The Villa never fail to do it, do they?
Raise your hopes and then fail to produce on a consistent basis, that is.
I was thinking about this yesterday and it led to me wondering why we’ve never any consistent success in my 50+ years of supporting the Villa. I mean, think about it and you’ll see what I’m on about.
Man U, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City and Everton have all had good stints in the limelight, but the second city’s biggest club has never achieved on a similar level. Yes, we won the league and the European cup, along with a few league cups and they’re great achievements, but it just seems to me that we’ve never really had our fair share. After all, you could probably say that Leeds and Forest have had more success than us.
Of course, we’re not quite alone in this. Spurs, Newcastle and maybe others could be classed as similar, but I’d emphasise the second city part in our case. Mind you, I’ve never been convinced that Birmingham (the actual city) has had it’s fair share of much either. Certainly Manchester always seems to be pushed ahead of us, Liverpool has some sort of romanticism about it. Glasgow does too and as for London, well, I’m not even going there.
So what am I getting at?
I don’t know really, apart from hopes being raised and us nearly always failing to produce on the seeming promise.
And we did it again on Wednesday night against Brentford, in producing what I thought was a good first half performance after what I again think of us being poor for months and being on a bad run, in our league outings at least.
Have we turned the corner?
Squad news then and Ramsey is a couple of weeks away, but Onana is close and will be assessed this morning. Perhaps most concerning is the fact that Unai himself doesn’t know who will be available;
“Today I don’t know exactly which players are available for tomorrow – some are doubts, yesterday they were in some pain and as well some were really tired.
We are going to train now, this afternoon, but even training this afternoon, I think until tomorrow morning it’s not going to be clear for me which players will start the match”
Hence it would seem anybody might start.
As for Southampton, they have Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Flynn Downes and Tyler Dibling all back from injuries, but are still not in very good shape. Captain Jack Stephens starts a four match ban after a midweek sending off, Aaron Ramsdale is out with a finger injury, Paul Onuachu is a week away and a certain Jan Bednarek is touch and go. I believe they have other players out too so overall we’re probably doing fairly well injury-wise.
So there we have it. We’re at home to an injury ravaged team, that is struggling at the bottom end of the table. It should all be a very straightforward win to the Villa, shouldn’t it?
Except Southampton have the ability to break on you with very decent pace, something we all know we’ve been very susceptible too, with way we play such a high line. It’s looking pretty windy and that might affect things, so maybe a freaky sort of goal is very much a possibilty. That Dibling kid looks very useful and has a few very nice twists and turns in his box of tricks, combined with some decent pace that could see our right back posed with some very serious problems.
Prediction time then and I’m going to stick my neck out. If Mings plays (and yes, I thought he was great midweek) I’m feeling quite confident and will go for a 3-1 win to the Villa.
See, that’s what they do to you. One win and suddenly the world’s our lobster again!
Fingers crossed and Up the Villa!
Comments
156 responses to “Villa – Southampton; Oh oh, I’m hopeful again!”
BFR still on the planet mate just got back off a cruise with
Nurovirus me and the wife . 8 days on the sea on a 12 day holiday, the worst holiday I’ve ever had., we did have the Villa on the tv which was the highlight of our holiday needless to say never again. Today’s game was boring as for Watkins words fail me , I’m putting it down to the conditions but we have to up our game . Have to go nature calls 🤮
Sorry to hear you and the missus not well – it seems to me that’s the big problem with cruises – locked up with 5,000 other people and nowhere to go 🙂
Hope you’re both soon on the mend.
They do say cruises are floating petri dishes. Get well soon. Norovirus is horrible. And stay away from Bodymoor Heath!!!!!
Oh no, mate! 🤦 Get well soon!
Thing was lad’s only 3 thousand on that ship and they closed my favourite bar the glass house over being short staffed. What’s with Bailey lately, not the same since he signed his contract, and why Mings not showing in games. If you asked me sometimes Emery not thinking straight. Well we are now in a good place to go for it and play to win let’s get back in the top 4 I’ll be happy.
Bailey hasn’t been fit all season. And Diaby is in Saudi.
Is it just a coincidence that Bailey’s form has, generally, returned to the pre-Diaby era? I’m beginning to think not!
Stuck in Barbados as brand new BA Dreamliner broke down last night with me on it 🙂 After 5 hours sitting on a stationary plane they de-planed us – oh joy!
Might as well jog off to the beach then 🙂
BA, in their wisdom have now ‘abandoned’ us in Barbados.
Couldn’t get a flight back until Friday – suppose there could be worse places to be stuck 🙂
Madness.
At least we have our own place here that we can retreat to. It seems quite a lot of the passengers have been sleeping at the airport because they couldn’t find (affordable?) hotel rooms.
Imho BA handled the whole thing very badly.
I was on the P&O Britannia just over a week ago for a 2 week Carribean cruise which was our first one. We was worried about norovirus and sea sickness but we had a great time. From what i could see, everyone used the handwashing facilities before eating in buffet areas and it felt more hygienic than most of the hotels i have visited.
I hope you are both feeling better quickly.
https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2024/12/09/football-icon-gary-shaws-championship-medals-fail-to-sell-at-auction/
That’s really sad and I wholeheartedly agree with Mr Collymore “Those medals deserve to be at Villa Park, B6.”
I like Emery’s comments about Lucas Digne. It’s no wonder he’s keeping Maatson out of the team and shows the importance of competition for places.
What did he say? We’re blessed in that position. Digne has been brilliant all year.
Everyone looking forward to KO? Don’t forget it’s on Amazon Prime tonight.
I feel a 0-0 coming on…
In précis – that Digne is a consummate professional who is keen to learn and works extremely hard – for example granted two days off following an IB, he will only take one.
He pointed out Digne’s career with clubs like Barcelona and PSG whilst saying that two years ago maybe his career was going in the wrong direction but his application since then has resulted in big improvements and being picked again for the French squad.
Praise indeed.
I think, as Villa fans, we would agree that Digne has shown since Emery’s arrival what a very good player he is.
UTMV
Fair play. Thank you Mr G. For Bouba and Digne.
Not so much for Carlos, Coutinho and Chambers!
We are plus 5 in goal difference in the CL, they are minus 5 Why on earth would we not beat them. .
0-2 for starters.
Those of you that have IPTV will find the game on Irish channel Virgin Media 2
Thanks Gerry – have my stick with me so hopefully find it OK although internet here can be a bit sticky at times.
Un 19 through 3-4 , we must have some good players coming through..
Team news –
Martinez, Konsa, Carlos, Torres, Digne, Kamara, Tielemans, Cash, McGinn, Rogers, Watkins.
Is Emery going three at the back or is Cash going to play in front of Konsa?
Interesting line up!!!!
Cash confirmed in Bailey’s spot. Intriguing!
Brilliant start!!!!!!! Meatball!!!!!
Oh this formation looks much much more convincing
Oh sweet move that . McGinn assisted by Watkins 1-0 Villa
Should be 3 up really. Ollie and Yuri should have netted…
Terrible error by Emi!!!!!
And Carlos? 😡
Ohh for fuck sake cruising and fuckin blow the lead
Yep.
Stupid stupid goal to give , wake up Villa if you think your good bloody show it . Rodger’s to me is crap don’t do a thing for me in midfield.
Watkins has missed two good chances already which Duran probably would have converted. I think Ollie is in serious trouble in maintaining his number one striker role. He is a willing runner but tonight the ball is bouncing off him to the opposition too often. Their defence is rubbish and we have gifted them back into the game with poor communication between Martinez and his defenders. Would Mings have shouted out the danger?
We should be winning this game easily but now we could end up losing.
Agree.
As it’s Christmas time and Unai needs a plan B, may I suggest the late, great Terry Venable’s Christmas tree formation: 4, 3, 2 1.
4: Cash, Mings, Konsa, Digne (for CL, swap Mings for Torres)
3: McGinn, Kamara, Tielemans
2: Rogers (right), Watkins (left)
1: Duran
What d’ya think, chaps?
We should be comfortably in the top 8 blew it against brugge got fixed out of it by juventus and now fucking up against the bottom team absolutely soul destroying
I know what u mean. Let’s see what the second half brings. Let’s hope Santa is wearing his claret and blue socks…
Duran on. Ollie off. Duran has confidence on his side…
Ollie hasn’t.
Merry Christmas, Little8!
OH MY FUCKING GOD!!!!!!!!!!
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
Looking at Chelsea and their ridiculous depth of talent, aren’t you glad they didn’t prise Duran away in the summer?
Oh that lad!
Duran!!!!!!
Cock up for the goal apart we have played pretty well. Nice passing without going gung ho. Pretty good away European performance.
Who would think that two games ago we were rubbish and Emery had lost the plot.
JHONNYYYYYYYY!!!!