Or is it?
We beat Palace on their patch just a month ago, with Benteke getting the winner, so you would think this one should be in the bag really, wouldn’t you?
This is the Villa we’re talking about though and nothing’s as obvious as it should be these days, hence me not being so sure.
Palace’s wingers caused us some problems last time we met and Bolasie in particular is a player I like.
So this one’s certainly not the walkover it should be.
Team news then and we have Gabby and Richardson available again and I can’t see past both of them being selected.
So where does Grealish come into things then?
Well, quite simply, I think this is a game that he ought to start.
I know the “you can’t push him too quickly” argument and I was one of those who thought that way.
I’d still be thinking that way, but I believe we currently have such little threat, that we have no option but to try the kid as an alternative.
I know it would be putting a lot of responsibility on the lad’s shoulders, but there’s no reason he can’t be told that he might be subbed regardless, at half time or whatever. Which could mean that Gabby comes on later, where we can use his pace better in the latter stages?
No doubt it’s wishful thinking though and Lambert has said that Grealish needs to keep pushing the first team harder. A comment I could understand if the midfield and strikers were achieving anything, but given that the midfield create next to nothing and Wiemann and Gabby are mostly way off form, I found the comment utterly preposterous.
So basically, I don’t see the lineup as being anything other than what we’d expect under a manager who just seems totally reluctant to try anything different.
As for Palace, they’re without their captain Mile Jedinak, who’s off to the Asia cup with Australia.
Alan Pardew hasn’t officially joined up with the club yet, but you know the players will be thinking they’re playing for a place, so should be well up for it.
Which makes a prediction difficult.
As per usual of late, I don’t think we’ll score many. At the same time, I think Palace will probably score one.
With that said, logic tells me a 1-1 draw is on the cards.
But this is game which we really need to win and my hope is that we can prevent them scoring.
So 1-0 it is then.
Oh, Happy new year to everyone, by the way!
Happy New Year Guys!!!
One nil to us…
i think we would be hard pressed to find a villa fan, who didn’t want grealish to start today. hes got to be given a chance to shine, the system we use and way we keep the ball now, this would have grealish receiving the ball, in and around the oppositions defense. he’s got a trick or two needed to glide past defenders, this is only gonna cause more defenders to be attracted to him and allow more space for other villa players.
i forgot my prediction palace will be out to revenge us in front of their new manager, regardless of what oohhahaha said before, palace are a counterattacking team much like us before the change in lamberts tactics, so villa style of play will suit palace down to the ground, speed on both flanks and up front, will be a very tough game.
1~ 1 draw but we should be winning this game and much depends on if we have a jack grealish or joe cole in the starting line ups so if we do have one of them i think its a 2 ~ 0 win for us, nothing like edging your bets
2-1VILLA but I feel palace players will be trying to impress their eventual new boss in the stands,so let’s see what happens 3 pointer deffo imo.I’ll be surprised if grealish starts.
Grealish start. Hahaha giving Lambert too much credit.
VILLA: Guzan, Hutton, Vlaar, Okore, Cissokho, Sanchez, Bacuna, Cleverley, Weimann, Agbonlahor, Benteke. Subs: Given, Clark, Cole, N’Zogbia, Lowton, Grealish, Robinson.
PALACE: Speroni, Mariappa, Ward, Dann, Delaney, Kelly, McArthur, Ledley, Bolasie, Zaha, Puncheon. Subs: Hennessey, Hangeland, Doyle, Thomas, Gayle, Bannan, Campbell.
HOWEVER. It’s finally happened. Bacuna starts.
Gutless from Lambert yet again.
That hugely successful front 3 starts yet again.
3 years of the same forward line.
What did you expect with that 4 eyed oaf in charge.
As per usual, just happy he didn’t find a way around playing Bacuna. Although he’ll definitely be restricted to a deep position.
not too sure thats totally correct andrew, the system allows 2 of the 3 midfielders to get forward and there still be enough cover, i think this could be bacuna break he will get more ball just hope he uses well, also hes a good shot on him in play or deadballs
Honestly think it only allows 1 going forward and that’s more likely Cleverley.
Pretty much guaranteed that nzgobia will come of the bench before grealish
No doubts N’Zogbia and Cole will be the only subs today.
Happy new year to all. I will only be happy with a win. Sick of drawing with teams around us. I can see us winning this 2 -0 Villa
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/villa-comment-aly-cissokho-misfiring-8369296?
Birmingham mail have been listening to us all, maybe now that it has gone into local news, he may listen?
At least Bacuna starts.. A little bit worried about Vlaar, Palace’s front line is based around their pace and we all know he’s not exactly the quickest. Let’s hope he doesn’t get caught out.
We mustn’t forget Palace are actually a good team, we were lucky to come away with 3 points from the last game lets hope we have the same luck this time round. The points are far from guaranteed..
no grealish and no beer somebodies drunk the beer damn, totally agree ifiruledtheworld palace will be a challenge and may even win.
bacuna needs a big performance, if villa can win this, who knows maybe a turning point,
Cissokho is going to get ripped a new arsehole again, much like when Palace tormented him in the reverse fixture!! A loss today I think.
Agree, that that’s the worry, especially if we go for it.
Which is another reason I’d have liked Grealish to start. Put their right side under some pressure and take the onus off Cissokho etc.
It’s a joke again, a front line of three that has got us a top 10 finish the past 3 seasons, oh no wait that’s bulls##t. Perfect chance to give grealish a start but no, no imagination, it’s like he wants to prove this set up works, “il keep playing it until it does work”, complete nob.
Vlaar’s looking in trouble with his knee 🙁
Oh Bacuna, trying too hard. But a great solo move from him in all honesty.
Will Lambert get Clark on already? My word.
Realize Clark’s injured but it’s gotta be better than a guy who can’t run.
Vlaar off surprise surprise.
Well looks like we may not be offloading Vlaar after all!! Let’s face it, which team better than Villa would pay good money for a half season player
Bolasie should’ve scored there. We look terrible when they start their counters.
Bacuna is still terrible I see. No wonder Lambert’s had him on the bench all season
You honestly think he was gonna be match ready with the little time he’s had in a position he’s hardly played for us? Okay…
You mean the position he said himself is his best and most favoured? I’ll give you that he’s not had game time but wayward passes when under little to no pressure is woeful, no matter how much he’s played. Okay…..
my bloody links gone be back shortly its pissing h/t
Brilliant opportunity for Bacuna to dink one in then, and shoots straight at the wall. Lambert make an example of him at ht n get him off
Someone has an agenda…
Get him off because he hit a free kick into the wall. Better free kick taker than anyone bar the injured Westwood, but lets get him off for that.
Just for that……??….Have you not seen how uninfluential and how dangerously poor he is in possession…??? Get your blinkers off fella
Bacuna has played with a purpose. The front 3 are disgusting. No movement, no splitting defences, nothing at all from the 3 of them. Our midfield has been good today, aged well and tried to get the ball to the static strikers.
Not really sure who’s been influential at all. Other than Clark and Okore. Largely because there’s a huge lack of movement, which is why Bacuna and Sanchez lose the ball as often as they do. Unless you wanna see them constantly passing it backwards, the front 3 need to actually move instead of standing around.
Martinez for the chop???????
No chance Everton sack Martinez. Although this is the Martinez I expected last season.
Lambert for the chop???????
Pure shit preformance. Side ways and back. No cutting edge. Lambert out he hasn’t a clue.
Its the new style of play Dave, he keeps telling us how much everybody is enjoying it – including us the fans apparantley.
He went to watch Bayern Munich train and I don’t know if Lambert ever mentions this, but he use to play in Germany aswell.
The bloke is a walking joke – its shocking we are still stuck with him.
The movement up front from Gabby and Benteke is so non-existent. How are any of our midfielder’s supposed to get the ball up front when they’re standing around constantly? You don’t see that from the likes of Eder Valencia, Kane (names outside the typical top 4 and why those teams are doing well), etc and that’s why we’re terrible at scoring.