Anybody starting to get worried…… again?

[BC Villain]

I don't think we will be dragged into a relegation battle but the chances of a top half finish are diminishing and it looks like the likes of Newcastle and Leeds are going to catch up with us.  We cannot allow that to happen.

Newcastle did not win a match until 14 games into the  season,  and now sit above us.

A damning indictment of this lousy manager

[Mister E]

Our current form is depressingly on a par with Watford. 

[Meanwood Villa]

No chance we are going down this season. Even if Burnley do the double over us they are still five points behind. It's all feeling very grim at the moment though.

Top half is still eminently achievable with a strong finish. I'm not holding my breath but if we do that everyone goes into summer in a good mood. It's a funny old game, as I think someone has previously observed.

[Villan82]

Our over pampered, over paid squad are a disgrace. Starting to strongly dislike a lot of them.

We more or less downed tools in February and said 'that our lot'. They play in front of a full house every week. They don't deserve what they have.

[Risso]

Our over pampered, over paid squad are a disgrace. Starting to strongly dislike a lot of them.

We more or less downed tools in February and said 'that our lot'. They play in front of a full house every week. They don't deserve what they have.

I don't think that's true at all. As has been said a few times, we played Spurs off the park and were just undone by our poor finishing compared to Spurs having the world class Son. I don't think there's been a lack of effort, the squad is just midtable and massively inconsistent, like all of the other midtable teams. Brighton lost 6 in a row, scoring once, then drew 0-0 with Norwich. They then recorded back-to-back wins against Arsenal and Spurs. Southampton lost 4 out of 5 including a 6-0 home stuffing, then beat Arsenal.

We could very easily win the next three in a row against Leicester, Norwich and Burnley and be back up to 9th.

[AV82EC]

Our over pampered, over paid squad are a disgrace. Starting to strongly dislike a lot of them.

We more or less downed tools in February and said 'that our lot'. They play in front of a full house every week. They don't deserve what they have.

I don't think that's true at all. As has been said a few times, we played Spurs off the park and were just undone by our poor finishing compared to Spurs having the world class Son. I don't think there's been a lack of effort, the squad is just midtable and massively inconsistent, like all of the other midtable teams. Brighton lost 6 in a row, scoring once, then drew 0-0 with Norwich. They then recorded back-to-back wins against Arsenal and Spurs. Southampton lost 4 out of 5 including a 6-0 home stuffing, then beat Arsenal.

We could very easily win the next three in a row against Leicester, Norwich and Burnley and be back up to 9th.

Can we have the old "the Villa are going to hell in a handcart" Risso back please. <winky>

Agree with your take here Risso, life sometimes isn't a straight line to success. I think it was Ads who pointed out a while ago, we don't live in some Villa exclusive bubble, there's 19 other clubs all trying to improve and develop just like we are and as some General probably once said no plan survives first contact with the enemy.

I have my doubts on Gerrard but its far too early to make any hard and fast judgments in my view.

Onwards.....

[Beard82]

Our over pampered, over paid squad are a disgrace. Starting to strongly dislike a lot of them.

We more or less downed tools in February and said 'that our lot'. They play in front of a full house every week. They don't deserve what they have.

I don't think that's true at all. As has been said a few times, we played Spurs off the park and were just undone by our poor finishing compared to Spurs having the world class Son. I don't think there's been a lack of effort, the squad is just midtable and massively inconsistent, like all of the other midtable teams. Brighton lost 6 in a row, scoring once, then drew 0-0 with Norwich. They then recorded back-to-back wins against Arsenal and Spurs. Southampton lost 4 out of 5 including a 6-0 home stuffing, then beat Arsenal.

We could very easily win the next three in a row against Leicester, Norwich and Burnley and be back up to 9th.

Can we have the old "the Villa are going to hell in a handcart" Risso back please. <winky>

Agree with your take here Risso, life sometimes isn't a straight line to success. I think it was Ads who pointed out a while ago, we don't live in some Villa exclusive bubble, there's 19 other clubs all trying to improve and develop just like we are and as some General probably once said no plan survives first contact with the enemy.

I have my doubts on Gerrard but its far too early to make any hard and fast judgments in my view.

Onwards.....

I think if we can win 2 out the next 3 it will be a massive help and change the mood around everything

[Risso]

Can we have the old "the Villa are going to hell in a handcart" Risso back please. <winky>

Agree with your take here Risso, life sometimes isn't a straight line to success. I think it was Ads who pointed out a while ago, we don't live in some Villa exclusive bubble, there's 19 other clubs all trying to improve and develop just like we are and as some General probably once said no plan survives first contact with the enemy.

I have my doubts on Gerrard but its far too early to make any hard and fast judgments in my view.

Onwards.....

Well Gerrard certainly needs to end the season as strongly as possible. There no excuses for not beating Burnley and Norwich, and at the very least we should be getting a draw against Leicester. Beat Burnley twice, Norwich, and one of Leicester or Palace and draw the other would give us 13 points which would put us on 49 points for the season. Anything at all from the Liverpool or Man City games would be nice, especially last game at Man City if we could deny them and Joe the title. 50 points wouldn't be amazing, but from where we were it wouldn't be a bad return and would at least give us a bit of confidence going into the summer.

[dave.woodhall]

I know it's probably bollocks because everything has changed, from owners to cleaners, but I wonder if there's still a survival instinct hanging round the club and we've turned into the Coventry of old - do enough to stay up then switch off.

[Villan82]

I know it's probably bollocks because everything has changed, from owners to cleaners, but I wonder if there's still a survival instinct hanging round the club and we've turned into the Coventry of old - do enough to stay up then switch off.

I think you are onto something. I suspected this is what happened last year around late January 'job done'.

I accept we played well in the first half against Spurs. But, we let Watford beat us at home, we meekly lost to Newcastle, we didn't lay a glove on Arsenal and we didn't look good against Wolves. I look at the players and I don't see players who are busting a gut for the vclub.

[Chris Smith]

Unless here is a significant upturn over the final few games then this season will go down as one of huge underachievement from both of the managers and their support teams as well of the majority of the players. I am hoping that Gerrard has enough about him to accept that and not try to make excuses or gloss over things, it might wash with his mates in the media but not with those of us who have been paying attention.

Next season is a chance to reset and a fresh start for everyone but how many times have we said that and this being Villa the nagging doubt is that we’ll be having the same debate this time next year. Let’s hope not.

[Risso]

I know it's probably bollocks because everything has changed, from owners to cleaners, but I wonder if there's still a survival instinct hanging round the club and we've turned into the Coventry of old - do enough to stay up then switch off.

No I don't buy that. Edens is used to winning in sport (and life generally I guess) and I saw his response to one of Smith's last games when he was going apoplectic. It certainly didn't look like he was content with the status quo, and Smith was gone not long afterwards. They've obviously relied on Purlow's word for the Gerrard appointment. It'll either work out with them backing him in the summer, or it won't and I imagine it'll be a 2 for 1 on the P45s. Whatever happens it won't be for lack of effort.

[Clive W]

I know it's probably bollocks because everything has changed, from owners to cleaners, but I wonder if there's still a survival instinct hanging round the club and we've turned into the Coventry of old - do enough to stay up then switch off.

No I don't buy that. Edens is used to winning in sport (and life generally I guess) and I saw his response to one of Smith's last games when he was going apoplectic. It certainly didn't look like he was content with the status quo, and Smith was gone not long afterwards. They've obviously relied on Purlow's word for the Gerrard appointment. It'll either work out with them backing him in the summer, or it won't and I imagine it'll be a 2 for 1 on the P45s. Whatever happens it won't be for lack of effort.

I agree that our owners, based on their business dealings, don’t appear to be likely to be happy with pure survival. Likewise Gerrard has always seemed to be someone constantly driven towards success

I’ve said on here a few times over the years that in my opinion we have so often lacked an on-field presence

From 1973 until 2014, these were our captains:

Ross
Nicholl
Mortimer
Evans
Gray
Richardson
Townsend
Southgate
Mellberg
Barry
Laursen
Petrov

All of them able to lead by example and inspire or cajole others around them to lift their game

Since then I believe we have had 7 captains, including the likes of Vlaar, Delph, Agbonlahor and Grealish - not exactly inspirational

[Risso]

The captains point is a fair one Clive, but I also think it helps that the majority of those were surrounded by excellent players and were largely top 6 level teams at least.

[RamboandBruno]

I know it's probably bollocks because everything has changed, from owners to cleaners, but I wonder if there's still a survival instinct hanging round the club and we've turned into the Coventry of old - do enough to stay up then switch off.

No I don't buy that. Edens is used to winning in sport (and life generally I guess) and I saw his response to one of Smith's last games when he was going apoplectic. It certainly didn't look like he was content with the status quo, and Smith was gone not long afterwards. They've obviously relied on Purlow's word for the Gerrard appointment. It'll either work out with them backing him in the summer, or it won't and I imagine it'll be a 2 for 1 on the P45s. Whatever happens it won't be for lack of effort.

I agree that our owners, based on their business dealings, don’t appear to be likely to be happy with pure survival. Likewise Gerrard has always seemed to be someone constantly driven towards success

I’ve said on here a few times over the years that in my opinion we have so often lacked an on-field presence

From 1973 until 2014, these were our captains:

Ross
Nicholl
Mortimer
Evans
Gray
Richardson
Townsend
Southgate
Mellberg
Barry
Laursen
Petrov

All of them able to lead by example and inspire or cajole others around them to lift their game

Since then I believe we have had 7 captains, including the likes of Vlaar, Delph, Agbonlahor and Grealish - not exactly inspirational

Whether we hate why he left or not, Grealish was inspirational. Otherwise good general point.