Are we in trouble yet?

[OzVilla]

Ofcourse we are still in trouble.  Despite having probably our best undefeated run all season we've not pulled away from the pack having squandered opportunities that i hate to say it Blose ,for example, are taking.

We have a defence that leaks goals like a tap and a goalkepper that is looking short on confidence.  In Bent we have the best striker outside the Top 4 which i'm hoping saves us, if he gets injured though we will be in massive trouble.  That's no where near enough for me to be confident about safety yet. 

I'm afraid I still have huge misgivings about this management team and their ability to turn it around. 

[Clampy]

I just hope the players don't think they're going to stay up just on their talent alone, it's going to take more than that. By playing Gabby out wide and Young up front, it's as if we're trying to out-football teams and we're not good enough for that yet, even if the signs are there. It's time to go back to basics slightly, Heskey alongside Bent and Young out wide, with the option of Gabby and Fonz to come off the bench.

West Ham's comeback at the weekend could be a turning point for them, Hodgson's arrival could spark Albion into life, although i'm not sure Wolves or Wigan have enough.

[Chico Hamilton III]

although i'm not sure Wolves or Wigan have enough.

the trouble with Wolves and Wigan is that, just when you've written them off, they pull out a mad result.

Maybe not enough to keep them up but enough to keep them alive for a bit longer and to worry team just above them.

We should be safe - but when did we change from a team that was challenging for Europe to a team that is glad just to be staying in the league?

Before anyone answers, I suppose it was 5 days before the season kicked off....

[Rip Van We Go Again]

I don't think we've ever fully recovered any momentum since the 6-0 pasting at Newcastle.

[Stu]

I don't think we've ever fully recovered any momentum since the 6-0 pasting at Newcastle.

That feels like such a long time ago. This season is dragging on and on.

[lukey27]

I can't imagine there's a single Villa fan who hasn't got at least some nagging doubt about the managerial set-up and our ability to not only hang onto leads but also create enough chances to win games. I dread to think how many points we've dropped from winning positions.

I couldn't say with absolute certainty we'll get enough points to stay up, but with the quality we have it would be criminal if we didn't.

It's reminding me of Graham Taylor's second stint as manager, when we just couldn't get clear of trouble. I remember back-to-back wins around Feb of that season and then we reverted to type and nearly went down. Taylor certainly didn't have the quality in his squad that Houllier has though. Bit worrying.

[The Man With A Stick]

Hopefully Darren Bent can do a Marcus Allback and drag us out of the mire.

[Concrete John]

Hopefully Darren Bent can do a Marcus Allback and drag us out of the mire.

I think that's exactly what will happen.

Thing is though do we then give Gezza credit for turning it around or did Randy simply buy us out of a hole?

[eastie]

One defeat in 8 shows progress, there is still much to be done but I feel that GED will at least get us back into the top 8 next season, there have beenajor changes this season and sometimes we need to slip back a couple of steps to go forward in the future.

[Matt C]

I don't think we've ever fully recovered any momentum since the 6-0 pasting at Newcastle.

That and the exit from Europe in quick succession was the ultimate low point in the season for me from which pscyologically we have never really recovered. Although any of the poor sods who went to Anfield or Man City might disagree.

[Concrete John]

One defeat in 8 shows progress, there is still much to be done but I feel that GED will at least get us back into the top 8 next season, there have beenajor changes this season and sometimes we need to slip back a couple of steps to go forward in the future.

Sorry, but if he gets us top 8 only it's still a step back from 6th.  What I want next season is top 6 or better.

[Dave Clark Five]

All of those at the bottom are 'W' clubs. We are 'A', unless you think Witton!

[Brend'Watkins]

I don't think we've ever fully recovered any momentum since the 6-0 pasting at Newcastle.

That's what I think too.  We were so unbelievably shit in all departments that day in a game we should have won.  We now know how low we can go but don't seem to have a clue as to what heights we can attain.  That game buggered our GD too and we can't seem to claw it back.

[pauliewalnuts]

the trouble with Wolves and Wigan is that, just when you've written them off, they pull out a mad result.

This is what worries me.

Wigan, Wolves and West Ham, despite being in erratic form, are occasionally showing the sort of resolve and spirit that we don't seem to show frequently enough.

[Concrete John]

the trouble with Wolves and Wigan is that, just when you've written them off, they pull out a mad result.

This is what worries me.

Wigan, Wolves and West Ham, despite being in erratic form, are occasionally showing the sort of resolve and spirit that we don't seem to show frequently enough.

Although I agree in principal, they could look at our results against Man Utd and Man City at home and disagree.  The wins against those three now also look like they'll be significant come May.