Well, it has, hasn’t it?
Quite simply, we’re facing the poorest team in the league at home.
And as far as I’m concerned, that’s all there is to it. I know this is football and anything can happen, but the fact is we won’t get an easier game all season.
Norwich still have a mathematical chance of staying up, but everybody knows that when you’re ten points adrift of safety at this stage it’s looking incredibly unlikely.
What does this mean for my newly acquired gambling habit then?
Well, I’m not twenty quid confident, but I’m more than a tenner confident, so have gone, er, in the middle.
So the Villa had definitely better win!
Mind you, I’m pretty much saying it should be straightforward, but a glance at the table shows that their current form dwarfs ours. They actually have a win and a draw in their last five games.
Which says it all about our shocking form of a solitary point.
Apparently, there’s going to be some sort of appreciation thing going on for Dean Smith and while I understand the sentiment, I don’t quite understand why we’d go that far. How will Stevie G feel about that?
What’s wrong with the good old fashioned big round of applause, similar to what we give ex-players who have been good servants?
Don’t get me wrong, I liked Dean Smith as one of our own, but this almost seems to me like some kind of admission that we were wrong to call for his head. We weren’t. He had to go because we weren’t progressing in the way we needed too.
I know we’ve gone through similar stuff under the present manager, but the circumstances are totally different. Gerrard hasn’t had anywhere near enough time, as much as things look bleak just now. He will not get much chance next season and a poor run of form then will see him sacked too.
Squad news then and there isn’t much really.
Bertrand Traore is back, but Sanson and Hause are both out. I’m past caring about the Frenchman, I think, because he’s a 100% goner. Hause too, probably, but I see that as a shame. If we do get another centreback in, I hope he can head the ball.
Josh Sargent is on the verge of a return for Norwich after being out with an ankle injury. Lukas Rupp is also back from a knee problem and Kenny McLean has a broken toe, but might play via an injection.
Defender Christoph Zimmermann is out with a hip flexor problem.
I can’t say I’ve heard of any of them, to be honest.
So given that this is the easiest game we have left this season, surely we can expect to see some of the kids can’t we?
Certainly looking at the rest of our games, they’re a lot tougher and any of them would be a baptism of fire for a young inexperienced player to start.
I’m going to guess that if we’re in a good position, the likes of Tim Iroegbunam might get minutes, but I don’t think Gerrard will have the courage to start him.
So we can expect the usual players that have performed so poorly over the last few weeks.
The manager has asked for plenty of agression, but that’s a smokescreen to me. Agression and effort isn’t the problem for me. There’s so much of that on display that we look like headless chickens, running around like idiots and not actually concentrating on anything that involves quality, like passing the ball accurately.
To be honest, it’s this sort of claptrap that actually turns me off this manager, but in his defence, what else is he supposed to say?
I’ve still got it in mind that even a very good player like John McGinn looks like a total clown lately.
That’s worrying.
So what to think?
Well, I’ve gone for the final result to Villa in my bet and it’s just a matter of the score.
I’m going for 2-1, but I’m not really convinced. I just can’t bring myself to say that Norwich will beat us, but I could possibly see a draw, which would be interesting because I think Villa fans’ patience is already wearing thin.
UTV!
Hear the “Deno” chants?
Love it š
A technological meltdown meant I missed all but the last 15 minutes. The comments on here suggest I havenāt missed much though. Bailey (Mr Glass) probably out for the season Iām guessing. Buendia must wonder why he is only getting 15 minutes. I will be fuming if he is gone in the summer because Gerrard has to keep his ex Liverpool buddies happy.
…but is Gerrard on ‘the road to hell’, Holte? š
A win is a win!
Badger
I think there are a couple of pointers from this match:
1: Douglas Luiz will be sold this summer. 1 year left in contract.
2: Tim Iroegbunam to start the majority of the remaining matches. He and Nakamba will challenge the new CDM and provide cover in case new player is injured / suspended.
Pep’s City slickers had 19 shots, 6 on target today. Against Spurs, we also had 19, with 8 on target. Today, 21, yes 21, and equal 6 on target to City’s.
Smith’s highest this season was, shockingly, in the 3-0 reverse at Chelsea, with an impressive 18 shots and 6 on target. EVERY other match Smith’s Villa played this season comes in lower than Gerrard’s last 2 games, with some single figures at home. And that’s with Smith’s players and system in place. So please, PLEASE stop with the we love Deano horseshit. One of the stand-out comments on here after his dismissal was that, because he’s so likable, there was a feeling if relief that he was sacked before the Villa fans turned on him. And you can bet your testicles they – we would’ve turned on him.
If I can be arsed, I might write a whole article about why we, the Villa fans, should get behind Gerrard and give him a chance. Smith’s Norwich are relegated with 4 games still to play. That”s poor, in my opinion. For Villa, top 9-10 is still on, which is ALL we could’ve hoped for this season, after the turmoil which started pre-season.
This season has been poor, yes. But the ‘we love Deano’, ‘we hate Gerrard’ routine is lazy and f****** boring. And no, I don’t love Gerrard, but I’m certainly not writing him off after half a season. I found it quite fitting that Smith returned ‘home’ to be dumped back in the Championship by his ‘family and friends.’ That’s the kind of f****** ruthlessness the manager has been calling for. No sentiment. No hugs and kissed. Off you go to the second tier. You love to see it, for want of another bullshit social media cliche.
UTV
(and good luck to Deano in the Championship, no really)
Nice piece mate but we can all find negatives with any stewardship.
I’ll put my cards on the table – king BD could get us into Europe, win the league cup ( or whatever it’s called now) and still I will never never ever have any time for the geezer. Never liked him as a player, don’t like him now and never will!
But what really really sticks in my craw is this stepping stone thing,
Won’t have it, don’t buy into it.
The day this fella collects his P45 I’ll hang the claret & blue bunting out
Taxi for Gerrard!
And the difference between Norwich’s net spend (around Ā£60m) and Villa’s (around Ā£270m) is bigger as a percentage than that of Pep’s Harlem Globetrotters.
Ok King BD is not responsible for that but we should be streets ahead given that financial disparity.
Steven Gerrard And Aston Villa FC
Now some Villa fans of a more cynical disposition are already charging that you see this appointment as a mere intermediary step before you inevitably make your way back to Merseysideā.
āYa wha?ā.
āYouāll be on your toes to Anfield first chanceā.
āEeeeeeeeā¦ daydodatdontdaydough. Feckinā gobshites, de lorraā.
So whatās your message to the Villa faithful?ā.
āWalk-ecch on walk-ecch on, with hope in your heart, anā youāll never walk-ecch ah-er lone, youāll NEH-VERER walk-ecch ah-er alone.
As I said previously – Klopp signing an extension to his contract to 2026 hands a lifeline to Gerrard.
On the other hand if heās still at Villa by then weāll be doing more than OK.
Given the average tenure of an EPL manager, Villa being a stepping stone to Liverpool seems a somewhat irrelevant arguement.
Is it just me?
If a manager is any good and has ambition they will want to get to the highest level they can. Same as a player.
If thatās a bad thing I guess we need to look for a manager with no ambition and little ability.
Iām happy to give Gerrard the benefit of the doubt. We could still be managed by McLeish, Lambert or Bruce ffs
Letās see what happens next season.
Well said.
Is Gerrard really a better manager than Smith or can he just attract players to the football club?
It’s going to take a while to find out Alfie.
Pretty sure Smith just got relegated, having made zero progress, Alfie. So I won’t be eating that canary, after all. š
I donāt dislike Gerrard nor do I like him. We know what is burning ambition is and I agree that to achieve it he will need to succeed at Villa.
My biggest concern at the moment is our most talented player Buendia IMO being left out for the likes of Bailey or Ings. Coutinho may or may not be a Villa player next season. I guess it depends on whether Newcastle want him and money talks after all. Personally I wouldnāt be too bothered if he goes because he lacks consistency. As for Bailey and Traore we need to get rid. They disappear far too often for international duty or the medical room. We need battlers / leaders in the summer as we are sorely lacking in that area.
If Gerrard does get us into the top six then he will have done something I currently donāt think is achievable. With Newcastle being the new super power we will be fighting amongst the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, Spurs, Arsenal, West Ham, Leicester and Wolves to get in the mix. We have excellent owners but I donāt think Gerrard is the man to get us there. I would love him to prove me wrong of course.
Think people are forgetting the fact that it’s Coutinho that is keeping Buendia out of the starting lineup, and Gerrard is clearly friends with Coutinho and likes him which is 100% contributing to the fact that Buendia is being left out of the team sheet, which can become a massive problem in a football club. Buendia playing like that and getting an assist ( a lucky one but who cares ) is record signing worthy however can he do it for a full 90 or maybe most of the game considering substitions are made. I rate Buendia and will be annoyed if we let him go simply because he’s ‘not Gerrard’s player’ because Coutinho won’t be next season if we finish 15th next season and Newcastle pay more, Buendia is also younger and our record signing, we should really invest our facilities and team into this guy because he is amazing if you’ve seen some of the stuff he’s done this season, however he is a small guy and the physicality can become a problem since Norwich won the physicality battle every position on the pitch yesterday.
Alfie, Buendia is small but he certainly doesnāt back out in the physical side of the game.
The answer to your previous question is yes, Gerrard can attract better players to the club which given the financial backing makes it easier for him to be a better manager than Smith. I still find it strange though that all the best managers are foreign. Is it a cultural thing with British managers? Players can go out and get pissed and take more liberties than say players under Klopp or Pep? Maybe thatās the issue with Grealish at Citeh and he has to act like a grown up before getting regular football under Pep. š¤
Alfie your right Coutinho is keeping Buendia out but at what cost, i.e. age and wages, He has over the past few months wained in his abilities as a first class player and Buendia is younger and very talented up and coming footballer, my concern is Mcginn he’s not showing the player he was a few months ago. Would dropping Mcginn and trying Coutinho and Buendia midfield? ,now’s the time to find out because other clubs will be interested that’s for sure.
I think one of the issues with McGinn is that heās being asked to play a more defensive role in midfield than he played when first joining us and the role he plays for Scotland.
Against Leicester it was notable that he hardly, if ever, went past the halfway line and with Cash and Young, in particular, staying back more we looked far more compact in defence.
Although I have been critical of Gerrard, itās clear he needs to be given time to assemble a team that can produce the type of football he wants to see. Itās also important that Villa donāt revert to changing managers, as well as players, on a regular basis.
Fans are saying itās going to be a big, important, summer window this year – but theyāve been saying that for the last two years and look where we are! Apparently the club budgeted on the basis of finishing eighth this season which isnāt going to happen and they also failed to finish to the budgeted position last season. Each budget miss knocks a few million off the expected income stream which the owners want (and have plans) to materially increase.
It seems to me that the pressure is on Lange and Purslow as much as itās on Gerrard.
Buendia has managed 2 goals and 5 assists in 32 appearances (21 starts)
Coutinho has managed 4 goals and 3 assists in 14 appearances (13 starts).
I rate Buendia but would find it hard to argue that he deserves picking over Coutinho. It would be nice if they could play together and maybe in the future they will do again
Will Coutinho be here next season? I hope he will but I am guessing the club have a pretty good idea. We will see but I donāt see any reason why we have to let Buendia go if Gerrard wants him here.
Bailey had an impact prior to his injury, and clearly Gerrard wants to see him have a few games before the end of the season to make up his mind whether to stick or twist. His injury record is a big red flag though
The stats don’t tell the whole story there, Buendia tracks back a hell of a lot more and works twice as hard, and most of those appearances were as a sub.
There is no reason both can’t play.
Sure they donāt. Just as a striker scoring 30 goals doesnāt make him better than one scoring 15. Just he probably is. Of the two I prefer Buendia, precisely because of his team commitment. Doesnāt mean it will bring the best results.
As for the stats I listed them and simple maths tells you Coutinho has been more effective in goals/assists and thatās precisely why I noted starts vs sub appearances.
I donāt pick the team. Gerrard does and I can see why he picks Coutinho over Buendia even though I would probably be tempted the other way.
I think I suggested that both could play together but Iām no football expert. I also agree that certain other managers would probably have done better. Howe in particular has done a great job. We have Gerrard though. We can sack him and start again or back him and see how it goes. I would go with the latter and thatās obviously going to happen.
Hmm. Those stats are still skewed,
Coutinhos goals and assists came in a period where the team were winning and playing well, since then he’s done nothing, buendias game time in said period was limited to cameo appearances from the bench, I mean we’ll never really know if Buendia would have had the same impact on those games but those stats do not tell the full story.
Or the team were winning because of his impact? Buendias had plenty of game time including last season when we generally outperformed this season. He should have had more impact given the opportunities and his talent.
As you say, maybe Coutinho will move on and I would have mixed feelings about that.
I would like to see them both here and playing together in the team with a top striker in front of them and proper DM in front of a back 4 with a really dominant CH leader. Itās not much to ask is it?
I find myself desperate for the season to end (again). So disappointing.
Buendia wasn’t with us last season, he was signed at the beginning of this campaign.
They can play together, in the same way Grealish and Barkley played together last season. Coutinho plays more advanced in the Grealish role, Buendia slighly deeper in the Barkley role; it can be done. Arguably both better players that last year’s duo. Perhaps, give Ramsay a rest and play Buendia with the same licence to go forward?
Yes Guest. Donāt know where that came from but of course he joined this season.
I think you also have to factor in how long both players are likely to be at the club.
I think Buendia seems mostly happy and I could see him staying a longish time if we play him.
I think overall he’s the better bet for the club.
As for who’s better lately, I really don’t think it’s fair to judge anyone just now.
As I’ve said, even McGinn looks poor.
It seems obvious to me our players don’t understand or just can’t play the system Gerrard wants. Which is frankly understandable because I don’t have a clue what we’re trying to do either, tbh.
Which means a guaranteed clearout.
I’m not convinced this big turnaround will allow us to sign Coutinho, but we’ll see.
In other news, Leicester City, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leeds United as well as Newcastle are apparently interested in Targett
This is really bugging me, because yet again, it seems we’ve underpriced a player we’re selling.
We have no identity, we seem unable to adapt our tactics based on our opposition, and we cant seem to string more than three passes together anymore, to me it looks like Gerrards lost the changing room.
I saw an article on here a while ago asking how do you solve a problem like Villa, it’s quite simple really, make better decisions at the top.
We have missed the boat on so many opportunities over the years which has come down to really poor judgement, from the managers we’ve hired to the players we haven’t bought, it’s actually farcical.
The most recent being, I’d have taken Howe over Gerrard in a heartbeat.
I’d have also signed Abraham over Watkins.
If I could be bothered I’d write an entire list spanning the past decade at least.
Awful decision making from the very top leads us languishing in the bottom half of the table constantly.
Howe or Potter mate.
Badger McGinn always comes to as an honest player, a good pro so perhaps he just ain’t happy? And what could be the cause of that unhappiness š¤
I’d have taken either over Gerrard.
He was just Purslow’s big name signing and was not what we needed at all, imo.
But the decision has been made and like some say, it’s only fair he’s been given a chance to prove himself.
And if it goes wrong, as Hitch says, Purslow, Lange and the whole lot have to go.
Again.
I can’t argue, you’re spot on but if things don’t go well from the off next season I can see this going south at a rate of knots.
A good manager would have gotten a tune out of those players, it’s as simple as that.
Look at what Howe, Potter and Vieira are doing, with squads that are far inferior to ours, everytime someone says ‘its not his team, give him a full transfer window to get his own players in’ I want to bang my head repeatedly against a wall, it’s total nonsense and nothing more than excuses.
Mate 100% agree, it’s lame.
Bad workman blames…
Have you seen Palace’s attack? I don’t think their squad is inferior to ours, to be honest. Brighton yes, but how many years continuity do they have with Potter? We’ll still finish above them, anyway. Oh and while I’m commenting on Palace, would we hate Vieira if he was our manager because he has ambitions to be Arsenal manager? Not a rhetorical question – please respond.
Asked if he had been contacted, Vieira said: “It’s flattering seeing your name everywhere but I am under contract with Nice.
I have known since I arrived how lucky I am to be involved with this club’s project. I don’t have any intention or desire to go and look elsewhere.”
Patrick Vieira Dec 2019
Could you imagine those words coming out of SG’s mouth?
If Arsenal called, he wouldn’t need to look, and the desire and intention to go would suddenly manifest in the guise of ‘ambition.’
Why is ambition held as such a admirable quality?
Aren’t Honour, integrity, selflessness, duty, honesty, loyalty equally valuable?
They’re far more valuable RSS, of course. But not in business. In business they’re filed under ‘Loser’. Searches for ‘I did my best’; ‘Why do I keep getting stabbed in the back?’; ‘why do I never get a promotion?’, and ‘why am I stuck in a dead-end job?’ will all bring those qualities out as reasons. Sad. But true.
They’re not his tools, RSS, they’re a guy’s named Smith, just got relegated from the PL.
And they weren’t his tools either BFR.
Good point. Conclusion: the club is badly run. Again.
I can’t see him lasting long, I’d put money on him being sacked by December.
I was a big fan of his as a player and I like him in interviews, and I do want him to succeed don’t get me wrong, but I just can’t see it.
And as for all the Coutinho talk, he’ll be off to Newcastle in the summer, I’d bet my house on it, they are on the up, and they’ll pay the fee and wages, we won’t, simple as that.
Maybe. Iām not sure how I would feel if Coutinho went tbh. Itās interesting how easy it is to covet other managers as well. Vieras record is no better than Gerrard really. You could be right about Gerrard going by Xmas but I hope not. Maybe just wishful thinking on my part. I do think we will be a different proposition next season in terms of the mental strength of the team (driven by recruitment )
I think we have the talent but not the toughness or game management skills. I also think Gerrard can see this.
Next year we will be top 6 and all be millionaires Rodney .
Hope so mate.
Like I said, I really want him to succeed because I do like Gerrard, I just think he’s made some howlers so far, like persisting with a formation that isn’t working, dropping Chambers who was looking solid for Konsa who needed a bit of a break, not protecting the defence with a defensive midfielder when we play such high attacking full backs, Chambers could have played that role, really obvious stuff.
Chambers is an odd one. Not sure he would be a good DM but would be worth seeing it. Iām excited by Iroegbunum though. Has the physique and still so young. Definitely not Luiz position though.
Konsa has been disappointing this season. Looked so in control last season but this one has been all over the place. Donāt think he and Mings get on looking at the body language but maybe Iām reading too much into it.
Palace net spent around Ā£110m less than us and Viera’s got a tune out them, I feel he’s done a sterling job
Better than BD? I’d say so but next season will be a better yard stick.
Dunno about that. Palace have been in the division a few years more than is and I really donāt think Vieraās stats are significantly better than Gerrards BIL it happy for you to prove me wrong there
Aston Villa
Total spend: ā¬701m. Net spend: ā¬424m.
Crystal Palace
Total spend: ā¬449m. Net spend: ā¬292m.
Not my point really. Net spend by both clubs is nothing to do with the current managers. It sort of depends on the period it covers too. We are where we are. I canāt blame Gerrard for it (entirely). If you think the club have mismanaged the investment (hard to argue against) then the problem is there and Gerrard is another victim of that.
I think it will come good and also believe our current owners have the finances, will and acumen to make it happen. That said, how many teams can compete against City, Liverpool and Chelsea etc?
Newcastle in the mix now plus the usual other teams. Itās a big ask
I believe that’s over a decade and I totally agree both managers had little to nothing to do with that spend but the point is Veira got more of a tune out of what he had at his disposal (imo).
Whereas all I’m hearing from SG is people not buying into the program?
Probably not the best way to rally the troops?
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sussexexpress.co.uk/sport/football/brighton-and-hove-albion/brightons-remarkable-net-spend-over-past-decade-compared-to-crystal-palace-west-ham-southampton-and-leeds-3561309%3famp&itm_source=parsely-api
RSS, if they’re not ‘buying into the programme’, they can f*** off to Norwich where the program will suit them. I won’t go any further and take the piss out of ‘Dean and Craig’; no doubt they’re good men.
BTW Iāll take that bet Guest.
We never going to match them financially and at 29 this is his last big pay day.
Hey Badger Iām struggling to answer posts. It just seems to stick it at the time I post. Maybe itās me (on iPhone btw) but it just means I look like Iām responding to a different post and makes no senseš¤·āāļø
DS, it must be an issue to do with IOS.
Unfortunately none of my family use Apple so I’ll struggle to replicate it.
If I can, I’ll look into it.
DS – I have the same problem when using my iPad. The delay between posting and the post appearing varies and can be up to several minutes. Donāt seem to get the same problem when using my phone (ancient android technology – bit like me š )
I had a few drinks last night hence my tons of posts. I hadnāt posted on here for a while as I just couldnāt raise the enthusiasm as we have been so poor. I do still read the posts though, just to see what everyone is thinking
I know we donāt all agree on here (which is how it should be) but we all want the same thing. Maybe next season will be better. Keep the faith.
Keep posting, mate; I need some back-up on here, LOL. š
I donāt think Gerrard would have taken the job without assurances of a big transfer chest. After all, when he took over we were in a terrible run of 5 defeats and heading towards the bottom 3. Purslow has said that he wanted him to take the 5 months in charge to review the current squad to see who he needed in the summer. I wouldnāt be surprised if he gets Ā£100m incorporating player sales. A third of that could be on Coutinho although thatās dependable on clubs with bigger clout knocking on his door. I would be happier if he signed more European players so we donāt lose them when there are internationals in Africa or America.
I think many of us think Gerrard is out of his depth but I am prepared to back him till around November which is the month they sacked Smith. If we are still in the bottom half by then we need to seriously consider his position.
Fair comment Holte.
Gerrard has five games left this season to show that he can get some consistent performances out of the players he has – after all they cost enough money!
Surely the minimum expectation is two wins and a draw. Any result other than two losses for the Liverpool / City games would be a bonus (and may well decide the title race).
Think itās more a case of the players have got 5 games left to prove they deserve to be in his plans for next season. If they want to coast to the summer hols then they will get shifted out or simply drop down the pecking order
Don’t buy Coutinho; he hasn’t earned it. I’d rather a lifetime supply of toilet-paper for anyone able to prove they’re a Villa fan – one less thing to worry about when the next pandemic arrives.
We have to remember player’s talk to agents and agents talk to players, Gerrard should not have said players are going!! Would you play your heart out even if he didn’t mean you. Funny how the standard fell on and around the time we dipped. Mcginn was our main man and you could see his determination in the game, then news broke a club like Man utd liked him saying remind them of Scoles.all this turn heads and as I said agents talk to player’s who to say that interest from that club been spoken about. I know some think he’s out of his comfort zone but you have to say Hes not the same player.
Bill, maybe the wee man is pooped from running round like a f****** hamster on a wheel for years.
Random comment. Well done Ronnie O’Sullivan. Any Villa player who has ‘loser syndrome’ should study this guy’s attitude. Of course, you can’t develop talent that you don’t have, but what you can do is have a ‘never say die, f*** you’ attitude, which doesn’t half help when playing elite sport. Love how he challenged that ref’ yesterday. “Don’t start” LOL.