Two seasons ago, Aston Villa Football Club was knocked out of the Capital One Cup by Bradford City. It was a two leg affair and defeat was hard to take in a tie that most Villa fans were expecting the team to win comfortably.
Since that day, every cup game has seemed like a mountain to climb and that was proven yet again last night with a 0-1 loss to League One side Leyton Orient. This was not just any cup loss: it was yet another loss at Villa Park, when fans were hopeful that maybe this season could be the one that would see our fortunes change on home turf.
In three seasons, we have crashed out of cup competitions to Leyton Orient, Sheffield United, Milwall and, of course, Bradford City. I would expect most Premier League sides to win three, if not all, of those games comfortably but the confidence was knocked out of our side after the loss to Bradford City and it seems to me that we have never recovered from such a shock defeat.
This season, we were off to a relative flyer in the Premier League, having picked up four points in the opening two games of the season without conceding a single goal. It is obvious that Lambert has sorted out the defence by bringing in Aly Cissokho and revitalising Alan Hutton but where on earth has our attack gone?
Last season we couldn’t stop scoring goals and this season our players seem to get a nose bleed any time they are within five yards of the penalty area. What has happened?
Yes, we are missing Christian Benteke and Libor Kozak, who will return and bolster our attacking options, but we have players such as Gabby Agbonlahor, Andi Weimann and Darren Bent, who are all capable of finding the back of the net – and should be doing so. When our target men return, I expect a lot more crosses to be played into the box as it will suit our height and power in the air but this won’t solve the problems of scoring goals from football being played along the deck.
One thing that I didn’t need reminding of is that when Nathan Baker plays the Villans will more than likely lose. I don’t often like to criticise players who put the shirt on for the team I support but Baker is one of those players who I can’t bear to watch in defence. Even when playing well, he is always far too committed when going for the ball, often mistiming a tackle and finding himself out of shape, only for the opposition to punish us.
I am hopeful that the return of Benteke and Kozak will play some part in fixing our attacking problems; the more options we have going forward the merrier. I have no problems with the back four that featured against Stoke City and Newcastle United. Long may our defensive strength in the Premier League continue – and here’s to scoring more goals!
5 Comments
“Last season we we couldn’t stop scoring goals.” Really? We scored 39 goals in 38 league matches. Not sure what team you were watching?
As for there being any curse, it’s nothing to do with that. Its down to the simple fact that we have sh*t players and a sh*t manager.
At least we have given the Man U fans a laugh with the news that Lamberk is gonna pay 8 m for that donkey Cleverley. You cannot believe what a useless manager we have. Bring back Alex, all is forgiven.
Of all the names mentioned for a possible No 10 for Villa who would have bet on Cleverly? He’s got to be the most overrated player in the world. Nevertheless, he is better than anyone else we have in that position, so if he does come, let’s give him a chance. What could possibly go wrong?
Tom Cleverly to Villa, wrong move. We need to be signing established players!!!
In my opinion, after two poor seasons and yet another cup defeat to lower opp, PL is on borrowed time at Villa.
I’ve simply seen enough.
A totally underwhelming signing but it is a signing of a regular Man Ure player and until the World Cup a regular England player (even though every England fan was saying “wtf?” every time he got selected). Having said all that, if he does come to B6 we have to give him a fair chance to prove himself and hope we all get proved wrong. UTV.