I like this Derby.
While it doesn’t have quite the er, edge that the Villa-Blues one does, it’s pretty much the same, in that the enmity is there, but it’s played in a more gentlemanly way, in my opinion.
Let’s face it, Albion are just a classier club than the other locals, aren’t they? Much better history and pedigree etc.
But I might go into that more in a few day’s time.
Tony Pulis went well over the top with his criticism of the Villa fans in our last meeting, where some of us stormed the pitch in a very happy way.
He also totally ignored the Albion fans behaviour and that of some of his players.
Which is fair enough; A manager should always back his club.
But it helped to cost us serious money, in a £200,000 fine.
Still, that’s football and onto the game.
We all know what Pulis is about, don’t we?
He’s going to try to contain the game and hit us on the break.
It’s all he knows and while it’s boring (as I’m sick to death of Albion fans telling me), it can be very effective.
And Tim Sherwood is going to go all out to win it.
Which makes this look a decent prospect for goals, in my opinion.
Why don’t I predict the bore draw or the odd one goal win either way then?
Well, Sherwood won’t allow it and will attack.
Quite rightly so, as even though some of us might think he’s tactically naive, my opinion says he plays the game in the right way, in that goals get you wins and wins get you points. Draw every game and you’re at risk of the drop, fact.
Hence I’ve come round to the fact that we might concede first, because Albion will be playing the cannier, more predictable game.
But the interesting thing here, is that I think we have enough about us to beat the Albion, even if that happens, at least from an attacking side of things.
The big problem I have, is with our defence.
While it, at face value, looks a much better prospect than the last few seasons, I still quite simply don’t trust it.
We’re always likely to concede, in my eyes, which will always make things hard work for us.
Then again though, contrary to what many of us have said about Gabby lately, I’d expect him to be a starter for this one: He’s the derby specialist isn’t he?
Isn’t he?.
And Sinclair might want to prove a point. As indeed, might Lescott.
Squad news then and Ben Foster apart, I think Albion have a full squad to call on.
Villa-wise, Gana, Traore and Gil are all iffy and these are all big misses.
Llori apparently isn’t ready for the Prem.
Yes, ok Tim.
I’m expecting him on the bench then, with a cameo in mind, if we’re in the right sort of position.
So we’re going to concede, without doubt, in my mind.
But I think we’ll win. 2-1.
Liori isnt ready for the prem ,why the fuck did we get him then.Beggers fuckin belief.
Because we can get him ready by say, November/December, play him for 5-6 months and then buy him permanently because he’s a quality young player. Really is simple.
We will score, they will score, or neither of us will score….that is my prediction. Although I’m going for 3-0 to Villa.
I reckon 3-0 to us until the 80th minute and we’ll lose 4-3.
Wonder what odds you’d get for that prediction – knowing how the Villa play – probably evens 🙂
We need to win this after last week, boost the teams moral and hopefully kick start the season .2-0 Villa.
Sorry guys – got a really bad feeling about today. Gana is a massive miss for us if he doesn’t start. Hope I’m wrong
I’ll toot my own horn a little here, last week I said that Leics v Villa would be game of the weekend, a 5 goal thriller that Villa would win 3-2, ok I got that last bit wrong!
I think that Pulis is slowly getting it right at WBA so expect a tight encounter, I’ll go for Villa 1-0, with Gabby scoring on the pitch and not off it this time!
https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/12006131_1046841185359950_5045123654966749468_n.jpg?oh=72a9bae6be0521f5299960690347ef5f&oe=56AA2827
Shit!
Back to normal, one down.
Deadwood out
I don’t really see what Sherwood can do here, either.
Probably Gestede on for Sinclair, who’s done nothing.
I think gabby’s looking better today though.
He could resign Badger that might help
I’m beginning to wonder if Sherwood is so far up himself that its beginning to show, why has Kozak been dropped from the bench, its beginning to look like 3 teams now favourite for the drop.
Agree TS should never be long term manager. He was never going to sustain it
Gil & Grealish playing well. Did Amavi kinda bottle that tackle resulting in the goal?? Looked like it!!! We don’t look like scoring. Why don’t we play Kozak? Bar far a better forward than Gabby
Agreed Helenius.
Cole can make the bench, but Kozak can’t?
Seems strange to say the least.
3rd from bottom now where we belong
I said after last week no doubt about it we will have a relegation scrap on our hands. Don’t think we will go down as worse teams around but we will be down there fighting again. I think until our team settles and adapts we will struggle so next year may be our improvement year
Who’s worse than us at the moment. Only team I can think of is Sunderland and we could only draw with them. Watford and Bournemouth winning as well
Newcastle are worse and Norwich will be down there too.
Not convincec
Exactly like last season win a tough away game then struggled what the difference
There’s no doubt about it, we looked poor in that half.
Given that it seems we can only play one half, let’s hope the next one will be it eh?
Noticed that Badger, why ho why is Sherwood playing silly sod, 3 teams now looking like favourite for the drop? I know its early days but Newcastle, Sunderland, Villa, all better start to pick up points.
the commentator just said if we loose today its our worst start to a season in 29 years.
that year we got relegated .
sherwood needs to start proving he is a manager and the players need to start earning there hefty paypackets .
the team on a whole looks ok today just sinclair has been poor and westwood needs to start proving he is good enough because he just does fuck all to justify his first team spot every week.
and agreed how the fuck does kozak not get in the team or at least on the bench.
Flipped heck he’s beating lamberks records now!
We rarely keep a clean sheet which means we have to score at least twice every game to win, I do think we have the team to do that but imo Dims getting it all wrong with squad choice. Gabby will get you Max 5 goals a season, why play him v a well drilled Pulis defence who know Gabby’s only attribute is pace, so won’t and haven’t left any space behind!
Get him off for someone. (Watch him go get 2 goals now 😉 )
sinclair off
gestede on
I have an idea, how about we play Ayew as a striker? A loan striker, which he got 12 goals and 7 assists last season doing. Could work, just a thought.
lone striker*
We look sloppy and clueless as a unit… In 54 mins of this game we have yet to look up for it – no sense of urgency or fight.
Cole for Gil next, at a guess.
No cohesion. Dross.
We haven’t even had a corner for Westwood to float harmlessly in to the box.
Leicester bk from 2 down again would have loved Ranieri miles better than deadwood
First corner – 69th min.
Why does it take us 15 passes to get nowhere yet every team we play against three or four passes and they’ve got a cross or a shot.