Fans Worried Over Villa Future

[ROBBO]

No Guv'nor I speak the Queen's English (if she came from the East End, that is). Apples & Pears and all that. Did I tell you I'm friends with the Kray Twins, blah, blah, blah.... :-

In 1975 my family moved to Chasetown, Dad's job or something? where I lived for nearly two years, before going back to the big smoke. I had only really been regulaly to Leyton Orient before moving to Chasetown and after going to Villa for the first time, I was hooked. Been supporting them ever since and used to travel regularly from London to see them (hard for midweek games, half days leave and all that).

Well blow me down in 1975 I lived in Burntwood and played for Chase Terrace. Small world.

[peter w]

A clear out bloody hell, we'd have to start from scratch. This team has been allowed to slip so far that it will take 5 years or so to steadily put it right. We need to look for a manager who has got the energy to do it.

[JD]

I agree Peter. I think we probably need to replace six or seven players in the Summer, if we are not going to sink even lower. Players like JPA, McCann, JlLoyd, UDLC and more just don't have what it takes to move the club forward.

[old man villa fan]

Odds are one thing Robbo, ut if this Villa team NEEDED to go oot and get a win, do you think they could? Even more, if they had to desperately chase a game, do you think they could? No, and not a chance.

Exactly right.  The Villa haven't had a team to chase a game for a few years now.  We have been able to counter attack but not put teams under constant pressure until they crack.  The reason, we cannot hold on to the ball because too many players do not have the required ability to pass the ball.  High tempo game is like pinball at times!

Oh for a Cowans at his best (or even at his worst!).
 [-o<

[dave.woodhall]

Will someone remind me of the last time we won a game we really needed to win against opposition that was roughly as good as us. I can't think of anything post-96.

It's not so much the ability to pass as being able to put their foot on the ball and dictate the game that's what we lack.

[ROBBO]

Didn't hear your radio interview i take it you raised all those points.

[JD]

That's the issue. In the close games over the past few seasons all I can remember is the heartache of conceding late goals to either draw or lose games, we should have won.  ](*,)

[ROBBO]

Expectation replaced with trepidation seems to bo our lot these days. Going back to a summer clear out it is really going to be a huge job as we have so many players Angel, Philips, Berger, DLUC,JLS and Delaney that will probably move on and I am concerned that Mellberg, Baros and a couple of others will request transfers. If as he should Oleary goes then some of them may want to stay depending on who the new manager is but I go back to the point I made many months ago is there a player at Villa Park that has improved playing under Oleary if so name him. Therefore maybe, just maybe some of those we want to be shot of may become solid contributors under a decent manager.

[JD]

That's a point Robbo. On paper we have a pretty decent squad and some promising youngsters, but a lot of the established players seem to be lacking motivation, or don't get a look no matter how badly some players play (Berson, DJx2, Whitts).

There is something drastically wrong with the Club, that some players don't get picked, others have totally lost form and don't seem bothered and established stars look like a shadow of themselves. I could only guess why this is.  8-[

[peter w]

Rank bad management is the only explanation for the total lack of confidence shown by some. It is the only explanation for Sorensen looking poor, Mellberg, Samuel,McCann,JPA. These players we good performers up to last season. Mellberg was one of the better defenders in 2002 World Cup. Now, the look a shadow of themselves. There has to be a common denominator.

Whereas earlier in the season you'd hope we'd score at least one, but bad defending would cost us, now scoring a goal is a premium. If we score how many of us would really expect us to hold out without conceding. The players do not look comfortable trying to get a first goal, so a second is out the question.

Another question, when was the last time in the league we came from behind to win?

We are at the wrong time of season to be showing this type of form. But this isn't a hindsight thing, because many people predicted that this would happen. This is a poor football team, showing relegation form just when we need them to show some bottle.

I said earlier in the season that we'd be 19th. I now think its 18th. Pessimistic? Well maybe. But if we lose Sunday, we're gonners. Win, and we're safe. How many of us really think we have what it takes to beat the Shit on Sunday? I really am dreading this game. A fired up team playing against us, wanting to exact revenge for earlier in the season, needing the points for themselves agaianst a powder puff team where all of a sudden we see a kid playing on the left wing when he is no better than a reserve team player, as our saviour?

Ladies and Gentleman. We are in deep trouble.

[ROBBO]

And here's the rub, the game is on live over here and I suppose in JD land
now history tells me that if i watch we will lose so do i do the right thing and just go to bed early or do I hit the whisky early to numb the pain of watching?

[JD]

Yes Robbo, it is on live and at a reasonable time for us both (11pm for me, so I presume it is 9pm for you?). No work the day after either, so I feel that i have to stay up and watch it.

It will be like watching a very scary thriller. You know that something really bad is going to happen, you just don't know when.  8-[

I think I will have to stay up and watch it, because I know if I go to bed I will just be lying there thinking about the game anyway. I'm certainly not looking forward to it though.

And to think I used to get excited when live Villa games were on over here in NZ. Now I just get scared.  ](*,)

[JD]

Back to your point Peter. I know all along you have said that we will be relegated and I agree that if we lose on Sunday we will truly be in trouble. The confidence will be shot through.

Why can't they just turn up and perform this week. All we are asking for is 100% commitment for 90 minutes, to beat the Dogs*#t. That's not too much to ask for is it?

[peter w]

Well I really don't want to watch the game as I'll be a bag of nerves, but I won't be able to miss it. I'd be even worse if I didn't watch it. I'm s***ting myself already.

Its a 4pm kick-off here, so at least I won't have to spend as much of the day as you two with that sick feeling in my stomach.

[ROBBO]

I'm so wound up after the game it's difficult getting to sleep and the other half won't oblige at that time of night so i might have to watch the next game. No work on Monday so no profit for the week sometimes I wish I was an employee. If we lose will DOL be sacked? i know he should be but will he? because i believed he would have got the chop if we had lost to the stripeys.