Villa's Lion Has Gone Timid Again

That performance today against Arsenal was, I am sorry to say, mostly pathetic. Not just from the playing standpoint but also from the management that selected the team. A match that saw no Villa shots on goal until the last kick of the game.

Selecting Konsa was understandable if it was just from the point of view that Chambers is an ex-Arsenal player, and they may have used their knowledge of him to their advantage. It was unfortunate that Konsa had to give Chambers the opportunity in the first place. In selecting Young it was virtually a Hobson's Choice situation, and I felt that though his game was not error-free, he played well and did some good things.

But selecting that midfield package just does not work for me. Although McGinn - when on form - offers a 'bite' that is needed, they are all otherwise too similar in stature and general play to make a successful unit in my opinion. I continue to think that Sanson is needed and that Buendia and Coutinho cannot play effectively together.

And I did think that McGinn and Ramsey were ineffective and even sloppy at times. Also, too, was Watkins, who does good things but at times simple ball control seems non-existent.

Bailey and Ings - and perhaps Traore too - offered an attitude when they came on that should have been there from the start.

Let us  - please - have both Sanson and Bailey in the starting line-up. We need our team to show more force rather than pussyfooting around, which is what we seem to have started to do again in the last two matches.

It seems to be a case of taking two steps forward and two steps back, doesn't it? I know that West Ham and Arsenal possess more quality than Villa's previous three opponents, but you cannot get points off such sides if they are just allowed to play their game.

There is one further point. It is clear that the owners and management of the club want success. All Villa fans would like that too, but not so long back in history Villa had a desire to fight, and that has been the tradition of the club. Unfortunately, however, developments over the last 10 years or so at Villa Park seem to have caused Villa's pride to lapse. 

Coaching and tactics (by themselves) do not bring about the spirit to battle and win through. Gerrard - of all people - should know that. The players seem to be short of the needed self-belief, but only they can find it; no-one can coach it into them.

The Villa Park Roar has gone, and that was what used to inspire our players and scare the opposition, so it's now mainly up to the players.

Well, another international break is up, so that gives time for them all to think about themselves and what their attitude should be.

UTV!