Thank God the teams at the bottom are worse than in most seasons. If they weren’t, we would be in more trouble than we currently are. In a season where with too few exceptions the performances and results at home have been beyond poor, the last home game of the season is upon us.
Villa Park hasn’t been a fortress for a long time. Even during the heady days of five years ago and European football the team couldn’t manage to win more than eight home games in a season. Now based on our current form we’re 90 minutes away from our 11th home loss.
The manager used to make it a point to say before every match that he set up his team to win. The lads better be up for it, and up for it early. Two years ago against Bolton Wanderers, the atmosphere at Villa Park was as toxic as any football ground I can remember. Rightly or wrongly, the venom was squarely pointed at Alex McLeish. Perhaps we didn’t realise how severe the budget cuts were going to be, or how the club was rotten to the core. If we fall behind early and we see more aimless and clueless football it could get even uglier.
The manager and his interim coaching staff have to do whatever it takes to make sure that doesn’t happen. If that means benching players who probably deserved it weeks and months ago, and giving a chance to his own signings he has seemingly given up on, I think we would rather see that than more of the same. Looking at the table a point may well be all we need, but this team has proven it is incapable of playing for a point. If we sit deep we will ship goals.
Limping over the finish line is all that matters. Any thoughts of consolidation or progress have been out the window for awhile now. If this team were to go down, I have no confidence that this board has know how, or the commitment to providing the resources for us to bounce back up again. I can picture our squad of timid and immature kids being beaten down in the Championship.
Truthfully I think we will manage it. If we do go down, it will be because that’s what we deserve. In that context, I don’t think I would be bothered.
The Author
Jason Chalifour
I am a regular columnist for Aston Villa Life with my column running every Friday and have been writing at least semi-regularly about Aston Villa since 2010. I also run my own General Sports Website www.98ontheblack.comComments 53
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If ever there was a reality post, that’s it! 🙁
But the chances of 3 teams not finishing below Villa are very remote whatever the Villa Park result.
Roll on the summer. Please.
I think Fulham will win, with us picking up a 0-0. We can’t score. we are right in the shit
Don’t know what to make of Lambert comments. He kept saying again and again RAndy will say what he’s got to say. he kept saying that we need to spend bigger on players like Hernandez etc. He seemed relaxed and happy. Must be going well at Villa ?
he didn’t seem like a guy who knew he was of. Sounded more like he and Randy will be still with us
I take from the lack of comments so near to a massive game, others are having trouble posting???
I havent been able to comment from my Iphone, iv sent Matt a message
Hi Jason
They will perform terribly but nothing new there but I think we will get at least a point. Don’t ask why it’s just the law of averages. Then again I think other teams will ensure us safety before 5pm sat
B62
Same for all mate fixed now I assume
Hello Jason, hope all is well.
Your leader sums up the apathy at VP at present, although tomorrow it will be like a volcano, if we lose then the Bolton game will seem like an episode of Happy Days, i think that was the last game that Loser attended and he realised then that it was best if he avoided VP. Am i grateful for anything that he has bought to the club ? never in the reign of pigs pudding, he’s bought nothing except lies, promises, bullshite and failure and the sooner he, his pet monkey and Lambert bugger off then the sooner AVFC can recover from his ‘custody.’
Hi,
First time on here so hello to all. It is very much squeeky bum time at the Villa where i think a point will be enough. It is just a shame and not good enough that we are relying on other teams results to keep us in this league.
Personally i would go with a 4-2-3-1 line up:
Guzan
Lowton/Vlaar/Baker/Betrand
Westwood/Clark
Albrighton/Delph/Agbonlahor
Helenius
It is clear from past events the defence require greater support and they can’t past from the back so put in Helenius at the top and play the very boring long ball, hopefully Mark and Gabby can cause them problems and get some crosses in as well.
I don’t think Hull will come at us, we will have to go on a hunt for a goal.
Hoping for a bore draw to keep us up and go again without the current regime.
UTV
Sat is a must win game, if we get 3 points we will know we are safe, and we concentrate all our efforts getting these selfish, incompetent buffoons out of our club. A draw and it means it’s not certain and it will drag onto the spurs game, I’m not counting City as they will murder us and our GD, a loss and I think we’re gone , I can’t see all the gods aligning to save us, get a new gaffer and a new minted owner, and send the vermin down to the third tier!!!
I’m going to the game, who is going the social after????
Hi Phil. Lambert won’t change line up or anything despite we have just lost 4-1, and got 1 point from 6 games. He kept the line up pretty much the same in all. Hes the only manager on earth that doesn’t change a constantly losing side. he’s the worst manager on earth actually. he should piss of and manage Celtic, level of football where he belongs. The man makes my blood boil 🙂
We have have Wiemann and KEA in attacking areas who are slow, sloppy, heavy footed and piss poor players in general. We will have 3 in midfield again at home. 3 midfielders who do nothing, who stand on each others toes and can only pass side ways or back to Guzan. Holt will be supper sub when its 0-0 with 10 mins to go, or if we are losing.
I’d love to see Helenius who has played 10 mins of football but actually not far of Gabby and weimann goal total. Tonev and Albri on the wings
Phil
Your line up just shows how poor our squad is mate, it’s as good as we can put out tho, which is frightening.
If we go with that, I think we’ll need Bacuna, Kea, Robinson etc on the bench.
I’d think about starting Given, he can then directly influence those in front, an experienced head, and let’s be honest Guzan has drifted back to being shite, and showing the sort of form that got him released
I’d Like Given to start also. As you say, Guzan saves nothing anymore. If it’s on target, it’s going in
I see that David Cameron has said that he’ll get his Arab friends to buy Villa.
He thinks the Man City model is “good”.
FREM/B62 VILLA, as Lambert has said it an FA cup final i thought he might be bold and try and make a difference….you are probably right…i did a few beers at lunch time!
It still baffles me why he chooses Holt ‘Kebab Man’ instead of Helenius.
I think Bacuna is still ill.
Totally agree with the subs of Tonev, Robinson…maybe Donacien as well….Weimann
FA cup final ?
is that the same competition he said he didn’t care about and that a League 1 side knocked us out of ?
John- I’d take being like City
Frem,
I’m not going to argue, but I’m not going to be able to pronounce all those players’ names that will probably materialise when a foreign manager is appointed!
I prefer my names to be like Milner, Barry and Young!
John,
Outstanding observation about Camoron ….he’s got friends ????
B62,
Think we’ll be in the Social for the game, then Holte Suite and back to the Social. St75 will be on later with the exact plan.
Phil,
Its scary, the dearth of talent at VP, he could literally put the names in a bag and draw them out and we’d be shite with every option, i’m not confident at all and i think extra police will be needed, think it could turn nasty.
Fair enough John 🙂 I’d love nothing more than Villa to be successful with our home grown players, a British manager and big group of English players like we had with Young, Barry, Milner, Bent etc. I thought Lambert would do that but he has done nothing for our youth.
Liverpool give hope it can still happen. They haven’t spent know where on the level of City, Chelsea etc and look at Flanagan and Sterling. Home grown players, English, Then there is Johnson, Gerrard and Sturridge.
If going City way is the only way we will ever win things then i’d have to take it, but ideally I would prefer to go like Pool. If we get a new owner who is clever, and invests a fair bit and brings youth through as well, then great
obviously a manager who knows what football is would help as well
my chances of making the meet are similar to villa winning slim, the Mrs says I have been entered into a tug of war comp (no steamer not because I’m a practised puller) tup north but am working on making an appearance 🙂
Cameron just thinks he’ll get more tax where as he probably owes lerner a few million
hi phil welcome to the madhouse
Frem
We are like Man City
Unfortunately, it’s the Man City of old, that plummeted down the league
Thanks Mark…it sure is interesting reviewing peoples views…maybe we can hook up for a beer or three next season if we stay up…if not i am going to watch netball!!!
A very good and fitting article Jason.
Describing it as a cup final is arguably putting more pressure on a set of players whose confidence must be on the floor . I would go as far to suggest they may be dreading playing at VP tomorrow . A friend who went to last week’s game said that Baker and Vlaar came over to clap them and had to turn away as they were getting a load of abuse.
I went to the Bolton game and it was horrible . The abuse towards AM started after Bolton scored and we lost : it must have affected the players and I hope that if protests are made tomorrow that they are made at the end , not during .
I hope PL changes the team – we don’t really want to see “the team remains unchanged from the one that lost 4-1 to Swansea” !!
Would also like to take a chance on Given . This is where those bomb squad players would have been useful – experienced heads to keep them on track .
As Nzog has been saying he is fit to play – maybe PL would produce him as his wild card !
Welcome Phil – nothing wrong with netball ! 🙂
Instead of going to Villa tomorrow, shell we just all get tickets to go to Bolton instead and watch the Scum get relegated?
the team remains unchanged from the one that lost 4-1 to Swansea” !!
We will be seeing that Jenny. Tonev, Zoggy and Helenius could all come in, but why would they when we are blessed with Holt, KEA and Wiemann ?
Frem
I’m praying this Gippo bastards go down, but I have a bast feeling they will survive on the last day
ye, same B6
They only need a point and Doncaster will probably loose to Leicester
its tempting to change loads of players but bringing given into our back four will do nothing but disrupt an already frail back line. would chance Helenius from the off but as we saw with Robinson its hard to make an impact in this team as there isn’t much of a base.
phil
just read my comments and drink beer or depression follows shortly 😉
hmmm an interesting stat..Hull haven’t scored against Villa since 1987. We have drawn or won our last eight meetings. Maybe just maybe we can pull this off….
UTV
hmmm an interesting stat..Hull haven’t scored against Villa since 1987. We have drawn or won our last eight meetings. Maybe just maybe we can pull this off….
UTV
——————
Shit. Lambert loves to break these kind of records. fulham had never beat us at VP in the Prem. Stoke had never scored 4 away goals in the same game
Been out and about and there’s a definite tension around Birmingham, not so much around the skip because they’ve been shite since 1875 but in the caff this morning one of the lads couldn’t finish his fourth bacon, sausage, egg & tomato sandwich, a sure sign. Smells of bad news to me.
Ifs its the same team then we’re in trouble, its shown both individually and collectively that its nowhere near good enough, i’d stick Clark in MF and tell him to sit 10/12 yards in front of Baker and Vlaar, nothing fancy.
Think Long will think its Crimbo whatever.
given
lowton
clark
vlar
bertrand
albrighton
bacuna
delph
westwood
gabby
holt
4 5 1 holt for first half try start fast robinson helnius pieman if not working
if crowd gets behind early hopefully good start,if not relegation is coming
James,
Could be a problem if we go behind and play our normal headless hoofball, possibly the fans will turn.
Can’t believe any Villa fan would want Holt to start. Start Robbinson, Helenius, Tonev, an 16 year old if we have to but no Holt, KEA or Wiemann anywhere near the first team. Tried and failed.
The fans should chase Lambert out what ever the result. Just like against Saints and Palace, we will play for a draw with no intent on winning
Frem,
Equally I can’t quite see the logic of selecting the three you’ve stated. None of them has PL experience to speak of and this (i.m.o.) is not the kind of match to try what is essentially fresh blood.
Despite his faults, Holt at least knows about Prem League football and is an old battler. I don’t like that option, but it’s probably the best we have available other than playing those that have started of late.
agree john about holt don t rate him but he is better than any of others
Holt has only been in the Prem 2 seasons hasn’t he ? Of course we do have a proven relegation battler but he’s loaned out to Fulham ,
Jenny,
You’re right! I was only thinking of the ones actually at VP, but your point is well taken.
Actually, Jenny, Holt’s experience in the Prem is hugely greater than the three quoted by Frem. Plus that he’s been around a bit and knows a few tricks – or should do.
That was my meaning. 🙂
what is about strikers coming to villa cant stop scoring to they put on villa shirt,people on about bent how many goals for fulham,last year for us.
Possibly James because Darren Bent’s goals kept us up in the past. Of course he isn’t doing anything at Fulham because he was sent to train with the kids here and ostracized. His career was ruined by PL. It may also have something to do with the fact that Martin Jol wanted DB and Fulham are on their third manager. If DB had been treated properly and given a chance we probably wouldn’t be in the predicament we are now. Paul Lambert’s hopeless man management and ego will be his downfall . Maybe the bomb squad will have the last laugh.
If Holt starts then i may just leave before half time.
Would sooner see a front line of Andrew P & Steamer than Holt n Bowery.
Depsite this i think we will win by 4 or 5 and leave Villa Park happy whilst wearing our free shirts left on every seat by the club because we are a little disillusioned by the “goings on” this season.
UTV!!
Even the commentators laugh when Holt comes on the pitch as he is five paces behind where he should be. He epitomizes the ludicrous situation we are in. Having said that now he will probably go and score !.
No he will not Jen
Obviously the medication nurse hasn’t got round to Bib yet : but the others are settled down for the night 🙂
Well may be they have 🙂
Agree with what’s being said. No KEA, Holt, or weimann tomorrow. Helenius must be given a chance! How can Lambert justify in his own mind not playing at all other than a cup game for ten min, where he actually scored.
Weimann and Gaby are useless for me but I do rate weimann to tap in as well as Gabby plus he can find a good pass every so often. Unfortunately, albrighton is miles passed him and aw can’t play on the left.
Hopefully it’s guz
Lowton vlaar clark (baker the worst player in the epl) bertrand
Westwood delph
Albri bacuna gabby
Helenius
Subs: as fat as he is I prefer Holt over bowery and Robinson
Good article, Jay. You have an excellent writing style-clear and straight to the point.
I think Villa will manage a win against Hull. They have to, don’t they? If they can’t manage that, they should get the sack.
Quite a few of our players do seem to dislike playing at VP. On that alone, they need to either change their attitudes fast or find a new club.
Right then, better go take my medication before morning meditation.
Bottom line is, the club needs to get a winning mentality.
At the moment it has an excuse mentality.
jenny loves darren true 😉
mr bent didn’t save Jol and he wont save Fulham ( I hope ) .that nasty Mr Lambert has destroyed a mentally feeble millionaire footballer the callous bastard :-). one minute your the answer to Englands dreams the next day a jock tells you your not, must be tough, best just give up and be average.
Glad to arrive home after a hard day’s work and see everyone so positive….I am going to the game tomorrow, and if we are not at least 3 up by half time, as Steve Bruce only wants a boring draw…..or maybe he is doing a Jose job of misleading the opposition, then i will shove Frem, Steamer and B62 up front and destroy them while me and ST75 kick sh^^e out of their attack….
Generous offering from the club at the moment, I can get a further 20% of prices which are already reduced by up to 50% from the original 10% reduction……I think this means they may be paying me to buy Villa stuff…!!!
I can’t really add to these comments that say it all, except Welcome Phil.
It’s 8 in the morning here (2 in the morning UK), so I’ve plenty of time to get socially confused before kick off – maybe that will help!
I might take my wife to pray at the Brahma Shrine down the road – every time she goes what she prays for happens – but I’m not sure she will ask for the right thing in Thai!! Don’t want the Earth Goddess confused.