I could try and be really clever and profess my knowledge of all European clubs and rattle off a load of guff about it’s history and players etc.
But the truth is I’ve never even heard of them and I very much doubt anyone reading this has either, unless they avidly follow European footy. Even then, you’d have to be pretty focused.
First off, I’ll just post Wiki’s first few lines about the club;
HŠK Zrinjski Mostar (Croatian: Hrvatski športski klub Zrinjski Mostar, lit. ’Croat Sports Club Zrinjski Mostar’) is a professional football club, based in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The club plays in the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and has been one of the top teams in the country over the last few years. With eight championships won in the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zrinjski is one of the most decorated football clubs in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The club plays its home matches at Stadion pod Bijelim Brijegom in Mostar.
Well, that’s a lot more than I knew before I read it, anyway.
Am I showing my lack of knowledge if I openly admit I’ve never even heard of Mostar?
So basically, they’re a tin pot club and this ought to be a double figures win, eh?
Hmm, I thought that against Legia last week (well, a straightforward win anyway) and we all know what happened there.
Squad news and it’s not good really. Moussa Diaby, Boubacar Kamara and Jacob Ramsey are all out, although it hasn’t really been pointed out why.
It just amazes me how easily players seem to get injured these days. I recall loads of tackles years ago which probably would have literally snapped today’s players in half, yet they were often just brushed off with an attitude of “I’ll have you for that”.
I’m laughing to myself, but well, that’s how it seemed anyway, although the truth is I’m probably looking back with my rose tinted glasses. The point is players definitely seemed more robust 30 or 40 years ago.
It has to be over-training or something, I’m sure.
Fish and chips washed down with half a dozen pints and 20 fags never hurt the likes of Franny Lee, did they? (RIP and who knew he created a bog roll empire?).
Ahem.
So the big question for me has to be will Emery rotate or will he play it safe after last week’s fiasco? He has to go as strong as he can, I reckon, because we don’t want to underestimate our opponents. Except I think the manager will rotate again. I think Duran will come in for Ollie.
And then I don’t want to think about what else he might change as I get the shivers even beginning to think about last week’s defence, or rather lack of it.
I’m not even going to make a prediction this week, except I think we ought to win.
But anything is possible and I’m only leaving myself wide open to even worse disappointment if we get beat.
UTV
Now that’s what I call a football match, Zrinjski came with a plan and nearly pulled it off but for the skill of Emery he knew just what the game called for. But my radar was on Tielemen and how many balls he miss placed and gave away, but in his defense he sent some good balls up to our forwards but he’s still unreliable in the team . That game was a classic football match and will be remembered for years to come ..
I don’t think Badger was calling Emery a flukey Manager but maybe a lucky one occasionally? After all you make your own luck.
Simply glad to get the 3 points last night with half a squad.
After the Wolves game we’ll have an incredibly valuable 14 days to get our crocked players back fit. I’ve never been so welcoming of an international break.
No idea on the score for Sunday but I’ll sure be watching!!!!
As long as Watkins doesn’t come back crocked by playing for Southgate!
Don’t even go there…
I didn’t know Luca Modric played for these guys before moving to Spuds…Good job he wasn’t playing last night!!!
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/oct/06/legia-warsaw-players-arrested-in-netherlands-after-az-alkmaar-match
My God but I hope that the West Midlands police read this. Legia fans attacking the Dutch police knocking one unconscious and two Legia players arrested by the police after the match.
The Zrinjski fans made a great noise yesterday but it might well be that we’ll hear nothing from the Legia fans after last night’s incidents because it’s entirely possible that they might be banned.
Interesting to see what the fallout is going to be from this one.
Two players nicked?
What’s that all about?
http://www.espn.co.uk
Legia fans “stormed” entrance gates, clashing with stewards and the police, WITH ONE OFFICER PASSING OUT.
Oh dear, the hazards of modern Policing.
Watkins signs new long term contract.
Happy Days
UTMV
Happy days indeed. It just shows that Ollie has faith that we’re going in the right direction. I’ve also got a feeling that Ollie and Jhon might make a good team going forward as they are different types of players, so what’s not to like?
Here’s hoping for another Ollie hat-trick against Wolves on Sunday.
Great news about Ollie signing for another 5 years.
The bit I like most is his key reason – Emery. He was clear that our manager has made him a better player and that he knows he will get even better. I really believe that when players sign for this reason a club is embarking on something special. Normally they expect the manger to be sacked. To sign fir 5 years shows real belief in the Villa project.
Great news to see Ollie sign a new contract. I dare say his call up to the England squad has added some extra £ to the deal.
Has anyone heard anything about Ramsey’s injury. Someone told me he has refractured his foot!
Holte, I can’t see anything that backs up your friend’s rumour.
There are assumptions though and my guess is they’re probably not far off the mark.
I find that annoying. Either Ramsey was being economical with the truth in describing things to the doctors (which I doubt) or we’ve rushed him back.
I know where my money would go.
Just to clarify. I didn’t really mean fluke. It’s why I used the apostrophes.
That said, we didn’t look like scoring because it looked like one of those days.
What I meant was how many times did he win games when it looked like he wasn’t going to?
As for them not looking like scoring, I totally disagree. I remember at least a couple of chances where I thought to myself that Olsen might not have saved them.
Still, the games done and thankfully we won.
Superb news about Ollie, but I don’t believe it was ever in doubt, tbh. Players seems happy and we can currently pay them enough to compete.
Long may that continue 🙂
Canadian Pete had a point this week with us being cagey about our injury news. Bailey was meant to be out for a month but did 90 minutes Thursday. Why give the opposition a heads up? Fingers crossed for Ramsey. Keep them guessing!!!
Just praying nothing happens to McGinn and Ollie the next 2 weeks while the rest of the squad recuperate.
The Wolves game is about 28 hours away and I’m like a kid on Christmas Eve! How weird is it to hope for an Arsenal Citeh draw because it benefits US!!!!!! Will watch the Spuds game today in the hope they trip up too…
Pete also said that ongoing pain after a metatarsal injury is not unusual – who knows – let’s hope he’s right and it’s nothing more serious.
It’s funny how Pete’s stock has risen. I don’t always agree with him but he raises some good points and his show is thoroughly entertaining.
He doesn’t give a f*** either! 🤣🤣🤣
See Iroegbunam played for U21’s the other night so getting minutes under his belt which is good news. Can see him in first team squad which will add to Emery’s options.
No McGinn?
Villa XI: Martinez (GK); Konsa, D. Carlos, Pau, Digne; Kamara, D. Luiz, Cash, McGinn; Diaby, Watkins.
Villa subs: Olsen (GK), Tielemans, Bertrand Traore, Chambers, Lenglet, Zaniolo, Duran, Bailey, Dendoncker.
I’m going blind, I think.
You blood frighten me then Badger
A very cagey game. I think we’ll step up after the break…
Mcginn needs to be careful on a booking already and he’s getting too involved in little spats. Calm heads needed 2nd half. Need to get Watkins and Diaby involved more and use this left side with Digne a bit more. Hopefully Emery will get in to them at half time and we’ll come out firing.
Nice if we could hit the net instead of Wolves players
Our passing has been really poor. Particularly Torres when looking for Watkins and Diaby. A massive improvement needed.
1-1. I only went to the loo!!
Looks like we have a game on our hands!!!
With so much “fake injuries” time clubs are going to be required to provide entertainment
Nearly won by Zaniolo!!!!!