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 think when Kamara is fit and McGinn is back in the position he plays for Scotland, it will be just a matter of time before he is scoring for us. Emery plays his players in their favoured positions, unlike Gerrard who continually put square pegs in round holes.
Chelsea will represent a real challenge and an opportunity to how much we have improved since Emery took over. They have a stronger squad but they are massively underachieving in the league and maybe they will have one eye on the Liverpool game a few days after.
The Villa girls done good again. 5-0 roll over of Leicester.
Anyone watching the England game? Sounds like all the crowd noises are being dubbed again. It’s like playing FIFA on the PS4…
I’ve got it on, but not really watching it.
I don’t think they’re being dubbed.
It just sounds like a crowd that is bored witless, exactly the same as me.
I detest boring football and that’s mostly what gets played these days.
It’s probably why I never sound very happy about games.
It fascinates me that people actually pay a fortune to watch this crap, but I guess it’s as much about the tribalism as anything.
It certainly isn’t for the entertainment.
I’ve let our boys turn it off for a bit of PlayStation time. It was very boring.
Roll on the Chelsea game!
Watched the first half (which incidentally sent me off lovely after Sunday dinner)
Only to wake up to full-time party political broadcast of “But todays more than about football,”
Modern football hey?
Nice to think I’m not the only one thinking England turned into a boring team . If honest England games are just that , let’s get back to premier football with crap refs and bent VAR decision’s more interesting.
And ain’t that the truth.
👍
Awful! It does take two teams having a go to be entertaining, and Ukraine were even less enterprising when they went behind than they were when the scores were level.
England were far too slow in the build up except for their two goals. The midfield of Henderson, Bellingham and Madison exhibited no teamwork. I could not keep my eyes open in the second half.
I get so bored watching England also. I think besides the boring football even more so when the opposition dont want to attack, I lose interest when there are zero Villa players in the team. I used to always watch hoping one of our boys would do the business and win the plaudits but I dont see any of our boys in the England team for a while until Southgate is removed. Mings and Watkins if injuries come along but that’s unlikely. Our next hope is probably a certain Mr J.Ramsey in about 12 months time if he keeps his form up. I enjoy watching the U21’s more with Archer and Ramsey. I even prefer to watch Scotland games over England due to Mcginn being their best player and it’s a better atmosphere. I too believe it’s only a matter of time before he scores for us again. Really looking forward to this weekends game.
I’m so pleased I didn’t watch England (again). While you lot were being bored witless I was enjoying a brilliant steak curry with the missus and a couple of friends; throw in a good bottle of wine (or was that more than one 🙂 ) and a great night enjoyed by all.
GP’s should prescribe Southgate’s England for insomnia. Someone I work with who went to Wembley said fans were throwing paper planes and doing Mexican wave to entertain themselves. There was no atmosphere apparently and he said 40,000 at VP make twice the noise of 80,000 at Wembley. The only consolation was the ticket price was £25!
I’ve never been to an England game and it is going to be a while yet before I might consider it.
I’m off to watch Villa v Forest which will be my second game since promotion. My first was last season against Southampton which we won 4-0. Anyone who knows Canadian Pete on YouTube might know his first Villa game will be the Forest one.
Hope he’s a VIP guest of the club – he deserves to be.
Used to watch him but haven’t subscribed since he became ‘pay per view’. Maybe I should – not that expensive.
Hitch, he is still doing his YouTube show. He abandoned the pay per view option.
Cheers Holte – didn’t know that
In other news, Duran scored for Columbia against Japan in his first start.
Congrats Jhon and let’s hope can do the bizz for us too.
Was a very tidy composed finish too. I’ve got high hopes for him.
Canadian Pete was asking for as much per month as a Netflix subscription. That adds up to quite a lot. Someone at Sky should give him a 15 minute slot once a week. I don’t always agree with everything he says but he’s great to watch. UTMV!!
A big week coming up for the Villa – 7 points out of 9 would be ideal, but in a week it’s a big ask. Would we take defeat tomorrow if it guaranteed wins over Leicester and Forest? Looking at the bigger picture, last season, United finished 6th with 58 points. We’re 20 points off that at present and having looked at the remaining fixtures, I’d say the best-case scenario is a 22-point haul, which means, in theory, 6th is not impossible, especially if we beat Brentford, Fulham, and Brighton in the run-in.
On the flip-side, the season before last, West Ham finished 6th with a hefty 65 points; I’d say that’s out of reach with the amount of games left. That same season, Smith’s Villa finished 11th with 55 points, only 3 points off United’s 6th place finish last season – perhaps shows how harsh we might have been on Deano! Anyway, who’d bet on us finishing 6th? A stonking finish to the season or will it tail-off to another 11th place?
UTV
BFR – the run in will, I think, gives us the best indication yet of Emery’s ability to get the best out of this squad.
We have, I believe, on a points per game comparative basis the third hardest run in of all the EPL teams.
For me a European spot has not been attainable since Gerrard ruined the first part of the season but a top half finish is a real possibility. I can’t see us losing 11th place (unless there is a major collapse which would raise very difficult questions about Emery) but can we get 10th or better?
Fulham might be the team most likely in our sights.
We are 4 points off 6th place with Liverpool on 42 points and Brighton the same. Unfortunately Liverpool have a game in hand on us while Brighton have 2 games in hand. That’s why we can’t afford to lose tomorrow if we seriously want 6th. A win would be amazing and I think it’s achievable at the moment. I actually think Leicester will be just as tough but Emery will definitely have us well prepared.
Even if you know this its worth saying again.
Since 6th November, which is Saint Unai Emery Day, Villa have the same points (26) as Liverpool and Brentford. One less than Man Utd, Three less than Man City. Twelve less than Arsenal but more than everyone else.
And something like 9 more than Chelsea!
Old Villa hat with only one win in 17 games at Chelsea – same old, same old – lose!
New Villa hat – we could win this!
I am desperate for a Villa win today! We’d leapfrog Chelsea and also Fulham.
All the results went our way today. Can we capitalise on that or do another typical Villa and throw the chance away again?
Yeeesssss!!!!!
Good game but Chelsea threatening.
Villa playing well; hope they can pinch another early second half.
We started the game well and got the goal but we have been under the cosh since then. We look dangerous when we do break but have been wasteful on a couple of occasions. Having said that they have missed a few really good chances and Martinez has been at his best. Can we hold on?
Or can Emery make some tactical tweaks at half time that redresses the balance Holte?
A McGinn special – Yessssss
Do i get my wish today????!!!!!
Keep everything crossed Bum Bum
Amazing goal. Note the new signal from Luis with the corner. Crossed arms , never seen that before
A McPhee special perhaps? I see we loan Austin to Scotland as a dead ball specialist. The near post delivery was meant, but I am not sure the Villan who touched it next did what he wanted. His pass seemed to be blocked. By the time the ball reached McGinn it wasn’t a training ground move.