Sunderland Tame The Lions

Well, that as a game was shocking and even more so when Sunderland came out with the win, their first away one of the season. I'll repeat that, it was Sunderland's first away win of the season. Before Villa obliged they had 3 draws and 12 losses. I have to be honest and say their away fans were in excellent voice and deserved something to celebrate. The Villa fans also turned up in their droves, another sell out, only to be subjected to a tired and jaded team performance from a tiny squad with no options on the bench.

The lack of summer spending - despite the constant talk of a signing being just around the corner - has caught up with us as most of us knew it would. You also have to look at January, although it was a quiet transfer window for most clubs, and wonder why we only bought one player and why that one player - Wayne Routledge - doesn't even figure on the bench? If I was Randy I would be VERY nervous of giving MON money, sorry to be harsh but Scott Carson is a liability and should have been dropped weeks ago, Stiliyan Petrov after two seasons is apparently still settling in, Shaun Maloney isn't the grade, Zat Knight was an average defender at an average club and has very little hope of improving on that, John Carew shows himself only in fits and starts and then we have Salifou who rarely even makes the bench and Wayne Routledge who since January hasn't been on the bench once (or at least not that I can remember).

I'm not sure you can really criticise the Villa players, I don't think that it is they don't care, it is just they are shattered and I would think some frustrated at the outdated 90's tactics. It is these outdated tactics that frightens me the most, well that and the managers inability to bring in the required bodies despite funds being available.

As you will see from the stats Villa only managed three shots on target. This against a team who are still in danger of relegation.

Villa, as we often do these days, had the lions share of the ball but the fancy passing has no end product and the hoofing towards Carew and a very off colour Gabby Agbonlahor will only rarely pay off surely? We've basically been sussed, have a tight back four blocking the balls launched towards them and you have Villa struggling. John Carew early on did nearly score a wonderful goal with the ball being flicked over his head but it was not to be and that was our main chance for the entire game.

It has been a valiant attempt by the players who in some cases have over achieved (and that might well get me slated) but you can't help but wonder 'what if' as the 4th spot was there for the taking with Liverpool having an awful season by their standards. Will it be there for the taking next year? Some of the clubs like Spurs won't - you would assume - have a mare like they have this year and there will once again be more spending in the summer by the managers capable of bringing in decent players so it could prove to be a very tough call to be in with the same shot next season.

I'm not over reacting, this was just one game, but then so was Fulham, so was Middlesbrough etc etc. MON said when he first came that he had to get up to speed. He isn't there yet. I pray to Paul McGrath that he gets there very quickly and sorts things in the summer, the last thing Villa need is for the manager merry go round to start again and we have seen improvements this year, so all is not lost by any means, but a club this size can't keep promising jam tomorrow, we need the butter on the bread first and I'm really not sure it is there yet.

Looking on the bright side, we have an easy 3 points next week as we visit Manchester United at Old Trafford - well lets face it, we wouldn't visit them anywhere else would we?!

Lets hope we can rally, it would be a shame to see the season go out with a whimper because despite some obvious disappointments, the lads have done us proud on many occasions this season and do deserve to be in the shout of 6-7th. Not sure we could handle Europe as we stand at the moment though.

Man of the match: Wilfred Bouma, he got stuck in.

He might be a top prospect but at the moment he is a liability who seems devoid of confidence and flaps about like Mr Flappy of Flapsville. I'd personally send him back to Liverpool, job done for them as he has cost us more than enough points recently to ensure we are nowhere near them. NO NO NO I'm not suggesting shenanigans but I've never believed one Premiership club should be allowed to loan a player to another. Haven't seen the highlights but looked like he had come out of his box and handled the ball, he really does have some strange rushes of blood to the head. ok considering he is not a right-back
ok just ok
best player for us today looks shattered, we lost the battle in midfield again today looks shattered, oh hang on I've already said that about Barry...! Why won't be shoot when in range? He has stopped going to the bye line and crossing, why? And why is MON playing him on the right when he is best on the left?
not at the races today and again MON switched sides with him and Young.
take off those stupid red boots, stop strutting around like a star and start grafting which is what you did to get into this position. Nowhere near England class at the moment but then again, he is a young lad, learning, over used and tired. I said a few games ago he should have been rested after returning from injury and I stand by it! Nearly scored a sublime goal, trouble is nearly doesn't show up in the league table. For such a big bloke, he doesn't half get pushed off the ball easily. If he ever finds some consistency he could be awesome, then again the service to both strikers is useless at present.
Comes to something when the Villa faithful are calling for someone like Marlon to save us. The guy cares and has the right attitude. Nearly scored and (without seeing the highlights to check) possibly should have?
didn't really notice.

Vital F1 Prediction League - Join now for Monaco