Jimmy Hogan, We Need You!

 Mmm....

One of my earlier posts referred to Villa being Chumps, not Champs, and as the games go by the phrase keeps on coming back to me. Not only were we delivered a real sucker punch against Brighton last week when all the Villa outfield were encamped in the Brighton half, but we have now seen West Ham obtain two goals from virtually their only attacks in the game - and at the very start of each half.

We also have the frustrating sight of Trezeguet missing one straight forward chance after another over the season so far (bar one or two matches) and now Watkins decides to join the act by slamming a penalty against the bar, plus another chance which should at least have troubled the keeper. 

I'm not going into a debate about VAR and that disallowed 'goal' as I really do think that the main problem lies within the Villa mentality. But I am fed up with VAR - leave it just for over-the-line situations, please! What, otherwise, are referees now paid for?

It seems to me that when we face a team that has allowed Villa to play open football (Fulham, Liverpool, Arsenal) then we've looked good. But the moment we face bread-and-butter sides (such as the last two matches) that have a plan to keep the Villa out by hook or by crook, and have players that are awake to their opportunities, then we have problems. And on top of that, we miss the chances that do come our way. Thereby such opponents win.

Yes, I know we are still witnessing a Villa that is being rebuilt, and we're certainly not going to win every game, but there is a weakness in the team that keeps on repeating itself over and over again - particularly in defence. Is that weakness lack of concentration or complacency, or a combination of the two? I'm not sure. But whatever it is has not been dealt with.

Yet there are times when the way Villa motor forward gives me a thrill - especially when we see Jack (especially) or McGinn twist and turn their way past players. Unfortunately, though, attractive play by itself does not produce points. The way to winning is surely achieved by swift and incisive passing. As Villa's famed coach Jimmy Hogan once said, "What's the point of beating 2 or 3 players when one pass can do the trick?"

I think we still miss Gareth Barry and James Milner.

I rest my case.

UTV!