Fair enough, I got a bit complacent in hoping for a win in this game, but it’s what you do when you’re on a 10 game streak, isn’t it?
I’m sure I wasn’t alone in thinking that we could beat a not particularly good Man U side.
But it wasn’t to be and the truth is that it was another pretty poor performance.
Again, it wasn’t a lack of effort, but more down to a lack of reserves from what I saw.
The energy levels just don’t seem to be there.
It’s no surprise and squad-wise we’re running on fumes.
Ash Young was a typical example. I thought he ran his lungs out for us and I really can’t fault him, but he’s worked so hard for so long for us this season that it’s no surprise he was shot when he got subbed.
He’s surely one that will be upgraded, along with a few others, although I’d expect he gets promoted to a coaching position or something. What an inspirational player he’s been.
Did anyone play particularly bad?
I’m often quick to criticise, but I can’t really say anyone did.
Well, I could say we were all rubbish, but I don’t think that’s fair.
If I had to pick a MOTM, it has to be Martinez, who kept us out of trouble more than a few times.
I just got the impression that they had reserves and we played players who you would ideally have rested.
The problem is that if we qualify for that conference tournament, it means the owners will probably invest more than if we don’t.
That would be a mistake, in my opinion.
Regardless of what happens from now until the end of the season (and I honestly expect us to fade), I believe now is the time to really invest in top quality players.
There’s a lot of stuff gone on over the last 20, 30 or even 40 years and it’s always been meh to me. I’ve never seen anything that has approached the Saunders years.
Taylor and O’Neil came very close.
The Little and Atkinson years were close too.
But I honestly believe Unai Emery has us on the cusp of success.
Hence I also believe that now is the time for our great owners to really invest.
Consider that normally I’d be moaning because we’ve lost.
Yet I’m totally sanguine.
We have the setup.
We have the academy (although I doubt we’ll use it, apart from making profit (£20 mill for Archer?))
We have the owners with the ambition that Ellis should have had.
It’s all there.
I’m expectant and it’ll be interesting to see where we go this year.
Hey, when was the last time you heard me say things are looking good, after a loss?
I agree with what you said badger villa are starting to fade,a step to far for a thin squad
I hope you don’t mind me suggesting a poll badger
How many of you would rather see villa fail in Europe bid this season and strengthen in the summer for a proper go next season
Or would many of you rather qualify this season and hope it helps bring in better players
Personally I would rather ue had a pre season and full season before getting into Europe
Brilliant write up Badger and being there back in the day no one as even come close to replicating the Sir Ron era.
Not he who walks on water, MON, none (imo).
And you are spot on, we do feel like we’re on the precipice of something special, for the first time in many a year but as Villa fans we are scarred, like some post traumatic match disorder.
A subconscious feeling it’s only a matter of time before the wheels come off.
As for the Man U game I personally thought Buendía had an absolute mare but you’re bang on, we have, as a unit simply run out of gas.
Roll on next season – onwards and upwards.
Badger – great analysis.
I would take any European route for next year. I believe that we need to be playing more games that will then enhance the development of the young players looking to break through. Personally I would like to see if A Ramsey, Archer, Iroegbunam, Revan, O’Reilly and K Young can make it initially as 1st team squad players and then as starting players. By being in Europe and hopefully having a run in the cups, we can develop these players at a quicker rate. We still have Duran to develop and Silva is still on the bench.
In the meantime, I expect the cheque book to come out and between 3 or 4 real quality additions bought, who go straight into the starting 11.
Can’t wait for next season.
We take Europe if we can. European games means we are a Premier PLUS club and will attract better players. Next year will not be easier to make Europe and we could end up as an “almost ran” top half club. Imagine if we could call on Archer and Ramsey (A) as subs just now instead of the current choices, or lack of choices.
What about the Gregory years? That was fun! Dunno about the Europa Conf League. That seems a bit crap to me. I still want 5th!!
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12039823/Barcelona-transfer-chief-Mateu-Alemany-set-director-football-Aston-Villa.html
If the above is correct, then Wow!!!
Players have been astounding since Emery arrived but you can only give so much…
If true then does it mark the end of Lange?
It certainly suggests Villa are going to make a big statement in the transfer market in the summer.
I guess it means Auld Lange Syned his last dud! (I have been waiting for the chance to write that).
However we are supposedly paying big money for a director of recruitment from the most crooked club in Europe – if stories of paying referees instead of the taxman hold up. Barcelona’s finances are such that they don’t need a recruitment director, they can’t afford to buy anyone. Still our owners have given Emery full powers and he evidently does not rate Johan over Alemany so I can’t see Villa keeping both.
As long as he pays the ref more than Man Utd do, I’ll be happy!!!!
Fair analysis Badger.
We have played four games with exactly the same team – because there’s no one else. Brentford, Fulham and Man U all quickly realised that if they flood the mid field and sit on Watkins it nullifies the way we play. They also realised that Emery hasn’t any alternative as none of the players on the bench provide options that makes the opposition think! He’s managing with one hand tied behind his back.
Eventually we were going to find it impossible to overcome these limitations and in Man U we faced a team and manager a step up from the rest (despite their makeshift defence!).
Casemiro ran the midfield – imho aided and abetted by the referee who failed to yellow card him for the early challenge on Ramsey – that pretty well gave him free licence.
We missed having either Bailey or Kamara (yes Bailey – really) available.
Bailey has caused Man U problems in the past and if he had been available McGinn could have dropped into mid field alongside Luiz. That’s not to say that Dendonker played badly but McGinns tenacity, body strength and aggression would have given Casemiro a much harder time. Alternatively Kamara could have played that role.
I’m not convinced we’ll fade but we do need a couple of our injured players back to give Emery some real options otherwise we will struggle to get the results we need for a European place.
Wolves away is going to be very difficult – they’re unbeaten at home over the last 8 games (w6d2) and we have a shite record at Molineaux – in fact we have an awful record against Wolves since we returned to the EPL.
Time for another Emery record buster then!
This Alemany thing is really interesting.
Note this line;
“The economic offer is dizzying” (to Alemany, that is).
And also this;
“Sergi Roberto would not have renewed for Barcelona if the decision had been made by Alemany. And less with the salary that he receives.” (Laporta poking his nose in).
It also says he wanted to go to a club that doesn’t leak deals (He’ll definitely get that) and it hints that we’re going to spend (although compared to Barce, that might not mean much).
Use Google translate to read;
https://www.marca.com/futbol/barcelona/2023/05/03/645214c022601d4d1f8b458e.html
This from today’s Times
‘Lange is expected to stay although how the Board structure will look is unclear …….. Alemany is used to working alongside another Sporting Director having done so with (Johan) Cruyff at Barcelona’
And
‘Regardless of whether (Villa) qualify for Europe, Emery is expected to be backed heavily in the transfer market in the summer with a proven centre forward and winger high on the wanted list (sic)’
And
‘It’s also been confirmed (by Villa) that Alberto Benito – Real Betis chief scout will be joining the club in the summer but will be based in Spain’.
It seems we can expect one or two Spanish players to join nonetheless it would also seem that our owners are preparing to make a decisive move to take Villa to the next level having given Emery significant influence in the clubs on field decision making.
UTV
Hitchens: your edition of the Times seems to have more in it about Villa than mine today. I thought The Times was a ‘national’ = same edition everywhere, but evidently I get the Surrey edition (heavy weighting towards Manure) and you have the midlands edition.
A word of warning to anyone accessing My Old Man Said or the Mail online. Run your Crap Cleaner immediately afterwards because the quantity of cookies downloading off those 2 sites is colossal.
Thanks OLL – I’ll do that
And interesting about The Times; I’ve got shared access with a mate of mine that lives in the Lake District so not sure which ‘edition’ I get.
You might find this article from the My Old Man web site interesting – bit lengthy but worth a read.
https://www.myoldmansaid.com/aston-villas-bold-new-world-looks-to-begin-with-mateu-alemany/
And this from the Mail
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12044499/Snaffling-Barcelonas-transfer-guru-Mateu-Alemany-sign-Aston-Villas-intent.html
I’ll stop posting links now 🙂
I see a link in NewsNow talking about City being interested in Moreno. I sincerely hope not, because he’s been a massive signing and can only get better but he is 29 and if City offered big money would it be worth doing? Personally I say no as Digne will probably look elsewhere in the summer leaving us with no first choice LB. If the rumour is true though it’s no surprise, the top clubs will always look to pinch the up and coming clubs best players, it’s happened for years with the promise of more money and guaranteed challenges for trophies.
Other teams will always be interested in good players, Adam. But there’s a very simple reply if they come calling that Villa need to get used to using: “No.” More poetic options are “Get stuffed”, “Get stretched”, “Do one”, or my personal favourite, the timeless and unequivocal “f*** off!”
It’s so difficult to want Man Ure to win but we need Brighton to lose if we are to have any hope of getting European football next season.
Bad nights result for villa Brighton now 1point in front with 2games in hand.
Looks like a straight shoot out with spurs for last euro spot
I think villa will finish 8th now. Funny how one defeat sent us down the table
Agreed Roy – but tbh I think our true position has been 8th for some time.
Funny isn’t it – six months ago we’d have been over the moon with eighth!
It’s important that we don’t finish any lower – of course if we can beat Wolves, Spurs and Brighton them 7th is still on.
All four of our injuries are back in training which is very good news – we need fresh legs and Emery needs alternatives on the bench.
Can’t see any of them starting tomorrow but wouldn’t be surprised to see all four on the bench.
UTV
Brighton and De Zerbi really do look the real deal, and I can see this guy replacing Klopp if he carries on like this. I looks like 7th or 8th for us, and we need to be wary of Brentford coming up the rear again. As I’ve stated before, I’d take 8th and no Europe over the Conference and they go for 4th next year!
‘Need to be wary of Brentford coming up the rear’
🙂 🙂
Though on a serious note BFR – how do Brighton do it?
I don’t know about Alemany, maybe we should just steal all of Brighton’s recruitment team!
Just out of interest, do we think Emery should block Duran going to the U-20 World cup or should he let him go?
I can see why we’d want him to stay, just in case, but I do wonder how much he might resent being blocked?
Yes, the club comes first, because we pay his wages, but you want to keep the young lads happy, hence I’d let him go.
I can see both sides though.
Yes agree with badger let him go to the world Cup at least it’ll give him game time ready for next season
Especially if we have players coming back.
And agree our true position would be about 7th to 8th as long as can keep ahead of Brentford
I think spurs should be our target now.
How do you interpret stats?
Emery has won only one of six meetings with the Wolves manager (all in Spain) and Wolves are the only EPL side he’s never won against (D1L3)
Wolves have won their last three at home and haven’t conceded a goal in any of their home wins and are on a run of four unbeaten against us (W2D2).
On top of all that Sutton has predicted us to win – when did he last get a Villa prediction right!
I’m really concerned about this game. It would be great to win it but I’d take a draw if offered now. Is this the spectre of old Villa talking?
UTMV
Traore in for Dendoncker otherwise same team as last week.
Coutinho, Baileyand Kamara on the bench which looks a whole lot stronger. Too early for Cash who only resumed training on Friday.