Well I thought this forum was due a write up, so a sum up of the seemingly dismal few weeks at this football club feels appropriate. Whilst I don’t believe we have entered a full-blown crisis, I can see exactly where the frustration of fans has come from, and I have definitely gathered that different people are looking at this from various different angles, depending on their status.
In terms of this site, I think the main frustration comes from the PSR regulations and our injury crisis. Mix them both together, watch clubs like Man City purchase Guehi in January, as well as Semenyo, and both look brilliant, whilst we sold Grealish, Diaby and Ramsey for a combined £200m, it just doesn’t seem to make sense. Whilst I do not have an answer as to why exactly this is, I can definitely gather that this is where fan frustration is rooted. There is that, and there is also performances on the pitch – Wolves, Chelsea… just completely spineless, and what kind of a Top 4 team are we if we’re just going to capitulate as soon as we accumulate a few injuries… we mocked Spurs for this, huh? There have just been limited positives since our midfield was taken out, and I believe Newcastle had it out for us so selfishly tried to injure our players at St. James Park whilst our fan base watched from above with the Gods – oh well, let them rot in 14th and get knocked out to Barca despite having £250bn owners.
There have also been other things pointed out by more match-going fans. On Twitter / X, whatever Elon calls it these days, there has been voiced frustration about the lack of care there is towards the fan base, and this is definitely going to rub off on that away end at Old Trafford next Sunday – a particular incident is a fan who’s had his Lille ticket stripped off of him and his entire European booking history lost because he advertised his friend’s ticket despite having booked his flights and accomodation, and sent it to Villa for proof.
My view? It quite clearly states in the rules that you are not to advertise away tickets for sale online or else they were show zero mercy towards you, but I suppose the club could’ve been a little human about that particular issue. It’s just not worth it at all whatsoever, and why I try to avoid discussing tickets on social media. But yeah, things like that just sum up the frustration at the club in terms of liasing with the fanbase recently.
Old Trafford on Sunday, heh! Arguably the worst possible fixture to come up in this bad run, considering the average Villa fan’s view on Manchester United Football Club – I know a few who are refusing to watch because they don’t see the point. If we can run away with a point I would be astonished. In terms of injuries, we could see McGinn and Tielemans back sooner rather than later. Kamara, I just can’t see him playing much for us again, I think he will move on, to be honest.
Anyway, apologies for the negative article, I just wanted to get some fresh writing up considering it has been a while, and it seems a lot of other writers are not feeling up to it due to their frustration at the moment. Open to criticism if I have been too negative.
UTV.
The squad needs a massive overhaul. Watkins, Buendia and Digne are past their prime. Buendia has lost possession more times than any other player. Onana and Luiz have done okay in midfield and Bogarde has been decent. Lille looked dangerous towards the end of the half. It looks like we are playing for a draw. No shots on target and Martinez standing on the ball is BORING! Move it faster FFS!
Watkins, Rogers and Buendia are all wasteful. We get into good positions and fail to get a shot on too many occasions. Get Abraham on before the 80th minute please!!
Badger, is at his quiz night, because he can’t be watching this crap.
I’m watching it Bill and I’m not going to agree with the negative comments on here
Got the radio on. Sounds a good game!
Show a bit of F’ing faith you lot
UTFV
Bloody hell, a Watkins goal. Time to try the lottery.
The useless twat scores.
And guess what? We went direct.
Quelle surprise.
Immediately playing faster and more direct.
Good. Now take it to them and stop treating them with respect.
We’re way better than them if we actually go for it and stop messing about!
With a Little Emi assist! 🤣🤣🤣🤣
If we finish 4th and win the UEFA cup, we’ll look back on these few weeks with embarrassment, but we’re only human!
Let’s see how it goes…Ollie should have had 2…Typical!!
Get behind the team that leads 1 – 0
I was behind them before we scored!
That’s it – you can’t even celebrate a goal without shit comments.
No doubt you’d prefer us to lose so that you could all continue falling into the Slough of Despond!
Hitch, I don’t get it.
You’re not seeing it with Watkins.
He’s a 1 in 5 striker for us lately when we have Abraham playing well.
That would have been a pen for any top club just , because the striker would have continued to run and let the goalie pull him down instead of jumping over him.
Winners and losers.
And we are not the former, imo.
McGinn coming on.
Great.
Now he is a winner.
Is that Ollie’s worst miss. No thats his 145th worse miss. Well done Ollie
I’m pissing myself with laughter, yes direct ball and a goal, it’s what I’ve asked for all the game so far ,
Watkins off. About time, he’s bloody useless lately and I don’t care who thinks I’m wrong.
And I’ve been his biggest fan for the last couple of years.
Blind support is not worth a toss in my mind.
Buendia off. Another who needs to go.
Not worth blind support. Rubbish he has put us a goal ahead. I have said from over two years that he is not fit for the Epl but right now if he needs breast feeding I am available
He has indeed put us 1 up.
I’m appreciative of that.
But they are crap and a good team would have battered them imo.
Which is what it’s all about.
Opinions.
I guess my point is we should not be starting Watkins when he’s in such poor form and seriously lacking in confidence.
Am I happy with the win?
Of course I am, but if Emery can’t explain why he’s starting a totally out of form striker, when he’s just signed another (and yes, he’s not obliged too) I struggle to accept that.
Would Abraham have scored that goal? I’m guessing yes.
Plus another too. At least. Because that’s what in form strikers do.
When our biggest weakness is failing to score if you look at the stats, it’s inexcusable to me.
Perfect ending if Elliott scores
Onana MOM
Agreed with Onana MOTM. I thought Dougie looked like he is getting back to his best. Watkins weirdly scores when he hasn’t got time to think about it. He’s never been a ‘finisher’ like Haaland. Why on earth he tried to round the keeper rather than shoot is what sums him up. As Badger said, a 1 in 5 chances type forward which doesn’t win trophies.
Fantastic to see SJM back and immediately doing what he does best which is keep the ball and find a pass!
I actually thought Lille were terrible and we should have won by 2 or 3. Let’s hope that doesn’t prove costly in the second leg.
I’ll stick with the blind support guys – it’s what I’ve been doing for nearly 70 years.
We won and that’s all I care about -I’m sorry if that’s too simplistic but there it is.
Buendia is colour blind , cannot pass water
Watkins – yes he’s been great in the PAST but if you want to push on you need a striker who can at least finish his dinner . Sorry Ollie you can’t at the minute
However that aside a win is a win away from home in Europe and the tie should be out of sight now for Lille
Onwards
Good shout.
And that’s the thing. “at the minute”
Im still supportive of him.
I just think he could do with a couple of months off with his missus and kid.
A reset, if you like.
A first win by an English team in Europe this week!
And also a first win by us in France.
I didn’t want to mention that one before the game.
Will you lot stop arguing! We can all see what’s wrong and all see what’s needed.
We all care too much! We won tonight. A much improved performance. Luiz is getting better. SJM is back and Youri is due after the international break! And we’re 4th/3rd equal on points.
Much to be grateful for!!!
Now pull yourselves together and have an early night!!!! We have the nauseating ManUre game to prepare for!!!!
Sorry, yes Sir, can I mention the game was? Well not very good.
” A much improved performance”
You watched a different game to me, I’m afraid.
It was the usual crap, from what I saw.
Perhaps I am the one in need of a few weeks away from utter rubbish football?
I predicted the win before the match and we did it. Gerry, spot on, Onana was man of the match.
Loved the comments during the match. We just have to remember these teams may be in inferior leagues.But when they play Premier teams they raise a level. Plus we seem to have a ‘we are better’ better attitude, but rarely backed up. Just look at the Champions League, 5 teams go into the latest round and only 2 likely to go through.
Emery plays a match like a game of chess. Rarely
Missed part of post
Rarely is check mate a quick outcome it takes time. Just like tonight.
Agree there is a need for a team overhaul at the end of the season. Time needs to be called on Watkins, Digne, Buendia, Bailey and do not sign Sancho. And that’s just the start!
On the UTV podcast, Luke Robinson rate Ollie 3/10. Despite the goal, still an appalling season for him. Best of luck Ollie, but your time at Villa is over.
Villa travel to Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday, 15 March (14:00 GMT) before hosting Lille in the second leg on Thursday, 19 March (20:00).
Lille visit Rennes in Ligue 1 on Sunday, 15 March (19:45) before their trip to Villa Park.
So we get almost 6 hours extra rest for the second leg…..Unless it rains in France?????
Plus they’ve got to travel to villa park & the villa players will be resting while they travel 😂😆😆😆