It’s been an interesting week of banter following Villa’s loss to Wolves—some good questions asked, some good answers given. I didn’t do the usual post-match piece, but I’ve probably made my own thoughts clear enough on the previous thread…

Villa didn’t start poorly, but were ultimately outclassed on the day, Bruce admitting that Wolves were indeed the better team. Now of course he meant on the day, and there’s no arguing that. Will they be the better team over the course of the season? Anyone’s guess. But they certainly look as though they’re in with a shout.

Bruce stuck with the players that have brought our best performances of the season so far, but once again said he should perhaps have freshened things up a bit following an international break. Dear old Emile Heskey has said the side look short on confidence.

Whatever the reason, the side didn’t produce the sort of performance we’d hoped to see based on the September run. Was it just a bad day? Entirely possible.

However, it was a match we were all looking at to see whether Villa had made progress, or were just on a good run against poor teams. After the match—which you’d have thought Villa were looking at just as intently as Wolves—it seemed more like the latter.

Even God came out to chide Villa for their lack of ball-winning effort. And perhaps, at the simplest level, that was the defining characteristic of the performance overall. It’s much easier for a side that’s good with the ball to slice you apart when you don’t put them under pressure and allow them to play.

But today’s another day. Visiting Fulham, who currently sit two spots and one point below us in ninth, give us an opportunity to respond and get back to winning ways. The Cottagers seem to specialize in late goals, so it’s likely going to take a full 90-minute effort and an astute substitution or two.

Hutton will be back in deputizing at left back, and Davis is seemingly making way for Onomah. Not a big shuffle of the pack, but it will change the way we play, not having a hold-up man in the side.

As the league starts to sort itself out, a win today would be a big boost. We could go as high as fourth, or as low as 12th when all the results are in given that Boro and Cardiff tee off, Wolves play Preston, and Bristol City and Leeds have at it.

Me, I’d much rather be hanging close to or in the playoff spots at the end of the day’s action and see Villa showing some intent to take up permanent residence in that neighborhood. I’m sure everyone else would, too.

So come on boys. Dust yourselves off, and show us what you’re capable of.

Over to you.

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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 69

  1. Trinity

    JC
    Thanks for the preview.
    That is a good question. It all depends on which Villa turns up. It’ll be interesting to see if SB can get the subs right.

  2. John Lerwill

    Team selection vs Fulham:

    Johnstone, Elmohamady, Terry, Chester, Hutton, Snodgrass, Hourihane, Whelan, Adomah, Onomah, Kodjia.

    Subs: Steer, De Laet, Samba, Bjarnason, O’Hare, Davis, Hogan.

  18. IanG

    Well over the line, at least we’ve won.
    Have little idea of the flow of the game as AVFC audio was cutting out constantly, including on both goal & some of the attempts.
    Couldn’t organise a P*** up in a brewery

  23. VillaMD

    Big win today, time to push for 2nd. Looks like Wolves may run away with it…..or let’s see how their foreigners play in the cold of Jan/Feb.

    Villa squad should be full strength in 2 weeks. It’ll be like having 2 new signings with Mile and Jack.

    How was Hutton today?

  24. r0bb0

    If Fulham had beaten us by a couple of goals today they’d have been a top 6 side so our record against top 6 teams is now won 2 drawn 1 lost 2
    A quarter of the way through the season we’ve played a pretty even mix of teams through the division so it’s beginning to feel as if it’s fair enough to now be considering ourselves as play off contenders this year.

  25. OldVilla

    Now I’m not one to brag at all, ever but as I said on the last thread – “Tricky game today, does SB make changes or not? I’ll still go for a 2-1 win for the Villa out of blind faith lol ”
    Shame its the first thing I’ve got right for the last 35 years!!

    IanG – I’ve subscribed to watch all the games on AVTV for a fee each month. Today I couldnt get anything to watch and I also had the audio crap that kept breaking up. Dismal. I’ll be calling them on Monday to shout at someone. You pay for a service and it doesnt happen and no word of any problems…….. shite!

    So I have no real comments on the game as I feel I cant comment if I cant watch it. But a win is a win and now in 5th place …………… please please please lets beat the knuckle dragging neanderthal scum next week …………
    oldvilla

  26. John Clark

    r0bb0,

    Right now, I’m leaning toward Villa doing what they do well enough that we’re likely a playoff side. I wish it looked like more of a sure thing, and I don’t know how I feel about us winning through a playoff, but obviously we’ll know a lot more by that time.

    For now, though, we’re up in it, staying in touch.

  28. John Clark

    OV

    Well done…and a win is a win. I’m not really sure what we saw from Fulham today: some good passages, weren’t able to make us pay in the final third when they were working it well, a terrific save from Johnstone on what looked a certain equalizer.

    It was a bit uneven, but I think the difference was closing down harder. We had a few moves we should’ve done better with, but we were winning the ball, pressing them into mistakes, and not letting them get too comfortable. Especially in the second, as the game became more stretched, we seemed to knock them off stride pretty well.

  29. VillaMD

    It’s a BIG win. I cannot see Cardiff and Sheff Utd lasting the pace. That means it should be between us, Wolves, and Leeds for top 2. I think Leeds will fade away and The Villa and Wolves will pull away from the rest

  30. John Lerwill

    JC: “I don’t know how I feel about us winning through a playoff, but obviously we’ll know a lot more by that time.”

    The playoffs are in 33 games time! 🙂

    I’m in total agreement with VillaMD that the clubs he mentions may well not last the pace – others included. Steve Bruce, however, knows exactly what’s required and will do his best to generate consistency throughout the rest of the season. The players he’s signed will doubtless help in that progression.

    I’m not taking promotion as a ‘given’, but I think we’re edging in the right direction – and may well do enough to not need being in the playoffs.

  38. Plug

    That was an immense result. Didn’t fancy us at all so to get the 3 points was some performance. I thought Fulham looked threatening every time they attacked and must say that Adomah and Onomah were excellent. So SB’s statement after the Boro game that “2 wins and a draw and you’re in the top 6” wasn’t quite accurate. It actually needed 5 wins out of the next 6 to get there.

    We must now concentrate on Small Heath Alliance. They will be fighting all over the pitch so we had better be ready for it. JL is the man to confirm this, but my belief is that in their miserable 142 years existence, SHA have finished above us on just 18 occasions. The disgraceful years were 1906, 25, 36, 37, 38, 56, 58, 59, 60, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75 and 2003. It is a further indictment of Herbert that almost half of those catastrophies occured during his years.

  39. John Lerwill

    Plug,

    I’m not checking your years there, but they do look right.

    Let’s not forget, though, that in the late 1950s Blues did have a very good team, one that I remember clearly. And that was in the time that Villa were not doing so well, league-wise.

    However, you quote 1960 (when Villa were being promoted from Div 2) but the next season we beat them 6-2 at VP.

    But it’s wrong to suggest that Doug was in charge and somehow causing the situation between 1968 and 1975 – that was during the time that Villa were out of the top flight and *not* due to Doug. In 68 and 69 Blues were also in Division 2 but Doug was not i.c. then.

    Over 112 league matches against Small heath, we’ve Won: 46 Drawn: 30 Lost: 36

  40. IanG

    OV
    Left you an email [posting above] for the avfc streaming manager I have been in correspondance with for a year with many issues.
    But at least he has the authority to act & not to read off a card.
    I left you more yesterday but it is being moderated & I am unclear whether you can see it.

  41. John Lerwill

    Plug: “So SB’s statement after the Boro game that “2 wins and a draw and you’re in the top 6” wasn’t quite accurate. “

    Yes, that statement was not accurate in practical terms, but what I think he meant was that if the other team above us then didn’t move, 2 wins and a draw would get us there. I’m sure he said it just to indicate that we were not that far away … and we weren’t.

    Like a lot of PR statements, they’re meant just to keep people happy, not to state the absolute truth. I think you know that Plug! 🙂

  43. John Clark

    IanG…Not sure about moderating. Apart from something automated, it’s a manual function that would be coming from me, if anyone.

    You can message me particulars, might help. I’ll check on the back end.

  44. John Clark

    JL,

    I know how many games are left. 🙂 What I am saying is that the team as it is, no I don’t feel good about them winning pressure elimination games against teams with much less expectation weighing them down.

    Which is of course qualified by the passage of time—what we have now is not likely what we’ll have then, and we’ll know who they really are once the jockeying for automatic vs. 3-6 becomes meaningful. They may well have developed a killer instinct by that time.

    For me, I really do want us to stay within shouting distance of the top 2 spots, which was what was most important about yesterday.

  45. John Clark

    IanG…I am seeing a comment that was blocked (the AVTV correspondence, which was amusing even though I share your frustration), most likely because it contained an email.

    So it either looked like spam, set off something with the hosting company, or fell afoul of the basic settings on here. These settings are pretty loose, but thinking something in the text of that email string was the culprit.

  46. John Clark

    Plug,

    Agreed, Fulham did look threatening. I’d have a better sense of the game in its entirety if the streaming hadn’t been so poor.

    As is so often the case, it was huge that we scored first, and then got back on top after the sucker-punch equalizer. From there, seemed like we did enough to put them off, but they were moving the ball around very nicely at times, and could have had a number of more threatening opportunities.

    Hoping Villa can apply the same energy to close down on a more consistent basis. It wasn’t perfect, but it seemed to be enough. This time, anyway.

  47. John Lerwill

    JC: “I know how many games are left. “

    What *I* meant by that pithy statement was that there’s a long way to go during which I expect the Villa team to grow, not tread water. Therefore the parameters will be different when we get to the end of the season and a view you appear to share by saying “what we have now is not likely what we’ll have then”.

    And staying within shouting distance of the top-2 is very important, I agree.

  49. John Clark

    JL,

    No offense taken, John. 🙂

    With a settled side, they do have a chance to grow (which I guess is pretty obvious). Now that the best XI has been identified, we’ll see how good they are and how good the system is.

    There’s enough talent for sure, and some weak links. I think the win was hard-fought yesterday, and I liked that.

  50. OldVilla

    IanG – you said “OV
    Left you an email [posting above] for the avfc streaming manager I have been in correspondance with for a year with many issues.
    But at least he has the authority to act & not to read off a card.
    I left you more yesterday but it is being moderated & I am unclear whether you can see it.”

    Havent seen any email from you but are you talking about the Ian Craig post you made earlier? I’m aiming to call them tomorrow as I am completely p!ssed off with paying for a service that I dont get.
    But if Ian Craig is the guy to go to then I’ll have bash there. Thanks for that 🙂

    oldvilla

  51. John Lerwill

    JC: “Now that the best XI has been identified”

    Ah, but we have Jack and Mile available in 2 or 3 weeks which does make the ‘team’ a tad more interesting.

    Not sure about how much Jack can do, but Mile is a good alternative to Whelan I think.

    Mind you, apart from that token offering to Fulham by Whelan at the end of the first half, people are saying that Whelan had a flippin’ good mathc – passing-wise at least.

  52. John Clark

    JL,

    Yeah, we’ll see what Jack does. I would certainly pick Davis or Green ahead of him, Adomah, Hourihane. He’s going to have up his game if wants to start, imo. Things have moved ahead since Bruce lost the opportunity to ‘build the side around him’ (if that was ever really on the cards). But if Jack can make an impact off the bench…then hey, all to the good, and he might force himself into the side. I know I’d be ticked if I were one of the players I’ve mentioned and got sat down for Jack to walk right back into the side.

    Whelan…He did have some good passes, and the one through for the cross leading to the second made up for the free kick. But that was a seriously stupid foul. Johnstone doesn’t make that great save later, we might’ve been looking at a draw as a result.

    Dunno if Lansbury can take Whelan’s place when he’s fit, obviously looking forward to seeing Jedi back, who, based on getting the start when he re-aggravated the injury, would seem to be preferred to Whelan. Bruce may obviously disagree with me, but we can do better than Whelan. We’d be much better through the middle with younger, pacier version of Whelan.

    So right now, I’ll call it our best X. They seem to be cohesive and the group that consistently offers the most threat. For me the thing to look forward to is Kodjia regaining last year’s form (if he can).

  53. angel_8

    Hourihane is money from frees and corners. He’s getting more confident and looks more assured on the ball and in the tackle.

    Onomuuh should start CM alongside Hourihane….2 hungry players that need to prove themselves vs a mid 30’s player…and that includes Mile. Horses for courses, start Mile for some away games.

    Jack should be sub for Snodgrass. In my view, Bruce should tell Snodgrass that you have 60 mins.

    So here’s what I really wanted to write…..

    Now who prefers Albert vs Traoare? We got the better deal…

  55. IanG

    OV
    Yes it was Ian Craig, my original email got moderated so I don’t know if it’s visible to you.
    I tried to post my correspondence for the info.

  56. IanG

    OV
    Put a good hook in the subject line otherwise he may not get to it for a while.
    lots of us got a refund at the beginning of the season for such a situation, so you may be eligible.

  58. Trinity

    Can anyone explain to me how that rugby tackle on Kodjia in the penalty box wasn’t an obvious penalty?
    I think the refs” view must have been impeded. Then what about the linesman?

  59. Trinity

    Adomah is a good footballer and team player, who scores his fair share of goals.
    Villa still have a lot of things to work on, but this win against a good side is a step in the right direction.
    Where is our Mark?

  61. Trinity

    Yes, it’s reMarkable we haven’t seen him comment for a while. Maybe, he’s gone cold turkey for a while just to prove to himself he isn’t addicted to AVL. Either that or he’s busy marking up the hours with a big contract.

  62. DarrenO

    I’ve been doing some soul-searching over the weekend, don’t worry it was only Villa related and nothing too strenuous.

    I’ve a trust issue that is borne from the last 5 years of Villa, I don’t trust the team or the manager because they’ve invariably let me down too many times before.

    My intention is to let go of that mis-trust, not saying I’m joining the JL crew just yet but I will be more patient in my preview of games and take a more holistic view of Villa under Bruce instead of the peaks (September) and troughs (Wolves) approach to date. It is a marathon not a sprint after all and I need to remember that.

    What did I learn from the Fulham, we have got a bit of grit and determination about us, that Wolves are rightly top of the league, that we can bounce back from a relatively poor performance but probably against the championship’s top side, that Small Heath holds no fear for us as a game on paper but there is a requirement to rise to the derby challenge so it will be good to see the mentality because we certainly have the quality.

    Not quite a Bruce epiphany but to give him credit he’s assembled a very good side bar natural left full cover but that can easily be addressed in Jan should there be a need to bring in a player.

    I wish you well my fellow Lifers – I’d still love to see MK’s perspective on where we stand. Don’t add yourself to the list of disappeared.

  63. John Lerwill

    Darren,

    I liked your comment, but, funnily enough after all I’ve said, I find myself shaking in my boots today worrying whether the balloon I’ve puffed up with all my optimism will be pricked, and the contents splattered on the floor! 😀

    But it’s a Monday morning so I’m sure I will regain my true self as the day progresses.

    As to Mark King … The fault may well lie with me as he got a bit upset with me after I stated that I was a bit “irritated” with his on-going analysis of Bruce. But even though I inferred that I welcomed his general input, he seems to have taken umbridge.

    Well, Mark, if you are reading this I’m sure you’re a great feller at heart and have provided a lot of good input to AVL. If you can please forgive this poor scribe’s “irritation” then I and others would like to see your presence as one of this Gang of Lifers! 🙂

  66. Plug

    Mark doesn’t come across as a bloke who would take the hump at someone disagreeing with him.

    My theory is that he placed a grand on Villa to beat Bolton 1-0 and is now in Hawaii enjoying his winnings.

  67. Plug

    Small Heath next weekend. Did you know that during season 1921-22 they did not enter the FA Cup competition. They never played in it that year. In those days clubs had to send in an application form and they forgot to send in their forms. Forgot to send in the forms!! What an embarrassment they are to this city.

  68. Paul Pears

    Hi folks,

    Good article JC, followed up with some really good comments, after Saturday’s game, which I still managed to make in my very busy schedule.

    I really enjoyed the game on Saturday, with a very improved performance from the team, not the most exciting, but very solid.

    Whelan seemed to operate further forward than usual, and Hourihane was a lot deeper, which did not put him in such a good light. Onomah had a very good game, and is making his mark, with Adomah backing Hutton again, who on the left plays a much more defensive role.

    Bruce appears to be getting there bit by bit. and great to see Richie de Laet becoming involved again, as he could make a big difference, as may Grealish and Jedinak.

    Wolves did not look comfortable against PNE and were very lucky to come away with a win in the end. If Johnson’s shooting boots had been better, they may have even come away with a result.

    Blues had a very tough game against Millwall, and our chances now look better against them. Cotterill was very frustrated when interviewed.

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