I agree with what you say about Nigel Sims and the pitch.
Nigel was the best Villa goalkeeper I've seen, perhaps less capable of the spectacular save than Mark Bosnich but also more dependable.
As for the pitch, it really is cutting up badly. Jonathan Calderwood was head-hunted by PSG, but that was a few years ago and in fact we won the Championship pitch of the year award last season. Strange that it's deteriorated so badly this season, or more specifically since Christmas.