I’ve found it hard enough to stay interested in the Villa when we are playing let alone not playing lately, so the Queen’s demise and a break for a money grabbing tournament that few care about was the last thing we needed.
Indeed Steve Gerrard said exactly the same thing after we’d improved slightly in our previous two games.
Not that I find myself being able to get particularly excited about four points against Man City and Southampton.
I think it’s just the thought of the same old tactics that have proven to not work with the players we have that have left me so uninspired and I suspect I’m not alone.
There seems to be a malaise hanging over the club now and it seems ages ago where there was a real buzz because it looked like we were on the up.
Now, it seems like many of us would be happy if we were guaranteed that we weren’t going to be relegated and few of us hope to achieve anything more than midtable mediocrity.
We’ve been incredibly unfortunate with injuries, but it’s only part of our issues and our form has simply been far too poor for too long. Whatever happens that has to change.
Is Leeds away a good game to try and maintain our brief run of momentum?
Injury news and I think we pretty much all know the score, but just a reminder;
Boubacar is out for months, Carlos is out until the new year at the latest guess and Lucas Digne looks like he could be out for weeks because of a heel problem.
Matt Cash and Cameron Archer will only be rejoining the squad for training in the coming week.
Leeds have had an even longer break than us with two games having been postponed, but it’s been good for them as a few players have recovered and even though they have Adam Forshaw and Archie Gray out they’re in a decent place.
Rodrigo, Liam Cooper, Luke Ayling, Junior Firpo, Rasmus Kristensen and scumbag Patrick Bamford have all got back to being available.
Not that I care about dirty Leeds.
So we have to shuffle the pack and the obvious problem is right back.
Gerrard has said he likes to have two players for each position, but who’s going to play in Cash’s place then? It’s either Ash Young, who to be fair has done a very good job of being backup in a few positions or the new lad Ludwig Augustinsson, who we haven’t seen yet.
Of course we have a replacement in Freddie Guilbert, who I thought did a decent job but isn’t even in the squad after being thrown out by the manager.
The point is we’re going to have to cover Cash with a left footed player and I hate that, particularly in the fullback department.
I think I’d be inclined to play Augustinsson in his proper position so we can properly see what he’s about.
I don’t know who Gerrard will play in any area of the team apart from Martinez, but would prefer to see us concentrate on not trying to concede.
Hence I quite like the idea of a 4-2-3-1. Could Nakamba and Luiz work together, with Luiz pushing forward to reinforce the midfield work, for example?
Or do we stick with the usual variation of 4-3-3? This is what I’d expect Gerrard to do and it’s just a matter if he plays one or two strikers. Watkins is wasted lately on the left and Ings is just well out of form in my opinion, although I realise that some don’t agree with that assessment.
I’d just say watch Ings and he’s blowing like a hurricane after an hour. I don’t get what’s going on with him at all, as much as many think he’s by far the better finisher. If you ain’t getting involved in the game, it’s all pointless, imo.
So what do I think?
Well, I have to be honest and say if I couldn’t get to watch the game, I don’t think I’d be too bothered. The way we play just bores me to sleep.
We did well the last time we played this fixture, winning 3-0 in March.
Will we do the same again?
No chance.
We just don’t create anywhere near enough to score three goals now and you have to wonder why that is, especially when you consider so many of our players are out of form at the same time.
Then add in that Jesse Marsch has Leeds in a better place and I struggle to see us getting a draw.
Perhaps I’ll be surprised and we’ll win, but I see us losing this.
However, I’m going to keep the optimistic hat on and go for a 1-1.
I actually think I’d take a loss if it meant we started playing more entertaining footy.
Hmm.
Inspire me with some decent footy, Gerrard.
Would I pay to watch us now?
Not a chance.
Bum Bum, I just read your latest reply.
Wow, a month since I last wrote something!
Shows how indifferent I am of late.
I promise to try and do better and I’m sure I will if and when the footy improves.
I almost feel like I’d like Bruce back.
Or am I the only one who feels our play is totally boring?
Badger, what I saw in the last match was beyond boring. I couldn’t even be arsed to shout and scream expletives, such was the dourness of the football. You can’t really call it football to be honest, as they didn’t seem to know the object of the game. Listening to Brighton going two up within 20 minutes today reminded me that we didn’t create a single chance in the first half hour. We were at home to Saints; they were away at Anfield. Says it all.
Gerrard is making a simple game look incredibly complicated. The object of the game is, firstly, to put the ball into the opposition’s net, by any means necessary: tap ins, headers, piledrivers from range, acrobatics, free-kicks, even corners. Hands if you can get away with it. You have 90 minutes to do that as many times as you can; the more times you do it, the more fun it is, for everyone. If you’re trying to do that for the whole game, the opposition will have less of the ball. But when they do have it, the second objective of the game is to stop them getting the ball in into your net, again, by any means necessary: tackles, interceptions, blocks, fouls, professional fouls, hands if needed. The more hellbent you are on not letting them score, again, the more fun it is, for everyone. That’s it. Doesn’t that sound nice?
I’ve no idea what tomorrow will bring. They could surprise us but could fall to new depths. Even if we win, I’ve totally lost faith in Gerrard.
Poch in. UTV
BFR, you sum the game up perfectly, to my mind.
Perhaps some parties will come round to saying this football is just totally unacceptable for the Villa at some point and I include Birmingham Live in this, as they have a lot of shout.
We are utter garbage to watch and it needs the right sort to call it out for what it is.
Or perhaps we’re happy to go with what we’re seeing?
I wouldn’t pay in buttons to sit at VP and watch it, but perhaps I’m totally miles off in my thinking.
I’d love to hear more from those who have STs and suffer this crap.
Bum bum I to signed up what a mug I’ve said that Stevey G will take us down and to get G Potter but now Chelsea have got him I am gutted . Stevie G was a great player but he’s a crap manager so come on NSWE get rid of of him please pretty please send him on while we are still in the premier VTID UTV
I think you are spot on Badger I’m not as enthusiastic as you and I will go with 2-0 another loss VTID UTV
I heard another pundit/ex-player talk about Villa in the week. Guess what he started with? “I dont want to criticise a legend like Steven Gerrard, but…”. Sums it up. He’s out of his depth. He should go lower leagues and relearn like Paul Ince has had the humility to do. Ince admitted he simply wasn’t ready to coach at the top level so had to drop down and start again. Reading seem to be doing quite well now. Funnily enough, Norwich’s Manager might be worth a punt. Another win yesterday after inheriting an apparently dire squad. The f***ing irony is debilitating. .
We need someone to bring back the fun like BFR says. Will watch on Now TV later but only because i was stupid enough to get a month subscription…over the International break! What a twat I am!
If the comments in the press about Pochettino being open to joining Villa, then this is good news. Even Purslow knows Pochettino is a significant up grade on Gerrard. For him it would be a win win. Pochettino succeeds Purslow wins and claims the insight to appoint him. Pochettino fails Purslow wins as there was no better out there! I do feel like Purslow has the Doug Ellis desire for the limelight.
I am not confident about today at all. I expect a defeat and I want Gerrard removed.
Weirdly enough, I feel like getting down on my knees and dropping a prayer or two to the geezer upstairs about Pochettino. It’s got to that stage…
I bet we bleedin’ well win later and it buys Gerrard another few weeks of dire football.
Anyone wanna bet a fiver that before, during and after our game Sky just bang on about the Manc derby?
No chance on the fiver Bum Bum – you couldn’t even get odds on that bet 🙂
My question is – just who is making the major football decisions at Villa?
Hopefully not the owners, neither of whom are football men – savvy business men, yes and Wes Edens has a lot of sports experience but the NBL is a far cry from Premiership football.
Purslow? – I sincerely hope not. He may have decent business credentials but he’s not a football man and likes the limelight too much for my money.
Lange – I’m not even sure what he does anymore and Gerrard – no he’s ‘just’ head coach.
As a result we have no identity, no overall football strategy, no continuity and no progression – and, if that”s so, then bringing in a new manager will solve nothing but cost NSWE a shedload more money.
The CEO position is outdated and not necessary in football. We should appoint a Head of Football and promote our commercial manager (who has a wealth of experience with Chelsea and United) to Head of Marketing and Commercial. Both reporting direct to NSWE.
We need completely new thinking imho.
And I agree with everyone – every time Villa play, I have this dreadful sinking feeling but am duty bound to watch – it’s not enjoyable at all.
Apologies for the diatribe.
No need to apologise Hitch.
I think you’re only saying what many feel.
The lack of identity is often mentioned all over the place.
Not Villa but has to be said, hundreds walking out of City ground all Man utd so called supporters, it’s now shows to me how fickle utd fans are in fact not fans but only support a winning side fans. All this is at 1/2 time and 4 down. Me at my age wouldn’t do that I’d moan but not damage a fan and supporters thing. Sorry lads carry on about today’s game . I’m reading .
Bang on Bill; I was at VP when we lost 6-1 to Chelsea (Hately was sold to them the same week) and at The Hawthorns when we lost 6-0 in the League Cup (from memory). Stayed to the end both times!
I was at that Chelsea game too. Horrible.
Stayed until the end though.
Martinez; Young, Konsa, Mings, Augustinsson; McGinn, Douglas Luiz, J.Ramsey; Bailey, Coutinho; Watkins.
Subs: Olsen, Sanson, Ings, Buendia, Nakamba, Bednarek, Dendoncker, Archer, Bogarde.
I want Gerrard gone like most fans but it wouldn’t surprise me if we got a draw today to prolong the agony of his dire football.
I think it will be 1-1 with a scrappy performance.
Wolves need a new manager
Just seen Wolves have sacked their manager. I will be really pissed off if they get Pochettino.
Holte, i think Poch will only go to someone with a bit of money to spend.
I’m not a happy chap ,I don’t see us winning or drawing this game , I’m with you Holte Gerrard not the man for Villa.
Awful!
Their goal is coming, I reckon.
I see Wolves have sacked their Manager. Or has someone else already highlighted that???
They move a bit like us at present.
Terrible game – someone is going to be sent off?
Yep!
Does Bailey know which way we are shooting? Seems to be going the wrong way everything and giving the ball back to Leeds! Scrappy game, feels like a red is coming.
Bailey does that every single time.
And another injury – we’re cursed
Glad I’m going on holidays next week , I need a rest from shite football .
Any room in your suitcase?
🙂
Really poor game of football but at least Villa are giving as good as they get. War of attrition with very little football,
How many more injuries are we going to suffer?
Yawn! What a load of crap after watching Citeh play. Leeds are as bad as us which suggests a draw or a drab 1-0. The only positive is we are showing tenacity.
Ah we predicted a red card
Another Leeds player to be sent off?, and we fail to beat a team with 9 men.
I’d settle for that and a bye bye to Gerrard.
Leeds keeper is shite
And we still can’t get one past him
Get Bailey off the pitch – great he’s going and Buendia on
WHY WHY WHY did we get Coutinho in when we have Buendia?
This is as bad as the Saints game.
Watkins is absolute shite. 1st touch of a rapist.
Resorting to Luiz trying to score from a corner again I see its that desperate. Gerrard out after this, time is definitely up.
Can we even score against 10 men? Surely Archer should be brought on. Our finishing this game has been terrible.
As usual unable to beat 10 men – I’ll take the point but Leeds looked the more likely to score.
Buendia has to start ahead of Bailey who’s a complete waste of space.
And that’s all that can be said there than Ings didn’t even touch the ball after he came on.