Based on how the attack was at least getting shots in - and on target - in the first match back against the Blades, I felt that we were in a good state and would recover and avoid relegation. Particularly as our defence looked as though its leaks had been plugged.
The reality now appears to be different. We can see now that the Blades have fallen off from their previous, spirited, form, and it now looks more and more that we missed a great opportunity to take full points from them.
They say that "football is a confidence game". Confidence in the Villa players now looks to be at a low ebb: we look to be quite unconfident in the last third. Trezeguet has had two reasonable chances in the last two matches when his shooting seemed to have the hallmarks of a blown confidence, and when players like Grealish start over-hitting passes then it seems to reveal a loss of nerve - of confidence. Conor is another.
With McGinn looking like a shadow of his former self, it doesn't look at all good.
When I think back two years and remember how we blew a rampant Wolves off the park in a 4-0 win, I really wonder what has happened since. Memories like the pummelling of Sunderland 6-2 around six years ago, when we thought those were the dark days, leave me really wondering what has since happened.
I mention those two particular games not for the fact of substantial wins, but because in those games Villa stood up with gusto and were ready to be counted. The spirit was there. These days I get the feeling that the coach is almost telling the players which blade of grass on which to walk.
Discipline and order are good things, but it also needs confidence and inspiration to translate the organisation and effort into a win.
How - in a so-called breakaway - can you slow down to such a degree that you end up playing backward passes? This has happened around three or four times of late.
We are going backwards for sure, and I so hate to say that. Only by some incredible lift of confidence do we still stand a chance of avoiding the drop. I do not like to contemplate what would come after that, especially after such a recent and painful three years down under.
Meanwhile, Steve Bruce remains a Premiership manager.
UTV. ???
The reality now appears to be different. We can see now that the Blades have fallen off from their previous, spirited, form, and it now looks more and more that we missed a great opportunity to take full points from them.
They say that "football is a confidence game". Confidence in the Villa players now looks to be at a low ebb: we look to be quite unconfident in the last third. Trezeguet has had two reasonable chances in the last two matches when his shooting seemed to have the hallmarks of a blown confidence, and when players like Grealish start over-hitting passes then it seems to reveal a loss of nerve - of confidence. Conor is another.
With McGinn looking like a shadow of his former self, it doesn't look at all good.
When I think back two years and remember how we blew a rampant Wolves off the park in a 4-0 win, I really wonder what has happened since. Memories like the pummelling of Sunderland 6-2 around six years ago, when we thought those were the dark days, leave me really wondering what has since happened.
I mention those two particular games not for the fact of substantial wins, but because in those games Villa stood up with gusto and were ready to be counted. The spirit was there. These days I get the feeling that the coach is almost telling the players which blade of grass on which to walk.
Discipline and order are good things, but it also needs confidence and inspiration to translate the organisation and effort into a win.
How - in a so-called breakaway - can you slow down to such a degree that you end up playing backward passes? This has happened around three or four times of late.
We are going backwards for sure, and I so hate to say that. Only by some incredible lift of confidence do we still stand a chance of avoiding the drop. I do not like to contemplate what would come after that, especially after such a recent and painful three years down under.
Meanwhile, Steve Bruce remains a Premiership manager.
UTV. ???
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