Oh man, I’m in the middle of a bout of Manflu and it’s really bad.
So bad that I took a day off today. If you consider that the days I’ve had off in ten years through illness could probably be counted on one hand, you maybe get my drift.
Which is on top of the fact that we know that everyone’s Manflu is worse than anyone else’s anyway.
Fortunately, whereas yesterday evening when I really thought I was going to die (I swear my temperature was 120F easily), after literally eighteen hours of on and off sleep, so I think I’ve got past the worst of it.
I still feel rubbish, but I think I’ll be ok to go back to work tomorrow.
Which all got me to thinking about Villa’s current state.
I won’t talk too much about the game, as I’ve only seen the highlights and am going off consensus; which is that Fulham didn’t really want to play to win and we weren’t making much headway in breaking them down.
Bruce changed it up though, in bringing the not really fit Adomah on and it proved inspired with the player setting up Kodjia who scored a great goal (how often have we seen superb goals down the Villa recently?).
Anyway, after the Wolves game I was all doom and gloom, wasn’t I? So much so that I really worried about the Reading game.
Is that fickle?
Not really, in my opinion, as you can only comment on the last game you saw.
But we went on to win the Reading game and have now coupled it with a win against Fulham, the first back to back wins in nearly eighteen months.
Which all goes back to the Manflu I’ve had.
Just where I was thinking things were still on a downward spiral, so they suddenly started to turn up.
I suspect I’ll still feel rough tomorrow, which I suppose you could link to what’s going to happen to the Villa over the next few months.
But I’ve definitely reached the turning point and things are looking better.
So I think the Villa have hit the turning point too.
I know you’ve probably all seen that video loads of times, but it was a beauty, wasn’t it?
I still see it being a roller-coaster, but we’re on the up, I reckon.
I listened to the commentary on BBC WM; apparently Fulham set a new record for the number of back-passes in a game, and/or ‘passes’ to/from their ‘keeper.
Strange, that’s how I remember every visit form them to VP since the mid-90’s [-that and the most stoppages for ‘injuries’ during a game].
Beating teams like that is something Villa haven’t been good at since Brian Little’s team: MON’s teams very rarely managed to do it, and we’ve hardly been good-enough since then. So the fact that Bruce managed to find a tactical change to do it seems very promising.
But there have been too many ‘turning points’ in recent years – so I’ll wait a little longer; at least until I’ve seen how we do this weekend…
By the way: I’ve always found that Manflu is immensely relieved by the amber Scottish liquid, or alternatively copies amounts of hot milk each with a large chaser of Woods’ 100 proof Rum, every hour!
Woods! Christ that stuff is powerful! What do they put in it?
About to watch the highlights now. Cracking goal though!
Just Demerera sugar, from what I’ve ever managed to read on the bottle…
But it’s good stuff and always seems to get me through the flu!
{Oh, and these days I’m not much into ‘drinking’ other than for medicinal purposes!!}
Ardent, I usually subscribe to the amber nectar that is Stella.
She’s my favourite aunt.
But I was that ill I couldn’t even drink.
That sleep did me the world of good, which suggests I was also massively run-down.
As for this weekend, I’m deliberately taking that one out of the equation for now.
It’s a derby game and their one of two cup finals, where you know half their season will be complete if they beat us.
But, that’s all part of why I see ups and downs.
I will not be overly concerned if the shit win.
Used to love Stella in the days when it came from Belgium – and it still tastes infinitely better over there than it ever does from those monstrous tins that we have it in here!
I know what you’re saying about the Blues game; however just as we start to build some momentum I’d hate us to lose that game: not just for the sake of having to listen to the noses lording it over us, but because I think that we really need a consistent run of victories now – otherwise the Bruce Revival could just fizzle-out…
I’m a strong believer in momentum, Ardent.
Winning breeds winnning, imo.
But the Villa-Blues derby is a total anomaly that you can’t account for.
And they can lord it over us short term, as long as we finish higher than them.
Which has mostly been my experience over the years.
It’s why they have very little over us, as much as they protest.
Noisy neighbours?
I’d prefer they were pushing us at the highest level, fwiw, but they’ve always amounted to nothing, which surely doesn’t help.
I don’t think the Bruce revival will fizzle out.
He’s too knowledgable and more importantly, canny.
Badger I recommend 2 bottles of malt you’ll sleep like a baby & when you get up you won’t feel a single part of your body it works for me never fails.get well soon mate
After the start we had it would be a major achievement if we made the play offs this season.
Think we have a chance though and I’m basing this on SB keeping us at least mid-table by January and then bringing in the players we need to make a serious challenge in the second half of the season.
Main thing is SB is bringing back a bit of confidence not just to the team but the fans too. Now just one more win Stevie and I’ll be really happy!
UTV
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/oct/24/sky-sports-bt-sport-people-switching-football-off
Answers on a postcard please…
Notice that people viewing via the app aren’t counted. I’d guess that’s quite a lot of people, including me.
People can now not only view matches on phones and tablets but can use them to cast to TVs and the quality is great. It’s a trend in media that over the last year or so use of mobile devices have overtaken TVs and computers.
So I’d guess there’s no panic in Sky just yet.
That goal would’ve been disallowed for dangerously high feet in the Premiership! I’m serious, I think it was Norwich or Palace who had a similar goal disallowed last season, think it was against West Ham.
OMG I’ve just noticed that the noses games is on Sky on Sunday.
Behind the sofa again.
No need mate we’ll stuff um SOTC
Championship managers are dropping like flies 2 more gone today
Saw that Giddy – probably caused by collective madness!
Probably saw villa’s turnaround the past 2 games & thought a change is needed
Looks like the typical manager now get’s judged by whatever happens over 10-12 games at most; at this rate half the incomers will be fired by the New Year if they haven’t ‘produced’…
Talk about ‘short-termism’. Absolutely crazy…
Be interesting to see what team Brucey plays on Sunday. Im guessing he will keep it more or less the same, with maybe Adomah coming in for Gestede.
We could bring in Tshibola in the middle too, but by all accounts the midfield trio did okay on Saturday…although I’m still not sure on Jedinak. Might be better to have one experienced player in there anyway.
Mike dean is the ref sunday!
Looks like a blues win then
He isn’t quite David Elleray but I know what you mean. I don’t know anyone who keeps Ref stats but is there a regular ref who has never reffed a game in which Villa got a point?
David Elleray remains the only ref who forced me to not to watch a game. I got so annoyed with him match after match that I didn’t go if he was officiating, he seemed totally biased and wanting to be the centre of attention. I think the opponents were Norwich but I am not certain now. I arrived at Euston to meet the LL for the train to Brum and my mate told me the booked ref was ill ,and he had been replaced by Elleray. I found one of the other LL was going with a friend who hadn’t a ticket so I gave him my ST and went home. We did lose: there were two ridiculous decisions by Elleray and several other strange ones.
Who was the ref when Southampton got that stupid Pen…..Lambert fell over an imaginary leg.They won 1 nil.
It seems to have gone unnoticed that we have amounted a total of 17 points, and we are not yet in to November. That is the same amount that we achieved all of last season!!, time for a celebration I think! 😊
Get it down yer mate enjoy 😀
No SCUM preview lads?? 0-5 VILLA SOTFC VTID
no derby post guys 🙁 biggest game in Birmingham fc history and no write up. is this because for villa its just another game 🙂 against some little club with big mouths fans trying to make it a contest. 2 nil to the villa
3-1 Villa. We’re up for the fight this time! Just please, no Enkelman type errors!
Anyone else think tomorrow’s game is huge?! If we can beat them in their own back yard it’s going to give us so much energy moving forward. It also takes us up to the 20 point mark. 93 points left to play play after that. Around the 90 point mark seems to be the aim for automatic promotion. Anything in the mid to high 80s being the playoff spots. Gather a bit of momentum and get on a run now and anything is possible. Bruce is like a breath of fresh air. Talks a lot of sense and won’t take any nonsense from the prima donnas in the dressing room. He’ll get us back in the fighting spirit. Tomorrow is a great time to start showing it! COYV!!!
Who the fuck wanted wagner jeez
Yes looks like the Huddersfield bubble’s burst. Norwich getting stuffed as well.
Strange league!
I think the honeymoon period is over for the early performers that includes the bluenose scum.
Never did Giddy; we had to go for experience in the situation we were in. Just hope we don’t fall into bad habits tomorrow – bottle of single malt at the ready – either way!
@H60 I’ve got a strange feeling that it might be a celebratory drink for you tomorrow.
I was going to predict a draw (which I’d quite happily settle for) but who knows…three in a row anyone?
I’ll be on the piss tomorrow whatever the outcome saying that I’m on it most days.
I will be having a few tomorrow myself. I am going for a Villa win I think Bruce will get us across the line.
Sunday lunchtime is sacred to a drinker get it down yer 😀