It’s sod’s law isn’t it?
No disrespect to Fulham, but this is a fixture that’s never really excited me, as it’s always looked drawish (is there such a word?).
And if you’d asked me the result before the Reading game, that’s quite simply what I’d have gone for; a draw.
But given the last minute Reading win, this game now has a lot more about it, where we might get the first back to back wins in a lot longer than I care to think about.
Why sod’s law?
Well, seeing as I thought this would be a nothing game, I agreed last week to get up to my proverbials in work this weekend.
Which means I won’t even get to listen to it, let alone watch it.
To be honest, I don’t really know what to say about the team that should be played, but I’d have no problem with the side that started against Reading, Cissokho apart. Amavi should start and I believe will, seeing as we’re at home.
Steve Bruce has quickly realised that the midfield is poor and went with a five. I can’t see that changing.
But while I thought the manager was just rolling the dice, so I suspect he’s close to knowing his best eleven.
Yep, already.
Why?
Because I believe he doesn’t give a toss about egos and what players cost. He’s simply going back to basics.
Which is what makes the difference for me.
I can’t even update on injuries much, but it seems Elphick and Richards might both be out for up to three weeks.
I simply don’t know what to think about that, apart from what the hell? Two similar calf injuries on the same day?
While I appreciate you might think my starting line-up is a bit negative, think about the players we can throw on when the opposition are starting to tire.
It’s a frightening thought for any opposing Championship manager, I’d say.
And one that creates competition amongst the squad, especially up front, something RDM didn’t seem to have a clue about.
So pure guesswork it is then and I think we’ll win this one.
Villa 2-1
Yes I do believe we can get back to back wins I’m going 4-1 Villa, I think someones on a hiding to nothing why not it being fuckam.the twelfth man will play a huge part nothing to do with subs can’t wait Utv VTID SOTC
Well I think it might at least be possible which is a massive step up from a few weeks ago.
I absolutely agree that the bench is going to be vital in getting us into the play offs (hoping again). Honestly think that the sight of e.g. Ayew or Gestede coming on when you’re a tired defender must be a bit scary.
As for a prediction I still think we might leak a goal so I’m going for 3-1
I”m going for a 2-1 win. The players and staff are hopefully buzzing after 4 points from 6, hopefully confidence will be high and Bruce has had a bit more time with the players.
I just hope the fans who attend dont start getting on players backs, and the moans and groans dont start. Won’t be there myself, but new manager, new system, I really hope it doesnt happen. If we are losing 3-0 in the 85th minute, fine, but I just think the moans take any confidence out of a player early doors.
Come on Villa, give us all a good weekend for once!!!!
Not used to the idea of us winning two games back-to-back, and I’ve seen Fulham at VP enough times over the years not to expect any fireworks [from either team].
So my gut says 1-1, but I’ll go with my better instincts and hope we squeeze another 2-1 win…
Really what has Bruce done to warrant optimism. We were lucky against Wolves and still nearly blew it v Reading even though there was only a few mins to hang on. Game could easily be a draw and we’d all still be negative. Having said that there is a bit more bounce around the club but midfiekd will never improve until Jan. I say we need to bypass midfiekd and go long which will probably be more effective in this division. Forget trying to play through midfield as midfiekd is too weak. I’m torn between another 1.1 draw and a 2.1 win either way. So for once I’m going to be positive and say 2.1 to us but it won’t be easy.
Blimey OohAh – started out in your homely, comforting negative style and finished forecasting a win – now you have us all confused 🙂
Trouble with Fulham is you don’t know which team will turn up and with Villa’s tendency to be generous to the opposition it could make for an interesting afternoon.
Whilst OohAh makes a couple of good points about the Wolves / Reading games he fails to identify the positives (I wonder why?). Which are – results achieved having only been in charge for a few days with better organisation, more commitment and no one gave up; Bruce is not afraid to drop the stars to try and achieve more balance- definitely a positive. OK so we had a bit of luck – but if any team deserves a change in fortunes, we do (and I have no issues with having a ‘lucky’ manager)
So, I’m going for that very rare event of back to back wins coupled with us getting the other monkey off our back by coming from behind. 3-1 Villa with a storming second half – but then again I’m crap at this predicting lark!
Fair points Hitchens 👍😄. Must say I’m impressed with Burton play great stuff and hammering small Heath. Bruce is there to 😄
Now I see Fulham have lost only 3 games so I’m starting to worry about my prediction – perhaps I should have gone for (another) draw!
Quite agree, although even going long can be problematic for us at the moment because we are then mainly relying on our backs to punt it forward. Don’t know if I trust Cissokho, Hutton. From what I have heard from SB’s presser he expects Fulham to hit us on the break and play on the counter-attack, so I expect him to do a similar set up as for the Reading game- set up to frustrate and stay compact, and then hopefully score a goal towards the end.
True. Just watching burton v blues all burton seem to do is play it long and their forwards are straight onto it. Blues defence all over place. Simple but effective. We certainly have the forwards the only defender who can do a decent fwd pass is probably Armani that’s about it
Isn’t that aftershave and clothing OohAh 🙂 🙂
On a serious point, Blues defence looking rather shaky over last two games – long may it continue! Well at least until after they play us.
Ooah, “what has Bruce done to warrant optimism”????
Nowt I suppose, except get us 4 points that there’s no way on earth we’d have got under RDM, imo.
You can call it luck or whatever, but I suspect it’s plain down to the X factor and Bruce has it.
If we beat Fulham tomorrow, I reckon we’ll do the Blues too.
I’m a firm believer in momentum.
RDM never achieved it, but Bruce has already, up to now.
That’s why I now believe Fulham is a big game, one that could prove season defining.
Ooha Bruce has only had days with the team I’ll say it again days not weeks or months give the bloke a chance ffs
I think it probably wasn’t totally luck. The subs he put on and the time he introduced them had something to do with it plus the fact that the team are getting a little self belief and didn’t fall apart in the last ten minutes.
However whatever happens today as Giddy says we have to give him time. We’ll only we really able to judge after the January window when he gets in some players that he wants.
Still I’m quite optimistic that we should be able to hold our own in the interim.
We seem to have a manager who for the first time in a long time has the players who are picked playing for him and fighting for the cause.
As a fan the minimum requirement is a player gives their all for every second that they are on the pitch and although it’s very early days in SB’s tenure he so far seems to have the players doing just that.
Most Villa fans have a high expectancy level. We win one and naturally the expectancy level rises and before we know it if things aren’t going our way then the crowd start getting anxious and that inevitably spills onto the pitch and silly decisions and mistakes are made.
Tuesday was a fantastic result but lets not forget it was our first win since August. Our first away win for 14 months.
I have no idea what the result will be today but like most other Villa fans as long as I get to see 110% commitment from every player who plays in claret and blue then the team will have maximum support from everyone inside Villa Park
If we are given commitment, passion and desire then I’m sure our faces will all be wearing a similar smile to the one it has worn since 21-53 on Tuesday evening.
Have a great weekend everybody. UTV
2-1 Villa. Or even a sneaky 3-1. Anyone got any streaming links?
5-1 VILLA!!!!
Started early Giddy? Or do you know something we don’t?
…and the website is down again… lovely.
It was yesterday. DDOS attack by the Great Unwashed?
Looks like another draw
Looks like you’re wrong. 😉
Watch mcormack score a late winner
Get in there 4 more to come Utv
Yes 1 Nil Kodjia get in.
Great 3 points that.
Well done Brucie and the boys.
Very happy the stats are good well done lads & stevie babe Utv
F*** me pink, two in a row! Somebody wake me up.
Or perhaps we have finally woken up from a bad dream.
Now 3 points against the noses lads and we’ll really be in wonderland.
UTV
Imagine this………Bruce starting the season……
Just glad we’ve got him now.
Just 6 points from the play offs – game on!
Feeling good on a Saturday afternoon thank you Steve.
Just seen some stats……34% possession…..8 shots on target to nil….the bus was parked and I dont care…
We didn’t park the bus in fairness. Fulham are just the most boring team in the league! They passed it between their centre halves and back then the keeper in an attempt to draw us out and hit us on the counter – I’d guess 90% of their possession was in their own half including over 30 back passes to the keeper apparently!
Bring on the SCUM SOTC VTID
Well done SB. 7 out of 9 points. I am an optimist and I believe the corner has been turned. There will be many more twists and turns this season, however I reckon we will make the play offs.
And my next bold prediction. SB will be Villa manager for at least 5 years! We are the first club he has managed with scale to allow him to buy the players he wants to buy.
When our clout is combined to his ability to lead our club, I look forward to a period of improvement.
What I find quite amusing is I always used to detest SB. A former Man Utd player and blue nose manager ticked all the wrong boxes. Yet deep down I had an admiration for him.
Now I started by saying I am an optimist. But while SB is manager I don’t see Lee Hendrie making many guest of honour appearances at Villa Park.
UTV
Agree SF. Bruce is the right manager at the right time for him and us. He is respectful to our club and grateful to be here. For the first time in years I actually feel positive and il be amazed if we don’t finish top 6.
Forget that game it will be a tough uncompromising game and both teams will probably take a draw. One disadvantage we have is we have more local derbies than anyone else in this division. Games v Blues are always hard they play for their lives against us. Even if we were top of the Prem and they were in the conference they would still push us close.
Derbies are to be won. I recently watched sky’s Jeff sterling talk with Alun Evans, Tony Morley and Gary Shaw. They stated the year we won the old Division 1 title they played loads of derbies – and won them. Only wolves down so far and that was before SB had chance to work with team over time. We will take 75%+ points from all derbies this year👍🏻
Of course we want to win it but think a draw is best we can hope for. I’d take a 0.0 now