Match Thread Villa v Derby 02.03.2019

[Saunders82]

As per usual this is a crucial game ( they all seem to be lately don't they) its one to look forward to for many reasons, I think it will be a tight affair and just hope that we continue to improve I think we have enough to squeeze a 1-0 win especially now we will have Jack back even if only on the bench, just having him back in the squad should give everyone a lift, especially the fans. UTV

[Army villain]

I hope we get a win, we need one, I will go with 2-0 Tammy will get more chances with Jack playing and hope he is wearing proper shin pads UTV.

[Dazzle]

Derby apparently have a bit of an injury crisis, missing 3-4 1st teamers. It goes without saying that if Grealish can start, or play some part in the game, we really should be winning this game. It feels like our defence is improving, along with Hause improving at LB. I’ll go for a 3-1 Villa win.

[Saunders82]

Derby apparently have a bit of an injury crisis, missing 3-4 1st teamers. It goes without saying that if Grealish can start, or play some part in the game, we really should be winning this game. It feels like our defence is improving, along with Hause improving at LB. I’ll go for a 3-1 Villa win.

We have heard this before AKA Preston they were down to playing the kids but they played us off the park, FOCUS is key fro me that's what the team has to do, having said that we have key personnel back so hopefully we will make a fist of it, we need 3 points. UTV

[Dazzle]

Derby apparently have a bit of an injury crisis, missing 3-4 1st teamers. It goes without saying that if Grealish can start, or play some part in the game, we really should be winning this game. It feels like our defence is improving, along with Hause improving at LB. I’ll go for a 3-1 Villa win.

We have heard this before AKA Preston they were down to playing the kids but they played us off the park, FOCUS is key fro me that's what the team has to do, having said that we have key personnel back so hopefully we will make a fist of it, we need 3 points. UTV

If Grealish is playing then I hope that frees up Hourihane to operate higher up the field. I’m not sure Smith would want to put in 2 players short of match fitness in Grealish & Carrol, but a following line up ought to see us prevail;

.....................................Kalinic...............................
Elmohamady...........Elphick.............Mings...............Hause
.........................Whelan..............Carrol.....................
.........ElGhazi..................Grealish............Adomah.........
...............................Abraham...................................

[Dazzle]

A satisfying half of football, everywhere! Bristol City, Birmingham, Forest all losing. 4-0 for us at HT. Just need a professional 2nd half, clean sheet please, anymore goals just a bonus

[VTID85]

Well, well, well! Super Jack eh? Can't wait for a certain resident sourpuss to tell us why the first half was shit.

Derby haven't made a shot let alone one on target so far, nor had a corner. Looks like we're doing it all for both teams!

[Saunders82]

Well well well that made a nice change, we never really looked in trouble, Elphick looks like hes got a bad one, just when the back line was looking good too. We move on to the noses now and who knows which way that game will go, cos they will be right up for it. UTV

[big ming]

Amongst some excellent performances(Grealish, Mings, Hause Hourihane ) big mention for Whelan (Whelan!!). He was immense today.

[Saunders82]

Amongst some excellent performances(Grealish, Mings, Hause Hourihane ) big mention for Whelan (Whelan!!). He was immense today.

Yep I have to agree with you there and I think El Ghazi looked sharp too, shame Elphick got a bad injury.

[DelboyVilla]

It seems that the system that having Jack back allows us to play is the one that may push us towards the play offs! Connor's late runs into the box were immense today and that is down to JG passing and Whelan protecting! Everybody playing to their strengths!

[Dazzle]

It seems that the system that having Jack back allows us to play is the one that may push us towards the play offs! Connor's late runs into the box were immense today and that is down to JG passing and Whelan protecting! Everybody playing to their strengths!

Agreed. I think that’s why it’s going to be hard for McGinn to get his starting place back next game. Smith has shown with the GK position that you don’t just walk back in if the team has done well, and I completely agree with that. And they certainly done well with the Derby game. For me the same players have earned the start against Birmingham, injuries aside.
Grealish would change the dynamic of any team, because he draws in opposing players trying to stop him which creates much more space for his teammates to exploit. In my opinion he’ll be even more effective with higher quality players around him. His value in the current market is comfortably north of the reported £30m buy out clause with us.

[VTID85]

It might be nice to see McGinn as a second half impact sub. Imagine the opposition tiring, maybe trying to shore up or going for damage limitation and then BAM on comes a supercharged McGinn and the opposition just stands there and cries and are all like "We don't want to play anymore".

[Wookster]

It seems that the system that having Jack back allows us to play is the one that may push us towards the play offs! Connor's late runs into the box were immense today and that is down to JG passing and Whelan protecting! Everybody playing to their strengths!

The way that Derby played yesterday allowed us to dictate the pace of the game which worked perectly, its when we are up against hard working teams who push the pace that we struggle. Look at Sheffield Utd, they have a team of nobodies but they graft and rub us of the park

[Dazzle]

It seems that the system that having Jack back allows us to play is the one that may push us towards the play offs! Connor's late runs into the box were immense today and that is down to JG passing and Whelan protecting! Everybody playing to their strengths!

The way that Derby played yesterday allowed us to dictate the pace of the game which worked perectly, its when we are up against hard working teams who push the pace that we struggle. Look at Sheffield Utd, they have a team of nobodies but they graft and rub us of the park

I don’t doubt that Derby were poor, and we’ll face sterner opposition in the coming games. But we did also rout them 3-0 at their place when they were flying with a fully fit team. You can only beat what’s in front of you. I just know there’s an increased likelihood of us winning games with Jack Grealish in the side.

[VTID85]

It seems that the system that having Jack back allows us to play is the one that may push us towards the play offs! Connor's late runs into the box were immense today and that is down to JG passing and Whelan protecting! Everybody playing to their strengths!

The way that Derby played yesterday allowed us to dictate the pace of the game which worked perectly, its when we are up against hard working teams who push the pace that we struggle. Look at Sheffield Utd, they have a team of nobodies but they graft and rub us of the park

I don’t doubt that Derby were poor, and we’ll face sterner opposition in the coming games. But we did also rout them 3-0 at their place when they were flying with a fully fit team. You can only beat what’s in front of you. I just know there’s an increased likelihood of us winning games with Jack Grealish in the side.

Also, Sheff Utd's superior workrate means squat when they tossed away a 3-0 lead for us to draw.

[deadbuzz]

In Smith's first nine games when he had Grealish fit, we got nineteen points, then Grealsh gets injured, and in the following thirteen games, against easier opposition we get thirteen points in thirteen games; yesterday Grealish comes back, and we win convincingly again, against one of the division's better teams.

I've no doubt, that if he hadn't have got injured then we'd not only be in the top six now, but also still in wth a shout for top two. Without him we average a point a game, whereas with him in the side, we average more than two points a game, that's the difference between relegation contender form, and automatic promotion contender form,when spread over a season.

But I don't think it's just to do with how good of a player Grealish is, I think some of it's some sort of psychological block with the other players, whereby they lose all confidence without him in the team, and don't play to their full potential. Just need to hope that now he's back, we can continue the form we had before his injury, yesterday was a good start.

[Dions_Bald_Head]

I have to say that looking at the celebration after Hourihane's free kick, team spirit seems pretty healthy.

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