Preview: Aston Villa - West Ham United

Posted Friday, August 13, 2010 by Goal.com

* Kick-off: Saturday August 14 , 15:00 BST
* Villa Park, Birmingham, England

Claret and Blues on cusp of change clash

Aston Villa and West Ham United are two teams in transition.

However, whereas the Hammers underwent their revoultion towards the end of last season and are now beginning to shape their future direction under the ownership of David Gold and David Sullivan, Villa's has only just begun.

With the bombshell new that manager Martin O'Neill had resigned landing on Villa supporters this week - only a matter of days before the start of the new campaign - many at Villa are biting their nails with apprehension.

The Irishman seems to have reached the conclusion that the Villans can never be a top four club unless he can spend even more money - an assertion that must depress anyone who likes to see a variable, open league competition.

Depressing for neutrals, but downright worrying for supporters, who may have to now begin to downgrade the massive expectations with which they saddle every manager in the claret and blue corner of Birmingham.

The game against the Hammers takes on the aspect of a phoney war, a game that comes before the change of manager, a game that can only end with more questions.

Kevin Macdonald takes charge of Villa on a caretaker basis, and must be facing a tricky dressing rom at the moment, although reports that some players texted pictures of champagne bottles to each other this week in the wake of O'Neill's departure may suggest that one or two stars might be a little more light-hearted than usual.

West Ham will not care a jot about that. With Avram Grant installed as manager the Hammers have big plans to climb the Premier League and re-establilsh themselves in the top half of the table.

Grant has recruited new names, with Thomas Hitzlsperger one of the fresh faces whose presence in this game may be in some doubt after he sustained a muscle injury in Germany's 2-2 draw with Denmark this week.

Fans will also be looking with some curiosity as to how Frederic Piquionne and winger Pablo Barrera can improve the team's attack, with how they combine with Alessandro Diamanti and Carlton Cole sure to provide talking points.

Barrera himself played a part in Mexico's famous draw with Spain this week, and the wide player is clearly determined to help the Hammers to improve on recent seasons' performance.

"I want to win a starting place in the team and do a good job," said the man who arrived at the Boleyn Ground in a £4 million transfer last month.

"I want the team to do well and be high up in the table and give the fans something to sing about.

"I am coming here with the goal of being a success and standing out for my team. I want to achieve things here."

Good opening day sentiments. Now let's watch the season unfold, and see if David Beckham ends up plying his trade in east London, after David Gold extended an open invitation to the former Manchester United star.

TEAM NEWS

Aston Villa

Defenders Carlos Cuellar (hamstring) and James Collins (calf) are both out for Villa, with doubts also hovering over Curtis Davies and Gabriel Agbonlahor, who have reportedly been working hard this week to try and recover from knee and hamstring injuries respectively.

James Milner's participation will probably depend on whether he has decided to join Manchester City or not.

Possible Starting XI: Friedel; L Young, Davies, Dunne, Warnock; Downing, Reo-Coker; Petrov, A Young , Carew; Agbonlahor.

West Ham United

Thomas Hitzlsperger's participation is in doubt after he sustained a thigh injury whilst on internatinoal duty. Zavon Hines is out with a knee issue, whilst James Collison is not expected back until January.

Reserve keeper Peter Kurucz is also out long-term with a knee injury he suffered in pre-season.

Possible Starting XI: Green; Faubert, Upson, Gabbidon, Ilunga; Kovac; Noble, Parker, Barrera, Diamanti; Cole.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Aston Villa

Ashley Young will surely be buzzing after impressing as a substiute in England's draw with Hungary this week.

Always dangerous from wide areas and with a wicked right foot, the Hammers will know what to expect from him. Stopping him doing what he's good at is the problem though.

Young managed nine goals and 13 assists last season and will be looking to improve further this term.

West Ham United

Alessandro Diamanti showed in inspirational flashes last season that he could really light up the Premier League. Charismatic and flamboyant, the Italian, with a little hard work, could well become the kind of folk hero Paulo Di Canio became to the Irons faithful.

He managed three assists and seven goals last term.

PREDICTION

This is a tricky one to call. Freak results happen on the first day of the season, and after Villa's week I suspect that glavanising the side might be beyond Kevin Macdonald, however impressive his credentials as a coach.

With that in mind, I'll back the Hammers to come away with all three points, with plenty of goals being scored along the way.

Aston Villa 2-3 West Ham United