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!
Bring it on. I’m fully up for this game.
Same. But nah not fickle no result would shock me.
I agree with you Badger – Emery won’t be going to United even if they approached him and Scholes is typical of the arrogance that club has when he says – ‘Emery would have to go (to United) if they come calling’ – sorry mate you’re wrong.
I want to be confident for the Palace game but they seem to have our number of late. Not going to be totally negative; calling it as a draw.
Hope you’re right and I’m wrong!
A win. They don’t seem the same side this season. Lost some great players, the complication of European games, now Glasner and Utd, and will Gueye (?) stay?
My Labrador is no help with the prediction so I’ll go for a 2-1 win too!
We cannot let them have free reign down our left hand side!
Apparently Mings and Pau are actually BOTH in contention for tomorrow night 😁.
Palace have soooooooo many players missing!!!!!
Didn’t think I was going to but when Villa finally gave me my away points for purchasing the Spurs game I qualified to purchase Palace so currently on the way down and looking forward to this one, but also found out the pub we’re going to isn’t a Wetherspoon, so that’s ten pound a pint 🤣
I think we will win this, 0-1.
Have a good one Alfie which is probably the limit at £10 a pint 😂
Hope you’re right on the score – a win anyway.
Just got in the pub! £6 a pint! And food is VERY well priced. £3 for large chips. That is cheaper than Spoons. I’m impressed, this pub is for the bookmark. Nice pints too.
They’ve lots of players out so should break our poor record against them would be bouncing with a win UTMV
Digne for Maatsen and Sancho for Buendia are the only changes from the Forest game – Torres on the bench but no Mings.
Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Lindelof, Digne, Tielemans, Kamara, McGinn, Sancho, Rogers, Watkins.
Even without Sarr et al, Palace still have Wharton, Hughes and Mateta – all previous tormentors.
Emery, himself, has admitted that Palace are his bogey side – that doesn’t mean he thinks we’ll lose!
Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Lindelof, Digne; Kamara, Tielemans; McGinn, Rogers, Sancho; Watkins.
Villa subs: Bizot, Maatsen, Pau, Bogarde, Garcia, Hemmings, Buendia, Malen, Jimoh-Aloba.
Not a bad set of subs. At least we have someone from all areas of the side.
Recent history against Palace means I am nervous about tonight. They tend to be more aggressive than us and overpower us. We need to win the midfield battle and show we can win the 50-50 tackles that will make or break our chances.
I cannot see what Sancho brings to us so far, we seeing a lot of the ball but loosing it in the middle of the park
Same here Bill. Not seeing it at all with him.
Rogers hasn’t been able to keep the ball at all.
Watch one of them score now I’ve said that.
We’re playing a very different game tonight. We are going for the win.
Bumbum I wish I had your confidence watching this boring game, up till now all them predictions are a laugh, Now Man city are winning we need a win,
I thought that was a good half for Villa. They did not allow Palace to dictate the pace of play. Our midfield is keeping it tight and we have had chances.
Let’s see if we can turn the second half into a winning half.
I think you and I are on the same page, Sid. Really liked it too. Another game of chess.
Emi off injured. Bizzy on!
I can see 60th minute gear changes coming on…
Unai really wants this game. No doubt.
What’s up with Martinez? Another no show.
Left calf.
Painful pro Palace commentary…Again.
Come on Villa, get a grip!
I can see us losing this.
Well you all predicted a win, we have played it all wrong so far, we needed to use the long ball and come off the wings. What do we do play the ball out of defence, back and side again. Get that effing ball upfield every time.
Ah – I did predict a draw Bill
Give you that Hitch 😂
Look at Emery telling Bogarde to get the ball forwards with 9 minutes on the clock. Poor poor game. For f#%k sake hit the post.
A rubbish game to watch. Palace having the best moments in the second half. Disappointing considering how many players they were missing. Sancho offers very little and Malen didn’t have his usual super sub cameo. Watkins was back to his ponderous self when he has a chance of scoring.
At least Chelsea and Citeh dropped points!
Utter load of rubbish, but at least we got a point.
It’s annoying because teams have gained ground on us and that game was there for the taking.
Too many players just way off it, but I wonder how much of that is down to our congested fixture list?
Watkins is a really poor finisher and Rogers was useless. When you have such important players off it, it’s always going to make it difficult.
Emery was apoplectic, but I’m not sure why. The ref got a gob full, I know that.
Oh, yes, I’d send Sancho back if we can.
Based on Sancho’s contribution, surely Allyson can’t do any worse. Everton at VP next in the league and a certain Jack Grealish was sent off so I assume out!
Badger – our immediate competition didn’t gain ground.
Chelsea lost, Manure and Citeh both drew and Spurs lost. Only Newcastle won and they aren’t an immediate challenge.
Liverpool away to Arse tomorrow so either could gain ground on us!
I can’t comment on our performance as, fortunately it seems, it wasn’t showing on the screen I could see during the pub quiz.
I called a draw and am happy we didn’t get another Palace pounding.
Correct Hitch. Only Newcastle have gained, who could challenge our position, but I don’t see it.
Their game was brilliant and I wish I’d watched it all. All time Prem classic, they’re saying.
Again, I really enjoyed this as I guess Sid might have. It was very close and ultimately could’ve gone either way.
We ain’t gonna win the league but all the other results that mattered went our way! Ollie missed chances and Chesty and Boobie were quiet too. But still…
I can sleep easy tonight.
UTV!!!!!!
I will be an outlier on this match. I thought we were fine. Badger just can’t agree about Rogers, he drove at Palace on a number of occasions and put some telling balls in that no one got in the end, especially 2nd half when Watkins didn’t get a cross the defender. We had our chances.
At last a point at Palace under Emery.
In the grand scheme, City and Utd drew. Chelsea lost. Only Newcastle caught 2 points on us and have rescued the gap to 11. I would suggest a good night for Villa.
Next up Arsenal v Liverpool. Can’t see Arsenal losing that one. Just 17 matches to go.
I’ve never considered us in the title race, it’s all about finishing top 4 and seeing how long we can keep touch with 2/3 place.
I do get that Sid. You know I’m one of Rogers’ biggest fans, because he often does good stuff even when he’s off it, but I thought he was really poor. Nothing stuck for him and he constantly gave it away, imo. We’ll just have to disagree on that one.
Chances? Yes, mostly to Ollie, who sometimes couldn’t finish his breakfast. I’m convinced if Malen got those chances, he’d have taken at least one.
Having had a better look at the table, you’re right. Not a bad night really.
Thank god it wasn’t as expensive a say as anticipated because that would’ve been painful to do that for a 0-0. Just on the coach back, in hindsight I can work with a point. Annoyed that Newcastle scored late on, can see them becoming an emerging threat. Sunderland will drop off now 100%.
City and Chelsea both drop points which is very helpful. Hopefully Liverpool can beat or draw with Arsenal I’d rather Arsenal not run away with the title.
I agree with Badger in saying that subs not producing their usual cameos and individuals lacking that final touch costed us the win. But then again is the win ever there if we can’t score.
Overall great away day in terms of everything. Got a FREE pizza because they got the size wrong so gave us a whole knew one ffs 🤣🤣🤣 UTV
To expect us to win every game is unrealistic and we were due a draw.
Compared to those teams in and around us our results have been more than decent.
Emery has finally overcome his Palace hoodoo by leaving with a point and not having conceded a goal which, of itself, is a positive.
Bizot was likely to play against Spuds on Saturday anyway which gives Emi longer to recover as after Saturday we have an eight day gap before the Everton game, then key away games against Fenerbahce and the Bar Codes.
I’m not over confident about the Spuds game, which is a free hit so I’d expect some rotation – FA Cup will be number three on Unai’s priority list.
Got to agree. Normally I’d be frustrated about not closing the gap, but not for one second did I think we had a shot at the title. Top 4 and CL again would be excellent but if we snatched 2nd place!!!!!
Morgan and Boobie were both very quiet last night. Ho hum. Nearly had a heart attack when we hit the post. Not really fussed about the FA Cup. Is that bad?
Wouldn’t be upset to see a proper B team put out. Get Emi and the boys rested for the Toffees game.
Disappointed with last night but I guess we have been spoilt by the run we have had.
Sancho was dreadful. Worse than Guessand. Imagine if we had Jarrod Bowen in that position.
Spurs I’m not bothered about but just as winning is a habit so is losing. Realistically, Europa League and aiming for top 4 is the best our squad could cope with so a FA cup run might be damaging
I wonder what Bowen would cost? Will he really want to stay at WH when they go down? He’d be a nailed on starter at Villa. Quality player.
And Thiago from Brentford – oops just woken up from a lovely dream! 😂
Fabrizio Romano
@FabrizioRomano
🚨🟣🔵 EXCLUSIVE: Aston Villa agree deal to sign 16 year old talent Brian Madjo from Metz, here we go!
€12m deal agreed for 2009 born gem with surprise move orchestrated by #AVFC behind the scenes.
Contract valid for 5 years. Medical booked.
He will be loaned out and never seen at VP. It’s the modern way to buy a promising young player to loan them out and hope their valuation rises.