Hardly anything has been able to distract me away from the Villa in my lifetime. The last series of events able do it was the birth of my kids, decades ago.
Purchasing a gaff in Spain has distracted me too. It’s the whole process of buying the property and doing tons of research as in what to expect in being over there and everything else around it. It’s a nightmare, with utilities and all manner of bills and taxes to sort out. And is exactly the reason why the thought of moving at all has never appealed to me.
It’s caused me to take a total back seat from thinking about the Villa and is why I’ve hardly been on the site or written anything. Apologies for that and you seem to have been doing a pretty good job of that yourselves.
There’s also another reason I haven’t written and frankly it’s because I have practically nothing positive to say.
I’m very much known as a straight talker and rate myself as very much the pragmatist, hence I want to look at something quite depressing. Our current form.
To make it simple, here’s our form over the last 12, 10, 8, 6 and 4 games;
8th. 5th. 13th. 17th and finally 19th. Anybody else seeing a pattern here? At a time when we’re thinking we’ll turn it around and it’ll come good, we’re actually getting worse. And we’re already in relegation form.
Things look pretty grim to me and I expect this to continue, at least tomorrow anyway.
So Chelsea away and they’re on a roll.
Squad news then and Jacob Ramsey is definitely out and Amadou Onana will be assessed before the game, having missed out for the last two. Kamara will probably start after doing so on Wednesday and I’d expect Barkley might too, having done pretty well in the last few weeks.
As for Chelsea, they apparently rotated quite bit for their European game on Thursday and will revert to a full strength side for tomorrow.
Which doesn’t bode well for us.
We actually have a fairly good record against Chelsea over the last few seasons, but I don’t see us getting anything tomorrow. Unai doesn’t seem open to changing from his current very high line defending stance and I just can’t see how we’re not going to get caught out, with their attackers repeatedly getting in behind us. Quite simply we’ve been found out and we all know it.
So we’re in trouble and Chelsea are looking very likely for a Champion’s league spot. What can go wrong?
Everything, I suspect and my thoroughly depressing position is we’ll be soundly beaten.
I’m going for 1-3. But I seriously hope I’m wrong.
UTV!
Comments
174 responses to “Chelsea – Villa; Very little hope here.”
Mings has been grat in the air.
Exactly what Torres lacks in his commanding attacking head play.
Torres next to Kamara in Dougie’s role, anyone?
10 mins. Come on.
Oh happy days, Villa back to winning ways, 😁
Thank goodness for that. I was feeling nervous when they pulled one back.
Totally agree that Mings was MOTM.
Kamara was excellent until he ran out of steam.
Duran I thought played well when he came on.
McGinn looks to be struggling right now and Bailey needs a goal! Philogene was okay when he came on.
Another win on Saturday will give us a big lift before the Leipzig game.
Rogers for me, looked an absolute class act this evening, balance, poise, weight of pass. Looked the real deal. 👏
I thought he was awesome tonight. At times he looks unplayable. He will get better and we have some player on our hands
Imo better wide on the left than through the middle, plays with more freedom.
And absolutely, bargain of the century and if he plays like that and continues to improve then skies the limit for the lad.
🤯
I can’t believe I’m hearing that from you, RSS! With no sense of irony?
Playing though the middle he’s so often caught on the half turn or takes a heavy first touch or gets caught dallying in possession surrendering the ball while we are stretched, this then makes us venerable to a quick counter (it really pisses me off).
I know I’ve been his biggest critic but credit where credit’s due BFR, none of that last night.
Playing down the left he looked a far more effective and accomplished (imo).
And what a finish?
Hopefully Unai has come to the same conclusion! 👍
Huge sigh of relief. Mings back and Olly scoring, happy days!
Still need to beat Soton on Saturday but it’s looking good.
Didn’t see the second half as was told by the missus I had to go to the managers piss up (cocktail party!).
Anyway reckon I saw the Emery Villa in the first half. I agree that even in the first 45 minutes Mings looked a commanding presence. He plays well with Konsa and is an organiser.
Pleased to see him back.
UTV
Great interview with Mings right now. He played really well too. Nice to have him back
Looking at the table I can’t see that top 4 being displaced, I’d even go so far as to suggest Chelsea are a good outside bet for the title.
Given the strength in the league this season 5th would be an achievement.
Have to agree.
Re’ Chelsea, if Maresca is indeed the new Pep or mini Pep or whatever, with their resources, it could be an era of Chelsea domination incoming. How do they always manage to get it right? Chuky and Kellyman will be so excited! 🤦
Luv it great win Big Ty will soon be back in the England squad beat saints and we are right back in it
4 tricky looking matches in December after Saturday…
We actually had Maatsen and Digne on the pitch at the same time. Has Emery been watching Pete’s show??? I liked the genuine impact all our subs had last night. Super chuffed with Mings. He’ll be absolutely buzzing after that! Even Buendia too looked back to his terrier like self. Cash was cracking and a well taken goal at a tight angle. Ollie looks angry now 😁.
Very happy this morning.
Badger mentioned Kamara who was impressive in the first half and could well be the player to take on Luiz’s role.
Who takes Kamara’s role, Hitch?
Either Onana or, just maybe, Torres?
I quite like the idea of Torres as a defensive mid with Konsa / Mings as our main CB pairing. I think Torres game is suited to that role.
Given the rumours that we’re looking at a CB in January then maybe that’s Emery’s thinking?
My thinking too, Hitch!
Brilliant results last night!
From United in 13th upwards, it’s extremely tight! Ridiculously competitive league this year! No bad thing.
If we had taken the point against Ipswich, Palace, and Bournemouth, we’d be joint 2nd on 28. CLEAN SHEETS!
Mate, if we don’t keep one tomorrow, then we’re never going to keep one.
Prediction: Dibling will score for them tomorrow.
Ideal replacement for any of our wingers. Please, sign him before his price goes into orbit.
Semenyo from Bournemouth would be great but transfer fee would be crazy.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c62z4y38kglo
An accident after a lads night out. Be careful out there…
If the press comments are right, Villa may field a few of our second choice players against Saints. Presumably because Unai thinks he has enough in hand to take the risk and still win. I am doubtful.
I can understand Unai’s decision so long as he keeps first choice players on the bench. A follow up win is almost more important than Wednesday’s return to winning. Still a 3-0 for me
I thought the players on the pitch at the end of the game did well on Wednesday. Maatsen in front of Digne produced some stunning passes. Duran battled well, Mings was excellent. Buendia and Cash back were brilliant too. Kamara hasn’t played all of our games, and Onana is due back after a spell out so should be fresh. I’m not worried about this. Dunno what the weather is like in Brum but the weather is absolutely filthy in the East Midlands. Will it be called off?
Looks like the match will be on. Club have issued a statement advising fans to come early to avoid transport disruption.
Weather isn’t great in Solihull but not too rainy, just madly windy. Time to sit in front of the fire watching tv.
L. Bailey
J. Durán
Pau Torres
B. Kamara
E. Konsa
I. Maatsen
E. Martínez
J. McGinn (c)
M. Rogers
Diego Carlos
Y. Tielemans
Substitutes
R. Barkley
E. Buendía
M. Cash
L. Digne
T. Mings
A. Onana
R. Olsen
J. Philogene
O. Watkins
Looks like we have the players on the bench to get us out of trouble if the resting experiment doesn’t work. Onana on the bench as well. Sensible selection.
Archer starts for Saints which always concerns me with returning players.
We are making this lot look like Real Madrid and that’s not an easy thing to do 🤦♂️
Great goal 👏