As Aston Villa continue to struggle for points in this dismal campaign, one comparison, that of Derby County’s 2007–08 season keeps being made. The East Midlands’ club achieved just 11 points all that season – an unwanted Premier League record. This included recording a club and top-flight record run of 32 league games without a win.
Derby, unlike us, had been been a Championship side the previous season having been promoted through the play-offs, but despite this there are many similarities and comparisons to be made with their inept performance.
Like us they dismissed their Manager (Billy Davies) early in the season after their very poor start.
Paul Jewell replaced Davies and in common with our new manager Remi Garde, failed to make an immediate winning impact. After 16 games Derby had won two matches and accumulated 9 points, worryingly winning one more than us and achieving 3 more points than our corresponding total.
Jewell had a exceptionally busy January transfer window, bringing in eight new players. We expect Garde (and supposedly our transfer committee) also to be busy during the January window, attempting to strengthen all areas of the team especially up front. However, we must hope that they have a better return than Jewell whose acquisitions, of which much was expected, failed to turn things around.
Amongst their continued run of poor results ironically was a 0-6 home reverse against us – the heaviest defeat recorded by a Derby side at Pride Park. That day we had the distinction of our six goals being scored by six different players; Ashley Young, John Carew, Stiliyan Petrov, Gareth Barry, Gabby Agbonlahor and Marlon Harewood. How times have changed and what a measure this is of our decline.
If we fail to turn the corner, starting with our six pointer at Newcastle United this Saturday, like Derby we could expect to be officially relegated come March.
There are, of course, more positive comparisons to be made.
After the match on Sunday Arsenal’s Manager Arsene Wenger helpfully pointed to the obvious example of Leicester City’s remarkable revival last season and subsequent glorious campaign as proof that anything is possible.
The Author
Matt Greenhill
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Hello Matt. You wrote a nice and informative leader.
We could know villa is being relegated as soon as March? Wow! It certainly looks like that could be the case. What can one say? The writing’s been on the wall for years.
There’s a glimmer of hope in your leader regarding Leister’s amazing feat last year, but Leister is a good team. Villa will depend on the window and RL’s willingness to cough up.
Morning and thanks Matt,
If we continue our present form we will easily beat derbies total by a point so no worries there 🙂
The only plus point I can think of is Chelsea might join us in the champs what a thought.
Plenty to play for and Jan window is crucial, Derby’s squad if you look it up was full of players I cannot even remember and that is unusual, most teams have a few big names.
Liam- the rest won’t hurt your overworked Liver mate, try rocking from one cheek to the other for the arse strain 🙂
Time for the fight back to start. We can beat Newcastle. Garde has to set the team up to win the game. He has not done this so far. We have to attack Newcastle on the counter and use the pace in the team. It’s time to be brave.
Guzan
Hutton Richards Okore LLori
Veretout Gana
Traore Gil Ayew
Sinclair
gardner is injured i see, same shit different day.
No way we will beat the toon. We havent won there since the bowyer and dyer on pitch bust up….and they are also better than us.
Garde gone to see lerner to talk targets
#you’vegottapickapocketortwo
Still in the Leicester turnaround of fortunes camp until it is mathematically impossible to survive and I’m sure the Geordies will be first to advise us when that happens.
They seem a bit ruffled that we took the piss out of them a few seasons ago and are out for revenge, just like their relegation season it wasn’t us that sent them down but their entire season and even being beaten this weekend won’t be the cause of our relegation.
While being beaten may push them far enough away based on our form to catch them, we need to focus on other shite teams above us like Chelski 🙂 and Swansea, Sunderland, Norwich, Bournemouth to identify the teams that will help save us by being worse off by May.
Add to that a budget for players that a) Garde wants and b) that want to help us survive then we’ll have a better second half to the season, just need to be on the coattails come Jan 1.
UTV
why the hell did garde have to fly to america and randy not come here.
Nice write up Matt,
Garde for me is slightly bemusing with his press conferences and his evaluation of player performances, again he has lavished praise for the performance of the players last week which was one of the worst I’ve ever witnessed in my life from start to finish. Then on the other hand he shoots down Adama at every opportunity, I just cannot understand it especially when you consider how toothless & pathetic this Villa side is.
The usual Villa tact in January I expect linked with high powered sports cars all window and end up with a few tractors on loan by the end.
Wonder if the new chairman is Peter Pannu.
no idea Andrew seems odd with whats coming up must be thanksgiving 🙂
DOR- I’m in your camp mate also relegation rival taunts team that taunted them is hardly front page news, lets hope it stirs are bunch up. Also hope our travelling fans stick 2 fingers up to the barcodes
Andrew,
Because he thinks someone will fill him in, he’s a security risk.
More chance of it being Pingu
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Pidw2E1a3s
At least he appears to have some skills 🙂
Maurine left by mutual consent oh dear
Liam – I agree with you. Garde talks about the team having quality? WTF is he watching?
We are so devoid of quality, it is beyond me how he can make this judgement of the team.
And, In my opinion, he left the players with quality, Gil, Traore, Grealish on the bench against Arsenal.
I think it is the case of different manager – same old shit.
I don’t think it will take until March to see us relegated. I would love nothing more than to see us beat those mongrels up in the North East, sore at a bit of banter.
Garde is starting to look foolish in his press conferences, how on earth he can he big up the team or individual performances, we haven’t played well for 90mins this season, and certainly not in the miserly 2 points obtained since his arrival. This club are sleepwalking into oblivion, everyone seems to be in denial. It’s bordering on arrogance and negligence, this is why other clubs take the piss out of us for thinking we are bigger than we actually are, it’s like they are saying we can’t go down we are too big.
The players, management and fans have to show more fight, or we will be down well before March breaking all records.
You never see Wenger putting his team down he looks for the positives, Our lot are so depressed one bad comment could start a mass meltdown. He is deflecting criticism thats all, he doesn’t deny we are in the shit . What he says in private is another thing as the Gabby saga demonstrates.
what have we done to get such crowd of tossers running our club from lerner Faulkner fox oreilly almsad McLeish lambert Sherwood and even starting to think garde belongs with them,
garde press conferences talking out his backside only thing he done worthwile is drop gabby
fox holding a meeting last sunday because didn tlike bad press, well wait to we are relegated to see bad press it ll even reach usa lerner will discover his beloved club will be worth half of what he thinks maybe less the shit will hit the fan
fox last summer signed of on 13 players why, yet no DECENT keeper, signed bunn and young lad ,GUZAN HAS COST US AT LEAST 6 POINTS IN FIRST 10 MATCHES right back HUTTON HAS BEEN AWFUL COST GOALS IN OVER 4 GAMES SHOCKING PLAYER Crespo ilor have less than 3 matches between them, amavi looks good pity replacement RICHARDSON HAS BEEN AWFUL, why was cissko let out on loan, CLARK HAS HAD 3/4 DODGY MOMENTS COSTING GOALS/POINTS AGAIN Richards looks ok , MIDFIELD we lost delph replaced by gana no difference their, cleverly replaced by vertout as yet no difference ,SANCHEZ HAS BECOME A LIABILTY WESTWOOD WAS NEVER ANY GOOD, so fox our midfield has got no better defence probably worse years haven t been good to a few of them, now to your crowning glory replacing a 30m striker with rudi at a smaller fee than BALABAN ayew replaces wiemen prefer ayew, Sinclair was signed in jan
so fox explain how we signed 13 players but we are much worse in positions
keeper rightback centre back wingers centreforward
Randy Lerner &Tom Fox’s knowledge of football –
There’s a disaster waiting to happen, most Villans have had enough, i’d hate to see next seasons ST sales. Bolton Mk2.
Apparently after Dennis Praet again, i can believe this one but i can’t believe he’d sign for us, 10m.
Must admit just read garde talking abouyt gabby… Read it twice and i have no idea whate he is going on about.
Remi Garde is absolutely right to talk about positives from last week – no matter how hard they may have been to find . We certainly don’t need another Sherwood publicly humiliating the players in his desire to shift the blame from himself . What good will saying they are hopeless do to a team so lacking in confidence they look shell shocked st times.
He dusplayed his sensitivity and honesty in saying they were nervous playing at home and that he understood the pressure they were under .
Remi Garde is trying to give them hope by saying the three away games over xmss will help them . Not so long ago his predecessor was calling them out and telling them to man up or else . No one ever got more confidence by being threatened or bullied into it . Tim Sherwood was sacked because he was too keen to undermine his players to save his own skin . Remi is protecting them . I know which I’d prefer to be managed by if I was a player in their situation and who will get the best results
Being judgmental , critical and negative in public is not going to make the relegation fight any easier . In fact it is tantamount to throwing in the towel .
For all those criticising Remi Garde’s press conference , I’d like to know what they’d like him to say instead ? That we are rubbish and don’t stand a chance ?
Although I take your point that the Gabby answer lost something in translation ! Reading between the lines , Gabby was peeled off he didn’t play Saturday , goes to Arsenal party in London on the night – not committed to the cause or what Remi is trying to do . If that’s the case Gabby needs to go . No team can carry complainers .
Garde on his way to collect his final pay cheque.
Jose Mourinho appointed manager from Saturday. Already negotiated to sign Drogba, Lampard and John Terry in the January window, and promising a top six finish for the end of the season……….
Lerner becomes the new Villa saviour…….
Jose is willing to use his £40 million pound pay off for the initial transfers…and if it works he gets a mega bonus….!!!
You make very good points, as usual Jen, and I am in agreement with you.
Totally agree jen Garde is handling it the only way he can and should. I can imagine Timbo used to bend the ear of the Brit lads telling them its not his fault and bigging them up causing a huge rift.
not only was he a crap in game manager he turned out to be a useless man manager that said whatever he felt would get the best effect in the short term but had the worst long term effect on moral of the squad.
Tims constant mantra was that the players were not fit, what he really meant was not fit for purpose. To me it seems the likelihood that he didn’t sign the players and had to be spoon fed by the board total bull. when he couldn’t get his targets the toys went out the pram. His players from spurs wanted nowt to do with him, Addy wanted a pay off and silly money, Lennon wanted a release clause if we dropped. Tim didn’t have the pull to overcome Villas relegation stigma, Fox and co wanted to build for more than a season and that’s where it fell apart IMO.
On Gabby what else could he do after grounding Grealish, Gabby is quite likely not fit and not liking his lessened role under Garde. I wonder what will happen in Jan because Garde has laid the law down. He says he doesn’t want any player that is not 100% committed to the cause and doesn’t buy in to what he is trying to do and why should he? He says they can go if they like or maybe it can be talked through once its out in the open, he is trying to build trust and a relationship with the players thats all I see.
Wonder what was said about Lambert
http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2015/12/17/martin-keown-says-this-aston-villa-manager-was-a-joke-to-his-pla/?
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/482125/Aston-Villa-Remi-Garde-Charles-N-Zogbia
Whats all this ? a manager attempting to install pride in worthless parasites like Zog and Aggy, shame on him for thinking that they should get a sweat on for 60,000 a week.
Be careful Remi, Tom Fox is probably waiting around the corner with a five year contract for Zog.
Good morning Lifers
Have to agree with the comments re Garde, he’s doing a professional job but English isn’t his first language so words don’t come naturally and may come out garbled. But look at everyone’s assessment of Gabby down the years and finally Garde is the one manager to stand up to Mr.Villa and now the same with N’Zogbia.
But look at the difference in approach, Gabby effectively told to feck off and N’Zogbia told that Garde is publicly disappointed in him. The result will be finally getting rid of Gabby and N’Zogbia either reacting positively or Garde knows where he stands and he’ll be shipped out too. I’d forgotten about N’Zogbia until yesterday.
Garde is Wenger MK2 but having a manager who learnt from the best as opposed to learning from Arry Redknapp is quite ok in my book. Thankfully there are some positives in that Garde will be backed in January and nothing better for a manager to have players they’ve bought who want to play for him and also prepared to join us at the bottom, don’t think Garde would accept mercenaries so we might get players who buy into wanting this once great club to survive.
If we survive then we are closer to getting rid of Lerner, relegation and Lerner won’t find a buyer and I dread to think how badly we’ll be invested in then to bounce back if possible. Nevermind the players we’d lose.
UTV
DOR- Like Remi I don’t focus on what might happen in the champs we are not there yet but I don’t believe Lerner will be willing to just cut his losses if the last 5-6 years are anything to go by. If we go down I have every confidence in Garde to stick it out and bring us back up.
What Remi has done is said lets get our grievances out in the open, I want you focussed and if your not and you think tittering in the background will get you a team place you are sorely mistaken. He demands they are professional without being an a-hole and believes in the collective over the individual on the pitch.
We have sorely missed this approach for so long now IMO, when you recall the bullying under Lambert makes you wonder was it more a case of exasperation on the side of the coaches poorly dealt with? coupled with some harsh words to a dinner lady from a disgruntled man? yes he probably was an angry individual going by his past but Gabby is a grade A knob head at times.
If Garde can get Gabby focused he could prove invaluable, if not he will disappear and be no loss on current form. Garde see’s things pretty much black and white, if that is not clear enough for some players tough tits. Also the public outing of Nzogbias lack of effort shows that its not a matter of where you come from either.
Agree with the support on here on Remi, ok the results haven’t come but, for me the team has more cohesion, just not good enough. Hopefully that will improve in January but a structure is slowly appearing.
Its been suggested that a testimonial will be arranged for our out of favour legend, anyone who attends that is a grade A idiot, and apparently he was an Untied fan at school.
Adebayour signing for Chelski !!!
Is Tim their new boss ?
i am also in the pro Remi camp
if he came out slagging off players then he would have no chance of lifting the doom that has surrounded the club for so long
i love how he speaks about the game and also how he put jack and gabby in there place — i call this strong management
i also wouldn’t say we have no quality but just no were near enough
as for players like Gil – does anyone else notice how many times he gets shoved of the ball –
give Remi a chance as he has a lot to sort out
My late night humour was obviously lost…!!
Glad to see all the support for the mature and common sense attitude of Remi.
I am sure that if there is a possibility of Villa surviving, then he is a manager in the right mould to do it.
Runtingz- yes Gils a strange one, he seems to have good balance and a low centre of gravity which lets him turn well but goes over like a weeble very strange. You’d think the former qualities would make him more stable like messi. Maybe a dose of the weights would sort him out as long as it doesn’t affect his agility.
Im very much behind Remi, just didnt understand his comments re gabby!
Its a small crumb of comfort he has told nzog and gabby to do one and west aint starting, happy with that.
beed dissapointed with gill tbh. was waiting for him to have a fair crack and now he has hardly set the world alight.
Andrew- I think he’s a bit like Grealish in that he looks better in a confident side but in a struggling side not so good, so Tim got something right. You only have to look back at the Leicester game and the way we played for 60 mins with those 2 further forward to tell we are not complete dog shite. a couple of victories should allow Garde to be more expansive eventually.
Heading up to Newcastle now. That’s going to be a tough drive, been up since 4:30.
It’s our final stand. Lose, it’s over, win, we have up
Garde has to grow some balls and attack. We will go down on 6 points if he keeps on defending. Gil, Jack and Adama has to start. Llori to at right back
I’ll sung my heart out for you guys. This club can’t go down. The players need to play with some honour and pride for once
Up the fucking Villa.
And guys, Gil by far our most gifted player. He needs to play regularly and it the right area though.
If Sinclair starts again and Sanchez, I’ll go and support Birmingham
Watch yer language.
Frem
were leaving at 7-30 in the morning ,l will ring you about 10-30 and see where you are , just remember its xmas black friday tonight so pubs will be rammed with piss-heads , and our mate who lives up there is saying its getting a bit nasty about villa fans , no colours tonight if l was you and be very careful tomorrow , if we dont meet up before l will see what ticket lv got and see either before kick off or half-time ,
Frem you could’nt be a nose even if your life depended on it , a little tiny bit of your brain would stop you mate . our pub were going too sells Jaeggerbombs at £2 a go so we probably wont know what the score was till sunday afternoon! ))
did anyone hear that twat nose called brian on WM ,
blues are going up , villa are going down , and when we play them we will beat them , they dont need no help from us ! , the fucking inbreds ,
B62
hows the little lad , and l hope you been able to control your self at the xmas works do )) no knocking any of the inbreds and 6 finger lot out ,
Have a good week end all ,
https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/rsrc.php/v2/y4/r/-PAXP-deijE.gif
try this link , hope it works . lol
If garde starts any team that resembles last 4\5 he can go now ,it’s easy balling out zog sendross whom is no even in squad so why bother training and Gabby ,Gabby should have been let run down contract last season see how many would want him
Tomorrow need to drop guzan Hutton Sanchez they are liability every match they play
Go for
Bunn\sark
Ilor\ bacuna. Okore lescott Clark
Sinclair gana vertout traore
Gil
Ayew
Keep it tight at back try frustrate Newcastle
Attack with pace
And for God sake put a bit of effort in tackle chase back and if garde can t get them to do this after 6 games he may walk
ST75
The lad is doing great cheers mate , as for our works do its tonight, watching the Villa in town ( walkabout ) then onto the mailbox and crown plaza for a 3 course meal and free booze. It’s gonna be messy, no Albion fans going, in fact out of our entire office only 4 of us are blokes, my mate ( Villa) a bluenose and a non fan, the rest are women ( 11 of them) God help us 😉
I used to live up in geordieland for a while as I was engaged to a Doris from up there ( South shields) at that time they were sound with me, as Villa hadn’t sent them down, they are pretty deluded as to the size and importance of their club ( as we are lol ) and it’s good on the lash.
Frem the girls up there are made of hardy stuff, they wear next to FA even in the depths of winter so enjoy the sights, avoid going back to scotts wood if you pull, it’s worse than the Vale, he’s one is a good night out, Bigg Market is crap full of chavs and stag dos.
As for the game I can’t see anything more than an easy home win, they have better players and seem to have turned the corner, we have crap players and can’t even see the corner tonight could see the final nail in our coffin if the other results go against us.
Better late than never Cissokho is recalled but cannot play till January.
I like Garde’s approach and cannot blame him for trying out the players so far to see what segues from the training pitch to the matchday perfomance.
If ever we needed to win at Newcastle it’s now and ram it up that sly conniving Astley as well. Sports Direct is under the scrutiny now.
Unfortunately I will not be watching tonight 0030 our time as I am off to Bangkok at 0530 so will have to wait till Sunday night to watch the match or cheat and look at the scores at 0500 – not sure what to do.
I think we will see pretty much the same line up as he is building a core Gil might start with Ayew CF, Gestede likely to be dropped in this game as it will be hit on the break. Sissy can’t be available soon enough for me.
watch your backs up there lads and stick together, they are decent people but like their booze and a bundle.
UTV
steamer
you are on wrong page
did anyone hear sky knobs we need 11 alan huttons DID THEY NOT WATCH LAST WEEK AND WATFORD GAMES O MY GOD THEY ARE THICK
James Gill – I like the look of your team and agree we simply have to attack. We cannot play for the point. We need to use the pace in the team.
I would make a couple of changes.
Guzan
Hutton Okore Lescott Clark
Gana Vertout
Sinclair Gil Traore
Ayew
And what has happened to Crespo and Llori, Kosak???
I see that Tom Fox is saying that if Villa do go down, the staff and the payers, and this also includes Fox himself, will suffer 50% pay cuts, so they can afford to survive in the Championship.
Also respects to Jimmy Hill who has passed away.
Hope all our great away fans have something to cheer about today.
Will Chelsea now destroy Sunderland???
Let’s hope so!!
Chelsea definitely at it!!!
Maybe it will be Villa’s day to start..!!!
cannot see adama starting Garde has stressed he doesn’t have an all round game to help the team.
I think he will be an impact sub. Wouldn’t bet against Gabby starting though
just read in the mail Garde says Lerner will stay if we drop and will not sell and Fox and the players will have a 50% pay drop
Naarwich winning at the theatre of BS what next ?
B62,
Whats up with the Olbyon mongrels ? can’t handle a knife and fork with six fingers ? bet any noses would order the soup in a basket or leg of salmon.
Nice day in Newcastle, not.
Just shows how ‘effin stupid Rabid is, he thinks hes doing us a favour the moron, i’d go to the Beazer Lge if it meant him and Fox pissed off.
Steamer- one attack one goal for Norwich shocking manure all over them. west brom a man down too hope thy park the bus and spawn it.
Garde says he’s committed to Villa even if it gets worse just him being committed would do me
Bournemouth winning too, ye gods, and the plank wants to finish us off.
Rate Remi but he’s turned into an arsehole with these stupid statements, does he honestly think the dumb duo are an asset to AVFC ? if he does then he can piss off too.
Chelsea definitely at it!!!
Now 3-1
Hi Steamer,
Soup in a basket; a leg of salmon!! Even as we face our darkest day, you make me laugh.
Trying to think of something inspirational which Remi can tell the troops. Thinking of Waterloo, where Wellington won a damn close thing.
Or 1918 as the final German assault reached its climax; “with our backs to the wall and believing in the justice of our cause we must fight on to the end”.
Or June 1940. We shall go on to the end. We shall never surrender.
Or perhaps most appropriately for Remi; “ils ne passeront pas”.
It’s do or die.
Steamer- Reme needs their backing mate he can do nothing else and is trying to create unity in the club. He’s no mug He can see whats going on IMO
Leicester 1-3 love it
Westwood in the team, Remi out.
Harsh 🙂
What is Remi Garde doing? I am losing faith with this manager.
In a must-win game he leaves the three most creative players on the bench – Gil – Grealish and Traore. I don’t think he should start all 3, but he should start with 2 of them.
We will not score with his team selection
Mark,
Rather than come out with BS he should say nothing to upset the fans, not as smart as i thought. Lerner knows he’s going to lose a packet if he sells a Champs club so he’s making out that he’s making a sacrifice for the good of the club, he thinks we’re all doollally when its only the knobs who pay to watch the crepe over the last six years who are barmy.
Bourn just got the winner.
Joking about Remi out but like RichardS i’m wondering just whats going on, Westwoods been a mare from day one yet takes the place of three potential match winners, you couldn’t say AW is a match winner.
Steamer – I simply cannot understand why he leaves our most creative players on the bench. I don’t understand how Sanchez and Westwood get selected and Gil is on the bench.
Traore is lightning quick and when you play away you need pace. In fact you need pace full stop.
What has Remi done since coming to the club? Absolutely nothing in my opinion.
Bournemouth and Norwich both win.
If we lose today – we are relegated.
The table makes grim reading, lose today and we are definitely down, no ifs no buts. At least Lerner and Fox are staying on when we drop !!!!! Cunts
I agree with RichardS, I don’t see what Garde has brought to the party, why we didn’t get Moyes in I don’t know, Garde is learning on the job, and hasn’t changed a thing
B62 – Garde needed to be brave today. And what does he do. Plays 3 holding midfield players.
It is unbelievable. Sanchez has been a liability in the last 3 games.
Start with Traore, Garde you spineless wanker.
guys
this clown is worse than sherwood lambert mcleish this team today is a joke
guzan has been crap all season still starts
hutton where do you start last 2 home matches unreal how bad he was,even match v city he coughed up at least 3/4 great chances
westwood missed sitter v soton crap every other match
no gil,grealish traore on pitch WHY
no ilor crespo kozak what the fuck is going on
how can garde be any good fox picked him
James G – Absolutely – well said. It is ridiculous.
Garde is no different to the other managers.
I really cannot stand Fox. He is a naive wanker – completely out of his depth, doesn’t understand football. It is a complete joke that he is the CEO.
Sack Garde. Let’s go and get a manager with balls
Jose Mourinho anyone?
Vertoute has the creativity coupled with the legs and workrate. sorry lads if we put Gil, grealish adama Newcastle would rip us a new one on the break as they have the last 2 games
Knew Fox was a gobshite with his first interview “I came because i wanted to work for Randy Lerner,” sure you did. And he can shove his ‘bigger picture’ in the same place as ‘false narrative.’
There’s nothing positive to say about AVFC and there won’t be while L&F pollute the place.
I don’t see Bournemouth, Newcastle and Naarwich playing for a point, look at the results over the last three weeks, attained by positive play. If we’re going down lets not go with a wimper.
Another thing, Garde reckons the players are scared by 35,000 screaming fans at VP, ok boot the cowards, let them see what its like to play for crappy little clubs with the wages to match, COWARDS, YELLOW COWARDS.
richard s
you could appoint jose, saf ,pep and they would all fail at villa while we are run by numptys like fox and owned bl lerner
the next home game after boxing day going to really poor atmosphere if results don t go well over xmas
fox saying we sold more shirts this year well better not order to many for next year
Sick of Stan Collymore saying on talk sport that we are relegated . Self fulfilling prospected and all that ! Not so yet !
Hope st75 made it to the ground – last time I heard he was downing Jaegar bombs in the pub at 12 ! !! Frem – I know you will be in the ground – let’s score a goal villa !
no-one said leave Vertout out or play all three of our skilful players just not the idiots. does anyone at vp listen ? their not exactly covering themselves with glory are they ? lets actually attempt to WIN.
Thats it litter the game with free kicks so Guzan can stand behind the wall again.
Hanging in at the moment, but Gana and Sanchez looking liabilities..!!!
half an hour of shocking football
guzan flapping at every thing
hutton had 3 attempts at crosses wasted the lot let his man get in behind at least once
sanchez gana in one anothers road look like giving ball away all the time
westwood we had decent break and balls it up
we have no shape no width apart from fullbacks who then are leaving massive holes behind them
no marking….
no-one on the posts….
we are f****d
This is embarrassing
WTF was Lescott doing at the corner.
We are so bad it’s unbelievable.
Does Garde ever try and win a game of football?
Garde has to go for a win now and take the game to the Toons…!!!
paul pears
garde hasnot got a fucking clue hutton is our only outlet and fucks up every cross
sanchez is a disaster waiting to happen
westwood is he on the pitch
if we don t turn this around lerner has to call a meeting sack fox and every one he appointed get moyes in tomorrow and try to get out this mess or we will be stuck with lerner for ever ,for him to get all his money back the scumbag
another half with out a shot on target not many records left for lerner to own
Our best hope is that Atkinson abandons the match…!!!!
Think we’ve done ok today. Hat off to Mutton and Lescott. We’ve gotta go for it thiugh. One of either Sanchez, Westwood sacrificed. Sinclair for me has no impact. Traore on for Sinclair and Gestede up top. Gotta have another threat on the left to match mutton in traore and gestede to finish. Nothing to lose now! Go for it!
Coyvb
pressure is burying this lot little quality on display and even less guts pith is fecking awful
The trouble with Villa fans is you don’t see the bigger picture.
Can’t see Gana joining that ‘big club.’
steamer
we will soon be out of picture where the money is but it is allright we are selling plenty shirts
fuck no subs
Must be a lot of fun watching this pile of shite train if team selection is based on Bodymore Heath.
At last get in there!!!!
Great shot Ayew…!!
Is it so fucking difficult to figure out. Why wait til now to out gestede on.
Ayew has a big heart. Like this lad!
Gestede already made a difference with a threat. Why not stick traore on now and really give it a go! Nothing to lose!
Don’t understand why he didn’t do this at half time?!?!?
Coyvb
Mutton superb today! Traore? Perfect time for it!
UTV
From the Guardian –
85 mins: Ashley Westwood, who I forgot was playing, goes off with an injury and then invites himself back on without the referee’s permission. He’s booked.
sorry fellow bloggers we need a miracle our clown of manager happy with a point if not would give traore arun out on a pitch crying out for a winger,gestede has come on a done nothing one decent chance wasted
we have not lost many matches to better teams just mistake after mistake or miss chances early in season
Match is crying out for traore to get the 3 points!
Where the managers like big Ron with the balls to go for it. 1 point is not enough!
Another two points dropped, but at least we did not lose!!!
Massive lost opportunity!
Needed all 3.
1 not enough!
Mclaren chuffed with a point! Good spirit, good performance but throw caution to the wind we didn’t do!
Good but not good enough.
Perfectly good attacking weapon left sitting on the bench while we have two defensive mids on.
anyone whoaccepts that or is happy with that you have accepted relegation westwood played 90 mins without contributing anything ,hutton all bar one cross where crap ,lescott GOAL NEED SAY MORE sanchez gave the ball away too easy first half picked it up second,rudi came on we stopped crossing after we scored,guzan flapped at every thing even goal think should done better
garde whats your bench for
Where would we be now if Remi had started the season as our manger?????
At least he is trying to build a settled side that plays together…
That is Villa relegated. We needed 3 points today.
Difficult conditions, however not good enough.
No Gil – no Traore or Grealish.
Ayew played well
At last some bottle lescott apart from the marking for their goal immense, Ayew a legend and garde not as crap some seem to think, off for a beer the away support immense too out sung the Geordies in their own stadium
Absolute criminal by Garde not throwing on adama or gil in last 15 mins. Hasn’t the tw*t seen the league table? we need wins. Sorry but he is as gutless as lambert. we will go out with a whimper but he will say well at least he only lost half his games. How can he justify westwood, gana and sanchez in when these players create absolutely nothing? if he takes us down he should be sacked-we cannot use TS’s first 8 games as an excuse!
Can we still do a Leicester????
Maybe a few fans will now turn up on Boxing Day….
Ayew needs to play like the man of the match every game….he is our future…!!
Such a shame Garde didn’t have the nards to put on traore with 30 left to get all 3.
A massive missed opprtunity!
A shame because we’re starting to look good as a team but 2 more lost points that were critical to survival!
UTV
our defence was a shamble mewcastle missed 2sitters and couple other chances what did we create anyone point it out to me
okore only one of back 4 plus keeper needs to be playing come 2 jan
Yeah Dee, a shame is not strong enough ‘criminal’ is the right word!
Losing mentality not what a true winner would do!
UTV
Some peoples comments on here following very good second half make me ashamed to be a Villa fan. How you can hammer Hutton after that display amazes me. And if Garde had put Traore on and we had lost because he ran into dead ends and lost the ball you would have hammered him again.
At 1-1 a point was better than none.
Ayew immense as he played in the same position as when he destroyed the noses …..
Westwood covered a lot of ground and stopped their midfield, not brilliant but did his job.
Some of you should take a good look at yourselves and question your comments …….
We’ve done well today but not well enough! ;(
UTV
Ronnie its all relative. compared with the drivel served up over the past 5 years, the second half was better but still very one dimensional-it was all down to the individual ability of Ayew to score or create. Has Garde been given reassurances over his job even if we go down? if so why? is it because he’s french and a wenger protege and hence must be more intelligent than an english coach? frankly he should be sacked if we go down – 30 odd games should be have been enough to keep us up.
Think of it this way, what was the difference between the 2 halves? first half they were frozen with fear second halve they came out and played, same team. I know we all want to see the flair players but Garde is building a platform and this fight back just may start ours. A bit of patience is required, yes Newcastle could of won so could we, 7 shots on goal to their 4. Said it before time to back the team and Garde or its over.
At least we didn’t lose …. and second half we were the better team. Fantastic goal by Ayew and some good movement and attacking . Improving but whether it is in time I dread to think .
Hi Jenny-as i said i think its all relative. Yes it was an improvment but aside from ayew we had nothing else to offer. Why can’t we score more than one goal? is Garde’s record really better than sherwood’s points wise? Maybe we get taken in because he is french and comes across as more measured and thoughtful. If he had been english some fans may have already calling for his head rightly expecting the new manager bounce to manifest if not for anything else. As far as I’m concerned, he’s done nothing to deserve any praise whatsoever.
Well said Mark, maybe coming back from a goal down and then not conceding like we usually do could just be the platform to progress …….. but as Jen said – will it be in time?
We have to take the positives – Ayew was superb 2nd half, Gana put his game together as did Sanchez although both seem to have a mad moment every now and then, but they are getting there. Veretout could be a very very good player……
Keep the faith for the team and manager …….. the rest of the executive side of the club need smacking ……..
I think it’s inappropriate in the extreme for fox to be talking about Reme being kept on “if we get relegated”. For God’s sake stop putting that ‘relegated’ word in the mind of the players . It’s so negative and counter productive .
Ok have your contingency plans but please keep them quiet if we are to survive this .
Hi Dee , I’d agree that Remy has more substance about him than Tim me me me . Also Sherwood had Delph and Bebteke when he came in to get the results . Reme has inherited a team of inexperienced and similar players (the new recruits anyway)
When Reme came in they were low on confidence and had been told in so many words by their manager that they weren’t his choice and weren’t good enough .
I understand what you’re saying about the foreign manager bias , but I would say that if he’d conducted himself like Sherwood then he’d soon have his critics . He’s dignified , prepared to accept responsibility and he insinuates he has a plan – hence the “either be committed to what I am trying to do 100 per cent or look elsewhere “.
Listening to Ray Wilkins talking about transfer policy at Villa Park after the game today confirmed that Fox was talking utter bull shit when he had his meeting with the fans group last week. Fox said that the manager had the final say on all transfers at the club last Summer. It is obvious it was the board who made the purchases and their money ball approach is one of the major factors that will see us finally relegated.
It’s pointless trying to take the positives out of 45 mins of football today. This team isn’t good enough. And Garde doesn’t have the balls to attack.
We are already relegated.
RichardS – “And Garde doesn’t have the balls to attack.”
That’s why we had more shots than Newcastle, more shots on target, more corners and more possession then?
Yep the barcodes could have scored more but so could we …………
I wouldn’t trust that smarmy twat Fox as far as i could boot him, the thought of that pair of incompetent clowns at VP any longer makes me want chuck. Whats the point in trying to stay up when its going to be exactly the same next year and the year after etc.
Newcastle were dead after 70 minutes and thats apart from being crepe, Adama would have run them daft given 20 mins. If you don’t rate a player enough to give him 20 then don’t use up a subs spot. Garde obviously doesn’t like width even with Rudi needing a wide player to create or him, but then he doesn’t like Kojak either who actually scores when he plays.
That was two points thrown away today, two points we can’t afford, i think Garde is ok but today he buggered it up, but what is peeing me off is opening his trap in support of Lerner and Fox when the toerags are screwing us, Lerners ‘hurting’ so bad he’s seen us play once in nearly two years so that is obviously yet another lie from the club. Clean your act up Remi, talk football not about club politics because reading the blogs it won’t be long before the fans turn and judging by your recent comments you’ll deserve every barb.
Old Villa – how many goals have we scored since Garde arrived? Not many – and that is a fact. No Garde doesn’t have the balls to attack. We played with three defensive midfield players today. He left pur most creative and explosive players on the bench. He did the same against Arsenal. Having a few more efforts against a poor Newcasle team does not constitute atacking football. And it was Newcastle who had the clear chances in goal.
Garde is a safety first manger. He was happy with the point.
Look how Bournemouth – yes Bournemouth have won three games on the spin with a dedication to fast attacking football.
We need wins not draws.
richard s
fox tells lies every time he opens his mouth and wilkins no better
our summer transfers if you break them up
french /spanish buys v the rest
gana amavi vertout ayew all look the part traore needs game time which garde is to stupid to use crespo was a dud
richards lescott rudi not many performances between them
the big problem in the summer was not replacing
guzan
hutton
richardson
clark
westwood
gabby
and signing a centre forward
the above have cost us points in nearly every match
back to tonight
lescott gave away simple goal shocking ,hutton didnot put in one meanfull cross, the newcastle break where offside flag should went up he STOPPED STOPPED de jonk should headed in simple chance, guzan flapped at everything one simple cross second half no newcastle player within 5 yards punched it out westwood played 90 mins without doing anything going forward after we scored we were attacking ball came to westwoood we ended up back with guzan
garde better get a set of balls for boxing day play to win DRAWS ARE NO GOOD
How can anyone compare Villa to Bournemouth or any other team that has had not only the same squad, but the same manger from the beginning of the season.
Remi is doing the right thing, building a house on solid foundations, not the shifting sands of TS, and I am sure that over the next couple of weeks, we will see a much more confident team, used to playing together, with a bond and a purpose, and some back from injury, and maybe a couple of new players that can make a difference.
Let’s not judge the man before he has had the chance to mould his own squad. What we need is fans who will back the manager, the team and themselves….I am sure the loyal away fans may starting to see a difference…
considering our away record at Newcastle and the fact that we are a club on our arse i think it was a good result
Sinclair didn’t work out one bit today , which is a shame as i know he can do better
progress takes time and there is no easy to our problems – those how are already calling for garde’s head my yet eat them words
and yes Adama could have come in 2nd half but he would have had to take off Ayew as takening off a centre mid would heve given up too much space at that point
Listening to yorke. What a bellend makes me dirty and cheap i used to love him.
Finally everyone is realising what i worked out months ago we are down!! To be fair this league is too hard for us. Its so co petitive. 40 plus points to stay up. Liked the fight second half, should of been 3 down if too. Were any good though. Love ayew and his getting evetyone back when he scored…..playing for a move in the summer im afraid. Like remi but weird no gill or adama come on, one point o points whatever. Go for the win. Im drunk
Well said Paul Pears and runtings! The signs are there that a TEAM is being developed that is finally getting regular game time and starting to understand each other and work for each other. Yep, there may be some faults with a few of them but what team hasn’t got that? It’s the best we can do at the moment with new players and new manager.
Traore, Gill and Grealish can be good players but are also liabilities with being too easily knocked off the ball or not chasing back ……. they are works in progress, but can still have a role to play in certain games…….
And Remi set up the side yesterday to provide cover/help for the full backs from Westwood and Gana, which to some extent worked ……..
We are still in the mucky stuff but like I said, the signs of progress are there even though possibly its too late …… but we should also split our feelings into two categories – first, the team and the manager who should get our support and second, the idiots at the top who should not get our support.
Ho ho ho – Merry Christmas everyone
I wanted gil and adama on in the second half yesterday but putting gestede on and going route one was the correct call.
There was a lot of surface water and both tose players like to dribble. Adama does it at tremendous pace and with the ball holding up i think he would of struggled same for gil. Newcastle created several chances by booting the ball upfield where instead of rolling out or to our defence it just stopped for them to run on to on a dryer day those chances wouldnt have happened whearas we fashioned some good attacks which is encouraging. For me garde got the tactics right and a draw from defeat sets us up for the next three games. Get some points on the board and we are ready to strengthen.
Dont fortget we had a makeshift left back.
Forgot to say newcastle have a hard run now so do several of our rivals
Just listening to Martin Oneil talking about Ashley Young – James Milner and Stewart Downing. My word how the night Villa have fallen
Remi Garde is twat. He’s already all but sent us down.
He didn’t want to win yesterday and thinks it was a good point even though we ended up being worse of than we were before. He had Jack, Gil and Adama on the bench and didn’t get any on
And what was that formation ? What knob thinks that formation could of worked in a million years ? Hutton as the attacking outlet with Westwood in support. Hahhaha. Sinclair starting again and doing nothing
I hate the losing mentality out managers have
We have to win 3 games in a row now , with a manager who doesn’t want to win
Mark
It doesn’t really matter who has hard run ins, we can’t beat anyone, we are easily the worst and easiest team to play against, the old adage of ” we are too good to go down” doesn’t apply in B6. Bournemouth and Norwich showed the fight and ability we severely lack.
E are effectively 11 points from safety, which realistically we can’t overturn.
A quick mention to the Chelsea fans, who backed us in their game at the foxes. When LCFC were singing ” you’re going down with the Villa”
They retorted with “the’ve won more than you, the’ve won more than you, Aston Villa the’ve won more than you”
That will mean FA in the championship when we are struggling to stay out of Lg1
Frem- you have your opinion mate but I think you are way wide of the mark with remi. The temptation to put the likes of Adama and gil on in the hope they will run riot must be pretty hard to resist. We could of won that game second half in appalling conditions as you know. If he can get 90 mins like the second half out of the team we will win games.
From
100percent spot on with your comments
Anyone who thinks hutton is a footballer watch match again yes he runs around a fair bit but always behind play in wrong position
Watch de monk miss Hutton standing with hand not attempting to close down Newcastle player and then his half hearted attempt to block cross
Westwood is crap full stop when we where breaking vertout only midfielder getting forward
Garde thinks points against bottom clubs good results clown
B62- what if we are on the cusp of turning things around mate? a couple of wins and another draw in the next 3 is possible if we play as we did 2nd half, we then have a window to see what Remi can do. I agree we looked doomed but Newcastle are just as likely to lose a few now as Sunderland and Norwich. that was the first time I’ve seen real fight in our team this season so we need to take that forward and bring in some quality in Jan, all is not lost yet, not easy by any stretch but possible.
Hmmmm….. 🙂
Hello guys – just nipping in to stop the guys who are throwing snowballs at Remi. Or who would do if there was any snow around! 🙂
Let’s not forget what a mess Remi has been handed. And he knows (it would seem) that it doesn’t take pretty players to get Villa out of a hole. The second half yesterday showed much better spirit.
He had it *exactly* right yesterday. Players on the pitch that at least stood a chance of standing up to a team that had just had back-to-back wins *and* the weather conditions.
Bringing on Gestede was just the right time and it caused Newcastle to take their eye off the ball … and Ayew.
We’ll have Richards back next week and I’d be very happy if he otherwise plays exactly the same team except probably Gil for Westwood for the home match.
Anyway, a Happy Christmas to everyone … and don’t drink too much Remi (Martin)!
Mark- we could have won the game yes, and we stood more chance of winning with our beat players on the bench. The only 3 along with Ayew who can play football
Anyone watch Mon shows only one man at fault lerner
Frem – I agree – it is unbelievable that Garde leaves Gil – Grealish – Traore on the bench.
We need a win against West Ham. One inspirational performance from Traore could lift the whole mood at Villa Park and start a come back over the festive period.
I agree with john and why do teams like leicester watford palace do well? They play as a team we are not strong enough to afford potential passengers
Folk used to say Tony Currie was a passenger, Peter Osgood too and don’t start me on Matt le Tissier, you ask the fans of SU, C and Southampton what they think, the usual British suspicion of anyone who isn’t a dog and that’s why the England team has been crepe for as long as i can remember.
Just watching Watford take the scousers to the cleaners, Leicester have been a revelation, Bournemouth doing well despite a horrific injury list inc their top striker, Norwich winning at OT these are all teams we expected to be above or in the same area but we are miles BEHIND them, the three newly promoted clubs are showing us how to do it, we are an embarrassment !!! WTF has Garde changed or done???? 3 points from his tenure to date is very poor and still no win, I think even Sherwood would have got more. We are relegated, we can’t cime back from this and Garde is NOT the man to bring us back up, he would do well in a steady team that had some decent players and wasn’t bang in trouble
well spent 8 hours on road to watch that , had 2 young lads next to me who have followed Villa and the one had just been made redundant but had already got tickets for Norwich, sunderland and wycombe and come to think of so have l , fucking jaeggerbombs , but they both said they thinking of getting rid , and l felt for them both , he said “lv come up here to watch that shit and spent a fortune following these but no more ” oh hum
now as for the excuse of playing flair players on a waterlogged pitch , fucking fuck me , and what a shit excuse , those of you that are old enough should remember the players with REAL flair and the bloody quagmires they played on and somehow were still able to dribble , run with ball , as it would seem the skill of obviously running with the ball whilst just chipping it up above your boot has gone out the window , and these lot play on carpets and a lighter ball FFS , watching from the stands you could see the lack of movement off the ball , the spaces that anyone with an ounce of fucking football skill would see , Newcastle were there for the taking , and those of you sitting at home ( and could make a venture to a game ) try fucking turning up and telling the 3000+ that made the journey and was shouting for Traore that it wouldnt be any use . put it this way you would be eating your christmas dinner through a straw ….. dont think Remi would like to hear the comments either , l can see now why the villa fans are getting a bad name at games now as its fucking through frustration,
hers a little something about our new youths coming through the ranks one of the lads bought his daughter with him and she bought her mate (regular followers home and away ) and that new youth who has been bought into the fold . well she went out with him but gave him the elbow as he told her he was a brickie , after a few weeks he was with JG and she asked him how he knows him and he told her lm a footballer really which she knew he was but she played along , he then told her ” i didnt want you getting all bigheaded to your mates and thinking you had made it with a premiership player ” ( this was months ago mind you ) so the inevitable slap happened and she told him to go fuck himself , little tossers Eh !! big time charlies methinks
Frem l hope you got home ok mate sorry we didnt meet up , next time mate
S75,
Glad you made it back OK.
As to your (vehement) defence of playing “flair players” I’d argue we don’t really have any!! Certainly not any of the kind you’re talking of.
If we did I’d want to see them played as well. 😉
Grealish I don’t think is ready … Gil I do like but I don’t think yesterday was a match for him to play in … and Traore is a “maybe”.
No … sorry, until we *know* we have flair players (or when we’re safe from relegation) I’m backing Remi.
Thats very true john….up in arms adama didnt come on like its messi on the bench, the guys done nothing. Shows how desperte we are to cling on to the hope he is a saviour or summin.
The reason Alex Ferguson is Sir Alex is because he played to win.
1 point when you need 3 is no different to a loss when you’re in a relegation battle.
Newcastle are not a good team and were on the ropes begging for a knock out blow and we let them off the hook.
Ayew went around Collocini on the waterlogged pitch like he was standing still so try and tell me Traore wouldn’t have done the same if he were on the other side.
We so needed those 3 points not just for the Table but for a massive boost of confidence.
Massive lost opportunity and does not show a winner’s mentality whatsoever.
I don`t rate Sherwood at all but I know he would have at least gone for it and put Adama on with 20 to play. We had two holding midfielders so we could have taken one off and changed the shape a wee bit and perhaps been stronger on the left side defensively.
Here’s an idea for all the ´we don’t want to lose a match when we’re in a desperate relegation battle’ thinkers. The manager does what he’s paid huge money to do and actually thinks creatively, uses his full resources and ‘manages’.
Case in point: what’s wrong with bringing Clark on at left back, shifting to a 442 with Sanchez or Westwood off (take your pick) but for me Sanchez is Jekyll and Hyde. Gana at left mid Veretout and Westwood/Sanchez in the middle and Ayew at right mid. Gestede as the target man and Traore who does play striker by the way given license to roam but told to attack on the left side.
I don’t see how that’s a risk defensively and Clark is a better defender than Bacuna and even if not particularly fast on a waterlogged pitch it’s to his advantage.
2 very important points lost yesterday. Disappointed!
Hutton was superb, Lescott played very well and Veretout has bigtime potential.
Thinks are improving but we needed to try to win that match not settle for a draw like we did in the last 3 minutes which infuriated me!
If we play like we did yesterday we can start to win matches so I remain optimistic but let’s face it we are really in a huge hole and Sherwood and Wilkins (who keeps flapping his bleeding gums) need to take some blame for that as well!
UTV
Oh and before I head out here.
As usual the majestic Jenny makes another excellent point.
Both Fox and Garde keep using the ‘R’ word and that bothers me.
Have we already conceded defeat hence not going for the win yesterday and playing it safe!??!!?
NOBODY at the club least of all the Manager and the Chief Executive should be using that word until the last second of the final match is finished this season.
Piss poor and again infuriates me!
75 love the commentary mate keep those types of posts coming.
I’m with Frem here that we need to ‘try’ to win matches even if we lose them when we should draw it makes NO difference this season anyway! These are MUST win matches not must NOT lose matches Lifers.
UTV
Ronnie- Sherwood would be playing the Brit players so we would quite likely have produced nothing on what eveidence do you think it would of been different or better? We were playing 442 yesterday in a diamond to protect the fullbacks and not lose the midfield whilst getting vertout in advanced positions to support the front two. With Sinclair up top it didn’t work with Gestede and the ball holding up it did.
Potentially that was a banana skin we missed, lose it and the next 3 games would quite likely have gone the same way. The whole team were like nervous wrecks but came through it if they don’t put in a performance against wet spam now it would surprise me. Adama for 10 mins wouldn’t of been a bad change other than you would have lost the midfield cohesion at a crucial stage where Newcastle were coming back at us on the break.
Also when Garde is continually asked about Relegation at least he isn’t dodging a very real possibility. A possibility most fans seem to have accepted.
Mmmmmm…
Perhaps some are missing a point or two here…
The issue is that the underlying issue with this team/squad is *confidence*. And taking the approach that we must go for a win (and then lose) isn’t going to increase confidence.
Agreed that a draw isn’t the best thing, but it *is* better than a defeat in the confidence stakes, especially when the draw was not predicted by the pundits. And don’t tell me that Villa weren’t going for it (second half) because they definitely were…
The interesting thing is that since Garde came we’ve had 3 draws and 3 defeats … and the 3 draws have come about a tad unexpectedly for many pundits . So we are, in some ways, gradually picking up confidence after all those defeats in Tim’s time.
The issue *now* is to take the next few matches and extract (say) 2 wins and a draw out of them. I’d think Remi would think that’s a fair target and I think Remi’s not done a bad job in sussing out who’s really able to help Villa achieve that.
BTW, I agree that Clark at l-b would be a better option. In his decision making I’d say that’s about the only weak decision made so far. If it’s only that (and I do believe it is) then he ain’t doing a bad job.
JL- hello mate god to hear from you.By the end the pundits were purring about Ayew and at half time rednapp pointed out we needed a focus up top and low and behold on came gestede. I think garde likes his fullbacks to push on with the 2 midfielder’s filling the defensive gap hence Bakuna not Clarke although I have seen Clark attack quite well when he played there once. I think he will run the rule over Sissoko hence bringing him back before making his decision on a new one.
oops good to hear from you 🙂
JL-Oh and I told you the Watford manager and team were decent 😉
Glad to see you two kiss and make up 😉
Both of you are know the game so we’ll pretty much just be going around in circles if we start debating.
Monsieur King, my suggestion about TS is that we wouldn’t be better off but one thing he would have done is gone for it when the other team is on the ropes and need to be knocked out.
We had all the momentum which is huge in football as you know and one more goal would have sealed it for us then we could have had someone drop deeper.
Adama for 10 then why not 20 with him one flank and Ayew on the other (who for my money was not playing as a traditional ‘striker’ and drops deep like an attacking midfielder which is great for us and he’s one hell of an athlete which I’ve been saying all along and has more potential than his brother who is also a very good player) to scare the bejeeves out of the magpies and take the game to them. Yes JL all this talk of building confidence is wonderful likewise mentally preparing for the ‘inevitable’ relegation it would seem based on the attitudes of CEO and GM but some fans don’t want the players to start thinking like that just quite yet thank you very much.
The problem is that in this supposed 442 that Sinclair was isolated up top and nobody else was getting into the box nor holding the ball up (Sinclair is ineffectual anyway and I don’ understand why Remi Martin doesn’t put him on ice for the rest of the season). If the pundits could all see that Gestede needed to come on long before half time to give us a focal point why did it take Garde 60 minutes to figure the same out when the coaches on the settee had known that to be the case. I like Remi and if we do go down then he’s the right man to be rebuilding the club and bringing us right back up which to be honest may be the shock to the system which this organization needs. I for one am not ready to start have that orientation until we’re really out of it and 3 points instead of one when we were in the ascendancy in that match could prove very costly indeed come Spring. Also imagine the confidence boost this team would have derived from an actual win, my God, it would have been like removing a 1000 lb gorilla from their backs.
Agree to disagree with you esteemed and learned gentlemen on a couple of points but I do think we are heading in the right direction. My only quibbles are Gestede on at half time (Sinclair would never start another game if I were in charge) instead of 60 and Adama on at 70 with Clark at left back to provide more cover and Gana at outside left mid. If Adama were given a free role with a more left sided positioning to add balance to Ayew’s attacking (and backtracking, the lad is bloody everywhere at times) down the right side and not expected to defend the right flank like a modern winger should then I don’t see us disagreeing. If this match had happened a month ago I may be agreeing with you both right about now re: the confidence issue but 2 points lost at this stage is absolutely huge given we’ve only got a grand total of 7.
Enjoying the stimulating discussion on here however.
UTV
Sorry that should have been Adama defending on the left flank and ‘I don’t see us ‘conceding’ not disagreeing’ pardonez-moi!
UTV
Great to see you back JL with your common sense comments. Yes, everyone would have loved to see a bit of excitement, after Villa got the equaliser, but if Gestede had made the contact, Villa would have had the winner, but what Remi could not afford was a body blow back from the Toons, and another loss. He got it right, and in the end we could have won the game.
I understand the frustrations that Frem and some of the others feel, but they must remember that pre-season games, Sinclair was one of our outstanding payers, and scoring freely. Did TS then pay him???…. no Sinclair was left out. Tim the tinkerman then messed about with team week after week. If Remi had had that time with the players we have got we would be in a very different position.
Great to see that Karanka is achieving great things at the ‘Boro. Didn’t realise last season when I was singing his praises and that Villa should look at him that he was “The Special Ones” assistant at Real Madrid, and what a close relationship they have.
PP: Sinclair scoring freely against 2nd rate opposition in mean nothing contests sorry mate but I wouldn’t play him again this season, too soft, didn’t get a look in at City for that reason nor even make an impression at the Baggies for that matter… the bigger body blow is called ‘relegation’ and that’s where we`ll be if we keep playing it safe in games we MUST win!
As it stands we gave up 2 or 3 gilt edged chances that they fortunately failed to capitalize on so we may as well have gone for it as it appears to have been our lucky day!
UTV
Soz ronnie but remi tried a 442 with a diamond midfield instead of 433 . gestede was rubbish last time he started but sinclair played well. We were getting crosses in for a change and the ball slow on the deck so suited gestede to come on.
To bring on adama we would of loosened our hold on the midfield to go 433 to risky when we were getting some joy anyhow.
Leicester got a fair few draws in staying up too and won 7 games in the last two months so alls not lost .
As for tim going for it have you forgotten the leicester game and how he put on 2 forwards and weakened the midfield ? The beginning of the end for him and maybe us. I’ll take the point and the cofidence and look for a win boxing day ta.
Caught up with the comments, still positive about AVFC and Remi, it’s not working as quickly as we need but what a confidence boost to go away from home and pick up a point from being a goal down, we would have folded in the past.
It looks like we have our plan B in that we use Gestede to change the focus of the opposition, without changing the pattern of play. Grealish and Adama are still luxuries until we are safe, I’d have a preference of Adama over Grealish as he offers directness, Grealish is trying to find the perfect pass or beat a player and then nothing. Gil, far too clever for us in terms of thought process that his end product is often wasted. We are in a phase of grinding out results and need battlers until May and maybe then we build the attacking side we’d all love. It’s not pretty and especially for the away support but developing a consistent pattern of play with the same players until it becomes second nature will be the way forward.
Next up is getting rid of the fear of playing at home, Remi should have us train at VP in that psychological way of dealing with surroundings.
The landscape has changed and it’s Sunderland/Swansea that we need to watch their results but we do need another team to go off the boil such as Newcastle/Norwich and get some wins to get us to January transfer window.
While you can’t help but be impressed by Leicester (of all teams), Watford and injury hit Bournemouth are well up there for performance of the season
UTV
Solid opinions by all. Confidence is the key word at the minute for referencing the Villa players but for me Saturday showed Remi’s confidence has taken a fair knock since taking the Villa job. Around 70mins the game was in the melting pot and Remi alas did not go for it. He stated that the players only play when there is nothing to lose i.e. when we’ve already conceded but the same could be said for him not going for some attacking dimensions especially when Newcastle’s left back of a scrum half is on a yellow (thought that was an atrocious tackle on Hutton by the way very little said about it in commentary).
You bring on Rudy , Newcastle are shaking and yet we are dependent on the crossing of Hutton and Bacuna (who constantly has to cut inside). That game should have been went for, we won’t have many if any easier.
MON showed his true class yesterday and his accomplishments on the international stage just further illustrate what a complete fool Lerner was and is. MON is not an accountant Lerner started like a sugar daddy if he couldn’t sustain it he should have controlled it.
we need to copy watford and lester and go 442
gestede up top with ayew Gill on the right to be our mahrez
Guzan
Richards Okore Lescott Bacuna
Gill Vertout Gana Sinclair
Ayew Gestede
Dor I think gardes buys in jan may change whats possible with the likes of gil although the teams you have mentioned dont have that type player so maybe thats the way to go
Sincair is one of the worst wingers I’ve ever seen in my time watching football. He shouldn’t be anywhere near a football pitch
Agree 442 is the way to go though. Gil and Grealish to fight for one spot and Adama and Veretout the other wing spot
Funny we want a CAM in jan. The last Area we need to strengthen. We won’t buy a GK, centre back, DM, RB, or ST.
My team for palace match
New keeper
Richards sissko okore new center half
Vertout gana
New winger either Gil/freakish/Sinclair
Ayew
New center forward
Still believe in santa
Should been grealish
Frem we have been linked with Monaco’s DM and captain Jérémy Toulalan, marseilles Steve Mandanda a GK and captain. Wahbi Khazri AM who scores goals, Sam Byram of leeds a RB or MF and maybe afobe as riley and gardes number 2 were at the wolves v leeds game, Naismith of Everton, a striker from Genk ( Ironic) The list goes.
Liam- I don’t Remi has lost confidence mate he just doesn’t have much confidence in the likes of Adama at this stage. He is between a rock and a hard place, the results that will send us down are the 10 points we have lost from winning positions this season already. His celebration of the goal really showed how much he wants to win, it was better than Sherwood it was real and not just for the media. He’s the only manager I’ve thought will do something since Little. Westwood covered hutton well witch meant we could use the space down the right I would of liked to see Adama but I understood why he didn’t throw him in, I’ve seen him for the reserves 4-5 times and he has his moments but when we don’t have the ball it really is the team down to 10 men.
worth a read Remi on his first month or so
http://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2015/remi-garde-it-was-necessary-that-i-arrived-in-an-ambulance/
great comments great passion from every AVLer
all i can say is i really like remi – i think he coaches as he takes about the game which for me is both balanced and knowledgeable
we all have our opinions on games and formations , selections ect but we are not the ones with every one pointing the finger at us when it all goes t-ts up
we are linked with a good amount of players that will make a difference and lets not forget remi has walked into a club the has been a shambles for far too long
were there’s life there’s hope and i am more hopeful under garde than anyone since MON
runtigz good post mate, for me if Garde says Adama’s not ready he is just that. He see’s him every day, if he was waltzing by players scoring worldies he’d be on that pitch, as it is we can’t afford him as we can’t afford Jack’s lack of defensive ability and effort
Mark, I like Remi but I think his in game management the last day was not what is required in the club’s predicament. The full backs already dictate how we go forward, their inability to defend should not limit the usage of players who would have terrified tired fragile Newcastle defenders.
Transfer links thus far are fairly uninspiring bar Byram who we should have signed 3 years ago, with his contract running out Leeds would bite our hands off for afew quid. Two full backs and a GK are a must or we may as well back it in.
i can see why there have been calls for Adama to come on but I can only see him struggling badly in those conditions. His style of play needs a free running ball and he would have found it really difficult with the ball sticking unpredictably in the water on the pitch.
Gestede and the longer ball looked like the right call for the conditions and every pundit I’ve heard has commented on his introduction changing the course of the game.
Ayew looks like a man on a mission. He was clearly hurting when losing to his brother and a desire to catch Swansea at least and to prove himself seems to be driving him.
If only we could bottle his passion and get all the other players to drink it
Just gone back and read a few of the comments on here and I’m surprised at those saying we didn’t go for it.
I thought we were all over them for most of the second half
A lot more possession, shots, shots on target and corners. We didn’t get the goals but it wasn’t through lack of effort.
Obviously I’m in the throw Adama on with 70 camp and have explained how I would have done it.
By the way agree with Frem, Sinclair is absolute rubbish!
Clark to left back with Gana at left outside mid (Westwood, Veretout middle and Ayew right mid)
Traore given a free role with a left sided biased to pick up the ball deep and run at people; perhaps the rain may have affected matters but that’s an excuse for me.
We are desperate for points. I just hope all of you who think relying on Ayew to supply all the service to Rudi was sufficient won’t rue the day when we left Bacuna on his week foot as the left sided supplier of crosses to the big man.
Tim and I would have gone for it like the Cavaliers we are (now I’m just winding you up as I’m not a Sherwood fan at all) but seriously I guess I’m a gambler. I think Big Ron would’ve gone for it as would Gregory. There are key moments that can turn a match and then turn a season. Look at when Fergie threw on that unknown teenage Italian that scored against us. They went on to win the title as a result. We’ll never know, some are gamblers some aren’t I suppose but a second goal and 3 points would have done amazing things for the confidence of the players, fans and Club!
UTV
Ronnie, I reckon most would agree with you that a win could have made the difference and kick started the season. We were already on top in the second half though. I was with a Newcastle mate and he and his friends had their heads in their hands thinking they were throwing it away.
Remember the Leicester game where from 2.0 up Tim decided to carry on and go for it by bringing on ayew and Gestede? We threw away control of the midfield and the rest is history.
My personal belief is that Adama would have been like a fish out of water on that pitch and though I’d usually be calling for him with20 to go, onSaturday I was actually ‘nervous’ that Remi would do that.
But hey, it’s all about opinions eh?
Good debate. My thoughts-
gestede is totally useless as a starter- impact sub at best
Hutton – gets forward exceptionally well but end product is rubbish. On a similar point Hutton has been our only attacking outlet in the majority of matches. Something very wrong there.
Sinclair-isn’t he meant to be a winger? This is why the dynamic of the team is wrong. I can’t recall when Sinclair last beat a man and whipped in a dangerous cross. he has the odd spell but he’s far too lightweight to be a winger.
Ayew -quality but will be wasted in this team without similar quality around him.
Veretout -upgrade on westwood but not a true no. 10
Gana – good defensive midfielder but useless in final third. Again this is our problem -too many cloggers and no one apart from Ayew to create and/or finish in the final third.
sanchez -slow, lack of awareness and sloppy. only asset he offers protection when opposition is attacking but not good enough to get things going in the middle.
A general observation – when RM decides to play gana,westwood, sanchez and veretout he is effectively reducing our chances of scoring and/or creating. veretout has potential but the team is weighed down with defensive minded players.
As for the adama on for last 15 mins debate- I see posters defending RM’s decision to stick with what he had. However if de Jong had put away that sitter and their dutch striker had made a decent connection, would that view have been different? the fact is our 3 sitters were not protecting the back 4 as they should have been because their legs had already gone. I’m a firm believer in the idea that when you are under the cosh, you don’t pack your midfield but should in fact have an attacking outlet to relieve pressure.
Robbo we must think alike Adama has a loose dribbling style whearas ayew keeps very tight control in those conditions pushing the ball past a player would not have been easy.
So gambling ronnie you would of moved ayew our main goal threat and driving force oit on the wing when he has proven that central is where he is at his best. Thank god garde is not a gambler.
That said adama for 20 against arsenal wouldn’t of hurt but its about building a team and pattern of play. Yes we need wins but we need defeats like a hole in the head, build confidence and a team and wins will come, excacrtly what shuffle the cards tim did not do. He didn’t even identyfy his best players.
Dee newcastle resortedcto long ball to negate our midfield dominance. They are a counter attacking side exactly why RG wss reluctent to throw a player on that cant or wont defend. Every man back to front was doing that .
Ayew just might be the player to draw our confidence from and the more confident we are the less mistakes made. Look at gueye and sanchez second half with nothing to lose and renewed purpose.
Steamer
when we stayed at your pile in Barcelona on a couple of occasions it absolutely pissed it down and by the doors it was about 3ins deep , your ears must have been burning mate , and the wife told me to go in the gardens if lm going to use that kind of language ,
l only ask as when its pisses down , does the Barcelona games get called off or do they drop Messi and co and throw the reserves on , just wondering as a few of them like running and dribbling with the ball
Having taken another look at the table( grim reading), I feell we need another 29/30 points to stay up, which would mean a run of form akin to the top 6 .
It’s a pretty hopeless task, I think the club now realise we are unlikely to survive( although they aren’t shouldering the blame) and the telegraph are reporting we are gonna offload players to clear the wage bill ( around £11m off it) in the main these aren’t players we utilise or really want, Cole, Senderos, Richardson, Nzogbia( complete waste of cash) and a little more surprisingly Kozak. It seems we are prepping for the championship, and the vast reduction in revenues it brings. It also shows what has been said in the press, RL and TF are staying on, which could see are our demise continue into league 1
Wilkins reiterated his statement that TS signed three players and the twatty trio signed the other ten, now i’m quite happy with most of those signings but Fox made the statement that “The fans don’t understand football, most clubs use that system,” which is another blatant lie. Just how many times does this clown have to lie to the fans before he pays the price. Its virtually unanimous among the fans that he’s been a disaster since he arrived, Lerner and Fox have no credibility, Lerner isn’t bothered about selling despite his protestations and employs Fox to make sure he gets his $$$, football doesn’t come into it. IMO anyone who goes to VP supports the regime that’s destroying the club NOT AVFC, starve them of income and they’ll soon sod off, while they can see $$$ they’ll stay, what does it take for you to see that ?
Great post Ronnie,
I don’t buy this Adama would have struggled in the conditions Newcastle threw on Thauvin and he caused us havoc with his direct running. There is no reason why Adama would not have done the same, the problem with Gana for me is his slender build to be a driving force from midfield. Look at Yaya last night he destroyed the much media loved Ramsey.
Sissoko does it for Newcastle, Dembele has done it for Spurs during spells this season we need an physically imposing footballer who can take a game by the scruff of the neck. For as long as I can remember the Villa teams has looked like an U18 side against a senior team on match-day.
Remi I’m afraid is going to have to show the same ruthlessness with tactics as he has with the B6 spice boys Jack, Gabby, Zog etc. At home two up top and go for it we need a win and we’ve needed it for weeks.
Good news though, looks like Agbonglahor won’t ever soil a Villa shirt again, not even selected for the u21 game, problem being the 65,000 per week contract that the idiot Fox gave him because surely no pro club would be interested in signing him and certainly not on anything like that wage.
Liam,
Right about the MF and Gana, can’t see Toulalan leaving Monaco for Birmingham either. I know he’s a DM but 6 goals in 419 games isn’t exactly prolific.
We can forget about exotic continental signings, we are as good as down, the only criteria for players coming to VP in the championship, will be are they cheap and is there a chance we can make a profit on them. RL doesn’t spend money in the PL!!!! What chance have we got when he is down £100m per annum on revenue, and the value of the football club is in the toilet. Make no mistake we are entering the darkest period of our history, this won’t be like previous relegations due to the financial landscape that dominates modern football. We won’t be sold to some multi billionaire as we aren’t in the top flight, therefore RL and TF will remain until the parachute cash has gone then flog us to another chancer. To see our future just look at Forest, Bolton, Sheff Weds and Leeds Utd to name a few. We are heading towards a league which has proved to be a graveyard foe ex top flight clubs, and that is if we can stave off another drop. Does anyone expect Ayew, Veretout, Amavi etc to stay and fight it out onward pay in a tough physical league ? Or will they be sold and escape back to the French top flight!!!
steamz – hopefully a club like Sunderland will take gabby – probably be good business for both parties
do we really believe Adama would have come on and won us the game
if he aint pulling up trees for the under 21’s how is he our savoir ? — exciting talent granted but i haven’t seen enough to convince me that he is going to save us from relegation — do like him of course and hope he shows enough to remi to get more time on the pitch
Im not 100% against Fox mainly because im not entirely sure what he does. And if we bring in a director and another chap i think will be a good move(depending on who they are). Heard one was a millionaire villa fan, name escapes me. Randy is a nob though.
We are entering into the unknown, no idea who will stay when we drop. Like to think the new guts ayew, vertout, amavi and gana will stay and if so i reckon we will be ok. It sounds mad but i think the drop might do us good. Get rid of the highly paid crepe, start again and blood some youth?! Sorth the squad out and rebuild.
Its hard to do in the prem as everyone is so bloody good bar blunderland.
Remi talking about copying the foxes. 2 up top against west spam then?
runtings
since banannan, albrighton, delonsono i hold no hope in the youth. Until they get in and produce weekly i wont be holding my breath…..its just a vain hope we have.
Steamer, bang on mate. Think Toulalan is a pipe dream, the experience he would bring to the dressing room would be vital. I’d throw Clarke in mid as mad as it sounds he couldn’t be any worse than Sanchez or even Richards.
Runtings, its not that many of us believe he would be our savior rather when a game is in the melting pot against very ordinary opposition Remi decided to stick rather than twist. It begs the question when exactly is the time when we’ll take a gamble given our position? Remi has inherited a poisoned chalice we all know that but if we keep playing defensive defeatist formations for the entirety of the 90 what message does that send to opposing teams?
We need to push back West Ham from the get go and hit them while the turkey is still in their gullets, Sinclair ain’t going to do it. Why not give the lad a chance, we cannot depend on Hutton going forward we’ve tried that it just is not working.
Interesting Remi has said today the players were not at an acceptable level of fitness when he took charge given our limited ability one would think we need the fitness to be top notch to stand any chance.
hi Liam — i do get what people are saying about throwing Adama on with 20 to go
but i also won’t hold it against the manager for not doing it on this occasion
my view is if we would have put him on in midfield we would have given up too much space and if we was to come on up top then the only option was to take of Ayew – who had his best game in a villa shirt
Andrew, Tell you what ox does –
Give five year contracts to crepe players who can’t get in the clubs worst ever team.
Give a contract to a totally discredited manager who broke virtually every negative record in the clubs history by producing teams of mind numbing style and then sacking him weeks later. Later found to be plotting behind his back to replace him with Sherwood while still in his position.
Insult the intelligence of the fans with glib insults when the reality is that he hasn’t a firkin clue about the sport.
Alienate the fans supporters clubs to prevent a base of discontent forming in similar fashion to Ellis closing down the old Lions club.
BS’ting the clubs support every time he opens his smarmy trap.
Just a few things that irritate me, i’m sure their are plenty more.
I wouldn’t take Ayew off he was tremendous I would have sacrificed Sanchez I thought he was awful the worst I’ve seen him. Obviously it’s easy with the benefit of hindsight to assess the ifs and maybes but we need to go for it especially the next day.
steamer
Ah, not a great cv!! Hopefully with a new director & chairman he can get back to doing what he is good at……
Fitness is a massive issue, has been for years! Lester and watford have been doing so well cause they are full pelt for 90mins. Sure douverrne will sort us out, was the fittest we have been underhoullier.
An eloquent perspective on the Newcastle vs Villa game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-P58-2yuCWU
nice one steamer , he is funny
he speaks a lot of sense too , but i don’t agree that we got relegated for not winning , i see it more as a good point , can’t remember the last time we beat them away
great quote from Jose Moriniho yesterday
”when i die i want my Chelsea players to lower me into the ground so they can let me down one last time”
love it
A mixed bag of comments still, but generally most people seem to be backing Remi, and still believe that he did the right thing against the Toons. It would have been disaster if he had put Traore on, and we had conceded another goal and lost. We would definitely have been down and out, and confidence back at rock bottom. Cannot understand why some cannot see this logic.
The game against West Ham can be vastly different, on a good pitch at VP, with more players available, and a full house behind the team, as well as a lot more confidence. The more they play together, the better they will become.
Pp theres also a logic of putting him on . What if he had got the winner !! . You have your opion .l have mine .end of .
Paul the logic of simply stating the pitch was wet does not wash, Thuavin came on for Newcastle didn’t slow him down too much in fact he played his best stuff ever seen in a Newcastle shirt. As Steamers75 has said there is a divide of opinion but with every winless game the logic of not going for the jugular turns into fear & lunacy.
Liam, its fair enough to think that Adama should have come on and maybe he’d have worked out. I think it would have been a wrong call you think it would be the right one. . . . we’ll never know now.
I’m less convinced it’s fair to say Remi has been ‘defeatist’ and ‘defensive’.
In the second half against Arsenal he brought on Gil, Grealish and Adama.
What he’s done, is make the substitutions he thinks are right for the opposition and conditions. In both those games we dominated the second half so it seems to me he made the right calls.
Robbo
He brought them on against Arsenal when the game was gone and there was nothing to lose just like the players as Remi has even said only play when there is nothing to lose i.e. 2-0 against the Gooners and 1-0 against Newcastle.
A midfield of Gana – Westwood – Sanchez – Veretout for an entire 90 mins is extremely defensive and ultimately defeatist when the other team is 1-0 up as what happened at the weekend, for crying out loud 3/4 are defensive midfielders how much more defensive can you be.
The time for playing for draws is well and truly gone if we are not going to press for a win against Newcastle who are you going to suggest we play attack minded players against ?
So the question is: did Remi make those substitutions because he was playing it safe or because he thought they were the right ones to win the game.
You think the former and I can’t prove you wrong . . . .
And he made none to the midfield at the weekend playing for a draw, it’s a game of opinions among fans but for Remi (who I rate) it’s a game of results. I hope he has some grown some before the West Ham game for all our sakes.
Liam- Vertout defensive? he played a great ball to Ayew for his goal and was buzzing in and around their box all second half. If Gestede had put some of his chances away or indeed Vertouts shot gone in we would not be discussing Adama. Personally I thought the midfield were tiring by 75 minute and Newcastle came back into it, maybe another reason Adama didn’t see time on the pitch? too many flaking out to risk it.
Liam- Vertout defensive? he played a great ball to Ayew for his goal and was buzzing in and around their box all second half. If Gestede had put some of his chances away or indeed Vertouts shot gone in we would not be discussing Adama. Personally I thought the midfield were tiring by 75 minute and Newcastle came back into it, maybe another reason Adama didn’t see time on the pitch? too many flaking out to risk it. If we get a quality DM
wow my postings gone dullally
Mark I did say 3/4 of the midfielders, the fact is they didn’t go in and we remain winless so the Remi bottled it camp have plenty to shout about. When the attacking players are utilised and we get a win you all better be READY FOR THE WE TOLD YOU SO !!!!!
😛
Bit late to the party but Liam has stated my opinion pretty much to the word anyway (damn site wouldn’t load on my iPhone)! With my claret and blue tinted glasses I saw Ayew getting up and down the pitch and even covered Mutton (who may have had his best game in a Villa shirt) on occasion so to say he’s a striker is off the mark imo. I’d agree with the ‘play it safe brigade’ if it were November even but we’re 10 points off the pace and would’ve been 7 behind most likely our biggest relegation rival if we’d won and personally 7 psychologically sounds far less imposing and foreboding than 10 so again if you want to talk confidence then it would have been a huge shot in the arm if we’d gone for it and won (never mind that all the critics are saying Newcastle squandered loads of good chances in the 2nd half as it stands) I’ve also explained I wouldn’t do it willy nilly like Timmy but put some thought into it like Fergie to provide some cover down the left side if Adama were put on (given a free role along side Rudi, lil n large rather than traditional winger expected to provide defensive coverage and again he has played striker before as well). I’d have left Ayew alone as he covers ALOT of ground for a ‘striker’ and was playing more like an attacking winger or even wingback the way he tracked back when needed. So to say we’d be moving Ayew or asking him to change positions is again off the mark as I see it; just keep doing what you’re doing (the lad ran his socks off for the cause!) son.
In the very large hole we found ourselves in I just don’t see how 1 point is any different than none because it equates to the same thing= RELEGATION!
UTV
Remi says we need 10 wins… out of 21 matches.
This team had better figure out how to score in a hurry playing 3 defensive midfielders which means he better know what he’s doing gradually building confidence because that’s a 48% win percentage, bloody hell!
Thank God Payet is out!
UTV
Hammers injury update: http://www.whufc.com/News/Articles/2015/December/17-December/From-the-Treatment-Room
Never a better chance to get 3 points at home.
I DO like Remi and see what he’s doing. Just wish there was more urgency to it given that’s it’s almost Xmas and we are Desperate for points!
UTV
Liam hope you don’t have a long wait mate, rumours that Gil is off and garde has intemated Adama is only half a player as yet and grealish needs to work harder. Heres Wahbi Khazri that frem mentioned skilful a pacey with a wicked cross can play LW RW AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gN0FGuOJA8U
Ronnie- I understand the urgency but uncle Tim was hardly progressive 10 games in and he didn’t know his side, garde has stuck with his to build continuity as he should.
So you would of asked our best attacking option who was playing well in a role he excels in dropping deep in a central role with a partner (gestede) to feed into and play off and asked him to play almost as a wingback as if he wasn’t knackered enough. Sounds ok in theory but he and gestede were our focal point taking him out would of left gestede on his tod. Adama is so much a solo effort player when I have watched him I would rather of sacrificed Hutton to give him a run as hutton was pretty much a right winger we were pretty much 3 at the back with sanchez okore and lescott as it was. Your complaining about lack of attacking intent but would be moving our best player out of the fray into a more defensive role? don’t forget he was popping up on the left and right as an outlet who would of done that? we would of been lopsided at best thats how I see it
Bloody hell this is the first time we have had a ding dong about tactics since Lamberts time makes a nice change
another link to leicester DM
http://talksport.com/football/remi-garde-confirms-leicester-midfielder-gokhan-inler-aston-villas-radar-151223178777?
The other thing that’s cropping up is fitness, we are now clearly fitter than under Tim what were him and uncle fester doing? they constantly said the players were not fit and did double sessions
amateurs at best.
Remi has set himself and the team up to fail, by saying we need to win 10 of our remaining 21 matches. we have only won 1 all season and are on a 16 game winless streak averaging less than a point per game, With his statement Garde has said we are down, the task is too great I have to win 1 in 2 til the end of the season which is impossible with this squad. Draws are no good to us, we already need snookers. Journalists and Mark Saggers were discussing various points on TS last night and called Villa an absolute shambles. They are right though, they don’t believe Garde was the right man at the right time, one even suggested Lambert was unlucky to get the bullet, as he had only spent 2 weeks in the bottom 3 in his whole tenure, and is now doing ok at Blackburn who can make the play offs, it’s not inconceivable they will swap places with Villa who are definitely relegated. Garde has spent longer in the bottom 3 than any of the previous managers ( not all his fault I know, but that’s stats for you). When he arrived we were 4 pts from safety, we are now 10 with a -GD to make up, each week we fall further behind. Our only aim now is to make sure we salvage some pride and don’t beat Derby unwanted title of worst ever premier league team, as that is all that’s left to play for, we are definitely playing championship football next year. Talking to my mate, he said he doesn’t think he will renew his ST and will cherry pick his games, I said I will prob renew for one more season and see if we give promotion a real go, if it’s the same as this in the championship I’m walking away for good