Any regular reader on here will know that I’m inherently and massively pessimistic when it comes to how the Villa are going to do. It’s a self defence mechanism bred over decades of watching us underperform compared to the likes of Pool and Utd, where if we do poorly, I’m not so much upset and disappointed and if we do better than expected it’s a bonus.
So imagine how I feel when I say I think we’re going to beat City. On their own turf. Thinking about it, I’m terrified, because the pessimist in me knows I’m setting myself up for a very big fall and monster disappointment.
It’s all Emery’s fault. He’s got us on good form when it matters and looking incredibly strong for this stage of the season. It’s all even scarier that I think we’re finishing stronger than any other team in the league. Liverpool don’t look all that; Arsenal are doing their usual bottle job; Forest are having at least a blip, although I suspect they’ll beat a poor Spurs later and Chelsea were somewhat lucky to beat Fulham, I felt.
All in all, it just seems to me that we’re in a very good position. We beat PSG on the night and destroyed the form side in the league who had scored a boatload of goals on Saturday. What better can we do as a run-up that must give the lads supreme confidence?
Add in we have the whole squad available, with some superb options to bring on and I just feel this is as good an opportunity as we’ll get.
I said the Newcastle game was a season maker/breaker, but the truth is, this one is too. That said, if we can beat these, I feel all our remaining games are ultimately winnable and Champions League is achievable.
There’s no team news to report yet, but I don’t see that we’ll have any issues and you would imagine everybody is itching to play.
I don’t care about City’s team news, but all I can say is that they’re not the side they were a season or two ago. It just shows you can’t let a team age too quickly and I think that has caught even Pep out.
Who would I play and how would I play it? Well, I don’t have a clue. And whatever I say anyway, Unai will just make me look like a mug as he does his usual something I didn’t expect.
So all that’s left is to predict the score.
And given that I think we’re going to win, it has to be 2-1.
Blimey, I feel even worse now I’ve written it.
UTV!
Comments
123 responses to “Man City – Villa; I’m scaring myself”
I think Rashford is the type of player to come off the bench and Watkins should be the one to start.
Torres for me isn’t performing and can’t defend to the level that Mings can. Martinez too doesn’t look comfortable when Torres starts.
I think Digne did okay until the last goal and it was always our right side which looked vulnerable.
Martinez should have saved their first, not a great shot.
I’m not going to criticise the players but do I think we needed to be more on the front foot.
The second half we hardly layed a glove on them, let them come on to us and as with Fulham against Chelsea, payed the price.
Footballs about Impetus.
Very disappointed that we lost. I truly believed we had the team to beat City.
Observations:
* Martinez needs to focus on his keeping. Too many errors creeping into his game. How many times is he failing to hold the ball after a save and spilling it for the opposition to take advantage. Villa need to buy a back up who is good enough to put pressure on Martinez. It raises standards.
* Right back: We need a quality addition. Playing centre backs at right back is not working. Cash should be sold for the proverbial, he is not top class. Disasi should be released. Not sure what Garcia has done wrong, he looks to have real potential.
* Rogers can be rested whether brought off early or come in as sub.
We will be in Europe next year, but alas I feel not the champions league. There were too many points dropped earlier in the season that have comeback to bite. But I believe the team Emery is building will be capable of a top 4 finish next season.
I’ve just been looking at the table of goals conceded after 80 minutes on the BBC website. We’re the worst after Saints. The rest are all bottom half teams. We have a good reason for most of this with a decimated defence for the first half of the season. What was it? 22 centre back pairings up to January. That level of inconsistency will always cause problems.
While the jury is still out on loan Disasi, we have Konsa, Mings, Cash, Maatsen, Digne and Pau – I struggle to think of defenders around who can consistently blow these guys away.
Therefore is it an energy or coaching issue? We have been much, much better at conceding the past few weeks but it’s stupid mistakes that kill us.
I can’t blame Emi for their first last night as that ball was whacked hard and spun off his gloves. Also, how do you expect your goalie to perform well when the defence is erratic? Answers on a very big postcard please.
Massively deflated after last night.
It’s not energy, as Unai uses subs very well. It’s mental – constant focus and concentration at that level are more challenging than running around for an elite athlete. And at that level, it only takes one slip of concentration to be punished. I’ve no idea what the solution is.
A little perspective. 5th is still very much doable. We have to beat Fulham and Spurs at home and Bournemouth and United away. All those teams are beatable and we know we can win 4 in a row and we’ve just done 5. 4x ‘Newcastle style’ performances and we should be looking at 12 points from 12 – I believe that will be enough for top 5.
Apart from City (who will finish 3rd), Newcastle and Chelsea have games where points will be dropped, while Forest look to have the easier run-in but will have to deal with the pressure and also the consequences of their semi-final. All is not lost.
Random points:
Where is Garcia?
Rashford is not a ‘keeper’.
Is Ramsey still flattering to deceive? End product?
Can Mings play 3 in a week, as we are a better team with him in the starting 11?
Is Asensio too enigmatic? Surely, a player of his caliber should be making the difference in games like last night’s? Isn’t that why he was brought in?
Should Malen get more game-time, given his recent goal-scoring form (compared to Ramsey)?
Does Rogers need a rest and why is he always preferred?
Is McGinn’s attacking threat (still – after many years), wasted?
I could go on. Over to you, Unai…
As for Disasi, he’s not a right-back but he’s getting some stick now. He got rinsed against PSG when he came on cold, and the same happened against Doku, who’s no great shakes, in my opinion. When he was MOTM against Brentford, did he not play CB? Unai has to take responsibility as Disasi clearly showed he can’t play RB against high-quality opponents. It’s cost us a point and allowed City to pull away. A point would have been fine; going for the win was unnecessary and somewhat immature.
No two ways about it and I agree with Holte we lost that game with subs, what on earth was Unai thinking by putting on Disasi in untried games, I’m gutted and I did try to say Rodgers is like Marmite in games a do and don’t do player to me .I’m also with Hitch we can forget getting anything with the attitude of some that put on their football boots we needed guts and we don’t have them players, only one McGinn… a heart to win player.
I can understand Unai taking Cash off with his yellow card but why not put Garcia on or move Konsa to RB?
This is something I don’t get with Emery – he saw against PSG that Disasi was a liability at RB so why do it again?
In answer to my own question, I can only think he’s trying to establish (in his own mind) whether or not to make his loan permanent – similarly with Rashford – given that he likes players that can adapt to more than one position; something he doesn’t feel he needs to do with Asensio.
Talkshite constantly trying to cause friction between Watkins and Rashford with the topic being we can only keep one happy. What they fail to understand is the fact we have been playing weekends and midweek since January so we need to have options. Rashford it has been reported wants Champions league next season so it’s looking likely he won’t be here next season. I think most fans want Watkins to stay for next season but he might want Champions League too.
As for the other loan signings, I don’t know if Emery or Monchi will be able to keep Asensio or Disasi either. They might already have other players highlighted on more affordable wages. I think there could be a few outgoings in the summer with Bailey being most likely.
Looking ahead to Saturday, it will be interesting to see how many big names Palace start against Arsenal. Glasner suggested maybe a few players being rested. Let’s hope it’s a physical game and a convincing win for Arsenal to continue Palace’s poor form and to lower their confidence levels.
Has anyone lucky enough to be at Wembley had their tickets yet emailed to them ?
All the regulars on here have made the major points. Disaster is a CB not a RB, if he had to come on surely Konsa should have moved to RB. The quantity of goals we ship with Torres playing as a CB proves to me at least that he is not good enough in that role – and I think I can see that in the way other defenders react when he his playing. I can see a role at VP for Torres as Tielemans relief. Emery is pig-headed about his favourites and tactics – though the long ball down the wings v Newcastle shows he can shift from his normal build up when it is to Villa’s advantage.
Martinez needs some competition and coaching – he is nowhere near the world’s #1 n0w. Some of his concessions in the past 2 months have been embarrassing.
So what is it about the ‘overtime’ goals we concede? Firstly we are known for it – so opponents will have instructions to throw everything at us. Second we do use the full allocation of subs, so when we are letting these goals in we have up to 5 off the bench. That preys on the minds of the re-arranged team, the defenders drop deeper and the forwards stop pressing the opponents on the ball. Fewer subs when the scores are level or we are 1 goal up might be better.
Palace were good against Arsenal’s wingers, but they are vulnerable to strong runners down the middle, I would start Malen in place of Ramsey.
Points well made OLL.
I totally agree with Malen starting on the right, Rogers as a 10 and Watkins as the main striker. Would you also start with Rashford wide left or give that role to McGinn holding Rashford and Asensio as 60 – 70 minute subs?
Mings has to start as does Konsa, Kamara and Tielemans – after that it’s perm any two from four (full backs).
Still not confident about Saturday though.
Another point that was made after the defeat on Tuesday was how many goals we have conceded with the first shot on target by the opposition. Too many goals conceded this season due to lack of concentration and not being switched on early in games.
A good point by OLL regarding Torres moving to CM. He certainly isn’t a quality CB IMO.
I’m like you Hitch in that I’m very pessimistic about Saturday. Glasner has Emery’s number. The style of play that Palace produce we can’t deal with. Emery needs to try something different because Eze and Mateta especially have had too many good times against us.
Their style of play is basically Newcastle. We proved to ourselves we can not only counter that style but destroy it. So get it done. F****** bury them by playing them at their own game. We have superior players so no excuses. Don’t bottle it. Bury them.
I would consider Mings man-marking Mateta and/or Maatsen on Eze. At least one.
Villa have announced plans to expand the stadium capacity to 50,000+ without sacrificing capacity during the work which is planned to be completed by 2027.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cn91e9yxd95o
That’s an ambitious plan but explains why they pulled the plug on the complete redevelopment of the North Stand.
The big upside is it represents a strong statement that Villa Park will remain our home for the foreseeable future which all Villa supporters will applaud.
Yes! Excellent news! 👍👍👍
Our owners and Chris Heck have pulled the genie out of the bottle on this one. The redevelopment will not result in the North Stand closing. It will remain open not reducing capacity on match days.
This is another step towards reducing the financial gap between us and other clubs. I wonder if there are further plans to further expand the ground. Looking at the way the new North stand roof dove tails into the Trinity and Ellis stand roofs, it looks like the corners could be filled in with additional seating. With the likes of manure looking for 100k capacity, us going beyond 50k will be important.
Even with a 50,000 capacity we will be a long way behind the likes of others. Man Utd with a 100,000 stadium will be 30,000 plus more than the nearest rivals such as Arsenal, Spurs, Liverpool, Citeh, West Ham, Newcastle, Everton, and now Leeds we hear will have larger stadium. I really hope Small Heath do not fulfil their owners promises of a 60,000 stadium and reduce us to the poor neighbours. I know it’s laughable but so was the thought of Citeh dominating United 15 years ago.
We need to get Witton and Aston stations sorted so we can increase the Doug Ellis stand as well.
My first game was at home to Sunderland in 1975 in front of 57,266 which we won 2-0 in the old second division.
Our stadium capacity as reduced because of seating and we need to get back to those capacities we used to have so we can reduce the waiting list for season tickets.
Our owners have made great strides already and we are lucky they believe Villa Park can be our home long term.
Oops, I never saw your reply Holte.
We’re totally on the same page.
50ish k is nowhere near enough.
We currently have the 10th biggest stadium in the Prem. Going to 50k will take us to 9th biggest.
And Leeds have received council backing to go to 56,500, so we’ll be back to 10th.
Given we’ve been a club that’s had the biggest “end”, the widest tunnel and amongst the largest ground for long periods of time in our history, I find that expansion almost embarrassing and hardly worth the effort.
We’re looking to add 8k and Leeds are adding to add nearly 20k.
Of course, there’s a debate to be had about whether we’d fill a bigger stadium, but if the queue for ST’s is to believe, we would easily.
The question is do we think 10th biggest is big enough for our club?
I don’t in the slightest, especially if you consider we won’t see any more expansion for 20-30 years, by which time we’ll probably have fallen further behind.
I get the point that we won’t have to shut the stand, but surely it will have to be done at some time?
I think it’s seriously unambitious and we should bite the bullet, knock the North stand down and go for 60k plus, as is befitting the Villa.
Badger
Could there be a step by step increase in capacity?
The precedent is set so that initial capacity is not lost, as extra seating is added.
The Doug Ellis stand holds 9,450. By expanding then north stand by approximately 8,000, the Doug Ellis stand could be rebuilt, whilst maintaining approximately 42,000.
A replacement of Doug Ellis stand (always wanted the name changed) could be rebuilt holding 20-25,000. A Villa Park of 67,000 would be amazing. Could we fill if it the ticketing price is right?
Now that’s a possible solution, Sid. Re-build the Witton Lane. I like it.
I understand that fans in stadiums aren’t as crucial to club revenue as the times before Sky and co, but we need to hurry up with the Villa Park expansion. Of course I’m pleased that they are increasing North Stand capacity without any reduction caused by demolition. It’s the modern way now isn’t it such as Liverpool did and Citeh are doing now.
Like you Badger, I think 50,000 is at least 10,000 less than we need NOW!
Surely they can do the same thing with the Witton Lane Stand (I refuse to acknowledge Doug’s self indulgence) A bit like the Trinity, they can construct over the road! And maybe they should call one of them the Sir Ron Saunders Stand and the other one the Unai Emery Stand (pending silverware)
Gate receipts have been having less of an effect on income for many years now. Unfortunately TV revenue is king. So apart from Manures 100,000 seater, will the extra few thousand make that much of a difference? Especially if they’re in the 2nd division!!!!
The few thousand to take us to 60k or the few thousand to take it to 50k?
Certainly the 50k is a waste of time, imo.
If that’s as good as we can do, we might as well flatten something and do it properly.
I don’t even understand why you’d want to bother with going to 50k. The cost will take ages to recoup and without a serious upgrade in infrastructure (hotel, pub, shopping mall etc) to take advantage of extra people, it’s totally pointless.
It’s not like it will give us bragging rights or anything.
Sorry. I’m just being my usual pragmatic self.
Someone needs to seriously convince me here, because I’m just not seeing the sense of it.
Well then we might as well dump Villa Park and move to a new stadium – that should provide the capacity which seems to be the most important aspect being discussed.
Of course I’m old and consider the history, heritage and iconic classic stadium which is Villa Park to be the most important consideration in a world of stupid sponsor named sterile stadia.
But – hey ho – we can move to a new stadium with sponsors like Matalan or perhaps Tesla with loads of dosh or Poundland even!
Oh, I forgot, extra capacity doesn’t really offer much financially in the modern world of streaming and, anyway, Heck charges too much for tickets.
I don’t want to move either Hitch.
But piddling about for a few k extra is pointless, imo,
What does it achieve?
If they want to seriously expand, the only solution to me is to move.
Arse did it and look at the result. It’s leagues better than Highbury, as much as I loved going there.
Spurs, stonkingly good stadium.
Everton equally so and watch their revenue rocket now.
We’re only putting off the inevitable imo Hitch.
If you consider the average ticket price might be 90 per seat, even if you only factor in the 38 prem games, that’s roughly 41m in gate receipts for that. It pays itself within 2 seasons practically. Then throw in the multiples that you’re talking about for 100k stadiums or thereabouts, and you can see that self-generated income is the direction we need to go, so that regardless of champions league revenue or not, we can sustain ourselves.
Tex, 90 a seat is miles off the average and it’s nearer half that.
And then we only have 19 games at home.
And the difference between 42k and 5ok = 8k is what needs to be counted.
It’s pennies in the scheme of things and the real money comes from what goes on in the area around the ground, not on tickets.
Moving on from the stadium discussion – Sky were saying yesterday that Villa had held ‘internet talks’ around signing De Bruyne (33) in the summer.
Accepting its gossip, I wondered whether anyone thinks he would be worth a (say) three year contract moving on a free – particularly if both Asensio and Rashford moves are off the table for financial (PSR) reasons.
He’s past his best and injury prone now, so I’d pass. I wonder how our finances are? Have we sold the tea lady to ourselves yet?
🙂
2 years max. Injury prone. Will need to be managed in terms of game time but quality is unmatched and it’s a big yes from me for the customary high quality freebie of the summer…
De Bruyne is a great player, but he has “Coutinho” written all over him. A player in decline.
I’d actually take Rashford over him and I don’t want him either.
At 300k a week (at a guess) I wouldn’t go anywhere near and the club just won’t do it anyway, imo.
It’s apparently 400k a week.
Not a chance on earth that will happen, imo.
For a 33 yo?
My ghast is truly flabbered.
He’ll get 100-150. He knows he’s past his best and can’t command 400.
My preference remains Asensio – but though I would just put it out there.
Been on the OS and read the transcript of Unai’s pre-match press conference.
Now I may be reading too much into this but Emery alluded to possible fitness problems within the squad. It’s also notable – by its absence – the lack of team news for tomorrow. Normally the OS will post an article on availability for the game.
If we have injuries then Emery will not want Palace to be aware of the before the game.
Can I hear the cry – O Ye of Little Faith – but I’m really pessimistic about the outcome of tomorrow’s game.
And just to add to my misery, the score between Villa – Palace over the last 4 games is Palace 13, Villa 4 with 3 wins (Palace) and 1draw. In the draw at Villa Park, Palace led twice.
So in those 4 games we haven’t led in any.
I should be looking forward to a semi-final but I’m not!
Hey! The odds for a reversal in fortunes is nogw with us!!!
We need to start hard and fast like against Newcastle. It’s the only way. Shut their fans up and rattle their players. The revs need to be on red from the start for this one. No walking football or they’ll blow us away.
Agreed BFR. Teams that press us and have exceptional quality like Eze and Mateta will blow us away if we fanny around deep in our half. Newcastle are similar in style to Palace so we know the best form of defence is attack. We have enough quality in midfield and up front to get at them. Our full backs have to be alert. Especially Cash who has the attention span of a goldfish. I think Maatsen should start too. I read somewhere that Digne has started previous games against Palace although I haven’t checked that stat.