Game against Chelsea is soooooooo much more than just another fixture in the list

February 20, 2009 by Martin Banks
Filed under: Aston Villa, Match Previews 

ChelseaTomorrow morning’s match is massive. No scratch that… huge. Hang  on, is huge bigger than massive? GINORMOUS then. Don’t look at me like that, it’s a word. I think it is anyway, well my mom says it so blame her if it’s not. Anyway…

The timing of this fixture has made it into the biggest game of the weekend and maybe the biggest game of the Premier League campaign so far. We’re still a bit away from the business end of the season, where results can define mathematical possibilities, but the psychlogical effects of this game may well shape how well both teams deal with the run-in to May.

Let’s start with the baddies

Chelsea, since Abramovich took over at least, are not accustomed to being as ‘lowly’ as 4th and they certainly aren’t accustomed to the team above them being Aston Vanilla. So there is a huge amount of pride at stake for the Blues of London.

They will be desperate to remain in the title race (’Too late’ I hear many of you cry) and a win against us is almost essential for that end. Man U are 10 points ahead of them and, in the form they are in, you just can’t see the Red Devils giving up that lead easily to Chelsea, which means they’ll need to win pretty much every game between now and the end of the season. A loss to us HAS to be seen as Chelsea’s title race over because you just can’t see United losing 4-5 of their last 13 games.

And the goodies

Villa will be desperate to show that they are real candidates for a spot in the top four this season and this is the game when people will be watching them and judging them most. A loss in this game will not just see Chelsea go above us and us relinquish some of the pressure on Arsenal, but also give out the message that we are punching above our weight and that it won’t last.

A win for the Mighty Villans will take us 5 points clear of Chelsea and lining ourselves up for a top 3 finish, when not too long back top four was still a pipe dream.

What timing

The fact that we are playing Chelsea in the league match that follows us going above them, sounds like Roys-Of-The-Rovers style fiction, and it will be a major grudge match. Both teams will vehemently deny that it has any more relevance than any other fixture but, other than mathematically, it’s bullcrap. This game means loads to both teams.

All eyes in the Premier League will be on this game, watching and waiting to see how the teams perform in this massive statement of intent. If Chelsea play poorly they will be written off by all and sundry. If Villa play poorly we will no longer be considered Champions League contenders, but just unwelcome visitors who briefly made people refer to the Big Four as the Big Five.


Comments

2 Comments on Game against Chelsea is soooooooo much more than just another fixture in the list

  1. Gee Man on Fri, 20th Feb 2009 11:38

    2. Before we all get carried away, we have to take into account our home form. Not been playing badly, but missing shedloads of chances. Chelsea on the other hand (like Villa) are playing better away from home, but once again missing chance after chance………so 0 – 0 by the looks of it, unless somebody remembers how to score!!!

  2. www.moneybonzai.info on Fri, 20th Feb 2009 14:42

    3. Aston Villa have no need to prove themselves anymore, and I see their side this season more than a match for Chelsea. This should be a highly entertaining game as both teams will play the counter game, and with so much skill on the field it should be an entertaining 90 minutes!
    I believe that Hiddink will get Chelsea to play a more dominating attacking style, asking the backline to push up the field and commit more bodies to the final half of the field. However, that works in Aston Villa’s favour as well, because their strong point is their counter attack which will be able to exploit a high backline.
    As a fan watching the match tomorrow, I hope it will be box to box play, and lots of goals.

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