Villa – Forest; Trickier than it looks.

For the last couple of months or more, I’ve become more and more confident and predicted quite a few wins. We all know where that got us.
It just goes to confirm that as soon as you genuinely start to believe, the Villa will do what they’ve done for decades and kick you in the proverbials.

Last week’s win came on the back of me reverting to type and predicting a loss by more than one goal and I find myself sticking to the same vein and going back to being downbeat and not at all confident as it just seems to be a more successful tactic in getting the results we want.

Squad news and the good part, I suppose, is that we haven’t added anyone else to our injury list. We all know the script, I’m sure, so I’m not going to bother to write it all again.

As for Forest, they are without Chris Wood and injured Africa Cup of Nations finalists Ola Aina, Willy Boly and Ibrahim Sangare.
Defender Gonzalo Montiel is training, but probably won’t be ready and Taiwo Awoniyi, who played an hour last week, should start.

I know this should be a straightforward win really, but Villa don’t seem to like playing struggling teams that fight hard and I think this looks very drawish. Hence I’m going for 2-2, mainly because I see a very open game, where I’d like us to get the first goal. If Forest get it, I think I’ll probably be very concerned.
The bad news is I don’t think I’m going to get to see the game, as I’m going to be working.

A quick mention of other stuff and I’m not liking what I’m reading about Heck and his disregard of what the fans think. He needs to go, pronto, but I wonder if he actually has the okay from the owners to ride roughshod over the “customer’s” wants?

Then, we’ve drawn Ajax in the Conference league and I’m fine with that.
They aren’t what they used to be and are actually a place below Alkmaar, who we beat fairly easily in the earlier stage, in the Eredivisie. In keeping with my new totally non confident approach, I’d expect us to narrowly scrape it over two legs.

UTV!


Comments

88 responses to “Villa – Forest; Trickier than it looks.”

  1. Oh shit! Chambers is on for Torres! 😩

  2. Hitchens60 avatar
    Hitchens60

    Chambers on for Torres – now that’s a big worry.

    I’m getting very nervous about this game!

  3. Pau off hope he’s ok

  4. Hitchens60 avatar
    Hitchens60

    Told you – we’re going to f**k this up.

    Forest now favourites

  5. Hitchens60 avatar
    Hitchens60

    All Forest now!

  6. Our defence has fallen apart! What has happened to Pau? God no!!!!
    All FOUR central defeders out crocked!!!?????

  7. Bill Pearson avatar
    Bill Pearson

    Think I blame Tielemans he’s absent in midfield .

  8. OLL again avatar

    Torres did not l0ok injured and the psychological impact of the switch is crushing. WTF is going on?

  9. Chambers nearly left in the window. If he had who the hell would have taken Pau’s place? This is madness!!!
    It’s gonna be a long 40 minutes.

  10. Wtf how has this happened we were cruising

  11. Bailey!!!!!!!!!!

  12. Hitchens60 avatar
    Hitchens60

    Needed that – great work by Ollie.

  13. Hitchens60 avatar
    Hitchens60

    Defence looks decidedly uncertain but can you blame them? Yet another new back four!

    1. …and a new midfield…

  14. Texas Villan avatar
    Texas Villan

    I really hope Torres is ok – we look so much more composed and under control with him at the back.

  15. Manure getting beat and played off the park by Fulham great day at thee moment for the Villa

  16. Bill, i think Tielmans looks as though he’s alone in the attacking midfield position and constantly boxed in by 4 Forest players.
    That was a cracking ball from Cash to Bailey.

  17. Bill Pearson avatar
    Bill Pearson

    Ramsey not the player he needs to be lately, I’m on tenterhooks with this game thinking we we throwing this game away , Teileman off then the way I’ve seen this game is McGinn is the man in the middle doing a job .

    1. Hitchens60 avatar
      Hitchens60

      Bill I’m OK with Ramsey given his injury problems. We’ve seen how players who miss pre-season never really catch up.

  18. Hitchens60 avatar
    Hitchens60

    See Fergie’s had a word with the ref’s – 10 inures added time already!

    1. Hitchens60 avatar
      Hitchens60

      Ah – it seems it backfired with Fulham’s winner coming in the 9th minute of extra time – don’t you just love Karma 🙂

  19. Hitchens60 avatar
    Hitchens60

    What a great day – Villa win GD goes to +21 and Manure lose.

    Going to enjoy a few bevvies tonight.

    1. United’s GD is precisely ZERO!

  20. 8 points between us and Utd now! Well done Fulham!!!!
    Our game was bloody stressful! Great all round performance by the lads. Worried about Pau and Moreno though…Brilliant win!!!!!

  21. The Ron Saunders Stand avatar
    The Ron Saunders Stand

    Another 3 points in the bag and to make the day that bit sweeter Fulham turn over Utd restoring the 8 point gap!
    Ain’t life grand 😁

  22. Think I’ll join you Hitch brilliant win we showed massive balls there and now manure finally ran out of luck we are looking guuurd, have a great evening everyone woo hoo up the mighty Villaaaah

  23. Unai is averaging 2 points per match. And this is Villa’s highest points tally after 26 games in their PL history. 👏

    1. And it probably should’ve been a few more!

  24. Phew! That Bailey goal steadied the nerves for sure. Can anyone on here play CB? I hope Konsa makes an early comeback and Torres went off as a precaution although the last time he went off, he missed a lot of games.

    1. The Ron Saunders Stand avatar
      The Ron Saunders Stand

      Mare I’m in my 50’s 5 ft 8 and over weight but I still reckon I’d do a better job than Chambers 😁🤣
      ( Thanks Stevie G)

      1. Hitchens60 avatar
        Hitchens60

        Actually thought Chambers did OK – he’s not the greatest but he didn’t make any howlers that I saw and without him who would have played CB in place of Torres?

        1. The Ron Saunders Stand avatar
          The Ron Saunders Stand

          Oh he did mate. Under no pressure he hit that needles long ball that went straight to their midfield and put us straight back under pressure totally unnecessarily.
          Against better opposition that could have been costly.
          He’s not for me.

          1. Hitchens60 avatar
            Hitchens60

            Fair enough but taken overall I thought he did OK.

            On a positive note Lenglet is developing into a very decent CB.

          2. The Ron Saunders Stand avatar
            The Ron Saunders Stand

            Needless*

  25. The Ron Saunders Stand avatar
    The Ron Saunders Stand

    Have to say Barron the ref was excellent today ( a refreshing change) hardly noticed him there, the way it should be.
    Well refereed Mr Barron 👏

    1. Hitchens60 avatar
      Hitchens60

      Agreed RSS – although, like Bill, I was not happy with him after the first 10 minutes – after that I thought he was excellent. Praise where praise is due.

      1. The Ron Saunders Stand avatar
        The Ron Saunders Stand

        No contentious decisions, unbiased, consistent with the bookings and let the game flow.
        Can’t really ask for anymore Hitch.