I write as I am making the short trip to the East Midlands to watch Villa take on Forest at the City Ground – undoubtedly one of our most frustrating fixtures last season, where we conceded two late goals to lose the game 2-1. If my statistics serve me correctly, we have not won at the City Ground since 2018, a game I remember watching, which I believe ended 1-3 to Villa with Forest going one up.
I really think this is a must win, our fixtures are not too bad on paper until we face City and Liverpool at the end of the season, so we could really do with the race for CL football being wrapped up before those fixtures come around. Forest will be right up for it, they need to stay up, and let’s just be completely honest… all these relegation fighting clubs who berate Spurs are obsessed with the idea of them being relegated, and the same will happen next season when every Championship club will mock Spurs but sell out against them and play it like a cup final! Forest want points on the board to secure survival and send Spurs down, just like West Ham. All those relegation factors involved, I can see Forest being up for it.
I will go with the cliche view but I do really think this battle between two historic English football clubs will come down to who wants it more from the off, and Villa could do with getting off the mark early on. Team news suggests that Sancho and Kamara will miss this fixture, and Forest have a few injuries but the heart of their team will play today. Villa generally struggle against prolific and physical players, therefore taking Murillo, Gibbs-White and Jesus out of this game ought to be a top priority for Villa today, and who wins the midfield battle may determine the result of the match.
I’ll keep it a relatively short article as I am typing this on a mobile device, but I will go with a 1-2 Villa win and I back Watkins to get a goal contribution again!
Lost chance I’m afraid should have won,Rogers doing my head in keeps running into trouble with the ball,not good enough definitely sell in summer. I’m afraid his head has been turned thinks he’s made it and don’t need try anymore.
Very annoyed with unai with late substitute again you could see they needed fresh legs as lost control, again he thinks game plan will work eventually.
I thought forest took control of match when their goalkeeper was supposed to be injured and players went to touchline to get new instructions from manager,unai unfortunately didn’t react, again an annoying thing with unai.
And what’s the problem with tammy why is he not getting minutes off the bench,he should have come on in 60th mins instead of Rogers put Watkins out left.
Also needed Luis on earlier as we lost midfield I thought, mattsen made big difference when he came on added more pace to game.
Sad to say going be a man.c fan for rest of day even though can’t stand them.
We should’ve scored at least one of our big chances in the second half. Rogers just isn’t interested at all, faintly clapped the Villa fans and kicked the grass because he knows he isn’t doing enough. My bet slip consisted of Villa to win 2-1 and Watkins to score / assist… thought I was in for a moment. Oh well, £1.20 lost. Lol.
Laying slabs Hitch at 3 score and ten, must be fit Hitch. I was exhausted just watching us drop points in that dull game. Thinking about that game today, was Emery focused on the Thursday match? Because it looked that way, changes in the half-back line and midfield spelt he was I suppose a draw better than a loss.
Ha Bill – add seven to that total – just a little bonkers!
To be fair the SIL took the brunt of it.
You’re probably right with Emery doing a little bit of squad rotation – Barkley a good example as he’s not in the Europa squad. Also Lindelof (what an excellent acquisition he’s been) deserved a start and an opportunity to rest Konsa.
The little of the game I saw included several mistakes / poor decision making by Rogers. I’m convinced his mind’s elsewhere?
Just 10 years older than you Hitch , keep going mate I’ve been told to slow down but my malfunctioned because I don’t. You’re right he’s assessing his players just hope he pulls it off.
Brain malfunctioned .
You’re right Bill we just have to keep going after all age is just a number 👍😄
Manure losing – keeping my fingers crossed 🤞
Citeh doing us a favour at the Bridge…Think Leeds can do Utd?
So seven clear of chelsea got to be happy with that 6 to go
Would be a great season if we qualify for champions league
Think United will beat Leeds but hope I’m wrong.
Think that game will be the decisive to whether we do or don’t, I’ll say this Leeds and United will go at each other no doubt about that., We have two chances now it’s in our hands, win-win-win, but I wish Unai understand we need strong-minded players, not players that think they won’t be at Villa next season. It’s the Champions League get stuck in.
Just looking at the table. We realistically just need 2 wins from the last 6 to stay ahead of 5th place Chelsea. That’s pretty cool. Going to be watching the Leeds game tonight.
CL would be brilliant. Sneaking back past Utd would be the icing on the cake! 🙂
I prefer mathematically to realistically, Bum Bum. Until then, I’m not counting any chickens…
Goal for Leeds 0-1.
Honestly glad Leeds are winning but sometimes it just annoys me when other sides worse than us on paper play with character at Old Trafford whilst we’re resigned to a loss before a ball is kicked 🙁
Alfie I’m convinced it’s a psychological issue; same when we play Pool but it’s one that works both ways. Manure and Pool expect to beat us and we expect to lose!
Strangely we don’t seem to have the same hang ups when we play Citeh, Chelski and The Arse – maybe they don’t expect to beat us?
Yeah maybe you’re right Hitch.
2-0 Leeds! If they beat them 8-0, we go 3rd…🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Bum bum 😁😁😁😁
All the more galling if it stays like this, are the two sitters Ollie and Chesry missed yesterday 😡😡😡😡😡
I remember what these ManU b@ztardz did to us at OT when we were 2-0 up at half time…Come on Leeds!!!
The gods they smile
Indeed they do!! Utd away to Chelski next. That’ll be interesting too…
Spuds closer to the drop???
Chelsea don’t scare me (smashed us last time, I know) but any team can put on a show at home.
Great game of football overall, a lot better than what Villa produce. Really enjoyed watching that – felt refreshing.
Great to see United drop points too, results gone our way again and champions league is defo on for us if we carry on winning!
Alfie, that’s how football should be played, all this side to side ok in moderation but we play on that for too much, I really enjoyed the game they played, we need to give our front players more of the long ball just like they did, I had a sneaky feeling Leeds would win from the start but I have a feeling of putting the mockers on a game if I predict. I’ll say it again it’s down to us now because we have a wonderful chance of achieving our goal for the Champions League, keep the good work up Alfie bet Grandad sunning it up in Spain and taking it easy lucky lad.
I agree.
I also appreciate the kind words Bill!
Funny Leeds survival means nothing to us.. other than they tried. Of the relegation teams we only have to play one of them from here
Two Gerry – Burnley away and Spuds at home.
Of the two, Spuds is the one that would worry me more knowing how helpful we tend to be.
Emery said it – it’s in our hands; we have to re-create the excellence of December.
UTV
Your right of course Hitch. I didn’t consider Burnley or Wolves. And with the results of late Burnley could even escape. Pete gives a pretty scathing of Chesty’s loss of form on the Holy Trinity Show.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pZXDKpb9d0
As Canadian Pete said, Chesty’s value was £150m earlier this season. Then it dropped to £100m and now £80m.
He needs consistency. He is surrounded by a team of excellent players when all are fit so how would moving to another English club work for him?
If Liverpool paid vast sums for Issak, the Chesty on his day is worth more. I’d take £125m for him, but ignore the hyperbole and he’s a £60m player at best.
Those 2 misses by Ollie and Chesty at Forest were unforgivable. Utter shite and a lack of composure.
He’s had his head turned and has entered the ‘Bellingham’ phase of believing his own hype.
Emery needs to have a very strong word.
Ye thanks for this great post Alfie I’m sure all on here appreciate your time and effort
Sure do little
No problem lets keep the great forum going.
Welp… it’s finally happening (unless I get FOMO in the next few hours).
Not got a ticket for tonight. Simply cannot make a financial justification to watch us 3-1 up already against a team I’ve seen us place twice at Villa Park already.
Upsets me but can’t keep doing it at the price they’re charging. Hopefully won’t impact my ticket rights next season.
If I want a cat in hells chance of potentially going to Porto away in the next round this will be a small bit of money towards it.