Dave Woodhall sees Villa draw with Leeds United.
I may have said this before but many years ago, when Saturday three o’clock kick-offs were routine events rather than a once a year special occasion and £92 bought a season ticket instead of ninety minutes rental of a padded seat, a wise old man said something to me.
“Give a footballer an excuse and he’ll take it,” he said. Just about everything else in the game has changed and the players have a level of fitness and professionalism that could only have been dreamt of in years past – with, of course, wages to match – but I’m beginning to think those words might still ring true.
Villa have had a dreadful run of injuries, coupled with the sort of luck that makes you wonder if the team coach makes a habit of running over black cats on the way to their stage-managed arrival at Villa Park. In the circumstances anyone would be entitled to feel sorry for themselves, and it may well be that this mindset is starting to hamper the players’ performances.
The team that Unai picked should have been enough to beat Leeds. In fact, add a couple of them to the bench and that selection should have been enough. Yet for the second league game in a row we were reliant on a late goal, this time to salvage a point against opponents who define the word ‘limited’.
Villa were okay in the first half-hour without ever looking like they could dominate. Then a free-kick was given away and although it was well-hit, Emiliano Martinez should have been positioned better. At least the goal seemed to rouse Villa and Amadou Onana was unlucky not to have equalised as the first half came to an end.
The second half began in much the same way with Jadon Sancho and Ross Barkley coming on after an hour to be followed by Tammy Abraham, which meant ten of Dean Smith’s players had appeared during the afternoon. Villa were getting on top although time was running out when with two minutes to go a corner was won by Ezri Konsa and Abraham put the ball over the line to roars of relief from another almost-capacity crowd.
It wasn’t just relief; there seemed fresh belief in those last few minutes and although Villa were unable to get a winner that goal from Abraham could have put some inspiration into the team.
If we’re going to get back on track, though, there needs to be a few changes. Before Leon Bailey went out on loan he tended to have one good game for every six where he would plumb the depths of anonymity. Since his return he hasn’t been as bad as he could be but he hasn’t really shown anything and it’s time for Jadon Sancho to get a run.
Equally the Luiz/Onana combination hasn’t gelled yet so maybe Ross Barkley shuld be due a chance with Tammy Abraham starting.
Next up are Wolves and it’s about time we reminded them of how good we can be. Between now and Friday evening Unai has to do the same with the players.
