I’m not going to dwell on the Palace game too much, as most of it has been said already here and elsewhere, save to say that their handball goal should have stood and Grealish, in all honesty should have been booked for trying to deceive the ref.
The performance was adequate and it seems many sites gave very decent player ratings for most of the team.
But being realistic, I think the truth is that it was more about Palace being very poor. Even Taylor was rated as very good, after all and we all know how he’s rated by the Villa fans. Good professional yes, but by no means a quality player.
Perhaps I’m being harsh.
You can only beat what’s put in front of you after all.
And anyway, it doesn’t matter what I think; all that mattered was us getting the points.
Which we did.
Grealish looked brighter, but seems to have lost a bit of attacking instinct and seems to hesitate at times. He certainly should have shot first time in the play that led up to the non-penalty, imo.
Elmo did well, as did Trezeguet, in the second half at least. I pointed out a couple of weeks back that he looks our best hope as a finisher lately and seems to have better positional sense when we do threaten. So much so that I wonder if there would be any mileage in putting him up top?
Nah, it’s a daft thought and it’s too late anyway.
Which leads me nicely into the Everton game.
I watched bits of their game against Wolves and they didn’t look very good. The classic “they’re already on the beach” definitely sprang to mind, with even some of their own players admitting that they lacked desire and need their backsides kicking.
Which is what I think the game will boil down to.
Who wants it the most?
There’s no doubt the Villa lads worked hard and played for each other yesterday and it was good to see, as it means we ain’t quite down just yet.
For me, our best hope is that Everton don’t fire themselves up. Our luck says they will, but it’s hard to see how. They have nothing to gain, after all, apart from maybe a few quid in position money and it’s hard to see that motivating the players much.
I’m too scared to predict the score, because I don’t want to jinx us, so I’ll just say I’ll be keeping everything crossed come kickoff.
And then, I can’t finish without commenting about Man City.
CAS mostly overturning UEFA’s decision is horrendous and scary.
This has now moved all the power away from UEFA and towards the clubs.
In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if FFP is dropped, because it seems it’s unenforceable.
A German paper, Der Spiegel, found evidence that Etihad sponsored the club for £67 Million, yet the airline itself only paid around £8 million or so, with the rest paid by the Abu Dhabi group.
How can they get away with this?
Every man and his dog knows this is bent.
The worrying part is a Football expert who helped write the FFP rules said on the Beeb that if we’re not careful, the European game will be controlled by just three middle Eastern entities, which are basically countries (Saudi, Abu Dhabi and the UAE).
How on earth have we let it come to this?
Actually, it’s probably quite easy to answer that.
Football has sold it’s soul to pure and unadulterated greed.
And Sky and the Premier league are the most guilty.
I strongly suspect that those of us who said the Premier league will kill the game are slowly being proved right.
Yes, COYL!
Jesus, we look shakey at the back.
That Samatta a cart horse.
lol, he was poor for that header.
Wheres Terry when information given at water breaks, he’s ready to go and it shows.
Good try Grealish ,
“Villa inching their way forward”.
Then Targett passes it back to Mings on the halfway line, then Mings passes back to Reina.
SOOO annoying.
I honestly cannot see us winning this, I’m kicking ever ball here.
I agree Bill.
On the plus side, Luiz has been outstanding up to now.
HT.
An unsure start, but we looked better as it went on, imo.
Watching with the sound turned off and it definitely makes us look better 🙂
Reason – weekly family quiz on Zoom!
I don’t think Samatta does enough, I don’t know it might be me , have to get a result or game over.
first half was a even affair, we did well we are pressing high, we have good structure good shape. we are getting men forward and luiz is totally the best player for us.
we have to stay in the game and take our chances when they arrive. this team is getting better, but not many games left. we have to start winning the games.
konsa i think has also improved as the season gone on. hes spell at right back has given the kid more confidence on the ball. luiz has mopped up in front of the back four, he has also been linking up with grealish and hourhiane.
we used to be a one man team for 3/4 of this season and every season since jacks been in the team. but now luiz has taken loads of responsibility of jacks shoulders. other players need to stand up and be countered too,
My god our set pieces are just awful! How many do we just waste time and time again?
Yep, utter rubbish.
All part of the poor quality.
Konsa from a Grealish free, ha.
1-0!
I was hoping that would work!!
FECKING YEEESSSSS!!!!
YEssss Konsa
So close to a second!!!
Correction, Hourihane free.
Now I’ve no nails left, to old to chew my feet nails.come on Villa.
Thanks for that Bill, I’ve just eaten!!!!
Ooh, brilliant cross from Grealish then, but El Ghazi couldn’t quite make it.
Great play.
6 minutes to hold on!!!! Can’t watch…
Fuck’s sake, that was close.
Come on Villa, hold ’em!