After the Liverpool game I’m finding it difficult to have much confidence in the lads.
It’s totally unfair of me really, because we have had very decent results against Utd and Brighton, but it’s just really easy to see how poor a side we are when compared to the top sides.
I watched all the games yesterday and there’s a gulf in quality between those at the top of the table and the rest.
Arsenal’s third goal in particular stuck in my mind. It wasn’t anything special, but it was noticeable to me that they had something we never seem to have, which is players racing into the box for a rebound.
It led me to asking myself why we never seem to do that and I think the answer is that we can’t go gung ho, because we have to be so careful at the back.
That and we don’t have the same pace or energy either.
Or quite frankly, the quality, which is the same conclusion I came to the other night.
So going back to the first line, I’m not expecting much from today’s game, purely because of that seeming lack of energy and desire. I’m actually wondering if the new manager bounce is over already.
Squad news then and the big one is that Emi Martinez is available and will surely be back between the sticks.
Diego Carlos and Jacob Ramsey, who I thought might be ready by now, are both out.
Tottenham have Cristian Romero available, but Rodrigo Bentancur has a calf problem, so is out, while forwards Richarlison and Lucas Moura are both longer term injuries which is just as well with our defence, although they do still of course have Kane and Son.
I’m pretty downbest then, but am going to put my positive head on and say we can get a point. It’s more blind hope really, but I’m going for 1-1, mainly because Spurs don’t strike me as anything special.
Emery has indicated that there will be movement in and out of the squad in this window and while I don’t expect much in the way of players coming in, our current squad seems stale and could really do with a shot in the arm. A striker with some athleticism and decent finishing would do as a starter, but a quality central defender wouldn’t be bad either, although I’ve read that a new left back is being targeted. That’d be a good move, because he’s just another who I don’t particularly rate, because he’s just so average.
Players should bear in mind that they’re playing for their Villa futures, because I’ve no doubt Emery would like to have a good clearout, as much as he says key players won’t be leaving.
1-1 it is then.
It’s a case of fingers crossed, I think.
I’ve just seen that Olsen is in goal.
I’m dumbfounded!
I have as much confidence in Olsen as Enkleman. He looks like he is about to face Tyson Fury in the boxing ring and his kicking is atrocious. Our CB’s aren’t exactly great even when Martinez is in goal but with Olsen they look like they should be playing for a pub team. No Martinez or Cash is crazy IMO.
I can only assume that Emery doesn’t see us getting anything from this game and is looking more towards the Leeds game.
Which suggests he has about as much faith as I do in this lot.
Watkins as deadly as usual (sigh).
Commentator mentioned the silence in the ground.
Just goes to show, these massive pretty stadiums don’t necessarily make for partisan crowds.
Too expensive and more like tourist attractions, imo.
Back, side, side back.
I’m getting bored already!
And back from the halfway line. Jesus 🙁
They can pass it back all day mate as long as we get a result 😁
And Arsenal, let’s see where they are after the next 4 – 5 games?
(fecking hate those goooners with a passion).
Well, the flat back six is interesting.
All we need to do now is get the ball into the opposition’s half occasionally.
I don’t see it staying 0-0, but I suppose it’s worked up to now.
This game gives me the feeling that we are just waiting for Spurs to come to life and when they do in the 2nd half we will just roll over and accept defeat. There hasn’t really been any indication we want to win or take the game to spurs which is a shame because they’re not great particularly at the back we could get at them we just setup to try not to concede.
Totally agree Adam. There’s being careful and there’s just lacking ambition, I think.
Not how I see it mate, more contain and sneak a goal.
Being more cavalier in our approach could be costly.
Sneak a goal?
I didn’t see much chance of that in that half, but I hope you’re right.
I just think they’re more likely to get one or even two than we are to sneak one.
We’re playing a risky game, imo.
Plus point is Olsen looked okay.
Mate you don’t concede and you can’t lose. I can live with that mentality.
I hate to say I told you so but…
😂😂
Has Southgate been involved with our training. What a yawn fest. The space between Watkins and Bailey and the rest of the team is ridiculous. When we defend we have a back six consisting of two RB’s, two LB’s with Luiz and Kamara playing the old fashioned sweeper role. If we are hoping for a 0-0 then fair enough but it’s uninspiring. I think we miss Cash’s energy and also Ramsey who offers the ability to make forward runs.
Thought we played OK. Olsen doesn’t inspire confidence but his distribution has been pretty good. Happy of Emery is looking for 0-0 although he’s never had one on the prem and is currently on a run of 55 games since his last 0-0; one more for the record. Still we can expect to see goals during his stay!
Another thing is they have a few defenders on yellow cards. We should be getting at them when they are nervous of a mistimed tackle.
Ha, 1-0 Buendia.
And he’s been crap up to now.
Funny old game lol
Get in
Bloody hell 2-0 Luiz!
What a finish
Great goal too.
That’s how to do it Ollie!
The goal will never get the credit it deserves. Utter brilliance.
Well, I absolutely didn’t see that coming 🙂
Great result.
Bissouma, we dodged a bullet there.
Kamara is much the better player.
I’m putting that crystal ball away my Soothsayer days are over.
In Unai we trust.
Don’t doubt Emery. We looked really good side and had a clear plan. Even Olsen looked OK. Great start to 2023. Now it’s about how we kick on with the games ahead of us.
And a word for Luiz – absolutely brilliant and McGinn only did one thing on the game but what a pass for us goal.
Well chuffed and so happy.
UTMV
I’m going to predict a 4-0 defeat more often. I never saw that coming and a clean sheet for Olsen. Got to say that Kamara is class. It won’t be too long before the big clubs are sniffing around.
Absolutely Holte. How the hell did we get him on a free?
Watkins, well apart from his finishing, was excellent.
Hqve to agree – he contributes a lot, although he’ll never score 20 in a season!
His hold play mate, what more could you ask for?
As you say he’s no natural finisher, never going to be prolific but he offers so much in other ways.
We as fans need to get with the program, how many times have you heard the away team need to silence the home crowd?
That’s what happened today, you could hear a pin drop, we had a plan to contain them and it worked.
There was a fair bit of criticism on here regarding that first half performance but imo the game plan was bang on.
In Unai we trust.
I thought there was something wrong with the sound on my TV. Turned up the volume until the commentary was almost deafening, but still no crowd noise…
We score, and suddenly all I can here is the Villa fans.
I need to row back on my over reaction to the Liverpool loss.
We have an elite manager in Emery! We’ve beaten in the league Man Utd at home, Brighton away and Sours away, with only the Liverpool loss at home. The man is a winner. Great goal by Luiz!
I believe it is time we all leave behind are negative thoughts based on so many years of disappointment. This should be the start of something special.
UTV
I still think they (Liverpool) got the rub of the green.
We deserved something from that game, the score really flattered them.
Absolutely agreed.
Lads as from today I’m going to slate Us of because whatever I say the opposite happens, we won lads and our defence was first rate , Mcginn in his loved position centre mid and our full backs with the centre backs they was a credit to the club . Luis, Konza, kamara, Buedia, all should be made m.o.t.m. fully entertaining game . Well done the lads.
What an excellent, well-deserved result. Keep this up and I don’t see how we can differ to Newcastle last season, especially with the January window now open. Bare in mind that we’ve won 3/4 fixtures, and all of the teams I do believe were in the top 6 at the time we’ve played them. What an excellent start under Emery, finally a genuine reason to believe and more importantly not fear you’re getting carried away in the process! UTV!