Villa – Fulham. A straightforward 3 points? Should be (ahem).

I was laughing as I wrote that title.

So the last time we were at the bungalow in Spain, the TV blew up on the very last day of our trip, giving me no time to sort it out. So a couple of weeks back I booked to come over this weekend to do a few jobs and replace the telly, as it just isn’t worth trying to repair it. But I forgot that it’s a Bank holiday and arranged to come back tomorrow night. How annoying was that, knowing that I could have had an extra day over here at no cost? Not that I’m used to having such luxuries as Bank holidays anyway, but it just goes to show, there’s always something irritating going on, isn’t there?

Anyway, the telly hasn’t arrived yet and Amazon tracking over here is junk. The closest I can get is between 8am and 8pm. So either I’m not going to get it in time for the game or sod’s law, it’ll come in the middle of it. In short, I’m going to have to watch it on my tablet.

The game then and squad news is that Marcus Rashford is probably out for the rest of the season. That seems just a bit too convenient to me, but I can’t say I’m overly bothered anyway. He won’t be here next season and I view it as a short marriage of convenience, where we’ve both helped each other out. Him, in reigniting his game and putting himself in the shop window and us being grateful for another (very useful) body. Disasi is available again and everybody else is available.

As for Fulham, Rodrigo Muniz is probably out for the rest of the season, Reiss Nelson is also out but Antonee Robinson is back.

We have a good record against Fulham at home, with only one lost in the last five or six games. Fortunately that one resulted in Steve Gerrard getting the bullet, which shows that every cloud has a silver lining.

Ah shoot, I’ve just realised the time ! We’re going to kick off shortly, so I’ll make it very brief.

I’m going for a 2-1 win.

UTV!

56 Comments

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  1. BFR
    BFR May 3, 2025 at 3:47 pm . Reply

    I think Malen deserves more game time…

    1. Badger123
      Badger123 May 3, 2025 at 6:53 pm . Reply

      I suspect he will get it, no worries.

  2. BFR
    BFR May 3, 2025 at 3:56 pm . Reply

    Ipswich x4 points
    Bournemouth x2
    Brighton x2
    Forest x1
    City x1
    = 10 points.
    We should be 2nd on 70 points. Comfortably. I know we all keep saying it but, strangely, it makes me feel better.

  3. Gerry Kiddy
    Gerry Kiddy May 3, 2025 at 4:00 pm . Reply

    Forum, yes I do recall the educational qualities of that publication. I also found pictures of my next door neighbour (a poodle clipper) in the amatuer housewifes section. Put me right off for years.

    Really annoying that there is no movement in our table position after another win and clean sheet. Goal difference will be a major issue for us as if we are level we will fail. Just another nail in Ollie’s coffin. Malen may be answer. He is seriously quick.

    1. BFR
      BFR May 3, 2025 at 7:08 pm . Reply

      😆🙈

    2. The Ron Saunders Stand
      The Ron Saunders Stand May 3, 2025 at 8:34 pm . Reply

      Amatuer housewifes?
      What was actual profession?

    3. Bum Bum
      Bum Bum May 3, 2025 at 11:39 pm . Reply

      🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

      Regarding the positioning, i think it’ll be tight up until the last day of the season. Hopefully Spuds and ManUre will be focusing on the Europa Cup Final!!!

    4. OLL again
      OLL again May 4, 2025 at 12:05 am . Reply

      This blog is a treasure trove of unrelated-to-football gems from the varied histories of Villa fans. A Poodle Clipper is crying out to be a double entendre – given the entry in Forum. And put you off what Gerry? Taking your pooch for a short back and sides?

      I had tried to raise the tone by describing Ollie’s finishing as ‘profligate’ only to be castigated. OK, I’ll settle for ‘Sloppy’ after today.

      1. The Ron Saunders Stand
        The Ron Saunders Stand May 4, 2025 at 12:27 am . Reply

        I very much doubt this here ‘Poodle Clipper’ was for the grooming of canines?

  4. Badger123
    Badger123 May 3, 2025 at 6:52 pm . Reply

    “We can’t just keep flogging our best players. It signals weakness.”

    Bum bum, Yes, we can, imo.
    You flog your best players at silly money and improve the squad. Grealish is the perfect example. Ok, he went on to win all sorts in a money side, but would be have done much for us? I honestly doubt it with the way Unai works.

    1. The Ron Saunders Stand
      The Ron Saunders Stand May 3, 2025 at 7:21 pm . Reply

      Would we be selling one of our best players or selling a player we’ve had the best of?
      He ain’t getting any younger.

      1. Badger123
        Badger123 May 3, 2025 at 7:35 pm . Reply

        Rogers?
        I really like him, as you know. But everyone has his price and I’d say 100 mill is good business. 50 mill players in Europe tend to be very good, remember.

        Take the stupid prices the Prem pays for young players all day long, imo,

        1. The Ron Saunders Stand
          The Ron Saunders Stand May 3, 2025 at 8:22 pm . Reply

          I’d sell Rogers in a heartbeat,
          So overstated, so inconsistent and so often goes missing.
          Hype personified.

          1. Badger123
            Badger123 May 3, 2025 at 9:00 pm . Reply

            Interesting POV.
            Meanwhile, he’s in the running for young player of the year.
            Just goes to show. It’s all about opinions.

          2. Tom
            Tom May 3, 2025 at 9:09 pm . Reply

            I was a believer first half of the season but honestly it feels like every game I learn something new about him I don’t like. There’s no doubt Unai has instructed him to hold on to the ball and run it out of midfield or has at least encouraged it.I don’t believe holding onto the ball should be what he does every bloody time. Now he does it close to our own box and loses possession. I’d say 4 times out of 5 his runs end in giving away the ball. Today I learnt his first touch isn’t all that. If £100mill is on the table I’d honestly find it laughable.

          3. Hitchens60
            Hitchens60 May 3, 2025 at 9:35 pm . Reply

            Have to disagree RSS.

            Yes, at times, he overplays but some of his runs, aggression. ball control and ability to pick a pass is scintillating. He’s exciting to watch and he’s just 22 with only a years experience of the EPL.

            If it was Foden or Rahfotd the comms would be creaming themselves!

            Football

    2. Bum Bum
      Bum Bum May 4, 2025 at 12:35 pm . Reply

      But when we sold Jack, we were much lower down the food chain. But could we part with Kamara, even for silly money????

  5. BFR
    BFR May 3, 2025 at 7:32 pm . Reply

    We’ve got our work cut out at Bournemouth next week…

    1. Badger123
      Badger123 May 3, 2025 at 7:37 pm . Reply

      Yep, that’s not “in the bag” like it used to be.
      They’re a very decent side.

    2. The Ron Saunders Stand
      The Ron Saunders Stand May 3, 2025 at 8:17 pm . Reply

      Wouldn’t read to much into today’s result, Arsenal have one eye on Wednesday.

  6. Sidforever
    Sidforever May 3, 2025 at 9:12 pm . Reply

    Great to win today. Loved reading Emery’s post match comments. In essence the negative play was over done by the players and there was sloppiness with it – big pointy finger at Konsa. Although Cash irritates me with his charge forward, stop, turn back and pass sideways or backwards.

    Next week is a killer match. Win and we can still win 2 more and hope results go our way for Champions League. Lose and it’s all over. Spurs. And Man Utd are being played just before and just after. Therefore, Spurs players won’t want a hard game as players fear injury and Utd if win won’t care and if lose will be in the beach.I really think we should win both of those.

    1. OLL again
      OLL again May 4, 2025 at 12:15 am . Reply

      Cash used to find a colleague forward but still on side after one of his changes forward, but it seems none of our present team is making a run when they see Matty set off, so he has to check and pass inside.

      1. Sidforever
        Sidforever May 4, 2025 at 12:09 pm . Reply

        Oll
        The best example my point was when Villa had a free kick in their half. All the players went forward. Then Cash and Konsa took the free kick and between them failed to launch it forward – passsd to each other and then back to Martinez.

        This is a good example of the brain dead football Emey spoke about after the match. I really think Emery’s next move will to weedle out of the club those players who mentally cannot fulfill the game plan he wants, regardless of their ability.

  7. The Ron Saunders Stand
    The Ron Saunders Stand May 3, 2025 at 9:39 pm . Reply

    Foden’s won it twice and for all the pundits waxing lyrical, he’s (IMO) one f**king awful football player but emperor’s new clothes and all that.
    Nothing new with the pundits/ experts and their then new wonder kid, Jack Wiltshire, Francis Jeffers, David Bentley to name a few, all were going to be the biggest thing since sliced bread but disappeared into obscurity.
    Rogers?
    No, not for me.

    1. The Ron Saunders Stand
      The Ron Saunders Stand May 3, 2025 at 9:40 pm . Reply

      Foden’s won it twice and for all the pundits waxing lyrical, he’s (IMO) one f**king awful football player but emperor’s new clothes and all that.
      Nothing new with the pundits/ experts and their then new wonder kid, Jack Wiltshire, Francis Jeffers, David Bentley to name a few, all were going to be the biggest thing since sliced bread but disappeared into obscurity.
      Rogers?
      No, not for me.

      1. The Ron Saunders Stand
        The Ron Saunders Stand May 3, 2025 at 9:47 pm . Reply

        Whoops, posted twice in error 🤦‍♂️

  8. Bradley Ricketts
    Bradley Ricketts May 4, 2025 at 12:26 am . Reply

    Great win but sometimes Emery’s man management just fails me.

    Malen just speaks for itself.
    But also Garcia, yes Cash was great but he still deserves more game time.
    Also, Rogers absolutely blowing and needs a break and he could’ve offered much more last week if he had that I think, although he still played well today as per usual.

  9. little8
    little8 May 4, 2025 at 1:00 pm . Reply

    Ye malen deserves a chance ollie one on one is sooo poor give the speedy duchman a few games

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