This is not an attempt to absolve anyone of any blame for the unacceptable performance at White Hart Lane last night, but it’s become painfully obvious to me in the last 18 months or so that in the fans’ eyes it’s players that win games… and managers that lose them.
Let me give you an example:
Towards the end of last season, in what would be Gerard Houllier’s final game on the sidelines, we took on the hapless West Ham at Upton
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Chris Herd’s performances have rightly earned him quite a few headlines in the last couple of weeks. Initially for the wrong reason, but lately for the right ones.
Alex McLeish has said that he’s “a manager’s dream; the best trainer at the club”.
He will train the way he plays on Saturday by giving it absolutely everything. Herdy can improve technically if he keeps practising. There is no doubt in my mind that he has the desire.
Peter Grant has also talked about
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You might not have been alive the last time West Brom left Villa Park with three points: it was May 11th 1979. In fairness, we’ve only played in the same league 12 seasons since then, which reduces the chances of losing somewhat, but then we also didn’t have to endure Phil Dowd refereeing.
Actually, Dowd may have officiated one of those games for all I know, but I do know that he made us play with 10 men today in some
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The fans who stayed away from this dirge fest in droves were the lucky ones; only surprise inclusion Chris Herd and Gabby Agbonlahor provided anything worth getting excited about. The ~12k empty seats generated more talking points during the game than the “action” on it.
There’s nothing to say about the first half, it was truly awful. I’m assuming that Alex McLeish read the riot act at half time, the home side were much improved after the break and, for 20
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It’s been an interesting, yet quiet week for me. I’m really not a fan of the transfer window periods, there’s so much nonsense being regurgitated. Some of it by people who don’t know any better, but mostly by people who know full well that they’re peddling baseless speculation in search of traffic.
However, the new air of openness at Villa Park under Gerard Houllier is refreshing and perhaps the glimpse of the work behind the scenes we’ve been given helps temper
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As suspected, Craig Gardner has completed his move to Birmingham City for £3.5m joining fellow ex-Villan Liam Ridgewell. Best of luck Craig and cheerio. I’ve updated the Transfers Page.
You’ve probably seen by now that Marlon Harewood has broken a metatarsal and will be out for 3 months which scuppers any loan or permanent deals that may have completed this month. Marlon’s contract is up in the summer, so I guess we’ll take care of him until then and then he’ll
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Just days after I suggested that Aston Villa were making more loans than Barclays, we lend a couple more players out. Seriously, are we propping up some collapse in the player market?
Barry Bannon has joined Blackpool until late January and Chris Herd is joining up with Nathan Baker at Lincoln, but is due back a week earlier on Boxing Day. Both are great prospects and it goes without saying how useful this experience is for them. Good
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