Well, another game, another three points, and this time it was visiting Norwich that found themselves on the wrong end of a 2-0 verdict. And thus we’re able to sustain our argument about how we’re winning. It’s truly refreshing having wins to argue about…that has to represent some sort of progress, doesn’t it?
Regardless, the question of whether the run of good results is masking managerial or personnel shortcomings will likely remain unresolved in a lot of minds. Others are going to see it as evidence that things are coming together. One hopes we all can find a way to get some joy out of winning, wherever it’s taking us. Sure beats losing.
The Good
Rather obvious, a sixth win in seven games. Jonathon Kodjia netting twice and well in different, confident fashions. The first was very similar to the lovely goal he scored for Ivory Coast over the break and was set up by a good ball from Scott Hogan. The second was a deft exploitation of defensive confusion that Kodjia poached with an assist from Sam Johnstone, who also kept another clean sheet and seems to finding his feet. A tip of the hat to Mile Jedinak for finding the legs to keep Steve Bruce’s preferred lineup as intact as possible. The team keep finding ways to win, and even if we’re over reliant on Kodjia, we did finally sign a true goal-scorer.
The Bad
Same old pattern. Villa look good early, fail to score. Opponent comes into the game, misses a couple of good chances, and Villa somehow respond with a goal. The lead holds even though Villa invite and come under pressure and handle it shakily. Villa then score a late second on the break to calm the nerves and seal the win.
That might not sound all that bad, but it’s the Villa between 1-0 and 2-0 that are causing consternation, bringing us back to whether results are masking problems. Too many of these games seem to hang in the balance too long, and perhaps we’ve just been riding our luck.
The Ugly
Scott Hogan re-aggravating the ankle injury he picked up against Newcastle, and Andre Green’s return performance. However, I’m certainly not going to hold it against him as he’s young and just coming back from injury. He’ll shake it off.
Final Verdict
Concise thoughts above, largely because it was a match we’ve seen several times of late. Leaving aside the now strangely consistent 2-0 margins of recent weeks, the pattern of the game and Villa’s overall performance during this run have been uncannily similar. Which means that right now, I think everyone wondering what’s going on at Villa are right to some degree.
How’s that for conviction?
I truly understand the underwhelming nature of the victories. To be fair, it easily could have been a 3-2, 4-3 outcome, with either Villa or Norwich winning. If Norwich had taken their early chances, which they should’ve, would it have gone differently? You’d imagine so.
Teams will miss chances, though (look at us), and for the number of goals we conceded earlier this season on just one or two decent chances in a full match—maybe it’s simply the odds evening out.
The pattern of play that’s becoming so familiar is also producing another pattern: winning. And if there’s any method to what we’re seeing, it’s that Villa are very simply learning to get a lead, hold it, and put the game away on the counter. It’s a pretty basic and logical approach, especially when what you need even more than the wins is the confidence they breed. Based on what I’ve heard about Steve Bruce’s remonstrations on the touch line, he’s no more happy with how the side are playing in the bad spells of every match than we are. But we are getting through them and then finding the final nail.
So are we witnessing a learning curve or the limits of our ability and/or competence? I really can’t say, but I’m leaning toward the former. You can’t learn to play a certain way unless you try to play that way. And this is what Bruce was doing before the January swoon when he changed too much too quickly. It isn’t coming together particularly quickly, and neither is it a thing of beauty. But results are results. And the players are quickly accumulating more good associations with the shirt, and Villa Park, than bad. Not getting booed off can be a pretty good thing.
It’s also true that we’ve not really faced any adversity in this latest run. We’ve gotten on top each time out, allowing us to sit back and play down the clock while looking for the counterpunch. We can make hard work of it, it isn’t pretty, but we are holding and making teams pay. And basically, if we can get in a groove where we expect to win games like these, then you’d expect the next trick to be learning how to win when we eventually don’t score first. And then perhaps learning to play with some style.
Because also to be noted are that we still aren’t retaining the ball very well, the team can find itself completely out of shape, and it’s not like we’re just stonewalling teams as we invite them on. Kodjia remains the only prolific scorer.
Even though that might sound a bit grumpy, I’m happy enough. It would be a mistake to assume the team has reached its potential in just three months, which means that even as we’re expecting more, we should also end up seeing more. Right now, it’s still fun to win however it comes about, and when it’s starting to happen regularly, we’re either very lucky, or something is starting to click.
So, let’s see how Villa handle QPR, a team in better form than Norwich, and see whose viewpoint that supports.
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 55
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Aye, John, but what about the spirit! 😉
I see a team that goes about its work in not just a workmanlike way, but in a positive frame of mind, despite the fact it’s not “pretty”.
They seem to have the ‘bottle’ to hold together firmly and just do the necessary that’s required to get the points. And the spirit is in the bottle! 😉
I just believe it’s going to get better, and I’m recalling the time when I used to enjoy watching Villa when Dwight was in the team. Yes, they played better footie, but it was Dwight’s cheerfulness that seemed to carry the day very often. And I see a similar cheerfulness in Codger … and Albert. Both of these players are arguably the best we have up front and I do believe they enjoy it.
Thanks for a good summary, John.
I think you got it right to suspect the team is on a learning curve rather than having reached its potential. Thus, they should get better. They need more time together in a settled team.
The QPR match will test their mettle, for sure. Looking forward to it, hope it’s on Sky.
UTV
We need to be better on the ball, want to see Lansbury and hourihan dominate more.
Gonna let them off the Norwich game, Lansbury not played for a while and hourihan back from int duty.
However we have better delievery, some lovelly balls from those 2 sat.
JC,
Good summary of how things are. Villa are still in a very early development stage with some lovely shoots starting to appear. Most importantly, is the team spirit, and the bonding that is developing, bringing a much improved positiveness.
Agree with you JL, that the positive and happy attitude of Kodjia and Adomah are bringing a freshness up front, and the more the rest of the team join in, the better and the more dangerous Villa will become, especially on the break. I am really waiting for Hutton, who going forward is so dangerous, if only he would continue on into the box, I am sure he could be devastating, and may even score. More and more full backs are doing exactly that, and with great results.
totally agree with the comments on kodjer and adomah.
They play the game in a relaxed happy manner. lovely to see.
brings a freshness and energy to the group.
no news on Hogan!
JL,
Would have to agree about the spirit. Which is why, however the performances are looking over 90 minutes, it seems like there’s something right happening. Kodjia and Adomah do both look like they’re enjoying themselves.
Paul,
Hutton has been better, and has always got forward well. He won’t go down as a Villa legend, but he always gives it everything he’s got, and that’s been rare enough the last few years.
kodjer seems a bit 2 footed to me too! scores some beautys with his left peg!
Not sure ive seen such a good 2 footed player in a villa shirt?!
huttons done well…fair enough but I don’t see the point of starting him over bree.
True that Kodijah and Adomah are enjoying their football, noticed that a while back. I think that is a product of success in assists and goals. It should be contagious.
Hutton is always positive and, given the level of stick he’s taken, has been resilient to the point where he’s won over many fans. He deserves his one year extention.
I hope it’s all smiles for Villa against QPR tomorrow.
Haven’t heard from Old Villa this week, already miss his amusing posts. OV, hope you are OK. We’ll be off the antidepressants soon with all this positivity.
The David Unsworth Story
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/his-dinner-dustbin-amazing-story-12839854
What a load of cobblers! … and sticky toffee!
JL
Yeah. By today’s standards, Unsworth looks a bit chubby. Young Barry did okay, didn’t he? Might be a lesson in that.
If Green plays against QPR, I hope he is fully fit and not gun shy after being injured.
UTV
lana
Thanks for asking, yes I’m ok, it’s just that I couldn’t get the space to listen to football.
It’s amazing how many people there are, or circumstances where they don’t think that it’s important.
Something wrong with them.
But good that we won, & on the reruns codger’s 1st goal was a beaut.
An identity seems to be slowly forming, along with the good habit of winning.
The icing on the cake will come more slowly I think.
Good signs for next season.
right I can feel it in my water…we’re going to smash someone soon. 3 or 4.
would love it to be against Holloway but rather save it for the blues!
Suppose Hogan will be out, gutted.
433 I guess tonight?
really want bree over hutton but I guess you need completion and must earn the shirt on your back and hutton is doing ok!
Andrew,
Hutton is doing okay and my guess is that after January, Bruce is unwilling to change too much up if he isn’t costing us goals. Which is why I suppose he put in Taylor in for Amavi.
Also interesting that he’d rather move Jedi to CB than put Elphick on. Thinking it has as much to do with leadership qualities as anything else.
Without Hogan, dunno whether it’s 4-3-3 or more 4-1-4-1…
yeah jedi has to play either in cb or mid.
just need him on the pitch. Not had someone of his precence since mellberg.
sounds like season ticket sales for next season is going very well.
On the Norwich game, it wasn’t pretty was it. Bruce takes the piss with his defensive style actually. As soon as went one up, he stuck Kodjia out wide and for the rest game we put 11 men behind the ball
On tonight, I’m at work so will miss it 🙁 Hope we get the 3 points and close the gap on 6th but not sure we will get the 3 points tonight
Feel for Grealish. Bruce even brings the awful Gardner on ahead of him
Iana- played with Unsworth on a an 8 aside last year so couldn’t kick him, he is about my age stocky bloke, he is coaching the Everton youth teams and one of them played to, I did all right for a old boy with one leg 🙂
QPR could well park the bus tonight and thats what I would do at Villa park, pass the ball around in your own half and tire the strikers out and wait until Villa have to come out to you, oh and double mark Kodjia
QPR have drawn at Leeds and lost 1-0 to Derby in their away games recently so not expecting a goal fest.
JC- spot on write up by the way, my thoughts exactly, thanks
I think we are to reliant on Kodjia and jedinak, Kodjias goals are rarely team affairs either, that is an are of concern along with the porous midfield with Jedinak doing his best to be 3 men, Frightening to think we have won one game (that was pre-arrival under RDM) without him in the side.
Bacuna in for Hourihane who’s benched
1-0 up for those who dont know 🙂
Some great stats from the dr.
We have sold 10k more season tickets now compared to this time last year. 3k of them are people getting them for first time.
Awesome
Mark not sure thats fair on the team re kodjers goals, usualy set up well from adomoah, think his goals are just typical of a good strikers! Scores the lot.
Managed to see todays goal once on. Sky, looked like a decent move. Some one twos?
Will catch it again later hopefully.
No chance qpr are going to tire us…our bench is silly good.
Dissapoointed only one up after early goal, gotta kill teams off. Good luck second half villa
https://www.pscp.tv/foxymegan/1OwxWPVOwnjKQ?
Andrew who else scores them then?
Hard fought win against a team that never gave up. A good test for Villa, which they passed.
Be nice to see others score. Good on Kodija. He’s going for 20 goals and from strength to strength. Prem League quality striker.
Ah sorry mark, got confused when you said kodjers goals are rarely teams goals.
Yeah be nice to start seeing lansbury and hourihan score more, more than capable.
We have conceded 1 goal in 8 matches. Thats insane at any level of football. Aint going to say that many times in my life!!
Winning mentality and aston villa. Am i really putting those words in the same sentance!!
Some time ago when I was bored I decided to look at premier league players who scored more than 20 goals in a season. What was really surprising was how few players managed it and the really minuscule number that did it in consecutive seasons.
It’s great that Kodjia is having a good season but he isn’t critical to next year’s success. Of course we’d all much prefer that he stays, but if he doesn’t then Hogan, or someone else will have to step up.
Kodjia is in a rich vein of form right now but that’s a reason to celebrate rather than fret over what would happen if we didn’t have him.
Dr Xia has brought in Kodjia, Mcormack and Hogan and only one of them has so far made a serious contribution. If we lose one of them I’m confident he’ll replace them and next year we’ll need just ‘one’ of them to click again.
Anyone who doubts that we are capable of playing good football should watch Kodjia’s goal this evening.
It was a team goal brilliantly finished by Kodjia.
That passage of play is an example of the sort of play we’ve been seeing on a regular basis over the last couple of months, but only for 20 to 30 minutes in a game.
I suppose it’s hard to be too critical of the fact that we don’t play like that for 60 minutes a game when we’ve managed to defend our leads so well recently.
Back home after another enjoyable 180 mile round trip. The result makes it all worthwhile and as Robbo describes, watching another wonderful team goal scored by old King Kodjia…!!
Defence remained solid again, and Johnstone continued to shine in goal. Thought that Amavi especially, and Adomah were not on form tonight, and the substitutions of Hogan, Green and finally Elphick did not really bring anything to the table. I had hoped that Grealish could have replaced Amavi sooner or Hourihane, and made a difference. Too much of a pressure situation for Green, but he was better than on Saturday, but still too easily knocked off the ball.
I was also concerned that Kodjia looked like he was limping slightly for most of the second half, so hope he is going to be ok.
Mixed reviews from fans who went to VP. Everyone happy to win but many not happy with the football, seemed worried that Villa seem to turn off for long periods. A work in progress? Getting wins was the first priority.
Trinity. It’s tough when we score early and then it feels as if we’re ‘hanging on’ for the rest of the game.
It seems only a matter of time before the opposition score and that we’ve been lucky to stay ahead.
With 7 clean sheets out of 8 though I suppose we have to accept that we’re pretty good at ‘hanging on’. That sort of record is not down to luck, we clearly have some decent players who know just what they’re doing.
They say a team needs to build from the back and I guess that’s what we’re now seeing.
A bit more clinical on the break and we could be the new Leicester 😉
I’ve a love/hate relationship with the championship, love that football is the story and not the sky sports narrative for stories that are irrelevant or don’t exist, hate that it’s impossible to see anything bar goal highlights.
My approach to Villa in the championship hasn’t changed, but for next season I do see us doing a Celtic in terms of beating the teams that are in front of us but it’s nowhere near the same feeling of the MON years when beating the top prem sides. I’m not excited by scraping a one nil win against QPR but that maybe a reflection of me as opposed to Villa.
Huge concerns that the mantra is clean sheet, we won but the football is neither great or controlling. Yes I fully understand it’s a results business but after the long blip of January/February should we expect more in terms of footballing development now the players have had time to gel. Seen a comment above about expecting us to hockey someone at some stage, very possible but the other side will have to have a very off day in the way we concede possession and therefore don’t control the game.
Listen, I’m happy we are winning, it’s a much better feeling than losing and in that regard there is progression, just not enough for me to justify the huge cost it took to put this team together. I do need to get to VP and witness Villa for myself as I am limited to opinion which can either be rose-tinted, just plainly incorrect or somewhere in between and the above mentioned goal highlights.
Yes I’m back after a brief sojourn to temper the enthusiasm of winning football matches and continue my quest to espouse a brighter future for Villa once the shackles of the limited vision of Bruce is gone. Calls for Grealish to come on suggests people feel the same in terms of attacking football irrespective of whether Grealish will actually ever deliver beyond his star performance in the semi final v Liverpool.
What I am very positive about is the increasing trust placed in youths like Green. Having read thru JL’s excellent articles on the managerial/ownership story down the years, the trend has been at the moments were priority is placed on youth development, Villa have over time seen the fruits of that and blending with either established players or buying where required, hopefully that trend continues. Jimmy Hogan’s evolutionary/revolutionary seems to have been missed from the football history narrative in the way that people go on about Herbert Chapman’s Arsenal.
spot on darren as usual,funny our good run has come when sky have gave up on us ,don t even cover matches anymore just goals
Mick McCarthy cracks me up…talking about his Ipswich team winning at home again. said all this free pint with a pie, clappers being used at grounds is bollocks…winning makes fans happy.
haha well said
sometimes you can get caught up in the moment of supporting your team.
Im still the same re bruce…will judge him properly at Christmas time.
But stepping back and looking at what we are doing. pretty much a new team and manager since January. 4 months on and we have the spirit, fight and organisation ive been wanting. Any successful team ive seen is built from the back. got to be sound in defence and give 100% if you want to win trophies/get promoted.
You are not going to play beautiful footy in the championship playing sat/tues. If you don’t find a way of winning ugly you aint going up.
We have a good solid side to build on. Build from the back comes first and if in the summer we can get 3 or 4 players better than what we have and continue this form next seasons going to be a belter.
haha yes Darren, I was thinking the same when I only found brief highlights on twitter to see the match!
mind you that’s better than that crappy motd version on channel 5!
Agree Andrew if winning ugly is the exception rather than the rule, the great sides do it but this is Villa in the second div and we’ve a habit of winning ugly, that surely shouldn’t be the basis of unsurpassed joy.
It certainly won’t sustain us for an entirety of next season and if as many have said we win our games now as a bedrock for the transfer window and next season then the football isn’t improving, we are sustaining results but not getting better at how we do it.
There’s a long way to go and regardless of winning mentality or solidity in defence against second division sides, it’s nowhere near good enough for any return to the prem. We need to be developing a higher standard of football in preparation for promotion alongside getting 3 points.
Ah …. now we started our fine run of 7 wins in 8 with a 1-0 win.
The latest win is (also) 1-0 – as you all noticed! 😉 Putting an end to all those dreary 2-0 wins!
Is this the end of this run? Will Burton send us for one? This Saturday all will be revealed…
Darren for sure the footy will have to improve if and when we are in the prem.
I think the happiness is just due to winning! I think we only won 3 games last season!
Next season pressure on. Have to get up. The footy will be better imo but bruce aint going to sacrifice results over style when he has been told get up theres no excuses.
im glad hogans injury ok. just being eased back into it.
apparently baker was immense last night.
hope we can get Johnson deal done for next season.
mate said the u23 keeper signed a new deal, impressive keeper who has also been warming up before games and training with 1st team.
Maybe we are really a little too critical of Bruce and Villa. Last night the first five minutes were electric and Villa were out of the blocks to get the early lead, and for a good ten minutes continued in the same vein. The pace slowed and the game settled with the expectation that Villa could push on and maybe score a few goals and seal a really good win.
This obviously did not happen, but they did continue to create opportunities, with Qpr also having some good passing moves, but mostly coming to nothing with Villa’s defence well in command.
The fans did become a little frustrated wanting at least another goal before half time to help seal a victory. However, the half ended with no change. The second half started ok, but after 55 minutes QPR were starting to press more and Villa were allowing them more possession, and we were all hoping that Bruce would make some substitutions, and replace Amavi or Adomah, and bring some more bite into the attack. Holloway made his substitutions first and they continued to press Villa, with us making the occasional breakaway, which were often exciting but fizzled at the final moment. Bruce then made his substitutions and we managed to see out the match reasonably comfortably.
Villa.s biggest failing is still in front of goal and being able to put the ball away, and when you look at all the sides we have played recently in this division, it is a big problem there too, especially with e modern day defensive set-ups.
I have watched a lot of Premiership football over this season, and when I start to reflect, are we really that different now to the average to good sides up there. I do not think so. Especially when you look at how good our defesive unit is, it could more than hold its own in the Premiership, as could some of the midfield and Adomah and Kodjia. When we have a fully fit team it will be a different story, but these boys are improving week by week, and last night was also Bacuna’s first game after a lengthy suspension, but he did well for the most part.
I just hope we do not trip up against Burton, when in fact we should destroy them, and extend our run of wins to what must be a new record in years…!!!
Andrew,
Yes Sarkic has signed a new deal, and is a very bright prospect, as is the young under 18.s keeper, Viktor Johansson.
Baker also does deserve mention for his display last night, and almost scored, but prevented by a great goal line clearance.
just watched the goal again. really was a lovely goal starting with baker passing into mid. the build up to huttons run down the right was great move too…shame about the hutton final ball!!
I’m not too caught up with the style debate. Its the championship…non of its pretty.
watched most of the wed v Rotherham game last night. wed were rubbish.
Paul
Bruce loves a bacuna type in mid.
always has one. diame, palicious. tall, strong and athletic, runs.
Burton are competitive buggers.
Clough has done well there. wont be a roll over. we will save that for the blues game 🙂
remember when blues were above us not long ago….mind the gap 🙂
Maybe we are really a little too critical of Bruce and Villa. Last night the first five minutes were electric and Villa were out of the blocks to get the early lead, and for a good ten minutes continued in the same vein.
Paul
Every time villa are on tv ive seen bruce going nuts on the touchline whenever the players just hoof it aimlessly and panic. constantly shouting at them calm down keep the ball.
No doubt Bruce and the staff have concentrated on the defence and keeping things tight (fair enough) but Im sure they want us to play better on the ball like we do.
Paul
on a roll here! also agree re the prem. said a while ago theres no reason if villa went up mid table should be easily do able.
For me the top 10 of the champ and bottom 10 of prem nothing in it. especially if you give them the ££ to spend.
Read about Bournmouth…they spent heavily in the summer on 3 attackers, the bloke from Liverpool was one and they have all bombed completely. got to get the transfers right. actually confident of us doing that if we go up.
6 games left. think we were all wrong of our last predictions.
burton a
reading h
Fulham a
blues h
Blackburn a
brighton h
id say 12 points would be very good.
Darren: “Jimmy Hogan’s evolutionary/revolutionary seems to have been missed from the football history narrative in the way that people go on about Herbert Chapman’s Arsenal.”
Yes, Chapman became idolised over anyone else for three reasons I think… (1) He triggered Arsenal’s first great successful run – they were not doing much before Chapman arrived. (2) It’s a London team, innit?! (3) Hogan was vilified pretty well everywhere he went in the UK *except* at Villa, but though he got Villa back into the top-flight, war arrived before the project could get any further. Also he was far more a coach than a manager.
A lot of good comments, apologies for not being able to join the conversation.
But some post-match thoughts are at least up now.