I meant to watch Brentford’s last game against Man city on Wednesday, so I could get a bit of a heads up on how they’re looking, but I don’t know what happened. Basically, I forgot and the long and short is they lost 1-0, which is no disgrace.
I thought Brentford were flying high and indeed they were earlier in the season, but they’re now a couple of places and points below us. On paper, this should be a pretty close game.
I often tend to err towards a draw when making my predictions. Well, it’s safe isn’t it and you’re never far off the mark, are you.
Will I go down the same route today?
Squad news and the big news for us isn’t on the pitch. Steve Gerrard will be back in the dugout and he’s a very good addition, certainly better than some of our players.
Ah, yes, Mings.
He’s suspended for this one after getting his fifth yellow. Which I grudgingly admit is a shame, because he’s been okay for the most part.
The good news is that John McGinn will be available. Ashley Young has a slight toe fracture and it’s possible he’ll make it, but even so, I’d expect him to be on the bench and only used if needed. The Beeb suggest that Traore and Trezeguet will be involved, but that doesn’t make sense, as they’re off to the Afican nations on Monday and we should concentrate on players who are actually going to be here in the next couple of weeks.
Bailey and Nakamba are still out, but overall we’re doing well injury-wise, especially for this time of year.
Brentford though are not so lucky and have Rico Henry, Vitaly Janelt, Mathias Jorgensen, David Raya, Charlie Goode, Tariqe Fosu and Josh Dasilva definitely all out
In slightly better news for the Bees, Bryan Mbuemo is “touch and go” and Kristoffer Ajer may be available after being out for a while.
Christian Norgaard will definitely be available after a suspension and Sergi Canos is also expected to start. Which by the sounds of it, is just as well, as that’s a fair old list of injuries.
Couple Brentford’s injury list with the fact that they’ve played three games in a week, while we’ve only played one and you can probably see where my thinking lies.
Meanwhile, who plays for us?
Most of the team picks itself, although I note that things might not be so straightforward for Targett soon if it is indeed true that Gerrard wants competition at left back. Meanwhile he’ll start this one.
The only real issue in defence is Mings being out means either Hause or Tuanzebe will come in. I was going to say that strong rumours about Tuanzebe going back to Man U and either being loaned out or sold means he won’t get a look in anyway. But there’s also a rumour that Watford are sniffing around Hause. I don’t see there being any legs at all in that one happening, but it does mean there’s conjecture over both of our back up central defenders. It’s academic anyway, because unless Hause has looked totally useless in training, he’s going to be the one starting.
In the middle Sanson retains his place and now he’s looking a bit more like the player we expect, it’ll be interesting to see how he plays with McGinn alongside him. Ramsey will also play.
Which leaves three places. Will we go Ollie left, Ings in the middle and Buendia on the right? I personally wouldn’t.
Ings gets dropped if I’m choosing.
Which makes it interesting, as I don’t know how we’ll set up. Perhaps that statement about Traore and Trez playing was correct after all?
Anyway, I’ve often predicted draws this season, but a look at the table tells us we’ve only drawn one game and that was against Brentford. Hence I’m not going with a draw today.
Brentford have lost more home games than any side except Norwich and Watford, which tells me they’re there for the taking.
Then again, we have a very poor record against them and in our last seven meetings, they’ve won three and drawn four.
Still, their injury list coupled with those three games in a week should mean they’ll be shattered.
They certainly theoretically won’t be on top form and I think we’ll have a major edge.
I’m going to say we’ll win 2-1.
But I also have a pretty strong feeling that it will be 3-1.
I hate being confident.
UTV!
Have I given us the kiss of death?
I hope not.
I’ve just thought. I forgot Luiz.
Duh!
So if Sanson, Luiz play alongside Meatball you should get your wish with Ings on the bench and Watkins playing in a front three alongside Ramsey and Buendia – Covid permitting.
Hause for me as he’s left sided and is probably our best defender when it comes to headers.
15 matches since the draw with Brentford, no win in seven (against them) and the last time we managed to beat them was in 1953 – and Badgers confident!
Got to be another draw – hasn’t it?
Oh ye of little faith!
Latest rumours = Luiz to Arsenal and AEG to West Ham.
Luiz won’t be going anywhere imo and I can’t see Moyes wanting AEG.
Saw those Badger – plus one pundit suggesting Gerrard should make a ‘cheeky’ £50m bid for – yep, Grealish.
I think we should see if we can loan him back for the rest of the season 🙂
On a serious note, I suspect he might be thinking he’s made a mistake. Much better being the pike rather than the minnow.
Watkins is out.
Covid?
https://twitter.com/AVFCOfficial/status/1477625761066635270/photo/1
Chance for Ings to start paying back some of his transfer fee.
Interesting that Gerrard has dropped Sanson for McGinn – suggests Sanson is not going to be a first choice member of the squad.
But who could take Meatball’s spot?
Was that a hint that Watkins is on the move? Asked if he had covid and reply was I’m not able to say at this moment in time!! With covid and possible moves in next week ? I’m lost ..
Don’t think so Bill.
Gerrard, and Villa in general, have consistently refused to specifically identify players with COVID.
The last time we had a big rest because of Covid last season, we were awful despite players not playing for a while. Therefore I don’t think the fact Brentford have had a busier Christmas than us counts for anything.
With Watkins being out I think we will struggle for goals so I’m going 2-0 to Brentford. That Chelsea result might have burst SG’s bubble.
Cracking goal!!! Awesome turn and feed by Buendia!!!!!
Ings was well passionate over that goal. Nice to see he desperately wanted it!
Crap
No!!!!
What are we doing?
We should have put this game to bed but we strolled around the pitch and paid for it.
Brentford now in the ascendancy.
Next goal wins it
Dominate the game but sloppiness has allowed Brentford back into the game. Really frustrating 😡
If we can’t beat an injury ravaged Brentford team then we have problems
There’s not a lot of experience or match fitness on the bench either and our central defender cover is just 16.
The Sky Sports pundits at half time couldn’t look more disinterested in our game. So disrespectful. Get someone in with connections in rather than the usual faces just waiting for the Chelski game.
I punched the mute button Bum Bum and the silence was blissful 🙂
The mute button may as well be on now. All gone a bit stale…
Get Chucky or Sansom on.
Cash has been invisible this game. Odd.
Not creating anything – a lot of huffing and puffing
FFS!!!!
Just completely useless
If anyone thinks this team can challenge for Europe they must be mad!
Yet another bogey side – I’m getting fed up with the number of teams we cannot beat.
Anyway that’s me done.
The stark reality is that apart from the goal we’ve created nothing and haven’t troubled their goalkeeper. Our passing / decision making in the last third is very poor.
For all that Brentford has less of the ball they’ve created far more problems in our box than we have in theirs.
NSEW better get the cheque book out again!
Fucking knew it, Traore was shit all match, we have young energetic kids and play donkeys, that game should have been ours. Ok players missing and so had Brentford , I give in …
Agreed on Traore Bill.
Not sure why Gerrard stuck with 4-3-3 for this game tbh and why substitute Ramsey? Traore should never have started the second half.
All in all another Sunday ruined.
The honeymoon is over. Holte had it right after all.