I really don’t like Bournemouth.
I used too, but they’re such a tricky side to play.
They were absolute rubbish early in the season, but they’ve now proven to be a very resiliant, physical side, which is exactly the sort that doesn’t suit us. Quite like Lille, if you like.
That said, they’re not quite doing as well as I thought and currently sit in 13th place. Then again, their form over the last six games is excellent. They’ve won 3, drawn two and lost only 1 game. That’s a record that’s only bettered by City and Arsenal.
Now add in that we’ve only faced them seven times in the Premier league, yet they’ve beaten us four times.
So this is going to be a tough game, given our heroic exploits in Europe on Thursday.
Squad news and according to the Beeb, Alex Moreno has a minor calf issue and will be sidelined for a number of weeks.
How does that work, if it’s minor? Hmm.
Luiz will serve his second game suspended and Zaniolo will be assessed after his awkward fall on Thursday.
Bournemouth have Antoine Semenyo back. Tyler Adams and Chris Mepham are out, while Sinisterra has aggravated a hamstring injury.
Not that I was worried about any of those.
The one that worries me is Solanke. I think he’s a beast and offers a big threat.
Prediction time then and oh….
You’ve got no chance of a prediction out of me now and I won’t predict another result this season. I’ll only jinx us.
I will however, say, it’ll be close.
And that I’m reasonably confident, IF things go well for us.
What’s that? I’m hedging my bets there?
Too right I am. I’m not the superstitious sort normally and it’s only re footy where I remotely am. I’ll do anything if it means we win and that includes keeping my mouth shut.
UTV!
Comments
147 responses to “Villa -Bournemouth; Surprise, surprise. I don’t know what to think.”
Great news about our manager. The ONLY Villa Manager to have a win rate above 50%. Its actually 57%.
Brilliant news Gerry and that win ratio is incredible, just looked them up, George Ramsey being next highest (and he won a thing or two).
One thing that absolutely shocked was Old Potato Head had better win ratio than Sir Ron.
Unbelievable.
“Old Potato Head had better win ratio than Sir Ron.” – but weren’t ALL of the spud’s games in Div 2 (aka ‘The Championship”)?
True Ardent but still amazing his win ratio are up around the 45% mark?
I know he was a nose, he never got us promoted (a blessing in disguise?) but maybe all should be forgiven down to one simple act of genius…
We’ve got McGinn,
Super John McGinn,
I just don’t think you understand,
He’s Unai Emery’s man,
He’s better than Zidane,
We’ve got super John McGinn.
Many thanks Old P H
I never had a problem with Bruce’s past associations (not like Mr. McLeish, anyway) – and thought he was actually quite good for us at the time. He’s an old-fashioned manager (not foreign, for a start) and has his limitations – especially evident when he’s been in the Prem., – including a lack of ‘Plan B’s’ – but then I thought the same about MON…
The Championship is one of the most challenging leagues in the world, to be fair to MPH.
According to the Guardian ‘Villa have in effect given Emery total autonomy as a reward for recasting the club’s fortunes.’
Total autonomy. You wouldn’t be getting that with any other club. Emery’s been burnt twice with so-called ‘big clubs’ so it’s my bet that he’ll be sticking around at VP for quite some time.
What have contract extensions got in common with winning manager of the month? 🙂
But seriously it’s excellent news and shows the commitment of everybody at the club to drive towards the common goal of putting Villa back at the top of European football.
Hopefully this announcement will spur (unintended pun) Villa to a good win against Chelsea at the weekend putting us 9 points ahead of Spuds. Although they will have three games in hand, that would give Villa one hell of a physiological advantage.
I wish Emery every success with Villa over the next 4 years and beyond.
UTMV
Hitch, I’ve said one more win in 4 games will cement a CL place. Spuds are toast. I sort of feel sorry for them with that run in.
Even if we get those 3 points against Chelsea, can you see Unai allowing the boys to play with their flip flops on??? I can’t.
From what I’ve read, this was simply an ‘automatic’ 1-year extension that was activated.
According to “B’ham Live” (I know…) the club are already planning to sit down with Emery as soon as this season’s over in order to discuss a long-term extension to his contract.
Correct Ardent but with rumours swirling around about interest from ‘top’ European sides then Villa have moved quickly to assure Unai his home is at VP.
Decisive, positive action from our owners again.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c6pyddj6z8ro
So Emery has signed an extension until 2027, with further talks to come in the summer about a long term deal ON TOP of this one.
I think I might cry with happiness!!!!!
Sorry – your post didn’t appear on my screen until after I wrote mine!
Good article an out Premier moving to a Big 8.
Worth a read
https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/unai-emery-aston-villa-contract-premier-league-3020454?ITO=newsnow
Do we have to pay for it, Sid?
On Unai Emery’s contract extension, it’s a big ‘up yours’ to the media who love to see anyone good for us being desperate to join an ‘elite’ club.
On Jack Grealish leaving Citeh, I absolutely don’t want him back. He was great for us and he left to guarantee silverware (which he has hardly contributed to) and huge wages. We made a fortune from his sale, so thanks but no thanks now Citeh have ruined him.
On Forest’s moaning about the ‘biased’ officiating against Everton, I think they have crossed the line! Fans can say what they think but Forest reacted wrongly although I sympathise with the poor decisions that went against them. I’m sure they feel the injustice of being docked points while Citeh and Chelsea seem to be able to get away with anything. Even worse are Barcelona in looking to replay the game against Real Madrid because of a ghost goal not given.
What can of worms would that open? We get relegated because they give Sheffield United their ghost goal?
We replay the World Cup match when Lampard’s goal clearly crossed the line against Germany?
We replay the League Cup final against Man Utd because Vidic should have been sent off?
One thing that’s clear and obvious from what I can see is the fact that the game has got worse since VAR was introduced. It will NEVER get any better because humans operate it and unfortunately they make mistakes and will continue to make mistakes. VAR should be binned and we can go back to allowing referees to do the job they are currently ducking because VAR re-referees after.
Holte somebody has to ‘cross the line’ to get something done!
The fans hate VAR; it’s not fit for purpose and the decisions made encourage conspiracy theories and the popular view that VAR favours the ‘Sky 6’ for want of a better definition.
The way VAR is applied becomes its own worst enemy – either radically change the approach or ditch it.
Personally I would vote to bin it. It’s done nothing to reduce controversy and, quite the opposite, it’s increased controversy and is sucking the spontaneous joy about of football.
VAR is an inanimate object – the issue lies with the idiotic, obsessive and self opinionated control freaks who run it.
Now jumping off my hobby horse 🙂
VAR stands for ‘Video Assisted Referee.’ If they had done that, it would have worked perfectly. I.e. The match official goes to the monitor to see the replays if he’s not sure or missed something. The video assists the referee. Then he makes the correct decision and everyone’s happy. No problems.
Through history, idiots have made simple things complicated. The question is, why?
All this talk of Emery. Do you guys remember just before his arrival, on these very pages there was support for Sean Dyche coming to Villa???!!! It’s fun looking back through some of our old posts and debates over the years. It’s like the time of Lerner, who made McL****h and Lambert’s life hell (and ours obviously) at the time with his demands and restrictions that only came out later…And Dr X. Was is all just a bad dream like the days of covid????
I don’t actually remember who (if anyone) really wanted Duche (sorry, Dyche) – he’d been guilty of a couple of well-publicised put-down’s of Villa in the previous few seasons.
But yes, you’re right, we had a bit of a nightmare time between Lerner’s money running out (2008-ish) and the current owners taking over; Dr.X almost putting the club out of business…
I remember it well unfortunately as it infuriated me! I’m not a fan of Dyche.
I earlier watched Canadian Pete reviewing the Fulham 3-0 as Gerrard was sacked. He was slating McGinn and doubting his presence at the club LOL!!! How things change!!! His assessment of Emery was quite hesitant too. How things change Part 2…🤣🤣🤣
I can highly recommend old articles both here and on the Holy Trinity Show. Very enlightening.
Enjoyed the Arsenal game last night. So, Arsenal should be highly confident going into the Spurs game while Chelsea will be the opposite going into their game with us.
A win for us and a loss for Spurs and we’re just about there.
Another 2 massive games, 1874. Hopefully both go our way!
As a long term Villa fan, you do worry though…!!! 🙂 I hope Cole isn’t playig even though he’s meant to be Chesty’s best mate!!!
Don’t put a jinx on it!
It would be just our luck for Chelsea to bounce-back and do what they did to us in the Cup a few weeks back.
Emery will be ready this time…
Yep.
Chelsea are the ultimate Jekyll and Hyde team. Hopefully, we get the one we want on Saturday: the big shower of s***e version. If not, it’ll be a close battle, with plenty of energy expended going into Thursday’s semi-final…
Hitch and friends
Hitch you mentioned the gambling deal which I agree with you and I am perfectly happy with this sponsorship.
Moreover, to make Villa great again and into a trophy winning team, we need to generate significant funds. especially with the changes coming in about 70% expenditure to turnover.
I know some are negative towards Mr Heck. I am not one, his record prior to Villa is exceptional. This quote by him today demonstrates his worth to the club and what he is doing.
“What we’ve done in 11 months, we’ve cleared up a lot of, let’s say, not great contracts,” Heck said at SportsPro Live 2024. “We have reinvented ourselves. We will be launching the next generation of our brand, coming up in a few weeks.
“We have doubled our front-of-shirt deal, plus we have doubled our sleeve deal, plus we have doubled our kit deal.
“I haven’t been talking much because honestly we have been working to get this accomplished and now it’s time to share that the big six, who we are chasing, quite frankly we are ready to kick the door down.”
I think he will match commercially Emery’s on field genius off field. If anyone can bridge the financial gap, Heck will.
What does seem interesting is that it appears all the deals / projects Purslow worked on, Heck has stopped or changed.
Good post Sid.
Mr. Heck is not everyone’s favourite character – Terrace View, Lower Grounds, the badge debate and the U turn on stadium development have upset quite a number of (influential) members of various fan groups. There is no doubt these are contentious decisions and there is a feeling that Villa have not been ‘completely honest’ particularly over the club crest.
I mention this just to show that Heck’s single minded drive to attract global sponsorship and revenue isn’t without consequences.
Having said that revenue is now the key component of achieving the ambition of our owners. Without it growing substantially we are in no position to leverage the club with owner investment.
Heck clearly has a global reach that Purslow didn’t enjoy.
Right man, right time.
Personally I don’t like seeing betting ads on club shirts (or anywhere else, for that matter); and as I understand it they’ll have to disappear from all football shirts, etc., in 2 years time. So I’ll swallow my principles for a season or two…
Heck may not please a lot of fans, and I’m sure there’ll be more controversial decisions announced in the coming months.
But we either really mean to get into the ‘elite’ or we don’t: the alternative is being constantly down in the bottom 8 of the Prem., or even ending up like the Small Heath lot.
Crystal Palace looking very strong at home now. I wouldn’t want to need the final game for 3 points. Let’s get over the line before that…
Going through a purple patch – they do have some very good players though.
But I agree with you BFR – don’t leave it to the last day of the season. It makes for exciting viewing but it plays havoc with my liver 🙂
Absolutely. Either (or both) Olise and Eze would be superstars at VP under Emery in my opinion. They’d be at least as good as Bailey. And that’s a compliment to Bailey.
The Chelsea game is massive before Europe. I disagree with Bum Bum; Spurs aren’t done. If we think that, we’re in for a nasty surprise. Home straight. Step on the gas. Do not slow down or relax!
I think ‘we’ can thing that, but I don’t suspect for one second Emery is taking it for granted! Quite the opposite in fact.
I still think Spuds will be lucky to pick up more than 7 points the rest of the season. Meet back here on the 18th May, BFR???? 🙂
🙂👍
Pre-season tour – we’re going back to the States and it looks very interesting indeed.
First we play MLS Champions Columbus Crew then RB Leipzig then Mexican Champions Club America. Then, on August 10th, we go to Germany to play Borussia Dortmund.
A challenging set of fixtures which leads me to think that Emery wants his team to get some minutes against top teams as preparation for the CL.
And there’s the annual Walsall game to look forward to 🙂
Who will they conjure up for the last pre-season fixture at VP?
My thoughts exactly when I saw it. Even if we lose them all, it’s about what they will learn from that; what Unai will learn, and what he will teach them.
Happy 90th birthday to Peter (‘Packy’) McParland who scored both goals in our 2-0 win over United in the 57 cup final.
He also scored the winning goal in the first LC final against Rotherham which used to be two legged affairs in those days.
I did manage to see him play a couple of times – Bill probably has stronger memories of the great man.
I used to sit on the white wall with my legs sticking through the metal railings of the Trinity Road terrace when I was five. I loved the half that had Macca running up and down the wing right in front of me. He was as fast and as skillful as they come.
I remember once when a full back steamed in and wiped Macca totally out. Today it would have gotten a red with a three match ban but, back then, it was just a booking. Macca lay face down as though he was dead while the ref booked the player. He then took a quick look and, seeing that the full back was booked, he did a few press ups, jumped up, smiled and ran down the wing.
Still my favourite Villa player by far.
Yes Hitch remember him well he’d be 5 years older than me , thing is
I’ve still got videos of the game and I remember when I moved house
Too where I live now talking to a neighbour and finding out in the conversation his name was McParland ,when I spoke of Peter he replied it was his uncle. I then said I have Videos of that game he ask if he could see it as he was too young in them times , needless to say a happy happy seeing it.
Off topic but Bruno Guimaraes £100m?
Really?
So what’s Douglas Luiz, Ollie, Leon Bailey or John McGinn worth in this alternative reality?
I’ve watched Newcastle a fair few time and the geezer has never stuck me as anything out the ordinary.
Is it just me?
Rumoured that the Barcodes are looking to sell him in the summer and are looking for £80m. Given the inflated nature of the transfer market that’s probably about right imho.
Good player, RSS. Very much in the Luiz mould with his range of passing. I’d say if he’s worth that, it’ll be about the same for Dougie. I know which one I’d rather have though.
Fair comment lads,
I always thought he was a little reckless, good for the odd sending off but hey ho if people within the game think he’s worth that sort of money who an I to argue?
(But I wouldn’t pay it).