A Blast From The Past

Hello Fellow Villans!

You might say this is a blast from the past ... and it is! I have been .. away, let's say. A housing problem occurred in October last and it has taken until this month (June) to settle into something that we might call home. It has been something of a traumatic time (but all problems are opportunities are they not?!) and I send my sincere thanks to those of you who inquired of me. But we may yet move again: we will see. 

During my time 'away', one of my most frequent Villa communicants, an octogenarian lady born in Aston but latterly of the south of England, very sadly left this life. I felt her loss during the period we went through. God bless her soul.

Coming back to the Villa, though, I went 'off the air' just after Gerrard's departure ... and the change since has been nothing short of phenomenal. A change that certainly gives us, from a playing point of view, much better hope for the Club. The rise of the Villa since October has barely needed any comment from me, and I am so glad to see the resurgence of Skipper McGinn and the rise of Jacob Ramsay, but I do question the release of Ashley Young. I felt he could have something to offer for another season yet. However, Ash helped to get us back into Europe, he being one of those who played the last time we competed there, in 2010. Thanks Ash!

Note that I limit my praise of Villa's rise since October. There are a couple of non-playing things that have transpired these past few months that I have not welcomed, and they can be summed up in this image:

Apart from the basic shirt design - which I am not that keen about - there are two visible changes that are not welcome to me. Firstly: how on earth are we back into using gambling sponsors? Apart from their grotesque logo the very principle of using BK8 appalls me. The quicker it disappears from the shirt the better for me, but in any case, backing the gambling sector should not be a feature of any sport in my humble opinion.

However, the second issue is the club's new logo or emblem. Yes, why not go back to the circular badge and I am happy for its selection. I will say, however, that I believe that this has been an opportunity lost, both artistically and in the presentation of what the club represents to the locality. The badge could have been so much more in my view. But to reverse the direction in which the lion is pointing just begs the question ... WHY? Now, I happen to have some insight here, as I will now explain.

When I was officially looking after the club's memorabilia during the 2007-10 period, I discovered that the original club's lion (from 1878) faced in this, rightmost, direction, and I reported that fact to the hierarchy at Villa, who were very interested to learn this. Little did I realise that in 2023 this right-facing lion would reappear "for historical reasons", but the historical reason for it is lost on me as this right-facing lion only lasted two years at Villa! In 1880 the lion we were all brought up with was instituted: it lasted 143 years. If anything, therefore, why not introduce two lions - left and right facing - if you want to change the lion at all?

What is more mystifying, however, is that this logo will not be universally adopted except on the kit for at least another 12 months! Now, what kind of "brand" is Villa introducing? One lion facing one way ... another the other way. How farcical. It shows scant regard for the club's history and tradition, nor knowledge of it. I am afraid the club seems - in reality - too concerned about its commercial presentation. I say let the results do the presentation, and in that area we seem to be going the right way ... so long as the players all wear a logo with the lion pointing the same way!

I'll write when something else grabs my attention before the season starts.

UTV!

A Still Young Young Shows How!

I still rue the loss of Milner and Young back in 2010 and 2011 and both have shown over the years their immense value in service to other leading clubs. Barry's loss too was hurtful, but I feel the two previously mentioned players were the greatest loss. And we've never had their equal since.

During the time those players were at Villa Park, Gabby produced his best footie as well, but after they all went he did not re-ignite, except when Benteke was with us, and effectively fizzled out. But that's another story.

The point here is that we're now enjoying 2 seasons of Young's belated return in his renaissance as a Villa player, and what a corker he delivered last night!

Until he came on as a sub in the Man City match recently he rarely made any great impression. He has been very useful but - though working hard - always gave the impression to me that he was just playing a role in his journey towards retirement.

But from that Man City game onward - 4 games now - he seems to have become virtually undroppable and sets himself as an example. Is it because he was made Club Captain that he suddenly realised that others had confidence in him and that he could still play a significant role?

Whatever it is, the will and execution of that goal of his will long live in my memory. On top of that and his willingness to get forward, he did a tidy job at the back.

Who would have thought that nearly 16 years since he first arrived at VP, he would still get onto Villa's scoring chart? He needs one more for 40 goals for the Villa in his career, and many of his goals are truly memorable. Who can forget that last-minute winner at Everton all those years ago?

That's what makes football really live for me - memories such as that.

As for last night's game? Much of it was like last week's second half at Leeds: a good amount of puff and movement but no execution - apart from Ash the full-back showing how. Bringing on Cameron was far too late i.m.o., especially as I saw little from Ings.

Villa's lack of progress seems to reflect the fact that the policy of bringing in big-name attractions - firstly Gerrard and then Coutinho - is backfiring. Neither is performing at all well.

Well, next up Chelsea is a team getting its form back under a new manager - one that many Villa fans feel should be at Villa. And Chukky may be playing in this match.

Surely it's a match that Gerrard has to at least get a point from. What, another draw (you ask), but if obtained it will be well-earned, I'm sure. A win will surely save Gerrard's bacon.

UTV!

Puff, Puff But Nothing To Show

Boy, did they look rusty! An enforced international break seemed to have a dampening effect on the forwards in particular. Not that they were full of alacrity before the enforced break - they weren't - but when you are up against a 10-man team for the whole of 45 minutes  (including injury time) and not take advantage of the gaps with inadequate firepower was downright appalling.

I can fully understand Gerrard's pragmatic approach right now, but this was a match that was crying out to be put to bed and thus achieving 7 instead of 5 points in the last 3 matches.

All I can say is that we live in hope that these daydreamers wake up to take advantage of struggling Nottm Forest next week.

There's surely something wrong at Villa. The players seem not to be as 'free' in their play as they were under Dean Smith. Not that his era was perfect as the team needed more discipline, and he also lost Grealish, but now we seem to have gone to another extreme. I get the feeling that the players seem to feel the strain of this regime's coaching methods and react to playing circumstances rather than be sufficiently proactive. Other teams seem to find their players much better with their passes - even Leeds (first half). To me, it seems to be more of a psychological issue.

As to individuals, I would first refer to Bailey. He clearly has the capability of being a dangerous player, but I am unhappy with his continual unnecessary fouling, particularly after he has been dispossessed. 

Why was Luiz picked instead of Chambers or Dendoncker? I find that puzzling as I do not rate Luiz for the number 6 role, and Chambers in particular deserves more playing time.

As to Watkins, well when it comes to shooting he seems to be completely out of sorts, although his outfield play is mostly excellent. But we need goals. Ings seems not to be the answer either, but we have a certain Cameron Archer still not getting time on the pitch but who would, I am sure, liven things up a bit. Maybe Archer should play alongside Watkins, simply because scoring goals is the way to winning matches. We have scored just two in the last three matches, even though undefeated in that time.

In any case, surely Archer was the player to bring on yesterday after 70 minutes, if not before. 

Well, I suppose it could be said that Leeds' aggressive approach sublimated Villa's approach work, but I am still not happy.

Nope, as you might have guessed, I am now certainly not a fan of Gerrard. He may have great aspirations, but as various pundits have said, with the playing staff at his disposal he should be doing better.

I am happy, however, that Ashley provides a calming head at the back, with the two c-bs now playing pretty well also. But the fullback positions look decidedly decimated. Let's hope that Matty is available for the next match.

UTV!