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!
I won’t be very happy if we lose this, as much as many think it’s pretty meaningless. Silverware is silverware, imo.
Badger – you can bet your replica shirt on it. Assuming you can peel it off in Ladbrokes before the start.
Only the Villa could get kits from Castore Oil which leave players dripping. Still – they will come in useful on midwinter trips to Manchester where it is always raining and cold, they will act like a wet suit.
Strange that last season’s Villa strip from the same firm did not have the problem, nor it appears this years Barcode’s offering from Castore who might make the most scored in EPL strips even though Nike make more of them.
Everton players tear holes in the back of their socks, maybe Villa can give vent to their frustrating shirts.
McGinn has been most notable for being dripping wet, but I thought it was just some deliberate method of keeping cool.
I had this picture of him taking a cold shower in his kit just before KO, duh!
The question that remains is, did our side fail in Warsaw because they weren’t good enough, or because they need to play together more frequently, and get used to the system Emery wants to play? I’m leaning towards the latter, personally.
Dendoncker at CB with Torres at LB? Is that how we line up? Olsen in goal too. Everton have picked a strong team and probably will win as I don’t think Emery cares much about the domestic cups.
Did I miss Moreno getting injured again?
He was a sub recently, but never made the squad against Chelsea.
It’s been implied that he’s suffered a setback, Tex.
Olsen (GK); Cash, Konsa, Dendoncker, Pau; Tielemans, D. Luiz, McGinn, Bailey; Diaby, Duran.
Villa subs: Martinez (GK), Marschall (GK), D. Carlos, Traore, Watkins, Digne, Zaniolo, Kamara, Kellyman.
I hope Emery knows what he’s doing, but it seems to me he’s not that bothered about this game.
The game should be on Supersport if you have the capability.
That looks a strong side to me. If we don’t use some of the subs, when we really need them they’ll be really rusty…
Dazn 4 chaps.
McGinn is playing LB/left wing.
Bright enough start for us.
Olsen is useless.
They haven’t had a sniff, yet Olsen clears poorly again and we give the ball away.
He really is a fucking liability.
0-1
Great a goal down!
Dendonker has been useless too. Far too laid back on numerous occasions.
Olsen is not good playing out from the back. Emi is getting to grips with it. Less so Olsen.
Plenty of time…
This commentary is giving me a headache. Everton are playing a very tight 4-4-2. Talk about smash and grab, or parking the bus. They suddenly look very resilient. Our passing is fluid but we simply can’t find a way through at the minute.
Not appreciating the booing that’s going on after everything we’ve achieved.
Bailey off for what looks like it might be yet another serious injury.
How many is that and this early in the season?
There seems to be something seriously wrong with the way players are conditioned at the Villa.
We give the ball away at the back yet again. It’s just shocking how we’re letting them press us in the way they are.
Otherwise, we don’t look too bad, but we need to change something, as this just isn’t working.
I hope that you all understand where I was coming from , No brains in the team even the comments from the pundits saying the same . I missed 30 minutes due to a meeting and got a shock seeing the score.
I’m actually speechless.
That was embarrassing.
Olsen Dendonker, maybe even Tielemans just not good enough.
McGinn at LB?
I’m sorry, some players have been horrendous, but I’m looking to Emery to do something here, because we’re just not handling the press at all. Olsen and Dead donkey panic when you rush them and it’s spreading through the team every time they threaten.
We need to take it to them and give them something to think about because long balls punted up just aren’t working either.
Piss poor tactics again, for me.
The boos at half time said it all. Inept, lethargic, wasteful are just a few things that can be implied.
I really think Emery doesn’t care about this competition. The players look like they have just met before kick off and they have never seen a football before.
Not one player deserves a positive mention and Everton just got better as the game went on.
I’m with Bill on the playing out from the back. It’s costing us pretty much every game we play and I don’t think there’s any benefit from the high line either.
I wish Emery could find another way of playing when it’s clear our defence and goalie are like they are playing with a hot potato and the opposition have sussed us out.
Can I just check where are you guys watching the stream? I’m trying all the ones I know and can’t get it.
Cheaper by the DAZN 😉
You need IPTV, for these games Adam
Bein sports 6 is one that it’s on!
Tilemans underhits the ball, which has been a characteristic this season from the whole side and it’s 2-0.
Total joke.