These are unprecedented times in the modern era for us as Villa fans. It has been a long, long time since we’ve been so competitive and consistent with it. Aside from regretting missed opportunities against Arsenal, this Villa side has already impressed the season with three Premier League wins and a debut Champions League victory. It is all very encouraging.
Up next is a localish derby of sorts. The Wolves have been interesting rivals of sorts in recent seasons and have brought a little regional interest to a domestic calendar missing Small Heath Alliance and Olbiyun. The visitors had really got their act together, impressing in their Championship promotion season and re-establishing themselves in the top flight by taking full advantage of connections with influential agents. However, things rarely stay the same.
Wolves have been hampered, like so many clubs, by the tightening noose of firstly Financial Fair Play (FFP) and the increasingly cited Profit & Sustainability Rules (PRS). They had to sell key players despite avoiding a points deduction like Forest and Everton. The income this brought dealt with that, but crucially was not invested in anything like the amounts received back into their squad. A quiet summer sees them in a predicament of arguably being reduced in strength and with limited options available to address it.
Embed from Getty ImagesTheir opening games against Arsenal and Chelsea were tough fixtures from which they got nothing. More alarming was the nature of the drubbing against Chelsea in which they conceded six. A win the EFL Cup against Burnley couldn’t be used as a springboard with a draw at Forest being Wolves only point. Also, having looked arguably the better team in the first half against Newcastle last time out, they collapsed in the space of 5 second half minutes to lose the match.
By contrast we are in very good individual and team form. Duran has been on fire, Tielemans outstanding in midfield and Digne in fine form. Watkins is off the mark following a brace against Everton and was unlucky to see a goal ruled out against Young Boys midweek. The England international was seen with an ankle packed in ice in Switzerland, but has been training as usual ahead of Wolves’ visit.
Without sounding complacent, Emery might be eying a bright start at Villa Park as an opportunity to take advantage of a little squad rotation. Duran could easily give Watkins a breather and these might be the types of fixture to introduce Maatson or Bailey following injury. Villa are boosted by the return of Cash following a hamstring injury, who if available logically replaces the promising but inexperienced Bogarde at right back.
Villa must learn from the scare against Everton in which we contrived to give Dyche’s side a 2-0 advantage, but this side tends to learn from its mistakes. Wolves aren’t pushovers, but they are on their joint worst start to a PL season, and the last time that happened they finished bottom. They are struggling, we daren’t be sentimental and will hopefully be ruthless in getting the job done. UTV.