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!
I think Malen deserves more game time…
I suspect he will get it, no worries.
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.
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.
😆🙈
Amatuer housewifes?
What was actual profession?
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
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!!!
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.
I very much doubt this here ‘Poodle Clipper’ was for the grooming of canines?
😆
Impotent?
“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.
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.
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,
I’d sell Rogers in a heartbeat,
So overstated, so inconsistent and so often goes missing.
Hype personified.
Interesting POV.
Meanwhile, he’s in the running for young player of the year.
Just goes to show. It’s all about opinions.
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.
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
Agree, Hitch. At 22, I don’t think it’ll be difficult to coach him to play a through ball at the right moment rather than hold onto it and lose it. If he starts doing that, he’ll be close to unplayable. We’re talking about a one second tweak to his game. Over to you, Unai…
But who would you replace him with, RSS. And how much would he cost? And how much older would he be?
But when we sold Jack, we were much lower down the food chain. But could we part with Kamara, even for silly money????
No.
We’ve got our work cut out at Bournemouth next week…
Yep, that’s not “in the bag” like it used to be.
They’re a very decent side.
Have we ever won there, Badger? Very hard fought 2-2 last season.
Wouldn’t read to much into today’s result, Arsenal have one eye on Wednesday.
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.
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.
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.
Agree. He gets a raw deal. The fact that he keeps seeing off his supposed successor (Ned and Garcia) says a lot.
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.
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.
Whoops, posted twice in error 🤦♂️
Wiltshire ham, RSS? And sliced bread. 😋
Francis Jeffers. Dear or dear.
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.
Ye malen deserves a chance ollie one on one is sooo poor give the speedy duchman a few games
Ne’er mind RSS I’ve given you two likes 👍
Cheers Bill 👍😁
Phew. No Barcodes penalty…Come On Brighton!!!!
Another doubtful penalty for Newcastle and its overturned.
2nd penalty denied????? Newcastle dive!!! Yellow card.
Third time lucky. Another penalty for Newcastle
Good result for us considering the penalties. We live on.
Not really Gerry. Looks like goal difference will be the difference…
Gerry from what I’m seeing Chelsea and Liverpool luck is not on our side,
Indeed Bill. I texted a Pool fan saying I was worried about them not being bothered now they’ve won the league.
Not very often I want Pool to win…..
Yes Badger, the Slot machine is jammed, so we need to work for 3 Cherries ourselves next week.
It’s what I’ve said Badger, Liverpool have nothing to prove today it’s just a game of football to them , Chelsea have everything to play for CL is their goal. We have missed the boat weeks ago ,I’m still pissed off with games we never turned up for and Emery for shit decisions in team selections.
I wouldn’t say weeks ago, Bill. The winning streak had us hoping but 90+4 at the Shitihad will be our undoing. Now we know why they call him Disaster. But can’t blame it all on him. All the other dropped points and missed chances to boost GD over many months. All take responsibility. Don’t scapegoat the loanee.
No way it was ever going to work relying on other teams results – if you ever doubted it, this weekend proves the point.
For me, the most important objective, first and foremost, is securing European football next season – at whatever level. So a win against Bournemouth would secure 7th at worst and a draw would, more than likely, also secure 7th.
A defeat would leave us in a difficult position.
Pool put out a ‘C’ side. There should be a complaint put in to the EPL.
You can never trust a dipper.
Well thanks to the Scousers we have very little hope of top 5. It annoys me that either Spurs or ManUre look like getting Champions League for winning the Europa League despite being crap in the Premier League. I think getting to the QF of the Champions League is a lot tougher than winning the Europa League. Therefore the rewards for being average is more valuable than having a good season. Next season will be even more unlikely for us to make Champions League as we probably will need to sell someone like Kamara or Tielemans to make PSR, whilst Chelsea, ManUre or Spurs can spend crazy money with the added attraction of being big six clubs with Champions League to offer. It’s an impossible dream to break the big six monopoly unfortunately.
RIP Peter McParland. A true Villa legend who scored the goals to win the FA Cup before I was even born. Let’s hope it’s not another lifetime before we get our next legend.
Peter was my hero. I used to sit on the wall at the Trinity Road as a kid with my legs through the railings and watch him thunder up and down the wing.
A great player and a great Villan.