This should be pretty straightforward you would think, but nothing is when it comes to the Villa, is it?
We recently played Everton, beating them 4-0 at home, where I thought the Toffees looked terrible and definite relegation candidates, but I watched them at Brentford on Saturday and they looked much improved, well deserving their 3-1 victory, in my opinion.
That said, I didn’t think much of Brentford, so it wasn’t saying a lot.
Hence I think we should have more than enough to beat Everton, yet much depends on the side that Unai Emery puts out. He’s proven that we just aren’t good enough to totally reshuffle the side, particularly in defence, where against Legia he just plonked a new back four in, that hadn’t played together before.
So basically, I’m saying we need to stick with pretty much our best defence. I actually think Emery won’t consider making the same mistake for this game. So that’s all right then.
But we do need to rest players and use our squad where possible.
Which is fine, if you do it in a sensible balanced fashion.
I’ve said previously that we should go with a full strength side from the off, get into a well advantageous position and only then change it up. But the problem is that it might well take us an hour or even more to get into that leading position, which probably defeats the aim of trying to rest your players.
I’ve said many times that I can’t see what the problem is with going flat out for 90ish mins two or even three times a week for men in their 20’s, but the reality is that all clubs rest the players these days and if everyone else is doing it and gaining even the slightest advantage from it, (not that I believe they do), we have to do the same. I’m old fashioned, but sensible enough to know that you have to try and gain every positive.
And this is exactly how I believe Emery will see things.
So while I’m assuming he won’t totally change the defence, I do think he will change it up in the middle, with maybe McGinn being rested and Bailey starting. Other changes wouldn’t surprise me, but I don’t believe we can afford to make too many. I don’t rate Everton, but even a poor Prem side offers a big threat, particularly if they put their best side out.
I fully expect Watkins to be rested with Duran coming in from the start. I wouldn’t have a problem with this, personally. As much as I think Watkins is the better player by far at this stage, so Duran looks confident and probably is more dangerous at the moment. I would however have concerns that Everton will basically just outdo the young lad.
Whatever I think, Emery will make the changes from the off which means that anything is likely to happen.
Squad news then and Sean Dyche has a full squad to choose from, with Calvert-Lewin pretty much back to being fully fit. It’s a pretty good position for them to be in, but much will depend on how much importance the manager will place on this competition. You’d think he won’t be interested and survival is by far the bigger priority, but I’m sure their fans would have something to say about that.
Villa have the same players out, who just as a reminder, are Emi Buendía, Diego Carlos, Tim Iroegbunam, Tyrone Mings, Alex Moreno and Bertrand Traoré.
So given that I don’t have a clue which players either club will put out, I can only make a pure guess as to what the result will be and I have to go with the odds of what ought to happen.
And I’m going for a 2-1 victory, hopefully in the usual 90 minutes.
As a slight aside, I note the story about how our shirts are retaining sweat and making the players look like wet shirt contest entries. I find it unbelievable that this hasn’t been spotted before the start of the season. Surely the manufacturing company actually tests them before making them available? It would seem not. And then I read that Gerrard is an investor in Castore, the shirt company. That figures.
Anyway, the women’s team are quite rightly very nervous about having to wear these shirts for obvious reasons and I don’t blame them. It’s disgusting that they might have to play the game against Man U on Sunday at 12.30, while wearing them and leaves them open to being ogled by dirty old men.
I’m putting the game time out there so you can totally avoid it, of course.
Ahem.
UTV!
A brief comment about the team selection for Everton, then on to Kit problems. Managers play a game with owners particularly about players they inherited rather than bought. By fielding several of the players they would like to replace at once the manager can say ‘ that is proof they are not good enough’ whereas each player if he was the only replacement might play well enough.
++++++
Pete Schaad of the Holy Trinity show said Newcastle have already booted Castore. I have not seen that elsewhere. Wolves are the 3rd team with this kit maker in the EPL. The Times reports this morning Villa are scrapping their deal with Castore but only at the end of this season. The Unfit for Purpose rules in the Sale of Goods legislation entitles Villa to scrap immediately.
The whole business of kit deals baffles me. As I understand it the kit maker pays the club a fee and provides actual playing strips FoC, in return for the exclusive right to make replica kits and sell them via the club-approved outlets. Maybe the reason we have never had Nike or Adidas kits is those makers did not rate Villa enough. Since one of our owners has a financial stake in Adidas it was surprising an unheard of Manchester outfit got our deal this season. Especially as 2 years back we had an obscure Brummie outfit whose kit was OK – not inspiring perhaps, but not perspiring either.
Anyone know more?
We did have Nike under Lerner and MON, OLL. I’ve been waiting for Adidas to enter VP for years. Castore sound like a company in trouble.
Nike! Did we? I must have missed ordering those kits because i don’t remember them. What did they look like?
The “ACORNS” kit OLL?
RSS – Thanks, you are correct. My only remaining Acorns kit is a Macron, I’d forgotten the earlier shirts were Nike.
Some (sort of) good and (maybe) not so good news.
Bailey injury not serious but not fit for Brighton; Ramsey late fitness test but, even then it seems, won’t be fit enough to start.
Moreno and Iroegbunam still out but ‘progressing’.
The seriousness of Moreno’s hamstring injury is worrying and it’s understandable why Villa are not rushing him back.
Won’t be back in UK for Brighton game!
Tom Beahon Castore…
“Castore has filled the gap for a slightly more affluent or discerning customer.”
(preferably without sweat glands)
Have to love the BS 😂
Newcastle issued a clarifying statement that they love their Castore kit and have no problems with it. I doubt the colours or stripes make a difference so the Villa kit must be a different material.
The wet look shirts look terrible. There has to be a legitimate issue because it’s not normal. I really believe that could be the reason (not solely) but a major reason as to why we look so leggy in matches. We’re in 6th but I don’t think we’ve played all that well, certainly nowhere near our potential and a change in kit could possibly do the trick. Although, I’ve heard it’s a sell out for the Villa women’s this week!… I have serious concerns for tomorrows game if we turn up like we did midweek because Brighton will boss us all over the pitch and take the 3 points. Just hope we find a spark from somewhere.
Newcastle are moving to Adidas at the end of the season.
I’ve also just discovered Nassif Sawiris holds a 6% stake in Adidas.
T N T have the game and camera in a our trophy room John Mcginn on now
Olliiieeee!!!!!!
Two for Ollie!!!!!!
Whoooooo!!!!!
Three effing nil!!!!!