It’s difficult to know what to say about this one, as the title just about sums it up for me.
We’re not going down and we’re not getting Europe, so it’s difficult to get too wound up for it.
Dean Smith isn’t going to throw the kids in, which is crazy.
Unless he has no faith in them whatsoever, which I think is the case.
If so, I know it won’t be a popular view, but it’s one I personally understand and agree with.
I’ve never been a romantic who dreams of being able to field a team of homegrown players, because the fact is that it’s never happened, even in the early days of the club.
Where did William McGregor come from, for example?
I was going to use John Devey and Harry Parkes as examples too, but they both came from Birmingham, which ruins my point (at least I’m honest!).
Whatever, I’m sure you get my point there. Most players are not homegrown, either via birth or being brought through since they were kids.
I don’t need to list players who have come through our system and gone on to be sucessful at top level, but we all know you can probably put them on one hand if you’re talking about the last 20-30 years. Even Gareth Barry didn’t arrive until he was 16.
It can happen and I know the club is striving for it, but I think it’s a while away yet and us fans are looking through rose tinted glasses, as to how good our kids really are.
Let’s face it, it’s something we’ve done for years. How many “next big thing” types have we had over the years, only for them to end up not even making the grade at a lower level?
Whatever, we won’t be seeing the kids, so we all know what the team will be.
Watkins comes back in for Davis and the only question is probably will Smith drop Barkley, who was subbed with 25 minutes to go against Everton?
My guess is no. Which is inexplicable, but that’s how it is. Smith doesn’t seem to like risking much, even though there’s practically nothing to lose, a possible top 10 place apart.
Thinking about it and in fairness, I’m forgetting that each Premier league place is worth £1.93 million and we could easily drop two places.
£4 million might seem like small beans in the scheme of things, but I wouldn’t like to miss out on it if I was an owner. It’s a top player’s wages for a season.
Will Jack get another run out? You’d expect so, but I don’t see him starting. There’s no need and Smith has said it’ll be a gentle re-introduction.
As for Palace, they’ve got little to gain except for prize money too, but the pressure is off and you can’t see them being too “up for it”.
They’ve lost the last 4 out of 5 games too, so generally aren’t very good really.
They also don’t score many goals and their goal difference is forth worst in the league.
I’ve no doubt they’ll put up a decent defence, but I’m fairly confident we’ll just have too much for them.
Villa to win, 2-0.
UTV!
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