I’m sure most of you know by now, but just to clarify, these international breaks totally frustrate me.
Especially when the only benefit goes to the FA, in helping to pay for a massively expensive (and not very good) Wembley stadium.
And even more so when they’re only friendlies.
I totally fail to see the point of playing countries that have failed to qualify for the WC. What do we gain, apart from pure practice?
If it’s going to be worthwhile, at least play other countries that have qualified, but in another group, in my opinion.
No manager likes it, along with pretty much all the fans and all it does is destroy any momentum or interest that the domestic season has achieved.
I do love venting a “bitch of the day” and that was it. It’s done.
So now, having practically slept through the last week and a half, footy-wise, I’m trying to wind myself back up again for Saturday’s late kick-off.
And it’s difficult, to be honest.
No disrespect to Hull, but this fixture doesn’t exactly light my fire.
Still, I’ve just taken a look at the fixtures and we have what I think are a few very tough games coming up.
You might want to take a look at that link, as I think it looks a bit scary, particularly if we lose to Hull, where it suggests we might have lost our momentum.
Which makes this a big game. We need to get back in the groove quickly, it’s as simple as that.
And yes, we’d have to go some to totally blow the play-offs now; but we need to keep getting wins, because you can be sure other teams will.
We all know there’s a team that can have a good late run-in and surprise people.
We should at least try and make that be us, even if it’s too late to get second place.
I’ll try and add any squad news as the game gets closer, but just as most of you get a holiday as of Friday morning, so I have to go full steam at work.
Hey ho. Hopefully I’ll get to see the game.
I have to be honest here.
This looks very drawish to me.
Got to agree with all your points Badger including ‘bitch of the day’ – we don’t have an ‘easy’ run in as some have suggested and we don’t have a good record with games immediately after international breaks.
Agh – I’m starting to sound negative!
Just take a look at the last two games we played to know its not easy. All of us didn’t think we would have been beaten, I just hope our team understands what’s at state, and play till they drop.fingers crossed on Saturday .
You guys did play Holland and Italy. Sure they failed to make the world cup, but they’re still very decent sides on their day. Friendlies are also important to get the team together for chemistry.
But it was good for us that the International break happened. We likely would’ve lost to Hull if we didn’t. The players got the break necessary as most aren’t Internationals. Should be good for us to push on now. 8 points above 7th, hopefully they can push the lead further.
i find myself in agreement with andrew once again. especially the international games. holland was a good run out and italy presented a far greater task. one which i felt england learned alot from. they had good movement against holland. but italy pressed them high and hard. which england struggled to cope with. like southgate the player his team, learned and became better. then they caused italy problems which isnt easy as they are always strong in defence,
i don’t agree that we would have lost to hull. but the break has done us a massive favour. also i see posters are now beginning to stop underestimating other teams in this league. each team in the league are all deserving off championship. we have to stop expecting and support the team. i have slapped a wager on villa winning at hull. i can see wolves and fulham dropping points too. but if iam wrong i can live with that. i expect middlesbro and norwich to be tough away days and hull.
Many of our players are on international duty and some have to travel 1,000’s miles so no r&r plus the risk of injury – Kodjia comes readily to mind.
Personally I put Villa before England and I don’t believe the international breaks benefit us as a club nor, apparently, does Bruce.
We shall see.
the benefit villa might get from the international break, is they have had time to get the injured players back into light training and will had more depth. the utd loaneee for one green another. oh then theirs hutton. also being beaten in last two outings. the break from playing hull might be a lift, gathering your focus on what andrew says is now the last 8 or so games its now the wheat is separated from the chaff. other teams up their will feel the pressure of the final furlong.
wolves had wobble before the break,but they had turned that around but the break has come at a bad time for them. fulham were lucky last game so they had this break to reflect on a miss opportunity
To be honest all games look tough to me. QPR and Bolton will be used as examples by the teams we have yet to play of how fallible we are.
We really need to get back to winning ways. I’m not convinced but think we might sneak a win, without impressing. Fingers crossed as there’s a lot at stake.
On the internationals front, I hate the interruption to our season. As for England they will disappoint as always and exit the World Cup at the first opportunity.
So says Mr Grumpygroo!!
qpr just caught villa cold. villa players like the fans believed they were too good. beating wolves we were ready to take on man city and brazil. cold reality check was deserved. the bolton game was always gonna be a tough, then you add in the weather. which yes we both played in but the conditions were always suiting a team like bolton who wasnt trying to play football.
i understand the way some fans are. lets not get excited or say out aloud we will win. then we are not looking silly. when we win it will be more of a surprise. but if we are wanting to win promotion. then the final games will be important. you need to carry some kind of form into the playoffs. we need to carry the form in case cardiff fall flat on their faces.
its all to play for. it really is. snodgrass needed the break does anybody know if he got a free international break or was he playing ??? under mcliesh
Snodgrass wasn’t selected for the Scotland squad or so I believe
It just so happens that I’m currently working with an ex Scotland player who knows Alex McCleish very well and is still in contact with him.
He narrowly missed out on a monster move to Man City, through a medical problem.
And that’s all I’m going to say.
The chap has told me bits and bobs about the game, but he only has good stuff to say about McCleish.
Highly rated football player coming down to my level = shame.
He’s a nice bloke too, fwiw.
With Fulham and Cardiff both winning, time to be realistic about chances of automatic promotion. Cardiff are now 10 points ahead of us with a game in hand and they would have to collapse in an unimaginable fashion to be caught.
i just seen the scores, iam gutted i have norwich and fulham on my x line grrrrr i would sack their german manager lol. cardiff i have been saying wont crash and burn. their players lack skill but not heart. they will take second but we still need to pick up our form
snodgrass will benefit that rest, wasnt sure if he played in mcliesh first scot game win. i just been reading kodjia is back in contention’
damn wolves are even winning ok we are doomed we’re all gonna die and miss out on top two promotion. we can all say we told you so to compensate
Be interesting to see who he picks after 2 very poor performances.
Hopefully we can get back to winning ways as the pace at the top is not slowing down. Would be a big 3 points for us.
Sounds like Kodjia will be on the bench which is great news. Be good to have Green back too.
Just a gentle reminder, channel 4 itv 9 pm see the Villa like I did, now that’s a team wish we had them now.
Recorded both programmes Bill and looking forward to watching some blood and thunder football and the Villa – of course
So the best we can hope for is the play offs now Cardiff have won again. If we lose again tomorrow we are risking freefalling out of the top six. If we can finish third or fourth at least we play at home in 2nd leg which is the preferable option. Thankfully we are almost at full strength and should have Hutton back at left back. Will be a boost to get Kodja and Green in contention too, especially if we achieve playoffs.
Interesting about wolves game, two players sent off, both wolves.
Cardiff are 10 points ahead on the same number of games, even if we win they have a game in hand. They were never going to give it up.
Bristol drew, Boro lost, we win we go 10 points ahead of 7th so it would take some doing to screw up a top 6 spot.
Bruce confirming Gabby’s leaving whether we go up or not is great news and a long time coming. Leaves Hutton, Terry, Samba and Bunn who will also be leaving on free transfers if they don’t extend. First two are the only one’s likely to be here next season.
Kodjia and Green will be big for the playoffs to have them back.
sunderland are beating derby
Middlesbrough lost and Derby got wacked by Sunderland at Derby. Win tomorrow to cement our top 6 spot – even a draw would be OK. All to play for – would rather be in the play offs than have no chance of promotion.
As long as we get Fulham in the finals I’m good with it. We have a chance in a one-off game. Kinda sucks one of us won’t go up. Fulham have done an incredible job getting back into it. Said Mitrovic would do well there and 7 in 10 show’s what a signing he’s been. Fun fact, Fulham’s oldest current player playing for them is 30. And if Fulham don’t go up, I’d 100% take a look at signing Kalas from Chelsea when his loan is up.
Who do we drop for Kodjia at this point? Unfortunately it’d likely have to be Davis from the Bench if we plan on getting Kodjia fit. Maybe Murphy. As long as we can get Kodjia and Green back, who knows at this point.
It’s exciting to have Kodjia fit again but we shouldn’t expect too much too soon. He’s been out of competitive football for 12 months and it will take time for him to get ‘match fit’. Will he be firing on all cylinders for the play offs? Could make a huge difference.
i wouldnt play him at all. davis offers same type of stuff. kodjia needs a few games to reach match fitness, few means anything from 5 games to as many as 30 chances are he might get injured again trying to push himself to soon
Nath – you’re right in that players often suffer other niggling injuries after being out for an extended period. Bruce has made a big point about not rushing him back and managed expectations pretty well so bringing him back into contention now either means they reckon he’s fully recovered or desperation has set in!
Still it adds more competition up front which can’t be bad – can it?
It’s no excuse now Hitch, Villa know what’s wanted, we’ve been skating on thin ice all season on players, I’ve got to a stage now it’s win win win, we have to now to be in contention.
i dont want to sound contraindicative to my own shouts. cardiff i feel will see it out and deserve it. but for villa and fulham the game isnt up for second. cardiff could easily lose 3 games on the bounce. then it brings it all back. but whether we go up top two or through the play offs means same thing. i will wank better if we manage to do the wembley thing. doesnt matter who we face they will not want to face us. big players play on big occasions.
we need to pick up the form individually and collectively, we have dropped our standards slightly after the win against wolves