It’s to the point where I am either an over reacting twat, or Aston Villa hasn’t quite gotten off to any sort of start that is assuring what so ever. Sure, I can let snap decision making early on in a match when nerves are tight go a little but. I can forgive when we are up on a top half team late into the second half and our subbing isn’t the greatest along with our ability to even remotely posses the ball. But where I will draw the line on the season is when we are against a team who hasn’t been finishing in the top half of the standings, who with 25~ minutes left of football to play go down to 10 men from a second yellow, we draw said team in sAid situation. Matter fact what puts those last two fingers in the slap to the face was the only chance we were able to create during that span of a man advantage was a volley in a great amount of space, that was so poorly struck my chances of sealing the deal with a women who doesn’t even speak the same language as me were higher.

If we can’t fix the issues we have with possession I really see no real hope for digging ourselves too deep out of the hole. Guys like Grealish, McGinn, and Wesley have proven with a little time on the pitch they are serious problems between the lines. But at this point we can’t even string enough passes together to strum a guitar. It’s every teams MO to just pressure the defenders once the ball is passed back to them because generally they rush a pass back to the midfield that will 100% be erratic. As much as Villa has been exciting with real quick one touch strikes, I sure would be thankful if they took the initiative and maybe decided to work it around a box. The one attempt we had at real possession in the attacking third was a pas around the box, the entry pass from the right side was cleared quick, and West Ham immediately worked and flipped the field to their advantage. At the end of the day you live and die with your team, but it almost feels like sometimes we have the gun pointed to ourselves. Not hopeless but at this point feel helpless.

This week was supposed to be something absolutely amazing and beautiful. Last Sunday I purchased a laptop and some equipment to start doing a podcast and other things that I had been putting off. One of the things I didn’t know would make its way out of me getting a computer was the fact I would start gambling and putting myself on the internet while doing it. Something than when it first got into my head seemed so harmless and so fun all wrapped into one magical package. There are so many different lines in this world, and so many different games that are going on at different times that the world is too vast to not dive right in. 

If I were asked to make a list of the worst things I have decided to do in my life, good chance that very decision to gamble and record it will find its way right up to the top of that list. I have found that I have so much fun while I am watching the games, and miserable, But the most exciting thing I have found is that I am an absolute dog shit at gambling on sports. I have done a good job of limiting myself on only games that I feel absolutely comfortable with. Luckily my small brain has sent me down a road of absolute misery. 

I started out my gambling career with the chargers +14 against an absolutely battered colts team. Literally have no starting qb, and of course the Colts go ahead and blow the line way out of the water. We move down the road to our next stop which puts us in Louisiana with the Saints against the Texans. Deshean Watson even delivered a godsend with 55 seconds left to play and the height complex having freak named Drew Brees still was able to come out and grind out a field goal to win. The Texans were +300 on the money line. The next bet, which was one of my favorites was the panthers winning by a tuddy and then the game being under 42.5 points. Luckily Tampa Bay just came in and was the better of the shitty teams. That was looking at +260. While I was watching myself lose on Thursday, I got this inkling in my head that night that I could easily take Syracuse at +28 and there was no way at home they would blow that game. Especially with a slow start to a season from a team that was just so good? It was stupid to stay away, until the game kicked off. I went with a home state team for my next bet with Purdue on the money line because they were positive money to take home. Of course maybe 14 minutes before the game kicks we have the starting QB who is on an absolute statistical tear is ruled out because of injury. At this point I obviously didn’t know American football, so European football was my shining hope to win some money. I took Everton at +140 on the money line and these wankers went out and conceded 3 goals on the road with really not a whole lot of fight back out of the team. To put the icing on the cake, I then had the Arizona Cardinals with 4.5 points to spare, and Mr. not live up to the hype Kyler Murray lead me to yet another loss on the weekend. 

The one positive that keeps us moving from week to week, though, is that we hit one! WE HIT ONE PEOPLE! The Seattle Seahawks to win, just simply win the game. Boys it took a Big Ben injury and a lot of sweat but we went down to the wire and we etched that thing about by 2 points. This is exactly what dreams are made of and it’s exactly why we would gamble. It just takes one, and like the flu you’re caught up big time for a while. Bogged down, your mind overwhelmed by one thing constantly and there’s only one thing that can make you better. Sadly in gambling’s case it isn’t medicine, it’s when the next game starts.

If you’re a Chargers fan, there are a lot of things that you can coming into that game thinking. A lot to be hopeful about. An opportunity was given to running backs to come out and prove themselves on week one while we work things out with Melvin Gordan. You were probably excited to see a team who loves to sling the ball all over the field who will always play as if they are farther from the endzone than what they are. Oh, not to mention that yes they are missing Darwin, but other than that the defense was coming back strong and was supposed to be another year where they were constantly toying with being right there at the top of the leagues defenses. If you’re a fan like me who thought for sure their team would be able to take advantage of a Colts’ team who’s offense took a big blow to the cornerstone meer weeks before we even got to the game, then you would have taken the chargers winning the game by more than 14 for +180. I mean, two touchdowns for the Chargers? Sour be the fool who trusts the same prophet just a year later though. 

Luckily the things as a charger fan that we were able to take away from that game is that we are out of the gate on the same foot we have been for the last 9 years. Have absolutely horrid injury luck on both sides of the ball and it’s going to be another year of Ol’ Phillip having high passing stats simply because he isn’t going to be afraid to be the gunslinger in the west. The pick he was able to throw in his redzone to the safety who made a one hander look easy was just so classic Phill. The only things he sees are stats, literally, fictitious numbers, it’s the only explanation how he wouldn’t be able to notice the three numbers that were right there in coverage from the Colts. Honestly, at the end of the day, There isn’t much of anything I want to take from that game. I just want to go to sleep tonight thinking we got into a dog fight in a game that was filled with a lot of heat that caused a lot of guys some discomfort that’s going to lead to a lot of returns to practice this week. At the end of the day you aren’t a sports fan if you aren’t able to act incredibly irrational and crazy at the drop of a hat. 

So as a fan of the premier league in the United States sometimes responsibilities of the dreaded morning time might find a way to weasel their way in and jam everything up for a viewer. This is exactly what I was faced with this weekend, as work, a hurricane, and the beautiful FIBA tournament kicked off. Without letting my personal life get in the way of talking about what is the ever most important thing, sport, I do just want to say that as a person who has questioned depression at times. I have never been more reassured by something through true life experience until this weekend came and went.

As much as I tried to sneak in my own teams match while I was at work, I only was able to enjoy the times when as a fan base we were plunged to our lowest. I saw bits and pieces of the first half, the pieces where Palace was pushing the ball on counters masterfully, and absolutely drowning out Heaton with chances in the box. Then in the second half I got to see about three points of the match all that happened in about 1-3 minutes stretches. I saw a red card about 10 minutes into the half. Through my head phones heard bits and pieces of non stop pressure. Sat down for a phone call to see a breakaway goal. Then finally got to take a quick drink of water for the recalling of our masterpiece of a goal by the lovely piece of junk that can chop up the pace of a match worse than baseball; VAR. overall, without having much continuity at all going into the season, only having three points sucks ass, at the break, but is understandable. The team Villa has, has an incredible sense of excitability and all of the men do a wonderful job of competing at a championship level. We have mid fielders capable of so much, we just need to get a formation that allows our lines to comfortably string passes and have a feel for how each individual is comfortable moving about the field. It’s this season now that can be the structure for our Leicester esque run in 4 years.

In others news, I was able to watch some Unites States basketball, and although I hate seeing the Celtics be so touted in the summer, when all the prevailing talent is said to be in the west, as this is just going to be giving wind to their sails. At the end of the day though, I’m a sucker for going out and being reminded again that I’m a fan of the best sport, in the best place to be a fan of the sport. That my friends always has been, and always will be the American dream.

The best weekend of the season so far was ruined by my short sided thinking and the only person I have to blame sadly is my dumbass job that I decided to have instead of completely diving in headfirst to fandom. Although I was able to see bits and pieces of the beautiful match that allowed us to finally knock that fresh seal of the chalk, I didn’t see even a replay of that damn ball hitting the net until I had driven my happy ass screaming “Villa Villa” all the way home. The stats aren’t the most promising to see as a fan because being the team that maximizes on the few chances they get a match is absolutely heart wrenching, but credit is given where it is due the forward 7 have shown up, they’ve had serious looks and as a squad I feel we have real reason to be hopeful. We have shown we can flip the field fast and get into our attacking positions without needing much thought at this point. The only thing I can pray is we just see an overall crispness on how we work together in our defensive half, and actually possibly becoming a team who can at least look like they know how to mark a free kick set.

What’s even worse, when I’ve had the time to just be a fan of the sport, I’ve watched the most dumper of games. It simply came down to my decision making. And like Heaton in week 2 I was just steps late every time. Today with the Burnley-Wolves/Spurs-New Castle matches being a shining example.

I’m not necessarily a spiteful person, but I can say that I enjoy sinking myself in some sweet revenge. Obviously if you’re me and you sat through a match where you choked out your season opener against someone, you enjoy the idea of getting to see another SOME might say ‘lower tier team’ lay the smack down. Then be caveman me who just at the end of the day loves to see the ball hit that sweet white, have a score pop on the screen that an actual SOME might say upset is happening! Burnley is up a goal and looking so promising. Obviously you have to jump to the match and watch as Burnley circles the water searching for blood right? It’s 14 minutes in and they struck paydirt it’s the place to be. Mosey my way over and once I’m here wouldn’t you know it the damn Wolves have been woken up and the next 15 minutes are nothing but them ganging up and firing in runs to Burnleys attacking 3rd. And right as soon as I start to even remotely think about the match where the Hotspurs could be in a match worth seeing, I search for the score and wouldn’t you know it, the damn second goal of the 11:30 match set just got wrapped up being celebrated and is being kicked back into play. The one thing I would say I was lucky(?) enough to see was the absolute robbery to Burnley. Hearing the man in the box talking about how Pieters made a lot of the contact with back of the wolves player heel is even more of a slap in the face to me for trying to give this ref anything to stand on, than it is to Burnley who got slapped with the call. I guess at the end of the day though you have to question Burnleys reasoning behind taking off the midfield pressure they were so successful for with for the 30 minutes prior to the stoppage time.

Now listen, obviously I would be an absolute crazy person if I were to sit here and write to you that I was thinking about pushing the panic button on this season. We still have 36 matches to go it would be way to early for that, one thing I can tell you though is that I did go ahead and grab it out of the closet and have been dusting it off getting it looking nice and proper for a time in the future it could possibly be needed. It’s totally reasonable honestly, when the man we have put our trust in to protect our net is taking what was easily the worst challenge of the day in the 41st SECOND. I will also give him a little credit, the other goal he allowed I would put a lot on Luis and that Wilson kid just absolutely blustered one. As far as the pen goes Heatons decision making was literally a couple seconds behind where it needed to be and in the end it was the wrong decision. It takes less time for a baby to be made.

With 63% possession and a whole hell of a lot of free kicks and corners it doesn’t take a lot of searching and film studying to figure out places where Villa can clean things up and help themselves 10fold. If Villa would just execute even one damn set in this match we are at Least walking away with a point, but with the focus in being quick in most situations and attempting to catch out what looked like an out of place defense; turned into many giveaways and a whole hell of a lot of frustration from wasted chances. And I’ll be damned if the Lions at Least weren’t consistent in that when they waste their free kicks from the start they in turn create sloppy and rushed chances that are generally wasted. 22 shots with 7 being on goal is just a stat that’s a kick in pants.

Listen, do I need to honest and admit I was do pissed off at Douglas Luiz during that match in the first 30 minutes when he could do absolutely nothing and just passed a ball away for a spectacular goal? Sure I should probably admit that. Was I so incredibly excited when he was able to net the chance in the top right corner than I immediately tried pawning off all the bad things I said on twitter to someone hacking my account? Yeah it was an incredible couple minutes I was going though, but at the end of the day the Brazilian man overall played an okay match and as a leader he did a wonderful job all match of being accountable of himself, but being a morale leader for his team. Especially Heaton, he’s going to be such a positive influence for the season I’ve decided he’s going to be the man who’s jersey I have to get.

And yes I can say there were times through out the match where the front 7 seemed strong together, they were doing a wonderful job of getting the ball in space, but at the end of the day as much as Heaton’s decision making is in question from the very beginning, the attacker’s are in the same boat. Luckily we aren’t in a situation where we have felt as if we are completely out classed and are wondering how we ended up here, we are just the squad that is making the mistakes of a team that has rubber legs. We’ve got time in the season and I’m still completely ready to be there come hell or high water. With that being said when you come into a match like that at home when you really have an opportunity to get the chalk out early on the in the season and your team just isn’t appearing out of the smoke from the starting gate of the match it is a completely sinking feeling. I’ve felt my heart break before from life, and then I’ve felt what I felt today and still being in the snowball in points has completely shaken my confidence.

Ladies and gentlemen we received the blessing we had been waiting on. The wonderful 9 month journey of both blood churning highs and abdomen slashing lows called the English premier league is upon us. Each team possible having a match under their belt. 7 of the 10 matches resulting in a fan base going home bellowing their teams chants all the way down the road as they go.

The one thing that as an overall fan of the sport that I can walk away with from this first week is that the pace of the matches are no joke. Any decision made on the pitch can lead to the absolute worst or best case scenario and decisions are constantly being made. As much as I enjoy trying to take on the fan of one team aspect the more games you watch in this league it seems as the more you are just gifted both visually and entertainingly.

We’re the Aston boys able to be apart of the crowd of chanters?

At the end of the 90 minutes they sure as hell better not even think of speaking a peep, let alone singing the shortest of folk tales. What really turns the knife in the gut of this first match of the season is that in the 8th minute we had McGinn break through and find the back of the net. Off an incredible counter that turned so quick almost the entire length of the pitch. A finish to the right corner that just absolutely baffled the keeper. Then resumed the onslaught of possesion that felt more overwhelming than than the divorced kid in middle schools 9th ‘are we still friends?’ Of the week. For the first give or take 55 minutes of the match even though no possession was had they still did a good job or pressuring those with the ball on their foot through the midfield. It’s even safe to say at one point around the 66th minute the Hotspurs had 5 chances on net and 26 shots. Even I give up on tinder before the ratio is that bad so to say that it felt like we needed to be exactly in a horrible spot just isn’t true. But right after that horrible stat sprays across the screen those Lions just laid on their backs and got their bellies patted for 20 straight minutes. The embarrassment I felt watching each successful buildup that got the back line more and more frustrated at each other was absolutely worth it because the smile my face had for those 77 minutes while we were up was unlike many of the times I’ve had the opportunity to get fair food and was so enjoyable.

In other matches I got to catch on the open weekend I can say it felt like at times the VAR system did a fantastic job of wrenching some of the flow of the match also while really forcing an extra crispness to the match. The arm pit being called for an offsides is something that has to absolutely make you shake in your boots as an attacker. The damn thing indents. With such a high torqued first week of the campaign as far as offense goes there’s a lot of hope that the trend continues moving forward into the upcoming weeks and even progresses further beyond where it’s at. It seems as if the top dogs of the League have a legitimate shot to make this a chase all the way from week one to 38.

Overall, after a great week one for most every one but Villa, the thing I’m walking away with in my pocket other than crow I still have left over, is the fact we aren’t making snowballs in Aston unlike Chelsea.

So Magic fans, I know we are all on the same page at this point in all of us just hoping and willing Fournier out of Orlando. I know the road ahead seems long, but aside waiting for that to happen we still have so many great things in the future! Terrence Ross and Vucevic are two people that if they stay within the team will always keep the team competitive and will always give people someone to talk about. I’m hopeful for T Ross to start getting a lot more minutes with Vucevic on the floor at the same time and seeing how well Vucei’s passing is going to pair with 8’s decision making and athleticism. The Magic have an incredibly dynamic bigman and that’s one thing that as the NBA keeps moving forward first and foremost teams will hinge on a big mans ability to be a first option playmaker in the half court.

As fans we are going into a great year, we have a lot of budding guys who any year could take that mystical and magical NBA ‘leap’ and we could really have that last piece needed to solidify a top spot in the east. Johnathon Isaac and Wes Inwundu are our perfect examples. Both long athletic defensive freaks, who on the offensive end of the floor can hold their own. Isaac obviously getting more minutes then Wes but honestly both were just a little behind in confidence throughout the year. This team has had a lot of time to be growing together and guys have really had the opportunity to figure out how they might most comfortably contribute. Bringing in a true Vet like Aminu is exactly what will boost the magic play as well as he has been all over and has been a hard worker everywhere he goes who earns what he keeps. Guys like that who will feed off young talent and potential are going to be what allows Isaac to make that next push and this season is going to be so much more than the mouse could have ever imagine.

The Magic overall have a roster that’s in a good position talent wise and financially. Ideally yes maybe a couple contracts could go, for now only Fournier is going to be held out in the road for the bus but it may not be long into this next season before more heads are being called for. But I’ll keep it civil for everyone know because in late July there really isn’t much to do except bury your head in film and keep thinking about still playing next June.

As the internet becomes an ever more popular thing probably the most frustrating thing to me as a fan is rooting for a team who honestly enjoys memein on their twitter account more than praising the play or the players. They make sure to churn out the 7th grade level response memes to tweets over deciding to have a constructive place for people to be closer with the basketball team on the court and off. The hardworking men and women who I’m sure are sneaking in late under the sleeping editors nose of the account, and doing their hardest work when after having spent 37 minutes in the office doing that first real calculation of how long they have left to go for the work day. The one that takes the whole pad of paper because that 1 maybe got carried an extra time. It’s incredibly well thought out tweets such as these that get those third graders to spend that extra three minutes one night in June begging for their parents to get tickets to see the Magic! Only for the parents to be smart enough to know those little hellions won’t even care by the time they sit down for dinner that night:

What’s the biggest slap in the face is that it’s been public knowledge since 2015 that guys get ripped off on 2k. They went back 4 years to use a joke that was cool two months ago. Much to the tone of the magic often playing with the 2008 style of lifeless offense with no post play, they have no seeable future in developing into a top tier source for memes or basketball.

This great little piece here from Josh is probably a great example of why the memes just don’t quite make it to the top. While they are throwing in that 33.3333% effort towards getting the Glenridge students to like and retweet them, they also have a 33.333% going towards great in-depth 75 word insights on their guys who have been within the organization for a couple of years.

If the social media team is any reflection of how resources are being expelled within the organization then we forsure are on to the Magic Kingdom ride where you get screwed by the lottery for the next 12 years. It’s times like these when we should realistically be calling every team in the league every night just asking what we could take to have Fournier far, far away from Orlando. Instead, come tomorrow night once twitter is open, my eyes will have nothing to feast upon but UCF newly grades mailing in their first internship to pass what is the lowest brow of standards possible.

It’s with a heavy heart I have to write this today, but as most of you may know basketball is done as we know it. For the next 100 some days or who knows or even cares. They came into our summer they gave us life, did all these cool moves and trades, made everything fresh, and then just as quickly picked up and left. Better than any circus that just shows up to town and then rips your heart out as you see them pack up the last tent on the trailer and head for the highway.

Now it’s obviously the time to jump into WNBA head first. Haven’t really caught much of the season, I know the Fever are more of a minor cough this season, but I’m hoping to find a reliable means of catching the WNBA games and really getting into it. From what I’ve been able to catch it seems as if every team out there has torchers, and there is nothing I like more than scoring.