We all know we’ve made a poor start to the season, but Stoke’s is equally as bad, given that they’ve played four games at home and three away.
We’ve played three at home and four away and if we can get the win tomorrow, we’ll go a point above them.
And points is all it’s about really isn’t it?
I’ve said that I’m not panicking just yet and I believe we’ve played better than the points we’ve amassed, but the very valid point has been made that we don’t want to be cut adrift this early on and frankly, we need to pull our finger’s out.
We have two tough games coming up, in Chelsea away and Swansea at home, so we really could do with all three points.
I’ve not looked at the league table much up to now, but it’s pretty apparent where our problems lie.
We’ve scored eight goals (I really thought it was more), which isn’t desperate and certainly much better than a large part of last season, but we’ve conceded twelve, which is worse than many around us.
Er, so it’s the defence, basically, isn’t it?
Ok, I’m stating the bleeding obvious aren’t I?
Squad news then and what might be good for us is that Stoke’s record signing, Xherdan Shaqiri is 50-50 and faces a late test on a thigh injury and Ryan Shawcross is still out after surgery on his back.
As for the Villa, I’ve read that Gary Gardner is back in contention, but I can’t see him getting a game.
Jores Okore is still unavailable and Gabby is doubtful with his calf injury. I’m sure you all know my feelings on the latter.
The worrying thing is that Stoke have a very decent record at Villa Park recently and the last game was pretty much thrown away by some reckless defending by Ron Vlaar, as I’m sure many of us will remember.
We don’t seem to have moved on much defence-wise do we? and I’ll bet you know where I’m going.
We have to cut out the stupid mistakes at the back; it’s as simple as that.
And if we can manage it, I believe we’re well capable of causing Stoke problems and I’m going for a 2-1 victory.
As for the banners, the Football Supporters Federation have arranged a protest day, aimed at reducing ticket prices for away fans.
And while I don’t know if the following is true, a story I’ve read confirms it. It seems that Aston Villa are the only Premier league club that are not going to allow protest banners.
This is really poor on the club’s part and so much for freedom of speech eh?
I think it’s disgusting that paying customers/consumers (that’s all we are nowadays) can’t show their opinions and there’s a word that describes people who suppress opinions being voiced, although I won’t bring myself to say it.
Villa do some good things and being at the forefront of the safe standing idea, is just an example; although the cynic in me might think that the club’s hierarchy just see that as a very cheap way of increasing our capacity to 50,000.
But banning banners is just pathetic, in my opinion.
I’ve stuck a poll in so you can let us know what you think the result will be.
Tactic experimentation – very dangerous game to play. Lambert thought he was a tactical genius and now it seems we have another manager deluded by the same ideas. There must be some sort of hex on the Villa.
Offside, thank god.
Got tore open there.
He was onside, we were very lucky …
Got away with one there, definitely onside
Amavi’s service so far has been shocking.
No one can get him the ball.
It’s 8 defensive players and 2 strikers Lmao you couldnt make it up. Zero creativity the most creative player is Micah Richards for gods sake!
I still prefer Bacuna, but credit to Hutton he is doing alright.
Crazy how focusing your tactics after an awful target man produces awful football and even worse results.
Andrew, do you always look to say your always correct? Just a thought.
Until I’m proven wrong, yes I tend to think I’m correct with what I post. I figured that’s what everyone did, or they wouldn’t bother posting what they did. Or are we all posting things we think are wrong now?
No, OK your correct then.
Sherwood needs to find a way to get the ball out to Amavi and Hutton more often. Service from the back has been pretty poor and the players are far to often opting for passing it back rather than taking it forward. We currently have 3 floating midfielders in a straight line with no link player to the front. Either Veretout needs to move forward more or Sherwood might need to consider taking Westwood/Sinclair/Lescott off for Grealish or someone not afraid to take the ball forward and create problems.
There you go – Grealish on, Lescott off.
We might win this by playing better in the second half. All part of Tim’s master plan. As I’ve said before we don’t dominate games, we don’t cause people problems, when was the last time we were unlucky not to be winning at half time? …….absolute toilet.
The good news is we have Ayew, Grealish and Gil on the bench. Hopefully they’ll get more than 15 minutes.
Back to the cider now.
We are the only home side in the league who play like the away side.
According reports we are playing kick and rush
Why don’t you actually watch a game for once in your life?
Wow – wide open. Stoke up 1-0.
We are down no two ways about it. Sunderland winning but Newcastle 4.1 down thankfully
Shit.
Poor defending yet again 🙁
Are you going to believe that some now are seeing , deja a vu again because I am.
Hate to say I told u so but…. Sherwoid has to go now can’t afford to take a chance
Cut adrift by 4 points as things stand now
What’s changing the manager now going to achieve?
We’d still have the same defenders who keep messing up.
Gestede and Sinclair who do nothing all game would get dropped. We’d probably control the ball far better and our defense wouldn’t be put in said situations against teams like Stoke.
Fair point, but I’m not sure what a manager can do when defenders keep doing basic things wrong. They space they allowed was shocking.
I can see Sherwood being sacked, the way things are going, but probably not until Xmas, where a new manager can bring replacements in.
Possibly, and I agree manager’s can’t be blamed for said pitiful mistakes from the defense, but we shouldn’t be in the position to make those kind of mistakes every game.
Badger, if a new gaffer walked into your company don’t you show him how good you are and make a better effort? Well that’s what they would do if a new manager walked into Villa. Knowing Jan sales are in. This man is a con merchant.
Bloody hell, Richards should have scored then!
Ayew for Sinclair?
If a team is struggling come and play Villa, if a player is going through a goal drought come and play villa…….all your problems will be solved.
McLeish, Lambert, Sherwood – all shit at home, not much better away. Come on villa for fucks sake.
Last time Villa came from behind to win in the PL, Noah was in short trousers. I don’t think that’s about to change.
Gosh Newcastle have collapsed big time one up now 6.1 Down! Good for us I bet Mclaren us sacked tonight
No shots on target yet. We’re great. 4 points adrift tonight.
It was never this bad under Lamberk at least he kept us at a point a game. 4 points out of 24 is as bad as it gets
Fuck me we are so abysmal it beggars belief.
Shot on target……….yesssssssss
we need big sam just to stop the rot sherwood is a plonker del boy style all talk and nothing else
Better be quick Sunderland and Newcastle are interested. Says it all that that’s the best we can hope for
If Big Sam is the best you can hope for, that’s saying far more about you and your footballing knowledge then Villa as a whole. Should be expecting a lot more.
to play hutton over bacuna stupid to play westwood stupid we are stupid putting up with it
Huttons actually been one of the better players.
Not watching the match, by reading your comments I am glad I can’t see it. This is not good enough . I am starting to loose faith in Sherwood.
Tell me, can anyone really have faith in Sherwood now? I’m saying this because I’m on a downer,, year after year I’m walking in shit after a game. Please find us a good manager lord.
Amen Bill, Amen
Never had faith in him in first place but honestly didn’t think he was this bad. He has to go I was all for giving him till Xmas but I assumed he would be getting us a point a game
Gil Gil Gil!
YES Westwood has gone off!! I feel like we’ve just won the league