So today, we meet the mighty Sunderland, a club I’ve up to now quite appreciated as very similar to the Villa. Maybe not so much recently, but in a proud history and large fanbase type way.
But realistically, they are probably a middling championship side that if we have real aspirations of doing well this season and one that we should be looking to beat soundly. Of course, there are no easy games in the Premier league, but what I mean is, if you had to pick 10 games you’d expect us to win this season, this would probably be on any Villa fan’s list.
Squad news and the good part is Boubacar Kamara will be in the squad, but it’s not guaranteed that he’ll start as Emery has made a particular point about how Bogard has impressed him. Perhaps Emery will give Booby time later on? Lindelhoff is apparently training and should be available.
The bad news is that we’re still without Amadou Onana who really is beginning to look like a “sicknote” player and Andrés García. Both are expected back probably next week, not that it will matter to the rightback, who it seems the manager will only use if he has no choice. Ross Barkley is still absent with what I think are “personal issues” ( a rumoured £60k a week basic, nice work if you can get it). The worst news is that Youri Tielemans is still out and he’s a big miss, with his vision and passing.
As for Sunderland, Enzo Le Fee should be available, as should Dan Ballard. Luke O’Nien is still not ready.
I said at the top that this ought to be a game we should win quite comfortably, so what do I expect then? Having done a bit of reading around, it seems that Sunderland hit well on the break. So that’s that then, we’re probably in trouble before we start.
The point that concerns me is they have scored five goals and are five points above us. While we don’t look like we could hit a cow’s proverbial with a banjo. I know it’s early days, but we can’t get Watkins into the game and when he does get a chance, well, “he looks rusty” is me being economical with the truth.
I predict we are going to be beaten today, purely because of how we’ve looked up to now. We play turgid, slow paced football that it seems everybody apart from Emery knows about. Play a low block, let us mess about with our sideways and backwards passing while they have all their players back and wait for us to give it to them. Then break quickly and we will have a big problem.
I think Emery’s biggest problem is now how long will the fan’s tolerate this?
If we were to get soundly beaten today, with no sign of having changed anything, would the fans turn on him? I’d suggest not in a serious way just yet, but it’s Fulham at home next week and they looked pretty okay last night. If we were lose today and next week, I’m guessing the fans will vent their frustration.
But I’m getting ahead of myself.
Today’s prediction? Villa to lose, 3-1.
Here’s hoping I’m well wrong and UTV!
The worry continues.
En route to the Stadium of Light as I’m writing this.
Hearing all this “low block” stuff but how long can this go on for? I hear it every week. Have we not gathered that every single side in the Premiership probably morphs into a low block setup at some point in the game? Plus I’ve seen teams say we go into a low block against them, so why aren’t we beating teams?
Furthermore, I simply cannot see Watkins getting past Dan Ballard today. Mark my words, every single ball played into that middle area will be picked up by Ballard before Watkins even has a sniff.
My first ever game was against Sunderland, 0-0 draw. Crazy to think I’m now visiting the Stadium of Light for the first time. Looking forward to it… for some bizarre reason! But more eyeing up Feyenoord away tickets that are out in the next week…
With that said, 1-1 draw I think.
UTV
The big difference you’re forgetting, is that instead of legging it flat out toward their goal, we’re much more likely to rush forward and then stop and play backwards. Cash is the worst for it, but whatever, it gives time for the opposition to regroup and we can’t penetrate a defence with a lot of players back. It’s a simple flaw in our game. We don’t play quick enough.
Other teams run at us, outpace our defenders and automatically have a chance, as was seen far too many times when so many teams scored against us with their first shot.
Anyway, have a safe trip.
Our players simply aren’t fast and strong enough. Even when we bring in bulky players like Guessand it never seems to have the same effect as opposition players.
2-1 win for me when the chips are down we usually pull out a result
We look better at the moment. A bit more width and not afraid (or are allowed) to try long balls.
I fancy a Desmond today although we need that win!!!
That is a red!!!! U can’t stick yr foot up like that!!!!
Yess red card a bit of luck
Should go on and win this now UTMV
We are shit tbf
We are playing much better in comparison to start of season.
True to form Mr Rodger 23 minutes into the game touched the ball 4 times , it’s a blessing that Sunderland are as bad as us , half time 10 men and no goals , Brilliant. Bring Elliot on for gods sake .
Digne, Buendia off for Maatsen and Sancho for me. Though you could sub most of the team
This is much better. Playing forward and using a little get ball. We are going in the right direction.
Great two down injured, I’m now at a stage where I’m turning on Emery over his blindness in seeing what needed in a game . This games a joke now .
Am I watching a different game? We’re a sniff away from a goal and a win. Ollie is getting no service and Chesty is still not firing but collectively we look ‘not half bad’!
I can only see Sunderland scoring. You must be on a different channel Bum Bum
😂😂😂😂😂😂😅🤮
Fucking Yesssss!!!!
Cash Back!!!!!
FFS.
10 men as well , brilliant.
Did we really think we would offer a sustained challenge to the top 6?
We are a mid table premier league team based on points gained in the premier league history.
We are a mid table club in terms of capacity at VP.
Emery doesn’t tend to have a sustained spell at any club based on his management history with 2008-2012 at Valencia is longest spell.
Is it possible that his intense management style with forensic video analysis drains the players after a period of time.
Today showed to me that we are in a relegation battle this season. Watkins and Rogers were shocking again and yet Emery leaves Watkins on all game and he leaves Rogers on till 10 minutes from the end. Sancho did more in 10 minutes than Rogers for 80.
Why not try Guessand instead of Watkins for the physical presence alone and try Malen on the right and Sancho with Maatsen down the left. They linked up well thanks probably to their time at Dortmund.
Today we was gifted an opportunity against 10 men and gifted a goal through another goalkeeper howler, and yet we couldn’t see the game out or do what a big team would do which is to win by 2 or 3!
I’ve had enough of Emery now. That’s my personal opinion and I understand if fans want to play the loyalty card and his European pedigree and his win ratio. Unfortunately, and in my opinion, I think his tactics have been found out and he doesn’t know how else to play to turn results around.
We can blame all the financial regulations but we can’t blame them for not winning today.
Unfukingbelevable we go one up then blow it they have ten men for fuck sake
Starting to think you’re right Holte. That was the one red flag I saw with Emery when he joined was his inability to stay long anywhere and the same pattern of results falling off a cliff. Fatigue could be a big factor.
We haven’t played anyone decent yet and we’ve been shite hope things don’t go pear shaped again it’s been so good supporting us for the last 5 years
On paper our first 5 fixtures looked relatively easy. Our next 4 games are all winnable but at the moment, I can see us being winless after we have played all of them. The commentator on Sky said we showed no intensity until the last 5 minutes which is the way I saw it. Sunderland showed more character and determination than we did and that’s totally unacceptable.
We lack intent. It’s all too ponderous and easy to defend. We aren’t Arsenal or Man City. We can’t advance to the final third and then unpick a packed defence. We need to go forward with speed and be prepared to take on players, and get behind opposition full/wing backs. We don’t do that so we will continue to be easy to play against.
We look as if we don’t want to lose games rather than playing as if we intend to win them. It’s boring as…..
Having said that, Watkins, Guessand, Malen and probably Elliot should all have scored. 🤷♂️
Wow – the over reaction is amazing!
We are now into our 3rd consecutive year of European competitions. And we were no where near that for 20 years before.
The PSR and SCR limitations are designed to screw us over and they bit this summer.
No manager is 100% perfect. Although Emery is the best we have has since Ron Saunders – who started 50 years ago. Yes he has amde mistakes but non are critical and without him we would not have made Europe
So there is the context. Today we saw a vastly improved performance. We tried to pass the ball forward, we did try to attack. Were we brilliant – no but much improved. Guessand looked half decent, Cash went forward and Watkins should have won it at the death.
Overall, we wont make Europe this year unless we win Europa League, but so be it. A team cannot be on a indefinite trajectory of improvement, there will be dips. Currently we are in a dip, but Emery is the manager to sort it. Calm heads and get over the current society demand for instant gratification.
I don’t think it’s an overreaction. Are we content with one league goal, relegation zone and no wins from 6 games. We can’t even say we have been unlucky and it’s only a matter of time before the chances are converted when we aren’t even creating many. We struggled to create against a 10 man promoted team and that’s a fact. We probably would have lost if they had kept 11 players on the pitch.
Is Emery better than Big Ron who finished second and won a league cup playing probably our most exciting football in my lifetime since Sir Ron? Is he better than Little and Gregory who also finished top 4 and won trophies? O’Neill got us top 6 and Europe playing exciting football with Young, Milner and Carew!
Emery’s win percentage is obviously the most impressive but that’s dropping this season quite dramatically. For most fans it’s about silverware and not just qualifying for Europe that matters.
My argument is that not many clubs have managers / coaches who last longer than 3 or 4 seasons. Guardiola, Klopp and before them, Ferguson were long term with bigger clubs and much bigger transfer kitty’s.
I think not losing today has bought some more time but he needs a win in one of the next two home games or there will be a lot of pressure on him.
The only player in the starting 11 who can shoot accurately from distance is Cash – he did. Two others on our roster are Tielemans and Onana, both injured. The rest of them lack either power or accuracy. This is a major failing because it is the best way of beating a low block. The other way we try – tippy-tappy short passes is being well countered this season by defenders throwing themselves behind the ball as the attacker shoots.
Villa dominated possession and earned a few free kicks and corners – but there were no fancy routines from horse-face at set pieces. Why are we still paying him?
Goal conceded the fault of Malen not staying on his man but following the ball – and a narrow misjudgment by Konsa that the scorer was off-side. It was close, I’d like to see the lines drawn.
We had to endure 60 minutes of NEP Buendia and either Rogers (hooked) or Watkins (left on) could have no complaints – such was their lack of goal-threat.
It looks like the players have decided we need a new manager
They have become fed up of emery on the touchline telling them where to go what to do they no longer know what to do themselves
At one point today kamara was looking to the touchline for what to do in the end gave ball away.
Emery has become obsessed with keeping possession he’s forgotten how to win games.
And his comments after the match is just bewildering
Remember he’s only been at one club more than 3years there’s a reason for this i think.
He gets players playing above themselves for a while but then they get fed up and just stop listening, then he moves on.
Apart from europa cup what has he actually won in his career.
I liked him but sorry he’s just a one trick 3year pony
I don’t like changing managers but unfortunately this is the way the games gone players don’t respond after about 2-3 years unless you keep changing the players, which villa don’t for some reason 🤔
We live in a world of polarised views at present and it seems no different at Villa. It’s either Emery Out or Emery In.
I’m with Sid. Quite frankly, apart from the odd flourish with Little, Big Ron and Brian Little over the past 40 years, we have been shit. At times embarrassing utter shit. In fact if you skip Ron Saunders, you have to back decades to have known any consistency at Villa and we’re all too young for that.
I enjoyed the game yesterday apart from that bastard equaliser. I also watched most of the Citeh/Arse game and you know what? Both games were identical.
For me, things aren’t going to plan for one reason or another and everyone has valid points, but to want Emery out seems complete madness. It’s like Arsenal fans this morning complaining about Arteta.
Am I happy about this? Nope. But if we’d have held on yesterday and win our next 2 games that are both at home we’d be top 8 at least. It’s only football 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣.
I still think we’ll go on a stonking run starting any time now. Maybe the eternal optimists are in the minority but give it time…