So I’m back home from my jollies and feeling a bit down, to be honest. Perhaps not for the reasons you’d expect though. I usually have fleeting moments of sadness when returning from a holiday, but that’s all they are. I’m fully accepting that I have to get back to the grind and well, I’m fortunate in being able to say it won’t be long until the next holiday.
No, it wasn’t that at all.
I’ve had to insure the car (how can they justify my price more than doubling in 2 years?), tax it and file my accounts for Mr taxman. Not that I have ever worried about paying tax, but it all felt like a brutal assault on my pocket. Still, I’ll bet I’m not alone. There’s always someone after your dough, isn’t there?
Anyway, on to much more interesting things, ie football and I’ve been doing a bit of catching up.
So we’ve confirmed the signing of a right back, Kosta Nedeljkovic.
And handed him straight back to Red Star Belgrade. Hmm, I find that strange, as I’ve said previously. I think many of us think that a decent RB was the priority, as Cash has been meh and along with many, I’m just not happy with Konsa playing there. I still think the position is a weakness, but who am I to argue with what Emery wants?
And Dendonker has gone to Napoli on loan with an option to buy at £7.7 million.
I hope he does a good job for them and they take up the offer, as I struggle to see that we could get more for someone who has only been a squad filler and pair of legs for us. A terrible signing by Gerrard, which will mean we’ve lost a fortune on him. It’s not that I dislike the player and he’s always done okay for us, but he never struck me as good enough. Wolves really had our pants down there, I feel.
And then there’s the shock news that Klopp will be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season. Except it wasn’t really a shock though and I first heard rumours of this months ago.
I know it’s not Villa related, but it’s a big enough story to justify a mention, I feel.
I’ve rambled enough and it’s onto matters in hand.
We beat Chelsea earlier in the season, but I don’t think they’re the same proposition now. I watched quite a few parts of their games over the last couple of months and for a team that was not great, because they couldn’t score to save their lives, I think they’re improving and quite quickly.
Emery has said exactly the same and given that they are a team that couldn’t score, they have a couple of players who we will need to be wary of. The name Cole Palmer has been on many people’s lips and he’s done well, with eleven goals and seven assists.
Raheem Sterling’s playing well too and I watched the Blues against Fulham, where he rampaged down the left wing, putting some great crosses in, even though the strikers couldn’t get on the end of them. I predict a torrid time for whoever plays at RB.
Team news and Pau Torres, Lucas Digne and Jacob Ramsey are still out, as is Jhon Duran, who’s done his hamstring. Bertrand Traore is still at the AFCON.
Kaine Kesler-Hayden has been recalled and I believe has been promoted to the first team squad. Given that he was doing well at Plymouth and he hasn’t been punted out again, it would seem the manager will definitely give him a chance and I wonder if that might be tonight, for a few minutes at least?
Anyway, Chelsea have Malo Gusto and Christopher Nkunku back in training, but they’re not ready.
Reece James, Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella are all still injured and Nicolas Jackson is also still at the AFCON.
Prediction time then and it has a draw all over it, 1-1, I think and that’s what I’m going for at 90 minutes. There has to be a result though and if it goes to extra time, I can see them probably getting a late goal, although their Carabou cup stroll in the midweek might have taken it out of them. We can only hope. That said, I could see us getting a late goal too, so it makes things really difficult.
Oh, go on then. It’s always better to be positive, I guess.
2-1 to the Villa.
Am I bovvered? Well, yes I am, quite simply. I’m one of the dwindling few that still has massive regard for the FA cup. It’s quality Silverware and it would be great to have our name on it.
UTV!
Come on the lads.
Will Emery rotate much? I don’t think so, from his previous comments, where he talked about his previous record, particularly at Arsenal.
Would love to see us progress Badger. And winning it would be monumental. I just don’t think there’s enough in the tank to be competing on three fronts going into the spring. If CL qualification is the top priority, it’s a toss-up between the FA Cup or the ECL. Given the choice, I’d take the FA Cup over the ECL. But given the choice, even though it’s not silverware, I’d take CL qualification over the FA Cup. The whys are for another article, as there are so many.
I think we will lose tonight. They’re coming to the boil and we’ve very much come off it, since Brentford I’d say. 3 points on Tuesday is what I really want…
UTV!
Badger, our generation still thinks of the FAC as ‘important’ for its own sake; the modern money-ball people only see it as a ‘quick’ route to European football. So I hope we can actually get past Chelsea – would love to see us at Wembley again.
Personally, I’m not sure that we will. I have a horrible feeling that we’ve peaked for this season, and simply that injuries (with no replacements coming in during January) will mean that we start falling backwards again. I had expected that if we were going to release the likes of Dendonker, there’d be one or two surprise additions (not mega-bucks, but ‘discoveries’) during January to freshen the squad; instead it feels as if we’re planning on seeing out the second half of the season down to bare bones.
I can understand clubs being very wary of the FFP rules now that several have been ‘charged’, and I see that we’re apparently 21st in the football revenue table for 2022-23 with revenue of just over £214m. Newcastle & Wham are just ahead of us at £246m & 235m respectively; but Citeh (£707m) ,Liverpool (£585m), ManUre (£555m), Spurs (£470m), Chelsea (£439m) and Arsenal (£396m) are all a long way ahaead of us.
Like you I’ve just had to file another tax return, and have a bill to pay soon; January’s never a great month. Let’s see if Villa can brighten it a little bit.
I’ve no idea why my comment’s come up twice
Can we take revenge for that atrocious FA Cup Final years back. Terrible game nobody deserved to win…I got food poisoning at Wembley that day from a dodgy burger. Yuk!
Badger – commiserations on returning to the UK weather and the usual financial horrors at the end of January. Like you just filed my tax return and got a big bill – plus filled in the missus tax return and she got a bill for the first time in years – she’s not happy. Anyway enough of that!
It seems Emery is going to rely on Kesler-Hayden and Iroegbunam to fill in behind Cash and replace Dendonker and is trying to offload Chambers and Traore. Former might be difficult but it seems there is interest in Turkey for Traore. Any incomings are likely to be up front I think.
As to tonight’s game, with our current injuries and lack of squad depth, I can’t see past a defeat so it’s 2-0 for me.
We’re not very confident are we?
I agree we seem to have gone off the boil somewhat, but I think that was more about tiredness than anything.
They’ve had a decent break now (I don’t think they went away though, did they?) and we haven’t suddenly become a bad team, imo. It’s also the case they while I may have appeared to talk Chelsea up a bit, it doesn’t mean I think they’re that good.
I think much depends on the team both us put out, plus they have home advantage.
And staying positive, we know how to beat them and do better against the “bigger” sides anyway. I think it’ll be quite close either way.
Revenge? Absolutely. That was probably the worst final I remember.
Ardent, yes I read an article about Spurs now having the highest revenue of all the London clubs and it’s indicative of what a new stadium can do.
Sid, I can see the reasons for you saying we need to move. I also believe it will happen, as much as I don’t want it to.
But as I’ve previously said, going to the NEC would be a treacherous act because it’s bandit country. If it were to happen, I’d probably go once to have a look and then never set foot in the ground again.
My worry is that Americans don’t care about things like that.
Hitch, I think Emery wasn’t being political in his comments re transfers. I think he was being honest in us adopting a one in, one out policy.
The only reason I can see that changing would be if Duran were to leave. And even then, I wouldn’t expect a big name.
I know he’s currently injured and it leaves a lot on Ollie’s shoulders, but again, scoring isn’t an issue for us.
A word on Klopp. In my opinion, his announcement is absolutely awful timing for his squad. Shocking. They’re flying and have hit top gear, seemingly unstoppable, riding the crest of a wave…. So he pulls the rug out from under his players. Surprise! Can you imagine the squad’s reaction?
Fergie did something similar during a season and United plummeted. He subsequently changed his mind and stayed a few more years if I remember rightly. What was Klopp thinking? 🤔
Really shocked about Klopp, never saw that one coming but back to more important matters…
Can you believe the games not televised this evening?
Now if you resided in New Zealand you could watch the match on Sky Sports 3 NZ or Libya you could catch it on beIN sports English 2.
Crazy isn’t it?
😀
https://www.livesoccertv.com/match/4872904/chelsea-vs-aston-villa/
Apparently Klippety told “them” in November, which probably included the players.
Given that even I had heard the rumours, you’d suspect so.
So you could say they might actually be playing harder for him, given that they look a fair bet for the double.
I’ve just been checking my facts about the replay thing and it seems that according to Wiki, I’m wrong and that ruling was only introduced because of Covid.
“In rounds up to and including the fourth round proper, fixtures resulting in a draw (after normal time) go to a replay”
We can indeed draw, so I’m revising my prediction.
1-1 it is.
RSS. looks like I’m nipping over to Libya for a couple of hours 🙂
Oddly the Villa game is on Premier Sports Ireland. Some you win.
It also seems that Premier Sports Ireland is 412 on Sky UK. Just the messenger, please do not shoot me.
On reflection this Klopp things a bit of a worry, should we finish top 4 or win something then just who do you think is going to be top of their shopping list??
Actually that is a good shout. I could actually see him going there, but then again, it’s not really the same sort of project, which I think Emery likes.
Take on an underachiever etc. Particularly if they do get the double. The only challenge there might be matching what Klopp has already achieved.
But then, it’s the high profile, bigger funds etc.
And well, it’s just Liverpool isn’t it? He’d certainly be at the top of the list and would be popular with the fans too.
That won’t happen. I’d bet my house on it. Emery is many things, all damned good so far, but disloyal he ain’t.
Alonso. Ze Germans will be worried. He’s pulling up trees over there, apparently…
Its done and dusted. Next Pool manager is Xabi Alonso. Thats if his wife Nagore lets him.
Haha 🙂
Liverpool job favourites
Steven Gerrard
Gareth Southgate
He he
Badger
Thanks for the reference on Villa moving ground. Ardent Villain has rightly pointed out the gulf in club revenue. Further the impact on Spurs of having a new stadium. I am sure when we moved from Wellington Road some fans vowed not to the new ground. Apparently the old ground could not cope with the increasing crowds and issues with access – sounds like a familiar story!
My last point. I don’t get the negative Heck vibe I pick up. The guy is a proven commercial winner. And yes, he will challenge our perceived ideas and values. If we really want to rise to the top then there will be sacrifices along the way.
In the meantime no Torres, then I fear a loss tonight.
Hehe.
Actually, Gerrard was in the frame , I think. They do like to keep it in the family, don’t they?
It’s a shame for them he proved to be so useless at managing, I suppose.
Full strength it is then. Good on ya, Unai:
Martínez , Moreno, Lenglet, Konsa, Cash, McGinn, Douglas Luiz, Tielemans, Kamara, Diaby, Watkins
Subs: Olsen, Wright, Carlos, Chambers, Zaniolo, Bailey, Iroegbunam, Munroe, Kellyman.
Tiememans back. Nice.
Can’t find a feed 🤨
Scratch that. Positive start.
Looking at the bench he couldn’t do anything else other than forfeit the match. Well lets go for a treble.