Just a few short weeks ago, I’d have been brimful of confidence and saying that this is all over before it’s started, with a convincing win to the Villa.
But now, where confidence amongst us Villa fans has collapsed, this game looks like the others in the last few weeks, where we’ve suffered previously unthinkable defeats. That unthinkable it seems embarrasing that we actually thought we were almost invincible.
And of course Brighton are on one of those runs that usually automatically undoes us. They’ve lost won one in twelve games and are in freefall down the table.
It’s bound to end in disaster for us then. Or is it?
Team news is nothing has changed. Ross Barkley, John McGinn, Boubacar Kamara and Youri Tielemans are all still out, as is Andres Garcia.
Garcia. Has he had more than two weeks availability for us this season? It doesn’t seem like it. Mr Glass 2? Lets hope not. I’m sure he was out for weeks, back for a couple and was then out again in quick time, but I lose track.
And Brighton are slightly worse off, having Diego Gomez, Solly March, Stefanos Tzimas, Mats Wielder and Adam Webster all out and Yasin Ayari looking doubtful.
So there it is then. We’re doomed to lose this one. It’ll just follow the same old Aston Villa pattern.
Except I don’t think it will and I am desperately hoping that we won’t lose this one.
Emery will start Watkins for this and I think it’ll be a big mistake. Ollie hasn’t shown any spark for ages and it’s almost like something is missing, if you ask me. Is he disinterested? I don’t know, but he lacks any edge about his game and it’s a case of that old adage about finishing his breakfast in my eyes.
It’s a shame, as I’ve been one of his biggest cheerleaders during this barren spell, but he looks like a liability to the team now and talk of barn doors springs to mind when I think of him. Emery’s persistence with him has been admirable but in my opinion, he now needs to drop him. He won’t, of course. But he should, particularly now we have Kevin looking sharper.
We dug out a hard fought draw against Bournemouth and I’m hoping that’s stopped the rot.
The problem is though we’ve had three blanks for in our last five games. That’s not good enough for a top 3 team and is indicative of a striking problem.
Still, as much as I said it for the Brentford game, we should have more than enough to beat Brighton.
Villa to win 2-1 and if we don’t take the points, well…
We just need to.
UTV!
And I’ve already started worrying.
Surely we have to beat one of these inferior teams this time?
Following on from Badger’s comment about Watkins, I’ll repost this from the last topic:
I’ve come to a sad conclusion today. Oliver Watkins needs to be sold this summer.
We need a lethal goalscorer. Unless he miraculously bags 12+ in what’s left of this season, we need an upgrade. His hold up work is a luxury we cannot afford.
Names on a list please…
Brighton? I fear a draw.
We need to start winning. Even Everton are closing in, FFS. 5th is NOT a forgone conclusion. It could well end up being 7th and the Conference, just like Forest. They need to find something and start grinding out 3 points. Sod the performances at this stage. Just start stringing some wins together.
I’ll be happy to exit the cup btw. We have to either win the Europa or finish top 5. I can’t emphasise that enough. We haven’t got the squad for another cup run.
On tomorrow, Brighton are in a bit of shtuck so an away game to a team that’s lost their last two home games is perfect for them. Watch them go for us. If we start slow, thinking we’re controlling the game, there will be trouble. Because if they score first, it’ll be two banks of four again and a big FU.
Badger, I’m pretty sure Barkley is fit and available tomorrow.
I really don’t know what to think. We know statistically when Kamara is out we are a lesser side – rather like Manure without Fernandes or the Bar Codes without Guimaraes.
Emery never complains but he must know that we are weaker in midfield without Tielemans, McGinn and Kamara which, in turn, is reflected in less chances being created.
We just don’t have a replacement for Tielemans – both Onana and Luiz are defensive mids so it’s down to either Rogers or Buendia to provide the creative element.
I don’t think we’ll lose (famous last words) but it could well be a draw.
With Manure and Chelsea consistently we are under pressure and may well relinquish third and be looking closely at ‘Pools results.
Getting McGinn and Tielemans fit might well be the key to how our season unfolds.
UTV
*consistently winning
Agreed, we’re massively weakened Hitch but we’re not the only ones with problems.
You have to adapt around it and we have a manager who is up to that, I think.
But you might as well play with a broken leg, as start Watkins imo. He’s been frankly useless through most of this season.
I’d honestly rather see Rogers up top. At least he can shoot with real venom from further out, something Watkins has never been particularly good at.
Luiz is not a defensive mid. He’s a like for like replacements for Tielemans. Capable of forward passes and more goal threat than Youri. He’s on record saying Unai helped him with this and turned him into a number 8 when he peaked. If Onana can mop up like Kamara and Dougie sparks, we should be ok. But Dougie needs to spark…
Chelsea drawing. ManUre losing.
Come on Spam!!!
Chelsea drop 2 points from being 2 up! Despite the ref giving them tons of extra time to grab a winner…
If Forest beat Wolves tomorrow, Spuds are 4th from bottom on points. With Arsenal up next! Christ it would be funny if they went down…
Have ManU scored? It’s offside! 😁
Watching West Spam – 7 minutes extra time – joke; Fergie’s been on the phone 😂
Chelsea and ManU (both given Fergie time), drop 2 points each tonight. Totally unexpected. West Ham were so close!! Damn.
This should give us fuel for the fire for tomorrow night!!!!
We may have Youri and SJM back early March. Boy this will be a nail biting climax to the season!!!
Bum Bum, I read somewhere that Tielemans and McGinn were out till early April.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Bogarde in for Mr Glass tomorrow. I don’t think he is capable of playing two games in four days.
Totally agree with Badger that Watkins needs to be dropped. Even his hold up play has been non existent recently.
One positive is Brighton won’t set up like Brentford or Everton. They are an adventurous team which suits our style of play.
Manure and Chel$ea dropped points tonight and we need to capitalise. The worry is we are in a situation where confidence is dropping and VP is becoming a bit of a library recently. Hopefully an evening game under the lights will raise the volume. Bloody corporate areas are destroying the atmosphere but money is everything so we are told.
In corporate on Saturday holte ill make sure I get em singing
Cant wait I luv me weekends in brum great people,great atmosphere and the Villa woop
Big chance tomorrow to get a bit of a gap again UTMV
I heard we’ll have a couple back earlier than expected. Fingers crossed, but no Kamara. Wished WHam could have held on tonight dragging the shit Spuds into a relegation battle.
We need VERY loud voices tomorrow night. Let’s hope in 24 hours time we’re back buzzing again!!!! A surprise Fulham win would be too much to ask after tonight’s results 🤣.
Two very handy results last night with Manure and Chelski dropping points. I would argue that tonight will be a critical night for Champions League qualification. If Villa win and Pool either lose or draw then we will be either 10 or 11 points ahead with 12 to play. Including tonight, we now have to play the bottom 7 clubs 14th-20th. With UEFA co-efficient being very positive for English clubs, we should have 5 Champions League places next year. This has to be our number 1 priority. We have to start reducing the negative impact of SCR.
And before people complain, try and win Europa trophy. But against Newcastle on Saturday, play the periphery players.
To be fair, I didn’t realise Liverpool were that far behind us.
I will be brutally honest and say that we’ve got a good chance of losing Top Five if we don’t get 7 points out of the next three fixtures. Lose tonight and that’s instantly impossible, and then we’ve got an in-form Leeds at home, and then Wolves away, where we don’t win there (we just don’t).
It appears not scoring in the first half basically nails down a loss when playing at home, so we need to score early. I’m going to go 1-0. But this could turn toxic if we don’t score in the first half.
I hate playing teams on bad runs with a lot of injuries. We need to play our strongest team tonight and rest our best players for Newcastle as much as it pains me saying it. Sid is correct in saying the financial benefits of a top 5 position is crucial to keeping Emery and increasing our revenue. Chelsea and Manure dropping points takes a bit of pressure off tonight but I think Pool will win at Sunderland so even a draw would be disappointing. A loss would be almost unthinkable! Leeds and Wolves are far from easy. Farke has got Leeds playing good football and they have a never give up mentality plus the away end at VP will be noisy. As for Wolves, we have a recent history of making them look like Real Madrid. At the custard bowl especially will be tough.
Frank sacked.
Frank’s – for the memories:
of evenings down the Lane. where José would complain.
They had Poch for a while, but didn’t like his style.
Until the Aussie came along whose name was really Greek
he lasted half a season but it should have been a week.
They kissed goodbye to Kane and Son, now the front-wheel skids are vexed.
If you can manage Tottenham then apply now with a TEXT.
Very poetic OLK – like Spurs justice 😂
Managing Spurs should come with a health warning – Franks has escaped an even worse outcome!
Badger, thinking the same about Watkins: no interest in the man for Villa, mark you. Others fit that thought. Barkley, we need him to play as he did a few years back; then he needs players around him to form an attacking system. Will we win tonight tough ask, we sure as hell need to as as we can all see the gap has been shortened so squeaky bum bum time tonight😜.
Cash is out – presumably an injury (hamstring?) picked up at Bournemouth – Bogarde at RB which reduces our strength even further.
Martinez, Bogarde, Konsa (c), Mings, Maatson, Onana, Luiz, Sancho, Rogers, Buendia, Watkins – Alysson on the bench along with the usual hopefuls – except Cash.
Brighton fielding a strong team which will cause us problems.
It was 4-3 at their place and I’ve gone for a ‘cagey’ 3-2 win tonight 😂
May have to revisit that forecast!
Have to watch in the pub from our quiz team tonight; don’t think I’ll be contributing a lot which, frankly, is not a big miss for them 😄
Bogarde in for the injured Cash. They are dropping like flies. Onana starts again so he might be onto a club record.
We are due to give someone a hammering and this is the one. 3-0 or more. Clean sheet and Ollie scores more than once. Nothing to see now just move on.
Good god, we are in shit street then, Bogarde doesn’t have the determination that Cash has, I fear the worst now glass players plus reserves think I’ll have a Jack Daniels might help me remember the good games.
Where’s Matthew?? I’d have gone Konsa at right back and Lindelof in.
…they will target Bogarde…
Stanley was class BFR.
Brighton have shown nothing, for me.
If we lose this it will be 100% our own fault, I’m guessing.
Brighton seem more interested on kicking us off the park