Burnley sacked Sean Dyche on the 15th of April, a few days after they were beaten 2-0 by Norwich.
It’s worth noting that this was their most recent defeat and since then they have an excellent record of one draw and three wins in their four games since.
And it’s also worth taking a look at who those games were against to give us a better idea of their form.
After that Norwich defeat came a very good point at West Ham and then wins at home to Southampton and Wolves, followed by a win at Watford. Two of those wins are no great shakes, but the win over Wolves is three very decent points, even if the old gold seem to have downed tools somewhat lately.
To put it another way, that form over the last four games isn’t bettered by anyone else in the whole Premier league.
So it’s pretty formidable and pretty much proves that the team is battling hard.
Which is more than can be said for our lads, unfortunately.
That’s perhaps a little unfair as, as I’ve said previously, I do think they’re trying, but they’re just really not very good of late.
There’s also that severe doubt that many of us have about the team being tough enough and that’s definitely not a good place to be when you’re playing Burnley, who we all know have a very particular way of playing, which often isn’t pretty, but as Steven Gerrard has said, has enabled them to punch above their weight.
So we know the players are going to have a fight on their hands and it’s going to be very difficult to get anything out of this game.
This is probably the second easiest fixture we have left, after the return game at Villa park and three points today would make a difference between a bit of hope for the rest of the season and it fading out into even more of a damp squib.
Onto squad news and Leon Bailey is out after going off injured last week. Apart from one good effort, he was very poor and you really have to wonder if the manager will have run out of patience with him and his ongoing injuries. It doesn’t matter how good you are, you can’t give of your best when you’re in and out of the side all the time. I think we’ll see him gone in the summer.
Jacob Ramsey is a serious doubt after suffering something (we don’t know what) in training. Another training injury; the mind boggles. I actually think that’s not necessarily such a bad thing, as he’s looked very quiet over the last few games and there were calls from some that he be rested. Maybe this could prove good timing and he comes back in better shape after a game or two on the sidelines?
Gerrard has talked about how if the kids out-train the senior players, they’ll be rewarded and you would think that is a hint that Tim Iroegbunam will start again, possibly alongside Douglas Luiz this time, which I think might be worth seeing although I appreciate that many don’t think he should play if he doesn’t want to be at the club.
Morgan Sanson is back in the squad and I would guess there’s a strong possibility he’ll be picked to replace Ramsey
And Kortney Hause is still not available.
As for Burnley, Maxwel Cornet, who looks a very useful player and Erik Pieters may be available after both suffering knee injuries previously. Jay Rodriguez faces a fitness test but Ben Mee and Johann Berg Gudmundsson remain sidelined.
So what do I predict?
I don’t think we’ll win, but I do think we’ll be able to get a point and I’m going to go for 1-1
I won’t be betting on this one, that’s a cert as it could go any way, particularly with Burnley’s form when compared to ours.
UTV!
Comments
40 responses to “Burnley – Villa; Are we man enough for the job?”
I hope it’s better than last week’s game, although I expect it won’t be.
Three at the back and Buendia starts – Coutinho on the bench; Ramsey out injured.
Martinez, Chambers, Mings, Konsa, Cash, Luiz, McGinn, Digne, Ings, Buendia, Watkins.
3-4-2-1
Well three at the back didn’t work for Smith!
Going for a draw 1-1
3-4-2-1 seems to be the newest trend in formation, and to be honest I’m glad we are trying something different to the 4-3-3 which simply hasn’t worked, I just hope Gerrard is doing it because he thinks its the better formation to play against Burnley rather than just copying what city and Chelsea are doing.
I’m going for a 2-0 win.
It might be a 4-1-2-3 if Chambers takes the number 6 and Luiz takes Ramsey’s place.
I’m predicting a 2-0 win for Burnley who will show more desire.
That aged well.
Glad to see SG has made some big decisions. Looks like he is experimenting.
Coutinho has been no great shakes away from Villa park, so a logical call to put him on the bench. Does this mean we will not signing him in the summer?
Three at the back I guess is for us to swamp midfield and stifle their play. A shame Iroegbunam is in the bench, but Burnley are an unpleasant team and is he likely to be sent off?
Buendia back is something I welcome. I believe he will come good, plus he will put his foot in against Burnley.
I hope Watkins & Ings have now learnt to play better together.
2-1 Villa
Come on you Lions!!!!!
HEAR MY ROOOOAAAAARRRRRRRR!!!!
Up to 10th.
HEAR MY ROOOOOOOOAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!! (again).
Dwight McNeal wouldn’t be a bad acquisition.
Really good player, would love him at the villa.
With so many outgoing players a good cash injection would suit Burnley down to the ground. Poor owners yet again.
Thought Burnley played pretty well but not clinical enough in the box – that sounds familiar.
Smash and grab two goals which is fine by me in an away game.
McGinn been pretty anonymous so far.
Love the way Martinez is winding up the fans but not one of his kicks has reached a Villa player!
I thought we played pretty well?
Beauty in the eye of the beholder and all that (:
Totally called it wrong but we have been living dangerously with the increasing number of crosses. Konsa needs to sort himself out as he has made a couple of clangers first half.
Don’t think we’ve been amazing, but done what was needed with two good goals, and by the way oh Emi what a magician!
I think we’ve been far better today than of late, direct and clinical, no passing it around at the back slowing everything down and allowing the opposition to get their shape.
Much better today.
Best goal of the three
Solid performance, couldn’t find fault.
I’d look at getting shut of Luiz ( Don’t see what he does) and Mings ( his distribution is terrible)
Chumbawamba I don’t see what all the fuss about him is?
Yeah, but he gets knocked out, and he gets up again…
You’re never gonna keep him down.😁
Mcginn showed his worth today I thought, yes Guest I hate that passing back and today was clinical and,direct football. Nice to see us play the 1-2 pass it puts players off and gave us the edge in winning the game .Well done the lads.
Bill – McGinn was anonymous first half but maybe because he was tasked with a defensive role.
Second half he was far more effective playing a more attacking role – great cross for Watkins goal.
He is a far better player on an attacking role but hats off to him if he can effectively perform the role Gerrard asks of him.
I know there are those that are questioning his contribution but for me he is a key player for Villa.
I was pleased we matched them with the physical side of the game. Buendia needs to play every week although I can’t see why it has to be either him or Coutinho. I thought Chuky did well when he came on too with the biggest disappointment being their goal which was sloppy defending trying to play offside. Maybe if Chambers was on the pitch then that wouldn’t have happened. Still a win is a win and suddenly we might still get 9th. Only Liverpool to play next 😳
Buendia absolutely top drawer today 👏
I must comment on the sterling job Wreck it Ralf doing at Man U.
Good on ya son.
Gerrard out! Only 3 goals? And WTF was that at the end? Call that defending? Sack the bin-dipper!
Lmao
Fair comment BFR I’ll crawl back in my hole.
(I’m warming to him 😁)
Even a stopped clock is right twice a day. We know you’ve got a thing for Gerrard mate but let’s not get too carried away, it’s only Burnley, we should be winning these games, doesn’t mean anything and when we are challenging for Europe and our results are consistent then perhaps I’ll change my mind but for now the jury is still well and truly out.
1. I haven’t got a thing for Gerrard. I advocate giving him a chance. Many on here have written him off for various reasons, including he’s from Liverpool. I think that’s wrong, but each to their own.
2. Yes, we should be beating Burnley and did, at a canter. Yet many on here didn’t think we’d win. If I was in on Saturday, I would’ve posted a prediction of a comfortable 2-0 win. On games we “should” be winning, he’s won the vast majority of those.
3. So even when we are challenging for Europe and have consistent results, you only “perhaps” change your mind? What if we won the league? Still “perhaps”?
4. Yes the jury is out. That means give him a chance – see point 1. But even if we were challenging for Europe, you’re saying you still might not give him a chance. This suggests your jury is not out, but has already condemned him for no valid reason.
Have a word with yourself. And get your opinions consistent. It’s the least we can do if we’re demanding “consistent” results from the manager. What does consistent mean, anyway? We’d take “consistent” top 6 (which is a loser attitude btw), but are United’s (in 6th) results consistent? In which case we want higher than 6th, which we’ve NEVER done, not with MON, not with Gregory. We’ve done it three times but it was in the first 5 years of the PL. So what we’re asking from this guy, to “perhaps” give him a chance, is something AVFC have NEVER done, even when it was a “consistent” top 6 club. He’s been in charge for half a season and the club’s been back in the PL for 3 years, after near liquidation.
Don’t tell me, we don’t like him because he would take the Liverpool job IF offered it. F****** news flash: EVERY manager in the f****** world would take the Liverpool job IF offered it!
So what’s he charged with for not giving him a chance? Having a scouse accent? If the jury really is out, give him a chance.
Ooh, a bit of robust debate!
(Grabs popcorn) 🙂
1. You do.
2. We should (you didn’t)
3. Maybe
4.it is
Last but not least…
You have to admit the accent is a little grating?
On todays performance perhaps there’s not the need for wholesale changes in the personal maybe a little tinkering.
A centre half that can play out from the back.
A holding midfielder that can pass the ball.
I don’t expect to win the league, the gap’s simply too big, but to play some nice football, hold own against the money bag clubs, maybe make Europe and a cup run?
Is that too much to ask?
Mid table mediocrity sounds pretty good.
I wonder what Liverpool team will turn up Tuesday with last nights draw?
In hindsight Gerrard’s set up yesterday was very good. Got his team selection and tactics spot on including the substitutions. Fair play to Gerrard he seems to be getting the best out of Ings and Watkins playing up front together – combined tally of 17 goals which isn’t bad.
Thought Chambers did an excellent job and released Luiz to play higher up the field and shows why we need a top class number 6.
I agree with RSS – maybe wholesale changes are not required if you factor in that Traore, Sanson and (probably?) Bailey will be gone in the summer. There’s also a question mark over Young getting a further year. Players on loan – Trezeguet and El Ghazi will also leave the club; Wesley’s loan takes him to the end of his contract and Hourihane is out of contract in the summer.
The other player that I think will be replaced is Konsa. Not sure what has happened to him but he seems to have hit a plateau. Again yesterday he was guilty of ‘falling asleep’ with and without the ball.
Have I missed anyone?
Chukweumeka looked good when he came on and it’ll be interesting to see who blinks first over his contract. If his advisors think he’ll go to a top six club and get regular playing time they’re deluded – if he thinks it then he’s deluded and better that he goes!
Buendia was class and my MOTM.
UTV
Konsa is still young and shouldn’t be written off yet, he’s shown in the past he is more than capable.
Guest – one wonders whether there is an issue between Konsa and the coaching team? He’s only really known Smith as his manager, guide and mentor in his senior career.
All players go through bad spells, this is probably his, I just don’t see the value in selling him whilst he’s still so young, he’s not reached his peak and there’s a lot of talk on here alluding to wholesale changes which in my opinion is just plain daft, it looks to me like most of the players haven’t taken to Gerrard that well, I guess time will tell.
That’s a first – Newcastle – a goal offside from a corner?