Well, this game should be pretty straightforward, shouldn’t it?
After all we beat them on their own patch less than a fortnight ago, so it just makes sense.
Except it just doesn’t work like that with the Villa, as we know all too well.
Just as I said the last time we played them, they’re fighting for their lives so will give us no quarter.
The good news is we shown we can equal anything they care to dish out.
Squad news and the main one is that Ezri Konsa is out for twelve to sixteen weeks. As the manager pointed out, it’s not the worst time to have this sort of injury, but it will still mean the stalwart defender will miss the pre-season.
There’s no way we’ll be selling him in the window.
Emi Martinez has a “small issue” but he’s expected to be okay.
Otherwise, it’s as we were, with Hause and Bailey still out.
As for Burnley, Ben Mee and James Tarkowski are possible players but Matej Vydra, Ashley Westwood and Johann Berg Gudmundsson are all set to miss out with fitness issues.
Thoughts then and while this ought to be, not easy, but a definite win, I won’t be having a bet on the game. I just always have a nagging doubt that we’ll do something stupid and throw it away.
To be fair, it was pointed out on this site that we’ve won the vast majority of games we’ve been expected to win. I checked this for myself, as it just didn’t seem like it, but it is indeed true.
So it would seem my doubt is very much misplaced and I can predict the result with a bit more confidence.
So a Villa win it is.
I’ll go 2-1
UTV!
Since Gerrard arrived we have, I think, progressed about two places in the table which I suspect is no less than Smith would have achieved.
Just seen we had 22 shots but a lower XG than Burnley – as I thought they had the better opportunities to win the match and if it hadn’t been for Mings block they would have done.
Newcastle, Brentford, Brighton and Palace will all finish above us, yet we are supposed to have the better squad. Only Southampton separates us from the relegation battle.
Despite all the £millions invested by NSWE we are going backwards not forwards and I’m just not convinced that Gerrard is experienced enough to take us any further forward than Smith could have done.
Yes, he’s been instrumental in the signing of Coutinho who started off well but has offered nothing since – isn’t that the very point made by Barca fans?
I really don’t have any confidence over next season.
In premier league terms, Gerrard is a rookie manager. The Rangers job was always likely to see them advance after their demotion to the lowest league. I think most English fans are unimpressed with the values in getting Celtic or Rangers to a top two position.
Gerrard deserves an opportunity to overhaul the squad to his preference. I’m certain he will be backed financially in the transfer market. If we are still looking like mid table by December then our owners will need to ask why progress isn’t being made.
“Gerrard deserves an opportunity*
No he doesn’t, he’s ex pro multi millionaire using AVFC as a stepping to fulfill his future ambitious, it’s ( imo) an insult.
He deserves nothing, he needs to earn it.
His kudos as a player means nothing at VP, he needs to earn our respect and adoration.
Prediction…
Gone by Christmas.🤞
Isn’t that an oxymoron RSS?
‘Using us as a stepping stone to Anfield but he’s gone by Christmas’
If he’s gone by Christmas he’ll have slipped off that particular stepping stone.
Not at all Hitch,
Just because he and the media think he’ll someday be the future manager of Liverpool vs being actually good enough to manage them are two different things.
In his head he’s no doubt using us as a stepping stone to fulfill his own ambitions but personally I don’t think he’ll be able to achieve it.
Fair cimmentvGuest.
It seems to me that ‘being a stepping stone’ is an irrelevant point. If he proves good enough to manage Liverpool whilst at VP then we, by association, will be in a very good position and able to attract a top manager to replace him. Like players, managers move on – even Klopp and Guardiola could be accused of using their current positions as ‘stepping stones’ to somewhere else.
If not, he’ll be gone anyway!
What does annoy me is the disrespect being shown to Villa by the media reporting it in this way.
*Fair comment
100% agree with you Hitch, obviously if he were to succeed and leave it would be win-win.
The media disrespect is the most annoying part of it.
Not really Hitch, one doesn’t necessarily effect the other.
Just because a plan does not come to fruition doesn’t mean the Machiavellian plot behind it was any different.
Very unimpressed with Gerrard there seems no flow to our games just passing it around and not getting anywhere.
We’re not really a team but a bunch of individuals.
Watched the film on by sport about villa winning league and European cup that was a team everyone playing for each other attacking as a team defending as one.
I still think Smith would have got the team higher by time he had all his player’s fit and buendia up and running.
I’m not looking forward to next season this year we lucky there was 5teams worse Everton won’t be this bad next year
I was pleased to see Gerrard identifying ‘beating the block’ as one of the reasons Villa do not score more from the chances they get in the penalty area. He continued – ‘this is something we must work harder at improving’.
I am not sure it can be taught to adults. I think it is something kids pick up in the playground and those that do not learn it there do not develop it later. On Sunday Mahrez and Sterling may give a demonstration. It would be good if our recruitment looked for a player who has that ability, not forgetting to start the search amongst the young players we have on the books already.
At last: Chukwuemeka was given the chance to star in the sole televised game against supposedly inferior opposition and he blew it. He or his agent should now realise he isn’t as good as he thinks he is. Stage fright maybe – its a different game in front of 40000.
The Fonz MKii?
On a different note, I think Viera might be in serious trouble re his apparent assault on a fan.
I’ve seen the Beeb’s version of the film a few times and it looks bad.
But it doesn’t show what went on beforehand.
If the Everton fan goaded him, but didn’t actually touch him, he has to be charged with assault and will be found guilty.
And if that happens, surely Palace won’t be able to defend violence?
Hence he has to be sacked?
I do have sympathy for him, but you can’t hit fans unless it’s self defence.
I suspect he knows this and it explains why he had his head in his hands on the interview desk.
What is with Palace and fans being slapped?
The Croydon Advertiser did not miss the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a headline when Eric Cantona vaulted the barrier to plant 2 boots on the chest of a home supporter. They went with “Shit Hits Fan!”. If you are not one of them the sense you get at Selhurst Park is that the ground suits the bunch of ass holes who revel in being offensive. They have got Millwall next door as role models.
Aston Villa have announced the departure of under-23 head coach Mark Delaney. The Welshman leaves Villa after 15 years of coaching at Bodymoor Heath.
A carbon copy of last season?
I thought he actually left last season.
I don’t know what I was thinking, if he was still here?????
Whoops 😐
Evening, Badger. I sent an article after the match last night. Wondering if you received? Hoping to stimulate discussion on the playing style…
I didn’t realise mate. Posted and thanks 🙂