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!
Comments
34 responses to “Villa-Chelsea; Covid still the main story, but at least the games’s on”
The more I think about it, the more confident I am.
Can we win this?
I’d love it if we could.
Wow, McGinn is out. How weak does that midfield look all of a sudden?
Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett, Sanson, Luiz, Ramsey, Buendia, Watkins, Ings.
subs: Tuanzebe, Hause, Iroegbunam, Chukwuemeka, Traore, Trezeguet, El Ghazi, Davis, Steer
Beat me to it Badger.
Opportunity for Sanson to show why we bought him.
McGinn and Young missing so presumably Covid
Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett, Sanson, Luiz, Ramsey, Buendia, Watkins, Ings.
Traore and Trezeguet on the bench.
Can they solve the Watkins / Ings conundrum?
We do need to stop this cycle of either winning or losing (although I like the idea of winning lots more games) and, in tough games like today to at least be able to pick up a point.
Hope for the best, plan for the worst so a large martini it is then 🙂
The Watkins Ings conundrum could be solved by: Mings hitting half his balls forward to Ings instead of all of them to Watkins; Watkins passing to Ings when Watkins is tightly marked.
However since that has been obvious all season and nothing has yet been done about it – I don’t expect it will change.
With McGinn I would have fancied a draw or even sneaked a win. Without him, I think it will be really difficult. Sanson starts and will need to put in a 9/10 performance minimum. Frankly I wouldn’t be surprised if Mr Glass isn’t injured after 10 minutes.
It’s a pity the Leeds game has been postponed. That’s two catch up games for us already. We need to get as many games played as possible. Covid isn’t going away and we need to go on the basis of how we feel. If we feel unwell then stay at home. Otherwise get on with things. Everyone has had a chance of getting a vaccine. I hope Boris doesn’t make any more restrictions because it’s crippling the economy and the hospitality industry especially. People losing their jobs isn’t good for their well-being and paying rent or mortgages.
Soooooooooooo fed up of covid. Gonna be an interesting game. No idea on a result but should be odd to watch. We wondered what it was like when JG was missing but how will we fare without Meatball and his fat arse? He really is great isn’t he.
Come on the lads!!!!!! We need a surprise win today to keep in the running for a top 6 finish, even though I don’t think we’re equipped enough for Europe yet…
Rama-lama ding dong!
Will it be 2 up top? I think Ings and Watkins will interchange in a front 3 with Buendia.
James OG
1-0!
Yeeeessssss!!!!
Penalty no arguement
Bugger
Chelsea Pen.
They score
Hmmmm…
Never get a withdrawal from the lucky bank without a balancing deposit.
I see Sky are only interested in Chelsea – how surprising!
Lukaku on – that’s a problem for us as he’s scored 8 against us and scored in the last six. Why do we have so many of these unwanted records
We seem to have gone very passive – have we been too concerned with Lukaku coming on?
What a load of crap by Villa – why did we bother to come out for the second half if we are just going to stand and watch Chelsea play.
Continue like this and we’re going to get hammered
And Lukaku scores after some really wimpish defending by Mings, who is just way too slow.
Sigh.
Lukaku is twice the size of Mings. Mings was knocked out the way like he was a feather. Lukaku isn’t the most expensive player ever (transfers collectively) for nothing.
I’m really noticing this game that for the abundance of talent we have, we lack leaders with Jack gone and McGinn injured. I think SG will look to rectify that this January. We lack professional aggression.
Mings booked and misses next game.
He can’t manage Lukaku but tbf was put in the mire by Konsa.
We’re working hard to give Chelsea another goal and looking decidedly average
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?