Well, I’m back and it’s bloody nippy isn’t it?
Straight down to it then and I’m not in the slightest bit optimistic about this game, I can tell you.
I’ve tried to keep the optimism up, but there are just too many things going against us all at the same time, for me to maintain it.
Losing to Ipswich at home, combined with the way we approached the game has pushed me over the edge and it’s not a nice place to be.
But while I’m full of gloom and despondency, so I’m also clinging to the belief that things can surely only get better. Can’t they?
The trouble is, while I do think things will gradually get better, I’m not convinced we’ve bottomed yet. Which is of course worrying when you look at our current league position.
So where does that leave us regarding tonight?
Let’s look at some facts.
We have, on paper, one of the best sides in the league, but we look aimless and don’t seem to play as a team.
We have two of the best strikers in the league and can’t score (although Kodjia’s been away of course).
Hitch mentioned it when he said the oppo’s goalies seem to put on a blinder against us.
And every single mistake we make gets punished.
It’s a situation I’d struggle to wish on our neighbours down the road.
But more worrying is that Barnsley are a better side than Ipswich. So how are we going to beat them?
Well, I haven’t got a clue and we can only hope Steve Bruce, or whoever it is actually comes up with tactics, has.
Bruce intimated that he might drop the 3-5-2 (ahem), which suggests we might go back to four at the back.
I can’t say I’ve watched Barnsley, so don’t know what to think.
The manager’s in a big hole at the moment and frankly, I don’t care how we go about it, but we cannot lose this game tonight. Momentum is already building against Bruce and with us footy fans being what we are, the clamour for his head is only going to increase.
I’m not even convinced a draw will be enough, particularly if it’s combined with another poor performance.
I’ve called for Bruce to be more Gung-ho, but it would appear he doesn’t see things the same way.
That’s his prerogative of course, because he’s the manager, but my opinion is he isn’t doing himself any favours in setting up negatively.
The trouble is, we look really weak when Jedinak isn’t available. Questions have been asked about Lansbury being played deeper and Bjarnason doesn’t seem to be very well rated up to now, although that is probably down to his lack of fitness. Which of course begs the question why he isn’t being introduced gradually.
Ah, what do I know?
I’m going to go for a 1-0 win, but it’s more in hope than anything.
Like I said. I’m worried.
Comments
143 responses to “Villa – Barnsley; I’m worried”
I have a bad feeling about this 🙁
Let’s hope I’m wrong.
3-4 Barnsley after leading 3-0 I’ve absolutely no faith whatsoever & fuck the stats tonight.
if jedi still not fit why buy 3 attaking midfielders and none to fill the gap,good manager would see that
Now that is a fair and very reasonable question JV. It certainly has to be a priority in the summer. In the meantime, as we’ve sold Westwood 🙂 I would like to see Gardner given an opportunity in this role
Bruce isn’t a good manager though
The way we are playing , we will be lucky to come away with a draw . We need to take our chances we are not scoring enough goals to win games . It seems when we do get the first goal we can’t finish the game of. Come on Villa don’t let us down tonight .
Seeing as I am back in the UK I have decided to go to tonight’s game. It is the first time I would of stepped foot inside Villa Park since I gave my season ticket up the season that O’neil walked out on us.
Whilst I believe player for player we should be smashing Barnsley for 6 I also realize it’s a team game and we are full of individual talent I think we’ll do well to learn to play together first.
It’s odd in the sense that although I should be buzzing at going to the game for the first time in a long time, I can’t seem to get excited at the moment…..still suppose there’s the traditional chip supper to look forward.
Head says 0-2 Barnsley
Heart says 3-1 Villa.
I hope you don’t end up too disappointed B6
Isn’t it ridiculous that we aren’t confident if beating Barnsley at home. How far we have fallen
3-0 Villa….Remember this game as I dont see us getting beat again for a long, long time!!
No 5-3-2
Got me and my partner 2 tickets for the game,it being Valentines Day and all that!……she said ‘thats romantic’, I said ‘its raining, its Barnsley and its Valentines day’…..I know the way to a womans heart! She kissed me, hugged me then ran off with my best mate……I really miss him! 🙂
hard to predict this game. ipswich was a harder game. for reasons like they were always going to be less adventurous until the last 1/3 of game.but by then villa players would be drained of what confidence they had, if the game was equal at the time.
i think barnsley are unable to play this way. they will be more up for a game than ipswich from the start, which should give us the edge.
finally this game we love is mostly confidence, team with are much better than teams without. soon as we score one flood gates will open.
again i will go for a 4 , nil victory. iam 90% sure i have the correct forecast, hogan will open the scoring if anybody fancy a big double lmao
Given Barnsley’s recent form is quite a bit better than Villa’s why shouldn’t they be the more confident side?
I hope you are right but we don’t look like beating anyone.
when a team loses two of their best two players they struggle. but they cant play like ipswich even if they tried to play that way. villa could struggle if they fire blanks, but if we score early which we will should be a comfy game and a stress relief one
Well we will know soon enough. Think the club is at rock bottom though – or maybe there’s further to fall.
Nath, the Ipswich game was apparently very open and I don’t think they sat back as much as you think.
sure everybody to their own, i seen ipswich a few times under mccarthy and he isnt open from the off against villa you think he would change lol
how ironic you do realize ipswich played a 532 against villa and usually play this DEFENSIVE formation as ppl posted but now your claiming they were attacking and open, i have seen um a few times and they are usually cautious for away game and first 1hour they have been in a rough patch also lately fans wanted mccarthy out and they have had lots of injuries
If I’m correct the team looks like 4-4-2
Aston Villa
34. Sam Johnstone
21. Alan Hutton
12. James Chester
2. Nathan Baker
23. Jordan Amavi
37. Albert Adomah
5. Henri Lansbury
14. Conor Hourihane
40. Jack Grealish
9. Scott Hogan
26. Jonathan Kodjia
Subs
6. Tommy Elphick
7. Leandro Bacuna
19. Andre Green
20. Birkir Bjarnason
22. Gary Gardner
31. Mark Bunn
39. Keinan Davis
Isn’t there 11 starting??? give us a fighting chance at least
I don’t know what you mean Giddy? 🙂
Edited and ignore my Adomah rant, lol
Does seem like 4 at the back, which I find fascinating in a macabre way.
We play with supposed WB’s and leave Amavi out, then go to a back four and put Amavi back in????
Where’s Taylor? Injured?
And where’s Adomah to balance Green?
Wow, I can’t work it out.
Ahem.
Yep, looks like a 4-4-2.
Maybe.
Could be 4 up top!
neither can bruce ,thats why its numbers all into a bag and the lucky 11 start
Im going for a 3-0 win…… We have to win eventually, although i thought this on Saturday !!
Is this on WM?
I’ll keep updating anyway.
Morley thinks we’ll win comfortably.
He’s more optimistic than me.
Kodjia on the left.
Grealish playing off Hogan?
callum robinson scores again
Against the Blues?
Good lad.
ipswich strike again
Lansbury curler saved.
4-2-3-1
Grealish to Adomah, stings the goalies fingers.
Attacking in numbers then.
Sounds encouraging.
Pen to Barnsley.
Amavi again.
Barnsley score.
FFS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don’t believe it.
Lol I fucking give up