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!
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