The 2020/21 midway point - How do you feel things are going so far?
- Thread starter ldgavfc
- Start date
McParlandTheGreat
Vital Champions League
Surely you can be a bit more upbeat than that McParland?! Last year you were always defending Dean when he was getting slated left right and centre...I read your posts as a beacon of hope....I reckon your account has been hacked this season...!
Being factual as ever, Langoe
Last season I said we could beat the drop; we could and did. Previous season I said we could get promoted; we could and did.
This season i think we could do top 8 and maybe a bit more. Confident we'll be top 10. Good enough?
Being factual as ever, Langoe
Last season I said we could beat the drop; we could and did. Previous season I said we could get promoted; we could and did.
This season i think we could do top 8 and maybe a bit more. Confident we'll be top 10. Good enough?
That’s more like it mate....
JuanPabloAngel
Alert Team
Great start to the season, we have far exceeded any realistic expectations.
A top half finish would be great (and frankly, anything less might be considered a bit disappointing, given the start we have made) but we will be well clear of relegation, so considerable progress will have been made.
Very happy. 8/10 so far.
And we have now got rid of Lansbury, so bonus point to the club for that.
A top half finish would be great (and frankly, anything less might be considered a bit disappointing, given the start we have made) but we will be well clear of relegation, so considerable progress will have been made.
Very happy. 8/10 so far.
And we have now got rid of Lansbury, so bonus point to the club for that.
gmvillan
The Shackles Are Off!
Some extreme highs and some frustrating lows. Overall, what pleases me most is that Aston Villa now play a brand of football that is very entertaining. Haven't said that since the BFR days... We really can't have any complaints with where we are in the league, given that two years ago we were losing to Wigan and had given up hope of being in the championship play-off picture....
Villan57
Alert Team
TBH this is where I thought we'd be last season but I never knew just how much the PL had moved on whilst we were missing from it. Came as a shock.
This is much better football than I've seen since the BFR days, forget MON and his boring dross. This is proper football.
The first half against Burnley was the stuff of dreams, the second half was last season revisited. We are no quite there yet but we could be. That sums us up I think
last 5 games we've picked up 1 more point than the baggies, so lets not get carried away
This is much better football than I've seen since the BFR days, forget MON and his boring dross. This is proper football.
The first half against Burnley was the stuff of dreams, the second half was last season revisited. We are no quite there yet but we could be. That sums us up I think
last 5 games we've picked up 1 more point than the baggies, so lets not get carried away
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Melon Donkey
I am a little bit perplexed
It’s a strange one for me tbh.
If this time last year you had said to me we would be where we are now I would have snapped your hand off.
However, I am left with the feeling that we could actually be better off than where we are. Exhibit A being the Burnley game . Without just two of our brain fart performances we could easily be sat on 35 points. And thats really frustrating because in those games were were not even outplayed on the whole. I would put that down to the inexperience from the players we bought and the management team headed by an inexperienced head coach at this level. I have always said that our recruitment is not on the whole correct. Just one or two experienced , quality and proven premier league players i think would go a long way to remedying the brain fart performances. I’m thinking the way like Terry assisted us when he came in.
However, as I said the other day. Are we improved. By god yes. Are we on the right track. I really think so. Are we in a good place. Yep. But at the moment expectation due to certain performances are higher than they should be as we are looking mid table due to who we bought and the trajectory of the club from the dire state of 2 years ago . But as I also said the players we are shopping for at the moment will improve us from where we were and indeed have improved us. But if we are thinking top 8, definitely top 6 and above the quality and the market we are shopping in has to improve . But i do appreciate that Rome wasn’t built in a day but like us many older ones we have been waiting a long time so we could be forgiven for a little impatience.
The only thing i would add is that not going to games leaves me feeling slightly detached from the reality of some of our performances . Just not the same. Hate it. Can’t wait to be back.
If this time last year you had said to me we would be where we are now I would have snapped your hand off.
However, I am left with the feeling that we could actually be better off than where we are. Exhibit A being the Burnley game . Without just two of our brain fart performances we could easily be sat on 35 points. And thats really frustrating because in those games were were not even outplayed on the whole. I would put that down to the inexperience from the players we bought and the management team headed by an inexperienced head coach at this level. I have always said that our recruitment is not on the whole correct. Just one or two experienced , quality and proven premier league players i think would go a long way to remedying the brain fart performances. I’m thinking the way like Terry assisted us when he came in.
However, as I said the other day. Are we improved. By god yes. Are we on the right track. I really think so. Are we in a good place. Yep. But at the moment expectation due to certain performances are higher than they should be as we are looking mid table due to who we bought and the trajectory of the club from the dire state of 2 years ago . But as I also said the players we are shopping for at the moment will improve us from where we were and indeed have improved us. But if we are thinking top 8, definitely top 6 and above the quality and the market we are shopping in has to improve . But i do appreciate that Rome wasn’t built in a day but like us many older ones we have been waiting a long time so we could be forgiven for a little impatience.
The only thing i would add is that not going to games leaves me feeling slightly detached from the reality of some of our performances . Just not the same. Hate it. Can’t wait to be back.
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Villan57
Alert Team
That's the hard bit for me, I'm guessing this is a paradise for the armchair fan, they probably don't even notice the crowd is missing with all the piped-in noise.
Football is all about being there and currently, we are not.
I've got to the point where I watch Villa matches only. The rest are just on but I'm not really watching they are just like any other tv programme to me.
Dumble
Vital 1st Team Regular
Very hard to say anything negative when we are getting what we wanted from Dean Smith - brilliant football to watch - and are making definite progress.
it’s easy to get frustrated in the heat of games and nitpick (talking about myself here!) but on the whole I’d say it’s very positive and moving in the right direction.
just hope we sort our right side out.... saying that a lot of us (me included) wrote Matt target off last season and look how strong our left side is looking now.
I’ve got faith in the club and manager that hasn’t been there in a long time hope it continues.
it’s easy to get frustrated in the heat of games and nitpick (talking about myself here!) but on the whole I’d say it’s very positive and moving in the right direction.
just hope we sort our right side out.... saying that a lot of us (me included) wrote Matt target off last season and look how strong our left side is looking now.
I’ve got faith in the club and manager that hasn’t been there in a long time hope it continues.
Pride of Lions
I am now official
Definitely going in the right direction.
Lovely football but can't help but feel a little agrieved with a combination of the decisions that have gone against us, and stupid giveaways. We have no control over one, but we have over the other. If we could iron out a decent percentage of the 'other' just think were we'd be.
Bottom line though..... compared to last season, we're doing just fine.
Lovely football but can't help but feel a little agrieved with a combination of the decisions that have gone against us, and stupid giveaways. We have no control over one, but we have over the other. If we could iron out a decent percentage of the 'other' just think were we'd be.
Bottom line though..... compared to last season, we're doing just fine.
I wasn't sure what to expect this season. I liked all of the signings we made in the summer and I'm glad the club held onto Dean Smith. I was happy to see Shakespeare thrown into he mix and delighted to learn he was also a Villa man. I didn't think we were going to be in danger of relegation and I was surprised that we were second favourites with the bookies going into the season.
After the start to the season we made, and the excellent standard and style of football we have been playing, I am hoping with all my heart we manage to qualify for the Europa league and the Covid situation allows for us to get into the stadium to watch us play some of the larger teams from across the water again. It's easy to say we deserve European football, but I think the top 10 or 12 clubs in the league have all mostly been playing excellent football this season.
I'd be disappointed if we finish outside of the top ten, but anything above 12th represents huge growth and we can go into next season with loftier expectations and an even stronger squad hopefully.
After the start to the season we made, and the excellent standard and style of football we have been playing, I am hoping with all my heart we manage to qualify for the Europa league and the Covid situation allows for us to get into the stadium to watch us play some of the larger teams from across the water again. It's easy to say we deserve European football, but I think the top 10 or 12 clubs in the league have all mostly been playing excellent football this season.
I'd be disappointed if we finish outside of the top ten, but anything above 12th represents huge growth and we can go into next season with loftier expectations and an even stronger squad hopefully.
Villan57
Alert Team
I know some will disagree but I think having Villa people running the side really helps, as they get "it". They get the size of the club the feeling of what the fans expect, the history, the whole package. I'm glad they gave Dean time and not gone for the quick fix like Everton and some other teams always do.
This is a long journey that Aston Villa are on not a flash in the pan one or two-season wonder.
We seem to have good owners, plus Purslow who reinvest any income back into the club, we are not into old has been or cast-offs (Barkley excepted) We are signing players for the now and the future. I don't think Sanson would have signed last season but he seems happy to have now.
It's currently the brightest it's been this century
This is a long journey that Aston Villa are on not a flash in the pan one or two-season wonder.
We seem to have good owners, plus Purslow who reinvest any income back into the club, we are not into old has been or cast-offs (Barkley excepted) We are signing players for the now and the future. I don't think Sanson would have signed last season but he seems happy to have now.
It's currently the brightest it's been this century
sirdennis
Alert Team
Got to be really pleased with how we are developing. We have our credibility and respect back. People are praising us now instead of taking the piss , and as long as we get better season after season who can complain?
We seem to have a real plan of how we are to progress and if you also factor in how much the current squad is improving as well , then there is plenty to look forward to.
We seem to have a real plan of how we are to progress and if you also factor in how much the current squad is improving as well , then there is plenty to look forward to.
Thomas Holte
Vital Football Legend
Dean Smith and the team are a work in progress so you would expect the odd hiccup along the way as they both learn from setbacks but it's crucial that Dean doesn't keep on making the same mistakes through his own personal stubbornness?
It's been a long time since people in the game have said we are a joy to watch and that takes some getting used to again!
I now rejoice when I think about the strong backbone that is in place at Villa Park from the boardroom right through to our youth academy and for the first time in many years our beloved club is finally moving in the right direction.
It's been a long time since people in the game have said we are a joy to watch and that takes some getting used to again!
I now rejoice when I think about the strong backbone that is in place at Villa Park from the boardroom right through to our youth academy and for the first time in many years our beloved club is finally moving in the right direction.
gmvillan
The Shackles Are Off!
Fulham without the clappers is just not the same...
But, seriously, I'm with you on that one '57, the TV is on in the house with the matches on, but I'm not really watching - on a positive note Mrs GMV is happy because I have this tendency to start tidying up around the house to keep myself busy....
ironside
Vital Champions League
Compared to what we’ve seen in the last 6 or 7 years this season is wonderful. Good football, praise from pundits, optimism, some great new players and having the best midfielder in the league. Ok some tweaks need to be made and some mistakes eradicated but generally well satisfied.
McParlandTheGreat
Vital Champions League
19 matches, the real halfway stage. And only a win and a draw off safety. Last season took us 36 matches to get to that point.
Continue like this ending up on 64 points, would, last season, have put us 5th. Looking at those around us, I would say 5th to 8th this season. If we continue as is.
Continue like this ending up on 64 points, would, last season, have put us 5th. Looking at those around us, I would say 5th to 8th this season. If we continue as is.
Hifriedelity
Vital Squad Member
Happy but still think we are in a rush......what position do we need to be in at the end of the season for Grealish to stay?
