As the anticipation for Sunday’s game grows, remember that just 90 minutes and three points lie between Aston Villa and European football. One more cup final to go! Come on Villa!
Letβs go and get the Brighton fans’ thoughts as I spoke to Albion Obsessed.Β
UTV PODCAST X ALBION OBSESSED
Itβs been anΒ absolutely unbelievable season for the Seagulls with Europa League already guaranteed. Would you consider this season to be the perfect season?
Youβre right, itβs been absolutely out of this world. I donβt think many couldβve predicted this when we lost Graham Potter, all of his staff and our player of the season. Going back to September it was a tough time to be an Albion fan, not knowing what was going to happen next but Roberto De Zerbi has come in and taken us to a new level. So yes, I would consider this the perfect season based on the cards we were dealt only a few games into the season.Β
The footballing world has been raving about the young Paraguayan Julian Enciso. His stunning goal against Manchester City on Wednesday epitomised just how much talent he possesses. What other exciting prospects are hidden in this Brighton team?
We hold so much talent within our ranks. Weβve so many out on loan as well. Whilst weβd be incredibly disappointed to lose Caicedo and Mac Allister, we have players ready to step up and prove themselves to the world. Thatβs what the Albion give young players, a place to express themselves and show the world what they are capable of.
Whilst Julioβs goal was flawless yesterday, there was also an almost perfect performance from 18-year-old Facundo Buonanotte. A player who has been dubbed βthe next Messiβ by his former manager Carlos Tevez, which is no mean feat. I would also like to point out Jan Paul van Heckeβs performance from Wednesday night, the 22-year-old Dutchman gave Erling Haaland pretty much nothing to work with. I could go on to name 5/6 others, our future is in very good hands.Β
It’s going to be an exciting season next year with Brighton experiencing European football for the first time. What are your predictions for the upcoming season?
Itβs hard to say at this stage, we have a huge summer ahead. As mentioned previously, we will be disappointed to lose Caicedo and Mac Allister, but I think we are ready for this and will replace well – as we always seem to do. We already have Joao Pedro joining from Watford, two more imminent deals for James Milner (who you guys know well) & Mo Dahoud from Dortmund.
I have a feeling we wonβt be stopping there. With Roberto De Zerbi, the sky is the limit – I hope we can reach at least the quarter finals of the Europa League, and have another strong Premier League campaign.
Finally, what’s your score predictions?
Itβll be interesting as we donβt really have anything riding on the result now, but that could work in our favour with the pressure being off. I hope Spurs fail to win at Elland Road, and we play out a draw that will mean you guys pip Spurs to European football. Iβll say 2-2.
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OPPOSITION FOCUS | BRIGHTON’S EXCELLENT RECRUITMENT
This Sunday, Aston Villa will take part in arguably their most important game since the 2019 play off final. Coincidentally, their opponents, Brighton, had their most important game for a long while on Wednesday as they secured Europa League football.
In this Opposition Focus, Iβll be looking at the players and tactics that have made Brightonβs season so special. Iβll also be looking at the contrast in styles between the Seagulls and the Villans.Β
First I want to start with a question. When you think of Brighton in recent season, whatβs the first thing that pops into your head? For me, and a lot of others, it would be Brightonβs continual recruitment of young talent riddled with potential. Itβs been that excellent use of recruitment that has lead to their success this season.Β
Thereβs a number of examples that prove it as well. The likes of Enciso, MacAllister, Caicedo, Estupinan, Ferguson and Mitoma have been excellent this season and theyβre all under 27 year of age with only two being over 25. This is an outstanding foundation for Brighton to build on.
The problem that lies with this Brighton squad is how many of these star young players stick around next season. The fact that they have secured Europa League football will definitely help their cause. However, when big Champions League clubs come calling, which they will, will they stay loyal. We know in MacAllisterβs case that he couldnβt resist the temptation and looks to be joining Brightonβs Europa League rivals Liverpool.
Now letβs look at Brightonβs style of play. 71 goals scored and 51 conceded pretty much sums it up. Unbelievable in attack, the less said about the defending the better. I think that some of that is down to the quality of the goalkeeper as well as the very attacking emphasis De Zerbi is known for.
Brighton like to bombard teams with their quality in attack which means they are more prone to counter attacks. Emery will know this in detail and may decide to switch back to a more direct style of play as a way of avoiding the press.
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MY PREDICTION
The nerves have been getting to me all week and Iβve imagined every possible scenario of how Sundayβs game will turn out. In my own little dream world, not one of those scenarios end with Villa not getting European football. I was on the UTV Podcast Football Phone In earlier this week and predicted a 3-1 win. Iβll stick with that.
Just a side note to anyone going to Villa Park tomorrow. This is a monumental game and as much as we need the players to turn up, we need to turn up too. We will bring the party, we will bring the atmosphere and most importantly, we will bring back Europe to Villa Park!
UP THE VILLA.
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One Response
Yes, another great read I must say, and a excellent insight into Brighton & Hove Albion, and all that information given, just shows what a strong team they have, with many top prospects within the’r team, and many more waiting for that chance too. And have to say, like Villa they too have enjoyed a superb season, and done extreamly well to get into Europe themselves. Must say, when I have watched them, they’ve played some beautiful football at times, and that says to me all bodes well for a very successful future hopefully. Both Brighton and Aston Villa deserve their praise for what they’ve achieved this season, we just need AVFC to take that final step like Brighton did against Man City, and that goal of there’s scored but Julian Enciso, was something special to say the least. Anyway, BHA got what they needed to rubber stamp European Football next season, its Villa’s turn to do likewise, and lets hope for a great game, but of course with a Aston Villa win ! In a way, both clubs have been going down the same paths over this past season, We sacked SG, and BHA lost a top class manager in Potter, so again, both clubs eventually got it right, and both are now going for that elusive European football for next season. BHA have already got there spot rubber stamped, so lets hope today we see some great football from both clubs, but Villa take the edge and get there just desserts of playing in Europe too? Aston Villa have work so hard to get this. Our players under Unai Emery, and transformed from what ( for what ever reason) failed to do under SG for the majority. Still thats the past now, the future is all the club and its support care about now, we deserve this chance, and I feel confident we’ll take it too? Hopefully after todays game, both teams can celebrate together, both have had a great season, both played great football, and more importantly, both have the management to thank for making BHA & AVFC who they are today. Yes, Unai Emery & Roberto De Zerbi, and lets not forgetting eithers backroom staff, must feel so proud, to be making this step up into European Football? In Villa’s case, Emery and every single player have done a wonderful job, and the results of this season show that in abundance.
So back to what is all about now, todays game which VILLA HAVE TO WIN. We don’t want any finger nail biting, we all want a nice lead and follow that up with another, giving us what we all crave. This is without doubt now its arrived, our most important game this season I feel anyway, and like yourself, at no time since we got a point at LFC (but should have won in truth! but it wasn’t to be!) have i ever thought we’d come out without our future playing European football intact, and so my prediction: I’m saying it will be a 2-0 VILLA WIN, and that scoreline will come about from a early goal in the 1st half by ( Watkins) and in the second half another goes in SCORER, RAMSEY. Both will relish this game and play well just like every Villa Player will I expect. Ok, Brighton will never be complete pushovers, they never are, and will put up a fight, so don’t kid yourselves it will be easy, because no way will that happen, not with the gaffer they’ve got !
Martinez has to be at his best throughout the whole 90mins today, and our complete back line of defence needs to hold firm throughout the whole game, so Mings & Konsa have to work like trojans to make sure once again ” They shall not pass !” Yes this season, things have got tough at times, they have too, but Emery has got every single Villa player believing in themselves, we seem to ride it out the storm if it ever arises. So its fingers crossed for today The Villa v Brighton game will be “on the edge of your seats stuff, for sure. But a WIN is whats required, and a WIN is what we need to get !
So come on every Villa fan, lets all get behind the Villa later and roar them to a very successful WIN, and yes, only then will Villa be going into Europe, and if lady luck is watch other games today, lets just hope Spurs come away with absolutley nothing at Leeds later, (they too are fighting for there lives, and no I’m not a fan of LUFC but I hate Spurs even more !!) Andfinally Man City go to Brentford and lets hope they finish off and get a away win there too ? COME ON THE MIGHTY ASTON VILLA TODAY, and special thanks goes to Unai Emery, for what he’s done turning AVFC around….UTV.
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