If you’d have offered me the draw prior to the game, I’d have taken it and to throw in a clean sheet is an added bonus, even though it seems we’re expected to win every game we play in this league, which is totally unfair and piles pressure on everyone.
Let’s keep things in perspective and realise that Newcastle lost at home to Wolves today. Who would have put money on that after their pretty good start?
My point is that an away draw isn’t too bad a result and it’s better than we’ll get at some other places, without a doubt.
And ok, they had two efforts cleared off the line and hit the post, which makes them unlucky.
To which I’d remind us of the seven (?) times we’ve hit the woodwork this season.
As we’ve seen far too often already, if it doesn’t cross the line, it doesn’t count.
Even Mick McCarthy said he’d have been pleased with our defence today.
There’s also another plus point in that Di Matteo changed things up in going for a 3-5-2 (or 5-3-2 depending how you see things) to bolster the midfield and defence, which is interesting considering he said he was willing to listen to the fans and the idea had been promoted by some of us.
That said, it’s been a favoured tactic for the manager previously and he was probably forced to go with it because of our lack of personnel. I’m not even going to talk about Baker.
The other side of the coin is that the game was apparently dire and apart from Ayew having rounded the keeper, only to be very well tackled, we didn’t have a shot on target. That’s pathetic at any level, but not something we’re unfamiliar with over recent years.
Which all in all makes it awkward.
Which way do we want it?
Play well and get poor results? or play not so well and get a decent result?
Winning while playing well is of course the ideal, but I suggested in the previous thread that I’d take us winning dirty. It’s all about the points, after all.
Ok, we didn’t win today, but I don’t think today’s point was a bad one.
I think I might be in a minority with this post.
I don’t think 5 3 2 worked though. We really struggled to create anything. He needs to find a balance between 5 3 2 and playing 4 strikers!!
How about good old fashioned 4-4-2?
That’s what we played yesterday 442
I thought it was 5-3-2? We seem to have been setting up as more of a 4-2-4 mostly, which seems a bit top heavy.
Seen the highlights on C 5 two balls cleared of the line, it was good defending, right place at the right time. Some people might think it was luck , then its about time we got some
I said this game would be a draw ,.but I am still annoyed still waiting for our next win.
Normally this would be a half decent point but our circumstances arnt normal. If we had held onto our recent leads then this would be a good point. But after just 8 games we are already in a position where draws are no good to us just like last year. We have no hope of a top 2 finish and at best we might sneak 6th but even that is starting to look beyond us now. Best case scenario is we go into new year within striking distance of 6th then sign a couple of midfielders and a right back to take us over the line. Even scraping 6th we only have a 50/50 chance of going up at best. So expect at least one more season in this division.
Oohaah said this right at the start of the season – if we get into the play offs that would be great but it might take more than one season in the Championship to rebuild the team.
So honestly think you’re being somewhat unrealistic. If we get promotion then absolutely fantastic – if we get into the play-offs great – if we end up mid-table then that’s expected.
Agreed Pat / OohAh. Realism is the way to go but it doesn’t lessen the disappointment – always hope for better things.
I did say that though was secretly hoping I’d be wrong.
If I’m honest me too 🙁
i saw more yesterday in a dire game, than in the brentford game were we dominated a good side, creating numerous scoring attempts.ipswich are no mugs, they set out to defend and they easily coped with villa.they created nothing themselves, until the dying embers they made two changes around the 80 minute mark, they threw on another striker and played 2 up. which was their attempt to win the game. they were unlucky not to force a win. a good positive move by mcCarthy.
but without creating much villa looked comfortable, they are starting to gel, some decent passing moves which only broke down on final cross or pass, but they were probing passes, which were gaining ground. lets be honest we with other and ourselves. villa were never really gonna start this season on fire. we all hoped for a better start. but things avent panned out this way. throw in the injuries, late incoming signings (which we all wanted)
we are a decent side (championship lvl) but in the making.the team isn’t finished by any means. i saw improvements. the improvements will increase further once we taste another win. fixtures couldn’t have been better. beat newcastle and the confidence will flood back. confidence is major reason they are failing currently, we coped with ipswich but last 18 minutes (8 injury time) we saw villa panic like a bunch of novices. don’t know why this happened. the late goals we have conceded, just in this season have caused the team to suffer a nervous reaction.
So why dosnt the club invest money in a sports psychologist if it is a mental thing. I’m not sure it is as these are virtually new players from last year. It could also be a fitness thing too
Just watched it Nath, I’m inclined to think the same that’s its only time, heart reaching to see the team fade in the dieing minutes and it is panic we are seeing, I think we will be around the play offs and a hard team to beat we just want that break.
i agree with your playoff prediction. things are tough at present and yeah we are struggling in many areas. stuff that would have been ironed out in preseason usually. but we havent had this time to iron stuff out and this is being done now in the season. we will have to be alittle more patient than we want to be. i am pretty sure we are not too far away from gelling. i saw improvements albeit small steps. but like you said we will be around the playoffs. i totally agree with that. too early to write us off.
i have seen many posts that have same opinion, one win could well turn around our season, which is still only just begun. a win will lead to another win and championship games come along quickly. we need to get behind them against barcodes, pray thats the turning point
It’s been hurting me to see a big change in owner and managers thinking we are back and then lady luck hitting us with late goals and could have been top spot. Listening to pundits and other team manager’s giving me hope that we will turn, its them injuries in prime possitions making me think, still with the owner we have now January will tell. Sky will be interesting letting us see the game in full next weekend against Newcastle.
theirs no fast track way, its clicks when it clicks. some clubs can change a whole 11 players and gel straight away. but this mostly takes time. in the championship, games are coming up fast.they hardly get time to train on all the matters that need addressing. these sort of things need many session plus more sessions. but saturday & wednesday games and recovery days hardly anytime to work on the issues. i don’t like to listen to pundits especially that hollyways they have hidden agendas like when blackpool got relegated he took a dislike to us, cos they tried to play nice pretty footy and we didn’t and we tried to sign adams i think, what ever it is he dislikes us and now hes kicking us while he can
How we could do with Carles Gil, I disagree with people who say he couldn’t cope in the Championship, I think his creativity and sharp passing would help us destroy some of the teams, big mistake letting him go.
You’re absolutely correct. People think everyone has to be incredibly physical to play in the Championship. All you need is talent and you’ll be fine.
Good call Dave, to be honest I liked him, although he’s light weight he has sharpness in his game, its not fair he was pushed on loan because he was in a crap team.
Agreed on Gil but maybe he wanted away back to Spain. I think it’s interesting it’s a loan deal though
I’m reading that two local games for us are on Sky, Wolves, Birmingham, both next month ,interesting thought that with players going down with injuries.
Blues will just bully us of the pitch like they’ve done many a time in the past
I thought Gil was great and hope he comes back. Doubt it though as I think he was home sick/sick of Birmingham.
Results aren’t great, but we’re moving in the right direction. If we’d kept last year’s team we’d have got hammered most games so far. Still think we need to be winning our home games though.
I think we need to remember that unlike the Premier league where after 10 games or so you can pretty much see the final standings, the Championship has a lot more movement. Nobody would have predicted that Wolves would beat Newcastle at St James Park coming off their purple patch. Especially when Barnsley had ripped Wolves apart in the previous game.
Also can’t remember who it was for definite, I think it was Norwich who had a bad start got Alex Neil in and then had a great run in the new year to take them from the foot of the table to the play offs.
I guess I’m saying try not to be to downbeat the results aren’t coming yet, but the tide will turn. UTV!
Tish sent off second bookable offence u23 will he now miss the barcodes clash???? –
Surely he is banned for one U23 game not Championship – but then again knowing our luck!
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-aaron-tshibola-suspended-11909443#ICID=sharebar_facebook
Never heard of this rule, 14 days after being sent off. So could miss Wolves game.
Watched the under 23 side against the Baggies at Bescot Stadium. I know that Tshibola and Kozak are lacking match fitness but neither impressed and, to top it all, Tshibola was sent off for a second booking where he stupidly handled the ball past the oncoming goalkeeper. A heavy defeat was the outcome although it does seem that Kevin McDonald’s team suffers when the better players are sent out on loan and he has to make do with the selection from the Academy. One real plus point was the outstanding performance of Rushian Hepburn-Murphy who scored two very well taken goals. In my opinion he offers more than Ayew who needs the proverbial kick up the backside but you can guarantee he won’t get a look in despite both Steve Clarke and Steve Round being present.
Ayew’s been miles our best player so far. none of our players have the talent he does, not sure why he’s ever called out for his performances. Bar he sulks when he has to go off, cause our fans hate players who wanna play.
https://www.avfc.co.uk/News/2016/09/19/vacancies-at-villa-youth-team-manager
About time we started looking for one.
Anyone here qualified? 😉
A job spec infested with HR-speak. I am surprised they don’t ask for a qualification in bereavement counselling, because 99 out of 100 lads they get through the door will not make a Premiership footballer. Still, the vocational training courses the lads do during the mornings will be useful in later life.
Is there such a person? Jesus he’d be just the person for the first team, Tim Sherwood might be interested don’t think he’s got a job yet.
Nice one Bill
He’s still far too busy spending his compo Bill.
https://www.avfc.co.uk/News/2016/09/20/vacancies-at-villa-matchday-stewards?
You up for it Bill?
Have all the qualifications no problems on that BWS, not being big headed I set the standards at the club years ago, problem is to frigging old now BWS, i have to think longer before I act.
Weren’t you the head honcho back in the day?
Sure was BWS, 240 stewards doing a good job till the secret hand shake brigade came in.
Like I said – nice one Bill!
Sounds about right Bill, not what you know but who.
You’ve got to be kidding me?;
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3799189/Jack-Grealish-embroiled-hippy-crack-storm-Aston-Villa-star-involved-unruly-hotel-room-bash.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490
Warren Aspinall mk2.
He needs to be dropped! Preferably on his head it might knock some sense into him!
Dear me what the hell running through his head, the world to go for and playing silly sods, its now pretty obvious its all down to hangers on and dad lost control of him, when will the twat wake up to the real world.
He’s going to end up ruining his career and be nothing more than a journey man footballer
Surely all this SHITE he’s inhaling is doing his lungs no good,no wonder he looks fucked after the hour mark fucking sack the stupid PRICK he’ll never learn.
But on the plus side won’t it make him go faster?
I thought you get a squeaky voice and talk like Donald Duck BWS , mind you the way hes acting lately he must have been born like it.
Bill apparently it makes your hair grow and your socks shrink??