This evening, Villa travel to John Smith’s Stadium to take on third-placed Huddersfield Town. It won’t be an easy game. The Terriers have won 12, lost three and drawn two at home this season. The fact that their goal differential (+6) is well below that of Brighton (+27), who sit six points above in second, and Leeds (+14), one point behind in fourth, points to a tough-minded side who play well in close matches.

Going in, most Villans would likely be happy with a point. And truth be told, I’d take that, too. But, of course, I’d like to see us lay down a marker of sorts.

The last three outings, Villa have cleared the bar and taken all three points on offer for the first time since the spring of 2010. As Steve Bruce said, that’s staggering. We’ve not been terribly convincing, and we’ve played no giants, but following the run we were on since Boxing Day, the victories have been more than welcome, easing fears of a second relegation battle and raising hopes that January’s business was money well spent.

Since Villa apparently will be spending another season in the Championship, the trick is to keep progressing and build on these wins.

What does progress mean? Well, right now, it will mean coming out and playing competently for 90 minutes. Me, I’m as pragmatic as they come. I’ll take a result. But I do care about how it comes about. I’m really not looking for undeserved points at this stage.

I’d like to see a combative and passionate side, some indication that we’re finally assembling a squad that believes in itself and is as intent on showing as much desire as the opponent. It’s all well and good to have talent, but if you don’t want to win more than the other guys, you’re not likely to get much out of a game. Beyond that, I’ll want to see solidity. No stupid goals. Less profligacy. A team coming together.

So tonight, like the remainder of the season, is all about what Villa have to say about themselves. As usual, we’ll depend on those at the match to provide true insight. But that won’t stop the rest of us from dissecting this fixture and drawing all sorts of conclusions. I’ll gather what I can from the radio commentary.

In short, come on boys. Give us some indication that next season we’ll have a team everyone can get behind.

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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 62

  1. Trinity

    Hello John
    Thank you for writing a good leader for us.
    It will be a tough game for Villa, as they’ve all been, against a club that has plenty of pride and history.
    I look forward to seeing Amavi on the wing. I also think he will do well there. Tonight will be a test of character. I’d be happy with a draw, but believe Villa can win it if they get it right on the night. The Terriers do apparently pose a scoring threat all over the place. It’ll be difficult. Hope the fans enjoy an entertaining match. Hopt the Villa can make DOR’s b-day.

  2. Clive Evans

    Thanks John – and I am in agreement with my friend from ‘down under but a bit to the right’.

    From now on in it is about belief together with determination. Belief is being demonstrated by most of Villa’s cast-offs who are playing in the belief that someone wants them; so, what’s left is all about determination and belief will follow.

    I am sure our Jenny can say this better than me.

    Let’s hope for a good result tonight to drive the momentum on to Saturday

  3. DarrenO

    In the interests of debate, I’ve nothing to be contrary to John’s preview. It will cement for many that the three games against poor opposition was exactly that or it will indicate that we are turning a corner.

    It’s actually a perfect game for the TV or sitting in the stand to get a more genuine impression of how Villa are doing. Fate has conspired to allow the kids some play time, lets hope they are fearless and that Bruce sees answers to questions that doesn’t involve the summer transfer window and spending more money.

    A lot of questions will be asked of Villa tonight by Huddersfield, hopefully we have the answers

    Thanks for the birthday wishes on the previous thread. UTV

  4. John Lerwill

    Iana – Your bit of history on the Udders

    What the history doesn’t tell you is that the Town’s manager – Herbert Chapman, later of Arsenal fame – signed Villa’s Clem Stephenson as the club’s captain. and it was he that led the Udders through that 3-year championship success. Clem later became manager of the club.

    How Villa let Clem go is an utter mystery to me as he was a formidable player with Villa way back to the 1911-12 season, and he clearly had a lot to offer when Villa let him go. How he came to be let go is because he – and some other leading players, including keeper Sam Hardy – refused to move home to the Birmingham area. That caused Villa to stand on principle by selling ’em all – much to Villa’s loss.

  5. John Lerwill

    JC: “I’m really not looking for undeserved points at this stage.”

    Good article, John, but as far as the above is concerned, perhaps it would be valid to say that we have *lost* some “undeserved points” in certain matches this season! Mark seems to be of the opinion that under RDM we did. So if we do happen to gain any by that means, it could be said that we’re only redressing the luck of the game! 🙂

    Football is a lot like that – it’s unpredictable. They’re talking so much about bringing extra electronic aids into the game, but for what purpose? – to slow it down? I feel that such an approach would take the unpredictable enjoyment away from the game … that it stands a chance of becoming over-mechanised. While I can see sense in the electronic eye being implemented to catch whether a ball has crossed the goal-line, that check at least means no observable delay in the game. But any more than that? Not for me. I could see matches taking up to 2 hours to complete to satisfy all the checks! 😉

  6. John Lerwill

    Darren,

    Yes, a very Happy Birthday to you!

    And I very much agree with your comments … but as I intimated in my previous article, whether Villa can be judged when all their main strikers bar one (and some others) are not available for selection, is perhaps a moot point whether we can judge Villa having turned a corner or not.

    A Villa win tonight and we will say that Villa have turned that corner. But if they lose, the injury situation can be offered as a plausible reason why it’s still too early to decide that issue.

  7. Trinity

    JL
    Well there you go, a Villa connection to Huddersfield. Maybe the fans could sing, “There’s only one Clem Stephenson.” Interesting.

  8. John Lerwill

    Iana,

    Yes. Our Clem was one of Villa’s greatest players – yet (because of WW1) he was never capped at Villa. Only when he went to Town and they won a couple of championships was he capped – at about the age of 32 I think.

  11. Heroes-and-Villans

    good leader. sums it up for me.

    One thing I will add is inuries. they are my pet hate, really annoys me, especially when we are trying to settle a side in.

    Bjanson out for 6-8 weeks, bree has been injured 3 weeks, Hogan a month. does my head in.

  13. John Clark

    JL,

    We have indeed dropped a number of points undeservedly. I don’t know what effect having those would’ve had on the team over the course of the season (besides putting us higher up the table), but it sure hasn’t helped anything. Sounds a bit stupid, but you know what I mean: Would we have played better and progressed faster with a few more of those under our belts?

  14. Heroes-and-Villans

    id like to see

    Johnson
    Bree Chester baker taylor
    Jedi
    Lansbury Hourihan
    Adomah Kodjer Amavi

    And now we are clear of relegation and got the wins bruce wanted id now like to see us play with more confidence…freedom.

  15. John Clark

    Andrew-

    We’ve had our share of injuries. I don’t keep close track on other sides’ woes, but it seems like we’re particularly unlucky with new signings.

  16. John Clark

    And I’ll be curious to see how Amavi does, assuming he plays. I’ve often wondered whether we shouldn’t have looked at him earlier in a wide midfield role. He’s got pace, likes to get forward, can put a good ball in. Has good legs. Not the strongest left back when defending, obviously, but should have good enough instincts to do a job when we don’t have the ball.

  18. James Gill

    dor
    happy birthday mate
    why are we looking at samba, surely this season now should be about building for next years push not playing mica, or gabby and unless johnson has a deal to resign for another year either
    yes we won 3 in a row but none of them where convincing usually ending up with 9 dfenders midfielders on field,green only got started when no one esle available now same with amavi when bruce tried back 5 he was 3rd choice for wingback

  19. IanG

    DOR
    Happy Birthday mate, or the villa supporter version -‘why was I born’ day.
    Let’s hope it’s a good omen.
    I hope Bruce actually puts the kids on & we don’t end up with 9 midfielders at the end, as JG said.
    I have a feeling that he’ll start Hutton Andrew, I just hope we don’t end up with 2 full backs on the wings, especially Richards, otherwise I might end up watching the Ars get thrashed instead of paying attention to the radio [no tv?].
    Sellers needs a go, not 10 minutes at the end.

  20. James Gill

    a good read on why hutton should not get new contract on avillafan, plus foxgot nearly 3m last year,any contract gave out in lerners regime should be annulled voided the lunatics were definitely running the aslyum

  22. IanG

    JG
    Fox getting thrupence is obscene, but 3 million is taking the p**s big time.
    The way we’re going through players hutton might be needed, & at least he doesn’t negate the team spirit, but they could have seen the end of his contract coming & sorted a replacement well before.
    The total imbalance of the squad still isn’t sorted out, I mean we’ve got 4 right backs plus the under23s, which is completely barking.

  24. r0bb0

    Well, with three wins and three clean sheets in a row we change the back 4
    So if we concede tonight it’s clearly down to us missing Hutton.
    🙂

  25. James Gill

    is hutton injured , and if so so convenient new contract sorted maybe half dozen half decent games in 7 years last 3, plus 3 at start of lambert last season when keane was there , got new contract then too

  30. Heroes-and-Villans

    Grrrrr know whats comng 2 half, huddy going to punish us.

    But… Very good half, everything we wanted before the game. Looking to win it, very organised and playing well. Should and dserve to be at least 1 up.

    Brucey said we have to be mor clinical this morning, he is right. Huddy aint rotherham, they will punish.

    Hogan could be coming back into a very differnt team he left. Kodja playing very. Well

  31. John Lerwill

    See what I mean about the centre-backs having to help on the attacking side…

    BBC:

    ” Aston Villa. Mile Jedinak tries a through ball, but James Chester is caught offside.”

    😉

  34. Heroes-and-Villans

    Unlucky villa. Didnt deserve that but as we all know if you dont take your chances when on top you get punished.

    Positives, the improvement over last 4 games is there. Lots said lets see how we do against the likes of huddy, well it was a good performance.

    Still need to fix fragility of when we go behind in games. Dont think we looked like scoring when behind, i know not much options on bench but still needs to be fixed for next season.

  36. Trinity

    Villa were better in the first half. Looks like Wagner sussed them out, needed to mix it up, keep em guessing. Not far off, though. NUFC beat Huddersfield 1-3, Huddersfield beat us 1-0. That’s where we’re at. Villla could still be a top 10 side this season.

  40. Heroes-and-Villans

    Some very good comments from the huddy fans. They saying we are the best team they have seen at there place. Said jedi is a beast….we know! And general comments from fans who was there saying playerd well, should never of lost.

    So sounds lke what wecwanted before game. Wanted to see signs of improvement.

    Watching the highlight lansbury very unlucky hitting the underside of bar, and hourihan has to be scoring his chance.

    Positive about lansbury and hourihan i notice last few games, they are getting in final 3rd alot more.

  41. DarrenO

    Could really do with a Scott Hogan type striker up front 🙂

    Wagner called us aggressive which was music to my ears, it meant we fought for the ball and the right to win, sounds like the tide might be turning. Oh to have a settled, injury free side!

    Thanks for the birthday wishes above

  43. James Gill

    dor
    play hogan who is dropped,kodja doesnt look like been fit to play with another striker,
    subs again bruce take off two left sided players leaving on 3 centre mids

  45. DarrenO

    Not that worrying imo, just means Dr.T will lose a lot of money getting rid of McCormack but it was an entirely mis-managed situation by McCormack and Bruce.

    Tishbola has age and potential on his side and may come back stronger than next season but he’ll have to work hard to dislodge Hourihane or Lansbury. Competition in all positions is what the club needs for years the team picked itself because there were no options.

  46. Heroes-and-Villans

    good bit in the paper I agree with…need to use the loan market better in the summer.

    go and get a star on loan from a prem team.

    watched the highlights. First thing what a bloody poor goal to concede….why did Johnson watch it fly by!

    but some lovely moves for Lansbury shot and conors chance. good footy.

    Lansbury first time volley quality.

  50. Heroes-and-Villans

    james

    think it shows you need a bit of in game intelligence…someone be alive to the short corner. react.

    players just happy to take up there pre drilled positions.

    1 goal conceded in last 4 games and think it was huddys only shot on goal! so getting a lot better!

    certainly reading more about last nights game, feel more encouraged.
    but points dropped.

    story of villas season all season….play well, create, don’t take chance, stupid defense mistake, get punished, loose.

  51. James Gill

    2 v necastle corners
    1 v pne corner
    one thing bruce does well is make excuses not taking chances , not defending well
    the previous 3 games are gone poor performances where hid by wins
    only thing heard good last night was how bree played
    can t figure out how you play jedi plus 2 of same type midfielders together,and expect amavi to play as a winger/front man, subs again left too late 5mins no good to any one, take off 2 left sided players ,leaving no balance

  52. OldVilla

    Oh dear James Gill, here was me thinking that I heard we played well last night following three victories with clean sheets. But now I realize that the the three victories were just lucky and hid poor performances and that last night only Bree did any good.
    I’m sure that both the commentators, Huddersfield fans and manager, other villains on here seems to think we had played well with very good performances by our midfield? Maybe they are all wrong eh?
    Another false dawn then.
    Back to the drawing board then. In that case I say Bruce out! And all the players.
    Oldvilla

  53. James Gill

    old villa
    1 shot on target hit post once yes we all love bruce he is greatest manager ever NOT
    why should we not be getting something from huddersfield no wins in 3, according to you we are great bruce got 3 wins against crap teams
    bruce has had about 5 months and almost 30 games yet we cannot do basics defend a short corner, have a keeper that doesnt move,no one knows what team bruce prefers he certainly doesnt a formation that works, watch any highlights from most other teams in this league they all try to play football not hoof ball

  54. OldVilla

    James, I certainly don’t think he’s the greatest manager ever, not sure why you think that. I think he is here to do a job which he will hopefully complete next year. Then we move onto stage two.
    as has been said, there are green shoots of recovery and I was under the impression that last nights performance showed that, preceded by three wins, no matter who they were against.
    But obviously I am wrong.
    Oldvilla

  55. James Gill

    how is conceding goals the way we are , or derby match , the end of rotherham match showing green shoots of recovery
    if bruce is going to be no good in pl in which even most die hard bruce fans realise ,move him out now and build with someone that can take us forward, he failed in my eyes he failed in promotion bid,

  56. IanG

    There is obvious improvement, but the goal was an indicator of how difficult they are finding it to keep up the change in habits.
    The aggression & work rate was there for much of the match but they switched off for the goal.
    As Andrew said, what was missing was in game intelligence, which is part of the bad habit & produces headless chicken behaviour.
    A definitive improvement over January.
    They’ve got 2 weeks off matches soon which should help.
    Is Bruce the messiah?
    Obviously not, he a very, very naughty boy.

  59. Heroes-and-Villans

    James

    I get the feeling you think some of us who want to see stability and to be patient and see what all the new players can do after a bit of time together are pro bruce.

    Speaking for myself im not pro or anti bruce at this moment in time.

    Next season is judgment time. Have to be challenging.

    For now, after a bit of time bedding in and bruce stoping changing formation every game hey presto we seem to be improving each game. Small steps but improving.

  62. John Clark

    James-

    It’s true, Bruce has failed in the promotion bid this season. While there have been words of support, I never put much stock in those. I’m not a betting man (terrible at it), but I would think his job is still very much in the balance.

    January’s business may well signal commitment from Dr. Tony, and if so, fair play, he’s the owner. And stability does have its merits. But we do need to see the side ‘gelling’ at least during the run-in to feel good about what comes next.

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