(courtesy of Avillafan.com and just to remind the lads what they should be fighting for)
I suspect you know what’s coming in this one and the brutal truth is I’ve had to debate with myself if I should even bother offering my thoughts on this game.
Another truth is that I’ll be at work again and have to work out some devilishly sneaky way of getting to watch the game.
Part of me asks why I bother, but we all know how it is: We follow blindly, because we can’t resist and typical of football, you just never know.
Unfortunately, for this game, I think I do know and the sad fact is that we don’t have a hope in hell of beating the mighty Crystal palace, in my opinion.
That’s not to decry Glenn Pardew’s side though.
He’s done a brilliant job and Palace are the antithesis of Aston Villa (just goes to show the difference between an equally poorly run club as us, in Newcastle, as opposed to Palace, in my opinion).
They’re organised and look like they know what there aims are and what they’re doing.
No, it’s more that I look back and see the gulf that has existed between the clubs over the fairly long time I’ve supported the Villa and it makes me want to cry at how far we’ve fallen.
The sad fact is, that over the years, we’d generally have been expected to beat Palace, it’s as simple as that.
Squads then and again I’m not really sure why I’m bothering, as I suspect Palace’s second string would beat us, no problem.
But, Palace have Connor Wickham in contention and Yohan Cabaye is a maybe. Yannick Bolasie is definitely out, which is good for us, as I rate the player.
As for us, Gabby is doubtful, but it matters not. He has less chance of getting a game than I do.
Micah Richards, who showed some balls in speaking to the fans against Wycombe, should be ok.
Jack Grealish is still suffering the back-end of tonsillitis and Sanchez and Hutton are both still out.
So we face the team with one of, if not the best, away records in the Prem this season.
While we’ve won erm, how many, at home?
I could talk about tactics, but it’s pointless, as apparently the players don’t listen to what they’re being told anyway, according to Garde.
And even if they did, we’re simply not good enough.
How we’re over a third of the way through the window without having bought anyone in, is just beyond me.
And why have we only just held crisis talks, when they should have happened weeks ago?
Was Randy really so naive to think that we might not need strengthening?
I really suspect he was, which just sums it all up, doesn’t it?
It’s actually hard to predict this one, as instinct tells me that we’ll lose by at least 2, probably 3 and maybe even more goals.
In short, I see a major thrashing coming up sometime soon and Palace could be the team to do it, especially if the players just throw the towel in after the weekend’s events.
But if Palace take the lead, I don’t think they’ll have to work too hard to stay in front and might contain us easily, hence not having to go for the jugular.
Conversely, if we score first, we might at least make a game of it.
But I’m still going for a 2 goal home defeat.
In fact, I’m not sure the score really matters that much and it’s a funny old game, isn’t it?
I’ll just go for the home loss, as that’s nailed on, I reckon.
Yes, I know, yet again all thoroughly depressing.
But what else am I supposed to say?
That I think we might win?
I can’t even see us beating Wycombe at home, things are that bad 🙁
We’ll not win another game this season – end of!
Sickening, saddening, and depressing, agree Hitch not another win ,
I think this article sums up how I feel perfectly – complete apathy. I have a suspicion we might win this one though – based on absolutely nothing. It won’t mean we’ve turned a corner or that we’re getting better, just that something has to give and Palace might just have a bad day and not turn up.
Anyway, I’m off back to my padded cell.
ASTON VILLA FANS 1 ASTON VILLA FC 0
another depressing trip home coming up. 0 – 3
Yes its depressing being a Villa fan. I said to myself we are down and just maybe we might go on cup run. I give myself a slap on the head and said wake up. As for tonight’s game Place win ,interesting to see how the fans react tonight
Oh-dear indeed!! Just off the palace game..
Badger if just seen a article about Garde saying no one wants to sign for villa.????
Please say this is bullshit and he never said that. If so that telling me where not going to buy and his accepting relagation!
And that makes me sick!!!!!
MarV – can you blame them? Interesting quotes from Garde in this morning’s press calling on Villa ‘Chiefs’ to come out of hiding and make a statement about their plans for the future! Methinks whatever we think of Garde he seems to be prepared to speak his mind so no doubt he’ll be gone shortly!
My first thought after reading the article is, who the hell is Glenn Pardew! My second thought is, how small will the attendance be tonight, I’m certainly not going, I’ve finally cracked. Prediction, a backs to the wall 1-1.
You know against all the odds I have a funny feeling we’re gonna win tonight. going 2-1 Villa.
Still relegated, still playing Chamionship footy next season, still need a new owner, still need players who play for the badge, still need heart, still need fight still need quality, still need our Villa back.
I’ll predict half the score…
Aston Villa 0
VILLA 0 PALACE 6
Giddy if you fancy venting your spleen http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-crisis-give-your-10720142?
Cheers for that MATE just put my pennies worth in I hope they accept the expletives.
Did it myself, l would to see the results of that survey
Dave I would of thought the brum mail will publish the results unhappy reading I would imagine.
Not even gonna bother watching the game tonight…whats the point.
We will scrape a win tonight, then watch the PR machine go into overdrive….
I also think we will scrape a lucky win… Then watch those shirt sales go through the roof LOL
Turv32, sorry to say was in town today and in every charity shop window was please no more Villa shirts please, I don’t think sales will go up fans are getting rid.
Whatever you guys are on predicting a win – where do I get some? 🙂
H60 who really cares anymore – Its not about boring football – its all about pie and shirt sales !
Bang on Saddened – what more can we say?
On my way back from business meetings in London where normally we enjoy friendly football banter. Not today; my business colleagues are as embarrassed as Villa fans about the plight of our club and stayed well away from the subject. How sad is that?
There’s no chat around me at work about football, it’s like there’s been a family bereavement – everyone’s just bring really sympathetic!! If we were even close or trying to make a fist of staying up then maybe the piss talking could resume – the silence is much much worse.
Benzo Fury mate on Paddy Reilly’s recommendation.
I can’t half Pick Um Paddy run the stats through his magic number cruncher and came back with although he may be a bit of a slow starter after half an hour he really kicks into action.
I’ve moth balled all my Aston nilla tops too embarrassing so I’ve got my I SHOT JR t shirt out of retirement far less embarrassing.
I have moth balls in my wardrobe too Giddy. At the Villa end is my collection of scarves swapped with foreign fans on my trips into Europe with Villa. God knows when or if I will get another one. Barcelona, Inter, Bayern, Atletico – any young kid wouldn’t believe we played them, even Bratislava and Guimaraes seem a world away.
Do you remember the Conservative politician who was found naked except for a pair of stockings and suspenders, with an electrical flex tied around its neck and a black bin liner over its head and orange segment laced with amyl nitrate in his mouth?
He was apparently also wearing a Villa shirt but that was never released as they didn’t want to embarrass his family.
LMAO Nice one 😀
my work mates take the piss as well, luckly I’m a warriors season ticket holder so to hide my grief just say I have a passing intrest in football… LOL
I thought there was another warriors fan on here fairplay to you.
This is bad luck lads having a Porsche cayenne with Villaa plates, it don’t go out now.
Kozak starting have we already appointed a new manager???
At last he gets a chance, only fair. Heart always sinks when I see Westwood in the starting eleven, good to see bunn take it between the sticks. Guzan is a muppet, just sit him next to a box of hubba bubba and let him get on with it.
1.3 to palace
Guzan dropped (at last).
Yep Giddy, but I’ll always be a Villan. Yep good to see Kozak Starting. Nothing to loose have we????