London Teams Should Be Relegated!

Four visits to London in the league have not only produced 'nil points', but 11 goals against in those matches!

It's a historical fact that until London teams started to appear in big league football (ca. 1905), the Villa was regarded as the country's greatest club - even by Londoners. But that is by the way except to say they have been a nuisance ever since, though mainly since WW2!

But it's more than all that isn't it? Having seemed to have succeeded with the 3-5-2 system against Everton, with an impressive 3-0 win against a hitherto unbeaten team (but was it more to do with Bailey's appearance on the pitch?) and then that much-vaunted success at Old Trafford (but was it more to do with playing a team of prima donnas?), a different set of opponents came up.

Spurs were itching to find themselves when Villa arrived at their home, and we lost. OK, we were probably willing to take that, but to throw that game away against Wolves after being 2-0 up was a bit much - especially playing at home. And now the latest humiliation at Arsenal, when Villa were really wiped off the pitch in the first half. Again, Arsenal were being pushed to redeem themselves after a horrendous start to their season.

What is certainly not acceptable is how John McGinn is suddenly vilified for his sub performance at Arsenal when only last week people were saying he was back to his best! Fickle? Well, that's football supporters - and journalists too.

For me, I have to point the finger mainly at the manager. Sorry Dean, but we have come to know you a bit now after three years, and what comes across is a feller that's often rather stubborn. It's a trait that is not always bad, of course, but I think that after the Wolves match everyone was expecting the 3-5-2 system to be dropped - at whatever cost - and yet it took until half-time at Arsenal before the penny dropped in Dean's head. Perhaps.

Even in the second half, it was still not a great Villa performance, but it was hugely better than the first half, and in my view both Watkins and Ramsay had late chances to reduce the margin further, or even equalise! But that would have been something that Villa hardly deserved after a first-half without even mustering one shot in 45+6 minutes. I shan't talk about the Gunners' late, late first-half penalty except to say "Get rid of VAR!" But they were worth a 2-goal lead, so let's let it be.

Well, perhaps Dean thought that the 3-5-2- system was good enough to keep Villa going until Bailey was back in action, but is this another Dean Smith weakness, of relying on one player to lift the Villa to success? Dean says not, but with Beundia, Watkins and Ings not yet fully 'there', it does look like a one-player hope from Dean.

The great downside is that the Villa has now lost three on the trot and the goals against column has taken a hit, while worryingly sliding down the table. It's now almost "We have to win the next match!" And what have we next week - another London team fixture! We haven't won against a London team yet!

All I can say is ... Get Up, The Villa! ...

UTV!