You wouldn’t believe some of the things that tie up my time.
Today it’s been investigating why I can’t get the Quest channel on one TV, yet I can on the others. For some perverted reason, I love that sort of problem as it keeps me occupied.
It can takes ages to solve though and it’s why I’m so late posting my thoughts.
Whatever, we have a major shock today in a home game at 3pm on a Saturday afternoon.
What is this sorcery, I wonder?
Whatever, I’ve watched Leicester a couple of times recently and while I feel they’re not a bad side, I don’t think they’re particularly good either. It’s almost like they can’t quite get going. They’re 14th in the league, but are on a quite lowly 18 points, which means they’re only 3 points above bottom placed Southampton.
I never really realised how tight things were at the bottom until I just looked, but I digress.
Squad news and it’s not too bad.
John McGinn is fit and he’s the interesting one for me. Will he come straight back in or will he be introduced as a sub later in the game? I partly wonder if he might not be involved at all, but I’m not convinced that even the seemingly quite ruthless Unai Emery would leave the captain out totally. Not just yet, anyway.
Lucas Digne is also available, but I’m not at all convinced he’ll get on over Moreno, who looks a better option to me.
Carlos and Traore are not quite ready, but are closing in on being available and Jed Steer remains some way off.
The one I’ve left to last is Duran, who “is not ready” according to the manager when we first signed him, but whose stance is now “I think he can (be involved) tomorrow maybe, possibly play minutes and make his debut on the pitch.”
Interesting.
Was Emery just downplaying things to keep the pressure off the young lad or is it the case that he’s just looked so good in training? I’m sure we’re all looking forward to seeing him, but I think if I were the manager, I’d only look to bring him on if we’ve had a good performance and are comfortably leading. I’d suggest a Villa park full of fans who are on the edge because of a tight game might not be the best time to introduce him.
As for Leicester, it’s pretty much all good news, as they have a fully fit squad to choose from with Souttar being the only slight doubt after being out for a couple of weeks with a hip problem.
One player they won’t have available is Marc Albrighton, who has gone on loan to West Brom.
I watched his debut last night and drooled at his constantly good deliveries which earned him the MOTM award, I think. Every time I see him play, I’m reminded that letting him go was possibly the worst decision involving a player the club ever made in my memory. We still don’t have a player who can cross as well as him.
Prediction time then and it’s a win for us. Leicester haven’t won in five games (although we all know what that can mean when it comes to the Villa being the gift that keeps on giving) and I think we should have too much for them. Home advantage should help, although Leicester have actually won more games away than at home (3 against 2).
I don’t see many goals though and am going for a 1-0, which would do very nicely, especially as we might move up a place or two in the table. Certainly a win would move us above Chelsea which, even though they’re no great shakes at the moment, is still some decent feat.
UTV!
Comments
76 responses to “Villa – Leicester; I fancy us here!”
It feels strange to watch a game when it should be played!
Albrighton and Cahill both under O’Neill’s watch!
Anyway back to today’s game and it’s one we have to win if we’re serious about a top half finish, let alone challenging for Europe.
But result’s in football are unpredictable – Everton currently leading 1-0 against Arsenal for instance.
We should win but our home / away form lately is similar to Leicester where we are winning more away than at home. I’ve got a sneaky suspicion it may well be a draw.
1E Martínez
18Young
4Konsa
5Mings
27Digne
41J Ramsey
6Douglas Luiz
44Kamara
10Buendía
31Bailey
11Watkins
Substitutes
2Cash
7McGinn
15Moreno Lopera
16Chambers
22Durán
23Coutinho
25Olsen
32Dendoncker
38Sinisalo
Agree with you about Albrighton. His talent was obvious to Villa fans. I was working with a Leicester fan a few years ago and he couldn’t believe we’d sold him. He said he was the best player Leicester had bought in years. And dirt cheap.
Sadly I think that mistake is about to be repeated with Archer.
Two managers on the trot don’t seem rate him.
Now we’ve spent £18m on a unknown youngster while Archer goes on loan again. Odd !
2- 0 today !
Mate he (Emery) sees him every day in training so what’s that tell you?
Most idiotic way of playing football, why oh why do we do that,
Good preview Badger.
Off topic but we’ll done Everton ( what a difference a proper manager makes?)
And I hear there’s been reports of a loud popping sound over North London 😂😂
Very surprised that Digne has come back in. A last chance for him, I wonder?
Surely Cash is not rated at all?
Still two goalies as subs shows how thin we are.
Badger, Quest?
Tried paying mate?
🤣
I’m on about freeview 🙂
I like Wheeler dealers.
Ain’t the same since Ed China left 😢
Emery seems not to rate Cash at all, which I find a bit odd.
Ollie, 1-0 !
Danny who?
Get in
Indeed, RSS.
Nice strike from Buendia and I’d have liked to see him score.
That’s got to be good for Ollie’s confidence though.
How my god wtf?
And then we go and do that.
Unbelievable.
Playing out from the back is good?
You have to be kidding me.
Even ManCity have come unstuck and the whole idea is bollox, imo.
Wolves 2 Pool 0
Buendia header hits the bar!
What an header
So unlucky
2-0 deflected from a Watkins effort.
It’s a OG for me.
Duh, 2-1.
Decent game.
What’s going on ? Who tell them to play close football it’s killing us . Twice been caught out with silly ball play .get effing ball up the pitch .
Super Ollie Watkins 💤
What a time to realise I’ve forgotten to tax my car 🙁
The space 🙁 Shocking defending.
2-2
Why my post going all over the place in posting .
Are you sure you’re not using the hand with a pen in it symbol to reply Bill?
It seems you are, when you should use the bottom box.
2-3
Kamara’s had a fxxxing mare
Yep – probably his worst performance.
Can’t see us getting anything from this – who was talking about 6th?
It isn’t over yet Hitch. I can see more goals.
Yeah but for which team Badger?
Kamara over doing it and in the wrong areas.🤬😡
Our idea is play close football in defence to draw in opponents then kick it up the pitch . It don’t work as the know it then close us down quickly pissing stupid.
The whole defence is dogshit mate.
Dogshit defendering but I have to admit I’m enjoying it.
And I agree Badger this ain’t over yet.
We’ve basically given three goals with a combination of very poor defending and losing the ball in critical positions in mid field.
If I hear Mings is a good defender from anyone else again, I think I’m just going to laugh and say nothing.
He just seems to switch off far too often.
I’ve even seen comments that he’s one of the best in the game at playing out!
Garbage defender, imo.
On borrowed time matey
Ramsey off, Coutinho on.
Digne off, Moreno on.
Good moves, imo.
I cant believe that Emery condones this suicide game from our box. Today is easily the worst with so many half hit 10 yard balls. Just crazy. We can still win this though.
Just tuned in. FIVE goals????
Blame our shit defence.
Fuck’s sake Iheanacho nearly scores again.
The comment I made against Stevenage still applies.
Our defence needs upgrading.