The Big Freeze

While the entire world is in a state of uncertainty, the fans of Aston Villa are frozen rigid in isolation, not knowing what the outcome will be for this season, all football being in limbo.

The FA is rumoured to favour re-commencement of Premier League activity on June 1, with clubs to be asked to play 3 matches per week, and behind closed doors, but just how realistic is that? By that approach, the season's football would not end much before the end of June, and the players - completely played-out - would probably be asked to return for the next season's preparations two or three weeks later, in mid-July.

Unfortunately, that may well be how it all pans out. Big money is at stake and non-fulfilment of contractual obligations may well force the FA's hand. Unless - that is - 'the virus' decides to hang around beyond the 12 weeks that is thought likely, and in a continued malicious way. In any case, there is a genuine concern that this may well be just a first wave of the virus, and that next winter may see its return.

However, the belief that seems to be present is that this virus only likes cold and that therefore the summer will see its (temporary?) abeyance. What strikes me, though, is that Far East countries such as India and Malaysia are certainly not cold, but the virus is very present there right now.

I will probably be accused of being a pessimist or negative, but I do feel that conditions have been developing in the world - call it Climate Change Plus if you will with the inclusion of 'the virus' - that point to us all having to change our way of living.

I do believe that how we live from now on will change in a big way. But I also believe that ultimately there will be a much better world. I do hope that is so. Meanwhile, let Liverpool be champions!

And, meanwhile, my very best wishes and hopes for all!

1959 All Over Again?

What was that performance all about?

We can speak of defensive errors, but for me, the main tragedy has been watching the opposition too often slicing through as though our midfield doesn't exist. Nakamba and Luiz are not a good pairing, in my opinion, but we don't seem to have an alternative. Would Lansbury be any worse? 

Well, Dean Smith thought that Nakamba was 'good' against Leicester, and I certainly don't think he's a bad player - just a tad too light and slow in my view. But a lot of the Villa team looked like that, I have to admit.

Where to next? McGinn will surely replace Luiz at the first opportunity and McGinn will certainly bring some sorely missed enterprise into the middle of the park. But one player cannot do it all. Jack's contribution has reduced a lot in the last few games - is he dwelling on Man U? On the other hand, the ball has not been getting to him very much.

The Villa showed in the two legs of the League Cup semi-final versus Leicester that they had the spirit and capability to overcome them, yet in the two league matches they have failed in their task quite badly. The lure of a trophy was clearly a great stimulus in their efforts to win - but the desire should be no less to move away from the perilous position they are in in the League.

This situation takes me back to 1959, when the Villa were dangling near the bottom of the League and yet had a very good run in the FA Cup. Villa lost, rather unluckily, in the semi-final and they lost their spirit in the following few league games. They were ultimately relegated, but not until after a late fight. I think last night was a similar situation - the psychological impact of losing in a Final having its effect: their concentration was not as it should have been. After a promising opening 10 minutes, they did not get near the Leicester goal to speak of.

Well, we only have Chelsea, Newcastle, Wolves, Liverpool and Man U as our next games! Even with three of those games being at home, it's a mighty 'ask' to expect much. If we were to get 7 points from those 5 matches I'd think we'd be doing extremely well after last night's lack of performance.

Well, c'est la vie: this is the typical life of the Villa fan, is it not?

UTV!

Nerve Jangles, Angles and Engels!

Well, with just 40 minutes gone I was a-thinkin' this might be a 4-0 or 5-0 slaughter. Then Samatta powered the ball home with his head. What a difference that made!

In the second-half, the Villa did what, in my opinion, they should have done in the first half. Villa stopped them from moving around as freely as they wanted and the Villa players were constantly snapping at their opponents' heels. One remarkable tackle by Marvelous on Aguero earned a yellow, but 5 or 10 years ago I doubt that would have been the outcome; the Villa player went for the ball and got it - though Aguero got some pain for his troubles. 

It was El Gazi - not Grealish - that caught the eye on at least three occasions. An early header was only just over, later followed by a shot which was safely gathered by their keeper. And then he supplied the pin-point centre for Samatta to score. Jack's day out was not one of his best, sad to say, but that may have been down to the City's tactics.

In the last few minutes, Engels header was pushed onto a post by their keeper. Pity; I thought at that stage we'd earned extra-time.

And, despite reports underplaying his contribution, I thought that Davis was very clever on a couple of occasions and in the short time available to him.

If the Villa can replicate that second-half effort for the rest of the season then that - plus McGinn's energetic return - should see us safe, despite the current league position. 

UTV!