West Ham v Aston Villa Match Preview

Wow, the end of the season already, happens quick doesn’t it?  Seems like just yesterday our pre-season optimism was being burst by a resurgent City and then re-born with a battle against Man United before the 4-0 x 3 debacles popped the final bubbles of expectancy from our season.

If it wasn’t for the presence of Nigel Reo-Coker, I’d really like Villa.  Correction, I like any club that Martin O’Neill is managing and that happens to be Villa at the moment.  He is building a young, strong English squad that I think are a real one to watch in the next couple of seasons.  Even Ashley Young is starting to look worth 8 million, what could have been if we got him instead of Boa-Morte eh? 

Villa could qualify for Europe if they win this game, but that also relies on Everton not getting anything at home to Newcastle, which I am not entirely sure will happen, although the Toffees have looked a bit knackered of late.  But it is some pride that we are fighting for and I for one will be a happy man if we get our win and finish above the Spurs on Sunday.  Being a North London Hammer, many of my friends are Spurs fans and it would definitely be a bonus to finish above them.  Although the Pool will give them a game, there is every chance they will get 3 points so we must ensure we do the same.

As for the line-up, it’s a more case of who is available than who we want to play.  We should certainly go 442 and take the game to Villa, and it would be nice if we stuck to it this time rather than reverting to 451 and playing one of the strikers out of position.  So, line up would be

Green
Macca – Neil – Tomkins - Pants (assuming Upson/Spec/Ferdy are out)
LBM – Parker – Noble – Solano
Ashton – Zamora

Bench: Walker, Sears, Cole, Mullins, Collison

I’ve got the feeling for another 2-2 here which Coral will give you 14/1 for.  So have a flutter for the last game of the season, trust me, it usually make things more interesting….come on you Irons…

Comments

[john ws]

I like your team but I only see 4 class players Green, Ashton, Solano and Parker(although I fully expect both Noble and Tomkins to make it in the future) so once again if he is fit I would play Faubert For LBM to make it 5 class players and giving us a better chance against a very good Villa side. We deserve to see a 100 per cent improvement on the amateur performance of last week!