JAMES IS BACK IN THE FIELD   

You score three against QPR at home and end up fumbling around for a point, oh the insipid fragility of life! Dear little Timmy tactically outwitted by his old number two, Benteke carrying the rest of the team on his back like sandbags to a flood site, Kieran Richardson so bad that suddenly Stephen Warnock seems like Paul Breitner by comparison. Hell of a game. Oh and welcome back Vlaar, right on cue to look completely disinterested but receive a bunch of ballyhoo about what good news it is that you're back, all from people that haven't seen you play in a year. 

Looks like Benteke refound his old form. Took him a long time after that injury, but perhaps somewhat understandable considering the long time he was out.

Do you think he will be off now in the Summer?

Do you think he will be off now in the Summer?

Bigger matters at hand.

 

Do you think he will be off now in the Summer?

Bigger matters at hand.

 

Timmy's win ratio?

 

 

Do you think he will be off now in the Summer?

Bigger matters at hand.

 

Timmy's win ratio?

 

Well, yeah, actually.

 

 

 

Do you think he will be off now in the Summer?

Bigger matters at hand.

 

Timmy's win ratio?

 

Well, yeah, actually.

 

It's second to none.

If we went down far worse things would happen than a world class player deciding he didn't fancy playing in the second tier so yes, bigger matters at hand.

If we went down far worse things would happen than a world class player deciding he didn't fancy playing in the second tier so yes, bigger matters at hand.

Was more riffing on the Sherwood win ratio meme.

 

If we went down far worse things would happen than a world class player deciding he didn't fancy playing in the second tier so yes, bigger matters at hand.

Was more riffing on the Sherwood win ratio meme.

 

I know.

Speaking from a completely self-serving perspective, I was pulling for Villa as a home win would have been a virtual hammer blow to QPR's hopes of catching either of us. A few weeks ago I had 34 down as the target for survival and now it seems there's been something of a surge, but I'm hoping we can ride the wave of renewed optimism for just long enough to scrape what we need. Preferably with time to spare, I don't like the look of our last two games one bit.

 

Barnstorming game though, and fitting that Benteke was the one who salvaged the point. I'm sure Timbo will be claiming to have given the lad his first team debut soon enough.

Tim threw out the turgid possession football Lambert instilled which means Benteke isn't consigned to being a glorified lamppost any more but he's still very much a tactical lightweight and misread what was needed in defence last night (at least one actual full back, sticking to a consistent centre half pairing) irrespective of injuries. I genuinely feared Sandro would score last night and his celebrations would lead to a touchline brawl with his former non-believing bossman so, small mercies and all that. Anyway we're playing North London's resident silver medalists next week, seems like a get smashed to bits or win stoically kind of game.

My own Club has a decent chance at the double this year. Which would be incredible after nearly a decade without a prize.

We are even still in Europe. If we make the Euro Vase semis, this would have to count as our greatest season since the late 1970s.

Wahey, Villa get to serve sandwiches at the next leg of the bum slurping extravaganza that is Stevie G.'s farewell tour. Even *I* want us to lose!

Another post-derby horror show to add to our ever growing collection. The competitive edge we showed last week was nowhere to be seen today, and we folded like a pack of cards as soon as the first goal went in. I’m not sure there’s another club in world football that can take you from euphoria to despair in such a short space of time, or capitulate in such dreadful fashion so often over the course of a season.

Villa win courtesy of another Benteke goal.

Another post-derby horror show to add to our ever growing collection. The competitive edge we showed last week was nowhere to be seen today, and we folded like a pack of cards as soon as the first goal went in. I’m not sure there’s another club in world football that can take you from euphoria to despair in such a short space of time, or capitulate in such dreadful fashion so often over the course of a season.

 

Always knew Pardew would bring scintillating football to the North-East! 

Benteke's 40 goals for Villa since joining them are the sixth best mark in the league over that period.

The five guys with a better record are:

Luis Suarez

Sergio Aguero

Robin Van Persie

Olivier Giroud

Wayne Rooney

How can a side with so much going for it be so dull to watch? Credit to Chelsea for winning and being top of the league and all that, but they're every bit as stodgy and conservative as George Graham's Arsenal were back in the day.

How can a side with so much going for it be so dull to watch? Credit to Chelsea for winning and being top of the league and all that, but they're every bit as stodgy and conservative as George Graham's Arsenal were back in the day.

Fitting analogy considering it takes a few grams of cocaine, a bottle of whiskey and a brown envelope filled with cash to enjoy a Moronho master class.