So I’m home now and just as I said I would, I thought I’d offer my thoughts on the performance yesterday after having had a bit of a cooling off period.
And there’s not much of a change to report, I’m afraid.
In fact my attitude to that performance is probably worse, now that the numbness has worn off a tiny bit.
First off, I’ll mention that I think Garde got this one wrong, in showing Liverpool way too much respect.
Yes, we started quite brightly, but at the same time, I thought we were playing too deep, which left the midfield stretched and Gabby, totally isolated, which meant he was behind the halfway line ridiculously early on.
You can argue that we had to be careful in not getting countered and I understand that, but you have to attack Liverpool, if you’ve to have any hope of beating them.
Anyway, my point is that after just a few minutes, I actually said to the missus that I didn’t like the way things were going.
And Garde should have seen it.
Of course, it’s fair to ask what he could have done, but my opinion says you don’t let an attack like Liverpool’s walk around in our final third and you have to give them something to worry about.
As I’ve said before, I have serious doubts about Garde, because he’s too pragmatic and cautious.
But that’s by the by, although I’d love to hear thoughts about that point.
And so the first goal came and I just couldn’t believe how poor the defending was.
And then it was the total capitulation that shocked me.
And each goal just seemed to be worse, defending-wise, with I think the fourth, where the Pool player didn’t even have to jump to nod in, frankly nearly making me feel sick.
There were a few Arsenal fans in the bar and I had a half eye on their reactions, throughout the game.
I think they were shocked at how poor we were too, but they never said much, as there was nothing to be said.
It was that embarrassing and we were all open-mouthed.
How the hell can any Aston Villa side let the opposition walk around our pitch like they own it as an extension of Melwood?
The thought of it is a bloody disgrace and that’s the part that boils my piss.
But we all know where the problem lies and it’s perhaps unfair to blame the team.
The proverbial rolls down, as we all know.
I don’t know why I’m ranting to be honest, as we all know we’re doomed.
But it’s the dream that keeps us alive.
And that totally disappeared down the plug-hole yesterday, didn’t it?
Until Stoke, I suppose.
There’s always the next game, after all.
It’s hard to look forward after that performance though.
If GARDE could got it right yesterday it would of made no difference we’ve got a bunch of under performers plus that FUCKING headache upfront,I’ll be glad when there all FUCKed off.REMI wasn’t only to blame yesterday who you seemed to of highlighted I suppose easy option.
Giddy, I think you need to re-read it mate.
My point is that while I think he got it wrong, he’s not the one to blame mostly.
There’s something majorly wrong at the Villa and it goes higher than the manager.
Remi is the only one that’s trying in this situation and I feel he’s just counting the days now til he leaves this shambles of a club and to be quite frank he’s better off out of it.
The lack of commitment from the players is a disgrace, but is it any surprise when the chairman couldn’t care less. What kind of message has Lerner sent out through his disappearing act and his lack of investment. Lerner and Fox alone have created this culture through their actions and they are the ultimate root cause of the problem. Until they are gone, I see no recovery and no prospects because even in the championship the message will be the same. QPR, a team with a similar problem have not fared well in the championship, neither have Fulham. I think we’ll be joining them in the bottom half next year
A word on the Remi will he won’t he go saga. IF he does leave I’ll stop my unwavering support of him and be labelling him a bit of a bastard.
He knew where we were when he joined. He knew the job at hand. If we couldn’t get players in during January that’s one thing, but we obviously tried to so in the end you need to hold you hands up and get on with the job.
Walking away to save face here will do the EXACT opposite. Walking away from a sinking ship because you can’t help steer it into calmer waters reflects just as badly on you as the club.
I hope he stays on but if he’s having doubts…fucking get shut and get somebody else in who WANTS to manage our club.
Villain1, I remember when Derby were similar to us, at the bottom, as I have a Derby supporting mate.
His thoughts were that the side just weren’t good enough.
But I don’t recall him mentioning how the club was being run.
This is where our problem is though and even some of the media now accept it.
But I still try to discuss what goes on, on the actual pitch at the same time.
The players aren’t good enough, but they are not as bad as a 0-6 at home and being cut adrift at the bottom. They are not bothered and as I said that message of disinterest comes from Randolph Lerner himself.
The chairman gave up, so did the CEO, then the players and now the fans. The club is rotten in every core. We are QPR mark two unfortunately, and just like them this year, we will certainly not be competing in the championship next season even if I do rate Remi as a manager, because I believe he will not be here.
I will when I eventually get off the M5
Ok, Giddy, no worries.
BADGER I read it again ‘its probably unfair to blame the team’ no they should take the blame.I stand by my initial post GARDE has SHITE to work with the blokes on his own I feel for him.
Giddy, you missed the first half of that line, which is more important if you’re trying to apportion blame.
And the “shit rolls down” point too.
Yes, the team is shit and Garde can only go with what he’s got because the wankers at the top totally failed to back him in the slightest.
But at the same time, we already know where the major problem is.
I was trying to talk about the game and regardless, I think Garde got it totally wrong again, because he won’t take a risk and try and go for it.
I like the bloke, but we might as well have Ginge or Lambert if we’re going to try and contain a side.
We’re not good enough for that.
The truth is we’re probably not good enough to actually go for a win either, but even Norwich wasn’t easy, by all accounts.
If we’re going down, at least fucking try and go down fighting, is my point.
And not accept that load of shit I saw yesterday, as that was 100% capitulation mate, no more, no less.
And if Garde can’t get them up for it, get rid sharpish, as he’ll be bloody useless in the Championship, trust me.
Just my opinion mate, lol.
As you can probably gather, I’m still a bit wound up over that performance 🙂
I’m just going to give my two penneth.
Firstly, I agree we were tentative, however we were also pressed and hassled in midfield which our players just don’t have the confidence or the skill (you could argue) to deal with. We tried, but we look very soft centred even in that first 15.
I’m going to say something else which might upset people. I was one of the people calling for this guy to get a run, and despite almost every article I read treating him as the “only” good thing we’ve got going for us, I don’t believe Okore has delivered anything other than recovering challenges of note this season.
He’s too laboured on the ball, he has zero acceleration (not his fault) and his distribution is rather sketchy at best. I just think he makes too many mistakes, and heralding a guy for recovering from them is hardly the point – law of averages suggest we’ll be punished at least SOME of those times.
Now, as for what Garde can do to deliver a better performance, I’d have to say, not a lot really. That is our strongest midfield, and whilst I personally think Veretout is a quality player, that midfield isn’t good enough. I’d like to see us going back to the very beginning. Let’s scrap technical ability and go for pace in almost every position we can.
That means Gabby starts, Ayew comes back in after suspension, Sinclair starts, Gill sits behind them, and we look to play early balls into the channels. Gestede, Kozak, Gabby in a 1 – there is little point as our midfield do not join in attacks and as such holding the ball up, on the few rare occasions they manage to, is fruitless.
Your main point about something being wrong with Villa is rather easily identified. They know first and foremost that the club is for sale – therein they are aware the person who holds the club together (supposedly) doesn’t want to anymore. Secondly, the only players we could attract are either very hungry youngsters, or players who have failed to make the grade elsewhere – i.e. gambles. Now I don’t blame Sherwood for bringing these players in at all actually. I think they are all decent players, but that’s the limit to the quality we can attract.
Finally, we have a set of players devoid of confidence, and with a smattering of experience – both sets know that we’re Championship bound and going a goal down at any point makes the game monumentally difficult – that’s mentality and you can’t coach that.
Are you for real start flabby Gabby o I got a soar head lazy bastard I didn’t read rest of your post when I seen start gabby
Some interesting thoughts there Craig.
I’m probably a bit blinkered with Okore, as I like him, but will look closer.
As for pace, I totally disagree.
It’s balls and grit we need, which is exactly why we’ll struggle in the championship too.
We haven’t got any.
Okore gives me a fright everytime I see him with the ball at his feet.
He looks uncomfortable all the time, almost as if he is a 3 year old with a football at his feet for the very first time.
Though saying that, the majority of the others loom like that at times, too.
Like I said in my comment on your last post, I think there is something else happening at Villa at the moment with the players. I’m sure they are taking the piss and its all an ‘in-joke’, like has been said, the ship is sinking and the top dont care, so why should they care type mentality.
But I just look at the Lescott, Twitter, car thing. It was deliberate, and the ‘apology’ was almost schoolboyish (like his defending) in that it was like ‘i did my homework but the dog ate it’. The wording, if you look closely, is pathetic and a deliberate attempt to wind people up, but in first glance, looks like a proper apology. I encourage anyone to go back and read it again. Read it slowly. It’s a sarcastic piss take, end of.
It wouldnt surprise me if another rotten egg bet with him £20k that he wouldn’t post that car and the pathetic apology/excuse, but he did, and he won £20k.
This is what football has become
Nowadays, all about the money and champagne lifestyle.
And it’s why I won’t be doing a 260 mile, 8 hour round trip to villa park spending £150+ on fuel and tickets and all the other stuff match day demands until the american prick is out and all the other wasters have gone. Which admitedly, might be some years off.
Promote all the under 21’s who are on £600 a week or whatever, and I bet we at least see hunger, desire, guile, passion with a bit of raw ability to match, which really, is all any non ‘top 4’ supporter wants to see from their team.
£600 a week?
A pro contract probably starts at nearer £2-3k a week.
The whole game is embarrassing, when you get kid “prospects” on that sort of dough, imo.
But that’s where we are.
I struggle to see that players would take the piss out of fans in that way, as much as it might seem like it at times.
“Never bite the hand that feeds you” and all that.
I’m more minded to think that they just aren’t the sharpest tools in the box.
I mean, who’d want to buy that horrible looking Merc?
Not only the worst Villa performance I’ve ever seen, and I’ve suffered through way too many of those, but possibly the worst performance of any team I’ve seen.
As for apportioning blame, there’s only really one person, and we all now he doesn’t care and is completely ignorant and disconnected of how his appalling decision making affects the mental attitudes of every club employee. Under his abysmal ownership every player with fight and desire has taken the first opportunity to leave and all we can replace them with is players who know they’re passed it or are comfortable just going through the motions to facilitate being able to live the lives of Premier League footballers off the pitch whilst not having the least bit of pride to look like one on it.
The lack of fight and desire from the back four in particular was like watching a group of sulky children. We know Gabby has never really been competent and now he doesn’t even seem bothered enough to try and pretend anymore.
As for Lescotts tweet, I’ve never used Twitter but it just doesn’t seem plausible, he should never play for us again. Richards seems to be having a tantrum about being back at RB, he showed some fight at the start of the season, he should be stripped of the captaincy now, no leadership, no desire.
I always try to be optimistic but I just don’t see a way forward from here this season. I suggest a complete boycott/ walk out at the next home game. Protest against Lerner in a united and coordinated manner. Then play as many kids as we can and fully support those who care and play with fight and desire.
Hear, hear, its the only solution, gone has the idea that it damages our club , thats already happened, Why give that man your hard earnt money to take the piss out of us Brits, that’s our love our life and its the only way to stop that Yank..
Welcome back to heartbreak Villa Badger. The question now being posed is ‘Are Villa Finished’ – has all the echoes of Portsmouth, Coventry, Wimbledon – do I need to say more?
Either Lerner has unrealistic expectations of a sale price or simply no one is interested which seems to reflect the lack of attractiveness which is Birmingham now caught in the wasteland between London (and the South) and the Northern Powerhouse. And Hollis is chairman of Birmingham LEP a major force for driving economic improvement in the City!
Ask yourself two questions – ‘what are Villa’s tangible assets worth’ and ‘what is Hollis good at’ and the alarming spectre of an asset stripping exercise which would probably put Lerner back in pocket. If you think I’m being alarmist you only have to look across the West Midlands to Coventry City.
Hope for the best, plan for the worst.
We need a miracle and not just on the pitch.
The Lescott affair really is shameful, him and Richards have been a complete disaster. I’m surprised Richards has got off so easily this season, the worst “captain” I have ever seen in professional football.
Where has anyone ever heard of someone joining and demanding to play centre back (a position he cant play) and now he’s got the huff because Remi has stood up to him and told him he won’t play there.
Lescott even in his “apology” is taking the piss out the fans who are paying for his final retirement contract. These 2 clowns sum up everything wrong with the playing staff at AVFC
I wont lie it was a rubbish showing from villa but we have seen a dam site worse remember 8-0 at Chelsea remember blues beating us and that fucking clown goal keeper from a throw in under his leg!!!!
On Sunday I do think that was Liverpool at there best we had no chance and I do think remi also got it wrong it didn’t take a footballing genius to see we needed 2 holding midfield players (Westwood gana) 4-2-3-1 instead of this stupid 4-3-3 which doesn’t work with our players we don’t have the ability to play that way.
Either way its gone now I’m really interested to see which team he puts out against stoke who lets face it ARE there for the taking! UTV AVFC
No leadership anywhere.
Yes it does start at the top, with the owner. There is no difference in this case between Villa and most other businesses. If the staff know the owner wants out, and they are going to be made redundant, if there are Closing-down Sale notices in the windows nobody can be bothered to serve the customers properly.
The staff are probably discussing how much redundancy money they will get, and worrying over it, but this being football instead they send pictures of what they intend to spend it on, like Lescott.
In the next tier we have a man who thinks his shirt sponsorship deal is more important than the ship sinking, who has been joined by a company undertaker, probably now going round with a tape measure.
Then we come to the team manager. He has his excuses, none of his team were signed by him and they are chronically weak in midfield and lacking in pace at the back. The opponents were yards better in all departments. Frankly if you are managing Northern Ireland, or Iceland, even Wales, you face the same problem every time you send a team out to play a country of 50 million people or more. You set up the team to keep men behind the ball, man mark the dangerous strikers the opponents have, ant tell the team to have pride in the shirt. I did not see any of that from Remi Garde, unless his team are totally disobedient.
Leadership on the field depends on having a captain worthy of the honour. Interesting that Dennis Mortimer was asked about that and he said he could not see anyone with a trace of leadership. Richards does lead by example, he could not give a toss – or stay in position – and that example is copied faithfully by the rest of the back line.
Reluctantly coming to the conclusion that Remi might not be the man for the Championship anyway. It’s a dog fight down there and you need a manager who can get his players to scrap. At the moment Remi couldn’t get this load of shite to fight their way out of a wet paper bag.
Gary Rowett anyone?
I saw reference to a Tweat from Lescotte in the middle of Sunday night where he was supposed to have said he was totally he was brassed of with all the shit comments about no desire and for everyone to remember that he would be the one going home to his mansion with his model wife in his limo……then wake up to the fact he “only” put a pic of a car….
One thing I don’t get is loads of clubs are foe sale yet aren’t collapsing like us. Look at Everton, they’ve been on the market for over a decade.
It’s just Lerner doesn’t give the slightest shit, and that attitude has infiltrated every pore of the club, and staff.
Craig – it doesn’t matter which manager comes in next, it’ll be exactly the same, he’ll be ground down by the apathy in a few short months.
I still wager, if we took eleven of our best players and stuck them at Palace for instance, they’d shine. Our club is just an infection.
Agreed Bum Bum. There is something fundamentally wrong at Villa and best guess would be the lack of leadership from the top coupled with a toxic working environment which again comes from poor management which is what happens when you appoint the wrong people.
It’s not just lack of appropriate investment from Lerner it’s his absence, lack of interest and poor decision making which destroys any sense of purpose or direction. A repeat of what happened to the Browns.
To be fair McLeish and Lambert warned the fans and we didn’t take enough notice. Read carefully what is being said now by Lambert and Garde – there is something very fundamentally wrong which means any manager will struggle. Of course there will be those that think they can change things who will be fed a line at interview and then shat upon from a great height.
It’s not just Lerner that needs to go but the whole board – reminds me if the 60’s all over again.
Hitch, that’s why I advocate for all to walk away, its no good protesting, he’s sitting in Yankee land taking the money, I feel if money not going in he will sell. Posters, interviews , they won’t do a thing ,why? Because we to the media are the club that tried to change players money, upset agents, bartering with advertisement, we are a joke to football and Lerner did that. Walk away it will hurt him.
Sherwood said it like it was…and he was gone the next day…