I’ve only just heard the sad news about Ron Saunders and to be honest it’s overshadowed today’s game for me.
I’ve seen a few really good Villa sides over the years, but the team that Sir Ron built was by far the best.
Ron’s tenure gave me some of the best memories of my life, with our League cup win over Norwich, the epic League cup finals with Everton, (where I did indeed take Tony Butler’s advice and get the prayer mat out), the League title and of course, winning the European cup.
Even though Ron wasn’t there then, it was still his side,
I think what stands out though, was the togetherness that the fans and players seemed to have. Perhaps it was my fairly young age at the time that makes me think like that, I don’t know, but players were more grounded then and well, things just seemed better.
No doubt Ron’s strong personality, where he made the players very professional had much to do with this.
RIP Ron and thanks for the memories.
Onto today’s game then and I find this a very interesting proposition.
Leicester are on a real roll and have won all of their last seven games, leaving them in second position in the league so they’re obviously no mugs.
Vardy has got his shooting boots on and I have a feeling he might be the difference today.
Their midfield is pretty good and the match with ours could be telling. This is not a game for Conor Hourihanem in my opinion, so it’ll be interesting to see the side Dean Smith picks.
El Ghazi has trained and should be available.
Kianan Davis is apparently a couple of weeks away and Jed Steer is still a long term miss.
Guilbert is available again after his ban, although I thought Elmohamady covered for him quite well against Chelsea.
As for Leicester, Ben Chilwell is a maybe and Demarai Gray has recovered from the flu, so is available.
So it’s a tough game and I’m not sure what to think.
The odds are that Leicester won’t win again and extend their club record, but I’m not convinced we’ll have enough to beat them, mainly because I don’t trust our defence to not concede.
I think a draw sounds about right and I’m going for 2-2.
I’d definitely take that as a decent result.
RIP Sir Ron 🙁
Was a season ticket holder in those epic days – what a team it was.
Elmo keeps his place and Luiz starts.
Agree Badger – a draw would be a good result.
Can’t see us winning this one I’m afraid.
Mings looks like he’s done his hamstring.
He stays on.
Vardy scores 🙁
1-0
Mings should have gone off as he was nowhere near fit and cost us the goal.
He’s now off for Engels.
It was a silly thing to do by Mings, he should have stayed down but no. Then he couldn’t defend and they scored.
Another goal for Leicester and it’s hard to see a way back now 🙁
Yes! Grealish scores.
Half time.
That goal could prove crucial.
Leicester are a very good side though.
We were wasteful in possession and Leicester seemed to break in us at will. El Ghazi should have put us 1-0 up but somehow hit the bar. Mings cost us the first goal by not being fit to chase back. He was poor before that as well. Should we bring Hourihane on? Someone capable of passing over Nakamba who was poor anyway. As for Wesley! Again, what is his role? How does he contribute? Answers on a very small postcard!
How about this then, Mings carried on with the advice from our physio that he might run it off.they are showing him not being able to run back. They need to give the a physio kick up the backside.
Leicester score another.
That looked so soft 🙁
Game over 1-3
Johnny Evans first this season. We are going backwards.
We are on the back foot again, e don’t close them down quick enough, I also think it’s time to rest Mcginn. He’s not like he was a few games back..
Trezeguet on for Nakamba.
We needed to do something.
Maddison has bossed this game. I know Grealish has scored but he has been mostly poor.
Agreed Holte.
They all have.
That’s true. Should be 5 or 6 to them if their finishing was better