ferguson1

Glass always half full and all that - at least we haven't signed anyone shit this window!

Actions speak louder then words for me, that's what we have to judge him on surely! So in the short to medium term let's see if he can improve things around the place and perhaps he should occasionally tell us, as improvements are not always visible!! 

No! Firstly, what would the point as I think they (the players) and the board already know that we arn't happy. Secondly, I'm sure if and when that day comes it will hurt them also, whether that be for some mentally and/or financially!! At least we appear to be trying to get out of this mess now with a bit fight, organisation etc - albeit late! 

Although not a win today and I am as frustrated as the next man, you can see the improvement out there. Before January we'd have lost that game! Real shame cos we are a striker short from being a mid-table team, you can clearly see that. We can live with teams outside the top six now we just can't score. Gana, Lescott, Westwood and Gil were the stand out performers today for me, against a poor Albion team it has to be said. Penalty for me! The guy next to me said it looked soft but if these decisions were on the half way line you'd get them every time - think refs are just scared to give them unless completely clear cut. Wish the board would just sanction a loan fee for a decent striker!

villa4europe makes a good point in that Jack's mindset has to be right but also you'd hope people at the club and indeed family are working with/supporting him.  I don't believe agents do as in most cases they are surely interested in moves and improved contracts.  I for one am not defending his actions and recent attitude but am stating that if we continue to boo and knock him, it may eventually drive him away from the club which we could then regret! 

9 minutes ago, DCJonah said:

He'll speak some shit which will leave everyone in the meeting feeling excited. Then as soon as they analyse what he said they'll realise it was a load of crap.

Think shit and crap are pretty much the same thing aren't they? Joking apart, I know what you are saying here and think you are right. Bit of PR spin for an hour and get an appreciative applause but in reality think they treat us fans as being a bit dim. 

Have to agree with you DC and think some of the comments on here a little disappointing. Yes he has been poor this season and may not have started the season in the right frame of mind after summer antics etc but how can we say - his attitude sticks/abysmal, he's cocky, he's this and that?  How do any of us know what he's like day in day out? For all we know he could be doing charity work on his afternoons off! Bit extreme I know but how do any of us know what he's really like. What you can see for sure is a 20 year old with little confidence to even do the basics right at present and think he should be supported because of this. I remember Tony Cascarino missing a golden chance in front of the holte and getting booed, him looking up at us all in disbelief, then almost out of guilt the crowd chanting his name - what I am trying to say is boing wont help a player whose confidence is shot to bits!  Chanting his name may just help though!! Get his mindset right and back on track cos boy think we will need him next year.

Unfortunately, we have simply left ourselves with just too much to do this year! I am ever the optimist and am all for fighting until mathematics say we are gone but just don't see us doing it. Other clubs getting a result here and there isn't helping either. The last two games have at least shown to me that Garde could be the man to stablise the team and get us playing next year but he will need to be fully supported by the board to do this. Hope the players keeping scrapping to the death as would hate to go down at a whimper. 

With Albion at weekend I agree with most that we need to rest key players. Bacuna to play if Hutton not fit still. Not sure if Bennett can play but could be an opportunity to put players in the shop window (ie Bennett, Richardson).  Personally would keep Kozak in as match fitness still needs to be built up and a senior goal would do him the world of good:

                           Bunn

Hutton      Richards    Clark     Bennett

                         Sanchez

           Lyden                    Richardson

                          Grealish

                 Gestede       Kozak

Bench: Guzan Okore, Bacuna, Kinsella, Agbonlahor, Gil, Sinclair

1 hour ago, Woodytom said:

So we came out of the blocks and really took the game to Leicester. Or did we take the best part of 75 minutes to even look like we might do something?

Who said we came out the blocks and took the game to them? What we did do though is make top of the league look ordinary with good organisation and play a second half that we pretty much had control of! Like I said in an earlier post, we were playing an in form team, top of the league and matched them! Gutless - no way!! 

18 hours ago, Woodytom said:

So we respond to our recent win with 75 minutes of the most gutless drivel I've ever witnessed. 

Leicester putting in arguably their worst performance of the season and ok, we get a draw, but my god, why are we so pathetic and lacklustre. It's unforgivable. 

Oh and those wondering why aly cissockho was loaned out - watch that game.

Not sure if this was written out of frustration and/or heat of the moment Woodytom but crikey, how wrong can you be! Moreover, Aly Cissokho has just played against two of the most in form wingers of the season in Zaha and Mahrez and has stood up really well to them!!

2 hours ago, AVTuco said:

Interesting bit of insight ferguson1. Thanks for posting.

Have you noticed how Richards or Clark behave in this respect?

Haven't studied every player intently but we are quiet on the pitch compared to the opposition. Richards especially unless something really winds him up! Clark is more vocal and probably the best of the bunch in this respect. Lescott less so I think but look for it yourselves.  Midfield bearly say anything to each other!  Like I said previously, we point and instruct but no one actually leads the team and commands - gets in the opposition faces and that of the referee. Some may say this is bullying but it can get you that 'decision'. If a Robbie Savage had been on the pitch yesterday for us and seen Huth do what he did on Kozak, he would have been screaming at the ref! You may not get that decision but then makes the ref think twice about the next one! Man Utd did this effectively for years with Neville, Keane etc. 

7 hours ago, Daholteend said:

If I recall correctly Garde  banned the speaking of French from the  dressing room. That would suggest that half the team will be quiet and the other half have nothing to say until they can speak good English and that alone might take a  while ;-)

Joking aside, your point is well taken. Villa lack having a number of English speaking, Premier League experienced  veterans that can leave their mark on a game with their leadership skills in play calling and strategy on the pitch especially defencively. Players like Laursen and McGrath come to mind.

Today though I thought Jores Okore put in a decent game and undoubtedly kept us in the game with his timely coverage and clearances. Could Okore be heard from where you were sitting Ferguson1 ?

Honestly, no! He certainly doesn't lead or command the back line.  I'm not saying for one minute that we are a mute team overall as obviously there is pointing and organising during a game but there is no real leader. Not sure the language even comes into it? Plenty of foreign players in the league who 'boss' their team.  A commander on the pitch who influences the team and at times can influence a referee. A Joey Barton if you like!!  We really miss this I think and could be invaluable next year whatever league we are in.  

One final point from me regarding today and this season is just how much we lack leaders/organisers on the pitch! I am in a fortunate seat position whereby you can here the real 'talkers' on the pitch and we are such a quiet team!! Drinkwater today never stopped talking to his team, us on the other hand have a midfield that don't speak. Okore Lescott partnership is probably our best at present - but neither organise/speak during games. It is a real problem and can be overlooked from afar ( ie TV ). This needs to be addressed with a signing or two because these types are just not in our squad.

2 minutes ago, VillaChris said:

Today wouldn't even make our top 10 worst performances of the season. Try West Brom at home, Stoke at home, Spurs away, Everton away, Arsenal home, Sunderland away, Norwich away.....and Wycombe away. O.k that's only 8 but you get the picture.

I thought pre match today would pan out a bit like Man. City at home...we'd sit back (as all out attack works in Leicester's favour) limit them to few clear cut chances and today it panned out like that.

The trouble is it's not November anymore and plucky draws aren't enough, we need wins. I feel Remi has now got a decent approach of regularly picking up in this league by how he's setting us up but we really need another 8 points on the board if it ultimately to be successful and for us to stay up.

Completely agree! We have seen some complete dross this season and at least we are now seeing team selections that make sense and performances to match. Think today was decent just not as good as midweek for sure. Think we have missed a trick not signing someone before today's game as may have just given us that extra lift? Like I said earlier it's just too late unfortunately.

Cannot fault the effort but we so lack guile and a cutting edge in the final third of the pitch, which has been really evident in the last two games. Partly down to the fact that we are keeping the ball better and not surrending it so easily as under Sherwood.    During a period in the second half today we must have made about 30/40 passes without Leicester touching it, but no end product! No real stand out performances today but Ally in the last two games has been really solid defensively! Has stood up really well to Zaha and Mahrez, which has shown that he should have been kept from the start.  Only slight disappointment for me over the last two games has been Gill - probably our best two performances of the season in a week and feel that our most creative player has been anything but and usually I really him.  I'm pleased to finally see a team that most of us would pick on the pitch and that we are playing football. Moreover, we are standing up to teams and not rolling over  but we are gone as there is just too much to do!! Too little too late unfortunately and a real shame.  Should be pleased about today but feel really down about things for some reason?

A late Spurs goal could be good for us, as it may take a lot out of the Leicester players! 

Did well last night but should be a squad player.   0 goals from central midfield this season is a big problem. He is not a youngster anymore and Veretout has the makings of being a much better player. We have no better at present and should be replaced in this window or the next.

Don't think you can dislike the guy to be honest. Seems a likeable character and  genuine when speaking. If we were mid table then he would have my full backing but not so sure he understands the fight required and/or the Championship should the unthinkable happen. Happy to be proved wrong though and should he keep us up then he should win manager of the year! Would be a monumental achievement!!

We were debating walking back to the car last night and you have to concentrate on the closest team to you, that is Sunderland at the moment and 4 points! Try to catch them one at a time!! I too think it maybe just a little too much overall but win at the weekend and results go our way, then it could be really interesting.  

I think a lot will depend on his form between now and the end of the season! If he scores say a further 10+ goals in our remaining games someone will take him. I for one would love to see him stay - his application is fantastic and would suggest he is a   popular figure in the dressing room. 

21 minutes ago, Richard said:

Need to capitalise on the momentum from last night and build on that with a couple of good signings.  Do you think Lerner realises?

Completely agree with you here Richard, if ever there was a right time it is now! Imagine, a couple in and on the bench for Saturday, would lift the crowd and players no end! Still can't think of who would be good though - Remy on loan to partner Ayew would be good but not likely I suppose.  Townsend on loan? Debuchy on loan? No doubt we may have tried but they won't come.  Strike while the iron is hot Mr Lerner/Mr Fox!!!

Still a little emotional to be honest, not sure if others feel that way? Almost the same feeling as a semi final win! I did post last night on Star City car park and the feeling was one of joy, relief and possible hope. Ayew MOTM for me as never stopped running and if he had put that one in at the end! Closely followed by both our full backs as they had to keep a close eye on Zaha and apart from the first 40 seconds they stood up really well. I have to admit as well that I am starting to have a soft spot for Veretout - I think he at times has found games tough but you can see glimpses of a real player, should he get a goal soon he may blossom for the rest of season. Finally, Kozak - he may not be pacey and silky skilled but he did cause problems with movement etc and Ayew looked bright playing off him. Has to start the next few games if fit.  It was said last night walking back to the car, we just need to chase down one team at a time and     Sunderland are not that far away - belief!! Off to work now finally with a smile. Onwards and hopefully upwards!