Another missed opportunity for Aston Villa of valuable three points. A three points to spark confidence, claw back the gap to safety and give Aston Villa supporters some hope for survival going into 2016.
Villa certainly gave it some huff and puff at Villa Park against a Hammers team missing some key players, but improved performances count for little now, as the club needs the cold stone currency of points to avoid one of its darkest hours.
With six more points available over the Christmas period, here’s five reasons to be cheerful as Aston Villa fans in the meantime…
2. More Heart
There was certainly more effort in the Villa performance and Garde seems to have got the message through to the Villa ranks that more application and fight his needed. Jordan Veretout stepped up and was a proper driving force in midfield to get Villa forward. Ayew as previously mentioned was at the heart of anything good from Villa, while his strike partner Gestede produced an improved effort.
Still, Garde needs to be more proactive in trying to go for the win. Surely bringing Adama Traore on with 20 minutes to go, would be more of a statement of that, than a token gesture few minutes at the end?
The WHU game was the best I have seen Villa play this season, but the bar was very low to begin with. Ayew is an example of the type of player we need right now. Gives his heart out there. Gil coming on really did weaken the front line, we didn’t press as hard. Struggling to see what the fuss is about with him right now. Also the team was slow to adapt to the 4-3-3 after the change. Gestede, why does working harder mean he can’t head the ball anymore. Should have done better with his chances. Also tired of Hutton getting a lot of credit for running up the pitch and delivering a terrible cross, Vertout needs to work a bit on that as well, and yes he hustled more but was played in his favored hole position. Lescott as captain is interesting as he is a Villa fan, and would he want to be the captain that brought them down. Think he is getting past it, but like the psychology of Garde. 3 points it has to be today. Here’s hoping.
Ah yes, I liked something the manager did. So he had to drop him. And Gestede. Ayew has already said he needs Gestede to help him, so we put on Sinclair for the Norwich game.
Ah now Gestede has been subbed on, so for the last 21 minutes we will no longer be pass, pass, pass, lose possession, it will be hoof, lose possession.