“Classic Villa”, “Peak Villa” and “very Aston Villa” are all things I’ve either read or heard to describe our team’s performance against Arsenal as I sampled the many social media posts and podcasts of Aston Villa enthusiasts in the immediate aftermath of the match.
Clearly, we as a fan base have become too accustomed to the exasperation of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory or riding the roller coaster of agony and ecstasy as we meander our way through a football season as Villa fans.
Despite many false dawns, as the entire club undergoes overdue cultural change under the guidance of a manager with European success who legitimately seems to have the trust and unwavering backing of the owners, and although we may not think so given we are removed from the inner sanctum, we are key stakeholders at the club and can play an active role in driving much-needed change that will shape what we hope will be a very bright future.
Tellingly, Unai Emery emphasised after the recent loss to Manchester City that the first – and main – task asked of him by the owners was to escape the relegation quagmire and simply remain in the Premier League. That goes without saying, doesn’t it? Well, clearly so, but more interesting is the fact it seems to have become a bit of a ‘go to’ line to subtly manage the expectations of an impatient fanbase. While it must be said there are references to “pushing towards the top 10”, they appear more an afterthought and a token gesture from a manager trying to provide an outward display of ambition but deep down feeling uneasy at the personnel he has at his disposal.
Whether we like to admit it or not, our recruitment in recent seasons coupled with a revolving door in the manager’s office has meant we’re continuing to try to fit a square peg into a round hole with personnel and our desired playing style. And the powers that be resisted the urge to pay overs in the January transfer window, presumably because they are now strategically targeting players to fit Emery’s desired system into the future – something that didn’t appear commonplace and may have been more scattergun under both Dean Smith and Steven Gerrard.
We know Emery is a meticulous planner and has a clear idea of what he wants to achieve and how he likes the game to be played. He was as openly critical of the team as he has been since his arrival in the aftermath of the loss to Arsenal, expressing his displeasure at his side deviating from his planned script and failing to gain any control, particularly in the second half, due to poor passing and ball retention. Additionally, he seemed rightly embarrassed at the fact our last two home encounters have yielded eight goals for opposition teams. After three successive losses, it seems his honeymoon period is over.
Like many, I experienced mixed emotions about the performance and result against the Gunners. While there were moments to be buoyed about, specifically the magnificently crafted and executed goals we scored, the continued rich vein of form for Ollie Watkins, as well as glimpses of passing fluency in the first half and the creation of two solid opportunities to score in the second half, the harsh reality is the performance was a carbon copy of our previous outing at Villa Park: leading twice only to end up on the wrong side of the result. And, while we should not for a moment question the endeavour of those who donned the claret and blue on Saturday, the one thing that remains is that this group of players, as a collective, has proven itself to be consistently inconsistent and that is simply unlikely to change between now and season’s end.
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It is often said in sporting circles that winning is a habit. It’s easy to understand that winning consistently can breed confidence. In one another. In a team’s system. It would make sense that the opposite is true, too. And while not wanting to focus wholly on the actual results over the past three matches, if we are to examine Aston Villa’s specific areas of concern, namely poor defensive lapses, questionable marking at set pieces, and inviting pressure through below par execution of playing out from the back, it seems all of these things have also become somewhat habitual. It follows that Emery’s main challenges in coming weeks is to empower his players with the belief that the “process” we frequently hear him refer to is still trending on an upward trajectory, all while reinforcing the standards of discipline and concentration that need to be upheld defensively. Quite simply, we need to rediscover a way to be hard to beat.
So, how can we, as fans, do our bit now to shape a brighter future? It surely starts with positivity and uniting to create as vibrant atmosphere as possible, whether at home or away. If we face the realisation that we have a mid-table squad, it becomes easier to comprehend and digest the at times calamitous errors we will see between now and season’s end. On top of that, acknowledging our squad may be a little mentally fragile – although many old school types may assert things along the lines of “highly paid footballers should harden up” and “I pay my money so I’ll boo and say what I want” – the best path forward may be to accept we’ll witness a few unpalatable errors and continue to drive the team forward in full voice, all while trusting the expertise of Emery and his backroom staff to enforce the necessary standards and instruct the players in the best way possible.
Frustratingly, the solution to these challenges may not be found within one summer transfer window. Simply splashing the cash in the hope of wholly reshaping the squad and its fortunes may not be realistic and doing so in any way out of desperation would see us fall into the same trap that has plagued us over recent seasons. If, somehow, it does pay dividends and we see a meteoric rise then we’ll all celebrate the resurgence. However, I’d much prefer a model built around ensuring sustained success rather than any sort of a ‘get rich quick’ scheme that in any way leaves us vulnerable to yo-yoing our way through the years and decades to come.
I appreciate it’s nigh on impossible to urge more patience given what long-suffering fans have endured, but it would appear the foundations are in place with a manager at the helm who won’t accept second best. Like all of us, I expect a response next week against Everton as we commence a run of four games (Everton (A), Palace (H), West Ham (A) and Bournemouth (H)) that will certainly shape our ultimate finishing position. We have a fantastic supporter base that has created a thriving community for engagement across social media and online platforms. Let’s remember we’re united by a unique common bond: our love of our mighty football club. We won’t always agree with other, but let’s ride the highs and lows with respectful interaction and critiquing of our players and team. And hopefully we’ll soon begin to see the term “classic Villa” become a thing of the past.
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