I’m being facetious of course. I don’t think for one minute that this is going to be easy.
I took the trouble to listen to Dean Smith’s presser today.
I don’t normally bother, as for some reason I’ve always preferred the printed word. But whatever, I did find it interesting and very informative.
First, it is noticable that Smith has genuine respect for Brentford, it’s owner and it’s staff and especially Thomas Frank. Frank has done well in getting Brentford promoted and Smith sung his praises, saying he has a good exuberant character, as well as just being a good tactitian and a really good coach.
I’m certainly not going to take anything away from Frank, but I do wonder how much of their recent success is more down to the staff doing the hard work behind the scenes? After all, they barely seemed to miss Smith when he left and things carried on pretty much as normal.
You can’t be a poor manager/coach if your club gets promoted to the Premier league though, so I’ll just leave that there.
Smith saved me some work, in that he explained that Brentford haven’t changed in the way they play since being promoted. They’re defensively solid, well organised and carry plenty of threat with Ivan Toney in particular.
So they aren’t going to be a pushover and have started the season pretty well, having beaten Arsenal (which made me laugh) and got a very decent point at Palace.
I would however think things will balance out over the season and while I actually hope they don’t go down, I think they will struggle.
It’s early days though and we know we had a poor pre-season, so we’re basically still gaining fitness.
Smith said he expects us to improve, particularly with the players we have due to come back and he does have a point.
Which leads nicely to squad news, where Watkins was due to train today and if he was okay, he’d be available. He’ll only get minutes at best then, in my opinion.
Bailey and Traore won’t be available, but should be ok to be selected after the dreaded international break. It’s a bit of a double-edged sword this break, in that they’ll be able to gain fitness without missing games. I just hate international breaks.
Sanson is training, but he’s had no match time, so he’s apparently going to play a couple of games this week. But he won’t be anywhere near the first team, you’d have to assume. I actually wonder if Smith rates him and while the Frenchman has had a torrid time, I do remember an article that suggested he’s a troublemaker. So much so that two agents dropped him. We know the manager can seemingly take a strong dislike to certain players and my guess is that Sanson will be one of those. No doubt we’ll see.
Keinan Davis is having his brace off tomorrow, so he’s a month away from even starting training. I predict a January loan for him, given that Smith thinks we’re okay with Bailey and Traore being able to play up front, if needed.
Which leaves Wesley, who’s had a medical at Brugges. I’m not sure if there is a clause to buy there, but I suspect Smith will be hoping there is and the Belgians take the option.
Smith’s comments on the Barrow game were interesting too.
People have apparently been on the phone asking about Cameron Archer.
I saw an article last night, which suggested that Walsall should take the lad on loan. I think that’s a great idea, but having listened to a few of their games, they don’t sound a very good side and they might not be the right sort of place. Still, I’d be happy to help Walsall out, as would Smith, but he was very non-comittal and hinted that the striker would stay involved with the first team squad.
Smith spoke highly about El Ghazi’s goal contribution last year and while that seems to suggest he wants to keep the wingman, I wasn’t at all convinced that he wouldn’t let him go. If Roma are happy to cough up a rumoured £15 million, I’d snap their hands off, but I don’t believe that figure in the slightest, if they have any interest at all. If they’re only going to hand over say, £10 million, I’d rather keep him as a squad player.
Likewise with Weston McKennie. Smith sort of poured cold water on us having any interest in him, but he could easily have flat out denied that. He quite simply didn’t so I assume we do.
Prediction time then and I’m struggling to call it.
Part of me sees a few goals, because both sides know how to score. But then both sides are pretty good defensively too.
Brentford are pretty good at setpieces and that’s something we’ll have to be aware of. Austin Macphee, who I’m relieved to see has NOT left the club, as I wrongly stated previously, will be well aware of that though and hopefully have the lads well drilled. I’m already seriously appreciative of what he brings to the table.
I think we’ll have enough to beat Brentford on our own turf, with what should be another full house.
A 2-1 Villa win.
Up the Villa!
Comments
133 responses to “Villa – Brentford; This should be easy, right?”
Smith should have the lads suitably up for this.
Trouble is, I’m sure Frank will have his up for it too.
I’m hoping it’ll be a very entertaining game.
CR to Man U, after Citeh pulled out.
Hmm.
If Citeh were ever in for him that is. What else were the media going to talk about – given that the Messi, Kane and Grealish click bait frenzy had all disappeared. And on that note what new ‘prime story’ are Sky going to dig up?
Anyway, moving on.
You know how I love stats – well it seems we are unbeaten in 7 games against Brentford in the top flight – except the last game was in 1947 so I think we can safely disregard that statistic.
More relevant is our failure to beat Brentford in 6 games in the Championship of which 4 saw Smith managing the Bees. It’s nicely balanced though – 3 defeats away and 3 draws at home.
I think the result may well depend on whether Ollie Watkins plays or not.f
I’m still fence sitting and going to predict a draw for the third game in a row. Maybe I’ll get this one right – but I doubt it!
1947!!!! Lol!!!
Villa win. 3-1.
If Watkins plays I think we will win 2-1. Without him probably a draw or even 1-2.
With transfer deadline day on Tuesday, it will be surprising to see any major incomings. I think as far as players going out, I expect Hourihane to go as long as wages aren’t an issue, with championship clubs looking most likely to bid for him. I wouldn’t let El Ghazi go for £15m personally. Whilst I don’t see him as first choice starter when everyone is fit, I think he scores enough goals to be worth a lot more than that valuation. He was second only to Watkins in goals scored last season (more than JG)
As for the international break, I hate the fact that we have only played a few games before the first disruption. It annoys me when the likes of Klopp and Guardiola whine about too many games because of our domestic cups, yet no-one criticises the obscene amount of international friendlies and pre tournament qualifying games that get increased year in, year out. Does anyone actually care about the England games coming up? Unless I google them I won’t have a clue who we are playing and whether they are friendlies or qualifiers. Did I mention I’m not interested 🤔
I just googled and it’s Hungary, Andorra and Poland in World Cup qualifiers! 🥱
El Ghazi’s an odd one. I get that his goals are valuable.
But his general play is awful 9 times out of 10 and I just feel he’s a liability that weakens the overall team.
I understand why some like him, but I just don’t, I’m afraid.
As for the Euros and WC, do the minimum so all the clubs get cut down to the required amount asap. For example, our 4 teams would be drawn into 2 games and that’s it, the 2 winners go through.
Harsh, maybe, but we’d be ok as they’d just fix the draws like they normally do, in our favour.
Sudden death. And we can keep watching the proper game (the Prem) 🙂
No money in not playing loads of games though, I don’t suppose.
I’m not in the slightest bit interested either.
The only good things about this IB are :-
– Emi, Buendia and Nakamba are going nowhere. Not sure about Luiz but assume Brazil are not playing in a red listed country.
– Gives us time to get Bailey, Traore and Sanson fit (and Watkins if needed).
Otherwise I’m on the same page as Holte and Badger
12 into 11 does not go. After the international break Dean Smith should have a full squad to choose from and then he will have a selection problem and formations to consider.
An attacking formation including Ings, Watkins, Buendia and Bailey is exciting and non of them have been bought to sit on the bench. But this is likely to result in Louiz and McGinnn being the defensive midfield. However, this means that the midfield is light and does not provide the defensive with consistent high level cover.
Smith recently moved to 3 in midfield and we look more solid there and less impacted on by counter attack. Further, this 3 man midfield allows Ramsey and potentially Chukwuemeka to alternate and achieve Premier experience. Then again don’t play them and two promising youngsters would leave.
I am intrigued to see whether he alternates home and away selections around the above set ups or plumps for one of them, with knock on effects.
Or an other outcome could be that we are moving from a team where we never felt we had 11 premier quality players on the pitch. To one now where there are normally two premier standard players for each position. Or there is a youngster who now needs premier games to develop into an outstanding premier player. The dominant teams have these players who sit on the bench looking for an opportunity to get in the team, yet do not hand in transfer requests. These are unchartered times for us.
I really hope Dean can juggle the above issues. If he does then we will be challenging for honours within 3 years.
It’s a nice problem to have Sid.
i keep going back to Ings and Watkins in particular. Will either of those be happy to sit on the bench? I really doubt it and I don’t see Smith playing 2 up front all the time. I suppose Watkins can play on the left, which puts El Ghazi in trouble, I’d say.
But yes, we’re close to having very good options all over now.
No McGinn or J Ramsey because of Covid and Mings is out injured. Watkins is on the bench! I think we are going to struggle today.
A win for Brentford I’m afraid.
We don’t seem to be having much good fortune at the moment which Is concerning.
Wtf!
I’m not sure what to think now.
At least Chukwuemeka is in. High hopes for him.
Aston Villa: Martinez, Targett, Cash, Tuanzebe, Konsa, El Ghazi, Carney Chukwuemeka, Luiz, Buendía, Young, Ings.
Subs: Steer, Guilbert, Hourihane, Aaron Ramsey, Archer, Philogene-Bidace, Watkins, Nakamba, Hause.
What a Goal Brentford
What shocking defending 🙁
One down already – this is going to be a long afternoon
We’re way too slow.
I was about to say from what I’m seeing we are weak in midfield and our defence is poor , then a Goal ,I know it’s early but Chucky is slow in reacting and we seem to be slow finding our men . God help us..
Buendia, go on son 1-1
What a shot on goal.. brilliant
Perhaps I should have more faith?
Sorry but Chucky is so slow to a ball , he needs to speed up . Good with his feet but not lively enough yet ..
It’s probably a bit of a shock to him Bill.
Martinez threw that in the air to kick. That should have been a goal to my mind, even if he was in control. It’s still in the bloody air!
Sergi Canos goal, when he nicked the ball off Emiliano Buendia, was correctly ruled out by officials.
FA rules say an indirect free-kick given if: “A player prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from the hands or kicks or attempts to kick the ball when the goalkeeper is in the process of releasing it.”
Probably to stop some of those goals where the attacker blatantly pinched it, years ago.
Hi boot springs to mind Badger, hey what’s this fowl after fowl and waved on ,
I get the impression that Brentford seem the more likely.
Whilst applauding Smith in giving Chukwuemeka his chance, it’s a lot to ask of him to step up and, effectively, take McGinn’s place. I would have thought it more sensible to start with either Hourihane or Nakamba?
I think Brentford shaded it and we were lucky with their disallowed goal IMO. Chukwuemeka is struggling with the pace of the game but it is a great education for him. We clearly miss McGinn for his high octane energy and Smith might need to make a change.
TGVilla have, I think answered that although I didn’t see it.
You can’t have forwards standing next to the GK trying to kick the ball as the GK releases it to kick downfield. That way lunacy lies.
I don’t understand what the gameplan is at all. They’re looking very likely to me.
Perhaps the idea is to try and confuse the opposition by not having one LOL
Chuky off for Naka.
Hourihane is definitely finished if he doesn’t get on today, imo.
We need to get Watkins on too, just to give them more to think about.
We’ve offered nothing in this half and will concede if this carries on.