I really don’t like Bournemouth.
I used too, but they’re such a tricky side to play.
They were absolute rubbish early in the season, but they’ve now proven to be a very resiliant, physical side, which is exactly the sort that doesn’t suit us. Quite like Lille, if you like.
That said, they’re not quite doing as well as I thought and currently sit in 13th place. Then again, their form over the last six games is excellent. They’ve won 3, drawn two and lost only 1 game. That’s a record that’s only bettered by City and Arsenal.
Now add in that we’ve only faced them seven times in the Premier league, yet they’ve beaten us four times.
So this is going to be a tough game, given our heroic exploits in Europe on Thursday.
Squad news and according to the Beeb, Alex Moreno has a minor calf issue and will be sidelined for a number of weeks.
How does that work, if it’s minor? Hmm.
Luiz will serve his second game suspended and Zaniolo will be assessed after his awkward fall on Thursday.
Bournemouth have Antoine Semenyo back. Tyler Adams and Chris Mepham are out, while Sinisterra has aggravated a hamstring injury.
Not that I was worried about any of those.
The one that worries me is Solanke. I think he’s a beast and offers a big threat.
Prediction time then and oh….
You’ve got no chance of a prediction out of me now and I won’t predict another result this season. I’ll only jinx us.
I will however, say, it’ll be close.
And that I’m reasonably confident, IF things go well for us.
What’s that? I’m hedging my bets there?
Too right I am. I’m not the superstitious sort normally and it’s only re footy where I remotely am. I’ll do anything if it means we win and that includes keeping my mouth shut.
UTV!
I can’t believe some don’t rate him.
This kid is going to be the next Bellingham, imo.
Mate I was dubious but I’ll hold my hands up, the lads come on leaps and bounds in a very short time.
What sort of a player will have in 12 months?
He’s already worth double what we paid, in my eyes.
A great signing, even if it looked like we over paid.
500k- 15 mill in a few months and now worth 30 mill in another few months.
The game is mad mate.
So it’s 1-1.
Now I feel Unai can show his worth and tell the players how to win the game.
Or maybe, I’m just keeping my fingers crossed.
I think we do have the beating of them, but we can’t afford any bad luck.
Badger
I was sticking up for Rogers a few weeks ago when others were questioning him. I really do rate him and hopefully he will go through the gears and become a great player. What a ball by Diaby to set him free!
Even better and this is where we disagree Badger, I reckon Ramsey is good. When all fit it will be great to have two English players of quality battling Ramsey and Rogers for the same position.
Come on Villa now go on and win the game 3-1 I predict.
Sid, I wasn’t keen on Ramsey at first.
But I was wrong. I now think he’s a great player. I love nothing more than a player who drives forward and Ramsey can do that. He also offers a bit of physicality, that a lot of our team lack.
Overall, I like him very much.
The difference is that whereas I didn’t see it with Ramsey at first, I saw it instantly with Rogers.
I honestly think he’s better.
The big question is, did we sign Rogers to cover for Ramsey, because the latter is injury-prone? They’re such similar players, after all.
Great move for the goal and brilliant finish. This kid has it all.
Suddenly we find some energy which has been lacking – almost like we were trying to conserve energy?
We just have to give it everything second half.
Rogers with a composed finish and he’s looking like a future England star unless Southgate stays in charge. We definitely miss Kamara at the back. Tielemans is a great passer of the ball but defensively not as effective. Diaby again looks lost and is struggling. I’m hoping he just needs a season to adjust like Bailey did.
The next goal if there is one will be crucial. If they score then I think we will struggle as fatigue from Thursday sets in.
Diarby!
I take it all back son 😁
Good on ya!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I’ve said it Teileman doesn’t fit into the team if you look into them games he’s played for us the contribution he makes is poor . Yes two wonderful goals for Belgium for us I don’t see his worth . Our midfield is poor no wonder Watkins is starved of goals we have lightweight players with no grit . Still it’s not over till as they say the fat lady sings .
I’m inclined to agree from what we’ve seen of him so far Bill.
But I also know he’s a fantastic player when he’s on song.
Basically, I’m in two minds.
I don’t see so many negatives against the likes of Tiemanns and Cash or Diaby for that matter. All have contributed brilliantly this campaign. We been on the back of Grealish, McGinn, Kamara, Bailey, Luiz and probably the rest of the squad over the past 3 years.
DIABBBYYYYYYY!!!!!!!
Come on! Love that Villa!!!!!!!!!!!
That useless player Diaby scores!
It’s a funny old game, innit?
Rogers there again too.
Badger, discretion is the better part of valour. 🤣
Oh Diaby! You beauty
Cash down injured. Get the hair gel out! 😁
Another great save by Emi…
I bet all Spuds fans are filling their gobs with Cherries today hoping they take points from us.
Yes yes yes 3-1 come on you Villa!
Bailey!!!!!! Wow!!!!!!
Sid, bang on!!!!!!!!!! Chesty’s strength once again!!!!
I’m off out for a meal in a min, so the conclusion is that it’s a stunning win that we expected and needed.
P4 is still in our sights and the pressure is on Spuds.
A great day!
What a cracking performance today, especially after Thursday night. Struggle to pick a MOTM as it’s been an overall brilliant amd unexpected team performance.
Can’t believe how far up the pitch Pau was for most of the second half.
What awesome times!!!
Now put your feet up for several days and recharge those batteries!!!!
One more win and 4th is OURS!!!!!!!
A stellar second half performance. Watkins was unplayable and deserved a goal. How anyone can say Toney should start ahead of him are clearly clueless. I don’t think he will top the goalscoring charts because Ollie doesn’t take penalties whereby his challengers do.
Diaby with a good goal will boost his confidence. If we beat Chelsea next weekend we will go 9 points ahead having played 3 games more. Chelsea have a tough game against Arsenal on Tuesday so less time to prepare.
I don’t honestly understand the criticism of Tielemans. He does the job he’s asked to do without fuss and the less you notice him the better he’s playing.
I’m convinced Diaby will develop into a very good player. It takes time for players to adapt to the Prem particularly when they come with a £50m price tag. I thought he did OK today and linked up nicely with the attacking play.
I was very concerned after they scored that we wouldn’t have the energy but once Rogers equalised the players suddenly stepped on the gas and dictated the game from that moment on. OK Bournemouth created a couple of opportunities at the end of the game partly because we were trying to close it out and they had about 8 forwards on the pitch 🙂
Great win – a week off and then we have to deal with Chelsea – every game is important but, for the time being, we have the psychological advantage – points on the board.
UTMV
With you all the way Hitch. We are effing brilliant at the minute. It’s breathtaking. Unai is incredible.
PSG aside, i wonder why other ‘elite’ clubs haven’t come in for him before. Maybe he asks for too much control like SAF, but we’ve taken a punt and so far so good!!!!
Come on Coventry!!!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
They’re giving it a proper go mate 😁
Oh my days 🤣🤣🤣
Hitch, Lee Hendrie hit the nail on the head with regards to Diarby, how he’s a confidence player.
Score and you can watch him grow into the game but the other side of that coin, he can go into himself.
I’ll admit I’ve been critical but hey ho what do I know?
Unai knows a bit more than me 😁
The Mirror
“Unai Emery tipped for Bayern Munich job after Zinedine Zidane and Julian Nagelsmann snubs”
Charmed I’m sure.
How to win friends and influence people? 🤣🤣
Typical thick media – they still haven’t twigged that Villa are out to take on the Sky 6 and Europe with brilliant and wealthy owners – 2 billionaires not just 1!
As the legendary Sir Ron said -‘Do you want to bet against us’.
Along with the ‘They think it’s all over …. ‘ World Cup (66) commentary must be one of the two most famous football sound bites ever!
Back to the red wine and another sore head – privilege of the retired 🙂
UTMV
Lol!!!!!! I’d wager my own testicles that Unai won’t be off anywhere soon…
Blimey mate – that sounds rather painful 🙂
Don’t worry. It won’t happen!!!!
We have games on the 27th/2nd/5th/9th and 13th. Thats the reward for being the only English team in a european competition. Great performance today. Really pleased to see Carlos coming on. Mom and then two games not selected for starting XI. Had me worried.
Gerry, strength in depth!!!!!
Hitch, Teileman to me doesn’t control his area on the pitch , ok yes he get back in defence but doesn’t show the same aggression as McGinn in dominance. We need punch and Watkins is not getting the service from midfield and wings, as someone who managed two teams in my time 60 years ago see thing differently. We are lacking somewhere and I think it’s midfield plus defence. Still I might be a silly old sod to some . But I love my club .
Bill sitting in front of the defence is neither Tielemans nor McGinn’s best positions – we lose a lot of midfield creativity as a result but with Kamara and Luiz out they have been asked to do a job – which with two wins in Luiz’ absence they’ve done perfectly.
Yes McGinn has more aggression and drive – that’s his strength – whereas Tielemans for me has the quick inter passing ability around the box which we lose when he’s playing a more defensive role.
Olympiakos are likely to ‘park the bus’ at VP where I think Tielemans could play a decisive role.
But it’s all about opinions; and fans have plenty of these 🙂
Luv how close the players are with the fans seems a real sense if togetherness at the club and its definatly showing in the results soooo made up with this week the was magnificent today
What a week! I seriously thought that Bournemouth might be a major bump in the road to CL qualification. They’re a form club and, on their day, they can beat anyone. When we went a goal down I began to wonder but Villa’s skill and resilience won out. The goals were a thing of beauty and Ollie was magnificent and all without scoring!
We now have a whole week off before the Chelsea game. If we win that then I think CL qualification is pretty much nailed on. We will be nine points ahead of Spurs before they even kick a ball and, with their next three games being against Arsenal and then away to Chelsea and Liverpool, all within a week, there’s a good chance that it will all be done and dusted before their last three games. If not then they still have Man City to come after that.
It’s looking good. COYL
If we get that 4th spot then we may well look back at this being the pivotal week in our EPL season – beating Arsenal and then winning at home to Bournemouth. Had we failed to win yesterday it would have undone the stellar work done at The Emirates.
If we also go on to win the Conference League then it becomes even more so as I suspect we managed to beat the best of the rest in Lille.