I never got chance to write anything about our 3-0 win over Everton, but obviously it was a great win.
Leon Bailey put on a great cameo, scoring a near net-buster that I thought he controlled very well, given the way the ball was bouncing and pretty much netting directly from a corner. Okay, the defender helped it in, but it was probably going anyway. It was good to see Matty Cash get one too, after a lovely ball from Ings, who, while you could see, he worked his socks off in pulling the opposition all over the place, was pretty innefectual in actual coming close to scoring, along with Watkins.
I’m not convinced 3-5-2 suits us, but if it results in wins like that, I’ll happily watch us play it all day.
Mind you, it wasn’t until we changed things around that things started to happen and I thought the first half was very much a damp squib. I know I can’t be far off the mark in that thinking too, because even my totally one-eyed son in law pretty much admitted the same.
Still it’s nice to know that we can at least now change things up, which has to increase our chances of winning games.
Enough of that and it’s on to tonight with the Carabou cup or whatever it’s called these days.
It would have nice to go on a run for this tournament, but I don’t fancy our chances much.
Chelsea will rest most of their usual players and give the second and third strings a game, which makes trying to predict a starting lineup impossible.
While we’ll probably respect the competition more than Chelsea will, we’ll do pretty much the same thing, so we can expect to see El Ghazi, Sanson, Traore, Young etc and I’m personally hoping for a decent look at Aaron Ramsey.
One player who won’t be involved is John McGinn, who has to go six days before he can be involved again because of his concussion injury.
Leon Bailey having to go off with a tight quad was a bit concerning. I know he had a slow start to the season, but does 20 minutes of running about really do that to you? It obviously does, but I’m glad I didn’t do all the fitness training modern players do. The player himself attributed it how hard he hit the shot and indicated that he didn’t think it would be too much of a problem, in which case you’d expect him to get minutes too.
Chelsea have injuries to Pulisic and Mendy, but it’s academic, as they have so many options.
It seems a bit pointless trying to predict a result, as anything can happen, but I’d be inclined to think Chelsea have to be favourites, if only because their squad depth is so much deeper than ours.
I’m not going to predict a score, but have to go for a Chelsea win, I’m afraid. I doubt there’s many that will disagree either.
Still, you never know and shocks are what make the cup competitions so good.
COYL!
Buendia gets a tap and it looks like he’s broken his jaw.
Sigh 🙁
Proud of you Villa, I can see a good team coming, we are a club on the return to glory. Mark my words. Is it on pens
What a superb game and draw that is.
Penalties it is then.
Barkely puts us out, the wanker.
Chelsea are through.
Superb effort and It looked to me that Smith didn’t want any of the kids taking a pen.
That’s good management for me.
Good game and no complaints whatsoever, apart from AEG, who can just go for me.
Proud of the effort tonight. Tuchel looked concerned and on edge during the penalties.
Definitely biased display by referee Scott for the shootout.
Firstly, we win the toss, so can choose to have the spot kicks taken in front of our fans. Instead, he ignores the fact we won the toss, does it again and Chelsea win it, to shoot in front of their supporters.
Then Kepa does his usual ‘Big I am’ impression by standing on the penalty spot, right in El Ghazi’s face. The ref tells him to get back in goal. He tries the same again with Young, causing the ref to intervene again but, still no yellow card.
The only travesty about tonight, as well as being knocked out, is that Sanson and Traore will be out for Saturday against Manure United.
With Bailey going from, being taken off as a precaution against Everton,to now being a major doubt, that is three down before we start.
We are already a goal behind because they will get their customary dodgy penalty. Pogba, Fernandes or Ronaldo will no doubt con the ref again.
Penaldo and Penandes, isn’t it?
Agreed, it’s very depressing playing the top few.
It seems to me that all El Ghazi can do is take a penalty. Brilliant performance by the youngsters. They had to bring on their big guns to try and finish the job.
Wonderful evening. Commenced as usual at the White Horse, Parsons Green. It is amazing to find this superbly run free house with quick and friendly service great food and a huge range of beers that is 10 minutes walk from the Shed and yet devoid of yobs. Long may it continue.
I don’t know how the Villa support came over on TV, but from where I was in the middle of them they were really loud. The 90 minute result was fair, so our second string are nearer in quality to Chelsea’s than are the respective first strings, if you judge by the scores. The sincere complement was made by Tuchel after Villa levelled, he brought on Lukaku and Mount to try and nick it.
The stand out observation from the fact that all the first team players were there to catch the manager’s eye, was that they failed. Unlike the kids! Sansom and Buendia don’t yet look anything special. The clock is ticking, especially for Buendia, to live up to that price tag. Sansom I fear won’t make it, the EPL is too fast and physical for him. El Ghazi should have looked at least on a par with his opponents tonight, but he didn’t.
Archer stood out: a great goal, fast feet and – on the night we applauded Jimmy Greaves – that poacher’s sense that is more instinct than training. Chukwuemeka and Philogene-Bidace came on for cameos and had a go, all they need now is a snappy nickname for the Holte End.
Well said. Very harsh on Buendia. I don’t believe the clock is ticking. He’s not even got started yet and is a class player. He needs a run of games, that’s all.
Interesting view, OLL.
It’s a shame that we see Sanson in the same light.
We may still be wrong.
Bailey is inured for united! Gutted. Something is seriously wrong this season with our injuries. Seems every game we lose 1 or 2 through injury! We have no chance of pushing the top 6 if we can’t get around 15 to 20 games with a fully fit first 11.
I’m minded to agree Adam.
Bailey had plenty of time to recover. He does 20 mins and is knacked again?
It stinks.
This sort of thing is happening far too often and has done for years now.
A new song;
Sack the quacks!
Sanson also out for another month – although it seems from comments on here he’ll not be a big miss?
Bailey the bigger miss; out until after the International Break and back for Wolves at the earliest. It does significantly reduce our attacking options although, on the positive side, Archer might prove to be something really special.
Sanson was seen to have done really well by most accounts.
And to be fair, I thought so as well.
But I just have a really bad feeling about him being at the Villa and I don’t think he’ll ever be any use for us (exactly the same as I said about Wesley).
I’m sure some of our players are made of chocolate.