It’s well and truly “wheels have fallen off” now, isn’t it?
I listened to the first half on WM while driving home and then the second half on AVTV.
AVTV weren’t so critical, as you’d expect, but WM were pretty scathing and basically said we were awful.
The Mail and various other online articles back this up.
Suffice to say, it wasn’t good.
We made six changes and I doubt anyone would really have argued much against them before the game.
Yes, some players were played out of position, but I think this was more about Dean Smith getting a look at who could step up.
And it proved disappointing all round, from what I heard. Indeed, the only player who carried himself well was John McGinn, who sounded like the only player that cared.
The most disappointing part for me (apart from Kalinic seemingly dropping a clanger so early) was Callum O’Hare.
I’ve wanted to see him get a chance, but WM didn’t pull any punches in hinting that he was a boy playing a man’s game, with the way he was muscled off the ball so easily.
The boos from the fans when he was substituted suggest he should have stayed on, but I suspect the reality is that he was probably having a shocker. Certainly, from what I was hearing, either he didn’t have a clue what the manager expected of him or Smith simply wasn’t getting his message across properly.
Either way, I’d suggest it was the better solution to hook him rather than let him have a whole game being ineffective.
Also disappointing is the fact that absolutely no one stepped up.
Hogan missed chances and Lansbury tried, but it was all huff and puff with absolutely no quality to be found in the side.
After a great start under Dean Smith, we’ve moved onto a very, very poor run of results and any hopes of promotion seem to be going out of the window rapidly.
If Abraham does actually go, you have to wonder where the goals will come from, as I hinted recently.
I suspect this will be a massive eye-opener for the manager and given that I really don’t think he’ll have much money to spend in this window, I also suspect he’ll be very worried.
Interesting, albeit concerning times.
It seems the squad needs quite a bit of a overhaul, but Smith won’t be able to do much.
We all knew that the “feelgood” factor was too good to last, didn’t we?
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81 responses to “Villa 0 – Swansea 3: A shambles. What the hell has happened to us?”
Also Purslow on FFP concerns –
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/what-aston-villa-said-financial-15637027
He hasn’t got any concerns apparently and, as he sat on the working group that brought the rules in, then you’d have to think he knows what he’s talking about.
So, the mighty Villa is going to strengthen it’s defence by signing a reserve defender (on loan mind you) who has appeared in two Carabao Cup games having not featured once in the Prem or at all in the Championship for Wolves last season.
If true, it’s madness – we’d be better served recalling Mitch Clark.
Purslow can waffle on all he likes about FFP but I remain unconvinced that we have any spending power after wafting £5m on Kilinic (sic).
Getting more depressed by the day.
Tammy Abraham didn’t train with Aston Villa on Monday and is set to finalise his defection to Wolves in the next 48 hours.
Villa’s on-loan Chelsea striker, 21, was omitted from their FA Cup defeat to Swansea on Saturday.
But Villa boss Dean Smith claimed post-match he expected the hitman, who has 16 goals in 20 games, to report for training Monday morning.
Yet Mirror Sport understands the forward did not train with Villa’s first team squad today ahead of Saturday’s trip to Wigan.
Molineux officials now hope to persuade Chelsea to cancel Abraham’s loan to Villa and loan him to them
Reports from Daily Mirror.
The Beeb have just confirmed we’ve signed Hause on loan.
I’m completely underwhelmed.
Come on Hitch. This was you just before Xmas:
Ho, Ho, Ho, Happy Christmas Pat and I promise to put my optimists hat on in 2019!
Time to get that hat out!!
Blimey, talk about things coming back to bite you! Do you have an eidictic memory DS or is it just that I’ve become senile?
No I was looking back at previous threads as I was going to make some joke about you having to get the rum out to cheer you up, and then wasn’t sure if it was you out in Barbados or somewhere before Xmas so had a quick look for it and stumbled on that quote 😉
Came back with four excellent bottles of rum – some absolute corkers but actually on the whisky at present. Somehow, I feel the sun has to be shining to drink rum!
Cheers DS
I have to say Rum is my favourite tipple at the moment (apart from red wine). I’ve got a few decent ones but all bought in the UK I’m afraid. Enjoy your whisky. I’m on a diet day so nothing for me tonight. Watching our U23 on Youtube against Man Utd.
Hitch, perhaps we might give a him a chance before we start knocking him?
I’m finding it difficult to believe how negative some fans are especially as Smith only took over five minutes ago and hasn’t had the chance to get his own players in yet. A little patience goes a long way.
Pat – I’m not actually knocking the young man – just expressing my own sense of disappointment as to where we, as a club, appear to have fallen and, as to patience, having supported the club for over 60 years, I reckon, like Bill, I’m allowed a little impatience.
Anyway I’m suitably chastised and will only post positively from now on – there may be quite long gaps between posts LOL.
Hitch just be yourself. I can understand the frustration all too well but we have to give Smith a chance. Hopefully we won’t have to wait too long
Amen to that Pat
At Brentford Smith recruited players without spending great amounts of money, and created an attractive football outfit who were a match for the top teams on their day. I’m hoping that he has unearthed a good player for us in Hause, but we will see. Grealish has already Tweeted a welcome as he played for the England U21s with him. Still over 3 weeks of the window. If we can improve in key positions defensively, and get Grealish back we may not need to score 3 goals every game to win. That would help.
Ah well, a risk but looking at it positively, if he’s no good we can send him back LOL
Villa’s U23 side beating Man Utd 4-1 at the moment
Keep it going Hitch, like you’ve said time is not on our side, got a bit of news Villa under 23s are thrashing Man utd 23s 4-1 . Bring on the kids.
5-1. Nice to beat them at any level.
Beat me to it DS.
Are you aware that as the fascination with gin is subsiding, brewers are using their distilleries to create bespoke rum? Should be an interesting couple of years for rum, sod the football!!!
Bum Bum – Four Square Rum in Barbados make fabulous bespoke rums – not sure what you can get in the UK but worth a little Google. As well as their own Four Square brand they market under R&L Seale and Doorly’s
Their 2006 is rare and sells for £300 a bottle. Was lucky enough to enjoy a few tots whilst away – stands up with the best malt whisky’s.
If you can get their 2005, well worth it.
Good hunting
Duppy’s Share and Rumbullion are nice
Try Bumbu – made in Barbados – lots of caramel and banana – yum! Also Four Square spiced rum – keeps winning world’s best spiced rum – like drinking Christmas pudding.
Jordan Lydon being recalled from loan with Oldham. This is a lad who was highly rated and on the verge of the first team squad until a couple of bad injuries pushed back his development.
Smith wants him around to decide whether or not to give him a new contract.
All round it seems a sensible move.
Gary Rowett sacked by Stoke!
I’m not surprised Hitch.
Have we really loaned a player with an ongoing foot injury?
https://www.footballinsider247.com/villa-change-terms-of-defender-move-after-injury-fears/
Apparently so!
But here’s a positive piece of news – Hitchens60 goes positive with a piece from the Guardian saying Abraham has turned down a loan move to Wolves preferring to stay at Villa.
According to the paper, he would be open to a permanent move to a Prem Club in January but another loan move us unappealing. I read Chelsea not interested in selling.
Hope they’re right
That makes sense.
Would he really want to up sticks for just a few months, so soon after his move to us?
Although tbf, that was about the only reason I thought he might actually go to Wolves (not having to move).
Abraham staying now being widely reported in media including Sky Sports – so it must be right LOL
Brilliant news that Hitch, I wonder though why he never went to training?thinking about it he might have been given the time to sort himself out, good news.
Hitch found this bit of news,
Chelsea forward Tammy Abraham has turned down a loan move to Premier League side Wolves to stay at Championship club Aston Villa.
It is understood Wolves remain interested in the England forward and may yet try to resurrect the deal.
In addition, Chelsea have the power to recall the player or could accept a bid from another club in January.
However, as the situation stands, the 21-year-old will remain at Villa for rest of the season.
Wolves are still waiting to hear from Fifa whether Abraham would be allowed to play for them given his previous appearances for Chelsea in under-23 competition and the Community Shield earlier this season.
It is understood the uncertainty is playing a part in Abraham’s thinking as, if the deal went through now and Fifa ruled against, he would be unable to play until next season.
There has been no clarity given by Fifa when they are likely to rule on the matter.
Wolves feel the situation might change if the player is cleared to play for them.
Abraham has scored 16 goals for Villa this season but was left out of Dean Smith’s squad for Saturday’s FA Cup defeat by Championship rivals Swansea.
Smith said prior to that game that Abraham, who has two England caps, would be better served by completing the season at Villa Park.
“Unless they’re a team in the top six, there’s not many Premier League sides creating loads of chances,” he told BBC WM.
That is the BBC report I think Bill. No other reports that I’ve read suggest the deal could ‘still be resurrected’.
Guardian say that Abraham would only consider a permanent move in this window as doesn’t want to just go out on a new loan. Sky reports that he has told Villa he’s staying to the end of the season and Chelsea have already stated they won’t sell him in January so it looks like the BBC are just trying to put a different spin on the story.
I agree that he was probably given yesterday to make a decision as there have been no negative rumblings from Villa about him ‘missing’ training.
Let’s hope there are no further twists before 31/1