Well, it’s certainly a big one for the blues fans and definitely their cup final this season, regardless of what happens, isn’t it?
Because if they do beat us, even if they were to get relegated this season, they’d still think beating us was more important.
Now I know it sounds like I’m coming from some superior place, but beating Birmingham city isn’t that big a deal to me any more, it really isn’t.
And no, I haven’t gone mad; let me explain.
While of course, I’d love us to beat city and indeed give them a right good thrashing that would send them home with their tails in between their legs, it just isn’t the same when you’re playing in different leagues.
We’re expected to beat them, so what’s to be gained if we win? There’s the fact that it keeps them quiet and in their rightful place, of course.
And there’s the fact that if they win, we never hear the end of it, whatever league they’re in and it’s a stick they can beat us with.
So basically it’s more about bragging rights, to which I would expect many of you to say “that’s all it’s about”.
Which is fair enough, I suppose.
But if we were to lose, I’d just see it on a par as losing to Milwall or Orient.
Simply progressing to the next round is more important, regardless of who we beat.
So onto the game itself and I expect nothing other than the City team to go all out to win this.
Gary Rowett (the Villa fan?)’s got them going pretty well, especially when you look at the precarious position the club’s in. They’re currently sat at seventh in the championship, with a game in hand over the clubs above them.
The fans I’ve spoken to are very happy, tell me they’re playing well and many seem to think the play-offs are in the realms of reality. So it’s all good on their part.
Whereas, things aren’t so good for us.
We’ve acquired less points than I think we’ve deserved up to now and indeed are sat on only four out of six games.
That’s simply not good enough and there’s an air of malaise beginning to set back in, which even led to booing on Saturday.
I believe it’s way too early for that sort of stuff yet, but it’s by the by.
Suffice to say, we’re not at the top of things and it’s probably a perfect time for the enemy to be playing us.
Squad news then, and Birmingham have Neil Eardly out with a shoulder injury.
As for us, the bad news is that Gana, who seemed to be borderline for Saturday’s game has flown back to France for further treatment to his Hamstring.
Which begs the question what on earth happened there then?
Anyway, it’s definitely not good as he’s been massively missed.
Okore’s knee is still troubling the player and Traore is still doubtful, which might be a good thing as perhaps he’d just get kicked to bits again?
Otherwise, I think we’re ok, which still leaves Tim Sherwood with options.
So what to think?
I’m sure I read a passing comment that Rowett left quite a few of his main players out for their last game (but might be wrong), so they’re probably going to come with their strongest line-up.
If that is the case, I’d expect Sherwood to react similarly, with only a few changes.
Clark will probably come in, but I wonder if that might be part of a 3/5 at the back?
I’m not sure what could happen in the middle and I’d expect it to be similar to Saturday.
I’d expect a change up top though, with Sinclair rested and Gestede to start.
Not ideal for me, but we all know Gabby is guaranteed a start for some reason.
Which would mean what, we sit back, let them come at us and counter, hitting the ball long to Gestede or relying on Gabby to run at them?
Surely not?
And hopefully I’ve got that all wrong.
Still, we have to be pragmatic and the result is all important, I guess.
What’s my prediction then?
Well, as I’ve said, they’re on a high, whereas we’re somewhat at a low ebb.
Things haven’t gone for us lately (although a fair bit of it has been self-inflicted) and there’s massive pressure on the Villa team, something I feel will go against us, more than anything else.
Which just makes this a massive game. We need to restore some confidence and only a win will do.
Lose this and the fans will be on the manager’s back and that can only be a bad thing.
As I suggested, it’s not just about beating the blues.
This game could make or break our season and to me, that’s just more important.
Unfortunately, I’ll be delightfully surprised if we win this, as I think we’re going to lose.
They have things going for them and we don’t, which sometimes is what it comes down too, it’s as simple as that.
1-2, but I sincerely hope I’m wrong.
I’ve added a poll.
I’m very worried about this game and just have a bad feeling 🙁
I’m coming up from darkest Herefordshire tonight so I hope the road works coming off the M6 down into Star City have now finished, it’s the closest free parking I can find!
On the match. I’m like Badger, very worried, I think Gary Rowett’s doing a great job there, in fact I wish we could swap him for Tim, he is a Villa fan after all!
Villa to win 2-1, but it’ll be one helluva battle!
If you’re early enough, you’ll be able to park on the verge on Aston Hall road, which is way nearer, no problem.
Not sure about the roadworks, as I never come off that way, but you can now get on southbound at spaghetti (which has been a ballache for ages), so possibly ok.
Thanks for that Badger, I’ll check it out. Will it be a full house tonight I wonder.
Dave, Villa Tavern Nechells mate , or even Cook street, Holbourn hill, stacks of places.
not a chance about 36/37k. villa arent winning the fans back even for a game like this and it seems that most of brum are arm chair supporters
Thanks Bill, I happened upon Star City a few years ago when I took my lad there after a game, keep going back by habit I guess. Parked in University for the Man U game though and got charged £5, I hate paying for footy game parking, I pay enough in fuel coming up from Hereford!!
Don’t blame you Dave I don’t like paying for car spaces, Aston Church road going towards Aston Station and crossing Nechells park road you’ll find free spaces one being The Villa tavern and all the side streets, how do I know ? I was born in Cook Street Dave, and the pub is handy for a beverage, best of luck I’m not going live in Nuneaton now and watching it on the box.
Shows how we have no confidence in the team judging by the poll ffs.
lets face it we look like a team that is scared and have never played with each other before.
sanchez completes more passes than ive won the lottery and hate to say it but grealish is getting too big headed. but what do we fans know
Question
Has Gabby got more kids than goals in the last 12 months ?
thats a hard question as i havent got a clue about his kids and i carnt remember him scoring
🙂 🙂
This game has come at the wrong time; if we’d managed to hang on to the lead at Leicester I believe things would look much brighter, and City would be for the taking. But as things stand Sherwood’s going to have to really work on getting whatever 11 he names to be up for this one – suspect it might get a bit physical.
Having said that, the crowd won’t help if they start booing as soon as Small Heath score…
Already posted that ‘tragically they might add insult to a week if injury’.
I just don’t have any confidence in our ability to put together any kind of result at present coupled with the fact that Blues are playing well then I think we will struggle. My prediction is a draw after extra time but we will lose on penalties.
Hitch , they play attacking football and I fear the worst, we don’t have the mentality to match the way they will play. I’m dreading the outcome I really am.
Me too. They will bully us and defensively are miles better
I would be happy if Sherwood tries a 5 at the back today. The last few games it has become apparent that neither of our attacking backs (Amavi – Bacuna) have been able to push up as often as our first few games. If Sherwood can shore up the defense at the expense of ideally Gabby or Sanchez/Westwood we might be able to find that service to our forwards, as well as, allow our many attacking midfielders the time to push forward rather than having to constantly tracking back for defensive duties.
If you like stats as much as Sherwood I found this article interesting…
http://www.theguardian.com/football/who-scored-blog/2015/sep/22/tim-sherwood-gung-ho-tactics-aston-villa-premier-league?
Interesting that Marvin, glad it was highlighted that substitute with Leicester game as being a cockup.cheers.
Key to the game will be a high tempo IMO. If Villa can keep the ball moving quickly Blues will crack. It is in their interest to slow things down.
It is possibly to much to ask for but can TS ask somebody – anybody except the back line – to play on the RIGHT WING and give the team some shape?
Is Clarke in midfield if not we are 5 at the back
Guzan, Bacuna, Richards, Lescott, Amavi, Clark, Sinclair, Veretout, Westwood, Agbonlahor, Gestede
Subs: Bunn, Hutton, Richardson, Ayew, Sanchez, Gil, Grealish
5 at the back it is. No Kozak.
Personally not sure about starting Gabby and Sinclair with Gestede. It would have been nice to see Gil or Grealish take their spot instead. Nevertheless lets see how this plays out.
Think we will get beat tonight 2.0
Just watched highlights of the 2-0 loss where Dublin got sent off for headbutting Savage – inexcusable! J’Lloyd Samuel gifts them two goals – one with an awful header back to Encklemann. Then a potential leg-breaker from Gudjonsson, that should have been a straight red! And we couldn’t even score against Jeff Horsfield in goals! Let’s hope we don’t get a repeat of that tonight!
That’s the difference between them and us they have a better defence. If they go a goal up we are screwed
He’s benched Grealish and Gestede in,
Front 3 Abonglahor, Gestede, Sinclair, behind Bacuna, Westwood Vercoute, shit cannot spell it.
Clark in the midfield, what?
Lescott is shite
Is Sinclair playing for Blues? Woeful.
Kent, he’s weak , cannot lay balls off, all in all poor Villa side. Clark useless, we are in trouble.