So it’s late Saturday night and it seems results went our way today.
All the opposition that counts, lost except for Brighton who drew.
It’s interesting to note there, that they’ve drawn 4 and lost 1 in their last five games.
Is that form good enough to keep you up?
I doubt it, given that all the teams at the bottom have won 1, drawn 1 and lost three.
Basically there’s nothing in it and wins are vital, as Newcastle have shown. A win at Southampton has helped them massively in the short term.
Indeed, a win at Leicester would propel us to 16th I think and we’d still have a game in hand albeit against Sheffield Utd at home.
To be honest, I doubt we’ll get a win at the King Power.
But we’ve proven that we can get a draw, as in the league cup.
I’d like to think we can get a draw again, as a best bet.
Nick a win and that would be a massive bonus.
I think it boils down to which team turns up.
We were abysmal against Southampton, but showed great effort in the cup final, where we’d have seriously threatened a lot of teams for a win if it was a normal Prem game.
The weather seems to be warming up a touch and that might suit some of our players better, which is a point that has been made in some of the replies.
I personally think that if you can’t play in the cold, you ain’t running fast and hard enough.
But then I’d also accept that the cold just doesn’t suit some players.
I’ll take any positive I can.
I’m not bothering with squad news, because nothing has changed and I frankly don’t care about Leicester.
Cut to the prediction then and that’s easy.
If we get really lucky, we win by a sneaky goal, say 2-1
If we get a bit less lucky, we snatch a draw, 1-1, which I’d happily take.
Go with the form and I’d expect us to lose.
And that’s what I’m going with.
A 1-2 loss.
Which will not be the end of the world, as we should expect to lose this one.
It’s more the manner of the defeat that I’m interested in.
If we’ve worked our guts out and really tried, I’ll live with it.
But if it’s another capitulation, I’ll be seriously worried.
I now think it’s beyond Dean Smith’s tactics and more about how much bottle the players have.
Hmm.
Is anyone seriously expecting us to get something out of this?
Perhaps I’m miles off.
I doubt it though.
Absolutely, we can. Whether we will is another question!
At least results went our way this weekend. We just need a good result in the league to spring us out of the slump we are in. I think one win could lead to 2 or 3.
I hope we play 4-3-3 again, with Hourihane playing in midfield (until McGinn is back) and Jack on the left side. I think this is our best bet for the last 10 games or so.
‘I think it boils down to which team turns up’
Nothing more to add
Leicester are third best team in premiership no doubts about that. the league position confirms this. current form is a little off but they still have a quality in their team and a good playing style and tactics for their ability.
villa did manage a draw there in cup semi, but i recalled that game being a back to the wall game for villa. most of that game after we scored and before we scored was defending without the ball and we are not as good without the ball.
so will lightening strike twice, i doubt it. if we can play on the front front and take the game to the foxes we have a good chance, if we can survive their counters which they are very strong at. we have to feed samatta he is the key for me.
i think the game will end the same way most the away games have gone. villa turn up with a passive game plan and foxes will grind us down eventually. probably down to a villa mistake after great last ditch defending for 1 hour 2 nil defeat
That’s it, I’m depressed now. They call it football,,and football’s a funny old game. We have every chance to get a resault if our players turn up and get stuck in. Look at Liverpool no one thought they would lose to Watford ,lets think positive and hope Villa knows this means the world to fans to stay up.
The results over the weekend have taken the pressure off us slightly. 2 games in hand means Leicester away is a free hit. What won’t be acceptable is a toothless spineless performance like against Southampton. Personally I don’t think our players are in the same league as Leicester’s except for Grealish, Samatta and Mings. It will be a backs to the wall game, with the usual 20+ attempts we regularly endure due to our inept midfield, which regularly fails to take pressure off our defence.
I can’t see anything better than a 2-0 defeat. They will want revenge for the cup defeat and we have too many average bottlers to prevent it from happening.
It’s all been said, but I’ll add, why not play 2 up front, Davis just behind Samatta, give their defense something to think about. Leicester are a much better team. However Samatta, Davis, Grealish combining up front is something they’d have to defend against. Defending against one forward’s a joke for defenders of their quality. Their defenders have so little to do, they venture upfront, especially Evans, in search of a bit of glory, or maybe they get bored.
Try to stick close to the cup final team, but add Davis or bring him on giving the lad time to contribute. By the way, what’s happened to Vassilev?
i hate being negative and for a long time i have been the opposite, but we are just falling short in too many areas, like holte66 says most of our team are worst than the opposition, we can not win by playing nice. watford are better than us in quality and they realised they can not beat teams in premiership playing nice. they have added steal to their game with pearson introduction. thats how they beat pool. they put the foot in hard and all legal but pool players lacked the fight that night. they feared the challenges from watford players,they have the title almost won and they didnt fancy the fight against watford at all.
i think villa need to change slightly like Bigc said play 2 up top. i also think the 3 at the back has too go. 4 4 2 play grealish up front with samatta,we need two up front who can keep the ball and work in tandem. two wingers to keep it simpl hit the penalty spot with the crosses. we also need to speed up the tempo to our attacks, our build up is way too slow and deliberate. it has not worked all season its not gonna work now. lets play these reminding games like a cup finals. playing slow like we do favours the skillful types. also favours the defenders who can all get into their defense shapes.
we can ill afford more sounthampton games were we are too passive and only react to the opposition when they are 2 or 3 nil up. take the game to the opposition from the first whistle to the last. we will run into teams now who have little to play for. if we are strong in tackles and in your face more, we can convince the opposition players to pull our of the 50 /50’s in fear of injuries. need to show the same heart and detriminationas the villa fans who travelled down to wembley and sung their hearts out,
i feel deep down we can still do this i always said 17th but with every loss and with less games remaining my prediction looks to be wrong
We’ll lose. Vardy back and hasn’t scored in ages… you all know the script. They’ll want revenge for the cup semi. Its all well and good pulling out performances in ultimately meaningless cup games but every time the pressure has been on in the league, we’ve failed. Nothing in our performances recently gives me hope we can get anything out of this. 3-1 Leicester
On the basis of my esteemed colleagues predictions could you please advise me whether I should bother to turn the TV on tomorrow evening?
🙂
The answer is: Yes.
Hitch, the answer is yes because we are all eternal optimists! Either that or gluttons for punishment! 😒
Hitch, I’m pretty sure you’ll watch anyway.
Gluttons for punishment or just simply Villa fans; call it what you like.
Oh, stop turning off part way throgh.
You never know mate.
Well guys, I’m going to take your advice and turn the TV on – large glass of something libatious in one hand, remote in the other.
Oh yeah and I will be sitting behind the settee ready to hide when the scary bits come on.
🙂 🙂
Perhaps. Sitting on the fence here, because we are a Jekyll n Hyde side. You never know if they’re going to turn up or not. They should do, as they played well in the Cup Final, but there’s no logic to the games they are fired up for and the games they can hardly be bothered with. Also to make matters worse, they are a team of two halves. Sometimes a good performance in the second half and visa versa.
I hope the team selection is like the cup final selection. I’d leave Elmo in the middle there to strengthen midfield. We have a very week midfield without McGinn. I’d like to see Davis next to or just behind Samatta.
I’m refusing to pay Now TV tonight. It was £5.99 but jumped up to over a tenner.
Anyone got a feed?
Bum Bum , download mobdro and you can get most of all the streams..
Is it virus free? Or have they nicked all those mucky pictures of you and the missus Bill? 🙂
I’ve had it for 3 years bum bum, its genuine site, f you got a good hub no problems , its virus free,
Thanks Bill.
Downloaded it Bill. Now what channel is it on??? Lol!!!
Click on sports, all the stations so scroll down you will pick up sky main and all others stations, if your stuck go to the yanks channels, or Bein they might have it also.
I feel like my hope isn’t yet completely drained. I think we played our best defence earlier in the season when it was Engels/Mings. Now that we have both back, and if we play a 4-4-2 or at least 4 at the back, I think that’s our best formation still. We’ve shown that we CAN handle Leicester this season – but as a Villa fan, I also know we have a knack of being the team that sees players find their form after barren spells and likely see Vardy score tonight.
For me, if we win or draw, I’ve still got a glimmer of hope for survival – if we lose, then for me, I think this shows we’ve got nothing left to contribute to this league and down.
First bad news of the day, Gordon Cowans been diagnosed with Alzimers, met him 3 years ago and a photo together. Good look Gordon a person I’ll always remember for his footballing prowess.
Bill, that’s sad news and puts everything into perspective.
What a player he was and Villa through and through.
i remember a good goal he scored against manure on bonfire night i think game ended 1 1 🙁 he has been one of my favourite players to watch so gifted
Sad news that Bill.
Sid would definitely make my best ever Villa 11. I feel privileged to have seen him at his best. Like many Villa players, he should have played many times for England but was overlooked. Hopefully he will have many good years ahead with treatment. A Villa legend who is head and shoulders above our current midfield players and that includes Jack.
Formation for tonight I would go 4-1-3-2 with Reina, Guilbert, Engels, Mings, Targett, Nakamba, Trezeguet, Grealish, Hourihane, Davis and Samatta. It might seem a bit adventurous but If we sit back we will lose anyway.
is everybody ready ?? almost kickoff. just seen the line up and i like very much.
hourihane and elm look to be the wide boys with the simple job of crossing the ball to samatta. both guys can more than fulfil that role without the need to beat the full backs. the crosses do not have to be pinpointed too as samatta attacks good and bad balls,