Reluctant Striker

There's definitely a tendency for falling to pieces at the big matches now. Would be unacceptable at a club expected to be where Villa have been & are. Trying to dwell on how Top 6 or even 5 will still be difficult to miss from here. And how unusual these results seem, compared to 16 months or so back.

Man United are definitely an odd club right now. From what I see, they no longer play especially exciting football & most of their goals seem to be set pieces & counter attacks. Yet they always seem to default out to be in a European spot of 1 type or another.

Yes, it's confusing to know what to make of it all. To me, it doesn't feel they've been splashing around crazy money. In 2023/24, Diaby the one £50m+. Pau was £30m+. Plenty of academy players sold. The owners are stating this 2022/23 news is just all part of the plan. But certainly growing concern we may be one of the 1st clubs to get Champions League football & be in a position that we have to sell 1 or 2 star players. To bring in lower value signings. And avoid any points deduction. Presumably it's getting into the problem of Villa not selling out as many directors boxes, pre match dining, etc. Which is having more options being made available at Villa Park. And of course sponsorship. Global merchandise sales. Oddly, even with a 10 point deduction right now, they'd still be 6th & 1 point ahead of Man United. Which again, for me, just questions where is the reward for doing well?

Pickford TAA Konsa Stones Colwill Rice Foden Bellingham Saka Kane Gordon With TAA doing the inverted DM thing, in possesion. Konsa, Stones & Colwill have all been used to some variation on that. Could equally work with Walker in ahead of TAA & then becomes Stones stepping ahead of Walker Konsa & Colwill. Saka & Gordon seem to have high energy, for getting back, in addition to contributing going forward. Pretty much tell Foden & Bellingham to win matches however they can. I think it's perhaps how we get all of Saka, Foden & Bellingham in the same 11.

Great goal from Rashford. And Foden, for me, continuing since the last World Cup, of having noticeably more individual end product to his exciting moments. Much more like a player that owns situations. Less of a shiny cog in a unique machine. The problem for Foden with England is Southgate's front 6 is likely still a middle 3 of Phillips, Rice & Bellingham. Saka on the right. Kane up front. And 1 other on the left. And I can see Clare Balding sneaking in there. She's having a great season for Newcastle on the left. High work rate. Taking the penalties. Where can Foden fit in? He really has increased massively, to me, since the World Cup, when I just did not get the fuss about him. Against many sides I suspect Foden, Rice & Bellingham would be a very sufficient midfield 3. But I just can't quite see Southgate opting for it vs a France, a home Germany or whoever.

I think it's fair to refer to the Forest-Liverpool incident as balancing out the Spurs-Liverpool one from early in the season. But at this stage it's Villa who could be most screwed over by weird Liverpool refereeing. We could have been 7 points ahead of Spurs.

Only been mildly following the table, but it suddenly seems wide open. Whichever of the current top 3 miss out on automatic will be unlucky. And likely have Southampton to contend with. I mainly just hope West Brom don't make it via the play offs.

Unlucky for Luton. Tactically on Villa, it feels like they've been stung a few times now, when they put the early effort in, get 2 or 3 up, and sort of maybe look to sit back on the lead. Try to control the game with possession. If I was setting up a side against it, especially a lower side, I'd be looking to raise the tempo when Luton did so. As a good way to try & get results. Also Morgan Rogers was a notable downgrade on J Ramsey in terms of defensive work. And became 1 of those substitutes on to be substituted off. Thankfully they did find a big finish in them. Probably will need much better over the next 4 games.

Watkins with the opener & the 2nd. Think still only Haaland & Salah with more total goals & assists. And getting ahead early seems as much of this sides identity as the offside trap. Good to see Konsa back. Returns us to 4 fit CBs. And allows Pau Torres to be cautiously rested. Jacob Ramsey going off, yet again, is a blow.

Start of possibly a decisive few weeks for Villa. It's Ajax (a) Thursday, Spurs (h) next week, then Ajax (h) Thursday after, with West Ham (a) the weekend after that. Winning at Luton would be a good start, when we're about to play perhaps the biggest name possible in the Conference League & 2 of the 3 nearest sides below in the table. And obviously would be great to repeat the Man City - Arsenal phase rather than the Newcastle - Chelsea - Man United run. Reading more stories again that despite the FFP changes for next season & any possible Champions League income, Villa may yet need to sell to buy. If it's true & not just rival fan-journalists hoping, then FFP is more broken than VAR.

Certainly the most impressive aspect for Liverpool is to win with so many injury problems. Likely to not be the only trophy of Klopp's finale season either. For Chelsea, their problems appear to have no quick & easy fix. An expensively arranged squad, managed by someone still in search of his 1st trophy with an English club side, despite having a reputation as big as most of his players. And the sum of of all the parts appears to be mid-table, with the ability to pull off a win or draw here & there. It is an ever competitive league, but it's still quite shocking.

It's still matches like today that show the difference Unai has made.

Only HT, but 3-1 up is a big improvement on losing away to Forest 2-0. Douglas Luiz with 2 & neither a penalty.

That story about wanting a Wembley of the north & improving the south of Manchester would be perfectly ok if it was a politicians campaign. And it is true London as the capital often feels like it's usually ahead of.. Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Birmingham, Leeds, Leicester, Bury, Torquay, etc. There is quite a queue. But as a Monaco dwelling, minority share holder of a commercial behemoth, who is apparently seeking tax payer funding for a New Old Trafford, it's surely bordering on delusional. No tax payer owes Manchester United anything..

There were fan groups contacting the FA too, specifically about the 150th anniversary badge plans. And many split opinions on this Chris Heck changing most decisions set in place before he had arrived. The Badge changing. The North Stand redevelopment delayed. And more. Centre back injuries now building. Mings out since 1st match. Pau Torres on bench the last 2 games, after injury problems. Konsa out for a few weeks. And now Diego Carlos injured. So, heading into Fulham (a) it's on loan Lenglet, the frozen out Chambers & gradually returning Pau Torres. Getting dangerously near an emergency - crisis. Then add that Kamara is out with his 2nd long term injury in the last 2 years, and it's either young Tim Iroegbunam next to Douglas Luiz, or dropping McGinn or Tielemans deep.

For me, the outright opposition view to the Tories, is usually the Lib Dems. Not just now, but for many years. And when you consider Labour were more recently formed, and to represent the working class, the poorest in society, the under-represented, it does start to make some sense. Social/council housing? Unskilled jobs? It is where many of the least 'Tory' type people end up. But they are also far removed from semi detached home, office working, Lib Dem's. Usually. And today, I imagine many would genuinely find it tough to choose between Rwanda planes or do nothing, because there is nothing to do. It is worth keeping in mind, UKIP, BNP, and various other far right parties, never really became more than protest movements. The furthest Farage & company are getting right now is that this boats thing has become a lead topic. It would not have been without them. But I sense it's unlikely to be a vote winner, even to the working class 'right wing' voter.

Slow January for everyone it seems, but Villa picking up pace, in a restrained way I was expecting, particularly after Unai's hints. Red Star Belgrade's 18 year old RB Nedeljkovic has signed up, but stays with RSB until actually joining up with Villa in the summer. Arsenal teenage LB, Lino Sousa supposed to joining. 2 of my boxes ticked there. 23 year old Australia goalkeeper Joe Gauci close to signing. Many do feel an upgrade on number 2 Robin Olsen is another ideal box ticker. And, the biggest, perhaps straight to first team action, seems Morgan Rogers from Middlesbrough. Born in the West Midlands & was very keen for the move. Sounds like he could play where Jacob Ramsey (with ongoing injury problems) would play. Buendia is nearing his return. They have used McGinn & Tielemans over on the left. For some reason I don't quite understand we haven't seen Bailey or Diaby as old fashioned left footed left wingers. So Rogers arrival & Buendia's return should start freeing McGinn & Tielemans as deeper midfield covers-competition.

Leander Dendoncker to Napoli on loan, with option to buy for around 10m Euro's. Good business, and rumours are Villa academy product Tim Iroegbunam could be set for that 3rd DM spot in the squad. If McGinn & Tielemans are not dropped back there. Kosta Nedeljkovic as an 18 year old right back with a high bar protential from Red Star for undisclosed, but mooted to be around £10m, also seems smart business. Via one of the numerous fan-podcast shows on YouTube (UTV) I encountered a finance expert suggesting Villa's typical match day revenue is around £16m. While Man United's is around £130m. Among many other mind boggling gaps with numerous clubs. He was also critical of the choice to not redevelop the North Stand (the behind the goal that isn't The Holte End) An alternate show (Holy Trinity) suggesting that maybe some faith should go toward the owners & the staff they are setting in place. But, I do remember the Randy Lerner years. I was buzzing as we assembled a midfield of Young, Milner, Barry, Downing. To see them all sold on, as we apparently hit a wall & replaced them with Charles N'Zogbia, among other significantly lower quality players. The financial stuff is a worry. Whichever way you look at things. In terms of a season like this becoming an expected & regular thing. Which for many fans, is the objective. And a return to a living memory.

Duran has plenty of potential. But increasing signs of a temperamental attitude.

I think there are 3 options ahead of him: A) International management, where Mancini, Roberto Martinez & Southgate have all had prestigious jobs in recent times. B) a few more clubs somewhere that are just off the very top, but I can't see him enjoying a transition to being Roy Hodgson. C) big pay days to new audiences perhaps in MLS, or Saudi, or wherever. A feels like the only option he could add to his CV.

No way should Everton be punished any further. Perhaps at most, a token fine & agreement that the stadium situation & changes of rules has in some way contributed. Anything else starts to look like the club is being pushed out the door. And the rise to £218m sounds good. Perhaps giving the extra inflation room to play with, that clearly is not there for clubs to attempt to rationally try to improve their standing, toward the higher end of the league.

Certainly always seemed like something OTT about how Forest did things. I mean, yes, they do have 2 Euro stars. So someone at some stage was going to be attracted to spaffing crazy money around on them. And my club had to sign up a bunch of players to fill out the squad, 1st season back. e.g. Mings & El Ghazi being signed up perm, having been a Championship loan, etc. But, Forest did feel like a level beyond that. They really should have had a few more Matty Cash (signed for Prem Villa from Championship Forest) level players to give a Premier League try to.

I always had conflicting feelings on Chelsea & Man City. On one hand, yes, Villa had an owner that could not get close to keeping them anywhere near. But, I did also appreciate the something different quality of the Lampard - Terry - Mourinho Chelsea. And the Aguero (ooooooooo) of Man City. I resented the weakness of my club, lots more than other clubs good fortune. So my complaint was never about Chelsea & Man City somehow being invalid to be doing what they were doing. In perhaps a way that some clubs who remained around them perhaps did. But the more we hear of FFP, the more it feels it does a better job of keeping perhaps a Brentford or a Palace or a Brighton or Bournemouth or whoever, from being totally blown away by a Saudi funded Newcastle, or a Villa, with ambitious Egyptian & American owners. But for me, it should do an equally good job of allowing Newcastle & Villa to look at staying ahead of others. This could be the 2nd consecutive season Villa finish ahead of both Chelsea & Spurs. Perhaps the 1st Champions League qualification or 1st trophy win since 1996. But, FFP could still decide it would be unfair to sign 3 x £30m+ players without selling someone to balance the fair play books. That just starts to feel like a 12 year is making up Monopoly rules based on what they need to win.

Yes, something in FFP just is not set up quite the right way. Everton deducted points. This story of how Newcastle may have to sell to buy. Similar story a few days later on Villa. Surely the rules should give clubs like them every chance to mix things up. If there are issues with any of these kind of clubs buying 2 or 3 going rate players, for £100m+, no way should others get to splash another £500m+ in 1 season or window. I think more & more people are seeing something is clearly broken - out dated - wrong. Hopefully something is adjusted.

Sad for Castore. But it was a ridiculous problem & terrible look for a company trying to build up an image. Not sure they recover & grow as a football kit option. Apparently Newcastle are exiting their Castore deal too. But, years after deciding it was never happening, I do look forward to seeing Adidas design 3 stripe claret & blue Villa shirts. And all the away, 3rd, keepers, training tops, etc. Hope they put some effort in.