So we meet again very soon after we spanked Manchester Utd on Sunday.
Sorry, that sentence just fills me with delight and I was just repeating it to myself.
It’s just such a rarity and I’m making the most of it.
I think the headline simply explains what I’m thinking about this game.
For quite a few years now, Man U have basically taken the proverbial out of this competition.
In fact they’re the club that I blame for totally debasing what was a very nice pot to have in the trophy cupboard, with their playing totally inferior sides.
I’m a strong believer in playing every game to win, so it makes me happy that now Utd have no chance of winning the league and probably litlle chance of winning the FA cup, because there are a few superior sides, they probably have to approach this competition with a view that it provides a reasonably fast route to domestic siverware.
Of course, they’re still in the Europa cup, but will that alone be enough for such a big club?
I suspect not, as I’m sure there are many who would expect them to be challenging for the league and the European cup.
So, I expect Utd to go pretty strong in trying to beat us.
Unai Emery too, loves a cup and will also be going flat out, I’d expect.
Come to think of it, seeing as we have the World cup coming up shortly, no club really needs to rest players now does it?
Squad news and Leander Dendoncker and Jan Bednarek are cup-tied. Coutinho is out with a thigh injury and Diego Carlos is still a long termer.
Anthony Martial should get minutes, if maybe not the start and Jadon Sancho and Antony are both doubtful.
So I see a strong side then and with it, shock, horror, I actually think we might win this.
I was listening to radio WM on my drive home from work and I’m not sure who it was, but he said he can’t trust a side that that can win 4-1, lose 4-0 and then win 3-1. It’s a matter of consistency really and the same chap said he’d like to see if we we’re still performing a while after play resumes, when any new manager bouce has totally worn off.
It’s a point I totally agree with.
I expect to see a couple of younger plays feature, but this will no doubt depend on how we’re doing.
I haven’t heard if Archer is fit or not, but I’d particularly like to see him feature, as while I don’t think he’s the only answer to anything, he looks like one who really could benefit from more than just a couple of minutes here and there. Of course, I’m not alone in thinking that.
So here we go then, a prediction.
I’m going 2-1, but a win on penalties would feel very satisfactory and probably have me gloating even more.
UTV!
Emery will have learnt a helluva lot tonight. 11 decent players, 11 to go…
I got really angry tonight when they scored the third goal – the missus walked out and went to the bar. Can’t say I really blame her.
With my sane head on it’s unrealistic to expect Emery to solve all the problems at Villa in a week.
As Bum Bum says he now knows he has, maybe 13 or so good (really decent) players in the squad plus a couple of promising youngsters but (yet again) the manager has a massive job to do over the next two transfer windows.
The question is – where does he start and can he do what our previous managers couldn’t?
Clear the chaff mate.
This isn’t going to be a quick fix.
I’m a poor loser RSS and I get worse as I get older.
As long as we get 3 points Sunday mate I’ll be a happy camper (-:
Amen to that
Ollie Watkins, good goal to be fair but his touch is atrocious. I also had to laugh watching just before United got their 3rd. does he not work on this in training??
His shit touch?
Mate obviously he does. 😁
Hitch you lucky man , your wife walked out and went to the bar, in 61 years marriage my wife never been to a bar, in fact never bought me a drink.her philosophy is I don’t drink you shouldn’t. I did get down tonight a few whiskies.
Olsen – what a disgraceful show – even worse than Guzan.
With that going on behind you it is no wonder the defence was in panic mode. Still this was the perfect opportunity, up against the same opponents, to evaluate the squad players v the first choice. The players who probably don’t think of themselves as reserves but who may not get a starting shirt include Matty Cash and of course John McGinn. Kamara looks vulnerable too – though I appreciate he lacks match sharpness. Only one caveat: when you make so many changes it is difficult to assess the result, but nobody who missed Sunday will have caught the manager’s eye.
Jesus man just how bad was he?
I’ve seen some stinkers down the years, Mervyn Day, Adam Rachel and who could forget the one and only Peter Enckelman? But simply has to the most all-round woeful performance I’ve ever witnessed.
Welcome back Villa! You know the ones that go from great performance to amateur football. Olsen is absolutely dire and Mings when he came on only confirmed why he isn’t in the World Cup squad. No worse than Maguire but we all know Southgate has his favourites.
I think Emery will have learned more from tonight than last weekend. A mistake taking Ramsey off instead of McGinn who was also useless. I don’t know what has happened to him this season. I thought Kamara started well but faded as the game went on which is understandable. That brilliant Bailey run which set up Watkins only for the bad touch (again) could have made the difference but when we go behind we know the game is over. A pity really because if we had of won then who knows what might have been. A possible good cup run blown against a not very good Man Ure team. It was made worse by a drunken Dingle cheering for Utd while I’m sat in a bar with the missus trying to keep my calm!
Lots of work for Emery and his team to get to over the next 6 weeks before the season restarts.
Some players are signing their own death warrant at the Villa.
Emery must be wondering how a club like Villa have a goalie who is so poor. Top of the list, I’d have thought, because lack of playing time was no excuse for that performance.
I think he averages 3 goals a game conceded and as has been pointed out, how can any defence play with that behind them?
Mings, I don’t care, he is junk. Constant last ditch defending and messes it up far too often for me.
McGinn, gone, as is Ings, who’s finished.
I think Emery wanted a look at as many as possible and his eyes will have been opened.
It says it all that I think my MOTM was probably Ash again, because he was the only one who worked his guts out, even though he was often done for pace.
It’s criminal that a 37 yo is consistently out-performing more usual players.
I predict Sawaris’ wallet is going to be emptied quicker than he thought.
As for tactics, you could see the plan was to play out from the back, but we’re rubbish at it because we can’t even pass the ball accurately.
It really is disgraceful how we don’t do the basics.
And he wants us to play triangles too.
Except 2 of the 3 points are missing!
Shocking and you have to wonder if they practice these things because I’m sure passing was way better 50 years ago, which is as far as I can go back.
A big job on his hands indeed.
Final point.
70 odd thousand fans in that ground and their support is truly embarrassing. It was like a morgue at times.
I’m staggered at seeing comments that McGinn can’t pass. What’s happened to this guy? His passing (and crossing, and shooting) was incredible when he first came to the club. The slide-rule though ball for EL Ghazi vs Everton in 2019 a particular favourite. Signing for Villa should come with a career health warning.
A case of class being permanent and form temporary?
My take on the game was certain players head went down again after the third goal, nobody mentions Chambers !! I found him to be slow and not reading the game just watching. He wasn’tthe only one and your right 11 players are not good enough. Utd played with wingers and Young had a hard game and played well ,we should have did the same and started with wing backs earlier, that game we should have won if players hadn’t worried about have I got a job next season because some haven’t that’s for sure.
I did Bill (-:
Olsen did make a couple of good saves to fair but his distribution was horrific and totally at fault for their 3rd. I also noticed Watkins lost the ball on a couple of occasions and his chasing down was so half hearted it was comical. I’d have given him a right bollocking for that. What has happened to Johnny McGinn is up there with the Bermuda Triangle….None existent all game but strangely seemed very isolated in the centre circle for much of the game.
Oh well, we’ll just have to settle for a Brighton win!!!
I’m feeling a little annoyed this morning. I understand the need for Emery to see as many players as possible in first team action but last night feels like a missed opportunity. With only Brighton remaining and hardly any of our squad in the World Cup, we wouldn’t exactly be asking too much to have kept a core element to the team. Playing Olsen instead of Martinez who has been captain recently was one of the worst decisions. Realistically it represented a chance of silverware but for the sake of player rotation, we literally threw the game. As someone said to me last night, we grasped defeat from the jaws of victory.
I know Emery will have learned from last night but maybe he should have considered he is one of a few premier league managers who will have almost all the squad to train with for the next 6 weeks.
I’m sure things will improve eventually but I’m not expecting it to start away to Brighton considering our form away from VP.
I’m the same, Holte.
I feel this was winnable and wasn’t happy with so much change from the off.
Why Ash Young at RB, even though I thought he did as well as anybody?
Having thought about it, Cash must be at serious risk after that decision.
I like Cash, but Emery likes his W/B’s who are good going forward and Cash isn’t that, because his crossing and threat are poor.
If I was him I’d have been annoyed and very worried.
I wonder if Cash playing in the World Cup will hinder his chances under Emery? Out of sight, out of mind and all that!
Dendoncker will be back on Sunday although it might be an issue being Qatar bound and being fully committed. I would stick with Kamara, Luiz and Ramsey.
Disappointed last night. We started off lacking ambition but came into the game later in the first half. For a short period in the second we looked great but opening up the play left us open to quick counters.
Agree with other takes on the players. Thought the LB looked OK considering lack of game time. Chambers was shaky but again little game time. Olsen was a bag of nerves and kicks worse than me.
Surprised Sanson didn’t get a run out and would have liked to see Archer too.
Some positives but don’t see us getting a result over Brighton.
Let’s see what Emery settles on and roll on January.
“opening up the play left us open to quick counters.”
Absolutely and I doubt Emery will make that mistake again.
Mings has pace, but not suddenly and he needs to build up speed.
Couple that with the fact that he’s just a totally clumsy git means he’s not a fallback when we’re hit like that.
Konsa just can’t be trusted either, of late.
Playing it in behind was a tactic Utd employed a lot, but we never countered it.
I think Emery did throw this game, but I suspect it was almost on purpose, because he wanted to back up what he already knew.
Else surely we’d have been more cautious after going 2-1 up?
Disagree, first wasn’t great but we quietened the ground you could a pin drop inside the place, result in my book.
Second half we opened up took the lead and then undid ourselves (imo).
As for Chambers he just got to exposed for what he is -Slow.
We’ll smash Brighton on Sunday.
Keep The Faith.
*hear*
I acknowledge I got really angry when we conceded the third goal – Olsen’s incompetence and then Fernandes who I detest scores.
But I’m not about to criticise Emery. He’s just two games in and he wants to look at all the players in a real game scenario before the WC break – and he only has three games!
So he (probably) sacrificed the EFL Cup as part of a wider strategy (well that’s what I would like to think) and learnt far more than if he’d put out the same team as Sunday,
In his post match comments he identified what many have been saying – that once the third goal went in we collapsed – yet again – which reinforces how fragile the players confidence is.
One concern I do have is that Emery’s away record with Arsenal wasn’t great. Has he learnt enough since then to address our away day frailties? Because this, more than anything else, may be the key to future success.
Be interesting to see what happens Sunday.
UTMV
Fernando – with you on that Hitch, he really is one detestable, petulant little p£1(k.
Brighton have 3 wins on the trot. That pattern will break sooner or later. Tomorrow?
Emery hasn’t seen Marvellous play yet has he? Who else in the squad hasn’t had game time yet?
Good question Bum Bum – if you exclude the injured, Coutinho, Carlos and Steer, Archer is the only name that quickly springs to mind.
Yep, just Archer but I read somewhere that he’s been carrying a niggle so perhaps Emery has decided not to risk him?
Wonder if Emery (or one of his new team) has had a chance to look at our young players out on loan and, if so, whether he might try and recall a couple in January?
See Toni got Two against the reigning champions but obviously isn’t good enough to make big noses squad for the backhander cup.
Cracking Brentford result. They’re nearly as up and down as Villa!!!!!!
Looking forward to tomorrow. Early to the pub I think! If you disassociate yourself from actually supporting a team, the EPL is bloody hilarious!
Oh, and well done to Forest too!
Newcastle doing to Chelsea what a lot of teams just do to us, in pressing hard.
It’s what we seem totally unable to do, mostly because of our lack of pace in our game.
Lazy or unfit, I wonder?
Coaching, Badger. Coaching.
Hmm, I can’t say I’m convinced it’s all in the coaching, Bum Bum.
More like a total lack of desire and belief to me.
Although maybe it’s the same thing.
No doubt we’ll see in the coming months.
100% spot on.
Clough ( I know I go on about him) inherited 5 of that forest side that got promoted .
How many Howe bought?
Coaching as you say Bum Bum
That’s a fair point RSS.
My gaffer’s a Newcastle fan and he says Howe’s bought noone.
Yet he also says they don’t see him as the future.
Having watched that game, I think I understand what he means.
Pure hard work can get results, but they’ll need someone at the next level to progress further.
Meanwhile Guilbert will be free to leave in the winter window.
I can’t help feeling we’ve missed out there.
What a total waste of a player;
https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/aston-villa-news/aston-villa-premier-league-frederic-guilbert-transfer-news-updates/
Mate with all due respect your gaffer needs to have a bit of a reality check…
3rd in the league, 4 points off top, scored 29, conceded 11 ( equal lowest).
They’re at the next level mate.
Badger / RSS I’ve always been a fan of Howe – I reckon he’s a better coach than Potter and can handle big names.
Saying he’s bought no-one suggests your gaffer knows very little about the team he supports – unless he’d rather they bought Ronaldo, Haaland and Coutinho!
Since he went to Newcastle, Howe has identified and bought in players that fitted into his game plan and have improved Newcastle – Trippier and Guimaraes spring to mind – without breaking the bank.
He’s also got the best from Almiron who was in danger of becoming a music hall joke.
Saying ‘Howe isn’t the future’ is typical of so many English fans who only crave European managers, many of whom have no better track record in the EPL than their British equivalents.
Or maybe Geordie arrogance (and the impact of dark money) makes them think they should automatically have the elite European managers salivating at the prospect of the Newcastle job?
I would have taken Howe over Gerrard and got criticised for saying so. It remains to be seen who ultimately got the better deal – Howe at Newcastle or Emery at Villa having originally turned down the Dark Lord!
Fascinating – UTMV
It’s like some footballing Aesop’s Fable, shall we call it “The Pulis and Stoke.”.
We all know what happens in the end, the moral of story being be careful what you wish for.
“Dark Money” Hitch 😁
Death Star FC?
Perhaps The Gallowgate should be renamed The Galactic Federation end? 😂😂
Guilbert.
There must be more to this?
I agree RSS – it seems the instruction to ‘dump him’ has come from a higher ‘authority’. Perhaps, like Larsen, he’s on a significant game by game appearance bonus 🙂
Badger music to your ears.
The latest Holy Trinity show was crystal clear on players who have no future at Villa.
Mings – always has a mistake in him
McGinn- only attribute is sticking his bum out and falling over in the hope of a free kick
Ings – cant press
Olsen – worst keeper ever – makes Nyland look competent
Augustinsson- awful
I tend to agree with this analysis.
I note Guilbert has had his contract terminated by mutual consent.
This up and coming transfer window is going to be interesting.
There must have been a significant issue with Guilbert.
No Watkins in the squad – is he injured?
Bailey and Watkins both I’ll although Bailey is on the bench.
* ill (sigh)
Dickheads! Game over. 😡
Arghh!
I actually forgot about the game and see we’re losing already 🙁
All over at Brighton already then given our complete and utter failure to get anything from games where we concede first.
Now now lads , don’t be like the players and drop your heads, we are the Villa and we fight ..this game not over for us yet .
If only we could pass the ball around properly and pass and move efficiently we would be a transformed team. We are so bad and wasteful in possession at times it’s hard to watch. I just don’t think we have the right players for it particularly at CB and CM. I’m sure Emery will be looking to change this in Jan.
I didn’t expect us to get back into the game so hopefully we can start the second half better than the first. There has to be a time when we go behind and actually win the game plus grab our first away win so why not today?
Here’s hoping 🤞