The season only began a month ago and it’s frankly been awful.
We’re three games in and haven’t even scored a goal and have already had an international break for qualifying games against yet more no-hoper countries for a competition that I hardly care about anymore until we actually take our practically gifted entry into the finals.
It’s a complete joke.
Anyway, the real footy is back and I have to be honest. I’m worried.
Straight off, I’ll say I don’t expect anything tomorrow. Indeed, I’ll be more epecting a spanking, as much as I don’t really think that’ll happen.
What worries me is that even the newly promoted teams have more points than us and if we lose tomorrow, we’re dragged into a relegation battle.
And most importantly, even if you have no doubt about our ability to turn it round, we’ll probably be 12 points behind the leaders and even 9 points behind Everton.
I don’t think it’s the sort of start any of us envisioned.
Straight into squad news then and the downside is that Andres Garcia, Boubacar Kamara and Amadou Onana are all out.
There’s a bit of a fly in the ointment, in Ross Barkley, who apparently has a “personal issue”. Now I don’t know if this is correct, but I believe he was snapped raving it up with his mates in one of the Balearics. Whatever the truth is, it’s not a good look, when you’re rumoured to be on £100k a week.
I’ve seen it said in some articles that he’ll never play for the Villa again. Totally not good.
The good news is that the rest are fine and Martinez is fully invested in Aston Villa according to Emery. Hmm, okay.
While he’ll be cheered for an away game, I’ll be interested to see how he’s treated by the Holte end.
As for Everton,Jarrad Branthwaite is out, Iliman Ndiaye and Vitalii Mykolenko will have last minute tests and Adam Aznou and Nathan Patterson are both training, but won’t be ready.
What to think then?
As I said, I’m worried.
I don’t think Everton are anything special, but they have a few things in their favour.
First, they’re on a roll. Second, they’re playing in their nice new shiny Hill Dickinson stadium (what a terrible name that is!), which does indeed look lovely and has good accoustics. After my experience of Anfield in the winter, I dread to think what it’s going to be like on the banks of the Mersey, but whatever.
And third, Moyes has them well set up, as you’d expect, whereas you show the slightest threat to our defence and it seems we roll over and give the goal.
Apparently, Moyes reckons their best player has been James Garner who has been playing as a stand-in Left Back. I fully expect our right side and Cash in particular to be given a torrid time then.
More to the point then, what’s the score going to be?
Sadly, I’m just hoping we get our first goal. But pin me down for the result and I just think this is exactly the sort of game we could have done without this week and I’d rather have played a top club.
I have a 2-0 loss ringing a big bell in my head. I just hope I’m wrong, but we’ve looked terrible and Emery doesn’t look close to changing anything.
I’ve no confidence whatsoever, I’m afraid.
UTV!
I struggle to believe how things have changed from last season.
Everton to win or draw and Grealish to score 2-1 odds.
Wouldn’t surprise me if he at least gets an assist.
I am aware I have not been as active on the site as of late, so hope everybody is well.
I am actually writing this on my laptop in the car on the way to the Hill Dickinson Stadium! Some of you may kow that I get to a good few away games along with my season ticket, and I was responsible for Badger’s Anfield experience thinking it would be a good idea to drag him out in the middle of winter, which resulted in him leaving at HT due to being too cold! Haha!
Anyway, as the wheels turn further towards the ground, I am trying to work out what I think the score will be, but to be honest, I can’t. I really can’t call today, it feels like it could really go either way, I think it depends on how our new signings perform. I am expecting Konsa and Watkins to be fresh after decent performances for England, and Emery has said Elliot is fit, which is supposedly contrary to Sancho and Lindelof, so I think he will be the 1/3 new signings to start, which could have a surprise impact as he is playing against his former rivals, Everton.
Anyway, I think I am going to go for 1-1. Hoping we win though… first away day of the season! Let’s go! UTV!
Sorry to say I’m in Badgers’ thoughts on this, we will struggle this season beyond a doubt, I see nothing will change Unai will blod on believing nothing’s wrong and excuse after excuse will be said. Hope I’m wrong but that’s how I see it .
Emery has a problem , starting line up has not one single new player in.
Emery tends to gradually introduce new players so I’m not surprised. We are too slow and too passive. We will get turned over by any team that goes at us atm and
The more that happens the more teams will get the message though I think that ship has already sailed.
Something needs to change
That’s my criticism of the man Tom favourites every time. I’d think more of the man if he show more thinking in the game by playing forwards more than side to side and back passing. To me its not football and today you will see a footballer in Everton side, I’ve always advocated you need a football player to disrupt defence.
Totally agree Tom and I fear the worse.
Why is it other new managers throw new players straight into the team? Emery just won’t do it – Torres and Roger’s only got in due to injury of others.
I’m scared by the performance against Palace. I hope I’m reading this wrong but it looks McGinn will be in the right. It never works.
Arsenal fans said Emery was stubborn – I thought at least Elliott would have started. I just see another case between defence and attack. I hope I am wrong
Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne, Bogarde, Tielemans, McGinn, Buendia, Rogers, Watkins.
Subs: Bizot, Proctor, Maatsen, Elliott, Lindelof, Sancho, Torres, Malen, Guessand.
Same old, same old.
There’s trusting your players and just hoping. Which is it, I wonder?
Utter tripe already and they’re creating chance after chance.
We’ve lost this and about the only reason I will continue to watch is to see what Emery does or more likely doesn’t do.
When will we learn playing out from the back is rediculace, 3 or 4 times we almost gave them a chance at goal. That’s done it Cash on a yellow a sending off will follow in this game.
When will we learn that playing out from the back is ridiculous? Three or four times, we almost gave them a chance at goal. That’s done it. Cash on a yellow, and a sending-off will follow in this game.
Morning all 🙂
Just woken up on the West coast of Canada and see that nothing has changed!
That about sums it up.
This is much better, this half.
Who would have thought that moving Mcginn into the middle and playing Guessand right would be a good idea?
Everyone, apart from Emery it would seem.
Elliot coming on.
Totally ineffective in the last third. Misplaced passes all the time! Out of Watkins, Rogers and Buendia, I knew who was going to be substituted first. Of course it was the player who was causing them the most problems. Watkins and Rogers have been poor all season so far, yet Emery perseveres with them. Insanity at its worst. Only an outstanding save by Martinez kept us in the game. And he owes us that big time.
So zero goals from 4 games to start and I worry that it’s not going to change next week either.
NEP. My nickname for Buendia now we have two Emis in the squad. It stands for no end product. Nep can be relied on to want the ball often but never trouble the keeper or provide an assist. He came in from Norwich as a bright star then faded. Nep eats half of Yuri’s lunch when both play together (another Lampard Gerrard case) but it was poor judgment to hook Tielemans instead of Nep.
The defence was OK today. Not untroubled, but hard working enough to deny a fired-up Everton more home points. Clearances from our area fell short of the front pair and there was nobody from the midfield
to collect them. Because all the midfielders were back helping the defence. When we were in possession, Villa’s passing from midfield forwards was poor. Wrong weight on the pass or near enough to a defender to be intercepted. In an England shirt Rogers was highly effective, but to do the same for Villa he would need wingers making the runs – there were none.
Unai was apoplectic on the sideline screaming and waving his arms. I would like to know who was not doing what he wanted.
Totally agree about Buendia. I think he’s junk, honestly.
Offers so much, tries and often looks good, but ultimately gives nothing.
And it’s not like he hasn’t had plenty of chances.
I was gutted that he wasn’t replaced by Asensio, but that’s how it is.
Fwiw, I thought the second half was miles better, but it’s not saying much.
Yes. You can’t fault Buendia for effort. When he plays – he puts more in than half his teammates and frequently looks as though he is just about to set up a goal. I think that is what the manager sees, and it gets Buendia his place. But when you analyse the match, nothing he did led to a Villa chance.
I would be interested to see players stats on our attacking players. Does everyone on this site believe Watkins and Rogers offered more today than Buendia? If that’s the case, then I must be watching a different game.
Awful we have nearly all the players from last season and are clueless we should be getting better not worse
I’m going to take a different view. After standing at the back of the Holt for the last match and watching complete tripe, this was an improvement .
Firstly, the body language of the players looked better. Attitude of mind is always critical – last match out just not there.
Secondly, Martinez is committed. The one handed diving save kept us in the match. EMI will gain us a number of points and clearly is not sulking (may still be sold in January window😂)
Thirdly, there was an attempt to get the ball forward. Complete 180 from last match. The end product was still missing but they tried.
However, I’ve never been convinced with Roger’s at number 10 through the centre – he’s just not mature enough for that position. He should remain on the left and earn his stripes. But this won’t happen.
We will need to give it 3/4 weeks for Elliott and Sancho to get fully up to speed and then I think we will be a force.
However, top 6 will not occur this season. I really believe the European Conference League is the best we can hope for.
So, like the moth the flew too close to the established group SCR and PSR have kicked in to remove our threat. Yet I believe with our owners, management team and the backing of our fans we can overcome.
I left a comment yesterday was on site but gone today
Very sad seems this site gone like villa.
At least grealish didn’t score.
Didn’t see match my special box buggered seems everything going to pot,won’t be able see any matches this season it seems But maybe that’s a good thing.
Anyway back to old fashioned way match of the day and reading about games on Birmingham mail internet pissed off.
Sorry, I’m not seeing a previous comment in the last few days, Roy.
Emi is the best goalie in the world manure have made some absolutely awful signings in the last 10 years but this was one which would of been a winner
Whatever happened in the summer window we will never really know but one thing is for sure he is a class goalkeeper and I still luv Im