Finally, a bit of positivity seems to have been injected into the Villa faithful after the second half display against Arsenal and the weekend’s 2-2 draw at Anfield. This makes a welcome change to the weeks of negativity.
With sixteen League games left, I feel that Villa fans have plenty of cause for optimism. Visiting Villa Park over Christmas, the only positive I could find was that the pitch looked good but, reunited with my optimism, here are some reasons to be positive about the future.
1. Benteke and Weimann back on the scoresheet
Before the Arsenal and Liverpool games both Christian Benteke and Andi Weimann had been without a goal since September. This was obviously hurting us as they scored plenty of goals between them last season. Not only are both scoring again but their performances seem to have improved as well. Benteke admitted last week that he shouldn’t have played through injury. Neither Christian or Andi became bad players overnight: Benteke was injured and Weimann hit a horrid run of form. Dropping Weimann for the Arsenal game has hopefully done the trick and given him a kick up the backside. His lack of goals seemed to coincide with his decreasing work rate during games.
2. Defensive improvements
Ron Vlaar’s importance to our team cannot be underestimated. When he plays we look much more solid at the back and as Clark’s game has improved this season the two seem to complement each other.
Let’s face it: last season we may well have lost the kind of game that we saw at Anfield on Saturday evening but we recovered from blowing a two goal lead to earn a point. There are not a lot of teams that will go to Anfield this season and stop Suarez scoring. We did it.
In general, we have been a lot better defensively this season and that is reflected in the goal difference not being catastrophic like it was this time last year. If we can keep up the solid defending and play with the zest and potency we did in the first half at Anfield for the rest of the season then I would back us for a top ten finish.
3. Bertrand looks like the real deal
I thought Ryan Bertrand had a very good debut. Against tough opposition, it was as good a debut as I can remember. I don’t think many of us thought that Lambert would bring in a left back but he did and, even on loan, the Chelsea man looks like a brilliant addition to the squad. Teams have been targeting our left hand side all season and, in my opinion, Luna has not been up to scratch. Defensively, Bertrand is a massive improvement on Luna and he looks good going forward as well.
4. We’re in a good position to kick on
It’s fair to say our form in the second half of the season last time round kept us up and we were brilliant in the crucial games. I have always felt that we would be stronger in the second half of this season too. Villa currently sit tenth and the last couple of games seem to suggest that we may have turned the corner. In League games in 2014 wise we have taken four points from nine against Sunderland (away), Arsenal (Home) and Liverpool (Away). I’m sure this is a return that most fans would have taken on New Year’s Day and we have been unlucky not to get more points from those games.
5. Lambert has altered his policy
It’s fair to say we have been crying out for some experience and Lambert has changed his policy to bring in Grant Holt and Ryan Bertrand on loan. Grant Holt will be invaluable in the dressing room and, although only twenty-four, Ryan Bertrand brings plenty of big game experience to B6. Lambert’s seeming reluctance to bring in some experience has led to criticism and his most recent signings should prove advantageous. Wes Hoolahan is also obviously very keen to come to us. He would be another experienced player and could, like Bertrand, fill a problem role. Here’s hoping!
There you have five reasons to be cheerful. Please let me know if you have any more.
