What happened to the days where we used to be able to look at a game and a prediction would involve one of three choices, in win, draw or lose?
They seem so distant and every way I try and look at a game these days, it’s hard to get away from the fact that we’re odds on to lose.
We’ve lost more games than we’ve achieved points and it’s all thoroughly depressing.
Still, Garde’s latest comments made me laugh in a similar way that our magnificent self-deprecating away support no doubt laughed when they read them.
“We will need the perfect game defensively and then we will need to be more threatening in attack.”
(Actually he said “offensively” instead of “in attack”, but I find American English er, offensive when we’re talking British footy. Perhaps I’m being pedantic there, but it doesn’t really matter.)
We all know decent defensive performances are at a premium this season, after all.
Still, I like a bloke with a sense of humour and in fairness, we did reasonably well against Stoke for most of the game, so I suppose it’s not impossible.
But I think Everton are a bit of a different proposition to Stoke.
If you agree that our midfield is a weak point in our side (I know, which area isn’t?), the thought of Ross Barkley having a good game and marauding through the middle practically unchallenged is scary. Best of luck to whoever gets the job of having to try and tie him down.
It’s the midfield that is going to be key for me and I just don’t think we’ll be able to live with theirs.
Perhaps that’s what Garde means when he talks about the defence?
Team news says that forward Arouna Kone is fit after illness and John Stones may be ready for a return after a hamstring problem, on the visitor’s part.
The good news for us is that Jordan Ayew is back and should be nicely rested (if you believe that sort of thing) and hopefully eager to make up for his moment of madness.
Jack Grealish, Carlos Sanchez, Libor Kozak, Adama Traore and Jordan Amavi are all still out.
Given that Ayew will 99% walk straight back into the side, it’ll be interesting to see which of Gestede or Gabby get to play with him. An ideal world says neither, but it’ll be one of them and if Gabby gets dropped, that’ll tell me all I need to know about him.
Not that our attack will be the major concern.
Lukaku will be our worry and if Everton can create in the way they do, I can see him getting at least one.
Will we bring any kids in for this one?
No chance, in my opinion.
Mister pragmatic Garde will bring Richards back in, if his quote about dropping him for not being able to play more than once a week was true.
Bacuna might get dropped, but I doubt it, myself.
Here’s a few facts about the teams;
Villa’s only win in the 10 most recent meetings was a 3-2 home victory in May last season.
Remi Garde’s side are the division’s lowest scorers with 21 goals, including just six in the first half of matches.
Gabriel Agbonlahor has scored seven Premier League goals against Everton, more than against any other opponent.
Roberto Martinez’s side have only won three of their past 13 league matches (W3, D6, L4).
They are on a seven-match unbeaten run in Premier League away fixtures – although five of those were draws.
Their only away defeat all season came at Arsenal in October.
Everton are the division’s fourth-highest scorers with 46 goals in 26 matches.
So a home win looks a bit unlikely doesn’t it?
Roberto Martinez was at the Stoke game and must have went home a happy man.
He’s another one with a sense of humour, as he’s actually commented that he thinks we’re very good starters in games.
I’d take another look at that second stat Rob, me old mate.
I know he always talks up the opposition, but come on.
Still, you have to laugh.
My prediction then and I’m going to agree with Lawro and hope for a 0-2 loss.
But the truth is I worry for us here and if Everton are really up for the game, I can see a good hiding in the offing. And I mean a GOOD hiding.
I have to mention the 74th minute walkout.
Quite simply, I hope it’s a massive success and enough fans walk so the ground looks empty and we get decent coverage in the media.
Which will also mean we’ll still have to be in the game.
If we’re getting soundly beaten, it’ll just take away from the effect.
So my prediction has probably never needed to be more wrong.
I suspect I’m going to severely miss talking about this particular fixture next season.
The most played fixture in English top flight footy isn’t something to be sniffed at, is it?
Cuzan nearly gifted them a third.
it is like watching a chippie with a toolbox full of blunt fucking chisels
roll on 74
Fucking hell. I’m speechless.
Cuzan done it again punched the ball out and smacked back in to score. 3 down.
Do supporters still think Garde is the right man to lead Villa in the Championship?? Regardless of the changes required at the top where’s the evidence in Garde’s present and past that demonstrates he can succeed?
Moses couldn’t lead this lot to the promised land.
Why does Westwood have to smash the ball every time? No class about him, no composure and zero,quality!
Tom don’t get me wrong I’m no Westwood fan but by his standards he had a good game tonight, great cross for the goal.
Come on credit where credits due.
Veretout crossed for the goal
I stand corrected Beno, had lost all interest and the will to live by then.
Just relegate us now, and let’s scrap the remaining fixtures, please…
They shot horses don’t they?
To be fair Everton aren’t a bad side. They have averaged about 1.8 goals per game this season. Or around double that in their games against Villa.
FIGHTBACK ON…
Lol
Ok so did anyone actually walk out at 74 or had they all gone already!
BBC Sport
’74 mins
Villa fans are departing Villa Park in large numbers in the 74th minute in protest at owner Randy Lerner. A supporters group urged supporters to leave with 16 minutes remaining – Villa were formed in 1874 – and many have done so’
Good on them!.
And what about the thousands that didn’t Pat?
They deserve all they get.
That’s it then. Everton took pity on us and only scored the three goals.
Please God let this season end soon!
Amen
The sense you get when watching a proper Premiership team playing a Div 1 side in the cup is for much of the game the lower league players do their moments with the ball as well as the Prem players. But the lower league players make more blunders, and they also don’t seem to want to try the spectacular.
Villa’s players are now like those div 1 players, that is our level. It bothers me that there will not be a clean sweep in the summer and we head for the second relegation.
Remi Garde? He has not had a fair chance, but I do not think he deserves one, I haven’t seen a glimmer of genius from him.
These lot with the exception of Hutton, Gested lack the physical presence for the Championship.
Just got back home, walked out on 74 there was about 5/6000 of us, and thanks to the Everton fans for their support when we walked.
One positive tonight at least 45% of the players actually looked like they wanted to play and tried, regardless of their technical abilities, if they all had Hutton’s passion we might have seen this season through….
Remi was bewildered by the first goal his face was a man with a lost sole. As for Guzan he should be hung out to dry.
Barton calls the board muppets and says give the kids a chance. Says no-one on the board knows anything about football.
That’s all we need Barton talking sense about Villa. I’ve seen it all now.
Shoot me soon.
Joey Barton for all his faults is a well read intelligent lad, admittedly he’s had his moments but he’s nobody’s fool.
@BWS
To be fair he said exactly the same quite a while ago.
Never had much time for Barton but he has one big advantage over the shower currently in charge at VP – he knows something about football.
Pat he ain’t wrong is he?
Fair play to the fans who walked out and those who joined in the chants against Lerner and Fox, I could hear it loud and clear watching it. It was worth it just to see Fox squirming in his seat, and now the media will run with it, the pressure will rise on the board.
How I detest modern football, watched the game tonight and the commentator said some inane comment regarding Lukaku being the first player to score x amount of goals for Everton in a season, well breaking news half wit League Football started in 1888 not 1992 and Lukaku’s got some way to go to equal Dixie Dean’s 63 in a season or Bob Latchford’s and Graham Sharpe’s 30.
Nought to do with Villa but it really does my nut in.
The good news from Villa Park is that Gabby sold his house for £3.1 million.
This says everything that is wrong with football at our club.
How such an under achiever who doesn’t give a shit can become a millionaire.
One goal in a year.
Well done Gabby.
doesn’t matter what level we play, if we can’t defend corners, we’ll never win many games. especially when we don’t score many to start with.always playing catch up and giving teams with better players the lead from which they relax and knock the ball around.
i thought the 3 CB’s would work against everton, we carry to many players. sunderland were like us dreadful at defending and big sam change their system to the 3 CB’s but watch how they play that system. every player defends and they all attack. but more importantly the 3CB’s 2 pick up a defender and 3rd marks the space or picks up a runner. for evertons goal from corner our cb’s were all marking space, even lennon goal was same pointing and marking space.
but i thought we offered more in attacking play, but everton were better every player better and collectively better