I like to think I’m a pretty patient bloke.
I was slow in calling for Lambert out and I was slow calling for Sherwood to go.
And I think the Villa away fans are similar in being patient.
But you know when they turn, the manager is on borrowed time.
And rightfully so, as today’s performance sounded like an utter disgrace.
When you listen to commentators insinuating that the side are a shambles and actually hear words like “mish-mosh” even after the manager makes his changes, you know there’s something majorly wrong.
As fans, we were generally happy with our incoming players in the window.
So how is what on paper, the most potent attacking force in the league (by a mile) made to look so impotent?
And how is the defence made to appear so nervy when it’s faced with the slightest bit of pressure?
These are the questions that I think the away fans are asking and for me, it has to come down to the manager, why is why they were singing “You’re getting sacked in the morning” to RDM.
Let’s look at some facts.
We had one shot on target, yet dominated possession with 60 odd per cent of the game.
Whereas Preston had a boatload.
And the commentators reported that they didn’t think Preston were a very good side.
It just isn’t good enough, because even if you consider we’ve only lost two in eleven games, we’ve still only won one.
And when you hear commentary along the lines of “the players are looking for someone else to do it”, “they don’t have the belief” and worst of all, “they don’t look interested”, you quite simply know it’s all over.
I suspect the away fans have called this exactly right and Dr Xia has to sack RDM quickly.
We have an international break coming up and it would be an ideal time for a new manager to come in and get his ideas across.
Sadly, I think Dr Xia won’t want to be seen as trigger happy and may not have started a backup plan yet.
But if he has, he has to bullet RDM as soon as possible.
Is there anyone who can still defend the manager?
Comments
150 responses to “Preston 2 – 0 Villa; RDM sacked in the morning?”
Giddy, I hinted when we bought Jedinak, that he might be finished and that’s why Palace let him go.
Hopefully I’m wrong and it’s just form.
But apparently he’s looked miles off the pace and is just plain slow.
Funnily enough I was just thinking about Gana doing well. Clark is rated as a “rock” at Newcastle already (well, at least until he drops a major clanger).
I’ve got a post in mind about this, but in short it revolves around a theory I put forward a while back, where we have good players and they’ll look a lot better at other clubs.
Which says the problem might not necessarily be the manager.
And there’s still something intrinsically wrong at the club as a whole.
‘ intrinsically ‘ what the fucks that mate??? Have you digested a dictionary.after a barrel of Stella I couldn’t even say it lol
Ha! 🙂
In-built, mate.
I was trying to speak the word to Google I gave up after a dozen goes I kept getting intestinal I suppose that’s to do with insides aswell
There is a losing culture at villa and you could put Messi in the team and we would still lose
The point about whether or not a new manager would make a difference given the ebbing away if confidence and the lack (or perceived lack) of quality in mid field us a good one BUT the real issue is that RDM was not universally welcomed by the fans and many of those (me included) have fast lost any confidence we may once have had.
There are not only questions around selections and tactics but also over the focus on buying forwards rather than strengthening the mid field (although I think he saw McCormack and Ayew as providers as well as goal scorers).
For me it’s essential we change the manager and try and bring one of the new bright stars rather than the tired old names – they will bring fresh ideas, enthusiasm, ambition and no fear – isn’t that what Dr T is about? But more than that it will reignite and reconnect the fans with the club and the team which is absolutely essential. If the current situation is allowed to continue we risk reigniting the animosity of last season followed by guaranteed disaster.
*many of those willing to give him a chance have fast lost confidence
Good point Hitch.
Only, if you look at the advisors, I’m not sure which of them would opt for a young, hungry type manager.
Round might and apparently is, but any of the others?
They all seem far too traditional to me.
Why ain’t the doc took to twitter yet????somethings happening me thinks
Some of the media seem to think that Brolly-Wally McLaren is being lined-up…
Hope not
God no!!!!
Agree with both of you !
I’ve been waiting for Xia to comment too, Giddy.
The fact that he hasn’t tells me there’s something going on too.
Ardent, as I said earlier, there’s no chance Mclaren will be coming in, because of the outcry last time his name was mentioned.
If he does, I’d have to think hard about why I wouldn’t give up totally on the club.
It would be that bad a mistake, imo.
Westwood has to go, not so Matteo. Are there any stats on games won/lost/drawn, from being in a winning position, from being in a losing position, when Westwood plays?!!! There needs to be! He probably does amazing on te trailg ground and there is one reason why, he’s bottles a challenge.
Regarding rdm, dr x was clear he has a two year plan, I see no sacking.
His plan was to get promoted in 2years not get relegated at the first attempt.
Perhaps we might get promoted after getting relegated again this year
Whilst I expected any manager to struggle with the upheaval over the summer and the weak mentality surrounding the club, Di Matteo has done himself no favours. He seems out of touch tactically, and it is all very reminiscent of his miserable failure at Schalke.
We need to stop looking at proven failures and yesterday’s man. Its frightening that people think mccarthy or bruce could be the answer. We need young and progressive. And for that reason the club should be breaking down doors to get David Wagner in. He’s from the same school as Klopp and I for one want to see the high pressing style at Villa Park with a passionate and enthusiastic coach.
Weren’t Sherwood, Garde, and Lambert classed as “young and progressive”?
We have tried that route on a number of occasions and failed, time to bring in a proven, experienced manager who won’t use the club as a learning curve.
STEVIE BRUCE’S CLARET AND BLUE ARMY!
Not really, Lambert is the only one of the three you could say were.
Bruce has 1 promotion in 9 seasons. His main experience is relegating teams. He’ll also be hounded out once he loses a couple of times because of the ex blues links. It will be a disaster waiting to happen.
But we actually played Huddersfield of the park but u can’t legislate for what Gollini did
Can’t keep blaming Westwood. Yes he dosnt help but look at the defensive howlers we’ve made from Gollini and Elphnick that’s what’s really cost us
finally somebody speaks some sense. westy isn’t to blame, so stop making him the scapegoat. the player maybe miles from a world beater but he is no way to blame. all players make mistakes. players lacking in confidence make more.
Some of our ex managers would do a job in this league! RDM not been in a job longer than a year and a half.
On another note with all the talk of bungs and corruption you have to ask what one of our ex managers was upto paying over the odds for mediocre players and then not playing them?
Guardian now saying it so it must be true.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/oct/02/roberto-di-matteo-faces-sack-aston-villa-manager
Favourites are Bruce and Wagner according to them
Wagner, please. Bruce would be a pair of safe hands but so would Pulis – and uninspiring. We are still at the stage of the season and Xia’s tenure were going all in on a promising manager makes sense.
I had a really good reply written there Morgan, but it failed.
Suffice to say it’s easier to ask who hasn’t been bent in footy since the early 70’s, imo.
Clubs were providing houses as a hidden way of paying wages, for example.
And F1, Cricket and Golf are also equally bent.
Too much money and the rise of on line gambling = corruption
Sadly an all too familiar story. A new manager, working with a team he didn’t choose, trying to survive demotion, with one quarter of the season burned away.
When will we break the cycle? We need a hero and I have no idea where we will find him (or her)…
Are we destined for some years in the Doldrums of the lower divisions? I fear so…
Bbc confirm RDMs sacking this chairman ain’t fucking around
Swift, decisive action. Nice. I like it.
Only one name for me, Lee Johnson, what that young man has done in his short managerial career is nothing short of miraculous. He will be managing in the Premiership one day, please Dr. Tony let it be with the Villa.
I think he’ll go for someone unattached due to the compensation issue he’s got to pay RDM off paying another club won’t come cheap possibly breaking into the January transfer kitty I’d take Bruce
A footnote on 4-2-4.
The first essential requirement of this formation is that both of your wingers are capable of scoring themselves, not just crossing the ball. When that is the case it stretches the defence, but if one winger is no danger when he is on the ball it will fail. All that can be expected of the two in midfield is that they scurry after the ball putting in tackles and breaking up play. The second requirement is – if the opponent’s full backs overlap then your wingers have to track back.
That is why the current Villa squad could not make 4-2-4 work.
I’m relieved that Xia has acted. I’m not confident that we will make the right appointment this time either though. I don’t think compensation will get in the way here. That said, I do wonder who will want the job given the way the club has performed in the last few years. Sure the usual suspects, but nothing inspiring.
Bruce would do a decent job, but will only take us so far. It might even be a case of a two step process (3 counting RDM)- one manager to get us out of the Championship, another to take the club forwards.
I’m getting pretty cheesed off about the whole thing really. Sick of having my weekends ruined by miserable result after miserable result. There just seems to be an air of a ruined club about us.