AFC Bournemouth v Aston Villa FC. Sat Aug 8th 3:00pm.

This has come a bit early for the new players so let's hope they click straight away.

I wouldn't be surprised to see a 2-2 draw which would be fine!?

We have the talent to bury Bournemouth, now we need the luck.

...................Guzan..................

Bacuna Sanderos Baker Cissohko

Tonev Gardner Richardson N'Zog

...................Cole.....................


..................Gabby....................


Honestly can't see us beating Bournemouth, I'd drop some of these and put the new guys in.

UTV

.................Guzan...................
Bacuna...Micah...Clark...Amavi
.............Westwood................
...Gana..................Veretout...
................Ayew...................
.....Gestede..........Sinclair.......

This is my guess based on who is in the team currently. If Gil is healthy- I can see him coming in and pushing Ayew/Sinclair wide with only a target man, in a more common 4231. But we played this alot last season- i'm expecting more of the same- just with better personell. Personally- I think we will frequently see 2 forwards with an AM behind them, and using the FBs for width. I know Bacuna has been poor this preseason- but he was pushed further up to MF allowing others to play RB. I think RB is his spot- given his runs and cross ability- and TS is counting on coaching to improve his defensive ability.

UTV!

ejs1111 wrote:.................Guzan...................
Bacuna...Micah...Clark...Amavi
.............Westwood................
...Gana..................Veretout...
................Ayew...................
.....Gestede..........Sinclair.......

This is my guess based on who is in the team currently.  If Gil is healthy- I can see him coming in and pushing Ayew/Sinclair wide with only a target man, in a more common 4231.  But we played this alot last season- i'm expecting more of the same- just with better personell.  Personally- I think we will frequently see 2 forwards with an AM behind them, and using the FBs for width.  I know Bacuna has been poor this preseason- but he was pushed further up to MF allowing others to play RB.  I think RB is his spot- given his runs and cross ability- and TS is counting on coaching to improve his defensive ability.

UTV!  

I like the look of that team for Saturday. Maybe get Sanchez Kozak and Cole involved in the last third of the match.

If we have some PL rookies, they have a whole squad. We win this narrowly 2 - 1.

...............Guzan
Hutton Richards Clark Amavi
............Westwood
.....Guaye...........Sanchez
.................Gil
.........Sinclair
...................Kozak

I can't see Kozak not starting considering he has played nearly every pre-season game.

Hutton will be RB, Bacuna will be used more as a midfielder.

I can't see him playing all the new Frenchies in the first game, so will pick the two stand out performers from pre-season - Gueye and Amavi.

Veretout will definitely start I reckon. A lot of Sherwoods thinking towards how we'll play will depend on him. All or most of our set pieces will come from him. And Veretout and Gil will be expected to dictate play in the middle to final third.

I expect, if everybody is fit, that we'll see Guzan in goal. A back 4 of Bacuna, Richards, Clark and Amavi. Westwood or Sanchez screening the back 4, Gueye and Veretout linking the play, Gil and one of Ayew or Sinclair supporting Gestede. That's if we don't sign another couple of players in the meantime.

Mazrim wrote:Veretout will definitely start I reckon. A lot of Sherwoods thinking towards how we'll play will depend on him. All or most of our set pieces will come from him. And Veretout and Gil will be expected to dictate play in the middle to final third.

I expect, if everybody is fit, that we'll see Guzan in goal. A back 4 of Bacuna, Richards, Clark and Amavi. Westwood or Sanchez screening the back 4, Gueye and Veretout linking the play, Gil and one of Ayew or Sinclair supporting Gestede. That's if we don't sign another couple of players in the meantime.

Win, lose or draw, I'm looking forward to that line-up. AND there are options if it doesn't work.

Mazrim wrote:If we have some PL rookies, they have a whole squad. We win this narrowly 2 - 1.

Surely the problem is that they have a squad used to the physique, pace and intensity of the English game. While the championship is a level lover the division has this in spades. Ligue 1? Not so sure.

Sadly i think it'll be a loss.

Bournmouths strength is attack and with our defence i think they'll cut us to ribbons repeatedly and our front guys have not even played together yet so 0-4 loss. I just think this game has come at the wrong time.

Difficult this one ! - Often games like this this which has goals written all over it - end up 0-0 !!!!

Im going for a 0-2 defeat, that defence just looks to fragile to me.

This is saying something for me but I'd live with a loss because I genuinely think that we're on the road to exciting times.

Anyone have or know of any spare tickets for this please? I know it's a very long shot but I have to ask. It's only about 40 minutes from me...

3-1 Gestede hatrick

NARLA24 wrote:3-1 Gestede hatrick

I hope he dosent do 3 own goals!

I must admit i'm stunned with the ppl thinking we will lose this match. They are a newly promoted side with largely the same squad as when in the championship.

We are an EPL side with arguably one of our best transfer windows ever. We simply have better players than them... period.
I expect this to be a 3-1 or 4-2 W for Villa. Worst case I see us giving up several cheap goals and we draw with them 2-2 or 3-3.

Either way I see this being a fun attacking match to watch! I cannot wait!
UTV!

Joppe84 wrote:

Mazrim wrote:If we have some PL rookies, they have a whole squad. We win this narrowly 2 - 1.

Surely the problem is that they have a squad used to the physique, pace and intensity of the English game. While the championship is a level lover the division has this in spades. Ligue 1? Not so sure.

It's a myth that the English game is all about strength. It's just not the case. Once upon a time it was very important. Now? Not so much. You have as many fanny dancers falling over pretending to be injured as any other league. In any case, we have a few players with plenty of power ourselves. The likes of Gestede, Richards, Gueye, Ayew, Sanchez and Veretout don't look like they'll be pushed around to me.

Intensity, I'll grant you but I'm sure Ligue 1 has its share too. It's certainly not ponderous like Italy. Many French players have adjusted well to our league.

We have more PL experience than they do, and we should have a fair few players who will be making their debuts in the English top flight and just as motivated to do well. Truth be told, I'd rather not face a newly promoted side first up, but there's no reason why we can't give them a beating.
Expecting to be hammered 4-0 I find astonishing I have to say. But each to their own.

It's going to be exciting and unpredictable. There's no form guide for this one!

Mazrim wrote:

Joppe84 wrote:

Mazrim wrote:If we have some PL rookies, they have a whole squad. We win this narrowly 2 - 1.

Surely the problem is that they have a squad used to the physique, pace and intensity of the English game. While the championship is a level lover the division has this in spades. Ligue 1? Not so sure.

It's a myth that the English game is all about strength. It's just not the case. Once upon a time it was very important. Now? Not so much. You have as many fanny dancers falling over pretending to be injured as any other league. In any case, we have a few players with plenty of power ourselves. The likes of Gestede, Richards, Gueye, Ayew, Sanchez and Veretout don't look like they'll be pushed around to me.

Intensity, I'll grant you but I'm sure Ligue 1 has its share too. It's certainly not ponderous like Italy. Many French players have adjusted well to our league.

We have more PL experience than they do, and we should have a fair few players who will be making their debuts in the English top flight and just as motivated to do well. Truth be told, I'd rather not face a newly promoted side first up, but there's no reason why we can't give them a beating.
Expecting to be hammered 4-0 I find astonishing I have to say. But each to their own.

Hope i'm wrong of course Mazrim although i did predict 0-5 for the FA cup final.

I do think we'll have a decent season overall actually, i just think we may get caught with our pants down for this one and it could be one of those 1st day freak results for a newly promoted team ....that's all.

Sherwood said we'd be playing eleven a side games in training so that the players could gel. It would be good to have a bird's eye view of his preferred first team and formation. Still, all will be revealed in three days!

I have a strong feeling that we will struggle early season until the team starts to gel but I'm pretty confident we will be comfortably mid-table by the end of the season. 2-1 Bournemouth

Sherwood says Gil and Grealish are both coming back from injury and not playing. Okore is the only other player currently out. Okore I think is the biggest issue, I think he should be starting alongside Clark with Richards at RB. At least one of Gil and Grealish should be starting every match, perhaps even both of them.

Still, at least we know Sinclair will play on the left!

2-1 Villa.

Really hope Sellars gets a place on the bench. He impressed me a lot.