Yes, I know.
On the face of it, it’s a really negative question.
But I’ve just been reading the Birmingham Mail (or Live, whatever) where their new Villa correspondent, Ashley Preece, is writing his usual incredibly over-optimistic views of anything Villa related.
Don’t get me wrong. Let me say straight out that I love the optimism.
It’s just that my experience tells me that if you expect a neutral outcome or even disappointment, you’ll feel a hell of a lot better if things exceed that.
That and the disappointment doesn’t hurt quite so much as it would otherwise.
So, with my approach in mind, I wondered how we’d feel if we were to draw this game?
Ashley informs us that this is a total sell-out and a quick check at the on-line ticket office seems to confirm this. That’s great, as Bournemouth aren’t usually such a big pull and it shows that if you can entertain the fans, they’ll turn out in droves.
Roll on the stadium expansion, if things go our way over the next couple of seasons (temper that expectation, Badger).
Ash goes on to say how Villa Park will be a cauldron if the players work their guts out, perform and win.
He’s dead right, simple.
But the point in this post is what if things don’t go our way tomorrow?
Would a draw be a total disaster?
I view this as a game, where we really ought to get three points.
Indeed we NEED to get three, to keep the optimism up.
A draw, in my opinion would be a bit of a setback, but let’s keep it real.
I fully expect Targett and Guilbert to start tomorrow.
I also expect Trezuguet and Luiz to maybe start too.
It’s the sort of game we need to try to win and I think Dean Smith will have realised that sitting too deep and trying to defend does you no favours. The truth is, I don’t know what he was thinking, given the way the game played out against Spurs on Saturday, but what do I know?
I’d fully expect us to attack Bournemouth a lot more than we did Spurs.
But Eddie Howe is no mug and Bournemouth, while not particularly being a club/side that stand out in the Premier league, are a very efficient side. One that to me, we’d be doing okay to equal at this stage of the season.
We have to bear in mind, that if Smith starts a lot of new players, they might not quite gel from the off, is what I’m trying to say.
Team news, then.
Bournemouth have Arnaut Danjuma, Lloyd Kelly, David Brook, Dan Gosling, Simon Francis, Lewis Cook and Junior Stanislas all out
Blimey, what’s happened there, that they have so many players unavailable, this early in the season?
As for us, Chester, Hause and Kodjia are all injured.
I find Kodjia’s injury convenient, given his links to Besiktas, but whatever.
Otherwise, we’re all good and I’m sure all our fit players are chomping at the bit for a start.
So what to think?
Well, I’ve asked a negative question and expect some pelters for even thinking of us not winning this game at home.
But I’m actually reasonably confident that we’ll get the win.
I’m going for 2-1, as much as I think it’s going to hard drawn out.
I hope things go our way, to get us off to a good start.
Badger, my philosophy has always been to play things down so if we lose then i’m prepared a bit more for the disappointment. However for the poll I have gone for a win. A draw wouldn’t be a disaster because it would get us off the mark. I don’t expect many changes from last weekend. I would like to see Guilbert play. I think Hourihane will start simply down to the fact that Smith likes a settled team. I don’t think it will do any harm for Luiz and Marvellous to wait a bit longer for a starting place, plus Hourihane hasn’t done much wrong IMO. In pre season Guilbert and Jota linked up well so that might be another change from Spurs game. Seeing as we only have 2 fit strikers then I’m sure Wesley will start ahead of Davis. A full house will be a massive lift for us as long as they don’t get nervy if the game doesn’t play out the way we want it to. For many seasons Villa Park had a toxic atmosphere and fans will sometimes have to reign in their expectations while we adjust to life in the big league.
It seems you think similar to me, Holte.
Win and VP will be buzzing.
Lose and ….well, that’s unthinkable, imo.
I never feel confident about us winning Badger but I feel that Smith will send them out on the front foot. Against Spurs it always felt like a smash and grab style performance. Tomorrow should offer the likes of Grealish and McGinn opportunities to venture past the half way line more often.
3-0! There, i’m predicting a comfortable win. Hope it doesn’t jinx my Saturday night.
This is going to be our real test. We need to play positively and we need to win.
I’m hoping that Guilbert and Targett play so that we can attack down both wings. I have no problem if Smith plays Hourihane as it’s a game he should do well in. I’d also definitely start with Jota and sub him for Trez if we need to.
There’s no point in us being scared or over-defensive, we need to be confident and go for the jugular here.
today we will find out if we have what it takes at this level. its ok losing to spuds the media’s club. but Bournemouth are the competition right now. they will be mid table and where we all think we should be at minimum.
i like them like how they play, it should be a very entertaining game. we need to return to doing the stuff, we do best and attacking the opponents.
going tow to toe with spuds wouldn’t have ended well for us. but i expect villa will go toe to toe today with Bournemouth, result could be anything,but i will go with 3 1 to villa.
hope wesley has a good game, to get some eager beavers off his back. such a difficult game to play the lone striker last week. much easier to play that role with support. he should have that today for us to win
Just had a ding doing with BT, I’m down on the internet and confirmed its my hub, no coverage in UK and northern island but Yanks and Canada do. The thing is I’d would have found it if I’d had internet sods law. staying away from predictions as I’m deemed bad luck. Tummy with butterflies and finger crossed might help me get over them 90 minutes. Good luck Villa …
somebody told me football focus was at villa today, so i rushed back for 12 and it wasn’t lol also then went to villa at the end and bbc hadn’t paid their licence fees and was cut off.
Luiz for Hourihane only change. Guilbert not even on bench which is disappointing.
Team is –
Heaton
El Mohamady
Engels
Mings
Taylor
McGinn
Soares de Paulo
Grealish
Trézéguet
Wesley
El Ghazi
Still no Guilbert, Targett or Jota? Surprsied at that.
Luiz is in and I’ll be interested to see how he does.
Very surprised Guilbert isn’t even on the bench.
What’s going on there, I wonder?
Meanwhile, I can’t get a stream 🙁
Question – r we having to play Luiz to confirm that our work permit application was truthful? Can it be revoked?
Anyway surprised Fred Gilbert hasn’t made the squad again – wonder why?
Good to see Luiz in the team. Guilbert is a mystery. Win today and first goal for Wesley and I’ll be a happy bunny.
http://www.soccerjumbotv1.me/ch-2.html
🙂
Oh FFS
Bloody penalty!
0-1
What a start 🙁
Cracking shot from McGinn then.
Streams gone for me.
Oh shit
Jesus.
0-2
I miss the championship!
Oh god….cant get stream and now this……bloody hell