Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
This is it, this could be the day when Aston Villa’s miserable season finally comes to a relative end and they fall into the trapdoor of relegation to The Championship. The club up until have been one of the ever presents in the Premier League but it looks as if membership to that group could expire by 5pm this Afternoon.
If they lose and Norwich pick up a point then they are relegated, if they draw and Norwich lose then they are safe for at least another week. If they can only match Norwich’s result at Selhurst Park then they are mathematically safe for another week but there goal difference is so bad then it’s a virtual (r) next to them in the league table.
With the Remi Garde era behind them they now will try to build for the future, who will be in charge of that future we don’t know as yet so Caretaker Manager Eric Black takes the helm again in what I would imagine would be another half empty Villa Park.
It was that sorry sight which was projected to the world as they were beaten 4-0 by Chelsea last Saturday Lunchtime. Not even a new Manager bounce could halt the slide towards England’s second tier, as an almost second string Chelsea side picked apart Villa.
Their opponents Bournemouth are actually one of the very few teams to have lost to Villa this season, that was arguably the high point of their season as it’s been downhill since then. Actually I think it’s been more of a flatlane due to the time spent at the bottom of the table.
Bournemouth will look to finally assure Premier League safety in their first season at this level with a win this Afternoon. They are more likely safe anyway but a win here would cancel out any doubt and not only that prove that Bournemouth haven’t switched off for the Summer just yet.
Their last two games have seen heavy defeats to both Tottenham and Manchester City. How much of those defeats is due to them switching off and how much is down to them just coming up against good opposition, well it probably sits somewhere in the middle.
They will aim to put Villa to the sword this Afternoon and gain a modicum of revenge for their opening day defeat. Credit must go to the players and Eddie Howe for making sure this isn’t a relegation 6 pointer with Bournemouth some way clear of the drop zone.
I think Bournemouth will go into this game as favourites, can Villa have one last hurrah and delay the inevitable for another week. I very much doubt it. This is where the nightmare ends for Villa. An away win for me.
