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!
I’ve said it Teileman doesn’t fit into the team if you look into them games he’s played for us the contribution he makes is poor . Yes two wonderful goals for Belgium for us I don’t see his worth . Our midfield is poor no wonder Watkins is starved of goals we have lightweight players with no grit . Still it’s not over till as they say the fat lady sings .
I’m inclined to agree from what we’ve seen of him so far Bill.
But I also know he’s a fantastic player when he’s on song.
Basically, I’m in two minds.
I don’t see so many negatives against the likes of Tiemanns and Cash or Diaby for that matter. All have contributed brilliantly this campaign. We been on the back of Grealish, McGinn, Kamara, Bailey, Luiz and probably the rest of the squad over the past 3 years.
DIABBBYYYYYYY!!!!!!!
Come on! Love that Villa!!!!!!!!!!!
That useless player Diaby scores!
It’s a funny old game, innit?
Rogers there again too.
Badger, discretion is the better part of valour. 🤣
Oh Diaby! You beauty
Cash down injured. Get the hair gel out! 😁
Another great save by Emi…
I bet all Spuds fans are filling their gobs with Cherries today hoping they take points from us.
Yes yes yes 3-1 come on you Villa!
Bailey!!!!!! Wow!!!!!!
Sid, bang on!!!!!!!!!! Chesty’s strength once again!!!!
I’m off out for a meal in a min, so the conclusion is that it’s a stunning win that we expected and needed.
P4 is still in our sights and the pressure is on Spuds.
A great day!
What a cracking performance today, especially after Thursday night. Struggle to pick a MOTM as it’s been an overall brilliant amd unexpected team performance.
Can’t believe how far up the pitch Pau was for most of the second half.
What awesome times!!!
Now put your feet up for several days and recharge those batteries!!!!
One more win and 4th is OURS!!!!!!!
A stellar second half performance. Watkins was unplayable and deserved a goal. How anyone can say Toney should start ahead of him are clearly clueless. I don’t think he will top the goalscoring charts because Ollie doesn’t take penalties whereby his challengers do.
Diaby with a good goal will boost his confidence. If we beat Chelsea next weekend we will go 9 points ahead having played 3 games more. Chelsea have a tough game against Arsenal on Tuesday so less time to prepare.
I don’t honestly understand the criticism of Tielemans. He does the job he’s asked to do without fuss and the less you notice him the better he’s playing.
I’m convinced Diaby will develop into a very good player. It takes time for players to adapt to the Prem particularly when they come with a £50m price tag. I thought he did OK today and linked up nicely with the attacking play.
I was very concerned after they scored that we wouldn’t have the energy but once Rogers equalised the players suddenly stepped on the gas and dictated the game from that moment on. OK Bournemouth created a couple of opportunities at the end of the game partly because we were trying to close it out and they had about 8 forwards on the pitch 🙂
Great win – a week off and then we have to deal with Chelsea – every game is important but, for the time being, we have the psychological advantage – points on the board.
UTMV
With you all the way Hitch. We are effing brilliant at the minute. It’s breathtaking. Unai is incredible.
PSG aside, i wonder why other ‘elite’ clubs haven’t come in for him before. Maybe he asks for too much control like SAF, but we’ve taken a punt and so far so good!!!!
Come on Coventry!!!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
They’re giving it a proper go mate 😁
Oh my days 🤣🤣🤣
Hitch, Lee Hendrie hit the nail on the head with regards to Diarby, how he’s a confidence player.
Score and you can watch him grow into the game but the other side of that coin, he can go into himself.
I’ll admit I’ve been critical but hey ho what do I know?
Unai knows a bit more than me 😁
The Mirror
“Unai Emery tipped for Bayern Munich job after Zinedine Zidane and Julian Nagelsmann snubs”
Charmed I’m sure.
How to win friends and influence people? 🤣🤣
Typical thick media – they still haven’t twigged that Villa are out to take on the Sky 6 and Europe with brilliant and wealthy owners – 2 billionaires not just 1!
As the legendary Sir Ron said -‘Do you want to bet against us’.
Along with the ‘They think it’s all over …. ‘ World Cup (66) commentary must be one of the two most famous football sound bites ever!
Back to the red wine and another sore head – privilege of the retired 🙂
UTMV
Lol!!!!!! I’d wager my own testicles that Unai won’t be off anywhere soon…
Blimey mate – that sounds rather painful 🙂
Don’t worry. It won’t happen!!!!
We have games on the 27th/2nd/5th/9th and 13th. Thats the reward for being the only English team in a european competition. Great performance today. Really pleased to see Carlos coming on. Mom and then two games not selected for starting XI. Had me worried.
Gerry, strength in depth!!!!!
Hitch, Teileman to me doesn’t control his area on the pitch , ok yes he get back in defence but doesn’t show the same aggression as McGinn in dominance. We need punch and Watkins is not getting the service from midfield and wings, as someone who managed two teams in my time 60 years ago see thing differently. We are lacking somewhere and I think it’s midfield plus defence. Still I might be a silly old sod to some . But I love my club .
Bill sitting in front of the defence is neither Tielemans nor McGinn’s best positions – we lose a lot of midfield creativity as a result but with Kamara and Luiz out they have been asked to do a job – which with two wins in Luiz’ absence they’ve done perfectly.
Yes McGinn has more aggression and drive – that’s his strength – whereas Tielemans for me has the quick inter passing ability around the box which we lose when he’s playing a more defensive role.
Olympiakos are likely to ‘park the bus’ at VP where I think Tielemans could play a decisive role.
But it’s all about opinions; and fans have plenty of these 🙂
Luv how close the players are with the fans seems a real sense if togetherness at the club and its definatly showing in the results soooo made up with this week the was magnificent today
What a week! I seriously thought that Bournemouth might be a major bump in the road to CL qualification. They’re a form club and, on their day, they can beat anyone. When we went a goal down I began to wonder but Villa’s skill and resilience won out. The goals were a thing of beauty and Ollie was magnificent and all without scoring!
We now have a whole week off before the Chelsea game. If we win that then I think CL qualification is pretty much nailed on. We will be nine points ahead of Spurs before they even kick a ball and, with their next three games being against Arsenal and then away to Chelsea and Liverpool, all within a week, there’s a good chance that it will all be done and dusted before their last three games. If not then they still have Man City to come after that.
It’s looking good. COYL
If we get that 4th spot then we may well look back at this being the pivotal week in our EPL season – beating Arsenal and then winning at home to Bournemouth. Had we failed to win yesterday it would have undone the stellar work done at The Emirates.
If we also go on to win the Conference League then it becomes even more so as I suspect we managed to beat the best of the rest in Lille.
BTW This what Phil McNulty of BBC Football thinks about Emery and rumours of him moving –
‘I think the future is incredibly bright (for Villa). Ambitious owners, an elite manager in Unai Emery who, with his long-time ally Monchi, is building a very good side.
Of course, Emery’s outstanding work might attract admirers from elsewhere but he has had unfulfilling experiences at Paris St-Germain and Arsenal so why should he go? Aston Villa appears to be the perfect fit for Emery and the work he does – which is good news for Aston Villa.’
I sincerely hope that he’s right.
Inter, AC, Barca, Real, PSG, ManU, Citeh, Arse, Spuds, Chel$ea are all just corporate monsters. Bayern seem a little more grounded but why would anyone want to go to the equivalent of the SPL (France and Germany), or move to a conglomerate?
The next step for Unai would probably be be a national side, but that’s years away when he’s ready for semi-retirement.
Unai wants to win the PL and ECL with Villa. And he’s capable of doing it, given the proportionate time and resources.
Villa announce two year principal sponsor deal with Betano which I suspect is going to significantly increase our revenue. I know many people don’t approve of gambling advertising but I feel we’re rather hypocritical as a nation – bit like the morals of the Victorians.
So, while the UK / FA / EPL look to ban all gambling advertisements, Betano have been accepted as the main sponsor for EUFA 2024.
I just love the irony.
Emery’s going nowhere – let’s just knock that on the head straight away – a very good explanation here, if anyone needs one (https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/keys-kingdom-bayern-munich-no-29041029).
Gentlemen, of more interest to me are the rumours starting to bubble out of ManCs that Grealish may be offloaded as soon as this summer (I’ve now seen two pieces on this subject in different papers’ websites in the last week or so-); so the questions are: (a) would you want him back? and (b) would he it into Emery’s team any more oten than he now does Pep’s team?
“Nassef Sawiris gave him the keys to the kingdom in addition to partnerships with V Sports.”
That’s the killer statement, total control and investment?
Would he get that at Bayern? Or just an other manager through the revolving door?
Jack back?
Thanks for the memories but not for me.
I don’t see us wanting him back at the price Man C would want for him. If he were available for 20-30m, I could see us making a bid, but we’ve moved on from him. What made him successful for us was playing so many plays through him, and being the main man, and we’ve evolved since then with new playmakers such as JJ, Rogers, Bailey, Buendia and he’s struggled to contribute to the level he did for us because he’s not the main man there – and nor would he be if he came back. So on that alone, before you even discuss if he fits Emery’s tactics or style of play, it’s a no from me… and he was my favourite ever Villa player up until leaving, so I say that with heavy heart.
It’s a good question Ardent.
If we could get him really cheap as a squad player (which isn’t going to happen) then maybe but objectively I would answer no and no.
Having said that if anyone could get the very best out of Grealish it would be Emery.
But would he upset the apple cart?
Could it be said he’s been whiter than white throughout his career?
Can’t see Unai standing for his antics.
No and no. Not with his injury record and Villa’s. We need younger players who can last. Unless he comes as back with the presupposition that he’ll miss a significant portion of the season with injury. Completely pointless in terms of where we want to go and what we need. Past his best. Cherish the memories. Move on.
Personally, I happen to agree with you both.
We’ve got a squad that’s improved 100% since Grealish left, and I couldn’t see him getting any more games for us than he gets for ManCs this season. Nor do I see Emery building a team around him the way Dean Smith tried (seems so kong ago…).
And for me, it’s not even about his price: I don’t know his contract situation, but presume that if he runs down his original contract they might even lose him on a ‘free’ in 12 months time? But even if he decided that he wanted to ‘come home’ (especially if we’re playing in the CL), I honestly don’t see where he’d fit in now.
On a separate subject I applaud Forest for voicing what many fans have been saying or thinking in general terms – not specifically applicable to one individual.
Of course the EPL and FA will arrogantly ride rough shod over Forest as to accept PGMOL and VAR are not fit for purpose would be unacceptable.
It’s clear that a significant majority of fans want VAR removed, accepting just goal line technology and semi automated offside.
VAR and the manner in which it’s applied in England is no longer credible, does not accord with its overriding principle of ‘clear and obvious error’ and is used by PGMOL referees to impose a re-refereeing approach to games with the (apparent) sole purpose of seeking to disallow goals wherever possible.
The Coventry goal disallowed for offside is a perfect example of a poor, if not, biased approach – obviously all a matter of personal opinion
VAR has not reduced, rather it’s increased, controversial decisions in the game whilst destroying the spontaneity of fan’s enjoyment.
Perhaps the EPL and FA should actually try listening to the fans who fund the wealth of the EPL rather than trying to impose their own busted policies on us.
Hitch, while I understand all of the complaints about refereeing standards (in general) and VAR (in particular) – I have to say that I found the ‘official’ statement from Forrest completely unacceptable.
Fans can say whatever they like, whether in the pub or on social media: professional football clubs, and people associated with them, cannot.
If it was down to me, I’d throw Forrest out of the PL now, without even waiting for the season to finish.
Asking for the audio and / or a transcript?
What’s the big deal?
Well unless, maybe you had something to hide?
RSS, I believe that all audio should be available.
I’ve been saying for years that I’d like to see football follow Rugby Union and make all the referee/assistant/4th official/VAR audio to be broadcast live, real-time.
And I’d also say that if I were Stuart Attwell, I’d be demanding that PGMOL’s lawyers immediately launch proceedings against Forrest – regardless of whatever else the PL do.
BTW, Forrest’s owner Evangelos Marinakis also owns Olimpiakos, and has form with complaints and allegations about refereeing there (see this from today’s Independent): “More than anything, though, it is the spoiled and self-entitled response of a club whose owner has a history of this. It is only three years since Olympiakos, also owned by Evangelos Marinakis, criticised the “darkest days of Greek refereeing ever”. A specific target of that criticism was the president of the “central refereeing committee”, who Olympiakos said they were withdrawing “confidence” in. The individual? Mark Clattenburg, who by 2024 Marinakis had enough confidence in to employ as Forest refereeing consultant”
this from today’s Independent):
“Make all the referee/assistant/4th official/VAR audio to be broadcast live, real-time.”
Spot on Ardent.
I’ll hold my hands up and say I know nothing of the Forest owner or his past but you must admit match officials appear to be exempt from any accountability for their decisions?
And also take into account that Forest have history with match officials…
” In 1984 the president of Belgian side Anderlecht bribed the referee ahead of their Uefa Cup semi-final victory over Nottingham Forest. The facts were finally revealed in 1997 and Anderlecht were banned from European competition for a year. But new evidence shows Uefa was told about the bribe as early as 1992.”
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-37453762#:~:text=In%201984%20the%20president%20of,bribe%20as%20early%20as%201992.
Maybe you’re right Ardent. Whether Forest’s tweet is actionable is debatable. Throwing Forest out of the EPL whilst ManC and Chelsea are currently avoiding any action on alleged serious financial breaches might start a real sh*t storm.
Although it might be implied as criticsm of Attwell, I think Forest were complaining about the PGMOL process.
All referees have to state which club they ‘support’ and, to the best of my knowledge, referees are not appointed in games where their declared support might lead to a question of integrity.
If that is true why did PGMOL appoint a referee (not supporting either club) but a team with vested interests in the outcome given that (allegedly) Forest had raised concerns prior to the game. PGMOL could have averted any criticsm by acting accordingly …………
Notwithstanding its unquestionable that the general view of VAR – or, more accurately, its application is an anathema for most fans,
Whatever I have decided it’s now prudent to put my my grumpy old man’s shovel away 🙂
Wow. That’s some statement, Ardent. PL as a totalitarian regime.
BFR, I simply think that Forrest crossed the red line.
Criticism of refereeing standards and competence (in general) is fine IMO, but coming out with statements implying that the refereeing body and/or specific referees are somehow ‘biased’ for or against particular clubs is not appropriate.
As I said before, that’s something that fans can discuss between themselves, but to put it out as an official club statement…
Again, just my opinion, but over the last few years we’ve heard fairly widely-reported issues where particular clubs have asked for particular referees not to be involved in their forthcoming games – that set a dangerous precedent: if you can’t accept that professional referees are ‘professional’ (however incompetent you might think they are) then I think we’re on a slippery slope to clubs deciding who they will allow to referee their games. That makes the game a farce.
“ It is never appropriate to improperly question the integrity of match officials, and the nature of these comments means the Premier League will also be investigating the matter in relation to the league’s rules.”
What ever are they going to do, take points off them?
Oh I forgot, they’ve already have.
Bent.
I heard someone on the radio refer to Mark Clattenburg as ‘Mark Battenburg’ earlier.
Made me laugh. Especially with his ‘chequered past’!!!
I’ll get me coat…
Jack is on a six-year contract tha runs until June 2027 on annual average salary of £15,600,000.
He’s going nowhere imo.
I don’t see any other club now that would give him that sort of money, so that’s a very good reason why he might well stay there even if he doesn’t get much playing time.
But surely he can’t be happy at the prospect of losing his place in Southgate’s squad?
I couldn’t tell from the pieces that I saw whether it was him or the club who were floating the idea of him going sooner than 2027,
But even less happy at the prospect of losing a good chunk of £16m I should imagine?
And may I be as bold as to suggest he give Mr Bale a bell for a bit of advice on the best golf courses?? 😂🤣😂⛳
Would we have Jack back ? I think he’s now a player you would have to know when’s the best games to play him as he slows games down, for me no. He would upset the apple cart in many ways price, partying, is part of his life now. I’m happy to see at long last what I’ve advocated some referees are in my mind boy hood fans of their football clubs, Nottingham forest at long last said as much, I also noticed that Michael Oliver officiated two games Saturday and Sunday , he was the one to say Coventrys goal was offside in VAR , we do have to get none footballing refs trained as it’s getting controversial now in games.
https://theathletic.com/5438160/2024/04/23/aston-villa-unai-emery-contract-new/
Happy days!
Villa prepping talks with Unai after the season’s end with a contract extension to 2027.
Whooooooo!!!!!
Can we make that 2037?
I don’t have any issues with VAR because it’s not the problem. PGMOL is the problem. The average fan knows absolutely nothing about how they manage their employees, training, who gets reprimanded and why and what officials say to each other during a game. They are a black box and a law unto themselves.
I feel for Forest fans as I think that all 3 penalties should have been given and, while there might be some grey areas about the first two the third was stonewall. VAR missed it through bias or utter incompetence either of which is inexcusable.
I watch a lot of La Liga and Serie A games and, while you do get the odd controversy, we seem to have two or three every week in the PL.
I would disband the current PGMOL and replace it with something much more transparent. Some new thinking is needed. If we get semi-automated offsides then all VAR will be looking at is contentious decisions. In that case why not give each team three appeals and then just replay the incident on the big screen so that everyone can see it and let the ref on the field make the decision?
Anyway, I feel for Forest fans. They’ve been diddled and, if they go down, it will leave a bitter taste.