I’m in two minds.
The Villa fan in me, as per usual, wants us to spank the Cherries.
But if we do, we are only helping out dirty Leeds.
Yes, I know. It’s a bit childish of me, but if there’s one club I really do detest (whisper it, but it’s probably more than the sty dwellers), it’s dirty Leeds.
It stems from my childhood when Revie managed them and I thought I’d long got over it, but no. They’re just the same cheating dirty horrible club that they were then, in the 70’s.
I almost hate them, put it that way.
Points make prizes though and every position you gain in the Premier league is worth around £2.2 – 3 million overall, although the figures are vague.
It’s well worth having though and each one could well add to a top players wages for a few weeks.
So silly numbers aside, will we win this tomorrow?
My money says we should.
But if we don’t, it’s not like the club should fold and just give up.
We are used to losing obvious “easy wins”, aren’t we?
Squad news then and nothing has changed for us. Leander Dendoncker, Philippe Coutinho and Boubacar Kamara are still out. Diego Carlos will be in the squad again and maybe this time he’ll get a few minutes.
Bournemouth have Marcus Tavernier and Illia Zabarnyi out.
So a game we really ought to win then and the big question today is will Leon Bailey be given another game or will he, as many seem to want, be dropped?
I read an article earlier that discussed his stats for Villa and they’re not very impressive to say the least. I’ve said previously that I think he might be sold in the summer, as although I like skilful players like him, I suspect Emery will see him as a luxury we can’t really afford in the team. Perhaps he’ll stay as a squad player, who would be good to bring on as a different option late in a game?
Whatever, Traore looked much better than Bailey when he replaced him last week. To be honest though, I don’t think that says much. Traore is pretty much the same sort of player as the Jamaican, after all.
Bournemouth are a strange team. They lose the vast majority of their games, but also have a tendency to have some very good results, having beaten Liverpool just last week. I know the reds aren’t anything special lately, but it’s always a good win if you can beat them.
We should perhaps remember that Bournemouth beat us at the Vitality on opening day, but the reality is that they’re a poor side, who aren’t bottom of the table for no reason. They’ve won six games all season and have lost eight out of their last nine away games.
They also concede lots of goals and have only kept one clean sheet in their last 23 away games.
So there’s no excuse then.
We should create plenty against the Cherries and I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect a two goal victory at least.
So I’m going for a 3-1, comfortable win.
Hmm, perhaps I’m forgetting I’m talking about the Villa though?
The usual caveats apply.
UTV!
So I’m predicting a convincing win?
That’s probably blown it then!
Yes Badger Leeds was a dirty side and still are ,Revie taught them tricks like blocking the opposition off the ball. Running into player’s. A dirty side in the game . Still it’s modem game now and kicking player’s if your a Leeds player ok, .3-1 you think ? not for me I’ve no confidence in our strikers to perform to that score. I’ve a crowded house on this game today one being a West Ham supporter, I’ll take a result that’s givesj us something to help us on the day .
Here’s some typical cheery Villa stats.
Bournemouth are on a run of four consecutive wins against and scored at least two goals in each of those games! So even in their relegation year they did the double over us.
Deja vu!
It seems all and sundry are on unbeaten runs against us and it’s something we need to start putting to bed. Of course what it tells us (as if we didn’t know) is the dire state of our football club over the last decade.
So if we have any aspirations of finishing top half this season – which is the realistic ambition – todays game is one we need to win particularly as we have the third hardest run in over the remainder of the season.
So we need to win but will we – actually I have no idea – but it might be a similar game to the one against Palace with Bournemouth playing 5-4-1 as they did against Arsenal.
Bournemouth beat us very easily in the opening fixture. Villa fielded several little and lightweight players who can’t jump and found them matched by a squad of tall players who can jump. If lessons have been learned, don’t be surprised if Duran gets to start this time.
The Cherries keeper is poor at covering the angles and not a safe handler so we need to anticipate he may spill the ball and be ready to pounce. We should aim to work the keeper from every free-kick.
Some positives are we were missing Watkins, Buendia, Luiz and Mings in the starting XI last time we played Bournemouth. I’m amazed that Emery is persisting with Bailey. It shows there aren’t many options up front.
I think we will draw today and I’m predicting 1-1 with Watkins and Billing for them.
Another positive is Moore is on the bench for them. He terrorised us last time out.
1 E Martínez
2 Cash
4 Konsa
5 Mings
15 Moreno Lopera
7 McGinn
6 Douglas Luiz
31 Bailey
10 Buendía
41 J Ramsey
11 Watkins
Substitutes
3 Santos Silva (Carlos)
9 Traoré
16 Chambers
18 Young
22 Durán
25 Olsen
27 Digne
38 Sinisalo
Disappointing. Would like to have seen Duran for Bailey.
Woman commentator 🙁
I can see me turning the sound off.
Get in!
Luiz with an easy tap in.
Bournemouth are crap, so hopefully here we go!
1-0
And the assist by Bailey, hahaha
Need to make hay while their defence is so open…can’t believe the room we are finding.
They have to go in Ollie
We look awful today. That early goal is masking how awful our passing and retaining possession is.
And tackling.
We look so, so lightweight.
The truth is I’m bored witless.
McGinn quite rightly booked.
That was poor, imo.
Blatant handball knocked back by var.
What a surprise.
That was a stonewall penalty. Clatternberg on VAR duty – need I say more?
I have no idea how they make these decisions!
I do. They’re bent.
Rough call on the penalty – thought that was pretty clear cut…
Also, Badger, agree on Leeds. I grew up in York, so the closest big team was Leeds and went to school in the 90s getting battered by Leeds fans, whose teams always used to turn us over. There’s something about the fans attitude too (like the barcodes) whose arrogance has always turned me off.
Bailey having a good game. As usual I was wrong.
Me too Gerry. For this game at least.
Meanwhile, we’re almost taking the mickey out of Bournemouth with our possession play.
Luiz is having a very strange game, in a good way.
Ooh, powerful free kick by Billing then.
Smart save from our WC winner though.