The big talking point here has to be the fact that Emiliano Buendia and Emi Martinez won’t be arriving in the UK until some time tomorrow morning.
Surprisingly, (to me anyway) the flight time from Croatia is only just over two hours so it’s not exactly long haul, but when you combine it with the usual couple of hours in the airport, the arrival at Brum and then the drive to Bodymoor Heath, you’re probably talking around five hours easily. So it’s not exactly ideal preparation for a top level game is it?
I’d be surprised if they got to play and particularly so if Buendia starts.
I like compromise and was glad that we’d agreed to let the players go to the qualifiers, but this has proved to be an unmitigated disaster and I’d wager the players themselves won’t be so keen to go next time. Buendia especially must be at least a bit miffed that he wasn’t even involved at all.
Otherwise, nothing has changed. Trezeguet and Davis are still out and Chukwuemeka and Philogene-Bidace haven’t trained yet since being injured while representing England.
Everyone else is available, which is an improvement on the first couple of weeks.
As for Everton, Calvert-Lewin is out with a thigh injury, as is hissing Delph, who has a shoulder problem.
James Rodriguez has trained well, so could feature, as could Andre Gomes, who’s appearance halfway through the game against Burnley helped totally changed things.
Interestingly, Benitez went with three defenders on Monday, which leaves a guessing game as to if he’ll do the same against us. If so, it’s pleasing to know that we can also do it and certainly we did okay against Chelsea, even if I don’t think it’s ideal with the players we have.
I think the key to this game might well be who gets up to speed first.
Pleasingly, we’ve improved our sharpness with every game and I didn’t feel there was much lacking fitness-wise last week. You’d have to expect we’re pretty much up to speed now.
We concede too many goals lately, while Everton have scored ten in 4 games.
You have to expect that they’ll score then and I’m going to take them to score at least one.
Which begs the question how many do I think we can score?
I’m happy to think that if we play Ings and Watkins up front we can score, although Ings has to get more involved than last week, that’s for sure. His stats were shocking, but I’m going to look at that as a one-off.
I think we can beat them 2-1, but I don’t feel we could beat them 3-2. It’s one of those “I can feel it in my water” jobs, that’s all.
I’m going for that 2-1 to us.
Worryingly, Lawro thinks the same.
A nice three points it is then.
Ahem.
UTV!
Comments
53 responses to “Villa – Everton; Our best bet for a while”
I really don’t want us to lose this one, else I can see things begin to turn against Smith, which is ridiculous really, to my mind.
We need at least a few points from our next few games.
Get back to basics. A clean sheet and a 1-0 is the order of the day and what Smith, his team and the players should be aiming for. Concede in the first 45 and it could be a messy afternoon again. Need to keep it tight, keep the ball, and not allow them time on it – they have excellent players in the final third. As I said, basic things done correctly usually result in success.
First goal will be important and out of the four games so far, the opposition has scored first three times resulting in us getting one point from those games. This suggests we are slow out of the blocks. Smith must get them fired up from the kick off and not reacting to going behind. I think we miss JT for the pre match team talk.
As for Everton, they are on fire and their confidence will be sky high. So basically I think whoever scores first will most likely win.
0-0 it is then! 😏
We haven’t started this season yet. It’s like we were totally unprepared for kick off and that’s not surprising. We need to get organised, new players need to gel, and quickly.
Once we get our house in order I think we’ll be a real force. It’s like the next stage in our evolution post JG (who I must admit I hate seeing in a Citeh shirt).
2-0 Villa in an open game…providing Mings doesn’t make any stupid mistakes.
Here’s a concerning stat.
We have only kept 2 clean sheets (both at home) in 16 EPL games conceding 26 goals following 10 clean sheets in 17 games and only conceding 14 goals.
So much for our ‘much vaunted’ defence; maybe Badger has a point about Mings?
It seems we need to get back to the basic principals of project restart.
Indeed Hitch.
Meanwhile;
Martinez, Konsa, Tuanzebe, Mings, Cash, McGinn, Luiz, Ramsey, Targett, Ings, Watkins.
I think hat’s as many suspected, Martinez starts and Bailey is probably on the bench.
No Buendia?
subs: Hause, Young, Buendia, Nakamba, El Ghazi, Traore, Bailey, Archer, Steer
My west ham neighbour wants to watch the game with me think he’s worried I’ll kick the television in. This is a game we must win or we will struggle this year. 2 minutes to ko so let’s hope we do it .
Hmm, no Sanson either.
Another flop? I’m guessing so.
I’m not convinced by the formation. We did concede 3 goals after all and failed to score against Chelsea. No matter how you dress it up, we are playing 5 defenders. Is it to shoe horn Ings and Watkins as strikers? Are we setting up to match Everton rather than play to our strengths? I hope Smith has got it right but I’m not sure.
I think it’s purely because we did well last week, regardless of the score.
It is defensive, but we cancel it out somewhat with the attacking players.
It suits Smith, I think and he’s seeing how it goes.
Interesting that we have 8 English players starting! Almost John Gregory style!
Watching BBC text. Looks familiar – lots of possession but creating little and allowing Everton too many shots.
We’re doing ok, but don’t much look like scoring.
Rubbish Hitch, it’s cracking game end to end .
That’s the problem with trying to interpret stats and live text Bill. Great win.
Nakamba on for McGinn, who has a concussion injury.
Hmm, that’s a bit defensive.
I thought the same. TBF they are breaking on us pretty well so may be the right move.
We looked less likely to score as the game progressed. Cash works hard but his crossing is poor. I still think we should go 4-3-3 but I don’t see it happening. Has Tuanzebe got a clause in his contract? Conspiracy theory!
Twitter saying Cash and Targett aren’t wingbacks and should switch back to 4-3-3! So it’s not just me.
Would you believe it, Matty Cash is left footed😜
Went 4 at the back and scored 3 goals. Hopefully we haven’t picked up any bad injuries with McGinn, Targett, Bailey and Cash going off.
We needed that win with the games coming up.
Yeeesss up here in Liverpool and in me local watching My beautiful Villa smash Everton its so great all my Everton mates just want to beat me up but they can’t coz its me birthday as wellwhat a great day
I LOVE ASTON VILLA WOO HOO
Happy birthday little8, have one for me.. we needed that …
Any news on injuries?
Tom, Bailey saying he came off because he felt tightening in the leg and did it for safety as for Cash and Tagartt should be ok …
Badger
Great result! Better than expected.Even better after my thoughts with seeing original 11.
Ps where are all the Mings haters? Surely he must have done something catastrophic?
Heh, yes, great result, Sid.
And yes, Mings had a very good game. My SIL came to visit me after the game just to rub it in, as he loves Mings.
I’m always happy to say someone did well and really don’t want to say they’re poor.
Unless they are 🙂
Bailey only on the pitch for 21 minutes yet he scored one and provided the ‘assist’ for the own goal. BBC viewers also rated him Player of the Match.
I haven’t yet seen him play – do we have a really good player on our hands?
If he stays fit, and can play for 90 mins we have a new Tony Morley. Enough said Hitch? appropriate that he should burst forward on the left and blast the ball past an Everton keeper, just like Morley’s GoS.
Remember that goal OLL – who could ever forget it – and what a player Morley was. If Bailey lives up to that billing enough said.
His goal was quality Hitch. I reckon if the goalie had got in the way, he’d have ended in the net too 🙂
Meanwhile, RIP Greavsie 🙁
I’ll try and write something later.
RIP Greavsie. The greatest goal scorer this country has produced. Loved the Saint and Greavsie show too.
The guy Greavsie was a class player, he goal poached and was the top goal scorer of today. RIP Greavsie will always remember you..
Another great of English football sadly gone.
A bygone era never to be seen again.
RIP Greavsie – gone but never forgotten.