Villa 0 – 1 Wolves; Mediocre, mediocre, mediocre

I honestly struggle to think of a game that depressed me more than that one.

Our play lacks invention, it lacks incisiveness, it lacks desire and urgency, it lacks pace and it lacks quality.
We’re just a very, very poor side and it seemed to me like Wolves never even got out of second gear.

I just don’t get it.
How can we lack urgency when we’re in the position we are?
Douglas Luiz, who I thought looked very decent, apart, we just look directionless and clueless.

We played two strikers, which was needed in my opinion, but they were usually so far apart there was no way they’d link up.
Likewise, Grealish again played miles too deep, too often and it just totally frustrates me.
Then again, when he did get on the ball, he was mostly useless. I’ve not said anything before, but I’ve thought for a good while that he’s lost interest now and is frankly sick of watching the pure lack of quality around him.
I’ve never been a big believer that players have their next club in their head, but I think it’s definitely the case with him. He just looks like he’s given up.

Our setpieces were horrendous today and I’m struggling to think of a ball that didn’t go clean over the players’ heads. If Hourihane can’t get that right, he’s an utter waste of time on the pitch and he was invisible yet again.

As for Nyland, I’ve never seen a Villa goalie that scares me as much as him.
He’s fumbled the ball so many times lately and after the way he mis-threw that ball to Taylor, means he has to be dropped now. He looks devoid of any confidence and Smith needs to take him out of the firing line.

It’s the lack of direction that worries me most though and I just don’t see what we’re trying to achieve on the pitch.
When we do attack, we inevitably slow it down and Grealish was the most guilty of this, which means that the opposition have time to reorganise and the chance is lost. Loads of times, I heard myself saying “too late”.
It’s like the team have no belief and it’s this which will see us go down.

The result is bad enough in itself, but it’s the performance which has got me down more.
There’s the age old saying that the table doesn’t lie and I think that’s exactly the case.

We are where we are, because we’re frankly just awful.
And boring with it.

101 Comments

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  1. Bill Pearson..
    Bill Pearson.. June 27, 2020 at 3:06 pm . Reply

    My neighbour next doors , text me to say they was in the bottom three, see what I have to put up with, you lot don’t have a west ham nutter next door.
    Still he’s a ace of a lad. We played a lot better, Samatta and Davies is not the answer. We need a creative player in the middle plus a winger that has Adama skills of crossing. Good luck to Wolves they are back from the days I knew them as world class.

    1. Hitchens60
      Hitchens60 June 27, 2020 at 7:32 pm . Reply

      My mate’s a West Ham supporter but he knows better than to wind me up – not with their recent history!

      In fact we share a common despondency 🙂

  2. Tony Hill
    Tony Hill June 27, 2020 at 3:10 pm . Reply

    Going down with a whimper, absolutely disgraceful. Grealish should hold his head in shame. He’s meant to be a leader, but to throw in the towel is shocking. The whole club is a disgrace in my humble opinion!!!

    1. beamo
      beamo June 27, 2020 at 3:16 pm . Reply

      His head went during the lockdown…contract all but done with Man Utd. He looks like he doesn’t want an injury to scupper the move -cant really blame him. The club promised him reinforcements over the summer and we ended up with the likes of Trezeguet… says it all

  3. beamo
    beamo June 27, 2020 at 3:11 pm . Reply

    We’re getting what we deserve. Woeful recruitment, reactive management, pedestrian pace to our play and a manager who is out of his depth horribly. A dreadful combination which has lead to the inevitable relegation coming in the next 3 weeks or so.
    Suso will be axed for sure, Smith will hopefully walk away and yet another rebuild begins with the Grealish and Mings money. The big question is have Edens and Sawiris in a post COVID world got the desire and funding to want to go again. I have my doubts….
    On a side note, they were far from their best today but Wolves are everything we should be and that is painful to say. An outstanding manager, terrific recruitment system and an ambitious club who have developed a system and a style that both works and is pleasing on the eye. It is once again extremely depressing to be a Villa fan and how many times have we said that over the last decade

  4. Jordo
    Jordo June 27, 2020 at 3:14 pm . Reply

    Completely agree with your comments and questions around the management need also to be asked . For far to long this season we have given up too easily. The quality is lacking, there is no fight or determination within our play. We looked totally demoralised and out classed. As a Villa fan l have now come to the conclusion that we are down. It hurts me to say the current players and management have let the fans down and the owners should Now get involved to plan for a fresh start. This has got to be one of the worse Villa sides in its history!!

  5. Bill Pearson..
    Bill Pearson.. June 27, 2020 at 3:21 pm . Reply

    Did you really think we are a good club Badger?, I know most on here think old Bill moaning again , Badger we been bad from day one, our club might have been bought with millionaires but can you tell me what’s their thinking. Theirs money to be made why no movement from them on the way we have ended up.I honestly think what your saying in correct in every way , I’ve seen it over the years, our club is run by half baked twits that don’t know the way forwards. Too late for me at 81 I’ll never see the days of the 80s again and feel sorry for the Villa fans of today. Give me the days of Billy Goffin and Trever Ford then you’ve seen football.

  6. nath
    nath June 27, 2020 at 5:14 pm . Reply

    i thought we tried our best, i saw the players gave their all, but sadly they are not good enough. wolves is not a fair comparison. they made a few top four sides loook ordinary. i thought we played well against them, but we just did not create anything that was going to win the game,

    playing three up today never mind two strikers. grealish was also just behind them making it three up front. they gave us a good shape without the ball. rushed the wolves back line at times to punt the ball back to us. but we struggled with zero width so we was so easy to handle.

    players are looking like they have given up, but they are trying they are just powerless to affect the game against better players. had we played newcastle & sheff utd like this two up and grealish behind them. we would have created much more and won the games i am thinking. but doesnt matter what we played today we just were never gonna upset them. they are focused on top 4 and will get it for sure.

  7. Holte66
    Holte66 June 27, 2020 at 6:13 pm . Reply

    It’s come to something when we are hoping that either Bournemouth, West Ham or Watford keep failing to prolong our hopes of survival. I would expect by the time our games against Man Utd and Liverpool are over, we will be at least one win from safety.
    Wolves didn’t have to play well today to get the win. Our players worked hard but our creativity is let down by our snail pace movement. Wolves were able to step up the tempo at anytime. Grealish who is our most gifted player is as guilty of slowing the game down as anyone. He dwells on the ball and gives the opposition time to organise. It’s the biggest downfall in his game. Luiz was for me our best player again. When we are finally relegated I think he could be a big player for us although he has put himself in the come and get me category alongside Grealish, McGinn and Mings.
    Sadly next season we will have yet another re-build. I think our owners will keep faith with Smith in the hope he can repeat last season. They have said many times already that we need continuity. If they do persevere with Smith then he will have to address the lack of leadership we have on the pitch. Finding loans like Abraham and Tuanzebe will be important too. A club our size should be a big attraction in the championship for fringe premier league players with potential.

    1. Originiallondonlion
      Originiallondonlion June 27, 2020 at 6:56 pm . Reply

      Smith staying? I’d like a list of managers in the top flight who have been with a club all season, been relegated, and brought the club back up. Off hand, I cannot remember one. Smith has had his chance, he is not inventing anything and i have not seen a ‘training ground move’ since the restart.

      You are right about Grealish he is part of the problem not part of the answer. It won’t surprise me if he is benched.

      As simple contrast is the goal: the opportunity, the distance from goal and the accuracy. Villa have had those chances, a defensive half-clearance arrives just outside the box to a midfielder who has time – but must hit the target. Villa’s players have always missed the goal. Just that difference in quality says this squad deserves to go down on performance to date.

      1. Hitchens60
        Hitchens60 June 27, 2020 at 7:20 pm . Reply

        Sean Dyche – after that I’m struggling!

  8. Bill Pearson..
    Bill Pearson.. June 27, 2020 at 7:10 pm . Reply

    We all might get our wish, Aston Villa are at a meeting to sack Smith.. so I hear.

    1. Hitchens60
      Hitchens60 June 27, 2020 at 7:19 pm . Reply

      What’s the point of sacking him now – is that an admission of defeat?

      I suppose if he goes JT will take temporary charge to the end of the season (no other self respecting manager of any quality is going to rush in to fill the breach are they) – and what then? JT appointed as manager – when he really wants to be at Chelski – ah but Lampard beat him to it!

      It’s so depressing being a Villa fan these days.

  9. nath
    nath June 27, 2020 at 7:25 pm . Reply

    sacking smith now will prove only one thing, that the club is still run by amateurs. its too late in the day to sack him. nothing will change drastically. we are just not good enough. no tactic in the world would have helped us today.

    6 games left and if we stick together and believe we might get two wins and that could be enough, but bring in Houdini and he will fair no better. stick with the manager and players

  10. Holte66
    Holte66 June 27, 2020 at 7:42 pm . Reply

    No point in sacking Smith till season ends. Whoever is in charge will still have inadequate players to pick from. Does any Villa fan want JT? We appreciated him as a player but as a coach I don’t know what he contributes. The owners need to see where we are (almost definitely Championship) and choose wisely. Dyche has been mentioned alongside Benitez. I’m starting to think that there is a massive failing in British managers in terms of recruitment and tactics. Chris Wilder might be the exception although I wouldn’t be surprised if they were relegated next season.
    On a different note, who would be in favour of dropping Grealish for the next game?

    1. Hitchens60
      Hitchens60 June 27, 2020 at 8:25 pm . Reply

      Eddie Howe could soon be available 🙂

      I do rate him as a manager despite Bournemouth’s poor season.

      But it goes back to our recent problems – it’s no good changing managers on an average of 12 months!

  11. Bill Pearson..
    Bill Pearson.. June 27, 2020 at 7:45 pm . Reply

    Nath , to me its desperation, that would be too late to do. It’s what I read and hope its just talk. .. but that’s Villa as we know it.

    1. nath
      nath June 27, 2020 at 8:02 pm . Reply

      it does smell like desperation to me and it wouldnt help us at all. usually a manager leaves and the players get a lift, i dont even think that would happen, cause i believe the players are giving their best now and manager i think knows his best team and formation and they are just not good enough.

      i hate saying that 🙁 but its true but it doesnt stop me praying and hoping iam wrong and we do survive

  12. nath
    nath June 27, 2020 at 7:53 pm . Reply

    i see norwich are into extra time with manure. we can beat utd and pool both will not be 100% against us. we just have to be fully committed and we have to sort out our offense.

    we cant seem to get the balance between attack and defense. we have been ultra attacking and suicidal defending earlier in season, today we were solid defending and no cutting edge. we need to strike a good balance between both. we have to score but not concede. seems easy but not for us this season.

  13. Hitchens60
    Hitchens60 June 27, 2020 at 9:05 pm . Reply

    See Smith is blaming the defeat on fatigue after 4 games in 11 games – and had a pop at the EPL for their scheduling.

    Is this a man clinging desperately onto life lines that don’t, in reality, exist.

  14. John
    John June 27, 2020 at 9:22 pm . Reply

    In his last interview Smith pretty much said that he can’t put out a more attacking formation and keep Grealish in the team.
    So he’s sacrificed the possibility of goals and points to keep one man in the team.
    Isn’t that ‘throwing the baby out with the bathwater ?’
    Grealish is going anyway – drop him and try something different and more adventurous. What the heck have we got to lose ?

    As things stand, I cant tell the difference between Smith and Bruce.
    Just negative, over cautious, boring football that is embarrassing to watch.

    According to the E.Mail Blues tried to get Gerrard.
    What are the chances ??????

    Frankly – anybody with a brave, attacking adventurous entertaining attitude.

  15. nath
    nath June 28, 2020 at 7:02 am . Reply

    having slept on the latest defeat, i have to say i am still hopeful and i think the system we played against wolves will work in the future games. i seen wolves a few times and totally impressed with them. they are not flash in possession but they can turn defense into attack in a blink of eye. they gave pool two of the hardest games and beaten city too. they are very hard to play even harder to create anything against. the more you stretch yourself to create openings more they rip you to pieces.

    listening to their manager he admits we gave them problems to start with. i agree we started off very well. we didn’t just hit the front two. we tried to play through midfield. but that was against a very difficult side to test out that formation. wolves goal was a example of taking half chances, it wasn’t a clear cut chance, but with one splitting pass into the middle of our defense the guy finishes it off and we are then in the sh it. point is they didnt create anything like us but they took one of their few half chances. we also had many half chances we took none. also their manager was happy with the way the game went. he said everything starts and ends with defense. they know keep a clean sheet and thats half the battle.

    we should continue to play that formation if we can, we were much more solid, we just need to make better from out chances, we had 2 corner and a fee kick were we wasted them. samatta latched onto a wolves mistake but he wanted too much time inside their box. we can not win games being open like we have been all season. we just gotta keep it tight through the games and take our chances when they come.

    on sacking smith that would be silly and make us laughing stock once more. its too late to sack a manager. placing terry in as temp would also not work, cause he must be contributing to smith now and if he was any good smith would listen to him more but he doesnt look to have many ideas when the camera is on the coaches. he is normally stood there with a blank expression on his face

    keep the faith, also i see smith saying 4 games in 11 days is crazy and totally agree. when was we given this mysterious fixtures pile up, we could have had them spread out better. the mistakes we saw yesterday were down to fatigue and lack of chances created could also be down to that. why was it 12 30 ko too that winds me up like us mortals do not have families and commitments to our families. same goes for them 600pm b/s kos let ppl get home from work shower and grab dinner speak to the family before dashing off to watch the footy

  16. badger123
    badger123 June 28, 2020 at 8:38 am . Reply

    I get the same impression about JT. It’s rare to see him contributing anything in discussions and just get the feeling he wouldn’t help us.
    It’s different with lampard and Chelsea, where their players are different class and not struggling to survive.
    Sacking Smith now would just be a waste of time. The season’s over in a month or so.

  17. Hitchens60
    Hitchens60 June 28, 2020 at 9:57 am . Reply

    I’m coming round to the idea of sticking with Smith and giving him more time. Promotion last year was a fantastic buzz but, with the benefit of glorious hindsight, it was at least a year too soon. I would, however, move Mr Terry on as his body language looks all wrong – no real passion anymore.

    Assuming we do go down (and barring a miraculous change in form) it’s becoming more likely –

    We have to move on from Grealish – he’s lost his ‘mojo’ and is now a hindrance – stop Grealish, stop Villa. If we can get £80m for him (although I doubt it and even if we can it will be loaded with additional performance payments) then we should cash in and start looking at how best it should be reinvested. I think Mings will also go but we might (should) try and hang onto McGinn. We should also start to bring in some of our younger players and, I think, inexperienced players like Wesley will improve a lot next season. I also hope Manc City don’t enforce the buy back clause because again I see Luiz being important to us.

    But the fans have to be patient (again) and that is the biggest ask of all.

    Not down and out – in a strange way feeling pretty positive.

    UTV

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