There’s no doubt that Tim Sherwood’s appointment, like him or loathe him, has caused a stir and even an air of excitement down the Villa.
That said, after the mediocrity of Paul Lambert, where I think we were pretty much guaranteed to go down had he stayed, anyone could have come in and give us a gee up.
But Sherwood it is and he’s come out with some encouraging talk about how he’s going to approach the way we play, in actally trying to score goals.
It’s exactly the right approach, as it was obvious to anybody except Lambert that our lack of goals was going to relegate us.
So we face Stoke today and from what a Stoke supporting friend of mine says, it’s a really good time to be playing them, when you consider Stoke have most of their defence out injured and our lads will have new manager syndrome on their side.
So basically, it’s all about us scoring and I personally think we will today.
Shock, horror, I even think we’ll get more than one, which would have been unthinkable with the previous incumbent in charge.
But at the same time, Stoke, although weakened at the back, are no mugs, hence we won’t be able to go with an approach that’s too “Gung Ho”, as they have the ability to hurt us, if we’re not careful.
Which is what will make today’s game interesting.
Indeed, the rest of the season is going to prove interesting, as I see us winning some and getting caned in at least a couple.
Whatever happens though, surely can’t be any worse than what we’ve suffered for most of the season and I’m sure we’ll at least try to achieve the objective of the game; putting the ball in the opponent’s net.
Squad news then and Villa have Gabby and Gil back in contention.
I’d expect both to start, but am wondering how Sherwood will approach this.
Will he play Gabby in a two, with Benteke?
Injury-wise, Baker and Sendoros are not available.
Those two apart, we’re doing ok squad-wise.
Stoke have Shawcross out, Muniesa has been ruled out for six weeks and Cameron is banned.
They could have Wilson and Pieters back though.
What do I think then?
As I’ve said, I actually expect us to score today and that’s good news in itself.
Sometimes, the game is not purely down to how good you are. You also need a bit of luck, something that was sorely missing under Lambert and yet another sign that we were massively failing, if the saying that you make your own luck, is true.
I think Sherwood will prove luckier than Lambert.
In short, I’m going for us to win, 2-1.
This is a game where we need the points and I think we’ll get them.
Any alternative is a very scary thought.
We were 60 seconds away from being out of the bottom three. Now we’re second from bottom because of GD. Hope TS can find some goals from somewhere because that’s what might sink us.
Why didn’t we close the game if we can’t win it don’t bloody lose it ffs
How many times have I told you horrible lot?…..never, ever change your manager in the middle of the season as it rarely works. All 3 clubs that changed last season were relegated…you do the maths!
We WILL be relegated!
Fuck off Lerner, the Villa is OURS!
Outnumbered in midfield and could not get hold of ball…..
Stoke won all loose balls….
Our players needed ages to get a ball under control….
We had no confidence to do anything other than something simple…
Too much hoofing it up……
Horrid corners …free kicks….
Not keeping Sinclair out wide and actually getting ball to him….
Sanchez like a zombie……always there but too slow on ball so has to foul them to try and win it back………
….and on top all that Stoke were crap and there for the taking……..
I can’t see us even getting 10 points from the remaining games. Maybe Sunderland, QPR and Burnley we have a chance of wins but I expect to lose the rest.
Then Sherwood will be off, after all he’s far too good to be a Championship manager plus our better 5/6 players will follow. We’ll be lucky to survive that league too!!
Sherwood now knows what he is up against, lazy players and cart horses… There will be no group hugs or back stroking from now on, he has had a decent baptism of fire….. We will not be relegated
He’s inherited a pile of shite I’m afraid. I think mourinho would struggle to turn that lot round in just 13 games. One thing is bloody obvious though and taught to u as a school boy. If you can’t win a game don’t lose it. A 1.1 draw would have got us a point and that could be the big difference at the end of season.
Your snide little remarks about Sherwood are becoming as tedious as Lambert’s post match interviews.
No overnight miracles then. Tim said he did not need to see the season’s videos. Well, with respect somebody in the team selection department does need to see them.
Choices made:
Richardson over Sissoko
Vlaar over Okore
Delph over Westwood
Agbonlahor over the Witton end Cat.
None of these could be justified from this season’s videos. Now Vlaar has put himself out of contention we may see him kept on the bench. Cissoko looked better at defending than Richardson. Delph – what can you say – once in the whole game he was facing Stoke’s goal when collecting a pass from a Villa player behind him. On all other occasions he was facing the player giving him the pass. Gabby – new manager to impress, a starting place at home, expectations high. Still he couldn’t give a toss – he has gone! Goodbye and thanks. Weimann scurried about but in the one place he needed to beat a defender then cross, he failed and hit the defender.
Gil did not look fully fit and with his departure went any quality in attack. Sinclair was bright early on and with excuses faded, though he is the best corner taker from the left wing side.
By the time we reached the second half Benteke was isolated up front again, so much for the new mantra. This must be the worst fading team in the division, I hope one of the new guys is a fitness coach.
Spot the difference.
Lambert = talks a crap game…….and delivers a crap game
Sherwood = talks a good game……and delivers a crap game
Hands up when you get correct answer!
Oh I no! I no! Is it sherwood delivers a crap game………
Nobody can reverse three years of SHIT in four days of training. I still think we can do it, but we might have to with a smaller core of dedicated players and enthusiastic kids. To many in this squad need to be shown the door. Delph is overrated, Gabby is shot, Hutton is back to normal, Vlaar can go…etc…etc…
We MAY be relegated!!
I can’t believed we lost today for the first time I really fear for us now. On paper we won’t really get an easier home game than this. Playing KR at left bk wtf was that all about. Vlaar is a liability iv said it for ages he switches off at vital moments. We need Okore and Clarke and Cissoko in defence. Vlaar should play from the bench only.
but bumbum many ppl on here say, we have top ten players and its the managers fault were shit ??????? its alittle harsh on t/s, but with them players playing 442, we haven’t a chance. the reason sinclair was poor second half is cause, stoke cut off his supply. wait until we play a better team than stoke. they will rack up cricket innings score. far too open for what we are,too blunt in attack to go gun ho.
may no will
What kind of manager reckons he doesn’t need to ssess the oppositions strengths? An inexperienced, overrated and arrogant one
There lies the problem ooh ah he is an extremely arrogant individual he had the same attitude at Spurs there is s fine line between confidence and utter delusion this man reeks of self importance which could be justified if he actually had achieved anything and he obviously believes he doesn’t need to learn anything. That is quite worrying and I can only see one outcome we are Fucked. Sorry if this sounds negative lads But it’s the truth
Agree muzzvill if he starts winning games he can be as arrogant as he wants. My mate a spurs fan warned me when he was appointed how toxic Sherwood is behind the scenes. Tbh we deserve to go down now as much as I hate to say it even if we stay up so what it will be the same again next season. Lerner deserves relegation and no sky money im afraid
So bacuna gets a goal and seems the only play capable and f decent link up play in final third. So he is left on the bench?
TS has had a week. I know time is not what we have, but he can’t perform miracles. Lets see what happens when the ‘played games’ shows 38.
But It’s apparent now that the group of players we have simply aren’t good enough for the premier league.
i think 28 is more realistic goal
Yep I agree, he means games played nath not points.
In the EPL you end up where you spend, we spend nout and get what we deserve.
yes i got that rodgor
i was saw 38 number and thought how nice it would be have 38 ~ but we won’t reach 28
Why do all managers fall into the same trap and feel gabby is the answer. He is the cause. Lambert gave him his new contract and he can sit back now for the rest of his career. Why I do not know but it can’t have been for his football.
He is supposed to represent us wear his heart on his sleeve. Absolute bollox he doesn’t give shot.
I meant shit but i wud have been right with shot as well.
I wasn’t impressed with the starting line-up. Didn’t see the match, but it sounds like it was a pretty dour afair with Stoke deserving the three points. A point from this would have been massive and we really need to be winning these sort of games, particularly at home, if we’re going to have any chance of staying up.
Newcastle V Aston Villa
Aston Villa V West Brom
Sunderland V Aston Villa
Aston Villa V Swansea
Man Utd V Aston Villa
Tottenham V Aston Villa
Aston Villa V QPR
Man City V Aston Villa
Aston Villa V Everton
Aston Villa V West Ham
Southampton V Aston Villa
Aston Villa V Burnley
i can’t see us racking up more than 3 wins, today’s game was massive. anyone know if we already past the record for least points recorded by any premiership club , i bet that was derby or swindon
We need at least 38 points or more to stay up. Burnley nicking a point at chelsea ffs
Say 18pts out of those fixtures hmmmm hope he is a miracle worker.
we aren’t the worst premiership team. i just looked up 5 worst premiership clubs and derby had 11 points, blame google not me if this is wrong.
8 points giddy your whats called optimist hope your right. i can’t see 9 points
18 points
sorry giddy not the 8 points somebody deleted my 1
You were right possibly the first time mate the thought of getting 8 is a daunting one.
As I have said before we will be going down this season