Well, that was an absolute disgrace.
We’ve recently lost to Watford, Newcastle and Leeds.
I read a stat that said we’ve taken 17 points from 13 games.
And we’re getting worse week by week.
I’ve had nagging doubts for a while and frankly I can’t understand my own thinking.
I’m normally very much more tolerant when it comes to sacking managers. I gave Steve Bruce until the very last minute before I said he should go.
I also gave Dean Smith every chance too.
I’m just not that hot-headed and reactionary. Indeed, you will know that I often hold back my posts or sometimes don’t even post at all, in fear that I’m just wearing my heart on my sleeve and going to say something I’ll regret.
Yet even as early as this, I don’t believe Steven Gerrard is going to take us where we want to go.
I’ve seen it said that the manager can’t wait to get into the transfer market and get rid of half of the team.
Now while I agree that some need to go, I don’t for one minute believe that they are all that poor.
I hinted previously that there’s something not right about this side and there’s possibly players who don’t like the way they’re being asked to play.
That’s fair enough, but why threaten changes and not actually carry that threat out?
That’s shocking management and the guilty players will now be thinking they can get away with performing poorly without suffering for it.
But then, we have to look at Gerrard’s substitutions. Was it really a good idea to drop Watkins, who already seemed unhappy and then ask him to come in and save your skin? I suggest that’s a joke decision. The only good part about that is he came on for Luiz, who seems to be playing his way out of the club.
And then there was Ashley Young coming on for Cash. What was that supposed to achieve? Surely the move there was to Put hause on for Chambers and at least we carry a heading threat at both ends? I don’t know what Gerrard was thinking, except maybe he wanted better crosses?
And then the clincher was Bailey on for Buendia, who was probably our best player. I just don’t get that one at all, as he was doing well in defence when we were so under the cosh.
OMG, the goal itself. How much time did they have at our end with no one challenging them when it was lobbed into the air and almost nonchalently headed into our net? If you were offering a training chance such as that, it couldn’t have been any easier.
And then we had one chance on target.
One chance against a Watford side that looked hopeless, yet better than us.
I had serious doubts about Gerrard in the first place. I hinted at them, but played them down by saying we were taking a gamble.
I had a bad feeling about how things were going a couple of weeks ago.
Newcastle added to the fire. And today has convinced me.
I do not see how Gerrard is going to turn things around with the players we have.
I’ll reiterate what i’m saying.
This team are not relegation candidates, yet we look like we are.
Gerrard might progress us by clearing out half the team.
But how much is that going to cost if we have to practically start again? I don’t see even our generous owners accepting that.
No, I can’t believe I’m saying it this early but my firm conviction is that we are going nowhere under this manager.
He has to go.
GERRARD OUT!
Bidace is going well
“The 20-year-old winger, on loan at Stoke City for the second half of the season from Aston Villa, set a new Championship high for this season in terms of both attempted and successful dribbles.”
https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/stoke-villa-jaden-philogene-bidace-6695640
Bill was right all along; quite right, Sir. The following should be in the first team: Archer, Chukwuemeka, Bidace, both Ramseys. Barry should be in the squad and getting game time. What happened to Mungo Bridge – a classy, ball-playing centre back?
Come to think of it, didn’t 11 of our youngsters play the Liverpool first team no so long ago and not look out of place? Didn’t these kids win a prestigious competition last summer – the FA Youth Cup, was it? So there is something wrong if the club have one of the best academies in the country but refuse to reap the rewards of their own labour, meanwhile wasting money on mediocrity like Sanson, Bailey, and Ings. Couldn’t Chuky, Bidace and Archer have done AT LEAST as well as Sanson, Bailey and Ings? Of course, and far, far better. And a shite side cheaper.
Time for Gerrard to grow some big balls, coach these exceptional talents to play in the Premier League, and put them in the first team. The answer is right in front of us, and the manager. PLAY THE KIDS, FFS, PLAY THE KIDS!
Thanks BFR, now take a look a this ,our under 23s, Taylor-Jay Hart and Brad Young were the heroes as Aston Villa’s under-23s ran out 2-0 winners against Norwich in front of a decent-sized crowd at Villa Park.
Steven Gerrard and his entire backroom staff were in attendance casting their watchful eyes over the likes of Carney Chukwuemeka, Tim Iroegbunam and Ben Chrisene, with the latter forced off at half-time after picking up a knock.
All I’m asking is that the club thinks more of a player for the future and not for £ in the pocket. These players will be snapped up by not useful times for fans to see.
The problem is that even Ramsey took a fair while to come good.
Chukwuemeka hasn’t looked that good in a struggling side either, in my opinion.
The time to blood kids is when we’re doing well and you can afford to carry them.
It isn’t when the side is struggling, because if a side’s poor performance drags them down too, what will the fans automatically think?
And while the kids are doing well at lower levels, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll do well in the prem.
Sorry, Bill and BFR, I think you’re wrong to be calling for them now, although I can agree that they should get the odd few minutes here and there.
Pressure on managers to get results makes it hard to blood youngsters. When were we last comfortable in this league? It’s also a matter of exposing them to competitive football rather than U23 and throwing them in.
It’s perfectly correct to think the ideal time is into a successful team but not many clubs have that luxury. The alternative is to throw them in the deep end and test their character.
If Gerrard wants attacking full backs when we don’t have a decent DM he needs to play a back 5. That would allow us to cover the space behind Digne and Cash. They would be much more effective and allow the attacking players to flourish.
My managerial experience? IT not football😂
Badger, I’ve only just come to this conclusion. Up until now, I wasn’t in agreement with Bill about the kids. However, spending serious money on ‘experienced’, ‘seasoned’ professionals hasn’t proven to work. So my argument is quite simple and logical. If these players, who cost a shit load, aren’t bringing success and the best they can do is bottom half of the league, then you may as well play the youngsters. Because A. they are top youngsters (they won the FA Youth Cup) and B. They can’t do worse than the expensive flops. So worst case scenario, you still finish bottom half, but you’ve pushed on your youth players and they’ve gained priceless experience in the league. AND you’ve saved a shit load of money. AND all of a sudden, your ‘free’ youth players are now worth several million each (at least). Best case scenario – they fly, as they might well, given their quality. I’m not saying they all start every week.
“So worst case scenario, you still finish bottom half”
Are we safe yet? No, we’re not.
In which case that’s not the worst we could do and we could easily get relegated.
In fact, I don’t believe we’re safe until we get that 38 points or whatever.
On average I’d expect more experienced, peak age players to do better than a bunch of kids.
I get the idea of playing our kids, but come on, can we really risk that?
Badger, I appreciate we’re not mathematically safe right now. I don’t mean play the kids now, in this situation – we can’t anyway, as they’re out on loan. I just meant, generally, it’s time to change the plan, because the plan isn’t working – not for Smith and now, not for Gerrard. So I’m making the suggestion, maybe the solution isn’t to keep buying seasoned pros. Worst still, our policy has been to spend good money on YOUNG players who haven’t peaked. Why not just use your own? They’re only a year or two younger than what we’ve been buying anyway.
Badger, I tend to agree with you about introducing the kids when team is playing well with the exception of Chukwuemeka who has played a fair few minutes already. The thing for me though was SG saying he would make changes (plural) and poor Ollie was made to look the scapegoat. I think he could have dropped Luiz or McGinn based on current form. However the blame for the Watford defeat rests with SG because his formation isn’t working. That performance was worse than any under Smith IMO.
Anyway, I did some research and we haven’t lost away to Brighton in the league since 1980. So come on Villa! The team that keeps on giving. 😏
Gabby talking about Buendia;
“Little glimpses in matches are not enough, I want goals and assists not little turns. I would drop him, to be honest. He was the big signing, (but) I need more from him.”
https://readastonvilla.com/2022/02/22/gabriel-agbonlahor-says-steven-gerrard-should-axe-aston-villa-underperformer-emiliano-buendia/
Piss off Gabby, we needed more from you and you massively let us down, practically going on strike and undermining the manager as well.
How the hell is he being given newsprint to even comment on the club?
A bellend of the highest order, I reckon.
Agree. Gobby should button it.
Is it Gerrard or the coaches? That’s what I’m wondering.
If it’s the coaches not understanding the Prem game, I’d expect them to be gone sharpish, because poor staff is definitely something SG won’t stand for.
I totally agree, he should have made more changes.
You do not make a threat and then not carry it out. It makes you look weak and as you say, makes it look like Watkins was the problem, when we all know he wasn’t, at least not on his own.
I don’t want to discuss the Brighton game, as if we do it now, what am I going to say on matchday? 🙂
TBF Watkins has been poor. I don’t think Gerrard is weak. I think he expected a reaction but didn’t get it. He will make changes but the real problem is Luiz. The issue there is who replaces him?
There isn’t anyone, is there?
And given that us fans have been complaining about it for ages, it’s quite shocking really.
And I really like Nakamba, even before he came good, but you have to wonder how we have gone so long without anyone seriously challenging him.
The whole midfield issue annoys me.
I don’t profess to be a tactics person, but we’ve been weak there for ages.
Yet we signed Ings, who was only someone to take our mind off Grealish leaving.
I think that signing will be the one that Purslow ends up being remembered for, myself.
The players are weak, DS.
Chuky could easily replace Luiz, in my opinion. Play Chambers in front of Mings and Konsa for extra protection so Chuky, McGinn and the rest can do their thing.
You don’t win anything with kids’ is probably as well remembered as ‘they think it’s all over, it is now’.
Of course United went on to prove the statement wrong with, probably, a once in a lifetime output from their academy.
Until a couple of years ago the general consensus was that our academy, though much vaunted, was rubbish and was failing to produce the new young stars. Following a concerted investment in acquiring some of the top young players around, getting rid of ‘the next stars’ who weren’t going to make it and pushing up the best players from the U18’s we now have a number of truly potential first team youngsters.
But – we’re playing catch up and I don’t see us really starting to benefit from this until next season when I do expect to see players like Archer, Bidace, Chukweumeka (if he stays) Iroegbunam and Aaron Ramsey pressing for first team starts.
On on our promising youngsters, I see Louie Barry scored two for Swindon last night. Good move to get him back from Ipswich.
Sorry BFR I disagree – Chuky is not a DM so I don’t see how playing him out of position would help either his development or the team.
If we are going to try and shore up the midfield then it would be better to play an experienced player out of position than a kid. Iroegbunam is a DM, is in the squad,but lacks experience. Woukd it be fair to throw him in – no.
I do though agree that Luiz doesn’t work in that position.
I’ve advocated before that we should play Konsa there but now we have Chambers, who I believe has played DM before – SG has nothing to lose by playing both of them with one or the other filling the DM role.
I’m glad you all are talking about the youths, even the fans on other post are practically saying the same , Badger no you don’t throw all the youngsters in in a whim, you should bring them on when you can see its not working like Luiz, Bailey, And Oli, plus the idiot Traore, but we sent them all out on loan, this is not the way we did it years ago, I fear for our youngsters ,we will lose them if we don’t show our interest in them, they will follow the honours and money like Grealish did. 8 games lost and even you could see players under par that could have been the opportunity to play a youngster that’s my meaning .
So we agree Bill: we drip them in, minutes at a time.
The problem is, you can’t play everybody and some kids won’t accept it.
Hence I think it’s a good idea if they go out on loan and do well, which boosts their confidence and puts them in the window, if they’re not part of our plans.
It’s what all the top clubs do and I believe it’s made Chelsea self sufficient now.
I can’t believe the Gerrard out! nonsense. Any manager who has been a success elsewhere must be given a Summer window to fashion his own team.
Gerard has failed to solve a conundrum that has been true throughout this century: Villa are a fair-weather team who have a mid-winter slump.
From my own experience as an amateur manager: if changes are made one at a time it highlights the difference between the absent and replacement players; but if wholesale changes are made it does not help determine who is a success and who is failing. So I agree with only Watkins being dumped. Managers are optimists about players taking on different roles. It is rarely a success, and Douglas Luiz is not actually a bad player, he just isn’t a defensive mid. I went through before why Watkins is a limited forward. The loss of Grealish and Targett has diminished to zero the service he relies on, Digne either has not been told or does not wish to deliver it.
It is true the current Villans struggle to break down a team who put 8 men behind the ball. For that you need two men with a range of slow-speed fancy tricks, Chuky could be one of them Coutinho the other. The shooting chances may not be theirs – the chances are likely to fall to somebody behind them which means JJ or JM and sometimes a member of the back four. The requirement is to score or work the keeper from 20 yards, no missing the goal. That is a particular failing of the current squad.
The defensive mid is a critical component of using wing-backs. Opponents will target the space at the sides behind the wing back so when the ball is turned-over a CB or the DM has to go and intercept. That is very risky for the CB.
Excellent post.
Oll, I can’t believe it either.
But you know when you get that feeling?
Well, I’ve got it and while I’m sometimes wrong, I’m more often right.
I probably agree that Gerrard shouldn’t have made wholesale changes.
But that’s not the issue for me. It’s the fact that he said he was going too.
He’s undermined himself, I think.
And then there’s the fact that the full/wing back problem was highlighted before the game. Yet still Gerrard didn’t cover the issue.
Shooting chances for the back 4?
Sorry, but they need to concentrate on what they’re supposed to be doing, which is defend. God knows what they do in training.
Gerrard said they’d covered the lot during the two week break, but either the players ain’t listening or are too thick to take it in.
I hate to think that they just don’t care what they’re being told.
At least we agree that we need a top DCM.
Surely we can also agree that not getting one borders on negligence?
I see Burnley beat Spurs and are 7 points behind us with a game in hand. Suddenly we don’t look so safe. We need points from our next couple of games otherwise we will be in a relegation battle make no mistake.
I think we already are Badger.
Look at our results since we beat Everton – that’s relegation form.
Everyone from us down will be looking over their shoulders now.
On the positive side Leeds and Watford got trounced.
And we failed to win either game against them at home.
That doesn’t surprise me one bit BFR, maybe one day something like that will be found in English football , we’ve had some questionable games and far too many same refs officiating clubs like us. Interesting that.
I was so depressed over Them stinking Russians starting a war with Ukraine that after looking at the Villa position in the league I’m now suicidal. If we lose this week I’m joining the Army and sod it. Someone mentioned that the coaching staff are not intune with the Premiereship way of playing, I firmly believe that’s the case. Villa wake up for god sake we are getting close to relegation. I still think Luiz doesn’t give a shit in a game and must be pulled out .
OK, chaps, some bedtime reading for you:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60483819
Sorry to depress you even more, Bill. There are signs that what is described in this article has begun in the English game. Anyone who cries “never!” and “no chance!” is kidding themselves.
Post jumped BFR.
Anyone watch Rangers v Dortmund last night? Were we linked with Ryan Kent in January? He tore Dortmund to shreds. He’s quick and direct and pretty skilful too they couldn’t handle him, his work rate was high all game too. I think he would be a good fit for the Prem and probably an achievable target. Sell Traore and replace with Kent.
I watched some of it. Agree he was very good but Dortmund were so open to counter attacks I guess that helped. We could do with some of that determination though. I haven’t seen anything like that from Bailey or Traore.
I also think you are right about him making a decent Prem player