Apologies, this is going to be a very quick post as both Badger and me are away at present.
This is really about starting a new discussion ahead of tomorrow’s game.
Bill has stated his concerns and Holte has taken the diametrically opposite stance that we can win fielding eleven mannequins!
Stats wise – do I put too much store by stats – Villa have won the last two against Newcastle at Villa Park and are unbeaten in six (2W 4D) but those two wins are the only two wins in the last 16 games and the last time we had a run of seven games unbeaten against the barcodes was in the fifties!
Saint-Maximin, Almiron and Callum Wilson plus Willock – that’s a pretty useful line up which can destroy any defence on their day – so I’m not taking anything for granted.
Watkins is missing which is a problem as he stretches defences; Traore is also out with his hamstring and would have been useful as an impact sub. In other team news Luiz might start and the BBC is saying Sanson may be involved but there doesn’t seem to be anything coming out of VP on this.
Smith in the press conference said ‘I don’t know much about Watkins knee injury’. Why not? Surely he should know about it and understand it? Sound familiar?
It will be interesting to see who starts – Young instead of Targett and Bidace in place of El Ghazi – and who is on the bench from the U23’s.
It seems clear there’s a degree of disruption at VP so us losing tomorrow wouldn’t really surprise me.
I’m sitting on the fence again and calling this as a draw.
I’ve been reading around and Bruce did a Q and A session the other night and got some appreciation for his candidness and honesty. The fans still think he’s a donkey, mind.
Otherwise, it would appear that if Saint-Maximin bothers to turn up, he has the ability to be better than Sarr and will tear Targett a new one.
So do we drop him and put Young at LB from the start?
Young might be able to contain him better, but he lacks the pace of his younger days, so I’d say it depends on the fitness of Targett, who, let’s not forget, was excellent last season.
Maybe we should go 5 at the back and put Mings on proper covering duty?
Nah, that won’t happen. Even though Mings has the pace, I wouldn’t trust him.
And we’re talking tactics, which Smith doesn’t do, does he?
It’ll be interesting to see what happens in that area of the park.
As for the rest of the team, I’m minded to agree with Holte and we should be able to beat Newcastle comfortably.
But somehow I’ve got “banana skin” screaming at me.
The news about Watkins is annoying, when Smith was practically promising he’d play last week, let alone this one.
It’s typical that he doesn’t know and he ought to keep his trap shut if that’s the case. He did exactly the same last season, about Grealish.
As for Sanson, I very much doubt he’s the next big hope, but I won’t be bothered if he doesn’t start and indeed he shouldn’t, although I still strongly feel we’re missing linking mid.
I’d say get Chukuemeka in there, but how many attacking types do we want?
What’s the betting Ramsay starts? It wouldn’t surprise me 🙁
A 1-0 win either way, from a counter sounds favourite to me.
Which way though?
With us being at home and a full house, I have to think it’ll be a Villa win.
1-0 then (crosses fingers).
Sorry I just don’t have the confidence that some have on here, in all the years I’ve stood and worked for the club I’m seeing things that say this has happened before, we’re not getting the right vibes from the club to convince me we are on the up and up, God I hope I’m being stupid and I’m completely wrong but I feel it. Tomorrow will be my day of believing it will be alright with the right results, enjoy your holidays lads mine is in 7 weeks time on a cruise again ,the last time we was able I gave away 3 of my Villa shirts to bar staff, might be giving the lot on that one. Please win Villa.
Watkins being out will be a big miss. We don’t have anyone capable of applying the press in the way he does. That’s mainly down to his incredible stamina and work rate.
FWIW, I would go with Young instead of Targett based on the similarities of Sarr and Saint-Maximin. I would bring Luiz back with Nakamba and push McGinn into the No 10 role. I would then have a front 3 of Bailey, Ings and Buendia. We have options off the bench in Sanson, Ramsey, Chukwuemeka, El Ghazi or Bidace. Even Wesley could be an option 🤔
We should have enough to win unless Bruce goes against his normal style with an attacking approach. His away philosophy is to sit deep and score on the break. Watford played an impressive press against us which worked well during the first half. If the Barcodes sit deep then we have enough quality to break them down. Surely? Well it is the Villa so expect the unexpected!
I think the bottom line is simple, we’re not match fit.
That’s my concern. It’s difficult to maintain any sort of press when you’re not up to speed.
It’s quite straight forward- we must win this one. It does not matter which 11 play, Smith us to find a way of making them win.
I cannot see NSWE allowing the type of drift we had when Grealish was injured last year, just because Watkins is injured.
With regards to fitness, the buck stops with Smith. It is his responsibility to ensure all the team are match fit. If it was down to matches called off, then Villa should have arranged way more than required in the beginning. With the number of players they now have including the U23’s they could have had 3 fixtures to whereas normally there would have been 2. This builds in capacity for matches called off. COVID is a known disrupter.
Totally agree with the comments about Watkins injury. We had this rubbish last year with Grealish. Back next week, and that week comes and goes and no return. Are Villa’s medical team competent?
Now that’s off my chest. It has to be a Villa win otherwise Smith will be under pressure.
I agree that today’s game is a must win game. If we don’t win then I can see Brentford getting something against us the following week. With Chelsea, Everton, Man Ure and Spurs up after that, we could easily find ourselves in the bottom three because confidence will begin to drain from the players and we know how difficult the Villa fans can be at VP when results don’t come.
So if the worst happens and we are winless after 7 games it almost certainly will cost Smith his job. And there can’t be any complaints with all the money spent. Fitness is not an excuse. Cancelled pre season games were always a possibility with Covid. Smith should have made allowances for this. There might be postponed games this season if cases continue to rise. Fans questioned whether we were a one man team when Grealish was injured last season. Smith has to prove that he can achieve success without JG and also JT and ROK. Those departures shouldn’t have been a surprise and I’m sure they knew the situation with ROK.
A lot of fans think we should sign an ‘enforcer’ as a DM. So far there hasn’t been any signs of that happening although there is still time. Maybe our current crop of midfielders might be the answer but as yet the jury is still out.
No pressure then, Holte!
Hitch, if the ‘disruption’ is injuries, surely that’s normal and all teams have to deal with it. And it’s one of the big reasons you build strength in depth.
I’m sure Smith knows everything about Watkins’ knee – he just doesn’t want to talk about it to the press, which is his prerogative.
I don’t see Bert as an ‘impact sub’; he’s an excellent player and should start when fit. No, he’s not world class, but the club aren’t in the bracket of having world class players to select from – he’s a rung below, in my opinion.
I’d like to see Chuk get in ahead of Bidace…but with Bailey and Buendia available, surely, that covers the wide areas? McGinn can play more advanced if Douglas comes in, which should improve the balance of the team.
We need Smith to pick the right team and use the right tactics. If he does, we should win.
Finally, I expect and hope for a super positive atmosphere at Villa Park, after so long without a full house…
UTV
BFR – I agree with you.
My reference to disruption was wider than injuries but, if course, they do playa part.
The reason I referred to Traore as an impact sub was purely in acknowledgement of his current general lack of fitness (not the hamstring) arising from his close season operation.
No Watkins and no bailey???? Wtf is going on????
Thought I’d cheer us up lads. The under 18s won against Norwich un 18s . Err 10 – 0 a repeat please senior side.
My thoughts exactly Tom.
I’m really worried by the side we’ve put out – I can see us losing this one.
Improved depth in the squad? The reality for me is none.
NSWE will have to get the check book out again.
I’m not convinced by the line up. WTF has happened to Bailey?
Watkins, we knew about.
Bailey felt his hammy or achilles (I can’t remember now lol) yesterday, so he’s not being risked.
Didn’t see your comment Badger before I put mine on based on comments in Birmingham Live.
Another injury?
Smith said on tv just that he felt it, that’s all Hitch.
El gahzi again! This could be a totally bloody disaster. Watkins not even made the bench and now Bailey. I’m absolutely fed up already!
It seems Bailey isn’t fit to start – I think this is with reference to his general fitness rather than an injury.
Surely though we could have him on the bench? He made an impact coming on against Watford.
Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, A.Young; Douglas Luiz, McGinn, J.Ramsey; Buendia, Ings, El Ghazi.
Subs: Steer, Tuanzebe, Hause, Targett, Hourihane, Nakamba, Chukwuemeka, Philogene-Bidace, Wesley.
That midfield still looks weak, doesn’t it?
Hopefully we’ll be ok.
Is Ramsey related to Smith, i dont think he has made any impact yet still keeps getting game time
Ings 1-0 Get in
Just before half time.
Scrappy game but a moment of genius by Ings is the difference. I’m not convinced El Ghazi will ever be good enough at this level. He needs to get his head up and look for a pass rather than shoot every time.
Grealish scores for City but he knew nothing about it ,
Off the mark in the Emile Heskey Memorial Stakes then, for the EPL player who scores most goals in the “hit him and went in” category.