Cutting a long story short, I’ve just bought a new 65″ telly and it’s festooned with connections which don’t suit the (older) rest of my setup, meaning I couldn’t watch the match and comment here on the site at the same time.
I’ll sort it when I get time, but it’s why I was quiet.
So for once, I actually called the score right and while I’d have taken it before the game, I’m now somewhat disappointed that we didn’t actually win it.
Trezeguet’s goal was called offside because he was actually offside a couple of seconds before he scored.
I actually think there might be an argument that the original play was over when it came back out, but maybe it was the right call. I certainly wasn’t doing my nut about it and saw it as more of the usual against Man Utd, where little goes our way.
And then one of their shots hits the post and goes in off Heaton’s back.
Same old, same old, I’m thinking.
Yet this time, I saw something different too.
Man U weren’t getting the calls.
Actually, with my neutral head on I’d say we actually got more of the rub of the green. Against Man U, just to re-emphasize.
It’s intrigued me, this part, but I think it’s because for very long periods we actually looked the better side and it was Man U who were making the mistakes under pressure and not winning the second balls and challenges.
For clarity, I’m actually criticising Man U of something I’ve been complaining about, about our side for most of this season.
That’s been unheard of for donkey’s years when it comes to Aston Villa vs Man Utd and I’m really hopeful that this is a turning point.
Indeed, I suspect it will be.
We’ve taken on the mighty Man U on their own turf in front of 73,000 and in my opinion, more than matched them.
I know Utd aren’t the same team they were a few years back, but they’re still a big psycological hurdle to overcome.
The point is, if you can go to Old Trafford and put up a fight, who else is there to be frightened of?
We’ve faced Citeh, Arse and Spurs away. Yes, Liverpool at Anfield might be a worry, but we gave them a very decent game at home. And we’ve yet to play Leicester, who are on a roll.
Ah yes, Chelsea, who we happen to have next up.
A match where Deano has the upper hand on Lampard.
I’m certainly not overly worried about facing them at Stamford Bridge and believe we’ll at least give them a game.
And it’s this part that is different.
Contrast this with our last season in the premier league.
Whereas you knew we’d practically lost before we stepped on the pitch, now I think we have a chance against anyone.
So yes, my being disappointed today is a really good sign.
And I think we’re getting more nous about us.
We’ll be fine come the end of the season, no worries, although we’re still on a learning curve.
Okay, Man U ain’t that good, but this was still a decent result, I think.
I forgot.
Grealish.
I missed his goal and haven’t seen it yet, but heard it was a stonker.
He draws foul after foul because he offers a serious threat that defenders simply can’t handle.
Yet still Southgate doesn’t pick him. What an absolute donkey. Heehaw!
Stunning goal Badger – brought the boringly obvious and unwanted comments from Savage – basically dissing Villa (nothing new there then) and saying Grealish will be gone because one of the ‘big boys’ will come in with an £80m offer!
Jog on – no way will our owners sell our best player and talisman.
I hope you’re right Hitch. There was a caller on to Savage yesterday who said that Grealish is Villa through and through and will never leave. I don’t buy that I’m afraid, being a Villa fan and coming up through the ranks buys you some additional loyalty but doesn’t guarantee he stays forever by any means
I hope I’m wrong but I could see a really big offer coming in for him offering him massive wages, playing for a champions league club with a world class manager and guaranteed England place (probably). If he then wanted to go could the owners really say no you’re staying and if they did what would that do to him as a player
But let’s enjoy him while he’s here and hope the club grows with him and he’s with us for a long time
All fair points Sid. I think what annoyed me most was Savage’s complete dismissal of Villa as a team / club.
Why can’t Villa achieve similar heights to Leicester or even Wolves for that matter?
We have (seemingly) committed and wealthy owners who are able to finance the acquisition of quality players, a good management team and a strong fan base.
JG is still young, he’s living his dream – captain of and playing regularly for the club he loves. He has time on his side to achieve international recognition and Europe with the Villa.
And I don’t buy the argument that not playing for a top six side affects his selection opportunities for England – doesn’t seem to be a problem for Mings!
IFthe owners and manager get it right (unlike Learner and MON), Grealish should be competing for the PL title and playing CL football within 5 years.
Everyone must believe that and buy into it, otherwise we may as well all go home. Flatten VP and build an Aldi.
There has to be ambition from the top down. I don’t think we’re far off. We need two strikers and anther top playmaker to help Jack. The rest is down to the quality of the coaching and the desire of all concerned. The midfield is as good as any in the league, if they give 100%. The defence has got massive potential if they can cut out the stupidity. Heaton is a safe pair of hands. The ingredients are there; just need 2-3 top, top additions. I’ve said it before on here but the message to players joining the Villa must be “You’re coming here to win things, and that’s down to you. This is not a stepping stone to bigger things. You can achieve everything you want here!”
p.s. I’d love us to win the league cup this season as a massive finger and F-YOU to Savage, who says we can’t win a cup. If I was Smith, I’d stick his comments on the dressing room wall as extra motivation.
Yeah Savage is a dick of course but he does just play up the whole blues villa thing, always tongue in cheek though I think
Badger about 11 -12 minutes in a cracker , yes we could have won that but I’m happy with a draw.
trez was onside for the goal that was ruled out it was grealish the officals signalled offside for. he was late coming back onside. but i thought he was level. later they showed freeze picture where grealish back leg poking offside. nonsense he was onside and it was a goal.
i thought we should have scored more in the first half, took a lead into h/t i was amazed it ended level, just before they scored grealish failed to connect with trez set up right in front of goal, where any sort of connect was a certain goal. utd then went up the other end and got a equaliser which was most defiantly against the run of play and undeserved.
second half was more a even affair, i thought we had many chances again and so did utd. i thought the whole team was magnificent. yeah i was very disappointed, we failed to beat these muppets. but we played good football and if their was a team who deserved the three points it was villa.
i was disappointed with the abuse wesley is receiving on other social media, crazy to think after he was in that team who all did their bit, yes he did not score, but he did loads of work for the team. i thought his work merited more acknowledgement than abuse.
I’ve got the match on again,, think we’re playing better😀 its on m u web site .
The comments from the panel are saying how good we are now. Fred just been booked.. utv.
BFR ,It’s not beyond our dreams, I can remember the times we had the likes of Brian Little, Garry Shaw, and now Jack Supper Grealish, I like yourself would like to wipe that sarcastic twit Savage smile off his face. Still we could ask Dion Dublin to give him another smack. I think we are on the right road to start other clubs worrying about our talented Manager and assistant also no money worries, better times are coming to Villa Park.
Well said BFR and Bill.
Fulham away in the cup.
Not sure if that’s good or bad?
Just seen the draw, should be ok Badger,
Decent point yesterday, yet disappointing in some ways. Taking Badger’s point about rub of the green…i think since Man Utd have lost that aura of invincibility they had under Ferguson (and his strong personality), and Mourinho failed there, the opposition is no longer fearful, and neither are the referees.
I expect we would let Grealish go for £80M if that is what he wanted, and it’s a short career so I wouldn’t blame him if he went as we are probably a few seasons from challenging at that level. The big difference now is that the current owners would reinvest that money (and more) to ensure the team progresses. Gone (at least for now) are the days of losing a Dwight Yorke eg without a decent replacement.
Chelsea and Leicester will be tough, but if the team have the belief they can get something out of both matches.
The media always seems dismissive of Villa. Alan Brazil was saying Grealish was a Spurs type of player. Sorry Alan he’s a Villa type of player.
I agree with the comments 2-3 players off a very good side. Stay in the Premiership this year and bring in 2-3 quality players next year.
Here’s my prediction with a high chance of egg on my face. I think Jack Grealish will be like Mat LeTissier. Be with Villa his whole career.
His family has a former Villa captain in the family.
He’s supported Villa all his life
He guaranteed when fit to start every match
He’s captain
He’s adored by us fans
He will play for England
He’s wanted by our wealthy owners
And when they add the additional quality to the team next year, Villa will start to become a threat again to the top 6.
The media are basically agents for the top six. It’s not just Grealish or McGinn at Villa. Look at Wolves and Leicester with their managers linked with Arsenal and their top players linked with the usual suspects. Maybe it’s a midlands thing and no matter how well we do there’s always the lure of London and Manchester or Liverpool!! Fortunately all our club’s are no longer selling clubs and can stick two fingers to anyone who is sniffing. The only problem is whether the player / manager is tempted by fast tracking to silverware and huge wages. We need to build our team round Grealish and McGinn but I do fear that all our best laid plans will be scuppered against manager and owners will.
I think the only way Grealish would leave is under a very specific set of circumstances;
1) Villa show no sign of progression or ambition or even worse are relegated.
2 The club are desperate for the money.
3) It’s just a stupid offer money-wise, that it would make no sense to turn down on Jack’s part and the club just cannot match.
Points 1 and 2 are not an issue at the moment, imo.
Point 3 is the tricky one.
I believe that while Villa would go to stupid lengths (for our level) to keep him, there’s no way they would pay him £250k a week or whatever, because of the pay structure.
Hence it’s more about what the club is willing to pay him and how much we keep progressing.
Jack certainly won’t want to leave, ever, imo.
How do you replace a Jack Grealish?
It’s not just his undoubted football ability but his special (and irreplaceable) relationship with the club and the fans,
OK, so someone offers £100m – so what – who do you buy replace what JG means to Villa. He’s actually priceless and I believe that :-
1. Our owners fully understand that and
2. Are committed to building a team to challenge the best in Europe with Grealish (and McGinn) at its core.
We’ve been here before – on the brink of creating a sustainable club capable of challenging the best teams in Europe. The difference now is we have owners that not only believe in this vision but have the financial clout to make it happen,
UTV 🙂
Nice, positive review Badger. Wholly in agreement.
Guys, don’t forget the Chelsea game is one of the freebies on Amazon Prime tomorrow if you have an account. There’s also another game of ours on later in the month.
I think you can sign up for a month’s free trial, and either way it’s only £7.99 a month, and you’d get all the films for Christmas time!!!
And no, I don’t work for Amazon, the tax dodging scumbags! 😁
I was just about to sign up and then read this useful reminder:
https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2019/dec/03/amazon-prime-video-tv-football-premier-league-broadcast-stream
So I changed my mind. I’ll be watching it on Ceefax instead, if you know what I mean!
I used to do that bum bum, but now I’ve a box, I have not missed a Villa game home or away,
Kodi?