If I was to say “I don’t know what to think about this one”, you’d probably think “crikey Badger, you’ve said that a few times this season”. And you’d be right, because I have.
The trouble is, my immediate thoughts are to say I think we’ll win this game.
But for pretty much all of the season, Villa have failed to do what the average fan has expected. It’s worked both ways, mind and just as we put up an excellent fighting display against Liverpool when I think many expected a sound beating, so we’ve failed to win games that we would have assumed to be a shoe-in, such as Ipswich at home. That one particularly sticks in my mind and it’s that sort of result that really rankles me.
Squad news is that Konsa and Bailey both face late fitness tests. I’d say that Bailey won’t get a chance now we have the newcomers, but Unai seems to love him, hence I’d guess that if the player is fit, he will start. Konsa, of course would be a welcome return, albeit I don’t think he’s been at his best this season. Pau, Kamara and Onana are all a couple of weeks away at best and Disasi is ineligible against his parent club.
As for Chelsea, Noni Madueke is out for a few weeks with a Hamsting issue and Nicolas Jackson, Marc Guiu, Benoit Badiashile, Romeo Lavia and Wesley Fofana (the only one I’ve heard of) are all long term injuries. Not that it matters much, as they have stupid amounts of players to call on. Which is something else that rankles, because I’ve literally just read that we face a big fine by Uefa for a financial breach.
Anyway, as I said, I fancy us to win this one, but I just get a sneaky feeling that we won’t and a draw seems most likely. I don’t see it being a high scoring game either and it’s most likely to be a tight affair.
Hence a 1-1 seems most likely to me and in a game where it would good to pull some points back against another Europe contender, I would be disappointed with just one at home.
Then again, watch Villa do the unthinkable again and either win easily or get soundly beaten.
It’s what we do.
UTV!
After all the talk of a second string lineup, we are fielding a strong starting XI.
We need to go full throttle from the start like against Spurs and get the job done early. We know we probably will concede with their first effort on goal.
This is our best chance of silverware and it’s a cup I’ve never seen us win. I will be really pissed if we go out against Cardiff.
Rashford – great crosser of the ball
We are a s**te watch.
Blimey – that’s a bit early RSS 🙂
Hitch the forwards make the runs BUT the midfield are just so reluctant to hit the pass and this against a team that’s conceded 55 goals in 34 games?
It’s ridiculous!
Agreed RSS – but it’s Emery that wants them to play with ‘control’!
Is that what I’m enduring Hitch?
A controlled performance?
I’d say comatose would be more apt?
Not sure if you’re being ironic, Hitch. Nonetheless, I don’t want him crossing the ball. He’s way too wide and hss been since his debut. It won’t surprise me if he doesn’t score a single goal before his loan ends. And it wouldnt be entirely his fault. Is that why we brought him in? To hug the touchline? He’s capable of 25+ per season. But not from where he’s currently being deployed. A mistake, IMHO.
No, I wasn’t BFR.
Compare Rashford wide with Bailey!
Yeh, but it’s a waste, Hitch. Ramsey can do that, with Rashford central.
“We are a s**te watch.”
Agreed.
Totally boring and trying to play in front of them will just prove tedious at best.
It also makes us open to a counter.
Get in behind them. We’re physically and mentally way better; you can see it..
Agreed
Please refer to my above comment.
Bailey FFS!!!! PASS THE F****** BALL!!! It’s like watching a 9 year old play! 😡😡😡
And then Ghazi, like watching a 6 year old, crashing into his own player. 🤦
It’s fine is playing this stile as li g as the players are clinical. As soon as an opening is created then pass, but they don’t.
Konsa playing out from the back is way too slow.
Tielsman to slow and out of form – 2 great chances and fluffed them
Bailey wants to shoot and will not cross with his right foot
Rashford has put a couple of early crosses over and those were the bright moments to date
Tielemans not playing well – so far
He’s been miles off it for a few weeks, but is the best we have in his position, imo.
There you go, Bailey gets behind them, whips one in and tears them a new one.
That’s the way to go.
And then comically crashes into the advertising hordings.
Ollie would have missed them…
He misses most things.
Talk about parking the bus. No space at all.
As soon as I saw the 5 at the back lineup pre match, it was so obvious we’d struggle…
If they keep defending deep, Villa might want to consider some long range shooting when they get near the D. Asensio? Tielemans? McGinn? Rashford if he ever comes in?
Ooh, should have been a goal for Ollie then
Hmm
What is wrong with our decision making, it’s surely has to be tactical this holding onto the ball for way too long. Gone are the days when you used to have to do everything quicker
Ironic in a hypersonic world with instant gratification. Not with Villa.
Dare I say that Rashford, since he came, has offered lots, but shown very little?
Hopefully it’s just him warming into things again.
Whatever, I wouldn’t be choosing us to be on the telly lately.
We’re bloody boring to watch, imo.
Wrighty saying Watkins should have lifted that chance. Hmm
Fuckin tedious this daily is shite still think we’ll win comfortably though
Why do we have to play tight all the time? We pass a ball every time trying to walk it in it’s boring, that why Emery was dismissed from Arsenal playing boring football.
Thank goodness for that.
I’m anticipating us losing on penalties
Um – It’s Cardiff playing the boring non football.
OK Villa should have the skill to overcome it.
I’m more concerned about Cardiff nicking a goal.
Asensio, the lad knows where the back of the net is.
Asensio is class
Asensio is class when given a chance to score
2-0 and game over.
Terrible watch.
We ain’t easy on the eye mate.
Maatsen has shown nothing since he came, imo.
Should have been 3!
Ah well, we won.
I just wish I enjoyed watching it.
Badger
Not the scintillating football we would like. But then again unlike Spurs Unai does not play up the impact injuries has had on the team.
Today absences included:
Mings
Cash
Torres
Kamara
Onana
Barclay
Malen
When virtually all the team are fit then there would be an expectation for improved play.
As we play out from the back and now on our 13th centre half pairing it will be poor. But we are now in the quarter finals.
A regulation and patient game against a low block. Good practice for Bruges perhaps?
Stand outs were Bogarde, Garcia and Ascencio. I have a feeling that Garcia is going to be immense for us in the future, good defender, good attacker and with pace to burn.
Interesting how we all differ watching the same game.
It takes two sides to make a game and Cardiff just sat behind the ball and made no attempt to play so it was never going to be a demonstration of flowing football.
We won efficiently so no moans from me.
Big plus points – Garcia (looks like a real steal) and Bogarde who looks more than a decent player given his age.
Badger, I think you’re being a bit harsh on Maatson – thought he played OK.
Love watching Asensio play.
Nope, Maatsen isn’t as good as Digne or Moreno, imo Hitch, sorry.
Doesn’t cross and is an even worse defender.
A total waste of money.