Villa (Away)

[squidsworth]

Can't see anything other than another away defeat. Most likely something to nil, 2-0 or 3-0 most likely, but if we're not at it 4 or 5-0 quite possible.

The players, hierarchy and coach are just winging it now, doubt any have any sort of a plan. And that's how it'll be until we're finally out of this league.

[filbertway]

9 hours ago, ClaphamFox said:

So ninth-place Villa are going to beat us more emphatically than runaway leaders Liverpool?

Is this a real thought or some kind of mad parody?

 

You said that like it's unfathomable haha

[J. James]

5 hours ago, ClaphamFox said:

Using those games as a guide to how we’ll do against Villa assumes we’ve made no progress since then (also, remember who was in goal for six of the seven goals we conceded in those games). I have seen enough in the last two games to believe that we’ve improved and are on an upward trajectory. That’s why I think we’ll give Villa a proper game and have a chance of getting something there. Clearly, others disagree. 

Oh how l wish l could see it as you do, but what I've seen since our wise owner sacked Cooper is that we are conceding more and have virtually stopped scoring now.

 

[Number 6]

They're absolutely not as imperious this year as last year. Palace have taken a point there, Saints and Everton only lost by 1. Ipswich also took a point off them at home.

 

If they turn up and play at their best then we lose but there's a few ingredients which could help us: Duran out, Rodgers out, Torres out. That said they've got some tough games this month and I'm sure they'll see us as a good chance to get 3 points on the board.

 

Wouldn't change much from the starting line up we had against Man City other than obviously Mads returns as soon as fit, and I wouldn't mind seeing Okoli in for Coady.

[ClaphamFox]

8 hours ago, filbertway said:

Is this a real thought or some kind of mad parody?

 

You said that like it's unfathomable haha

People were predicting Liverpool would hit double figures against us. They were then predicting Man City would beat us 6-0. Now it’s a 4-0 win for Villa. No explanation is ever given - just a cursory “This lot will batter us 6-0” (or whatever). I’m genuinely curious to know whether any actual thought goes into these predictions whether they’re just a bizarre form of therapy for those making them. 

[CrazyKopCorner]

This may be overly optimistic but if we play like we did on Sunday and don't make individual errors we'll get at least a point on Saturday. 

 

We've been so poor for the vast majority of this season but it felt as though we got our Leicester back on Sunday. 

[jonny_wright]

A point is a possibility, but they would require Villa to be wasteful in front of goal and us to score 2, as we concede at least 2 in every game. 
 

but id say its unlikely 

[Bordersfox]

8 minutes ago, ClaphamFox said:

People were predicting Liverpool would hit double figures against us. They were then predicting Man City would beat us 6-0. Now it’s a 4-0 win for Villa. No explanation is ever given - just a cursory “This lot will batter us 6-0” (or whatever). I’m genuinely curious to know whether any actual thought goes into these predictions whether they’re just a bizarre form of therapy for those making them. 

No thought goes into these predictions.  Be curious no more.  

[Pliskin]

28 minutes ago, ClaphamFox said:

People were predicting Liverpool would hit double figures against us. They were then predicting Man City would beat us 6-0. Now it’s a 4-0 win for Villa. No explanation is ever given - just a cursory “This lot will batter us 6-0” (or whatever). I’m genuinely curious to know whether any actual thought goes into these predictions whether they’re just a bizarre form of therapy for those making them. 

I think you’re spot on. It is a kind of therapy, it’s almost like an acceptance that the individual has all but given up on the club….. it’s a combination of catastrophizing, and mental filtering…. The loss the Wolves triggered it, then our further two losses compounded it, then other teams around you pick up unlikely results and the whole thing feels like it’s spiralling out of control…… for some the season is over, the R letter is next to our name already and we are down. So they will naturally sink further into the football depression and just predict every week we are heading for a battering. 
 

But I think we’ve been like this for a while, even when we’ve been doing well we’ve always had a fear that we will throw things away. We are all vulnerable…. Instead of free beers we should be getting free therapy to remedy the trauma this football club is causing us all. 

 

Edited 31 December 2024 by Pliskin

[Jazzy_Jeff]

We need to have a right go at these.

 

No Duran, Pau or Rogers.

 

I would go Choudhury for JJ and Okoli for Coady leaving the rest as it is. 

[Marshall Cockney Fox]

This has to be (an unlikely) win, as we are on a horrible slide. At this rate we'll be gone by mid Feb. 

[Gazza M]

A happy hunting ground for us in the league over the years. Rodgers even got a win there two years ago with Tete scoring. 

 

We are due a bit of good fortune as well so can see us getting something if we can continue to play as a collective like last two matches. 

Edited 31 December 2024 by Gazza M

[Pliskin]

13 hours ago, ClaphamFox said:

Using those games as a guide to how we’ll do against Villa assumes we’ve made no progress since then (also, remember who was in goal for six of the seven goals we conceded in those games). I have seen enough in the last two games to believe that we’ve improved and are on an upward trajectory. That’s why I think we’ll give Villa a proper game and have a chance of getting something there. Clearly, others disagree. 

There’s little point trying to convince some we stand a chance…… no logic is used when predicting our results at the moment!

[Matt]

All those more concerned about what other clubs are or aren’t doing rather than our own, crying and moaning about Cunha not being banned (rightly or wrongly) against us ruing and claiming 'we never have any luck with players being suspended against us' and this 'the whole world hates us', 'woe is me' attitude.

 

Morgan Rogers, Jhon Duran are both suspended and Pau Torres is injured. 

 

There's the luck you're crying out for.

 

Edited 31 December 2024 by Matt

[Muzzy_no7]

Okoli needs to play.

 

Facundo AND Bilal continue. 
 

Jakub or Mads in goal.

 

Winks and Papa Bouba Diop in the middle. 

[Spudulike]

1 hour ago, ClaphamFox said:

People were predicting Liverpool would hit double figures against us. They were then predicting Man City would beat us 6-0. Now it’s a 4-0 win for Villa. No explanation is ever given - just a cursory “This lot will batter us 6-0” (or whatever). I’m genuinely curious to know whether any actual thought goes into these predictions whether they’re just a bizarre form of therapy for those making them. 

I'm thinking that most of these outlandish predictions were off the back of one of the most shameful home performances of recent times. We are an emotional bunch and that day won't be easy to forget.

[Devonfox1884]

I have a feeling we get something here. 2-1 City (Vardy and BEK).

[HereBeFoxes]

Well a cursory look at the odds checker suggests us winning is only the second most unlikely event expected from the next few days’ crop of games at 8-1.  Man U beating Liverpool at Anfield is the least likely, 9-1. 
 

It’s obviously not impossible that we steal a win. But I’d bet we don’t. 

[CrazyKopCorner]

10 minutes ago, Devonfox1884 said:

I have a feeling we get something here. 2-1 City (Vardy and BEK).

How do you feelings normally pan out? 

 

I'd be thrilled with a draw 

[Sunbury Fox]

Simply have to somehow find a way to stop conceding 2 or more goals yet again. If we don't, getting anything from here will be very hard. 

[Edingleyfox]

I would stick with the Man City team. The full backs will need to be careful as Villa have Watkins etc on the break.However changing the set up to be more defensive would be a worry as we need results now and parking the bus won’t work IMO

[SkidsFox]

I just hope he keeps the same team. Once he starts making changes, it'll be Goodnight out and Ayew in, maybe an unfit N'Didi. 

[richardsfoxes]

Watkins is going to eat this defense alive. Usually optimistic but the way they overload on the wings using full backs will absoutely destroy us. 

[Wymsey]

1 minute ago, richardsfoxes said:

Watkins is going to eat this defense alive. Usually optimistic but the way they overload on the wings using full backs will absoutely destroy us. 

He seems to have about 15 shots before he hits one shot on target ratio.

[foxfanazer]

6 minutes ago, Wymsey said:

He seems to have about 15 shots before he hits one shot on target ratio.

There's 2 goals for him then