BFR has posted the following.
Cheers mate and if anyone has any thoughts, post them up;
What if History can Teach Emery and Villa a Vital Lesson?
Much was made of Unai Emery’s impressive record of scoring in every match prior to the disappointing 1-0 defeats at Molineux and Old Trafford as the season reached its climax. Had Villa managed to score and take a point in those games, they would have finished above Brighton by one point in 6th and qualified for the Europa League rather than seventh and the Europa Conference League.
Small margins – the ‘what if’ of our last Premier League season.
Wind the clock back 30 years, Villa’s inaugural Premier League campaign is also remembered – and always will be as a ‘what if’ season.
It is worth considering that despite the ‘champagne football’ served up by Big Ron’s charges in those simpler times of the early nineties, Villa failed to score in 10, yes TEN of the 42 games played that season – almost a quarter of the campaign. The explosive ‘deadly duo’ of Deano and Dalian completely misfired after Christmas, Atkinson’s injury before the festivities the catalyst.
With Tony Daley’s brilliance already missing through an early season injury, Villa were never quite the same in the final third which would prove to be their undoing.
Meanwhile, Cantona, Hughes and Giggs pulverised their opponents to the end.
Four of those ten goalless games were 0-0 draws, three of which were at home: Blackburn Rovers, Tottenham Hotspur, and Coventry City, the latter on the infamous Steve Bruce, Fergie Time, Sheffield Wednesday weekend.
The other 0-0 was at White Hart Lane, Erik Thorsvedt producing a masterclass to deny a rampant Villa.
We lost the league in ‘93 by a perceived ‘massive’ 10 points that season. But had the Villa managed to get one – just one – over the line in those four games, they’d have clawed back 8 points. Which means United win it by a mere 2 points. Close, but not close enough. But hang on. There are still another 6 games in which Villa failed to score. The final home game of the season was a devastating 1-0 defeat to battling Oldham, handing the title to United on the proverbial silver platter. If Villa win that, as they should, they take the title by a point, still with 5 goalless games: 1-0 defeats away to Norwich and Palace, 2-0 away to Saints, 3-0 away at Coventry on Boxing Day and away to Blackburn late in the season. Score one at Norwich and Palace and it’s another 2 points and the title is Villa’s by 4 points and one game to spare, the last day defeat at Loftus Road academic. In short, score 6 more goals and Villa win the league. Small margins.
Incidentally, that same goal drought would prove to be a problem for Big Ron’s side in both the previous season 91-92 and the following 93-94.
All of this analysis is irrelevant unless applied to the season which all Villa fans so eagerly await and anticipate.
The latest debate revolves around whether Emery has enough in the final third, with legitimate question marks over Cameron Archer’s and Jhon Duran’s inexperience, and even Ollie Watkins’ proven capability of going on a goal-drought of his own.
Not to mention injuries and suspensions.
Does Emery have enough to prevent those devastating 0-0s and 1-0 away defeats?
History has shown that the difference between glory and a lingering, bitter ‘what if’ is goals. Plain and simple.
Not bucket-loads, just a nice steady flow throughout the season with no unexpected and damaging barren spells.
Assuming Emery’s defence remains as resolute as last season and there’s no reason to suggest why they shouldn’t, scoring in every game, at least once, must be high on the manager’s agenda. If Villa can do that, Villa fans can dream.
What if we win the Conference League? What if we finish 4th and qualify for the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history? What if we get to a Wembley final with a manager of Emery’s calibre at the wheel? All spectacular and glorious ‘what ifs…’ which are all quite reasonable and realistic targets for the coming season.
IF the goals keep flowing.
If, however, the frontline falters, all associated with this great club will once again be left with bitter disappointment and a list of ‘what ifs’.
Here’s hoping Villa have created a new history come May 2024.
BFR
Comments
98 responses to “What if?”
Bad news chaps Madely is ref for the Newcastle game.
It could have been worse: Michael Oliver, never gives Villa any benefit. I think Kevin (no) Friend has [been] retired.
Hibs v Luzerne on BBC Scotland 1930 Thursday
Looks as if Aaron Ramsey may be going. I think that would be a mistake (for us). Jacob R is very good but his younger brother looks better imho. I guess we will find out
Reports suggest we will ‘protect’ our interest in him with a buy back clause.
Opinion on his development may be divided hence sell with a buy back and if he does develop given game time in the EPL then we can, should we wish, reacquire him.
Given it’s unlikely he’ll get game time at Villa then it doesn’t seem a bad idea. The only proviso is the need to include four Villa grown players in the squad we register for the Conference League – who will they be given Jacob Ramsey will be one?
If he’s better than ‘JJ’ then it has to be a mistake, because that is some compliment. Considering Jacob’s age and how far he’s already come in the PL and England U21s, to be ‘better’ at this stage is some statement, DS. Regardless of the comparisons, the consensus is that he’s a quality player, in which case I question why sell him and not loan him to Burnley l with the hope and expectation that he’ll handle the PL and come back ready to play for the Villa? Why need to buy him back for more than you sold when he’s already yours? Too soon to sell, in my opinion. But that’s from a football perspective, not a financial one, of which I obviously don’t know the ‘ins and outs’ at the club.
I think he is more aggressive and direct. JR is a wonderful talent but sometimes is too passive for a player of his quality. I realise my opinion is probably quite controversial. If AR goes to Burnley we will find out soon enough
Hitch, I’m guessing, JJ, Archer, Philogene and Revan will be the four. Can’t see any other options, really.
I wish you’d all stop referring to ‘JJ’. I keep thinking of the disastrous Jermain Jenas who’s now an equally abysmal pundit.
God we’ve had some duff imports over the past few years…
Suggested article: Biggest waste of a shirt over the past decade???
“Biggest waste of a shirt over the past decade???”
I’d start that one with Morgan Sanson: not because I don’t rate him, but simply because somebody went and spent £15m (or thereabouts) on a player that neither Smith, Gerrard or Emery seemed to have any intention of using, unless even the U21’s were all out injured…
Bum Bum, feel free to write that article. It would actually be quite interesting.
Biggest waste of a shirt over the last decade!
May I present Ross McCormack your honour at £12m! Guilty of being a lazy waste of space and money who couldn’t train due to his gates being locked 😒
Djemba Djemba? Joe Cole? Robert Pires?
Ulises De La Cruz. Just that name makes his legendary!
To be fair to the abject Paul Lambert, consider: Luna, Tonev, Helenius, N’Zogbia, Senderos…the list of utter gargabe as the club fell into decline is endless. I shudder when I think of Tonev’s attempts at long range shooting ending up in row Z of the Holte every time – and that was when we were attacking the North Stand! 🙂 And didn’t Luna end up being an ‘adult’ film star?
Should make us extremely grateful for the way the club is run now and the magnificent squad in place now.
Waste of a shirt implies the player did not play much, rather than played frequently and was a disaster. So on that basis I cannot beat Holte’s Ross McCormack, worse than the sundry French imports foisted on Tim Sherwood. Bigger distasters would include Brad Guzan and Fabian Delph.
Bosko Balaban – surely?
The next Davor Suker he was marketed as, Hitch. (slaps forehead). I recall being at his debut vs United at VP (Alpay with the late OG in Fergie time to cost us all 3 points) but don’t recall him touching the ball.
I remember both those being half decent OLL…
Crouch was poor for us but went on to have a great career.
Was Crouch poor for us, Bum Bum? I think he was 19 years old when signed from Portsmouth by the late Graham Taylor. Taylor had many faults, but he had vision in bringing players like Crouch to the club and ‘Der hammer’ into the team. Unfortunately, Villa weren’t a well run enough club to develop such a precocious talent and he was subsequently sold to Southampton because no one could be arsed to coach him and recognise his class, where he excelled, resulting in his move to Anfield, CL football, regular International football, none of which phased him.
Was Peter Crouch a poor man’s Ian Ormondroyd for us? 🙂
Talk that Buendia is out for the season with ACL injury! That’s really bad news considering his pre season form.
Absolutely gutted for Buendia. His goal against Valencia was world class. A replacement is essential, as he unlocks defences, and you need that to be successful. Such a shame. Hope he gets back to his best soon. Not the best preparation for Saturday, although I hope it galvanises the squad and they ‘do it for Emi.’
Terrible news for Buendia if that’s true!!!!! Where did you hear that? Done in training?
David Unsworth?, whose Mrs thought Birmingham was near Liverpool so left after a few weeks! LOL! Sean Maloney? Homesickness? Aversion to balti’s?
Probably right about Crouch. Just didn’t fit at the time.
Aston Villa midfielder Emi Buendia has suffered a “significant” knee ligament injury in training and is likely to miss a large part of the new season.
Buendia, 26, sustained the damage on Wednesday before undergoing a scan and will have a further consultation with a knee specialist.
So many positives and then this. The player seems up though.
Posting on Instagram, Buendia wrote: “If my parents taught me anything since I was a kid, it’s to never give up, and this bad time I have to live is no exception.
“Already positive and minded in a good and speedy recovery.”
Terrible news for Buendia and Villa. I hope he can have a speedy recovery.
Has Aron Ramsey been sold? If not, does this injury to Buendia provide him with an opportunity for game time ?
Does anyone have an idea?
No Sid, but it might change Villa’s mind about selling him now particularly with Jacob Ramsey still out.
A lot is going to fall on the shoulders of Coutinho as it is. Could Villa try and get a loan in to fill the void?
Is it me or do Villa seem to have an injury jinx?
Best wishes to Buendia for a speedy and full recovery – we’re going to miss him a lot.
No Hitchens it isn’t you. It is effing Bodymoor Heath. More damage done there to Villans than in all their league matches in recent years. Look like Coutinho gets another chance, and he has looked lively in his late cameos. Buendia was the key player in unlocking defences, I can’t believe the Roma player is as good or I would have heard of him before.
Should we be concerned about Spurs wanting Watkins now it looks like Kane is off to Bayern.
I think Aaron Ramsey is still going to Burnley and also Archer looks like he will be going too.
No, I really can’t see Villa selling Watkins and I’ve also discounted the rumours surrounding Luiz.
IF Villa were to sell them both I would lose faith in the owners and their stated aims to challenge the top six. In fact, I’d go further – I’d lose faith in Aston Villa and accept that we’re never going to do anything other than being a feeder club!
According to reports Emery had been given the ‘keys to the Kingdom’ and all enquiries regarding our best players have been immediately dismissed.
No. Watkins is a completely different forward and no replacement for Kane. Ivan Toney would have been closer. Brentford’s other target man might be better.
See the rumour mill is already working overtime on the Buendia injury.
Several sources, including Romano – who is perhaps more reliable than most – have Villa interested in Zaniolo From Galatasaray at £26m. Attacking mid fielder keen to play in Europe who Monchi previously signed for Roma.
Personally, I would have thought Villa would look for a season long loan deal, unless, of course, they are looking to sell Coutinho!
Notwithstanding the Buendia injury, Talksh*te are saying we’ve agreed to sell Aaron Ramsey to Burnley for £14m plus add-ons with a buy back clause.
Given we have to watch FFP it’s probably a better arrangement than a loan.
It seems there are similar rumours regarding Archer.
If Villa are thinking of selling Archer, surely they have another striker in the pipe line even though Diaby can play anywhere across the front three.
Maybe Villa are going to be busy over the next three weeks?
Watching Hibs v Luzern on the BBC. So far, can’t see either team bothering us too much in the Conference play offs.