I got another call right then and it was that we would beat the Cherries soundly.
Wahey, I’m on a roll, with two consecutive good predictions.
We’ll gloss over the fact that I’m usually wrong.
It wasn’t particularly straightforward though and for long periods I don’t think we looked at all convincing and Bournemouth actually looked favourites to score.
Given how bad they are, I thought that was poor on our part, but we did at least go on to look very good in that last 10 minutes, where I always got the feeling that Bournemouth had capitulated.
They’re going down for certain, to my mind and while I don’t want to wish ill of any club, I do have this instinctive feeling that a ground with a capacity of 11,500 doesn’t really belong in the Prem and it won’t be a major loss to the game.
Do I think we played well?
Hmm, on the face of it, yes.
But we should remember who we were playing.
There were some very good performances, particularly from Luiz, who looks so much better when the game is played at a slower pace, as I thought it was yesterday. I suspect many of us will have forgot how much time and space our players were allowed. To be honest, I thought it was almost embarrassing on Bournemouth’s part, because they seemed to lack any real effort and didn’t at all look like they believed in what they were doing.
Certainly McGinn, Ramsey, Cash and others looked pretty decent, where I don’t quite think that would have been the case if we were playing a better side.
Not that I’m denigrating our players at all. What I mean is that given stiffer competition, they just wouldn’t have looked so good.
The more concerning part is that we actually managed to make Bournemouth look pretty competitive for long periods of the game.
That said, perhaps I need to remind myself that they actually beat Liverpool last week. I watched that game and while it was mostly a case of them digging in and grinding it out, I still find myself wondering “How did they manage that?”.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy.
I just try to stay realistic and not get carried away by us getting what we should have.
I’m not going to talk about the two handballs that were turned down, save to say the lack of consistency in the game continues to astound me. I don’t like VAR, as all I think it’s done is change the way in which mistaken decisions are made.
But if we’re going to stick with it, the rules need to be applied equally.
I see AI coming in fairly quickly. I’m not keen on that thought, but at least it will be consistent.
And then I find myself wondering where we can go under Unai Emery.
I’ve constantly said that I don’t think we’re good enough to play out from the back in the way that we do.
But hands up, I definitely think we’re getting better at it. I go back to the Bournemouth being rubbish point, but we are starting to be more comfortable with it and as much as the defenders weren’t being pressed much, I did actually get the feeling that they were looking around for options.
It’s clear that Emery has a pattern of play and while I often think it’s a bit too conservative, in holding possession and passing back, we are also a joy to watch when we do break forward.
It’s exciting stuff, even if it doesn’t happen often enough for my liking.
I fully expect that to improve though when the manager gets players in that he thinks will suit our system better.
Which is where I continue to wonder who will be gone.
Bailey, who I’ve massively criticised of late, did more in five minutes than he did the whole game last week, for example.
And Buendia was terrible. Until he got our third goal.
Who’d make predictions when it comes to the Villa, eh?
As much as I don’t think yesterday’s result was anywhere near approaching anything special, I think that’s actually a good time to wonder where we’re headed.
And I’m happy to say that I think we’re definitely on the up.
If we can improve on the 11th place that we’ve been at for months, who knows where we might finish?
And even if we stand still, next season looks very interesting indeed.
I’m never quite happy, am I?
That’s ok, to me.
Top managers are never happy either.
That’s what makes winning managers.
Although just to mess my theory up, Emery said he was happy with the players after the game 🙂
Don’t forget Bournemouth beat Liverpool last game! Anything can happen in this topsy turvey league.
2 weeks until the Chelsea game. A very long 2 weeks…
Dear me Badger, you certainly are a glass empty full type?
How far we have come since losing to that lot at the beginning of the season?
What headway we’ve made in short a space of time.
I read somewhere, if Emery had been there since the start of the season and our points haul would have been consistent with what they have been during his tenure, we’d be in the top 4!
What more can you ask for?
Badger put on those claret and blue coloured glasses and enjoy the ride matey.
And anyone in doubt just how bent football is just watch the Man U – Fulham game.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2023/03/20/paul-mcgrath-interview-aston-villa-man-united-ireland-god/
It’s behind a paywall but if you can…
RSS,
It comes after years of massive disappointment.
My whole attitude to life now is, if you don’t expect too much, you won’t be overly disappointed and anything else is a bonus.
It’s the hope that kills you.
Badger I’m the last one to get carried away and I know where you are at but I really think we are on the cusp of something special at Villa park. 🤞
Villa women won tonight’s cup game beating Man City 2-1 AET.
Just about to post that Bill. Into the semis and only Chelsea of the top WSL teams left.
We can win this.
UTV
Badger, I understand that you’re trying to be realistic and put forward a balanced view but I really think you’ve tipped into into the negative.
‘And Buendia was terrible’ – no mate that’s not a fair observation.
We can only play the team in front of us and we effectively demolished Bournemouth and 5-0 wouldn’t have flattered us. We lost 3-0 in the opening fixture and had lost the last four games against them where they had scored at least two goals in each fixture.
Emery was clearly unhappy at conceding 8 goals in two home fixtures – subsequently we have two clean sheets and two wins.
I am hugely optimistic for the future – when was the last time any Villa fan could have said that?
UTV
Just to add a big positive.
We are now starting to see just how good Luiz could be – this season 4 goals and 5 assists- a big upgrade.
Emery seems to be bringing the best out of the squad. Particularly players like McGinn and Ramsey back to their best and Cash having possibly his best game in some time. Konsa looks more settled and assured and Mings has been excellent.
UTV
Sorry mate but Buendia was pretty awful, I lost count the amount of times he lost possession or gave the ball away with a stray pass.
I really do rate him but yesterday’s showing was not by any stretch of the imagination his finest hour, that goal got him out of jail mate.
Yep.
Buendia was junk, imo.
Shockingly poor and I really like him too.
Sorry Hitch, we’ll have to agree to disagree.
I’m a lot like you Badger in the sense that if I’m prepared to be disappointed then…..
I am starting to feel at last we have a manager who has a plan and he goes into every game fully prepared. As long as we keep things in perspective when we do have a bad run of results, I really do think given time we will seriously challenge the Sky 6 or is it 7 now with the barcodes?
The best teams in the past have persevered with the manager. When they get a successful team then they don’t have a massive turnaround in playing staff every season. Maybe a couple to keep things fresh and to stop complacency.
I don’t think Emery will sign as many players in the summer as some are predicting. My guess is 3 or 4 but they will all be upgrades on what we already have.
As Villa fans we can afford to be optimistic about the future. There have been too many false dawns to remember but now with our current owners, a proven manager, the core of a promising squad and a new stand (let’s call it the Ron Saunders Stand) not far away, thing’s are looking good. UTV!
That’s what I was trying to say, but you did it much better and quicker than me, Holte.
I believe we now have all the requisite things in place.
All we need is to improve some positions and things become much more rosy.
Having thought about it, I now suspect that you might be right and change might not come as fast as I would like it too.
Which is probably a good thing.
The Ron Saunders stand?
I’d like to see someone take a petition on there.
The “North stand” is such a boring name that I suspect RSS would get voted in easily by the fans.
Hitch, I’m not so easily satisfied by our mids after one reasonable game.
Ramsey, Cash and McGinn have been poor for months, imo and I’ve often called them out as much as I like all three.
Again, I’d suggest it showed how poor Bournemouth are, more than anything.
It’s tough trying to remain neutral thinking 🙂
Seems like Villa performances are damned if they do and damned if they don’t.
Hitch, Watkins, Mcginn, Cash, Mings, Triore, even Martinez Plus Luise, all have bad days but look where we are , I’m the worse fan seeing mistakes in player’s and blowing my top with them , Buendia will come good I’m still getting over the abuse Bailey been getting and me thinking he’s a good tricky footballer and contributes in the game. Some of us see things different to others and don’t look at the game and only remember the worse of a player. Emery sees things we don’t so do the coach let’s be thankful we are where we all didn’t think we would be. We might still have got Gerrard god forbid.
Good shout, Bill. With you all the way on that.
Bill, as Shankly used to say. ‘Is he a good player having a great game or a great player having a good game’.
Only time will tell but, I for one, think we have a very good group of players in the squad and it’ll cost significant sums of money to upgrade it. Hopefully though a couple of the younger, promising players can add depth to the squad – Archer, Ramsey (Aaron) and Iroegbunam for instance.
Absolutely agree that under Gerrard many of our players went backwards in terms of performance and with it, I suspect, a loss of confidence. Since Emery came in we’re seeing an upward curve in individual performances and consistency.
McGinn is a perfect example; even playing in a more withdrawn role to cover for Kamara (a role he struggled with under Gerrard) his performances over the last two game have been very good.
UTV
I get the idea that lately we are mostly all looking at the same hymn sheet. Can I also suggest that if we are bringing back A Ramsey and Archer we might take a look at Chuba Akpom. And Badger hope your missus was proud of the England team on Saturday.
Unai has restored confidence by asking players to perform tasks they can do, rather than make them try to be a different type of player. The skill is in getting team performance out of that despite there being some tasks nobody does well.
Things that Villa’s starters do not do well include:
Out-jumping a centre-back to score;
Shooting hard enough to beat the keeper from 18 yards out;
Cutting off the supply to their left winger, or arriving with the ball to tackle him.
‘Running through from midfield with the ball to score’ was on that list but Ramsey has been given that job and did it well.
I’d add to that list OLL.
Winning the second ball (from a clearing header or tackle as an example) particularly against better opposition, I feel like we ball watch instead of anticipating at times.
The other one is movement when in possession. Although we’ve got better at this under Emery I still feel like we dont provide enough options for the player on the ball and play ourselves in to dead ends. It feels like more cohesion is still needed and a desire and confidence from all to get on the ball, that’s a full team job and only the best manage it for the majority of matches i.e. City.
I have to say i’m very happy with our progress this season. We’re basically guaranteed safety already so lets hope the players go out every week and play with freedom and confidence and let see where we can end up. A win against Chelsea would really make people stand up and take a 2nd look at us.
One player i’d like us to sign before too many big clubs jump in is Gift Orban from Gent, looks like a class act in the making for a 20 year old.
On the subject of Buendia, Canadian Pete pulled a good stat. His pass completion in the first half was a poor 60%. After the second half his total went up to 85% for the whole game. If u know how stat percentages work, he must have had an incredible second half barely misplacing a single pass.
What did Emery say to him to get this turn around in the second period?????!!!!!
Bum Bum; contrary to other views, which are fair enough, I thought Buendia had a decent game and to say that he redeemed his performance through the goal was, I thought, a little harsh
What I did notice was that in the first 15 – 20 minutes he had the run of the park. O’Neil then made a tweak putting a man hard on Buendia so he was struggling taking the ball on the half turn and he contributed very little.
Second half – and I assume this was a tweak Emery made at half time – Buendia dropped a little deeper and again managed to find the space he had in the first 15 – 20 minutes and was instrumental in much of our forward play.
Interesting that Canadian Pete seems to reinforce this.
UTV
Sid. Well said, he’s a loser and should not be flying the flag for us , definitely not my choice.
An excellent article on Gareth Southgate, well worth a read:
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/mar/22/gareth-southgate-is-damned-either-way-but-england-have-tools-to-attack
A snippet:
“If England go on to win Euro 2024 playing classic Southgate-style roundhead football he will be condemned for not winning it right. If England win playing thrilling, fast-forward football there will be uproar and told-you-sos at the failure to do this previously. Not winning Euro 2024, the most likely outcome for every manager present, will see Southgate waved off by many as an outright failure; whereas in reality he is the precise opposite, a qualified and commendable success.”
A very well-written, fair and balanced article.
Meanwhile, Simon Jordan on Talkshite spouting disrespectful sewage as usual:
🏴 “I do not believe that England have a winner in the dugout.”
😫 “Unless someone has had a personality transplant, we’ll get the same.”
🏆 “Anything other than winning Euro 2024 has to be the end…”
He’s right.
And Gerrard was the best thing since sliced bread.
Did you read the article, RSS? There’s nothing there that anyone can realistically argue with. And, of course, happy to admit I was initially wrong about the bin-dipper – I’d changed my mind by the end of August to be fair. But that has nothing to do with Southgate’s record as England manager. Is it Southgate who’s not a winner? Or, perhaps, it’s England. Think about it. Capello was a winner, so by the same token, I wouldn’t put money on England winning anything if Pep was in charge, put it that way.
I did BFR but they could make him a saint, give him a knighthood but there’s something about the gezzer that doesn’t sit right.
And how, giving his abysmal showing as Middlesbrough manager did he ever get anywhere near the national job?
A case of waistcoat over substance me thinks.
To be fair RSS, he wasn’t even qualified when he got the Boro job – foolish of Mr Gibson.
BFT good article.
The trouble is Southgate is not a managerial winner. He is a superb frontman for the FA. He is very media savvy. He has given certain young players their breakthrough. All good to this point.
But and the big but is, he is deficient in tactical nous. Just look at Uni Emery and the detail he has and the in game management he extols. In the big matches against the big world managers Southgate cannot adapt to the changes in play. Therefore, we will never win.
The FA should go all out to get Pep! This will weaken Manx City and give the rest of the league a chance. Moreover, England would win tournaments.
This will never happen. The FA are not interested in England being winners.The FA are more interested in appearing to do the right thing. Look how they ignored Clough. Look how they clapped Graham Taylor after a disastrous set of results, when he debriefed them. Look how the removed Venerables about his potential business dealings. Look how they cancelled Hoddle over a his view in spiritualism.
The FA are inept and Southgate is a good looser. I’m
I said Southgate will hang himself and it looks like. It’s tonight .
One-nil up already, Bill. Good to see Rice get the goal and give the proverbial finger to Graeme Souness, another gobby twat who likes to give it the big ‘I am’ while simultaneously hammering others. I wonder what he has to say about Mings now, after sucking Gerrard off in the summer?
I’m not a fan of Southgate or a hater; I think the chap who wrote the Guardian article is fair, as he’s writing factually. Some of the social media comments on Southgate are embarrassing. Maybe Southgate is a good loser, but as the article states, the majority of mangers at tournaments will lose. Better a good loser than a bad loser – see Jose, Pep, Klopp, Conte – all embarrassing tossers who, if they don’t win, act like spoilt toddlers and blame the ref (no doubt because they expect and are used the ref helping their teams to win).
BFR, their age now showing, player’s he’s had over the last few years are now flagging. They’ll let him down you see.
Dirty Italians. I wouldn’t have expected Mancini to stoop this low.
Nope – didn’t watch the game, didn’t even remember it was on and wasn’t bothered that I missed it. Next game – probably deja vu!
That’s how Southgate and England inspire me 🙂
Southgate has probably alienated many Villa fans from watching / supporting England, including me. I didn’t see much of last night’s game although the usual wow we beat Italy away for the first time in a long time. Talk of England being brilliant again begins and how amazing Southgate is as a manager until we reach the crunch games when we need to beat teams like Italy in the actual tournament.
Frankly I can’t wait for him to be dumped simply because I don’t like him. He is a hypocritical arsehole who implied Grealish needed to join Citeh for Champions league football before he could seriously pick him regularly. Suddenly he is playing Maguire and Phillips who can’t get a game for their own clubs.
Roll on next weekend and we can return to football we really do care about.
Here Here Holte 👏
Collymore’s autobiography gives Gate a mention during their days at Palace and he speaks of him less than glowing terms.
Lee Hendrie was interviewed by Brazil and I’d say from listening to that Gates ain’t top of his Christmas card list neither.
I think this Mr Congeniality persona is nothing more than a front.
Think we’re all on the same page here.
I just can’t stand him – nothing personal 🙂
Collymore and Hendry? :)))))) LOSERS AND WASTERS. If being polite, UNSTABLE. I won’t add anything else as it might be deemed offensive.
Southgate maybe a loser, but he’s made the most of his managerial career, reached the pinnacle of the English game and stayed there. I don’t know the Villa history but from what I’ve gathered, he could’ve gone to United and Gregory blocked it – is that correct? If correct, he got shafted. Yorke left and won the treble, among other titles.
I reinforce that I don’t know or like Southgate – I don’t care. Extreme bias for or against based on club history is a bit silly, though; stick to the facts is all I’m saying.
BFR – I don’t know whether Gregory blocked Southgate going to ManU but the issue for Villa fans is that when he moved to Middlesbrough he dissed Villa saying that he moved because they (Middlesbrough) were a bigger club! That plus he then persuaded Ugo Ehiogu to join him.
I acknowledge your point but if he’d shown some respect to Villa, the club that had propelled him to an England place, there wouldn’t be an issue.
So his judgement has been lacking for a long time!
Thanks for clarifying, Hitch! It sounds like even if he were to win a tournament playing squash-buckling football, Villa fans would still hate him.
BFR, hate is a strong word and probably dislike is probably more appropriate of my feelings towards him.
His managerial record for England looks decent on paper but I think many managers could have achieved the same success given the quality of players at his disposal. He still has that losing mentality when it comes to the final stages. We should have beaten Italy in the final on home soil considering they didn’t even qualify for the World Cup.
He is the perfect figurehead for the FA because he is not controversial and tows the line.
The Premier league is the best league, so in theory we should have won something in the last 20-30 years since it’s formation. France have achieved success in recent times despite their league not being anywhere near as good. I know that a number of their squad play in the premier league or la liga but it’s just as much down to their coaching team being born winners. Southgate is not one unfortunately so I can’t imagine him ever leading us to glory.
Villa players like Ramsey and Watkins must be thinking that they have little hope of becoming an England regular unless they follow Grealish out the door. That’s why he isn’t liked by Villa fans. After his influence in encouraging Grealish to move on, the only surprise was he didn’t offer to drive him to the Ethiad to sign for them.
I suppose he is the latest manager to ignore our players. Remember the likes of Rimmer, Spink, Little, Mortimer etc and many since who were ignored by differing managers who preferred anyone who played for Liverpool, Man Ure, Arsenal etc.
Tony Morley mate, can someone explain how he was not selected for the 82 world cup?
It was criminal.
Or in Southgate’s case even players not playing for United / City – Maguire, Philips – and injured players like Mount!
Disingenuous is the word I’d use to describe him.
Gates and this Man U transfer?
I’m sure I heard a story about this but when we signed him from Palace….
Ellis apparently, heard of United’s interest and took him to a room (one without a phone) and kept him there until he signed 😁
BFR, Collymore or Hendrie playing to their full potential or Southgate, well simply being Southgate.
Which is worth the admission price?
RSS, to answer your question, Collymore or Hendrie playing to their full potential is certainly worth the admission price over a stellar Southgate performance. BUT, how many times did Stanley Victor play his full potential while at Villa? Zero? Once? Twice? Which means he’s in no position to say anything negative about his skipper at that time. I wonder how much dirt Southgate could dish on Collymore. The fact that he hasn’t says it all. Also, the fact that Southgate was a centre back makes it an unfair question. Would you rather watch Maldini or Baggio?
If Southgate’s autobiography was as dull as his football it’d be on the shelves of Poundland within a week.
I appears BFR that you are less than sympathetic with those two players past brushes with mental health issues but are more than willing to overlook Southgate’s inadequacies?
Oh well, each to their own.
RSS, I have every sympathy with anyone going through these issues, particularly when it leads them to the very brink, like Hendry.
Southgate’s only inadequacies as England manager (which is the context of the conversation) are apparently twofold:
1.He hasn’t won a tournament. (But he’s come closer and on more occasions than any other manager in living memory)
2. His teams don’t play attacking enough football for our liking (which is so subjective, it lacks any validity or substance as an ‘inadequacy’)
The other is we (Villa fans) don’t like him for various Villa-related reasons, past and present. Again, hardly valid as an ‘inadequacy’ although each to their own, as you say.
I go back to the article that started the discussion; the descriptions of where England were before Southgate arrived compared to where they are now say it all.
Living memory is pushing it a bit?
The semi finals Italia 90 and the euro 96 semi’s ring any bells?
So in a nut shell…
You were wrong about Gerrard and you’re wrong about Southgate.
(Imo)
Mate, that’s what I meant – “MORE occasions than any other manager”. In other words, Robson and Venebles came close once each, and although very much in living memory, there’s been a lot of garbage since then. Southgate matched them in 2018, surpassed them in 2020, and might well have got to another semi last year, were it not for Kane ‘gumbooting’ a penalty over the bar, to quote the chap who wrote the article. If your looking for losers, look no further than England’s skipper and ‘record’ scorer.
I think it’s me you hate, not Southgate. Not wrong on that one, RSS.
No BFR, just don’t agree mate.
See McGinn got another goal for Scotland yesterday – his 16th.
Surely, once Kamara is back and McGinn reverts to a more advanced role under Emery, it can only be a matter of time before he starts scoring for Villa
Great to hear McGinn talking about his lack of goals for Villa when interviewed after the Scotland game. He wasn’t asked about it but just made a statement about his committment to Villa and how desperate he was to getting back to scoring for us. He is within a couple of goals of Kenny Millar and Ally McCoist in Scotlands top goals list.