Swansea City v. Aston Villa Premier League Saturday 19 March Kick off 17:30 Liberty Stadium Following consecutive victories over Arsenal and Norwich, the Swans were unable to maintain their run against Bournemouth at Dean Court where they went down 2-3. The Swans next host Aston Villa in what is really a "must win" game given the difficult final run in of 7 games to the end of the season. Most pundits believe that Villa are already doomed - as did most with Leicester a year ago. Villa must "do a Leicester" and take 22 points from the last 9 games to have any hope of escaping the drop. Given Villa's form, the Swans will be favourites to take all 3 points - but weren't Arsenal "certain" to take all 3 points at The Emirates against Swansea recently? Last season, on Boxing Day 2014, the Swans ran out 1-0 victors with a Gylfi Sigurdsson free-kick giving Swansea a hard-earned win over Aston Villa at a soaking Liberty Stadium. Sigurdsson's dipping effort from the edge of the area came in a first half dominated by the hosts. The Swans must guard against complacency and if they do I expect them to win 2-0
I agree, Taff. Definitely a 'must win'. Villa have to be buried now and we have to take another step towards safety. Sunderland have been improving and the Rafa Effect will probably work at Newcastle. Also, looking at our remaining fixtures there are some real toughies in there so I genuinely believe that if we get less than a win we could be in big, big trouble. Villa are piss-poor and although we've got a tendency to make such teams look better than they are I have to be confident. 3-0 with Gylfi playing a starring role.
This game is on par with the play off final and that game against Hull. It may end up being the most important game in our entire PL history. 3-0 victory with Gylfi tearing Villa apart Great thread Taff
Not sure if Barrow is injured because he limped off yesterday but I'd leave Ayew on the bench. Barrow definitely deserves a start based on recent performances. My only concern is that Guidolin is back. Play timidly and conservatively and we'll come unstuck.
I've never been more confident of a victory than I am of next week's game against Villa. They are so poor. So so poor. If we play like we did against Bournemouth, we'll win at a canter. What I like is that, at the moment, we're a team that looks like we have goals in us. We create plenty of chances (which is stark contrast to us under Monk at the start of the season), and we do have players in our ranks who can put them away - we just need that bit of confidence in the team to start tucking more away. Villa haven't fared well against teams playing quick, attacking football - they're prone to collapsing under barrages of pressure and have taking a few tonkings this season. If we can get an early goal and get the fans on board, we can put 3/4/5 goals on them. Even if we play cagey, I still fancy a 2-goal victory, but if we play with pace and power and press high up the pitch, I don't think Villa will live with it. My team: Fab Rangel, Amat, Williams, Kingsley Barrow, Britton, Gylfi, Fer, Routledge Ayew Bench: Nordtfelt, Fernandez, Naughton, Cork, Ki, Montero, Paloschi Notable omissions: Gomis and Taylor Kingsley deserves a start in a real game, not in the "throwaway" lineup we put out at Arsenal. Taylor is proving game after game that his level is Premier League strugglers - if we have any aspiration to consistently compete for the top-10, Taylor is first in line to be replaced for me. Rangel still in because he does tend to do well against teams that don't pass the ball well or attack with pace - and Villa are exactly that. Britton in for Cork - Cork is showing some inconsistency, so still very interchangeable with Britton. Barrow to keep his place if declared fit. If not, I'd love to see Routledge on the right and Montero back in on the left (but that seems like a far-fetched idea these days...). Ayew to lead the line - I liked his performance against Norwich and think he'll be raring to go after missing out this weekend, especially with his brother facing up against us. Prediction - Swansea 4-1 Aston Villa
Depending on fitness I would like:- Fabianski Rangel Fernandez/Amat Williams Kingsley Barrow Britton Fer Montero Palo Siggy Subs: Nordfelt Naughton Fed/Amat Ki Ayrw Gomis In case Gestede plays I would play the better header of the ball between Fed and Amat and let's go for it.
I would hope it to be a straight-forward win and one that should see the Swans secure PL status for another season. However, the one I really want you to win is at Newcastle so you can help your Canary buddies in the Far East of England
hope we win this and do not end up doing things the hard way again. Defending well at set pieces could be a good start
Must win, anything else and we are back in the cachi. Villa are terrible, really bad, so it`s pretty much odds on that they`ll beat us. If we don`t win this one, we don`t deserve to survive. The other teams below us will be laughing up their sleeves as they then pass us by. Get it together boys and start acting like you`re players that deserve to be in this league. Because at the moment we`re nothing but a load of losers.
Very very tough game.Dangerous game I'd call it.Probably be a scrappy game.Villa have to win,so do we. 1-1.
I was hoping Villa would do the unthinkable and beat Spurs to end their losing streak. We're always up for ending awful streaks, I think Danny Grahams only goal (well not far off!) since he left was against us! I think it will be close, they'll probably lump it up to Gestede every chance, think we'll nick a 2-1 win though, Gylfi and Albert. Just saw these quotes from the Barrow Boy, quote suprising really, I'd always imagined Gomis telling everyone in training to slow down and stop running about so much!! haha Gomis has struck up a good relationship with Barrow, who ran over to celebrate his goal with the striker. “He has been pushing me in training and telling me that with my pace I can beat players,” Barrow said. “I am so quick they cannot catch me so I can finish. He was even pushing me before the game. He was telling me what to do and giving me advice – he is a good friend to me.”
"...................................................................Fab ..........................Fernandez ...........................Amat ..............................Williams ........................................Cork .............................................Britton .......Barrow ....................................................................................................................Routledge ........................................Fer ......"...........................................Siggy .....................................................................Paloschi Our backs are our weakest link. When to attack , when to defend and general play . This takes care of that problem , the 3CB's are only defensive .Cork and Britton can move up a bit with the play . Barrow and Routledge must run their arses off . Siggy , Fer and Paloschi are pure attack.
I like it a lot as well although I don't think Barrow and Rouitledge can play the wing back role for 90 minutes.
