Well, the Leeds game bit me on the arse just as I said it probably would in the preview.
I ought to know better really, but I much prefer to feel optimistic than pessimistic; which means that while I was massively disappointed with the result initially, so I’m actually quite sanguine about it all, on reflection.
It won’t be the last game we lose this season.
We should remember that Leeds away is up there as one of the toughest games in this division, especially when they’re on a roll.
I was talking to a (non Villa supporting) workmate and this result actually cost him £560 as a bet. He said that looking back, he couldn’t understand why he’d backed the Villa for this one. I merely explained that he wasn’t the only one who thought we might win.
The reason I’m not so bothered now is because I thought the game was very even overall.
I wouldn’t go so far as to say we were unlucky, but I do feel we at least held our own for most of the game. Ultimately Leeds, combined with what I think was poor goalkeeping and defending, took their chances and we didn’t.
Not that their were many chances on either side, which to me, further confirms that the game really could have gone either way.
What does disappoint, is the fact that we could have made up some very serious ground on the clubs above us, but as I’ve often seen quoted as I’ve read around this weekend is that “that’s football”. Indeed it is.
I want to gloss over the game really, as I feel there’s plenty more we can actually win, but feel I have to comment on a few things.
On the plus side, Jedinak again impressed me. Yes, I know a few won’t agree after him giving the ball away, but beforehand I thought he was excellent in mopping up.
Gestede is simply a waste of time if you don’t put the ball on his head; his first touch is honestly as bad as I can remember for a well rated player.
And Gollini is too inexperienced and doesn’t dominate his area. I remember slating Guzan for the same thing, but he managed to improve, at least for a while. I’ve no doubt Gollini will improve too, but my opinion says we can’t afford to have him learning if we’re serious about going for promotion.
Yes, he’s done the odd good thing, but I remain totally unconvinced at the moment and I’d put money on another goalie coming in, in a few weeks.
Likewise, I suspect Gestede might be gone to raise funds.
McCormack too, if you believe the Daily Mail, who have now jumped on the “strikers out” bandwagon.
If the continued talk of Jordan Rhodes is the answer though, we’re asking the wrong question and I’d rather keep McCormack.
Then there’s the quality central mid, a centre back and a right back that are all required.
The problem with all the above is that we have the little issue of Financial Fair Play to consider. Squad numbers too.
Which means that even if some of the outgoing players rumours are rubbish, we will have to sell to bring players in.
We all know we need a good few players ideally, but I don’t think we’ll see more than around three with a couple leaving.
It’s going to be a make or break window, I reckon.
And then we face Spurs away in the FA cup.
And to my dismay, all the Twitter comments from both sets of fans are immediately suggesting neither side should put any effort into it.
My strong belief is that you should play every game with the utmost desire to win, it’s as simple as that.
I don’t care if it detracts from any promotion push. Because if you don’t play to win every game, what’s the point?
The progress in any competition should be based on a team giving it’s best effort and finishing accordingly, not throwing it away.
I was speaking to a typical Man U fan about this yesterday. He hails from Luton and is slightly older than me.
I asked him about playing second strings etc and his answer totally summed it up for me.
He said he thought it was totally disrespectful to the opposition.
It’s not very often I agree with glory hunters.
In other very good news, Sepp Blatter has had his appeal denied and is now surely finished in the game.
Good, because he’s a total crook and part of the ruination of the game, in my personal opinion (which could see me in trouble, but pfft! sue me.).
Now charge and punish him.
Which won’t happen of course. Because it never does to his type, does it?
December will be interesting won’t it?
I’ll take us to do Leeds at home as they weren’t better than us, imo.
Leeds wernt better than us but still won 2.0 how do you work that one out😄. Agree with you re Gollini we can’t have players learning at our expense anymore. Regarding the cup I disagree teams that are pushing for stuff in the league arnt going to risk it with a meaningless cup tie which nowadays is no more than a glorified friendly imo. Spuds for example will not play a full strength team against us as it’s not about winning as you say it’s about not risking your best players for a low rank game. If Villa and Spuds were comfortable midtable teams and not out to achieve anything else this season then fair enough may as well try and win Cup as it’s better than nothing I guess. This is a game Bruce should treat as a pre season friendly put 4-5 first teamers in and try out a few youngsters. That’s exactly what Spuds will do.
i can’t understand how the negativity return so quickly.leeds game was on paper a real toughie, i agree result could have easily gone either way and i went for the draw. but even after the game, i thought it was a close run thing. leeds just about deserved their win. but only just.
i see some ppl still have their booboys in our team. they always turn to them if we concede or lose.this manager is only picking players from the squad available. hutton must be the best right back presently at the club and nothing will change until the jan sales at earliest. i thought hutton did ok he wasn’t the standout worst in the team or the best performer. he was fairly solid.
spuds away will be a very difficult game, even if spuds did use their squad players, lets not forget we were the worst premiership team last year by a country mile. bruce and his new backroom staffs will take time to change this club around, from losers to winners. hes done a wonderful job in the 8 or 9 games hes been here. it was obvious there would be a set back or two. keep the faith and get behind the villa
When you hit your hand accidentally with a hammer it hurts physically, when you see silly stupid things in a football team you love and worship that also hurts mentally, we will get fans going ape shit over your team losing, I tend to throw blame at certain players for giving me grief then think January not far away things will get better, Nath I’m long in the toothe and impatient I want my team to be great again like I’ve seen in their history, January we got to get better players to keep our club up with the big boys. Then I will feel better. I hope
bill p
good post
Bill, great post – right from the heart. A true Villan.
Nicely put Bill mentally and physically hurts I like it. I think the majority of us feel that way after a game doesn’t go the way we want to.
The Leeds match was a setback and there will be more to come. This is not a sprint its a marathon. As for the FA cup I wouldn’t get to upset if we get knocked out. Championship is priority.
Good post Bill.
@Bill
Great post. Being a fan is like being in love, it can be great when things are going well but when it’s not it bloody hurts.
Success is a journey, not a destination.
leeds deserved their win. great supporters backed their team the whole 90 plus minutes. great cross for the first goal. caused panic and confusion in the heart of the villa defense. before this goal we were right in the mix. adomah had our best chance, which i was convinced the goalie’s foot put it wide. but soon as the first goal went in. we never could switch from counter attacking football to taking the game to leeds. they sat back in role reversal after the first goal, hitting us on the counter.
slating westwoods and hutton which villa fans do before each game is annoying. however way you gloss over this,even with a brushstroke of passion. doesn’t give anybody the rights to abuse these players. i even saw before the leeds game fans slating bruce for picking them. when does being a loyal supporter give us the rights to abuse players representing our club. i also have opinions on my first 11, but i wouldn’t go as far to slate him for disagreeing with me
personally i would have murphy playing the last 20 minute. in MY opinions gabby has finished what he was doing in football. murphy has speed, gabby has lost his, murphy has the finishing skills, gabby seems has lost his. bruce sees what the players are doing in training, where i don’t so my opinions don’t count.
My problem is as soon as we go a goal down away from home we may as go home. We never come from behind or even look like doing so. We all knew when Leeds scored that was it and there was plenty of time left. There’s still a fragility within the team that has always been there. For as long as I can remember we rarely win the big games and have always collapsed when teams pressure us. Look at Bournemouth on Sat IV never known us in the near 50 years IV supported Villa come back from 3.1 down and win 4.3 against a top 3 team. Things like that never happen to us.If we had been 3.1 down to Liverpool even when we had a decent team there is no way we would win 4.3. It just shows the mentality at Villa has never been strong
Not too disappointed about the result either. We were in the game despite a couple of deficiencies. If it would’ve been an inept display like the sort of dross we’ve seen over the past few years I’d have been livid. You’re right in saying the game could have gone either way. Here’s to the next game lads!!!!!
Will be exciting to see the signings and exits in the next few weeks, our squad is lob sided and our weaknesses are obvious. Bring it on Mr Bruce! And Santa will be here soon too!!! 🙂
Here’s a list, 6 that might go soon, Bunn , Hutton, Kozak, Gil, Sanchez, contracts end Summer, contracts 18, Gabby, Gardner,Cissokho,Lyden, contracts 19, DeLaef, Jedinak, Steer, Richards, Baker, contracts 2020,Grealish Westwood, Amarvi, Chester, Tish, Adoma, Kodjia, Gestede, Ayew, McGormack, how we got Westwood that long.
tom fox is to thank that one bill think bacuna has same contract
Well more agonizing times ahead Jvillan, bad enough having Gabby till 2018 unless he pushed at one stage.
gabby be easier pushed now than a month ago,he could rolled then
Rumours that Bruce is after Hull’s McGregor –
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-transfer-rumour-steve-12287190
From what I remember a decent goalkeeper. Could me a good move.
Bruceys obviously spotted the same weakness as the rest of us, sorry but gollini’s a fucking liability hope this one comes to fruition
Why am I being moderated??? That’s me blacklisted for krimbo
Yeah Gollini unfortunately makes a mistake or two a game that can cost us, and has. However McGregor’s no better than Bunn, and would be a waste of space. Why anyone would want this to come to fruition is beyond me, unless they’ve never seen McGregor play.
why does every manager have to back resign players from old clubs,if mcgregor not good enough for hull who are dropping like a stone why would he be good enough for us.
if we got couple midfielders and a right back the entire team would be better straight away players like adoamh wouldnt have to cover back all the time,centre backs wouldnt get over run from attackers
please not another window without 2 midfilers and a rb
Could be Bunn out then?
Bunn and Steer are injured. We could do much better than McGregor though if we’re looking for someone to challenge Gollini.
See our FA Cup Tie is on BBC – 8th January. Yet another away game on the TV!
Not confident about Saturday – overall, we have an appalling record against Wigan!
I am hitch very upbeat I feel Wigan are in for a drubbing 4-0
Perhaps more rum would help – ah well back in Blighty at the weekend. All good things etc. etc.
Seriously though Giddy, they have been doing well on their travels recently and they do have an excellent record at VP.
Ted Langford hmmm anyone heard of him in the seventies tut tut
All media hype – ‘Villa implicated in sex abuse etc.’ Not defending what the guy did and he served time for it, but what are the media trying to achieve with this over the top, hysterical headline?
I know his Mom? Bonny Langford.?……..
Finally testing 8
McGregor lost his spot because he was injured, so we’re going to sign him to replace two injured keepers? I truly hope this is far from true.
If we’re getting a keeper, we need a step up from Gollini. And while some claim it’s due to inexperience, age doesn’t mean a whole lot, because the ones we’re linked too like McGregor aren’t a step up.
A defensive midfeidler, attacking midfielder, winger and a right back are definitely what we need right now.
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no game preview ?? todays game is massive, we need to get back on the bike, iam sure we will unlike villa of last 6 or 7 years who would fold and walk away. this villa team under bruce has got some steal in its makeup. wigan will be hard, they will play decent football under joyce,this utd coach has got them playing decently just they have little to no firepower. its important to finish wigan off early. longer they are in this game more the homefans will get uneasy. iam going for a 2 nothing win
Testing 24