As one sorry chapter in Villa’s history has come to an end, so another one begins and hopefully it’ll be better.
Today’s game then, is against a Brentford side that are managed by Thomas Frank, who has been touted as a possible target for us.
Why he’d want to come to the Villa, I’m really not sure and I doubt we’ll be looking at him, to be honest. Does that mean I wouldn’t welcome him? Not at all. We could do worse.
For now though we’re being run by Aaron Danks, who I have doubts about. His experience is just too much academia based and short of actual physical experience in the game proper, as far as I can see. No doubt he’s Purslow’s choice.
Still, we have to try and get behind him because a result today would help to relieve the pressure the team must be under, having suffered awful form and being a solitary place above the relegation zone.
At least we know the atmosphere won’t be anything like as toxic as it would have been if Gerrard hadn’t been sacked.
Squad news and there’s not much change.
Luiz has had his red card rescinded, meaning he’s not banned for three games and is available.
The other news is that Lucas Digne is on the verge of a return and he could feature, although it’s more likely that he’ll be given another week or so.
For Brentford, Christian Norgaard is back in training, but it’s probably too soon for a return. Pontus Jansson, Aaron Hickey and Thomas Strakosha are all out until after the World Cup.
What to think then?
Brentford sit tenth in the league and it’s important to note that they, along with most teams this season, are very inconsistent. In fact I’d recommend that people have a good look at the table to see how poor the Premier league is this year.
Fortunately, that means that any team that can string a couple of wins together can quickly climb the table.
Do I think that team might be us then?
Unfortunately not. Not straight away, anyway.
While we might experience some sort of new manager bounce, Danks isn’t going to be in charge for long, so I’m not sure how much urgency the players are going to feel.
Add in that the players look totally bereft of any confidence and I feel that a draw might be a decent result today.
How we’ll set up is anyone’s guess and there has been talk that McGinn and Ramsey might be “rested”. I’m not convinced that would be a good move, as we already look way to lightweight, but maybe a clean sweep, where we clear out a few long non-performing players for at least a while, is exactly what we need and it could be a chance for some sidelined players to get a chance to stake a claim for a prolonged run in the side?
I’m thinking particularly Sanson, who has looked okay in any brief stints he’s had and Nakamba, who to my mind has done next to nothing wrong, one poor game apart.
If Danks instructs the players to play forward, instead of back when they have options, that would be a good first move.
So I’m not expecting much today and of course I want the win, but of more interest to me today is the attitude of the players.
Will we see some extra fight?
Or will it be the same old, same old, which could indicate that it’s more about the players themselves and not managerial problems where we need to look closer?
If it does turn out to be down to the players, that’s going to be really disappointing, as it will mean we’ve been set back years and will literally have to go again.
I’m going to be optimistic and say we’ll dig in and get a draw.
That’s not very ambitious, I know, but I’m convinced we’d have lost if Gerrard was still in charge.
1-1 then, with the strong hope that we see some improvement.
Comments
61 responses to “Villa – Brentford; A new beginning”
Hoping to draw at home to Brentford?
How low we have fallen 🙁
When Dean Smith left Brentford, he took one of their strikers with him. I am guessing he might have had the pick which of the two to take. Toney or Watkins. There is the thought for the day.
Brentford bought Toney to replace Watkins, they weren’t there at the same time.
Fair comment as always Badger.
Just a point about Danks – he was appointed by Dean Smith as assistant manager after Richard O’Kelly resigned; so I assume that he and Fanny are retained as they don’t directly carry the Gerrard taint.
Some fairly depressing statistics:
We haven’t beaten Brentford since 1947! Although many of those years we were in different divisions.
In the modern we’ve played them 8 times and have failed to win one! The last four at VP ending in draws, so you’re call is logical from a statistical viewpoint.
Brentford haven’t won away this season and have never won a competitive match at VP.
Brentford to win then 🙂
we will see today if the players had stopped playing for SG if they at least look to be trying to win the game.
but it would not surprise me if we put in a much better display but still lose
anyway i am going for a 0 – 0 draw
How the hell has Austin mcphee still got a job ,money for old rope he’s stealing a bloody living that guy
Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Young, Dendoncker, Douglas Luiz, Bailey, Buendia, Watkins, Ings.
Ramsey and McGinn dropped to the bench; Dendonker starts.
Martinez, Young, Konsa, Mings, Cash, Buendia, Luiz, Dendonker, Bailey, Ings, Watkins.
Make of that what you will – is Dendonker going to sit in front of the defence with Luiz playing the number 8 role?
Jeez, that’s a poor looking side.
I think I’m going to change my prediction to a loss.
Ings and Watkins will both be wasted, as we lack creativity yet again.
Dedoncker hasn’t impressed me yet with his brief appearances. In fact I’m not sure if he has touched the ball. It’s an uninspiring starting XI which I can’t see getting anything from the game.
0-2 to Brentford but fingers crossed that I’m surprised.
4-2-3-1 with Luiz and Dendoncker as the 2.
Ings up top, totally isolated again then.
Yes!!!!!!!!!!!¡
Blimey, 1-0
Bailey great shot from the corner.
Double effing YEEEESSSSSSS!!!!!!
Argh, I missed it.
Penalty!!!!
Yep blatant pen.
3!!!!! I’ve bloody welll got tears in my eyes!!!
This is how it should be!!!!
Ings, for 3-0. Wow.
After he scored, Ings was tapping the side of his head, as if to say “think about it”
I’m now 100% convinced the players hated Gerrard.
just goes to show the players were not playing for SG
If anyone needs evidence ….
it all stems from the SG – Mings fallout and SG calling out some players
My whisky being drunk like pop with exciting football . what a change around and yes they was not playing for Gerrard.
Absolutely
What a difference
In Danks we trust.