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!”
You think Gerrard out, grandad? Or more time. Think if we’re not top 12 by Christmas he’s gone.
Even you’re turning on him then Alfie?
I don’t know what to think, tbh.
Poch in, maybe?
But what would he do different?
We still have a midfield that can’t supply an out of form (or even crap wrt Ings, imo) strikeforce.
The worrying thing is I’m not seeing what’s changed since we sacked Smith.
Still intrinsic problems at the Villa, but I can’t put my finger on them.
The fact is Badger we haven’t improved under Gerrard. Whoever finishes below Bournemouth will be bottom of the league. They scored early with a goal from a corner with our usual shocking marking. After that they sat deep and were happy to counter attack if the opportunity came. We were clueless in the final third. I’m sorry to say that playing Coutinho on recent form is like having 10 men. If Gerrard persists with his mate over the fan favourite Buendia, then he will only have himself to blame when the owners summon him in. The commentary continually said we were slow in possession and even when Bournemouth committed men forward and lost the ball we never once looked capable of taking advantage. The fans calling for Gerrard to go are working on the fact we have won twice in the last 13! Smith got the boot after 5 defeats and a poor run over his last 12 months in charge. I will give Gerrard a few more games before I shout for him to get his P45, but he has got the players he wanted in early and a good pre season in his own words, so he hasn’t got any excuses going forward.
Lots of interesting comments here today.
I didn’t like the way Smith was sacked and purslow got his way by getting Gerard and his best pal Phil as well.
Smith lost his way when his star player left and was unable to deliver a new way of playing without him.
Gerard is way out of his depth in this league needed some more years in Scotland.
I wanted poch before
And why haven’t villa got ward prowse even if only for free kicks.
Looking like a long miserable season ahead and horrible football as well. Looking forward to hearing he’s been sacked nobody’s bigger than the club up the villa
I said last season Gerrard was out of his depth and I still feel the same, if you can’t beat a depleted, newly promoted team you’ve got big problems.
Lack of identity, style and any tactical nous, we’ve almost gone backwards, bizarre selection today leaving Mings out, I’m not his biggest fan but he’s a leader and we lacked leadership.
Coutinho offers nothing most of the time but is the first name on the sheet. Gerrard was brought in because of Purslow and the Liverpool old guard are doing a number on us. Great owners, shocking management.
Hmm, all duly noted from many posters on here, who’s opinions I respect.
Gerrard should be worried, because this is a consistent theme that I’m seeing.
It would appear Gerrard won’t be getting much slack at all.
And I thought it was pretty much just me.
He has brought it on himself though, I agree.
It’s a rapid turnaround, because I really thought the fanbase overall was strongly supportive of him.
Badger,
I think he’s lost the dressing room and I think that happened a while ago, I think he’s quick to hang players out to dry and he has his clear favourites, we saw this last season when players like chambers and Buendia came in and played superbly and were then dropped the following game.
His treatment of Mings has been pretty awful, and I think has added to the discontent in the club.
I dont think the players are responding to his methods anymore.
I actually think you might be right Guest.
I was very surprised that he dropped Mings, for example.
I don’t rate him, as you no doubt know, but he’s lost his England place, his captaincy and you drop him too?
That strikes me as overly harsh and he could have let Mings play his own way out.
It all makes me wonder now, if McGinn was promoted to keep him quiet.
But I’m guessing.
We beat Everton next week and things will change.
I think the path has been set though.
Any prolonged bad run will see Gerrard out much sooner than I expected.
Even Purslow won’t be able to withstand the onslaught.
I’m just shocked because I really thought the fanbase was strongly behind Gerrard.
I think they’re starting to turn now and rightly so, performances are just not good enough and haven’t been for a long time.
Get Poch in now.
I think I prefer the work ethic of Buendia over Phil’s occasional flicks…
Poch. Now that would be a coup. I’m still amazed ManU didn’t go for him.
Isn’t it tradition for Villa to lose on the opening day of the season?
We talking a Yorker??😁
I’ve just seen the second goal.
Wow, that’s poor.
Supporting Villa has always been a labour of love.
I was so disappointed by our result today. Losing to a team who are weaker than when they got promoted. Just not good enough.
Gerrard does not know:
1: His best formation
2: The best 11
3: How to get the best out of the team.
2 wins in 12 is simply not good enough.
Gerrard wanted players bought early- that occurred. He wanted to try out different formations and players during pre season – that occurred. It’s very straight forward Stevie G, either ship up or ship out. Come Monday I am going to place a bet at the bookies, which is something very rare- SG to be sacked before the World Cup starts.
Definitely the fuse is lit under Gerrard. Now he has had his big spend there are no excuses. Danny Ings who was a lethal finisher has been ruined by a spell at Villa, it does happen. I give Gerrard credit for dropping the greedy and non-scoring Watkins, but Ings had to seize that chance to play with Bailey, he may have one more game to do so. Only one.
It is rare to buy 4 players and not find one dud. In pre-season against EPL opposition Kamara looked off the pace so i was surprised he started. I don’t know what happened to Nakamba but last season we were much better with him. So Nakamba, Chambers, Buendia and Archer can say Boss, I can play better than him – pointing the finger at the flops.
Was SG harsh on Mings? Not necessarily but if he is going to call into question his captain’s leadership – he has got another case on Monday morning. On MOTD Maginn’s name was not mentioned and we did not see him on the ball.
Been reading around as well Badger fans are not happy, Gerrard in trouble in many ways, hes not a tactician that’s plain to see, Mings being made a scapegoat for error he’s made in games, Gerrard should have known Bournemouth is a tall team and he drops Mings ? they knew Villa playing the 1-2 pass so they closed Villa down aggressively Scot Parker got it right Gerrard dropped a changer dropping Mings with his height plus playing footballers that don’t dribble by going forwards just 1-2 pass and getting robbed in the process, does Gerrard know about the game as manager ? NO..
Can we have Graham Potter please???
You beat me to it RSS! Brighton playing as a team where each player knows where their teammates will be. A team that look like they have spent hours in training working on link up play.
Yea Holte, very impressive outfit, well drilled, everyone knows their role. Movement passing, weight of pass all top draw
And Welbeck, his touch and movement are outstanding – swap for Watkins or Ings?
Or Mauricio Pochettino – he is:
Out of work
Knows the Premier
Good at building teams
Brings on youngsters
Sack SG now! Get Poch in and allow him 25 days to sort out up to 2 transfers in to strengthen the team.
The more I have thought about it (stewed would be more appropriate) the more I have come to support Badger’s view the SG is not the solution. Unfortunately he is quickly becoming the problem!
We need to be careful Sid.
I’d love to see Poch at the Villa.
But he wasn’t sacked from Spurs for no reason. They were 14th at the time.
I do like him though.
Ex players don’t have a bad word to say about him and as has been said, he brings kids through.
Gerrard will be given every chance though, so don’t expect anything to happen before Xmas and even then, we’d have to be in serious trouble in the league, imo.
And as I’ve said, it’s game 1.
It really does mean nothing.
Weren’t Brighton supposedly interested in Ings?
I reckon they’d want £40 mill and Ings for us to get him.
I’d snatch their hands off, personally.
Ings will never do anything for the Villa. It’s just destiny and he’s just the latest in a long list of disastrous striker signings.
I don’t know how we do it, tbh.
Although consistently not giving our strikers adequate chances doesn’t help.
We’ve done it for years and still not learned anything.
to get Wellbeck, that shold be.
Not that I rate him as anything more than average.
Welbeck was top drawer in that first half, I’m not saying that’s the norm ( something to prove on his old stomping grounds and all).
I’ve never seen either Watkins or Ings ever play to anywhere near that standard.
Ok his finishing isn’t up to much but his touch and hold up play – superb imo.
I’m so depressed.
Cannot see any positives at this point
Hitch. I’m off on holiday next week. That’s gotta be a positive!!
Funny to hear the ManU fans on 5Live earlier. Poor souls still think they’re THE club to go to. They can’t comprehend that the 2 decades they had at the top are over. I don’t see it ending well for Ten Hag either.
Sutton and Savage are vile. So patronising to the callers, without whom it wouldn’t be worth listening to.
Thanks Bum Bum – have a great holiday 🙂
There’s a (genuine manc) Manure fan at work. He complained that the owners took £60 or £80 million (I can’t remember which it was) out of the club last season and was fuming about them.
I suggested to him that there’s something toxic there and he readily agreed with me.
“Something bad is going on” were his words.
Absolutely have a cracking holiday fella!
Great article from i news evaluating SG as the problem. It articulates what many of us are thinking.
But there are four distinct reasons why Aston Villa supporters will already be concerned by the dismal defeat against Bournemouth:
1) Throughout last season, we were told that Steven Gerrard needed time to create a distinct identity for his Aston Villa. Without a pre-season, Gerrard had to learn about his squad on the job and that clearly put him at a disadvantage.
But he has had a pre-season now and it’s still very hard to work out what a Gerrard Villa team actually looks like. They typically have at least four attacking players on the pitch at any one time but struggle to create clear goalscoring opportunities. They have invested a lot in Philippe Coutinho and yet his own freeform creative role seems to lack definition and that bleeds to the team as a whole.
When Villa get frustrated, they tend to cross the ball into the box out of hope rather than expectation (25 from open play against Bournemouth) and watch on as central defenders clear their lines (Lloyd Kelly made 11 clearances, Chris Mepham 13). That’s not a plan; that’s a punt.
2) The other aspect of Gerrard last season is that he didn’t seem to know what his best starting XI was. Coutinho and Emi Buendia rotated, as did Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings, while Villa had a large number of central midfielders and yet we weren’t sure what the best combination was.
After signing five players this summer, the same is true again. It is as if Gerrard is intent to roll the dice and hope to land upon the right combination rather than knowing it definitively. Buendia, Watkins, Douglas Luiz and Tyrone Mings were on the bench against Bournemouth. In a 31-man first-team squad, several didn’t even make it that far.
A large squad can be a great help; it can also make it more difficult to know your exact plan. There’s a lot of chatter from those at Villa about buying players to improve the standards and compete at the top end of the division, but very little evidence of players actually being improved. That cannot continue.
3) It’s the opening day and you have fallen behind early on against a promoted team. It’s frustrating, but it happens. But your response to that becomes hugely indicative. After the first and second goals, there was barely any response and certainly not a full-blooded one.
If Gerrard’s personality suggests anything, it would be that his teams might play as he did, stopping short of nothing in desperation for the cause. Instead, Villa looked worryingly placid.
4) After the game, Gerrard publicly called out Mings: “I’m confident and have full belief that when Tyrone is back at his best and looks me in the eye and shows me he’s ready to play, he’ll get opportunities.”
Having stripped Mings of the captaincy, Gerrard is – deliberately or otherwise – creating a PR fight and supporters will choose their side. Gerrard should not be over-confident about winning it. A fan might ask whether the manager can look them in the eye and show them he’s ready to improve players.
Spot on Sid.
Gerrard seems to be intent on a public collision course with Mings.
Simon Jordan commented that by doing this Gerrard is dividing the dressing room. I would add that by publicly calling out players he’s adding to dressing room unrest. Richard Keys suggested that if Gerrard didn’t want Mings he should have made the manager decision in May and encouraged Mings to find another club.
I’m concerned that our owners have made a very big mistake in appointing him – his man management skills seem poor to non existent from where I’m standing.
I just hope our owners are honest and brave enough to admit it and remove him before we find ourselves on a downward trajectory that’s irreversible.
I read that article earlier and got the impression that the author had been reading around the forums.
It’s very, very similar to what’s being said there.
It’s already been alluded to a while back on here that there’s a chance something might not be right at the Villa.
We don’t know what’s been going on, but it’s very possible that Gerrard doesn’t like Mings for the same reason I don’t;
He hasn’t got that winning mentality or strength.
It’s harsh, but to succeed at the highest level you need to have something extra, not self doubt, which he has confessed to having.
Is it the case that that same self doubt is being spread to the rest of the team?
I think taking the captaincy away was totally correct, but dropping him seems harsh and the truth is he was missed.
Will Gerrard have the guts to put him back in the side? or does he loath him that much?
We’ll soon find out, I guess.
Whatever, Jordan is right. If Gerrard wants Mings out, it should have been done and dusted quickly.
Rubbish about “seeing the whites of his eyes” helps no-one.
But then, I never wanted Gerrard, so I’m never going to be overly supportive of him.
I’m not going to gloat though. I want him and the club to be successful and he may well be totally correct in what he’s doing.
It’ll all come out in the wash.
Badger that very thought went through my mind at the time I was told the squad. It has to be reason it self says 6 foot team against players playing the 1-2 pass, it’s got me thinking Gerrard hitting Mings over other reasons. If it’s the case he’s shot himselfin the foot, who wants a manager having vendetta on individual players. I’m giving him 4 more games to say I’m wrong.
You never know Bill.
We might go straight on a roll now and win a few on the trot.
In which case Gerrard will be fully justified.
It’s like I’ve said, I read nothing into any first game, but I have to admit, I’m a bit worried.
It’s similar with Sanson too, isn’t it?
Not that I rate him either, but many fans do and he can’t get a look in.
As you say, we don’t want a manager who sees things from a personal pov.
The missus has just asked me if we’re going to buy anyone this month.
Which reminds me of something that’s been whirring away in the back of my mind.
Does anyone else think we’re waiting to see how how we go before being forced into buying anyone?
Ie, if things look ok, we won’t bother?
I think that idea has already gone out of the window, but if it was the case, I’d find it quite concerning.
Our net spend is very little after all.
Or perhaps I’m miles off and some are expecting a big splurge before the window closes?
Another way of looking at it is to remember Gerrard’s playing experience as part of a Liverpool team challenging for the title every season and then managing Rangers ditto. Now ask yourself this question. How many Villa players have never played for a team in the top flight of a major European League that was challenging for honours?
Most of them. So they have been content to muddle along so long as they were not relegated, then jump back in the Ferrari.
Now to the specifics at Bournemouth. They fielded Billing 6ft 4″ and Moore 6ft 5″ and two tall forwards. Villa decide to play without Mings, Chambers, Nakamba and Watkins. Who is providing an assessment of the opposition? Somebody had to notice that we do not have enough players on the field capable of winning a header to clear our box.
Second goal is a goalkeeping error of anticipation. Physics and vectors come into it, but given the angles of the ball trajectory and his location beyond the right post Moore could not have headed that ball inside the right post. He could only get the power and distance on it by narrowing the angle of deflection and heading it inside the left post. If Martinez had realised that – he is on the move as Moore makes contact and saves it.
Finally the diagonal punts in that Ings cannot win. For 45 minutes the captain is in charge of tactics. He has to make the assessment “it is not working we must change tactics”. Has JM the brains for that? I don’t think so. Hopefully one of our foreign buys can assume the role.
The lack of height is definitely a concern, OLL, along with the fact that we’re still incredibly lightweight overall. Carlos goes some way to alleviating that, but it’s not enough, imo.
I disagree that McGinn is in charge of tactics. Surely Gerrard can easily shout “stop hoofing it into their box!”?
It doesn’t help when he’s just sat back on his seat looking grumpy though, I must admit.
“Remember Gerrard’s playing experience as part of a Liverpool team challenging for the title every season”
Not quite OLL, apart from 01/02 & 13/14 (that infamous oops I slipped up again moment by you know who) well as I recall Liverpool were usually miles off the title – 6th – 7th -8th etc.
You flatter SG and that Liverpool team, more a cup team that totally fluked a European cup along the way.
Fwiw I think we’ll lose against Everton.
There is something very wrong at Villa.
If we do, the pressure on Stevie G will be enormous.
I don’t think it’s the result that matters so much, personally.
It’s more about the performance.
Another showing as against Bournemouth and he might as well walk.
The natives are massively unhappy already and he won’t be able to turn it around, imo.
I can honestly say I don’t recall the Villa fanbase calling for the manager’s head after just one game.
I’m genuinely shocked.
I can’t see us losing to Everton but not because of any confidence in our lot, more purely on the basis of Everton are terrible and have no forwards.
0-0
I think some of the basics we just get wrong week in week out, one of them is arguably the most important part of football and that is to ‘move’, never stand still, always give your team mate an option. I get so angry watching us pass around at the back with plenty of time and space, then fire it in to a midfielder who is running back to our own goal, makes a bad touch and then is swamped by the opposition closing him down and were on the back foot having to defend a counter attack, that happens so so often and is all our own doing. To me that’s the midfields problem mainly, and it just doesn’t work for me. We lack width, aggression, strength and fluidity. It all feels a bit makeshift, the ball can be knocked around for ages without really going anywhere, which goes back to previous comments about the number of chances we make, very few and that is another reason this midfield doesn’t work for me.
Looks like the Villa faithful are turning…
https://astonvilla.vitalfootball.co.uk/time-for-gerrard-to-stop-talking-a-good-game-actually-manage-one/
Good, balanced article RSS – and fair comment on Gerrard’s tenure so far.
Perhaps he’ll turn into a new Sir Alex and drag it all back from the brink – somehow I doubt it.
Stepping stone to Liverpool – more like a dead weight heading for obscurity.
Will our owners have the b*lls to admit they’ve got this one wrong and if Gerrard goes shouldn’t Purslow follow him out of the door? As CEO the buck stops with him for bad senior management recruitment.
It’s a good read Hitch and as you say a well balanced piece.
The next Alex Ferguson?
More chance of becoming the next Alex Polizzi.
MOMs have a new podcast out following Saturdays debacle. I’ll be interested to hear their views on Gerrard.
Let’s talk good news – Villa Ladies have signed Rachel Daly who was an ever present with the Lionesses in European Championship win. This is a big upgrade and shows our owners are serious about our WSL team.
I was hoping we would resign Jill Scott as well – maybe this signing will prove a catalyst for other top women to join.
Welcome to the Pride Rachel.
UTV
What really bothers me is that someone must surely have watched and researched Gerrard’s methods and pluses and minuses really closely over time?
I mean us fans never watched him because winning the Scottish title is absolutely menaingless if you’re Rangers or Celtic. Hence he could have been absolute garbage for all we know and Celtic just happened to be worse that season?
Or do we think Purslow hired Gerrard just because he likes him?
If so, that’s shocking and yes, Purslow should go too.
All you you need to is here mate…
https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/steven-gerrard-aston-villa-purslow-b1955681.html?fr=operanews
What a sickening article – if it’s half true then Purslow has to go alongside Gerrard.
Sycophantic is the word that springs to mind.
Better link here.
https://www.dailyadvent.com/news/4fbdff60315abf17a40f319c2f76ab47-Steven-Gerrard-to-Aston-Villa-has-been-12-years-in-the-making-for-Christian-Purslow