Okay, so I have to be careful what I say here.
It’s just too easy to have an over-emotional reaction to a loss like this, after all.
But, I can’t get away from the fact that we were horrendously bad today.
So bad that I can’t point the finger at any one player, because as a side, we were just so,so poor.
I’ve seen fans calling McGinn and Watkins, as per usual, but I have to ask what they did that was so wrong?
The worst single player, if I really have to pick one was Digne. He honestly looked like he was on drugs or something today and it was like he didn’t know what planet he was on, let alone which part of the pitch.
Yet, in fairness, he’s been okay before today and I find myself wondering how he suddenly has looked so poor today.
But the same applies to many other players too. McGinn looks a shadow of his former self.
Ramsey is just none-existent and shouldn’t even be starting, in my opinion.
But apart from Buendia in the first half, the whole midfield lookes so, so lightweight, so it’s not just one player.
And because the midfield is so lightweight, it seems to have fed through to the defence too.
We look like we’ve never played together at the back and I’m perplexed how we have managed to go from looking extremely organised to just well, words fail me.
Again, I have to be careful I don’t say something I regret.
But, I said from the off that Gerrard was not the right choice for Aston Villa.
Am I calling for his head?
No, not yet.
Because I believe if he does go, it will be weeks away.
Purslow will support him as long as he possibly can, which is probably a good idea, because if Gerrard does get sacked, Purslow will “resign”, in my opinion.
We are not getting a point from our next three games, so it’s just a matter of things taking their natural course.
But there is no doubt that the total dissarray that we saw today cannot continue.
Sorry to say, but the story I always saw panning out is happening right now.
It’s on Sky Main advent
Can see a defeat looming!
No system.
Er…
Oh dear
Gerrard must be worried now , we’re just like a parks side no system, no idea just crap.goal Villa
Haha, laughable.
Ha 0-1
Goodbye Gerrard
That should have said 1-0 🙂
Can’t pass, can’t defend – now where have I heard that before.
Just a rabble.
Sorry but the ref helps Bolton but still crap
Digne is dogshit
OK so we’ve equalised ….
Luiz, straight from a corner!
1-1
Quiz question: who was the last AVFC player to score direct from a corner? Extra points for specifying the match and season…
Oscar Arche 🙂
Wasn’t it Bailey?
Staunton did it twice in the 90s, Badger. Did it a few times for Eire, also. Maybe that’s something Nanny can work on – shooting from corners!
A tale to go with Stan’s corners. I was at VP very early for a booked lunch. About 1.30 Stan appears with a chap in jacket and tie. Stan makes the guy stand on the goal-line in in the middle of the Holte end goal. Stan goes to the Holte/Trinity corner with a bag of balls.
After a sighter, Stan swings a corner kick over the guy and into the far top corner. The next kick hooks in at the near post. Finally Stan fires a low kick in of the guy’s backside. The pair then leave.
Later I heard the explanation. The guy was sportswriter who described Stan scoring direct from a corner in the previous game as ‘lucky’ .
Love it OLL. Staunton’s left peg is number 1 at VP for me. And there’ve been some good ones over the years!
Digne is having (yet another) mare!
1-1 but Bolton the better team. Same issues when trying to prevent / deal with crosses. Where is our back up LB we signed? Not even on the bench. Digne must be teachers pet.
Good question Holte.
Yet another example of Gerrard’s muddled thinking.
No wonder the players are confused!
Better second half.
Was Ings off side – was it a penalty?
1-2 well taken penalty by Ings
Digne – really good goal 1-3
Hope that kick starts Diane’s form
Who’s this Diane we signed Hitch 😉
🙂
The sister in law 🙂
Told you that Digne was top class 😒
I’m not convinced far from it. Ref poor as well .I’ve seen nothing to say Villa will not be relegated if playing like tonight. Still it’s a win .
Every blog site I go on, everyone saying the same thing; that we look stripped of confidence. I know a thing or two about that and I wonder if this is just down to man management by Gerrard.
I work on a highly talented tech team in Texas and last year 3 of our most talented team members left for competitors, but our team spirit has never been greater. As individuals, they’re phenomenal but as team contributors, they were awful because they could never put the team first before their own ambition and often belittled or mismanaged those below them who were inferior skilled…. so it just makes me wonder, if Gerrard, for all his brilliance as a player, has not adapted his mindset to manage people who aren’t as good, and lack confidence. And if his standards are higher than our current crop can give (which he repeatedly says in public), then why would they have ANY self-belief? He’s stripped them bare.
so harsh on them, stripped of confidence
It’s a very good point TV
If that’s true TV, Gerrard shouldn’t be manager of any football club, never mind Aston Villa. In fact, he shouldn’t even manage his local Greggs.
And I’d suspect that’s accurate.
That’s a classy goal by Bailey
1-4 flattered us and Bolton clearly ran out of steam. Texas Villan makes a valid point regarding the confidence side of football. If you don’t feel wanted or appreciated then it will affect your mindset. Sir Ron was a master of mind games, knowing who needed a cuddle and who needed a kick up the backside. Gerrard seems to upset players rather than take the flak himself.
It was a comfortable win in the end tonight but the real test is the next 3 games. Defeat against West Ham will likely see us with 3 points from 6 games after Arsenal and Man City. That’s not to say Leicester away to follow that would be any easier.
No point in running a 6 furlong horse in the Derby.
Of course Bolton looked better, in the first half, but they were putting in more effort than they could sustain. In the end it was a demolition job. Also it was a strangers team we started with, Cash, Konsa and Buendia out, Chambers Young! and Coutinho in – so there were crossed wires while they got used to it. I was pleased with the performance.