I'm Experiencing A Deja Vu - How About You?

Let's think back to 2015-16: the worst top tier season in the club's history. Clubs just steam-rollered over us, did they not? The players - many recently imported from overseas - just did not have the mental attitude to cope with it. Teamwork was threadbare. But we had Jack.

Today? The deja vu: "The players - many recently imported from overseas - just did not have the mental attitude to cope with it. Teamwork was threadbare. But we have Jack."

OK, we're not doing as badly as in 2015-16, but I feel there's an underlying commonality between now and then: we do not have enough players who have the character needed for play at this level.

Yesterday, we had one shot on goal against a team that a few weeks ago was struggling in the bottom-3. They have found a formula to get out of their predicament, so it must be possible for a team like ours to do the same.

Or is it that we do not have enough muscle? The way that Nakamba was blown away (again) at times, made me wince. Neat player though he is, we do need more strength in the middle of the park.

So, Dean is now saying that some players have played themselves out of a Cup Final appearance. Does that mean that some of the u-23s are to be promoted? Probably not. I suspect Elmo will be back (and his experience is useful) with Conor and other players of such pedigree. Probably Drinkwater as well. Not bad players, but will they be able to stem Man City's raids?

Well, as supporters we can only do one thing:

Support our team through thick and thin -

And we'll soon have John McGinn!

UTV!

Engels And His Unusual Hat-trick

Ah! With 30 seconds to go I'm muttering, "Just don't do anything daft now, fellers", and then along comes a pass that somehow slides through Engels' legs to enable him to complete his hat-trick!

Why a hat-trick? Because three times he contributed directly to the scoring of goals. 1. The penalty that he conceded (but was so nearly a good tackle); 2. The goal he actually scored for Villa, and 3. that last-minute lack of concentration to let Spurs go away with all the points.

Well, we've seen a lot of added-time goals this season, but today's possibly left the worst taste. Villa could have been out of sight of Spurs within the first 20 minutes, especially that chance for Luiz that was gift-wrapped. Indeed, Spurs were at one stage looking quite dizzy, not knowing where the next attack was coming from. At that stage, the whole team was playing up 100%, aside from Drinkwater who still has one more notch to achieve complete match-fitness, though at times his passing was good to see.

There was certainly nothing wrong with Samatta to ask what'samata'! I see a very good footballer in this fellow, but he does need better support.

The big difference between the two sides was, of course, quality. Their forward play - with one or two key players absent - was quite Rolls-Royce like at times, while we competed but lacked a lot of cohesion.

A draw should have been the correct result. But it didn't happen.

We have to win at Southampton next week-end. Don't we?

UTV!

The Lion Still Lacks Bite

One player - Jack - played his usual game, but not much came from the rest of the team. Nine players mostly seemed to play the first-half as though they were thinking of their appointment at Wembley - while the eleventh player (Konsa*) seemed to be having a hangover after realising that his two yellow cards in the semi-final games had cost him his place at Wembley!

Not even after the break did Villa improve that much, and that they did was partly because their opponents had a player sent off only 5 minutes into the half. The cue was then to reinforce the Villa attack in order to overcome the 10-men. Thus, Davis appeared. He and Samatta eventually combined in a most awkward and fortuitous way for Samatta to head Villa's first headed goal of the season, and a goal for him on his Premiership debut. There was time left to even win the match, but that opportunity was not taken owing to a combination of defiance in the opposition defence and a sheer lack of ideas in the Villa team.

This defeat may be a good thing in that it will force Villa to realise they just have to try harder. This performance was just not good enough, although I suppose some leeway has to be given for the fact that Villa were playing into the sun in the first half, and Reina seemed to be affected by the glare.

Well, Spurs next match. I would really like to see Davis starting that one with Samatta to batter the Spurs defence. But they need to be supplied with opportunities, and in that respect I'm worried.

Still, UTV!

* I note from subsequent reports that Konsa picked up an injury and that's why he was replaced at half-time.