In line with my usual negativity, I’m seriously concerned that when I commented a few days back that we might be facing a bad 10 days, where we get kicked out of the Champions League, suffer a massive blow in trying to qualify for this season’s CL and get knocked out of the FA cup, it’s all coming to fruition.
We seriously need to change the momentum and the truth is I can’t think of a worse team to be facing at this moment.
I was originally pleased to draw Palace, as league placings says we’re better than them, but the reality is we have a shocking record against them,
Palace are on a high, while we’re not. That said, I still actually believe that we can beat Palace.
Emery seems to be quite relaxed about the game and in his comments he basically told reporters to enjoy things.
I can guarantee I won’t be enjoying anything tomorrow, unless we’re winning by at least 2 goals, but I did find his comments encouraging. And he’s right. It’s about the game, that’s supposed to be enjoyed.
So we’re going to go for it then, if I’m reading those comments correctly and that’s exactly what I believe we should do. And if we try and sit back, I’m going to have the hump.
Squad news and the only omission is Disasi, who is cup-tied after featuring for Chelsea earlier in the season. Not that he’s looked brilliant lately, but he would at least he’s fresh legs, particularly if we need to sub Cash, who I see having another torrid time.
Palace are also in pretty good shape, with only Cheick Doucouré and Chadi Riad both long term injuries.
I’m not going into our shocking record against them, suffice to say it’s been poor this season too and it concerns me because they seemingly have the measure of us. Eze and Mateta are both powerful players who can produce great football and super goals and I’m sure they’re going to give our defence a real problem, which concerns me even more. Never mind attackers, it’s the defence that needs sorting in the summer, because that’s overwhemingly where our problems lie most of the time, in my opinion. Only Brighton have conceded more than us in the top 10 teams and it’s not as though we’re particularly prolific goalscorers to make up for it either.
Playing at Wembley suits us in attacking sense, because it gives us space to run into and we all know we can be devastating at times, when we do attack but the trouble is it means we’re likely to leave plenty of space to run into as well. I think this game calls for Mings, who is our best player at chasing back with maybe Maatsen too, as he’s pretty nippy. The trouble is, I don’t think much of him as a defender, personally and his strength is more in going forward. I read a comment that said Digne tends to be preferred for this fixture and that’s okay, as I prefer his defending. The right back position is one I’m haven’t been happy with for years and I think I prefer not to think about it.
Prediction time and I see goals.
I’m going to go for 2-2, as 90 mins has a draw written all over it.
Unfortunately, I see my fear of this being a terrible 10 days coming to fruition, as I said. I think we’re going to lose in extra time, which will sum up the Villa totally.
Come on Unai, pull it out the bag for us and get that cup final we’re all longing for
UTV!
Brentford 2 up in added time against Forest. Thats one down and loads to go
On to some good news. Forest are losing 0-2 at home to Brentford. This is a significant result.
We must not bottle this opportunity!
Forest just lost at home to Brentford. Are they blowing up?
Still think that we are in with a chance for CL but one thing is for sure, it’s going to be a hell of a ride.
Agreed OLL.
More clickbait than the Daily Mail nowadays and that’s saying something.
I totally dislike a starting point of 6/10 for every player.
Brentford-Forest is a stonking result for us!
This could be ours to throw away.
If we win our 4 games, it will be enough. If not we’ll only have ourselves to blame.
Wolves are on an unbelievable hot streak and have caused the odd upset at the Shitihad if I recall correctly. Can they take a point at least? Another big’un tonight…
…if only we’d held on for a point there. Things would be looking so much better. 🤨
Bournemouth at Home, both games against Ipswich and losing late goals against Citeh and Forest – and there you have it!
The finger pointing has been at the defence but, actually, that’s not really the issue. Emery likes to play attacking football and if you compare the stats – last season scored 76 conceded 61; this season scored 54 conceded 49. On that basis, with four games left, I would suggest the defence has actually performed better and the problem has been in attack.
Ollie has missed too many chances and we’ve lost the goals from Bailey, Diaby and Luis (although Rogers has helped) – even Traore weighed in with a few critical strikes.
So I can’t see Villa shelling out shed loads on defenders in the summer but goal scorers (like Wissa) maybe.
eze, wissa and mbueno please santa
Cunha. No brainer.
And Brighton at home.
And why not Mateta? If Arsenal are stupid enough not to…
watching city v wolves and thinking about LUCK in football, i know the old adage that you make your own but really if you think about citys last few games, there jammy b*******s rashford hitting the post in first minute gibbs – white hitting the woodwork 3 times in the semi wolves tonight should be at least 2 up before city score hate them as much as united
I was just saying the same thing. Once Wolves failed to score from those two attacks, I just knew Citeh would go up the other end and score.
Like you TGV, I’m beginning to hate them more than any other team, including those pretenders in Small Heath!
Manchester Shitty. (it’s a speech impediment)
Morgan Rogers being linked to Liverpool amongst others. Would we be happy with a £100m bid? Personally I think I would take it because we could get two quality signings for that if Monchi has anything to do with it. I think it’s going to be a very busy summer.
I was thinking if we ended up in the Europa League next season, would we be the first team to have been in all three European leagues and in consecutive seasons.
A win today is vital if it’s champions league. We probably need 10 – 12 points.
I’d take that Holte ,he’s an hit and miss player to me . It’s time that we got tough and recruit players with a heart like McGinn who don’t stop working for the team. I watched Wolves and Man C and have to say Wolves have improved tremendously and have very skilful players now , they should and could have won that game if only , I’ve now resigned that our year is over .