Being a genius (cough cough… what a way to start a ‘match report’ by the way!) I didn’t think we were on for 4th place this season. My prediction at the start of the season, if memory serves me right, was 6-8th (that was before the excellent defender purchases but with the lack of a new striker, even that didn’t deflect me from that belief)
So?
Well, it just means maybe that I am more relaxed than some. We flirted with 4th, we could mathematically still do it, but even MON has admitted the draws have killed us this year and the draws are getting more frequent.
I said before the Wolves game that if we were genuine contenders for 4th that we can’t have any more draws at home. Sadly we drew with Wolves and again last night v Sunderland. You know Villa though, they’ll go and win at Chelsea now and the optimism will again return!
I have to admit, as I was leaving one of my mates who sat in a different area met up with me, mate and dad and said ‘what dross’. My mate Wiggy and me were a bit surprised, but then we listened to others reactions. I know near the final whistle (I’d gone to the top of Trinity Lower to see the end and then get a nice quick exit) one chap started moaning to me about the manager and the ‘f****g awful play’, I just looked away.
You see, I quite enjoyed the game! It was end to end, I thought we had more of the possession, the stats don’t bear that thought out (we had 49% according to our stats) and we certainly had some excellent chances. I think because I like the people around me, that I sit near the bench and enjoy barracking the opposition (Steve Bruce was a good laugh last night for one) and the ref etc (all fairly nicely!) and the fact I don’t think it is a God given right for us to win, I’m just more relaxed these days. I don’t expect to finish where we want to but do have a lovely dream about the FA Cup this season, I’m sure you all share that!
Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t top quality football or anything but I can’t say that I didn’t think the players didn’t put the effort in last night.
The biggest problem?
Two great chances, to awful misses.
First half James Collins (who played great last night by the way) only had to nut the ball on target and he’d have scored, he headed it high, wide and not so handsome. I bet he couldn’t miss like that again if he tried?
Then second half John Carew, who is back on form and looking interested (why does he fade so much in the cold weather, I thought he came from Norway?!) had a clear header in front of goal that again, was put wide when you’d have put your mortgage on it going in.
You cannot miss chances like that and expect to pick up wins. Sunderland are no mugs. I have an email from the Vital Sunderland editor this morning, ‘great point for Sunderland, couldn’t be happier’. That sums it up, for Sunderland away at Villa Park, a draw was a good result, for us at home though, it just wasn’t good enough.
Villa doing what they did last season? Looks like it, I just think I’m more immune to the disappointment now and also mindful – without looking at the bigger picture, money spent, lack of rotation etc which I just don’t have the energy to get all angry about right now – it hasn’t been a disaster this year. I know, I know, the counter arguments and I so wanted us to take our chance this year, but …..
Well, we’ll just have to see how the season plays out now. The crowd certainly do seem to be turning a little, there is more frustration and certainly more anger growing. I can understand why, I just can’t get into it myself, what will be will be and without a striker to bang home the goals – and a bit of help from supply would also be nice – we aren’t quite as good as we’d all like to think we are and for that fact only, I can’t bang my head against a brick wall expecting what isn’t possible, I can however keep bashing my hands to death on the boarding’s by me (note to the club, can you please repair the rivets holding the boarding’s up, I have popped three off so far this season!) and carry on supporting the team and letting the refs know what a free kick is, when a yellow card should be given and enquire as to what is wrong with their contact lenses.
Last night? We had the chance to make hay as Man City lost, we failed, but I don’t think that was for the lack of trying from the players, just the lack of new ideas, a plan b or shaking things up. Like last season, I think we’ve been sussed and not only that, we so miss the pace of Gabby Agbonlahor.
Must say our defence seemed to keep Darren Bent quiet all game and that Sunderland’s Campbell looked a real handful, good goal from him.
Player Ratings
Brad Friedel 6
never good at rating keepers but not sure he was responsible for the goal?
Stephen Warnock 6
decent if not stunning
James Collins 7
won most headers all game, just missed the one that counted in front of goal, then again, we shouldn’t be relying on defenders for the goals
Richard Dunne 6
clearly not fully fit
Carlos Cuellar 10
not really but fed up of people moaning about him, he isn’t a right back and we can’t judge him as such
Ashley Young 7
got stuck in, makes the crosses, just no one gets on the end of them – set up the Carew goal
James Milner 6
a little off the pace, no wonder if he achilles was sore, but still plenty of effort
Stiliyan Petrov 6.5
did well to start, best for a while, but does fade and gets to look tired after 60 odd mins?
Stewart Downing 6
needs a pre-season, he’ll improve, he’ll have to
John Carew 8
man of the match, missed a good chance but is putting himself about again, so nice to see, where have you been John? Quality goal.
Emile Heskey no rating
off injured early on, was trying to get involved but he struggled from 4 or 5 minutes in
Nathan Delfouneso (on for Heskey 14) 6
no supply, put in the effort, not helped with the lack of balls to him
Steve Sidwell (on for Milner 77) 6
put in the effort, he has so disappointed so far in his Villa career, thought he was a great buy at the time, but as said, did put in the effort
Manager Rating
Bag of nerves, doesn’t have take it out of his lucazade bottle, is that really just pop in there Martin!? :o)
Opponent Rating
Steve Bruce, had a laugh, looked shocked at getting away with a couple of mad decisions by the awful ref!
No Pie Scandal
Following the great steak and kidney pie scandal of Saturday, I ate before I came out today, so no pie ratings. I did however defy my sponsored diet and have a bar of Cadbury’s dairy milk… also shout so much I had to send out for emergency supplies (a second bottle of water)
Ratings defined
Match ratings defined: 1) Totally awful, had a mare, should be taken out and shot, 2) Dire, but not usual standard, 3) Very poor. 4) Poor, below the standard expected, 5) Average, the least expected, 6) Better than average, but in patches only, 7) Good, generally decent performance, 8) Very good, above the standard, standing out at times, 9) Excellent, stood out all match, 10) Outstanding truly commanded the match.
