I’m sorry, but you’ll have to forgive me for not wanting to do cartwheels over our winter window business.
Reading around, it seems the word I’ve come across most to describe our dealings is “underwhelmed” and that’s about how I feel.
While the Guilbert signing intrigues me, it’s obvious he’s one for our future plans and that’s fair enough, although I do wonder why we’re signing players for the future, when we need them now, if we’re really going to push on for promotion?
Looking at the rest of the signings, it’s a similar story.
Mings seems our best bet and I like the sound of him, but he’s hardly played in years.
Will he be ready to start tomorrow? I’d be surprised, but we do need to give Chester a rest. The problem I have is that U-23 match fit is not Championship match fit.
Which leads me to Hause, who was supposed to have looked the business in training, but hasn’t been able to oust an injured Chester. What does that say about either the player or what Dean Smith told us?
The minimum for me, is that he’s nowhere near ready.
Kalinic is finding his feet and definitely seems a better goalie than Nyland, although it’s early days.
And then there’s the enigma which is Tom Carroll, who strikes me as a desperation signing when the Fer transfer fell through.
Hopefully he’ll add some more intensity in the middle, compared to Whelan and Jedinak, but I’m not sure exactly what his role will be. Competition for Hourihane, perhaps?
I’m just a bit concerned that Swansea’s fans seem glad that he’s gone, but at least he’s had a few games this season.
Ok, on paper, we’ve rebalanced the side somewhat.
But we all know the game isn’t played on paper and if it was, we wouldn’t be where we are now.
I’m minded to ask how we’ve actually improved a single position and would welcome thoughts on this.
So, all in all, I think we’re pretty much going with what we’ve got, which ultimately won’t be good enough, this season, at least.
So while I don’t think much of our incomings, I think our outgoings are mostly good moves.
Hogan to the Blades is a risky one, but as it was, we were only depleting his value by not playing him.
Yes, he might ultimately cost us promotion, but I’m not convinced. If Sheffield can get him firing, fair enough. At least he’ll retain more value when we do let him go.
Bree, well, while I know some were disappointed over this one, I can’t say I am. He hasn’t yet struck me as anything special and needs games.
And then there’s the kids. Smith hasn’t messed about here. He said we were top heavy and has cleared most of our attack out on loan.
Rightly so, as most of them were never going to get a game and need real minutes in a man’s game. This is the encouraging part for me.
If they do well, they come back and seriously challenge; if not, they get binned.
Bedou, I’m really not bothered about.
And McCormack, well, good riddance.
Anyway, given my views of the academy being a waste of time if the lads are never going to move up, I’m very happy about our outgoings.
So onto tomorrow’s game and I don’t have a clue what to think.
Will Mings go straight in?
Will Carroll play?
Will Reading have an advantage now that they’ve got rid of Bacuna?
I simply don’t know.
But I’m going for a 1-0 win.
Simply because we ought to win this game.
Didn’t see the game so hard to comment but I did read that Mings had a good debut and linked well with Elphick. We’re sure going to need it Friday against Sheff Utd.
I’ll be honest – we have a shite record playing Friday night games and I’m not confident.
yeah mings did a good game, but he never scored so must be rubbish. for the record his distribution was really good. he formed a good understanding with elphick and his other new team mates. don’t know if his inclusion helped taylor, because taylor raised his game some what. he made many forward runs helping us out on the attacking side. he also made many less mistakes defensively.
just heard smith and from his own words he views on the games are not that far away from my own. he is happy with the performance and its back to where it was. sometimes you don’t get what you deserve in football matches, like life. you don’t give up and look to blame others or yourself,
ball goes in from elphicks header or tammys flicked header we win the game and reading commit more men forward and they leave bigger gaps at the back, as for reading being more dangerous i might have missed that, i recall one save from our keeper and that was first half and i decent one down to his left
so we dropped two more points lets quit the season or lets play to the end and see where that takes us
You’re right Nath – play to the end of the season and I was trying to be positive about the defence looking firmer.
i don’t get some fans, maybe you can explain this too me.
most have given up on promotion or even a top 6 finish. but when a result like tonight happens. they are the ones most disappointed.
while their are some fans, who still believe we will have a decent end to the season and that still might be enough for top 6 and then who knows what happens in play offs.
we should have won today hitch nobody saying otherwise. but i saw improvements. we played much more in their opponents half, we won the ball high, we had two or three good chances. we are not miles away like the games at swansea and wigan. today was miles better.
Not going to try Nath (explaining it) 🙂
Yeah it was MINGin that he didn’t score…..
Is McGinn banned due to yellow cards now ?
McGinn wasn’t booked – came off with cramp
norwich 2 nil up against leeds. wonder if they will do a villa and lose 3 2 what you reckon. place your bets now not after the final whistle.
did grealish play against leeds ???
should have been 3 nil to norwich
3 nil now, still could lose this 4 3 villa could
leeds mounting a come back 1 3 three mins left still can do this
norwich now look like they are king of championship, thats after selling their jack grealish last summer. looks like their is life after selling one player. who would have thought that the two teams that were relegated with villa would both get promoted before we did, now if thats not worth ripping your teddies arms and legs off i don’t know what is,
off now back Friday bill. work and other commitments will not allow me to much time on here . just letting you know that your scary manner hasn’t scared me off AGAIN. love you really
Nath, before you go can you put a capital B only it makes me think I owe you money.😊
And I love you, you naughty boy..
Hmm.
I’ve just deleted my complaining post now that you two are having a love-in 🙂
Nice to see we’re keeping it civil gents, Cheers.
Err, it don’t bother me Badger, been floating around Villa sites and have to say interesting debates, a lot are saying the obvious we should be nailing teams at the bottom, I’m still in Smith’s camp but keep this up and I’m joining the angry brigade , its a little like brexit this, some for and some out, Dean start looking at Villa sites you might get the answer to what’s going wrong.what I did see in today’s game was panic playing, our midfield are not a creative enough, balls out to wing and they knew it, they went through our middle easy, we do miss player’s like Grealish that opens defences . I wish I was back to my playing days I’d stamp my mark in a game. Mind you I got sent off twice.
How many times did Leeds change their manager and what good did it do them? Farke (sic) didn’t set the Championship alight last season did he?
To talk about Smith having failed after, what, a dozen games, having inherited an unbalanced squad and losing, arguably, the two best and absolutely key players to long term injuries, is absolute madness. It comes back again to unrealistic expectations.
I don’t expect us to get promotion this season but that doesn’t mean to say I’ve given up – where there’s hope and a mathematical possibility then you keep striving as hard as you can.
UTV
Reading fans claiming that Mings stamped on Oliviera’s face and claiming he will receive a long retrospective ban? Anyone see the incident?
Not condoning foul play but I can recall two clear stamps on Grealish which went unpunished although Maupay did get a three match retrospective ban.
Knowing Villa’s luck …….
was totally accidental hitch from my first impression, the referee was right there also he never saw anything in that incident .
but his judgement was totally crap during the game. referee should learn to allow the game flow, he punished us many times stopping the game to book their players, instead of allowing us to finish the move before booking them.
It was unintentional Hitch.
The Reading fans can say what they like, but one of the Reading players went up to Mings and tapped him on the arm or chest, as if to say “we know you didn’t mean it”.
He couldn’t have really put his foot anywhere else, imo.
Correct Badger, I seen the game, Mings signals the ref and tap his arm to indicate it was accidental.
It seems the media prefer to report it as Mings ‘stamped’ on his face. The problem is if the media kick up enough fuss the EFL will start investigating and if enough pressure is brought to bear (and remembering that Mings has history with Ibramovitch) they’ll decide to ban him for about 8 games – whether accidental or not!
He got 5 games ban for the Ibramovitch incident.
I have a bad feeling about this – hope I’m wrong.
Just to add – the media are reporting that it ‘looked accidental’ or (accidental) – added in brackets – but implying, quite clearly, that it wasn’t and then referring to the Ibrimavitch incident.
I don’t believe there will be a problem Hitch.
I think a lot depends on if it was mentioned in the ref’s report and even if so, it seemed he was happy that it was unintentional.
The media are blowing it up because it’s a story and they’re using Mings’ previous history to justify it.
it wouldn’t be half the issue if it was any other player.
All that’s said where you know my history, when I’ve previously called debatable penalties against us as “definitely so” if I’ve thought it.
I detest foul play, same as you, just as much if it comes from our side.
That said, I genuinely didn’t see El Ghazi’s “dive” clearly enough.
Otherwise, I’d have slagged him myself.
Whatever, you need to see the “stamping” incident in real time, as slo-mo makes it look a lot worse.
That’s the point though isn’t it Badger – ‘slo-mo makes it look a lot worse’ and that’s what the EFL will consider.
The ref’s report is, as you say, vital but I’m unclear on the grounds upon which the EFL can act.
Hitch, I’ve got a twenty quid charity bet that says no action is taken, if you fancy it?
Put it that way 🙂
Only joking (?). I don’t want to put you on the spot.
Not a betting man Badger ‘cos I normally lose and I’m a bad loser but I’ll take you up on it as it’s a £20 charity donation and I never regret giving money to worthy causes.
Just feeling really depressed today, something I struggle with at times – think I might have to find a nice bottle of wine 🙂
I’m not a betting man either Hitch, but similar to you, I’m always happy to lose a few quid for a charity, on this site.
Where I always choose Acorns and usually lose too.
I struggle with depression too, at times.
It’s called watching the Villa. Hmm.
I think this nest of comments will have run out now, so reply at the bottom of the page, please.
Watched the incident and I really don’t know – it’s difficult to move your foot from it’s trajectory if you’re off balance like that and if you try and limit the downward pressure it makes it worse.
The fear I have is that he will be damned and banned because he has history and the EFL will not be prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt – I hope I’m wrong.
I also hope that it was accidental because to deliberately stamp on someone’s face is unforgivable and I wouldn’t want him playing for Villa if that was the case. Of course only Mings knows the truth.
Latest reports have now accused him of a deliberate stamp and the Reading manager has weighed in saying the referee ‘missed the incident’. Long ban coming up.
Thanks guys. I did note that the Reading manager didn’t refer to it after the game.
Reading between the lines it seems to me that Grealish is some way off playing – I doubt that we will see him before March now which is very disappointing after losing him for half the season last year as well.
According to the Sun (I know, not the most reliable source but still) –
‘ASTON VILLA are targeting Nottingham Forest star Joe Lolley to replace Jack Grealish long-term.’
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/8340437/aston-villa-jack-grealish-nottingham-forest-joe-lolley/
What about his other half Cash?
Yes, I saw this one Pat.
Almost like they’re expecting Grealish to leave if we don’t go up, which in fairness, I think is something many Villa fans agree with.
Lolley has good stats and seems a good player.
Maybe this is all part of our forward planning?
Which other half?
Do you mean Pat, Pat? 😉
Badger I was watching a Forst game earlier in the season and the substitutes that came on were Joe Lolley and Matt Cash. Don’t think that the commentator noticed when he talked about ‘Lolley and Cash’.
Ah, I’m with you now 🙂
Surely it’s time for the rose tinted glasses to be removed?
Bruce had more impact than Smith.
I’m not a Bruce fan his style of football was awful. But he got us to one game away from the Prem.
Say what you want but it’s a fact Villa have needed urgent upgrades at CB LB DM and probably winger/mid.
Smith has had months to address this. January was an opportunity either by bringing in new players or (if good enough) youth. Smith has done neither instead he has brought in injured or recovering from injury players or players who are not good enough. I accept Mings may be a good signing.
But even with theses players he has failed to address the weak areas of the team.
How can Smith be supported when he is still playing Taylor, Whelan, Hourihan, Adomah?
Does anyone really think we will achieve anything with theses players?
So why is Smith playing them?
It seems because Smith may have been a Villa fan he is beyond criticism.
Imagine where we would be without Tammy goals?
Time to wake up Villa are at best a mid table Champ team with a selection of players who are not good enough for that level.
Smith has done nothing to address this problem.
Ha, you certainly know how to cause a debate, Ted.
The worrying thing for me, is that you’re making many of the same points I have over the past few months.
The difference is that you’ve bunched them all together and don’t offer any positives at all.
Whereas I do at least try and look for them (I hope?).
It’s why you get accused of being a nose, imo.
Ok, let’s address your points, one by one;
Yes, Bruce got us within a game of promotion. And indeed asked himself what he’d done wrong.
The question here is do you think we’d be challenging for promotion now, with the way we were looking?
I don’t think we had a hope in hell. The footy was awful and the players looked disinterested. Then consider these were Bruce’s players.
Yes, I think everyone agrees that we haven’t upgraded LB and I’m perplexed about that. That said, I thought Taylor did ok yesterday and I’ve slagged him more than most on here previously.
By your own admission, Mings looked very decent yesterday.
Maybe that’s CB sorted? Plus we have Axel due back.
We’ve signed Carroll, who wouldn’t have been my choice, but that’s one Smith will live or die by.
Yes, Smith has had months to look at this, but as has been said, he can’t do it all in one go.
While I wanted the same replacements you do, I think he’s had to be pragmatic and strengthen the squad overall, which by the looks of Mings, he has done.
As fot the youth, this has been done to death.
He obviously feels, along with previous managers, that they aren’t ready and need to prove themselves. Hence he’s sent them out on loan.
Which is something Bruce never did. Why? It’s obviously not been a problem.
“How can Smith be supported when he is still playing Taylor, Whelan, Hourihan, Adomah?”
I’d be interested to know who you’d play instead.
Whatever, it doesn’t matter. Smith can ony go with what he’s got and shuffle the pack in a few ways.
These are Bruce’s players remember, who are not suited to the way Smith wants to play. They don’t have the energy, imo.
Where would we be without Tammy?
Up a proverbial creek, as I suggested just last week.
I can’t debate that one at all.
The point is, no, Smith can’t be defended at any cost purely because he’s a Villa fan, I agree.
But you have to at least give the bloke a chance.
Look. I want it all and I want it now; the same as you and any other Villa fan.
But you’re right.
We’re a middling Championship team, simple as.
And Smith will need time to change it.
Actually, I’m glad you posted your comment, as it reaffirms my belief that Smith is a better bet than Bruce, just as I was having serious doubts.
Things are definitely not brilliant, but at least we aren’t going down the road we were with Bruce.
Which was nowhere, imo.
you get a tick badger just for the common sense you added.
am i missing the point here. are some fans now simply missing the manager they hated and hounded out the door. iam sure that will bring a smile to his face
badger is right, smith has a problem until summer market,because most of the players left behind from bruces reign, are not up to playing his style and tactics. this cant be addressed in one january window. were signing players is very hard, even if you wanted to splash loads of money on players inflated prices. selling clubs just don’t want to lose their players in mid season.
on the incident with mings. if he receives a ban for accidentally standing on the guys face. it goes to show you the game is ruined by clueless officials. its easy to draw up the wrong impressions, when you slow shit down. in normal speed the reading guy fell awkwardly and under mings feet. its nothing more than a bad accident, which needed a warm felt apology nothing else, which mings did straight after it happened. reading fans were making something out of it. not the players or referee. lastly mings will be feeling shit about it, nobody plays football to intentionally hurt his opponent.
I’m glad I get your approval Nath. 😉
Seriously though, you’re right.
The players didn’t make a big deal of it and they generally know if someone’s targeting someone.
I’m sure Mings is genuinely sorry for it happening, but can’t agree that players never go out with the intention.
A certain Roy Keane comes to mind here.
Not that I’m suggesting Mings meant it at all. He didn’t, simple as, for me.
just watched the slow replay and even that shows it was accident. hopefully the officials make the correct decision and not one they feel they need to make, because of the serious damaged caused by the accident,
yeah their are some exceptions, think of the french guy who got totally smashed into hospital by west german goalie schumacher. he never even recieved a yellow that was not even a debatable decision. but most players don’t play to hurt a fellow professional.
I was at Reading yesterday and it was one of the dullest games I have seen in years – However our away support was amazing…. I had to sit in the home end and listening to how our fans got behind the team makes me proud to be a Villa fan….. Shame the players don’t show the same amount of conviction..
Without Tammy we would be really in the brown stuff, and he will go back to Chelsea at the end of the season – so much for building for the future !!!!
Whereas the Brum Mail said it was a great game for a 0-0. Go figure.
I agree with you, fwiw.
Yes, I’ve no doubt the fans were great. Imagine if they’d been given the usual allocation?
It seems crazy that Reading have cost themselves a lot of money, by slashing it.
As for Tammy, agreed. A Bruce signing.
Or was it?
https://metro.co.uk/2019/02/03/tyrone-mings-sends-message-nelson-oliveira-horrific-stamp-reading-star-8430745/
Let’s take a look.