Blimey, we’re at the back end of an incredibly tough run of games aren’t we?
Citeh and Liverpool and now Man U and Chelsea, followed by Leicester.
But this is a good thing, I reckon, as we’re getting them out of the way, leading to “easier” games over the next few weeks.
I say easier, but we all know there’s no such thing in the Premier league and I should probably more accurately say that if we can get past the top sides without a drubbing, it’ll just re-emphasise the point in my last post that we don’t need to fear anyone.
And I really don’t see us getting a drubbing anywhere, because we create far too many problems for the opposition.
Simply put, I see this as very much a similar scenario to the Man Utd game, where we have nothing to be worried about and Dean Smith will take it to them.
There is of course the Tammy Abraham thing and you might want to put some money on him scoring against us. That’s if he plays.
And squad news tells us that Tammy faces a last minute fitness check, as he’s very close to playing.
What odds he makes it, even as a sub and gets one?
Ross Berkeley is out through illness and while I really rate him, I don’t think he’s really hit the highs he should have. His loss is a plus for our midfield though.
Antonio Rudiger is at least a week away from playing.
As for us, El Ghazi is out after jarring his knee, which caused him to go off at Man U.
Jota is back in the squad after his hernia op, but you’d suspect it’s too soon for him.
Davis and Steer are out.
Prediction time then and while I’m not as confident as I was against Man Utd, I definitely think we can get something, if all goes well.
Chelsea have averaged 2 goals a game up to now and with our defence, I’d expect them to keep that up.
Consider though that Tammy has scored 10 of their 28 goals.
And then compare that to the fact that we don’t have a single player in the top 25 scorer’s chart.
This makes things very interesting, in that we have options all over and having one player out doesn’t seem to affect us much.
Maybe my tending to side with the “Wesley isn’t the answer” argument isn’t so justified as it might seem?
That is, while a top notch striker who can get us 20+ goals would be the icing on the cake; not having one perhaps isn’t quite the problem it might immediately seem?
Surely there has to be some debate about that point?
Chelsea also concede too and indeed have only conceded two less than us.
Which again makes things interesting.
We all know it’s about fine lines in the Prem, where you can consistently perform quite well, but not quite have enough to get the required points for survival and having genuinely competed in the vast majority of our games so far, it would seem this is our biggest concern.
I strongly suspect this will be another one of those games, where we compete, but ultimately don’t get the result.
My heart says another 2-2, but I think the reality is more likely a 1-2 defeat.
That’s not a bad prediction though if you consider where Chelsea are in the league and they’re established top end etc..
But I also think with a really good wind behind us, we might actually pinch it.
It certainly wouldn’t be unknown in what seems the weakest overall Premier league I’ve seen in ages.
Comments
75 responses to “Chelsea – Villa: I’m not scared and the lads won’t be either”
Is that a negative post?
I’m not sure myself, tbh.
No – don’t think it’s negative, Realistic but then there’s nowt wrong with that.
Odds are against us – as a statistics man, the chances of Chelsea losing two home games in a row are pretty low.
Watched highlights of the Manure game and think we were a tadge unlucky not to take all three points. Grealish missed a goal he would take nine times out of ten, VAR was harsh on Trezeguet’s goal being disallowed (thanks Mr. Friend!) and Wesley was unlucky with a goal bound strike that hit one of our own players!
On Wesley, I think he just needs a bit of luck and he’ll be OK.
Result – love to think we could nick this one but a draw is likely to be the best we could expect. We’ll give them a game but, sadly, think we’ll lose 2-1.
UTV
Attendance wise Stamford Bridge is an unlucky ground for me. I have a ticket but am too ill to go – the 3rd time it has happened. My impression is that in night matches there the results have not been close. I have a vivid memory of dragging a reluctant new girl-friend to her first football match – a crowd of under 20000 saw Tony Daley score an unanswered hat-trick.
Bad luck OLL.
Should be a really good game, I reckon.
Not Villa . I thought you all like to know, Bob Willis past away today great cricket for Warwickshire. RIP Bob.
Wow. You know you are old when your sporting heroes pass on, and they are younger than you. RIP Bob.
That’s a massive shock – surely not that old. Loved his laconic style as a pundit.
What a great bowler – they talk about Botham’s Test against the Aussies but forget that Bob took 8 wickets in the Aussies second innings and scared the sh*t out of them.
Very sad day for all cricket and Warwickshire fans.
RIP – you’ll be sadly missed.
Villa Team. https://www.facebook.com/groups/astonvillafcATCB/permalink/2514000642178252/
Not a massive cricket fan, but remember him well as a great bowler. RIP
I’m watching the Prime video feed and suspect it is UHD.
Brilliant, detailed picture.
Abraham starts. Shit 🙁
My sentiments exactly, Badger.
Having said that, let’s make a positive out of it – Mings should know Tammy’s game inside out! And Smith and co!
Nakamba in for Luiz.
I’m not as optimistic as I was away to Man Ure. I can see Tammy Abraham scoring his obligatory goal(s)! Hopefully we can snatch a point although we will miss Guilbert going forward. Time for Wesley to come good. 😒
Chelsea looking the better side early on.
And I hate the way our defensive setup never looks comfortable.
Willian looks dangerous to me.
Everytime they come attack our left flank we let them get the cross in. We are better than that.
I was just about to say it’s only a matter of time, but I’m too late.
1-0 Chelsea and it’s Abraham.
We’re going to get battered if we don’t push out and take it too them.
This has been rubbish up to now.
Agreed Badger. Absolutely awful so far. Wesley is dog shit!
And Mings for that matter.
I don’t think you can make negative comments about Wesley as he’s not had the ball.
The big issue is our players being fouled and xxxx all given by the ref.
Sorry Sid, but he’s right, Wesley has no urgency in his game, please just watch him to see.
Bill, I agree with Sid. Wesley’s had nothing to work with.
But yes, he doesn’t seem to make runs either.
Agreed, Chelsea keep fouling and one of theirs should have had a yellow by now, just as a warning.
Does anyone else think Wesley with his beard looks like Me Tumnus?
Love a photo of him and me . 😂😂😂😂
Awesome!!!!!!
Trez scores a scruffy one from an Elmo ball.
VAR
1-1
Yes, have that!!!!
Grealish again creating the move.
Mount booked.
About time.
We just have to accept that the shit six (sorry Sky Six) get all the ref favours going. Love the fact that this team doesn’t know when it’s beaten.
I’ll take a scruffy goal all day long.
Perhaps it’s time we came from behind to win?
Post script – why is it that such a high percentage of our ‘goals’ seem to be referred to VAR?
And that’s HT.
I’m not seeing what our plan is, apart from try and defend, poorly????
The midfield is being over-run and Hourihane is not right for this game, imo.
Will Smith change it up?
If Jota’s truly fit, I’d consider bringing him on to add width as an option.
I didn’t see that equaliser coming but a good ball in by Elmo. With Zouma having Wesley in his pocket, would it be worth considering a different approach. Maybe Jota coming on for him and playing the ball along the ground. Liverpool and Citeh do well enough without a target man. Personally I don’t think Wesley is a target man anyway.
Agreed Holte. Wesley imho is a goal poacher who needs players close to him to create opportunities.
Trouble is we have no one that can play the lone striker role!
According to BBC – Chelsea 11 fouls to Villa’s 4 in the first half!
I certainly wouldn’t swap Jota for Hourihane, Conor is the likely match winner if Villa have one, but Jota for Wesley – possible.
Sorry, I disagree.
Hourihane offers nothing in a battling midfield game.
He’s far too lightweight.
But I’ll agree to disagree 🙂
Why does it take a player like Grealish to open up chances? Christ we have other midfielders that should by now understand how to beat the opposition. It’s why I’m on Wesleys back , he’s doesn’t make chances Mcginn not on form ,so it’s down to one man. in answer to you Badger I did predict that we would get one back, although it was to my other half.
Bill, McGinn is deliberately playing deeper and is doing ok for me.
This is poor tactics, imo.