Reluctant Striker

Maupay with a goal last week. Raul Jimenez with a first in a very, very long time this week.

Another where it seems 75% done in the 1st. Just need to keep concentration levels high, as they say in FIFA, or whatever it's called now. Villa's next matches: Spurs (a), UECL Legia Warsaw (h), Bournemouth (a), Man City (h), Arsenal (h) Soon time to see how far they have progressed since some bad defeats early on in the season. And after those matches, at the 16 match point, should also have a clearer idea of where they are perhaps on course for. Certainly seems top half. Where exactly is a bit unclear still I think.

A Villa home win Vs Fulham will be: The 13th consecutive home league win. Best club run since 1983 (the champions of England & Europe era side) It would also be the 21st home league win in 2023. The last time there were that many was 1998. And there will still be a few chances to add more. And the stats keep rolling, currently only Man City have more 2023 home league victories. Still not sure what the expectation should be of Villa. But certainly the best ride its been for a good few years.

Seemed very harsh on Palace to get nothing, but Everton do seem to be moving up a few gears now. Spurs looked surprisingly poor at Wolves. Yes, Man City lost there, after hammering on a resolute defence. And Wolves have taken other points. But Wolves fully merited the win, just on balance of play.

Brilliant to get 2 W's over AZ. Feeling proud of the Villa right now. They are rotating quite a bit. At least as much as the injury list allow. Hoping rumours of Barca recalling Lenglet are false stories, as it seems so suitable having him for Europe & perhaps FA Cup, with Pau for the league. Also feeling like Villa are trying to do Europe within themselves. At least at the group stage. And with Legia (h) & Mostar (a) remaining, it all looks good at this stage.

Had just started to expect better than this.

It's been a while since I've felt intrigued by 3rd vs 8th, to see what possible Villa effect could be. In other news, clickbait interpreters have confirmed Jamie Carraghers feathers are ruffled by a club that apparently must not become a jedi.

It's all to do with age I think. Unai Emery at 51, would have been starting high school (or whatever is 11 in Spain) when Villa were European champions. Late teens to early 20's when they were English league runners up a few times within a decade of that. And would be aware of the years following that, of often being in the Big 6, before Chelsea & Man City created need for the Big 6 to be officially recognised as a thing, to appease certain other clubs fans, and that more 'Champions League' spots were available. But someone 25 & under, Villa is not much without a history lesson. If I was a lower level manager I would tend toward sides like Sheffield Wednesday, Sunderland & even in non league: Oldham Athletic as being something of a big name. But right now, Burnley, Wolves & Brentford are now being looked at & will be thought of in that way by the current kids.

I do agree on how bad the direction has been since Brexit, with all those new chat-news TV channels. It does feel to me like things are regressing. I do hope the next election gets us heading in a better direction.

I don't know.. if people are still talking about it, then racism is still a thing, yes. And it is difficult to imagine any UK political side advocating for taking in civilian Palestinians. Rather than 'Israel needs to abide by international law' because they're not Russia. But I think Brexit must have had an amount of some levels of society wanting less white Europeans. It definitely wasn't anything to do with Asia & Africa. The ones that did want Brexit just moved onto them as the next thing. And the Conservative route to Britain for Ukraine was by a British person nominating they personally could house them. It wasn't like they were being welcomed on mass into hotels, pending a council property.

Seems it was some fake news. Also from BBC, apparently he is now no longer suspended & has been just warned.

Yes, from what I've been reading, Zaniolo seems to have everyone convinced in Italy, England & wherever else, that he was only betting on not-football things. But Tonali was betting on football. And I guess we all now know, in a situation like this, FIFA can globalise any agreed punishment ban.

Philip Billing seems a very under rated midfielder. Big. Tough. Defence minded. And chips in with some outrageous efforts. He himself seems much better than a relegation battle.

What has started to feel like a routine win for Villa. Loving how well captain McGinn has been doing recently. Easy to forget he nearly found himself the wrong side of fan frustration when Gerrard was making every wrong choice possible. Diaby just may be the best player Villa have had in a long time. He could play for any side anywhere & contribute. Next 4: Forest (a), Europe: AZ (h) , Fulham (h) & Spurs (a)

For me, Man United are weak in defense. And also have too many attack minded midfielders. They simply are not good enough to have only 1 defence minded midfielder. Back in Fergie times they had the option of Keane & Butt rather than Keane & Scholes. Way back in those days, Haaland, Grealish, Alvarez, Foden & however many others would have been United players. And then, and maybe only then, you do get away with 1 Rodri. And Liverpool have a class defence, with outstanding best in class attackers. Its not much to do with the owners that manager after manager at Man United has not cobbled together a hard working midfield. That can keep them in games. ETH & anyone who follows should really look to move on from the frankly smart arse vibe of playing someone else's number 10 at Man United's number 6 or 8. Or CM at LB. Because Man United. Because it's Man United 2023. But.. it is nice of them to let others have a chance !

Columbia does sound a very dodgy place. Andres Escobar was assassinated soon after scoring an own goal in the 1994 World Cup. And it is a celebrated source of drugs.

For as long as I can remember they have been portrayed as this footballing behemoth that was awaiting the right moment. Alan Shearer nearly got them there. I can't recall the order of them, but mangers of Keegan & Bobby Robson got so far. And at that time, they did feel positive. But the worst analysis I've encountered in recent times was Darren Ambrose. On Talksport. Battering Villa players for having shown such utter disrespect to Steven Gerrard, by having the audacity to be battering Brentford at Villa Park, right after Gerrard left. Just by having 2 DMs. And really giving it an unrestrained go, from kick off. I think a few said similar, but less memorably emphatic. A year later, that same approach is still a core part of Villa's approach. Style of play. Identity. Whatever people call it. Newcastle, they got further, just with Saudi oil money being dangled at the squad. And whatever magic wand Eddie Howe has access to. That is actually far more questionable, as to WTF was going so badly before hand. IMO. But that's just not even been a conversation. Anywhere.

Even during all the spending anyone vaguely following what was going on at Chelsea was becoming increasingly confused as to exactly how many midfielders & wingers they were signing. Yes, there is a global shortage of goal scoring number 9s. But, perhaps that was the 1 position Todd Boehly should have departed from the tried & trusted YouTube FIFA career mode, of sell anyone over 27 & let the young lads get to 90 ratings. Perhaps. But, the longer it goes on, it is one less side to worry about.

Said in the match day thread, losing at home to Leicester clearly the final straw moment. And he does need a haircut. It's 2023.

Seems harsh of Mainz to terminate Anwar El Ghazi's contract, for a Tweet, seen as pro-Palestine. And so for many.. anti Jew. You normally hear of minor fines, warnings on future conduct etc. But seems he refused to apologise for his comments.

Losing at home to Leicester the final straw.. Needs a haircut too. IMO.

Wolves have not lost since Liverpool in September. Since then they have got 9 points from 15. Their fans may still want to be in top half, but from what it was looking & feeling like before a ball was kicked, being 12th at this stage is doing well.

Sad for Louie Barry. 20 year old wing attacker. On loan to Stockport, from Villa (previously of West Brom & Barcelona) has scored 9 goals in 15 League Two matches. But now out with a hamstring injury, perhaps for up to 4 months. Interesting to see how he develops. Will he make it at Villa, in the top flight, or become a really good lower level player.

I do think we could be approaching a new era. The days where you can just spend the most, in itself create a new era & win lots, is just perhaps, maybe, possibly.. coming to an end. So many clubs are now spending £100m a season. At that point, spending £500m is not a guarantee of anything. Compared to £50m & £10m, the difference just gets less tangible. I really do think we could be hitting that point of diminishing returns, which I think is big business name of this ongoing Chelsea effect. Chelsea could still be the club that knocks Man City off the top. But, just as much, perhaps this is the start of a phase of time where 8th, 10th & 12th spend the most. And it all just comes up short.

Yes, with Emery a lot could depend how he feels at Villa compared to how it went at Arsenal. I do sense he will see & feel that he is a Villa man now. Barring any fall out or Martin O'Neill style lack of backing. But, I do think he could drastically improve Chelsea or Man United. And do things with any side, taking over from anyone. Even Pep & Klopp. If he was given time. Players will depend on who gets in their ear. Over the last 30 years Villa often lost players to Man United (Yorke) Man City (Barry, Grealish & others) or Liverpool (Benteke) & way back Southgate packed his bags & headed for bigger club Middlesbrough. One of the more unusual exits from Villa. While Villa have often taken their pick from many other clubs. It is just the way it all works. At the end of the day, unless a fan-Agbonlahor type, most players do take a move, if they feel it moves them in an upwards direction. Best possible case scenario right now is Villa pick up a trophy & finish ahead of at least 2 rivals from the Big 6, Newcastle & Brighton. Convince the leading names there is more to come where they are. And pick up another few Pau, Diaby, sort of level additions. I am convinced if any not Big 6 side can regularly be in the Top 6 & a regular trophy contender, Villa with a good manager is as much a genuine contender as any other possibility.