After what was a torrid fifteen or twenty minutes, where Wolves were sharper and frankly better than us, we managed to fight our way into it and went on to dominate for the rest of the game.
We had a bit of a scare and it was all quite strange, as Ait-Nouri found himself in front of goal in acres of space. It was almost like he and everybody else thought he was offside, hence everybody practically stopped, leaving him a free shot. Fortunately Emi was up to the task and managed a good stop.
That apart, I don’t really remember Wolves troubling us much and it was all in all a pretty convincing win, with Moussa Diaby hitting a corker to the top right of the goal and leaving the goalie with no chance.
Once we’d got that goal I felt quite comfortable, which is something I wasn’t expecting at all.
Then, Ezri Konsa of all people, crossed the ball, only for it to turn into an excellent shot, which again left the goalie helpless and crossed the line. If it hadn’t actually gone in, Duran would have netted anyway.
Once we got that second, I couldn’t see any way back for Wolves and for the first time in a good while, I was able to just relax and watch the game unfold.
I have to keep reminding myself that Wolves were seventh and in very good form, yet we beat them quite easily. Given that I thought they were a very, let’s say, physical side, I felt we held our own particularly well, especially given my worries about us missing John McGinn. In fact I’m not even sure we missed him at all and that’s a very nice thought.
The major plus point for me is we didn’t look like a team that are ready to fold and we still have plenty of fight left yet.
I also thought we played some really good football, with cross-field balls coming from lots of players. I do really like that kind of pass and they never fail to remind me of Sid Cowans.
Another surprising thing is that I didn’t think we looked tired either, which given our injuries is something else I didn’t expect.
So all in all, a very good day at the office and the lads and Unai should be very pleased with themselves.
I’m not even going to think about our upcoming games, but I think we only have eleven left to play. Who would have thought we’d be in this position so late in the season? Certainly I didn’t.
One last thing. I’m now beginning to hope that we can keep things going and end up above Spurs, if only to ram all the pundit’s words down their throats. I’ve nothing against Spurs at all and actually quite like them as a club, but it makes me sick that they are the darlings of the game at the moment. You’d think they’re the only team that can play nice footy.
I was going to say Onwards and upwards, but I guess we’re already at our pinnacle for now.
Onwards it is then!
UTV!
All very satisfactory and I’m a very happy Easter bunny today 🙂
Man U looking increasingly out of it too. Bonus!
I forgot to say, I know he’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but I really like the look of Morgan. I think he’s going to be real quality.
Badger – very fair summation and, as always, a very good read.
I agree with you on Morgan. For a big lad he’s quick and has nimble feet. It’s quite a challenge stepping up from the Championship but he’s doing well and his physique helps him.
Also think Zaniolo is starting to show some real quality and, like Morgan, I think Duran is starting to acquit himself well. He’s a big strong lad, not afraid to put himself about; some of his pressing and ball winning yesterday was outstanding.
Yeah, agree totally. They are really showing some proper quality there. Keep them all!!!
I thought you summoned it up perfectly Badger just one thing bearing in mind my age? Who is Morgan as you lost me there. I felt at first we was not going to beat Wolves then as you pointed out we got into the game, Rogers I thought did well still a lot to learn Tielerman looks comfortable in the position given , Diarby not yet sure but did improve on this game. McGinn you cannot rule out in any game we have in the season if players had his efforts we would not be worried. All in all I’m like you happy as pig in ? You know what .
Morgan Rogers Bill.
Badger and me getting a bit personal!
I found out from my grandson Hitch and Badger, I know the site moved on over the years but bloody hell let’s keep it on surname and remember us old gits are slow with age. Anyway I had an inkling it might be Rodger’s. I like the lad he has prospects, well done on the post I’m a happy bunny.
Apologies Bill. I do usually refer to players by their surname, as you know.
Somehow Morgan just sounds like a surname.
I wonder why Badger 🙂 🙂
Bill you might be able to work out why Badger And me think Morgan sounds like a surname 🙂
I appreciate it’s all Ifs and Buts but if those 2 ManU games would have gone the way they should, we’d be second and figting for the title. Mental isn’t it! Such fine margins…
Lots of injuries to Citeh and Arsenal later? A really bad tempered game with 8 sendings off????
BumBum are we also thinking Sheffield and Nottingham? Plus being robbed on VAR , let’s face it the only way is up and it’s coming .
So many close calls…Get yourself a Chesty Morgan t-shirt to help you focus on our newly purchased attacking midfielder/1970s topless beauty!!!!
Just watched the Claret & Blue podcast with Big Ron Atkinson. Thoroughly enjoyed the anecdotes from the good old days; a real treat. At 85, Big Ron’s memory and wit are as sharp as ever. 👌👏
I just stumbled on that too. Great wasn’t it!
Interesting to hear his opinion on the Citeh game saying it was the best Villa performance in 70 years of watching…
Yeh, I heard that, mate. Some compliment!
That felt absolutely incredible, it feels even more incredible that we all thought “classic villa vs wolves incoming” in that first 20 mins and I don’t think anybody can say they didnt ahaha. But we did what good teams do and find the net even in not the most astonishing performances.
Very pleased with Unai and the boys. Going to do player ratings for the first time, let me know what you reckon;
Martinez – 8
Konsa – 8.5 (1 goal)
Torres – 7.5
Carlos – 7.5
Moreno – 6.5
Tielemans – 8
Luiz – 8
Rogers – 7.5
Diaby – 8.5
Bailey – 7
Watkins – 6.5
Subs – Subject to time on the pitch (kind of a ratio)
Duran – 7
Zaniol0 – 7.5
Digne – 7
Iroegbunham – N/A – not on for long
Kesler Hayden – N/A – not on for long
You’re more negative than me, I still think we can push for the title if we beat the top 3 ahahaha, so I will say onwards & UPWARDS.
UTV 🙂
I’m genuinely not pulling the big six bias card here, as it’s their opinion and they’re going to do the best for them as they’re bookies. But I’m interested in how Spurs are favourites for top 4, maybe the game in hand? I’ve no complaints, it’s a 50/50 between us and Spurs imo, just curious as to what gives them the edge.
It’s a London club and a media favourite Alfie – says it all.
I’m no expert on how bookmarking works but I suppose they respond to the level of bets placed.
Exactly that Alfie. A bookmaker’s odds have to reflect his book – that is his liabilities in the event of any event happening. I will put it in horse racing terms, but it translates into football also.
Before any bets are made there is a tissue price. That is the expert odds compilers view of the odds that should be offered for each horse. Then the Punters start placing bets – to start with at the tissue price, but if lots of money is coming for one horse and little money for another, the odds on the first horse shorten and on the second horse lengthen. Note that this does not mean the shortening horse actually has more chance of winning. It may just be trained by a trainer in form or ridden by a popular jockey.
So in terms of Spurs & Villa (now Manure have a mountain to climb, because either Spurs or Villa might blow up but the chances that both do are very short). Spurs have a bigger fan-base in UK who are likely to bet on them than Villa do – partly because Villa fans are less optimistic. The shorter odds do not reflect the two team’s chances, Spurs game in hand is effectively away to West Ham – always a tricky game for Spurs with Hammers players fired up for it.
Thanks OLL.
I thought Spurs game in hand was away to Chelsea – not that it matters as both are tricky fixtures.
This week’s mid-week games will indicate who’s in pole position for 4th – Villa away to ManC and Spurs at home to Forest. It’s likely after these games we’ll be level on points – it’s going to be GD that separates us. ManU are at home to Liverpool and a win for the latter would, one thinks, be the final straw in ManU’s attempt at 4th / 5th.
As an aside my mate, who’s a Forest fan, is confidently predicting a Villa win 2-0 although I’d happily take a positive Forest result – draw would be fine.
Sums it up really well to be fair. Even % chance though they’d probably still give it to Spurs given that they’ve qualified for the Champions League before. As I said, 50-50, so fair enough. Another thing is, nobody knows about your club like your own fans do, and when I heard other fans saying how good Watkins was last season when for the majority of it he couldn’t hit a barn door it really does show that they don’t watch every game, and why would they? So I can also only assume that they think Mings is our best CB and that Buendia is one of our most prominent attackers, and other injuries on the face of things look awful, but as Villa fans we know that we can still do a job without certain players, e.g Kamara.
My Spurs mate has written themselves off with a defeat to Chelsea. They have an inferiority complex with Chelsea like we do with ManUre.
4 points from the next 3 games would be brilliant.
Their records isn’t great at West Ham, either. Fingers crossed the hammers show a reaction from the barcodes game… 🤞
I’d take 4 from the next 3 as well. 5 would be incredible. 3 acceptable but potentially costly…would we prefer 3 draws or one win a two defeats? I think I’d prefer 3 draws if offered…
Just looking at previous seasons’ league tables. 71 points seems to be the magic number for 4th. Meaning we, theoretically, need 4 more wins from 8 games. Sounds simple. It won’t be. The finishing line will be coming into view soon. I really hope the boys have enough left to do it!
It’s going to be really tight but we can help ourselves by beating Lille and bringing the coefficient up for 5th place. I honestly think it’s written in the stars for us this season, just hope I’m right.
By the by, what about the noses? Languishing in 20th place their ex-manager Eustace has just beaten Sunderland at home 1-5. What might have been if they had only stuck with him? Anyway, on the whole, I find that I couldn’t give a flying f***.
Shame the Bluenoses won. They’d be in the relegation zone.
Still time…🤣
Watkins out for tomorrow’s game but hopefully be back for the home game with Brentford.
Who will lead the line?
Duran or Zaniolo?
Ramsey still unavailable and Emery was pretty downbeat about his recovery time. A friend of mine had bone surgery on his foot and it took ages before he was pain free. It seems that the bone can become infected and it’s just a long job to correct it – hopefully not requiring further surgery! I don’t think we will see much of Ramsey this season if at all. So add him to the players out for the season!
After watching the bore draw on Sunday, I’d go for Duran. He’s strong and he can put it about a bit which the Citeh defenders won’t like much. I’d like to see Zaniolo start on the left, playing with Digne. They were both sensational when they came on as subs.
With Citeh in the doldrums and having to face Real Madrid in less than a week, I’m wondering if we might get something out of this one. Fingers crossed.
Good call on all 3 of those, 1874. I’d go with that. Gives the others a break as an added bonus.
We could see Diaby in Ollie’s place…With Chesty behind him! Oo-er Missus!!!!
Come on you Irons!!!!!!!!
Anyone watching Forest? I’ve said it several times but Gibbs-White is quality. He’d fit brilliantly in the Villa team. Proper midfielder imo.
He’s 5 years younger than the skipper. Ideal replacement? Very similar in their dynamism, leadership, battling qualities goals and assists…
I think a few clubs will be in for him in the summer, especially with FFP.
Bloody Spuds one up.
I’d go as far as to say he’d be ideal for Manure. Roy Keane type, leads by example.
Ah shit. Spuds winning already. 🤦
Zouma scores! I’m having kittens! I’ll get my coat…
Very droll…Good game at the publicly paid for ex-Olympic stadium.
Game could go either way. Come on you claret and blues!!!
Bowen is class. He’d never leave the Hammers as he’s terrified of his father in law!!!
1-1!!! Thanks Hammers! Great result for us!!!
See u tomorrow night guys!!!!
Right! Now we are level on games played, Villa 2 points and 2 goals better off than Spurs with 4 of our remaining opponents in common. I don’t see Spurs doing better than Villa against those 4.
Only years of being surprised by Villa not getting the nailed-on result gives me any hope for tomorrow. Even if Watkins could play – it makes sense not to let Rodri kick him about. But if Rodri tries the same on Duran and Rogers he will know he has been in a fight when he goes off.
Fourth and on merit
Excellent result for us – can we pinch something tomorrow?
I wouldn’t be surprised. It’s not like the nailed on predestined results against Fergie’s teams of yesteryear…
10 hours until KO!!! 🙂
Well Citeh haven’t beaten any of the top five so far this season so we’re definitely in with a chance. Even a point would be invaluable as it would take us 3 points away from Spuds who would still have a game in hand.
Also important that Chelsea does the business tomorrow against Man Ure. Another loss would more or less rule them out of contention. Strange times when I find myself cheering on the likes of West Ham and Chelsea but there you go.
Worth noting that Citeh aren’t quite the scoring machine they used to be. With only nine games left their GD is only 35 while last year it finished at 61.
Really fancy us for at least a draw. COYL
Haaland hat-trick tonight. Sorry to be negative, lads. He’s due a scoring spree and has had some negative press recently on his form and all-round game. Hope I’m wrong!
I wouldn’t blame Unai if he tries to contain and spoil, with the aim of getting 3 points at VP at the weekend. We can’t afford to exert the amount of energy we did in the home fixture, not at this stage of the season with all still to play for. I’d love a scrappy 0-0 to be honest.
Haaland will have to do it from the bench! Grealish starts against us in a forward line that looks creative with Doku, Foden and Alvarez too.
Our lineup looks very much like one eye on Brentford on Saturday. Zaniolo and Duran with Iroegbunam and Rogers plus Lenglet starting with Torres, Tielemans and Bailey on the bench.
I hope we keep it respectable but I’m not confident at all.
Martinez has pulled out late with sickness. Olsen starts! 😩 we’re screwed!!