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?
Pat 57, I’m short on time and the way it’s going will never see it. Been looking around the sites and fans are pissed off already, some Pat 57 are throwing the towel in ready, I’m not that bad yet but Soon will be if we don’t improve .
I have said before that I think long term is the way to go…..this shambles of a team (club) is nowhere near any good to be in Prem.
Also said that we don’t need prima Donna class players – yet- just some that can do basics like put a shift in and pass/control a ball….like the majority of players we face every match.
Get the team/teams playing attractive footie and we will all at least be a bit happier….then when we can function properly game ge out start building a better team and so on….I know it’s a pipe dream and all clubs would do it if it’s that simple but we need to get a basic formula before we attempt anything like playing in the Prem.
I don’t think there is any need to hit the panic button just yet! Smith knows we need to recruit this month, and if anything the performance yesterday may push him to buy even more.
There were definitely some poor performances yesterday, and some players did not do themselves any favours. El Ghazi and Adomah were both very poor, and losing Abraham is going to be a major blow if Kodjia and Hogan play like they did yesterday.
I thought Cal O’Hare did okay for his first game. he is a little livewire like Grealish. What he might need is a spell out on loan, like when Grealish went to Notts County, just to help him build up his physicality. He will be some player though.
I think we really need to sign 2 quality full backs and another central midfielder. Bjarnason, Whelan and Jedinak are all just too slow for this league. Whoever decided to buy McGinn should be given the job of finding the midfielder!
Purslow has already stated on record being promoted this season is not the be all and end all for our season. It is time to start planning for next year in the Championship, with a more youthful set up.
I would look to play Davis up top with either Kodjia or Hogan. As Hogan cannot play up front on his own and us either 3rd choice or sell him. Davis is excellent at holding the ball up and bringing others into play. Hepburn-Murphy needs to go on loan and would be 3rd choice next year.
With the midfield, when fit Grealish and McGinn in the middle. Lansbury needs to step up or be shipped out ( believe he is on mega money and would have to be paid off to leave). I’d give Adomah a one year extension and use next season to bring Green back into the fold. Hourihane is look to sell. The rest can go at the end of the season. There is a chance of O’Hare, Doyle-Hayes to go on loan.
Defence Chester, Bree and Elphick are the only defenders worth keeping.
Goalkeepers Kalinic and Steer.
Thereafter, sell the rest or release at end of contracts this year.
Purslow has also indicated that FFP is not an issue. It’s time to shift on the big contracts and get some young up and coming players at Villa. A site placed the following salaries for these players we need to sell/ not renew or cancel contracts.
Mark Bunn £17,500
Gary Gardner £20,000
Tommy Elphick £25,000
Birkir Bjarnason £25,000
Ritchie De Laet £25,000
Albert Adomah £25,000
Alan Hutton £30,000 likely £15,000
Conor Hourihane £30,000
Jonathan Kodjia £35,000
Neil Taylor £30,000
Scott Hogan £35,000
Henri Lansbury £40,000
Mile Jedinak £50,000
Micah Richards £50,000
Ross McCormack £40,000
This may well be £477,500 per week, which equates nearly to £25m per year.
No more loans for players who do not add significant value . Rather than paying Bolasie £70,000 and El Ghazi £23,000 and neither are first names on the sheet. That’s a further £93,000 per week and nearly £5m. Total wages with above £30m. Moreira is £2k per week.
Next two loans who have worked well for us are Tuanzebe £5,000 per week and Abrahams £50,000 per week. £55,000 per week and best part of £3m. Grand total £33m.
It just amazes me the waste in salary we carry when other teams such as Cardiff, Fulham (before Premier promotion), Norwich and Leeds do not have this level of resource and punch way above weight.
I believe Dean Smith will offer us consistency of manager to stop each new manager chopping and changing players and style of play. This consistency will allow a true team, who are better than the sum of the parts to be developed.
I hope these are the steps we take to move forward.
Grealish coming back will make all the difference. I guess Abraham is off and that’s a shame but he isn’t our player so that’s just the way it is. I still think January will be interesting and hopefully positive. It’s bit too early t throw in the towel. Loads of good points from Sidforever btw.
I like this linking us with Maupay from Brentford –
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-prepare-transfer-bid-15638532
He’s a player that Smith knows well and so he will know exactly how he’ll fit into the team, plus he’s only 22 and already scored 15 goals this season.
Let’s hope.
Sorry Pat – don’t believe it.
A. We don’t have the cash
B. Brentford would be mad to sell other than for a stupid sum (suppose we could offer them Hogan back!) which we can’t afford
C. They aren’t going to loan him to us which is all we can afford.
All in all – ain’t going to happen.
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.