The Villa Fiver – Lambert’s Recent Results Leave Sherwood a Mountain to Climb

Aston Villa Results Analysis 2014/15

 By Ben Cripps

The Villa Fiver- Games 21-25

Well then, 25 games down, 13 “Cup finals” to go. At long last, although with a dash of surprise, the ‘false narrative’ has happened and Paul Lambert has gone. Whatever you think of Tim Sherwood, it’s hard to imagine he could do any worse than what has happened in the 101 games prior to him taking over. Now it is a matter of survival (sigh) and some goals would be a good place to start.

Since the last Villa Fiver, Villa have done well to progress in the FA Cup, scoring five goals in three games, in the league though, only Jores Okore scored in the last five game spell. In those five games, Villa also failed to gain a single point in fixtures they picked up 10 points in last season. That fact alone gives you an indication that it was time for Lambert to go.

Quick Recap

Away at Leicester, quite frankly the team were lucky to escape with just a 1-0 defeat, on another day when Nugent had his shooting boots on it could easily have been three or four. It triggered the away support to turn strongly against Lambert, and it appeared his days were surely numbered.

Despite Lambert’s excellent record at Anfield, the visit of Liverpool to Anfield saw yet another loss – completing three out of three home losses against the Reds under Lambert. The familiar sound, a chorus of boos, greeted the full-time whistle as most of the players and Lambert made a typically hasty exit down the tunnel.

Having not scored in the previous five league fixtures, the prospect of repeating last season’s win at the Emirates was bleak and the Gunners made short work of their visitors, running out 5-0 winners. The only bright spark was another reminder of the huge talent that we have acquired in the name of Carles Gil, the sub-£5m price-tag looking more of a steal with every game that passes.

Then came the disappointing surrender of Mourinho’s winless record at Villa Park. Within 10 minutes we were 1-0 down, and the grumbles began. The arrows in the lower North added a comic take on our abysmal goalscoring record of late, and maybe they did the trick! When Okore nodded in from Carles Gil’s well worked delivery, Jose might have thought it wasn’t going to be his day yet again, and the Holte End had hope. But alas, as Ivanovic struck home after some quite catastrophic defending, heads dropped, some boos rang out, and that was that for another week.

A cold Tuesday night in Hull, saw a six-pointer swung the wrong way and the travelling support were in full voice, but not in the way Mr Lambert would’ve liked. Consequently, the bedsheet came out, and it was surely come time for Villa and Lambert to part ways. Tom Fox’s coin was tossed, and it landed badly for Lambert and the first step to getting our Villa back was made.

Aston Villa results games 21 to 25

Last season’s results are in brackets.

Leicester (a) L 0-1 (Norwich W 1-0)

Liverpool (h) L 0-2 (L 0-1)

Arsenal (a) L 0-5 (W 3-1)

Chelsea (h) L 1-2 (W 1-0)

Hull (a) L 0-2 (D 0-0)

Points difference compared to the same fixtures last season: -10

Goals scored: 1 (5)

Goals conceded: 12 (2)

So, in comparison to the position we were in at this point after the exact same fixtures last season, we are three points down. Before the last five games we were actually +7 points up. But worryingly Villa are now on target to go below the 38 points of last season. Another sub-40 point finish, the third in four seasons. Talk about flirting with relegation, with a projected finish of 35 points (if Villa matched last season’s results in the remaining corresponding matches), the outcome is not looking good this time round. Time to buck the trend.

After 25 games – compared to corresponding results last season

Points difference compared to same fixtures last season: -3

Points: 22 (25)

Goals scored: 12 (25)

Goals conceded: 34 (33)

Goal difference compared to fixtures last season : -16

This time last season:

Looking at our position now in a direct comparison purely to the number of games played at this point, we now sit in a lowly 18^th place whereas after 25 fixtures last season, we were sat in 12^th. Now, there are no excuses for the downfall, you can’t blame the fixtures as we have struggled against all standards of opposition this season. When you’ve only scored 12 goals in 25 games you’re always going to be in desperate trouble full-stop.

The Road Ahead:

Stoke (h) (L 1-4)

Newcastle (a) (L 0-1)

West Brom (h) (W 4-3)

Sunderland (a) (W 1-0)

Swansea (h) (D 1-1)

Looking at these five upcoming matches, with the position we now find ourselves in, you would be looking at achieving around a 9-10 points haul. These are all very much winnable fixtures, anything short of last season’s seven points from the fixtures could be a serious threat to the club’s Premier League status.

It’s a clear indication of the mess Villa have been left in by Mr Lambert and also the massive task ahead for the new Villa boss. We wish him the best of luck.

UTV.

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