So the Arsenal game was a big setback, but even though we got thrashed on paper, they weren’t that much better than us. Decisions went against and the ref was atrocious, to my mind.
But all good runs come to an end and it’s best to end it against a top side rather than the likes of Forest, who are struggling.
Squad news and we have seven players out.
As much as Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres were imminent starters about three weeks ago, they’re now still a couple of weeks away. This annoys me about Emery. Why say it, if you’re not sure? Either say they’re weeks away or just say nothing.
Ross Barkley is injured (ahem), Harvey Elliot isn’t going to get a look in, although I wonder if we can bung Liverpool a few quid to remove the compulsory buy thing. I suspect Emery might actually use him if he doesn’t have to lay out the transfer fee.
Evann Guessand is unavailable because of AFCON and Onana is, well, Onana AKA Mr Glass. Emery says he’ll be out longer than Mings and Pau, so that’s probably about six weeks then. Given that our midfield basically collapsed when he went off against Arse, it wouldn’t surprise me if Emery has the same sort of player in his sights. How a brute of a man like him seems to get injured so easily, is beyond me, but to be fair, he did seem to be targetted by Arsenal and their filthy dark arts.
And then there is our new signing Alysson, who I don’t expect to start, but maybe he’ll get some minutes.
As for Forest, the big news for them is that Ola Aina, a defender, is back in contention after being out for three months. Ryan Yates and Chris Wood are both out and Dan Ndoye is close, but it’s probably no cigar.
As I said, I’m not worried here.
Forest struggle to score and as much as I don’t rate our defence, our record this season is really very good and I certainly don’t see us conceding many in this game.
Likewise, Forest’s scoring record is poor.
We’re third in the league, justifyably so after our astounding December, while Forest sit in seventeenth, which is not for no reason.
I really like Sean Dyche; he’s a great manager, who will mostly keep teams up. I’m sure he’ll do the same this season at Forest while their owner gives his head a wobble and realises he needs to keep his nose out.
But he isn’t doing it tomorrow.
The big question I’ve seen from all over, is “can Villa get back in the saddle?” or will we struggle and take a while after the loss?
I have none of those doubts and am actually glad in a sense to have got that loss. It’ll have put the player’s feet back on the ground.
Villa to win a tough game 2-1
It’s in the bag (Gulp).
UTV!
Let’s hope my confidence is justified.
You never know with footy and the Villa in particular.
But I’m quite confident.
I hope you’re right but our defence really wasn’t at the races last week and hope that it was the shake up to Onana going off that rattled us. Have any of you not noticed how the games we really lose badly, we have lost a player during that match to injury? I can think of 3-4 times where we got really rattled by an injury mid-game. It will definitely be telling though if we do bounce back. I think we really missed Cash and Kamara though.
I think because of the depth of our squad, the team pretty much picks itself. Martinez will be in goal unless he’s injured in the warm up. A back 4 will be Cash, Konsa, Lindelof and Maatsen. I think Emery should go with Kamara and Tielemans with Sancho, Rogers as a 10 and McGinn with Watkins up front.
I suppose Emery could play Rogers on the left and start Buendia, but he hasn’t been great recently and I think Tielemans and Buendia tend to trip over each other. The other possibility is Malen starts instead of Watkins but he doesn’t look as good when he starts as opposed to an impact substitute.
We have had some difficult games against Forest since they were promoted and I think it’s going to be another one today. We need to score first because it will suit a Dyche team if they get the first goal.
Hitch, good read on Kamara. Bloody glad to see him back. I wish I could generate the confidence Badger has, because football is a funny old game, as Jimmy Greaves once said. I’m still carrying the disappointment of that game we were robbed of the ref in particular and the incidents they got away with, I’m still looking forward to the game today, go get them Villa I need to be cheered up too many drinking days and bleeding Turkey.
We’re still eating Turkey Bill – now onto the Indian phase 😂 masala and curry!
I’m concerned over our growing injury list leaving us short of game changing options on the bench. Annoying about Onana who was starting to show why we paid £50m for him. As to his injuries – he has really long legs which are perhaps prone to impact or over stretching damage – who knows.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Bogarde start alongside Kamara but don’t expect Buendia nor Malen to be in the XI.
I hope we win and Wood doesn’t play – he’s a handful – but wouldn’t be surprised at a draw. Dyche will set up with a low block and hope to nick one on the break.
Fingers crossed – UTV
I’m hoping for a clean sheet and possibly improve our GD today. Still angry about the Arsenal game. They got away with murder (2 players who should’ve got 2 yellows each) and the ref was bought and paid for.
A real pain about Onana. I heard it was just a hamstring tweak. Obviously not. Get Pau fit too, ASAP!!!
I’m hoping for a solid bounce back, so 3-0. There’s a part of me that also worries about a 0-0!!!!
Would be good to see our new acquisition get a few minutes if circumstances allow. We also desperately need a couple of reinforcements. Lindorf was a steal at bugger all. Can Emery and co pull another rabbit out of the hat? We desperately need that £100m Champions League money!!
UTV!!!!!
This is possible a more important game than arsenal. Our two games against them stand at 3 points each. We must win this one and get back the lost goal différence. Should not be difficult.
Dare I say this is probably a more important game than arsenal. We share 6 points with them. We must win these games and we need to recover our goal différence. And that’s m’y forecast
23, Martínez, Goalkeeper
22, Maatsen, Defender
I. Maatsen
3, Lindelöf, Defender
V. Lindelöf
4, Konsa, Defender
2, Cash, Defender
8, Tielemans, Defensive Midfielder
44, Kamara, Defensive Midfielder
10, Buendía, Attacking Midfielder
27, Rogers, Attacking Midfielder
7, McGinn, Attacking Midfielder
11, O. Watkins Possibly Goalscorer
Substitutes
40, Bizot, Substitute
26, Bogarde, Substitute
71, Carroll, Substitute
12, Digne, Substitute
16, García, Substitute
53, Hemmings, Substitute
20, Jimoh-Aloba, Substitute
17, Malen, Substitute
19, Sancho, Substitute
Playing first can be an advantage. If we win it puts pressure on the teams below us. A defeat or draw and then Palace on Wednesday makes it more worrying. Buendia starting is great if we can get forward with the ball on the ground. The downside is the lack of a physical presence. That might be costly if we concede too many corners and crosses.
This is sucker punch territory.
Yes, these refs we get are bent as a 5 bob note, I’ve counted 3 fouls not given, we are playing this all wrong, trying to walk the ball in the net, this ref will not give us anything and lose it with 1 lucky chance for them. Play the wings and cross the effing ball.
i think the ref was a man.city or arsenal fan in that game bill.. He was trying to stop us winning..that first half was an absolute joke.i think the first free kick he gave us was just before half time!
Is this the same twta that reffed the arse game?
Olliiieee!!!!!!
Perfect!!!
Worst player on the pitch and scores a great goal. What do I know
Worst player on the pitch and scores a great goal. What do I know
Cracking goal – Ollie’s on a run but we need to move it around quicker as even a goal down Forest won’t change their game plan much in second half.
Well took a screenshot of the table and might get it put in a picture frame to cheer me up when we get beaten. We’re Second in the league, yippee.
It was beginning to look like one of those games when we couldn’t get a goal. Ollie’s last kick of the game should mean Forest being braver second half.
SJM!!!!!!! 2-0!
Absolutely a rubbish referee. He should be reported a part in he’s profession.
Yeaaaass get in very important we win today would be a great bounce back UTMV
Another completely useless ref favouring Forest
Yep. Rogers challenge and foul given while we’ve had nothing.
Very, very sloppy defending – where’s our clean sheets?
Well I said it could have happened a goal
For them.
Finally a yellow for Forest.
SJM 2!!!!!!!
Watching Kamara, one realises how much we missed him against Arse.