Fans Worried Over Villa Future

[richard moore]

There isn't far more dross in the league than us at all - knock that notion on the head

[Nelly]

I can't disagree with any of that, and also the approach to playing the so called top teams is what offends me the most. Sure, we don't want to lose but at least have a go at them.

If we were getting decent results playing this way it wouldn't be so galling.

[Vanilla]

I can't disagree with any of that, and also the approach to playing the so called top teams is what offends me the most. Sure, we don't want to lose but at least have a go at them.

If we were getting decent results playing this way it wouldn't be so galling.

A lot of fans, including on H&V, tried to justify this tactic after the dismal showing against Spurs and Citeh. I don't really see how the loss to Manure and the inevitable losses to the Pool and Arse coming up as any different.

This is the way the manager approaches games in the EPL, because that is what he spent the last few seasons doing at blues. Why all of a sudden would he change his whole managerial disposition when he knows the club chased after him for this style, and gave him the remit of 'you'll get a small budget, just don't get relegated'? The club knew what they were getting when they hired him.

It was quite interesting though to hear the blues fan who phoned up Radio WM after the Manure game slating the manager for making the whole of Birmingham a footballing laughing stock, because of the dirge produced by both teams on the pitch.

 

[PaulWinch again]

I think my issue at it's core is that we watch football for entertainment purposes essentially. There is absolutely nothing entertaining about Aston Villa now.

[dave.woodhall]

This is the way the manager approaches games in the EPL, because that is what he spent the last few seasons doing at blues.

That's the thing - he didn't do it this way with them. All the time he was there they managed to nick results against the top teams, invariably with late goals. That was the one thing I thought he'd bring to us - a real never say die attitude. The McLeish of twelve months ago would have made a better fist of yesterday but it seems that better players have brought out the worst in him. 

[Clampy]

I remember Small Heath's cup games against West Ham, they played with passion and determination, even when going 2-0 behind in the 2nd leg. I thought that was the kind of spirit he'd bring here, but it's looking anything but that.

[cdbearsfan]

"Better players"? Maybe. But our midfield is no better than Small Heath's was last season. Unless we sign somebody or Gary Gardner turns out to be the new Lothar Matthaus we're in for a long, tedious season.

[PaulWinch again]

The 'performances' against Spurs and Man Utd are as poor as I can remember. It's alright saying they are good sides, but we were an utter utter disgrace. Wolves and West Brom were also terrible, along with the first half against Swansea.

[Mazrim]

Our midfielders are good enough (better than they are showing anyway) and certainly better than Blues last season, but you could have a group of world beaters and if they are bypassed all the time with the ball flying over their heads, what's the point?

The "tactics" (Ha!) and application are the biggest areas of concern at the moment.

[richardkmajor]

I  haven't commented for some time. However after watching yesterday's game at VP and seeing the debacle against spurs last week on the telly I feel I have to say something.
When McCleish was appointed I didn't get involved in 'tribal' comments and genuinely thought he would inject some, much needed, calm in the set up and steady a Villa side who had lost three 'class' players like Young, Downing and Milner. I thought he would 'steady the ship' after a disastrous season with the sick Houlier and unpopular McAlister too.
Unfortunately I was utterly wrong. I don't have any 'axe to grind' with Alex McCleish but the sort of football played at VP is at best boring and at worst relegation material. I have read many comments on our beloved team but I must say I agreed with the lengthy post of 'Ads' most.
I was prepared for a 'consolidation' and relatively poor season but I was not ready for this dismal 'non-performance'. What is happening at VP?
This is a really inept side and I do wonder what our 'style' is (or indeed if we have a 'style'). Against spurs we were an embarrassment and I have to say we seemed to play like we couldn't be bothered. In the first half of yesterday's game against Man U we were exactly the same. The second half we were immeasurably better and at least put Man U's defence under some pressure but nevertheless we we were not good and seemed to lack basic skills. Now the last bit can be put down to losing good players but I keep remembering the comment that we (notwithstanding the loss of the aforementioned players) should have a 'bedrock' of accomplished footballers, we should too.
However we don't and what I see is this. We are not entertained, in fact it is a painful duty to see this awful mess turn out to play a game, a game which for whatever reason they seem not to be able to do. Our back four is the worst I've seen (a statement which is really alarming given some of the awful players we have had!). We leak goals, cannot defend set pieces, desperately use terrible (and often inaccurate) long ball tactics to relieve pressure and use a very expensive (and successful) striker to lead the line. Bent gets hardly any service, hates leading the line and is not the sort to 'help out'. All in all Bent's talent is not exploited, he is a goal poacher not a midfielder.
Charles N'Zogbia is a huge disappointment and Alan Sutton is an awful right back, the worst player at VP for me. The heading of the ball which used to be a wonderful part of our game is now dismal, why?.
There was a time when we would give any team a game (even away!) but now we give nobody a challenge. I fail to understand any of this and am amazed that our poor play has come on so suddenly. However it has and we are in for a 'nailbiting' 2011/12 season.
Lerner told us he was concentrating on the core stability of the club. But I have to say to him, what good is it having a stable Villa in the championship. Face reality Randy, we are a terrible side who have no style, highly paid players ($40,000 a week is not to be sniffed at) who just can't be bothered and a fan base that is utterly bored, often embarrassed and who will leave in droves if we carry on like this (we have to have some hope!) and both my son and I won't renew our STs without some sort of on field ambition.
By far the worst scenario is that we won't be able to recruit anybody (anybody, just someone with 'fire in his belly') because I have to say that if that is the case and we have to last for the rest of this season with this lot I just give up.
David O'Leary's sides were awful this side is the same or, dare I say it even worse.

[JUAN PABLO]

whos Alan Sutton ? 

[Mister E]

This is as bad as it gets and I can see us breaking up the Lancashire relegation party by being in the drop zone next May.
As Mr Woodhall says, the biggest surprise is that McMinge has not re-created the never-say-die attitude of our neighbours from last season.
I would say man-for-man we are alot better than they were: as a team we're shite.

[Compass]

This is the way the manager approaches games in the EPL, because that is what he spent the last few seasons doing at blues.

That's the thing - he didn't do it this way with them. All the time he was there they managed to nick results against the top teams, invariably with late goals. That was the one thing I thought he'd bring to us - a real never say die attitude. The McLeish of twelve months ago would have made a better fist of yesterday but it seems that better players have brought out the worst in him.

That never die attitude really worked well with him considering he relegated them last season. Laughable clutch straw nonsense. And he seems to be doing even worse for us.

Oh, and don't you be blaming the kids. We've seen what they could under Houllier. They can really shine under positive football, but McLeish's negative tactics are holding them back. And with the senior players they're just as bad as ever. He was the one who convinced Dunne to stay, bought the hopeless Hutton, chooses Collins over Clark, uses Heskey who should be retired now, bought N'Zogbia for nearly 10m who's been a disaster, sent Makoun for the pointless injury prone Jenas, bangs oin about how Ireland can reach "world class" while leaving him on the bench, doesn't know what to do with Bent and brought Warnock back out from the reserves who would have been sold if Houllier remained.

Anyone who defends this manager is questionable in my book. Relegation will be catastrophic at this club. People who have jobs or try to make money from this club will be doomed.

[mr-villa]

We are in an almost identical situation this season after 14 games as we were last season.  Take a look at the league table from 22/11/10 by which time everybody had played 14 matches.

Table on 22.11.2010   Full   Home   Away         
    P  W D L F A  W D L F A  W D L F A  GD Pt   
1 Chelsea 14  9 1 4 28 9  6 0 1 17 3  3 1 3 11 6  +19 28   
2 Manchester United 14  7 7 0 28 15  6 1 0 17 5  1 6 0 11 10  +13 28   
3 Arsenal 14  8 2 4 28 15  4 0 3 17 9  4 2 1 11 6  +13 26   
4 Manchester City 14  7 4 3 19 11  3 3 1 7 5  4 1 2 12 6  +8 25   
5 Bolton Wanderers 14  5 7 2 26 20  3 3 1 15 9  2 4 1 11 11  +6 22   
6 Tottenham Hotspur 14  6 4 4 21 19  3 3 1 11 7  3 1 3 10 12  +2 22   
7 Sunderland 14  4 8 2 17 15  3 4 0 9 5  1 4 2 8 10  +2 20   
8 Stoke City 14  6 1 7 18 18  4 1 2 11 8  2 0 5 7 10  0 19   
9 Liverpool 14  5 4 5 16 17  4 2 1 12 6  1 2 4 4 11  -1 19   
10 Newcastle United 14  5 3 6 22 21  2 2 3 15 9  3 1 3 7 12  +1 18   
11 Blackburn Rovers 14  5 3 6 17 18  3 2 2 8 6  2 1 4 9 12  -1 18   
12 Blackpool 14  5 3 6 21 27  2 2 2 11 11  3 1 4 10 16  -6 18   
13 Aston Villa 14  4 5 5 15 20  3 4 0 10 5  1 1 5 5 15  -5 17   
14 Everton 14  3 7 4 16 15  2 3 2 9 8  1 4 2 7 7  +1 16   
15 Birmingham City 14  3 7 4 15 17  3 3 1 7 5  0 4 3 8 12  -2 16   
16 West Bromwich Albion 14  4 4 6 16 25  3 2 2 8 9  1 2 4 8 16  -9 16   
17 Fulham 14  2 8 4 14 17  2 3 2 9 10  0 5 2 5 7  -3 14   
18 Wigan Athletic 14  3 5 6 10 23  2 3 3 6 15  1 2 3 4 8  -13 14   
19 Wolverhampton Wndrs 14  2 3 9 14 25  2 2 3 9 11  0 1 6 5 14  -11 9   
20 West Ham United 14  1 6 7 11 25  1 3 3 7 11  0 3 4 4 14  -14 9   

Some posters have suggested we are currently doing worse than Blues were under Mcleish at this stage last season but that is actually not true.  As can be seen what has in fact happened is that the top teams have taken more points off the dross this season than they did last leaving a mucher closer bunching from 8th place down

[PeterWithesShin]

2010 Birmingham City PL 14 W3 D7 L4 GF 15 GA 17 GD -2 Pts 16 
2011 Aston Villa         PL 14 W3 D7 L4 GF 16 GA 18 GD -2 Pts 16

Spooky eh. At least it all ended well for them. Oh wait!