Match Prediction: Villa at Reading
Thursday, 08 February 07, 09:06 AM · Comments (8)
So far this season I think I've lost about ?200 with my weekly bet but last night I came good after predicting England, under second choice Steve, would lose. I'm even more confident about this weekend.
Villa beat Reading in the first game at Villa Park this season 2-1 with goals from Angel and Barry after conceding an early goal.
That game was significant for lots of reasons but for me it was that the team, under Martin O'Neill, showed a battling spirit and a determination to win.
I don't think it will be any different this weekend despite us travelling to a team currently sitting in 6th place. They've had a great time at home this season, winning eight and drawing one but they've lost four. If Everton and Blackburn can go there and win, so can we.
Smiler McCann is carrying an injury but it appears he'll play as there is a three week break coming up and that should be plenty of time for it to heal, somewhere in Dubai, on a beach.
It would also be nice to see Shaun Maloney get a game under his belt and he may start, if not he'll most certainly be on the bench after scoring for Scotland B this week.
Assuming none of the players have arrived back from international duty with injuries or niggles we should see pretty much the same team that started last weekend at West Ham feature barring a bit of tinkering by the manager.
Ibrahima Sonko is injured for Reading but Michael Duberry, Greg Halford and Alan Bennett, all defenders, were brought in by Steve Coppell during January so they should be able to field a strong side and probably future Aston Villa player Steve Sidwell.
I'm having two ?10 bets this weekend and the 'banker' for me is Villa, Spurs and Manchester United at 9/1. It's three points this weekend, I can smell it. the other bet is too stupid to publish but if it comes in don't expect a match report or anything else for that matter again.
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8 Comments · Add yours
Why would Sidwell want to come to Villa? You are below us in the league, our stadium is going to be expanded to match yours. I don't see any advantage unless it is a money thing.....
You must be having a laugh! Reading we're extremely unlucky to lose at Villa this seaosn. Sonko being given a red card for falling over with his back to the Villa player. typical star-gazing by "wanna be" big time refs who always favour the "big" clubs. It's been happening regularly all season. Had the ref applied the rules of the game, Reading would have got at least a point.
Villa's recent form is patchy at best, whilst Reading seem to be surprising even themselves. Top 4 in the last 6 games table. Keep your money in your wallet mate!
Oh, and why would Sidwell want to leave a club that's 6th on the Prem for one that's 16th? Simple really, money. Reading have built their squad on a "one for all and all for one attitude". Sidwell is the odd man out, and is not the talisman he thinks he is.
Enjoy the game Saturday, whatever the score.
oh so your just looking at the now?
hmm, just like wigan and west ham last season who was flying and are now.....? exactly.
yes reading are doing well and i enjoy watching you play, but villa are a big club, under great management from top to bottom now and sidwell hasn't signed a new contract so at least he has sense to see that reading, for all there endeavor this season, will never be as big as us or in the same "league" as us once the o'neill-randy lerner revolution really kicks in
you can expand your stadium to 60000 but you will never fill it !
i personally dont want sidwell, with our manager and money we should be buying better, but he would be a decent squad player if he comes in on a free
Villa to nick it. There's that sense of belief with the villa fans and squad again like at the begining of the season.
To you reading fans. BEWARE THE WIGAN SYNDROME.
See you on 18th March.
Up the Villa
It will be a tough game as reading along with Man city have been the 2 best sides i have seen at villa park this season(a part from Man U)So i dont expect us to win comfortably but i do think we will win.Vila to open up a 2-0 lead but get pegged back in the final 10 mins
We will have to be at our best to beat Reading, they are on a roll, but, we have a re-surgense with new players, our strike force is one to be reckoned with now.
I'll go for a 3 - 2 win for Villa, Gabby, Young and Petrov to blast one in from 20 yards.
UTV.
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This could be the game that knocks Reading off their stride. I too have enjoyed watching Reading play this season ( and we were fortunate to get all 3pts at VP ). However, we are a completely different unit now, as we have grown in confidence and have variations up front. Provided we compete in midfield, we will win. As for Sidwell, I hope he comes to Villa, who have in place, the pedigree,players,management and vision for a club going forward. You appear to have a ' semi on ' because you've done well in your first season. Barring a couple of poor seasons, we have been a regular top ten finisher, and under MON we will be looking for top 6 in a couple of seasons before ' regaining ' the title. 3-0 to Villa!
Think Bouma is carrying a knock from Internationals so if he dosent play i think it could be:
Sorensen
Barry
Mellberg
Cahill
Bardsley
Maloney
McCann
Petrov
Young
Gabby
Carew
Keeping the same formation and dropping Barry to left back and putting Maloney in with the three across the middle. Although we do have a wee bit of options now as StMartin would say.