I’ve actually been avoiding any Villa news over the last few days, as I didn’t want to build my expectations for the game. There’s nothing worse than a game being called off and particularly at the last minute for causing disappointment or depression for me.
I’ve even left this post as long as I could, because I was fully expecting it to be cancelled.
Fortunately it’s still on except that Steve Gerrard has tested positive for Covid and will miss today’s game.
The Leeds game is off anyway, but I’m guessing Gerrard will also miss the Brentford game on next Sunday.
Will Gerrard be missed?
Well, yes he will because he physically won’t be there, but no doubt even if he’s been isolating, he’d have been fully involved in the training for the game. Would yesterday have been a day off anyway? Maybe not, as there would probably be fitness checks etc, but I would think the vast majority of the build up work would have been done previously.
I’m guessing the manager will be in contact with the coaches during the game, so he’ll still have some input.
Even the half time tongue lashing will probably go ahead via Zoom or something. The wonders of modern technology, eh?
I’ve seen mention that fixtures should have been called off and a pause to the game introduced, but I disagree.
You’d have to be very much an optimist if you think we’re going to win this game and while it’s by no means impossible for us to get something out of it, I think the chances are we will lose and if that’s so, we might as well just take the loss and get it over with. We’ve already got two games to squeeze in somewhere and the last thing we want is fixture congestion. We don’t have the squad for it, in my opinion.
Squad news and Keinan Davis, Marvelous Nakamba, Morgan Sanson, Anwar El Ghazi, Bertrand Traore and Leon Bailey were all unavailable with a variety of problems, but Gerrard confirmed “a couple” of players were back in contention.
A “couple” is interesting, because I would have thought most of them would be available.
As for Chelsea, Romelu Lukaku and Callum Hudson-Odoi are available after previously testing positive, along with six others. Defender Andreas Christensen is also available after a back injury.
Thoughts then and it’s going to be tough, although, by no means impossible.
Chelsea have only drawn to Wolves and Everton and lost to West Ham. They have beaten Leeds and Watford, but they weren’t exactly convincing victories. So they’re by no means unbeatable.
In fact, looking at their last few results, I don’t know why I’m so pesimistic.
I’m tempted to change my mind totally and say we can beat them, but a lot depends on who starts for us.
There are too many variables to be confident of anything with Covid, but I’m going to be optimistic and say we’ll get the draw. We’re still ninth in the league and if we could get a win, it would really get us into a good place.
There’s going to be goals, so I’ll go for 2-2.
UTV!
Chucky and Traore on for Ings and Buendia.
Ings is just pointless, imo.
AEG on for Sanson, who (shock, horror!) has actually been good today, imo.
I forgot Ings and, especially Buendia,were actually playing.
The Argentinian is the biggest waste of money I have seen at the club
Whereas I didn’t think he’d been too bad, Mark.
He has ability and I think he is getting better.
Certainly not the worst player, is probably what I mean.
I thought Buendia and Sanson looked pretty good today.
Watkins and Ings still doesn’t work although I don’t think Watkins has played any better than Ings.
Too many poor balls in the final third.
79 minutes before a shot on target and it’s AEG who makes it!
Martinez MoM for me..
I’d probably describe Ings as a waste – at least oin this team.
As for Buendia – he’s class, and he’s getting better every game, IMO
We managed just one shot on target in the 80th minute.
Says it all really.
Can’t argue with the result, we are only a mid-table team. Too many of the Villa players on show cannot hack it with the Champions league players.
Honourable exceptions Martinez, Cash, Targett, Konsa, Watkins, Carney, Douglas Luiz and a pass for Traore. The others may have played to their best today but they will have to be replaced.
Can argue with a big error by the linesman, Atkinson and VAR when the score was 2 -1 and a Villa player was brought down by Alonso in the penalty area. The linesman flagged the Villan offside but the replay showed he wasn’t and it was therefore a penalty for us. No VAR – why? the offside is a clear and obvious error.
I thought they weren’t supposed to flag for marginal offsides but to leave it to VAR?
Or have they changed the protocols yet again?
I love the way Lukaku can muscle out a player like Mings when it suits him but when he’s touched ever so slightly by someone like Hause he falls over like he’s been shot.
I thought we were okay first half and if only we weren’t so wasteful in and around the box. Watkins and Ings were guilty of taking shots on when a pass was on. Sanson played okay but he isn’t a patch on McGinn when he’s firing. Mings was bullied by Lukaku second half which was where the game changed. If Cash improves his crossing and rash tackling he will be an all round player.
Overall I’m not too disappointed because we were in the game and they needed two penalties to win.
At least SG only misses one game now after the Leeds game was postponed plus meatball should be back. Reasons to be cheerful!
Police have sent a written apology to the family of ex-footballer Dalian Atkinson, six months after an officer who Tasered him and kicked him in the head was jailed for manslaughter.