The third match of the week is upon us as Ipswich Town, currently sitting six below Villa in ninth, come to visit. Having won the last two following the break, Villa have edged themselves into fourth, but still trail league-leading Wolves by nine. Second, however, is five points away. So there’s a bit to play for.

As we discussed during the week, a team really does have to win the great majority of its matches to find itself in the top two. So this would be a good time to notch another one.

Villa’s storyline today will be whether they’re knackered. Bruce is persisting with the same side as Tuesday, with the notable exception of Mile Jedinak slotting into Chris Samba’s spot at center half. As I recall, he’ll play to Chester’s left. Whether this is a referendum on Samba’s play, I don’t know, but we do know Mile looked pretty solid in the back line when he was drafted in for a couple games last year. And the move does put another, better player on the park.

Elsewhere, Snodgrass, Whelan, Hourihane, Adomah, Onomah, and Davis go again, and this is where the knackered bit comes in. However, with Lansbury returning to the bench, and Grealish and O’Hare available, Bruce does have the option of freshening up his midfield, which he may well have to. Elmohamady remains on the bench, too.

Formation wise, it seems a 4-5-1, unless someone like Onomah is being asked to play a more forward role. But I’m thinking it’s 4-5-1. And given the lack of striking options, I don’t see why it wouldn’t be. We’ll have the debate about young prospects later. But you’d think that….well, you’d think a lot of things.

So, not really much else to say. Once again, it’s no overstatement to say Villa need to win. Keeping pace is critical, especially as we come up on the festive period and the January window without Kodjia. While he hadn’t been tearing up trees as he played himself back into shape, Villa now really have few options, and need to hold what they’ve got until they can bring in reinforcements. Don’t ask me about the money part of that, because I don’t do math on weekends.

Anyway, Come On You Villa Boys, let’s dig in and show that we’re capable of sustained effort and competitiveness game-in, game-out. No time to be switching off or feeling tired and jaded.

Over to you.

Comments 27

  1. I understand you have a bit of a dilemma with Green and Adomah both in the side, but what was strange was seeing Albert sidelined instead of playing on the right, which you would’ve thought was his spot, rather then Elmo’s.

  2. Happy with the win but—-
    It definitely looks like Bruce is unwilling to tinker even a little bit. I remember O’Neil being unwilling to change the squad and rest his best players a bit. Then when the end of the season came the team was exhausted.
    Jedinak, IMO has become injury plagued and shouldn’t be counted on. It’s time to bring someone in to replace him so they can get their feet wet. No sense bringing them in when it’s crunch time. And finally is it me or did Bruce go to a more defensive mode early in the second half? The players on the bench need more time than 10 minutes at the end when it’s all said and done.

  3. Well thats a superb win.

    Ipswich are dangerous away from home and score goals.

    So to keep a clean sheet with the jedi injury too is superb.

    3 wins in a week after the kodjer and terry injury news too.

    We have a team to be proud of at last.

    Come on villa lets get 2nd

  4. Andrew,

    I think you’re right, we should feel some pride about the last week. Different wins, different questions asked and answered.

    And yes, second is definitely the goal. It’s achievable.

  5. Ian,

    It’s a fair point, but then when it ain’t broke…? We are walking a fine line, given the injuries, as we’ve not a lot of depth left to plumb. Obviously Kodjia is the big miss going forward, and we’ll have to deal with that since we just can’t seem to play to Hogan.

    So it’s tricky. Leaving the side together when they’re getting results…Hard to argue with that given we didn’t see any drop-offs in energy levels today.

    But I agree, would liked to have seen a few more minutes from Jack, and would like to have seen O’Hare come on. We may well end up needing them, and game time can only help make that transition necessary if we have to call on them.

  6. JG
    Yeah I got the feeling about luck for today, although the players made their own luck fortunately, as I couldn’t see any continuity left or where we were going yesterday.
    Well we haven’t a match for week?
    So there should be even less excuse now he’s got a full week at BH with the players.
    Maybe being in crisis is good for him as it gets him out of his habitual patterns a little.

  7. I dont for one minute buy into players being tired.w E dont play every tues and 34 year old whelean just played his 3 rd game in a week and was superb. .. Again! Why cant they be ready to go again on friday night….thry are fit and have 5 days doing very little!

    I believe more in momentim…. Once you get confident and winning games dont mess with it.

    Need a blues win grrrrrrrr

  8. From other blogs:

    “Good performance again today. And yet another shot to all the midweek team pickers who AGAIN, drop Hutton and Whelan, and yet AGAIN they were excellent overall! Within 2minutes of Elmo coming on he was getting yelled at by Snoddy for being out of position and then when an attack broke down Snoddy over took him chasing back after being on the pitch 80minutes longer hahaha”

    “The more and more you watch whelan the more you appreciate what he does without him really getting recognition, allows hourihane to get forward, Hutton was again solid”

    “The dirty work Whelan does will always go unnoticed by most”

    “Game over. Won 2 – 0. Good game, some really solid performances and don’t feel it’s for me to single anyone out. Seems to be an air of invincibility about the place at the minute, certainly hope it carries on.
    What did you fine folk think?”

    So – my question is …….is AVL the only blog that continues to denigrate the team and its players? Except for one or two brave souls.

    Have to say I am happy to be out of here but much love to you all and please continue to create the angst ………
    oldvilla

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