Villa are in big trouble. Let’s not delude ourselves — we won’t go down, but this is shaping up to be a long, gruelling season if things don’t change quickly.
The first half was dire. Villa weren’t in it at all. Sunderland looked sharper, hungrier, and far more confident, while we looked flat. Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins might as well not have been on the pitch — both completely anonymous.
Even though Sunderland went down to ten men in the first half, it didn’t get much better after the break either. You’d expect Villa to step it up, take control, and push for a big win. Instead, Sunderland still looked like the side who wanted it more. The most worrying thing for me is not just the lack of quality, but the lack of desire.
I believe that Unai Emery has a big call to make. For me, Morgan Rogers needs to come out of the starting XI. He’s underperforming and he appears to be lacking in confidence. Better to use him from the bench, build him up gradually, rather than throwing him into games he’s not influencing.
On the positive side, Jadon Sancho looked lively when he came on. He actually tried to make things happen, showing some creativity we’d been crying out for all game. If he can get a run of games under his belt, he might just give us a spark we’re badly lacking.
And we still had the chance to steal it late on — Ollie Watkins with a header he really should have buried. Truth be told, it would’ve been daylight robbery if it had gone in, we didn’t deserve the win, but I’d still have taken it without hesitation.
The reality is simple, if we continue to play like this all season, it’s going to be very painful. Emery and the squad have a lot of work to do — and quickly. UTV
Yep!! Europa league and mid table would do me!!! However we are no longer Europa league favourites!!
Morgan Rogers needs to be dropped does not pass to a player who is in a better position. Watkins needs 10 chances to score a goal. Geussand waste of money. Way too lazy in our build up. Dire and boring to watch. Literally no urgency. We have been watching this type of football since Wembley. Players have lost respect for an amazing manager. Too many prima Donna’s thinking they are bigger than the club
These are facts
PSR has a lot to answer for in terms of positive progression. But these players are badically the same ones that came so close last season. What the hell’s wring with them? Morgan Rogers must be far too swept up in the crazy elevation of his ‘ability’ by the football press (and his peers) for his own good. He had an excellent first half of last season, but faded badly over the second half, with the odd section of a game here and there being the exception.He’s now been rumbled and irendered ineffective now. I said we should sell him if we could get £60-80m for him and keep Ramsey. If it’s true in that Ollie (and or Tyrone) has fallen out with Unai, then they should be ashamed of themselves, for what Unai has helped them achieve during the past couple of years. He’s helped elevate Ollie’s game way above his real speed, strength, finishing prowess capability and more. And contributed significantly to him being a potential successor to Kane. Pull your finger out Ollie and at least look you’re are interested in working for the fans that have worshipped you for several seasons. Tyrone playing for England, nursed through a significant injury for over a year. Again, if it’s true, think of the fans and leave the club after a positive legacy.
Emi? Well there’s no loyalty in football and as long as players wishes trump the fans and the owners, professional football is a worse place than time gone by. I think any sane fan knows this is the case.
The reason we didn’t achieve CL and We’re in a poor position is down mainly to the players.
Tactics- we are so sloppy and slow building from the back, we put ourselves under immense pressure uneccessarily and compress play in our own half for far too long. Our ‘walking’ football is a disaster. No one is capable of playing a decent offensive pass, no one will shoot from outside the box (Saturdays goal aside), no one will dribble into the box. Tactically, we are stale, but I also understand that the players are currently incapable of working the strategy this season, for some reason.
So, move the dissenters on and start again is what I say. Just do everything to stay in the Prem this and maybe next season- recruiting wisely.
What a fantastic post, mate. I’d love to copy and paste it as a stand-alone blog post and credit you for it, if that’s alright with you?
This lot would lose Sunday league team. There is an old Adage that says you only get out of life what you put into it and this certainly applies to the Villa they’re putting nothing in. And getting nothing out (apart from grossly inflated Salaries)
Completely flat and shameful performance should never have played Rogers and Watkins nothing more than passengers. Too many crazy tip tap passes outside of the opposition box we show no attacking threat we just look clueless something has to change and immediately, Emerie is still playing his favourites and it’s clearly not working his tactics are all over the place, it’s very clear to see that Watkins and Rogers have lost interest and don’t want to play for the team both a waste of space. I can see us loosing Emerie and Watkins and Rogers but at the end of the day maybe that’s what it will take
Bet they are quick enough to pick up their pay cheques. Footballers are too entitled nowadays, and rule the roost. They need to be careful, sitting on a bench is not good for your international career.