So, so, sad. It's bad enough when you know fortune is not going your way by the thickness of a goal-post, but then to be immediately penalised so harshly at the other end would knock some of the stuffing out of the toughest competitors.
If this - and if that. In the first 25 minutes, Villa could well have been at least 2-0 up if their good chances had been taken - two of which stemmed from good retrieval by the forwards from over-cocky Man U defenders. Further, in that period Man U had produced nothing of note to worry the Villa defence unduly.
And then that awful penalty decision. In ordinary life it would almost warrant arrest for theft. What with three good goals being denied Villa by VAR in the early part of the season, this one just about took the biscuit.
But Villa, let's face it, have only themselves to blame for what has transpired during the season. Apart from some dubious summer signings, the worst decision - in my opinion - was the decision to model the team around Jack Grealish. I am so sorry to say this but though he shines in the Championship, in this unrelenting company he does not hack it for me. As captain and to miss two good chances (not even on target) in the last two games, and at important points in the game, does not reflect well on him. That is apart from the fact that he does not impose himself enough on the play to warrant being captain. A captain is supposed to set the example - not just prettiness of feet.
Harsh words perhaps, but this has proved to be a weak Villa team built around a false premise as I see it. Villa have needed more steel all season and the two so-called 'stars' - Grealish and Mings - have let the side down too much.
Having seen the disastrous season of 1966-67 (though it was a spirited fight until the last few games), the re-building of the club and the aftermath through the old Division 3 days, followed by the tremendous rise to top-notch over 10 years, the fact that Villa have progressively gone down the pan over the last 20 years is extremely concerning. The Lerner years were disastrous years of false dreams in my view. Now another period of false dreams. I really wonder where Villa can go from here.
Well, Villa are not quite down yet. But as the side cannot seem to score - only defenders have scored in the past half-dozen matches - hope has nearly completely drained from my heart. If you can't score you can't win.
And, with football looking more like automated nonsense as the months go by, I doubt that the sport can be called a sport anymore.
But the Villa tradition - as it once was - kept me going before. Now, I cannot see it returning.
If this - and if that. In the first 25 minutes, Villa could well have been at least 2-0 up if their good chances had been taken - two of which stemmed from good retrieval by the forwards from over-cocky Man U defenders. Further, in that period Man U had produced nothing of note to worry the Villa defence unduly.
And then that awful penalty decision. In ordinary life it would almost warrant arrest for theft. What with three good goals being denied Villa by VAR in the early part of the season, this one just about took the biscuit.
But Villa, let's face it, have only themselves to blame for what has transpired during the season. Apart from some dubious summer signings, the worst decision - in my opinion - was the decision to model the team around Jack Grealish. I am so sorry to say this but though he shines in the Championship, in this unrelenting company he does not hack it for me. As captain and to miss two good chances (not even on target) in the last two games, and at important points in the game, does not reflect well on him. That is apart from the fact that he does not impose himself enough on the play to warrant being captain. A captain is supposed to set the example - not just prettiness of feet.
Harsh words perhaps, but this has proved to be a weak Villa team built around a false premise as I see it. Villa have needed more steel all season and the two so-called 'stars' - Grealish and Mings - have let the side down too much.
Having seen the disastrous season of 1966-67 (though it was a spirited fight until the last few games), the re-building of the club and the aftermath through the old Division 3 days, followed by the tremendous rise to top-notch over 10 years, the fact that Villa have progressively gone down the pan over the last 20 years is extremely concerning. The Lerner years were disastrous years of false dreams in my view. Now another period of false dreams. I really wonder where Villa can go from here.
Well, Villa are not quite down yet. But as the side cannot seem to score - only defenders have scored in the past half-dozen matches - hope has nearly completely drained from my heart. If you can't score you can't win.
And, with football looking more like automated nonsense as the months go by, I doubt that the sport can be called a sport anymore.
But the Villa tradition - as it once was - kept me going before. Now, I cannot see it returning.
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