OPINION
Dean Smith announced his line-up for the Championship clash against West Brom and fans are fuming that Ahmed Elmohamady has made the starting XI.
He came in for a huge amount of criticism before Christmas, and rightly so, as he was culpable for a number of goals that Villa conceded. That culminated with an own goal in the 1-1 draw with Preston North End.
He was defended by Dean Smith after this but perhaps he didn’t mean it – the 31-year-old right-back hasn’t started in the last seven in the Championship, but he’s afforded a berth today in a game that Villa fans are desperate to win.
West Brom fans have got bragging rights in the league at the moment and Villa fans will want to get one over on their rivals at Villa Park.
The official team news was announced on the Villa Twitter page ahead of the 3pm kick-off.
And, while fans were happy with the majority of the starting XI, they weren’t pleased to see Elmohamady’s name.
Team news: Two changes from midweek for #AVFC….@AndreGreen_ and @Elmo_27 come into the wide positions. ?#PartOfThePride pic.twitter.com/iwk1PKVfsd
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) February 16, 2019
Here are the best reactions from Villa fans:
Whelan and Elmohamady ffs!!
— Simon Hancox (@SimonH0) February 16, 2019
https://twitter.com/Dan_Blunt_/status/1096772684875218944
https://twitter.com/ChrisDriver/status/1096771497627140099
Bringing Green in is absolutely the right things. Elmo instead of Kodjia though, just don’t understand that one! ?
— Aaron (@amc89avfc) February 16, 2019
https://twitter.com/ohareism/status/1096771649704288257
What does Elmo bring to the team??
— Callum (@callum1874_) February 16, 2019
https://twitter.com/INathhh15/status/1096771414252834817
Why elmo
— z (@goatboicarti) February 16, 2019
https://twitter.com/ILvJackGrealish/status/1096771323349688326
https://twitter.com/nspikey/status/1096771786753171456
Elmo noooooo
— Dan (@villanews11) February 16, 2019