This is going to be a pretty quick article with a couple of thoughts on todays game
Both teams come into the game on poor runs; Villa one win in five and Wolves one in four and off the back of a poor result at Anfield whereas Villa played really well at West Ham without any reward.
Villa should have benefitted from the rest occasioned by last weeks postponed game – particularly for the players that have been on international duty. Barkley is still sidelined by his hammy but is reported to be running again so may be back for the next game. I haven’t seen any news on Davis but, if fit, I expect to see him on the subs bench.
Wolves are without their main strike threat and are not known for being prolific in front of goal. Their strength has been in defence but there maybe concerns here as well with Nuno having recently switched from a three at the back to a four over the last three games – will they revert to their tried and trusted formation today?
Whatever there may be an opportunity to exploit an uncertainty here.
Villa might count themselves unlucky not to have come away from West Ham without at least a draw but having said that we have to be more clinical in front of goal – we had more than enough chances to win the game. Trezeguet is the principal culprit having failed to find the net in 22 attempts this season (more than any other player) and often not even managing to hit the target. Having said that, he makes intelligent runs and gets himself into goal scoring positions and puts in a real shift for the team. It looks as if he’s trying too hard and just needs a bit of luck in front of goal to restore his confidence – so I’m sure the goals will come.
We also have to stop conceding soft goals and making silly mistakes at the back and we need to concentrate from the whistle not five minutes later; this is an unwelcome throwback to last season pre lockdown! West Ham had just two attempts on target and scored two very preventable goals. I see Smith made reference to this in his recent press conference and that he has reminded the team they need to be hard to beat which was the mantra post Project Restart.
So to today’s game which is hard to call. They beat us twice last season and we generally have a poor record against them over recent seasons, particularly at Molineaux where they’ve won the last three.
I’m not particularly good when it comes to predicting results but I’m going to stick with my recent post and go for a draw; even if only because the odds suggest one is now due!
Better late than never Nath.
I was going to have a moan about the Midlands being in Tier Three with London in Tier Two and therefore allowed crowds but couldn’t be bothered to get into a political debate 🙂
spot on hitch
Team News – Traore in for Trezeguet and Ramsey gets his first start in for Barkley.
Trezeguet not on the bench so maybe injured and no Davis either so our striking options are a little limited.
I’m getting increasingly frustrated with Davis being injured. If he isn’t reliable enough fitness wise we need to offload and bring in a striker to challenge the first team.
It’s a pity that Trezeguet isn’t fit either. Traore doesn’t quite match up in work rate, so Cash could find himself over occupied.
We have had a long break but previous extended breaks haven’t worked in our favour. I’m predicting 2-0 to Wolves purely on their recent history against us, plus they are still a better overall team at the moment.
Another thing I forgot to mention was our defence. We haven’t had many chances against us but still seem to concede too easily. Also please no early goals!
How weak is our bench? Hoping for 3 points somehow, but would be happy with a point. We need to stop the rot and get Barkley fit again. It would be nice to see the defence tighten up as well!!
We need another striker in Jan. Wesley will take some time to get up to speed and Davis is always injured as Holte says.
all home clubs should be allowed to have 1000 supporters, clubs in midlands can accommodate that many fans and iam sure they will stay safe as safe as fans watching down south in london say. its another stupid rule which benefits the shandy drinkers down south and us monkeys left in the dark.
damn games starting and i am rushing around iam glad ramsey gets the start, hope he can shine and he has all the tools to shine and fingers crossed he shines today
I see the problems NOW. only a minute on the clock.
Our Traori cannot control a ball on the move, 3 of Villa with bookings Cash out in next match ,, having a good day ref is his usual self hate the Villa. Brilliant.
trust you to spot the same as me lol
dean has a wolves shirt under his ref one.he has had a mare first half not only has he pulled up everything and nothing . he has kept wolves in the game and held us back
my half time report is more about the referee mike dean. what a bad referee he is and was in that first half. the game itself was simmering but never allowed to boil cause he is such a crap ref. he pulls up everything and nothing,
example he books luiz and cash for tugs and they were debatable tugs. then coady tugs watkins i think and he didnt receive any yellow. villa players 3 yellows and no bad fouls. targget and martinez kneed and kicked in head and no cards.
also two hand balls and i seen them types given and apparently they changed the rules now, i bet you they would be given if it was manure pool chelski.
villa shaded the first half, i thought mike dean was gonna wear his wolves shirt as the they were struggling for possession. we need to watch second half dean is gonna try send one of our players off. that will be only way wolves win this.
Nath has already covered what my verdict of first half, the Mike Dean show. He is a referee that should have retired years ago. Definitely biased towards Wolves with yellow cards and decisions in general.
you have bill also spotted too. looks like he isnt trying to hide the facts too. cheating fooker
Mike Dean – if I’d realised he was the ref would have predicted a Wolves win. How he can be selected to ref a Villa match with his history is beyond me.
Happy Mike Dean
Am I right or not?, Mick Dean is card happy and always will. Your right Hitch, they appoint a ref just to be funny in the office FA my arse.
He heard me . Wow
We won despite Mike Dean.
Well done guys
UTV
He read my text Hitch. The times they stick that twat on the pitch with us its becomes a nightmare.
I feared the worst when Luiz went off but well done Martinez and McGinn for winning the penalty. Good finish by El Ghazi too.
Dean hands out 11 yellow cards and send two players off. That just says everything about how crap he is.
Should be removed from the list after a performance like that.
i stopped counting about 7 needed my abacas
that game was almost spoiled by referee. but we found a way to win, despite deans incompetence to officiate the game properly. villa deserved the win wolves lacked any intentions to win the game. except for the 10 mins at the end of game. when they had a man advantage.
martinez got the motm on tv i would agree but that looks like he was busy but he wasnt over worked but when he was called upon he saved everything and top save from a volley late on. ## three points great Christmas present for us
Wow didn’t look like coming today! Then that sinking feeling when Luiz reckless to get sent off and you just think here we go another last minute defeat for the Villa! But super John Mcginn who had a good game today with a delightful bit of skill to win the peno and great for El ghazi to step up and score. Happy weekend everyone! Table is looking better all of a sudden. Martinez was also superb today what a signing.
Glad to hear Grealish told Elmo to take pen as Watkins missed it last time, yes Martinez played a blinder and well worth MOTM… yipeè.