This season has been one of the most unpredictable seasons in Barclays Premier League history and approaching the festive period two burning questions fill the mind – Can Leicester City maintain their improbable and incredible run at the top of the table to become champions, and can Aston Villa turn around an unforeseen points deficit at the bottom to stay up?
Whilst Villa have a record of struggling in the league of late few would have predicted such an acute points famine, especially after a promising opening day victory away at Bournemouth AFC.
Slowly results have started to pick up, with Remi Garde’s charges being unbeaten in half of his six matches in charge. Garde has elected to opt for continuity, a facet missing from the team’s preparations throughout the early stages of the season.
This has provided players with the confidence to develop their fitness and to make adjustment to the pace and demands of the English top flight. Where he has seen merit Garde has stuck with the likes of Carlos Sanchez and Scott Sinclair even though their contribution has sometimes been flawed or not immediately apparent. What we have witnessed is a movement in the right direction towards a more durable, more sustainable team effort. The team’s resilience in the second half at Newcastle was commendable.
Two things are likely to emerge from this new state. We could start to see ourselves getting far more slices of good fortune. In the words of golfer Gary Player “The more I practice, the luckier I get.” The more disciplined and studious approach of our team under Remi Garde therefore, could start to see us get more than our fair share of opposing goalkeeper errors, misplaced back passes and own goals.
The other benefit from Garde’s more measured approach could be the emergence of individual skill and brilliance. Jordan Ayew had already given notice of his spirit and endeavour but of late we have also been witness to the emergence of a talent capable of producing special goals, at Newcastle at the weekend and previously at home to Watford.
In order for flair players like Ayew to flourish they have to be given a platform, a firm foundation from which to operate, a sufficient number of colleagues to dispose of themselves and to unsettle the opposition. Additionally the individual efforts of players like Ayew make for a virtuous circle, lifting the performances of others pushing them on in confidence and inspiring collectivity.
Under Garde we have had to establish a footing from a highly confusing and problematic opening couple of months to the season. This was always unlikely to be achieved overnight. The next stage of this team’s development is likely to see us getting victories (and defeats) but overall a movement towards a period of improved consistency. From such a plateau there is the possibility of the team going on a run of wins – crucial that if we are to survive in the Premier League.
The Author
Matt Greenhill
Comments 39
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Another accurate leader, IMO. People just don’t realise what a pathetic shambles Lerner has made AVFC, at least Garde will improve the structure of the playing side.
I’ve mentioned several times that i’m not convince about Lerners willingness to sell the club, i think the prospective sale of Everton is more evidence that he’s here for a while yet.
Haven’t seen Gokhan Inler play since he was at Udinese, but if he’s even half of that player then he’ll do.
Thanks Matt a good read,
Pretty much how I see it so not much to add. Wouldn’t it have been great to have seen this approach from august, while I don’t want to lay all the blame at Tims door clearly something was missing from his managerial skill set that no amount of mind games could fix.
Thanks Matt
I agree with Steamer that Learner isn’t that eager to sell Villa. I also mentioned it in the past. He needs to be decisive.
It’s easy to say from home, but TS needed to bring in support staff that could fill the voids he couldn’t. Uncle Fester couldn’t do it, seemingly turned out to be a bit of an ineffectual journeyman.
For me if you don’t give the players structure and discipline you are asking a bunch of young rich distracted blokes to train themselves . Tim was way too pally but couldn’t speak French so his approach was doomed. What happened in the long run in a team facing constant relegation is the manager becomes their friend to ease his own burden and they then run riot. Garde must be like a huge slap in the face for the likes of Gabby and Grealish.
A really excellent assessment Matt of the situation, one with which I am wholeheartedly in agreement. I have this feeling that Remi will save Villa by the skin of his teeth, because of the way he is going about things.
I hear and see all the comments about he has been too defensive and should have gone for it, but not one of those who have said would have stood up to be counted if we had ended up losing and gifting the Toons 3 points, which as fellow relegation rivals, could certainly have been our undoing.
Against wet Spam we can take more of a chance , as they are the most unlikely of relegation candidates, and also the pitch will suit us better, and will not be waterlogged, and less chance of someone like Adama contracting a serious injury, which may also have happened in the conditions.
I also have the feeling that he will bring the right type of player for the battle ahead. I am also impressed by his latest statement on the Villa site about building togetherness in the team, with the fans and the club as a whole. It is not the usual drivel that we have had from previous managers, but a sensible and honest answer for the fans and the press.
PP,
We’ve won 17 out of the last 79 home games so the VP pitch isn’t really an advantage.
I think that now Remi has shown who’s boss the Brits are now buying into his vision, no-one else would pay the wages that we do and no-one else would take the crepe that we do, professional isn’t a word that anybody could use to describe AVFC over the last 10 years.
Steamer,
My point about the pitch, was in reference to the condition it will be in on Saturday, compared to the condition at Newcastle, where at one time, it was so waterlogged, that if it worsened much more, ATKINSON WOULD HAVE ABANDONED IT.
not the conditions for lightweight players. What was needed out there, was men, an area in which we are lacking…
PP And we didnt have wellies with studs. 🙂
Well said, Matt.
I absolutely agree about continuity. I know many are saying Gil and Adama should’ve been playing, but I think the side was the right one on the day. Gil would likely flourish in a better team, and he might yet do if he ends up staying. For now, though, Veretout’s endeavour and impetus are more what Villa need in the middle. His pass to Ayew to assist the goal was sublime. And Ayew has been a revelation, a player, as said, that can lift others by example. He might be to us what CNZ was all those years ago. Adama might well be able to change games, he just has to stop trying to dribble past everyone, turning the ball over after dragging his teammates forward.
I also liked seeing Gana in a more advanced role. Despite the usual one or two boneheaded decisions per game, Sanchez does a job and is capable of some very good football. Saturday I started to see the emergence of a team, players beginning to anticipate each other, and seemingly understand what they were each trying to do and where they would be and needed to be.
It may be too late, but I just can’t give up yet…even though I’ve spent the last couple of weeks trying to wrap my head around accepting relegation. Rémi’s charting the right course. It’s not as though he had a wonderful side that was just underperforming. There was no actual side. I have to believe the players he’s looking at bringing in have quality, character and fight.
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.
I see Everton are about to be sold for £200m, this a club that many said we were a more attractive proposition due to price, stadium and the new London rail link. It just shows without the product on the pitch you are nothing, which is Why Everton, Palce etc are getting heavy investment or takeovers whilst Villa who have been God awful for 6 years will end up languishing in the lower leagues regressing under Lerner, who by his own stupidity and greed has seen his project blow up in his face, we are now a heavy financial millstone around his neck, hopefully as the noose tightens he will cut his losses, my only worry is who on earth would buy our sack of shite football club
thanks Matt – good leader – also agree with the headline re the manager – but of course not the owner or the current squad — the key is improving the squad and lets face it , it won’t be difficult as are squad is either pants or too young
Remi in for Remy – that will do for starters
B62- Cannot see your reasoning on Remi setting us up to fail. We are not going to survive with 8 wins are we? he’s just being honest. Even 10 wins in 26 games would of been tough in the position we were in and the opposition in the first matches were all top sides. These next few games will be crucial, the next 8 bar Leicester game are against Norwich twice, wet spam twice ,palace , sunderland and WBA. We need to come out the other side smelling of roses and pick up some big scalps too in the rest of the season.
I don’t care much about the hierarchy they have been very poor for too long mainly in there choice of manager to rebuild with, put someone of remi quality in Mcleish’s place and I firmly believe we wouldn’t be in this position. One man could of made the difference between a quick turn around and reorganise and a complete embarrassment for 5 years
leicester had one more win than us before the 28th
Personally – I cannot see what Garde has achieved since taking over. 3 draws – no wins and several loses. We not scored many goals and our most creative players occupy the bench.
Garde needs to go for wins over the festive period. I would go for out and out pace up front.
I would go for Traore and Gabby. Defenders hate playing against quick forwards. We need to try something different.
My team for West Ham
Guzan
Hutton Richards Okore Lescott
Gil Veretout Gana Ayew
Traore Gabby
don’t see how garde can take any blame for how pants we are – we can debate about tactics and subs but we can;t expect to start playing attacking football and clocking up wins with the current squad
it was pants when he joined and still is —- only when he can add and remove a few players can a more fairer judgement be made on garde imo
RichardS,
Agbonlahor isn’t exceptional pace wise anymore and coupled to his obvious lack of talent and his physical condition with his disregard for training, the club in general and his stirring then basically he’s not an asset to the club and in fact ceased to be an asset five years ago, the bloke doesn’t even try. Look at the number of goals we’ve conceded when he’s let his marker escape while ball watching, an embarrassment.
Steamer – i can assure you Gabby is still lightning quick.
I’m not the greatest Gabby fan – but we need to try something different up front. I believe Gabby/Traore/Ayew would pose a real threat to the teams around Villa in the league.
Rudy, unfortunately is not good enough at this level.
If the Remy rumours are true then yes please.
And If I was Randy I would get on the phone to Benteke and try and get him back on loan. Things are not working for him at Liverpool.
PP
l would have took the the shit if we had lost against newcastle trying to attack , dont class me as one of the fucking hideaway tossers , if you want l will meet you in your so-called exclusive lions club and tell me to my face lm a shyster . at least l go to some games not sit at a fucking keyboard making out l fucking know it all , have you ever played the game ,
you aint no angel , how many U-Turns did you make in Lamberks reign , sack him , ….get a point , no we need to give him a chance , that was you and if you want me to tell it your face , fucking meet me , at least l stick by my convictions . l said No to Lambert , l said l wasnt convinced with TS, and to be honest lm not jumping on any side of Garde at the moment , but lm not feeling convinced yet about him yet ,
Im going the west ham game . let me know
Merry christmas everyone ,
Mark
I just think by putting an exact figure on it publicly, adds more pressure on himself and the team, at a point we least need it.
A question that I think needs answering in readiness for next season should we continue in this vein, is Garde the right man to bring us back up? And with 26 games to go and only 4 pts from safety, is getting relegated by such a margin we are at, qualify him for anything other than the sack??? I’m not advocating more change for the sake of it, but as a ST holder I’m yet to see what Garde has brought to the party, or what real differences he has made. We haven’t won a game under him and have looked bang average at best, scraping lucky draws against City and Saints, with a better second half against a rattled Newcastle , but still didn’t go for the win, when draws mean pretty much nothing to us in our situation.
No one can deny the shambles we are in off and on the pitch, a situation largely created by Lerner and his cretins, but if we go down Im not sure Garde is qualified or has the knowledge to bring us back up, he is showing nativity and lack of experience of the PL, fuck knows what he will make of the championship, with its blood and guts approach, 2 physical games per week for large periods of the season and the pressure of having to get us up at the first attempt or face financial ruin.
🙂 🙂 if there are any wars breaking out , i am deffo in st75’s camp all day long
B62 – Well said. I am with you. Garde has not impressed me. Garde has taken 3 points from 18. The defending has been a joke and we are pathetic up front.
I do appreciate that Garde did not create this situation but he can certainly influence it. I just don’t see a manager who has the balls to go all out for the win.
Why do clubs in the Premier League think it is better to employ a foreign manager?
It’s not that Garde I’d foreign, it’s his lack of experience as a manager at this level, I’ve said before if we were a mid table or upper half club, without the pressure of relegation he may have done well, especially with more time to get his ideas across. But I feel he was brought in for two reasons 1) He is cheap, no compo and not massive wages. 2) He is French, and in a fucked up way of trying to justify over paying for average French players, and the clubs woeful recruitment policy, they have gone down the French gaffer route to try and get the best out of the French signings. I would have preferred David Moyes, he has a point to prove and has been there and done it with Everton, long term GD may not be the most exciting choice , but we wouldn’t be this far off safety under him
B62- I’m not worried about Remi mate even in the champs its still football. when you look at the shambles we have been this season Harry Houdini would have a nightmare. Making the leagues most calamity filled defence water tight would be beyond anyone they just keep on making Gaffs nothing Remi can do about that. The nerves are there for all to see and the division in the dressing room had first to be seen then sorted, all things that have hampered Remi. No full backs to speak of and other than Lescott little experience at CH and then there’s the gaffmeister Guzan.
midfield no real experiance, forward line no real experiance and a dearth of quality all around. If there is a manager out there that could sort that in double quick time I don’t know him.
As per Lamberts first season the team my just be beginning to show, a quality DM and quality forward plus a few other bits like erm fullbacks will give us a chance but no more than that.
Newcastle and others have tough matches in the next 2 months, we do well and it could suddenly be much tighter then its down to nerve and momentum
Being a fan of continental footy i’m fairly comfortable with Remi as boss, its just the team that makes me nervous, ideally we’d be half way when he took over but ……..
I must admit though, David Moyes as manager would really crack me, poor style of play and never won anything + he’s a Jock, Pearson, possibly, BFR speaks highly of him and he built the team that Ranieri is getting the plaudits for.
Does anyone else know a Villan(s) who have had enough of the tribulations we’re going through ? virtually every time i stop for a chat with one they tell me that either they’re giving up their season tickets after years or already done it, i’ve never known so many disillusioned Villans.
B62- there is no way you can know DM would of meant more points, losing amavi may mean we have lost points heres evertons squad the season he took over, not exactly short of experience is it?
1 England GK Paul Gerrard
2 England MF Steve Watson
3 Italy DF Alessandro Pistone
4 England DF Alan Stubbs
5 Scotland DF David Weir
6 England DF David Unsworth
7 Sweden MF Niclas Alexandersson
8 Canada FW Tomasz Radzinski
9 England FW Kevin Campbell
10 Scotland FW Duncan Ferguson
11 Wales MF Mark Pembridge
12 Sweden MF Jesper Blomqvist
13 England GK Steve Simonsen
14 Israel MF Idan Tal
15 Scotland DF Gary Naysmith
16 Denmark MF Thomas Gravesen
17 Scotland MF Scot Gemmill
18 England FW Wayne Rooney
19 United States FW Joe-Max Moore
20 Scotland DF Alec Cleland
22 Sweden MF Tobias Linderoth
24 France MF David Ginola
25 England GK Andrew Pettinger
26 Republic of Ireland MF Lee Carsley
27 England DF Peter Clarke
28 England DF Tony Hibbert
29 England MF Kevin McLeod
30 England MF Nick Chadwick
Steamer- like Remi Pearson has a good eye for a player Leicester’s side is full of cast offs he picked up, sod experience your either good or bad when it comes to that. Remis has demonstrated so far that he can sort the wheat from the chaff, it might upset a few but if a player doesn’t fit a managers plans its best he is single minded and decisive and get rid.
Mark
You’re right we will never know if DM would have been better or got more out of this squad, it’s all about opinion and mine is Villa still look as bad and on occasion worse than under TS or PL. I stand there every week watching every team that comes to VP show more, fight, passion, Skill, effort, guile, confidence and general street smarts than us. Teams from all divisions inc cup games and we still look as shambolic under Garde as the other clowns, basic errors and organisational fuck ups, gifting the opposition and the fear of trying anything different, despite the awful run of results we are on. This season is done , we are playing for pride and assessing who can assist in a promotion push.
B62 fair enough mate its not how I see it though, TS put the whole team in therapy its not like taking a team that’s gelled and getting a performance. If this was Garde’s first season with a new squad we would be saying give it 10-12 matches we just don’t have the time, the pressure for wins and the looming window coming after such a short spell hasn’t helped either. if Tim and Kmac had managed a couple more wins in their 11 matches the pressure would not be so great. you’ll have to forgive me for thinking losing half of his 6 matches isn’t bad with what we have.
B62,
Things must be bad then. Must admit that my philosophy is i’d sooner watch a good game that we lost than a bad game we win, every game seems to be a bad game we lose. The folk who think its going to be better in the Champs forget that we lost to League 1 Bradford C and Orient, so will we challenge ? Assuming we are relegated that is.
Can i wish everyone on this site, past and present, a very happy Christmas and an even better New Year, there’s a lot of good folk on here.
steamer- I think it will be a very different team by then if Remi is backed and I feel it will anyway. Garde hasn’t even began looking at the youth we have and there are some great prospects several wingers and mid-fielders that would see pitch time if I’m any judge of Remi, Gone are the days of flushing kids down the drain and he will overhaul BMH and our scouting systems too. If it wasn’t so shit with the relegation I’d say its exciting times.
Ditto on the xmas wishes may we all be smiling by Feb
UTV
just watched highlights of the arsenal v Villa U21 match Adama played 55mins and had one shot that he missed no other highlights but hepburn murphy and sellars stole the show. hepburn murphy is very quick over 5-10 yards and skillful and he rarely puts his shots wide he works the keeper, no wonder Tim brought him on last year he and sellars will be some players, sellars reminds me of Morley a bit.
Well, fwiw, I reckon a claret and blue team will win on Saturday! 😉
In fact, it could well be Villa. It just may well be the kind of fixture that starts to turn the season around, and put us on a par with Leicester’s status as it was this time last year.
Anyone remember the day Villa beat Hammers 4-1 back at Christmas, 1975? Dennis Mortimer made his debut that day, and the Holte End was festooned in c & b balloons.
Great Days.
JL,
A couple of pals were in the Witton End that day and said that the West Ham fans couldn’t believe the Holte End that day, as you said, great days.
Wonder if we’re one of the clubs that the Jordanian billionaire is considering buying ? I he met Lerner then i would say no chance, the idiot is a total knob, people out there who actually want to buy clubs and he’s telling us he can’t find a buyer, whats going on ?
First of all, I,d like to wish every Villa fan a merry Christmas , especially those who post or have posted on here keeping it a pretty level headed site, despite differing opinions. Matt thanks for keeping it going, especially in this extremely dark period in our beloved clubs history.
As for the West Ham game , this is an solute must win as are so many of our remaining matches, such is our predicament cut adrift at the foot of the table. The Christmas period is a busy time fixture wise, it is a good snapshot of the championship as they play twice a week for large periods of the seasons, even more with cup games.
We need to get some pride back, we cannot carry on like this, we are an embarrassment , everyone involved at the club, owner, board/cronies , training staff, manager and players should hang there heads in shame at what they have produced this season. Yes those departed also have to shoulder blame, but they cannot effect change as they are no longer here. It is now down to those at the club, I’m not holding my breath we will get any decent players coming in January, why would they sign for what is effectively a championship football club. We may get the odd free or a mercenary, all will be here short term with relegation escape clauses in there contracts. I just want this season to end, it’s gonna be a poor crowd for Boxing Day , the fans have given up, VP is like a morgue, only around 28k turned up for Arsenal inc 3000 Arsenal fans, perhaps more as they had fans in every stand( despite the official 33k attendance)
Steamer
It shows just how poorly Lerner and co have run Villa( into the ground), that there are billionaire investors looking to get into the PL and the fortunes that go with it, that Lerner can’t give the club away. With relegation comes around a £100m per annum financial loss( perhaps much more), the clubs Value will have tumbled, the £150/200m he wanted is not going to happen, he won’t even get the £67m he paid for us whilst we are out the top flight, Wolves were valued at £37m, I’d guess we would prob be valued at £50-£60m, Leeds went for around £40m. This will mean no investment from Lerner, as he will be on damage limitation until the parachute money is over and he offloads to yet another chancer. I’m bracing myself for a decade of real hard times, we aren’t coming back from this anytime soon, not with the scum we have running this club.
B62,
Very good posts. Its absolutely imperative that Lerner sods off, AVC hasn’t got a future while this moron is at VP with his equally stupid appointments. Not optimistic about the new chairman and director, bet they’re both cronies like Krulac. I was reading Gardes assessment of his meetings with Rabid, total knackers ‘Loves the club etc” evidence please Remi, possibly not as smart as you seem.