Is the fans expectations half the problem at Villa?

[NeilH]

We’re a middle of the table club at best but for a few historical blips and I believe that’s where we should be again this season. There’s little doubt that the players are underperforming and that McLeish is struggling to get the best out of the team, hamstrung by his own lack of tactical nous.

Having said all of that, we are 6 points away from the relegation zone and I firmly believe that the people running our club will see that as acceptable. If we play as we did on Saturday for the rest of this season, we will stay up and that will be job done for Lerner and McLeish.

At this moment in time the feelings of the fans are frankly the last thing on the mind of the board as they aggressively seek to control the wage bill without too much consequence. Quite where we go next season, after much shaking of hands from the management and board on a job well done, I really don’t know. All I do know is that there will be bigger empty gaps at VP next season, but still not enough to warrant a sacking of the manager.


If you don’t like it, complain to the club but please bear in mind we stopped being a democracy when we sold our shares to Lerner and he’s perfectly entitled to ignore everything we say.

[Mister E]

Do you honestly think Norwich and Sunderland have better players than us

It's a team game not a talent contest.

[Greg N'Ash]

See that's where we differ Greg. I don't think our squad should be as poor as it's performing. The fact that it is, and has for most of the two thirds of the season can surely be largely blamed on the manager and coaches.

If for arguments sake we accept that the obvious 6 sides have better squads, there is no one else whose squad should worry us. The fact that so many are currently looking better and certainly playing better and look far more cohesive is what is causing the discontent. Well it's certainly what's causing it for me.

Now i'd say Bent and Gabby are probably as good a strikeforce you'll likely to see outside the top4 albiet we have precious little in reserve, but the midfield and defence?

Ireland has flattered to decieve and whether he's gradually improving or not its still getting on for four seasons since he was a force. N'zogbia i was never convinced about anyway, and though again he's shown glimpses he could come good, i'm not sure how "good" that will be. Petrov is well past it, and Delpth is a 2nd division player who got lucky. The youth is still unproven apart from albrighton who admittedly Mcleish hasn't got the best out of.

I won't go through the defence becuse we all know what's wrong there, but my view personally is the midfield and defence are no better than anyone around us and probably worse in many cases

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

Big yes.

Could you imagine if someone like Brendan Rogers took over as manager and wanted to bring his passing style in? The Villa fans would not have the patience for him to bring in his style of football, even though it would be beneficial in the long run.

Will we challenge top 4 ever again without the big money? No. So, is it worth just trying to play good football and finish midtable than play shit football and finish midtable? I'd rather watch good football.

In fact, where's that Room 101 thread so I can add Villa fans to it...

[Merv]

I expect 7th-12th, Villa to beat the teams around them from time to time. Don't think that's an unrealistic expectation. Certainly performing way below what I'd predicted this season.

[Irish villain]

Sorry, I haven't read the whole thread so apologies if I am repeating anybody.

What we do not expect is capitulation and playing for a draw. We expect villa to manfully take to the field hoping to beat whoever our opponent is. After that, we finish where we deserve based on our efforts.

This squad, in my view, is better than tenth, not quite top six. We have lost the best players of the side that finished top six three years in a row, but have added a £20m striker since then and a better 'keeper. As such, in my view, we should only be a shade off that side. The difference is that lot played for the manager (whatever we thought of him) whereas this one has lost them or is instructing them to be negative thus making them cagey and nervous.

[garyshawsknee]

I thought it would be a tough season,but I expected more than six wins by March.

[PaulWinch again]

6 wins all season is fucking appalling by anyone's standards.

[MarkM]

I think what has happened is this...

As a Villa fan [and this probably goes for most footie fans] I have hope every season that maybe, just maybe we might win something this year.

I have a hope that maybe the team could challenge for the top places and hope that maybe it may be our year for you know what. I also have hope at the first League Cup match that maybe we will win that.

But.... Here is what has changed for me, I no longer have any hope for any of the above, all I have is the realistic view of mid table and a flirt with either the top or bottom 6.

We used to have the joke of Villa not being able to have two good seasons in a row, then under Gregory we couldnt manage two good half seasons in a row, now we can't manage to have two good half matches in a row!

I don't hope for anything better, I just expect us to be as we are. A poor footballing side with a poor management team and no direction

[Walmley_Villa]

I expect a Villa team that has a go and can come off the pitch knowing they have given a 110%. If that is the case I would applaud them off as I did against Arsenal.

I also expect a manager paid £m to have some tactical nous and the ab;ility to manage and motivate a bunch of reasonably talented players.

We should be battling between 6th and 10th with the current squad and are underachieving. I am far from happy.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

6 wins all season is fucking appalling by anyone's standards.

Wigan, QPR and Wolves would be happier with it.

 Which I suppose says it all.

[Billy Walker]

We’re a middle of the table club at best but for a few historical blips and I believe that’s where we should be again this season. There’s little doubt that the players are underperforming and that McLeish is struggling to get the best out of the team, hamstrung by his own lack of tactical nous.

Having said all of that, we are 6 points away from the relegation zone and I firmly believe that the people running our club will see that as acceptable. If we play as we did on Saturday for the rest of this season, we will stay up and that will be job done for Lerner and McLeish.

At this moment in time the feelings of the fans are frankly the last thing on the mind of the board as they aggressively seek to control the wage bill without too much consequence. Quite where we go next season, after much shaking of hands from the management and board on a job well done, I really don’t know. All I do know is that there will be bigger empty gaps at VP next season, but still not enough to warrant a sacking of the manager.


If you don’t like it, complain to the club but please bear in mind we stopped being a democracy when we sold our shares to Lerner and he’s perfectly entitled to ignore everything we say.

The very, very least of our expectations, is top six/top eight minimum in my opinion.  Anything below that is simply a huge undersell of our club.  At our best, being run properly with ambition and investment, we are a club that's capable of (and should be) challenging for everything. 

Ninety-nine percent of clubs in England would love to have the blips of success that we have had.

[Billy Walker]

6 wins all season is fucking appalling by anyone's standards.

Wigan, QPR and Wolves would be happier with it.

 Which I suppose says it all.

Mind you, we've only lost one more than Arsenal.

[Mister E]

At this moment in time the feelings of the fans are frankly the last thing on the mind of the board as they aggressively seek to control the wage bill without too much consequence. Quite where we go next season, after much shaking of hands from the management and board on a job well done, I really don’t know. All I do know is that there will be bigger empty gaps at VP next season, but still not enough to warrant a sacking of the manager.

I take your point, Neil, but the two highlighted comments are the crux of it. Ignoring the fans will result in smaller attendances next season and this will drive down revenue (both from attendances and merchandising) - which means the squeeze on salaries will have to continue.
A negative downward spiral.

If you don’t like it, complain to the club but please bear in mind we stopped being a democracy when we sold our shares to Lerner and he’s perfectly entitled to ignore everything we say.

You're right, except for the need on the part of the club to build revenue - democracy is not just about voting rights, it's about the ability to withdraw / reduce support, stop / reduce spending and disadvantage the club financially.

I'm not suggesting that a large number of the dedicated fans will stop going to games - although a fair few will; I'm thinking about the corporate box-dwellers who decide the football is just too sterile, the TV companies who save the world from our dreadful football by reducing coverage from VP, the sponsors who find more attractive sponsorship options, etc.

If $$$ is the key criterion, fine; but it should not mean a total disregard for the football and the fans.

[Mazrim]

Fans should always have the highest expectations for Aston Villa.
However the current side should expect to be at least midtable. Top 10, certainly.