It’s becoming increasingly difficult to comment about games, because no matter how much I might think we are going to win, we more often than not, don’t.
I found myself fuming after the Brighton game, because draws at home are quite simply not good enough, particularly when they’re against clubs that you believe are most likely inferior and at best pretty much on levels terms with the Villa.
I know you can’t expect to win ’em all, but failing to win the games you really think you ought is only going to mean one thing and it’s a failure to qualify for the champion’s League, which I believe is more important than anything we might achieve this season, winning the cup apart, of course. It’s essential that we keep qualifying to keep income up, our profile raised and everything else that entails.
That will mean we’ve really reached the next level and to me, is more important than reaching, say, a semi final, this year. But, of course I accept that Unai Emery may have other ideas, as may the players, because our game seems to be lifted when we play the bigger clubs.
Our biggest failings are, as we all know, the defence and particularly at Right Back. The opposition seems to be able to carve us open at will and the annoying part is that it’s often the first serious attack that lads to us conceding, meaning we’re up against it straightaway. You can’t keep playing games at a goal down, but we seem to not be able to avoid it.
I personally think there’s something intrinsically wrong with the way we play. If you watched Brighton, they were able to defend in better numbers than us, but still managed to press us to death, something we know we don’t cope with very well. Yet still we didn’t play a slightly deeper defensive line, which with our chronic defence is something you might think you’d want to do. Don’t get me wrong, we also seriously threatened them too, but Watkins couldn’t hit a cow’s backside with a banjo at the moment and even his penalty was poor, in my opinion, because it bounced on it’s way in.
Duran’s clinical finishing is already being missed.
Anyway, squad news and it’s not great.
Pau has broken his metatarsal and will be out for at least a couple of months. While I like him for his vision and passing ability, I’m not so convinced about his defensive abilty. He seems a bit too feeble to me for a defender and I’d prefer him more in a sweeper type position. It’ll be interesting to see how we get on without him.
Morgan Rogers is suspended for hitting five bookings in the first half of the season, as is Duran, for a red card, that upon reflection, was somewhat unlucky. It seemed to me he was unstable on his left foot and the right was uncontrollable, but it’s done and it is what it is.
In other news, Matty Cash is back and while that’s good because we should see Konsa back in by far his best position, I can’t say I’m especially pleased. We all know I feel he’s the biggest weakness in our side, but I suppose he is at least a proper right back, albeit he was originally a right winger, another position I’m not convinced by him in either. He’s not good enough defending or attacking, I think, but he’s all we’ve got. Why do I keep getting a sneaky feeling he won’t be improved upon in this window? Couple our weakness at RB with Bailey’s poor form and we look even weaker, which is a concern. It does at least look like we’re going to try to address the right wing issue, which makes sense, because Emery definitely strikes me as being far more concerned about the attack side of things.
Diego Carlos has been ruled out and I’m not sure if that’s a big loss or not. He’s another player I like, but his passing can be atrocious at times and he gives the ball away far too much. And finally Jaden Philogene is also ruled out. Again, I’m not sure if that’s a loss or not, either. Emery seems really keen on him, but I’m not so sure and personally don’t think he will make the grade. Certainly, he’s done nothing up to now, but hopefully he can come good.
As for Leicester, they have bigger problems than us. First choice goalkeeper Mads Hermansen is out and Jakub Stolarczyk will replace him. Wout Faes is doubtful. They also have Odsonne Edouard, Fatawu Issahaku, Ricardo Pereira, Kasey McAteer and Wilfred Ndidi all out for various reasons.
What to think then? It’s easy. We’ll win comfortably. It’s Villa at home versus a team that without a doubt is going down at the end of the season.
Except it’s not easy is it? Because we don’t do “easy” anymore. I’m tempted to say we’ll win this 3-1 at a canter, because that’s simply how I feel it ought to go. But the trouble is, as much as our last few games might not show it, I still believe we’re playing with relegation-type form ourselves and any result is likely, because we’re frankly a poor side, totally out of form all round.
I think I’m going to go for a 1-1 draw, but still expect the win.
UTV!
I watched my new, second, local team, Valencia, last night. I was gutted for them, going one up and then losing to Real, late on. Shame.
I’m not looking forward to this game, but hopefully I don’t come close to turning it off like I nearly did against Brighton.
It’s really hard to predict what Villa will do – which team will turn up?
We only have two fit experienced CB’s so the defence picks itself. Like you I would like to see Torres playing either sweeper or as defensive mid alongside Kamara. Having said that his game suits playing in Europe and we’ll miss him in the final two CL games.
More worrying for me than Cash is Onana’s poor form which seems to reflect the Everton fans view of him. He looks far too laid back and rather ungainly – he’s a lot to do to win over the fans. Bailey is another player who, so far, has had one good season – is he missing Diaby who, with his speed, was able to open up opportunities for him.
So what to think – I have to go for a Villa win – to fail to win at home to Leicester would be a pivotal moment in the season.
Onana has been awful the last few games. Needs a kick up his multi-lingual arse, in all 6 languages!
Konsa is far too slow at right back. Brighton ran him ragged. Him and Mings in the middle today? I also saw Tyrone struggle late on at Brighton. Bloody scary if 3 of our 4 centre backs are injured…. Maatsen or Digne would have to fill in.
If our defence is shot, our forwards will just have to outscore everyone. Can we do that?
A resounding win and a couple of other results going our way would make for a nice afternoon. Will it be so?
Not surprising Ming struggling late on – short of match fitness. As Emery hasn’t said anything I suspect it may have been cramp. However if he isn’t fit than I suppose Digne would move to left full back and Maatson will start.
Hope I’m right and Mings is fit to start.
I have predicted 3-1 on the Super 6 because surely at home to a team in a relegation battle with a lot of injuries, it’s nailed on, isn’t it?
The injuries we have means that we have a back 4 which I believe is our best selection. Torres and Carlos defensively are poor IMO, and Konsa must play CB when possible. I suppose Maatsen could play to give Digne a rest which would offer more pace down the left.
I’m guessing midfield will be Kamara, Onana and Tielemans.
With Rogers out I would give McGinn a rest and start Ramsey and Bailey to offer more balance to the team and hope last season’s Bailey turns up.
Watkins hopefully will have a blinder and won’t be wasteful if chances come his way.
A defeat or even a draw is unthinkable and if we don’t win then we might as well forget top 6.
Did anyone else see Emery’s comments about Ned Kelley – seems the plan is to send him out on loan, Swinkles also and rely on Bogarde to fill in at RB and CB. Sounds extremely risky to me unless they have a CB or RB lined up for a loan deal!
Also, it seems, there’s a plan to send Philogene out on loan to a Premier club such as Ipswich. Now that makes sense as Emery has said that Philogene hasn’t shown the promise they believe he has – can he cut it at EPL level.
Louie Barry is another being re-loaned to a higher division – again makes sense.
COYL
Barkley starts in midfield. McGinn on the left forward. Otherwise predictable and good enough
Ramsay on the bench
Yet another injury – not the luckiest of seasons for us. Looks like a hamstring
I fear the worst watching the first 25 minutes, I don’t like this close passing
It frightening to me I’d rather see long ball being played.
Gillett giving us nothing – now there’s a surprise.
One absolute sh**e game of football.
It’s not even that good RSS 🙂
Definitely missing Rogers – not sure Emery can do a lot with the bench he has – maybe take Bailey off and push Cash up, bring Bogarde on at right back?
It’s awful Hitch and we definitely need to change something?
So slow and lackluster.
We didn’t give them a goal start. We kept a clean sheet and no bookings. It’s a deliberate plan from Emery and we are are starting to threaten their goal. Not a spectacle i agree.
Who went off with a hamstring?
McGinn
McGinn
No big loss, wasn’t having his finest match.
Would Bailey consider giving the club back some of his earnings? He has been very poor. The quickest he has run was backwards to avoid a tackle. First thought is to play the ball backwards. Total shadow of last season’s version of Bailey.
Kamara looks the only player with any class about him, the rest? Pedestrian at best.
Back to walking football, YAWWN!
A definite penalty on Kamara but VAR clearly not worth having.
A terrible performance so far and we need massive improvement second half.
Bailey is usual self and constantly turns back and loses possession. He has little pace so can’t beat the defender.
Kamara by far our best player so far. Leicester happy with 0-0 or to steal one on the break.
The ‘penalty’ was like ‘umpires call’ in cricket. If the ref had given it VAR wouldn’t have overturned it. As I said Gillett will give us nothing
That passage of play came from a long ball.
Yeeessssssss!!!!!!
It’s killing us this tip-tap football, Bailey, is crap why doesn’t he change the game, again late decisions from Emery , this is costing us again I don’t see us winning or going anywhere playing like that. And then Barkley scores.
Bill that whole passage of play came from a long ball over the top to Watkins, as opposed to going sidewards and backwards and sideways and backwards and letting opposition set.
It’s crap, boring and painful to watch.
Look a little more like it – so far – this half
Yet another goal given away – we are so self destructive.
Poor ball from Watkins – Ayew given far too much space.
Cat weasels free kicks are sometimes a little curious?
That was the perfect position for a direct shot on goal.
I was thinking the same thing when I saw it fron the Trinity Road. Just. F******. Shoot.
Poor Duran wanted to smash one at Newcastle and they wouldn’t let him. Madness. My stance would be this: ” I’m smashing this at goal full power. If you get your head in the way, your head’s going in the net, too. If it hits your balls, your balls will be guacamole. So get the f*** out the way.” Simple, really.
Utter shite this
Can’t hold a lead or keep a clean sheet gone backwards this season
We are shite and I can see them winning this.
Ramsey made that goal through his persistence and a great pass.
Bailey, been shocking but he’s always got the potential to produce something.
Then he hits the bar via the GK’s fingers with a cracking shot. Maybe the goal will give Bailey the shot in the arm he needs.
Hard fought won – definitely missed Rogers driving runs and physicality in the centre of midfield.
West Spam next – can we actually win a Cup game?
We’ll have to see what the line up is?
That should tell us wether he’s going to treat the competition with contempt of otherwise?