The following has been submitted by Bradley Ricketts.
Cheers Bradley!
Well, there it is. Another loss for Aston Villa, and the worst part is that it was again a very poor performance.
I seriously can’t understand how Gerrard can watch this team fall apart and still persist with the same tactics every week, it genuinely fails me. It would honestly not surprise me if Gerrard gets the sack in the next few weeks.
To be honest, no team was any good and no team deserved to win, but if any team deserved the three points it would most certainly be West Ham. Of course, you can’t really directly blame anyone for their goal, but what makes the fans angry is the performance.
I have seen a lot of people slandering John McGinn saying that he should be sold and should be nowhere near the starting eleven, but I actually thought that he was one of the better players on the field, which of course isn’t much of an achievement with our current performances but maybe I would go as far as to say that he played pretty well.
Realistically, though, I couldn’t name a single player who played particularly great today.
On the manager situation, I think the issue is that Gerrard has an ego due to his footballing career and will only listen to himself. In fact, I think he is the reason for the club not doing much business in the window despite the fact that new signings are desperately needed. Personally, I think that he has been constantly repeating to the board that he thinks that the squad his good enough and he does not need anymore new players. Unfortunately, now that he has realised that new players are needed and that the squad is currently not good enough it is too late. The owners are definitely not to blame for this shambles though.
I mean, look at the business being done by other clubs, Newcastle have signed Alexander Isak from Real Sociedad for around £70M, to be honest it is very much overpaying for a striker who has the same amount of goals as Jacob Ramsey in his respective league last season, but at least it shows ambition.
But like I said, I am not blaming the owners at all, they offer the money but it is just not being spent.
My point about Gerrard has been backed up even more as today he has finally come out and said that he wants a few more faces in the door, which is something he insisted was not needed just weeks ago. He has finally realised he’s wrong, but doesn’t want to admit it to the fans and most definitely not to the players. But we can’t really talk about signings at the moment with nothing confirmed, and you can’t even say anything about players we are “set to sign” after we witnessed the club sign and unsign Ismalia Sarr in the space of 24 hours.
Focusing more on the game though, I think if I see another performance like that then I think I will be seriously trying to convince myself to not be Gerrard out. I am a pretty fickle fan myself and can see myself saying Gerrard out if things do not change in the next few weeks.
I think Cameron Archer should definitely be playing more and it’s disgraceful how little time he gets on the pitch, but rumours go round now that he is injured as well. We just can’t have anything nice, can we?
Bailey was good when he came on and should be starting week in week out, that’s if we don’t sell him to Ajax before the window closes. Once again, can’t have anything nice. With every positive there always comes a negative at Villa and it is something that our fanbase has just learnt to live with now, and with the vision of the owners I didn’t think at this stage in the project that I would still be saying that. But again the owners are NOT to blame.
However, apparently we were only just getting promoted in the owners eyes and they thought that it would take three years so who knows what comes next.
Things don’t look any better looking ahead, however, as we face Arsenal and Manchester City in the space of the next five days. Arsenal are on flying form as they have won all of their games and sit top of the Premier League as I am writing this (the first of the midweek fixtures are currently on as I write). We will probably go on to lose that but we do like a win against Arsenal in the past few years so for some reason I am going to throw it out there and say we will win 2-1, but as long as we make it tough I wouldn’t even mind a loss. A 2-1 loss is something I would probably take at this point in time.
I am definitely more worried about Arsenal than I am worried for Man City, but that’s not me saying that we will beat Man City as that is something that never happens. But I’d take 2/6 points from these next 2 fixtures and we would definitely be lucky if that was the outcome to be honest and I would be very pleased with it.
In the current form of the club, I wouldn’t even be mad if we picked up 1 point out of 6 as the teams we are playing against are just another level above to where we are currently at. We will see what happens though, I am very excited for these matches to see how we go as these are the toughest tests so far.
I may sound like such a negative fan, but I love the club and only want the best for Villa like we all do, so I will continue to go to every home game and support the boys like a true, loyal fan. I may turn on players or managers, but I will never turn on the club.
Let’s see how things pan out then, I’ll leave it there. Up The Villa!
Comments
104 responses to “Another weekend, Another loss. No surprises”
So you think he didn’t want players, but now, suddenly does?
That’s a new angle and one I hadn’t considered.
Has any manager ever said they don’t want players?
I do agree however, that Arsenal could be worse than Man City.
I love the way you can complain about certain things, yet insist that you will always love the club.
We’ll find out if that’s true in about 60 years time!
UTV indeed 🙂
He doesn’t specifically say that he doesn’t want players, but he constantly states that his squad is good enough to compete when it has been made quite clear that it is not anywhere near good enough, otherwise results would be going our way.
Gerrard blames the players for our poor performances – publicly throwing them, individually or collectively, under the bus.
The arrogance of the man is breathtaking – he’s the manager but non of it is his responsibility.
Get rid now before it’s too late – he can’t turn this round because he’s no idea how to.
Gerrard has fell out with the players, and as much as he loves the fans, it’s something that does not sit right with any of us, unfortunately.
He is too stubborn, the real score on Sunday was,
A poor Villa & A stubborn Gerrard [0]
A shocking West Ham & a pro-active Moyes who changes things [1]
Saints are doing a smidge better than us. Just beaten Chelsea tonight and up to 7th.
A topsy turvy beginning to the season with most of the Sky 6 dropping points.
If the big 6 are dropping points, this should be our chance to finish in the top 10, especially since that’s the aim, isn’t it?
If he shows fight in the next 2, wwhich would mean having the ability to play around them, keep the ball for longer than 5 seconds, and basically doing the stuff that we didn’t do Sunday, which meant we lost the game, against 5x better sides than West Ham, we’ll see. But then I’d expect wins against teams in the top 10. Fixtures don’t help his case, but it’s teams in our first 4 that should’ve been put to bed, West Ham being one of them. Palace to their credit played well, but we could’ve played better, providing that we didn’t make them look good, which was half the reason they took the credit they did.
All of this if he is not sacked this week if a slaughtering by Arsenal follows, or maybe after the Man City game. Like I’ve said previously, I’m fickle, I’m reactionary, just how it is. Play like we did when he first come in. Turn it around, Steven… now or never.
Good article. I know we do our business behind the scenes but the only links last couple of days seem to be an uninspiring defender and outgoings. I don’t think we will get anyone in other than a defender. Its a shame because new faces are desperately needed in midfield and attack imo. I’ve been watching as many games as I can so far this season and i have to say every team I’ve watched have had grit, style of play, energy and determination. The only team I think that has been worse than us is Bournemouth and we lost to them shamefully. So needless to say I am very worried. Newcastle getting a point against City, Brighton and Brentford beating united, Fulham and Palace draw against Pool to name a few. Now, do you think we have a surprise like that in us? I don’t personally. I see nothing but more angry and despondent Vills fans this week sadly. Gerrard needs to go.
I can’t disagree much. I watched Fulham play Premier League experienced Brighton who have been doing very well recently. They played with a very high tempo, players made quick decisions, they lost the ball once or twice, won it back instantly. They are ball winners, they have a good striker, and actually feed that good striker, they are well organised, and in them, I see many things that Villa lack, unfortunately.
What exactly is happening at villa park at the moment?
Owners seem to have stopped spending only spending what’s brought in from sales.
Now Liverpool are sniffing around Luis when he’s still in negotiations of new contract
All this is bound to be a distraction for him especially as not a 1st choice now.
I don’t think they’d sell for 20m but what if they come back with over 30m?
Not sure if owners have decided to settle for mid table team for the TV money or not willing to give Gerrard anymore money for transfers
I think they’re not seeing any improvement in the way we play and that’s why they’ve lost confidence in breaking into the top 6 within the foreseeable future.
I must admit if I owned villa would I want to pour my money down the drain in these uncertain times in the world.
Afraid my answer would be no improve what you have.
What would anyone on here do if you owned villa and be honest???? Put yourself in their shoes?
First of all, I’d have a long look at who’s hands the club is in. Sporting director, CEO, manager, etc.
Personally, you know Gerrard is under pressure when he is telling the fans we want to do business. Normally, it’s keep under the radar, now look.
Warrior here I mentioned at Xmas that SG was out to sabotage AV and was not the manager for us and boy was I right his rate of losses to wins is the worst of all our previous managers why is he still here we lost to WHU who were bottom of the prem now we face Arsenal and then Man City so sack him now he still gets his wages that’s the trouble with managers even if they are crap they still get paid
Well I guess that’s just life, contracts. You’d probably want what it was in the agreement to pay you if that’s what you got told.
If NSWE remove Gerrard there will be a significant payout involved -plus compensation to Brighton if they went for Potter and that’s assuming Brighton would grant Villa permission to speak to him.
We have not only wasted a significant amount on players over recent years but also on managers.
On whether NSWE have decided not to invest further on players and settle for a mid table position; I suppose it’s possible. However it’s fact that Villa’s financial planning is based on finishing 8th or higher and was last season as well.
I’ll leave others to do the maths but all does not appear to be well at VP.
Here’s the maths, Hitch: keep Gerrard, get relegated, lose eyewatering amounts of cash, shelve VP development plans and go back 4 years.
Or. Sack Gerrard, hire Pochettino, stay in the league and get CL within 3 years (assuming new manager is given significant funds to strengthen the team) albeit 2 years behind schedule.
I know which one I’d take if I owned the Villa.
GERRARD OUT! POCHETTINO IN. NOW FFS!!!
I’m inclined to believe that Potter and all the other managers only know as much as Gerrard, hes been under the thumb at Liverpool’s from boy to man and believes a heavyhand works, in todays world it don’t, hes lost respect and unableto see it being a player that has had that training. Most of what’s gone on in the Villa camp begun the day he came to us, We lost backroom staff and players who wanted out, your all right he’s got to go for the sake of our club Aston Villa, how he’s got away not bringing in the youngsters I don’t know, he has an attitude that don’t work with our player’s because they have never had his learning and desire, he always sticks in my mind the time he took a so called free kick outside the box and won the game when our players stood still waiting for the ref to blow the whistle .he just laughed at us that day never liked him since. He’s got to go.
Aston Villa: Martínez, Digne, Konsa, Mings, Cash, Kamara, McGinn, Ramsey, Buendia, Bailey, Watkins.
Subs: Olsen, Chambers, Augustinsson, A. Young, Luiz, Iroegbunam, Coutinho, Archer, Ings.
McGinn and Ramsey are currently not good enough and I can see them getting overrun, but the reality is that’s not far from the team I’d pick to start.
I’m looking at that bench and not one of them would come in instead, except maybe Luiz for one of the above, to my mind.
We’re just not good enough, are we? and we really needed quality reinforcements
I’m a fan of McGinn when he plays in his favoured position (for Scotland) but I would have dropped him tonight for Luiz. As usual Gerrard swaps players around in the hope that one day the team will click. I would hope he goes with a 4-1-4-1 which is possible with the line up or a 4-2-3-1 which is also possible if McGinn sits with Kamara.
Fair play to Gerrard admitting the fans booed him and not the players in his pre match interview.
Unfortunately I can’t see anything but an Arsenal win, 3-0!
Well hands up, this is way better than it’s been of late.
The players are really getting stuck in, albeit somewhat recklessly and the look committed.
We’re still being torn to pieces and Arsenal goals look inevitable as we burn out, but at least they’re trying.
It’s good to see.
Its a battle alright but skill will win it . Fair play we are trying ..
And there’s the first.
0-1
Well it’s been coming. Game over!
Martinez spilled the ball to give them the goal ..
Will Gerrard make a tactical switch 🤔 There’s another 25 minutes before we can make a substitution!
We’re now currently sitting 2nd bottom.
How on earth we aren’t losing 5 or 6, it’s purely riding our luck first half. We could be bottom by Friday with only Man City and Haaland to worry about next.
Martin keown keeps going on about how we’re being murdered on the flanks.
Why don’t the coaching staff see it?
Because they haven’t a clue Badger.
Haha Martinez headlocks an Arsenal player and then makes out that it was him who was fouled.
I’d detest him if he played for the opposition.
60th minute. Substitution imminent