The Current Villa Squad

Well, the New Year saw two 'new' players in Villa's ranks against QPR in the form of the repatriated keeper Steer and c-b Elphick, with both doing well enough to keep their places, it would seem.

But Steer may well not be a starter in the next teamsheet as Villa have signed a keeper they bought to improve quality in the Villa goal, in the form of Kalinic.

As things stand (with no further signings likely before Saturday) I'd see the following team possibly being tried out against Swansea in the Cup:

Kalinic, Bree, Chester, Elphick, Taylor (if fit), Lansbury (if fit), Whelan, Bjarnasson, Adomah, Hogan, Davis. Subs: Steer, Hutton, Hourihane, Bolassie, El Ghazi, Abraham, Kodjia.

However, though I suggest this team as a possible selection, it would mean that yet again we'd be downgrading the importance of Cup competitions somewhat in bringing in players just back from injury or who have mainly been sitting on the bench. For me, the FA Cup is still a very important competition, particularly as we're not just now in the top flight, and I would like to see us trying very hard to perform well and make progress in it. It's been over 60 years since we last won it! Having said that, of course, the priority is the League, but good progress in the Cup may well help the confidence factor, and some of the players could do with first-team time on the pitch. It's a difficult one.

But as to the squad now available, with the news that Abraham is likely to stay at VP for the rest of the season, we're now in a slightly better condition with Steer and Elphick back and players gradually coming back from injury (Adomah, Taylor, Lansbury) and, hopefully, Grealish in about a month's time. Tuanzebe seems to be out for a much longer period.

Maybe one more player to sign to make a big difference? Or more to ensure better cover in case of injuries.

With the leading pack in the Championship continuing to drop points (Leeds have lost two in a row) the chance for Villa's promotion is still there despite Villa dropping points. But as soon as the League games re-start next week we must start winning a few to get back some lost confidence.

But on that score, our on-going profligacy in front of goal must be corrected. Last match we had 22 attempts but only five on target. Just getting that on-going situation corrected and we stand to actually win matches!

UTV

2018 Ends and Another Year Begins

Well, it's pretty clear that without Jack the Villa have lost a fair amount of rhythm these past few matches, and today's showing against Preston appears to have been mostly ragged.

But I think we ought to take encouragement from today’s Championship results. Norwich looked as though they were going to shade it 3-2 after leading 2-0 early on, and then Derby scored two late goals for them to win 4-3! As for leaders Leeds they significantly lost at home, 0-2.

With Albion dropping 2 points at home (as did Small Heath) we’re not in a bad position.

It’s clear that the top-6 teams are no great shakes – any of them – while Villa stand to improve over the next two months once we get a new couple of players in during January (we already have Elphick back) and Jack returns (in another 3 matches I understand) and gets back into a rhythm.

If those other clubs are going to continue to drop points as they did today we will undoubtedly take full use of that as I see it, and come back far more strongly than I thought we could after our Leeds defeat.

There's hope, even in the jaws of defeat. We cannot - and should not - take it for granted that other clubs will falter, but for some reason I see this point in the season as being the bottom of the valley, with a not-too-steep climb in front of us.

UTV

Later news is that Chester is carrying an injury and is one of the reasons why Elphick has been recalled.

Against The Albion

The Albion match - in my view - should have ended-up as a neatly packaged 4-2 win with the footballers earning their rewards for a calm display against some rough play … even Barry, from whom we should have gained a penalty.

Albion are a useful side, but the potential Premiership side in that match was clearly the Villa i.m.o. Yep, I’m biased.

But who would have thought that Abe would miss all 4 such chances he had? That absolute sitter in front of goal was actually quite amusing to me because you could see he was getting excited about receiving just the right ball for an easy goal. Unfortunately the ball was ever so slightly behind him, but clearly controllable for him to tuck away.

Well, next match he might score 6.

Nevertheless, it was those missed chances and the non-gained penalty that caused us to drop 2 points. Their last-fling equaliser – hugely flawed that it was – can’t be blamed for a non-win.

Perhaps this is equivalent to a ball-over-the-line situation and video evidence called for?

In this case I don’t blame the officials too much. They were not situated in a good enough position to decide and therefore video evidence is key.

Otherwise I believe in the old adage that you gain some, lose some. Constant analysis does tend to distract from the enjoyment of the game for me and we frankly should have been 2 or 3 goals ahead by then and not be worrying about what would have been a consolation freak to Albion.

Never mind. On paper it is a good result.