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.
Anyone on Sunday not watching because they simply know what’s going to happen? I know one or two.
I’ll be at Old Trafford, hopefully the win at Lille will stop it from going toxic if we lose. I didn’t go to Lille.
What was the truth about trouble with the French police? Hear anything?
I actually feel like not bothering, but I suspect I will.
I just can’t resist.
I’m feeling confident – famous last words!
Watching at our daughter’s house amidst a plethora of mothers, daughters and a couple of lads 😂 still most of the ladies are Villa fans.
Sadly we don’t have a good record when the family are together watching the game but, oddly, I still feel confident.
We looked a bit like our old selves second half and SJM being back is a huge boost.
Of course we have an embarrassing record at Old Tipfield so a draw would be OK, a win would be worthy of a big hangover Monday morning 🫣🤞
UTV.
Whereas I have no faith whatsover. I think they’ll beat us easily.
Let’s hope I’m miles off.
We have absolutely nothing to lose as everyone (even Villa fans) expect us to lose the game!
That allows Villa to play with freedom – as no result can be worse than the one that the whole World expects.
UTV
Manure v Villa at Old Trafford is usually a foregone conclusion regardless of league position etc. They have players rested and in great form barring the last game.
We looked better in the second half on Thursday but I can’t see past a comfortable win for them.
I dare say the nauseating Neville will be co-commentating without bias to make it worse for us.
Newcastle win at Chelsea.
It seems other teams are saving our arse.
Interesting comments from the co-commentator on Coupang play, whoever it was.
“Chelsea passing side to side and offering nothing. It’s not good enough.” type of thing.
But it’s good enough for us, apparently.
This is THE difference. It’s like we destined to fail and the expectation is minimal.
Well I for one, especially following the BarCodes doing us a MASSIVE favour, will be donning my SJM Villa shirt and cheering us on. Fingers crossed!!!
This is such a weird season.
Well, I was feeling confident until I saw the referee is Jared Gillet who has never, in my memory, ever done Villa a favour!
Looks like Emery has lestened to you all and is throwing this one away.
E. Martínez
L. Digne
T. Mings
E. Konsa
L. Bogarde
A. Onana
R. Barkley
E. Buendía
M. Rogers
J. McGinn (c), Captain
O. Watkins
Subs
L. Bailey
T. Abraham
M. Bizot
H. Elliott
Pau Torres
Andrés García
I. Maatsen
V. Lindelöf
Douglas Luiz
I thought Maatsen would start and Luiz. I hope SJM gets through 60 -70 minutes okay. I don’t expect him to finish the game. Pity that Sancho is ineligible as we lack depth.
Please enlighten me, why was the whistle blown against Digne?
We have to focus for 100+ minutes today. We can’t afford any slip ups or brain fog…
I cannot stand Gary Neville.
Unai do everyone a favour and Put Ollie out his misery
Woeful
Why is Watins on the pitch? I cannot for the life of me understand his presence being there. He even gets a card for being stupid, which is what he does every game. Time and again he messes up,
Ollie gets a stupid booking for practicing a one on one with the goalie, which he missed. Then he gets a live chance and misses that. We deserve 0-0 at half time
I appreciate loyalty but Emery trying to play Watkins into form is foolish. He’s costing us points every time he plays. He’s on a yellow and it won’t take much for this ref to give him another. I will be very disappointed if Emery sends him out for the second half. Everyone else can see it, so why can’t he? Pure stubbornness!
Rogers liability at the minute
Watkins, jesus.
Enough said.
I don’t think the Lord Almighty can fix Ollie.
Watkins. Wtf. Not in a rush to finish my cider and get back up.
My fault lads, when Rodgers lost the ball and they got a corner I
said to myself a goal will come of the, guess what? They did.
Casermro should be on 3 yellows
Yet another inept referee
Barkley, get in!!!!
Yeessssss!!!!!
WTF was Var looking for then?
It clearly never touched Onana.
It looked like they were actually TRYING to disallow that. Scandalous.
Another shite ball from Bailey leads to a goal.
Bailey shouldn’t play for a pub team. I blame Emery for Manures second goal. Clearly he never learns.
Yeah. PSR, referees… I seriously will not stand for it. We have pandered down to them all game and are simply not a big game team. Zero bollocks at all.
Looking forward to the excuses.
Game over! Bottlers again.