If I was to say “I don’t know what to think about this one”, you’d probably think “crikey Badger, you’ve said that a few times this season”. And you’d be right, because I have.
The trouble is, my immediate thoughts are to say I think we’ll win this game.
But for pretty much all of the season, Villa have failed to do what the average fan has expected. It’s worked both ways, mind and just as we put up an excellent fighting display against Liverpool when I think many expected a sound beating, so we’ve failed to win games that we would have assumed to be a shoe-in, such as Ipswich at home. That one particularly sticks in my mind and it’s that sort of result that really rankles me.
Squad news is that Konsa and Bailey both face late fitness tests. I’d say that Bailey won’t get a chance now we have the newcomers, but Unai seems to love him, hence I’d guess that if the player is fit, he will start. Konsa, of course would be a welcome return, albeit I don’t think he’s been at his best this season. Pau, Kamara and Onana are all a couple of weeks away at best and Disasi is ineligible against his parent club.
As for Chelsea, Noni Madueke is out for a few weeks with a Hamsting issue and Nicolas Jackson, Marc Guiu, Benoit Badiashile, Romeo Lavia and Wesley Fofana (the only one I’ve heard of) are all long term injuries. Not that it matters much, as they have stupid amounts of players to call on. Which is something else that rankles, because I’ve literally just read that we face a big fine by Uefa for a financial breach.
Anyway, as I said, I fancy us to win this one, but I just get a sneaky feeling that we won’t and a draw seems most likely. I don’t see it being a high scoring game either and it’s most likely to be a tight affair.
Hence a 1-1 seems most likely to me and in a game where it would good to pull some points back against another Europe contender, I would be disappointed with just one at home.
Then again, watch Villa do the unthinkable again and either win easily or get soundly beaten.
It’s what we do.
UTV!
F****** ell. Leroy’s hair looks like a collander. 🤦
Emi off injured? A precaution?
Bailey on for Garcia? I don’t understand?
Come on lads!!!!!
The cross prior to the one that Palace scored from I think one of their players was offside. I don’t know if they go back that far with VAR?
Olsen on for Martinez 🫣😥
Exactly.
Now we’re really stuffed – Olsen on for Martinez and Bailey for Garcia.
Ultimately injuries are going to stuff us.
We are miles off it when teams are high tempo. We can’t cope!
Chesty!
CHECK THAT ONE, BENT TOSSERS!!!!
Try VARing that! Wankers!!!!!!
😆 great minds
Cancel that one
Big kick. Flick on. Goal. I’ve been waiting years for that. Keep em comin…
Justice is done
Unless VAR takes 10 minutes to disallow it.
Blimey 1-1 and they haven’t disallowed it.
McGinn keeps making poor decisions.
Just about to say that BFR – he’s put us in trouble on four occasions now
We need Asensio and Rashford (clearly) but we need to get McGinn off so not sure what other changes we make
Oh why oh why do insist on £**king about at the back when Olson’s between the sticks???
It’s suicidal.
I seriously cannot be arsed to watch it tonight!
Bollocks. Make those changes Unai.
Usual testing around the box and we concede.
My feed is bloody useless tonight. 2 goals I’ve missed.
They’ve got too much for us, sadly. Can’t cope with that kind of speed and intensity. Very impressive. 🤦
McGinn again and messing around in the box.
Playing out the back kills us when will he learn , another goal given.