Fickle is an interesting word.
I realise that I tend to be quite negative about the Villa. My son in law and particularly my grandsons have convinced me of that.
But they haven’t seen what us older fans have seen.
Well, my SIL has seen plenty, to be fair, but my grandsons being 18 reminds me perfectly of when we won the league last. Brilliant times, where I didn’t see the pre-Docherty days. They have only seen the upside since Dean Smith’s days. I envy them.
Those are my initial thoughts then and onto squad news, where Unai continues to talk in riddles. Whereas Pau and Mings were a couple of weeks away the other day, they are now borderline. I give up and will just wait and see.
Mr glass Onana and Ross Barkley (!) are injured and definitely out and Guessand is still at the AFCON.
As for Palace, I’m confused. I did hear that they have 10 players out, but Glasner has said Jefferson Lerma is out because of concussion. I’ve never heard of him.
Nataniel Clyne is out to.
The good news for them, apparently, is that Chris Richards is back. But he won’t be starting.
We have a poor record against Palace and if it wasn’t for Utd, I’d call them our Nemesis.
I don’t quite understand how they beat us, because I don’t believe for one minute they’re a better side. But they just do.
But guess what?
Old negative me is fully confident. I totally expect a win.
There’s talk of Glasner going to Utd and he quickly clamped down on that talk. Fair play to him, he said he’s committed to Palace until his contract ends. But that chatter must seep into the whole club, who will be asking why he won’t sign a new contract. We all know it’s because he can get boatloads more money elsewhere, but I suppose it’s polite to just not mention that.
Whatever, the speculation can only suit us.
I don’t care where he goes, but one thing I do know.
Unai will not be leaving the Villa to take charge of that shambles that is Utd.
Villa to win. 2-1.
Does that make me fickle?
UTV!
We just can’t score against Palace. What happened to our long-distance maestros?
Not helped at Selhurst by another refereeing performance which seemed one sided. A shot late in the second half clearly deflects off the Palace #5 thigh and goes out for a corner, Madeley gives a goal-kick. He ignores Tielemans being held and grounded in the box at a corner. One handball in the box by Campbell might be ignored as accidental, but two looks suspicious.
I don’t understand the handball rule. Newcastle got a penalty when the player turned and the ball hit his hand on the edge of the penalty area which wasn’t goal bound. Villa had a shot on target which hit the Palace hand/arm and was deflected for a corner.
The one where the referee gave a goal kick after the deflection which was checked by VAR for handball before carrying on with the goal kick was laughable.
The Tielemans incident too would have been a penalty for any of the Sky 6 clubs. The disappointment was we don’t make a huge fuss about these incidents. Maybe that’s why Emery was fuming at full time.
It’s utter crap, Holte. It’s all about how the arm is. Natural or unnatural postion, which is yet again totally subjective.
Whereas previously a rule which lasted more than a hundred years was governed by common sense, it has been over-turned and the game has ruined things again.
If the ball hits you from 10 feet at 40mph, it shouldn’t matter where your arm is, unless it’s blatantly aimed at blocking, imo.
Why do they persistently interfere?
Holte – Damian Vidagany has complained via Twitter (I think) saying that referees should show Villa the same respect as other clubs – for which he’ll probably be in trouble!
We all know when Andy Madely is ref we get nothing – although he gave 8 fouls against Palace to 3 against Villa, it seemed that pundits agreed he was lenient with Palace’s ‘bully boy’ tactics.
Villa haven’t been awarded a single penalty this season – Spuds are the only other club without a penalty award!
I acknowledge that all fans think their club is ill served by officials but in Villa’s case I think it’s a fair complaint – the reason is the EPL don’t like ‘upstart’ clubs upsetting the normal order of things!
We’ll beat ‘em all though.
UTMV
Hitch, I didn’t realise that it’s only Villa and Spurs who haven’t been awarded a penalty. Not much chance of one on Saturday then 🤔
Depends who the referee is 🤔😆😆
Happy with the draw as other teams messed up we are still in dreamland after the ppo start to the season
Hope we put on a good show on Sunday we need to win a trophy
UTMV
Europa League – nailed on; Emery knows how to do it.
Reading Rise of The Villans – highly recommended to all Villa fans; brilliantly written by Balague it’s a fascinating insight into Emery’s methods, his thinking and how he’s built a group of people around him that both protect him and help him to achieve the results we’re seeing at Villa.
In many ways, it seems to me that his project at Villa is the culmination of everything he’s worked towards – ultimately to win the Champions League and once we’ve broken the financial shackles – which I believe we will – then we’ll be Champions of Europe again.
UTMV
Just a thought for Terry Yorath who has passed away and for his family, particularly his daughter Gabby Logan.
He was a warrior; a fair but strong opponent.
RIP.
Very sad. I remember, correctly I think, how his son died during a kick about in the back garden. Awful. Just awful.
Gabby is a BRILLIANT example of women in football. She knows everything. She takes no prisoners. There on merit and a chip off the old block.
Best wishes to them all.
Emery suggesting that Alysson might play a part tomorrow.
Emi’s out but Emery made a significant statement about him and his renewed commitment to Villa after the summer which is very positive (he also referenced mistakes made in the summer – Elliott is one, maybe the issues around Emi was another). With luck he’ll be fit for Everton, Bar Codes and Fenerbahce.
Hitchens, it looks like Spurs stiffs v Villa stiffs. I am sure Emery will make as many changes from his first XI as possible, because he does not care about the FA cup when Eufa and EPL matches are still important. Nevertheless, he will be happy if we do win to put the same squad out again in round 4.
If it comes to a penalty shoot out you can write us off, Bizot goes the wrong way every time.