We walked this game and Watford took the lead,
It then seemed to me that everything we were doing just looked like it wasn’t going to work out.
We’d dominated possession, passing and whatever stat you like.
Yet still Deeney managed to score again, against the run of play.
I’d already got the headline in mind, in that if we can’t beat Watford at home, we’re going down.
It was as simple as that.
And frankly, I still believe that was true.
I was massively worried, because I just couldn’t see where a goal was coming from, with our incredibly poor crossing into noone in particular.
And then, as Watford had possession in goal, I went to the toilet only to find that we’d scored to make it 1-1.
We still didn’t look that good to my mind, but somehow, we managed to net again in literally what must have been the last 10 seconds.
Where my brain nearly exploded and all that chemistry kicks off.
How the hell did we manage to pull that one back?
I’m trying to wind down and have to say I thought Watford were utter crap.
And if we couldn’t beat them at home, we were looking certs to be relegated.
That was going to be the gist of my post.
If Samatta can get us a few goals, perhaps we have a chance of surviving.
And we showed some signs of not giving up, which is a good thing.
But Jesus, we look poor as a team and we’re in a serious fight to stay up.
Grealish apart (and even he didn’t have a great game), we just look so average or worse.
I still can’t believe we won that, but if we can drag results like that out, we should be ok.
It just goes to show.
I said that Watford were second in the form table, while we were 15th, yet I still thought we might win.
It’s definitely a funny old game.
To make it even stranger, I was talking to a an old time Blue nose, who freely admitted to being a hooligan, in hs day.
He said he’d got a fiver on us to win.
Does that say it all?
It feels like it to me.
I’m still euphoric, I think.
Please type it again as I went to the toilet came back and we scored,. They think we went together.
I think we did Bill.
Well seperately of course; but no doubt when Foster had the ball in his hands and we both thought it was a good time to go.
Er, ooh er missus!
I seriously suspect that result might make all the difference in us surviving.
I’m buzzing my tits off.
If that’s possible on a few Stellas???
If you remember Badger,I did tell you Sunday that I thought we would win 🙂 Mind you I had forgotten that until 10seconds before the end of the game!
We’re not out of the mire – not by a long chalk BUT psychologically that is a massive, massive win. Get points at Bournemouth and we could start to believe.
10 days left in the window – we need another striker, an experienced mid fielder, a winger and a centre back 🙂
Ah well – dream on.
But for now it’s all good.
Completely agree, Badger. We’ve just managed to get a couple of results during what has been a tough time. As I suggested on another post, we dipped in form and seemed to lose confidence right as McCann got injured and now that we’re showing some grit as a team (even if it’s ugly), I think it’ll definitely built confidence. With Reina in goal, I don’t think we can underestimate his calming influence – he’ll be like our Dumbledore to the young squad. Mings is playing out of his skin right now, and if we can get in a decent winger (which I’m not confident we will), and/or another forward player, I think we have enough about us to find enough results to stay up.
I must admit I’ve started to have my doubts about DS lately, but I think we all have to remember this is his first season in the league and he’ll learn a lot this season, regardless of where we finish. I’m choosing to feel positive about his tenure still.
Just watched the goals. No way can Mings claim the second goal – that was Konsa’s goal all day long. Great assist by Reina!
Totally agree. Reina had a reputation for assists at Liverpool as well, though generally from quick, accurate release during open play though.
I’m going to keep my negative score predictions up in the hope that the team keep confounding me.
I still think Smith’s team selection and tactics are questionable, he should have started Luis and Vassilev. And what’s happened to Engels??
If we go down it will be a disaster for AVFC, and Smith being a life-long fan won’t count for much!
Random point: anyone think Reina could be an upgrade on Heaton? Which would be a massive bonus.
The Beeb gave Marvelous MOTM which surprised me until I watched a full replay of the match. He broke up a lot of the play and I was able on more than a few occasions to release the ball back to our line. He’s had off days but today was his.
Full marks to the whole team though. They played their hearts out and Luis throwing himself into the crowd exemplified all of that. Again it was JG moving them on, providing the lift – Villa through and through.
UTV
Yeah, was definitely MOTM. Was easily his best game. Closed down quickly, won his battles and kept the play moving. Much, much better. has to be him and Luiz next week, Drinkwater is miles off the pace at the moment.
Shamefully I though this game was on at the weekend, but seeing the score cheered me right up!
Very funny comments on the previous thread guys!!!
I fooking love Mings!!!!
P. S. According to the stats, first time we’ve come back to win from being down at half time since….. 2013! Shocking!
Yep – a run of 51 games!
That’s in the EPL not all games
P. P. S. Can you believe Spurs in 8th place are only 6 points away from us? What a weird season.
I was just looking at the table and thinking similar things, bum bum. Anyone on 30+ points should be kicking themselves because Chelsea seem determined to throw 4th spot away and are looking vulnerable. 4th is there for the taking but no one is taking it.
It sounds a lot but 15 points off Champions League, when you consider how many points we’ve either been shafted out of or just simply thrown away, is not actually that much for a promoted side. My point is, if we can stay up, then keep our best players, learn the lessons of the season, and add 2-3 top class additions in the summer, maybe the big time is not as impossible as it seems.
The league is definitely in a state of flux; Arsenal, Spurs and United are now all average sides with long roads back to the top. If Pep goes, who knows what will happen to City? There is definitely a gap in that top 4. If the Villa hierarchy are serious, they will need to move quickly and wisely in the next 6 months. After that, anything can happen. It’s football, so who knows?
Come on Leicester. Stuff the Irons 10-0!!!!!
Great interview from Ally Samatta on the mail. He seems humble and driven. Also a shrewd commercial acquisition. With a country of football fans at a little over 59m, he being the first player in the Prem from Tanzania, it’d be safe to assume in shirt sales alone there that would about pay for his transfer fee!
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-mbwana-samatta-tanzania-17614275
Leicester 2 up against West Ham and Vardy injured….things looking up.
Villa sign Louie Barrie from Barca. The Baggies are not happy 🙂
Will this kid become the youngest player for Villa in the EPL. The hype that surrounds him is something else?
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/jan/23/aston-villa-women-role-feels-right-eni-aluko
Villa Women 3 points ahead in the Women’s Championship with a game in hand looking to be promoted to the WSL and toppling Blues ‘castle’. Article well worth reading and yet another indication of our owners ambition.
UTV – great times ahead methinks.
One loan and one permanent signing in 23 days! We could do with another striker, winger and CM. That’s 3 players in 8 more days. It’s looking highly unlikely unless we have a mad transfer deadline day.
There seems to be too much hype about Samatta. For 8.5m I’m not expecting much. After all, Wesley was 3 times as much money and he has found it tough. Therefore I will set my expectation bar really low and hope to be pleasantly surprised. I suppose he has to be an improvement on El Ghazi.
Holte – think we’ll just concentrate on getting another striker in – unless Barrie is it 🙂
Don’t think we’ll sign anyone else.
Hitch, we do need another striker but I’m really hoping there’s some possibility that we can get Nzonzi because we really need a physical presence in midfield. All the others are lightweight and good teams cut through us like a hot knife through butter.
Totally agree Holte – but would he come to Villa – even on a 6 month loan?
He would provide additional strength and experience in mid field and allow Luiz to play further up the field where I think he’s more effective. I suspect Smith sees Drinkwater as fulfilling the ‘Nzonzi role’.
That’s the worry! Drinkwater starting every game in the hope he eventually has a decent game.
It seems West Ham are confident in signing Nzonzi. The pull of London probably the key factor.
Well he may be disappointed then – in West Ham, not London 🙂
And, frankly, who wants a player more interested in the night life on offer? We want players that will give everything for Villa which I think we will get from Samatta.
It seems that Giroud’s transfer to Inter may be in jeopardy – would still like to see him at Villa. Oh well, we can dream,
Watford losing at Tranmere. ‘Dead cat bounce’ – can hope can’t we?
Badger: Wow sports working well on phone but tried the Bluestacks on my fast PC and picture is all stop-start. I noticed the downloads for Wow gave 3 options so I picked 5.5 same as for the phone but wonder if the PC option was correct?