What happened to the days where we used to be able to look at a game and a prediction would involve one of three choices, in win, draw or lose?
They seem so distant and every way I try and look at a game these days, it’s hard to get away from the fact that we’re odds on to lose.
We’ve lost more games than we’ve achieved points and it’s all thoroughly depressing.
Still, Garde’s latest comments made me laugh in a similar way that our magnificent self-deprecating away support no doubt laughed when they read them.
“We will need the perfect game defensively and then we will need to be more threatening in attack.”
(Actually he said “offensively” instead of “in attack”, but I find American English er, offensive when we’re talking British footy. Perhaps I’m being pedantic there, but it doesn’t really matter.)
We all know decent defensive performances are at a premium this season, after all.
Still, I like a bloke with a sense of humour and in fairness, we did reasonably well against Stoke for most of the game, so I suppose it’s not impossible.
But I think Everton are a bit of a different proposition to Stoke.
If you agree that our midfield is a weak point in our side (I know, which area isn’t?), the thought of Ross Barkley having a good game and marauding through the middle practically unchallenged is scary. Best of luck to whoever gets the job of having to try and tie him down.
It’s the midfield that is going to be key for me and I just don’t think we’ll be able to live with theirs.
Perhaps that’s what Garde means when he talks about the defence?
Team news says that forward Arouna Kone is fit after illness and John Stones may be ready for a return after a hamstring problem, on the visitor’s part.
The good news for us is that Jordan Ayew is back and should be nicely rested (if you believe that sort of thing) and hopefully eager to make up for his moment of madness.
Jack Grealish, Carlos Sanchez, Libor Kozak, Adama Traore and Jordan Amavi are all still out.
Given that Ayew will 99% walk straight back into the side, it’ll be interesting to see which of Gestede or Gabby get to play with him. An ideal world says neither, but it’ll be one of them and if Gabby gets dropped, that’ll tell me all I need to know about him.
Not that our attack will be the major concern.
Lukaku will be our worry and if Everton can create in the way they do, I can see him getting at least one.
Will we bring any kids in for this one?
No chance, in my opinion.
Mister pragmatic Garde will bring Richards back in, if his quote about dropping him for not being able to play more than once a week was true.
Bacuna might get dropped, but I doubt it, myself.
Here’s a few facts about the teams;
Villa’s only win in the 10 most recent meetings was a 3-2 home victory in May last season.
Remi Garde’s side are the division’s lowest scorers with 21 goals, including just six in the first half of matches.
Gabriel Agbonlahor has scored seven Premier League goals against Everton, more than against any other opponent.
Roberto Martinez’s side have only won three of their past 13 league matches (W3, D6, L4).
They are on a seven-match unbeaten run in Premier League away fixtures – although five of those were draws.
Their only away defeat all season came at Arsenal in October.
Everton are the division’s fourth-highest scorers with 46 goals in 26 matches.
So a home win looks a bit unlikely doesn’t it?
Roberto Martinez was at the Stoke game and must have went home a happy man.
He’s another one with a sense of humour, as he’s actually commented that he thinks we’re very good starters in games.
I’d take another look at that second stat Rob, me old mate.
I know he always talks up the opposition, but come on.
Still, you have to laugh.
My prediction then and I’m going to agree with Lawro and hope for a 0-2 loss.
But the truth is I worry for us here and if Everton are really up for the game, I can see a good hiding in the offing. And I mean a GOOD hiding.
I have to mention the 74th minute walkout.
Quite simply, I hope it’s a massive success and enough fans walk so the ground looks empty and we get decent coverage in the media.
Which will also mean we’ll still have to be in the game.
If we’re getting soundly beaten, it’ll just take away from the effect.
So my prediction has probably never needed to be more wrong.
I suspect I’m going to severely miss talking about this particular fixture next season.
The most played fixture in English top flight footy isn’t something to be sniffed at, is it?
VILLA 0 Everton 5 the place will be empty well before the 74 minute.
Groundhog Day
I dream of switching on the radio on the way to VP and hearing ‘9 changes to the team that surrendered at Stoke……..’ The only way to go now is to plan for next year and they know fine well that half of those wankers that have got us into this will stick around to get us out. None of those French players will be there so why persist with veretout? Where would we be without his three touches per game? I can see us getting absolutely dicked tonight.
martinez has been talking us up like a villa team of pre lerner days.but the reality is this a villa team, on par with a league one club and mid table one at that.
villa 1 everton 4
p/s i wanted the kids to be given more of a chance, not loads but blood 2 or 3 per game. but clearly, behind the scene game was to gauge whether they can cut the mustard. villa first team is crap and lack effort. either gardes doesn’t want to damage them. with a possibility of a massacre at any game. or he thinks they arent ready full stop which is more of a worry next season.
p/s our players which are sent out on loan hardly set the world on fire, robinson score one league goal this season hardly golden boots stuff
Lets hope on the 74th minute protest at least 10,000 walk out and we get lots of (decent) media coverage, that Lerner may just get the chance to see…. I predict a draw tonight, I don’t know why I just think we will be 1-0 up then the media will blame the fans for walking out on 74 mins and Everton equalising …….. Just our bloody luck !!
Saddened, the result tonight will make no difference to our season whatsoever. The media blame the fans? In a list of 100 reasons why were being relegated I would hope that the media would put the fans at 100. I really hope this walkout works and that the only person left in the ground is Tom Fox – and his minders of course
Plus several thousand Everton fans that just might applaud the stand by Villa fans …… Or maybe not!
The problem is, Fox will tell Lerner the fans are leaving early to visit the Villa shop, and he is so dumb, it will make his night… !
I’ve been doing my protest since September, that was the last time I attended a game and I’m not going back anytime soon! Good luck to those who do walk out on 74, but surely the way to ‘hurt’ Lerner is not go at all, don’t buy any drink, food or merchandise.
On to the game, they slaughtered us at Goodison, one of Garde’s first games as I remember so I hope we at least try to get a bit of revenge. I seem to remember the last time Ayew and Gabby were on the pitch together, Gabby chipped a lovely little cross for Ayew to bury versus Swansea. Maybe they can form a partnership to at least create a chance.
I always like to swim against the tide, so I’m saying Villa to win 2-1, goals from Ayew and Gabby!!!
Villa to win 2-1? Good to see that through these lean times our fans have retained their sense of humour.
They were together v west ham ,after 5 mins made great run looked up Gabby was ambling out of centre circle,ayew though I m not doing this lazy b running rest is history
Everton will put 4 or more past us tonight. We’re gonna get torn to pieces.
Hoping the protest works tonight. If you’re going, walk!!
Everton have blown a bit hot and cold at times so, if they’re cold, I predict a 0-2 victory for the toffees. If they’re hot we’ll get tonked.
Past caring now.
Good luck to any fans who walk out at the 74th minute, I think you’ll have done well to stand it that long!
The toffee are decent side on their day their weak point being the manager, I really don’t rate the myth that is Martinez but saying that I can’t see past an Everton victory purely on the grounds we’re shite.
3-0 to the visitors.
And and if the fans really grasped the nettle the ground would be empty (apart from the away fans) from the first minute.
Garde on toffees game
“I think the way the team behaves (against Stoke) gives me reason not to make too many changes, because I think in terms of spirit the same players responded very well,” he said.
“I don’t think I have too much choice, secondly.”
Love the secondly. I feel for the man.
Cant see us getting anything out of this game tonight. Everton to win 2-0. Its time for fans to show their anger towards the board everyone should unite together and walk out. I had planned to travel to Villa park in April as I try to get to a game every season. I booked a trip to Poland instead that’s my protest and its cheaper.
Silly lad, Dave 67, you could have come to Nuneaton, millions here. Score 3- 1 Everton.
Bill, your the only one to get the score right, 3-1 Everton. I’ll now predict the next 10 games, wont win any……..
just seen line up and change in formation. i like this formation.especially with our lack of creative players and being brittle at the back. 3 cb’s 2 wing backs and two up top with pace to run the channels. far better team than i was expecting.
if it was against another team we might av won tonight. iam gonna change my prediction 2 1 villa off the the funny farm now
Hi Nath – looks a bit like a bus park to me. 0-0 seems to be the height of our ambition 🙂
totally agree its a park ur bus first. but they have speed to break away and strength from set pieces. toe to toe we will lose against most sides in premiership, but if we are organized and draw everton onto us. we could break on them or catch them out from a set piece
Nath – I just love your optimism. In the face of adversity – hats off to you. I’m afraid mine’s all used up – just a cynical old git now 🙂
So the bus park had holes in it! – game over. Big question now is whether the fans will stay for 74 minutes. Everton to win 8-0
One down looked easy ,
Are the fans fucking off already??soon will be
They’ve got u us running all over the pitch. Not many at the match.
Have they walked out already?
Tell you what , they had the ball for at least 5 minutes not able to retrieve it.
Had 8 games with this ref and never won, out of 50 games we’ve won 8, fuck me we nearly scored.
2 down