Quick reminder of the teams, and we are off. 

Image source, Getty Images

The players are out, plenty of Villa supporters are showing their discontent with paper sheets which say: "Proud history, what future?"

David Pleat
Former Tottenham boss at Villa Park for 5 live Sport

"The board have made so many mistakes at Aston Villa. They have made too many knee-jerk decisions in terms of managers. But they are getting new people on the board who know English football. 

"Their transfer policy needs to improve, but I expect to see Villa back in the Premier League in two or three years' time. 

"Next season, Aston Villa are going to have to look at recruiting the very best Championship players. They might be able to lure them to Villa Park, because they can afford the salaries. So any new manager has to know players at that level."

Image source, Reuters

Former Newcastle boss John Carver on BBC Radio 5 live: "Villa have a fantastic fan base and if you look at the candidates that are being put forward to replace Remi Garde, there are some good ones. Have I applied? I think I have, via my agent. Have I heard anything back? Not yet.

"They almost know they are certainly down so the sooner they get somebody in, they can prepare for next season. Draw up the list and get the players you want." 

BBC Midlands reporter Pat Murphy on BBC Radio 5 live: “I’ve never known a wider gulf between the Villa fans and the players. The passivity of the team is exemplified by Gabby Agbonlahor. When he scored his first league goal of the season against Norwich, he didn’t celebrate. 

"He is out of shape and what the Villa fans are thinking is ‘why don’t you get fit?’. I think Villa fans are wishing the season away. As a local, they think Agbonlahor should be doing more than those who have come in more recently.”

As John Motson mentions, it is likely to be all change in the managerial departments at Aston Villa and Chelsea come the end of the season.

So it got us thinking: which players do you want to ship out and what players should come in?

Let us know via #bbcfootball, external or on text 81111 or via the Match of the Day Facebook page. , external

John Motson
BBC Match of the Day commentator at Villa Park

"What a difference a year can make. Last April, Villa reached the FA Cup final and Chelsea were well on their way to winning the league title.

"This time around, neither club has anything tangible to play for - and both will have new managers in charge next season.

"Villa have overhauled their personnel at the top of the club in recent weeks, and soon it will be time to do the same with the squad. Villa have flirted with relegation for years, and there are those who fear they could struggle in the Championship next season.

"There's also a rebuilding job to be done at Chelsea, whose season collapsed within a week when they suffered exits from Europe and the FA Cup.

"Changes are afoot at both clubs, and the players are playing for their futures."

Image source, PA

So why isn't Gabriel Agbonlahor in the team? He didn't break the law, of course, but it seems his actions didn't exactly portray Aston Villa in a positive light, according to caretaker boss Eric Black. 

Black said: "I didn’t want anything to detract from the game. It’s purely my decision and Gabby will join us again on Monday. I’ve spoken to him several times on the phone and he’s accepted it. 

“There has been negativity around that but Villa fans support Villa. That’s the fantastic thing about football. The players have a fantastic opportunity to start to turn things around again.”

Might be a bit late for that."

There is no Pato but Chelsea do hand a debut to United States defender Matt Miazga, who signed from New York Red Bulls in January. Elsewhere, Ruben Loftus-Cheek starts in midfield and Baba Rahman comes into defence.

Aston Villa make two changes from the side that lost 1-0 to Swansea last time out in the league with midfielder Carlos Sanchez and defender Micah Richards coming into the side at the expense of Ciaran Clark and Jordan Veretout. 

Image source, Getty Images

It's been such an eventful week at the Villa, Chelsea have barely been in the headlines. Well, until Diego Costa received a £20,000 fine and an extension to his ban for his smooch with Everton's Gareth Barry in their FA Cup quarter-final last month. 

Good news for Pato, perhaps, who is yet to make his debut after joining Chelsea in January. Did you hear there is a clock counting each second, external until that moment occurs? Currently, it's approaching 64 days. 

Will the wait end today? Let's get the team news. 

Image source, Reuters

International weeks are supposed to be quiet times for clubs, a chance to regroup for the next game. It's been anything but for Aston Villa, who are already 14 points adrift of Premier League safety with just seven games left.

First, former boss Remi Garde gets his marching orders midway through the England-Netherlands game. Strange timing, given that two former Football Association employees are now working at the club. 

And then striker Gabriel Agbonlahor is pictured smoking a pipe while on holiday in Dubai and is cut from the team. 

Sheesh. What a week!

Image source, SWNS

Not sure whether you've ever heard of two characters called Cheech and Chong?, external One of the great partnerships, along with the Chuckle Brothers, of course. 

Anyway, they once did a film, whose name is almost symptomatic of Aston Villa's season. Like Gabriel Agbonlahor enjoying his holidays, their campaign appears to have gone 'Up in Smoke'. 

I'll get me coat....