Villa – Forest; Easy?

Just as I thought I’d got the weekend off and could get to see the game, so I’ve now been asked to help out on another job, which means I don’t have a hope in hell of watching it live.
The things you have to suffer to keep the customer happy eh?

Hence the plan is I’m going to look into buying a one day Sky pass and record it, if that’s even possible, so I can watch it as soon as I get home. The plan’s bound to go wrong, as someone will mention the score, but that’s the intention anyway.
Roll on Dr Xia’s suggestion of watching the game via Virtual Reality, I say. Only take it a step further and make it possible to watch via some sort of virtual HUD, I suggest.
How good would that be, watching a game while doing your work or pretending to listen to the missus rattling on about what she bought at the shops?
I’m smiling to myself at the thought, but it’s probably a fair while away and I doubt I’ll get to see it.

Still, there’s nothing wrong with wishing and the current wish is quite simply a win for the Villa.
We need to start getting points in the bag now, if we’re not going to be left behind in the promotion race.
And ok, it won’t be the end of the world if we have another similar month to the last, but I’m sure you know what I mean.

It would seem then, that Forest are the perfect team to be taking on now, according to every source I’ve read.
We’re favourites according to the bookies and I’ve seen sources suggesting we’ll win by 3 or more goals, because the opposition offer very little and can’t defend.
Really? The Forest I’ve been keeping a very loose eye on over the last few seasons have seemed a pretty reasonable side, who tend to fade later in the season. But yes, it’s a blurry eye, these days and my impression could be totally wrong.
Mind you, this is a side where Gary Gardner apparently looked very good for them and while it’s early days this season, he hasn’t impressed me at all when playing for us.
Perhaps I over-estimate the league as a whole.

But this is the Villa we’re talking about and nothing comes easy recently, does it?

I’ve just read an interesting article that suggests we should drop Bacuna, Ayew and Cissokho and go with a 4-2-3-1.
As it happens, I don’t think that’s far off the mark, except I’d be inclined to go with Tshibola instead of Gardner.

That line-up would actually leave us with a decent looking bench too.

Except that Adomah, Grealish, Jedinak, Cissokho, Tshibola and even Gestede are all doubtful or need late assessments.
Surely there has to be something wrong when half of the preferred eleven are struggling, just a few weeks into the season?

So there you are; we don’t have a clue who’ll play or how we’ll line up, although we might get a bit more clarity tomorrow.

In the meantime, I certainly don’t see this as being easy.

Perhaps Forest have their own injury problems. I really don’t know.
And the truth is, I haven’t even looked at the league table to see where either of us stand.
Because I’m frankly not that bothered, unless we’re near the top.

I know a fair few said playing in the Championship might do us the world of good on the whole, but I can’t say I’m seeing it myself, up to now.
It’s now beginning to hit home that if you aren’t in the Prem, you don’t matter a jot, which is quite sad.

Still, you have to stay optimistic and I’m expecting the win.

I’ll hopefully update things tomorrow.