I feel I owe a bit of an apology. Well, I don’t really, but I’m a nice guy and feel a bit guilty about not commenting much lately.
I want to do a Max Bygraves and tell you a story.
I’ve been with Virgin Media for their broadband for the 25 years I’ve lived here. And probably 10 years before that, when it was Birmingham Cable, then Blueyonder.
And so it came to renewal time. Long story short, they wanted 54 quid a month for 200ish Mb. Which is a total joke. I rang to negotiate, but they weren’t having any of it.
So, sick of this total ripoff, I told them I was done and cancelled.
The reason Virgin have been able to charge so much is because there’s no competition. I remember Openreach installing Fibre down our street about 2 years ago. We’re the last house in the block. I thought they’d done ours too, but they hadn’t and because of that , Virgin knew we had no choice if we wanted an ounce of speed.
Which is where I looked around and Vodafone said we had Fibre installed and they could do me a deal. I signed up and long story short again, They’ve messed me about for 2 months now, with no installation.
They’ve even credited my account with 300 quid for my trouble. Great, except I’ve never used any of their services.
Hence I’m hotspotting off my phone for internet and it’s abysmal. Some days I can’t even get half a Mb.
And so it was for the Brugge game. I saw the first goal and missed the other 3, because of buffering.
The moral of the story?
The big boys have it all their own way and rip you off. Until the customer decides he’s had enough.
And the funny part of all this, is that while I await Openreach giving me a supposed connection, I’m here in Spain for the weekend, where my 600Mb up/down connection is working perfectly at around a quid a day. Go figure. Which one is the third world country, I ask myself? Spain or the UK? I’m happy with my thoughts.
Tomorrow then and I don’t have a clue again.
Squad news is that Unai’s comments confuse me somewhat.
Tyrone Mings, Matty Cash, Boubacar Kamara and Pau Torres are sort of okay, but need to be protected. Barkley is out, as is Onana, who is apparently close. García, Malen and Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba {sorry, but who?} are all okay after being ineligible for Europe.
As for Brentford,Norgaard is back after a concussion injury and Mathius Jensen will be involved. Rico Henry is in full training, while Gustavo [Nunes], Igor [Thiago] and Josh [Dasilva] are all running.
I wish they’d just say if they’re ready or not, but hey ho.
It’s quite simple, this one. We’re rubbish, so the best I expect is a 1-1 draw.
Except I think we really ought to start proving that we’re better than what I perceive.
I think we might sneak this, 2-1. I’d love that. A win it is.
UTV!
Sorry for the story, but it is a blog, after all.
A bit ambitious a prediction, but you never know.
Very ambitious Badger – bit like trying to get high speed internet connection without fibre 🙂
Tbf to Openreach they were pretty good here when there were problems with our fibre connection although we had to be patient while they sorted out the problems with pulling the fibre through the duct. They did keep our copper wire connection going though which was better than nothing.
Anyway back to the Villa and team news – is this managers playing mind games with each other? On the positive side getting the whole squad fit is good news although I noted Emery’s comments about them staying fit!
Sadly, given our away form, our obsession with leaking goals and form post CL games I can’t see us getting anything from this one. Just hope we don’t collapse as against Palace.
I’m going 1-2 Brentford
I thought you were sick of the negativity Hitch? 🤣🤣🤣
Just being objective Bradley taking into account all the factors.
Also I’m sh*t at forecasting 🙂
Can u get a mobile 5g connection? With a decent router it’s as fast as a wired connection.
I barely get a 4g connection. Otherwise I’d have gone with 3 broadband ages ago.
Did not expect that from you tbh.
I am not confident today despite having been confident as of recent.
I think 1-1 tbh.
Apparently, they haven’t won at home in 7?
If that’s correct, forget it, we’ve lost.
Now who’s being negative 🙂
Ho,Ho – are Southampton going to do to Pool what they did to PSG?
Olsen in goal – I fear the worst and the end of any hope of champions league.
Olsen starts; Asensio missing.
Now changing my forecast to 1-5 taking into account Olsens general inability to stop anything.
Emery clearly not bothered with the league.
I’m sorely tempted to not bothering watching the game
I’m going 4-1 to Brentford based on Olsen starting. How did Martinez and Asensio manage to get injuries? Both finished Bruges okay so is it illness or is there something seriously wrong with our training methods.
Anything but a win will probably end our top 5 ambitions.
Olsen, Disasi, Konsa, Mings, Digne, McGinn, Tielemans, Bailey, Rogers, Ramsey, Watkins.
Subs: Zych, Cash, Torres, Bogarde, Maatsen, Garcia, Kamara, Rashford, Malen.
The bigger question for me, is what’s up with Martinez?
A rumour that Asensio had a fight with McGinn???
Hmm.
John Townley reporting both players have picked up an injury. Never listen to rumours Badger!
Worry is Wednesday – no Martinez changes the balance of that game.
Martinez has picked up more injuries than I’ve had hot dinners lately, Hitch.
Look at his recent record. I suspect he’s being allowed to pick and choose, while travelling back home.
Goalies just don’t get injured all the time, imo.
Emery confirmed both not fit enough to play so not being risked – hoping they will be OK for Wednesday.
As he says though we have a squad that should be good enough! Unai, Olsen isn’t and it needs to be addressed in the summer
As for the rumour, that came out before both players were announced as being out.
Who knows?
“McGinn does have a little bruise near his eye.”
A quote I’ve just seen.
This team should be good enough to beat Brentford. Brentford have something to play for so they will give us chances. Like it or not Olsen is our reserve goalie and needs game time. The manager has to manage, simple as that. Just look at the bench quality, Unai has options. 1-0 to Villa and I will watch every minute.
Badger
Input a search in for McGinn and Ascension fight and lo and behold on YouTube is a 4:21 minute video about the altercation and apology. Appears Ascensionwas outbid order and McGinn called him out for disrespecting his Villa teammates.
I hope it’s not an AI fake.
Can’t find it Sid.
I would rather see Zych play than Olsen. After all, we know Olsen is shit and good for 3-4 goals conceded most games. Surely he will be gone in the summer. Zych however could be our future number one and needs experience otherwise why have him on the bench?
Oh well, hope for the best and fear the worst!
I’m bored shitless!
We should be winning this game but not clinical in the final third. Bailey infuriates me and the free kick nonsense isn’t the first time we’ve seen that. Best form of defence today is to keep the ball as far away as possible from Olsen which we have done relatively well. Watkins and Rogers need to liven up second half. Ramsey looks our best forward thinking player so far although I bet he’s the one who makes way for Rashford.
Badger
Copy this and paste into search engine – video will come up
Marco Asensio Issues Public Apology to John McGinn and Unai Emery After Training Ground Incident
Half-time, if this ends 0-0 then I will be fuming, waste of our times…