I didn’t really want to talk about the Chelsea game for obvious reasons, but I don’t think I can avoid it because it’s totally relevant to our upcoming game.
Yet again, the team looked leggy and also mentally slow. It’s literally like we’ve run out of ideas in every area. We’ve gone from being one of the most feared attacking teams with loads of pace to now offering Ollie Watkins barely a sniff of the ball and even less chances.
Whenever we’re attacked, the defence immediately seems to go into panic mode and we look likely to concede. There is of course a fair excuse here and it doesn’t help when most of your first choice defence is missing.
Even the midfield have been poor and players who have been fantastic, including Luiz and McGinn have been performing a lot worse than we know they can and it’s the Scot in particular who concerns me.
I’m sure we all remember McGinn’s time under Gerrard, where he was so consistently poor and it got so bad that fans were seriously questioning if he should remain at the club. Well, I suspect that is an indicator of how long it might take him to get back to his “A” game. I’m not suggesting that he’s disillusioned or anything like that, but I do think it’s a mental tiredness that won’t be sorted quickly.
Of course, Unai Emery will know if I’m talking rubbish or not, as there seem to be dozens of people nowadays studying all the metrics of when the lads play or train, but it’s my guess that the numbers will be down and peak anything will be lower than it was earlier in the season.
Anyway, team news.
There are no new injuries and the main news is that we may have Lucas Digne back. Further good news is that Pau Torres might actually be fit enough to start and that’s a big plus because I think it’s more than coincidence that we’ve looked a poorer team for the last few weeks.
Nicolo Zaniolo came off the bench on Wednesday and I’d expect him to possibly start, even if it’s only for fresh legs, as he’s not quite turned out to be the player I thought he was. Still, some need time to adjust, I suppose.
We no doubt all know who’s missing as we’ve missed them massively and it’s what most of any discussion involves lately.
Man Utd face eight weeks without Lisandro Martinez, who has suffered knee ligament damage.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka has suffered a setback in training and Mason Mount, Tyrell Malacia and Anthony Martial are all out.
Prediction time then and it’s bad news I’m afraid.
I don’t think United are a good side by any sense of the imagination, but they do seem to be playing with the consistency that we’ve known them for over the years. Certainly more than us anyway, having won 3 drawn 1 and lost 1 in their last five games.
Then again, it’s perspective time and while I’m thinking that things look desperately bad, we’ve won 2 drawn 1 and lost 2, which is only two points worse than Spurs, who I thought were catching us at a rate of knots. Not quite so, but they are catching us. I think it’s what’s at stake that has given everything an increased sense of urgency and probably in my case even a bit of panic, when things aren’t going well.
Which all means that we need to get our act together sharpish if we want to maintain our position.
Sadly, I don’t think this is the game for that and I totally expect Man Utd to simply have too much for us. I’m expecting a big contrast to our recent game against them, where they were lucky to win after we threw it away and I fully expect them to just outplay us particularly in the middle.
A 3-1 loss it is then.
UTV!
My usual source has developed a major fault and anyone with similar will have to wait a few days while they sort the issue. They have the fix, but it’s going to be very time consuming.
Hence I think I’ll have to watch it via NowTV.
Sorry it’s a negative prediction, but I honestly don’t see any other outcome.
More concerning, tbh, is how long it’s going to take us to get back to where we were. If we even do, that is.
Hard to take issue with your post Badger.
Have Emery’s relentless obsessive coaching methods contributed to our loss of form and is it similar to the problems that developed at Arsenal?
Arsenal sacked him pretty quickly so it is impossible to know whether he would have got the team playing again.
Sunday has become a vital six pointer in more than one sense but I fear that (yet another) defeat by Manure is on the cards and three successive defeats at home will negatively the bond between supporters and the team that Emery has been keen to build.
Emery has quite a bit of goodwill in the tank but supporters can be very quick to turn.
David O’Leary was right and fans are fickle. We have become a bit too expectant because of how successful Emery has been in his time so far. At the start of the season I would have hoped for top 7 with a serious run in the Conference League. Injuries have impacted us recently though and the better teams have sussed us out.
Against Chelsea we had most of our players at 5/10 at best. All of our midfield players were poor and it cost us badly.
Against Man Utd we need to be on it from start to finish. If we concede the first goal we will lose. I can’t disagree with a 1-3 defeat. My gut feeling is it could be even worse with Ten Hag getting his team on a winning run and confidence will be high with them.
I would definitely start with Ramsey instead of Tielemans and push McGinn into the number 10 position. Also Cash will need help with the overload that Rashford and Garnacho will attempt. Could Emery try 3 CB’s so that we have more width to counter their attacking threat?
If we lose and they close the gap to 5 points then I think that 6th place is starting to look more likely for us.
Spot on.
Argggh stuffy bloody spurs last minute winner danm but win tomorrow and we’re 11 points clear of manure still wouldn’t be too disappointed with a draw
What a pass from Gibbs-White. I recall suggesting Villa buy him when he couldn’t get in the Wolves team 4-5 years ago. Fantastic midfielder. Loads of passion. Natural talent. Scores and creates. Battles. If we lose Dougie, I wouldn’t look much further.
The order of the day tomorrow is a clean sheet. A gritty 1-0 win, with lots of tackles, lots of time wasting, lots of ‘dark arts’ and lots of grit and determination. Get into them, stop them playing, and pinch a 1-0. Just get the 3 points. That’s what’s needed when the chips are down. Just don’t concede in the first half FFS. Give yourself something to build on!
UTV
What BFR asks for is a complete change in Emery’s game plan. Something like that is needed. My beef with Emery goes back to the St James and Anfield defeats. I said he was ignoring the stopwatch. If attackers are quicker than defenders then that is most useful when they have a clear run from half-way – which is exactly what the high-line defence allows. Then Newcastle come to VP: same threat, Emery show know it, but Villa have not changed anything so the same result occurs.
The 2nd half at Old Trafford showed us that Garnacho and Rashford are faster than our full-backs were. I don’t think that is going to change: the dinner-lady is quicker than our fastest available defender – Cash. Garnacho is quicker than either Moreno or Digne. Hojland isn’t quick but he just has to get to the penalty spot in time for the centre.
The result may come down to shooting accurately. United’s keeper isn’t great – there is no need to aim shots in off a post to beat him. Missing the whole goal – wide or over – is criminal tomorrow.
Great article Badger.
All the indicators point towards us losing today. In that case we are back to the days of hoping for a win without substance to back it up. That’s why I’m going for us avoiding defeat. I’m hoping Torres does return and can use his skill set to avoid the opposition press that has stifled our distribution from the back. I totally agree with Ramsey for Tilesman swap. Let’s see what the day brings.
I honestly don’t think I can watch this. I can’t take another game like the Old Trafford, Barcodes and Chelsea ones…
Squeaky bum time.
I’m drinking myself silly waiting for the game, I’ve lost the belief we could win this game in fact that went 3 games ago. Badger you hit the nail on the head , our defence won’t be able to cope we just haven’t the players with speed or brains to overcome Utd . I fear the worst today , as I’ve said 8 or 9th to finish the way we’re playing at the end of the season.
Martinez, Cash, Carlos, Lenglet, Moreno, McGinn, Luiz, Kamara, Bailey, Watkins and Ramsey.
So Torres not fit enough to start and I guess on the bench for emergencies only; similarly Digne is also on the bench. Interesting that we only have one GK on the bench so clearly Emery wants as many sub options as possible.
If we start slow and they score we’re done for.
Hope the West Spam result isn’t a bad omen!
Aston Villa substitutes: Olsen, Tielemans, Digne, Torres, Diaby, Zaniolo, Rogers, Kesler-Hayden, Iroegbunam.
I have a sneaky feeling we’ll see Rogers get a good stint today.
Agree Hitch, we need the first goal, but I just don’t see it.
A team in claret and blue getting stuffed. The first goal for Arsenal took any belief from the West Ham team that they could get something from the game. Villa MUST not concede first or it could go a similar way.
Bailey and Ramsey need to put in a shift defensively to prevent United running riot. We can’t rely on Carlos or Lenglet in terms of pace.
I would take a draw now if offered it.
I think it says a lot that Zaniolo can’t get in the side over Ramsey, who’s been really poor, for me.
Typical Sky still talking about Arsenal! Don’t they normally switch their attention to the late game straight after the final whistle?
Should do but when it’s one of their darling teams ……….
I spotted that Hitch marvellous, never mind our Paul on the panel might get some favourable remarks.
United coming out in full camouflage. This means war!
Those bleedin flame throwers don’t half pollute the air pre match. 😷
Their defence is garbage. Have to go at em!
We are inviting pressure by not being able to about from the back. Change the tactic!
Their camouflage is their Stone Roses tie in!!!! Any other team I’d have gone for it (but not worn it outside).
Like Diaby, Luiz, McGinn, Kmamara, Ramsey is sheet class and will come good again.
I blood hate Utd. Rashford is a tosser.