Aston Villa fans reflect on West Ham game
Mike728: In my opinion the coaching staff and MON have to take the lions share of the blame for the current situation with the main problem lying on the training ground.
In my opinion we leak goals in the endgame because we don't have the levels of stamina that other teams have. Notice how other teams seem to have players in space lining up to take a pot at goal in the last 10 minutes. Notice how Barry and Petrov struggle to get behind the ball in the endgame.
On many occasions you see 3 of the 4 midfield players not behind the ball as the oppostion approaches the mid point of our half. Apart from Heskey, the forwards do not act the first line of defence by attempting to close down the opposition. They just stand still when an attack breaks down.
Couple this with poor defending from the last line of defence and an inability to convert chances into goals and there is a big problem. However MON thinks we were exhilarating going forward against West Ham.
Voice_of_reason: How long is it before the season ends? It can't come soon enough. I have become totally disillusioned with it all and because Manure have cleaned up we may get into Europe but regardless of what happens between now and June (seems so far away - it is torture) the season has been one to forget barring Everton and Arsenal away and both will finish above us.
Chrisupnorth: I can't believe what I'm reading. After one of our best season's in recent history, where is the reason in making statements like this? The facts just don't stack up. Some Villa fans have really got to get some perspective into their expectations, because comments like this appear ridiculous to the majority of the wider football world.
Every neutral supporter I've spoken to has remarked about what a breath of fresh air Villa have been to the EPL this season. Exciting, attacking football with plenty of goals. Surely that's what football is all about isn't it? Of course it'd be nice to win a trophy, but there aren't too many of those to go around and there are a handful of teams better equipped to win those as things stand.
Okay things have dried up a bit in recent weeks (under statement), but if we're honest we all expected the wheels to come off at some stage. We had more than our share of good fortune and have over achieved for the quality and size of squad we have, of that there's no doubt.
There may be justifiable questions about MON's purchasing and selection decisions, but none of this should hide the fact that on the whole it's been a very good season for our boys. Fans that can't enjoy a season like this had better get used to feeling permanently disappointed, because things ain't gonna get much better in the short term.
If the season has proved anything at all, it's that breaking into the top four is a massive task and if we are ever to achieve it (and it's a big if), one that will require time and money - and lots of it!
