Today is going to be tough and like I said last week before the West Ham game, I can't see us getting three points if we line up in a 4-4-2. There, said it.
I also can't see O'Neill dropping Heskey if fit, Carew or Gabby, again if fit, so it also wouldn't surprise me if we started in a 4-3-3 or certainly finished using it, but I just can't see us starting 4-5-1, which I think is the best option for our players. The most depressing thing is I also don't think that 4-5-1 would get us three points today, so we might just need a lot of luck.
The thing that really does get me annoyed is that I fancy Everton will win at home and that because I don't think we're going to get anything, we'll be sixth by the end of the day and it's all down to Martin O'Neill.
But there is every chance, if the luck is with us, that we could win this game today and we do desperately need it, so the game does bring with it a certain amount of nervousness, which make sit interesting.
Marky Mark reckons it will be 1-1 and if I had to put money on a result, I think I might put it on a score draw also. He has also predicted a home win for Everton and we all know what happens if he gets both results right.
Martin O'Neill talks, we listen
We now need to get back on track and get back to winning football games again. We were doing that fairly regularly some months ago.
Football Betting
I've put a tenner on Chelsea, United, Everton, Fulham and West Brom. If they all come in, it pays £208. I've not had a bet on Villa, but you can if you fancy it, you'll get 6/4 for an away win. I'd want 2-1 before I made that bet, we don't deserve 6/4 on form.
Team News
It looks like it will be the team that started last week but there is every chance Gabby will be back. If he is, you've got to fancy he'll start on the bench, but do not be surprised if Martin O'Neill starts in a 4-3-3 or like I've said above, we finish using it.
Expected starting eleven: Friedel, L. Young, Cuellar, Davies, Shorey, Milner, Petrov, Barry, A. Young, Heskey and Carew.
Football Links
I'm not going to be at home today, so I'll be listening to this game on he wireless but I have no doubt they'll be a few links to the game below. This will be the first game of the season I've missed but it is my sons birthday party tomorrow so I have things I have to be doing. Please forgive me.
So, kick off in just over three hours, we'll be updating this page as and when we have anything, but please, drop a few links below to anything interesting. Up the Villa.
Team News
Sorry this is late - had loads of issues with the server, although it was only backend stuff.
Friedel; Cuellar, Knight, Davies, Shorey; Milner, Petrov, Barry, A Young; Carew, Heskey. Subs: Sidwell, Delfouneso, Salifou, Clark, Guzan, Gardner, Albrighton.