Blimey, I’ve nailed my colours to the mast there, haven’t I? But the fact is, it is what I think. That’s done for that, then, knowing my predictions.
Legia beat us 3-2 on their turf and we really weren’t very good. Their crowd helped them massively but they aren’t going to have that today and our home form is seriously better anyway.
Straight into squad news and it’s all good for us, with only Mings and Buendia out.
Given that Ramsey made an appearance against Spurs, you’d expect him to start and I’d also expect Moreno to get minutes too, if things are going our way.
Duran no doubt takes Watkins’ place and if so, I’d take that as a sign that he is still firmly in the picture.
Tielemans has done well recently, so he’ll probably start too.
Otherwise, I’m going to assume Emery’s learned his lesson about ripping the team to pieces and he won’t change too much from the off and swap things out when the game is won.
Three changes then, but they’re more reasoned, I’d suggest and not like throwing Chambers and Dendoncker in, when they haven’t played for a while or demonstrated any form.
As for Legia, I’m seriously struggling to get news about them and that’s a bit disappointing, in that it seems they’re not given much respect over here.
Villa are 1/4 to win this and I’d guess that’s about right.
So while I’m not counting my chickens, I’m fairly confident we will win it.
We need to win it by two clear goals to come out as group winners, I believe and I firmly believe we’ll achieve that too.
No more messing about, let’s just do this. Then we can play all sorts in game 6, which is against Zrinjski Mostar.
I’m going for 3-1, because we’re always likely to concede. But I’m hoping it will be more.
1-1 it is then, knowing the Villa.
UTV!
Too much Patti around at the back
I beg your pardon, Sid. Who’s Patti? And round the back of where? 😏
Very lackadaisical of us then. I feel like in these games we almost play like we don’t give a shit and play extra slow like trying to score the perfect goal in training. Just get at them fast and hard get the 2 goals then chill out.
I just do not know what the hell we are up too, this is identical to when we played them last time. It seems to me this way we are playing is training ground idea which doesn’t matter in training. Get that bleeding ball up the pitch for god’s sake and play football.
Quite, Bill…
Warsaw the better team at the moment
A bit of fannying around methinks…
Moreno needs to be used more. Lots more space in the wide areas.
…and dicking around…and arsing around…
I’d be interested to know what the numbers are on Villa fans admitted to A&E with heart palpitations within 24 hours of a match. This playing ‘chicken’ with the opposition in front of our goal is effin madness! 🥴
I was born in Good Hope, Ron. I don’t want to die in there too!!!!
🤣🤣🤣
No pace again and pisspoor, half hearted passing.
I hate when we’re like this and really don’t understand why it happens.
We need to be careful. They score again and we’re going to be in trouble.
Awful performance.
I honestly think it’s about conserving energy, Badger. The old ‘managing the season’ argument…
No energy, no passion, no pace, no tempo, no nothing!
And piss poor passing to boot!
And, as an aside, a crap ref.
Terrible game.
Maybe the Villa boys have the ‘heart’ to win…
…and Unai will get to the heart of the problem at half time…
Well that was underwhelming.
Jon Duran offers nothing, McGinn is invisible and we are so slow it’s embarrassing.
Emery has to make changes. Bailey, Ramsey and Zaniolo on at the start of the second half to inject some energy and speed into the game.
We’ll have to play with a false 9 because Duran gives us nothing.
My God you lot are hard to please!!! 🤪🤪🤪
I see what u mean but there is method in the madness. We can’t afford to run ourselves into the ground but I’d bypass their forwards and midfield a bit by popping a few long balls over them. Warsaw are just pinning us in and we have to work out a way to stop that.
One of their CBs is 36 years old so that’s a good idea!
Don’t lose heart…
I’m really annoyed.
I’m now totally convinced that the way we are playing is down to Emery, who has told us to conserve energy (yes BFR) but it’s awful.
The co-commentator said that if he were Legia, he would let Olsen have the ball.
That says it all and how he is playing is beyond me, as he inspires no confidence whatsoever.
It’s ok saving energy, but it’s using that energy which has lead to us being where we are in the league.
I want to see us beat teams in the first half, then rest.
As opposed to now being worried that they have enough about them to actually beat us.
I’m not happy in the slightest.
I know it’s a long game, but let’s win while we can, not mess about in trying to drag things out.
OK – looking at the positives.
We have qualified for the knock out rounds. If we come second in the group we get to see two more games in Europe 🙂
When did Villa ever do anything the easy way? 🙂
5 changes with 3 of them in the back line plus Olsen who gives me the jitters every time he is in possession. It’s no wonder we are struggling to get the ball forward. Moreno offers invention going forward but Cash has gone backwards since the start of the season. He either needs to up his game or Emery will need to upgrade. I don’t know why the criticism for Duran. There’s been hardly anything for him to latch onto. Too many short passes and far too long making the pass.
I hope Emery can sort things out during the break.
When we play like this it cost me money, I’ve drank 1/2 bottle of whisky worrying how we playing. I’ve a good mind to send a bill in for all the anxiety the put me through. Right second half now .
😆
Badger, never write the headline before you see the team sheet. Moreno is embarrassingly out of touch, but only to be expected after being out so long. Olsen, Lenglet and Duran may as well be playing for Legia – and all the proper 1st team players are showing “Well, if Unai’s going to eff about with the team why should I bother playing properly?” Every time Duran or Diaby make a run in behind them, our man on the ball sees it and turns to someone else.
Immediately we’ve sped it up and immediately the crowd get behind them.
It’s really not rocket science, is it?
Let’s not forget that while it’s f*cking freezing for our lads, it’s only a bit nippy for theirs 🙂
This half is faster. Much more intensity. I still think Badger’s 3-1 is still on the cards.
Both Cash and McGinn have woken up.
Agreed. We’ll tire these out.
MORENO!!!!!!!
Yipeeeeee!