I’ve been saying for years that Utd are a club in decline and we’re seeing it accelerate, in my opinion. The “theatre of dreams” is falling to pieces because of the Glaziers’ lack of investment and I’m sure I heard the other day that Ten Hag has spent £600 million on players since he arrived. What’s worrying for the club is that they’re no better and often look like they’re not even trying. Everybody I know says his sacking is imminent, with many saying they don’t understand why he hasn’t gone already. The trouble is, how many top managers would want to manage the club, even though money talks?
So my caution regarding Ipswich proved to be correct and to rub salt into things, I see West Ham tonked them 4-1 yesterday. Flaming typical!
And while I’m tempted to say I expect us to put three past Utd, I’m again reticent to actually say it. “The Villa way” could easily come into play again and we all know our record against them is simply atrocious. Still, I’m very minded to think we’ve turned a corner and those days of constantly losing to them are over.
It’s early in the season, but already the injuries are racking up. Squad news is that Ramsey, Onana and Bailey are all going to be late fitness calls. Judging by Unai Emery’s comments, it seems Bailey’s problem is only slight, but Ramsey and Onana are bigger doubts and apparently if they do make the squad, they won’t be fully fit. That’s really not good and for once I’m actually glad we’ve got a rubbishy International break coming up. Talking of which, we have players complaining that they’re playing too many games but if that’s the case, why are there so many International friendlies? Money, money, money, I guess.
John McGinn is still out.
Utd have Bruno Fernandez available after his red card was rescinded. Typical of Villa’s luck, but hey ho. Kobbie Mainoo is going to be a late call, but is doubtful. They have a couple of long termers, but frankly, I don’t care.
The big question for me is how long can we go without starting Jhon Duran? Whatever you think of him, he’s on fire and is scoring for fun. From what I’ve been reading, the lad is still difficult for Emery to manage, but his attitude has improved massively and he’s working hard in training. Is that because of a promise that we’ll let him go soon? I hope not.
I read that we could play Morgan Rogers on the left and squeeze Duran in somehow, especially if Bailey and Ramsey don’t make it. It would be a good reward for the striker, but Utd can score goals and I suspect Emery will decide against and possibly swap him out earlier, to give Ollie a rest.
After a massive effort against Bayern, a big concern has to be how much that game has taken out of the players. Unai Emery has recently said that he had doubts about the players lacking motivation for the Ipswich game and concentrating more on the Champion’s league. Man Utd is always a massive game, so that surely won’t apply today, you would hope.
Prediction time then and as I said, I expect us to put three past them. 3-1, I would think.
But then I’ve just seen a very depressing statistic. In 58 Premier league games, we’ve beaten Utd 5 times, drawn 13 and suffered a stonking 40 losses.
Hence, I’m going for a draw, 2-2, with me cursing “the Villa way”.
Fingers crossed and UTV!
Here here 1874 watching the game tonight and it’s just as bad as that game in the week .Watkins should be on that pitch, Alex Arnold Gordon , Kane, sorry to say are crap.
Having watched, well during the periods I didn’t fall asleep, Englands abject performance against Finland I have reached the conclusion that England are as confused on the pitch as the FA are off it.
Lack of direction, lack of strategy, lack of quality and, above all, lack of ideas.
No doubt we will all continue to delude ourselves about the ‘outstanding talent’ we are lucky to possess.
I have a one word answer – bo**ocks!
🙂
Tottenham, Brugge, and Liverpool all away in the space of 6 days soon… 🤦
I’d say get 3 points against Bologna and rest some big hitters for Brugge because we can’t afford zero points in November in the league. Squad strength and depth will really be tested…
Fulham away next. They’re playing really well, with Smith-Rowe looking like the player Deano tried to nab 3 years ago. If we lose, they go level with us. League is getting tight already. Need to keep those clean sheets going and start grinding out results. I’m not too bothered about quality at this stage. Just keep picking up points and make sure we’re within touching distance of the summit come the festive period, like last year.
UTV
I was thinking earlier, are we in a mini transition? We saw last season we had one major game plan, it worked brilliantly, but it was also clear that we needed alternatives styles of play which Unai saw too as we’ve been developing this season and he’s been great at making early changes. I think if we weren’t under the FFP/PSR/BFHB rulings, we’d see a dramatic change of personnel. Not ‘better’ necessarily, but ‘different’.
The Fulham game concerns me too. The draw against Ipswich I can understand as all top teams drop points unexpectedly. The ManU game was just duff. What will this one bring especially with so many early injuries? Our injury list is horrific (or those not yet fully fit). McGinn. Kamara. Buendia. Mings. Onana. Bailey. Ramsey. Konsa has taken knocks, and Ollie has taken a while to get up to speed and I also don’t get the impression he likes his place being threatened by the popular Duran.
I think we may see Maaaaaaatens start even though Digne has been an 8/10 player all season and his crosses hit the spot. Thanks God for Chesty!!!! (Puts on helmet and awaits the barrage!!! 🙂 ).
And finally, Ollie should retire from the England squad. That farce against Greece, and pushed behind a blatantly unfit Kane is insulting. If I was Ollie, I’d tell Bluenose Carsley to go **** himself.
Good question Bum Bum.
Interesting that Emery has been down playing our top 6 chances this season which suggests you may be right.
It wouldn’t surprise me to see us (temporarily) dropping back into the chasing pack over the next three to four weeks particularly if our injury challenges persist.
Hopefully the IB has helped in getting some of our crocked back to fitness,
No happy with that, Hitch. We need to demand top 4 every year now that we’ve made it. I know it’s really tough, but we’ll never have better resources or a better run club. It has to be now. Personally, I’d like to see us challenge for the league. It’s not the squad; it’s the injuries that are playing havoc! Keep aiming high! Don’t take the foot off the throttle!
And this is why I was baffled when Enzo and Illing Jr were shipped out on loan. Wouldn’t they be handy now? Unless they’re not good enough. In which case, why take them?
It looks like Philogene might be out of the Fulham game joining McGinn, Konsa, Onana and Ramsey. Mings and Kamara might be on the bench sooner than expected. I’m beginning to think Philogene is ending up like Ramsey and Cash as being injury prone.
I’m not expecting anything from the Fulham game. They are in excellent form and we nearly always lose at Craven Cottage.
I agree with BFR in that we are one of 4 or 5 clubs behind Citeh, Arsenal and Liverpool chasing a top 4 finish. Maybe 5th will be enough this season but we definitely need reinforcements in January. It’s time for Monchi to earn his wages. I know FFP / PSR restricts our spending but so far we are getting by on Emery making good the signings before he took over. Players like Martinez, McGinn, Watkins, Konsa, Cash, Digne, Bailey and Ramsey have been relied on and improved by Emery.
Breaking news.
Tuchel accepts the England job.
A way better choice than Carsley, imo.
Someone who has won something too!
I’ll be amazed if he even lasts his full (short) 18-month contract!
Error of judgement by Mr Tuchel.
Watched Spain v Serbia principally to see how Ned Kelly played. He was okay and showed his speed on a couple of occasions. However, it was Spain that caught the eye. With six or seven players out, including Yamal and Williams, they still played exactly the same, they totally dominated and came out easy 3-0 winners.
This is what Tuchel has to aspire to.
Badger
I don’t know if you will start a Fulham thread, but in case not here is my thought.
Craven Cottage was my first League ground in the 1957-58 season. my neighbour and his son were Fulham fans and they invited me to the match with Villa. We lost, and I have a rotten record of missing Villa’s rare wins there.
Star of the show was Johnny Haynes the first £100 p/w footballer. Yes – today players are paid more than £1000 per touch of the football, but back then Johnny Haynes £100 per week provoked much envy. Most recently I saw Gerrard’s last straw. I remember thinking on the walk from Parsons Green to the ground that £1 million would not buy you any of the houses on route.
I’m sure I’ll post my thoughts. I generally do after being forced to miss the proper footy and just glance at this nations league rubbish.
Talking of which, Duran was reduced to being a substitute against Chile, when he was due to start, because of a “discipline issue”.
My guess is he couldn’t be arsed to attend training on time (again, from what I’ve read).
When will this child grow up?
The good news is he apparently scored another stonking goal.
His goal is here. You can skip to 10.35 on the red line for the goal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi3VaUhsxF8&ab_channel=Fanatiz
Nice one Gerry and thanks.
Good grief, he’s a devastating finisher, isn’t he?
An attribute that I’m sure Ollie only dreams of (although his other pluses make up for that).
He also seems to make his own goals more than Haaland does, too.
His value must be rising rapidly.
If only he could learn to play the game with his managers.
Thanks very much Gerry. I watched the whole clip. How refreshing to see old fashioned ‘get it up-field and have a pop’ football still exists at international level in S. America. Contrast that with the turgid keep ball, play it around at the back, game now fashionable in Europe. Nobody in the whole clip passed the ball back to their own keeper.
Cheers Gerry – managed to watch it after I fired up my VPN as currently sunning myself in warmer climes!
Mings and Kamaŕa travelling to Fulham! Konsa, McGinn and Onana fit.
Emery talki g of Duran starting games very soon…
Fully fit squad?? I don’t believe it. Is it April 1st?