Trying to make sense of it all.
The week starts with the totally unsurprising news that Matty Cash will be out for four weeks, which in Villa terms is like a mechanic’s timescale (half the number and move up to the next time unit ) so that’s two months out. We’ve had a statement about the Arsenal fiasco, and the only thing more predictable than what happened was that the word “sorry” or even anything close to it wasn’t included. When something like this happens there’s always the implication that it’s our fault. Maybe just once the people in charge at Villa Park might not be caught by surprise that we have home matches in August.
The week’s cup draws start with the League version and we’re off to Wycombe again. I doubt there’ll be any fights between the bench and the supporters this time and the manager probably won’t call us fickle after the match, either. All the fun’s gone out of football.
Then comes the Big One. It was written in the stars which team we’d be getting at home, with Juventus and Celtic as bonuses and Bologna thrown in as an afterthought. You can be as cynical as you like, you can see the Champions League as the absolute epitome of what’s ruining football. You’d be right but we also dream about nights like these. The away trips aren’t too bad, either, and the tickets will be cheaper there. Let’s tempt fate and say we should get into the knockout stages without much problem.
After a bit of on-ing and off-ing Enzo Barrenechea is loaned out to Valencia for a season. It seems a strange one but if you want a bit of consolation, we’re sending players to get a year’s experience with one of the top clubs in Spain. It used to be Chesterfield. Another bit of comparison is that Tammy Abraham’s gone to Milan and we weren’t bothered because he isn’t good enough for us.
Eventually the transfer window closes without so much as a whisper of a rumour, although Leandor Dondonker goes to Anderlecht on loan the day after. That was another wonderful signing; thanks Stevie. The first round of international call-ups include three England under-21s, although one of them shouldn’t be but the influence of Gareth Southgate continues.
Saturday begins with the Champions League dates, and they just had to start with Bayern Munich at home. It’s fate. Then came a less glamorous trip to Leicester, although it would be hard to be anything other than a better fixture than Leicester. But there were points to be won and three of them came home with us, thanks to goals from Amadou Onana and Jhon Duran. Another 34 and we should be safe.
With a couple of injuries the bench was looking a bit thin and Lamate Bogarde made his debut at right-back. He did okay, a few players did more than that with our midfield looking as good than ever. Leon Bailey went off but it was just a precaution, honest. He’ll be fine in a week. Leicester’s still as horrible as ever and their ground is as bland. They’ve got a drum.
