Newly promoted Derby visit Villa Park tomorrow, a rare 3pm Saturday kick off, writes Villa blogger Gregg Williams.
I have to admit I haven’t seen a lot of them since they beat the Baggies in the play-off final, but nothing I’ve heard about their performances in the Premier League gives me cause for concern.
They haven’t scored away from home and have shipped 17 goals in 6 away games.
To say we have to beat them would be an understatement, we need a confidence boost ahead of the derby next week and with a likely crowd of
over 40,000 getting behind the team, there can be no excuses.
I’d like to see Petrov keep his place, and I’d prefer to see Craig Gardner at right back as he gives us more options going forward.
From Martin’s comments this week it seems unlikely that John Carew will be fit, so Luke Moore may get another chance up front.
It would be nice to see Moustapha Salifou on the bench, as by all accounts he’s looked impressive in the reserves and in the behind closed doors game with Birmingham, in which he scored.
Put simply, we need as many options as we can get, and he could be useful player for us in the coming months.
The club deserves some praise for their marketing efforts this week.
Many fans have received calls from the club, either from the ticket office direct or in the form of a recorded message from our club captain Gareth Barry.
The aim was to encourage fans to pick up tickets for upcoming home games, with Gareth thanking the fans for their support so far this season.
This is a sign that the improvements at our club aren’t simply to be seen on the pitch, and a crowd of over 40,000 for the visit of Derby will be a
fantastic example of the progress being made.
Villa fans, what do you think? Have your say below
6 Comments
Absolutely not. Last week’s performance at Bolton was our flattest of the season. I am not blaming Petrov he did OK (nothing more) but our poor showing is best explained by the centre midfielder who was missing rather than the one who played.
Nigel Reo-Coker is fit and ready and must take his place above the mediocre Petrov.
nigel has to play, still not impressed with petrov at the moment. However i think he will come good eventually. Does anyone know the score between the villa and blues friendly ?
Craig Gardner ??? you are havin a laugh, he’s far to slow in any position, you could play him centre midfield, but to be put out at right back would be a mistake , Riese of Liverpool went past him many times without changing gear, Petrov is no better, Zat
Gardener is far to slow for premiership football.
You have to have pace, Barry gets away with it because he is clever, but Gardener, Petrov ,Mellberg, no thanks.
Think its time to get behind Petrov,must say Reo-Coker hasn’t pulled up any trees either!