There you go, it’s right at the top of the post, so you can vote and don’t have to read my prattle if you don’t want to.
I have to confess that I’m worried about this one.
We’ve had a great run in winning six games out of six and when you’re having such a good run, thoughts have to turn to when that run will eventually end, as it surely has to.
Unfortunately, Blues seem to have turned their very poor form around and they’ve won four, drawn one and lost one of their last six, while also scoring a lot of goals compared to previously in the season.
Couple this with the fact that I’m not so Gung-ho in my thinking these days and I see this very much as a major banana skin that we need to avoid, if we’re to continue in our challenge for second in the league.
It’s not that I think Blues are as good as us, it’s just the fact that it’s a derby, where we all know the odd simple mistake can decide the game.
So what do we know?
We’re in very good nick, with only the usual long-term sufferers being out.
Lewis Grabben has trained this week, so might get a few minutes, depending on how the game goes, but you’d have to expect that Steve Bruce will yet again make very few, if any at all, changes to the starting eleven.
On the Blues’ part (and I really couldn’t care less) full-back Jonathan Grounds is out with a knee injury.
Winger Jacques Maghoma might make it, after missing the last couple of weeks with a groin problem.
None of it really matters, as it’s all about who wants it the most when it comes to the second city derby, in my opinion.
We’re the better/bigger club, by a mile.
We have the better first X1 and squad.
We have the better everything; it’s as simple as that.
As we all know.
But it means nothing, as derbies are on a level only equalled by the FA cup, in that everything goes out the window.
Where the result can massively inflate/deflate a club’s confidence either way.
That said, the bookies have us as odds-on favourites and they’re no mugs.
And as much as I’m worried about this one, so I refuse to think that the scum can beat us on our own patch.
I’m going for a 2-1 win.
I don’t give a toss who gets the goals and I don’t care how we go about it.
As long as we out-work and out-fight the toe-rags.
The word is that Steve Bruce is hoping to be at the game, after the sad loss of his father, combined with his mother’s ill health.
He has my sincere condolences and I suspect he will indeed make it, purely because he won’t be able to resist such an interesting game. That, plus work takes your mind off things, I’ve found.
Fingers crossed for that Villa win.
UTV!
Think most on here thought that Hitch, just hope the big clubs don’t step in for him, his interviews showed how passionate he is to Villa.Think he will get a call for England soon.
Grealish won’t leave us unless we don’t go up. And then if we do go up, if we go back down, then he’d leave as well. But he’s Villa through and through. Was a great performance bar maybe 10 minutes at the end of the first half. But we were far better than them for the majority of the game. Hogan should’ve had a couple and Grealish was absolutely brilliant. If we can win at Fulham then we’ll be well on our way.
Just woke up to realise that we are in an automatic promotion place for the first time and we did it by beating Small Heath too. It was a good win based on sound tactics and a bit of real quality play.
Seven wins in a row. They say confidence breeds confidence and we can only hope that the team is now a good place mentally. We will lose some games but hopefully we have some resilience about us now and we’ll bounce back.
Next game is going to be a good one. Two form teams and Fulham will be hard to beat at home but I have a feeling that we can do it! Still I’d settle for a draw right now.
UTV
Has everyone got their Bolton an Sheffield Wednesday scarves and hats ready for tonight?????
Sure have Bum Bum – neither game on TV though.
Interesting article in the Mirror that claims the combination of Grealish’s freak injury and the influence of John Terry have combined to change his attitude – to become a man if you like. Add the ‘fatherly’ influence and stability brought by Bruce and the result is for all to see.
So often we moan about the failure of youngsters that come through the kids / academy at the Villa and, at one time Jack seemed to be heading in the same way. No more – time to celebrate one of our own and pray we don’t do a ‘Cahill’ again.
It will be difficult to keep our winning run going at Fulham on Saturday, but if we do win we will have equalled a run under Sir Ron back in 1975. It will be interesting to see if Jedinak or Bjarnasson gets to play. Fulham are more mobile than Small Heath so I would prefer Bjarnasson for his stamina, although I think Jedinak will get the nod. Everyone else should keep their place. Just wondering if Kodja was fit would we be better? I reckon Hogan contributes more team wise, so if he got back to fitness I would be tempted to have him as an impact substitute, unless he could play Adomah’s role.
1 nil to Sheff Weds…….
nil nil Cardiff
1 nil to Sheff Weds…….
1 nil to Cardiff
1 nil to Sheff Weds…….
2 nil to Cardiff
Half Time
2-0 Wednesday
Told you Derby would bottle it like the others. We are going up! And with a month to spare at this rate!
Cardiff still look dangerous – were unlucky not to win at Millwall – but when we rack up 10 straight wins will knock the stuffing out of the competition!
Ha, Derby lost?
Great news and loads of ammo to throw at my workmates!
Happy days.
Mor importantly, we maintain 2nd.
If it stays that way we still keep our second spot. Owen spot on mate keep up them predictions right so far, utv.
Both 2 nil…….could have been a worse night…..
Appears we’ve hired another academy coach. Brian Eastick who looks to be leaving his Al Jazira technical director position. Former U19 and U20 England manager, rebuilt the shit’s academy from scratch over 7 years and was made academy manager and head coach by Sir Bobby Robson at Newcastle.
Also it seems our finances are out.
https://7500toholte.sbnation.com/2018/2/15/17017892/aston-villas-latest-accounts-show-good-news-and-bad-news
We need to go up this year. That is looking more likely now than at any point in the season. Let’s hope we can keep the run going. A point at Fulham would probably suffice.
On the subject of our run. There has been plenty of praise for Bruce. I think it’s no coincidence that our good run has coincided with the arrival of Agnew. The football is better. The performance against Blues, even allowing for the fact they are poor, was one of the most controlled I have seen in a Villa Blues derby.
Certainly you must add the resurgence of Grealish to that. He has something that nobody else in the squad has.
My view on Bruce hasn’t changed, but at least he finally got a decent coach in so I’m thankful that he recognised our shortcomings. Took his time though.
Tomorrow’s game won’t be a disaster if we lose due to amassing 21 points from last 7 games. It would be a good result if we drew to keep Fulham at arms length. It will be our home form particularly that will us into top 2. It’s no coincidence that a team staying injury free with players breathing down their neck is the biggest reason for our upturn. Creativity was a problem before Grealish returned, and add to that Agnews appointment, and we can all start to dream again.
Concerned that Grealish and Odamah are doubts for tomorrow – can we afford to lose either let alone both for such a crucial game.
DS Villa – I think we owe Bruce more than you are willing to concede. Just look at Hull and Sunderland – we could easily have been in the same position last season but for Bruce coming in and firstly shoring up the team and then changing the mentality within the club. He’s also done brilliantly in the transfer market with no money (net spend around £2.5m) and helped to deliver a massive improvement in our financial position.
i think villa have been playing with fire this season. we could have fallen quite easily. this form we are displaying now. is down to number of things one being confidence, pressure was getting the better of the squad injuries etc it was becoming a dead weight around our necks.
bruce and his staff must reap the praise, they have taken the flak away from the playing individuals. so the players have been able to not feel the pressures. its too easy to say its the new coach. he has added something but only to complete the rest. grealish is another MAJOR factor he is miles above championship lvl. other teams can not live with his awareness his vision and ability to attack space in tight areas and behind defenses.
also hogan i feel needs a mention because he has taken loads of shit too. he has worked hard on his game to fit in to villa lack of creativity at the start of this run. he has tried to work the channels more and hold the ball up which he is not known for. grealish returning has meant more creativity and hogans has flourished.
finally i thing bruce has assembled a hungry squad each player around the squad has added. if we get injuries i feel confident we have good cover. famous last words
Well one things for sure you sound better Nath, Badger posted a new blog and he’s working again , must love his work I pushed big wheels and worked nights one thing I didn’t do is miss the night games, how?I went in after each game the drove to the docks.hey ho, converted the owner he went with me he was a pompy supporter. We must have Grealish in tomorrow he’s our driving force if he don’t l thing we will struggle.UTV.
Not Villa Wigan beat Man city. 1-0