Having digested last night’s match about as easily as a piece of rebellious cheese, I find myself sitting down without a clue about what I’m going to write.
The game against Newcastle was as inconsistent as I’ve ever seen any Villa side. The first 45 minutes was quite simply appalling, a three at the back set-up, with wingbacks making it five, looked nothing more than completely disjointed. The midfield didn’t exist, and I lost count of the times when the ball seemed to bypass our midfield completely. Bent and Benteke were completely starved of service during that first half, and our midfield was badly overrun by Newcastle.
The first goal by Cisse was of no real surprise, given the performance, as once again our defence was split all too easily. The defenders looked at each other with an all too familiar glare, seemingly asking each other whose job it was to pick that up! The second goal was more down to misfortune than bad defending, as Vlaar headed clear the incoming cross, only for it to fall to Cabaye, who replied with a thunderbolt. However, as said before, the midfield was badly overrun, which ultimately led to the goal.
Lambert reverted to a flat back four, and brought on the pace of Gabby and Weimann to bolster the attack. It worked, we looked a team transformed in the second half, and showed some real fight. Gabby eventually won us a penalty, which was professionally dispatched by Benteke. With a little over 40 minutes left a comeback was on.
Sadly it didn’t materialise, as Villa slumped to its 12th league defeat of the campaign.
So what now? Do we accept relegation? I must admit, I’m getting close to resigning myself to it. However my main issue is the way the board seemingly have already accepted relegation. I know Lambert has made mistakes, but for me the ultimate blame for this has to be the very top.
Lerner, like a certain Mr. Osborne, has cut too deep, too quickly in my opinion. It’s a simple fact that you cannot cut your way out of a recession, and this is the case with business, too.
Let me be blunt, relegation will be a disaster for this club! With the new Sky TV deal taking effect from next season, we could see the clubs revenue hit by around £100 million per year!
This is why I am completely puzzled by the board’s attitude towards this transfer window. Surely spending £20-30 million on transfers and their associated wages to gain over £100 million next year in revenue is common sense?
If this club is seriously not able to do that financially, then this club has been run far worse than we have already been told, or suspected, and for that we again have to look at the top!
By the time this is posted we will have 14 hours left of the transfer window, and to say I’m hopeful of new signings would be an understatement. I would not like new signings! We need new signings!!
Having said all that, I am not convinced that when I travel to Everton this weekend, that I will be faced with a slightly different team in front of me. If no transfer activity happens than I think it will be a massive blow for the club’s relegation chances, and the club will have to once again turn to the 12th man for some guidance!
No matter what happens now, this team need us all there packing out Villa Park and pushing our guys forwards. I don’t buy into this “I’ve tried it and it made no difference” bollocks!! Cause over time it will!
Now is not the time for in-fighting, now is the time to stand shoulder to shoulder!
To lead from the stands!
To shout with pride that I am a Villa fan!
If we go down, it should not be due to a lack of support, we’ve seen what that does with Blackburn!
The time to fight is now!
Randy over to you!
The Author
