I watched both games and was highly impressed. I said last summer that they would be in the mix for UCL qualification and they have not let me down. They managed to keep Emery, Watkins and Douglas Luiz from jumping ship, while Pau Torres, McGinn and Bailey are stepping up.
I always look at the bench to judge a team's strength and here Villa are looking good. Against the Gunners they had Matty Cash, Jacob Ramsey, Diaby and Dendonker waiting to come on. All solid pros. It will be interesting to see if Villa try to get new recruits in the next transfer window. They lie in third, just two points off Liverpool and face Brentford, Burnley, Sheff U and Man U over the festive period, so should pick up plenty of points there.
As for the original question, why not? Leicester won the league 8 years ago because they were consistent and the "big" teams fell away.
In the end it was a straight race between Spurs and Leicester and we all remember what happened next. I doubt it will happen again with Villa, but it isn't impossible. Liverpool don't look good, despite being top; City are missing KdB and struggling; and Arsenal bottled it in the last two seasons and could well bottle it again this season.
Spurs and Newcastle are both looking good despite their extensive injury list and may well rejoin the title race, though Newcastle looked jaded in their last two games. Inevitably, Villa will hit a sticky patch, the question is whether they can get over it quickly before the wheels come right off.
I get the feeling that this title race may be a cracker. Pep said last week at a presser that the quality in the league is phenomenal at the moment, and with the EPL signing a new massive TV deal the gravy will keep coming for a few years yet. Villa played some fantastic football last week and have a top quality manager. Spurs have an equally impressive manager and played some equally outstanding football against Newcastle on Sunday and lie in fifth. They have Maddison, van de Ven, Bentancur, Dier, Sessegnon and Solomon all due to return in January. Fingers crossed that they both keep the pressure going until April and we see a run in to remember.
As for the original question, why not? Leicester won the league 8 years ago because they were consistent and the "big" teams fell away.
In the end it was a straight race between Spurs and Leicester and we all remember what happened next. I doubt it will happen again with Villa, but it isn't impossible. Liverpool don't look good, despite being top; City are missing KdB and struggling; and Arsenal bottled it in the last two seasons and could well bottle it again this season.
Spurs and Newcastle are both looking good despite their extensive injury list and may well rejoin the title race, though Newcastle looked jaded in their last two games. Inevitably, Villa will hit a sticky patch, the question is whether they can get over it quickly before the wheels come right off.
I get the feeling that this title race may be a cracker. Pep said last week at a presser that the quality in the league is phenomenal at the moment, and with the EPL signing a new massive TV deal the gravy will keep coming for a few years yet. Villa played some fantastic football last week and have a top quality manager. Spurs have an equally impressive manager and played some equally outstanding football against Newcastle on Sunday and lie in fifth. They have Maddison, van de Ven, Bentancur, Dier, Sessegnon and Solomon all due to return in January. Fingers crossed that they both keep the pressure going until April and we see a run in to remember.
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| Peter Anderson is a Unionist with a keen interest in sports |
Dec 2000, In back to back home games , Geds Reds beat table toppers Man U & Arsenal # 2- 0 , 4 - 0 . More of the same in front of an extra 7,000 fans would make a perfect Christmas . The Reds need a # 6 a defender to really compete for the title ; seeing as they bid £ 110 mill for Caicedo on deadline day , there is plenty of dosh available ( assuming the bid was real ) ! City are still faves , Villa could nick fourth . Howe
ReplyDelete/ DenT will be lucky to last beyond January .
I've had enough of football , I'm taking my ball and going home in a huff.
ReplyDeleteCloser to feckin relegation than Europe.
A 50p Paddy Power Special...............
ReplyDeleteThe bet is called 'The Christmas miracle' ...
Tomorrow Man Utd to beat Liverpool 3-0.....Martial to get a hat trick.
(any takers).