Managing expectations

[Chali 2na]

There was a lot of reactionary threads tonight, and some dramatic posters, this thread is aimed at them:

Firstly, a bit of perspective for the season: I think anyone who wouldn't say being within a shout of the play-offs at this point in the season is a fantastic achievement, is unrealistically optimistic. It's hard to argue that this season hasn't exceeded realistic expectations.


Secondly, perspective is needed when considering the opposition:

Villa had experienced former PL players in Hutton, Elmohamady, Terry and Chester and have spent over £100m on players since the new owner arrived, including large undisclosed fees for Adomah, Hourihane and Hogan.

We have a host of players that are new to this level in Stevens, Baldock, Fleck, Leanord, Holmes and Lundstram and other than Stearman I can't think of a single player who played at this level last season. I'm also not sure we have a single player purchased for more than £1m, and probably have one of the most inexpensive squads in the division.

I'm not saying we battered them, but I thought we competed well. We had a few chances, possibly not enough, but we certainly held our own.

I just think sometimes we forget that we've made great strides, on a shoestring, and have the most competent manager of my lifetime. There's plenty of reasons to be positive.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

There was a lot of reactionary threads tonight, and some dramatic posters, this thread is aimed at them:

Firstly, a bit of perspective for the season: I think anyone who wouldn't say being within a shout of the play-offs at this point in the season is a fantastic achievement, is unrealistically optimistic. It's hard to argue that this season hasn't exceeded realistic expectations.


Secondly, perspective is needed when considering the opposition:

Villa had experienced former PL players in Hutton, Elmohamady, Terry and Chester and have spent over £100m on players since the new owner arrived, including large undisclosed fees for Adomah, Hourihane and Hogan.

We have a host of players that are new to this level in Stevens, Baldock, Fleck, Leanord, Holmes and Lundstram and other than Stearman I can't think of a single player who played at this level last season. I'm also not sure we have a single player purchased for more than £1m, and probably have one of the most inexpensive squads in the division.

I'm not saying we battered them, but I thought we competed well. We had a few chances, possibly not enough, but we certainly held our own.

I just think sometimes we forget that we've made great strides, on a shoestring, and have the most competent manager of my lifetime. There's plenty of reasons to be positive.

If you were watching the game, we should have utterly mullered them.

Make no mistake that is 3 points dropped.

 

[Chali 2na]

If you were watching the game, we should have utterly mullered them.

Make no mistake that is 3 points dropped.

I was watching the game, what makes you say we should have "utterly mullered" them?

 

[Bladey McBladeface]

There was a lot of reactionary threads tonight, and some dramatic posters, this thread is aimed at them:

Firstly, a bit of perspective for the season: I think anyone who wouldn't say being within a shout of the play-offs at this point in the season is a fantastic achievement, is unrealistically optimistic. It's hard to argue that this season hasn't exceeded realistic expectations.


Secondly, perspective is needed when considering the opposition:

Villa had experienced former PL players in Hutton, Elmohamady, Terry and Chester and have spent over £100m on players since the new owner arrived, including large undisclosed fees for Adomah, Hourihane and Hogan.

We have a host of players that are new to this level in Stevens, Baldock, Fleck, Leanord, Holmes and Lundstram and other than Stearman I can't think of a single player who played at this level last season. I'm also not sure we have a single player purchased for more than £1m, and probably have one of the most inexpensive squads in the division.

I'm not saying we battered them, but I thought we competed well. We had a few chances, possibly not enough, but we certainly held our own.

I just think sometimes we forget that we've made great strides, on a shoestring, and have the most competent manager of my lifetime. There's plenty of reasons to be positive.

I agree with you and on the whole I’m delighted with how we are playing... but we aren’t getting the rewards that we deserve from our performances and that’s what’s so frustrating. It feels like the play-offs are there for the taking and we may just miss out.

 

[Ricky]

I just hope nobody turns on Wilder if we slide down the table. That would be hideous.

 

[Chali 2na]

I agree with you and on the whole I’m delighted with how we are playing... but we aren’t getting the rewards that we deserve from our performances and that’s what’s so frustrating. It feels like the play-offs are there for the taking and we may just miss out.

I agree that it's a great chance to go for it, and I don't think the playoffs are out of reach yet. Even if we miss out though, I have faith that under Wilder, we'll continue to improve.

 

[Bladey McBladeface]

I agree that it's a great chance to go for it, and I don't think the playoffs are out of reach yet. Even if we miss out though, I have faith that under Wilder, we'll continue to improve.

Absolutely. Still have total faith in Wilder.

 

[Pedro's Winger]

We've managed 10 points from the last 12 games.
It's a challenging league but that's relegation form and from tonight's second half performance it seems confidence is draining away from the team and manager.

 

[Bladey McBladeface]

I just hope nobody turns on Wilder if we slide down the table. That would be hideous.

I can’t see that happening. Our performances have been good and even in defeat I enjoy watching this team.

 

[LJBlade]

I just hope nobody turns on Wilder if we slide down the table. That would be hideous.

The problem with our good start is that it completely over-inflated the expectations of some of our fans. Some will turn on Wilder as they now expect promotion, it’s guaranteed. Luckily it won’t be many.

 

[Chali 2na]

I just hope nobody turns on Wilder if we slide down the table. That would be hideous.

I would hope he's earnt enough faith that other than a tiny minority, this wouldn't be the case.

Also, anyone that reckons there is a better man for the job out there is a moron.

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

I've said it before AND ILL KEEP SAYING IT!!

We don't know who our best front 2 are, and Tufty doesn't either. Leon was truly awful tonight but then again Holmes instead of Duffy smacked of a manager who was clutching at straws.

The great man needs to have a long hard think about the next few games because once again its was wrong tonight...

 

[Chali 2na]

We've managed 10 points from the last 12 games.
It's a challenging league but that's relegation form and from tonight's second half performance it seems confidence is draining away from the team and manager.

Well thankfully we accumilated so many points early on that we're still within a shout of the playoffs.

 

[Roygbiv]

In a way it would be easier to accept if we were getting battered and had just ran out of steam. Its so frustrating how we are dropping points. We've played Villa, Derby and Bristol in the past 2 months and haven't deserved to lose any yet we've picked up 1 point from them. Winning those 3 would have made a huge difference. We are so close to being up there and that's what makes things hard to take.

 

[Pedro's Winger]

Well thankfully we accumilated so many points early on that we're still within a shout of the playoffs.

Given form since Coutts broke his leg, that looks very, very unlikely.
Longer term, the concern would be that momentum can work both ways and if we take this kind of form into next season there could be trouble ahead.

 

[Sheffsteel]

I can’t see that happening. Our performances have been good and even in defeat I enjoy watching this team.

Im with a few at the match and we all say the same.
Even when we lose it’s always a decent performance that provides entertainment.

Maybe Clough and Adkins have lowered my entertainment satisfaction threshold
But I’m really enjoying going to the Lane these days, it’s all very weird ha ha.

 

[Esablade]

I was watching the game, what makes you say we should have "utterly mullered" them?

I’m thinking it’s Highbury_Blade ’s attempt at ‘comedy’...expect a ‘woosh’ gif shortly..even he’s not that deranged...

 

[Sheffsteel]

Given form since Coutts broke his leg, that looks very, very unlikely.
Longer term, the concern would be that momentum can work both ways and if we take this kind of form into next season there could be trouble ahead.

I’d worry more about Wednesday who never look like scoring, could be a relegation battle for them next season.
United will be fine and still have a great chance of the playoffs once the 4 new players have settled in and we get Brooks back.

 

[oldblade]

In a way it would be easier to accept if we were getting battered and had just ran out of steam. Its so frustrating how we are dropping points. We've played Villa, Derby and Bristol in the past 2 months and haven't deserved to lose any yet we've picked up 1 point from them. Winning those 3 would have made a huge difference. We are so close to being up there and that's what makes things hard to take.

And it is always very frustrating to lose to very late goals, which has happened in two of those matches.

 

[oldblade]

We've managed 10 points from the last 12 games.
It's a challenging league but that's relegation form and from tonight's second half performance it seems confidence is draining away from the team and manager.

In my world we've got 8 points from the last 6, and only lost once this year.

 

[Chali 2na]

Given form since Coutts broke his leg, that looks very, very unlikely.
Longer term, the concern would be that momentum can work both ways and if we take this kind of form into next season there could be trouble ahead.

Let's give the new midfield recruits a chance to fill the Coutts shaped hole shall we.

Your posts stink of the dramatic and reactionary opinions that I referred to in the OP. You think you're being realistic, when in actual fact, you're depressing.

I’m thinking it’s Highbury_Blade ’s attempt at ‘comedy’...expect a ‘woosh’ gif shortly..even he’s not that deranged...

That would be the only explanation...

 

[ForgeBlade]

Agree 100% with the OP. Now I've calmed down a bit from the anger of losing that match to a late goal that is.

Facts are, if we'd been offered 7th at the start of Feb back in August, we'd have grabbed it with both hands. Playoffs are by no means out of reach, even if we get a hiding on Saturday, as I fear we may. Unfortunately the fans' expectations and demands have (understandably) changed, given that after we beat Leeds we were, deservedly, top of the league.

Trying to look at it with a level head, I'd say that last season it took us 4-5 games to get going with Wilder's new signings in the team. We can probably expect a similar "bedding-in" period for the new boys now. We will probably lose on Saturday, but most teams in the league are losing to Wolves at the moment, so I'm writing that one off. After that comes an unpredictable and inconsistent Leeds side. We are good enough to beat them, and I think we will.

Currently we are (in my humble opinion) struggling in the final 3rd massively. As it stands, we have Leon, Don, Wilson and Sharp to choose from who are fully fit. Maybe give Sharp a go at Wolves, as they are a team that won't park the bus, and our style of play will create chances. Sharp is still a poacher, and MIGHT give us what we've been lacking in the box recently.

Defensively we effectively shackled many millions of pounds of attacking talent for 89 minutes tonight, so I don't have too many concerns there.

Midfield is interesting. We have a few new players who are, on paper, good players with a desire to improve and further their careers. Leonard, Evans (L) and Holmes are all players that CW wanted, so he obviously feels they have a role to play. Our "holy trinity" was shattered by Sordell at Burton, but we should be able to adequately compensate, and given time, I think we will. For what it's worth I think we missed Duffy tonight...so many times we were crying out for someone to run at Villa's back line, instead of passing sideways, and Duffy is always willing to do that. Maybe a mistake on CW's part? If so, we move on and learn from it.

We're still well in the mix with 6-7 other sides for the 5th-6th positions (and could concievably go higher if we string a run of results together). There is no reason to panic I don't think. To return to the OP, even if we finish 9th-10th come April, could anyone HONESTLY say they wouldn't have taken that in August? Sure, it will be disappointing given how we started, but it gives us (and Wilder) a solid base to build on for next season. A few more out and in come summer, and we can expect to be in a similar, or higher position next season.

UTB.

 

[Valleyblade]

Last minute winner for villa, in the biggest game at bramall lane for a number of years, cup runs aside. It was gutting.

I was well pumped for scunthorpe and Bolton last year. That's how far we've come.

There's a long way to go yet and anything could happen.

Fucking brilliant.

 

[Pedro's Winger]

Let's give the new midfield recruits a chance to fill the Coutts shaped hole shall we.

Your posts stink of the dramatic and reactionary opinions that I referred to in the OP. You think you're being realistic, when in actual fact, you're depressing.



That would be the only explanation...

I hope you're right but just as winning is a habit so is not winning.
There was a definite lack of belief in the second half tonight.

 

[Roygbiv]

I think we are currently a top half side. We are where Ipswich have been for about 400 years basically. Not bad at all for our first season.

 

[Roygbiv]

I hope you're right but just as winning is a habit so is not winning.
There was a definite lack of belief in the second half tonight.

We've won 3 out of our last 5 and tonight was our first loss this year. Our confidence isn't as sky high as it was in October but we have beaten some decent Championship teams lately and drew away at Derby .

 

[Grappler]

We've won 3 out of our last 5 and tonight was our first loss this year. Our confidence isn't as sky high as it was in October but we have beaten some decent Championship teams lately and drew away at Derby .

First season back in the Championship and still in seventh place, still 13 points above the clowns from S6, and still plenty to play for.

 

[Slim Man]

In a way it would be easier to accept if we were getting battered and had just ran out of steam. Its so frustrating how we are dropping points. We've played Villa, Derby and Bristol in the past 2 months and haven't deserved to lose any yet we've picked up 1 point from them. Winning those 3 would have made a huge difference. We are so close to being up there and that's what makes things hard to take.

Yep.

Our record against the top 6 is abysmal though.

Won 2 (1 against Wolves where they had 10 for 70 minutes)
Drawn 1
Lost 4, could and probably should be 5 by Saturday end

And if you want to look a bit below us we’ve lost to both of the teams directly below us

That’s the reason we’ve dropped out, lost far too many points against the teams around us

 

[Pedro's Winger]

We've won 3 out of our last 5 and tonight was our first loss this year. Our confidence isn't as sky high as it was in October but we have beaten some decent Championship teams lately and drew away at Derby .

Come on, we've beaten Sunderland, who are garbage, and a very tired Norwich team in the last 12 games.
It's been tough losing our star quarterback but let's not sugercoat it.
I thought tonight, for the first time, we looked a team that didn't believe it could win in the second half.

 

[Roygbiv]

Yep.

Our record against the top 6 is abysmal though.

Won 2 (1 against Wolves where they had 10 for 70 minutes)
Drawn 1
Lost 4, could and probably should be 5 by Saturday end

And if you want to look a bit below us we’ve lost to both of the teams directly below us

That’s the reason we’ve dropped out, lost far too many points against the teams around us

And yet in all those games we have lost by a single goal. That's what is so frustrating. Every club loses to a Millwall or a Bolton throughout the season but you can make up for that by taking points off your rivals. We simply haven't picked enough points off them.