I was going to write a post asking whether we should re-sign Alan Hutton, as I thought it would be an interesting question.
Things have overtaken me though and it’s now a done deal, as he’s taken the one year extension that was written into his contract.
Quelle surprise!
Where else is he going to get around £50k a week?
It’s yet another poor deal on the club’s part, even though I’d have kept him at lesser money.
I suspect we’ll still be seeing this sort of stuff in 3-5 years time, but I guess that’s what it takes to sign the players we want.
Anyway, I wanted to make the headline “a guaranteed 3 points”, but a) I don’t want to be seen as taking the proverbial out of a struggling side and b) we can’t guarantee anything.
But seriously, if there’s a team out there to be beaten, it surely has to be Rotherham.
Every way you look at it they’re poor I’m afraid and they’re quite simply going down.
I don’t like to say that, but that’s how it is.
So I’m quite confidently predicting 3 points then.
Oooh! That’s dangerous.
Squad wise, young Green’s hammy has put him out for around a month. I’m gutted about that, as my opinion says he’s a much better bet than Grealish.
Gardner’s out for a while too, which is another shame, as I reckon this is a game where he’d have been able to gain some confidence.
And Bacuna’s ban has been extended to six matches. Really?
Blimey, can someone tell me what Cantona got for actually assaulting a fan?
While I totally agree that you can’t touch the officials…. yada yada.
So the team will be pretty much what we all expect and Bruce isn’t going to change it up from the obvious eleven, is he?
Same back four, Hourihane in for Gardner and the only question is probably who goes on the left as the Green option. Which will probably be Bjarnason.
Same up top etc.
Hence I fully expect 3 points.
I was going to say that’ll see us on a nice roll.
But I’ve just had a glance at the fixtures and it’s Huddersfield away next, followed by what I suspect will be a very tasty game in Sheff Weds at home.
If we’re going to be showing any progress, these are the real testers, as our record against the better sides is rubbish.
Still, let’s stick to this game.
I’m going to stick my neck out and go for us getting 3 goals.
I believe we’re good enough and if we can turn it on, it’s not a daft prediction.
3-1 to the Lions!
3 wins in a row , better than 3 defeats. Enjoy the moment its was 2010 the last time we win 3 in a row. At this stage I am looking for a strong finish to the season and next season make a charge for promotion.
At least I’m sleeping better, not only that I feel better, when I go to Russia I’ll wear my club colours. I’m a Villa fan again.
18 -30 Bill??
😁
Good one BWS,
I did try but for some unknown reason told I’d missed the boat by a few decades or more, still at twenty five kept being thrown out of pubs told too young.
Bill I meant the temperature mate 😥
Yer I know you did.shit did you see that flying pig .?
Bill -Russia – why??
You over to pick some tips from them ultras?
To top up a pasty complexion?
Or a reccy for the world cup perhaps?
I want a word with that Putin, he’s getting to big for his boots, Theresa asked me sort him out. I’m on a cruise BWS have 3 nights in St Petersburg. Might get him to dope our players to play better.
Nice one Bill did my first one last year a bit of a learning curve.
150 euros for a wine tasting trip in a farm house in Tuscany (as me and the good lady thought) BUT it turned out to be Tuscania, about an hour from the port in a house in some Shite hole at the back of industrial estate trying to flog us everything from jam to cheese!
Well you live and learn mate.
Been there BWS, carpets factory tried very hard to sell me one, got out of it when I wanted one that flying.
The one that got me was Rome on a Segway, I thought f##k me that’ll take hours from Civitavecchia!
Was that the metro? Did that it took 40 minutes to Rome from Civitavecchia. If gone by tour would have cost 90 pound each did it for 12 euro’s.
No mate I was taking the piss, a segway is one of electric two wheeled jobbies the middle classes swan round while being at one with nature at centre parks.
Can’t argue with three on the bounce. It is too little too late for this season but that’s no reason not to enjoy it.
I’m about 10 hours ahead of the UK so have been tucked up in bed during the last three games. Nice to avoid the stress.
Huddersfield will be a different ball game but hopefully there’s enough confidence building to put in a performance.
Another good win today, what we should have been doing to teams all season. Just all seems a little too little, too late.
Big test for us is the next 2 games. Huddersfield and Wednesday with quite a few players missing. Somehow cant see us taking 6 points from those 2 games! These are the kind of games that show where you end up in the Championship.
Hourihane starting to look like the player he was at Barnsley now. Unlucky not to bang in a couple today. Real shame that Green is out for a month, he is gonna be some player for us.
Looking forward to seeing Bree play, but Hutton is playing like a man possessed! Taylor seems like a solid buy, as much as like Amavi, he is such a liability at the back!
Have to agree next two games we will struggles. I’m very impressed with Taylor as well.
Would that be a ply of Bruce to sit deep in defence on away games?, we got over run again , Hourihane seem to find space think he’ll turn out to be a ferm favourite at Villa, what’s going on with Grealish I’m now thinking he’ll never make it as a regular player for us.it’s a pitty we haven’t more points in the bag would have made a nail bite run up for promotion. Giddy get back on here mate I miss your input,
Tbf to Grealish Bill had seven stitches in his knee so clearly couldn’t keep playing under those circumstances. We are seemingly having our annual bad luck with injuries – can see Amavi playing in a left mid field role Tuesday night – might be a revelation
That’s Grealish’ knee not Bill’s 🙂
Grealish is finished before he’s even started. Sums up the typical snowflake liberal footballer of today expects everything to go his way and not prepared to graft for it
seems like ppl only post when we lose,3 gameswon on the bounce and not many celebrating strange.
next two games are free hits at two talented form teams, a yard stick to the progress we made and need to make further for the next season.
Huddersfield first will be a toughie, they are really pushing for a automatic position. they play like its a cup final every game, giving 110% which we will have to match, before we think about trying to win this . but its not beyond us if they can stop picking up more injuries. i think we could pull off a shock maybe.
then wednesday another team which are bang on form and another great test and yardstick. i think they are a better team than their position, i thought they would be pushing the top two more than they done.
last three games were must win, next two are great games to see if we are actually progressing in forming a team, ready for our own promotion push next season
early prediction. we will beat huddersfield 1 nil and draw against wednesday
Like your positive views Nath. Our injury list is starting to be of major concern and will create problems for SB. If Thor has medial ligament damage that’s him finished for the season.
Agree next two games will be a good yardstick as to how we are progressing as a team and the confidence levels. See Rhodes is banging them in for Wednesday even though there were plenty on here against us signing him!
we have been really unlucky with these injuries. you can see bruce trying to make as less changes as possible to the team. but these injuries are hindering him somewhat but this is part of the game. he has hinted a kid will be promoted for these next two games. thats how it should be. they won’t disappoint in fact this sometime unearths a new star 🙂
We have been suffering for years with players being injuries. Has to be something with way they are training at BMH.
The only positive to the injuries is SB is going to look at U23 players. This must be good,as if he can’t play them now he never can. We won’t be promoted or relegated. Look how Green has surpassed Grealish. Who is next on the list to make a place their own?
I’m looking forward to see who can make the step up.
You answered your own question Nath. When things are going wrong we have differing opinions, but now after 3 win our opinions tally with yours: the next two games against top 6 sides are the proper yard-stick. If we are to challenge for promotion next season we need to be beating teams in those slots. I am seeing a more confident GK, and a defence which realises its major failing (it is slow) and not trying to hold a high line. That is progress. The next task is to be able to hold the ball amongst our mid-field players in the next two games. If we can do that we will be better than we have been for years.
i look at these two upcoming games as free shots with nothing to lose but the games obviously. both upcoming oppositions have been in top form all season. where we have been in complete mess. so if i were backing on these games, i would always back with my head and we lose both,but if we turn them over, this would be two great performances and nothing more. in athletics you can’t give your competitor a head start and hope to over take them on the line. we are playing catch up in this aspects,
p/s i don’t think if we lose both games that this means no progress has been made. i think fans may feel this. but team spirits are not made in 3 games. we have decent players and squad. its too late this season, but we are bang on schedule for next season. we will be ready for that first game next season,we won’t be playing catch up anymore, other teams will be using us as yardsticks
I like your perspective Nath, we’ve got nowt to lose by going for it in both games whereas they are in a must win situation. Our lot full of confidence and on the back of three wins just might relax and express themselves.
Could be a couple of surprise results in the offing?
i think so both Wednesday and Huddersfield will not relish playing us. we know how bad we have played in our bubble. but these teams will know that villa are not a team you want to be playing at this stage of the season, wanting results to keep status quo. as you said a fully relaxed team having won three on the bounce will be able to express themselves. i think both will be hoping we don’t play to our players potential and play like they have for most of the season.
i watched the everton and spuds game, the commentary mentioned the gana has the most tackles in premiership and most of europe. goes to show how bad we was last season,
Behave both these teams will go in as favourites against us. They won’t fear us anymore than anyone else trust me.
No good us going for it now we should of done that months ago
As for people not posting after good results, well you can understand their lack of belief after six seasons in Lernerville.
We’ve been emotionally scarred mate.
lmao i knew he reminded me of somebody,,the Grinch
I just hope we actually have a go at these next two games. By that i mean commiting men forward throughout the 90 mins, like we have been doing recently, i want to see 3 or 4 busting a gut to get in the box when we have a chance to attack. If Bruce reverts to 1 upfront and sit back bullshit then he hasnt learnt anything. Next two games deffo tell us quite a bit i feel! UTV