I did actually start to write a post match article last week, but other events took over and basically I just never found time to finish it. Suffice to say that while I was disappointed, I wasn’t too unhappy, as I thought our play going forward was actually quite good and it was overall a good game.
It was Arsenal too, where I didn’t expect too much and we got pretty much what I thought we would.
Onto this week then and it’s hard being a Villa fan, isn’t it?
While if you’re anything like me, you expect us to lose to Arsenal, yet I expect to beat Everton but have a nasty, nagging feeling that we won’t.
Last weeks match was typical Villa and after taking the lead twice, we then basically went on to throw it away and it’s no wonder I fully expect us to do something similar today.
Squad news and there isn’t much. Diego Carlos is back in training, but is a while off yet.
Everton have Amadou Onana available after he went off last week, but Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Andros Townsend, Nathan Patterson and James Garner are all out.
Everton of course, have Sean Dyche recently installed as their manager and he’s a manager I quite like. Yes, he has a method of playing that many dislike, but it’s efficient, which is proven by the fact that they’ve won three of their four games under him. That’s as many as their previous twenty games under Lampard and it’s a pretty impressive statistic, in my opinion.
So there’s the new manager bounce thing to be aware of too.
I’d fully expect Dyche to keep Everton from relegation, but we don’t want to add to that, do we?
I fear we will though.
Everton don’t score many goals and haven’t scored more than one in their last thirteen games.
With our leaky defence, I have a sneaky feeling that that’s another run that we’ll bring an end too. It’s the Villa way, after all.
So while I’m not at all confident that we’ll get a win, I am trying to stay upbeat and positive and am going to predict a 1-1 draw.
Would I take a point?
Well, a few weeks ago I’d have probably been pretty annoyed, but now I actually think it wouldn’t be a bad result, taking the new manager thing into account.
1-1 it is then. Unless our defence does it’s usual thing.
UTV
I’m feeling quite indifferent, tbh.
Nothing surprises me about the Villa these days.
Bailey and Digne in for Moreno and Buendia! I don’t understand that at all. Neither are worthy of a start and I’m sure Everton fans will relish winding up Digne for sure. If Arsenal and Leeds fail to score with their attacking styles then what hope do we have? 1-0 to Everton ☹️
Totally agree Holte.
I don’t understand that either. Two inferior players who must obviously train well.
Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne; McGinn, Kamara, Douglas Luiz, J.Ramsey; Watkins, Bailey.
Subs: Sinisalo, Zych, Chambers, Alex Moreno, A.Young, Dendoncker, Traore, Buendia, Duran.
Zych is a new one on me???
I’m not surprised, the bench juniors are picked in alphabetical order.
Zych is a goalkeeper and was last in the First Team squad when we had the big Covid outbreak. Where is Coutinho.
Ah, ok Gerry, cheers.
Coutinho is (surprise, surprise) injured apparently.
Two goalkeepers on the bench! Is our squad really that poor?
Coutinho is injured. Why do we get so many injuries between games?
Please don’t tell me Ramsey playing well he’s too slow and doesn’t think quick enough., We are not in this game and I see a defeat, I just don’t believe the team he’s picking.
It’s all very well having a style of play where playing out from the back has the quality players to achieve that. Unfortunately we have too many who are liable of messing up. Wait till the summer and buy those who are capable and in the meantime why not hoof it upfield to relieve the danger.
The midfield hides when the back four are looking to play out from the back. Ramsey possibly the exception but Douglas Luiz, McGinn and Karmara should be moving around trying to be an outlet. When they do get it they won’t carry it forward, they just pass the ball from where they received it.
I’ve been saying the same for ages now. The skill we need to learn if we want to play out from the back is to pass and MOVE! Take City as the exemplar, they make it look so easy because they move and give the player with the ball an option, this usually becomes a sort of triangle consisting of 2 to 3 passes before a ball to an attacking mid who is clever and found some free space and can then turn and push forward. We do to an extent but screw ourselves over time and time again. I wouldn’t mind seeing some more long balls to be honest as my nerves go in to overdrive when we pass at the back.
Decent game for the neutral, but tedious as these are two very average sides.
A single goal might decide this and it could go either way, imo.
We had a good 10 minute spell early on but the majority of the game was mostly Everton pressure. A good job that Martinez is on form to keep us in it. Having Bailey is like having 10 men with him constantly losing possession. I don’t know what Emery sees in him but surely Duran will offer more. Digne not doing too badly although Moreno would offer more going forward.
Emery needs to do some arse kicking to liven them up because they losing the fight as it stands.
If Everton score first they will shut up shop and I can see that happening.
Olllie is back to poor first touch. No point playing long goal kicks if we cant win them. Still ok and we have every chance.
Yesss!!!!
Can they go on to win this one?
Ollie gets his fifth in five games.
I’m chuffed for him.
1-0
And Ings scores a brace at Spam!
He’ll get injured before the end of the season.
It’s a given BB.
Club record apparently.
Time to rewrite the famous poster.
You have to be old enough to remember Ian Wright playing for Arsenal, and maybe it only appeared all over London. The poster was a picture was taken of the back of a goal with one ball in it. The caption:
BEHIND EVERY GREAT GOALKEEPER
is a ball from Ollie Watkins.
Emi!!!!!!!!! Emery, tactical genius!!!!
Bailey off and Buendia on and suddenly the game changes. NEVER allow Bailey to start ahead of Buendia again!
Great control by Ollie, Yes i said great.
What a great goal from Buendia – good finish, good counter attack.
Yep, 2-0 and it should be all over 🙂
Thank goodness 3 points and a clean sheet to boot.
Happy days 😁