Guess what I’m going to say about this game?
Yes, it’s another tough one.
There really are no easy games in the Premier league now, are there?
I know it seems like being a bit entitled, but this is a team that I’d have put money on to lose to us in years gone by, but those days are long gone.
Now I think Patrick Viera has done and is doing a great job at the club and his team just remind me so much of him, in being physical and no nonsense, while having no small amount of skill at the same time.
I watched Palace at Liverpool on the telly last week and they were very good value for their point and on a better day, would have taken all three, which is no mean feat, as we all know.
Squad news then and the big one is Diego Carlos.
My son in law told me after the Everton game that there looked to be serious concern about the defender, but I really thought it was quite innocuous and told him we didn’t need to worry.
I was well wrong there and the latest is that his surgery has been successful, which is obviously great news. It still means he’ll be out for months and that’s a massive loss, given that he looked very refined and real top class.
Kortney Hause has returned to training, but I suspect it’s all academic as it seems Steven Gerrard doesn’t rate him and the rumours are that he’s off to Watford. You would imagine of course that he’ll only be allowed to leave if we get a replacement in first, but if it’s someone of a similar level, I don’t see the point, as Hause is a fairly competent backup defender in my opinion.
If it’s the case that he seriously wants out because he can’t get a game, well, it would be best if leaves, I suppose. Suffice to say I’d be okay if he stays.
And otherwise, we’re in a good state.
As for Palace, James Tomkins and James McArthur are injured.
Viera went with a back five against Liverpool, to try and counter their serious threat, but given that we don’t present the same sort of threat, he’ll probably go back to a back four, so he can get another attacking type player in the side.
Palace no doubt look at the Villa in a similar way that we look at them; as rivals for similar positions.
Does that mean that Viera will attack us and put two up front? I’d say definitely so, especially when anyone can see that we’re horrendous in defence and even worse when it comes to set pieces.
In fact, I think Aston Villa are the perfect club for Palace to do exactly what they normally do against us.
We might have a bit more quality than Palace, but there’s just no way I can see us living with their physicality.
Then add in strikers with guile, such as Zaha and Odsonne Edouard and I can only see things going one way.
I’m going to predict us going one-nil down to yet another early goal from a set piece, meaning we’ll have to chase the game, which will play right into the Eagles’ hands.
And we’ll go on to lose 2-0.
If that’s how it plays out, I won’t know what to think.
Well, I will, but I’ll hopefully be keeping quiet about it.
UTV!
Good job I’ve read around a bit, as Newsnow said this game was being played tomorrow???
Buendiabstarts over Coutinho! Nice one!
Badger. We will win this one. 2-1 if not by a higjer margin.
I hope you’re right!
Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne; McGinn, Kamara, J.Ramsey; Buendia, Watkins, Bailey.
SUBS: Olsen, Chambers, Augustinsson, Young, Douglas Luiz, Nakamba, Coutinho, Archer, Ings.
Not a lot wrong with that eleven to my mind.
Will it prove good enough?
Ref is Andy Madely – not the best for Villa!
Hoping for a draw as can’t see us winning this one. I just have so little confidence in the team at present.
Is there such a thing as a good/decent ref for the Villa?
Time for Buendia to show Gerrard that he should be starting. However, I have a bad feeling about the game so I will predict a 2-1 defeat.
Badger have faith, great stream I’m very hopeful it’s a win . If not ? I’ll get pissed.
Likewise Bill.
Astro Supersport 2, very good.
Yes, Watkins!
Now they have to come at us.
Game changer!
Unbelievable.
I have to question Martinez there.
1-1
Unbelievable, we are poor in defence 2-1
Cash sticks one in on Zaha.
Naughty, naughty Matt 🙂
Zaha might be a good player but I wouldn’t want him at Villa – moaning cheat imho.
And now we give away another shitty goal. Where is our defence.
We’re going to get spanked,
Wow, just wow.
This is what I was scared of.
If we don’t sort this defence quickly, heads need to roll.
Our defending is scandalously poor.
We’ve got away with one there – again after the Everton game – but I still think we’re going to get our butts kicked here.
Defence is awful.
It’s off, but it’s not the point.
Agreed Badger – who coaches the defence?
Gerrard said this would happen, we have to get street wise with Palace players, i see what he means, they are more wanting and physical. We will not win this..
We look in utter disarray. It can’t continue like this.
We are just poor Bill. No defence, no midfield and, therefore no attack.
Cash runs up the touchline, does all the hard work, and then can’t cross the ball with plenty of time which leaves the defence wide open to a counter attack.
As I write Watkins gives the ball away in midfield – another poor bit of play.
Completely embarrassing – what is Gerrard doing?
Villa are a shambles.
Cracking effort from Buendia then, deserved more.
Well I hope that was our bad half.
We’re lucky to still be in it.
Not impressed, to say the very least.
Palace pen…
What can he do? This game is physical and we don’t have hard players in our side, we are trained one way they are fast and physical, if we try to play the one two game we will get punished every week. BADGER you called it right , we are going to get a thumping
Surprised no one mentioned how shit Konsa has been. Gifted them a pass in front of the defence before letting Zaha get in behind him and made no challenge when Zaha got his shot away. I would have hauled him off straight away. Digne too is a shocking defender. He left Ayew with all the room in the world when they should have scored. Overall a defensive shambles with a weak midfield to protect it.
Can’t see anything but a Palace win.
Yep, Konsa has been awful.
And I said ages ago that Digne is nowhere near the defender Targett was, but it all depends what you want out of a LB.
I prefer one that can defend, myself, but hey ho.
You’re right in saying we’re a shambles.
Agree Holte – Digne is having a shocker in defence but we are making problems for ourselves by giving the ball away so often.
Is Digne actually asleep on his feet?
Wow, I can’t believe what I’m seeing.
We sacked Smith for this?
Will be a penalty for hand ball – Digne is crap
And no more than Palace deserve.
Why doesn’t Gerrard pull Digne off – he’s having a stinker.
Bailey has done nothing and then comes out with a curler.
Unlucky.