Well, did we expect to get anything at Man City? Beforehand I felt the score would be 2-0 or 3-1 to them, and in fact, if we were to go by the match stats it looks as though Villa deserved to get a consolation goal.
But just as our efforts at Spurs and the Gunners fell apart in the second period, so too it happened that we were found wanting after a good first half. This time, though, we failed to carry a lead at the break.
So, my overall view of the Villa is that just like way back in 1975-76, in the first season then back in the top flight, there is a lot of feet-finding to do. And bearing in mind that a lot of the team looks different from last season's, they have not done badly to adjust together. I am quite hopeful and, indeed, expectant, that the Villa will finish in the top-12 or thereabouts.
There is good quality in most departments of the Villa team, and that surely supports a certain level of optimism. I would just like to pull some Villa supporters back down from the clouds, however, after Villa's two back-to-back wins prior to yesterday, particularly after the outstanding scoreline at Norwich. That is that if we would look at the bigger picture, the three wins we have so far obtained have been against clubs that are no great shakes in defence. Conversely, in our matches against teams in the top few places of the Premiership, we have buckled somewhat when the pressure was eventually applied against us.
If we were then to look at a couple of the star-rated Villa players - like Grealish and Mings - they have shown up well against the lower teams of the Premiership, but have been seen wanting at crucial times in the matches against the big 'uns. Not that either of the two named players played badly yesterday. Not a bit. But Mings - who seems to do something a bit wayward in every match - did not do his proper job at the start of the second-half and we got punished for it. Grealish, for his part, failed to pick any locks. He looked the part, but did not deliver in the final third. And then he got crocked near the end of the match, so if he does have to miss a match or two it will be interesting to see how well his place can be filled.
And, yes, VAR has been haunting us all season. It was certainly in question yesterday. As things stand I certainly prefer the old system of leaving it to the ref, that if he makes a mistake against us then hope that the error is balanced out in another match. In my view you simply cannot make things perfect through automation in a volatile scenario. Robots have worked well in areas like car production for a long time, but that is an utterly different ball game. VAR worked well in sorting out "was it over the line" issues, but, as things stand, the way the VAR system is now applied seems to make officiating that more laughable.
Nevertheless, things are not at all bad for the Villa, and I suspect that as things progress over the season we'll pick up more reasons for optimism rather than the other case.
Certainly, I feel the ship is in far, far better shape than it was three years ago, and in that light, I rest easy.
UTV!
But just as our efforts at Spurs and the Gunners fell apart in the second period, so too it happened that we were found wanting after a good first half. This time, though, we failed to carry a lead at the break.
So, my overall view of the Villa is that just like way back in 1975-76, in the first season then back in the top flight, there is a lot of feet-finding to do. And bearing in mind that a lot of the team looks different from last season's, they have not done badly to adjust together. I am quite hopeful and, indeed, expectant, that the Villa will finish in the top-12 or thereabouts.
There is good quality in most departments of the Villa team, and that surely supports a certain level of optimism. I would just like to pull some Villa supporters back down from the clouds, however, after Villa's two back-to-back wins prior to yesterday, particularly after the outstanding scoreline at Norwich. That is that if we would look at the bigger picture, the three wins we have so far obtained have been against clubs that are no great shakes in defence. Conversely, in our matches against teams in the top few places of the Premiership, we have buckled somewhat when the pressure was eventually applied against us.
If we were then to look at a couple of the star-rated Villa players - like Grealish and Mings - they have shown up well against the lower teams of the Premiership, but have been seen wanting at crucial times in the matches against the big 'uns. Not that either of the two named players played badly yesterday. Not a bit. But Mings - who seems to do something a bit wayward in every match - did not do his proper job at the start of the second-half and we got punished for it. Grealish, for his part, failed to pick any locks. He looked the part, but did not deliver in the final third. And then he got crocked near the end of the match, so if he does have to miss a match or two it will be interesting to see how well his place can be filled.
And, yes, VAR has been haunting us all season. It was certainly in question yesterday. As things stand I certainly prefer the old system of leaving it to the ref, that if he makes a mistake against us then hope that the error is balanced out in another match. In my view you simply cannot make things perfect through automation in a volatile scenario. Robots have worked well in areas like car production for a long time, but that is an utterly different ball game. VAR worked well in sorting out "was it over the line" issues, but, as things stand, the way the VAR system is now applied seems to make officiating that more laughable.
Nevertheless, things are not at all bad for the Villa, and I suspect that as things progress over the season we'll pick up more reasons for optimism rather than the other case.
Certainly, I feel the ship is in far, far better shape than it was three years ago, and in that light, I rest easy.
UTV!
1 comment:
I agree, John.
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