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Aston Villa News and Views News,Opinion,Preview/Review Blues – Villa; The first big one.

Blues – Villa; The first big one.

29 October 201629 October 2016| Badger123Badger123| 143 Comments| 7:45 PM
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I’ve been looking to post something about the game for a couple of days at least, but I’m not really sure what to say or to think, to be honest.
We all know how big the game is and you don’t need me to tell you that.
But the thing is, this one particularly is as it could prove season-defining (didn’t I say the same last week?) because we could do with another win to firmly establish the good momentum we’ve created.

I firmly believe that if we can beat our neighbours tomorrow, we can go on a really strong run which would very soon have us pushing for the automatic promotion places. My reasoning is that we all know we have a very good squad, even if you factor in it’s weaknesses; it’s just about getting the belief into the players.
And if Bruce can drag the win out of the team tomorrow, there is simply no other team in this league to fear.
Couple us going on a decent run with Bruce being able to strengthen in a little over two months and well, the world’s our lobster isn’t it?

But I’m getting ahead of myself.
My big fear is we have every chance of losing tomorrow, which of course none of us want to see.
And if that were to happen, I worry that it might set us back.
So I’m going to come clean in that as much as over the years I’d back us to win nine times out of ten, so things are a lot closer between the two clubs now. Which means I’d happily settle for a draw.
Think about it. While obviously it’s not as good as a win, so at least the scum don’t get the bragging rights and our fragile players have no reason for whatever poor mentality to set back in.

So quite simply, the requirement is that we don’t lose.

But the good news is while I’ve been worrying about losing and having to suffer all the noses I know giving me grief, I actually think we will win this. Or more accurately, we can.
I had a chat with a long time nose friend at work on Wednesday and he was somewhat concerned with how slow their defence is.
We had a bit of a laugh when I told him ours was probably slower, but I was highly encouraged because we have the players who can exploit that.
He also expressed concern about the attack and said he’d play some young kid they have, who isn’t getting a game, up front. Okay our defence isn’t brilliant, but it’s looked better with Chester and Baker in the middle. They should be capable of nullifying a poor attack.

And then there’s form. We’re on a very nice little run, thank you, while Blues lost to Forest and Burton recently.
Just as a Villa win was looking incredibly unlikely just a couple of weeks back (imagine us going into this with RDM still in charge?), so it’s a really bad time for Blues to hit a bad patch of form.
Interestingly, my friend’s biggest question was if I thought Gabby would be getting a game. They really do fear him.
My answer was that he had better well bloody not do! And that there was more chance of me plaiting snot.

Team news then and I couldn’t give a stuff who’ve they’ve got playing. It’s the derby isn’t it, where they could put the second string out and you know you’re going to be in a game.
Because beating the Villa is all they care about. It’s their FA cup and Premier league title all rolled into one.

As for us, I don’t think anything has changed.
Elphick and Richards are both still out, but Adomah is now fully fit.

The team?
Well, to my mind it picks itself (unless you’re RDM) and Adomah, who looked very lively last time out comes in for Gestede.
Otherwise it’s the same as against Fulham (who interestingly spanked Huddersfield 5-0 today).
Nothing clever there, it’s just common sense isn’t it?

So now the tricky part and the prediction.
I’m minded to say we’ll win this, but I don’t want to tempt fate, because at the back of my mind, I know it’s the Villa, where things haven’t gone well, for so long, which has left me upset so many times.
How sad is that, where I’m scared to predict we’ll win? I think the team’s fragility must have rubbed off on me.

So even though it seems Villa are the bookie’s favourites, I’m going to hedge my bet.

And go for a 1-1 draw.

Which will leave me open to utter elation if we win and a bit less disappointment if we lose.

143 thought on “Blues – Villa; The first big one.”

  2. When was it we last won three games on the trot – probably when Noah was in short trousers! On that basis Badger, can understand you being wary of predicting a win.

    Would happily settle for a draw – a win and the malt whisky bottle will get a severe thrashing – come to think on it will whatever the result.

    After five years of hell how good would a win feel tomorrow.

    Come on Bruce you turned us over enough times in the past now get a win for us, the mighty Villa UTV, VTID

  3. Wouldn’t be shocked to see Gabby on the bench tomorrow, Bruce had some encouraging words to say about him on the OS.

    1. No chance Dave.
      The fat, lazy bastard was put on a “get fit quick” course by Black.
      For him still not to have got fit and be told by Bruce to do the same means he’ll never play for us again.
      Yes, he’s scored some great goals against the scum for us, but even at his best, he wasn’t all that.

      Get rid and the sooner the better, as he’s a bloody disgrace, as much as i previously really liked him.

      Any platitudes from Bruce are just that, trust me.
      Xia wants him gone and he will be, imo.

  4. It is a weird one for the men in the dug-outs. A few year’s ago both of them would have wanted their opponents to win. I can’t see this being a cagey 0-0 so I will go for two goals to be scored, the second a break-away. 1-1 or 0-2, 2-0, I don’t know.

    1. A barcodes friend of mine offered me a bet saying it’d be a 0-0.
      I snapped his hand off, saying there’s no chance this will be goaless.
      He botttled it.

        1. I’m actually gonna shell out for a Sky/Now TV day pass. Haven’t been as excited about a game for ages!

  6. How many times have we been on sky already this season? More times than the last two seasons put together I reckon!

  7. Yes we’re on Sky again and it’s great (or is it?) Certainly there’s hope now when there was none when RDM was in charge so why an I dreading watching the game?

    Guess that while my head is starting to be convinced emotionally I’m not so sure. However one thing I keep telling myself is Bruce knows how to win Birmingham derbies, so I’m predicting a 1-2 win for Villa. We’ll grind it out and then grind the noses into the ground.

    COYL UTV

  9. A draw would not be a disappointing result. I believe we can win this Bruce has been here before and Pat57 said it, he knows Birmingham derbies . Come on the Villa .

  10. We will be losing 1-0 at half time, ‘Bruce Almighty’ will change things around, give em absolute hell, and we will come back and win 1-3..

    Ohhhhh San Miguel before midday, its like going on my hols !!

  11. the occasion is big. but the game wont match the occasion. i think we have too much quality. i know most villa fans know this. but wont want to tempt their faiths. the blues have improved lots this season, they will be stronger long run. but this game comes too soon for them. they are also at home, this means they have to make it a game. bruce is a master jedi at these derby games. he will have our team. fired up, they will be solid and quick to break.

    i watched the burton game, with the blues clueless to how to open up a defense. they had little to no creativity and relied on long balls. gary gardner will scream a 30 yard opener and kodjia will add another in a 2 nil win both goals coming in the first half.

    i have a massive hangover and apologize if this post is unreadable more than usual

      1. maybe when or if can stomach a fry up lol iam rushing to get ready for the kickofff hate these early kickoffs

        1. I’m amazed at some people on here saying we will beat them 4.0 etc. When was the last time we scored more than 2 in a game and when was the last time we beat them 4,0 at St Andrews. Let’s all come back down to earth if we beat them it will be by one goal we will not hammer them anyone that thinks that is deluded. In all the time iv supported Villa since early 70s we have never beat them away by more than one goal.

    1. Steve Bruce not frightened of making decisions – I’ll give him that. Who would have thought Agbonlahor on the bench – over to you Badger

    2. shocking wastewood only appeared last match for 5 /8 mins gave the ball away numerous times
      gabby should not be involved at all after last season complete piss take

      1. Oh well anyone that thought we could win today forget it Westwood playing. Get the bedsheets out for Bruce

    3. Can’t believe Westwood is starting. Gabby on bench to bring on when we are losing as a psychological move

  14. I don’t want to blow my own trumpet, but I commented yesterday not to be surprised if Gabby’s on the bench. I will be posting next weeks lottery numbers later!!

  15. Just watching the warm up interviews. Scum fans are a lot less educated and classy than us lot. Apart from Giddy that is…! 😉

      1. We love you really Giddy! Just eaten last night’s reheated curry and have an ale in hand. COME ON VILLA!!!!

  16. 1 Pierluigi Gollini
    12 James Chester
    2 Nathan Baker
    23 Jordan Amavi
    21 Alan Hutton
    37 Albert Adomah
    25 Mile Jedinak
    15 Ashley Westwood
    22 Gary Gardner
    10 Jordan Ayew
    26 Jonathan Kodjia

    Substitutes

    44 Ross McCormack 11 Gabriel Agbonlahor 6 Tommy Elphick 28 Aly Cissokho 14 Rudy Gestede 31 Mark Bunn 8 Aaron Tshibola

  23. Must admit I love Amavi. Apart from his commitment and respect for the club, he’s really aware and always looking around. We have some great looking players, we just need to keep the momentum going…

    1. bad an all the miss by westwood he was standing watch free birmingham player head towards goal at start of move wanker

  25. Bloody hell, that was close from a Blues free. Ball not over the line though.
    Then immediately we have a chance but Westwood fires wide (sigh).

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