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.

[westisbest]

What an excellent win today. At half time a man  down I was worried.
Defence was good today. It might be a blessing in disguise Mings seeing red.

Watkins was class today. Unlucky not to score.

Exciting times at the Villa.

Onto Chelsea Monday. Will be tough.

[Galted]

Decent point today, thought Chelsea had the better of the game even if McGinn came closest to winning it.

[westisbest]

Youngsters did well tonight.
Thought they defended well. Revan looks decent, along with the keeper.

Barry with a well taken goal. One for the future.

Think all Villa fans can be proud of their efforts tonight.

Least Klopp can’t moan about fixture pile up, after playing a few first team players.

[westisbest]

Good to get back to winning ways.
Good to see Watkins score, he needed it.
Great goal from Trarore. Quality player.
Another clean sheet.

Don’t think I’ve been so frustrated with a win though. So frustrated we didn’t score more in second half. Very sloppy at times.

Anyway 3 points the main thing.

[Guest]

No surprise the Toon lost. We’re horrific. We end people’s goal droughts & we give teams three points etc. The gift that keeps on giving is Bruce.

[Galted]

No surprise the Toon lost. We’re horrific. We end people’s goal droughts & we give teams three points etc. The gift that keeps on giving is Bruce.

I don't know what evil Newcastle fans are responsible for to warrant being subjected to both Allardyce and Bruce as managers.

[westisbest]

Christ, we need to take our chances. Should have been out of sight at half time.
So frustrating to watch that game. Second half two completely different teams.

[Galted]

Glad VAR went Villa's way for a change. Heartwarming to see the meltdown on BBC HYS and on Twitter about how it's favoured Villa 'yet again'.

[westisbest]

Was defiantly offside in the laws of the game. We’ve had at least two of those with Watkins.I’ve said it many times, but that VAR offside decision is the worst in the game for me.

Every team has these decisions for for and against them at some stage.

I thought it was a definite penalty at first. I think they haven’t a clue with what the rules are at timesz

Despite a good goal, we were poor tonight.
Played well Wednesday and lost. Played poor tonight and won. That’s football.
Martinez was class again.

Smith should have brought some subs on earlier, was a risk, paid off in the end. Just.

I’d play Sanson on Wednesday.

Either way, we are having a great season.

[westisbest]

Poor tonight. Hammers looked good, totally deserved.
We have looked tired post covid break.

Need to make some changes for Saturday.
Smith maybe should have brought Sanson on earlier. Maybe Davis to.

[westisbest]

Well that was a frustrating loss to say the least.
First off all credit to Sheffield united. They defended really well. Especially with 10 men. Thought the sending off was harsh.
Our crossing was shocking. Either put the ball straight into the hands of Ramsdale, or went out for a goal kick.


We are certainly capable of winning games without Jack. Need to deliver the balls into the box better.
Could well have been a couple of goals ahead. McGinn and Trarore could well have scored. Watkins hitting the post.
On another day we win that.
Again, fair play to SU.
Not surprised we lost. Any other team in the league and they win that game. Something about us, that is still lacking.

Wolves home Saturday. Really wouldn’t surprise me iff we lose that.
Let’s hope we turn it around.

[Galted]

So frustrating, the inability to get on a bit of a run of results.

[westisbest]

Another frustrating game tonight. They seem to be racking up.
Switched off second half.

Watkins and Konsa unlucky. Wolves should have probably scored a couple.

We miss Jack big time, although I do think we are capable of beating teams without him.

Newcastle next up. Need 3 points.

[westisbest]

Probably didn’t deserve to win that game, or even get a point, but a sh1t way to lose a game. Players didn’t do enough to close Alexander down.
Barcley should have had a shot, had space, wtf was he thinking.
He’s been sh1t since he came back from his injury.
Trez was unlucky.
Thought the Liverpool disallowed goal in the first half was harsh.

Shocked Davis wasn’t brought on. That game was crying out for him to come on.
We could end up around 14th at this rate.
Another frustrating defeat.

[westisbest]

Well not as bad as I thought it would be scoreline wise.
Very poor from Cash, wreck less challenge, no need for it.

We really lack quality in the middle. Very poor players there.
Since Ross Barcley came back from injury, he’s been one of the worst players I’ve seen in a villa shirt. Offers absolutely nothing.
Without Jack we look like a bottom half team.

Man City passed the ball around so well. We just don’t get stuck in though. Lack that fight a lot this season.

On another note, he may look like a school boy, Foden is some player.

[westisbest]

Great win tonight. Totally deserved. Just a shame we were not out of sight at half time. Nervy second half.

[Galted]

4 in a row now where we've taken the lead and conceded. A bit of progress though in not going behind and then going on to get the win.

Utd up next, I live in hope but am almost always disappointed.

[westisbest]

I think if we can get 7 points from our last 5 games, then that would be a decent end to the season.

Tough ask though.

[westisbest]

What a frustrating win. If that’s even a thing.
We should have scored 2 maybe 3 more.
Really thought it would have been a repeat of the Palace game.

Great to see Carney Chuckwuemeka and Jaden Philogene-Bidace come on for their debuts. Two good prospects. CC more so from what I’ve heard. Real shame his shot hit the post.

11th finish then. Would have take. That at the start of the season.
Frustrating the last month or so we couldn’t have picked up more points.

Hopefully have a good summer of transfers and push on next season.

[Galted]

Would have taken 11th as well. Plus the win over Liverpool and the double over Arsenal, not a bad season at all.

[westisbest]

True Galted. Also in Watkins and Martinez two of our best signings for some time.

Martinez gets my player of the season. Watkins a close second.
Third. Konsa.

[westisbest]

Would have taken 11th at the start of the season.
Had a great start. Last couple of months haven’t been great.

Although 2 good wins to end the season.

Look forward to the summer to see who we sign and next season, hopefully push for a European spot.

7/10 for the season for me.

[westisbest]

What a frustrating loss. 3 poor goals to concede. Got to be doing better.
Brilliant first half, but for their keeper, we would have been 3-1 up at half time.
Early days. Very promising. Play like we did first half(for the 90), then we will beat a lot of teams.

Pretty pi55ed off all the same.

[JDizzle]

You guys were good Westi. That was a game Chelsea lose last year - and lose comfortably if Kepa was in goal! Mendy and Lukaku have added such a strong spine that they can win when playing poorly.

I still expect Villa to finish top half.

[westisbest]

Another shocking performance from Villa.
So light in midfield. Need to get stuck in more.
Couldn’t seem to string two passes together tonight.

Seemed to have started where we finished v Wolves last week.
Shocking.

West Ham up next. Not going to be easy.
Tough season ahead.

[westisbest]

Disappointing to see Dean go.
Really liked the bloke. Villa through and through.
Yes the recent form has been poor, I honestly believed he would have turned it round.

Results business, where we are not providing at the moment.
Think we’ve had something like 18 league defeats this year. Not good.

Was always going to be tricky when we sold Jack.
Think our squad is good enough to finish around mid table, or even just inside the top half. Players need to show it though. At the moment they are not.

Heard a few names been touted around, Gerard, Lampard.
Whoever it is, they need to be ASAP and get cracking.

Brighton at home next. Another tough game, but we need a win.

Good luck to Smith. Hope he does well in the future. I’d say there will be nobody hurting more than him.

[Galted]

Was sad news. Too many inept performances catching up with him though.

[westisbest]

Good win. Needed it with Liverpool up next.
Played pretty well. Still sloppy in midfield. Decision making around the 18 yard box wasn’t great at times.

Lucky to not give a pen, or maybe even two away. But then the Ramsey disallowed goal was a joke. We’ll take it.

Don’t think we would have won that game under Smith. Gerrrard has been great.

Good luck to Deano though, (except in a couple of weeks).

[Galted]

Staggeringly (or unsurprisingly, whichever way you look at it), Villa have drawn Man Utd in the 3rd round of the FA Cup for the 5th time in the last 20 years.

[westisbest]

Already beaten them there this season. Let’s make it twice

[Galted]

Apparently each time Villa have beaten Utd in the FA Cup they've gone all the way, so fingers crossed.

[westisbest]

Poor second half from villa today.
Should have finished Brentford off.
Need to get another midfielder, centre and left back.

Have seen these type of defeats way too many times.
Didn’t think we would even get a point at 2-1.
Not a good start to the year. Need to do better against those teams.
The joys of being a villa fan.
FFS

[Galted]

Could be worse.  Don't think a single one of the Villa-obsessed bluenoses I follow on tw*tter even mentioned the result, they're all too busy complaining about how crap their own team are and how they couldn't be arsed to go to the QPR game.

[westisbest]

Coutinho in till the end of the season (at least).

Good first signing this window.
Good intent from the club.

Need a left back also.

[Galted]

FFS, reminds me how much I used to hate Utd when I was younger.

[Afro]

Need a left back also.

All the news around Everton is that it is Digne and it is pretty much done, bar a few reports saying that Newcastle are trying to gazzump you.

But also that Digne doesn't fancy the move to Newcastle.

Good signing. Was great for us at the start, one of our best players. Last 18 months he hasn't performed as well, but I suspect that is down to tactics and not ability

[westisbest]

So the wait for a home win against united goes on.
Did well to come back. Shame about the two mistakes.
Think Buendia has found his form last few games. Been very good.

Thought Digne had a decent debut, also Courtinho

Disappointed in Ings and Watkins. Latter not looking the same player as last season.

Onto everton saturday, hopefully 3 points.

[Galted]

Seen a couple of mentions of Suarez being linked now, though not sure how reliable the sources are.

Can see us going in for Ian Rush and Jan Molby during the summer.

[westisbest]

Bring back McGrath

[westisbest]

Great win yesterday. Didn’t see that score line coming.
Some good goals. Coutinho was quality from what I saw. Should easily of had a hatrick.  What a signing. Be looking to sign him on a permanent deal in the summer. Let’s get it done.

Two wins in a row and two clean sheets.

Onto Leeds Thursday night. Hopefully more of the same.

[Galted]

Relieved to get a substantial win, have to admit I was still slightly nervous going into the last 10 minutes.

Good to see Watkins and Ings both on the scoresheet, though the rumour mill has Watkins off to Arsenal in the summer.

[westisbest]

To be replaced by Suarez

[westisbest]

Bournemouth away first up for villa.
Hopefully I’ll get a ticket. Ground is only down the road from me.

Hopefully a good 3 points to start with.

[westisbest]

Disappointing tonight. At 2-1, thought we would push on for the win.
Typical Villa, stupid mistakes throwing the game away.

Olsen was absolutely shocking. One of the worst performances Ives seen by a villa keeper.

Would take a point against Brighton, then after the World Cup a lot of work to do.

[Galted]

Was disappointing, especially having taken the lead twice. Hopeful of a cup run under Emery.

Didn't watch but apparently McGinn was poor again. Won't be surprised to see him gone soon.

[Galted]

That's a relief after the previous three games. Thought Villa had been unlucky over the last few weeks, especially given the opposition, but it's easy for losing to become a habit.

[westisbest]

Great day out yesterday. Really enjoyable, especially the 3 points, makes the long trip home worthwhile.

Yeah, needed that win, especially after last 3 games and against a team fighting for their lives.

First half was pretty dull. Buendia was quality when he came on. Don’t know why he doesn’t start. Bailey doesn’t cut it and will probably be off in the summer.

Great for Watkins to score 5 games in a row, first villa player to do so in the prem.

Went to a pub right next to anfield, walk along Stanley park.

Must say it’s nice not to be in Everton’s position this season.
Can’t see them staying up. They were very poor yesterday, have nothing going forward and not great at the back.

Anyway, great 3 points and hopefully another 3 against Palace.

[westisbest]

Decent game against Brentford today.
Diaby looking good early doors.

Really looking forward to this season, back in Europe, (after a very long absence).
Have a very good squad, well worth challenging the top 6. Certainly what Emery will be wanting.

Added well so far this summer. Pleased with the signings so far. Could do with a striker, although am confident Archer will do well. Hopefully Duran can have a good impact when he plays.

Competition for places in defence will be interesting.

Roll on the 19th

[Galted]

Decent game against Brentford today.
Diaby looking good early doors.

Really looking forward to this season, back in Europe, (after a very long absence).
Have a very good squad, well worth challenging the top 6. Certainly what Emery will be wanting.

Added well so far this summer. Pleased with the signings so far. Could do with a striker, although am confident Archer will do well. Hopefully Duran can have a good impact when he plays.

Competition for places in defence will be interesting.

Roll on the 19th

Konsa can play up front if today's anything to go by.

[westisbest]

Some goal that

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