Ok, I don’t want to get ideas above mine or any Villa fans expectations, but if I was one of my Grandsons, I’d be very excited right now, because the possibilities are endless and we so remind me of the title winning team that we all revere.
The grandsons were at that game and strangely enough, that’s the first time they’ve seen the Villa win away. Go figure.
Cut to the quick and Fulham were unbeaten at home this season. Yes, it’s early days, but it matters, imo.
The simple fact is I thought we battered them.
Yes, they saw the same old tactic of trying to beat us with pace down our right side, where we all know that Cash, (while a good, hardworking servant who has performed well) is the biggest weak link in the team. I continue to call for an improvement in this position, as even though he can do good things, so he can do bad ones.
But it mattered not too much as our midfield had too much for them.
This struck me as a very impressive win, because I still believe Fulham are a good side, who will easily finish in the top half. It was made even more impressive when you consider the players we had on the bench.
As the currently fit squad stands, we look very strong, with decent quality as back up.
McGinn on the bench, for example?
Of course, we’re not at Man City or Chelsea type levels, because let’s face it, they’ve been able to blatantly bypass the rules over the years. And as we’ve seen, a couple of injuries makes us look lacking, meaning we don’t quite compete on level terms.
Whatever. What did I like?
The constant search for goals. It’s the name of the game, after all and I thought we totally took it to Fulham without fear. The midfield won us this, with Tielemans pulling the strings yet again, while strongly backed up by Morgan Rogers and Jacob Ramsey. I’m loving those two rampaging lads and there are no doubt many envious eyes on them.
Ollie scored again and what is there to say about that? He keeps doing his job, while I still often keep telling myself “how the heck did you not score there?”. Is it fair to sort of criticise him for not being clinical enough, with this season’s goalscoring record? I’m not sure it is, but I’d guess that if it was Haarland in his place he’d have double the goals.
His header today was quality, let’s have no qualms about that. It’s hard for me to question him too, because I think he’s quality, but the question needs to be asked, I feel.
What didn’t I like?
Cash, while a decent defender occasionally, isn’t good enough. What it is specifically, I can’t say.
He can defend well, but often gets caught out of position. He lacks pace too. I don’t know. I’m struggling to pin it down, but the fact is he’s just not good enough. Other managers know it, plain and simple.
Yes Pau messed up for their goal, but that apart, I thought he did well. And then when you win 3-1 away , how can anyone really complain?
The truth is you can’t. But it’s obligatory for us old farts to moan, isn’t it?
Consider we’ve only lost to Arsenal, who by all accounts from neutrals I’ve spoken to, were lucky and I think we currently sit in a very good place.
The name “Aston Villa” is becoming feared, I feel. Long may it continue.
UTV!
I watched MOTD, and yes Villa fans either blow hot or cold but I look forward to our away performances. We look like a team with a plan. I am not nervous about our home performances against the top 3, if we are not clinical we will get beaten. In contrast, we can start with a slack performance against the bottom dwellers at VP and still win. the mid table opponents at VP make me anxious because we are expected to win, but can struggle. Bournemouth next EPL visitors are exactly the type of team to test our credentials.
Before them, the Bolognese show up. Brum will be a shock to folks from this venerable Roman and medieval cultural city, since Brum was only formed from a collection of village workshops in the Industrial Revolution. In reality their famous sauce goes on Tagliatelle, but once has to ask those driving Bolognese how they coped with Spaghetti junction?
Badger
I like your article. It really shows the distance Villa have come since returning to the Premier League. We are now in a position where there is a feeling that there is one player not up to the desired standard. I do not think Cash is poor, just average at this level. The rest of the team are better than average. I am sure Monchi has identified an upgrade at right based on Emery’s requirements.
Our Rolls Royce pairing of Ramsey and Rogers have the potential rip apart all Premier competitors. It will be about avoiding serious injuries. Both are still young and could have many years ahead of them in the Villa team.
I really believe like you Villa are on the cusp of something special. Moreover, with Emery at the wheel it will be sustained not a one off.
Great post as ever Badger.
Loved the performance and, of course, the win.
Whilst others have looked towards Cash, my one concern was Bailey’s apparent lack of form – is it a confidence thing or is it a lack of fitness? We are yet to see the Bailey of last season whereas his performance yesterday reminded me more of his early Villa days.
He lost the ball on too many occasions through unforced errors – mainly poor control – which allowed Fulham to attack in the space behind him. Emery moved to replace him with Philogene – quite rightly in my opinion
With Philogene having been very harshly sent off we are short of options for the Bournemouth game so I hope we see the 2023/4 version of Bailey re-emerge this coming week.
Sid/Hitch, it would probably help me more if you tell me when you don’t like a post! 🙂
Sid, I don’t think Cash is poor either. The problem is he’s the least able in our first eleven, imo. It doesn’t make me happy to say that, as I like his work ethic and I’ve rated him as one of my favourites ever since he came.
But when you consider that Konsa is the default replacement (and I think it’s a major mistake to play him there, as it obviously doesn’t suit him) it’s apparent we need better in the RB position.
I’m not alone in thinking that either. I’ve seen surveys that agree.
Hitch, yes Bailey was poor, simple as. I’ve always viewed him as a luxury player, who can be brilliant on his day, but awful at times.
I’m sure he’ll come good again, but the point is we have a fair replacement in Philogene.
But when you combine it with our weakness at RB, we can sometimes look very unbalanced, I feel.
That RB position has to be a priority, plain and simple. But I very much doubt we’ll do any serious business in the winter window.
It would seem Unai is ok with that. I’m not personally, but what do I know?
It’s why he’s probably on £100,000 a week and I’m not 🙂
Sid – a new challenge – find a Badger post we can diss 🙂
I have a feeling that Emery sees Ned Kelly as the future but at 18 he probably doesn’t want to over expose him. Time will tell but, remember, when he becomes our No1 right back you heard it here first 🙂
I’ll get my coat …….
Cash was MOTM on the BBC site. And that was NOT a bloody penalty. Ref was also wrong about Philogenius.
Ramsey looked bloody good too. A few weeks ago he was struggling but it was obviously only rustiness. He’s on fire now! Chesty is our official battering ram. Fantastic player. I can’t beleive the players coming back, and maybe a short rest for McGinny will also work wonders.
Cash MOTM? Viva differing opinions.
I can’t agree with that at all. Wow.
Totally agreed, it wasn’t a pen. What chance do you have when it’s 2 ft away and hits you at pace? “Unnatural arm position” is a stupid rule that needs changing, imo.
Canadian Pete suggested Cash was a top performer on Saturday!
It’s all about opinions isn’t it but I find it interesting that Cash like Hutton before him are ‘marmite’ characters. What we can’t deny is that they both give / gave their all for the club.
Personally I would start with McGinn instead of Bailey because he puts in a better shift and offers more protection for Cash. Bailey as an impact substitute might be better while he’s not in form.
Maatsen must be frustrated with how well Digne is playing. I think he might start against Bologna though with another game on Saturday.
I thought Carlos did well against Fulham but Konsa will probably play on Tuesday.
I’m beginning to see us as genuine title contenders. We need better luck with injuries but it’s clear that Emery is a world class coach. Leave the media to constantly downplay our chances as it suits us to stay under the radar.
It’s funny how this is our best start to a season since 1998, but to me it doesn’t seem it. It’s hardly as though we’ve got out of the blocks so far. With what we’ve achieved in these few weeks, that’s quite amazing…Roll on the tagliatelle bolognaise!!!!!
Perception Bum Bum.
Consistency maybe has to give way – a little – to flair.
Is that why we feel Villa are not yet in top gear – a subtle shift by Emery with the quality of squad he’s building.
Sends shivers up the spine, hairs standing on my neck as to where NSWE / Emery and the club structure could take us – into realms I’ve never experienced in 60+ years of following my club.
But it’s for supporters like Bill who just a couple of years ago despaired that he would never see our beloved club successful again.
HEITS
By December 1st, we will know if Unai is going for the title or consolidating top 4. Because by then, we will have played Spurs, Liverpool and on the 1st, Chelsea – all away. A home game vs Palace mingled amongst that lot, which will be a must get 3 points. Massive massive games. If we can take a couple of scalps from those 3 games, maybe we can start dreaming. I’d certainly take two wins and a defeat. Two wins and a draw even better. Exciting times!
UTMV!
I think there’s always a tendency to underplay your aims so you don’t end up with egg on your face. Top 4 this season I’d be super happy with. There are 5 games left against those 3 side above us. That’s 15 points! Lol!!!
Joking aside, those games are actually the difference between consolidating top 4 and dropping down. Conceed heavily to those 3 and the points margin gives ammunition to those who may call us chancers…
I’m sitting on the fence here: I understand Badger’s view of Cash as perhaps the ‘weakest link’ in general terms – but then again I thought he had a good game on Saturday! Mind you, I’ve lost track of how many penalties (fair or not…) he’s given away for handball in the last couple of seasons. Someone please show him what he’s supposed to do with his arms when defending!
My real concern with the RB position isn’t Cash when he’s fit – it’s the fact that we only seem to have Konsa as cover there when Cash isn’t playing – and as others have pointed-out, that’s not Konsa’s natural position. We’ve had experienced cover available at LB for two years, so it seems very odd to me that we haven’t done the same at RB – no matter how ‘promising’ any of the youth players may be in that role.
I am in the Cash-supporting clique. The task he is set involves defending at RB but also overlapping down the right wing. Digne does the same on the left, but Digne can rely on help from our left-sided midfield, and Cash gets cover only infrequently.
– which rather comes back to Mr. Bailey.
When he’s playing at his best (as last season), Bailey is just about ‘OK’ at tracking back to help out Cash. Unfortunately Bailey’s form this season so far has been mediocre and he does leave the RB too much to do – whether that’s been Cash or Konsa.
In Emery’s press conference today – ‘I’m not here to waste my time – we have to be challenging in the Champions League and Premier League on a consistent basis’
Emery won’t accept anything but absolute commitment and continual improvement – he demands it of himself, his coaching staff and the players.
If Bailey doesn’t or can’t meet those criteria then he will be gone make no bones about it!
Philogene is available for tomorrow’s game and I can see Emery starting with him as against Bayern.
I’m intrigued by Emery’s hints that, when appropriate, he might start with Watkins and Duran. Not sure how he’d make that work but he is a genius tactician.
Game is at 3pm local time tomorrow so rum (3 litres on our personal bar 🙂 )lined up and all ready to go.
And rightly so Hitch. We are currently at a level where there can be no room for anything but the best. And if anyone can’t cut the mustard, they have to go.
It’s the only way to reach the highest levels.
Which takes me back to Cash.
I find him being called MOTM amazing, but accept that others think he did well.
I do find it odd that he hasn’t been upgraded though, especially considering there was a recent opinion poll in the Brum Mail and RB came out as top for needing improvement.
Maybe fans just think we need better back up?
Me, no. I want to see Cash improved upon and have him as a very decent back up player.
Nothing but the best remember.
Cash or Walker, for example? That’s not even a contest, imo.
I just feel it’s the last single position that needs a serious upgrade.
Every other area has decent options.
But, as I keep saying, if Emery is happy with Cash there, what do I know?
Cash or Walker?
Badger you might want to take the time to have a little Google of their pay…
You get what you pay for?
Kyle Walker ?
How much better he is than Cash isn’t really the question, but he’s already 34, which suggests to me that he has maybe only a year or so left at top level.
There must be some very good RB’s in their early 20’s somewhere around European football who could at least match Cash in performance and still be able to improve over the next 2-3 years?
I shall be on a Ghost Walk of Prague during the first half. Spare me ahy horror stories!!!!!
Enjoy Bum Bum – I’ll be drinking rum in 30C on a Caribbean Island so let’s hope the stories will be about Villa on fire!
Any pirates there, Hitch?
Been coming here for about 30 years so I know a few BFR – that’s where the good liquor’s sold cheap 🙂
Villa – Martinez, Konsa, Carlos, Torres, Maatson, Onana, Tielemans, McGinn, Rogers, Bailey, Duran
Digne, Cash, Ramsey and Watkins on the bench
Kamara also on the bench but no Mings – yet.
Those lions look a bit naff, don’t they? 😏
Bailey’s lost his mojo.
Bailey off at half time for me.
Dreadful. Keeps losing it. Looks totally out of sorts, mentally more than anything.
Is it me or have we yet another poor referee?
I was wrong – mea culpa.
Some of our play has been breath taking. Just need a couple of goals to consolidate our advantage.
Bailey is having a tough time. Whereas McGinn and Maatsen can inter play and overlap, Konsa is not able to give Bailey that support. It’s resulting in Bailey being crowded out.
Agreed – Rogers looks like some player and when you consider the ammunition on the bench …..
That’s fair comment Sid except Bailey has also made some poor decisions and looks well off what we saw last season.
He keeps coming inside whereas in the first couple of minutes went round the outside and created a half chance. There’s something not right.
Unless Emery changes the back four (unlikely) then he probably needs to bring Philogene on or play Cash in front of Konsa as an attacking wing back – a ploy he’s been known to use before.
Bailey is either brilliant or absolutely useless and nothing in between. He clearly lacks belief and confidence at the moment. Unfortunately for him, we can’t afford passengers so expect him to be hooked either at half time or early second half. Go for Fatawu of Leicester in January because he has pace to burn and can go on his right or left foot.