In days gone by when you saw the team line-up, you’d look to see if a certain player had been passed fit or what slight tactical selections had been made, and then think, depending on who Villa were playing, “Ah, we’ve got a chance here” or “we should win this”. I can’t remember the last time I had those thoughts. Now, it doesn’t matter who’s on that team sheet, the general consensus is this squad is simply not good enough.
Why? Is a question you need to aim at the likes of Tom Fox and Paddy Reilly, who chose the players (and the former manager Tim Sherwood).
Six points from 16 games. That’s three games off the half-way point in the season, which is both a disgrace and an embarrassment. We’ll discuss this situation later, as I’m sure other media and Villa blogs will, but in the meantime, here’s five reasons to be cheerful as Aston Villa fans…
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5. HALVES
Well, it wasn’t as bad as last time. By last time, I mean the game we shall never talk about that happened in a stadium in London in May. According to stats Villa had 18 shots (ok, half ended up in row Z) and two of those were on target. That is progress ladies and gentlemen.
Also, we conceded half the goals as that dark day in the capital and the Holte for at least five minutes in the second half thought the team could get themselves back into the game.
Even later on Match of the Day, the highlights suggested there had been an even match at Villa Park. Normally, no amount of clever editing can suggest that.
Villa kinda of turned up this time and drew a half against Arsenal (opps, I’ve just snapped a straw), even though they lacked any real quality and barely troubled Arsenal.
