Penalty? I Saw Red!

The early over-casual cross-field ball from Targett and the indifferent play of El Ghazi began to make me think that Villa were still bleary after their New Year celebrations, especially when McGinn's good attempt did not tear a hole through the back of the net as it would if it had possessed the power of his effort at Chelsea. And then, when Mings altogether missed his headed clearance to allow Man U to score, I felt that my early thought had been confirmed!

But, if anything, Villa seem to be a second-half team these days, and it was something of a different story in the second half. When the well-worked equaliser went in I thought, "Villa are waking up". The euphoria didn't last long - a 6-of-one and half-a-dozen of the other situation in Villa's penalty box resulted in Pogba giving a good demonstration of a dying (or diving) swan and the ref and VAR team fell for it. Ah, well, perhaps they love ballet.

And it was being played at Old Trafford, wasn't it?

Villa had their chances, and but for a very good piece of defensive work, Al Ghazi's attempted diving header would surely have gone in. But it was Martinez at the other end that pulled off the save of the match to make sure we did not go 1-3 down.

I have to say, though, that bar the last 15 minutes, they had the edge and a 1-goal win to them was probably about right. However, it took some clogging from them in those last 15 minutes to keep their lead intact, and Davis very nearly thumped home an equaliser.

Well, let the Reds have their moment. I feel that Villa are heading in the right direction and that we're not too far off the desired level to really trouble the so-called 'big boys'. 

My main concern now is the state of the fixture list in January and early February. A rate of two matches every week after next week is to be faced, and if we do beat 'Pool in the Cup next week (I wouldn't be surprised if a replay is needed) then another Cup match will only make the fixture list worse.

08-01-2021 H Liverpool FAC(R3)
13-01-2021 H Spurs PL
16-01-2021 H Everton PL
20-01-2021 A Man C (re-arranged) PL
27-01-2021 A Burnley PL
30-01-2021 A Southampton PL
02-02-2021 H West Ham U PL
06-02-2021 H Arsenal PL

Not exactly an easy list, is it?! Will we be using the reserves?

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Solidity Is Villa's New Keyword

'Grit', 'tenacity', 'commitment', 'determination'. These are all apt words to describe the Villa's two second-half performances against Crystal Palace and Chelsea, leaving the opponents' team managers (Hodgson and Lampard) both looking fed up at the end of the two matches.

In the Palace match, their ageing defence was partly responsible for what looked like an unlikely Villa win after we were reduced to 10 men, but the commitment and skill of the entire Villa team was clear in that second half with the result that Palace had few chances to get a goal.

Against Chelsea it was a similar story of commitment by Villa, but against quite a different opponent, with Chelsea being quick movers and gritty themselves. The likes of Grealish and Traore had little opportunity to show their silky skills, but both played a solid part in keeping Chelsea at bay and trying to keep the Villa in with a chance of a winner. And then young Ramsay so nearly fashioned a winner after midfield dynamo McGinn had rocked the Chelsea bar from 25 yards.

Hause and Konsa were a solid central pair, and were ably supported by the two Villa full-backs. The only thing missing from the back was Mings's ability to play the ball out of defence, but the team's overall commitment was first-class, punctuated only by a silly rearguard pass across the edge of the penalty area from Jack that they nearly capitalised on. It's odd that arguably Villa's two most classy players in their respective departments - Grealish and Mings - manage to do silly things, but they do.

El Ghazi, having been eviscerated for his wastefulness against Burnley, is suddenly a darling of the Villa fans having scored 4 in the last 3 matches. He's certainly the man of the moment in goalscoring terms, and poor Trez must be looking on with worry. In fact, El Ghazi seems to fit in well with Jack and Traore right now.

With the ever-reliable Martinez behind this solid Villa team, things do look quite bright and I am sure they will give a good account of themselves on the first day of the new year at Old Trafford after 5 games undefeated. Mings and Barkley should be available for that match. 

The question then remains as to whether Villa can score another seven the following week against Liverpool in the FA Cup, but they, of course, should be much better prepared this time. Hopefully not, though!

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Why Do Villa Have To Frustrate So Much!

Results-wise, the past three games (bringing 7 points out of 9) have surely restored some faith that the early season run was not entirely a fluke! However ... these last three matches have left me a little drained! Perhaps the reader feels the same, but please allow me to explain anyway...

First - the match against Wolves. I felt that if it hadn't been for the excellent Martinez, we may well have lost that match. He really seems to have big hands, doesn't he, and because of his heroics in that match we eventually obtained a win - albeit via a penalty and after Douglas Luiz had been given his marching orders. The match was also extraordinary in that two players called Traore were playing, with one being a former Villan. It was the latter that looked the potential match-winner, however, with his swift runs and dangerous centres, an ability that Villa would have done well to have hung onto i.m.o., instead of letting him go.

Second - versus lowly Burnley. How - on Earth - can you have 27 shots and not score?! The score could easily have been 10-2 instead of 0-0, and resulted in both El Ghazi and Traore getting the thumbs-down from a good number of Villa fans: El Ghazi for his profligacy. He had 8 shots, with only a free-kick giving trouble to their 'keeper. And the Villa drove forward with such myopia that on at least 2 or 3 occasions, players in better scoring positions were ignored.

Third - last night versus Albion. Both El Ghazi and Traore were restored to some level of respect as they finished the only scorers in a 3-0 win that took until the last 10 minutes for Villa's superiority to be reflected in the scoreline, after taking an early lead. At times, Villa looked too ponderous (as they have in other games) to stand any chance of breaking through Albion's 10-man team, and I suspect that the fact that Villa improved the scoreline at the end was at least part due to the subs that Allardyce introduced to try to force a draw.

So, 7 points obtained after a lot of huff and puff! And a goalkeeper that always seems to remain so very alert even when not much is thrown at him. We surely have found a jewel there and now seem to have a great richness in the goalkeeping department.

Another talking point - yet again - is surely VAR. Maybe I'm the only one of this opinion, but how was that a valid sending off of the Albion player? Yes, there was a certain aggression about his tackle that probably warranted a yellow card, but did he really touch Grealish? And i.m.o. he went for and took the ball, not the man. I feel the ref's first judgment was the correct one. 

Then, another Watkins 'goal' disallowed. As I recall it, his previous goal that was disallowed (vs West Ham) was because his arm was offside (!), and yet vs Albion the defender's arm surely put Watkins' onside! 

If we are to have such stringent rules, let they be at least consistently interpreted! It seems that the human decision (the referee) has been transferred to a studio to be essentially decided on by another referee, and usually after some delay! Where is the logic in this - especially when consistency is as lacking as it was before?! Bah! Humbug! 😒

Well, Are we going to transform Boxing Day as meaning to Box the ears of Crystal Palace?! Their ears must already be sore after their humiliation at home vs 'Pool the other day, and since we put 7 past the 'Pool, does it mean that we'll achieve double-figures in this match?! No, of course not! Such is football that it may well be a case of a tightly-fought match with a draw at the end of it. But who am I to make predictions.

But, to finish on a good note: I am happy to see Traore quietly blossoming. He and Jack seem to be like twins in their artistry, though Traore's game has not yet quite come alight. And, as they said on MotD, McGinn's passing and industry is worth a lot. I do think we have a "Bright Future" - but (thankfully) without Lerner and Co.!

UTV!