It’s getting increasingly difficult to write about our football club. Sadly, it’s almost the same thing week in and week out. It’s no longer about if we lose but rather how we will lose. Ten losses in our last ten, and probably three more to come, leaves fans trying to remember what winning feels like. What is there to look forward to? It’s hard to build on anything when performances have been so desperately bleak.
One positive to take from Saturday’s loss to Southampton is that we managed to score two goals in one game, something we haven’t achieved since beating Norwich City in February. Both of the goals came from a very unlikely source in Ashley Westwood, a player who has had a very disappointing season in the eyes of most Villa fans. Despite this, some criminal defending meant that both of Westwood’s strikes were merely consolation goals. We went behind in the fifteenth minute, thanks largely to Lescott’s familiar defensive incompetence, and stayed behind until the final whistle was blown. Lescott’s best mate, Micah Richards, also decided to forget how to play football, putting in another terrible performance for the Villa faithful before being substituted at half time.
So, the answer to our problems should be simple. Play another pairing at centre back and consign both of these men to the bench, where they belong. But, quite fittingly, Jores Okore’s inner diva has emerged this season as he allegedly point blank refused to sit on the bench against AFC Bournemouth. There have been a lot of stories this season that have made me angry. However, Okore’s supposed outburst has perhaps surpassed all others. It’s comparable to refusing to go in to the office. He is paid to play football and so, on Saturday afternoons, that is how he earns his money. There is no choice about whether or not to play and if he’s made a substitute then he must sit on the bench. I hope, and expect, that if these stories have any truth in them that we will not be seeing him again this season.
So where do we go now? In the short term, the answer is down to the Championship. In the long term, I honestly don’t know whether things will get better or if we will return to the Premier League any time soon. Lerner’s heartfelt message to the fans offered me little comfort. Instead, it made me feel that he has an unhealthy obsession with Ashley Young. The wording of the statement was perhaps the oddest element of it, as it turned strangely sexual with his notion of our club still ‘romantically nourishing’ him. The next step is the sale of our club, which I hope happens sooner rather than later, and then we can perhaps look to rebuild. For now at least, we still have to watch Joleon Lescott, Leandro Bacuna and the rest of our abysmal team attempt to play for three more miserable weeks. Our only comfort is that surely, now, we’ve reached our lowest point.
3 Comments
Looks like there’s more to the Okore story than is being let out. He seemed to be one of the few players that have given their all when playing and he’s denying he refused to be on the bench. More AVFC untruths perhaps.
I believe Ashley Westwood has been unfairly treated by the fans. Sure some of his passes go astray but he works hard and is Villa through and through and I was delighted that he scored our two goals on Saturday. I see that Burnley are interested in signing him, hope they fail.
David Chapman (Season ticket holder)
Okore has despite injuries given everything. The club has described him as a warrior over the past two seasons and we must remember he is still very young and young players make mistakes on the field as they gain experience. Many would feel peeved to sit on the bench and watch Richards and lescott play in their position. One of our few saleable players who will walk away for nothing and be a star elsewhere like so many before. Well managed mr Black!!!!!! Ash Westwood is much maligned but if we had a regular and talented player alongside then I believe he would be a real player but he is one we need to back as we go into next season. Despite results it has been same old same old every week with same old results so let’s see only the players that may feature next season alongside several of the U21 squad who would look to be part of the squad next season. Then logic would indicate where the gaps are and consequently what amount of budget is required to fill them. Oh but we need a manager to do that and guess what good old Villa have not got one!!!!!!