Aston Villa v Fulham

Hopefully Guzan catches the flu bug as well. I've gone 180 here and just cant see a result given Fulham's defense regardless of AV's depleted squad...and as Ag stated on another thread, I agree that the '08 squad would've taken this squad's lunch money after a severe ass-kicking. Would McBride or Murphy have allowed the perpetual slumped shoulders? If there is heart to be shown, please let it begin with this match. And can Fulham please put a crooked number on the scoreboard and prevent a crooked number on the other side?

Hopefully I'm wrong about the expected result, but nonetheless, my boy, daughter and I will be parked in front of the tv. It's hard for me to get in the chat these days b/c I'm constantly explaining things to my kids and playing kick around while the match is ongoing.

COYW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

There were reports after the last match of players collapsed on the pitch crying and walking off in tears after Everton. That makes me think they went into that game thinking it was Last Chance Saloon. Really, when do you see that, especially from professionals? After losing in a final or elimination game? Usually when everything is on the line. So can they bounce back? I tend to doubt it. Afterall, Magath and the players said that was one of their best performances of the year. And we still lost 3-1.

That said, the injury reports out of Villa are encouraging and our chances of taking something from this match have gone up. But we're stuck with the same problems. We've been inept scoring (5 from 6 matches under Felix) and I don't see that changing. Outside of Newcastle (w/o Remy) we haven't been able to hold anyone under 2 goals (15 goals allowed in 6 under Felix). Villa Park has been a place we struggle (no wins in last 14 Prem matches there). And we'll lose because it's what we do and we're very good at it.

I think we'll get one goal somehow, someway. But we'll give one up on the counter and another from a set pc and that'll be that. 2-1 Villans.

 

Every match we try and look for some positives, only to be drawn back to reality after 90 minutes of mostly inept football (last week notwithstanding). Time for our "FUSA Grasping for Straws Stat of the Week"; Aston Villa is tied w/Sunderland for second most home league losses w/9 (take one guess which club leads this dubious category w/11 :roll. Even with that, we are so fragile in every way imaginable that one goal by the Villians and the ol' here we go again malaise will set in, 3-1 loss as usual I'm afraid.

 

From the Guardian
http://www.theguardian.com/football/201 ... ch-preview

Fulham have not won at Villa Park in the Premier League but if they are to cling on to any chance of remaining at the top table next season they need that to change against an Aston Villa minus Christian Benteke, who ruptured an achilles tendon in training on Thursday to ruin his World Cup plans. Paul Lambert's team are unpredictable but with safety almost assured, expect them to score despite being without their main marksman against the league's most porous defence. Alan Smith

Kick-off Saturday 3pm

Venue Villa Park

Last season Aston Villa 1 Fulham 1

Referee M Oliver

This season G23, Y82, R3, 3.8 cards per game

Odds H 10-11 A 3-1 D 13-5
Aston Villa v Fulham Probable starters in bold, contenders in light Photograph: Graphic
Aston Villa

Subs from Steer, Bennett, Lowton, Sylla, Tonev, Holt, Robinson, Luna, Baker, Helenius

Doubtful Agbonlahor (illness), El Ahmadi (thigh)

Injured Okore (knee, 26 Apr), Nzogbia (calf, unknown), Benteke (achilles, Aug), Kozak (leg, Aug)

Suspended None

Form LLWWLD Discipline Y68 R0

Leading scorer Benteke 10

Fulham

Subs from Stekelenburg, Burn, Amorebieta Diarra, Kvist, Kasami, Kacaniklic, Woodrow, Bent, Zverotic

Doubtful None

Injured Karagounis (leg, 12 Apr), Mitroglou (knee, unknown), Duff (knee, Aug)

Suspended None

Form LLWLLD

Discipline Y48 R1

Leading scorer Sidwell 6

 

This is simple. To have any chance at all for a miracle, we have to win the remaining winnable games on the schedule, regardless of location. This is one of them. The only one left where we really have no chance is Spurs away. The rest are must win. Anything less means the party's over (if it's not already) in the Premiership. Yes, we'll have to have lots of help at this juncture (that's the miracle part, folks), but for that to happen, WE HAVE TO WIN ALL REMAINING WINNABLE GAMES. If there even is such a match fitting that description for this season's debacle. I just hope we continue to play hard like we seem to have been under Felix, and that we score a few goals. We'll just have to cross our fingers and hold our breath on the other end, and hope whomever's in the net can pull off a few miracles of their own. It really doesn't matter who's playing or not playing for the opponent. We just need to win, period.

 

I really wish Dejagah was a 90 minute man. All I can offer at this point is COYW's!

 

The substitutions made all the difference in the second half. Dejagah was far and away the impact player of the day and Richardson was very good as well.

 

Couldn't agree more. Vital change up to earn the 3 points. :banana-dance:

 

:text-+1: to everything.

 

The 3 points today is the difference between "it's over" and "it's highly unlikely".

 

Spot on about Richardson HD, I never understood the stick he was getting, since he's been solid when his hamstrings cooperate. I was so happy to see Felix look at Hugo as they were walking off at half and it was obvious he was going to get a shot. He has never been prolific, but dude runs his socks off and scored some big goals in his time at Wigan. Still alive, so that's worth a :banana-wrench:

 

The subs, Dejagah in particular, really changed the game. I agree with Don on the two up top, but it creates the dilemma of what to do with Holtby? Drop him? Put him in Sidwell's spot? Out wide for Dejagah or Richardson? Or keep Dejagah as an early 2nd half sub. Problem there is that you're conceding the first half to an extent. Our offense has been most dangerous with Richardson on the left wing, so I'd be reluctant to exclude him. Tough decision.

Joe, I suspect a lot of Richardson's grief came from his constant injury issues and the perception of his defensive abilities. While I think those criticisms of his defense are a bit harsh, I'd much rather see him at left mid/left wing. I was all over him on the injury stuff. You have to be reliable and having to burn subs on a guy in the first 20 minutes of a match on several occasions helps no one.

I can't help but think this game is just setting us up for the sucker punch next week. Can we beat Norwich 3 times in a season? Can we go unbeaten against them in 4? Perhaps that's cynical, but then we've been let down by this team time and time again.

Hopefully I'm wrong and this is the beginning of another Great Escape. Beat Norwich and I'll start to believe.

 

Have to give a huge :bow-yellow: to the traveling supporters today. The 3000 strong could be heard big time. The team really feeded off their energy and vice versa.

 

There's a speck of light at the end of the tunnel. But, as Lou Holtz once famously said, sometimes it's an oncoming train. Still, the fat lady stopped humming and sat down after this one. Just gotta keep it going.