Having just had a glance at our remaining fixtures, you have to say this is probably the most winnable game we have left.
But is it a “must win”?
I personally don’t think it is really.
Not in a sense of league position anyway, as I think we’ve all pretty much come round to thinking that whatever happens now, our chances of survival are zero.
After the tonking against Citeh, the defeat against West Ham, Ayew’s daft sending off and the lack of any new signings, it’s been a thoroughly depressing week.
But at least the thought of a win cheers me up.
That’s all it is though, as I don’t expect us to actually win a game anymore, such is the state of the club.
But there is pride to play for and we have to carry on, in the belief that anything can happen in footy and it’s not over until we’re 100% confirmed relegated.
The trouble is, it’s difficult to see where the win will come from, isn’t it?
Kozak and Gestede are injured, Sinclair is out of form and Gabby is just…..well, Gabby.
So who’s going to score?
I suppose we do carry a threat at set-pieces, but given that our dead ball efforts are generally shocking, I can’t expect anything from there either.
So, given that we only have Gabby and Sinclair fit, I’ve called for Sellars to come in. It’s not an ideal situation for a kid to start in, but given that the team overall has looked so poor, I don’t believe the expectations of him would be very high, so it’s as good a time as any.
Will Garde put him in? I doubt it, but you never know.
And given that I struggle to see us scoring, how do we go about this game?
It’s got to be a 4-5-1, with a 4-3-3 variant, as Norwich will try to rule the midfield with numbers and hit us on the counter; a tactic that works well against us when we push forward.
Which you can accept we will do, seeing as Garde’s come out and said we must win.
Hmm, that’s an interesting comment from the manager, given that I think most of us have been saying we must win for ages.
Can we expect an all out assault then?
A gung ho approach, where if we lose, at least we’ve gone down fighting?
Again, I doubt it.
I’m on record as saying I think Garde is too cautious.
But it’ll be interesting to find out.
Squad news then and does it really matter who’s out?
None of them are a major loss really, but just in case, I’ll name them.
Ayew’s the big one, having been suspended for 3 matches.
As said, Gestede’s out, Kozak is out for a month and Sanchez is still out too.
There are possibly others, but I’m struggling to see who they are, to be honest, as the internet over here is so poor.
As for Norwich, Alex Tettey’s banned for two games, under the totting up procedure.
Gary O’Neil and Robbie Brady are available and Graham Dorrans is apparently sick.
They also have Patrick Bamford available after his loan move.
What price him scoring after we were supposed to be interested in him?
What to think, then?
I can’t see past a dour game, where Garde’s approach will be interesting, but ultimately there will only be the odd goal in it.
And I’m guessing it’ll come from Norwich, after we go forward too much after the usual achieving nothing in the final third and get countered.
That said, the first goal will be very important and if we can get it (doubtful), you just never know.
So 0-0 at best, but more likely 1-0 to Norwich.
Which says it all doesn’t it, when I don’t believe we can beat another struggling side with really poor form, at home?
My god, what have we become?
On a personal note, I don’t think I’ll be able to watch the game.
I’ve reluctantly promised to take the missus to the Saturday night market and trust me, I detest shopping at the best of times.
I don’t know which’ll be worse, a market full of people haggling or watching the Villa struggle.
Comments
97 responses to “Villa – Norwich; A must win?”
Can’t see us getting anything in this one I’m going 0-3 Norwich,I hope I’m proved wrong but how many times this season have I thought that only to be proven right.
Have I messed the layout up?
Bloody internet over here is an absolute joke!
Messed what layout???looks fine to me.
Problem today Badger is who’s going to score. They are the worst defence in the league but the only way I can see us scoring is maybe Lescott or Richards from a set piece. That’s about it.
Which, strangely enough, is exactly what I’ve said in the post.
I have to wonder if you actually read what I write mate.
There’s an old article on Newsnow that’s just come back up, that explains how Villa fans are the scum of the earth, after the pitch invasion against WBA.
It was written as a total piss-take, but it went over the heads of loads of people who only looked at the headline and didn’t actually read it.
So you wouldn’t be alone in not reading, is the point.
I did read but forgot u put it in lol
Villa. We aren’t playing that bad. Defence looks more solid under Reme than it has under any other recent manager. We have had 3 blatant penalties turned away in the last 3 games. We do struggle to score goals although today I can see that changing. Norwich are piss poor and will more than likely be joining us in The Championship next season.
2-1 Villa.
0-0 written all over it. Or we play well, somehow don’t scroe and conceded a soft penalty and lose the game. Or someone makes a mistake, and we lose the game. Or someone gets sent off, and we lose the game.
Or we are winning the game 6-0, and we all run onto the pitch in sheer shock, and the game gets suspended, and the FA fine us, deduct points and award Norwich a 3-0 win by default.
But does it really matter? With games against Liverpool, Man U, Man City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs still to come, whether we win lose or draw today, it will make no difference come the end of the season.
Can’t wait for the Euros this suummer on another note!
F**k me Leicester are 1 up good on em.
Probably avoid the first part if your post BWS 🙂
That’s not what you said last night 🙂
🙂 🙂
Hope they put on a good show today and win. My daughter and granddaughter have gone to the match and a close friend is an Ipswich supporter – reckon I’ll be going to Portman Road next season!
Hitchy wouldn’t it be something if they won the tittle? A victory for football over finance.
Just watching now be great for football if Leica win league I still can’t see them doing it though they are bound to be cheated out of it somehow by the sky mafia
I don’t think you’re wrong there Oohah, dodgy penalties, freekicks, sending offs, ten minutes added time.
No hang about, Fergies retired!
Forgot about that
Leica?
We’ve got two of those at work.
The absolute mutts for reading stuff down to fractions of a mm, but cost a fortune.
Hence I’m not sure why you’ve mentioned that, given that we spend nothing.
It’s a (probably poor) joke mate, just in case you think I’m being serious.
Lol. 2.0 up now unbelievable. Shows if you have the right owners and manager etc what can be done. Can’t help feeling this could of been us if Lerner had a brain
Yeah & isn’t Hollis loving it but he’s got to realize Leicester do spend more more than a quid.
Just shows what an opportunity we had when Lerner took over and we had that useless clown MON spending 10 times what Leicester have and could only finish 6th.
They’ve took Delph off, 2 up now, wow started at 5ooo-1 start of season then 500 to 1 shit some rich kids about now , wonder if I should place a bet on Villa next year?
Agreed BWS – never been a big fan of Leicester but it does prove a point BUT how often do you find gems in the number Leicester have discovered. It also proves that football is a team game like Villa winning the first division / European Cup – great team with a couple of class players in key positions.
Also wonder how much the Guardiola hype has upset the Citeh camp?!
Back to Villa and today’s game, Norwich 1-0 for the reasons everyone’s already pointed out…
We have no one to stick it in the onion bag but saying that it would help if we got a few players in the box when we go forward, as Badger says far to cautious.
We are relegated. There are no must wins left. All the lads are playing for now is pride, of which they have very little (bar 2 or 3).
I think we’ll win today, will be a shit game between two shit teams detined for the lower tiers of football.
2-1 villa
Bunn, Richards, Okore, Lescott, Cissokho, Bacuna, Gana, Westwood, Veretout, Gil, Agbonlahor.
Subs
Guzan, Clark, Sinclair, Richardson, Lyden, Grealish, Davis.
Keinan Davis is such an odd one. He was playing for Biggleswade Town till we signed him on a free transfer late December. You’d figure we’d use a more well known youth CM if we were going too, unless he’s just that good.
Apparently he’s a forward according to the Birmingham Mail and has impressed Garde more than Sellars did.
3 now Leicestershire.
Am going for Norwich win because we cant score. As for team selection does it really matter who is playing. I would love to see us win and go on a run, but that will not happen.
Half empty ground lads, same old Villa no idea and no wanting.
What’s the attendance
All over us, what a load of crap Norwich might have had two up till now,
But still 0.0. I think one goal either way will win it lets hope we fluke one somehow
YES
I said Richards or Lescott lol
Great fluke, Well forcasted OohAh
No fluke the only goals we will ever get are from set pieces now unless we get lucky. We’re going to win the league we’re going to win the league
Lescott
Just need WBA and Loserpool to help us now
I wouldn’t get too hopeful about help from WBA – they’re probably still playing 9 at the back.
Oolbion will be coming down with us.
Gabby for England!
I always said Gabby and Lescott are world class lol
I know you have. That’s why I have so much respect for you and your football knowledge. 🙂
Their defence must be woeful if he scored lol
Coming out now, this is it..
Shot Gaddy shot on goal and he now scores
FUCKING hell shabby?????
You know you’ve had a shit season when I still don’t feel comfortable 2 nil up at home to Norwich ! Gabby not happy with the fans with his celebration ?
Tekkers what did he do???
Just didn’t seem to celebrate much. To score your fist league goal in 11 months at the holte end he turned his back and headed back towards centre circle. Maybe it’s just me over analysing LOL.
MATE he’s probably got FUCKall to celebrate besides the goal he knows his days as a fans favourite are well gone now & just a bench warmer at best.
Villa fans on song , shit Villa going mad all over Norwich, even Bacuna had a shot on goal,
Veretout has been diff gravy!
I’ve just woken from a bad dream where Villa were wining 2-0 and Shabby had scored ……. Hollis just pronounced his plan has been vindicated ……… Going back to sleep now!!
Bacuna missed a chance then, Gabby has a new life in the game, defending well Gil the player for me,
6 minutes extra where the fuck do you get that.
Sorry 4 minutes.