Apologies for not writing about the game. It’s just been hectic after my hols.
Many of us were wary about the Luton game and rightly so because it was just the sort of game we could have lost.
The thinking was justified in my opinion, because how many times over the decades have we faced teams that we’d be expected to demolish, only to slip up? Stevenage and Milwall immediately spring to my mind and if I thought about it more, I could probably rattle off loads. Indeed, we lost at home recently against Everton, who are rubbish, but I accept there may be specific reasons for that.
I prefer not to think about those results.
But it’s just been the Villa way for so long, hasn’t it? Just when we think we’re on the verge of getting somewhere, so some stupid result comes along and kicks you in the gut.
And it’s this constant disappointment that has now led me to minimise expectations and just not be in a position where I’m banking on results. I think I’m still half expecting something to go wrong now.
But I read a Birmingham Mail article this morning, where the headline said something about us being the real deal and it got me thinking.
It’s true isn’t it?
While the way we play means we’re always prone to being hit on the counter (and even lowly Luton created a couple of such chances) meaning we might lose the odd games, we look so frightening in attack and have proven that we can score in spades, with goals coming from anywhere.
From memory, we are the third highest points winners in this calendar year.
I heard in the commentary yesterday that we are on a record home win run since Tony Barton’s days, which is pretty much 40 years.
And we’re joint top scorers this season.
Our next six games are very interesting.
We have, on paper three easier games in Forest away, Fulham at home and then Bournemouth.
Of course, none of these should be deemed as easy, but if we can do similar to what we did against Luton, you’d expect good things.
But then, those games are interspersed by Spurs away, Man City at home and Arsenal at home.
None of those should be deemed as easy, but by the same token, none of those sides look anywhere near invincible at the moment, so you never know.
Not that I’m getting anywhere near complacent.
But it seems to me we should have a genuine idea of where we really are after those game.
We have pretty good records against a couple of those teams, but we’ve had predictably bad results against the usual suspects too.
But let’s say we win those you’d expect and maybe nick a few points off the others. Then we’re suddenly up to the 14th of December, just a couple of weeks away from the winter window with hopefully some very welcome reinforcements to come in. We should hopefully have Moreno and Ramsey back too.
The point is we could be in a very good position with a bit of a fair wind.
I’ve omitted the Conference games, which could prove to be a massive drain on the lads’ energy levels, because I’m concentrating on the Premier league.
But is the giant actually awake?
Could this be the season where we really achieve what we believe our club is long overdue?
Whisper it quietly, but I think with this manager, it just may be.
UTV!
A poor first half and they constantly look like getting in behind our back 4. They definitely look more likely to score again. We need to take the second half more seriously otherwise we will blow our hopes of top 4.
Game over. As predicted, the form guide suggested a banana skin today. Having a week off has not helped. Missed opportunity for top 3. Arsenal dropped points as predicted. Sod it. Back to the old Villa. Badger, why oh why did you write ‘ the real deal’ article??
While we’re here, have I missed something on Duran?? Has something gone down??
He apparently moaned about not playing.
Oh dear 😳
Was it the last European game? He was a tad unfortunate as he’d been in good form.
It was while he was playing for his country. He put it on social media.
Silly boy 🙄
Cash is the weak link today.
Clinton Morrison 3 times: “he has to score there Ollie Watkins”
Female commentator suggesting they look tired. Morrison saying they’re feeling sorry for themselves. I can feel an angry rant coming on!
Commentary is a bit shite today. We’re just not cutting it. Forest have been solid, but their first was offside, the second an awkward spin for Emi…Can we pull it around?????
Doesn’t look like we can, Bum Bum.
It’s frustrating when Watkins is having a poor game that we haven’t got another striker on the bench.
This is a total shit show today! Forrest a very very frustrating opponent today. I’m sure we have spent 25 minutes wasted in offsides.
Incredibly frustrating game to watch.
Not a single decisive run into their penalty area from the centre of the park.
We could play for a month and we ain’t gonna score.
One of those days
Every single time it falls to a bloody red shirt!!!!
I’ve lost the belief, seeing us today making me think two games in a week we don’t have the player to cope to play . This team will only manage top ten .
Well any team watching this will have worked us out.
To quote Dad’s Army ” they don’t like it up em”
Stats suggest we completely dominated. So what went wrong? Impotence in the final third. Checkbook at the ready for January…but will there be anything decent available then?
We lost the game in the first half early on. They were quicker than us and bossed us physically. We always play the high line with a big risk of the ball over the top and a well timed run. Forest got it spot on and deserved the points.
If Duran is a bad apple and lacks the discipline to battle for his place, then we need to get rid of him and sign another striker in January because Watkins isn’t consistent enough if we want to push on.
Two home games coming up now and we must improve massively. If we can get a couple of wins then today will be easily forgotten.
Shame about Duran. Just when he was starting to produce.