I was going to post straight after the game, but I was raging and embarrassed at the same time, so decided to have a think about it and come back later.
I still can’t quite work out what happened, but we started this game at a canter and I said to a workmate after about 15 minutes that we’d win the game by 4 or 5 goals. We looked that comfortable, having had around 75% possession with Luton looking exactly what they are; a fourth division side.
So what went wrong?
The simple answer is Luton pulled a goal back and any confidence we had just collapsed. Again.
Where I saw our heads not dropping too much against Wednesday as a plus point the other day, so I found it unfathomable that we actually seemed to get worse as the game went on last night.
What on earth is wrong with this squad?
Bear in mind we have now not won a game in six months. SIX MONTHS!
The anger aside, this is obviously a serious problem.
I was thinking we’d slaughter Luton tonight and go on to beat Rotherham on Saturday, which would have set us up nicely.
Now I have major doubts.
If we can’t beat a 4th division side, what right do we have to expect to beat a Championship side?
Dr Xia has tweeted that certain players were being given a last chance to show what they can produce. Given RDM’s pretty passive showing on the touchline, I’m not convinced it was a joint decision by the owner and the manager. I’d even go so far as to say RDM has told Xia that the situation is bad and it was Xia who asked to give the usual suspects another go.
Whatever, Xia then tweeted that certain players didn’t deserve another chance.
Which, even if he didn’t see it before, means that he certainly does now and this is good news, as I now fully expect major changes to the squad. If it doesn’t happen in this window, it certainly will in the next.
It’s a scary situation though, because how many of those players last night do we think are committed to the Villa?
You could probably get rid of 7 or 8 or so of them for me and none would be missed.
Am I really the only one who thinks the Okore own goal might not have been an accident, for example?
Perhaps that’s a ridiculous thought, but if my suspicion is correct, that’s simply horrendous.
I got the distinct impression the players thought it was going to be a stroll, which means they think they’re better than they realise.
Which is fine if they suddenly realise they might have a problem and step up the game.
But it didn’t happen and if anything we played worse as the game went on.
My feelings over the last few seasons have been mostly disappointment after watching so many losses.
Last night the feeling was of pure disgust, as surrender is unforgivable.
I know it won’t happen, but Xia can pay the lot of them off and play the kids. That squad as a whole is frankly a bloody disgrace.
It’s really embarrassing being a villa fan at the moment, I didn’t think ill ever say that 😟
+1
I try not to mention it in polite conversation anymore. It gets roughly the same response as saying that your dogs just died.
JOKE
Get rid of.the shit ASAP. i cant take any more of this.
Join the club mate.
West Brom accept bid for James Chester!!!!
Thank god, he’s a good player, was fantastic for Wales in the euros, he and Elphick could make a very good pairing.
I’d be looking for new full backs now, Amavi cant defend for toffee but could be played as a left winger, doubt that’ll happen though.
Good shout Guest
I agree that Okores own goal wasn’t an accident (allegedly),the same goes for the performance of the other players,they want to go and are trying to make the situation untenable
No club has ever dismantled an entire squad of players in 1 window but we need to get as close to it as possible if we are even to make mid table this season.
Nevertheless, I’m very concerned that Di Matteo wanted to give the likes of Richards, Okore, Hutton and Gestede another chance. They have no pride or commitment in playing for this club and quite frankly they should all be placed in a bomb squad with immediate effect. If I was Di Matteo, id be pleading with Dr Tony to pay them off and get them out. Whatever the cost, we can’t afford to have this poison in and around our new signings and the same applies to the other tossers like Lescott and Gabby.
Totally agree Villain 1
Dr X probably told him to so he could save money
Well the club came pretty close to a full squad turnover last season and that didn’t end to well. I thought at the time we had made some good purchases last summer, but the reality is it’s a crap shoot and managers just don’t know how well players will turn out. Managers will always give experienced players a second chance but in the case of Villa I agree they were/are a large part of the problem.
Rotherham this weekend is the acid test cause they’re Shite with a capital S loose that and it’s time to get down down the bookies, part with some cash and get on this 16/1 for relegation, well that is unless Mr X starts to splash the case and kick starts his plan for world domination?
*cash*
Apparently Chester is on his way in from our beloved neighbours, i think that’s actually a good bit of business, would be even better if we could send literally anybody else the other way as part of the deal. Apart from Elphick of course.
Don’t know much about the lad but looking at his Wiki page he came through Man U academy and they don’t usually turn out Muppets (Robbie Savage being the exception to the rule).
I saw all the Wales games in the Euros, he was immense, and his stats were fantastic, made the most interceptions and tackles of any player there, i’m really happy with this signing.
Wonder why WBA want to sell him then. I rate Gunter would love him as our right back
Can’t say I noticed him to be honest (unlike Clarke conspicuous for all the wrong reasons!) so that’s no bad thing.
Wales Online stats say he matched the best in the world and it appears he’s a good reader of the game so you never know this signing may even get Oohah’s blessing.
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/incredible-statistics-show-how-james-11537939
I would like Gunter as well always rated him as right back
Perhaps not.
OohAhh, no idea why WBA are selling but their fans aren’t happy about it at all, been reading a lot of comments on it by them and they are calling for Pullis’ head.
Fair enough he sounds a decent player.
Joking apart Savage is the type of player we could with. No talent but would run and hassle the other midfielders and get stuck in for 90 mins. We’ve no one like that.
Jedinak from Palace been mentioned, he’s a bit of an enforcer type.
Ok he’s 32 but we only want him to stand there and kick people!
Luton are crap too look what happened there. I think we will beat Rotherham fwiw but will only scrape it
I disagree, we were crap but at the level they play they ain’t a bad outfit.
If this bunch of Prima Donnas / Big time Charlies down at VP think they can just turn with their Premier League, playing for a big club reputation and that’s going to be enough to win on Saturday (see Sheff Weds – Luton results),
then Rotherham just may cause an upset (would it be an upset?)
Hallelujah
Having watched the game i honestly thought we did not want to win and be better without a cup run. I know we should always play to win but with no commitment, passion and playing last years no hopers thats what you get.
I would have put a better shift in against a mediocre lower league team.
What do the managers say? Do the player’s want to play for the club ? Defensively we need to address. No Hutton, Richards or Okore for me.
Lets hope this is a major wake up call and we start a fresh with a must needed win Saturday.
The defence should of been sorted the minute RDM walked through the door too late now pre season is over
We’ve had one league game. We’ll be fineif tthey’re brought in now.
we can t wait any longer,need a rb ch cm to go straight into team along with winger and st seen as kozak seams to have injured himself again, one thing tho why do i see reports of more selling to buy wastwood to burnley what is it 24 m spent16/17 come in plus heap players of wage bill
Being strongly linked with a triple swoop for De Laet, Chester and Jedinak.
Get it done Villa asap and then we’ll need another 3-4 on top of that if we have any ambitions to finish even in the top half
Pleased with the Chester signing, he was very good for Wales, and could def do a job for us.
Last night was crying out for a tough, imposing central midfielder. Forget Tshiobola, he may come good one day, but for me last night he was no better than Westwood. We need someone in the Keane, Viera mould, who will drive the team forward but equally organise them in front of defence – easier said than done though.
Last night was a disaster. Okore and Richards were simply dreadful. I hold my breathe every time Okore has the ball, he just looks so uncomfortable on it.
Grealish I though was decent for 20 mins, the. He just disappeared, whilst Gardner looked a fraction of the player I saw at Forest last season.
McCormack. Worth £12m? Not on that showing, he was far too deep at times.
I don’t know what it is with the Villa recently – they have the knack of turning good players into average, distinctly non interested players.
And why is it when opposition attack us they get through so easily? When we attack, the ball is either lost, or we play it all the way back to the keeper. Its been like that for years. I just dont get it.
But in all, last night, coupled with theShef Wed result could be a blessing in disguise because I do believe the signings will come thick and fast.
What about Green like I said ok as a bit part player but can’t start him every week
So the latest news is the club is after “Ritchie De Laet, Mile Jedinak and James Chester.”
*sorry missed your post above villain1
League cup = Tosspot trials. Clearly only RDM’s signings are guaranteed a future at Villa and everyone else has something to prove. At the end of last season I was happy if the entire staff had been fired, with the exception of Amavi and Traore who had not had enough games before injury.
Grealish was almost on my list of exceptions, but he isn’t now. This guy is not a professional footballer. From his kids shin guards to piss-ups in the Med – he is tricky, he is a Jack-the-lad – but he will win you nothing until he grows up, and he might as well do that elsewhere.
The trap door beckons for the rest.
we should all be thankful for this luton defeat, it seems to have the new ownership reaching and pressing the panic button. as for the defeat, richards and okore should never again wear the shirt. both are sunday league players, richards couldn’t even manage a throw in without messing up. i will also agree with others saying okore looked like he meant the owngoal. but then,,,, i doubt he could manage to finish like that, so it must have been a clearance attempt.
I see Dr x is voicing off on twitter fairplay to him he’s relating more & more to fans, he now knows how SHITE we actually are.
Why is he interfering and not backing RDM re Bennett. Very worrying especially as we sold Clark to a so called rival
Think the Dr has confirmed it was a mutual decision on twitter oohah. And I’m for it, Bennett isn’t good by any means but as back up he will be cheaper than Cissokho who needs to go asap, especially after yet another bambi on ice performance against Sheff Wed.
Of it was mutual then why was he going in the first place makes no sense
Interesting comments on here gents.
I don’t agree with the ‘suggestion’ regarding Okore; he looked completely broken to me after the goal went in. Anyway, if he’d tried to score he’d have missed.
I was a bit surprised by the passivity of the Villa management in the dug-out last night; had expected someone [anyone?] to be ranting and gesticulating from the sidelines as the game went on, although I guess that having used most of the subs just after half-time, there wasn’t a lot left in the way of any changes.
Agree about Richards – worse than just a waste of a shirt, he’s an active liability.
Hutton: Ok, he’s not PL standard, but am I the only person on here who thinks that at least he does make an effort -when most of the others just sit-back and wait for things to happen?
Grealish: agree with OLL and Villafan – the boy needs one of the coaching staff to have one last quiet word in his shell-like. Urgently. They should show him a few press-clippings of Gazza [just to name one] and see whether he can work out why ‘talent’ in itself is worth almost nothing…
However, the news that WBA have accepted the bid for Chester has made today a bit more bearable: now let’s see a few more in, and more of the wasters out.
UTV
Okore, Richards, Hutton to be replaced at the back. I’m happy with Eplhick and given a few more games Armavi will do a good job. Why not give Bennet a chance as he seemed to do ok pre season. Im not quite sure why we let Gill go as I thought he would be fine as a creative player in the championship. I thought Gardner looked lost in the second half. Grealish tries and unlucky when hit the post. Surprised Bacuna one of last seasons boo boys is a 1st choice. What’s happened to Traore? We definitely need to win this weekend and not lose our heads if we conceed. We have a team that should perform and confidence is defiantly at an all time low that needs to be rectified asap.
The Yank fan-site is critical of Dr X pulling the plug on the Bennett transfer. They see it as undermining the manager. It would be if the manager had his feet under the desk for at least a season, but the fact is he is new himself. Cissokho has not impressed as a defender. Amarvi? well maybe he hasn’t either so no point in selling a LB until you know you have the position covered.
On the other side of defence we are after arguably the most successful player in English league history- Ritchie De Laet. Who else is ever going to earn winner’s medals for the Championship and the Premiership in the same season?
I’m amazed Chester needs to drop down a division, a good signing if he comes. Mile Jedinak has been a bit of a thug, but I can’t say we don’t need someone who can dish it out if the opposition start. Some of this to be funded by Westwood going to Burnley – good luck to them if they think he can be Premiership class. If we gave them a £1m discount do you reckon they would take Richards as well?
Oll that’s worrying why do we have to sell to buy. Proves the owner is potless
According to the Mirror its Westwood to Burnley and Jedinak in –
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-fund-mile-jedinak-8612635?
Now that would be a great piece of business!
We need more than one half decent midfielder. The rest of midfield is a joke
@Oohaah
Actually agree for once
It’s comments like that that make this site so interesting, keep them coming Pat.
😄😄
Agree has been very lightweight for the past 5 seasons. Need a few bullies in there to add some physical presence and guide the youngsters.
I honestly think that’s why a lot of problems occur in the defence. They have little or no protection and are over worked. Mind you that doesn’t excuse some of the cowboy defending we’ve witnessed recently.
Agree we’ve been too nice for years. We need a few nasty buggers in the team that can dish it out a bit.
our squad is full of losers, teams that are successful generally, have leaders and winners in their squads. that team that lost against luton were sheep and not one leader. so when luton came knocking instead of stepping up they folded.
we get this chester and that Jedinak. this would make massive difference. we are so low on confidence. a win or two changes everything.