So we’ll be up and running again by this time tomorrow and about time too.
It’s rubbish when we aren’t doing the serious stuff, isn’t it?
That said, it’s my firm belief that strange things can happen in the first game of the season, where teams can look totally disjointed and the performances are often lethargic, as the fitness isn’t quite there yet.
Then again, the first fixtures are normally played in very warm weather, but having seen the forecasts, that won’t be an excuse.
In short, I’m not going to set much store by what happens tomorrow, as the first game is more an extension of the pre-season friendlies, in my opinion.
So what do we know squad-wise?
I’m not going to talk about us much, as it’s been done to death, save to say Grealish, De laet, Jedinak, Adomah and Kodjia are definitely out.
I think we’re pretty ok otherwise, but blimey, that’s arguably half of our top eleven.
Yep, we’re certainly one lucky club of late, aren’t we?
Hull, well, I don’t really care, to be honest, but midfielder David Meyler is doubtful and Moses Odubajo, Will Keane, Ryan Mason and David Marshall are all injured.
I really don’t know if any of them are a major loss.
So what to think?
It’s a tricky one to call, this, but we’re at home and Hull have lost a few players, which ought to give us the edge.
But then, I’ve been consistent in saying that I’m not seeing where the goals will come from, so don’t see many goals overall.
So while I don’t have a clue how Hull will line up, things very much depend on how Steve Bruce sees things and if he has the bottle to go for it against a declining club.
I’m going to take a stab and say we’ll go 4-4-2, with this line-up;
Johnstone, Hutton, Chester, Terry, Taylor, Whelan, Green, Almohamady, Hourihane, Hogan, Agbonlahor.
That’s not how I’d go, as Gabby would be an impact player at best.
But it’s what I suspect Bruce might do.
There’s always the possibility that Bruce might throw our new loanee, Josh Onoma straight in, but I’ll be very surprised if he does.
Which leads me nicely onto my thoughts about him.
Let’s get one thing straight.
He’s seen by some of the press as a rushed signing to cover for Jack Grealish.
Er, except he really isn’t, because he’s more a box-to box type midfielder, where Jack can’t track back to save his life.
I know I’ve said I don’t like loans, but this is certainly the sort of player we need.
But this kid has never started a game for Spurs, simple as and that concerns me.
Can he even manage 90 minutes? Perhaps I’m just too cynical.
What’s interesting about this one is that while Daniel Levy has let him go on loan, he also tied the player up to a new contract, hence guaranteeing a transfer fee, should he leave the club.
And Spurs have not kept a player that they’ve loaned out, under the Pochettino/Levi partnership.
Hence I think we’re looking to actually buy him.
I hope he does well for us and welcome him.
But what does it say about our own kids who are supposed to be coming through?
Hmm, it says a lot, in my opinion.
In other news, we’ve teamed up with Science in sports PLC to provide the grub and Isotonic drinks and all that rubbish, to the players.
I’m sure this is old news, but whatever.
How I long for the old days, where the instructions were “I don’t give a toss what you do, just get the ball up there and put it in their net.”
We have all this science/stat stuff, but the game has got worse, imo.
Balls on the block then and it has 0-0 written all over it.
But I’m going for a 1-0 win to us, in what will be a rubbish game, purely because we’re at home.
I hope.
UTV!
Damn, I forgot to mention the talk about Kodjia might have to be sold.
What a load of bollox.
Typical click-bait, that some seem to have been suckered into.
If we sell Kodjia, I’ll be calling for Bruce’s and Xia’s heads, straight off.
It just isn’t going to happen..
We might not have a choice Badger we might have too. Btw tomor has got bore draw all over it. There will be hardly any chances for either side so a low scoring draw. 0.0 or 1.1
No, you’re 100% wrong and we will not sell Kodjia, regardless of any price.
Imo.
Please don’t give this bullshit the time of day, as that kind of talk might be seriously damaging.
Nah Oohah, Xia already said we won’t. Fortunately. It’ll be Amavi we get rid of.
Which in itself sucks, because he’ll be a huge wasted talent. But that’s what happens when you spend a crap ton of money on crap Championship at best standard players and fail to go anywhere with them.
Hope so
sunderland and derby was trying to play football tonight lmao we will show them hows its done tomorrow. 1 1 i think it finished i nodded off for 89 minutes
He who dares, wins Nath, imo.
I just don’t see Bruce daring much.
Hard to recall when I last looked-forward to the start of a new season; these days I tend to wish that the ‘summer’ would last a month or two longer…
Anyway, like those above, I can’t see where we’re going to get goals from, so I’ll hope for a 1-0 win and be relieved if we don’t lose.
I envisage a cagey game for 80 mins then a goal from terry from a set piece and then backs to the wall for the last ten mins for a 1-0 win!
That sounds ideal, Adam.
I’d have that.
Think we have bought well this summer, fancy us to come top this time around. We have the squad, and even with injuries, we can put out a very good starting XI.
I really hope Hourihane starts tomorrow…and Gabby isnt put in ahead of Hogan.
Onomah is a good signing, especially with injury to Grealish.
i have a great idea. it might be boring to all agree.but positive mental attitude does wonders. lets all picture a brazilian like performance scoring goals and entertaining. push away the negative energy vibes i get every time i post here lol
i can feel the good energy running through this villa team. i have my lucky pants. my lucky rabbits foots i see a 3 nil win. seriously the summer recruitment has been refreshingly good for years we have signed shit players potential bulshit or journeymen looking for final paydays. but i can honestly say hand on heart. we have recruited hungry players and i include terry. whelen is my pick of them. he will play the championship in his sleep. when jedinak returns from injury we will be solid in defense and midfield, this releases the attacking players to express,
3 nil to villa goalkeeper scores a hat trick
One report this morning has three clubs submitting €10m bids for Amavi one of which (Marseille) wants a season loan plus automatic buy at the end of that period. Fiorentina also reported as offering Amavi a five year contract.
Pretty sure he will go before end of window which is a pity but needs must.
Fiorentina to sneak another player off us from a French side, those pesky Italians. Be another great signing for them though. I do wonder if we actually have to sell him,or we’re struggling too offload Gardner and such while no one will buy McCormack outright, so we have to sell him.
Andrew, I think there is truth in what you say and Bruce has alluded to as much. Loan fees and getting players wages off the books help with FFP but I suspect they are either trying to free up some cash to bid for players or we are deeper in the FFP s**t than is bring admitted. If we breach the rules this season we could get docked points as well as fines / transfer bans!
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-transfer-rumour-three-13435448
Amavi report
4-0 VILLA UTV
Ha ha I admire your optimism. We won’t score 4 goals all season
Really? Hmmm
kickoff is close 🙂 i thought there would be more action, more enthusiasm lol its start of a new season. scum are losing again
I see bacuna & gabbys starting, roll on when kodjias back UTV
Can’t believe gabby playing. We’ve no chance. Got draw written all over it
Bruce likes Bacuna, he should be starting anyways. Fact Gabby’s in the team shows how clueless ol’ Bruce is though. Two natural left wingers on the bench, an attacking mid now on the bench, and we play Gabby. Question is, are we playing 2 up front, which we can’t do, or is Gabby playing on the left, which he can’t do, because he literally can’t play anywhere correctly.
Who knows Bruce is useless we’ve need to get rid if him before it’s too late. That team is so unbalanced it’s untrue.
Sky showing Gabby at left wing.
With Green on the bench? Unbelievable.
Well, Don’t I look like a fool now lol. Hell froze over. Well done Gabby
2 booked and not a foul between them…….
No way were either yellow cards then Hull block off Bacuna (I think) and no yellow – ridiculous.
HELP…we are not finishing them off…come on Villa…
We’re riding our luck can see hull equalising. We need a second. This was the problem last year can’t hold onto lead
What the hell……we are letting them play too much…..lost all the tempo we had simply because they wont take on the man in front of them….they keep turning and going to the side or back…AGAIN..
Now an elbow and not even a foul…..come on ref.
Referee is pants. Hull player leads with his arm against Lansbury – not even a foul – Lansbury gets a yellow card for exactly the same!
This is a joke Hull dominating is at villa park. Still can’t keep possession. I’m dreading when we go away
Pathetic and so obviously coming.
Bruce did nothing it’s been coming since just before half time. Still can’t compete for 90 mins. Team is crap still no change by Bruce
Bruce out
And there it is………what a mess.
Told you been coming and Bruce does nothing
Bacuna is pants!
We asked for that fuck bacuna off ASAP total shite
Ps fuck lansbury off aswell
Both should come of.