I’m fickle.
There, I admit it.
After what I thought was a poor show against Liverpool, I was left with no faith whatsoever in us winning at Spurs, but the Villa did what they often do and took all the points, just when I’d have put money on them losing.
By the same token, I’m almost worried to have a bit of confidence in us beating Wolves at home, but on paper it ought to be an easier task.
Where going back to what the Villa often do, means we have every chance of losing this one, just because I expect to win.
I’m being a bit repetetive, but seriously, how often have we been let down over the years?
I am well confident though.
I watched Wolves against Everton and thought they were somewhat lucky to win. Consider that Brighton have spanked Everton 4-1 at Goodison and again, on paper, it tells you that that Wolves victory didn’t mean a lot.
And then consider their lowly position in the league and the game is looking even easier.
Except we all know it doesn’t work like that.
Wolves will be fighting for their lives and it’s a derby. Enough said.
Squad news and for us, Martinez will be back in goal. Mind you, I said that against Spurs and the Villa did their usual trick in proving me wrong.
After slating Olsen blind in his previous games, I actually feel sorry for him now, because he did very little if anything at all, wrong last time out.
Martinez is head and shoulders our number one and a major part of our side, so he is going to have to come back sometime.
There’s going to be a big flag going round the Holte as he walks out and hopefully the plaudits he’ll receive from the fans keep in sparkling form.
Other big news is that John Mcginn is doubtful, because of a hamstring problem . Leander Dendoncker, who might be the natural replacement is also doubtful, as is Douglas Luiz. Add in that Jacob Ramsey is close, but probably not ready for a full 90 minutes and we suddenly look to have a midfield problem.
Hopefully one of the trainers will get the magic sponge out. Or more likely these days, painkilling jabs will prove appropriate.
Wolves have no new issues, but still have Chiquinho, Pedro Neto and Sasa Kalajdzic all out. Boubacar Traore and Jonny Otto are closer to starting after being on the bench last time out.
New signing Matheus Cunha will probably feature.
After seeing our possible injury issues, I’ve suddenly lost a bit of confidence.
Then again, Emery seems to have got us on a bit of a roll.
I can’t say I like the football for the most part, but there’s no doubt it’s effective.
We look more organised, better balanced and look like the players’s confidence has risen purely because they know exactly what they’re expected to do. It’s no doubt down to Emery’s attention to detail.
Add in that Emery seems to have back up plans and knows how to adjust to the game as it’s playing out and I have to say that it’s an overall combination that should prove too much for Wolves.
I see goals, but think it will be close.
I’m going 2-1 to us.
Comments
91 responses to “Villa – Wolves; I know it’s a derby, but I’m fairly confident.”
Will we be a bit more adventurous at home?
I can see a good game if so.
Or will pragmatism prevail?
It’s all about the spoils isn’t it?
“Mind the gap” my arse. I never cared for that saying and I hope we ram it up ’em.
Not that I have any major problem with Wolves. They’re a proper club over the years.
I can’t see us conceding, Kane & Son couldn’t get through us I give their front line little to no chance.
As a team they’ve scored a grand total of ten and let in 26 at the other end.
With that as a backdrop I can see us giving them a proper spanking.
3-0 🤞
Badger glad you started by saying you’re fickle. “ I can’t say I like the football for the most part”, wow we average 2 goals goals per premier match under Emery. He has shown the way on managing games. Spurs was a brilliant tactical lesson from his coaching manual. For example, during the last 15 minutes against Spurs I could not see them scoring against us. This was a new sensation. Even when 6-2 up against Liverpool I feared they would equalise against us – based so years of watching Villa blow leads. But not now. We have an elite manager. We score goals, we manage games effectively and more likely than not we win. I love it!
I am intrigued how Emery will pull the rabbit out of the hot tonight with all the midfield injuries. But then again as he is an elite manager, I expect him to find a way.
UTV
Sorry Sid. I agree it’s effective. But it’s also tedious to watch.
It’s just my opinion 🙂
I feel a bit like you Badger – born of years of being let down by inconsistency from an underperforming team. Add to that Wolves recent impressive record at Villa Park – 6 games unbeaten (W3D3) – and my confidence immediately after the Spurs game is waning.
It also appears that we have lost 7 straight games against teams whose name starts with a W – where did they dig that stat from!
So yet more unwanted records that we need to put to rest.
Why is it also the case that as soon as we start to see real improvement we suffer, not just one, but a series of injuries to key players? For instance, McGinn has never suffered a hamstring injury before (like Carlos 200 games without injury and just 2 at Villa before being crocked). Add to your list Konsa who, I read, also got a knock in the Spurs game.
Do we have sufficient squad depth?
Think this might be a draw.
I said yesterday things have changed. I could see us winning the next 4 on the trot where usually we’d come away with 4 from 12.
This team’s ability to disappoint us immediately following an unexpectedly good performance has endured through the previous two managers, so it is a test of the new broom tonight.
If Mcginn is out he could start Coutinho. You never know which Bailey will turn up, the dangerous forward or the waste of space, but after the Spurs game maybe playing Cash as a winger while Young retains the RB role is a good idea. I am not convinced about Cash as a full back, same with Digne – ‘they are a danger to the team in whose half they are playing’. I.e. better when attacking than when defending.
OLL – I agree with your new broom observation. My earlier post may seem a little negative but four games (notwithstanding the excellent
results) is too small a sample to chase away the memories of the last few years.
Cash is a good call at wing back but I think we might see Young covering for McGinn (rather than Coutinho who I still see as being an impact sub) with Cash coming back in at right back.
The potential loss of Luiz is worrying with Dendonker also injured so we might see a rare sighting of the Sanson before it flies south for the winter 🙂 I suppose Chambers is another option but either way it will weaken the team.
Archer on loan to Middlesbro’ for the rest of the season – probably a sensible idea given his lack of playing time.
Emery must feel he needs more development so it’ll be interesting to see how he gets on.
With all of the usual reservations that everyone has already mentioned – Villa letting fans down just as we start to believe, a few key injury doubts again, some unpredictable performers (Bailey, Couthino, etc.,) I will stick my neck out and actually predict a win, even a very good one.
I’ll go for us to win 3-0.
& Yes, I know it might look sick by 10.00 pm tonight, but what the hell!
UTV
I’m predicting a 4-0 win to Wolves. After all it worked against Spurs 🤞
Good lad, Holte!
I see David Gold has died from West Ham. Despite their pervy dealings they seemed half decent owners. How they got the London Stadium for £2m a year is beyond me!!! Perhaps they had dodgy pics of someone.
Good piece in the Express about how influential Ash is on the pitch, marshalling the defence, ordering the midfield to tighten up, even if he isn’t as fast as he once was.
West Ham currently paying £4m per year for the stadium but still was a good deal by Gold.
That news might explain why they haven’t gotten around to sacking Moyes yet.
Looks like they’re trying to offload Ings.
I heard we wouldn’t prevent Ings from leaving should he wish to and Villa receive an ‘acceptable’ offer but at the same time we aren’t actually trying to sell him.
Which suggests a slightly different scenario.
And I should imagine, subject to finding a suitable replacement.
(Unless they already have something up their sleeve?)
Seen the same reports – i.e. that Villa ‘wouldn’t stand in his way’ if a suitable offer was received, and he wanted to go; which suggests that Emery doesn’t really see him there past the summer…
It would seem Villa have turned down a loan offer from Everton for Ings as we are only interested in a permanent deal – which rather reinforces your view Ardent.
Also claimed that ‘lots of clubs’ are interested.
It would also suggest thatVilla have someone they are pursuing but need to make room for a new striker and also want the income from a sale to help finance it.
I think moving players out first will be the way Villa go in this window.
Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Mings, Konsa, Digne, Kamara, Luiz, Buendia, Young, Watkins, Bailey.
Good line up.
So much for my prediction 😞
Not the most encouraging of starts!
In fact absolutely crap
Well, that was coming.
The defence is back to usual, absolute junk.
0-1
Whaaaaattttt!!!!!!!
Not to worry boys!!!!
So typical Villa – so inconsistent.
If we don’t wake up, we’re going to get a tonking
We won’t win this ,
Normal service is resumed Bill
This is actually embarrassing at the moment.
I feel a half time bollocking coming on…
Wolves will be out of sight by half time.
Emery has been out thought and the team outplayed
2 minutes to the break…
Embarrassing so far. Wolves are taking the piss out of us. Digne and Bailey are not good enough and that’s not just based on tonight.
Bailey has done absolutely nothing but then which Villa player escapes criticism? That first half performance is the worst I’ve seen and, once again, raises a question over the quality of this squad.
If they can’t play consistently well then they’re just not good enough.
45 minutes to put this right or continue with another of our shocking records.
Boos and plenty of them.
Totally deserved too, as that was awful.
I should have bought into your scepticism badger.
Inconsistency is one of our major faults. Dare I suggest that we are missing McGinn. They deserve a bollocking at half time for that lifeless showing.
Tactical genius my ***!
As suggested Cash plays ahead of Young as a winger, but Bailey also starts, not on the wing where he is best but as part of twin strikers where he is frankly junk. Cash instead of Bailey was a possible good call – both together means playing with 10 men. Should have been Ings or Coutinho.
Not great goalkeeping either for the first goal, a right-footed player was going to hit it inside Martinez’ right post for choice, but no anticipation.
Traore on to spank Digne’s arse now.
Coutinho on for Young.
Deciding game for Phil’s Villa future, I reckon.