Aston Villa vs West Ham United - Saturday 14 August 3pm - Setanta Ireland

JPA

vs








Kevin McDonald brings a bit of the unknown to the mix tomorrow, will he favour his youngsters or go with the more familiar. Will he pick James Milner?

James Milner has been named in Aston Villa's squad despite being on the verge of a move to Manchester City.

Defenders James Collins and Carlos Cuellar miss out with respective calf and hamstring injuries, but Curtis Davies should overcome a knee problem.
West Ham could give debuts to summer signings Pablo Barrera, Winston Reid, Tal Ben Haim and Frederic Piquionne.
Thomas Hitzlsperger is set to miss out against his former club after limping out of Germany's midweek friendly.
Aston Villa
Doubtful: Agbonlahor (hamstring), Davies (knee)
Injured: Collins (calf), Cuellar (hamstring), Delph (knee)
West Ham
Doubtful: Hitzlsperger (thigh)
Injured: Collison, Hines & Kurucz (all knee)
MATCH PREVIEW
Aston Villa begin the new season in a similar state of turmoil to how West Ham ended the previous campaign.


While the Hammers have regrouped since narrowly avoiding relegation, uncertainty has enveloped Villa Park following the sudden resignation of manager Martin O'Neill on Monday.
Reserve-team coach Kevin MacDonald takes temporary charge, as he did in the Premier League 16 years ago at Leicester after Brian Little left; ironically to become Villa's manager. MacDonald failed to win any of his three games in charge: his only point came at home to Villa, who he then joined as part of Little's coaching staff.
It remains to be seen how destabilising O'Neill's departure will prove to be. MacDonald will buy Villa time, but it is new signings the club needs to invest in after a barren summer so far.
West Ham's Avram Grant has endured his share of managerial travails at Chelsea and Portsmouth and will want stability for himself as much as his new employers. The rebuilding process is well underway, with half a dozen new faces added to their squad. Grant, though, has lost his first Premier League match in charge at both previous clubs.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• West Ham have won only one of their last 13 visits to Villa Park (W1, D7, L5). That was in January 2006 when Marlon Harewood scored the decisive penalty in a 2-1 Premier League victory.
• Villa's only defeat in the last eight meetings came at Upton Park last November.


Aston Villa
• Villa's 64-point tally last season was their best since they finished as runners-up in 1993.
• Their home record of 32 points from 19 matches was the worst in the top half of the table, and only 12th best overall.
• Villa have only won two of their nine home league matches in 2010, drawing six and losing to Blackburn on the final day of last season.
• They have won one of their last five opening-day fixtures - 4-2 at home against Manchester City in 2008 when Gabriel Agbonlahor scored a hat-trick.
• Stephen Warnock will be making his 200th career league start.
• Emile Heskey is poised to make his 500th career league appearance. He has scored 113 goals.
West Ham
• The Hammers have won four of their last five opening-day matches. Their only defeat in the last seven was 2-0 at home to Manchester City in 2007.
• Their only away victory last season came on the opening weekend against Wolves. West Ham's final away tally of nine points was the third lowest total in the top flight.
• New manager Avram Grant lost his first Premier League match at both previous clubs, with Chelsea and Portsmouth beaten by Manchester United.
• If fit, Thomas Hitzlsperger's West Ham debut will be his 100th Premier League appearance. His previous 99 matches came for Aston Villa between 2000 to 2005.
• Matthew Upson will be making his 300th club career start.
LAST SEASON'S LEADING GOALSCORERS

Aston Villa
Carew: 17 goals (10 league);
Agbonlahor: 16 goals (13 league)





West Ham
Cole: 10 goals (10 league); Diamanti: 8 goals (7 league)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Mike Dean
Assistant referees: John Flynn & Andy Halliday
Fourth official: Andy D'Urso
LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS
Aston Villa (L 0-1 v Blackburn, h): Friedel; Cuellar, Collins, Dunne, Warnock (L Young 41), A Young, Milner, Petrov, Downing, Agbonlahor (Delfouneso 78), Carew (Heskey 76) Subs not used: Guzan, Beye, Sidwell, Reo-Coker.
West Ham (D 1-1 v Man City, h): Green; Faubert, Upson, Da Costa, Daprela, Parker, Kovac, Boa Morte (Franco 64), Cole (Stanislas 64), Ilan, Diamanti (Spence 88) Subs not used: Gabbidon, Spector, Kurucz, McCarthy.

According to the official site earlier nd in contradiction to the BBC Davies and Agbonlahor will miss out as well as Cuellar and Collins.

My Prediction for the Villa team:

---

Friedel

L. Young Clark Dunne Warnock

---

Petrov---NRC

Albrighton A. Young Downing

---

Carew


One to Watch: Albrighton

JPA

VILLA: Friedel; L Young, Dunne, Clark, Warnock; Albrighton, Petrov, Milner, Downing; A Young, Carew. Subs: Weimann, Bannan, Lichaj, Heskey, Guzan, Beye, Reo-Coker.



Milner starts!

Esse85

JPA wrote: »

VILLA: Friedel; L Young, Dunne, Clark, Warnock; Albrighton, Petrov, Milner, Downing; A Young, Carew. Subs: Weimann, Bannan, Lichaj, Heskey, Guzan, Beye, Reo-Coker.



Milner starts!

Our bench is the pits.

Where's Davies and Sidwell?

mike65

Madness, utter madness. Randy Lerner might be on the phone.

JPA

Esse85 wrote: »

Our bench is the pits.

Where's Davies and Sidwell?

Davies is injured, Sidwell on his way seems like. Good to see the youngsters IMO.

JPA

mike65 wrote: »

Madness, utter madness. Randy Lerner might be on the phone.

Lerner is there, I'm sure he knows the story.

mike65

Even nuttier then.

invinciblePRSTV

May as well play our strongest team, if Man City weren't dicking about with with Irelands pay off then it'd be all over now.

Whats WHUs team?

Esse85

JPA wrote: »

Davies is injured, Sidwell on his way seems like. Good to see the youngsters IMO.

Doesnt look like MacDonald had much choice but to include them.

Has Albrighton started in the league before? A good start from him would do wonders for his confidence.

Wonder what kinda reception Jimmy will get.

Esse85

The Fonz must be injured too

MementoMori

Looking at the team and bench, even with the injuries, it really doesn't look like MON has left the club in great shape.

A couple of injuries and the lack of squad depth really shows through.

Massive call on starting Milner.

Cojones award of the day for whoever made that call.

matrim

JPA wrote: »

VILLA: Friedel; L Young, Dunne, Clark, Warnock; Albrighton, Petrov, Milner, Downing; A Young, Carew. Subs: Weimann, Bannan, Lichaj, Heskey, Guzan, Beye, Reo-Coker.


Milner starts!

Will probably line out like

---

Friedal
L.Young Dunne Clark Warnock

---

Petrov---Milner
Albrighton---Young---Downing

---

Carew

MementoMori

matrim wrote: »

Will probably line out like

---

Friedal
L.Young Dunne Clark Warnock

---

Petrov---Milner
Albrighton---Young---Downing

---

Carew

If Milner wasn't playing and with Sidwell MIA the only other option in CM would be NRC.

Looking at that lineup and the lack of options on the bench, I'd say a draw would be a very good result for Villa today.

Esse85

Villa will struggle to break down WH.

eagle eye

Wow just wow at Milner starting.

Patser

Given the injuries Villa have, especially in the back line, I think that's the best team we could have gone with. And I'm not sure where the negativity comes from. Albrighton has been screaming for a starting role and would probably featured a bit more last year only for being injured against Brighton in the FA Cup (after setting up our first goal). Ashley Young is the perfect partner for Carew with Gabby missing, speed and tricks to play off height and power. Milner and Petrov are solid in the middle - regardless where he'll be next week, Milner is still here might as well use him plus gives him a chance to sign off on a high (an extra plus would be an injury that keeps him out for 2 months and causes City to back out:P). All otheres are playing in their natural positions too.

So with the exception of Clark in defence, who'll probably be targeted, why worries. As for the bench....ok weak. But Gabby, Collins, Davies will probably be back next game. Cuellar soon. The Fonz and Delph later in the season.

flahavaj

Odds on Milner getting a long term injury?

JPA

MementoMori wrote: »

Looking at the team and bench, even with the injuries, it really doesn't look like MON has left the club in great shape.

A couple of injuries and the lack of squad depth really shows through.

Massive call on starting Milner.

Cojones award of the day for whoever made that call.

More like 5 or 6 injuries today.

MementoMori

West Ham: Green, Reid, Tomkins, Upson, Ilunga, Faubert, Parker, Kovac, Noble, Boa Morte, Cole. Subs: Stech, Gabbidon, Barrera, Spector, Sears, Piquionne, Diamanti.

WH with a very settled looking side and reasonable options off the bench.

Helix

Starting xi isnt a million miles from our strongest possible. Should be good enough to win

shoutman

Wheres delfonso?

MementoMori

JPA wrote: »

More like 5 or 6 injuries today.

Ok - but that's hardly an injury epidemic and as a result there are 2 players making their first premier league starts with three more very inexperienced on the bench.

Would have thought Sidwell would be on the bench at the least given the lack of experience? Milner can be risked but Sidwell can't ????

Helix

Prob got time off after being with england kids

Krusader

Helix wrote: »

Starting xi isnt a million miles from our strongest possible. Should be good enough to win

LOve to see Albrighton and Clark have stormers and show the rest of the league we have great young talent

JPA

MementoMori wrote: »

Ok - but that's hardly an injury epidemic and as a result there are 2 players making their first premier league starts with three more very inexperienced on the bench.

Would have thought Sidwell would be on the bench at the least given the lack of experience? Milner can be risked but Sidwell can't ????

Clark started last year vs Fulham. Sidwell could be injured, not sure.

Time Magazine

MementoMori wrote: »

Ok - but that's hardly an injury epidemic and as a result there are 2 players making their first premier league starts with three more very inexperienced on the bench.

Ciaran Clark has started in the PL before. Albrighton hasn't, as far as I know, but he's something else. Last season I remember a few people suggesting he should start ahead of Milner. A bit eager of them, yes, but he is a super player.

Esse85

Patser wrote: »

Given the injuries Villa have, especially in the back line, I think that's the best team we could have gone with. And I'm not sure where the negativity comes from. Albrighton has been screaming for a starting role and would probably featured a bit more last year only for being injured against Brighton in the FA Cup (after setting up our first goal). Ashley Young is the perfect partner for Carew with Gabby missing, speed and tricks to play off height and power. Milner and Petrov are solid in the middle - regardless where he'll be next week, Milner is still here might as well use him plus gives him a chance to sign off on a high (an extra plus would be an injury that keeps him out for 2 months and causes City to back out:P). All otheres are playing in their natural positions too.

So with the exception of Clark in defence, who'll probably be targeted, why worries. As for the bench....ok weak. But Gabby, Collins, Davies will probably be back next game. Cuellar soon. The Fonz and Delph later in the season.

Why would you want an injury to Milner?

That could easily cause City to back out of the deal, fcuking up the chance for Villa to sign Ireland, not to mention forgetting about the £18m in transfer fee we'd receive and also we're without the player for 2 months.

Patser

Esse85 wrote: »

Why would you want an injury to Milner?

That could easily cause City to back out of the deal, fcuking up the chance for Villa to sign Ireland, not to mention forgetting about the £18m in transfer fee we'd receive and also we're without the player for 2 months.

The irony would be brilliant!;)

shoutman

I hate villa/football fans sometimes booing one of your own players is idiotic

shoutman

Patser wrote: »

The irony would be brilliant!;)

What would be ironic about it?

Esse85

Patser wrote: »

The irony would be brilliant!;)

Fcuking retarded is what it is.

Esse85

http://www.firstrow.net/watch/23780/1/watch-aston-villa--vs-west-ham-united.html

Patser

shoutman wrote: »

What would be ironic about it?

MON quits in a row mostly based on Milner's leaving, Milner ends up staying.

On the match itself, bright start for Villa. Reid looking a bit suspect for West Ham. Good comment on Setanta as well that McDonald should be the best person to judge the youngsters Villa have, since he's been managing them for years. It's a rather stable group of youngsters we have coming through as well. Albrighton, Clark, Lichaj, Delfounso, Bannon etc have been playing together for years. V few drop outs over last few seasons.

MementoMori

JEEEZZ:eek::eek:

Krusader

Crazy :eek:

matrim

Carew should have done so much better

everdead.ie

That's ridiculous,suicide tbh

ctrl-alt-delete

That was poor from Carew, Green was well off his line, crying out to be lifted over him.

Time Magazine

It was a peno as well.

M5

Aston Villa fans booing Green, what a disgrace, memories of Beckham

M5

Time Magazine wrote: »

It was a peno as well.

keeper got a touch with his right foot

matrim

Downing

Patser

Woop!

Krusader

Yes!!! Downing
We're on our way!

Raskolnikov

Deserved goal, Green flapping about.

copacetic

well offside.

everdead.ie

Was Downing not offside?

ctrl-alt-delete

What was Green at there,

easy finish there.

Time Magazine

MementoMori wrote: »

Looking at that lineup and the lack of options on the bench, I'd say a draw would be a very good result for Villa today.

Impressed then?

MementoMori

Villa started very brightly and deserved that.

West Ham looking dodgy defensively again this year.

Esse85

M5 wrote: »

Aston Villa fans booing Green, what a disgrace, memories of Beckham

Seems to have worked, well done Villa fans.