ASTON VILLA V WEST HAM .... Sat May 9th 3:00pm.

For the first time in a few games we're favourites to win one. West Ham may be 9th in the league but they haven't been playing well recently, at the same time Villa have been playing some of the best football in the Premier.

Will this translate into three points for AVFC or will the fickle Gods of football bite our bums again?

If we get three points will our relegation rivals also gain points leaving it really tight at the bottom still?

We've disputed the term "must win" and I could see both sides of the argument, but this really is a MUST WIN, am I right?

If it wasn't so damned frightening I would be enjoying every second of watching our team at the moment .... we're playing the kind of football that I've prayed for during the last few horrible seasons.

Now I just want the points .... Ugly, Pretty or just pretty ugly! What's it going to be guys? What will we get out of our most important game so far this season?

I'm going for a Villa win.

What I'm hoping for is a better refereeing performance than what clattenberg served up at the weekend, truly woeful against us. Every game is a must win until Villa are 100% safe in the league. I expect dribble face allardyce to turn up and try to strangle the game, but I think Villa have shown in recent weeks they are capable of scoring against any opposition, so a 3-1 Villa win for me. But I still don't think that'll be enough to be safe!

I really think it could be all but over with next weekend. Burnley, QPR, Sunderland, Newcastle all lose IMO And us, Leicester, Hull, West Brom win.  

Wouldn't be mathematically over but there'd be 1 place left and 5 points for them to make up

^ Yep.

I'm going for 3 Villa points, safety in the bag and then resting key players for Wembley.

I'm voting for another Villa win. Our last 3+ games have been against higher quality than West Ham, and we have beaten 3 of the 4. I look for 2-0 or 3-1 to the mighty Villa!

I too think this weekend could end it for our relegation fears. I'd love for us to pick up 4-6 points over the next 2 games, then play 2nd string against Burnley to rest us up for the Cup Final!

Now come on boys lets not get over confident, as you say we have been playing some really nice football, but we have to be focussed, take the game to them and keep the pressure on, THEN we will see what happens. Don't mean to state the obvious but we need to stay calm and carry on with how we have been doing.

2-0 Villa, West Ham have a youngster at centre back, should be food & drink to Benteke !

Get the ball wide , get the ball in, feed the Beast & he will score !

Clangerberg nearly cost us the game on Saturday. It seemed very biased toward the Everton imo.
The Grealish knocked downs the holding down of Given and the softest penalty in the history in soft penalty's. Sherwood's right in saying that poor decisions by the officials can cost us a place in the premiership.
Never liked Clangerberg fat Dowd and Kevin fiend, those three would have us regulated in an instant.
manger cannot say anything or the FA slap a hefty fine. Its bloody rigged I tells yer

I'm confident about three points from this match, which is probably not a good thing with my track record.

Pretty sure downing will have a point to prove he really doesn't like us - not sure why considering he resurected his career with us.

Anything approach a display like Everton and I expect 3 points. Defence still looks a bit ropey though. Not sure Given was a good move - but don't see sherwood restoring Guzan for this one.

I reckon 2-1 Villa.

Guzan
Bacuna
Cissockho
Okore
Vlaar
Westwood
Cleverley
Delph
Grealish
Sinclair
Benteke

That's kind of what i hope it will be, or Sanchez in place of Sinclair. Personally i'd rather put Lowton at left-back, but chances are it will be Richardson again anyway, and if not then Cissockho. I wouldn't be surprised if Hutton made a return to the starting line-up either. If so i wonder if Bacuna will given a chance to play further forward again this season. Apparently Gabby will be back, but he'll be on the bench.

Aston Villa win!

Hutton is a good right back, but he's not in Bacuna's class when it comes to the quality of his final ball.

Villa win by a couple of goals me thinks. Got to beat the kit stealers. UTV.

If you're going to be at Villa Park today, let's have a combined BUYER watch. Points will be awarded for spotting Paul Smith, Tale heydarov, Wang Jianlin or any one else who looks like he's got a pound or two! (no points for spotting Tony Adams)

Happy birthday to one of our main men Kimbo. Have a great day and thanks for all your hard work on TBAR. Cheers mate!

Ps: let's hope the Villa deliver your present this afternoon.

If we play as we have been then we will win scoring 3 or 4. James Collins is back for the bubble blowers and we have all seen his defensive qualities. What worries me is the goals we are conceding, last week the 2 goals flattered Everton and were gifts from Clattenberg. The paring of Okore and Vlaar isn't as strong as Okore and Clark on an esp level and thats why ee invite undue pressure on ourselves.
Having said that, WHU haven't won away since Christmas and are already packed and ready to go on the beach so we should win this.

We have to win and they don't. I think we might be able to handle that pressure under Tim Sherwood. We definitely wouldn't have done under our previous manager. C'mon you Villa boys!

Isn't it funny how much you look forward to match day now, full of hope and good expectations with a tinge of trepidation, as opposed to 5 years of God I hope the other team are on an off day today

Cheers VB 

I have seen Tony Adams in corporate at Villa before, but it was when MON was manager, so I wouldn't read too much into that...  :)

As a side-note, he wore the shiniest shoes I think I've ever seen!

Was just thinking how much I love hearing "Hello and welcome to Villa Park" when we're on TV. Never fail to make me smile.

Next time I actually go to Villa Park, I'll have to ask someone to say it as I clap my eyes on the pitch.

Well with Sunderland getting yet another flukey win at Everton we now have to win as you can guarantee Leicester will win, Baggies won't turn up and probabaly Hull will turn into World beaters now too!

Dicey is not the word

Let's just win, please.

Great bloody result that!!! Cleverley is on fire, Grealish got MOTM but for me it was Clev. Not just for the goal. (But when did he last score 3 in 3???) but for his workrate. He runs himself into a hole and not blindly. It's intelligent play. Him, Delph and Westy look a great midfield 3