I’ve been that busy at work lately that I actually forgot about the game yesterday and I didn’t remember until about 11pm and there was no way I was writing anything then.
Today I also worked, but did manage to get back at about ten to three, meaning I did at least get to see the game.
I thought we huffed and puffed to be honest, but were quite a bit better than Palace, who were so lacking any bite that I can fully understand why they are without a win in this calendar year.
Ollie missed a sitter that was easier to score and did his usual trick in not taking chances, which makes him an easy target for the boo boys. There’s no denying his workrate though.
I thought Luiz was poor today. His poor passing is often criticised, but I can’t say it’s been a trait I’ve noticed. I thought it was very off today and is something I’ll be watching closer.
McGinn seems back to his old self, but I wish he’d wear some longer studs as it seems he’s always slipping at critical moments. Whatever, he was unlucky to not score.
There were a couple of players that didn’t impress me much, but I’m not going to name them, purely because I don’t think it was a bad performance and it didn’t deserve criticism really.
My one concern is that it took an own goal to beat Palace, but going back to what many said to me last week, in that it’s the result that counts, I find myself thinking exactly that today.
I’m still trying to work out if Emery is a total genius or just a lucky sod.
The fact is that we get the points under him more often than not and I’m not going to knock it.
One thing that did disappoint me was Palace’s physicality.
I know they’ve long been known as a big, let’s say tough side.
But today I thought they downright cynical, almost to the point of being downright dirty.
It seems to me they’ve learned all the dark arts, in following through and sticking the boot in, albeit very well disguised in making it all look accidental.
They’ve gone down in my estimation and where they were previously a team that I’ve quite admired because they’ve punched above their weight, now I’m just glad we beat them
I guess I now dislike them the same as everyone else always has.
1-0 then and with an actual day off tomorrow, it’s going to be a good weekend.
UTV!
Get in!
We’re higher than Chelsea now, I guess.
I’m loving it!
We were only ahead for half an hour…then they bloody scored!!! Great 3 points all considered. UTV!!!!
Badger you nailed it with a win is a win. Funnily enough, I always look to see 40 points secured. We have the potential to achieve that by the 18th March and that would be great.
I believe Emery is an elite manager and results tend to go with that status.
Currently hoping we can climb another 3 positions. The higher we go the better we chance we have of securing some of the more ambitious signings the club is alleged to want.
Onwards and upwards.
I’d be ecstatic with 8th.
Can someone please tell me why Arteta gets away with not only his touchline antics, but the fact the ENTIRE Arsenal squad including backroom staff and the bloody tea lady are allowed on the pitch to celebrate a goal? Fair enough at a cup final, but every game?????
I thought our midfield dominated and we controlled the game well although I feel like our play was limited to Buendia and Ollie for attacking nous. I know plenty like JJ but I actually feel like he’s been really poor this season and we’re lacking quality width to make genuine runs. Bailey just isn’t that player for me and offers little. As said elsewhere he’s selfish and does little with it – reminds me a lot of Sterling. Chips in with a few flash goals so everyone forgives his lack of team play – but it’s team play that wins titles.
I know Mings takes a lot of heat but when you see how disjoined our defense looks, it’s got to be a lot of pressure on Emi when we look like conceding every time someone runs at them. I think Konsa had a poor game.
I didn’t see what everyone thought of McGinn last week and thought he was really poor but this game was his best in years for me. I only rate his bite and tackle and felt like he’d missed that for a long time.
I agree with everything here apart from the end when you mentioned McGinn.
This week he was MOTM for me and last week he was excellent again, I think he was a contender last week too.
I honestly think that without him we would not have 6/6 points in our last two games.
Excellent result today and I find that Emery’s tactics are really coming on!
I honestly think that Europe can still be a vision for this season and most definitely next season.
Exciting times. UTV!
See Aaron Ramsey got two goals for Middlesbrough yesterday playing alongside Archer who, for once, was not on the score sheet.
It seems that we may have some decent young players coming through from the Academy.
See our women are currently 2-0 up at Everton. They must be sick of the sight of Villa – excellent and long may it continue.
Well, I didn’t get to watch the game this weekend unfortunately but I tuned into the last 5 minutes of MOTD to watch our usual slot! By all accounts we seemed to control the game without really needing to get up to top gear. I’m really enjoying seeing Emery’s tactics and I think there are some very winnable fixtures on the horizon, I’d love to beat West Ham in particular and it would be great if we could go on another good run and put some pressure on those above us. Nobody is really talking about us because we’re just middle of the road but it would be nice to get some recognition at some point.
Mid table obscurity is boring really. European places and relegation are very unlikely whilst we squandered any chance of a cup run with that debacle against Stevenage.
Part of me wants the season to end now so we can get the necessary signings to take us to the next level. At least to have enough players to fill a substitutes bench without the need for 3 goalkeepers in the match day squad!
Emery has the difficult job in keeping the players motivated and hope there aren’t any injuries till the end of the season.
West Ham are a team that has had our number for a while recently. It will be good to finally turn them over. It depends how they start the game. They will be more up for it considering their league position. If we manage to keep a clean sheet and get the home fans twitchy, then that could work in our favour.
I agree Holte that there is a great danger of the players appearing in flip flops anytime now 🙂
I can’t see Emery allowing it though and we should be going all out to get into the top half. Albeit we’re extremely short of options with injuries whittling down an already small squad which doesn’t present many options for mixing things up. It seems Kamara may be out for a month which, with Coutinho being injured, really weakens us in midfield. The only upside is that we only have three (I think) games in March due to another of those annoying International breaks – although this time it should work in our favour.
With 7 games in April we need the whole squad fit.
Oh the joys of international breaks! I wonder whether Mings and Watkins will be considered. From a Villa point of view I hope none of our players get picked. Last thing we need are injuries during internationals.
On a lighter note Sunday should be interesting as the ladies have West Ham and so do we, that’s in its self should gee up the club getting results from both sides. Holte your comment bang on ,I feel we are going nowhere and the team we have now know things are about to change and some won’t be their at the end. I’m registered for tickets at Villa, and it’s been impossible in the past to get seats together, now they have hundreds too choose from ,that’s telling me fans are falling away . Roll on the season
I think it’s the issue Bill with us being in mid table. While it’s great to not worry about a relegation battle, there isn’t much to entice fans to go to games, especially when people are finding the gas, electric, fuel, mortgages and general shopping prices going through the roof.
Premier league football at stadiums isn’t a working class pastime anymore. Most fans have to rely on TV or other sources to get their fix. I will try to get one game in with my son before the end of the season though!
Cheers for that Bill. I’d love to take the family. Will look for tickets today.
I wrote a couple of weeks ago after the Leicester game we’d got our flip flops out early but the last two wins and the celebrations that followed said to me otherwise. Any sign of slacking and Emery will show you the door. We could do a ‘typical Villa’ and throw the next 3 games away but with proper hunger we can collect all 9 points. I’d love to leapfrog Chelsea.
Let’s see what West Ham side turns up on Sunday. Their fans will really turn if we go one up…
Finally, when and why have Palace turned into a proper dirty side?
Viera.
He just disguised the dirtyness much better than his players do.
Wet Spam should be knackered on Sunday. A mid-week Euro win is iften followed by a Premier League loss…Here’s hoping!!!
I dont know why but I feel like the occasion (West Ham being in a relegation battle) and our record against West Ham in general will get the better of us on Sunday. I’m predicting a defeat at best a draw.. I do seriously hope my gut is wrong though because on the face of it this should be a great chance for another 3 points. Kamara being out is a huge loss for us, if Mcginn is moved in to the middle to replace then we must not start Bailey in front of Cash because we will get constantly beaten on that side. I think we will need to play Ramsey, Luiz, Mcginn, Buendia, Young across the middle with Watkins upfront. I’d rather have that than Either Dendonker or Chambers coming in to the middle as I dont particularly rate either of them that much.
We have lost our last five against West Ham although their best is six consecutive wins against us – let’s hope they don’t equal their record on Sunday. I don’t actually know when we last beat them!
I’m not sure that playing mid week will adversely affect their fitness – might be the exact opposite with a win rebuilding their confidence. First goal, particularly if it’s early, could be crucial.
Emery’s press conference was interesting – he said Carlos may be in Sunday’s squad and on Kamara ‘although he will not be ready for Sunday his injury is progressing well, I spoke to him this morning and his injury is going well’. That’s encouraging and hopefully he’ll be out for less than the month being rumoured in the general media.
West Ham have a very decent side and a good manager in Moyes and I’d venture to suggest they’re in a false position in the table – although we have seen teams like West Ham struggle in the league when involved in European competitions.
It will be a difficult game and we’re missing Kamara but I’ll go for a draw but wouldn’t be overly surprised if we lose.
UTV
Just a bit of a stats update!
As is so typical of Villa over recent years it appears that West Ham are on a run of nine games unbeaten against us and, worse still, Moyes hasn’t lost to us in 13 games.
Can West Ham do a Villa and end their runs for us 🙂
UTV
So the MOTD saga is becoming a huge mess for the BBC. Whilst I totally disagree with Linekers comments on a comparison with 1930’s Germany and our political standpoint on immigration, he is entitled to his views on his own Twitter account. Freedom of speech is important in our society and separates us from the dictatorship eastern world countries.
I’m no fan of the BBC or this current government which is totally out of touch with the ordinary people they supposedly serve. We do however need to get to grips with illegal immigration. Would Lineker have the same point of view if someone arrived in one of those inflatable boats unchecked and went on to murder someone close to him?
I would liken it to having a party with an open invitation and then realising you don’t know if you have enough room, food or drink.
In an ideal world we would welcome everyone with open arms but the government must put its own people first.
I hope Lineker gets off his high horse and apologises for the Germany reference and then we can get back to Saturday night MOTD the way it should be.
As for tomorrow, what are the odds on Danny Ings scoring against us?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64901699
This is a nice read about McGinn
Well done Bournemouth in beating Liverpool. Villa please get them points tomorrow we’re still in with a chance I wan’t to see us back in the big times .