I don’t know what it is, but I’m finding it increasingly harder to write anything about the Villa lately.
International breaks, where England get ridiculously easy draws in the qualifiers, yet crumble at the first sign of any half decent opposition don’t help things in the slightest and I’ve detested the things for years, but somehow there’s more to it than that of late.
I think a lot of it stems to our current position and our current form.
We’re in a position now where we cannot be relegated.
Obviously that’s great, but if you then consider how poorly we’ve been playing for literally months now, we’re not going to make Europe either. I’m sure many will think that’s a good thing, because it’s too soon and we haven’t got the squad.
I totally get that and it’s probably the majority opinion that we haven’t even got the squad for the Premier league, which shows even more how well we’ve done this season.
But I looked on in envy at Wolves last year when they were in Europe and I’m not convinced you should give up on trying to qualify, even if you might prove not good enough.
But that’s an aside.
It seems to me we’ve nothing to play for and our football is basically demonstrating that.
And it’s boring.
Go on, think about it. When was the last time you enjoyed watching a Villa game?
Where’s the free flowing football that we saw earlier in the season, where you actually expected a goal, not just hoped we’d get one?
Where’s the zest, the drive, the basic excitement about our game?
It hasn’t been there for ages for me and it’s beginning to tell on my patience.
Sky’s constant messing about with the kickoff times doesn’t help. Football at 4.30 on a Sunday just feels wrong to me and always will.
But if I’m honest, I don’t even look forward to a Villa game anymore, probably because I know exactly what I’m going to get.
The same tired tactics from a manager who doesn’t even like to sub, let alone bring new players in.
The same players who have persistently underperformed for weeks, yet hardly ever get dropped.
The same one up front, which for all the effort just isn’t producing results.
It’s just boring.
Smith would probably counter that he’s introduced Ramsay. Indeed he has, but has he looked anything like useful?
Be honest and not sentimental and the truth is no he hasn’t. At all.
So take him out of the limelight and get another youngster in.
What is there to lose?
We’re playing like we don’t want to achieve anymore this season, so we might as well just do SOMETHING different.
We’re playing Fulham. Put Davis right next to Ollie and hoof it to them. Just for the hell of it.
Does anyone even care if we win or lose this game? What does it matter?
We all know it won’t happen.
So what to talk about then?
There is nothing. We all know who is going to play and how we’re going to play.
The only possible thing to talk about is if Jack comes back in or not.
If he does, we might be a better team, although I wouldn’t expect him to hit the ground running.
And if he doesn’t, we’ll just be, well…..
I’m going for 2-1.
But I don’t have a clue who will win.
It’s just a case of which team is worse, to my mind.
A particularly uninspiring game at the best of times.
Let’s hope I can keep watching until the end.
A lot of summarising there Badger, your right in saying a lot of clubs will suffer now especially with no crowds up till they are told its safe. I predict a large number will either go bust or struggle to survive with our modern times.
Have you given it a thought it might have be done to change football league to get the bigger clubs into a super leagues, because the FFP was brought in to help the smaller clubs. Still no worries for us up till now. Did you take a look at Big Wes and his supposedly injuries? he just stopped and declared his knee was hurting, I think times up on him has he doesn’t seem to want to get back on the pitch and that’s only my take on him . I’ll just wear the shirt today and not predict as not putting the mockers on the game . Utv.
I refuse to use Facebook, Bill, so won’t be looking, but you probably know I don’t rate Wesley in the slightest anyway. i predicted a very long time ago that he wouldn’t play this season.
I agree with you, he’s finished and frankly, I won’t miss him at all.
We’ve got nothing to lose this season. Time to give some first team experience to our youngsters. The kids who played against Liverpool were brilliant. Give them some experience. Davis ? How does he even get on the subs bench ?
I’m the same as you Badger. I have almost zero interest in watching us lately. The football we have witnessed over the last couple of months is reminiscent of a Steve Bruce style. We look slow and lethargic with no invention going forward, almost reliant on our defence keeping clean sheets to get a result. We were poor before Grealish got injured which means we shouldn’t get carried away with his return.
Now is clearly the right time to try some of our promising youngsters. We won’t make Europe and we won’t be relegated. If we don’t try them now then we never will. I have seen great promise in some of them watching videos and I don’t think we have anything to lose TBH.
I think it will be a 0-0 or 1-0 either way. I don’t expect any major changes to the team except probably Grealish (if fit)
I would prefer McGinn to play the number 10 role because for Scotland it shows we are playing him out of position. He’s better than the other options available, and he’s not going to play Grealish there by the look of it.
Bloody hell Badger. You are on a downer! Lol!!! Got the lockdown blues???
I know what u mean about having little to play for but it might be a blessing in disguise. I do agree Europe would be too early for us.The UEFA Cup could be a massive distraction and see us back in the bottom 6.
It’s become apparent that without Jack we’re a bit shit. Same goes for Cash. Is it a mental block? Either way we need to strengthen in several areas. Imagine if someone came in for Ollie? We’d be trebley buggered.
Sit back and kick yr feet up and enjoy today’s match for what it is. I’m going for a sunshine covered 3 points today!!!!!
Something isn’t being said seeing as Grealish isn’t in the squad AGAIN! Frankly I’m getting fed up of the bullshit cover up. And as far as Wesley is concerned we might as well cash in the insurance policy on him.
So no Grealish again! So much for Smith’s prediction on his injury.
Sanson playing central midfield behind Watkins and Traore with McGinn still playing a more withdrawn role – or so it would seem.
Best we can hope for is a draw but I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see us lose by one goal in one!
Come on Bitch! 3-1 Villa!!!
I meant Hitch!!! Bloody autocorrect!!!!!
Thought you were chatting me up for a minute there Bum Bum 🙂
I am actually Heather Locklear…
I’m sorry guys but I’m not posting again. No point if they all go into moderation. ☹️
I’m genuinely sorry Holte.
What’s annoying me is I can’t figure out what’s causing it.
I have to say you’ve been incredibly patient and I’ll be really sorry to see you go 🙁
Keep posting when you can be bothered.
Sickening to say the least. if this is what we have to put up with we might as well sell. I’m gutted to have to think how was he injured? how and why did it happen, get rid of the doctor for saying he’s fit, get rid of the coach for over training, get rid of Smith for allowing it to happen, shit shit shit. I’m angry now.
Agree, something’s not right Bill
ASTON VILLA: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett; Douglas Luiz; Traore, Sanson, McGinn, El Ghazi; Watkins.
SUBS: Heaton, Elmohamady, Taylor, Engels, J.Ramsey, Nakamba, Barkley, Trezeguet, Davis.
Oh look, Ramsey the only kid on the bench.
The favouritism and total misrepresentation of injuries is really beginning to piss me off now.
Hitch I’d go as far to say it’s planed, this is to keep the wolves away from the door if you ask me. Clubs will think injury prone player. I give up on the way we are kept in the dark .
This is a bit boring so far…
It’s not that good.
Horrendous, boring supposed football and I’m really wondering if I should bother watching the second half.
That makes three.
Pen villa
VAR. No pen ffs.
Wasn’t a pen for me, but I think the McGinn one was.
What an awful game.
They should have reviewed the McGinn one after not giving the Watkins one.
OK Grealish is missing but we should be able to play better than this. El Ghazi is anonymous (again). Traore not much better. Their keeper could be reading the Sunday paper.
I would put Davis on. At least he plays positively. Take either El Ghazi off or Traore.
Smith really does need to make some changes. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing again and again and expecting a different outcome.
Take El Ghazi off and bring on Davis.
I nearly blew a gasket when Sanson was injured and it looked like Smith was about to bring on Nakamba, a defensive midfield player – at home!
We’re seriously missing a trick here. We have over half a dozen very good players so why can’t we perform even without Jack?