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!
Fingers crossed, as it would be good to progress.
I’ve just seen;
£49.50 for a ticket in the back of the Holte against Wolves.
Jesus.
Steer, A.Young (c), Hause, Tuanzebe, Cash, Nakamba, Sanson, El Ghazi, Buendía, Traoré| Archer
Subs: Sinisalo, Konsa, Bogarde, Carney, A.Ramsey, Philogene-Bidace, Caleb
Got it on tv Badger, no chance mate..
What a miss by Archer, sent through one on one over the bar ,,
Traore looking our best bet, imo.
Bill, we’re holding our own, I reckon.
Yes we are,, anybody’s to be honest, I see we have Wil liam in the ground and its almost full with both fans ..
Tuchel’s doing his fruit.
He needs to be careful, else he’ll have a corona 🙂
He’s a moaning git , who does he think he is !! CHUCKIE on San son off
Chukwuemeka on for Sanson.
I was hoping the Frenchman would play well today.
Confirming my opinion all the time.
Big flop.
Chelsea were probabably the stronger side later on, but we had the best chances. Archer’s had a couple and I reckon we might see him score tonight.
Traore head and shoulders the best player in that half.
Good game and it’s nice to see Tuchel is taking it really seriously.
Sign of a good manager, I guess.
Shame Sanson came off because I think he was playing well. Looks like he is injury prone like Kienan Davis. Got to say I’m finding El Ghazi frustrating again. Good to see Archer getting into goal scoring positions. Needs to keep believing that the goal will come for him if he perseveres.
Yes, Sanson was doing ok, to be fair.
But you need to be able to stamp your authority in these sort of games, like Traore is.
El Ghazi? I’d forgot he was playing. It’s exactly why I don’t rate him.
He should be forcing his way into it.
Werner scores for 0-1.
Philogene-Bidace on for Traore who’s our MOTM already for me.
El Ghazi is a wimp, get rid , they now have us on the ropes, we need to show more aggression, he just watching does El Ghazi, Traore going off Archer goal yipppeee
What a Goal, Archer ,
“Archer hits Bullseye again”
Good header for 1-1.
” A bolt from the claret and blue”.
Haha, I like this commentator 🙂
Lukako warming up 🙁
Konsa on for Cash.
3 at the back again.
Superb tackle on Lukako then.
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.