I’m sure you already know, but I’ll say it anyway. It’s nothing like a prediction from me, but the simple facts are that if we beat Brighton and Liverpool beat Spurs, we will qualify for the champion’s league and finally hit the big time that we’ve longed for, for so many years.
Assuming Salah’s petulant discussion with Klopp was a one off and not a demonstrator of a manager that’s lost his dressing room, you would think the Reds would want to give a good showing as a send off for an excellent manager of the club. Whatever, I expect that particular game to be a really good one and fortunately it’s after our match meaning we can watch it with even more interest than usual.
First things first then and the squad news is that whereas I thought Martinez, Tielemens and Moreno would all be fine for this game, they were being assessed just before travelling. Mings, Buendia, Kamara and Ramsey remain out.
As for Brighton, they’re in pretty rough nick too, with Adam Lallana, James Milner, Jan Paul van Hecke, Tariq Lamptey, Pervis Estupinan, Jack Hinshelwood, Kaoru Mitoma, Solly March and Evan Ferguson all out.
The usual “who cares about them?” applies, but we do like to put it up there just for clarity.
There are some very interesting facts about the two teams and while I don’t normally go a bundle on past events, I want to mention them;
We have only lost one of our last seven Prem away games.
Albion’s most recent top-flight home victory against Villa was 1-0 in December 1980.
The Seagulls are winless in their last six matches in the Premier League and have won one of their previous nine, which was against Forest in March.
So things seem to bode well then.
Except there’s one big fly in the ointment.
Got a terrible record of late and need something to help get over it?
Easy. Play Aston Villa and they’ll soon sort that out for you.
Or at least that’s how it’s been for a very long time.
We’re a different and better team now, of course, but there’s always that nagging doubt that it will just go wrong, isn’t there?
Even though we’ve done superbly this season, it’s still not easy being a Villa fan. Well, for me, at least.
We could just be a few hours away from achieving what seemed to be totally unachievable when the scouse clown was in charge and how things have changed in such a short time.
To be honest, I’m not even sure if I’m ready to believe it if it does happen and I think I’ll need some time to fully get my head round it.
If I had to predict this game, I don’t think I could, because while I feel more confident than I did against Olympiacos, a win just feels like it would be too easy and straightforward and it never goes like that for us, does it? It was just typical that we lost to Arsenal on the day we won the league, for example. (Slight aside, but just think: we took 25,000 fans to that game. That’s nuts compared to today’s levels).
I’m extremely hopeful, let’s put it that way.
UTV!
Come on Villa, make us even more proud!
We’re going to have to score a few because Olsen’s in goal 😩
Holts has hit the nail on the head. There are no two ways about it, Olsen is poor and hinders the team. His passing out from the back is. It up to standard and his positioning is not what it should be – although I am holding him against best in the world Martinez.
Part from Torres it is the same as Thursday. These players need to put in an enormous shift and win. Do that and Spurs lose they can focus on Europe and not worry about the last two league matches.
Sorry and Carlos in for Cash
Very interesting team selection. It’s the strongest 11 available. I was expecting the reserves with the aim of turning things around on Thursday. Fair play. Let’s hope the gamble pays off…
Surely Olsen can’t concede so many yet again? 🙁
Olsen (GK); Konsa, Carlos, Pau, Digne; McGinn, Luiz, Rogers, Bailey, Diaby, Watkins.
subs: Gauci (GK), Cash, A. Moreno, Chambers, Lenglet, Duran, Kesler-Hayden, Iroegbunam, Kellyman.
Champions league is tantalisingly close come on the Villaaaa
First good save from Olsen!
Come on lads although i feel a draw coming on which will still put even more space between us and Spuds. Villa, Pool and Spuds all a bit shakey currently.
Surely Pool will beat Spuds????
Bailey’s heel stamped on twice and the ref says no. Jeez
I said it weeks ago, Badger. They’ll do everything in their (considerable) power to help Spurs.
Looks like we are back to walking football and not make a successful second pass.
Yep, lacking pace and energy. I hate it when we’re like this.
All the action taking place in the middle of the park. We need a Chesty spark of strength and genius!
Bet he scores today!!! Oh feck! Not an injury…!!!!
I’ve never previously been a fan of conspiracy theories in football, but my mind is changing.
Meanwhile, we are offering no threat at the moment.
Rogers off. Cash on.
Bloody hell
Guess who in the VAR ? Well it’s our old mate fu:;king Michael Oliver, it’s not 11 men to worry about now it’s 14 this going to be a hill to climb believe me . Up till now I’ve seen two fouls and the ref said carry on . Good luck Villa ,
Good God this is awful watch.
Unai, any chance of going forward instead of backwards or even stringing a couple of passes together please mate?
Another good Olsen save! Brighton are very well organised today. Their ‘Stop Watkins’ policy… Olsen off???? FFS!!!!!!
Would anyone take a point today??? Come on Liverpool!!!!
Dreadful
We’re lucky to go in drawing, as we’ve been really poor.
Olsen playing a blinder up to now and he’s kept us in it single handedly.
Wonderful save Olsen , you can thank him keeping us still in the game , as for our creativity in midfield it’s awful, Watkins might as sit on the bench and watch the match, why oh why are we not passing the ball up front? We are rubbish now in not creating by going forwards. I fear the worst.
I just don’t get it and that’s why I’m not a football manager.
We can’t pass out from the back as there is no one in midfield to get in the ball, making Bailey and Diaby redundant. With Rogers injured there could only realistically be two options. Bring on Kellyman as the number 10 – he did well in the European match at he start of the season. I would have assumed he would have got better with training with the first team? If not, bring on Duran and switch to the long ball with flick on / heading to the two wide men or Watkins / Duran.
I’m afraid I see no points for us with the same tired players going through the motions with no end product.
Come on Emery prove me wrong.
Either we have completely blown our energy levels / mental stamina or the players are half thinking about Thursday.
Rogers injury is a blow – running out of players – let’s hope Emi / Tielemans back for Thursday although fair play to Olsen he’s done well.
And the ref – Rob Jones has got previous with the Villa – how we didn’t get a foul on Bailey beggars belief.
Both.
I was listening to a podcast that was basically saying Olympiacos’s Achilles heel is their defence, you never to have a go at them but I starting to believe that is not in Unai’s locker.
As is Evident by today’s performance, there’s no Unai plan B?