What a difference a year makes; from staring down the barrel of relegation to sitting ninth in the League with an exciting team and real hope for the return of the good times. Add to the mix COVID – 19, Project Restart and the drama at West Ham on the last day of the season and its been quite a year.
It’s been 10 years since we last won the game immediately before Christmas in the EPL (we did win away 0-1 at QPR in 2006) and our opponents then, as now, were Albion; Villa winning 2-1 at Villa Park. Villa finished 9th that year (48 points), Albion ending the year in 11th place. O’Niell had resigned in August and Gerard Houllier came in to replace him although he only remained in charge for nine months, suffering a second heart attack which forced him to retire from management. Sadly, football lost a truly knowledgeable and good man with his passing this year.
Even before the dismissal of Livermore, Albion looked a poor side and were well beaten; I would even suggest that the 0-3 score line flattered them. Had Watkins goal not been (unfairly – in my opinion) disallowed by VAR then I think the defeat would have been much heavier. Whilst generally a critic of VAR it was correct in asking Atkinson to review the tackle by Livermore on Grealish. It was serious foul play; a deliberate and dangerous lunge at the player over the top of the ball.
Although Hause’ subsequent tackle was clumsy, it was not dangerous, nor was it delivered with any deliberate or malicious intent; a yellow being the correct decision. Big Sam has a massive job on his hands!
Once again we demonstrated that when we score the first goal and the opposition have to come at us, we are an extremely dangerous attacking side that will score goals. We do have (unusually for an EPL side?) a number of players who are very comfortable running with the ball and are encouraged to do so which causes problems for defenders. Not only that, as Tony Gayle observed, ‘Villa are a very watchable side’ – although the media in general appear to prefer Leeds!
I was pleased for El Ghazi, disappointed for Watkins and encouraged by Traore’s display – even if his right foot is just for standing on. OK, not very charitable of me, but to become a really influential player he needs to work on improving his ability to use both feet (other than for running that is!). Having said that his goal was pure class.
Games now coming thick and fast – Crystal Palace up next then Chelsea and Manure away by the turn of the year.
Palace travel to VP on the back of a 0-7 home drubbing by Liverpool. Most unusual for a Roy Hodgson side to collapse in this way and so I’m not sure what to think or expect, particularly given our own poor home form and the indications that there is no such thing as home advantage in this strange fanless season. Palace don’t have a great record at Villa Park, nor are they prolific in front of goal, but they do have an excellent Boxing Day record having only been beaten in two of their last ten Boxing Day games and winning their last three away from home.
Will they sit deep and try and catch us on the counter attack – something that has worked well for teams visiting VP of late. They do have Saha and our old ‘friend’ Benteke is back after being suspended against Liverpool, Cahill is out with a hamstring and they have a number of other notable injuries.
Barkley is expected to be fit, as is Konsa, and whilst Hause did an excellent job in the last two games I feel that Konsa’s mobility and all round ability will be better suited to this game. If Barkley can pick up where he left off before injury and re-establish his link up play with Grealish then he will undoubtedly strengthen us and create problems for Palace.
Who drops out for Barkley – El Ghazi or Traore? Glad I’m not Dean Smith on that one although it’s a nice problem to have. On balance, I think it will be Traore but then what do I know?
That’s enough rambling – have a great Christmas and let’s hope Boxing Day brings another day of cheer.
UTV
BBC are covering the game so available to all Villa fans foc.
We should really win this game (even Lawro thinks so although he’s been notoriously poor at forecasting Villa’s results).
With more difficult games to follow, it’s time to turn around our home form (four EPL games without a win) and where we have only the 14th best record in the EPL so I have to go for a Villa win but am not going to try and forecast a score.
I’ll leave that to others.
good post hitch
wishing all villa fans a very merry christmas please dont drink too much as we have a game tomorrow lol we need to be hangoverless,
aston villa are so exciting for me to watch this season and in parts last season too. we are progressing nicely and fast. blink and you miss the progress. yet some fans are never fully satisfied. do not just enjoy the destination but also enjoy the journey.
i think the hardest critics of our club,have been our own fans. i have been reading arsenal fans moan and cant believe some of the shit they posted. hopefully 2021 we will get back into the stadium and show our appreciation to the current players. show the country and world we are back starting on the game on beeb.
Smith is a decent manager i have to say he has done a wonderful job. i loved watching brentford and wondered could he transfer that style to villa. he has and it has taken less time to do than i expected. not only the first team the whole club now have a different mentality. they all know the system and they each perform and that goes along way to winning
Merry Xmas people 🙂
Don’t worry, I’m just taking a break and will be back soon.
MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL VILLA FANS….looking for a 1989/90 Xmas period…the last time I can remember we did well over the period.
merry hangover/ boxing day
crystal palace today, seen many predictions thinking we will win 5 nil i doubt this thou i hope we do turn on the style. palace are very tough to beat and game after a big defeat 7 nil they are not coming to villa to get hammered. they will be more defensive and organised than normal. plus they are always defensive first and quick to counter so expect the opening of this game to be ultra defensive.
we need to be patient in breaking them down. do not get desperate like against burnley. were we attacked them in massive numbers and left ourselves light at the back. burnley were not able to exploit that but this is what palace look for and exploit all the time. first goal will be massive
villa 1 palace nil
Of the London EPL teams Palace are by far the team and ground I like the least.
Unfortunately I have to agree with others that they have just had their annual hiding, and won’t expose themselves to another. However their current keeper looks poor so if Villa do go ahead in the match panic could set in. Terry and Smith need to impress on Mings not to push the back four up too far and no poncing about showing off ‘England defender’ touches – he isn’t that good.
Barkley & Konsa still missing so same side as against Albion.
Not feeling so confident so will take a draw today.
Merry Christmas all !!!! One up, Martinez doing well again. Good movement!
Was that second yellow for Mings??? Mental.
Daft sending off. Almost looked like he didn’t want to be playing today. Sloppy after 40 seconds then a miss kick lead to a corner then 2 stupid yellow cards after a needless tussle with Zaha then blatantly blocking him off. Hopefully Konsa and Hause build a good partnership and Mings can have a few games rest.
boys no way that was a yellow card though. especially a second one for a sending off!
boys no way that was a yellow card though. especially a second one for a sending off!
Mings looked out of sorts all half and his first yellow was stupid.
Can we take this game to 90 minutes with a win?
I’d take a draw at this point as we don’t have a great record when we lose a player.
A good talk is needed to Minns, I’ve said it before he has an attitude of no care less, my heart is in my mouth every time he’s on the ball to defend. He needs to have a more positive outlook on the game .
Come on Olliee Watkins score a goal,
Score a goal,
Score a goal,
Come on Ollie Watkins score a goal,
Score a goal or three!!
Awesome!!!!! 😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁
It wasn’t Olli
I know, but it was fun to sing!!!
What a beauty!!!!!!!!
i love you villa baby!!!
6th place boys & looking up!!!
Hitchens ! Ye of little faith!!!
What a great game!!!
Yep; fair comment Bum Bum but bet I wasn’t alone 🙂
A simply first class performance and in Watkins we have one hell of a player – not just a striker – and absolutely right choice as MoM.
When Konsa came on he looked class and Hause is looking better with every game.
Harsh on Traore but with Grealish able to play wide left it was the right decision and so it proved – what a strike by El Ghazi.
So no Mings at Chelsea but we have Konsa and Hause at CB not such a problem.