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S1 E50 Clash at City Ground
12 Plays9 days ago
In today's episode. Dan and Nyla preview Aston Villa's upcoming fixture vs Nottingham Forest at City Ground.
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Transcript
Introduction and Upcoming Match
00:00:11
Speaker
Hello everyone and welcome to today's episode of the Daily Villa Podcast as part of the Global Sports Podcast Network. My name is Nyla and I'm delighted to be joined by Dan who will be co-hosting today's episode. It has been an exciting week for Villa and we're really looking forward um ahead to the upcoming match against Nottingham Forest at City Ground. Dan, how are you?
00:00:35
Speaker
Oh, I'm good. No, I'm really looking forward to the game against Forrest. It's always that a competitive one should be a really, really good game. How are you? Yeah, I'm good. Thanks again. Looking forward to it. I think with the last results and we'll get into that in a just a second, but definitely heading into this this match weekend on a more positive note, I think, and than in previous episodes. So really just trying to be in the moment on that one and enjoy it.
00:01:04
Speaker
Um, but yeah, like, like we've been mentioning, we're looking for a fourth win in a row now um at forest. And with that, like I said, it's, it's been a nice week or so to be a Villa fan. How are you feeling about the last few performances?
Reflecting on Past Performances
00:01:21
Speaker
Oh, well, where do we start? I'm happy that we seem to have got ourselves back on winning ways, finally. And um I'm happy that we beat Leipzig, although we seem to do it the hard way. You know, it's been proper hearts and mouths moments. And I did at one thing time think that game was going to slip away from us. But we we got there in the end by showing some good attacking play.
00:01:48
Speaker
um We got the job done against Southampton, a little bit harder than it seemed to be, ah but you know we we kept that clean sheet, which was always good. um And I was really pleased with the performance of Brentford. I always think Brentford can turn it on, but they have been having a bit of a torrid time away, so I was really putting that down to one we should win. um you know But as as the week has been, I'm i'm really pleased.
00:02:20
Speaker
I completely agree with that. I think, you know, every season there's always some sort of adversity somewhere. And and I think last year we saw that definitely with injuries, but I'm hoping now that that little, you know, stint of the the eight winless matches was our adversity for the season. We can get back on track and go forward.
00:02:39
Speaker
um You know, the delusional part of me would like to think that the Leipzig game was just Villa deciding to make it interesting and not actually, you know, going up and then, and then
Team Dynamics and Contributions
00:02:51
Speaker
at a draw. and But I think you like, like you've said, just really pleased with the performances. One thing that I really love to see is that we've got different goal scores um over the last couple of matches, which I think It just shows you know that we're not just relying on one person. We've got multiple players that are dangerous in front of the goal. um I kind of laugh at Ross Barkley's goal, but i mean it it got us it got us the win. but yeah We'll take a deflection any day, won't we? You know what? If it bounces off somebody's bottom, it's still a goal. It doesn't matter how they go in.
00:03:28
Speaker
Exactly. Amazing. Well, like I said, positive note, lots of positive things. I think collectively that we can take away the last over the last few performances. Of course, there's always work to be done and we can tighten things up and defensively, you know, really focus on the concentration aspect. I know that we spoke about yeah a few episodes ago, and I think maybe that was probably on that goal in Leipzig where, you know, Emi Martinez just kind of got
Away Match Challenges
00:03:55
Speaker
caught.
00:03:55
Speaker
uh couldn't believe it couldn't believe it i know you know i think it's one of those like i'd like to say it's a fluke i don't i don't see that happening again no but yeah back to winning ways like you said which is great and now heading back to the league um away from champions league play There's a bit of a concern, I would say, if you if you want to break down in terms of stats. In the last three away league matches, Villa has lost. So that was 4-1 to Spurs, 2-0 to Liverpool, and 3-0 to Chelsea. We're back on the road again against Forest. Is that a concern to you? Why do we seem to struggle or have been struggling with away league fiction recently?
00:04:43
Speaker
Well, I think we've been masters of our own downfall in quite a few of those games and not concentrating on the basics of defending. I mean, talking like the international defender that I am, you know, it does seem to me that we've lost a little bit of a grip on the basic art of defending. We've been opened up on multiple occasions and made it really easy to play against us, which has been quite disappointing. The three teams you've mentioned, um though, Liverpool are sitting pretty top of the league and look like they're going to run away with it. Chelsea have really got themselves together and are looking very dangerous.
00:05:27
Speaker
And Spurs on their day are really good side. I you know i wouldn't put them ah past really challenging, certainly for European places this year. So with that being said, I don't think many teams are going to go to those grounds and get the results they're looking for. But we have been generous to the opposition um in front of goal and with our defending. It has been quite disappointing.
00:05:54
Speaker
Completely agree. I think it's it's interesting to see you know and stats don't always tell the the true story or they're not reflecting you know what's actually happening, but it's just interesting to see that and to see the success we've had in Champions League away as well. I mean, we're we're traveling out of the country here to play some of these pictures and it's just not, it it just doesn't seem to translate the same. So yeah, I'm really interested to see you know how this match this weekend is gonna play out. Hopefully this isn't a struggle with away fixtures and we'll touch on this um briefly in a moment. But with Forest, it just seems to be a bit hit or miss for them at home. So some some team some teams like Villa is trying to achieve is to make their their home ground a fortress really like no other team is coming in to get the three points.
00:06:49
Speaker
Basically at home and and forest has not been able to really just solidify that so I think It could go either way. I think and maybe we'll have to do some research on the ground about from other fans, but I think you know, generally speaking, other teams aren't really keen to come into Villa Park and play. I think Villa Park is a hard place um to come and play. So we've been really good at replicating that and it'll be interesting to see um what happens at city ground. Absolutely.
Home Advantage vs. Forest's Inconsistency
00:07:21
Speaker
I think you're right in that respect that we've made Villa Park a bit of a fortress in certainly in recent years of
00:07:28
Speaker
And Nottingham Forest haven't been able to emulate that, which will be very disappointing for them. But, you know, I'm not to give too much away, but, you know, then they're not a they're not a bad outfit. No. I'm certainly going into this one a little bit more cagey than I'd like to have been. Yeah, fair enough. um We'll be back to discuss more on this weekend's fixture against forest after a short message from Zencaster.
00:07:57
Speaker
Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we've spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform and let me tell you, Zencaster came out the clear winner. With 4K video recording from your phone and AI editing that automatically removes all those ums and ahs, it's super easy to start a podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently. If you're ready to tell your story, then check out the link in the show description to learn more about Zencaster.
00:08:25
Speaker
Welcome back. Let's get right into it. So as I briefly alluded before the short break, Forest has been a bit hit or miss playing at home. um And what was really interesting is they seem to struggle against matchups with the top five, as would anyone. I think this league, this season um has shown that how competitive this league is this year.
00:08:49
Speaker
um but with that being said they've had a complete week between their fixtures they've played Manchester United um in one last weekend and now they'll play Villa this weekend whereas Villa we've played we've won against Southampton on the weekend we've played Leipzig on the Tuesday. Dan are you expecting tired legs? and I am expecting a team um with some tired legs um I think this is definitely one with a bit of rotation in it, but I'm also expecting a side
00:09:21
Speaker
to be bringing brimming with confidence. you know i I had that Leipzig at the start of the year, I had the Leipzig game as a defeat. um Obviously it didn't pan out that way. I expect us to keep going with our good attacking play, but I hope we don't emulate our ah defensive ah debacles that we had against Leipzig.
00:09:47
Speaker
um I think he's had a few um of our fans with hearts in mouths, as I've said, and we can't keep shipping goals um in the way that we have against tough games. um I'm hoping the manager really has been drilling the defence to make us more solid at the back.
00:10:06
Speaker
Absolutely. I think that will be key into going this match. I mean, even, you know, if defensively you can't necessarily win a game, but you can definitely save a game. And I think if we just stay connected defensively and just be really hard to, to penetrate and get through, then.
00:10:24
Speaker
I know that we have the players to to find the goal to score and hopefully John Duran will do what John Duran does. But um yeah, I think just staying connected, to that organization that we've mentioned on this podcast will be really key.
00:10:38
Speaker
In these situations, I think it's maybe not so much managing those tired legs, but I think it becomes more of a mental match. maybe The famous old saying, work smarter, not harder. So I think it'll really you come down to just being smart on and off the ball, um limiting mistakes, um you know, keeping possession and just patience to find the right moments. um And that way you're limiting turnovers and limiting sprinting back and forth. well Hopefully, we'll see some really good you know tactical movements and and play from Villa to in order to manage that as well. Oh, absolutely.
Tactical Expectations and Preparations
00:11:18
Speaker
Let's hope so. And you know a common thing that we say in the podcast and within the Villa community or the Villaverse, as I like to call it, is
00:11:28
Speaker
in Unai Emery we trust and recently in an interview with the press the force manager Nuno Santo has already said to the press that Nottingham Forest has had more time to prepare for the game which of course you know they've not had a match in between their league fixtures Dan, do you expect to see this difference in the flow of the match? Do you think they'll be more tactically prepared to take on Villa? Is that going to pose any threats or problems to us, do you think? Well, thank you very much to the forest manager in telling us something that we already know. So that that i'm I'm really pleased that he clarified that they've had more time to prepare. Thank you. I expect um
00:12:15
Speaker
them to come at us quite strongly. They've seen that we have a mistake in us. Now, I'm not suggesting that Martinez is going to do that make a mistake like he did again. I think you're correcting that that is his moment and that has now passed. But I do see them hitting us hard and it will have given them a lot of confidence.
00:12:39
Speaker
um I see us hitting them more on the break and in transitions.
00:12:46
Speaker
you know I think they're going to have a good amount of time on the ball. It really is. As as you've said, keeping solid at the back, keeping link not leaving the gaps between midfield and the back, making sure that we are talking to each other. um And I think you've hit the nail on the head in that in Emery we trust, you know, this is why he gets paid the big bucks. And I'm sure as soon as he was back at Body Mama Heath, the day after Leipzig, he was straight on to studying forests last couple of games. I don't suspect he's left this.
00:13:24
Speaker
entirely to chance. And by the way, Villaverse, that's fantastic. I'm going to use that one. I like that one. um I've written that down. I like that one. Amazing. Do you know, I actually think I would imagine Emery on the plane, not even touch down, at my where he but on the plane ride back, he's probably, you know, has his iPad out or something. Yeah, probably.
00:13:45
Speaker
Um, I, like you said, I expect a very organized forest side. I think, um, like the managers mentioned, they've had time to prepare, but on the other hand, I think, you know, with the creativity we have, especially in the midfield between, you know, Kamara Tillamans, you can't, you know, you can only study that so much. Um, I think set pieces will be huge for us during this match as well.
00:14:12
Speaker
Um, but I don't think ultimately it will show too much in terms of the flow of the match. Like I've mentioned before, it's a very competitive league this year. yeah So, you know, any team can win and any match is going to be really, really competitive.
00:14:32
Speaker
And with that being said, on paper, Villa and Forest are pretty even. um It's going to be quite an even match. The two sides share points and are only separated by one on goal. With that being said, and you know everything we've just mentioned, how do you foresee the game playing out? Would you say you know about even possession, even shots on goal? I think you're right. it is we I see them having the ball more than us. um So I certainly think possession is going to skew towards them. I think we will make more of our chances, hopefully. um But I think this is going to be a tough, physical game. um You know, Forrest, I've always known them as a battling side. and
00:15:24
Speaker
Towards recent years, Villa don't seem to be a battler as much. We, you know, it started with Jack Grealish being able to go over and win a foul quite easily. And I think some of our, certainly like McGinn has learned that art as well. But I do think it's going to be a ah tough fiscal game. And it would be really interesting to see how we cope with that. Certainly, if I was the forest manager, that's what I'd be aiming for. um I think we,
00:15:53
Speaker
We need to stay focused and not as you say, not give the ball away, not waste our possession. They're going to make us move from side to side as much as they can. And I do think there will be periods in the game where we have to suffer and Forrest are going to really try to pin us back. But I think we need to be explosive on the break. I think that's what will win us today.
00:16:20
Speaker
Yeah, I think you're completely right on that. um And like you mentioned before, that counter attack and getting them on the bounce, I think will be massive. I think this game can go, you know, there's two different ways it can go. It can be the absolutely most boring match you've ever seen in your entire life, where just nothing happens. The ball's just within midfield, you know, 90% of the game.
00:16:42
Speaker
Um, or it's going to be super exciting action packs, lots of fouls, lots of set pieces, corners, shots on goal. Um, but i' I'd say, and we'll get into this in a little bit, but you know, relatively low scoring, but just lots of different events happening. Um, lots of, you know, half chances, um, missed opportunities, but almost goals. And have no plan hopefully, do you know, I actually don't know what I prefer. I don't know if I can handle another. Oh, no. High energy match. I mean, we we might as well have an exciting game. I hate it when it pisses out nil-nil and it you might as well have not seen it. ah Yeah, you've just given up a few hours of your life to watch. Indeed. Absolutely. Yeah. So hopefully, you know, I don't, I think they're both exciting sides. So it won't, maybe it won't be the most boring thing ever, but it's either going to be lots of things happening or just nothing at all. Yeah. um But we'll be back to discuss.
00:17:40
Speaker
how exactly we think the match will play out after a message from the global sports podcast network.
00:17:49
Speaker
This podcast is part of the Global Sports Podcast Network, the only network bringing you exclusive daily news and views on your Premier League team, the Premier League, women's football and fantasy football. A unique listening experience that puts fans first, bringing you the very latest breaking news from your team. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and make us your first listen every day. Global Sports Podcast Network, every club, every day.
00:18:19
Speaker
Welcome back.
Lineup Predictions and Key Players
00:18:20
Speaker
We've been talking about Villa and the up and coming match against Nottingham forest. Now it's time to dive into the meat and potatoes of this episode, what we've all been waiting for, some predictions. So Dan, let's start with the starting 11. How do you see Villa lining up this weekend? Well, I, um, I'm desperately thinking about this and I'm going, I am going with my gut in that I don't think we're going to see wholesale changes from Tuesday's game, to be honest. um I think Matti Cash played so well in that Leipzig game that I'd be tempted to keep him exactly in that position.
00:18:59
Speaker
um I think we may see Mingz come in from Torres. Torres looked like he was getting a bit tired and Mingz is much more proficient in the air, which I think is going to be vital, certainly against players like Wood. I'd be quite happy to see Barkley in for Tealemans. I don't know if that's a way we will go.
00:19:23
Speaker
um And I'll put my neck out on the line here, and I expect John Duran to start. I can't see how we can ignore that anymore, um to be perfectly honest. If I was him, I would certainly be knocking on the manager's door going, what more do I have to do? Now, I'm a big Ollie Watkins fan. I read, and I think he's a fantastic, willing runner, but Duran seems to thrive off that physical game and I think he's going to really love getting stuck in and you know I think this this really is the game for him.
00:20:04
Speaker
Absolutely. I, think um, you know, I love to watch him play and I'm really glad that he's one of those players. I mean, it's, it's from a player's perspective, if you're not starting, then, you know, every minute that you're on, that you get subbed on counts. And for me, he just makes the most of it all the time. yeah Um, you know, just scoring goals, doing what he does, but I just, he's so effective and.
00:20:27
Speaker
you know, to come off the bench, you know, as an opponent, and I see John Duran getting ready to get subbed in. oh I'm cooked. I'm like, oh, no, yeah, i got to deal with him now. um So it's just a testament of, you know, putting in the work, doing what you need to be doing. And and now the opportunities are presenting yourself and you're ready to go. So Just, you know, hats off to him for that. And hopefully, you know, to see him start would be amazing. Um, I agree with you in that. I think, you know, we'll line up with, you know, Martinez in the back. Um, I would go Dina and cash on the outside and Ming's in the middle. Like you said, Ming's will be massive for us centrally.
00:21:12
Speaker
um I'll go McGinn, Rogers, and Duran. And then in our mid fields, definitely Kamara. yeah um I think I agree with you with Barkley. I've read a few things saying, you know, like they're trying to avoid burnout in terms of Tealamans. And because he's he's put a lot of minutes in for us. days said um But I've also you know heard some rumors that Onana will be making an appearance back. No, brilliant.
00:21:41
Speaker
Hopefully, we'll we'll get to see him as well. I think um maybe Onana, Kamara, and Farquhar, but we'll have to see.
00:21:51
Speaker
Well, it sounds like an exciting lineup, but i'd I'd be happy if that walked out on the bench. Yeah, exactly. um And, you know, as of late, and of course, John Duran being one, I feel like we've been seeing some stronger performances as of late from different players.
Game Nature and Transition Strategies
00:22:07
Speaker
Do you have anyone in mind that you think might particularly stand out this Saturday?
00:22:12
Speaker
ah but I mean to sort of say the obvious in that I hope every all of our guys are going to have a strong performance and I think we're going to have to be strong across the pitch to get something out of this game. I think getting the ball forward quickly will be important and you know, this game I think is going to be won and lost in transition. So I think whether it's Mins or Torres, they will have to have their head up looking at what's going on in front of them. um I think Matikash really demonstrated a different side to his game, but if he can still have that impetus going forward, I think he will have a great game.
00:22:54
Speaker
um I think Kamara may well be key for us in this, that nothing out of the attack before it gets to that back line and giving that extra of slotting in and being that extra defender when we need him to be. So I'm really hoping he's going to have a fantastic game.
00:23:13
Speaker
Absolutely. And I think, like you mentioned before, it's going to be a tough game, but not just, you know, tactically, but maybe physically as well. Um, love to see John, sorry, love to see John McGinn get stuck in, in a tough, you know, hoping to see a little bit of physicality from him. And maybe even the, the goggles will make an appearance separation.
00:23:34
Speaker
Oh, I always love that celebration. And finally, I'm dying to know, who do you think is getting on the score sheet? And what are your final score predictions? Are we going to see a clean sheet? Well, I'm desperate for us to have a clean sheet. I don't think that's the way this is going to go. With my head, I'm saying 1-1.
00:24:01
Speaker
I think this is going to be a draw. I think we're pretty evenly matched up. But a 1-0 win will be a fantastic result for us. I would gladly take that. So I'm going to go with my heart on this one and be the optimistic person that i've you've all come to know. And I'm saying a 1-0 win.
00:24:21
Speaker
And I reckon Duran is going to bag us that goal in the first half and we're going to hang on by our fingertips till the end. I hope not because my just my heart rate might be elevated. It's not good for my health.
00:24:37
Speaker
Um, yeah, this one really stumped me because I have absolutely no idea in terms of a score line. Um, well I think we'll definitely see some goals. Maybe I'll go with like a, like a late, late winner. Three, two. angella ah I don't know if I'm in over my head on that. I hope hope not. um But I think, yeah, well we'll have maybe a few different goal scorers as well. I've been kind of hoping that, you know, ever since Morgan Rogers bags that absolute banger that the floodgates would just open and we get more Morgan Rogers goals. So maybe hoping to see him on the score sheet this weekend. John Duran, of course, and I don't know, maybe maybe we'll get
00:25:26
Speaker
two John Duran goals and one Morgan Rogers. will go with I think that's a good shot with Rogers. He he really demonstrated that skill of driving at defenders. And we've seen that he has an end product in him. He just needs to be a bit more consistent. So I'm i'm with you on that. I would love to see him get on the score sheet. I don't know if he's going to do on this particular occasion, but all the ingredients are there and we have got one heck of a player on our hands. I mean for a long for a long time we haven't had been as blessed in our forward line as we are recently, so um'm I'm really looking forward to seeing what Emery is going to do with that.
00:26:08
Speaker
Absolutely. and And if, you know, Rogers and Duran are on together and say they both start, I'm really, really interested to see, um, we, we seen them play together, but not as much as we've seen Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins combined. So I'm really interested to see, you know, given 70s, 60, whenever Emery decides to make substitutions, if he does um for these players, but given that amount of time, what can they do together?
00:26:34
Speaker
um against a Nottingham forest side. So that will be really interesting for me to see, given that's what how we line up.
Player Dynamics and Impact
00:26:41
Speaker
but Well, hopefully it's going to be a really exciting relationship that they really strike up. Rogers really seems to have nailed um Watkins running and certainly tucked in behind now. As we know, Duran is a different player to that. He's not going to offer the same penetrating runs, but he certainly looks like he's going to be the person that gets on the end of something if you float it in there and he's going to really battle for it. So it should be really exciting.
00:27:11
Speaker
Yeah, even from distance, I think it'll be interesting. We know that Morgan Rogers often likes to drop in between the lines, get the ball and carry it. But we've also seen John Duran hit some, you know, from distance. i have been So, you know, what's that going to look like? Are we going to see more distance shots from Duran or is he going to, you know, push the forest line up so that leaves space for Morgan Rogers to do his thing? Oh, I think that's really endless.
00:27:39
Speaker
Well that's a really good point and I think it's something that if Emery has, I'm sure he's noticed that, if not we need to get on the phone to him straight away. Because that is a really exciting prospect. I mean i I would not like to be the forest goalkeeper. I don't think there's going to be a moment where he's sitting there thinking,
00:28:01
Speaker
40 yards, 30 yards, it's that's too far. He won't have a stab from there. But, um you know, we've seen John Duran have a stab from anywhere with great success. And he he seems to have matured as well now with his attitude. I think back to that those times where he was doing the crosses for the Hammers and is it all going to go away from him? The dark period. Yeah, he looks like though he's got a really bright future ahead of him.
00:28:30
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. i I completely agree. I think in recent interviews and everything, his demeanor and choice of words and everything that he's saying is he's he's happy to be part of Villa and yeah although he's, you know, second to Ollie Watkins at the moment, um I think he seems in terms of long future, sorry, in terms of long term and his future, how much um he can have an impact on Villa. and And now that he's working his way in finding his success,
00:28:58
Speaker
ah We see him, you know, starting to start more matches, I think. Yeah. Is only a positive to both Villa and to Duran as well. Absolutely.
Final Thoughts and Advice
00:29:10
Speaker
Amazing. Well, Dan, do you have any last thoughts, any words of wisdom, perhaps? Well, just in case Emory is listening, um I would say strong and disciplined at the back.
00:29:23
Speaker
falling, battling in midfield and hit them on transition. That's what I'd be going for. Amazing. Masterclass by Dan. There we go. Brilliant. Well, thank you. That's all for this episode of Daily Villa. There's a lot to be excited about. And as always, thank you so much for your wonderful perspective insights, coaching tips, Dan. My pleasure. And to all listening, keep your eye out for our crossover episode with GSPN daily nodding and forest.
00:29:52
Speaker
That will come out soon and be sure to get in touch across all of our social media. They are tagged in the podcast description. This has been a global sports podcast production. Thank you for listening and up the Villa.
00:30:11
Speaker
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