I see success being achieved over several seasons, not by the end of the coming Spring 2027. A total rebuild of the team and mentality is taking place after years of Marcoball. It will take time. It will be a bumpy ride.
for 26/7, I would be happy with a mid table placing and good convincing cup runs BUT without the frustrating losses to weak teams and the end of season 'already on the beach' tail off.
27/28 - Top 7 placing and a Europe spot, either via PL placing or Cup win.
My worry is that the only positive changes AA has made are the blindingly obvious ones that 99% of us fans knew were needed from our armchairs. Beyond that what has he actually 'learned on the job'? I'm glad he proved not be as horribly stubborn and alienating as he threatened to be, but I'm still not convinced there is actually a good manager there. All he has really offered so far is a kamikaze alternative. And if Affengruber gets injured or suspended we are in deep doo-doo. It all feels very fragile. Success will be survival, simple as.
This season is by no means lost. At this point last year Villa were in 18th and City were one point behind us in 9th place. Plenty can still change.
That said my feelings on this seem to be in line with several other comments here. This season is year one of a multi-year project. If we see full integration of a new attacking system and positive signs for the future from the young players, setting us up for a real chase for the European spots next season then job done. Throw in a good cup run to add a bit of excitement and who could be disappointed with that?
My nerves are just about settled, though I’m still disappointed with the dropped points from the last game. I understand he has to protect young legs, hence why King is subbed after 70 minutes every game, but like you, his other substitutions baffled me. On a positive note though, it suggests to me that TC still has a role to play this season as the man to see games out.
I’m looking forward to seeing how AA does after the break (but I’m praying for no injuries, especially to Bassey!)
I think survival is probably the best we can hope for in the league, simply because the three promoted teams are doing better than expected, Spurs will definitely improve, and once Palace get their star players back, so will they. So, we’re all gonna be fighting amongst ourselves most of the season.
Like you, I’m hoping for a cup run, and I think a semifinal is the least we should expect.
Next season though, kicking on a a European place should be the target.
I’m with you, my hope for this season is to get through it with the core of the team intact and upgrade the squad with a few younger faces during the January window, have a cup run, avoid relegation.
Then I feel we’ll have a solid base to push on to Europe following season
Good points Jack, and an interesting question to consider.
I kept coming back to the thought that I felt we were sleepwalking to disaster with Marco, in that even his brilliant coaching ability could not stop the inevitable outcome of an aging one dimensional side. The rebuild after that relegation would keep us below deck for a while.
This now feels like the future, even though the jeopardy for this season is much higher. Over a five year window it seems much lower.
I like that the club has provided full throated support for a new approach. This is how winners behave. But that doesn't guarantee we'll be winners, but we've bought a ticket!
I've reflected a lot on the Spurs sacking of Postecoglou and employment of Frank. Regardless of how you view Ange's managerial abilities, the aversion to risk and change and the desire to choose a "sensible safe" but doomed path has them where they deserve to be.
I desperately don't want to do a Spurs and baulk at at an exciting new era.
At the beginning of the season, many said 5 points from 5 games would be good. Apart from a torrid second half against Palace, we would have that.
The change in age of squad and tactics is big and time will show it working im sure. The next three games plus cup are big. We have looked good going forward and in the last two games at the back, we just have to marry them.
And ye of little faith, how many points did Woy get from his first 5 games?
I see success being achieved over several seasons, not by the end of the coming Spring 2027. A total rebuild of the team and mentality is taking place after years of Marcoball. It will take time. It will be a bumpy ride.
for 26/7, I would be happy with a mid table placing and good convincing cup runs BUT without the frustrating losses to weak teams and the end of season 'already on the beach' tail off.
27/28 - Top 7 placing and a Europe spot, either via PL placing or Cup win.
There, done.
My worry is that the only positive changes AA has made are the blindingly obvious ones that 99% of us fans knew were needed from our armchairs. Beyond that what has he actually 'learned on the job'? I'm glad he proved not be as horribly stubborn and alienating as he threatened to be, but I'm still not convinced there is actually a good manager there. All he has really offered so far is a kamikaze alternative. And if Affengruber gets injured or suspended we are in deep doo-doo. It all feels very fragile. Success will be survival, simple as.
This season is by no means lost. At this point last year Villa were in 18th and City were one point behind us in 9th place. Plenty can still change.
That said my feelings on this seem to be in line with several other comments here. This season is year one of a multi-year project. If we see full integration of a new attacking system and positive signs for the future from the young players, setting us up for a real chase for the European spots next season then job done. Throw in a good cup run to add a bit of excitement and who could be disappointed with that?
17th.
My nerves are just about settled, though I’m still disappointed with the dropped points from the last game. I understand he has to protect young legs, hence why King is subbed after 70 minutes every game, but like you, his other substitutions baffled me. On a positive note though, it suggests to me that TC still has a role to play this season as the man to see games out.
I’m looking forward to seeing how AA does after the break (but I’m praying for no injuries, especially to Bassey!)
I think survival is probably the best we can hope for in the league, simply because the three promoted teams are doing better than expected, Spurs will definitely improve, and once Palace get their star players back, so will they. So, we’re all gonna be fighting amongst ourselves most of the season.
Like you, I’m hoping for a cup run, and I think a semifinal is the least we should expect.
Next season though, kicking on a a European place should be the target.
I’m with you, my hope for this season is to get through it with the core of the team intact and upgrade the squad with a few younger faces during the January window, have a cup run, avoid relegation.
Then I feel we’ll have a solid base to push on to Europe following season
Good points Jack, and an interesting question to consider.
I kept coming back to the thought that I felt we were sleepwalking to disaster with Marco, in that even his brilliant coaching ability could not stop the inevitable outcome of an aging one dimensional side. The rebuild after that relegation would keep us below deck for a while.
This now feels like the future, even though the jeopardy for this season is much higher. Over a five year window it seems much lower.
I like that the club has provided full throated support for a new approach. This is how winners behave. But that doesn't guarantee we'll be winners, but we've bought a ticket!
I've reflected a lot on the Spurs sacking of Postecoglou and employment of Frank. Regardless of how you view Ange's managerial abilities, the aversion to risk and change and the desire to choose a "sensible safe" but doomed path has them where they deserve to be.
I desperately don't want to do a Spurs and baulk at at an exciting new era.
As an outsider, feel that a lower mid-table position whilst helping young players grow should be target...setting a base for the future.
At the beginning of the season, many said 5 points from 5 games would be good. Apart from a torrid second half against Palace, we would have that.
The change in age of squad and tactics is big and time will show it working im sure. The next three games plus cup are big. We have looked good going forward and in the last two games at the back, we just have to marry them.
And ye of little faith, how many points did Woy get from his first 5 games?
Its a rebuild. Its long-term investment