It seems strange having a game on Thursday and indeed, I nearly forgot about it.
I think overall, there’s not really much to say, is there?
We need points and while losing tomorrow won’t mean guaranteed relegation in itself, you don’t need me to tell you that if we don’t get some sharpish, we’re simply running out of games.
I haven’t seen any of Man Utd’s games since project restart, but a friend of mine watched one and said they looked very impressive.
Which doesn’t bode well, does it?
Add in our horrendous record against them (something that brings me the nearest to hating another club as it gets) and things look even worse.
I think if this were a normal home game, with the fans’ support, I’d be very confident of at least getting something out of this game.
Even so, I’m reasonably confident that we might get a point in an empty Villa Park.
I don’t think I can go as far as predicting that we’ll win it, but if we can display a performance similar to the Liverpool one, we at least have a chance.
I certainly don’t think we’ll be steamrollered, put it that way.
The trouble is, it’s difficult to see where the goals will come from.
Our setpieces aren’t very good and we attack with far too little pace.
It’ll be interesting to see how Dean Smith sets up for this one.
Will he try and contain Utd, maybe with the hope of getting a point, with him thinking that we probably won’t get anything against Arsenal, but Palace, Everton and much more winnable?
I suspect he will and expect to see a very similar games as we saw against Liverpool.
The thought of us going defensive at VP doesn’t appeal, but it is probably the most logical approach.
As much as I’d like to see us really take it to Utd, I just don’t see it happening.
So basically we’re probably going to need some luck and I honestly struggle to remember the last time we had some of that, certainly in a good sense.
I haven’t heard any squad news lately, but am assuming Targett is still out.
Not that it matters much, as I doubt we’ll see many changes, if any at all.
Smith really doesn’t have much to choose from does he?
I’m going to go for a 1-1 result, in the hope that we actually get a setpiece right for once.
It’s not pleasant thinking about the Villa lately, I have to admit.
Apologies Badger for going off topic but I’ve just read the text of an interview with Rick Parry where he does a, more than passable, impression of Pontius Pilate over the Wigan debacle. Even more so he describes the Championship as an financial nonsense’.
This is the bloke at the head of the EFL – heaven help us.
No suggestion of actually doing something to help clubs – makes me so angry.
Rant over; thanks for your forbearance 🙂
Back on topic.
Sadly I can’t see us getting anything from tonight’s game. Guest posted that we won at OT in 2009 (I remember it well as a ‘shock result’) and I think that’s the last time we beat them in any competition. I just can’t see any reason for that changing even putting on my most optimistic ‘law of averages and probability hat’. After all it’s just one game with three possible outcomes and the reality on that is most likely a Manure win.
As you say Smith has limited resources of limited quality to select from and no proven or EPL experienced strikers – perhaps he should try something completely off the wall and stick McGinn or even Luiz up front to play off Davis!
Man Utd have looked the most impressive side post lockdown, so extremely hard to see us even threatening a point. I expect it’ll be another of those valiant defeats we’ve seen all season – start well, soak up any early pressure but as time goes on Fernandes you’d expect will dictate the game and they’ll open us up in the second half before cruising to a 2 or 3 nil win. There just isn’t enough going forward to trouble Utd or any decent team as prior games have shown.
Our only 2 post lockdown goals have come from setplays so i’d be tempted to play Hourihane just for the delivery albeit he goes horribly missing in open play. Davis and Samatta look miles off the pace and I do wonder about Jack’s commitment having to play against the team he’s joining in a matter of weeks, so it does look very bleak.
I can’t see anything but a comfortable Utd win. We can’t score and they are rattling them in for fun. My prediction is 0-3.
We have 2 points from 5 games and need 5 points to get to safety!
We are going down so it’s better just to accept it and build again for next season.
I hold no hopes. Everybody in a Villa shirt should know they are playing for their future in it. Lose – and they are in the bomb squad, no future with Villa even in the Championship.
We have the speed at central defender to play a five man midfield, this forces the opposition to play balls in behind and challenge our defenders to a sprint. Critically it also means they have to move straight to an attempt at goal, thus turning the ball over, not holding it up around our 18 yard box.
As for our attack, if they do not have time to pick a spot (and when does that happen?) they must aim for the GK’s stomach thus avoiding missing the goal and hope their natural inaccuracy takes the attempt wide enough of de Gea to score.
I expect to see none of this – just dreaming.
watching the bourmouth spuds. cherries are up for this game. they are fighting and tempo is good. we need to address our grit / fight we are too easy to play. also we need to stop falling down looking for ref decisions,
Can see that being a draw Nath, the Cherries are giving it a go and Spurs have no answers .makes me wonder how bad we really are, We need a result tonight or its the end of the road for us.
think you are right bill but cherries have been very unlucky. they have put in a good hard shift bill , high tempo and good performance. more grit and steel then we show.
I think tonight’s game could be villa’s biggest this century,win and their back with w.h and Watford plus a win against a top 6side would be great confidence booster for last 4games. Lose or draw goodbye premier League and back to square one again 😬😬😬
Why do we keep supporting a clueless club I don’t know 😬
gluten for punishment lol i often question why lol its in our blood also villa chose us too
Bournemouth scored but VAR overruled
How many chances are we going to get. Still 0-0. We need to make our luck count tonight
hope everybody is ready for the upcoming pain and upsets watching our villa lol
i hope we don’t let ourselves down, move the ball quicker and more decisive when countering. that includes grealish its nice he wants the ball but he has to stop wanting too much time. he will be much better player if he can draw in the opposition and release the ball quicker. but he tries to take one too many players
I see a plan.
It’s get the ball in the bleeding box, asap!
Trez hits the post.
That’s a very harsh penalty but then it’s f’ing manure – we wouldn’t have got that in a month of Sundays
What a fucking joke penalty!
Konsa keeps delivering Critical mistakes.
Wasn’t a penalty – bloody cheats
Sid, look at that again.
Konsa never touched him.
no way a penalty
Utter, utter joke.
0-1
Never a penalty IMO although not surprised.