This is very much an on topic post today, but not just Aston Villa. That said, we'll start with yesterday because this is an Aston Villa blog. And wasn't it a great second half and what a time to be an Aston Villa fan.
First, it shouldn't go unwritten that we looked a little absent in the first half. It was as if we were hungover and you know what, I don't think we should be that surprised. Last Saturday we came from two down against Everton to win and on Tuesday we scored three in the European Cup.
I'd be tired with all the travel, let alone having to play two football matches before yesterday.
And the first half yesterday was like watching Aston Villa under Steven Gerrard. And if was actually one of his players that handed Wolves the lead. And I'm not sure exactly what it is but Diego Carlos just doesn't look that interested. And it wasn't just yesterday, he generally looks a little slow to react and he just looks like someone going through the motions.
But it's the mistakes that cost us and as a professional player at this level we simply shouldn't be seeing them this often.
But like I implied, I think it's something else. He doesn't look that interested or engaged in the match. I'm not sure what it is, but it isn't what we should see at Aston Villa from any player and until things change he shouldn't be starting. And the thing is, if I can see this on the TV every now and then, people at the Club must know it.
And I know it's tough when options are limited, but Konsa has to partner Torres when Cash is back.
Fortunately yesterday, things changed in the second half and it's not nice to write this, but I suspect it was partly down to McGinn going off, but not just that. I think it was the introduction of Barkley and Duran on 62 minutes that really changes the game. But things did begin to change with the introduction of Bailey.
But don't get me started on Leon Bailey. Okay, I will. I know he's loved by many and he has it in him to change a game. But he also has it in him, every single match, to go down and stay down. Yesterday he got a slap across the face and was down for five minutes.
Sure, it was a slap across the face, but everyone knew instantly that he was going to be okay. Stand up Leon and run it off. If it's serious, you'll know in a few minutes, but it so rarely is. Players today are not what players were and Bailey is one of those players. And if I loved him like a lot of others do, this wouldn't be an issue, but I don't rate him like others, even though I know he's got it in him.
But it did change when the game was stretched, but it was the introduction or Barkley and Duran that changed the game and goals from Watkins, Konsa and Duran won it. But Morgan Rogers and Barkley and Tielemans are a joy to watch.
Watford boy AJ
Moving on to the first last night and this is where things are going to speed up. Sometimes you have to know when you are beaten and I guess that is going to be hard for AJ because of what he does, but last night it looked like there was a hungrier version in the ring against him and Daniel Dubois comes across as a very decent young man.
AJ should enter the second phase of his career and fight the other fights because it's going to be fun to watch Dubois as he's making waves at exactly the right time (Fury is 36 and Uysk is 37).
Pep, Pep, Pep
There has been a couple of occasions the last couple of weeks where Pep has commented that fans or people in football want to see Manchester City 'wiped from the earth'. I think he's taking this too far now.
Football fans just want to know if Manchester City cheated and if they did, they want them punished. Not wiped from the earth, but rightly punished. And not just for one season, but for the same duration that they cheated. If they are found to have cheated for five seasons, they should be punished for five seasons.
The punishment has to fit the crime and it also has to be a warning to others.
League Cup on Tuesday
So I'm ending the post the same way I started it and it's all about us and Wycombe in the League Cup. And yes I think we'll see a player or four rested and we might even see Duran start a game. And he'll probably score three and we'll have lots of people suggesting he start in the League.
But the Premier League is different to the the League Cup and the third tier of English football and there is a reason why we have the term impact player.
But he should be given the chance I guess. But if things are not broke, why fix them? Back on Tuesday!