Must Win Habit
So far, Villa have a habit of winning their mooted ‘must win’ games. There’s been two games at Villa Park that received such billing. The home encounter with Brighton preceded tough clashes with Manchester City and Liverpool, followed by a trip to Wolves, so three points were vital. Matt Targett obliged in injury-time with the winner.
After getting beat in all the three games that followed the win over the Seagulls, the Newcastle game looked the most likely game for a win out of the next three fixtures. With back-to-back away trips to Manchester United and Chelsea, coming before a tricky home encounter with the high-flying Leicester City.
This time Dean Smith’s men got the win with a more comfortable and controlled performance against Steve Bruce’s Newcastle United. Hopefully setting a precedent for future home games.
Before both of those home games, the trip to Norwich City, the only game so far this season against a fellow promoted team, was also earmarked as a potentially important three points. Villa got them in style, winning 5-1, in what remains their only away win this season.
Perfect Storm
On reflection, Villa seem to know exactly when to win, to keep the ship steady and avoid any unnecessary panic from fans, as the team grows into the division.
The latest win against the Toon Army triggered Villa’s top brass into giving Dean Smith a new four-year contract. Welcome news for both the boss and a fanbase that has galvanised itself around the ex-Brentford man.
Imagine if Newcastle had won, would the board have held off signing-off on a new contract, before the three tough fixtures that followed? Their head coach could so easily have slipped to a seven-game losing streak, accompanied with a fast-changing mood amongst the fanbase.
It’s a prime example of Villa winning at just the right time and why it had ‘must win’ status.
Villa are currently enjoying a perfect storm with a Villa fan both as boss and captain, and the less disturbance to this, the better. Considering how money and the ways of modern football have eroded away tradition and sentiment in English football, Villa fans are in a unique and precious moment.
If the team is built right and continues to develop, this home-grown X-factor may give the club a competitive advantage and allow it to punch above its weight on the road to success, sooner rather than later.
Out Now
In the latest MOMS podcast, we discuss what could be a pivotal win, how we dodged a bullet having Steve Bruce as our boss in the Premier League and the return to the first eleven of key players.
Outside the Villa-verse, on a serious note, we discuss a couple of the burning issues confronting supporters today, while across over an hour throw up more laughs than the average stand-up show.
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Episode 92 Notes
It was a vital win for Aston Villa against Newcastle United at Villa Park. Villa’s Head Coach Dean Smith’s reward was a new four-year contract for dispatching his predecessor Steve Bruce. After three defeats, the three points will give the club a lift going into a tough month of fixtures.
Meanwhile, while there was good news for football supporters on the prospect of standing returning to English football’s top tiers, there was whiff of a threat to Premier League supporter’s civil liberties.
In other news, what’s this bizarre twist to former Villa player, Jlloyd Samuel’s tragic story?
As well as taking a look at Villa’s recent happenings on the pitch, including Jack Grealish’s return and Conor Hourihane’s heroics, there’s an epic Scott Hogan Touch Challenge and a Mad Few Hotline call to the Dubai Lions.
Make sure you take advantage of the show’s sponsor Beer 52’s offer of a free case of 10 craft beers from http://bit.ly/Beer52xMOMS
And don’t forget those Black Friday codes -> Shop
Enjoy
UTV
*Wesley Morales is 23-years-old and not 21, as mentioned in passing on the show.
Further Reading/watching
A swift return for standing? Safe Standing Finally Primed to Happen Sooner Rather Than Later
Fresh optimism for the season ahead? aston-villa-have-reason-for-optimism-despite-matching-unimpressive-premier-league-stat
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Credits:
David Michael – @oldmansaid
Dan Rodgers – @avfc_vilr
Chris Budd – @BUDD_music
Ben Redding – @benired
Dubai Lions – @DubaiLionsAVFC
Producer/Editor – David Michael
Outro Music – Phil Marten
