So, as I expected, we got straight back in the saddle and beat Forest convincingly.
A nice 3 points and after other results have gone our way, we’re sitting pretty.
Not that I’m counting any chickens. We are the Villa after all.
But it’s interesting that one neutral and a Villa fan I know, are both predicting that we are going to win the league.
That’s more than a step too far for me and as I’ve often said, I’ll be content with Champions League qualification, which would be a brilliant outcome given that we’re not allowed to spend.
So the question is “were we good or were they bad?” And I’m partly undecided.
I didn’t think we looked anything like incisive. But then, we haven’t looked like that in a long while.
But we did look to be working to a plan and I think I’m just beginning to see how Emery plays.
Forest came with a defensive attitude from the start, but it was nothing like good enough, which surprised me, given how Dyche sets up.
I was constantly saying to those around me (we’ve found THE Villa pub in the area) that Forest were offering nothing. In my opinion, their first half showing was the worst I’ve seen this season and there has been plenty of rubbish that went before it. They look like a nailed on relegation side who I suspect don’t want to play for their clown of an owner.
There was no fight from Forest, simple
That said, good teams take advantage of that. I predicted 2-1 before the start, but I then moved to 3-0 early after the start. We were that dominant.
So I’m struggling to give an opinion on this one.
Who played well?
Well, if you view this as a superb performance, which lots did, Tielemans, McGinn and Kamara probably stood out as we totally overran their none existent midfield.
And don’t get me wrong, I think we played well. All you can do is beat what’s put in front of you, which we did. Easily.
Which is where I’m now beginning to ask;
Just how good are we?
We seem to be ploughing through games and continually winning.
The weird thing is we don’t look like the swashbuckling side that won the league in the eighties.
But we do look like winners.
I’m honestly beginning to believe that we can win the league.
And that’s a thought that I can’t get my head around.
I honestly don’t know what to think.
CL qually and I’ll be well happy.
Man City -Chelsea Draw.
Stonking result for us!
OMG! What a result!!
You feeling better Mr Badger? Lots of bugs going around…
Another massive Palace game coming up midweek…
Better mate, thanks.
Some interesting games coming up, where top clubs play each other. Plenty of scope for draws, which is great for us.
Ah – now what’s the problem!
Sod, it’s having been a Villa fan for over 60 years – Bill, I’m sure you can identify with that and, I suspect, OLL as well!
We’ve been through too many heartaches that it’s difficult to believe that we’ll continue winning and won’t run into a poor results period. It’s happened too many times before – even under Unai we’ve fallen at the final hurdle!
Trying to be objective I still think that winning the league (this year) is beyond us – that’s not being critical or negative, just realistic.
Champions League has to be the objective, not just this season but season after season; from there we could build, under our owners and Emery, a dominant period for the Villa reminiscent of the glory days in the early 20th century.
And so to dream – but in the meantime UTMV
I qualify Hitchens! Yes mid-winter slumps were the norm but I do feel this year the team confidence is much better so I hope Villa don’t have one. But I agree with you we could only win the league by default. Meaning Arsenal blow up. That seems unlikely, but the Gunners have done that often. Pep says Citeh will get better, but not on tonight’s evidence.
I watched the Citeh Chelsea game too. How lacking in teamwork Chelsea are, and if you think Watkins went through a bad patch in front of goal you should see Palmer. Palmer sulks, Watkins kept trying.
I don’t see Villa winning the league. The Emirates match highlighted the difference in squad depth. Emery shook Arsenal with a new game plan and no McGinn. It worked a treat in the first half as we carved them open, but we failed to take the two big chances. Once Onana departed Villa’s weakness defending corners was exposed and for good measure the Gunners showed clinical finishing.
The return of Cash and Kamara v Forest restored Villa’s high quality team work. Isn’t it nice to the hear the Gaffer has had them all practising shooting from outside the box – our previous failing. Because we create chances of that type and now we are taking them.
A night match at Selhurst. Eugh! Horrible place off the tube map, a walk from Selhurst or Norwood Junction. We might just lay this Bogey if Torres does not start.
No Sarr which helps – it’s all about mentality!
Can we put aside our horrible record against Palace and just play the team on the park which has poor recent results?
Trouble is Villa tend to ‘help’ teams out of poor runs!
Some good results for us today we’re looking great in joint second
You’re right Hitch, been there seen it and had the heartache, times are a-changing, as a younger man I travelled the country supporting Aston Villa, at 87 this year I cannot believe I’m seeing my boyhood club having royalty and European football plus being a club to fear. Happy days are back.
Palace. I’m saving my opinion until I post.
Just don’t predict a win and put the Mockers on us 🤪💦
One podcast site (UTV) did an analysis on our game and we really did run rings around them and totally beat our passing record for this season.
If there’s any chance of us actually winning this fabled league then we’ll need games like the Bournemouth v Arsenal one to see Arse drop points. That didn’t happen. Every side sees a blip in their season. Will Arsenal experience one?
Citeh are vulnerable and also inconsistent.
It’s a possibility and all we can do is take each game as it comes. Bottom line is, the Villa are a bloody dangerous side at present.
My prediction? Top 3, and winners of the Uefa Cup, which means we qualify for the CL twice in one season!!! That sort of hurts when our performances last season earned the 5th qualifying coefficient place, only to see us robbed of it by a bent referee.
Finally, Arteta is a twat. I loved the way Emery wouldn’t wait for his antics to be completed at the Emirates and just walked down the tunnel instead of shaking hands. Class!!!!
Amorim sacked by Utd!!!!
Utd publicly chasing Glasner. A nicely timed bit of Palace destabilsation before Wednesday!!! 😁
Saw that and the Beeb reporter was saying that he never exuded his authority.
I’d say that’s rubbish, as he’s got rid of a load of troublemakers.
I think he was actually doing okay for Utd, but it seems there was conflict with the board and that never bodes well. Probably Ratcliff’s choice, as I don’t see him putting up with much,
…and Ratcliffe knows bugger all about football. Like Bohley. Imagine working with that daily! It’d be like working in Local Government! 🤣
I’m wondering if clubs like Man U and Chelsea are less of a draw for managers these days, at least managers who do not want to be seen as merely ‘coaches’ with all the big decisions being made by the suits upstairs.
That’s why I think we will be able to hang on to Unai for a good while yet. I’d bet that he’s had his fill of that at Arsenal and PSG whereas, at Villa, he has his own people in and is in total control of the club.
Any manager who truly wants to be a manager will surely give teams like Man U a wide berth in future,
With you 100%. Villa are a massive club, albeit with a slightly smaller ground.
Plastic fans soon flee when their club of choice starts to falter.
I could see Emery being here for another 10 years… The way ‘Bigger’ clubs operate is a big turn off.
Managers falling like flies – Nancy now gone as well.
In this World of instant results there is no patience and little respect.
Know nothing of Nancy but Amorim also struck me as slightly strange – maybe a cultural difference – but some of things he said about the team; I could never imagine saying them, or more relevantly, having to say them.
Unai demands total control which seems to have totally alluded the media mind who in the article about who might succeed Amorim can only refer to Emery’s time at Arsenal as being against him – he could never work with the ‘senior management’ that run United. It seems they are cut from the same cloth as Chelsea so strike off Maresca as well!
Nancy got a pay off of a packet of Monster Munch though…
Radcliffe doing a superb job at Manure – sacking ten Haag, hiring Amorim and losing Dan Ashworth has cost him (not personally) £25m and that’s before the compensation to Amorim for getting rid.
Typical self opinionated billionaire – him and Todd Boehly make a right comedy couple 🫣🤣
Couldn’t have happened to a nicer couple of clubs 🤣
Whoops *Emery saying them. Sorry guys it’s a growing problem being in my head and not appearing on paper 🙁
Emery will not leave the Villa to go to Utd.
He just won’t.
Totally toxic club, who it seems to me are waiting for Glasner’s contract to run out at the end of the season.
Says it all that they are prepared to go to then to bring someone in. No planning and a dirt cheap replacement.
This has Ratcliffe written all over it and will keep the circus rolling.
Absolute joke club that’s only bothered about money, imo.
They will try and destroy Glasner, as Spurs are trying to do to Frank. We all know the majority of these managers go on to bigger and better things after leaving these dysfunctional and poisonous surroundings. Why do the prospective manager ever think they will change this? A fish always rots from the head. It’s time for a new generation of ‘Top 6’.
Money is the answer to all the game’s problems,supposedly.
Meanwhile the latest rumour is Rogers to Chelsea for £150 mill, which is a figure I’m sure I mentioned on here recently. It’s about as reliable as my opinion.
Interesting though.
Would you let him go for that money?
Consider that’s 3 £50 mill players or knowing Emery, 5 £30 mill players.
No, I wouldn’t Badger but then it would be understandable if the club and more importantly Emery thought it was the right move in terms of a longer strategy.
Might be nit picking but I read €150m rather than £ – why are prices now being given in € – have we reversed Brexit whilst I wasn’t looking 😂
Starmer’s trying his hardest! 🙁
Brexit. You think that was a good thing for this country? Bring your arguments for it bum bum. It’s a disaster for this country
I wouldn’t because it would strengthen a near rival. Call it £200m and we’ll think about it…And a couple of players of our choice.