I could try and be really clever and profess my knowledge of all European clubs and rattle off a load of guff about it’s history and players etc.
But the truth is I’ve never even heard of them and I very much doubt anyone reading this has either, unless they avidly follow European footy. Even then, you’d have to be pretty focused.
First off, I’ll just post Wiki’s first few lines about the club;
HŠK Zrinjski Mostar (Croatian: Hrvatski športski klub Zrinjski Mostar, lit. ’Croat Sports Club Zrinjski Mostar’) is a professional football club, based in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The club plays in the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and has been one of the top teams in the country over the last few years. With eight championships won in the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zrinjski is one of the most decorated football clubs in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The club plays its home matches at Stadion pod Bijelim Brijegom in Mostar.
Well, that’s a lot more than I knew before I read it, anyway.
Am I showing my lack of knowledge if I openly admit I’ve never even heard of Mostar?
So basically, they’re a tin pot club and this ought to be a double figures win, eh?
Hmm, I thought that against Legia last week (well, a straightforward win anyway) and we all know what happened there.
Squad news and it’s not good really. Moussa Diaby, Boubacar Kamara and Jacob Ramsey are all out, although it hasn’t really been pointed out why.
It just amazes me how easily players seem to get injured these days. I recall loads of tackles years ago which probably would have literally snapped today’s players in half, yet they were often just brushed off with an attitude of “I’ll have you for that”.
I’m laughing to myself, but well, that’s how it seemed anyway, although the truth is I’m probably looking back with my rose tinted glasses. The point is players definitely seemed more robust 30 or 40 years ago.
It has to be over-training or something, I’m sure.
Fish and chips washed down with half a dozen pints and 20 fags never hurt the likes of Franny Lee, did they? (RIP and who knew he created a bog roll empire?).
Ahem.
So the big question for me has to be will Emery rotate or will he play it safe after last week’s fiasco? He has to go as strong as he can, I reckon, because we don’t want to underestimate our opponents. Except I think the manager will rotate again. I think Duran will come in for Ollie.
And then I don’t want to think about what else he might change as I get the shivers even beginning to think about last week’s defence, or rather lack of it.
I’m not even going to make a prediction this week, except I think we ought to win.
But anything is possible and I’m only leaving myself wide open to even worse disappointment if we get beat.
UTV
Comments
154 responses to “Villa – HŠK Zrinjski Mostar; Who?”
Surely we won’t lose this, will we?
Perish the thought.
Zrinjski Mostar! Well they beat AZ Alkmaar so they certainly aren’t mugs. Playing at Villa Park though and we surely should win this. I actually think it’s a must win if we seriously want to progress in the competition.
I do think we need to start our strongest team. Every time we rotate we end up losing because our squad isn’t strong enough to cope.
Was it 5 players changed last time out? IMO that’s too many. 3 at the most and definitely not Olsen who is awful.
Let’s try and put the game to bed early then rest players. That’s what we should be doing.
Emi Martinez; Diego Carlos, Ezri Konsa, Clement Lenglet, Lucas Dinge, Dendoncker, Youri Tielmans; Leon Bailey, John McGinn, Nicolo Zaniolo; Jhon Duran.
subs: Olsen, Marschall, Cash, Douglas Luiz, Traore, Watkins, Pau Torres, Chambers, O’Reilly.
Only the 6 changes then.
At least there’s no Olsen, who must now realise he’s on borrowed time at the Villa.
Well it makes you think they are not footballers today but ballerina’s if you ask me , it’s got to be over training, I was hopeful of a win but now have my doubts, still football is a funny old game as Jimmy Greaves use to say .
Nearest equivalent to the V sign to the majority population in UK is Celtic or Hibs, being Catholic and Irish in a Protestant Scottish city.
This is a Croat (Hrvatski) club in the neighbouring Bosnia. Mostar has another Bosnian club. They are used to a hostile atmosphere in any domestic away game.
Just as Croatia national team punches well above its weight, I don’t think the Everton Stooges would stand any chance against them, but hopefully Unai is not going to underestimate them like he did Legia.
Mostar most famous (or maybe infamous) for it’s bridge which was blown up during he Balkan wars as for the football team, don’t have a scooby.
Good article as usual Badger.
Interesting selection. I am anticipating it more like 3 centre halves for defence and Digne pushing up more into midfield and going down the win, creating overloads.
Big night for Dendoncker and Tilesman, whose skill on the pitch needs to surpass his verbal dexterity.
Fancy Duran for a goal.
Tielemans looks shot of confidence right now. Misplaced passes, flapping his arms in the air in frustration and then clearly whining to those around us. Definitely see that bad attitude Leicester fans warned us about.
Oh man, from bad to worse for the poor guy. Winds up the right foot for a shot on goal, swings and misses.
He’s miles out of form and his judging the weight of a pass is really poor.
Bad on the pitch, worse in the dressing room, get rid.
Tielmans…
We paid over the top for him.
Pack that cheating in McGinn, you’re better than that.
In London for work. Sat down for a curry in Kings Cross. Looked up and our match is on TV. Awesome night out!
We have to stop seeing these teams as Championship fodder. Apart from Hibs both teams we’ve recently faced look good. Liverpool facing decent opposition too…
It’s all too slooooooow
Feeling very underwhelmed at the moment.
Bailey looks out of his depth.
Tilesman – so disappointed really thought we had a good divining there.
Defender seems to Alger caught with the ball down the left wing.
Martinez – quality – what a save he made.
I hope Villa ram it down my throat. But weekend team great and midweek polar opposite is becoming tedious.
At least Bailey has his moments (unlike Tielmans) from the sublime to the ridiculous admittedly, but there is a player in there.
Superb bycicle kick from Zaniolo then.
He’s probably been our best player this half.
Tielmans needs an old fashioned rollocking. There’s a very good player in there, not the next Stephen Ireland.
We’ll have to agree to differ on that one.
Too slow and piss poor passing.
Tielemans is some whining bitch isn’t he? Duran is looking good.
Tielmans…
F**king awful, Stephen Ireland MKii
Oh and we still look prone to a long one over the top.
If they get that right, we’ll concede. They already nearly got one with that tactic.
6 changes is too many. The players coming into the side might not be kids but how often do they play together. No training ground preparation compares to match days. We look disjointed and bereft of ideas going forward. Add to that we should be 1-0 down by the simple ball over our high line and cross to the unmarked forward. Thank goodness it’s Martinez and not Olsen.
Will Emery change things at half time or persevere for another 15 minutes or so?
I wouldn’t be shocked if we lose this and if we do then it will be deserved.
Good to see Carlos back in the fold…We’ll win this now.
Got to change Tilermans
Watkins on and Cash
Looks like Emery has had enough . Luiz, Cash and Watkins on at half time
This is not a penalty.
That’s hit him in the face!
Shocking decision again, but I’ll take it.
A check says no and rightly so.
This goal has to bloody come! A simple win and 3 points and I’ll be chuffed.
Unbelievable this game , Tilermans what a waist of a pair of football boots,
Why are Bailey and Tilesman taking corners? They are shocking. Luiz is superb.
The opposition tonight, their defence has been very well drilled but the play acting has been embarrassing.