The Aston Villa it’s good to be back thread

[westisbest]

First topic message reminder :

Great win on Monday.

Gonna be an interesting summer ahead for the villa. Hopefully get whatever loan players we can signed up.
Mings and Axel would be a great start.
We need a decent left back. Another attacking midfielder, defensive midfielder.

Another striker. Owners have said they will spend a good bit of money. Hopefully it’s used wisely.

Have enjoyed the championship to be honest, but a great feeling to be back.
If we didn’t win Monday, would of been a long time in the championship.
Wasn’t looking possible back in March. Incredible run did the job in the end. Was a great time. Certainly won’t go on any kind of run next season.
Fair play to Smith, Terry and the rest of the coaches and back room staff.

Here’s hoping to another 20+ and more years in the top flight.
Will enjoy the summer and look forward to the fixtures.

[hampo17]

Sad to see that people want Smith out, yes it has been a tough season but realistically who are you going to get in? Big Sam?

[westisbest]

Smith just seems out of his depth.
Yes he got us up and would be great if we had done better.

The football isn’t great. Saints and Bournemouth away recently was just dreadful.

Hasn’t made great decisions. Makes subs to later in games.

I actually like the bloke, like I do Bruce, but I can’t see us staying up if he stays.

Who would we get in if he does go, which I think he won’t. Who knows.

I hope we do stay up and he proves us wrong, but at this stage it’s not looking likely.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

That’s my issue, really. So many failed before him in the Champ, and he’s basically got a really tough job. Sheffield United are a freak but it’s worth remembering very pretty Norwich are bottom. Villa are 2 points behind with a game in hand.

A local manager who has achieved with the club, got Grealish playing, probably had his most important (whisper that quietly) player taken away in McGinn and then lost his ‘keeper.

I’m generally of the opinion you keep the man who got you up unless he’s obviously failed through incompetence. Not sure Smith has

[Galted]

Don't disagree with much of that but the problem with Villa at the moment is that they're not even competing. If they were making a fist of each game I'd think differently but, match after match, they're just getting rolled over. Most fans (from what I see on Twitter anyway) have been patient and supportive throughout the season but it is now reaching a stage where his competence is being called into question.

[westisbest]

McGinn and Heaton have been big losses.

A real shame Wesley didn’t do better either.

It’s tough though.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

That’s my issue, really. So many failed before him in the Champ, and he’s basically got a really tough job. Sheffield United are a freak but it’s worth remembering very pretty Norwich are bottom. Villa are 2 points behind with a game in hand.

A local manager who has achieved with the club, got Grealish playing, probably had his most important (whisper that quietly) player taken away in McGinn and then lost his ‘keeper.

I’m generally of the opinion you keep the man who got you up unless he’s obviously failed through incompetence. Not sure Smith has

Agree with this - Villa are 2 points off safety, with a game in hand, having lost some key players to injury and having had a cup run to the final, and played well in that final.

Even if they do go down, are they going to get someone better than Smith to bring them back up? He's a proven pretty damn good manager at the level below, if the worst case scenario does happen

[kwinigolfer]

westi,
I'm starting to see reports of Peter Whittingham's death, apparently due to a "fall". 35. Ridiculous. Fine player for you guys, and Cardiif.

[westisbest]

Hi Kwini.

Yeah heard about that. Heard that he had died.
Then someone posted a tweet to say he was seriously injured.

Although on a villa page on Facebook it said he had died.

Very sad, quite liked Whittingham. Gave it his all.

Seems like there is a curse with ex villa players passing away over the last few years.

Atkinson, Ehiough, Regis, Samuel.

RIP.

[westisbest]

Just read that he’s in recovery.

Hopefully a speedy one.

[Guest]

Confirmed that Peter Whittingham has now sadly passed away.

[kwinigolfer]

Confirmed that Peter Whittingham has now sadly passed away.

Terrible news,
Just watched a video of dozens of his "greatest" goals, wonderful, LeTiss-like striker of a ball.

[westisbest]

Really sad. Another good one gone.

[westisbest]

Needed a win today. Played well in parts.
Every point is vital, but we need wins. Hopefully we can pull off a couple of big wins.

Not looking to likely though at the moment.

[guildfordbat]

Your boys are still in the fight though, Westy. The drop zone looks interesting atm ... at least from a neutral's perspective!

[westisbest]

I’d say it’s 2 from 4 to join Norwich(think it’s to much for them).

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

I’d say it’s 2 from 4 to join Norwich(think it’s to much for them).

Scoring a goal is too much for us at the moment Westi, let alone winning a game!

[westisbest]

That’s it for us then I think.
No desire in the team.

Liverpool and Man U next.

Think Smith will go. Couple of the guys mentioned Dyche or Hughton.

Will be a good few out the door. We need to sign the right players if we can.

Players this season not up to it.

[Galted]

Can't disagree with that. Had the feeling that was it after the Chelsea game and Newcastle confirmed it, if there's one manager who's not going to outwit Smith it's Bruce and still couldn't get the 3 points. Villa barely look like fluking a win let alone getting on a run, and it's hard to see how we'll overtake 2 of the others even if Watford, West Ham and Bournemouth continually drop points.

[westisbest]

Our only outside chance is that if Watford West Ham and Bournemouth keep losing to and it literally comes down to the last game of the season.

West Ham v Villa
Everton v Bournemouth
Arsenal v Watford

Even that’s hanging onto a lot of hope.

Think we will be gone by then.

[Duty281]

Not a lot of difference in quality between Villa, West Ham, Bournemouth and Watford, so I wouldn't say all is lost yet. Any of those four could go down and I wouldn't be surprised.

Think it'll be West Ham and Watford joining Norwich, personally.

[westisbest]

Very frustrating yesterday. We deserved a point.

Actually played pretty well for a change. Just can’t seem to score, we had our chances.

Watford beat Norwich(c’mon Ollys boys), then we have a bigger task.

Hopefully that performance yesterday will help get the wins we need, although I think it’s to late.

I think the 3 now will go.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

I wouldn't be holding out much hope of us doing you a favour Westi, we're lucky to get a shot on target at the moment let alone a goal

[westisbest]

Brilliant stuff. Very nervy last few minutes.
Didn’t see that 2 weeks ago.

Quality.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[Galted]

Had the feeling that was it after the Chelsea game and Newcastle confirmed it, if there's one manager who's not going to outwit Smith it's Bruce and still couldn't get the 3 points.  Villa barely look like fluking a win let alone getting on a run, and it's hard to see how we'll overtake 2 of the others even if Watford, West Ham and Bournemouth continually drop points.

I always said we'd stay up.

[westisbest]

Good to get off to a win. It wasn’t great though. Frustrating again.
We need to be putting away our chances.
Great save from Martinez.

Hopefully Traoré will be a good player. Still need another one, maybe even two attacking players. Rashica?

Thought the red was harsh.

A win nonetheless.

Onto Bristol City Thursday night.

[Galted]

Only team in the top flight not to have conceded a goal. Great to have a scrap to gloat about for a change.

[westisbest]

Decent win last night. Good debut for Traoré and goal.
Looks decent. Hopefully he will have a good season.

Stoke home next round. Hopefully progress through that game.

[westisbest]

Good win. Probably should have scored a couple more.
Good start to the season, in all competitions.
Team is looking pretty decent.
Still need another attacking midfielder, winger and another striker I would say.

Needed those 6 points, as we have Liverpool and Leicester next.

[westisbest]

Ross Barkley in season long loan. Decent signing.

[Galted]

F*ck me, didn't see that coming.

[westisbest]

Unbelievable. Played really well tonight. Could of had 10.
Watkins looks the part. Barkley is a class signing. Cash to.

Looking good for the season.
Rumours Rashica signing tomorrow.

Hopefully sneak another striker in to.

Great stuff though.

UTV

[Galted]

Transfer window's been phenomenal so far.

[westisbest]

Very poor second half. Dreadful. Fair play to Leeds.
Always going to have a couple of those results.

Players didn’t look like they wanted it at 2-0.

Disappointing. Great start to the season, tonight aside.
Hopefully back to winning ways on Sunday.

[Galted]

Annoying, didn't expect the run to go on forever but would've been nice to spend a night on top of the table.

Can't have any complaints about the start to the season though, would've been shocked six weeks ago to be told it would be four wins out of the first five games.

[westisbest]

Christ a strange game.
Two silly free kicks to give away.

We only started playing when 4-0 down.

Made the score line look a bit respectable.

We could well have won it but for McCarthy.
Not sure if Martinez made a save.

Two defeats in a row now. Need to get back to winning ways.

[Galted]

I'm feeling a bit more comfortable about not putting a tenner on Villa to win the league when the odds were 1,000-1.

[westisbest]

Apart from the second half against Leeds and the first half today, we’ve done well this season.

Not all doom and gloom, although could do with conceding less in games.

[Galted]

Apart from the second half against Leeds and the first half today, we’ve done well this season.

Not all doom and gloom, although could do with conceding less in games.

Weird spread of goals conceded: 3 clean sheets and 2, 3 and 4 in the other 3 games.

[westisbest]

Great win tonight. We looked a threat every time we went forward.
3 away wins an no goals conceded.



Shoukd really have been 4

[Galted]

Martinez has kept more clean sheets at the Emirates this season than Leno.

[formerly known as Sam]

Martinez has kept more clean sheets at the Emirates this season than Leno.

Quality signing. Did Villa change their deal maker this summer? Last year's scatter gun purchase policy seems to have been replaced by some really astute business this summer.

[westisbest]

Should have won last night but that’s the way it goes unfortunately.
Lost the last 4 out of 5, which is a concern, despite playing well.

Said enough about VAR. Shame Watkins missed the pen though.

Must say, the Jack delayed reaction when the West Ham player clipped his knee was pretty embarrassing. Needs to cut that out. The man is such a talent. Doesn’t need to lower his standards.

[Guest]

Indeed, very embarrassing from Grealish.

Talented, but he’s just so unlikeable.

[westisbest]

Great win today. Much needed. Another away win and clean sheet.
Next two games

Burnley h
WBA a

Hopefully get six points from them.

[westisbest]

Very frustrating game this evening.
Should have taken all 3 points.

If we had some good finishers, we could be third or fourth in the table.

Plus side another clean sheet and at least we didn’t lose.
Defiantly need another striker, despite Wesley coming back.
Another winger and another centre midfielder.

[Duty281]

Grealish had a stormer and orchestrated so many good attacks, just, as you say, no one to finish it off. Villa should have scored at least 3.

Leaves Leicester as the only team not to draw a game so far this season.

[Galted]

That's a relief. Had a nasty suspicion Allardyce would nick something on his return.

[westisbest]

Good win. Was very frustrating at 1-0, with the chances we had.
That offside goal was a joke. Frustrating for Watkins.
Hasn’t been the same player since that pen miss at West Ham.

El Ghazi with a good game tonight. Trarore to.

Another 3 points on the road and another clean sheet.

Back to Villa Park Boxing Day.

Merry Christmas Galted.

[Galted]

Merry Christmas, Westi. Hope Santa delivers a bit of form in front of goal, especially for Watkins.

[Galted]

Great 3 points that after the red. Surprised to be above Spurs with a game in hand.

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