Well, this should be easy, right?
Southampton are bottom of the league, after all, aren’t they?
Except we all know things are never that simple with the Villa.
The saints seem strangely inconsistent. Since Christmas they’ve beaten Palace and Everton away and Man city at home, but lost to Brighton and Forest at home and Fulham away.
So it’s hard to call how this game’s going to go.
Squad news and Emery has updated us that Ollie Watkins has trained well and will be available. Ludwig Augustinsson will also be available, as will Matt Cash, but reading between the lines, I suspect neither will feature. I don’t think the manager thinks much of Cash at all, but no doubt we’ll see. Jan Bednarek won’t be available because of his loan from Southampton and new signing Jhon Duran doesn’t have his visa yet, so is ineligible.
John McGinn isn’t quite ready yet, but should be okay for the Leicester game. I have a sneaky feeling that the Scot’s injury has been a little convenient, as it’s given the manager a chance to have a look at the side without actually having to drop him. He’s another who I suspect Emery might be willing to let go in the summer, if the right sort of offer comes in. I like McGinn, but he’s been poor for too long and it seems odd now that there was talk of him being worth £50 million not that long ago.
Danny Ings has gone and I think that’s a decent deal for the club, with talk of upto £15 million. When was the last time we got a decent fee for someone of his age? It makes a nice change and I actually think he’ll do quite well at West Ham, where I think Moyes will play more to suit him. If he doesn’t get the sack, of course.
Southampton then and they have no new issues.
Theo Walcott could be available after being out with a calf injury for six weeks and new signing Charly Alcaraz is looking for his first start.
The player to watch is James Ward-Prowse. He’s on form, having scored 4 in his last four prem games and is close to beating David Beckham’s record for direct free kicks.
While the Villa have loads of potential to let us down yet again, I feel we should have enough to beat them and I see goals. Emery has some astounding record for not drawing games and I think both teams are capable of scoring.
I’m going for a 2-1 win (he says, with fingers crossed).
UTV
B’ham Live reporting that Bednarek & Sansom have both gone, appararently Nakamba is the next one out of the door.
They also mention that as it stands we only have 15 fit players in the “1st team squad” – which is a bit worrying, but suggests that there will be probably 3 more coming-in within days…
Bednarek recalled by Saints. Don’t blame them as he isn’t half bad!
Neither is he particularly good!
That’s the other half…
Welcome to Villa Park
Aston Villa’s latest signing Jhon Duran hopes to continue the Colombian legacy set by former striker Juan Pablo Angel at Villa Park.
Angel scored 62 goals for Villa across seven seasons before leaving in 2007.
Upon arriving at Villa Park from Chicago Fire, the club played 19-year-old Duran a good luck message recorded by Angel, prompting him to appear emotional.
“Seeing a message from someone who brought so much happiness to our country and is an idol here and mine too, it’s a very touching thing,” said Duran.
The message from Angel was a touch of real class by the Villa.
Welcome to VP John Duran.
I have a really good feeling about this kid.
UTV
Just watched that video. Angel was a classy player and that was a classy message
Having another silly moment about players names, remembering Brown, Arce and Hole. Now all I can hear is Villa fans chanting DuDuRanRan. Apologies to all.
Ings suffers knee injury and will be out for a ‘few weeks’.
Ings career has been blighted by injury and I certainly didn’t wish him ill on his move but this may be another reason why Villa decided to cash in.
That’s a shame for him. Decent run of fitness for us. I was worried when we first signed him TBF.
I knew it.
Sorry for Mr Ings but nothing will convince me Unai got this one wrong.
JPA. What a legend. Must agree, this kid could be good. Gotta realise just how physical our game is.
I seem to remember a “JPA” used to post on this site, some years back…
It’s ‘ard being a Premier League manager. Not Gerrard and now not Lampard – just bloody hard. However good a player you were, if you do not have a gift for management you get found out.
The Delafou rumour is gaining some traction and I’d put a small bet on Dembele given the likely size of the fee.
Still, me and betting aren’t successful bedfellows 🙂
Large bid for Nico Williams rejected. Rejected or not, it shows the calibre of player that Emery is targeting; young with very high potential…. a strategy that has brought me much success in FM over the years 😉
Williams, Delafou –
Unai certainly appears to have a penchant for wingers.
The reports suggest that Williams himself was unwilling to come to Villa Park, despite being offered £120k/week.
One link I don’t get is Weston McKennie.
Totally agree. I said the same on another post. He reminds me of John McGinn – runs around, puts his foot in regularly, but achieves very little with it. Does he win and retain possession? Is he setting up goal scoring chances? Is he scoring? If not, then he’s an ineffective CM
Looks like Max Allegri agrres TV, appears pretty keen to get shot of (Not a good sign).
*agrees*
He seems to be a target for Leeds – they’re welcome to him.
See we’re being linked to Luiz Henriqe
We were linked to him earlier in the window – think they’re just regurgitating old rumours (including McKennie and Danjuma) and trying to put a new twist on them.
There is no way villa bid £45m for nico williams. You don’t offer that sort of money to get blown off by the player not wanting to come.
According to HITC (I know!) Betis want £54m for Henrique who (allegedly) has an £88m release clause in his contract.
Not going to happen.
Watching semi-final and Southampton having third consecutive goal (following 2 against Villa) chalked off by VAR!
When things aren’t going for you …….
I think the two against us were correct. Tonight’s was really unlucky though. It probably should have stood
Interesting article about Kamara.
https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12793800/why-aston-villas-boubacar-kamara-is-one-of-the-signings-of-the-season-and-unai-emery-can-now-build-around-him
He certainly looks the ‘real deal’; I enjoy watching him play.
Reading around, I’m beginning to think Villa may well go for loan deals in this window with a view to pursuing their main targets in the summer.
Aston Villa are set to miss out on Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie after Leeds United came to an agreement with the player ahead of a possible transfer.
Oh dear that’s a blow.
I’ll relax when it’s definitely confirmed that he’s signed for them.
I don’t think we’re remotely interested nor where we interested in Danjuma – well the Villa weren’t but it seems I was – shows how much I know 🙂
Must dembele for me would luv him at villa and we need to get our skates on
McKenzie chose Leeds over us? Absolute tosh. I doubt we were ever in for him.
According to Sky, Villa have ‘enquired’ about Henrique staring that Betis value him at £44m and Villa are considering a bid!?
Don’t you just love transfer windows 🙂
Particularly the Preece baiting – making sure Ashley is the last to know when the player signs the contract, but keeping him stuffed with red herrings.
” Welcome to Aston Villa. Now would you mind putting your hood up and this mask of Harry Maguire on. Just until you pass that man with the notebook and camera.”
Great article below evaluating the differing managerial styles of Emery and Gerrard.
https://thecritic.co.uk/issues/february-2023/how-to-manage-up-with-emery/
Thanks Sid – most enjoyable read nicely articulating what, probably, most of us ‘armchair managers’ had been thinking.
Cheers Sidney, a brilliant well written and accurate article.
No doubt painful for Mr G?
Latest winger to be linked with us is Elanga at ManU after Emery turned up at last nights game.