I know some of you love stats, so here’s a cracker I found.
Brighton’s last three home wins have all come in different years.
Ok, how’s that work then? I had to ask myself and on reading found this;
The last home win was against Spurs at the end of january just gone.
Previously the only win they got at home in the whole of 2020 was against Arsenal last June.
And the last one before that was against Bournemouth in December 2019.
Perhaps it’s just me but as someone who doesn’t really care much for stats, I find that astounding. One home win in a whole calendar year!
So tomorrow should be easy and it’s a foregone conclusion; We’ll win comfortably.
Squad news and on our part we’re all good.
Only Hause and Wesley are unavailable., which I still find surprising, given the time of year.
Is that indicative of players itching to play, as opposed to wanting to hide or just being wusses, I wonder?
Whatever, it’s good news.
As for Brighton, Adam Webster is a doubt because of an ankle injury as is Davy Propper who had a groin issue.
Both will be assessed late on.
We’re still waiting to really see Sanson, but I don’t see him starting this game.
I think a lot depends on how Dean Smith judged Ross Barkley’s kicking the bottle incident when he was subbed off last time out.
I saw certain opinions, where it was expected that Smith would read the riot act at Barkley.
I don’t subscribe to that at all and if I was Smith, I’d probably have called him in for a chat, explaining how I was sympathetic, explain why I did it and tell him that while I understand, it’s not good to show disagreement in public.
And then tell him he’ll back in for the next game.
Oh and then tell him that if I want to sub him, I will, simple as.
End of story and back to work.
We’ll no doubt see, but I’d be surprised if Barkley has been punished and been dropped.
I just don’t think Smith works like that.
The side showed plenty of energy last time out, so I can’t see him changing it at all.
If Smith is nothing else, he’s very predictable isn’t he?
Find your best eleven and stick with it. it’s certainly worked well up to now, so you can understand it.
I watched parts of Brighton’s game against Leicester and they looked okay to me, but they were away.
Their home record is somewhat weird, but we all know that if a team is doing extremely badly in some area or has had a really bad run, Villa are usually the best possible team to face to end that run.
So while we ought to be able to count our chickens here, I’m banking on nothing.
I’m just really glad we’re not facing Brighton like Spurs were and the home club hadn’t won in over six months.
I think I’d have been betting against us!
As it stands, I think we’ll get something at least.
In what I expect to be another good game (are we involved in any other kind these days?) I’m going for a win.
2-1 to the Villa.
COYL!
Nath, come back, all is forgiven, if you’re reading.
And of course, if you want to.
As I suspected, Smith and Barkley have had a chat and then Smith talks him up.
Storm in a very big teacup, imo.
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/ross-barkley-aston-villa-chelsea-19827178
I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s game! Bit of a tough one to call, but aren’t they all!!!!
So many games we thought we’d lose and didn’t, so many games we thought we’d win and didn’t.
Gotta go for the 3 points against Brighton, if only for the fact their main hospital has renamed their maternity ward just in case it offends any transgender men/women. Shocking woke politics.
omg. Well Brighton is the home of the Pink Pound and the strapadictomy, so what do they call the maternity ward now? A picture of the sign would join my collection, alongside Northampton hospital’s FAMILY PLANING ADVICE – USE REAR ENTRANCE.
If Villa can avoid the clownish defending that saw Wellbeck streaking away to score from inside his own half at VP I expect Villa to pick up a point at least.
It’s now the Perinatal Ward… No more brest feeding for the ladies either. It’s now Chest Feeding…
Up the Villa!
Women’s Rights Rule! Lol!!!!
I hate predicting games but I know we have a team that can play a stormer. If we turn it on we can destroy them. If we don’t have it together and mistakes crop in, then we’ll walk away disappointed. Obviously hoping for the former.
Brighton are unbeaten in the last 5 league games, beating Leeds, Spurs and Liverpool. Tonight’s game is going to be tough and I think a draw would be a good result based on their current form. It was an interesting stat you posted Badger about their last 3 home wins coming in different years. It’s amazing that they only registered one home league win in 2020!
I don’t expect many changes for tonight. Barring any injuries I think Luiz coming in for Nakamba will be the likely one.
We owe them for their lucky win at Villa Park with VAR! Bum Bums comment about the hospital makes it a must win now. A case of too many snowflakes making decisions unfortunately. People who are offended on other peoples behalf’s! 😡
I generally read other people’s predictions then comment. I stopped because I generally blame myself if I get it wrong, thinking I’ve put the mockers on our team. Football’s a funny old game like the one with Leicester and Liverpool today with 3 goals in 7 minutes. I’ll miss Naths take on things if he don’t participate in our little band of Villa fans so Nath give it thought and think we all have our off days and problems that we tend to keep inside us. My fingers are crossed for tonight’s game we need to take it serious now only a few points and two game’s in hand. Utv. .
Smith sticks with pretty much the same team – just Luiz comes back in for Nakamba.
How long will our luck hold with injuries?
Interesting. Looks like favouritism again, to me.
Luiz has been poor for a while and has Nakamba done anything wrong?
Isn’t Jack nearing a suspension too!!!???
4 yellows; one off a one match suspension. Must be approaching the time when they’re wiped off.
We have had a week off so players should be 100% fit and ready. Brighton had a tough FA cup game midweek so……Well we know it doesn’t always work out that way!
BumBum
Just checked the rules. If 5 yellows by match 19 it’s a 1 match ban. 10 yellows by match 32 is 2 match ban. Therefore, Grealish and Targett have to keep under 10 for the rest of the season.
I’m pretty sure we’ve only just had a points reset, haven’t we?
I think you’re right Badger – just been mentioned on commentary.
We look a bit off the pace at the moment
Southampton game, I think it was.
We’ve hardly had a sniff yet.
Brighton seem to be in a bit of a false position to me.
Passing off beam
Just keep giving the ball away
Grealish booked has 6 – so has been reset to 10
We’re not playing well
Rubbish up to now 🙁
Our se pieces must be the worst in the league. Constantly hit the first man.
Causing our own problems. Traore not contributing.
The whole midfield are nonexistent Hitch.
Traore is absolute pants at the moment
Most of the team are absent at the moment Badger