Cardiff away next then and what to think?
The bad news is that it seems Kodjia won’t be able to play, as the Ivory coast won’t allow him to join them late.
To be honest, I don’t have a problem with that.
The player is committed to his country and I admire him for it.
Given that the club apparently offered a private flight, so he’d only arrive a few hours late, it seems a bit petty.
But I guess the argument would be “what if he were to get injured against Cardiff?”
And it’s a fair point.
Hence I don’t feel we can moan too much. Them’s the rules, after all.
But it’s a right royal pain and he’s going to be a massive loss, more so because I worry about where our fire power is going to come from.
Here’s a list of our goalscorers and when you take Kodjia out, it doesn’t make for great reading;
Player LG LC Total
1
Jonathan Kodjia 9 0 9
2
Rudy Gestede 4 0 4
3
Jack Grealish 3 0 3
3
J Ayew 2 1 3
3
Ross McCormack 3 0 3
4
Albert Adomah 1 0 1
4
Leandro Bacuna 1 0 1
4
Nathan Baker 1 0 1
4
Gary Gardner 1 0 1
4
Aaron Tshibola 1 0 1
Gestede can be forgiven somewhat, as he hasn’t featured that much, but it’s looking increasingly likely that he’s off to Boro and probably won’t play tomorrow.
Grealish isn’t an out and out striker, so we can discount him.
Ayew has been allowed to stay for tomorrow’s game, but I wonder if this is more about giving him time to sort a deal with Swansea?
That’s a bit of a wild guess on my part, but stranger things have happened.
Kozak’s a goner and Bruce seems reluctant to introduce Rushian Hepburn-Murphy
Which basically leaves us with Ross McCormack, whose return has been poor to say the least.
Or Gabby, who, well…..
Maybe now you understand my concern.
On the plus side, McCormack has often been a late starter, who goes on runs in the back half of the season.
But he doesn’t look fully match fit, does he?
And Gabby?
Well, I’m sure I’m not alone in saying he shouldn’t even be at the club, let alone starting.
So considering we’re supposed to have an abundance of strikers, I’m not seeing it myself.
So if we go with two up front, it’s going to be Gabby and McCormack.
If it’s a one, it’ll be Gabby. Which is scary.
So maybe a three? With Gabby, McCormack and Adomah?
God knows.
The midfield will probably remain as per the Leeds game, seeing as Westwood played a blinder(!), although if Tshibola doesn’t get a look in you have to think his days are numbered, regardless of what the manager says about him.
The defence and Goalie likewise picks itself.
So it’s all about who is going to step up and score in Kodjia’s place?
We beat Cardiff 3-1 at home, but they were on top for long periods, so tomorrow certainly isn’t going to be easy and even given Cardiff’s lowly standing in the league, I don’t think we can count on a win here.
Any Warnock team will try to bully us and I think it’ll give them an edge.
Couple that with the fact I worry about where the goals will come from and it has to be a draw for me.
1-1
Which frankly won’t be good enough.
Let’s hope it’s a game of two halves and a different Villa turn up for the second half.
Will SB make some changes? Sounds like he has to.
Sounds like yet another scintillating away performance – at least JV will be happy!
Sort of ground we rarely win at. We always struggle against these small aggressive teams. Definitely need some new faces or can forget top 6
you will probably want to award king spud with 3 year contract,westwood in for a match that you have to scrap, haha
Jedinak unwell according to Brum Mail
Sounds like the rest of the team are too, Hitch.
Targetting Grealish. Fortunately he hasn’t bit yet.
Warnock’s teams are always going to be aggressive, big and nasty. Just have to deal with it.
My brother is at game and just text me and said as long as gardner comes off he is not bothered who comes on.
Westwood and Gardner off (days numbered?)
Tish and Gabby on.
JV must be orgasmic by now!
😁
Shabbys on our saviour 😁 nothing to worry about now the points are in the bag
Who in their right mind starts Gardner and Westwood, it instantly becomes a 3 man midfield, of which none of them could make a coffee let alone a chance!!
Feel for McCormack.
We’re completely shite.
king spud thats who hitchens hero
JV you are incredibly childish
Come on Villa.
I’m beginning to question Bruce’s abilities now, the only thing going with him is its not his team and the club has nothing in the pot.hasn’t it sunk in about our midfield? Westwood?, Gardener?, midle of the team, they are not General’s, Nore is Grealish. I hope he starts getting a team together because I’m fed up of this shit team we have.
hitchen and giddy will get on your back for writing that
Writing sensible objective posts is fine – it’s called debate. When are you going to learn that simple fact JV?
you are that starts the name calling but hey king spud looking good today
Free and we hit the bar. McCormack
No they my mates, hey have you seen the goal they scored? Just shown it what a bloody shambles.
Bunn was in the same position as the leeds goal. Lost it on the floor
Grealish constantly being fouled off the ball.
Warnock, you wanker.
Good shot from Gabby.
I agree warnock is a wanker
Gabby piledriver hits the top of the net.
Getting better.
Adomah hits the outside of the opst!!!
20 mins left can’t see us scoring today. Will be a bad result. Just don’t have any team cohesion
Get bacuna off. If he is on the pitch
Bacuna is a champions league player lay off him
Why no 3rd sub? 10 mins left no chance to get in to the game, need a goal, just shocking really.
RHM coming on.
Ironically, I think today was a game for Gestede and direct (hoof ball!) football not that I necessarily think we should be keeping him.
I agree we should keep Gestede imo I still think he’s our best striker after Kodja
McCormack off.
Bacuna stonker over the bar.
Doesn’t sound like it’s our day.
That’s it 🙁
Where was the weaknesses today? Didn’t listen to the game?
Today’s game has just reinforced what many of us have been saying in that we just don’t have sufficient quality in mid field to be serious promotion contenders. Whatever some may say on here, I don’t see how we can lay the blame for that with SB – he can only use the players we have. That’s not to suggest he has got everything right either.
RDM’s major error was his failure to address the need for a quality creative midfielder in the summer; SB has to try and rectify that now albeit in January it will be difficult. Clearly we also need a GK – whether Johnstone is the answer only time will tell.
There’s always a silver lining – the scum got bashed today!