To Boo Or Not To Boo?

A familiar story unfolded on Wednesday evening as Villa once again squandered a slender lead to end up with another solitary point instead of the maximum haul. The pattern has become well trodden already this season. We completely dominate at least one half of a game and should be three or four goals up, only to then allow the opposition back into the game and ultimately snatch a late goal. It is absolutely unacceptable to keep making the same mistakes, as the Villa Park faithful demonstrated vociferously.

The real frustration comes from the fact that those goals which are being snatched are coming so late in the game. So far this season we have gifted four goals in the 85^th minute or later. Had we managed to see these particular games out without conceding, we would have seven extra points (wins against Huddersfield, Forest and Brentford and a draw against Sheffield Wednesday), which would see us on fourteen points and in fourth place. That would also have created an impressive 100% home record.

Last night, the boos at full time returned at Villa Park for the first time since last season. It was a raucous effort and I imagine it was probably a shock to some of the players and staff. After all, we are just seven games into the season. However, was it a complete surprise? And was it justified?

I’m not a fan of booing the team. In the long run I don’t think it achieves anything and only creates an atmosphere of fear and adds extra pressure for the next game, knowing that anything less than a win will probably be greeted by even more boos.

On this occasion, whether it was right or wrong, the boos were completely understandable and born totally out of frustration. Put into context, the fans have seen four games at home so far and in three of them have seen a win snatched from their grasp. On top of this, there is a frustration that the goals that are being conceded are sloppy and completely preventable. Once is understandable and you accept it. Twice is poor. Three times is unacceptable. Especially in such a short space of time, which is also a contributing factor to the reaction at full time. Seeing a team throw away four points in as many days in those circumstances is hardly going to evoke a standing ovation or even just a shrug of the shoulders.

I don’t think it is necessarily a bad thing for the fans to show their frustration in this particular situation. It is certainly understandable. Much has been made of this team now having leaders throughout it, so I would hope that those individuals take the reaction on their shoulders rather than crumble under the pressure. They should react in a determined manner rather than the wallflowers of last season or just allowed the situation to fester.

The obvious downside is that a pressure cooker environment is inevitable should we find ourselves leading by just the one goal in the next game at Villa Park and entering into the latter stages of the match. Everyone was fully aware of our tendency to throw a game away late on, and as the Brentford game drew on, the inevitability that they would score was tangible. This was helped in part by our deep defending which invited the Bee’s to come onto us in search of that goal. 

Whilst it may be argued that the fans are creating an unhealthy environment by booing, it is the players, and staff, who must take the responsibility of providing something for them to get behind. One win in seven is not good enough. Whilst we have no right to expect to win every game, the fact is that we have shown that we are clearly capable of winning these matches comfortably. We either need to take our chances to avoid this situation, or learn to see a game out.

The key now is that supporters, having displayed their displeasure last night, must get behind the team again once more. The boos cannot continue and become a regular feature if we draw or lose the next couple of games. We have no right to expect to win games, but we do have a right to expect us to not keep making the same mistakes over and over. The message has been sent – we aren’t happy with the manner of conceding late goals. Now we move on.

Adama Traore - Wrong Player, Wrong Time

With the news breaking that Adama Traore has submitted a transfer request, Villa fans have taken to social media to air their views on the situation.

Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, the reaction has been largely indifferent to the Barcelona graduate wanting out. However, there are clear reasons why a large section of the support are nonplussed about losing Adama.

Most obviously is the fact that we have barely seen him feature. Due to a seemingly constant stream of injuries, coupled with simply being out of favour, Adama’s Villa career so far amounts to exactly 200 minutes. However, even so, there has been massive excitement about the Spanish U19 international. His first appearance at Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace last season ignited real optimism about him. Coming off the bench, he terrorised the Palace defence and whipped in a cross which was diverted in for a an own goal. He was direct, he was strong, and he was perhaps the quickest player we had ever seen in a Villa shirt, even making Gabby in his prime look like a slouch. Adama would go on to pick up an ankle injury in the next game, a league cup tie with Notts County which would contribute to his fleeting role from the subs bench for the next few months. His momentary start had only whetted our appetite however, and in a dismal year where the supporters were subjected to defeat after defeat, we were desperate to see more of Adama and unable to fathom out why both Tim Sherwood and Remi Garde were reluctant to play him. He was a player who could make things happen. That raw excitement was, at one point, seemingly the only possibility of something exhilarating happening to make all of the miserableness that was being served up on a weekly basis more bearable.

Another cameo performance away at Sunderland at the start of the year would only fuel this further, where a direct and powerful burst forward saw three men unable to stop him before putting in an admittedly slightly wayward cross that Carles Gil did extraordinarily well to convert on the volley. In a match which perhaps best sums up Adama’s Villa career, he then promptly managed to break his ankle which would keep him out until April.

Despite his obvious talent though, there was also a growing frustration with Adama. Keen on playing football like a ten year old in the park who believes he’s better than all his mates, there was no positional sense to his game, there was no tracking back, and most of all, there was a reluctance to pass to any teammate. I’m only half joking when I say that I don’t overly blame him for this when his teammates last season were the worst group of players imaginable. Yet there has never, and will never be a player who can do it all on their own, let alone Adama. Teamwork is by far his biggest weakest in his game and there appears to be very little evidence of any sort of improvement being made. 

Then there is his contract. Last season, rumours were abound that clauses had been triggered which meant that Adama’s basic wage rose from around an already substantial £40k a week to reportedly anywhere between £60k-£75k. I can’t imagine which clauses had been triggered through playing so little, but it wouldn’t surprise me for Villa to have lost any sort of coolness in negotiations and caved into any demand his agent made. The last regime including Tom Fox were out of their depth and made extremely poor decisions, including this one. It’s an absolutely ridiculous contract and it’s not the players fault for the club being mug enough to grant it. However, it is a huge drain on resources at a time where it could be much better spent.

It’s a shame that the move hasn’t worked out. There is obviously talent there and ability of some description. But the player is so raw to such an extent that in reality we just aren’t in a position to develop him. The Championship certainly isn’t the league to do it in, where hard work and effort counts for so much more than talent. We have seen so little of the player that there is most definitely going to be a ‘what if’ factor when he leaves, especially if he goes to fulfil his potential.

I don’t blame Adama for wanting out. He isn’t getting game time and trying to see things from his perspective, this is a player who has been used to better things at Barcelona and even had Kieran Richardson was being picked on the wing ahead on him last season; from his view he must be wondering how it’s all gone so wrong. 

From our point of view, his style of play is a liability and will only leave other teammates over exposed when he dashes off in whichever direction he pleases. He just hasn't done enough to warrant a place in the side.

He isn’t getting game time and the fact that he wants to move on and start afresh elsewhere actually shows an ambition rather than simply being happy to pick up a hefty wage packet each week. I’ve seen many comments along the lines of that if he isn’t up for the fight then good riddance to him, which I think is a bit harsh – at least he isn’t prepared to simply steal a living from us as others have done and simply sit on his huge contract.

I like Adama, and I wish we could accommodate him. But the reservations about just how underdeveloped as a footballer he is are clear. It’s a shame it hasn’t worked out, and it's a shame he didn't even start a single league game for the club. But a parting of ways does seem to be a good option for all concerned at this moment in time. 

Our Home Record Laid Bare

With a season in the Championship beginning in just over five weeks, many Villa fans are now beginning to come to terms with and even look forwards to the upcoming season. And with good reason. The last five years in the Premier League have, by and large, been a struggle. Personally, I am glad of the change, as watching Villa had become a challenge of endurance rather than the pleasure that it once was.

In particular, the opportunity for those attending Villa Park on a regular basis must be absolutely drooling at the prospect of seeing some positive results for a change. Laid bare, the home record over the last five years makes absolutely shocking reading. 

Since the 2011/2012 season, Villa haven’t managed to win more than six games at Villa Park in one season. Considering we play nineteen games at home, this is abysmally poor. In fact, Last season reached unacceptable status, with just two wins at home all season. With fifty seven points up for grabs each campaign, we haven’t managed to gather more than twenty one in any one season. Last season we accumulated just eleven.

Extrapolated over those five seasons, we have played a total of ninety five league games. We have won a grand total of twenty two games at Villa Park. It’s actually astounding to have won so few games. We have lost forty seven of those, which equates to just under half at 49.5%.

 

And when it comes to goal scoring, the fans have also been let down badly. Just fourteen at home all last season. It’s pitiful. We haven’t mustered more than twenty three during this last five year period. In fact, during those ninety five league games, we average just a tad over a goal a game with ninety seven scored in total. Hardly value for money through those lean winter months.  

 

The full record can be seen below. It is not a pretty sight...

 

 

Many reasons and theories have been put forward as to why we have been so bad at home over this period. From the young kids feeling under pressure in front of expectant supporters, right to the notion that supporters have created a poisonous atmosphere. In truth, the reason is that we have been a very pitiable team for the last five years. The bottom line is that the players haven’t been good enough. The management hasn’t been good enough and right to the very top of the club, things have never been right in the boardroom. Investment has been minimal, decisions have been poor and the wrong people have been winging it for far too long. 

Playing for Aston Villa, and at Villa Park, should be a privilege. With the takeover now complete, there is hope that the mistakes of the last five years can be eradicated and some good times can return to our wonderful club. We may be in the Championship, but at least that gives us the opportunity to send supporters home happy on a Saturday evening on a much more regular basis.

Why Villa Must Snap Up Moyes And Avoid Pearson

Remi Garde is clinging to the Aston Villa managerial position right now. Despite many reports saying he would be gone at the beginning of this week, we have gotten to Thursday with still no word on what is going on. It seems inevitable that an agreement between Villa and Garde will be reached sooner rather than later to terminate his contract and during the past week speculation has only intensified as to who the next man in the Villa Park hotseat will be.

The front runner appeared to be Nigel Pearson. As short as 1/4 with the bookies at the start of the week, the ex-Leicester manager bizarrely appeared to have a large section of the Villa faithful behind his seemingly impending appointment.

Incredibly, Steve Bruce somehow made his way into second favourite position with the camel coats, however thankfully, seemingly had zero popularity with the fans.

I understand the idea behind Pearson and Bruce; people are looking at managers who have taken teams up from the tough Championship division. However, this surely cannot be the only pre-requisite for managing such an illustrious club as Aston Villa.

Bruce has limited success in a managerial career now in its 18th year. Finishing as runner up in the Championship with both Birmingham City and Hull City, and also gaining promotion again with Blues via the playoffs is about it. You can throw in an F.A Cup runner up medal if you like, but Tim Sherwood had one of those also. Bad football and mediocrity is the norm and several relegation's are part of his CV also. Surely best avoided and completely uninspiring.

Pearson is the one which really troubles me however. Despite having promising signs as a manager, gaining both League One and Championship promotions with Leicester City, and guiding them to a great escape from relegation last season, the fact remains that this wouldn't necessarily translate over to Aston Villa. There seems to be a train of thought which everyone appears to be boarding, and that is that we should bring him in to save us as he did Leicester. If this applies to you, please realise that Leicester's escape was a freak occurrence in football. Pearson would not replicate this in our situation and also we are far worse off than Leicester ever were - despite similar positions, they were never as cut adrift and the table was much more congested and gains out of the bottom three could be made more easily. As for leading us back with immediate promotion, yes, he is a candidate based on this. However, there are far more pressing concerns which cannot be overlooked with this man. Namely, he is a lunatic. And there are examples aplenty to back it up

How about getting into a confrontation with a supporter and telling them to 'fuck off and die' and then refusing to apologise for it later on?

Or maybe the touchline incident with James McArthur after an accidental collision, in which he pinned the player down and then refused to let go of his shirt as McArthur tried to return to the playing field. When asked about it, a grinning Pearson simply exclaimed 'I can look after myself, don't you worry about that'.

Several prickly press conferences provide an insight into the nature of the man; labelling one reporter a 'prick' for asking a perfectly reasonable question about Leicester's position in the table. And to top it all off, the infamous 'Ostrich' press conference it which Pearson unmercifully berated a younger reporter.

This is not a man in control of his emotions. Can you imagine if he came under the pressure that Villa supporters have (rightly) been putting on the club this season. He would likely explode.

The very good news is that Pearson is no longer favourite. Step forward David Moyes.

When Sherwood was dismissed, I was not keen on Moyes. His reputation at Everton was solid yet relatively unspectacular and many Toffees had wanted him out for two or three years. A failing at Manchester United can be somewhat mitigated and it was an unenviable task on his hand to take over from the successful Ferguson era and the transition would've seen any manager in the world struggle at that time with the players at his disposal especially. Yet further failings at Real Sociedad, which eventually culminated in his sacking have seen his stock fall from it's once fairly lofty heights.

However, he is by far our best option at this point. Despite a lack of managerial honours, he has worked in the lower leagues successfully, albeit a long time ago now, with Preston North End. But he has achieved enough with his continuous galvinisation of Everton over many years, and the fact that he was even in a position to land the United job, to command a certain amount of respect that I don't believe other candidates have, or even Remi Garde has mustered. He is steely enough to not be overrun by our mutinous dressing room and he represents less of a gamble than other options available to us.

The rumours are that he would be prepared to drop down into the Championship with us. If this is true, it gives us some credibility and optimism back also - we are still a big draw. If the decision to sack Garde is already made, we should bite Moyes' hand off to get him in as soon as possible. Celtic are reportedly also sniffing around and we can't afford anyone else to turn his head at this moment in time.

It may just end up being a perfect match; a once lauded manager and a once great club, both damaged and in need of each other to get back to where they want to be.

Hopefully the incisive action shown by chairman Steve Hollis so far continues and Moyes is appointed without any further delays.

Why Grealish and Gabby Need To Take A Long Hard Look At Themselves

Jack Grealish and Gabriel Agbonlahor. Two players who at the moment are out of favour in a big way - with management and with fans alike.

Gabby especially seems to have every single fan against him right now. His days at the club seem numbered and the rumours are that we are keen on shifting his huge wage off the books. Grealish, due to his glimpses of undoubted talent and young age is being afforded a gentler ride but the frustration with him is certainly prevalent.

But these are two players who should not be in anywhere near the positions they find themselves in.

Because these two players are Aston Villa supporters. They could, and should, be absolute heroes for this club.

The absolutely infuriating things about it all is that they ether don’t realise that, or even more worryingly, just don’t care enough.

It makes it so much worse that they are supporters of the club. Because they are both completely lacking in the absolute basic requirements right now - workrate, attitude and effort.

It’s hard to completely judge things, as we’re not in their position. No one knows the ins and outs of things that may or may not be going on. However, what I do know is that if I had the chance to represent the club that I had supported as a boy and be on that pitch, the very least that I would do is put in 90 minutes of hard graft and would give my absolute all. And I don’t think a single Villa fan would disagree with that.

I can also bring Joleon Lescott and Micah Richards into this - we should be so lucky to have a team with four boyhood Villa fans in the side.

Yet, for all Richards’ mistakes this season, I cannot fault his effort at least. His passion has been clear to see from the start of the season and I do believe it is genuine from him. I still believe playing him at right back would be good for us, but this is for another time.

After a less than impressive start, Lescott has been looking more and more assured. While I find it hard to see him as a true Villa fan (remember his reaction when he scored in the last minute for Everton against us - y’know, when Ashley Young then mugged him off to win the game for us 3-2!) there should be some connection within him to want to see this club do well and I don’t think he is particularly failing us in any way right now.

My real problem here lies with Agbonlahor. Yet my concerns lie mostly with Grealish and that he could follow suit.

Agbonlahor should be so much more revered amongst fans. It’s a shame it has gotten to this point with supporters wanting him gone from the club. But it is entirely down to himself. I don’t like to use the ‘look at how much he earns’ as a sole argument to beat a player down with. But you definitely can’t help but think that earning around £60k a week has made Gabby so comfortable that it has affected his game and attitude.

I’ve always thought of him as more athlete rather than a footballer. His finishing has never been great and I would never feel comfortable backing him in a one-on-one situation. Yet, that explosive pace was so important in creating chances for the team and for himself. A willing runner at the least, he frightened the life out of defenders. There is no doubt that he has lost the edge of this raw speed with age and bulking up too much, but he is still much quicker than most other players.

But we have seen less and less from Gabby over the last few years. The game against Spurs at White Hart Lane back in December has become well known for the stat that he touched the ball just 8 times in the first half and two of those were from kick offs. Hauled off in that game at half time, apparently through injury which may explain this poor effort, he has yet to be seen since. But even if injury played it’s part on that occasion, the general consensus is that the player is too comfortable. Certainly, as a striker, he is not contributing enough in the way of goals and just doesn’t seem to get himself involved in games. A questionable workrate now engulfs him, and those electric runs in behind defences are so few and far between over the last few seasons. After presumably becoming financially set for life, just what is Gabby’s motivation at this point? It should be a love of playing for Aston Villa and wanting to give everything to our cause. But that certainly isn’t coming across and hasn’t done for what feels like a long time.

Whilst it may be too late for Agbonlahor, the concern is that Grealish’s attitude will see his potential unfulfilled and simply becoming another promising academy prospect falling by the wayside. A languid style of football is his manner, but despite what some people may think or have even told him, he isn’t good enough for the talent he possesses alone to see him through. He needs to work hard and get himself involved in games and make things happen. His off pitch antics are worrying, and there seems to be a petulance within him which hopefully can be eradicated. If Tim Sherwood was the fun big brother leading him astray and letting him do what he wants, Remi Garde is certainly the strict father trying to instill the discipline that will ultimately determine how successful he’ll be.

Grealish should not be in this position at this stage in his career. If his enthusiasm and respect for playing for his beloved boyhood club is already on the wane already then he is in big trouble. A young kid can have his head turned, and having thousands of pounds a week flooding into your bank account can understandably have a crazy effect on you. I can only imagine what I would’ve been like at that age with that sort of wealth. But seeing Villa cut adrift at the bottom of the table should break his heart still and provoke the realisation that he is in an incredibly fortunate position where he could at least try to have some affect on the situation. How many times have you felt like you wish you were on that pitch and could just have a go at putting in some real effort for Aston Villa. Why is this not happening with Grealish and Agbonlahor?

I get infuriated with lack of effort and movement from players like Rudy Gestede, Charles N’Zogbia, etc...but at the end of the day, they are not tied to this club emotionally, so I don’t have the expectation of things to affect them or care what state the club is in. I hope they are professional enough for it to bother them when they see the fans suffering as we have this season, but in reality it doesn’t really affect the vast majority of players.

However, it should matter to Grealish and Agbonlahor. They both have enough talent and attributes to make a difference to this side. But the very least they should contribute is a game full of effort and passion.

Oh, and to go over to the fans at the end of each game, especially away from Villa Park, no matter the result.

With Agbonlahor rumoured to be in contention to feature in the F.A Cup 4th round tie with Manchester City this weekend, it will be interesting to see if his recent lay off has ultimately had a positive effect and a desire returns.

I just wonder how much being within a professional football environment can remove that natural love for the game that you grow up with. Does the lifestyle it affords change those priorities and passions?

I just wish that all our boyhood fans who are lucky enough to make it as a player for Villa appreciated it as much as Ian Taylor did. It should be the ultimate dream after all.