Premier League: from Sat 20 Oct 2007 to Mon 22 Oct 2007

Cesc wrote:I still can't believe that FA Cup game from 2001/2002. Villa went 2-0 up and then van Nistelrooy came off the bench and scored twice in a 3-2 comeback.

Don't remind me of that match, 2-0 up, Neville just scored an own goal, cruising, then on comes Van Nistelrooy.......

Will be tough on Saturday, only beaten them once since 1995 and that was against an understrength side in the League Cup!! But we have to win one day against them in the league, and i feel we have a decent chance on Saturday. We have a good home record this season and the place is becoming like a fortress again. Should see a full strength side, with the exception of Carew, although I think that if Moore doesn't perform on Sat, then he will be dropped. My one worry is the lack of RB, ManU will surely target that area and I can see Mellberg being given a torrid time there. But our midfield is in form and I will be suprised if we don't score at least 1, maybe 2. It'll be very tight but I can see a 1-1 draw happening, or maybe a 1-0 to either team. It won't be a high scoring game!!

Shabbabrain wrote:

Cesc wrote:I still can't believe that FA Cup game from 2001/2002. Villa went 2-0 up and then van Nistelrooy came off the bench and scored twice in a 3-2 comeback.

Don't remind me of that match, 2-0 up, Neville just scored an own goal, cruising, then on comes Van Nistelrooy.......

Will be tough on Saturday, only beaten them once since 1995 and that was against an understrength side in the League Cup!! But we have to win one day against them in the league, and i feel we have a decent chance on Saturday. We have a good home record this season and the place is becoming like a fortress again. Should see a full strength side, with the exception of Carew, although I think that if Moore doesn't perform on Sat, then he will be dropped. My one worry is the lack of RB, ManU will surely target that area and I can see Mellberg being given a torrid time there. But our midfield is in form and I will be suprised if we don't score at least 1, maybe 2. It'll be very tight but I can see a 1-1 draw happening, or maybe a 1-0 to either team. It won't be a high scoring game!!

Mark Lawrenson has predicted you will win, which is often the kiss of death! Hopefully you can get a result though.

TRWP wrote:

Kimbo wrote:

TRWP wrote:

Kimbo wrote:Meh, they've still got a shite defence.

Care to give a score prediction Dimbo?

3:2 is what i've predicted.

Dare to give a score prediction twerpy?

2-2

That's not very optimistic... is it?

Sheffield gunner wrote:

Shabbabrain wrote:

Cesc wrote:I still can't believe that FA Cup game from 2001/2002. Villa went 2-0 up and then van Nistelrooy came off the bench and scored twice in a 3-2 comeback.

Don't remind me of that match, 2-0 up, Neville just scored an own goal, cruising, then on comes Van Nistelrooy.......

Will be tough on Saturday, only beaten them once since 1995 and that was against an understrength side in the League Cup!! But we have to win one day against them in the league, and i feel we have a decent chance on Saturday. We have a good home record this season and the place is becoming like a fortress again. Should see a full strength side, with the exception of Carew, although I think that if Moore doesn't perform on Sat, then he will be dropped. My one worry is the lack of RB, ManU will surely target that area and I can see Mellberg being given a torrid time there. But our midfield is in form and I will be suprised if we don't score at least 1, maybe 2. It'll be very tight but I can see a 1-1 draw happening, or maybe a 1-0 to either team. It won't be a high scoring game!!

Mark Lawrenson has predicted you will win, which is often the kiss of death! Hopefully you can get a result though.

TBF, Lawro has predicted most of our results right this season, must be on crack!! Hope he's got it spot on again. There is a lot of optimism around Villa, not just from fans but the media too. Ive never seen so much positivity about us!! We are moving in the right direction but most level-headed Villa fans know that breaking in to the big 4 is a long, long way away.

Ouch.

I guess international football isn't all bad, RVP is out injured for Arsenal, Terry and A Cole for Chelsea and maybe Torres will miss the Everton game for Liverpool.

Batman wrote:

Ouch.

I guess international football isn't all bad, RVP is out injured for Arsenal, Terry and A Cole for Chelsea and maybe Torres will miss the Everton game for Liverpool.

He's got very brittle bones.

I can't see anything but a 0-4 win for Man U

Owen wrote:I can't see anything but a 0-4 win for Man U

agreed

Owen wrote:I can't see anything but a 0-4 win for Man U

Maybe this helps:

http://www.specsavers.co.uk/cgi-bin/strudwick.sh/s?langid=1&pfmt=1&siteid=39&pname=home.html

Lard wrote:

Owen wrote:I can't see anything but a 0-4 win for Man U

agreed

i'd love it if i could throw these back in your face, but to be honest, that is a more likely result than us getting anything. we suck vs utd. have as long as i can remember (other than one lovely league cup final)

debaser wrote:

Lard wrote:

Owen wrote:I can't see anything but a 0-4 win for Man U

agreed

i'd love it if i could throw these back in your face, but to be honest, that is a more likely result than us getting anything. we suck vs utd. have as long as i can remember (other than one lovely league cup final)

I was only joking debaser

I actually predict a narrow win (as you say you are never that good against us for some reason).

debaser wrote:

Lard wrote:

Owen wrote:I can't see anything but a 0-4 win for Man U

agreed

i'd love it if i could throw these back in your face, but to be honest, that is a more likely result than us getting anything. we suck vs utd. have as long as i can remember (other than one lovely league cup final)

That final was horrible i remember it well. Also you beat us 3-1 on the day hansen said you will never win anything with kids. But apart from that, it's been a one way story. Villa park is like our second home most man utd fans like you guys, so in return you roll over for us

Kimbo wrote:

TRWP wrote:

Kimbo wrote:

TRWP wrote:

Kimbo wrote:Meh, they've still got a shite defence.

Care to give a score prediction Dimbo?

3:2 is what i've predicted.

Dare to give a score prediction twerpy?

2-2

That's not very optimistic... is it?

Realistic. Our defence is wretched, so even your lot should score 2.

Equally, we're good going forward, so I expect us to score at least 2.

Its away, we're drawing a lot of games, a draw seems most likely

I'm actually a little excited now, It's just dawned on me that the big game is tomorrow, despite knowing Everton will win I still am looking forward to it.

I don't think it will be much of a spectacle to be honest though, international break, early kick off and the sheer intense atmosphere will no doubt cause it to be a tight affair, not to mention the fact that Everton will play their very good defensive game and the two front men who can make something happen on either side (Torres for us, Johnson for them) will be most likely absent (I think Johnson will definately miss out, Torres will probably make the bench)

Last season's performance at Goodison was totally unnaceptable and Rafa came under a lot of criticism after that game, most of it because of the team selection, he started with Crouch and Fowler and that was a wrong move, it was too slow, they couldn't really run into space and Everton has an extremely comfortable afternoon, helped by Reina's one day cameo as a circus clown.

Benitez has to get it right this time around, the only definate injury is Agger which means he has a pretty good squad to choose from, obviously there are a few doubts but they all could still feature: Torres, Alonso, Aurellio and even Kewell.

Personally, I think if Torres doesn't play then we need a whirlwind performace from the midfield, Gerrard needs to have one of his better days, Pennant needs to find the confidence that he had at the start of the season and the central midfielder who Rafa picks to go alongside Gerrard (assuming Gerrard wont be on the right) needs to just sit back, protect the defence and not give away any stupid free kicks, it will be either Sissoko or Mascherano so they have to have a good game, they can't be giving the ball away (like Sissoko seems to making a habit of). I remember at Anfield a few years ago when Gerrard got sent off early on, Sissoko and Alonso had an amazing game, Sissoko was all over the pitch tidying things up, getting the tacles in and playing the safe passes, that's the Sissoko I want to see if he starts.

I'm very pessimistic about this game if truth be told, I even turned down a ticket in the end for the home section, I don't think I could take a second consecutive season of standing there gutted amidst 40,000 or so delerious blueshite's.

My Prediction: Everton 2-1 Liverpool

Surely you're looking forward to it because there's a chance that you can win? If you lose, I doubt you'd be particularly pleased; however there's a chance that you could well win it - huge morale boost potential

Not going to predict a loss as its not in my nature though Im more worried about the game than I have ever been before a Merseyside derby.

Ill predict/pray for a 1-0 to Liverpool.

Tweedle wrote:Surely you're looking forward to it because there's a chance that you can win? If you lose, I doubt you'd be particularly pleased; however there's a chance that you could well win it - huge morale boost potential

Obviously we have a chance, many will have us as favorites, it's just very hard to be positive when the team's performance's as of late epitomise negativity, I was at the Marseille game, I think I cried myself to sleep that night.

The Rafael Benitez rotation game.

Predict how many changes Rafa will make to the team that started against Spurs for the Everton game tomorrow.

.......................Reina

Finnan, Carra, Hyypia, Arebloa

Pennant, Gerrard, Sissoko, Riise

..........Kuyt.............Voronin........

Luis wrote:.......................Reina

Finnan, Carra, Hyypia, Arebloa

Pennant, Gerrard, Sissoko, Riise

..........Kuyt.............Voronin........

he wouldn't dare leave torres out of the mersey derby would he? if you lost he'd be crucified.

He will make the bench IMO, I hope i'm wrong

come on you fucking reds! do these blueshite bastards! when was the last time Everton won a cup? exactly, stupid toffee shite, with a ugly manc in Phil Neville, stupid scottish c**t of a manager, $h!t fans with 2 songs, stupid disgusting stadium, pitch is awful, bald little fucker up front, glad he's out, one man team, Arteta.

f@ck off Everton!!

Any idea on the squad yet? Is Torres on the bench?

He's been ruled out I've heard.

With Liverpool, Chelsea and Man Utd all having tricky away games today I hope Arsenal can come out on top in this matchday. Its important as we have two big games against Liverpool away and Man Utd at home coming up.

I wonder what the odds would be for all of the so called top four to win today.

Villa will be tough for Man United , but these are the games Manchester United have to win. Ronaldo has a good goal scoring record against Villa , i just hope he continues.

Fernando Torres misses out on this afternoon's Merseyside derby at Goodison, with Andriy Voronin partnering Dirk Kuyt up front for Liverpool.

Neither Torres or Xabi Alonso are in the squad to face Everton at 12.45pm despite hopes earlier in the week they might be fit.

The team in full is: Reina, Riise, Finnan, Hyypia, Carragher, Benayoun, Mascherano, Gerrard, Sissoko, Voronin, Kuyt. Subs: Itandje, Crouch, Pennant, Babel, Lucas.