Five games remain. Everything to play for. And a trip to Old Trafford next up for the Villa. Wigan go to City. Stoke travel to Loftus Road. Sunderland host the Toffees. Norwich welcome Reading, and Newcastle come down to The Hawthorns.
Interesting stuff. Have Reading and QPR surrendered? Can the Baggies do us a favor? Will City have a defiant statement in them?
While we’d like to have our destiny firmly in our own hands, it’s not. But with Wigan facing Spurs immediately after going to the Etihad, we might find ourselves on Monday the 29th with Wigan’s two games in hand coming to naught and Sunderland at Villa Park.
Moreover, with Wigan facing two potent sides, their four-goal advantage over us might very well be history.
Which is to say, the draw against Fulham was nowhere near as bad as a loss. Of course, neither was it anywhere near as good as a win.
It was a frustrating and disappointing day, ultimately, but not devastating. In our last five, Villa have been 3-1-1, 10 of 15 points. We’ve managed to pull Stoke into the mire, are level with Sunderland, and one would like to think we still will be after our next round of fixtures.
So what I’d like from a trip up to Old Trafford is to see the team set out to play as low-scoring a game as possible, ideally a bore draw.
I can hear you laughing. A clean sheet seems about as likely as a 5-1 victory. But that’s what I’d like to see us set out to accomplish. If you can’t win, don’t lose. 4-5-1, lots of grit, see if you can’t nick something on the counter or a set piece. But don’t go out there trying to play open football and let United get their heads up. If we’re going to lose, then lose 1-0.
And maybe that’s entirely the wrong prescription. Maybe it sounds defeatist. Perhaps Villa should set out to attack with a nothing-to-lose attitude. But there’s plenty to lose by shipping more goals. Everyone’s been worried that goal difference would send us down. But we’ve got a chance to make up ground in that department, not only with Wigan, but Norwich, too, as they’re only a point ahead of us and three goals better.
It’s not sexy. It’s not gallant. It might be a ludicrous thing to imagine. But it’s the most pragmatic approach. Unless you get really pragmatic and realize we need to go 3-0 up if we want to play for a draw. Anyway.
When it comes to lineups, obviously I’d like Gabby back, and a central midfield three of Westwood, Delph and Sylla. I’m not sure what Clark’s status is, but if we’re playing for a draw, then have him at left back if he can go.
That’s what I would do. Now you’re the manager. How do approach United away?
The Author
