I told you, didn’t I?
That’s by no means a self-congratulatory comment though. I’m gutted and worry what today’s result might have cost us come the end of the season.
Did we bring it on ourselves? Well, possibly because we seemed to stroll through the game and our play was way too slow. Which is contrary to Ipswich, who I thought were excellent in chasing us down and forcing us into mistakes, particularly at the back.
The worrying thing is that they basically wanted it way more than us and given what should be a fair difference in class, that’s poor at this early stage of the season. It would seem we had more than one eye on the Bayern game. Which is fine, but you have to do the job in hand first.
There was a big part of that game where I didn’t see us winning and I actually saw us losing. That’s not good enough if we’ve supposedly moved up a level.
So what went wrong?
Well, I’ve never professed to know much about tactics, but quite simply, they murdered us with their rapid counters, which seemed, surprise surprise, to come down our right side. No wonder, as it’s a weak spot which should have been addressed as the number one priority in the summer. That fact that it wasn’t was a shockingly poor decision by whoever makes the transfer decisions, in my opinion. Couple that with Konsa playing at Right Back, a position that I’ve been consistent in saying doesn’t suit him. It means we’re playing with a sub-optimal defence just at a time that it’s total junk.
As much as I think Emery is mostly a great manager/coach/tactician, I struggle to see how playing an England centre back out of position is the best option. Put a bloody right back there, even if it’s the young Nedeljkovic, who obviously isn’t quite up to it. Even so, we can then put our best centre back into the heart of defence, where we are currently, well, porous is probably as good a word as any.
We just don’t look like stopping the oposition scoring, even if it’s only “lowly” Ipswich and that’s a worrying thing. I said before we played Young Boys that we can’t afford to play with a defence that isn’t at it’s best, but the opposition was frankly not good enough to give too much for concern.
I fear it won’t be the same against Bayern and they have the ability to rip sides to pieces. Lets hope Kane really is out for them, but I suspect he’s been rested as a precaution more than anything. Normally, I’d probably take him to score one against us, but now? I’d take him to get a hat trick, so shambollic are we.
The annoying thing is I fully expected us to go equal top with Liverpool today.
And now you young ‘uns have seen exactly why the older fans face games with slightly less belief than you.
It’s the Villa way.
Still, we’ve made massive steps forward over the last couple of years. We have to at least try to believe we can continue to improve. It’s just that days like today make it harder, don’t they?
UTV!
Disappointing seems the most apt word
On September 7th 1996, Aston Villa threw away a two goal lead to draw 2-2 against Arsenal at Villa Park. The two points dropped resulted in a failed opportunity to go top of the league. The more things change, the more things stay the same.
I remember this random result because it annoyed me when we missed the opportunity to go top. The more things change…
CLEAN SHEETS!
Remember last season at home to cannon fodder Sheffield United and a certain Cameron Archer scored to prevent us going top. It was 2 points dropped and cost us the chance to go top. It was another missed opportunity which annoyed me as much as today. We need to play the team in front of us and not the teams on the horizon.
Is it a psychological issue that messes with the minds of the players?
Every time it’s pointed out that we can go top by winning the next match, we fail – and usually to a team that we should be beating.
There will be a different mind set for the Bayern game, I’m sure of it. Whether we can get anything from it is a different question.
And then what about United at VP on Sunday – no Fernandes but will we suffer a backlash and hand them their customary three points?
“Is it a psychological issue that messes with the minds of the players?”
Good question, but it’s been a regular thing that’s happened for decades and involving hundreds of players.
More like that Gypsy curse on the heathens, I’d suggest and just the way it is.
While the likes of Mancs and Pool, even Everton have achieved way more than they ought, numbers-wise.
‘More like the Gypsy curse on the heathers’.
Wasn’t that during Sir Ron’s reign?
I’ve often wondered about that.
Wasn’t that a nose thing?
As memory recalls Barry Fry pissed on all four corner flags in order to lift this here alleged curse and prior to that Sir Ron (after his heart-breaking defection) I believe put crucifixes on the floodlight pylons, both had little success.
We were sloppier than a pizza called Giuseppe.
Carlos is way off it, konsa clearly better at CB but we just seemed to give the ball away, spend most of our time chasing, and nowhere near controlling the game.
Could easily have lost with the chances we gifted them.
Take a point, learn a lesson
Carlos is, indeed, “way if it.” So I reiterate: a top class centre back should be to of the shopping list, as well as a right back who’s at least as good as Maatsen.
I fear we will lose to both Bayern and United before the international break. The reason is our defence. Even Emi is making errors. If Cash is fit, I feel he has to play. With Pau and Konsa at CB.
“Way off it”
Their second goal is embarrassing in every way, not just for Carlos. And Emi at his near post for the first. Tut tut.
I see Martinez has also been banned for two games for his antics for Argentina. Also embarrassing. Needs to reign it in and focus of stopping goals from going in. His coach says he hates conceding. I don’t see that anymore. Cut the crap. And focus on organising your weak defence and keeping the ball out of Villa’s net.
The thing that worries me about next weeks ManU game is the old truth of ‘If you’re desperate for a result, play Villa. We’re happy to oblige’.
Will we make it Ten Bob’s las game, of extend his stay of execution?
Deflated over yesterday, but Ipswich played a blinder. Very compact.
Ahh we can’t slag emi off he’s the best in the world and everyone makes mistakes as for his antics footballers these days just aren’t allowed personality from the boring bastards in charge of the game
That’s a good point. One of my most enduring memories was Keegan and Bremner having that punch up at the Charity shield. Hardly good behaviour, but those are the things that stand out.
A red scouse said today that he fully expects us to tonk Man U because they’re so poor.
And then I put him straight about our record against them, where it seems like we’ve won one in thirty.
We really ought to be putting 3 or 4 past them, they’re so not playing for ten fags.
But we won’t, imo.
Our record against them is so poor, they know they just need to turn up to bag three points.
At least we won’t have to watch the snivelling Fernandes and his usual penalty 🙂
Remember last season when Rasmus Hojlund couldn’t buy a gaol?
He comes up us against us and bang, he’s of and running.
Or Machedas one and only meaningful contribution in a Utd shirt?
A last minute wonder goal against guess who?
Or Nemanja Vidic not getting a red card after bringing down Gabby in the 2010 League cup Final.
If it wasn’t for bad luck we wouldn’t have against that shower.
Andy Cole was also a slow starter for them. Yet got his first goal and the winner against us in 1995.
Chelsea are back and aren’t going away. Which means we need to get our house in order sharpish if we want to finish top 4 again.
On our 2 points dropped – U can guarantee the current top 8 will do the same over the course of the season. Deep breathe…
Doesn’t make me feel better, Bum Bum! All the more reason for us NOT to do it and maybe even challenge for the league! It’s a poor mentality and attitude to say it’s OK to slip up because our competitors will. No. Our competiors will slip up, so we will capitalise by not doing so! That’s my mindset anyway.
Speaking to many non Villa fans, the feeling is we are in a ‘blip’ of success so we need to enjoy it while we can.
Everton and Leeds are soon going to have bigger stadiums while Heck’s philosophy is to cream our current 40,000 or displace them so we can have as many corporate areas as possible. The prices for the Champions League fixtures is a disgrace but he knows the faithful will pay. It’s noticeable that there was less than 40,000 against Wolves which proves the cost of general sale tickets plus the unattended corporate areas are pricing fans away from Villa Park.
Fortunately for our owners is the fact Emery has overachieved so pretty much anyone could increase the turnover at the club. Heck is taking credit for this on the back of the teams success. When Emery goes, what then? We will be left with a small stadium compared to many of our competitors and 20-30,000 fans on the season ticket waiting list still.
They may feel that way, but we have a far superior Manager that ManU would give their right arm for! Everyone seems to forget that, especially with the Newcastle comparisons…
Um – are we dropping back into the Villa fans ‘all is doom’ views?
Even though we’re being successful it won’t last because non Villa fans predict it – sounds more like a mix of sour grapes and envy to me.
We dropped two points for heaven’s sake, we’re not fighting relegation – yet 🙂
If you haven’t seen, this is an interesting BBC piece on Duran – he’s certainly getting noticed.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cr4xwxvvypeo
Fernandez had Red Card rescinded and is available for game against Villa. I await your comments
Here come the men in white coats…anyone like to go first?
Typical – must help United – I despair.
Is there a game on tonight, lads?
I hear Preston North End are playing Watford if you fancy a gander?
(-:
Hell, yeah! See you down the Dog & Duck at half 7? If you get there first, I’ll have a Tetley’s.
Villa v Bayern?
It is today isn’t it?
I hope I’m wrong, but I wouldn’t bet against having our assses handed to us this evening. On platters…
So glad that I was wrong. Once again, congratulations to Unai and his team – outstanding! Emi, a worthy captain. Lost for words like the City and Arsenal games last season.
Now let’s have a run of clean sheets in the league and hit the top! COME ON!
Umm, Phelogene?????
My thoughts exactly.
Has Bailey got a knock or is it tactical. Our right side was a major problem against Ipswich and neither Bailey or Philogene offered much defensively. It’s time for Carlos to earn his wages. I’m sure Kompany will see this area as Bayern’s best chance of getting goals. I predicted a 1-3 defeat on Super 6. Let’s hope for an Emery masterclass.
Well, I’ve gone for a 1-1.
More in hope than anything. If Kane wasn’t playing, I’d be a lot more confident, but with our porous defence I can see him getting a hat trick.
I think I’ll be able to take a loss, but I don’t want a tonking.
That said, we definitely have tools that can seriously punish them and it could be a high scoring game.