Wahey, the footy proper is back again and not before time.
The Euros has been great for putting Brum on the map, but it’s not really my thing and footy’s what does it for me.
Nothing else comes close.
So we travel to the Vitality stadium for our first game.
I quite like the idea of smaller clubs being in the Premier league, but have serious doubts about how a stadium that holds not many over 11,000 people has anything to offer at all and I’d say there might be a serious argument that clubs shouldn’t even be allowed into the league with a capacity of say, 20,000 minimum.
Certainly to my mind, Bournemouth should have either increased the capacity or moved to a new ground.
They could of course retained the right to keep things as they are and not enter the league, but who seriously would turn down the Sky riches?
I won’t harp on it, but I think it’s somewhat embarassing that we have grounds that small.
And before anyone complains about that, consider that away crowds are small enough as it is.
Not that I get the chance to go away these days. I’m constantly busy lately and indeed am working again tomorrow. I might struggle to see the kickoff, but I will make sure I get to see most of the game.
The main thing of note for me in this game is that Scott Parker has been constantly rattling on about how Bournemouth are not where they need to be to compete.
I have been incredibly poor at keeping up with all things football in this close season, so I don’t have a clue how many players Bournemouth lost at the end of last season, but they obviously haven’t got enough in and Parker is definitely not happy about the situation.
In fact the way he’s been talking, I’ve almost read his comments as blatant criticism of the owners/board.
Whatever, it can only be good for us. Or so you would think.
I’m sure the Watford game last season will live long in the memory. I know it will, mine.
It goes without saying,there’s no such thing as a guaranteed win.
Squad news then and on Bournemouth’s part, things aren’t helped with the fact that two of their new signings, Ryan Fredericks and Joe Rothwell are both injured. Good news is that ex Middlesbrough signing Marcus Tavernier will be available.
As for the Villa, we’re all good apart from Konsa and Davis not being ready according to WM earlier, although I’ve not seen this confirmed anywhere on the web.
I know I really shouldn’t count my chickens, but I really can’t see past a Villa win here. I’d expect it to be convincing too, as much as Bournemouth might put up a decent fight.
The way Scott Parker talks, I’m expecting nothing other than a relegation fight for the Cherries too.
Or is Parker just being canny?
I doubt it.
I’m going to go for a 2-0 win, but don’t ask me who’s going to get the goals. The truth is I have little faith in both of our strikers lately.
Maybe we’ll see more of Archer this season? I doubt he can be much worse, hence pressure shouldn’t be too bad.
Which reminds me, congratulations on the new five year contract, Cameron.
It’s nice to see we’re looking to tie top quality young players up for a long time.
Oh, I need to check out my betting account too, as I can see a tenner going on us.
Last I looked, it was temporarily closed, because my £80 balance was being checked for money laundering.
You have to laugh.
UTV and here’s to a successful season!
Comments
100 responses to “Bournemouth – Villa; Happy days are here again!”
COYL!
B’ham Live (Evening Mail, -as was) had reported as early as Friday morning that Hause is out with ‘an abdominal’. They were saying he might be back against Everton on August 13th.
While I know what you mean about clubs with tiny grounds playing in the top league, I also see the other side of the argument which is that provided the ground is safe & up to modern standards, why create yet another barrier to ‘small’ clubs reaching the top?
It’s difficult enough for most of the Championship teams (and below) to reach the land of silk and money as it is, and putting in another, arbitrary, exclusion simply on ground size would make the PL even more of a permanent ‘club’ than it already largely is.
Look at it this way: say that the ‘big’ clubs decided to set the ground size as 45,000 (yes, I know that wouldn’t be likely, but just for the principle-), and that would currently exclude us, Wolves & West Brom while allowing Sunderland in!
Yes, I totally understand what you’re saying, but I just think an 11000 capacity is too small. If you consider the club as at least an established Championship club, as I do, then I think they should be made to increase the capacity. Even 15000 would be a big improvement and it’s not like they haven’t had the money.
I knew it would be a controversial thing and it’s not something I’m overly bothered about, but it does irk me.
Don’t forget there’s probably 1000s of Bournemouth fans who would appreciate it too.
As per usual at the start of a season I am optimistic.
I believe we are better than last season and our net gain is greater than a number of teams in and around us.
Here’s hoping to SG proving himself as an excellent Premier manager.
Let’s start the season with a win. Come on you Villa!
No Mings or Watkins but Konsa and Ings start. A defeat today will be disgraceful so pressure on!
Well they are on the bench which tells me play well or find a club., just got back off hols but away in 7 weeks Med. Ho fiuck they’ve scord
What the xxxx!
Oh deary me! Deja vu anyone?
Schoolboy defending; can’t pass; mucking about in mid field.
Yep Adam – Groundhog Day
The only word I can think of to describe Villa’s first half performance is pathetic
Apart from Matty Cash & Bailey we look poor, disjointed, no identity.
Oh well, we can only get better in the second half.
Or maybe not 😢
Villa, the gift that keeps on giving! Bournemouth are shite but we are just plain average unfortunately so incapable of taking advantage. There’s not one player in that half who could argue if they were hauled off. Top half finish Gerrard wants! Cuckoo cuckoo!
Bournemouth looking more likely to score a second – our defending is complete rubbish – are they missing Mings organisational leadership?
This isn’t even a performance it’s a surrender 2-0 Bournemouth.
We’re shite – relegation battle here we come and good bye Gerrard by Christmas.
Don’t bet but going to see what odds I can get on Gerrard’s sacking
Complete bollocks
20/1 on Boylesports.
Get on it!
It looked to me like we were strolling around like big time Charlie’s. Way off the pace, with the final ball lacking any real quality. Oh well, that’s being a Villa fan for you…..disappointment for the most part.
Gerrard is a conman. Is no improvement on Dean Smith other than his abilty to attract so called better footballers. And John McGinn as captain should be ashamed of himself. I dont mind losing but this is an absolutely shocking performance. Where are the leaders on the pitch ?? These are the games you have to win to be realistic contenders for European competition. I know its first game of the season, but given what happened at Watford last season you would think they would have put in a performance. The owners will not waste time with Gerard if this is the best he can manage with full squad.
Well, it’s been a bad day for me.
I only managed to get a decent stream just before the second goal went in and it kept locking up.
From the little I saw, we looked horrendous and there was even some poor body language thrown in.
I heard a commentator say that he couldn’t remember a decent chance on our part and it’s that that I find unforgiveable more than anything.
Some strange choices for the starting lineup, but I suspect Gerrard thought we had this in the bag along with most of us.
The only thing I will say is that you can always dicount the first game. They rarely count for anything.
We’d better step it up big time though or it’s going to be a long hard season.
And to cap it all, someone nicked my hacksaw at work 🙁
Fuming after that capitulation. No positives to take from that game. Out fought and out thought. Anyone who watched that who considered us good enough for a European push, well think again. The game against Everton has suddenly become vital. I think Gerrard will be gone before the World Cup starts. He is clearly out of his depth as a premier league manager if Scott Parker’s Bournemouth with no real investment plus injuries, on the back of a disappointing and unsettled pre season, made us look piss poor.
Kind of backs up my thoughts that having a full pre-season’s training means very little too.
This was worse than Watford last season. At least then we did have a 20 minute spell of pressure.
How many times did we put in pointless crosses to Ings? What job does MacPhee do? If it’s defending set pieces and creating from set pieces then time to say piss off and don’t come back.
It’s going to take some time to get that shit out of my system.
Bag of absolute shite
Great club,great fans great structure ,great owners shite team
Luka Dinge ffs
All a bit Sunday morning football. Punts into the box, void of all and any identity, lacking any attacking threat.
Well so much for project SG, at least it was entertaining under Smithy even though it was a bit of a rollercoaster.
If a team reflects the personality of the manager…
Well, what can you say?
Warrior here same old same old I questioned If Steve G was out to sabotage AV he has lost more games than he’s won so who do we get next as Manager Mickey Mouse. Warrior
And Minnie as assistant manager – can’t be much worse.
Gerrard’s loss percentage is becoming impressive though 🙂
Well that should have blown away those cobwebs of optimism! Gerrard got the possession-based football he wanted: Villa had 64%. They also out-shot the Cherries 15 to 8 but seven of those attempts missed the target and only 3 required a save. We have been poor at shooting for a while – we should spend a week only on improving that.
Perhaps not surprising but disappointing was the new skipper’s performance. He has often disappeared for periods during matches when he did not have the armband – but you cannot do that and justify wearing it. Sorry SG but gift of the gab in the dressing room and training ground swagger does not count. You had better give him a personal hair-dryer.
I have to agree about McPhee: his record prior to Villa was dire. Set pieces are one part of the game that you know you are going to get and can practice so that something is visible to the fans that looks like a training-ground play. Since his first effort – Mings to Ings and the bicycle kick there has been nothing that worked.
I’m not going to get carried away by this one result.
It happens.
But having read around, it’s actually quite alarming how quickly even dyed in the wool fans are turning on Gerrard.
I know I’ve said I don’t rate him, but I think as a fanbase, we have to be careful that we don’t turn on him too soon and inadvertently help build a poor atmosphere around the club.
That said, the latest big stat is that we’ve now won 2 in 13 games, which were Burnley and Norwich.
That sort of thing can’t and won’t be allowed to continue.
But things do need to change, as I’m thinking I’d rather have Dean Smith and be crap, as opposed to what we have now.
Villa motm scored a 6/10 in the Brum Mail.
Against Bournemouth? That’s shocking.
(reminder to self; first game remember)
‘2 wins from 13 and those two against Norwich and Burnley’
We’re not turning on Gerrard – he’s doing it all by himself.
Smith was sacked with a much better record than that and he tried to play entertaining football.
Today was dire and we’ll beat no one playing like that.
It’s not just a ‘one off’ – that’s the big worry!
The truth is you’re right Hitch.
Maybe it’s a lot easier for me because as much as I tried, I didn’t get to see how poor it was.
I must admit wathing a poor performance is the best way to put me on a downer, leading to severe criticism.
I do have one positive, I suppose.
My betting account is still under review after many weeks.
That led to me not being able to put a bet on, so I saved a few quid.
Hmm, I’d rather take the monetary loss and get the 3 points.
Players still got their flip flops on? Must admit, I sort of expected this.
Indeed, Bum bum
I sort of hinted at it in the post.
It’s the Villa, isn’t it? 🙂
I’ve just found out i know sod all about football, I was condemning Cash on the fact he over shot balls, and he hit players centring never got one ball to any of our players yet it was me blaming him. you can forget we are on the way back to being a top club, we was shite and lightweight in every department was the reason, slow trying to play football, they used physical tactics by closing down quicker, height when in the air, and body checking on tackling. We have not got footballing brains in the team, just wimps trying the one two pass shit. still i know nothing..