How annoying is it that we haven’t had a game for two weeks, but have to cram games in that were postponed months ago?
Very, but that’s the way it is and there’s nothing we can do about it apart from moan.
I’ve been so bored that I’ve resorted to watching a lot of other clubs and after betting against us in the Spurs game, I’ve had a couple of small bets and am doing quite well. Don’t worry, I’m only talking a couple of quid.
The things you do to add a bit of excitement eh?
The big news is the squad news, I suppose. Except it isn’t.
Steven Gerrard says we have four players out and much has been made of it by the clickbait sites.
Bertrand Traore is out after straining his groin on Thursday. I find myself wondering what he was doing, because he wasn’t playing top notch football, was he?
Kourtney Hause is out with his ongoing abdominal injury problem and Lucas Digne is kicking a ball, but contact is out of the question.
Morgan Sanson is unavailable, but I’ve yet to read a reason. I find myself wondering if he’s had yet another strop. I wonder why?
The point here is how many of those would have featured today?
Digne, yes of course, given that Gerrard seems to think he’s the solution to an as yet unknown question, but the other three are on many fans’ list of players to be shown the door at the end of the season.
Traore and Sanson, rightly so, in my opinion, as they’ve been unmitigated disaster signings. If we had a league table for signing absolutely terrible signings and wasting money, I wonder where we’d be?
Hause is one I’d like to see us keep, but given the strong talk about us getting a defender in, I think he’ll be the one who makes way. I’d prefer to see someone else gone, but I’m sure you already know that.
As for Leicester, Ryan Bertrand and Wilfrid Ndidi are both out injured, while Boubakary Soumare is out for personal reasons.
The big news is that James Vardy has trained well and will probably feature at some time during the game. Did I hear groaning then?
I did and I’m sure it wasn’t just me. We all know what he’s capable of.
At first glance, I don’t fancy us at all for this.
In fact, I’ve bet against us again to add a bit of excitement. I’m not £20 confident though and have only gone for the tenner.
I know, I’m on a rocky road with this gambling lark.
But then again, we do have the fact that Leicester have their eyes on a prize that is the Europa conference league cup, or whatever it is, semi final on Thursday. Hence they’ll no doubt play a weakened team.
Gerrard has said that a couple of kids will feature today. I saw names mentioned in an article yesterday, but I’ve forgotten who they were. I think O’Reilly was one.
I know chucking kids in will appeal to many fans, but I tend to think this is exactly one of those games where it might not be a good idea. The game will be tough and challenging enough as it is.
But then, I’m sick of watching players who really don’t look that bothered, probably because they know that the manager doesn’t rate them and they’ll probably be out at the first chance.
We look incredibly vulnerable at the back, especially down our left, where I could comment about us previously having a left back who wasn’t injury prone, but I’d be wasting my breath.
I don’t think I can be bothered to guess at who might play, because the whole of the first team is very much of a very average muchness lately, so it doesn’t matter.
Put it this way. I think my tenner is pretty safe and I’m going to say we’ll lose 2-1.
I’d love to be proved wrong, but we just look like a side that already has the suncream and flipflops on and when the team is like that, I just think “why should I bother to motivate myself?”.
Roll on the transfer window. Although the truth is even that worries me.
Nothing changes as a Villa fan, does it?
UTV!
The Leicester match provided a strong clue about Summer changes. Watkins was isolated up front. When he got the ball only Bailey was some of the time in shooting distance for a pass. Martinez, the back 4 and the DM (Douglas Luiz) are excused from the need to provide that support leaving 4 other players Ramsey, Coutinho, McGinn and Bailey, all of whom should have been upfield in support, or running there, when Watkins sets off to get the ball. They weren’t.
I find it difficult to believe these players and their coaches cannot see this – so I have to conclude the players do not have the legs and lungs to make the runs in a match where opponents have 2/3 possession.
Decision for the management is whether to persevere with long balls up to Watkins and get some midfielders or another striker with a good engine, or change the style. Not an easy choice.
Changing the style would mean the keeper and back four always playing the ball into midfield, keeping the ball, working upfield slowly and taking snap shots in a crowded box. If that is done then Watkins is a square peg and Coutinho is vital to unlock defences who are always in position, Ings might fine a role, but at risk of replacement are any midfielders and full backs who give the ball away often.
I believe you’ve identified the problem OLL but, other than Coutinho, I’m not convinced lack of ‘legs’ is the issue – particularly away from home.
The issue for me is the system doesn’t suit the players generally, not just the mid field.
Where we’ve pushed up the mid field in support of the (lone) striker we’ve been overrun where we lose the ball high up the field, the opposition counter attack and too often we’re left exposed at the back with the midfield making last ditch tackles in the opponents half.
Too often we have both full backs high up the field and the midfield pushing up as well which leaves our centre backs exposed – no wonder Konsa is lacking confidence !
Against Leicester it was notable that we played a tighter formation in defence and the full backs didn’t both push up together with Young staying further back more than Cash. The midfield were more disciplined but it did leave Watkins isolated.
It was noticeable when Buendia came on that he had the ‘legs’ to support Watkins in attack and get back to press the opposition attacking players. He looked far more effective than Coutinho.
What ultimately did for us was a poor pass rate completion percentage. I think,from memory something like 65% completion against Leicester’s 80+ Pass completion.
https://www.football365.com/news/opinion-aston-villa-steven-gerrard-wrong-trajectory-together
Been announced that Jacob Ramsey signed a new contract. I honestly believe the answer is in our youth and glad he’s with us ..
Good news indeed Bill.
Iroegbunam has also signed a new five year contract (18 years old) and he looked very useful (dare I say more composed than Luiz) when he came on against Leicester.
Gerrard is on record as saying Ramsey is key to his future plans and he looks like he’s the making of a very good player.
Here’s one for you Bill;
Louie Barry now has three goals in his last four appearances in League Two, and six goals in his last 10 starts for Swindon.
I was just thinking about the Coutinho situation.
While it’s true to say he’s been pretty anonymous over the last few games, it’s no coincidence that his downturn in form has been more than matched by the rest of the team.
I think even a player as good as him needs players performing around him to some level.
It just seems harsh to me to expect him to do it all on his own.
It wouldn’t surprise at all if he’s the one who decides he doesn’t want to stay.
And that then begs the question…why are the players not performing to that level?
Neither cast ye your pearls before swine?
In an ideal world I would always prefer Villa to have a British coach. Better still a local lad who knows and understands the club. Maybe even supports the club! Unfortunately that’s in the past and we need to look forward now. Do we stick or twist? We have commented on here recently that all the successful managers seem to be foreign and maybe that’s the way to go. I think we have a core of players here who are under performing for reasons we all have different opinions why. Poor coaching and playing out of position are possibly the main reasons. Other opinions are the players having bad attitudes or we need an entire squad overhaul.
One thing is certain and that is the next few months will be crucial to us seeing mediocrity or a serious challenger to the top six. The original 5 year plan was always going to be unachievable IMO. I think it’s going to be unlikely in the next 5 years if I’m being honest.
5 year plan MKii
“Operation stepping stone.”
Groundhog Villa! We have seen it all before. The one where the new manager comes in and whines he needs new players. Summer clear out followed by several new signings. Expectations are high again! Manager states he needs time to gel his new team and it will be a number of years before we are challenging for Europe. A good start is followed by a 5 game run without a win. Manager blames injuries and too many games caused by winter World Cup. Villa sit in 15th place and Purslow denies ever knowing Gerrard as he is sacked. John Terry is appointed as new manager as a good stepping stone to the Chelsea job, something he vigorously denies. New players are needed because too many ex Liverpool players are forming a click and possibly Grealish is available on the cheap although he is only fit enough for 12 games a season, but that’s still a more attractive proposition to the previous signings. Unfortunately the new bomb squad has been realised and Villa are relegated. Purslow hurriedly invents a time machine out of a DeLorean and goes back to 5th November 2021 and tells Dean Smith his job is safe and he still believes in the project. 🙄
I told you we were back in the Slough of Despond!
Hysterical 🙂
Despond, is he on a free transfer from F.C.Cippenham?
John Bunyan, manager of FC Chippenham, says Despond is progressing – a real pilgrim in difficult times – interested clubs need to meet our valuation of £200m otherwise he’s going nowhere!
“I saw in my dream the Interpreter take Christian by the hand and lead him into a little room.”
Sounds like we are getting a foreign manager.
(-:
Klopp extends his Liverpool contract to 2026 in order to hand lifeline to Gerrard.
🙂 🙂
Spookily, I’m watching Klopp’s first press conference when arriving at Liverpool. He predicted Liverpool would ‘win’ in four years after his arrival. FOUR years. He was right, of course. And that’s at Liverpool, with all their prestige and resources. With a world class coach.
Villa aren’t in the same league as Liverpool. Gerrard isn’t in the same league as Klopp. It will take time. What gives us the right to think AVFC can be catapulted to the top of the English game overnight, when they’ve only been back in the PL for three years.
Things are not right at the moment, and for the record, I wouldn’t sign Coutinho; he hasn’t done enough to earn a contract. But even if Gerrard was replaced, which would be madness, the new new man would also need time. A lot of it. Whether we like it or not.
BFR – I agree on Coutinho. I’m not questioning his ability but we can’t afford a ‘luxury’ player at this point in time.
In my humble opinion, Buendia offers us more.
Who signed Coutinho?
Who signed Buendia?
Which signing was the best long term interest?
Which signing was a quick fix?
Begs the question…
Which manager had Aston Villa’s best long term interest at heart?
Which manager had their own interests at heart??
Answers on a postcard to…
BFR, does any Villa fan expect us to win things yet?
I’d suggest even the most ambitious are only aiming for us to compete, not actually win stuff.
It is possible too as Leicester have and West Ham are proving.
Probably with less money spent too!
I quote Klopp in the aforementioned presser: “please give us the time to work on it…”
Traore is back from wherever he went last week but Sanson is still ‘missing’ – whereabouts unknown! Bit careless that!
Hause is still out injured as, I assume, is Digne. Not sure on Chambers but hopefully he’s fit otherwise we’re more than a little short at CB.
I want to see Gerrard give someone like Iroegbunam a chance in place of Luiz (as I assume Nakamba isn’t yet fully match fit) and tomorrow is a reasonable game for him to start.
We have an uninterrupted run of six fixtures in pretty quick succession. Much has been made about the stop / start nature of our season – something we’re apparently not comfortable with. The next six games will either prove that point or expose it for an easy excuse.
I have to go for a win but a draw wouldn’t surprise me in the least.
5-0 Villa tomorrow. Sticking my neck out. And everything else.
Played 5 conceded 9 scored 2 and we’re to going score 5 today?
Can’t see our form taking that sort of upward trajectory.
2-1 either way.
Apparently, some sort of tribute has been prepared for Dean Smith tomorrow by the Villa fans. Personally, I think that’s poor and will be be a simultaneous slap in the face and kick in the nads for Gerrard – hardly a gesture that’s going to galvanise the club and build some affection between manager and fans. Smith is yesterday’s man, and no doubt some of those who’ve prepared this tribute would have called for his head last autumn. Embarrassing, in my opinion. Not to mention damaging.
We owe smithy a debt for getting promotion and he’s one of us.
We owe the bin dipper nothing, it’s up to him to prove himself worthy of our adulation, his reputation as a player counts for nothing.
Welcome home Smithy, you’re one or our own.
Of
Well done SG on stance with Carney Chukwuemeka. He was given a number of appearances and the opportunity to impress. It looks like he is being badly advised and will leave this summer, as someone previously stated on this site the grass is not always greener!
SG has moved in without CC and is now giving time to Tim Iroegbunam and best of luck to the lad. This approach to young players at Villa is the right one. If you are good enough you will be given a chance, so take it. The flip side is that if we feel you can make it long term then you must sign a longer contract with us. If not, your gone. I hope this message has hit across to our other starlets. All the youngsters need to do is look to Jacob Ramsey as the path to follow.
Part of the path Ramsey took was to go to Doncaster and he blossomed from there. We now have a number of players out on loan gaining invaluable football experience. I know that they will not all make it, but I am looking forward to see the progress the following make over the next 2 seasons:
Cameron Archer (forward)- very positive performances for PNE in Championship.
Jayden Phiogene- Bodace (midfielder / winger) – Stoke manager on record as being highly impressed with him.
Kaine Kesler (full back) two excellent loans this year firstly at Swindon and now at MK Dons a division higher.
Finan Aziz (midfielder) – excellent season at Newport and voted into the League 2 team of the year.
Louie Barry (forward) – unfortunate initial loan to Ipswich, but now scoring regularly for Swindon.
Aaron Ramsey (midfielder) has had a very good season at Cheltenham.
Plus Tommi O’Reilly (midfielder) who has gone from U18 to 1st team squad this year. I reckon that’s 8 players in total who could break through in the next 2 years.
For my money I think the following may get the break next year and be in the 1st team squad and will start the occasional game and have many subs appearances:
Cameron Archer
Kaine Kesler
Tim Irebunam
SG is on record as stating he does not want to block pathways for the best youngsters. Let’s see what happens.
Finan aziz?
I heard the name a good while back, but haven’t heard anything about him at all.
It’s nice to see he’s done well, as have many of the other kids.
Let’s hope some of them fulfil their promise this time and not end up as overhyped mediocrity, like they have for years.