I’ve found myself thinking about how much I’ve missed the game and my thoughts on the season restarting.
And to be honest, I’m pretty sanguine, as I’m not too hopeful of our chances of avoiding relegation.
There was an article somewhere recently, that talked about how the Bundesliga had gone since it restarted and it wasn’t encouraging, because it appears that home advantage is pretty none-existent without any support. It was the fact that we will be playing home games that gave me some encouragement, but oh well.
There was one good thing about the article though and it mentioned that there had been much less agression, pressing and actual tackling. Basically, the games are more like pre-season training games.
This may be a real plus point for us, as I’ve always felt we perform better in these sort of games.
Then add in that “Original London Lion” thinks we’re a warm weather side (something I tend to agree with) and maybe things aren’t quite as bad as I think.
“Nath” seems massively positive too and perhaps I’m just being a bit too negative.
Except I was at the corresponding fixture last season.
I remember it really well, as I’d just come back from Sri Lanka and it was freezing at Villa park, so much so that I decided to leave with about ten minutes to go. We were 3-0 down and had been thoroughly outplayed, so I didn’t think me leaving would make any difference.
And we then went on to score 3 goals to equalise.
I couldn’t believe it on hearing the score when I got home and unfortunately I couldn’t believe the gulf in class between the sides either.
Still, we’re a different side now and I do actually agree that the break will hopefully see us looking a side with a better frame of mind. Losing four on the trot can never be a good thing.
Then of course we have Super John McGinn back too.
While I don’t think we can expect too much from him for the first couple of games, because he’s going to be very rusty, I’m sure he will come good .
There’s not much point in trying to make a prediction, as it would only be a pure guess.
But we have to hope for the win which would see us back up to 16th, with a big pyschological lift.
Fingers crossed eh?
Comments
50 responses to “Villa – Sheffield Utd; The season restarts and it’s going to be strange.”
Sky Bet have us at 2/5 to go down.
Let’s hope they’re wrong.
Not surprising really given the run of form we were in – if the season had continued as normal (whatever that now means) I think there is no doubt we would have sprung the trap door.
Are there now reasons to be cheerful – possibly. It’s actually like starting a new mini season and it’s who copes best with the surreal circumstances that will succeed.
If we can beat Sheffield tomorrow then I would back us to stay up otherwise I think we’ll be for the drop. Will I watch the game? I honestly don’t know; ask me again at 18.05 tomorrow 🙂
I’ll definitely be tuning in.
Whether I’ll be able to keep watching it is another thing.
I find it very hard to stay concentrated for friendlies and I expect these games to be very similar.
Mind you, there’s a big prize if we’re ultimately sucessful, so that should concentrate the mind.
Hitchens6. Are you writing from your heart as a Villan or what you read in the morning papers if picked right we have a sqad to play up against team in the premiership why so negative I speak as to ask is it the management picking the wrong team. No mallace attended my opinion. VTID. Norman
Non taken and an easy answer to your question Norman – I don’t read the papers 🙂
I don’t think I’m being overly negative – just trying to give my honest and, I hope, balanced views on where I think we are. Of course I want us to stay up but, like Badger, I’m not sure whether watching a non friendly, friendly really works 🙂 And like you Norman, I’ve supported our magnificent club for well over 50 years – 63 years to be precise although I struggle to remember the details of the 57 cup final!
UTV (and whatever I say, I can’t actually see me not tuning in tonight)
Fingers, toes and cobblers crossed. The last task was very painful.
It’s on Sky Pick free just in case… And don’t forget the early kick off time!
Tonight is a must win.
Win and there will be confidence and out the bottom three Draw or lose and I think relegation is a certainty.
Hi Hitchens6 I have just read back my comments to You yesterday and I apologise for it in my defence I’m on new meds and it was a long day and like the rest of you I’m missing my football sorry VTID Norman roll on 6pm UTV
Really no need to apologise Norman – no offence was taken but thanx, it’s a nice thought.
Today is finally here for project restart and it’s a cup final as far as I’m concerned. Anything but a win and we will go down IMO. We need to hit the ground running and not get off to a disastrous start like we did against Bournemouth! Smith needs to treat these remaining games as a mini season. I’m not too worried about the affect on our players without fans because when you’re playing you are totally focused on what is happening on the pitch. Sometimes Villa fans can moan and groan when we concede which causes anxiety in our play, so maybe if we concede it might actually help.
Watching the game however will be painful without fans. Understandably the season has to be concluded but it will do so without emotions! It will be worse than watching a friendly because there are fans at friendlies!
Prediction wise I will hope for a win of course but if I was putting money on it then I would go 0-2.
One other thing. Who would you all play in goal tonight? Nyland, Reina or Steer are all available. For me it would be Steer because he has a presence that Nyland lacks and makes less errors than Reina. A worrying side note is a report that Drinkwaters loan spell will be extended and even worse he might start today alongside McGinn!!
If there is a God above my lad will have a word with him, today I have my next door neighbour and his two lads supporting Sheffield as the are West Ham die hards. What do I think ? Have to go with Holte66 as we have nothing to worry Sheffield in determination, I’m still in the dumps of not having Faith in what’s happening at Villa Park. Even our owners are staying quietly dumb over how we are ready for the drop.I know we’ve had this evil virus and it’s ruined our season and I hope to God we can get back to having a football team that know how to play the game like the top six in the league. Vtid
Less tackling……not from Sheff I fear……Wilder would go even wilder if his team just played it around…..
Good to have the football back even in its “new form”. I suspect our survival will come down to whether we improve defensively. Can we cut out the errors and defend better as a unit. We have a lot of tough fixtures left and if Smith continues his mantra of going ‘toe to toe’ with teams that are vastly superior to ours we won’t survive. Can he adapt and save us – personally I think we’ll fall short but hope to be proven wrong. Today psychologically is a huge game – that game in hand to pull us out the bottom 3. Hopefully the lads can get a win over the line and the confidence will see us limp to safety. UTV!
No Guilbert, Nakamba or Samatta in the starting lineup. McGinn starts with Hourihane and Luiz including Davis up front! Extra substitutions might make for tedious breaks in play. COYL!
Team
Nolans, Konsa, Hause, Mings, Tagett, Hourihane, Mcginn Luis, El Ghazi, Davis, Grealish.
Orjan Nyland; Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings, Kortney Hause, Matty Targett; Douglas Luiz, John McGinn, Conor Hourihane; Jack Grealish, Keinan Davis, Anwar El Ghazi
Reina, Taylor, Nakamba, Trezuguet, Borja, Samatta, Jota, Elhamady, Vassilev.
Interesting line-up, to say the least.
Where’s Engels?
Why isn’t Samatta starting?
Hourihane?
I hope Smith knows what he’s doing.
Badger – United are a physical side so I wonder whether that’s why he’s opted for Davis up front. He can handle himself and rough up their centre backs.
Unfortunately he’s not a prolific goal scorer.
That’s a 4 3 3 then as you say hope he know what he’s doing.
I forgot Guilbert.
If Smith is saving players, I’m not convinced he’s picked the right game here.
Anyone else get the feeling we might be eaten alive?
Maybe he’s literally picked those who looked best in training, but I don’t like that line-up.
Sean Bean is gonna be disappointed tonight! Come On You Lions!!!!
I heard a story that a couple of Villa players were ineligible because of shielding from virus. Maybe Engels and Guilbert, hopefully Drinkwater.
Read that Guilbert has a niggling knee injury and is possibly not fit. Engels seemed to go out of favour – he did seem too slow but then again, maybe he’s opted not to play because of safety concerns?
What the hell as Grealish done to his hair? Comb over both sides to the middle and a blond plat down the centre. my grandson has his hair done like last time but if he turns up with that he’ll get my toe up his backside.
I didn’t think a visit to hairdressers was allowed Bill.
If he turned up with a perfect barnet he’d have been accused of breaking lockdown 🙂
Neither did I Holte, still I might be jealous he’s got more than in hair.
🙂
There was a lot of hype around 2 or 3 youngsters included in the first team training squad – Louie Barrie being one. Slightly disappointed not to see him on the bench
What’s with this water break?
It’s not that hot and things are far too changed up as it is.
Whatever, decent enough start.
And yes, wtfs with that hair, Grealish?
El Ghazi gets caught (not a pen, imo) not given.
10 secs lateLuiz does less and gets booked!
Why do they try to play the ball out of defence and lose it. 3 times in our half ball to the wing and it’s lost. Grealish being clatterd again. Come on Villa.
Should be 1-0 to Sheffield United. Goal line technology screwed up in our favour!