Derby have been consistently up amongst the Championship league challengers for the last 3 years or so from memory and if you’d offered me a draw away to them before the season began, I’d have snatched your hand off.
It’s as simple as that.
Having had a quick glance at the comments on here in the previous thread, you would think we’d been terrible, but that’s not how I perceived it while listening to the commentary.
Yes, commentary. Which often doesn’t tell the story completely.
But it’s all I had to go on and it sounded like we should have scored at least 3 goals, having hit the bar and the post, with a claim that the ball had crossed the line, thrown in too.
It certainly doesn’t sound like a Villa team that struggled when you add in that we were well up in the possession stakes too, at least for the first half.
Admittedly, it sounded like Derby got into it way more in the second half, but we still sounded the better side overall and I believe the Derby fans were booing at half time. That’s a point of note, in my opinion.
So while I’m happy with a point, I’m also beginning to see a common theme, which is while we now look a bit more creative, so we’re not converting those chances. That’ll improve though, when the players get into the rhythm, although it seems Gestede has at least tweaked his hamstring, which might prove a real blow.
Kozak came on to cover and while it’s harsh to judge him when he’s had so few games, it’s all about being be able to perform when you’re asked.
It would seem he showed nothing and given that the stories suggest RDM isn’t keen, I’d expect another striker in and Kozak will be off-loaded. No loss for me, as that’s the way it is. Ultimately, he’s another one who’s earned massively from the Villa, even if he’s only(!) on £10k a week.
So summing up, we’ve now played 3 very decent Championship sides and haven’t looked anywhere near the disaster we were last season.
We seem better at the back and I still see the odd one or two signings coming in this window, which should see us in decent stead until Christmas.
And then it would seem Dr Xia still has some firepower to add in the winter window, when the squads will come into play and RDM knows the players better.
While a draw might seem disappointing today, I really do think things aren’t too bad.
It really didn’t sound too bad to me????
first half was good just missing goals,then we switched off like last season one good half is all we can do,
positives jedi and tish to come in westwood gardner not strong enough for bench, which was shocking,like idea of amavi playing wide left midfield,kozak got 60mins which will help,grealish will like jedi in midfield he took lot tackles tonight without no protection from his midfield,
negatives bacuna is no rightback,ayew too greedy.rudy not good enough
JV – agree Ayew could have released the ball earlier on one or two occaissions but his overall contribution was excellent – particularly his tackling back. Also Grealish worked very hard for the team
We are only a point away from bottom 2
And we’re 3 points off 2nd… So what’s your point? 4 games into the league mate.
I agree Badger having watched the game. At the moment we are not getting the ‘rub of the green’ and were unlucky not to win; Derby could not claim that on their part.
Having said that we do need to convert our chances. I thought we were disadvantaged by losing Gestede as Kozac could not provide either the aerial threat or hold up play. Having said that he did get in a great header second half which just went wrong side of the post. Critics will say he should have done better.
We do lack a cutting edge but the defence looks really solid and plays as a unit. Dug in at the start of the second half and didn’t collapse under pressure.
Need a RB, wide player and creative mid and we’ll be a serious challenge.
So apparently we are in for 4-5 players right now, in talks and such, and xia hopes to get at least 2 of them done by the end of the summer.
First game i have watched in a long, long time where we have played like a team – imagine that last season.
We are steadily starting to gel and had some cracking play first half…. Play offs is a minimum I think.. !
Still work in progress wait for the finished product then when there’s poor performances/results by all means have a dig.roll on Bristol city jedinak & tish in can’t wait Utv
Looks like we have the defence sorted out at long last but we need to create more going forward and must take chances
I can see steady progress, and that before Jedi makes a contribution. Teams need to be built from the back and the objectives are:
1/ Stop giving cheap goals away,
2/ Improve GK distribution,
3/ Improve set piece deliveries,
4/ Increase attacking options.
1 & 2 have definitely improved from last season’s debacle, but I don’t think we have made visible improvement in 3, and we have not started on 4. We are on the road though.
not like fans to want things to happen unrealistically quick, changing the club mentality from losers to winners in one window and a few games. back to the real world
i thought they played well. passing the ball meaningfully at times. dominated the whole game, but for the start of the second half, where i read we stepped of the peddle say some fans, i would rather say derby stepped up from a awful first half display, but villa again grabbed control. which pleased me cause usually we fold and wave a white flag.
i am not saying all is perfect, but its far from the end of the world, some common ground is needed. but if fans sulked when we were dog shit in prem, then sulk cause we didn’t score against a side that almost won promotion last year. when will we get behind the club, seems like excuses are a hard habit to drop.
i am concerned about the striker situation, if gestede is long time out or gets injured later in season we are short of cover. kojack gabby are not the answer one is too slow, both are crap at hold up the ball. both cant score in a brothel and are finished both had their days, which are longtime gone.
wots the answer ?? Rushian Hepburn-Murphy or that Keinan davis both i would have tried yesterday from the bench. granted we need another striker but who will that be
We need to get shot of Ayew too abs replace him with a decent striker if we can
yeah perhaps your right, but hes playing much deeper and wider than last season. i thought he was very good yesterday. tacking back winning ball backing up bacuna. going forwards he does need to shoot more. he over complicates i think. but he played committed, which i have questioned alittle lately
Agree defensively he does a decent job maybe we should play him right mid and get another striker. He’s never going to score many goals no composure like u say needs to much time. If RDM was smart he could turn him into a DAVID platt type players as he has the energy to do it
See we are still in for Ravel Morrison according to Italian press ‘left out of Lazio squad ahead of imminent move (to Villa). He has talent but ….. How do you guys view him joining us?
If you can keep him under control then we’ve got ourselves some serious talent so here’s hoping.
He will make or break us. At the moment it looks like there is a bit of harmony in the dressing room he could destroy that. Would he fight in every game or just turn up when he feels like it. Big risk
There’s no doubting his ability but as others have posted what would be his effect on the dressing room?
Is he worth the gamble?
A good question: maybe with proper, very experienced, ‘hard’ pros like Elphick [& now Jedinak] in the dressing room, there’ll be less chance for any upstart waster to spread his virus.
If these guys can’t put-right any kid with ideas above his actual ability, or with an attitude problem, then I can’t imagine who could – and that’s without any input from the management.
True they should sort him out
I think we all agree that 3 player’s in the team should move, as for you saying Oohah about dressing Room up evil that’s been put to bed, mind you I’d like to find out if Gabby was behind the sacking of two coaches and discontent in the club? yes a mark difference how we play and the defence is a lot better.
That’s what worries me about Morrison will he disrupt dressing room. If he gets a regular start and dosnt pull his finger out a lot of players will be pissed off
I agree with many on our need for a creative midfielder, hows about a young man in Spain named Carles Gil?
Think he wants to stay in Spain. I’d like to see him back though.
Dave I just cannot make my mind up on him, think he’s lightweight but has the skill in going forwards, maybe used in situations when winning.?what you think.?
I’m not sure Gil is that creative……he had more than enough opportunities and didn’t deliver.
Very good
From what I can see in this league there are no stand out teams , early days. A couple of signings in the right position and we be around the top come end of season.
Amavi came on yesterday for Grealish in the LM position. Is this the reason why Bennetts transfer was stopped just a taught .
Morrison , being honest I know feck all about him. I think any transfer nowadays is a risk. If he comes hopefully he can do the business.
I’d be delighted with Morrisons. A raw talent and to be fair to him it doesn’t sound like he’s rocked the boat / gone off the rails out in Italy. Like Jack, he could do with some good advice and the right sort of friends around him. Obviously a few managers have tried and failed but he might have grown up a little…….he won’t get many more chances.
*Morrison
From what I’ve seen so far, we’ve been the better side in every game we’ve played. Could have quite easily won them all. Just need to be a bit more clinical in front of goal. Some encouraging signs and some good link up play. Defense looking much more organised. Couple more signings still needed. Dr Xia’s on the case.
Guzan just gifted Sunderland a goal……After making a great save 10 minutes before. Some things don’t change.
And he fumbled a straight fwd shot just after. Still error prone thankfully it’s not our problem any more
Didn’t manage to see the game but I was keeping an eye on the live text.
From what I could tell on balance we probably should have won but if you’d offered me a draw away at Derby before the game I’d have probably bit your hand off.
We seem to be creating chances but we’re just not putting them away but I’m sure this will come once the players get to know each other’s style of play better.
Big plus for me was no 85th minute defensive collapse.
So far so good on the whole and I’m sure we’ll improve further. So feeling positive, still another 126 points on offer this season and we’re above the noses.
UTV
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14039988_987288688050867_3889614098123300612_n.jpg?oh=80958165ee8c03afac331a1269558d76&oe=584A5632
Hopefully this ends the Bamford links
Why would a world class striker come to us. Aguero is world class is Dr X actually saying we will be getting someone as good as him?
Sounds like Badger was listening to the same radio commentary as I was.
Like all of our league games so far it seems that we’re creating lots of chances, and have had quite a few bounce off the woodwork [etc.] – so I think it’s just a matter of time before the forwards start getting them a few inches closer to the target and we go in at half-time with a two or three goal lead.
Looking forward to Jedinak starting the next game, and hopefully there’ll be another nice surprise before the window shuts – and personally I’m well optimisitic that we’ll be up there in the leading pack within a month or so.
[Can imagine now getting shot down in flames for saying that…!]
UTV
Sociedad fans applauded throughout the ninth minute as a tribute to their former striker Dalian Atkinson, who died on Monday.
Atkinson wore the number nine shirt when he played for the club during the 1990-91 season.
I think for a player like Gil to be effective Bill, he needs a midfield enforcer to protect him so he can get to work, unfortunately he never really had that at Villa. I think Jedinak would have been a perfect ‘protector’ for him, sadly that is something we shall not see.
Good point Dave C
listening moyles make his excuses after a home derby defeat to sunderland. he was bleating about shortages of center halves, well david you could cough up 5 million and take richards. whats wrong with him lmao ???
you would have thought queues would be so long, if not for their footballing skills,but for the egos of lescott richards gabby. must be a kick in the teeth knowing your a fake and has-been. no longer to cut it so you resort to leaching a living.
a world class striker coming 🙂 if this is true, its a final jigsaw piece, villa are improving, week on week, its only a matter of how long before we are wining regular. if its that Hernández we are as good as promoted now. he will offer miles more movement and goals than gestede. fingers crossed
correction~ was home defeat to Middlesbrough
I see sky reporting villa could pay lescott off to fuck off hope they include shabby & make it a job lot.
Shall we pay for his taxi Giddy 😄