Palace Preview

With Diego Carlos - Gerrard’s only paid for summer signing following promises of a squad revolution - injured for much if not all the season on his second appearance, the fickle nature of fate does not need to be over-explained.

All clubs can do is prepare and prepare well but as our headline from earlier today shows there is little sign that Villa have done enough or have lived up to the manager's promises in 2021-22.

(As an aside how even more foolish does Gerrard’s baiting of the former captain now look in a Carlos-less squad?)

With no new signings on the horizon, the youth having been sent out on loan and last season’s subs bench told they can leave, the squad looks far too thin for the season ahead.

A season where Gerrard must prove he has the credentials of a manager - not a top manager - simply a manager capable of setting up, motivating players, being on nodding terms with tactics and more often than not delivering performances and results, hopefully sometimes in combination.

With Kortney Hause among those having been told he can leave - and even having a transfer arranged - the dependable defender may find himself back in the squad and presumably with the hopes that his injury luck holds a little better than normal and is able to add to his appearance tally over the coming months.

With no cover at right back for Matty Cash (Gerrard’s choice) and Kortney’s versatility in that position it would be a supremely risky move to allow him to leave. Likewise with Lucas Digne looking off colour and an unknown in Ludwig Augustinsson brought in without competition on a loan deal, there is a real risky look to entering September without reinforcements.

Midfield has a brighter outlook as the outstanding Kamara has already shown his class, whilst John McGinn continues to run the midfield with his enthusiasm.

But should the busyness of Buendía be missing in favour of Coutinho along with Jacob Ramsey’s fine skills not quite yet honed to influence for 90 minutes the burden remains on the front two to capitalise on goal and assist chances that come their way - something they did with excellence against Everton.

That McGinn, Watkins and Ings are relatively under appreciated demonstrates the harsh reality of life as a footballer - all three of whom Villa would be seriously worse off without.

It is though the final 10 minutes of the last match that stands tall in the memory as Villa were bullied out of possession and last ditch goal saving tackles being required to keep the relegation candidates at bay.

A powerful, quick Palace side is a totally different proposition to the physicality and aggression of Everton but needs to be matched by a team willing and able to give them something to worry about of their own.

Another passive performance - as last week’s heat dictated - but which isn’t hugely abnormal under Gerrard - will be begging for punishment at Selhurst Park.

More so than even against Everton, Buendía needs to be a starter and oh for Kaine Kesler Hayden to still be in the squad.