of last weeks defeat that wound me up so much.
That said, Jose has never beaten us at Villa Park and losing that record would be disappointing in yet another season of disappointment.
Squad news then and Vlaar has recovered from his knee injury.
Will he come straight back in? I’d expect so, personally.
I’d also expect Sinclair to start.
Joe Cole is fit again too and it’ll be interesting to see if he gets a start after last week’s midfield shambles. I personally don’t think he will, but I think Lambert might bring him on later, depending how the game’s going.
Chelsea have Fabregas fit again and Juan Cuadrado is expected to make his debut.
Costa is banned and Luis has a calf strain; not that it makes much difference with Chelsea’s squad.
Prediction?
1-2, with the hope that we can just get a goal.
I actually think that’s pretty optimistic!
0-4 and that’s optimistic. I used to think we could always get something from a game but with our manager and the way we go about these bigger games I just don’t see it at all. We are always beat before we kick a ball and our manager seems to accept that.
Disagree Adam we all thought they’d hammer us last year and they didn’t. They might win but it will be a 1.0 job. I going for a 1.1 draw as no fabrigas or Costa.
Problem is, unless Lambert learns how to use Hutton positionally, he’ll be far too high up the pitch to have any affect on defending Hazard and unless Cissokho plays, we’re screwed against Willian or Cuadrado. Only good thing being we play 3 midfielders, which is a definite if we have any chance of stopping Oscar. Unfortunately Fabregas is fit enough though. Probably not fully fit but any fitness to Fabregas and he’ll destroy us, he’s just far too good not too. Unless Delph or Sanchez put him down quickly (which no I’m definitely not condoning at all), he’ll definitely destroy us. Plus Remy’s more than good enough to kill us off and Drogba, even at his age, can open our CB’s up.
oohahaha you disagree for the sake of disagreeing, your a wannabe rebel, only the die hardy villa fans will expect a contest today. this game terrorizes me, i fear a hammering will be the final nail in our coffin. players are running on empty with confidence and belief, another run around today isn’t what the quack ordered
Can’t see us getting anything from this game and cannot see us scoring . Then again Lambert might surprise us all., wishful thinking . I will watch the game if the link is good probably from behind the sofa afraid to look at it. I believe the special one has not won at Villa Park yet,
I think Jose will be out for blood after the way he feels he was was treated at VP last season, and the snubbing he got at the Bridge by Keane & Lambert in the last game. I can only see this being one way traffic. My prediction is 0-3.
I recall that fateful afternoon when we were leading against the Arse. Cesc came on INJURED for little over 20 minutes, beat our whole damned team, and hobbled off again. Don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite like it. I was speechless. Legendary performance.
0-2. And THAT is being optimistic!!!
1-4 & I’m being kind it’s too close at the top for Chelsea to go easy on a team like ours there probably thinking by how many today.
Sadly have to agree; what a game it was last year – but then we only beat Hull in the run in so maybe a defeat will energise us into action (if only I believed that!) Got to go with 0-3 and we’ll be lucky to score none! 🙂
hard to decide what the best tactics could be, do you attack um, do you counter um. i personally would have the 4 defenders narrow and together, not a occasion for bombing full backs. then you have to have two sitting mids, but is sanchez ready, he was so poor last time out.
one thing is certain moanrinho will come baying for blood, villa have humiliated him a few times, he would love to get one over us. today is the best chance he will have and i expect him to plot another difficult game.
0~5 🙁
Mourinho is a tactical genius, he very rarely gets it wrong. We have to revert to counter attacking football i think. Keep it tight at full back, get Sinclair and Gabby moving as soon as we win the ball back and hope we get some luck in the process.
He got it wrong last year
The only reason we won last year was because they had two players sent off, or is everybody conveniently forgetting this?
Think we might Nick this one 2-1 Villa utv
Love the optimism JD.
Villas for life pal I was saying to my Mrs today when I go I want a claret n blue coffin utv
So Villa for life and death???? Personally I’d go for a wicker one or thick cardboard box. Waste of money and good wood burying a coffin that’s bloody expensive!!! Lol!
3-2 Villa i feel it in my water, or is it cystitis after too much vino tinto
Yes mate wines a bugger for that.
Are you two both ladies???? Never really heard of a bloke suffering from that! 🙂
We will get stuffed in what will probably be Chelsea’s easiest game all season. We are doomed
I’d go for 0-3. My reasoning – the nil because Villa couldn’t hit the back of a barn at the moment. The 3 because Chelski have a mid-week game against Everton coming up. Score 3 goals in the first 25 minutes and then amble around the field for the rest of the game to conserve energy and avoid injuries.
Reckon Lambert would take that score right now!
Aston Nilla!
bum bum
he was class that day fabregras
probably best 20 mins from anyone
andrew
full backs are for defending lambert thinks different last weeks line up was one that someone picked out of lucky bag
Well here i go again. 30 minutes until i leave the house.
can’t get any enthusiam for going other than i spent money on a season ticket.
what a Plonker.
no sanchez benteke but westwood cleverly gabby wiemen delph sure sign madness doing same thing over and over and thinking it will change
Sanchez was poor last week but I wud stick with him. Westwood for cleverly yes.
I think lambert has already written this off.
Bentley will start at hull on Tuesday.
I just hope fabby and weimann play aa a pair. If weimann starts wide then same old sTory 0-3
Sorry benteke
Glad Benteke been dropped best thing lamberks done all season imo he needs a kick up the arse and best to play him from bench imo
Agree OohAh we’ve been playing with 10 men with no show Tekkers up front but drop Sanchez – no, no, no. Big mistake as he protects the defence really well. Problem at Arsenal was the way Lambert set up the team not Sanchez’s fault; expected him to play in a different way to that which suits him best. Sorry but I can’t see this lot scoring in a month of Sunday’s but it will be interesting to see Weimann / Gabby playing a more central role.
Yeah but we’ve now got the firepower of gabby & weimann.
totally agree gabby will show benteke how to grafted, make runs and hopefully score goals. lets face it benteke isn’t interest or just can’t be bothered or maybe just hasn’t got it. just watched kane of spuds score 2 goals, work his ass off and hold up the ball all in a days work. benteke is worth 25mill kanes priceless 100 mill
i change my pre match prediction from 5 nil to 4 nil
You weren’t watching Blues
You weren’t watching Blues
Before the money you took
From the big Russian crook
You weren’t watching Blues
One of the games more amusing chants aimed at Chelsea’s newer fans.
Only Mourinho’s record at VP gives us a squeak today. I have seen the teams and Lambert has at least put Benteke where he deserves to be – on the bench. Cleverly and Delph start. Well – there could be a use for that walking disaster, if they are detailed to man-mark Hazard and Oscar, and if they are capable of doing so.
In the absence of a man-marking triumph we will be hammered – but with Sissoko back Hutton told to defend first, and if the dynamic duo in midfield can actually man mark, a score draw, even a flukey win are possible.
Don’t see how dropping benteke is a good thing unless lambert is planning on having no striker and just 11 defenders? Benteke had not been out of form but he has had no service so how will that change with gabby up front? Will gabby take the 1 chance the rest of the team can create? Doubt it! And cleverly still gets a game? He defo has a clause that he must play because he is fucking useless! Sanchez anyday ahead of him even if he was shite last week at least he did something!
Awful defending, especially from Okore and Hutton. And that’s it. Mourinho’s finally going to beat Villa at Villa Park.
Okore not really his fault, nobody tracking Willian was the problem.
Agreed when chelski go 1 up against anyone that’s usually it tbh
Watch em bash our gd