Well, football is a funny game, isn't it?
We Villa supporters were cheesed-off by half-time against the Gunners, and wondered why Villa's performance second-half was not more upbeat in an effort to get something out of the match. But then we began to hear the details of a maleficent virus that had plagued the Villa camp in the week and our sympathies for the players gradually replaced the hurt.
Fast forward a day and a certain Manchester United had their faces painted red by being put to the sword at Leicester. And that after United were leading 3-1. It IS a funny old game. Who would have thought (in the Midlands at least) that those two results would transpire this week-end? We thought that Villa had the best of chances of putting the history book back in order against Arsenal, but it was not to be: Villa's very good start to the season has been interrupted. But against the Gunners we started with some promise - keeping them largely in check and producing 2 or 3 goal attempts (Clark's in particular) which another time might have produced the lead. It looked like a continuation of the Liverpool match until the virus - Trojan-like! - worked its maleficence, and then (with players clearly out-of-sorts) it became a case of damage limitation.
So, onto the Chelsea match. It would not surprise me to find that Chelsea will start the match in a state of super confidence, both as a result of their own performances and their perceived failure of Villa against the Gunners, but (so long as this bug does not do any further damage and the players are fit again) I expect to see Villa giving Chelsea a hell of a match as they did at Liverpool. I am so confident because the new midfield, particularly with the induction of Cleverley, has shown that we do have the ability to get forward well and (sometimes) 'cleverly'! And that, springing from a determined defence, is the sound basis that Graham Taylor has been lauding. Okay, the bug may not have completely gone away by the coming week-end, but (even so) a draw at Chelsea would not surprise me if the main players are able to put in a full stint.
Are we downhearted? No, surely we are not. There have been some pleasant surprises this season and I think that after the next three fixtures (which last season looked fearsome with the players Villa then had available) we may be further pleasantly surprised. More so if Benteke reappears at some stage.
UTV
Why not enjoy a primer of Villa's history added to all the main stats from 140 years of football? Please click here for more info.
.
Fast forward a day and a certain Manchester United had their faces painted red by being put to the sword at Leicester. And that after United were leading 3-1. It IS a funny old game. Who would have thought (in the Midlands at least) that those two results would transpire this week-end? We thought that Villa had the best of chances of putting the history book back in order against Arsenal, but it was not to be: Villa's very good start to the season has been interrupted. But against the Gunners we started with some promise - keeping them largely in check and producing 2 or 3 goal attempts (Clark's in particular) which another time might have produced the lead. It looked like a continuation of the Liverpool match until the virus - Trojan-like! - worked its maleficence, and then (with players clearly out-of-sorts) it became a case of damage limitation.
So, onto the Chelsea match. It would not surprise me to find that Chelsea will start the match in a state of super confidence, both as a result of their own performances and their perceived failure of Villa against the Gunners, but (so long as this bug does not do any further damage and the players are fit again) I expect to see Villa giving Chelsea a hell of a match as they did at Liverpool. I am so confident because the new midfield, particularly with the induction of Cleverley, has shown that we do have the ability to get forward well and (sometimes) 'cleverly'! And that, springing from a determined defence, is the sound basis that Graham Taylor has been lauding. Okay, the bug may not have completely gone away by the coming week-end, but (even so) a draw at Chelsea would not surprise me if the main players are able to put in a full stint.
Are we downhearted? No, surely we are not. There have been some pleasant surprises this season and I think that after the next three fixtures (which last season looked fearsome with the players Villa then had available) we may be further pleasantly surprised. More so if Benteke reappears at some stage.
UTV
Why not enjoy a primer of Villa's history added to all the main stats from 140 years of football? Please click here for more info.
.
No comments:
Post a Comment