The Storming Aston Villa 2-0 Delia's Norwich

[tomd2103]

Gary Gardner is pushing Tommy Elphick hard for his Keep On The Bench At All Costs crown.

The two blokes next to me had a bet yesterday on what Gardner would do first when came on yesterday - get booked or make a mistake that cost / nearly cost a goal.  The latter happened within minutes of him being on. 

We still look very thin on midfield options beyond the three playing in the side.

[peter w]

And despite all this positivism I can't help think there's an air of the emperor's new clothes about it. We're somehow getting the breaks, the turned down penalties, the clean sheets, the 1-0/2-0 wins, but we're not dominating games, turning teams over or looking like we're actually playing that well. It feels to me at least that we could just as easily lose the next 5 as win them.

[olaftab]

Yes we deserve nothing we are all sinners, the whole lot of us players, Manager and fans,  and need to do more a lot more in order to be considered for any redemption.

[dave.woodhall]

And despite all this positivism I can't help think there's an air of the emperor's new clothes about it. We're somehow getting the breaks, the turned down penalties, the clean sheets, the 1-0/2-0 wins, but we're not dominating games, turning teams over or looking like we're actually playing that well. It feels to me at least that we could just as easily lose the next 5 as win them.

Absolutely. God forbid we should be enjoying ourselves or thinking that six wins in seven games is a sign that the team are doing well.

[Richard E]

And despite all this positivism I can't help think there's an air of the emperor's new clothes about it. We're somehow getting the breaks, the turned down penalties, the clean sheets, the 1-0/2-0 wins, but we're not dominating games, turning teams over or looking like we're actually playing that well. It feels to me at least that we could just as easily lose the next 5 as win them.

Absolutely. God forbid we should be enjoying ourselves or thinking that five wins in six games is a sign that the team are doing well.

Based on  the Villa callers to WM after the match last night you'd have been forgiven for thinking we'd just witnessed our tenth successive 6-0 defeat. If you can't enjoy winning I'm really struggling to understand what is the point of following the team at all!

[peter w]

The team are winning, so doing well, but not winning by playing well. Out of the games that we have won in the recent run how many have you left the ground thinking, "we played really well today"? Its not about not enjoying the wins, that's just daft, but the next step is to try and play well in a game, take the game to the opposition and win well. We still short of that.

[dave.woodhall]

If we'd lost six out of seven and scored one goal there isn't anyone who would have been saying that we were playing well and could easily win the next five. You can be lucky to win one game; the sort of record we've had lately isn't down to luck. 

[brian green]

Two fans whose opinions I regard highly, DW and Peter W merge to touch upon a very odd metaphysical sensation we discussed en masse in our part of the Holte Lower yesterday, to whit, we can't actually believe that bad luck seems to be leaving us alone.  I think that as far as Villa are concerned I had come very close to being institutionalised to failure.  Like Red in The Shawshank Redemption.

[tomd2103]

And despite all this positivism I can't help think there's an air of the emperor's new clothes about it. We're somehow getting the breaks, the turned down penalties, the clean sheets, the 1-0/2-0 wins, but we're not dominating games, turning teams over or looking like we're actually playing that well. It feels to me at least that we could just as easily lose the next 5 as win them.

I would disagree a bit with that Peter.  I agree that performances have not been too convincing, but I think Bruce has at least put some foundations down in that he has built a decent spine of a side and has introduced a formation that suits them.  Yes there is still a lot of work to be done and some fine tuning in regards to personnel, but I think we are a far more solid outfit than before. 

[peter w]

No it's not luck. But we are having things fall our way. A couple of decisions that could easily ave gone against us in terms of penalty shouts - such as Derby - and games where the opposition have had more shots than us - on and off target. That sort of 'luck' runs out at some point if you aren't able to dominate teams and games which we aren't. i think bruce has now said for 3 wins on the bounce that we haven't played well and I really can't think the last time we did. Maybe Huddersfield away? But even then...not really well.

maybe its just a case of trying to rush things and wanting things that we aren't yet ready for. momentum is a funny thing and if we stay unbeaten for the rest of the season then we'll see a completely different mindset from everyone on and off the pitch next season.

[aj2k77]

I look at the last 7 games and honestly, how many clangers have we dropped, how many times have the opposition missed sitters? Hardly any, we've been clinical up top, because we've spent some serious money and got a seriously decent forward at this level up top.

I honestly believe that half the battle in this division is working hard, keeping it tight and such it the quality/lack of eventually the opposition will present an opportunity that one of our good forwards (Ok Kodjia, but hopefully Hogan next season too) will bury and it's game over unless we brain fart.

The main thing at the moment has needed to be becoming solid and getting some belief in the players that we can do this and aren't eternally jinxed and destined to be shit forever conceding late goals until the end of time.

Slow steps, 6 wins from 7 is fantastic, our time will come again, so will the good football.

[tomd2103]

No it's not luck. But we are having things fall our way. A couple of decisions that could easily ave gone against us in terms of penalty shouts - such as Derby - and games where the opposition have had more shots than us - on and off target. That sort of 'luck' runs out at some point if you aren't able to dominate teams and games which we aren't. i think bruce has now said for 3 wins on the bounce that we haven't played well and I really can't think the last time we did. Maybe Huddersfield away? But even then...not really well.

maybe its just a case of trying to rush things and wanting things that we aren't yet ready for. momentum is a funny thing and if we stay unbeaten for the rest of the season then we'll see a completely different mindset from everyone on and off the pitch next season.

I agree about dominating teams and was saying to the two blokes next to me yesterday that apart from Rotherham at home, I haven't really seen us control a game this season to the point where the other team just aren't in it. 

That said, after all that had happened after the last few years, the last couple of weeks has been great.  I've gone from hating football to the point where I'm now looking forward to going on Tuesday. 

[Ads]

We could have won all of our most recent games by a lot more, so it cuts both ways.

We'replaying like a side capable of winning the league next year. We're not blowing people away every week, but we're very well organised, disciplined, defnisvley impressive and we can physically match sides and create enough for our extra quality to tell.

They'll be occasions where we fall short, where we bladder somebody, but next season I anticipate we will beat most sides like we are doing right now. Keeping them at arms length then giving them an almighty right hook; one punch, maybe two and good night.

[tomd2103]

We could have won all of our most recent games by a lot more, so it cuts both ways.

We'replaying like a side capable of winning the league next year. We're not blowing people away every week, but we're very well organised, disciplined, defnisvley impressive and we can physically match sides and create enough for our extra quality to tell.

They'll be occasions where we fall short, where we bladder somebody, but next season I anticipate we will beat most sides like we are doing right now. Keeping them at arms length then giving them an almighty right hook; one punch, maybe two and good night.

I'd agree with that Ads.  Newcastle are a good example of the kind of side you mention and as I said above, I think we are on course to be that kind of side next season.  We will need to make one or two smart signings in the summer and have a bit of luck on the injury front, but we should be looking to build on the last few weeks. 

[PeterWithesShin]

PL7 W6 D0 L1 F11 A1 GD+10 Pts 18

That's the kind of run we'll often be having next season as we win the league.