After a restful couple of weeks for the lads, the games are coming thick and fast again.
Chelsea on Friday, the Barcodes tonight and Sheffield on Saturday. I love it, as much as we know it’s not great for the players.
So it’s as per the headline really and I have a feeling this game could define our season. Win it and the wagon keeps on rolling. Lose it and I think it might be fair to say it’s probably indicative that the wheels are in the process of falling off.
I’ve been reading around and I’ve just seen the dreaded “Newcastle haven’t won since mid December”. You can guess what my immediate thought was. But we’re not the same team that we have been over the last few years.
I really ought to move away from that negative thinking, but I don’t feel we’re quite in that position yet. The draws at home to Sheffield and Bournemouth have ensured that loss of 100% confidence.
Squad news then and there’s nothing new. Pau Torres, Lucas Digne and Jhon Duran are all out, the young striker possibly until April, having done his hamstring. Why was I under the impression that he’d only tweaked it and it wouldn’t be for long? Unai has said we’re okay, because we have Zaniolo as a back up striker should Watkins get injured. I wish I was equally as convinced.
Still, I’ve consistently said we can score from all over the pitch, yet we haven’t been doing lately. It seems like we could do with someone to take the lead in helping us get our shooting boots on again and if Ollie was to get injured, you wonder who that might be. Then again, he needs to get his on first.
I’ve seen talk that Jacob Ramsay (the 100% definite target for Newcastle until Eddie Howe told them they were miles off) might be involved but I don’t think they’ll risk him yet. I can see this being a bit of a tough game and we don’t want him to aggravate the injury, which has already happened once.
Traore is still at the Afcon, I believe. Oh and Olsen is fit. Not that that matters much, as he won’t be getting on unless Martinez is in serious trouble.
As for Newcastle, they have quite the injury list.
Pope, Wilson, Barnes, Willock, Anderson, Joelinton, and Targett are all out. There’s some very decent players there and looking at that I can see why they haven’t reached the heights of last season.
And then to cap it all, Trippier, Lascelles, Almiron are all doubtful and Tonali is suspended.
Oh dear, how sad, never mind, to coin a phrase.
In all seriousness though, that is some list and hopefully it will be good for us.
What do I think then?
Well, this might be a bit controversial, but I’d actually drop Matty Cash and put Konsa in at Right back.
There. I’ve said it.
It’s just that his one decent effort on goal apart, I thought he was poor against Chelsea, as much as I saw he’d got good ratings in a couple of papers I read after the game. That and I just think he’s been off it for a few months now. I suspect the manager thinks it too, which is why he’s rested him previously. Why we haven’t signed a new RB or at least given one of the kids a proper go is something I find perplexing.
Which all of course, means Diego Carlos comes back in. I think that’s not a bad idea for this game, as he’ll help cover the back, which should let Luiz maraud forward a bit more.
I’d also be inclined to drop Diaby too, but I think Emery is trying to play him back into form, so doubt that will happen. He should though, be hooked at half time if he’s proving ineffective again, to be replaced by Bailey, in my opinion.
But what do I know? Emery often does things that surprise me and I’m sure he’ll do similar tonight.
Right, I’m sticking my betting hat on, as much as I don’t really bet and am going for a 2-1 win.
Losing this is unthinkable and I’m not even sure I’ll be at all happy if we draw it either.
In fact, I know I won’t.
I know you can’t expect to just keep winning games, but it’s this sort of game that sorts the wheat from the chaff and if we want to stay with the big boys, well, we just need to get the result somehow, as much as I see it being a bit of a bruising game, which will be played out in the midfield.
2-1 it is then.
UTV!
Only football can make me excited and really nervous at the same time.
Excellent piece Badger.
Like you I find it difficult to completely discard my negative Villa hat – plan for the worst and hope for the best – with a large glass of rum to help!! And my negative hat keeps telling me we have to lose at home sometime – just not tonight, hopefully!
Maybe I should try watching from behind the sofa?
Agree with most of what you’ve said Badger, apart from your using the phrase ” the wheels are in the process of falling off”. Even if we lose a game, I wouldn’t put it that way myself.
I think that Villa have performed massively beyond any realistic expectations there may have been back in August; we don’t have the squad depth of L’pool or Citeh, and to be competetive in 3 competitions at this stage of the season is going to require every resource there is. I said last week that I was worried that we may have ‘peaked’ – and I still suspect that may be the case – but IMO losing a game here and there won’t mean that the ‘wheels are falling off’.
At the start of the season nobody was seriously expecting a top-4 finish from Villa; if we can at least keep in the pack for those spots, well still be making progress.
As for tonight, I’ll go with your prediction, 2-1 seems ‘realsitic’ as long as we don’t suffer any more injuries, although I still think Cash offers more going forwards than Konsa at RB!
Great post. I do agree our performances have dropped over the past few weeks, i put that down to Torres missing at the back personally. Lenglet doesn’t fill me with any great confidence at all as much as he hasn’t done too badly in all fairness but Torres breeds confidence and is great at bringing the ball out from the back. The other thing that i personally feel and expect to happen is that the more games we have back to back the better we will become and that earlier Villa form will come back. I don’t buy in to this ‘more days rest so will obviously be fitter and perform better’ Our best form came when we were playing Sun – Thurs – Sun. The more games the more cohesion as a team will be have. Plus i hate having to wait so long to watch us play the more games the merrier! Tonight will be tough, Newcastle are no push overs even with a depleted squad but i feel we can get the win tonight, Hoping Ollie finds his shooting boots again – 3-1 Villa.
Good summary, Badger. I too disagree about wheels falling off, but we’ve not played well since the Man City game for me, and the results we’ve secured since then were done without being at our best. Tonight, we definitely need to win, but we may not see that consistency again until we’ve got a regular run of Luiz, Kamara and Torres, who’ve been pivotal all season and missed when absent…
Side note, Romano now reporting agreement agreed for Morgan.
https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1752339763527307584?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet
We haven’t really looked ‘at our best’ for a long time, as you say. In part I think this is because other teams have had time to study how we play and find the weaknessess, which was bound to happen at some time during the season.
The real test of Emery’s coaching skills will be for him to come up with a ‘Plan B’ – quite apart from coping with injuries…
You could entirely be right, but I noticed the drop in form initially started when Kamara got suspended, and then we looked further worrisome when Torres got injured. Luiz wasn’t as effective to the team without Kamara. Our build up play is no longer slick, as we’re not playing out from the back as well. I also think we look worse when McGinn is off the boil, and what causes that, I don’t know.
Just looked into my crystal ball and this time next week it will say “Newcastle haven’t won since mid December”.
Ollie seems to be in either “I am the sole goal striker or I am the sole assist”. He really needs to play both positions in the same match. Cash had convinced everyone that that he always receives the ball and passes back to midfield, so now is the time to go for the line as he used to do. He really is quick.
Guardian – ‘A potential breakthrough in the long-running Morgan Rogers to Aston Villa saga. After a third bid was rejected and Chelsea reportedly joined the race, Villa have upped their offer, with Sky reporting that a fee of up to £16m has been agreed with Middlesbrough.’
I do hope so as it seems to have been going on forever.
Tough game tonight but isn’t this is where we want to be, where every game counts? I think we’ll win it by the odd goal.
“B’ham Live” (fma Evening Mail) are reporting the same; apparently he’s due for his medical. Seems like a promising (& maybe critical -) addition at a fairly low price by today’s standards.
Some good points chaps.
Perhaps my wording wasn’t right and I should have said “starting to come off”.
Momentum is a serious part of this sort of challenge, imo and you need to maintain it.
I totally agree the season has been great up to now. I’d even go so far as to say, if we don’t win another game this season, the first half would still be the same.
All that said, I probably really shouldn’t say it, but I do think we’ll take the points tonight. Gulp.
And that’s excellent news about Morgan Rogers, if it’s right.
Someone really wants him, but if it’s Emery, will he actually use him? From what I’ve seen, he was being eased in at Boro.
If we do get him, it should be a good deal all round. The money will either pay towards Boro balancing the books or fund a bit of a spree in the summer. We get a good prospect, the lad gets to come home (He’s from Halesowen) and probably gets a good few multiples of his current £5k a week!
Interesting choice of words Badger – “Someone really wants him”.
From what I can see, the whole football -backroom staff , from Monchi downwards have mostly either come with Emery, had already worked with him previously, or are Spanish (or all three). So I’d be very surprised if Emery didn’t have the largest, and final, say about who comes-in or goes-out.
Which is why I was encouraged to see him being fairly blunt that Ramsey isn’t going anywhere soon (hopefully)…
Oh, without doubt, Ardent, it’s Emery, imo.
What I meant was, I’m sure it was Emery who wanted the kid at Red Star too, but we’ve loaned him back. Perhaps that was the only way they would let him go?
I was more pondering if Rogers will get a game or not? If it’s Monchi, maybe he’s one for later and if it’s Emery, you would hope he’ll get at least minutes.
Would he be a Ramsey back up or replacement is also something I’m thinking.
Meanwhile, Sky are now reporting it too.
I think this deal is very indicative that cost is very much a priority now and we’re doing everything to minimise it.
I really don’t expect anyone else to come in.
We haven’t had our killer touch for a few weeks, but on the plus side we’ve hardly conceded which shows our makeshift defence is doing bloody well!
2-0 Villa (with palpitation issues…).
Good news about Morgan. Shall we start calling him Chesty Morgan because he plays with heart? 😆
Blimey, I haven’t heard that name since I was a young kid.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a picture of her, so I couldn’t resist a quick Google.
Jesus!
Chesty Morgan?
Maybe try sucking on a fisherman’s friend?
Might help 😂
Bartender!
I’ll have a pint of whatever these two gents are drinking.
I’m okay with Konsa or Cash at RB. We need to make sure Gordon and Isak don’t run riot down our right side. Do you do that by playing Cash who gets forward more but leaves space behind or Konsa who gets sucked into his natural position of CB at times leaving too much room for players like Gordon to get crosses in?
I wouldn’t start Diaby personally. I would be tempted to try Bailey and Watkins up front with Tielemans as a number 10. Luiz, Kamara and McGinn pick themselves.
One thing we need to do is move the ball quicker as we have looked pedestrian too often recently. That’s why I would pick Tielemans who can pick a pass and take a shot from outside the box.
Good news that we look to have bagged Rogers who offers an attacking threat down the left side.
I have a sneaky feeling that Almiron will play a part tonight. Let’s hope he doesn’t have one of his good days.
We need to kickstart our season again tonight after a stuttering period of results and performances. Let’s hope we repeat last season’s result.
I think it will be a really tough game though with the first goal being crucial. We need a Watkins goal to break his barren spell too.
Villa Park under the floodlights with a full house for our first home game of 2024 should be plenty of motivation.
My negative vibes are getting to me though so I’m predicting 1-1.
Almiron has knocked back the sandies, so his head is probably in a better place now.
I agree, he’ll play a part, if not start.
He’s a good player on his day and I really like him, so hopefully he doesn’t.
😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁
No changes;
Martínez, Cash, Konsa , Lenglet, Moreno, McGinn, Kamara, Douglas Luiz, Tielemans ,Diaby ,Watkins
Substitutes
Diego Carlos, Chambers, Zaniolo, Olsen, Kesler, Hayden, Bailey , Ramsey, Iroegbunam, Wright
And yes, Almiron is in the squad.
I note the Athletic have an article indicating Villa are considering selling Jacob Ramsey to meet FFP. I really hope this is either wrong. If true this would be the first serious mistake Emery would make. I see Emery as the here and know and I to the future. I would be disgruntled.
Great thought provoking article Badger and I differ and think Adam had nailed the reason for the drop off. Lenglet in for Torres.
Sid, that’s utter rubbish. Emery has said he wants to keep Ramsey today.
Mind you, I’ve wondered if ths Rogers kid might possibly be a replacement.
Even if we did sell Ramsey, it’d be to buy more in and not purely for FFP.
One in, one out, rememember.
And Longlet was in for Pau, last game.
It’s the same side 🙂
I’ve just seen a comment where 1,000 tickets have suddenly become available.
If that’s true, that’s an absolute disgrace.
Heck trying to justify his statement or the club trying to sell the Lower ground rubbish?
Badger, you remember Chesty well. For a littlle bit of extra info she was a 42in. Story was she impaled her victims to the bed. Great that Ramsay is back on the bench, although if he doesn’t regain his speed then 50mil seems a good plan.
Gerry, 42″?
There’s an image on the net that says she was 73- 32-36 and I can fully believe it.
She makes that Jordan mutt look positively flat-chested!
Impaled? I’d suggest that’s exactly the right word looking at her.
Wow 🙂
Badger
I am with you absolutely. My only worry is the Athletic tend to be more evidence based than other publications. But I truly hope it is rubbish.
Good news with Roger’s. A long standing friend of mine is a Boro fan and season ticket holder. He rates Rogers and reckons he will become a £50m player. Although he did laugh at me all those years ago when I saw David Platt’s debut and told him he would play for England!
Good player, Platt.
Although my old man saw him in a shop in Wolvo, I think it was.
A young kid asked for his autograph, but he told him to P off.
Never liked him as a man after that.
Sorry I should have said “each”. I use the old imperial things.
Each!!!???
Hahaha. Makes sense.
Sorry for lowering the tone of the blog guys.
I googled her too and unfortunately a couple of rather unpleasant retro photos popped up! Good job the kids weren’t watching!!!
Another game where it can go anywhere! We need 9 out of 10s from all of the guys out there. We need to find our rhythm early. Gordon is a right shit of a player too while Almeron with his smiley face can shoot from anywhere…
Come On Lads!!!! Put a smile on our faces tomorrow morning (which has nowt to do with Chesty Morgan). I wonder if she’s related to Matty Cash…y’know, the Polish connection????
Consider yourself admonished and me entertained for a few seconds : )
So much firework smoke! Haven’t seen any fat shirtless Geordie’s as yet…Bright start.
Isyk finding that same old hole that we always leave on our right.
This is rubbish to watch up to now and I’m not liking it at all.
Too slow, again.
What’s up with Diaby? He should have just hit it!
A sign of a player lacking confidence, I’d say.