VS After a battling point at a rain soaked Sheffield Utd, the mighty hornets return to Vicarage Road it what many have deemed "our game of the season". In many respects, it is just that. Villa are five points above us in 18th place, while West Ham are in touching distance in the lauded 17th position. What Happened Last Time? In the season Aston Villa were relegated, we had two very entertaining games against them. Beating them 3-2 in both games. The home match looked bleak at times, being 2-0 down but we battled back to claim victory. Villa have had the upper hand on Watford prior, so it was nice to beat them twice in a calendar year. Do We Have Any Rivalry? Absolutely not. Considering they are in Birmingham and we are in Hertfordshire. However, there is one slight connection. Our mon Captain' new father Troy Deeney was/is a life long Birmingham supporter. He scored in both games against them last time out, and stated afterwards it "felt good to get one over on them". So can we expect a Deeney master class on Saturday? So What About Our Respective Seasons? You only need to look at the league table to discover Vila are in a similar position to ourselves. We are both in a relegation dog fight. Villa have a five point advantage on us, and are closer to safety thanks to their second half winner at home to Norwich. We on the other hand at least had some small joy of climbing off the foot of the table thanks to the battling draw on Boxing Day. Both teams will be desperate for the points so it should be a good match. Any Players to Look Out For? Aston Villa spent big money in the Summer transfer window. They went a bit gung-ho like Fulham did the previous season, and look where they ended up. Of all the "big names" they brought in, all you hear about in the press is Jack Grealish. A decent player who would probably walk into most clubs in the bottom five of the league. Lauded for his performances so far this season, he is their main danger man and one to be wary of. We have the usual suspects. Delafoo - who scored in Sheffield, and Sarr, who from reports will be fit to start the game having overcome a slight eye injury. Doucoure' should be back in the starting eleven for us which will be more of a boost than having poor Chaolobah in the middle. What About the Gaffers? Dean Smith, the Villa boss, began his tenure in October of 2018 and did very well to guide them from midtable obscurity to winning the Championship Play-offs. He has instilled his game plan into the side and they seem to want to play for him. A young and exiting manager, he looks like he could have a decent career from Villa onwards. After the disaster appointment of QSF, whose noose was finally tightened after the loss at Southampton. Big "Nige" Nigel Pearson has taken over at the helm and has made quite the impact in a short space of time. Having got Watford working as a unit again, he has seemingly kicked some arses in the dressing room and the squad have the fire back in them missing since the FA Cup Semi victory way back last season. To the point and with a stern look of hard work, his "hard man" label has certainly rubbed off on a few of the players and it seems to be producing an output. What Will Happen? It really is a tough one to call. Both sides will be wanting the win, for the same reason. As standings go, if we lose it puts us eight behind Villa and even further from West Ham. If we win, we move within two points of Villa and the fight continues. We need the points more than they do, and unlike us, a defeat for them will not hurt quite as much. Villa has a defence that has been suspect all season, much like Norwich. We have a better drilled backline overall, but they can score goals, more than one a game at times. Something we have struggled with all season. It's a match we have to be up for - the players know the stakes of such a game and even a draw would be a poor result. My Prediction Watford 2 Aston Villa 1
I hate the phrase must win but I think it should be correctly used for this one. Defeat will be the end for us and even a draw will be pretty much it. I think I saw Sarr should be ok for this which is important. Deeney to score just to rub their noses in it 2-1
If we're going to stay up then this is a match we have to win. We're now at the half way point of the season. That came very quickly. From here on in, games are going to go thick and fast. We've picked up a decent 4 points from our last two tough games but our position has hardly improved. We're still 6 points adrift of safety (as West Ham's game in hand is against Liverpool). If we lose, then we're stuck on 13 points, Villa will be on 21 points, and the rest will be on 20+. It will look pretty hopeless. This is why it's vital we win this one. Even a draw would not really be of great help, as it would be another winnable home game chalked off. Fortunately we have more than enough to win this game. I saw Villa's victory over Norwich and they were very lucky to win that one. There is nothing to worry us about Villa. Of course they could beat us, as anyone can beat anyone pretty much be anyone, but we should be the stronger side in this game and come out winners. We need back-to-back victories with this being one of them and Wolves the other. Surprisingly Wolves have only lost 3 games this season, so are draw specialists, but I think on New Year's Day we'll be up for it and there's a bit of an edge against Wolves these days. I see the next three games as our recovery. If we get at least 7 points from them, which I think is very achievable, then survival is in full swing. Villa (h ), Wolves (h ), Bournemouth (a ). These are our recovery games. I'd take another 2-1 home win with a Wilf Rostron last minute winner, if my heart can survive it.
Having heard Pearson speak of the Vic being difficult place it will be interesting to see how the players react after yesterday. I think we will see a bit more fight in them, hope to see more of the ManU match in their faces type of play. Just hope the players have the legs for it
Another easy home win, Watford 5-0 Villa. Deeney hatrick just to wind up the Villa fans even more. West Ham get slaughtered by Chelsea and we go 3 points off safety. Nightmare for the bed wetting brigade, fortunately they have Pedro to boo for not scoring 6 goals in his first appearance very soon.
Crickey - someone else who remembers that game - they defended and we pounded them - it was cold wet and bleak - i was in Vic road end - 93rd min ball breaks to Wilf who screamed a daisy cutter across the wet grass and justice was done - one of the most satisfying late shows ever - the Deeney goal, Ray Train v Bury and of course the Keith Eddy pen against Leicester are up there too
We'll probably get a man sent off in the first 5 minutes and spend the rest of the game holding on to 0-0.
FA Cup was close enough, Deeney last minute penalty to take it into extra time. We've had plenty scored against us though.
We don't have to win this, but it will help. I think we now need the mindset of getting results against the bigger teams, in some respects this season it's easier to do that than winning points against the fellow strugglers such is the league inconsistency.
Big game for us, if we win this one then we could be going into the new year in touching distance of getting out of the relegation zone. I only watched on Match of The Day last night but it did seem that Villa didn't deserve the win against Norwich yesterday, Norwich missed a handful of chances. Same intensity shown against Sheffield United and more fluent passing on the counter attack and I fancy us to get something. Doucoure back in the side will help as will Sarr if he is fit which I am praying he is. The crowd were great against Manchester United and need to get behind the team tomorrow as well.
Excellent and bang up to date write up Skyla! Our last match against the Villa was even more notable for Troy scoring the equaliser and winner on 90 and 90+3 minutes. It was the Villa's 11th straight defeat. Particularly tough for them. Good day for Troy Hopefully we'll have the 'boy with astro- turf in his eye' back for this one. A novel injury. With hindsight it may be a blessing in disguise that he missed the second half yesterday. And that Doucs was suspended. On that note it's somewhat ridiculous to be playing two matches two days apart. Klopp has been banging on about it too which is a magnanimous gesture on his part seeing as Liverpool aren't playing until Sunday. Their opponents, Wolves, are however playing this evening before travelling to Anfield. Grossly unfair although it might be of benefit to us on Wednesday. A lot is being asked of City and, to a lesser extent, Lestah too. Let's hope Villa's extra 10 mins recovery time won't make a difference for us tomorrow. Surely it shouldn't have been beyond the wit of the PL authorities to have demanded a full Boxing Day and Sunday programme on this occasion despite what the geese that lay the golden eggs (Sky and BT Sport) might have had to say about it. Boxing Day was always going to be on a Thursday this year and every team that plays in the Europa League on a Thursday always gets to play on the subsequent Sunday. All that's really been done is to make sure there are no very long journeys over the piece e.g. no Newcastle v Bournemouth or vice versa fixtures. Every team gets a home and 'shortish' away fixture. Our journey to Sheffield being about the longest. Finally on this note, don't be surprised if there are some significant changes to our team (and others) tomorrow on the grounds that 46 hours recovery time simply isn't long enough. Anyway, COYH. Watford 4 Villa 1.
Sounds like Gray might get a go to start.. Game on Talksport for those not going, don't get a stream or listen to 3CR!
I loved that Wilf goal too. Back in those days I used to get really put out if we didn’t win at home, so I was just in the process of moaning at him not to shoot from that distance...then the celebrations began. We always seemed to have great games against Villa in that era, win or lose.
Another moment of fame for some of us. https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/nothing-worry-us-what-watford-17479730
At the end of the day every club has some muppet fans. We have some that think it will be easy tomorrow, but I suspect the majority know better.
No idea how Norwich didn't tear them a new one yesterday. Talk about a lucky result in fact more luck than we had. Need a fast start and boot Grealish up in the air not unlike we do to Zaha. Maybe just man mark the dork. Take our chances that we will get and I believe you will see the spirit disappear from Villa. Got a good feeling about this and hopefully get an atmosphere created like the Man Utd game. 2-0
I fully expect Pearson's Watford to crush Villa by a big scoreline. Troy comes alive for this one. With Del and Sarr either side of him, there's a hat trick there for him if he wants it. Dean Smith is going to have his work cut out, picking his traumatised players up after the coming massacre. Watford 7 Villa 0. Troy(4), Del, Sarr, Hughes.
Birmingham is full of knuckle dragging thickos whose accents I have difficulty understanding. Theyve spent loads of money but are **** and are my favourites to go down. Our newly invigorated team of quality players lead by our talisman Birmingham City supporting Troy will see this lot off easily. Watford 6 Ashton Vila 0
This is what I’d do. Have a feeling Deeney will play because of his Birmingham links Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I like it - I'm not sure I would drop Hughes though, despite his moment of madness yesterday. He has been pretty consistent. Although - I can see why, per the different formation. I think giving Dawson a run back into the team is a good idea too - Mapps has been decent but he's getting a bit sloppy with his passes out of defence. Most of them yesterday hit an opposition player.
I find it odd that we started the second half of the season, our second match against Sheffield United, before we finished the first half with our first match against Villa. Any idea why the schedule makers did this with Boxing Day matches this year?
In general, the boxing day fixtures are always a bit odd. Tbf I do not know why we have played Villa so late. Somebody suggested earlier it might have something to do with the closeness of the fixtures around Xmas. Shorter travel times for away sides. We had a lone one yesterday, Villa were at home.
This game is all about mentality. If our boys rock up thinking the game is won, we will lose. The mindset has to be one of fight. Fight for everything, every bounce, every second ball, every decision. Get in their faces early on, press like we did against Liverpool, get a couple of early goals and really stick it to them. Thankfully we have Pearson in charge and not your neighbourhood friendly postman. I think Pearson will fire them up for this game. We must win this game. I also think we will beat wolves on Wednesday as well. They play Man City today, Liverpool on Sunday then us on Wednesday. To get anything out of those two games before us, they will have to run ragged.
