Prem opener to end in potential upset
It’s been a long time coming but the Premier League is finally back. Aston Villa and Sheffield United are the first in action, but will it be everything we’ve hoped for? Have a read of our preview here:
Staring down the barrel from whence they came
Villa’s return to the Premier League was meant to be one of those ‘it will never happen again’ moments but as it stands they are more likely to return to the Championship than is reasonably comfortable.
Unlike Sheffield United, Villa have struggled since returning to the pinnacle of the English game. The pace and power of opponents has seen them often unable to contain those they face.
In fact, in a cosmopolitan Premier League, Villa have the Swiss cheese defence, conceding 56 times already this season, at least four more than any other side.
Dean Smith’s men come into this game on a really poor run of form. Four straight defeats in which they have conceded 11 goals makes for difficult viewing.
Key man Jack Grealish was forced to apologise for attending a party during lockdown which is hardly ideal. He’d have done better to stay at home and contemplate the fixture list which sees the Villans face four of the top seven in the next five games.
This one could be an important one; lose and they will have five straight defeats, win and it may just kick-start a revival.
Whatever happens on Wednesday, it is good to have top-flight football back on our TV screens.
Champions League dream exists for Wilder’s Blades
When Chris Wilder got Oxford United promoted from the National League in 2010, many would have thought you’d been too keen on the celebratory champagne if you’d told them a decade later he’d be leading Sheffield United to the Champions League.
Ok, he’s not quite there yet but it is still on the cards. They are only five points behind Chelsea and have a game in hand on Frank Lampard’s side.
What Wilder has achieved is outstanding, astounding even, yet is he really getting the credit he should be? Of course he isn’t, he’s English after all.
Yet to do what he has done with a team of players almost entirely made up of British players deserves a knighthood and certainly, if Wilder had a statue, it is very unlikely an angry mob would decide to turf it into the River Sheaf, even if he one-day defects to Wednesday.
This man has been transformative wherever he has been and if anyone else wins manager of the season, it will be robbery.
Aston Villa v Sheffield United betting tip
Even though Villa’s need is arguably greater, it is hard to back against Chris Wilder and his Blades. So we are playing it safe and going for a Sheffield United win at odds of 2.3 with Bet365 for this one.
Post bet chat James's Tips:
We have come to expect mistakes from VAR, but it was Hawkeye's turn to let everyone down, denying a blatant Blades goal which would have won them the game.