I’m working in Sheffield and just didn’t get time to write beforehand, apologies.
But I did get to see the game and it was just an odd one, wasn’t it?
We looked decent in the first half, while Fulham looked totally impotent.
We seemed inventive and threatening, albeit with a lack of pace or edge to our game, whereas Fulham offered next to nothing at all.
I can say, for the first time in a good while, that I was absolutely convinced we would win.
It seemed to me that Fulham were more interested in trying to stop our game and hit us on the counter, but the reality is that our midfield out-performed them and the whole side just worked harder overall.
That’s the great part about the Villa at the moment.
And after 3 consecutive corners, where McGinn stuck the ball right where it’s really needed, Mings headed backwards from the front post sort of area to score his first goal in over a year.
It was well deserved, in my opinion.
1-0 at half time then and we were value for the money, at least result-wise.
And then, come second half, I don’t know what happened.
I expected us to continue with more of the same, yet it didn’t happen.
We looked totally placid and Fulham came into it more and more. So much so that I was beginning to wonder if they might actually spoil things and get a goal back.
I found myself wondering if it was instructions from Emery to not push, if it was tiredness, or just a natural inclination to protect a lead.
I suspect it might have been a bit of all three. Indeed, Unai has just said he thinks we looked tired.
So we’re up to a heady fifth and above Spurs, who surely can’t fancy playing us shortly.
We won’t stay fifth, but doesn’t it feel nice?
And then I keep harking back to our time under Gerrard, where the side looked the polar opposite of what they are now.
And I find myself wondering how the ex red could possibly have got it so wrong?
We have gone 10 on the trot unbeaten, have a boatload of clean sheets, look resilient and work hard for each other.
I can only imagine that Gerrard was totally uninspiring as a manager and offered even less in the way of man management skills.
As each game goes by, I’m more content in the knowledge that the times they are a’ changing.
UTV!
Comments
43 responses to “Villa 1 – 0 Fulham; A strange game, but fifth!”
Happy days.
“Super Villans” has just started on BT sport 2
Interesting, and honest of Emery, to recognise how the players are under physical and mental pressure given the high volume of games and the limited (make that no) options he has to rotate the squad.
We desperately need some of our injured players back but it seems unlikely that will happen before Sunday.
Going to be tough against ManU but a point, however managed, would be some achievement.
This will be totally new to all of them. It will be different but getting used to ‘success’ will be a strange concept and one Emery will manage perfectly! How it’s managed physically is another thing. We need a bigger and better squad. If we did, and that’s a big if, start to tail off then it’s understandable but I think there will be sustained periods of rest between games for the next month, working on tactics only…
5th. I keep pinching myself!!! And we still have mouth watering ties against Utd, Spurs and Brighton to come! Wow!
Not forgetting Liverpool and the Dog Heads – with whom we have a few scores to settle.
“Super Villans”
Brilliant watch Badger and something I didn’t know – old Tony Barton wasn’t Sir Ron’s assistant manager but the Chief Scout? And only was given the title due to altruistic act by Sir Ron so he qualified for a club car.
I couldn’t believe Barton had absolutely nothing to do with Sir Ron’s set up at BMH and was indeed very rarely seen there, this begs the question how the f**k did he get the job? Some very strange goings on behind the scenes.
And harsh as may have been, that error in the European Cup final program, picturing and naming Sir Ron as the Villa manager was somehow fitting.
Yes, it’s a great programme and a must see for Villa fans, imo.
I’ve seen it before and I’m pretty sure it was made by BTsport, so I’d expect it to be available regularly.
I certainly don’t recall seeing Barton at BMH when I went to watch pre-season training when we won the league, but I probably wouldn’t have known who he was anyway.
I think Barton was appointed purely because he’d do what he was told by the board.
The fact that he was missing from the program is probably typical of the day.
“Efficiency” didn’t exist then, because it didn’t need too.
Society was much more about er, society than profit.
If you’re old enough, you must know what I mean.
If not, it’s hard to explain, because it was an entirely different world pre-Thatcher’s changing things.
Saunders said it perfectly when he said a monkey could run the side for the next year. Barton knew it was Saunders’ side and so did everyone else.
It’s just confirmation of what I’m sure you already know 🙂
I managed to see part of the second half as I was at a meeting in Warwickshire. Waiting to see it on playback later and have to say slightly disappointed in what I seen. Still a win is a win but worried for future games knowing we are so close. Yes we did look tired and panicky at times I just hope the lads realise you play now till you drop, 5 games to go and big money awaits with medals.
You’ll enjoy the first half Bill
Forest 3 Brighton 1.
Massive result for Villa!!!!!
Santa, Where’s my West Ham equaliser???? 🤨 Come on Ings!!!!!!
Did anyone else notice how savvy Buendía was from Mings Headed goal. It would have been so easy for him to make sure and put his head to it. I love the player he is becoming and McGinn’s influence in teaching Ramsay and Buendía what their arses are really for.
Gerry I’m still not sure about Ramsey some fans think he’s the man but me the jury’s out for me. I did see Oli bollock Buendia not passing him the ball , still from what I’m reading Emery will talk and sort it out with video .
And Buendia had a right go at Oli in the Brentford game for taking a header away from him in front of goal. So all square now 🙂
Don’t have a problem with players being frustrated at times particularly as overall there is clearly a really good team spirit.
Buendia was also unhappy when Ollie didn’t square the ball to him against Newcastle in the second half for an easy goal. Elected to shoot instead which Pope saved.
And watkins was raging at Buendia over a couple of balls he won and laid off into space expecting Buendia to read it and he just stood there watching.
I’m with Watkins on this, imo Buendia doesn’t read the game well and the ball don’t stick.
Bill, I was lucky enough to be at the Newcastle match and remember saying to my uncle that next season will be Ramsey’s. Time will tell…
On the second half now first half showed willingness, as for the second we took the view of holding the lead at all cost with no little thought of giving them problems to defend our attacking. Even the commentators just said the same , saying we are not going forwards as much this half.
Best to conserve energy levels…
Forest miss a penalty already! Damn come on Forest we need you to win!!
It shows just how far we’ve come when the Chelsea v Brentford result means nothing to us.
West Ham and Forest both drawing 😁
Forest winning!
West Ham second goal ruled out.
West Ham denied a clear penalty IMO. Given some of the handballs ive seen given this season. I think that’s a bad VAR call. Would it have gone the same way if it was for Liverpool in the 90th minute?? Hmmmm you do wonder.
I remember Cash falling and the ball hit his arm and a penalty was given. Sky / BT own the officials / VAR and they are under instruction to favour their favourite 6/7 clubs. Lots of brown envelopes going around IMO. Totally rigged to keep the establishment in order.
Holte – it doesn’t matter whether it’s true or not but if the majority of supporters outside the Sky 6 believe it to be so then VAR has no credibility.
True, Hitch.
Well done for saying how it is.
A bad VAR call, or a bent VAR call, Adam?
I see Liverpool had a little help from their friends last night.
You tell me if Michael Oliver is squeaky clean, I’ll welcome a investigation into the honestly of some refs and he one I’d start with .
Funny you should pick him. When my mate offers to get me tickets for Villa aways in London and S Coast, I try to check if Oliver will be the ref – and if he is I decline.
Some years back an academic statistician did a study of referees to see if they were biased. Not just the usual crowd-influenced bias towards the home team but an unusual favour or disfavour. He set the bar fairly high but nevertheless found there was only a 2% chance David Elleray was not biased against Villa.
Elleray was the previous ref who caused me to sell/give away a match ticket. Very close was/is Kevin Friend who isn’t one to the Villans. I wonder if those stats are still kept by someone – anyone know?
Does anyone know if a ref keeps the book of bookings at the end of a game or the end of the season along with retirement? I’ve often wonder.
Okay Guys. Here’s a question. Would you rather a ManU v Spurs draw tonight or a Utd win?
If it’s a draw, even though Spuds would go 5th on GD, if we beat Utd on Sunday we’d be just one win behind 4th place. Or would you prefer a Spuds loss to stick the knife in further and reduce their confidence even more?
Stick or twist????
Stick AND twist! F*** em both!
Seriously though, Bum Bum, as RSS said before, there aren’t enough game to catch Untied (I hate to say) and they have games in had as well. So a very reluctant win for the Mancs it is. Then hopefully we pummel Spurs at the weekend after the extra rest…
0-2
Looking good 😉
in hand *
Keep going Man Utd – at 0-2 Spurs goal difference is the same as ours. Hit them for 6! It could be critical at the end of the season to positions based on goal difference
Looking like top 4 is fixed and Everton going down (not before time)!
*fixed as in now decided, not corruptly assembled!
Barcodes are full of goals – that’s the next step for Emery and the Villa – bigger wins of 4s and 5s – they have a number of those this season.
Spuds pulling back for a draw. So close!!!! 5th is in our hands because I can’t see Brighton winning all of their 3 games in hand…
We need to win at least three of our last five games to be in a European spot – so both our home games obviously and Wolves away.
Anything at Man U and Pool will be a bonus.
Objective rather than negative pov. 🙂
Sunday is gonna be another corker. Can we revisit the spirit of the Newcastle game?
I absolutely loved the way Emery talked about our remaining fixtures ‘We have very big games coming, I like big games’…
Well it’s Squeaky Bum Bum time . I’m still pissed off that Man Utd gave two bloody goals away. Still what ever the outcome Sunday I’m proud that we are now on the mend. Roll on next season because we are starting a new era for Aston Villa mark my words.