Aston Villa (H) - Sun 3rd Sep 2023 (2:00pm)

[Trumo]

Work-rate. Incisiveness. Nous.

 

I don't ask for much.

 

This is how it's gonna be. Build from the ground up.

 

Villa have been pretty strong since Emery took over. He had a slow start to his Villa career but began to pick up good results as last season wore on. This season began with a drubbing at the hands (well they are the only ones still likely to have theirs!) of the Saudi sportwashers, but Villa have found some form since then, and new signings Diaby and Torres have settled in well. The latter was signed to accompany Mings at centre back but Mings is out for the season after sustaining a serious knee injury in that Geordie mauling. Maybe just as well for Villa as at times, Mings was a combination of sloppy and reckless, and an accident waiting to happen. Villa are not an easy side to face, especially if we aren't quite at it.

 

As was the case in the corresponding fixture last season, which was our final home game of a hugely disappointing campaign. It was a very similar game to this season's Bournemouth fixture where we were shit in the first half but went in only a goal down. Ramsey scored for them, soon after Watkins had fired a penalty wide after being fouled by Ibou, who had been dragged wide to cover the space left by Trent. Trent had moments before been involved in us surrendering possession and was now out of position. Stop me if you've heard that one before. It was and remains the massive pitfall in this hybrid role he's been playing. The game was meandering and needing someone to galvanise us. Who better than Bobby on his last Anfield appearance. He popped up with a late equaliser, reacting first to Mo's brilliant cross with the outside of his foot. We were hoping to push for a late winner but even though a lot of stoppage time was added, nothing much materialised. The players who were leaving got a big send off, none more so than Bobby and Big Game James who have been absolute heroes for us. Both signed a few months before Jurgen joined, they were instrumental figures in our subsequent success.

 

We badly need to eradicate the sloppiness in our play and the erratic decision making, and be ready from the beginning. I keep repeating myself but it's no less true. Attitude, concentration and application need to be spot on. We're without Virg through suspension, but if the Gravenberch deal is completed in time to satisfy the noon deadline for new players to be eligible for the weekend fixtures, we will have another addition to our Dutch contingent. Darwin should be on a real high after his weekend exploits, and Jurgen has a decision to make as to whether to start him against Villa or bring him on to cause his particular brand of havoc late on. Decisions decisions. Whatever, go out there, do the right things and come away with another 3 points. Get it done!

[Mook]

I've stuck a tenner on a Benedict Cumberbatch hat trick.

[diamondjoe]

Fuck this.

[Vincent Vega]

Hopefully that Martinez is still out, the time wasting wind-up merchant that he is. I saw the highlights of Villa’s match against Burnley last weekend, and whilst they generally played pretty well, that Olsen they had in goal looked a complete liability, especially trying to play out from the back.

[an tha]

Another test - these are a decent side and do ok against us usually.

 

We'll need to be at it.

[AngryOfTuebrook]

I wonder if Endo will get to play with 10 teammates for 90 minutes.

 

Virg is a big loss, obviously, as there's no obvious replacement for him.  (Tick-tock, Henry, you cunt.)  Still, if Endo, Macca & Szoboslai click in the way I think they can, our defenders shouldn't come under too much pressure.

 

Just get these beat, Reds.

[Razoray]

VAR ruling out Gakpo's equaliser and the non-sending off for Mings' assault on Gakpo in the game in May were both disgraceful decisions by John Brooks.

Just two of the many joke calls we have had to put up with since Robertson received the elbow from the gym bunny and Klopp celebrated in Brooks' face. 

Neither of those cunts, nor Tierney are involved on Sunday. Simon Hooper is the referee. He was the ref that didn’t give the penalty to Wolves the other week for the Onana "foul".

Aside from the fact that he looks to be breathing out of his arsehole after 20 minutes of a game, I've never noticed him in our games before, so fingers crossed. 

Pull them up on their time-wasting and don't make any stupid decisions please Mr. Hooper.

 

[Lee909]

Simon Hooper 

 

22/23	Premier League	29	01.04.2023		4:1
22/23	Premier League	23	13.02.2023		2:0
22/23	Premier League	16	12.11.2022		3:1
19/20	FA Cup	Fourth Round	26.01.2020		2:2
16/17	EFL Cup	Second Round	23.08.2016		0:5

 

 

3 games as the VAR official

3 wins

7-0 Palace Away

1-3 Brighton Away

1-0 Wolves Home

 

[Jurgen Knows]

 

[Vincent Vega]

Sounded like Konaté will miss this one from Jurgen’s press conference.

[TheDrowningMan]

A point would be an excellent result from this in light of the wholly predictable CB crisis.

[elvis]

10 minutes ago, Vincent Vega said:

Sounded like Konaté will miss this one from Jurgen’s press conference.

Fuckin ridiculous 

[VladimirIlyich]

We should win 6-1 or 5-0 given that GeordieArabian beat them 5-1 and we beat the Arabs 2-1. Maybe add a goal or two for us overcoming their home and referee advantage too.

[Pete]

Please twat these horrible cunts red men. 

[bossy]

I’m excited again by our team so I’m going for 3-1 to us. Admittedly we have issues in defence but I think we have so much talent we’ll be too good for them. Failing that a scrappy one goal victory will suffice. Come on Red Men.

[Anubis]

Villa fans are cunts. Just beat them.

[Barnesey]

Gonna be difficult but if we score first I think we get 3 points

[Scooby Dudek]

Is this on tele anywhere or just Sunday due to UEFA?

[John102]

They have only failed to score in 2 games since Emery took over. With Gomez and Matip likely to start together combined with Villa's pace out wide, i do have a slight worry about tomorrow. Fancy a high scoring game, so hopefully Mo and Darwin have the shooting boots on.

[Tj hooker]

My lad has just won 2 tickets for one of the lounges for this so we will be attending c'mon you mighty Reds put these time wasting bastards to the sword please 

[Razoray]

Alisson 

Trent Matip Gomez Robertson 

Szoboszlai Endo MacAllister 

Salah Nunez Diaz

 

Bench: Kelleher, Quansah, Tsimikas, Bajcetic, Jones, Elliott, Doak, Jota, Gakpo.

 

 

[Carvalho Diablo]

Villa are a good team and this will be a tough one, but I hope our new midfield stamps their authority all over them and is decisive

 

[bizzle10]

Dont go a goal down or down to 10 men and unleash Darwin

[Creator Supreme]

0-15!

[an tha]

On 01/09/2023 at 16:47, Scooby Dudek said:

Is this on tele anywhere or just Sunday due to UEFA?

 Not on tv in uk.