It’s beginning to look like the hand of God is working against Aston Villa, as fortuitous bounces fell the other way and Alan Hutton found his own net. Never mind the 10-minute delay while Gomes received treatment and was stretchered off, which felt like a turning point in the game, robbing Villa of momentum, and allowing Watford to regroup.
There was no lack of endeavor on Villa’s part, and for long stretches Villa were the better team, on the front foot, trying to take the game to Watford. But in the end, despite two very good goals from Richards and Ayew, Villa were always chasing the game as far as the scoreline went, and looking up at a familiar site on the scoreboard as the final whistle blew.
I’m not usually one to look to luck, but Villa were arguably unlucky on the day. Of course, one can always say you make your own luck, and to an extent it’s true. But sometimes the ball just never seems to bounce your way no matter how hard you’re working.
If we say luck isn’t on our side, though, we could also say teams just aren’t making the same mistakes Villa are.
Which is where the back four come into play. Richards had a great game. Hutton, Clark and Richardson, not so much. Keystone Cops defending continues, with players unable to simply clear the ball. Huttons’ interception late in the game was a great bit of anticipation. But a very heavy touch gave it right back, leaving Hutton well out of position, everyone trying to move forward and chaos ensued. Clark not jumping to deny or at least hamper Deeney. Hutton trying to put in a vital intervention that would’ve been a wonderful strike at the other end, but instead beat Guzan to the far post. Too often a step behind, then panicking in a last-ditch situation that Villa pay for week in and week out.
And that really seems to be the takeaway for me. It’s one thing to be unlucky up front, but at the back, the weakness has been there for years.
As this terrible season unfolds, Villa have undone themselves at the back continuously with all sorts of avoidable errors and gifted opportunities. At this point, you have to wonder if there could possibly be a worse pair of fullbacks in the Premier League. To be fair, Hutton does play hard, tries to drive forward and take responsibility, is available on the wings and always trying to make something happen. But he’s just not good enough at the back.
Richardson is Richardson, a stop-gap who just isn’t a proper fullback. Clark just isn’t mean enough or focused enough.
On the flip side, Traore showed just how good a player he could be. Ayew had a fantastic goal, the sort he should be looking to score more often, but he’ll be distraught at the first-half chance he should’ve put away, the one good bounce that Villa could really have capitalized from. Richards backed up his words midweek with a truly captain-like performance. There was fight, there was attacking intent. Sanchez was invaluable, even though he can be counted on for one or two lapses that always seem to create danger. For all the criticism leveled his way, Guzan made the vital saves he could.
But if I’m Garde, I’ve got to be thinking how can this side stop giving away so many goals out of nothing. It’s one thing to be outplayed like last week. It’s another to keep giving teams so many chances in front of goal that should simply be dispatched with a firm kick upfield—or anywhere, really. They’re doing themselves no favors by falling behind at every opportunity. I really do think that if Villa could get that sorted, they’d find themselves climbing out of trouble. That’s a big if, though, and there seem to be no quick fixes in sight. January may be far too late.
Each week without points is making the situation more dire—if that were possible. Many supporters are resigned to relegation, and after seeing how things went today, it’s not hard to argue. I’ve not given up hope, but something has to change at the back. Two goals should be enough at home.
Perhaps the side can take heart from finding the net and putting on a battling display. But to work hard, score, seemingly have the upper hand and still find ways to lose is disheartening in the extreme.
Over to you.
The Author
John Clark
John is co-owner of AVL, and has followed the Villa since the '70s. A journalist by trade, he is, by most accounts, a very nice person. You can follow me on Twitter @JClarkKohoutek. It's an astonishing experience. Or a complete waste of time.Comments 88
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bang on assesment of the game JC
also very true re our long standing clumsiness at the back
as you say guzan did a good job overall toady -micah showed great heart – he must be so gutted
our only hope is to scape a few results before jan so we are in touch and the get things exactly right in the market (gulp)
Good accurate write up as usual.
What happened to accountability ? Riley and the Jeerman spent our funds and now we’re relegated, if they had any self respect they’d resign as should the idiot who employed them and assisted in purchasing these players .. Fox, who also employed the previous chancer. This is the same Fox who gave the pathetic Lambert a new contract and has also given new extended ones to several players who can’t even get into the current shambles of a team. Chubby was crepe but this moron takes the biscuit. Then we come to the main problem Randy Lerner who just can’t make a correct decision, when he cosied up to HRH Bill at Wembley i nearly chucked, the only game he watches in two seasons and its the cup final !!
Still, 35,000 folk must be enjoying the fare on offer otherwise they’d be demonstrating before, during and after games like we did in the 60’s.
Hello JC. We still lack intelligent movement and pass the ball to often when there is no need inviting pressure. Gils influence has diminished in the last 2 games which i find puzzling.
mark Gil was recieving the ball in wide positions then refusing to go forward into space due to his lack of pace no doult , so the ball went backwards from wide areas —-
I’m calling for heads to roll these people haven’t a clue and have failed their remit. Have they the goolies to admit it, naaah. Fox actually knows that he’s out of his depth by calling for a Villan to be appointed to a position in the back room, but he won’t resign because he gets 1.5m units per annum.
If as Andrew suggests Riley vetoed Moyes having all the usual managerial responsibilities then i would say that he’s getting above himself and should be removed.
The Jeerman isn’t qualified and is unpopular among the staff,so he should bugger off too, not wanted.
Until Lerner sells the club, and he isn’t even trying too, then basically were doomed, we won’t fare any better in the Champs and the outlook looks dismal.
I hope Remi doesn’t suffer unfairly for being foreign like Dr Jo did, i know for a FACT that Venglos never selected the Villa team while he was manager but took the blame for the lowlife that did.
Steamer. Interview on radio 5 with pat murphy.
Reily wanted someone in to work with basicly his signings!
Wonder if the fans will start protesting or somehing now evryone can see we have had it.
Runtingz- I agree mate but it didnt stop him against city also think its time to stop relying on the hutton overlap its no option at all. Adama needs to be put there in one on one positions not one on 3 to give him a chance and gil a free rein. Maybe Garde wants to stay tight a little to much at the moment
Yeah, reily flew out to spain to do the interview and moyes wanted to do a complete overhaul of youhbset up and everything but reily reluctant to loose control.
Like you say until they are removed we are doomed
Great write up John – I agree , luck isn’t a great one to use as an excuse / reason but I did feel that Leicester did have the lions share today and we must have used all ours up for man city .
I feel for MIcah today – you can just tell that he was gutted . Seeing him getting the crowd behind them when he scored was magic . Oh to have more of that and the support was great today . Half time I really believed we’d win it.
But I’m afraid I’m starting to wonder whether these players can keep us up now. We just have to buy well in the January window . But who can we trust to do that ?!
John,
Good write up but i cannot agree with the luck element, we have shown no ambition whatsoever the last five seasons so we deserve everything we have got coming.
We have made shocking appointments at the club people who are no where near qualified to do the job.
We are a shambles from top to bottom and we can all see now that relegation is coming it will be a disappointment for Garde to take us down but he will not be to blame, he is trying to clean up years of rank bad management and i hope it does not taint his own career.
GSAVFC
Andrew and Steamer – the suspicion has been all along that a French manager was chosen To justify Riley and Amstsdts signings .and save their backs .
But now the questions are being asked in the media “why we’re so many young players brought in with no premier league experience “. But then these questions are only asked when the club in question is doing badly . Flores has brought in more than we have with no prem experience but as Watford are exceeding expectations they don’t fall under the same criticism .
My gut instinct is that these French players are too light weight . Lots of tricks and fancy footwork , look good individually but get knocked off the ball too easily and aren’t prepared to get stuck in . As one blogger put it “too many show horses and not enough war horses “.
Is this what Remi is referring too when he says they need to improve their “collectivity ” . We need all hands to the pump , not fancy footsteps dancing round it .
Jen,
I don’t know which players are to blame, virtually every Brit has been a disaster this season and failed to provide an on pitch environment for the French lads to settle in. i’d sooner watch the new lads than the crepe that Ginger/Lamebert signed but as you said, they seem to lack the mettle for the ruck that passes for English footy.
Andrew,
Thanks for the info, strange that the noises eminating from VP suggested that Remi was always number 1, not that you can trust anything coming from VP.
I think garde will look at Gestede more closely. He hasn’t started yet under Garde as hes packing the midfield.
Vertouts delivery for richards goal tells me theres goals from set plays vertout is fast becoming my favourite player.
Garde has to change system quickly or we will be relegated by Feb. how he’s set us up the last two games is a joke
We pack the midfield and still concede, so stop doing it and put another attacker on the pitch instead. It has to be either a 4231 or a 442.
4231 has to be Gil, Jack and Adama with Ayew when we need a more quality build up and control the ball. 442 has to be Kozak or Rudy with Ayew with Adama and someone else on the left but Sinclair.
442 is a cracking formation if used right. Play it on Saturday.
Centre mid two had to be Gana and Veretout. There good on the ball.
Guzan, Richardson need to go. Hutton isn’t good either.
I’m going to Southampton at the weekend and then Newcastle with my Twin on the 19th. Can’t help my self
I didn’t mean because they are French Steamer – sorry didn’t express myself properly . The younger players who have come in with no premier league or English league experience even. Who would you rather have Albrighton or Gana. The ppl who went to the game , my friends included are saying that Ayew was dilly dallying tying laces when Richardson had no one to throw to. I’m not saying English are better , far from it , they’re not but the premiership experience element is what we lack – doesn’t matter what nationality they are – they know the pace and physicality of the league .
Also , we won the next gen four years ago . What’s happened to these players . The answer Lamvert and the club seemed reluctant to invest in our own but preferred cheap imports . It’s a club that is all upside down .
Frem – I admire you for your fantastic support. I really don’t know how you do it . I’d planned s trip to VP to see the Arsenal game but I’ve decided I can’t stomach watching us get a pelting from Arsenal . It’s too miserable .
Great write up John, solid comments too everyone. Frem if the boys on the pitch or in the boardroom had your claret & blue passion we’d be laughing. A truly dark day in the club’s history, first half was somewhat near acceptable , thought Sinclair offered far more than Grealish has in months.
Second half was a farce baring the glimpses of sheer magic from Adama it was reminiscent of a 5a side game down the park when one team got tired 90% of the Villa lads were out juice by 70mins , Gana has been a real let down for me I really overrated him I now realise with the benefit of hindsight. The club’s very future I think is now in the balance, do we roll the dice spend 20/30 million in January in bid for mission impossible or should the budgeting/planning for a promotion push in the championship start from now.
The players are not good enough, collectively or individually. Recruitment has been ragtag for years and the clubs has not had a footballing ethos or philosophy for eons. Football is such a simple game when played by footballers, when it’s not played by footballers but overpaid ordinary athletes it’s a cruel heart string snapping torture ground.
We just are not good enough in any facet
guzan mon signing and he never rated him either dropped for cup final
hutton mcknob signing couldnt get in nforest team on loan then fox gives new contract
richardson lambert signing uuugghhhhhh one worst players i have seen in villa shirt
clark come through ranks only when playing alongside okore has he looked comfortable for villa
richards sherwood signing good today going forward defensively shocking leader move to full back
sanchez lamberts signing
vertout riley/fox signing looks ok
gana riley/fox signing going to need time makoun anyone
gil lamberts signing starting to look very average
ayew riley/fox signing 3 goals doing ok for me
subs
rudi sherwood said he wanted him untried but has 4 goals equal to both gabby wiemen total last season
traore fox/riley he looks the part
other players used this season
bacuna lamberts signing poor showing this season but then again only cost pennies
lescott sherwoods signing brutal to be honest
crespo fox/riley signing didnt see enough but if can t replace richardson say s it all
amavi fox/riley looks good
westwood lamberts signing like bacuna didnt cost much for a reason useless
grealish homegrown needs taking in hand form very poor
zog mcknob signing
gabby home grown hasn t been seen since neville showed him up for twat he is
not played
bunnsherwood signing
new keeper fox/riley
ilor fox/riley why is he not involved
okore lamberts signing
kozak lamberts signing has to be worth punt up front
its not newboys that are problem its the ones hanging about for last3/4/5 years and more happy taking wages for no return
fox misssed chance for big sam 9 points for sunderland ,we wouldn t be conceding goals for fun every week ,he would 2 banks 4 with big rudi up front,today watford had 2 shakiest keepers in pl and we didn t have no one too attack crosses and then when put on rudi we didnt put it in,
this nonesense of fullbacks creating width when you have 2 turds playing their my god remi must be blind
sinclair lamberts signing for money spent ok value
Not sure any of the new are much better than what we had before and they’re not good enough so it looks like we are done for. I think we are fooling ourselves because the truth is hard to take.
We are a better team than tyson fury is a boxer
May be a bad time to experiment with Arsenal coming up but they rate were going they’ll stuff us anyway!
I’d go for a 3 4 3 which would place a high demand on the outside midfielders to defensively but we’d at least have 3 centrebacks who in theory who know how to defend and won’t be expected to get forward and back.
I’d sit Sanchez as he has the habit of being good then diabolical like his brain switches off!
My formation is:
Guzan
Okore Richards Clark
Bacuna Westwood Veretout Gana
Adama Ayew Gil/Grealish
I see Bacuan and Gana as both having really good engines and capable of defending/supporting the 3 cenrehalves down the flanks.
If we have 3 forwards who are all fast and have good ball skills who can break together but also defend from the front by asking them to run their socks off pressuring the back four of the opposition then if necessary freshening them up with 2/3 other players (Sinclair, Gabby, Grealish) after 60 minutes if they fatigue.
Nothing else has worked so far but like I said playing 3 at the back against Arsenal would be a trial by fire to say the least!
UTV
Sorry Saints next not the Gooners! Would love to see Bacuna and Gana show their athleticism by getting up and downand just let the 3 central defenders focus on defending and the front free focus on pressuring and attacking as a unit! This way we won’t have to rely on Mutton providing quality crosses and also being good defensively…
UTV
After seeing the highlights I stand by my 3-4-3!
Don’t want to see Richards again after that Everton debacle nor Hutton today after his dire display… Sanchez in the holding role if he gives another pathetic showing like he did today can’t happen again either. I mean how many times did Mutton and Sanchez give the ball away today between them… hopeless!
Ayew keeps illustrating that he can finish so at least that’s encouraging so give him a couple of fast and/or creative players to play with and back them up with outside midfielders who do defensive duty and we may be on to something or not… but worth a try compared to the shower of shite of late!
UTV
Sorry got Richards mixed up with Richardson previously. Richards with Okore and Clark is what I’m looking for!
UTV
It doesn’t really matter who is selected, none are really good enough for this level or have enough fight or guile to get out of this hole. My ST hasn’t even VFM since I bought it!!! It’s all ST holders where I sit a group of8-10 offs ought a few have already said they can’t justify getting one next season as they won’t be able to make the midweek games.
I will prob re ew just because of the Derby games, but it will depend on my shifts. I already feel sorry for my son as he has got loads of Villa stuff , he just doesn’t realise what a shithouse club we are, when he is old enough he can make bison choices. But I’m not taking him to support any other West-Midlands team, I’d rather be watched Man Utd or Barcelona or something!!!!
The club I love is rotten, I hate them,As far as I’m concerned I hope the next board meeting involving Lerner, Fox has some sort of natural disaster and they are wiped out , they should be tried for crimes against football
To Fox speaks and gives JD a mention –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrNW4LC8hWI
Hello All,
For me, a glaring error was leaving out Gestede and Traore at the very start or at h-t. With the keeper all punches he was clearly nervous and good centres and Gestede heading-power should have done the rest.
So we not only have a squad without enough experience but also the manager learning as he goes.
Relegation is now virtually a ‘has-to-be’ I’m very sorry to say, especially with these stats in mind:
· Villa have gone 13 league games without a victory (D2, L11), equalling the club record.
· Villa have equalled the club record of nine consecutive home matches without a league win.
· The Villans have only earned 72 points from 77 league games at Villa Park since December 2011. They have lost more than half of those matches (W17, D21).
Hello John,
That’s pitiful, we used to moan when we were sitting in mid table in previous years now we’re so apathetic we can’t be bothered to demonstrate when we’re being destroyed by idiots.
under Lerners ownership the club has broken virtually every negative record in its history, the bloke must be an embarrassment to his family.
Steamer,
I’m somehow being mailed a ‘Randy Lerner Thread’ at Villa Talk on which there are vile condemnations of Lerner and even of his family. Maybe it’s happening on other blogs too, I don’t know.
When I read them I wanted to distance myself from football. It’s a reflection on how much football (and Villa in particular) means to them, of course, but people should learn that what goes round comes round. Vile messages to Lerner and his family will not produce anything … only a formal protest has the possibility of success, but I rather think that it’s a bit late now for that. Nothing more is going to change structurally (now) for this season – which will simply end either in relegation or a magnificent recovery. Leicester got out of it at a very late stage, so while there’s life …
The sooner Lerner and his cronies leave VP ( preferably in pine boxes) the better. We are shambles from top to bottom, it is like a cancer has infested the club that needs cutting out and years of rehabilitation. We are officially the worst side in premier league history, a real laughing stock. Only Villa could be ever present in the premier league, before getting relegated just as the TV money goes stratospheric !!!! . The TV cash is a real game changer , I fear we will never compete again and will drift through the decades as a bland nothing football club( which we pretty much already are). The likes of West Ham and Spurs are marching forwards with new stadia holding 50-60k, West Ham are already pretty much sold out for next season apparently, due to the sensible pricing policy ( £200 for an adult ST). They will all be getting over £100m of TV money before any sponsorship and gate receipts etc. We are so far behind its ridiculous , Lerner has taken us back decades, the contempt I have the man and his appointed cronies knows no bounds, it’s the sort I normally reserve for Nonces , people that mug old ladies and that blue shower over the road.
John
We are in a far worse position than Leicester were, and they had far better players and spirit(as shown this season). There will be no miracle or great escape at VP this season.
I am so utterly dismayed with the current situation at Villa Park. I love this football club and it is currently a shocking laughing stock – it’s criminal the decline of our great club.
The defence yesterday was pathetic – Richardson, Hutton and Clarke were woeful. I am not sure how we address the situation at the back. There is only Richards who is Premier League quality. We were embarrassed at home by Watford – how low can we go?
Stan is right about the board at Aston Villa – they are not fit for purpose. I think we should get rid of Fox – Reilly and the German with immediate effect – they are clueless – they are not Villa men and they have made a catastrophic gamble and they have failed. We should start the protest against those guys.
And there is no point in protesting against the owner- he wants to sell. He is about to lose several hundred million dollars – the Championship with be the graveyard for Aston Villa – that is his penance.
after cup final sherwood said we needed a whole new team and i agreed yet where are they
from last season squad i would kept sissko okore clark bacuna sanchez gil grealish sinclair and a fit gabby weight off
we didnt get it no keeper,right back,centre half centre mid,goalscorer
we got amavi,vertout gana ayew traore who i think will be ok ,but then probs start crespo,lescott bunn other keeper stupid signings rudi would do as apunt nothing more balaban cost as much almost 15/18 years ago
guzan hutton richardson clark westwood overweight gabby grealish childish behavior has cost us most points this season
if lerner had put another 40/50 m to buy above positions we would be no where near relegation and chance lerner going to lose a fortune
I can’t believe we are now 7 points behind Sunderland , the recruitment in the summer was a joke, we are the worst ever PL side, and that squad had roughly £50m spent on it, but we didn’t recruit properly despite knowing Tekkers was going and Delph left early doors
B62: “We are in a far worse position than Leicester were, and they had far better players and spirit”
We are not really in such a worse position than Leicester were … *if* we can get a couple of wins over the next month or so then we can manufacture a Leicester-style recovery. They didn’t start winning until end-December last season.
Don’t agree that the players are better…
Don’t agree they had better spirit…. It was pretty clear yesterday (especially first half) that there’s enough spirit at Villa – it’s defensive errors and eroding confidence that are the main issues i.m.o.
John
They are flying this season( were top) with the same squad, they also finished well above us last season. As for lack of spirit and fight even Micah Richards has said as much. Yesterday we looked better in patches but still shipped 3 goals and lost the game to a very average Watford side. I can’t see where our next win is coming from, we already need at least two more than Sunderland, I just can’t see us coming back from this.
B62,
It doesn’t matter whether they finished above us last season or that they’re in the top group now … the point is that at the end of December last year they looked totally out. And then they came back.
What happened to them can still happen to Villa. Not saying it will – I’m just allowing for the possibility.
I get that John , I’m just saying last season leicester still had more points on the board and we’re playing better than Villa are, they had already beaten Man Utd 5-3. I just don’t think the form they hit to escape can be replicated by this shower of shit. We are officially worse than any other team in PL history, and that includes Derby who went down on a record low points total, a record we are on course to beat.
Stan is right about the board at Aston Villa – they are not fit for purpose. I think we should get rid of Fox – Reilly and the German with immediate effect – they are clueless – they are not Villa men and they have made a catastrophic gamble and they have failed. We should start the protest against those guys.
Lerner keeps appointing these dimwit CEO’s and they, in turn, keep appointed crepe cadres none o which know what makes AVFC tick, he should consult a panel of Villans before he makes a move and i don’t mean the Villa Trust who are toothless windbags who have no influence and struggle to justify their existence.
The first step is to make Fox as uncomfortable as possible, the bloke is an ignorant fake who is worse than Chubby who himself was a disaster. Lerner seems to have an obsession with American admin, its just unfortunate that their ideas don’t work in the UK and they’re not prepared to adjust. My fear is that when he does sell he sells to another of his countrymen and that’s not a rant, look at Liverpool, 2 weeks from going bust, Slumberland who’s owner described Lerner as ‘a role model’ and Untied who are a almost a billion in debt while the owners take millions out of the club.
Can you imagine supporting a team that showed any where near the same level of passion and commitment as the fans?
No me neither any more.
Villa are now a laughing stock and we will be so far adrift by Jan we won’t be able to get any players into helps.
Relegated by Jan… Only Villa could be that shit.
Lester have energy, pace, and fight 100 % every game. We are no where near that.
We are heading into a very dark periiod if learner and co remain. Will he take a hit and sell us for half the price?
We hace saint and arsenal next so prob will be at least 9 or ten points adrift. The hope of getting in austin will be gone. We need him or rhodes to help us our of championshiop.
Andrew,
Bearing in mind that a biggish club like Wolves are up for 40m and Sheff Wed went for 30m then Lerner isn’t going to get more than 70m max so he’ll probably stay and complete the destruction.
I expect him to put up a wad in January but who in their right minds would sign for this crepe club ? possibly lower division players or more foreigners. I expect Remi will have some loan players sorted by now ready to sign in Jan, if we can stay up and begin to look like a football club again then Lerner might just sod off.
6 points before xmas will give us more than leicester had. They also only had 19 by end of Feb. Although the situation looks hopeless for us Im sure they’re fans were not thinking we will get out of this we are trying hard. And they certainly wouldn’t be thinking top 4 by next december.
Theres no guarantees but we have been written off for 5 years now time as allways will tell.
The only hope is we have been that bad but are still only 7 points off. We have to win at least 2 games before Jan. Newcastle has to be one
I really don’t think the players care though. I bet 99% of them don’t even know our history and that we have never been relegated from the Prem
We have knowone on the baord, the staff or on the pitch who cares about this club.
Villa were my first love when I was about 7, like many of you on here I guess as well. It hurts like hell how far we have fallen
Shite little clubs like QPR, the Scum, WBA etc get relegated from the Prem, not Villa
100% correct.
It’s desperate watching My team take it’s last breaths in the premiership, we’ve had the defribrilators in use for the last few seasons and it looks like the battery is dead from overuse. I hope we can breathe again.
What’s more painful is watching the club from a distance when I should be at VP cheering on my team, I’m away at Manu but won’t get to VP this side of Christmas. There are undoubtedly some very talented individuals but we are not a team.
The lads should take a day off from training and go on the rip together and come back looking to die for each other and the cause. At the moment, it’s fear driving the team to the championship, only one person willing to put their foot on the ball in Richards is not enough.
Silver linings – we scored two so we should do alright in the championship (with tongue in cheek, sorry) but to be fair the team need to remind themselves of these goalscoring moments and replicate those feelings. There was a bit of fight on Saturday but the Gomes injury allowed Watford to regain composure.
Newcastle have the wrong men in charge in manager and chairman, they’re tactics against Palace were atrocious so can’t see a change in their position, Swansea are in free fall and seem content with Monk (another Sherwood, no experience and no knowledge how to get a team out of trouble). Big Sam will have Sunderland safe, Eddie’s Bournemouth hit by crucial injuries and probably no real finances to buy their way out of trouble in Jan. Norwich got lucky against Arsenal but will be found wanting over 38 games. We can still do this but we need Fox and Reilly to take a step back. Lerner to step up and bank roll the club one more time and Garde to be given the funding to get the players he wants unfortunately its the spine we need, a GK a CB alongside Richards, a CM to win the ball and a striker.
Keeping the faith since seventy eight. (only because it rhymes, earliest memory is the 79 sale of Andy Gray but Villa fan before that)
Frem – and the the other knockers 😉
Can’t agree that Villa’s players don’t care. They bloomin’ well do. Richards is a prime example and the way Villa were going forward first half also indicated that they were striving hard. I think Villa’s main failure Saturday was that they didn’t exploit their keeper’s vulnerability.
The main issue is to do with the defence … there’s been lack of confidence developing ever since the CP match and that has to be tightened up. Garde indicated that he intends to do that – how, I don’t know, but at least he’s identified that.
Somehow, Garde has to instill self-belief in the team. If he fails then all is lost. But I can’t see evidence that the players don’t care.
The second big issue is that we’ve got a crop of players who are only now adjusting to the PL – Ayew and Veretout are looking as though they’re getting there, though. Traore could come good.
Being a Villa fan demands a huge amount of patience. Those that went through the 50s, 60s and 70s will know exactly what I mean. Supporting Villa develops character! 🙂
We are as good as relegated before December, that’s some feat !!! If we can start winning games( big if) those around us have some tricky fixtures and are unlikely to pull further away just yet, it’s simply down to us to start winning matches, and there lies the problem, we haven’t looked like winning a football match all season. Even against Bournemouth they were far the better side, against Leicester we went 2-0 up but capitulated and could have shipped even more. The defence are a shambles , we need clean sheets, look at what Big Fat Sam has done at the Mackems, they are more compact, play as a unit, defend as a team and are now 7 points clear of us , most pundits now think they won’t go down under Sam, Everyone thinks we are already gone( we are 5 points behind a Newcastle side that has been a car crash this season!!!).
Frem
lm going to Newcastle , a mini bus and were stopping at a mates pub just outside , come and join me for birthday drink mate , will text you the name ect .
l think newcastle will have a new manager installed by the 19th and as you know through the villa history if a team needs a win , villa will give it them ((
seems Runtins had a great way to get over saturday , as the video he posted starts upright then he must slide down onto the floor , must have had a braindeader but it looks like he had a good night )))), which l seem to be drinking to excess at the moment , have a good week all
Jenny hope your feeling ok now xxxxxx
John
I don’t agree that all the players care, Micah Richards has come out and said most of them don’t, they will simply move on in the summer.
They may start to care when they realise no one else in the top flight will want them, or the French clubs can’t afford them.
B62,
Just because Richards has said they don’t care doesn’t mean that he’s tarring all players with the same brush. Clark also cares very much (though he didn’t play too well on Saturday) and I think Ricardson does as well – it’s just that he’s not good enough to be l-b.
If you were to give me a player that doesn’t care I’d say that player would be Grealish. For a player who is supposed to have Villa blood running through his veins he falls short on the commitment stakes.
I think the main issue that gives the impression the players in general don’t care is that many of the other players are not British and play to a different kind of football. In other words, for the position that Villa are in I stick with the view that we don’t really have the right players. Maybe they’ll be good as a future investment (which seems to be Lerner’s plan) but not for right now.
But we probably have a manager who is (at last) the right type for Villa. We will just have to see what he can mould together.
John- Micah said him self the players have ran the least amount then any other team. will Gana, Veretout, Ayew, Richardson etc tc care if they relegate us?
ST75- I’m driving down on the Friday after work. I’ll have my Twin with me so she will have to come along as wel 🙂
McLaren has had the dreaded vote of confidence, but they will review his position if relegation looks a real prospect. I think he is doing a great job, they nearly look as bad as us
We need to have one eye on next season and the championship and build for it now. Blood 2 new young fullbacks, kinsella at lb and the chap on loan at rb, its not possible they can do worse than hutton and richardson! Give them some prem experience. It seems we wont budge from 433, im not sure that makes the most of Gill and Ayew up top on his own is prob better to the left of the 3. Gana needs to step up, since the int break he has looked half the player. I dont think we will struggle in the championship, it could work well for gardenr, grealish. From the league cup games when we play lower leuage sides grealish really stood out.
How many of the players will stay though?
Frem
ok mate will ring you on the day and maybe meet at the ground for a pint , unless you drive out to meet us .
I have believed 100% since the lester game we are down. What we need to do now is how the world why we are the best fans in the world……we will still be here after the stupid owners and all these players.
Just look at tit this way the championship has to be more fun than the last 5 years of prem footy. All we do is loose every week! All i want to see is villa winning, scoring a few goals and playing good footy. who cares what league thats in!!
The only trouble is that its only november…its like a slow death till the season is over 🙁
This blog is in need of a positive injection of something so I was going to write an article to try to do that … But why bother when Jon Fear’s done it for me! 🙂
http://www.astonvilla.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=7519844
Of course there are positives ie Garde, but they are outweighed by numerous negatives that have swamped every manager we’ve had in the past ten years, i wish someone would point out a competent administrator at VP in that time. Talking of which, has anyone reported the disappearance of Tom Fox to the police ? For a bloke who enjoys the media glare he seems to have gone underground just when he needs to be visible, where are you Tom ? come out and bring Reilly and the Jeerman with you and explain the many balls ups you’ve made since you arrived, then apologise and set a date for your leaving party.
We need a miracle.. a massive one at that..
First off we need to somehow be only 5 points away from 17th before the window opens.
Get Cissoko back.. ask Spurs to loan us Trippier till end of the season..
Beg Austin to join us with a massive staying up bonus.. get another midfielder in too and a GK..
Like i said we need a bloody miracle and also i doubt we will be 5 points away from 17th.. gap will be bigger..!
Agree with DOR, we do stand a chance, again due to the dire standard of the league, must beat Newcastle though.
Personally i think that TS switched off after about three games, his body language screamed that he wasn’t happy and didn’t actually give a monkeys, he had his eyes on the pay off though and let the club slide rather than give up a proportion of his pay-off, i he had left earlier the side wouldn’t be drained of confidence.
Yes Lionheart not a big gap is it ? Loans are the key and i think Wenger and possibly Jose may oblige. Talking of loans, have you got that 20 pounds you owe me ?
LOL Steamer…
I can’t think of any Arsenal player we can take on loan.. there injury list is huge..
Doubt they will loan us Sanchez 😀
Blimey, thought i’d get youtube up for some nice relaxing music, Heaven & Hell and the first 45 seconds Villan Geezer Butler cracks a joke about the dark side and the great Ronnie James Dio R.I.P. comes back with one about ‘the Villa.’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR2CkcdwPAA
only one man to blame for villas demise RANDY LERNER fox orielly german geezer can only do as he wishes,just looked over southampton transfers incoming last 3/4 years they signed over ten players valued over 8m and a few didnt work out osvold ramirezsm, we signed 5 this summer and for most of them look ok will need time for some of them, lambert when you look at what he had to deal with overachieved 2players bought for over 5m and one of them injured for 3/4 time other benteke injured quite a bit awesome when not
our squad as now showing was crap and to cap it all read on an other site saying remi happy with guzan and priorities lie else where we need keeper,rightback ,sissko back from loan centrehalf centre mid plus goalscorer who should been signed in summer
JG,
I thought Senderos was given no23 and he was eligible to play, i’d certainly play him above what we currently have in the team, same with Sissoko, dunno what TS was doing leaving Senders out and signing Lescott.
Guzan,
Hutton, Richards, Senderos, Sissoko:
Traore, Veretout, Gil, Sanchez, Gana.
Ayew.
steamer- I agree on senderos he can’t of got slower. Gonna watch the U21’s Kosak up top will report later.
U21 2-0 down to blackburn, Kosak missed a chance but is putting himself about and looks to me that he could hold the ball up and do a job. Hard to tell overall really as the quality around him not great, Adama on one man mission but can cross and beat a man and Hepburn-Murphy on his own one man mission. Villa should of been leading but poor defending and goalkeeping by us so thats consistent. second half coming up.
Better 2nd half Kosak scored with a poachers instinct from 6 yards but importantly lead the line really well. Adama always a threat, if he just had better decision making would be great but deserves to start on Sat. No Grealish so either in the 1st team squad again or the Pub.
U21s pull back to 2-2 Kozak gets equaliser with goal made by Adama! They must both be given a chance to start.
Big sam was handed a big lump of luck against Stoke by the Ref, it was never a sending off an up till then they were no great shakes.
A-League club Melbourne City will now be part-owned by the Chinese government after the club’s Abu Dhabi parent company and owners of English Premier League club Manchester City clinched a $US400 million investment.
Another event that indicates that Lerner doesn’t want to sell the club.
Birmingham Mail running a story saying Brad Guzan is his own worst critic, i’d say a few on hear could give him a run for his money.
Man City is like Red Bull without the Red Bull, a number of clubs linked as feeder clubs or feeding
A great article JC, and right on the button.
I still read the blogs on here from time to time, but get fed up sometimes with the constant moans, but probably feel the same myself, but don’t need it in my face so much……like many fans….they want to see some positives.
Manchester City game gave lots of hope and positives, which were then undone by likes of young Jack Grealish, who was obviously thinking more about a night out after the game at Goodison, than ever he was about doing a job of work to help Richardson.
Then on Saturday, I was at VP as usual, this time with the local Mid-Wales Lions club trip, and for the first sixty minutes, could not believe the difference in Villa, the movement, desire chances created, and the only thing missing was that all elusive goal. Goodness we had seven corners in that spell, and all taken well by Veretout and Gil……yes no wasteful Westwood corners!!
If just one of those early chances had gone in, it may have been a different story, as well as the cruel lost ten minutes at the end, when Lee Mason should have taken proper control and punished Watford for their shocking timewasting tactics.
Silly mistakes cost us in the end, but I feel that Remi will really turn things round in the next few weeks.
Agree PP, i still have every confidence in Remi and at least we can see a pattern developing.
Everyone could see Wastewood was crepe on dead balls except Lambert and Sherwood, but as in the infamous ‘false narrative’ quote, the club seems to think the fans can’t see the obvious or are stupid. Veretouts ball in for Richards was superb.
Lee Mason shouldn’t be reffing in the over-35’s league.
Hello Paul P-
I agree mate Garde has barely blinked yet, Timbo was here throughout the selection process whether he wanted Ronaldo or not, he had pre-season games, and a good crack at the league and cup games! Garde has had 3 games and 2 weeks where he lost his best players to internationals way to early yet to give in I fancy a result this weekend.
Pointless saying it but if Garde had been here from the end of last season the team and results would look very different.
I’m worried that we landed the right man for Villa by accident and that insufficient time, injuries like Amavi and no money to get additional help in January will see us still relegated. It would be unfair to some of our players and especially Garde to oversee a relegation season.
Still keeping the faith in Garde, he has all the time he needs even if the games are running out.
I’m honestly not the greatest at picking teams or formations and avoid fantasy football like the plague but i’m thinking 4-5-1 and go defensive with some counter-attacking away from home and try and earn a draw by packing into our half and denying space only a few teams have clever players like Silva that could unlock a packed defence.
Come on Villa, fight like Lions
some reports that adama has it all apart from a football brain! the lad was brought up at barca so surly not?!
Mind you it did not stop tony daley being a hero of mine!!
As I said last night Kosak would lead the line and be a good foil for Ayew. Would suit our midfield too, someone to hold the ball up and link play. Theres only one way to find out and thats by playing him, he needs to play with his peers as youth football is not first team football.
I think we may well see Adama start perfect for counter attack if he keeps his head.
Andrew- I watched last night and he doesn’t look your typical Barca player. I think hes trying a little to hard and maybe believes his own hype a bit to much.
Played in behind he knows where the net is so I hope Garde can teach him.
Hopefully gabby will be fit soon and back from the liposuction clinic. If garde can get his mojo back he would be a huge assett
DOR,
I’m honestly not the greatest at picking teams or formations
Just the qualifications to be Villa manager then,
Southampton play Liverpoo tonight, They have lost the last 2 and a good leg sapping game tonight might set them up for the weekend they have also lost their captain.
heres an interesting article about there head of recruitment.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34202470
news on Cissoko
http://sportwitness.ning.com/forum/topics/further-hint-on-aston-villa-january-arrival
Southampton game tommoz thought it was Wednesday today 🙂
Runtingz,
Have a quint at these … Rio Sidik and his quintet, an Indonesian jazz trumpeter, think you’ll enjoy.
He sings a great version of Santana’s ‘Make Somebody Happy’ and ‘If’. Very good indeedy.
Squint
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RE0Bkghzp3I