A warm New Year's greeting to all prior to the first game of 2017, a year in which we hope to see Villa return to the top-flight! And there's every chance we can reach the play-offs: I do not see it being that difficult to achieve that part. The biggest challenge in my view will be to beat the other teams in the play-offs. But let's take it one step at a time.
Well, right now we have another War-nock game to face, and we probably remember the clattering that Jack got just a few weeks ago in the corresponding fixture at Villa Park, a 3-1 win for Villa. On their patch it will be more difficult despite Cardiff's lowly league position: Cardiff have won 45%, drawn 20% and lost 35% of their last 20 home games, but in their last 20 home games against teams positioned in the top half of the table, it would seem that Cardiff have won 9, drawn 8 and lost 3 of these matches.
So this match is no pushover, especially as pretty well every team in the Championship other than Newcastle sees a match against Villa as their Cup Final opportunity, and Villa are not aided by the fact that Kodjia may not be available for this match. But as he will be away for the best part of a month anyway we might as well get used to the fact that we have to do without him for now. And he without us as he lies in wait to grab his tenth goal of the season for Villa.
While Kodjia and Ayew are away, and with Gestede apparently on his way out, I would hazard a guess that we'll see McCormack and Gabby as being the main hopes as strikers with RHM on the bench, though we well know that Gabby's ability to score has been pretty well absent this past couple of years. But Mac might at last come awake to put a few in the net, following his lively half-match display against Leeds. In these upcoming matches I would hope he will be better aided and abetted by Jack, who will have more responsibility placed on his shoulders to make up for the absentees. And in Adomah, Bacuna and Amavi dare I hope that our forwards might get some decent wing service? I really love Adomah's play: he is not the world's best, but he has offered a degree of trickiness and tenacity that has been long missing on Villa's flanks, and has translated that good work into assists for his team-mates. And, going forward, Amavi often offers thrust as well. In fact, due to his defensive weaknesses, I feel he'd provide the drive we've lacked in midfield or (perhaps better) specifically the left-wing slot! The question is, who would you then put at left-back!
This is certainly not going to be an easy month, with the next league match being played at a slightly resurgent Wolves, but followed by home games against PNE and Bristol City, both of whom beat us on their pitch. If we can get 7 points from those 3 matches with the players we have currently available, I'd think we'll be doing well.
But first things first as we now face matches in the Welsh and English capital cities. Firstly we have the match at Cardiff, followed by a chance to remind ourselves about Premier League life when we visit Spurs this coming week-end in the FA Cup. Well, it's just a chance for a day out in London, isn't it? We surely don't expect to beat Spurs ... do we?!
Well, right now we have another War-nock game to face, and we probably remember the clattering that Jack got just a few weeks ago in the corresponding fixture at Villa Park, a 3-1 win for Villa. On their patch it will be more difficult despite Cardiff's lowly league position: Cardiff have won 45%, drawn 20% and lost 35% of their last 20 home games, but in their last 20 home games against teams positioned in the top half of the table, it would seem that Cardiff have won 9, drawn 8 and lost 3 of these matches.
So this match is no pushover, especially as pretty well every team in the Championship other than Newcastle sees a match against Villa as their Cup Final opportunity, and Villa are not aided by the fact that Kodjia may not be available for this match. But as he will be away for the best part of a month anyway we might as well get used to the fact that we have to do without him for now. And he without us as he lies in wait to grab his tenth goal of the season for Villa.
While Kodjia and Ayew are away, and with Gestede apparently on his way out, I would hazard a guess that we'll see McCormack and Gabby as being the main hopes as strikers with RHM on the bench, though we well know that Gabby's ability to score has been pretty well absent this past couple of years. But Mac might at last come awake to put a few in the net, following his lively half-match display against Leeds. In these upcoming matches I would hope he will be better aided and abetted by Jack, who will have more responsibility placed on his shoulders to make up for the absentees. And in Adomah, Bacuna and Amavi dare I hope that our forwards might get some decent wing service? I really love Adomah's play: he is not the world's best, but he has offered a degree of trickiness and tenacity that has been long missing on Villa's flanks, and has translated that good work into assists for his team-mates. And, going forward, Amavi often offers thrust as well. In fact, due to his defensive weaknesses, I feel he'd provide the drive we've lacked in midfield or (perhaps better) specifically the left-wing slot! The question is, who would you then put at left-back!
This is certainly not going to be an easy month, with the next league match being played at a slightly resurgent Wolves, but followed by home games against PNE and Bristol City, both of whom beat us on their pitch. If we can get 7 points from those 3 matches with the players we have currently available, I'd think we'll be doing well.
But first things first as we now face matches in the Welsh and English capital cities. Firstly we have the match at Cardiff, followed by a chance to remind ourselves about Premier League life when we visit Spurs this coming week-end in the FA Cup. Well, it's just a chance for a day out in London, isn't it? We surely don't expect to beat Spurs ... do we?!
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