The Mail Bag
Villa, when will it end?
Comments (25)
Used to be that our neighbours, the neo Spaniards, were used to the luck of Lucifer. I think we can safely say that Villa have taken over that mantle.
Clearly not a bad team. But not what one would call a footballing team (as Tony Mowbray said): boring to watch and just fucking lucky beyond any comprehension. Such things don't usually cause too much lost sleep in my house. But this has now started to really piss me off.
Since we battered them at Goodison with an excellent performance and got our pockets picked, they have gone on to win 5 away games on the bounce. In every game they have been played off the park. In every game they have got a penalty, or an own goal, or both (4 own goals & 3 penalties in this short run alone). They have also benefitted from gifts (e.g. Jags, Carson) and weird referee decisions.
Last Saturday at Sunderland they did it again. Sunderland had an incredible 71% possession to Villa's 29%! Sunderland had 17 shots on target to Villa's 1 and 27 other shots to Villa's 4. I know Arsenal are still in this challenge for 4th (or even higher) and it may end up all totally academic, but the quite unprecedented levels of spawn & fortune are driving me mad.
Had we beat the fuckers at Goodison, as we rightly deserved to do so, we'd be more or less level now and it would be a cracking race. As it is, chances of us making up 8 points in 16 games is too much of an ask. We have to win at Villa Park and just hope this cosmic spawn runs out.
I thought the boys did great tonight. The level of commitment was just fabulous. The defence was imperious (surely Jags & Lescott in the next England squad, if not Bainesy too). Victor put in a great shift, with little help on many occasions, but the boy tonight was Pienaar. Sweet Jesus! that boy must have ran 50 miles tonight and made 100 runs and 50 tackles. He was brilliant. I thought Arteta played too deep for too long, given his creativity. Great performance by the lads and a win would not have flattered.
But as long as Aston fucking Villa keep getting battered and then a penalty and a deflection, we've got no chance.
Alan Kirwin, Posted 19/01/2009 at 21:46:18
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I agree 100%.
I find myself hating tham (such a strong word!), becuase they are now classed as potential top four when clearly, own goals and penalties are the main reason they are in the top four.
Don’t forget the FA Cup game where a dodgy penalty got them back in the game.
Just imagine if we had their luck....
I find myself hating tham (such a strong word!), becuase they are now classed as potential top four when clearly, own goals and penalties are the main reason they are in the top four.
Don’t forget the FA Cup game where a dodgy penalty got them back in the game.
Just imagine if we had their luck....
For the last few years the top 4 have been better than us, Villa are not better than us , 8 points ahead ! we play them soon thats a 6 pointer.
Seriously there luck will run out but i’m not arsed i’m more concerned with our form which is not bad , these next 3 games will shape our season far more than Villas luck i predict D[ last night ] W W D
Seriously there luck will run out but i’m not arsed i’m more concerned with our form which is not bad , these next 3 games will shape our season far more than Villas luck i predict D[ last night ] W W D
Sing it, Sister!
The utter spawniness of what is essentially a dull but industrious team is bad enough.
However, what makes it even more galling is the media praise heaped on Messiah O?Neill for the footballing miracles he?s supposedly working at the Premiership?s most magnolia club.
5 Live in particular seem to feel they are contravening some UN convention if they don?t emphasise how Villa are now a ?Top Four club? ? as if their being there in January is the same thing as having been there for the last decade.
But then again, perhaps I?m just being bitter.
?He always gives great value in interviews doesn?t he, Mark??
?Certainly does, Manish. The game needs characters like Martin. You can?t help being reminded of Cloughie can you?? Etc, Etc ...
The utter spawniness of what is essentially a dull but industrious team is bad enough.
However, what makes it even more galling is the media praise heaped on Messiah O?Neill for the footballing miracles he?s supposedly working at the Premiership?s most magnolia club.
5 Live in particular seem to feel they are contravening some UN convention if they don?t emphasise how Villa are now a ?Top Four club? ? as if their being there in January is the same thing as having been there for the last decade.
But then again, perhaps I?m just being bitter.
?He always gives great value in interviews doesn?t he, Mark??
?Certainly does, Manish. The game needs characters like Martin. You can?t help being reminded of Cloughie can you?? Etc, Etc ...
Alan Kirwan - you have read my mind. Thank god i’m not alone. This has been driving me mad since our sickening defeat to the villains, or jammy fucking cunt brigade as they should now be known. My mate is a villa fan - and its amazing how quickly deluded he has become. Granted they are only a few points off the top, but they have been just shockingly lucky in their recent away trips. He is now convinced they are ’guaranteed’ a champions league spot!!!
If there is a god up there, then surely he will end this madness, have pompey stuff them 5-0 next week, 3 villa own goals and 2 pens!!! And more importantly, grant us 3 points at villa park....
If there is a god up there, then surely he will end this madness, have pompey stuff them 5-0 next week, 3 villa own goals and 2 pens!!! And more importantly, grant us 3 points at villa park....
Just like Dave, I had thought of penning a similar article to Alan’s. I have not seen it, but I understand the Villa penalty on Saturday was outside the box, albeit that it was a foul... and last night on Radio 5, the commentator says that "we now have a top five...and then Everton". I know I am not paranoid, I know I can’t be. But all this does your head in, does it not?
Villa’s campaign will start to fade next week. Young’s out now for 3 games and then there’s the Uefa Cup and we know what that did to us last season. Their dodgy results this season have come after their outings in Europe. The other thing that’s worked in Villa’s favour is how few injuries to their key players they’ve suffered especially compared to us. This will change I’m sure.
I think every week now I’ve been saying to myself "surely Villa won’t pork it again" and yet they have big style. Milner’s two "goals" this season sum it up. What makes it worse is the level of prestige attatched to their fairly one-dimensional game, compared to the negative portrayal of Everton’s game when we’ve been up there.
Saying that, if we just keep on how we are and don’t get as much attention and praise - great! Dark horses all the way, and unless Villa keep getting lucky, or go ahead and throw some more cash around this January, I reckon anything’s possible.
Oh and last night Baines was immense - the lad’s done well with the chance he was given. Yobo’s going to struggle to get back in (unless he "did-a-lescott" at right back).
COYB!
Saying that, if we just keep on how we are and don’t get as much attention and praise - great! Dark horses all the way, and unless Villa keep getting lucky, or go ahead and throw some more cash around this January, I reckon anything’s possible.
Oh and last night Baines was immense - the lad’s done well with the chance he was given. Yobo’s going to struggle to get back in (unless he "did-a-lescott" at right back).
COYB!
Chirs Matty
I didn’t listen to the radio (or TV) as I avoid derbies these days,however,the commentator on Radio 5 wasn’t that RS twat Green was it?If it was,no surprise there.
I didn’t listen to the radio (or TV) as I avoid derbies these days,however,the commentator on Radio 5 wasn’t that RS twat Green was it?If it was,no surprise there.
Yes, we deserved to beat them at Goodison and they are, on balance, not a better team than us. But ’luck’ can only get you so far and as most managers will tell you, ’you make your own luck’. Let’s give Villa some credit - they’ve played well this season and they have a good manager. The key reason for their success is pace, particularly from Young and Agbonlahor. This is something we still lack. Breaking the Sky 4 monopoly is a good thing. We are still up there with them, but like the original post says, we’ll probably have to beat Villa at their place to have a chance of catching them.
Couldn’t agree more with the original post, but their luck may have started to change with the loss of Young and all seasons tend mostly to be ’games of two halves’.
In recent years we have suffered in the second half. In this we will prosper. Forget the commentators and their assumptions of who does what in the EPL.
Villa’s luck will turn, and the RS are on the skids.
We, however, are a rising force with an irrepressible will to win, and with just a little bit of luck in this month’s transfer window we will surprise everybody with the finish we put in.
Come On You Blues....
In recent years we have suffered in the second half. In this we will prosper. Forget the commentators and their assumptions of who does what in the EPL.
Villa’s luck will turn, and the RS are on the skids.
We, however, are a rising force with an irrepressible will to win, and with just a little bit of luck in this month’s transfer window we will surprise everybody with the finish we put in.
Come On You Blues....
Yes Villa have been lucky but to simply attribute their current run to good fortune is ignoring the fact that they are a good side with pace that can hurt the opposition. Lets face it when Martin O’Neill came to Villa a few seasons ago I for one had no doubt that Villa would shortly be challenging us for the title of the side most likely to break the top four.
Eight points & a much inferior goal difference is a lot of ground to make up with only about a third of the season left.
Eight points & a much inferior goal difference is a lot of ground to make up with only about a third of the season left.
We’ll reel them in
They are good away because they have pace on the counter attack. They score a lot of goals starting from corners they are actually defending as they leave Agbonlahor on the half way line and have Young and Milner busting a gut to support him as soon as the ball is cleared. We, on the other hand, leave everyone back and hoof the ball back to the opposition.
Concentrate on your own team mate
Couldn’t agree more, i’ve been saying the same things myself.
I have no doubt in my mind that we will catch them. They are in for a hiding.
Nice result last night, sets us up for victory on Sunday. The RS arses have gone.
I have no doubt in my mind that we will catch them. They are in for a hiding.
Nice result last night, sets us up for victory on Sunday. The RS arses have gone.
I wholeheartedly agree. In many ways they seemed to have adopted the Redshite’s style of play: boring, tepid, and often quite flukey.
It’s starting to piss me off too.
It’s starting to piss me off too.
Martin - No It wasn’t Alan Green: if it had been I would not have been listening to Radio 5.
Paul, Brendan, Kev: all correct about Villa’s ability, top manager and decent tactics (eg I agree about leaving a fast attacker on the half way line when defending corners). But none of that explains the run of luck with dodgy penalty decisions, own goals or deflections. All of which they have benefitted from in disproportionate manner.
Paul, Brendan, Kev: all correct about Villa’s ability, top manager and decent tactics (eg I agree about leaving a fast attacker on the half way line when defending corners). But none of that explains the run of luck with dodgy penalty decisions, own goals or deflections. All of which they have benefitted from in disproportionate manner.
Clearly not a football team?
So you know a few years ago when Everton got to fourth off the back of a series of dull 1-0s (not that there’s anything wrong with that) and Thomas Gravesen bumping people off the ball, were you making the same criticism?
So you know a few years ago when Everton got to fourth off the back of a series of dull 1-0s (not that there’s anything wrong with that) and Thomas Gravesen bumping people off the ball, were you making the same criticism?
Paul & Brendan:
I agree, Villa are not a "bad" team. But they’re not what I call good to watch. Tony Mowbray was the first person to really see the elephant in the room. Hitherto, Villa just keep getting praised for what is not only one-dimensional, but incredibly fortunate.
I refute that they are "making their own luck" in the way that say ManU or Cheslea often do. This is usually due to very attacking play, plenty of possession and offensive play. It’s not with Villa. They have been fairly comprehensively outplayed in every game starting with the robbery at Goodison (and possibly even before). The amount of penalties, odd decisions and spawny own goals tells its own story.
They were battered by Sunderland last week, and by us, and by Hull, and by West Ham, and even by Gillingham. If it were a case of being off form, but resolute defence and well worked smash & grab etc, then fair do’s, we’ve all done that. But I’m sorry, I’m seeing this every week. Even against West Brom on their own turf they were thoroughly outplayed and scraped through due to another weird spawny own goal.
Jim Rogers:
Yes and yes. I believe I’m fair in my assessment, whether it’s us or anyone else.
Firstly some of our 1-0’s weren’t as bad as you make out, but I;d also like to have seen more. But I call it how I see it, such as our form in the early part of this season, which was just shocking. I feel bad enough taking a 1-0 if we’ve simply played poorly & the opposition has had a few pops, but we sneaked home. If we were getting fortunate penalties almost every week, weird own goals almost every week and strange decisions (Hull) then I’d find it uncomfortable and would put pen to paper. Just as I did on several occasions earlier this season.
I recall one game where we barged the wall (Bolton). It’s a ploy used by everyone to some extent (not that I approve). I loved Gravesen’s style of play, he was the nearest thing we had to a god for a long while.
The fact is, Villa have had a season in which things have gone heavenly beyond belief. Everton are (now) a much better footballing side than Villa. Sure, pace is great, but that seems to be all they have. It will be interesting at Villa Park, as they have to come at us and we play well away from home. To paraphrase Kevin Keegan, I’d luv it if we beat them, fuckin luv it! :-)
I agree, Villa are not a "bad" team. But they’re not what I call good to watch. Tony Mowbray was the first person to really see the elephant in the room. Hitherto, Villa just keep getting praised for what is not only one-dimensional, but incredibly fortunate.
I refute that they are "making their own luck" in the way that say ManU or Cheslea often do. This is usually due to very attacking play, plenty of possession and offensive play. It’s not with Villa. They have been fairly comprehensively outplayed in every game starting with the robbery at Goodison (and possibly even before). The amount of penalties, odd decisions and spawny own goals tells its own story.
They were battered by Sunderland last week, and by us, and by Hull, and by West Ham, and even by Gillingham. If it were a case of being off form, but resolute defence and well worked smash & grab etc, then fair do’s, we’ve all done that. But I’m sorry, I’m seeing this every week. Even against West Brom on their own turf they were thoroughly outplayed and scraped through due to another weird spawny own goal.
Jim Rogers:
Yes and yes. I believe I’m fair in my assessment, whether it’s us or anyone else.
Firstly some of our 1-0’s weren’t as bad as you make out, but I;d also like to have seen more. But I call it how I see it, such as our form in the early part of this season, which was just shocking. I feel bad enough taking a 1-0 if we’ve simply played poorly & the opposition has had a few pops, but we sneaked home. If we were getting fortunate penalties almost every week, weird own goals almost every week and strange decisions (Hull) then I’d find it uncomfortable and would put pen to paper. Just as I did on several occasions earlier this season.
I recall one game where we barged the wall (Bolton). It’s a ploy used by everyone to some extent (not that I approve). I loved Gravesen’s style of play, he was the nearest thing we had to a god for a long while.
The fact is, Villa have had a season in which things have gone heavenly beyond belief. Everton are (now) a much better footballing side than Villa. Sure, pace is great, but that seems to be all they have. It will be interesting at Villa Park, as they have to come at us and we play well away from home. To paraphrase Kevin Keegan, I’d luv it if we beat them, fuckin luv it! :-)
Best and most accurate post i’ve read for a while ! I was getting fed up of Moyes is shit, Fellaini is waste of money, oh Fellaini is world class, Cahill is finished blah blah blah. Then I read this and checked the author as I thought I may have written it in my sleep !!
They are truly the luckiest team around at the moment. They are managed by a cheerleader who plays a donkey up front and has runners with little skill !! The media are loving them and its doing my head in . They should be challenging us with the money O’neill has spent but the fact that we don’t get the credit we deserve and this lot is does my head in !!
Well posted Alan !!
They are truly the luckiest team around at the moment. They are managed by a cheerleader who plays a donkey up front and has runners with little skill !! The media are loving them and its doing my head in . They should be challenging us with the money O’neill has spent but the fact that we don’t get the credit we deserve and this lot is does my head in !!
Well posted Alan !!
Alan, this is the best post I’ve read in a long time...
I’ve started to hate Villa more than any other side in the league - apart from our beloved neighbours that is.
I have been saying all season that O’Neill is a glorified big boot manager, with little inclination for craft. They remind me of Watford back in the 80’s - solid defense, a largely by-passed midfield with quick runners up top.
They have to be the luckiest side I’ve ever seen in the prem - I f@cking hate them
I’ve started to hate Villa more than any other side in the league - apart from our beloved neighbours that is.
I have been saying all season that O’Neill is a glorified big boot manager, with little inclination for craft. They remind me of Watford back in the 80’s - solid defense, a largely by-passed midfield with quick runners up top.
They have to be the luckiest side I’ve ever seen in the prem - I f@cking hate them
Villa have a decent SPINE from Freidel Laursen Barry Agbonlahour plus Young and Milner thats not a bad SPINE to build on .
If we had any money and had bought a "Young" we would be 2nd or 3rd.
Next season he will be with Arsenal or Chelski
If we had any money and had bought a "Young" we would be 2nd or 3rd.
Next season he will be with Arsenal or Chelski
Iain
Is a SPINE different from a spine? Ashley "Young" has scored 5 goals this season, including the 2 gifts at Goodison. Martin O’Neill called "Young" world class after he scored 2 gifts at Goodison. He has pace and some skill, but world class my arse.
What on earth makes you think he’ll join Arsenal or Chelsea? He will not join Arsenal & you can quote me. He is not an Arsenal player. Given Chelsea’s new financial plight I would be equally amazed if he went there.
I’m suddenly wondering, is Agbonlahor the unspeakiest footballer in Britain? He can’t seem to utter a single word or look at the interviewer or camera. I’ve heard of shy, but he’s almost mute.
Is a SPINE different from a spine? Ashley "Young" has scored 5 goals this season, including the 2 gifts at Goodison. Martin O’Neill called "Young" world class after he scored 2 gifts at Goodison. He has pace and some skill, but world class my arse.
What on earth makes you think he’ll join Arsenal or Chelsea? He will not join Arsenal & you can quote me. He is not an Arsenal player. Given Chelsea’s new financial plight I would be equally amazed if he went there.
I’m suddenly wondering, is Agbonlahor the unspeakiest footballer in Britain? He can’t seem to utter a single word or look at the interviewer or camera. I’ve heard of shy, but he’s almost mute.
Alan
No Idea why I shouted spine!
Young had 1 gift at Goodison and he put it away, [Bent, Torres, missed] the 2nd was pace and he put it away. I think he had the highest number of assists last season.
Wenger loves pace so I thought Arsenal and Chelski will spend again when they are happy with their manager and I did say next season. We all have opinions and I respect yours, I would be interested in why you think never Arsenal [agree not world class]
As for Gabby [pun] he isn?t a great orator true [heard he?s a bit lippy] but does it matter?
No Idea why I shouted spine!
Young had 1 gift at Goodison and he put it away, [Bent, Torres, missed] the 2nd was pace and he put it away. I think he had the highest number of assists last season.
Wenger loves pace so I thought Arsenal and Chelski will spend again when they are happy with their manager and I did say next season. We all have opinions and I respect yours, I would be interested in why you think never Arsenal [agree not world class]
As for Gabby [pun] he isn?t a great orator true [heard he?s a bit lippy] but does it matter?
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1 Posted 20/01/2009 at 08:46:50
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Well done last night lads. It was a pleasure to see the look on the Fat Spanish Waiter’s face after the game! Made my day.