Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: Legion on October 26, 2018, 09:35:22 PM
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Dean Smith really does have his work cut out for him thanks to Steve Bruce.
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Just don't know what to say
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I might have to stop following this team for the sake of my sanity. They ruin most of my weekends.
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I think I'm going to take some time off from football. Just ruins my mood anymore.
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I am lost for words
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Same as Tuesday.
We don't have the structure in the spine of our team to go away and get wins.
Going to be a bumpy ride up to January I think particularly as the fixtures get much harder after Bolton.
Said in match thread but this season feels exactly like 16/17 to me, don't see us making the top 6 at all.
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Pffffft
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Unbelievably shit from 30 yards out considering our so called’ abundance of riches’ up front.
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Didn't deserve to lose, but sums up how things are going.
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We did many things quite well tonight but we also have some awful players and - with 2 months before the window - Smith is going to have to be creative in finding the right combination of players to get some results.
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We really are the only club in world football who could have put that second half performance in and still lost the game. Plus there’s clearly a clause in Elmo’s contract that he starts every bastard game even if his legs hanging off.
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Better performance but bad mistakes at the back and poor finishing cost us badly.
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Fuck off Villa, that second half was fucking atrocious. Not a single player gets any credit in that half.
Chester - embarrassingly poor.
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Arrrrggghh!!! Didnt deserve to lose again, but fcukin hell we are the masters of our own downfall.
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Absolutely dreadful. We are a shambles. Too many individuals. We need to start working out how to play together and fast. We are so inept defensively that we stand zero chance of going up this year.
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Better performance but bad mistakes at the back and poor finishing cost us badly.
The second half was rubbish again.
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We did everything but score, they did nothing but score.
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We’re not going up too much shit to get rid of. Time to give the youth a chance and build for next year. Steve Bruce what have u done to us
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Really want to kick my TV. Not a bad performance but so frustrating.
I hate it when the ball falls to our defensive donkeys in attacking areas.
Fuck sake.
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We could be trapped in this league for years ah la Leeds, Derby, Forrest, Sheffield Wed and every year three very rich clubs will join us.
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We are playing better which is heartening but fuck me it's hard to stomach these results. It will get better I know it will but I'm pig fucking sick of waiting.
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Bolton next week an absolute must win, on the horizon Derby, Birmingham and Forest, complete faith in Dean to get this right, he has to work a win vs Bolton.
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2 away games in 3 days were the opposition haven't troubled our goalkeeper but we've handed them the win.
Too many awfully techniqued footballers, too many pathetic soft fouls given away, too many stupid off sides, brain dead fucking morons.
Massive job for Smith, I cant wait for him to fuck the majority of them off.
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Fuck off Villa, that second half was fucking atrocious. Not a single player gets any credit in that half.
Chester - embarrassingly poor.
We played well for long parts I thought but all feel apart when we actually ventured into the box.
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I don't mind trying to walk the ball into the net. Be three-nil up first though.
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Didn't deserve to lose that but the balance up front doesn't seem quite right. Abraham looks dangerous but Kodjia is frustrating as hell. I would play Hogan up front with TA. Grealish too deep again? Oh well at least I can ignore the football the rest of the weekend.
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Jack has got to stop coming deep to get the ball, I know why he’s doing it, but he’s just got to trust those further down the pitch to give him the ball. The shape disappears when he drops back.
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I don't think some of the players can do what Smith wants …… mainly pass and control the ball
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This might sound negative but is Dean trying to change things too quickly. This lot have been used to ‘wor get stuck in’ for two years
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16th, in the paupers fkn league, please Deano sort it out.
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Agree about Jack. If he doesn't do it, drop him. Team comes first.
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Sorry but I hought it was a cracking game, no way did we deserve to lose. We all know we need a centre half and a left back which showed even more so today.
Thought we passed it better but just didn’t do enough in the final third. It’ll come as someone’s going to get hammered.
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Fuck off Villa, that second half was fucking atrocious. Not a single player gets any credit in that half.
Chester - embarrassingly poor.
I disagree. Jack tried his heart out and McGinn wasn’t too bad. Tammy has a mare tonight though.
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Turns out Axel is our best centre back. Cheers, Steve.
The performance was OK really but... yeah. We’re fucked for the foreseeable.
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We didn’t deserve to lose but we did. One mistake at the back and wasteful up front. Other than that in total control. Passed and moved the ball much better, players showing for each other, plenty of effort.
We just lack quality were it counts and just not getting the breaks. QPR are shit by the way which also shows how poor the division is, which just makes it worse.
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Always thought this week's games would be too much too soon....Smith has had hardly any time with the squad.
The real work starts now and we should begin to see progress....including some of the wasters out and a few kids in!
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Good luck Dean. Just need to be patient. Some people got over excited after the Swansea win but it’s obvious that the man has s job on his hands.
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We are a pit of misery.
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That performance deserved a win, Abraham scores the sitter at the beginning of the 2nd half and I think we go on and win.
You just have to take those chances.
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Jack has got to stop coming deep to get the ball, I know why he’s doing it, but he’s just got to trust those further down the pitch to give him the ball. The shape disappears when he drops back.
we need 3 of him to be fair , but he comes far too deep. anyone think Whelan plays like he has the bad back of aa little old man , we have to have more legs in midfield
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I don't mind trying to walk the ball into the net. Be three-nil up first though.
Like, like,like.
Completely agree.
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Sorry but I hought it was a cracking game, no way did we deserve to lose. We all know we need a centre half and a left back which showed even more so today.
Thought we passed it better but just didn’t do enough in the final third. It’ll come as someone’s going to get hammered.
We a,so need a goal scorer.
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Fuck off Villa, that second half was fucking atrocious. Not a single player gets any credit in that half.
Chester - embarrassingly poor.
Sorry but what match were you watching?
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Neil Taylor was abysmal.
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Fancy football is fine but there's no steel. Too weak and "girly". Need to break some legs.
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We did everything but score, they did nothing but score.
Really. How many clear cut chances did we create? Their keeper had nothing to do
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Not too downhearted - i said it would be rocky in the pre-match thread upto January. I'd call that a transitional performance. The players that can are adapting to his style and those that can't, aren't, or haven't been signed yet. We've played far far worse than that and got a result and a team that gets 68% possession away from home, well if we can sort out the attack then you are gonna win more than you lose. We need to hold our nerve and see what smith can do once he discards those he doesn't want, and gets in a few players he wants. Keep the faith.
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After a few years of decline we have settled at the level of being a fairly poor boring team who in terms the english football landscape have little relevance or consequence making up the numbers in the championship.
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To paraphrase Yoda - The players have to unlearn what they have learned. So many very bad habits that need to be eradicated.
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I would rather watch that than Bruceball
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We are a pit of misery.
Time to start up that thread again. Moderators...!
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That performance deserved a win, Abraham scores the sitter at the beginning of the 2nd half and I think we go on and win.
You just have to take those chances.
Absolutely TA should have busied that chance.
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16th, in the paupers fkn league, please Deano sort it out.
Just listening to the pundits on Talksport2 McCarthy and Co, saying it could be that Dean isn't used to having a squad of players like Villa, then used the word 'pedigree' in terms of player standing, and it will take time for him to understand this, wtf.....
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Fuck off Villa, that second half was fucking atrocious. Not a single player gets any credit in that half.
Chester - embarrassingly poor.
I disagree. Jack tried his heart out and McGinn wasn’t too bad. Tammy has a mare tonight though.
Jack is trying too hard to do everything. It’s admirable from an attitude point of view, but him dropping deeper and deeper ruins our shape and our threat disappears.
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play some of the under 23s who want it get rid of Hutton Taylor whelan and all the other old ****** and start from scratch. Write this season off and plan for next season now.
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I really don’t know what to say. The Bruce legacy is clearly going to take some time to overcome, but fuck me these are professional footballers. And as Dean says they have to take responsibility. What has been flushed out is the ‘bang average never deserve to play for Aston Villa’ players like Taylor and bizarrely you can see why Bruce played people out of position
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Unbelievably shit from 30 yards out considering our so called’ abundance of riches’ up front.
Absolutely! Not one of them looks like they look like they're going to score. Time to mix it up. Maybe move Abraham out wide and Kodja in the middle. Bolaise? Fuck me. How much did Everton pay for him, £3m?
Whelan improved us. Jack can't play in a system and please never let him take a free kick or corner again. Massive spaces in the Rangers half where he should have been. Chester seems to have lost it. Elmo out wide hopefully we'll never see again.
All that said, I didn't expect us to get anything today but will go unbeaten in November. Smith has lots of work to do but he now has some time to address the problems of inheriting a team where it's alien to keep the ball.
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Stupid lack of concentration all over the pitch. Chester needs to have his arse kicked and the captain's armband given to John McGinn. Bolaise, Kodjia and Abraham are all look-at-me players. Flashy, over complicated, underachievers.
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We are a pit of misery.
For ten years now.. wake me up when it's over.
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Jack has got to stop coming deep to get the ball, I know why he’s doing it, but he’s just got to trust those further down the pitch to give him the ball. The shape disappears when he drops back.
we need 3 of him to be fair , but he comes far too deep. anyone think Whelan plays like he has the bad back of aa little old man , we have to have more legs in midfield
I was staggered to find out Whelan is younger than me. He’s hopeless, it’s vital that Thor gets fit.
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We did everything but score, they did nothing but score.
Really. How many clear cut chances did we create? Their keeper had nothing to do
I reckon 3 in the second half.
And many situations where we just needed a bit more composure.
We do lack a cutting edge and Abraham is not it.
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We did everything but score, they did nothing but score.
Really. How many clear cut chances did we create? Their keeper had nothing to do
McGinn after 2 mins, Tammy should have scored, Bolasie’s chance, Grealish hit the post. 68% possession. We had chances. Like I say, everything but score.
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That was not good enough. Slow and ponderous when attacking, no real penetration and our crossing was shockingly bad.
Taylor was the worst player on the pitch and Chester doesn't play well on the left side of central defence. Thought jack played better than Tuesday and took on more responsibility. Axel superb.
We go again.
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Lightweight. All the pretty football in the world won't get past that.
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Fuck off Villa, that second half was fucking atrocious. Not a single player gets any credit in that half.
Chester - embarrassingly poor.
Sorry but what match were you watching?
The one where we forced one save in the second half.
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Fancy football is fine but there's no steel. Too weak and "girly". Need to break some legs.
Girly?
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Lads and lasers that is most number of passes we have completed in a game and 85 percent pass accuracy the most as well. Keep the faith.
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Hutton and Taylor are a real problem, their lack of quality going forward really inhibits our play.
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We have an unconvincing goalkeeper, hesitant defence, plodding midfield (except for Grealish) and have at best one out and out goalscorer who is still young and raw. I usually tend to be more positive than a lot on here after a setback but tonight I have read some posts of people who are putting a slightly more positive spin on our performance than I can muster up. Added to the fact that whilst they are on a good run, QPR are not one of the better teams in this division in my opinion.
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McClaren talking like he is some football God
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The key thing we seem to be missing is leadership. We had Terry and Snodders last year but I couldn't name one player in the present team who fills that role at the moment
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Their supporters sounded right wankers at the end. Terry getting stick. Our away support getting stick...... Even Lee Hendrie pitch side.
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This week has gone as I expected but was hoping for different. Time to forget looking at the table and concentrate on gradual improvement. Use this season to get the squad sorted and our style established. The fact that Smith can’t start improving our squad until January was always going to kill us this time around.
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Lads and lasers that is most number of passes we have completed in a game and 85 percent pass accuracy the most as well. Keep the faith.
Which means absolutely zilch
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We had the chances, had we have converted on one of those chances we would have gone on to win, Dean is close, he just needs to find that little bit of magic, the right tweak and the sun will rise on Villa, Dean can then go into a transfer window with his head held up, looking for in form players that will take us on and into the play-offs, he's close,
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Hutton and Taylor are a real problem, their lack of quality going forward really inhibits our play.
As is their lack of quality defending!
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Hutton and Taylor are a real problem, their lack of quality going forward really inhibits our play.
I'm sure Smith knows that, but there is not a thing he can do about it at the moment, barring playing the kids. I'd get elmo back in the defence even if that causes more problems in midfield. He's been given a shitty hand of cards by Bruce really.
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Hutton and Taylor are a real problem, their lack of quality going forward really inhibits our play.
100% agree. I like what Dean Smith is trying to do and believe that we're on the right path, but the new playing style based around possession and fluent passing won't work with those two as our full backs, because they're technically shite. Shame we missed out on Bryan, exactly the type of player we need in that role.
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I like the performance and the way we are trying to play, I have real problems with too many of those players.
Elmo Taylor Hutton Whelan Abraham were all poor and you can not carry half a team and expect to win.
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Thought it was one of our better performances of the season. Best game I've seen Grealish play this season, Hutton, Nyland too. Definitely didn't deserve to lose and liked our style of play and team structure. Stupid soft goal to concede but they hardly had another shot. Lacked a cutting edge up top on a tight pitch, considering all we have spent on that area of the squad it's not remotely good enough.
Nyland 7 - bit braver off his line and sharp with ball.
Hutton 7 - battled hard throughout and lasted the pace well. Used the ball a lot better tonight.
Tuanzebe 5 - not a fan. Comfortable receiving the ball but poor in every other aspect of defensive play. As for the throw in...suspect attitude.
Chester 5 - his mistake cost us game, poor season continues.
Taylor 4 - woeful footballer, far from his worst game for us but nowhere near good enough. Very fortunate not to concede pen
Bjarnsson 6 - gave away possession a bit but solid enough
Elmo 6 - solid but first time cross in box is his only trick. Right back or bench.
McGinn 6 - brilliant first 30 mins or so but ran out of gas badly again in second half and should have been replaced
Grealish 9 - drops too deep at times but got shots in, made good chances, good set pieces. Far better attitude when getting fouled. Best player on pitch by miles.
Kodjia 5 - big chance to impress new manager who I suspect has his doubts, did little to allay them.
Abraham 4 - 6ft4 and full of wind and piss...bullied by a couple of cloggers. Nowhere near tough enough on the ball. Got chances but took wrong options.
Whelan 7 - solid performance I thought. Used ball well.
Bolasie 6 - some good crosses but the fact he is still not fit at this stage of the season exposes the folly of gambling so much of our budget on him.
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Hutton and Taylor are a real problem, their lack of quality going forward really inhibits our play.
I'm sure Smith knows that, but there is not a thing he can do about it at the moment, barring playing the kids. I'd get elmo back in the defence even if that causes more problems in midfield. He's been given a shitty hand of cards by Bruce really.
Elmo or Bree should play at RB.
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Fancy football is fine but there's no steel. Too weak and "girly". Need to break some legs.
We need to be slicker, quicker, sharper.....everyone knows we've been the slowest team in the league for 2 seasons and take 40 passes to get from one end of the pitch to the other....Smith will be working on getting us doing the former and if that means changing the personnel so be it.
No need to break legs, but I did notice that Brentford weren't too averse to giving Grealish some special treatment at VP recently!
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If it wasn't for our weak goalkeeper, terrible defence, ineffective midfield and poor strikers we'd be fine.
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McClaren talking like he is some football God
He is, Shirley?
After their start, he was worked miracles with a bunch of ****s.
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I really don’t know what to say. The Bruce legacy is clearly going to take some time to overcome, but fuck me these are professional footballers. And as Dean says they have to take responsibility. What has been flushed out is the ‘bang average never deserve to play for Aston Villa’ players like Taylor and bizarrely you can see why Bruce played people out of position
You can I suppose with Taylor, albeit playing the almost as inept Hutton at LB instead. However It was Bruce who signed Taylor, and who failed to sign someone better when it was obvious Taylor was shite. He left himself little choice, and Smith has inherited that clusterfuck.
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He was never going to able to change our style over 5 or 6 training sessions. There is already evidence of the changes and we need defenders and it will take some time, but we’ll get there.
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Abraham far too wasteful thought Kodja should have led the line after the break, Bolaise gave us a bit of drive. There's not much Smith can do with the defence Bruce left us with and there lies the problem, I am amazed at how many times we attack only for the ball to be passed back to players who can't defend let alone feed the forward line.
Having said all that we attacked all day which we wanted and again didn't deserve to lose even the commentator remarked that he did not know how QPR got away with the win.
Grealish ran his socks off all day even though he came too deep but McGinn tired badly second half.
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We had the chances, had we have converted on one of those chances we would have gone on to win, Dean is close, he just needs to find that little bitt of magic, the right tweak and the sun will rise on Villa, Dean can then go into a transfer window with his head held up, looking for in form players that will take us on and into the play-offs, he's close,
Where have I heard that before?
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Listening to McClaren he knows he’s got away with one as we are still sorting ourselves out
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Tammy needs dropping. I'd start Kodjia up front where he belongs next game with Jack feeding him as #10. McGinn and fucking whoever in the middle. Preferably someone who's spent the week practicing passing to feet and finding space off the ball.
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Hutton and Taylor are a real problem, their lack of quality going forward really inhibits our play.
As is their lack of quality defending!
This and this.
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McClaren talking like he is some football God
After his wonderful Dutch accent a few years back, I thought after a few months at QPR he would be talking like Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins by now.
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Lads and lasers that is most number of passes we have completed in a game and 85 percent pass accuracy the most as well. Keep the faith.
Which means absolutely zilch
Unfortunately statistics count for nothing. Only goals for and against
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We did everything but score, they did nothing but score.
Really. How many clear cut chances did we create? Their keeper had nothing to do
McGinn after 2 mins, Tammy should have scored, Bolasie’s chance, Grealish hit the post. 68% possession. We had chances. Like I say, everything but score.
I think you are making out we played better than we did. We were bang average again
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If it wasn't for our weak goalkeeper, terrible defence, ineffective midfield and poor strikers we'd be fine.
There it is. Brucey has left us disabled, like a Trojan Virus.
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That's the second time I've seen us live this season (so apologies to the faithful), and the first time I was at the back of the Holte so I felt a bit remote from the action.
I was right on top of it tonight, and we are a bad football team. Our skilful players are scared to actually do any damage - Grealish, in particular, plays like he doesn't want to harm his stats by taking a risk in the opposition's box - and our non- skilful players ought to be paid every week from a wheelbarrow in front of the Holte so that they feel the shame as they stuff the cash into their underpants (I stole this idea from Danny Baker).
We're scared of having the ball in attacking areas, and when we have it wide they cross it into the middle, where we have no players.
It was really bad.
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Hutton and Taylor are a real problem, their lack of quality going forward really inhibits our play.
I'm sure Smith knows that, but there is not a thing he can do about it at the moment, barring playing the kids. I'd get elmo back in the defence even if that causes more problems in midfield. He's been given a shitty hand of cards by Bruce really.
Elmo or Bree should play at RB.
yeah same here.. trouble is atm the moment he's trying to balance a poor defence and a unbalanced midfield with not the players to patch up both
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He was never going to able to change our style over 5 or 6 training sessions. There is already evidence of the changes and we need defenders and it will take some time, but we’ll get there.
We will get there, it's vital he puts on the front foot, we've all just witnessed QPR, really, how much is it going to take to get our nose in front of this lot, if this is the standard, we can do it.
This is a squad used to grinding out games, sitting back on draws and being happy with that, being ecstatic with 1-0 wins that we could have won by many more, it's going to take a few games to turn this around.
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Deano is not being helped by the fact that Chester’s form has dropped off a cliff.
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Fancy football is fine but there's no steel. Too weak and "girly". Need to break some legs.
Girly?
Yes this Post Match thread has moved back to 1984.
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I'm still pretty positive. Replace 2/3 of this team with people that can actually pass and we'll be a proper outfit at this leve8l. Even carrying a few players we've played the 2 form teams away and been unlucky to lose both imo. I'm seeing progression in the way we play and results will come.
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Deano is not being helped by the fact that Chester’s form has dropped off a cliff.
Since Terry was no longer at CB.
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I chose not to watch the match because I sort of knew what was going to happen and the stuffing has been knocked out of me somewhat over the last 8 years.
However I have a good feeling about the current set up and the style of play been slowly introduced. Therefore I hope we use this season as a springboard for a proper go at promotion next year. I know others think we can still make the play offs, but in the long term I'd rather sort out the squad.
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I'm still pretty positive. Replace 2/3 of this team with people that can actually pass and we'll be a proper outfit at this leve8l. Even carrying a few players we've played the 2 form teams away and been unlucky to lose both imo. I'm seeing progression in the way we play and results will come.
yep. this.
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The lack of pace is killing us, when we attack we are so slow to move the ball defences have plenty of time to cover then we start passing it backwards to Hutton or Taylor.
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I didn't think we played too badly to be honest. I don't think QPR would have had too many complaints had we equalised. Looks like we need to be a bit patient, the results will come hopefully.
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Deano is not being helped by the fact that Chester’s form has dropped off a cliff.
I'm not convinced he's good enough on the ball to play in this system. I think long term he might be replaced.
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After 3 games, I think Smith clearly understands the scale of the job he's taken on. The defence is committing too many basic errors and we don't seem able to put away the chances we create.
Although Smith's still talking about promotion, that's just for public consumption. I think he's fully aware of our deficiencies.. He's sizing up the squad and deciding who's got the abilities that he wants and who'll get the bullet.
Bruce left an unbalanced squad and most of his signings have gone backwards since joining. Smith needs to decide if any of them can, or are worth saving
He (should) have discussed this with the board before he signed up and got their assurance that they'll back him when the time comes.
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It was always going to get worse before it got better. Dean Smith needs time on the training pitch. It’s really unfortunate he’s been thrown into 3 games right after an international break where he was missing a good chunk of his squad.
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If it wasn't for our weak goalkeeper, terrible defence, ineffective midfield and poor strikers we'd be fine.
Joke thief!
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Get used to the Championship, we're gonna be here for a while.
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Deano is not being helped by the fact that Chester’s form has dropped off a cliff.
I'm not convinced he's good enough on the ball to play in this system. I think long term he might be replaced.
Chester got helped out a lot last season by Terry.
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A poor result but I’m very positive after that, the best we have played in along time.
There was a plan, the players knew what was expected of them and tried to do it, the ball didn’t fall for us in their penalty area but we were inventive and dominant.
A mere stumble on the path to world domination.
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Deans post match interview brief and didn’t want to be there as clearly not happy!
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If it wasn't for our weak goalkeeper, terrible defence, ineffective midfield and poor strikers we'd be fine.
Joke thief!
Love you. X
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Just on the way back. Overall I thought we were ok and there’s definite changes in the style of play but it’s going to take a bit of time for the players who’ve been used to bruceball suddenly being able to play smithball. The main problem is the full backs simply aren’t good enough on the ball, which means the midfield have to drop deep (namely grealish) to pick the ball up as there’s no out ball wide.
Nyland - didn’t do anything really. Needs to learn it’s short if the quick option is on, otherwise mix it up.
Hutton - just useless in a dean smith team
Tuanzebe - shock, he’s our best centre back
Chester - nervous and poor on the ball
Taylor - better than Hutton but still a waste of space
BB - did ok and broke play up well. Few miss placed passes but looks to move it much quicker than the alternatives
Mcginn - can he only play 65/70 mins?
Grealish - needs to trust his team mates and play higher up the pitch but with poor full backs, centre backs he’s probably the only one able to be an option that isn’t hoof it.
Kodjia - very lively. Frustrating, maybe. But was probably the pick of the bunch
Elmo - play him at right back or sell him. He offers nothing at right wing
Tammy - pretty poor (still a sore head?)
Whelan - did ok but is too slow on the ball and only passes sideways
Bolasie - lively when he came on and should start instead of Elmo
A lot of work to do for dean and I fear it won’t be done until January with the current personnel although I’d probably play a combination of Albert, bolasie, Kodjia or Tammy as the front 3 (probably can’t play bolasie and kodjia as the two wide options though). Stick Elmo or bree at right back. Nevertheless, if it does ever click I think it could be good - the signs are there that they’re trying to play a new way and bear in mind he’s probably not had any training days with the full squad since he started!
Oh and a word for qpr and their fans. Time wasting by the players is bad enough after 60mins but the fans behaviour was awful, I’m not surprised kodjia threatened to go cantona on one of them.
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I have no idea what I'd be happy with from this season now. Loads of people are convinced we'll walk the league under Smith next season if we don't go up, but I think we have to start seeing the results of it well before then. What galls me is that this season is the first since we've been down here where the promotion spots will go to absolute shite rather than teams that are clearly the best. A huge chance and we're spending it in transtion, a-fucking-gain.
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Abraham should have scored anyway. fucking heskey could have put that in. It happens to the best strikers unfortunately.
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Deans post match interview brief and didn’t want to be there as clearly not happy!
Not surprised to be honest.
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Very frustrated by that.
I thought we were the better side against XI men behind the ball.
The mistake by Chester, again has been very costly. Chester's two mistakes have lead to us losing two games that on balance we shouldn't have.
It was pleasing to dominate possession, territory and create plenty, albeit not enough clear cut enough, but deeply annoying not to get at least a point.
I can see what Smith wants to do. I can see how we're looking to play and attack but the personnel isn't suited.
Grealish comes to deep to collect the ball from deep, when he needs to be 30 yards further up. It's effecting his ability to create because he had to start and finish the transition.
We need a Ryan Woods or even better, a Neves, who can do that role of dictating tempo.
The full backs are the other problem. Taylor and Hutton aren't good enough, but they are what we have unless we can look.at some youngsters.
Centre half it's been Chester, not the rookie, whose made game costing mistakes. It's fundamental stuff.
We ran out of steam a bit, despite continuing to dominate.
The worry is we have too many results like this that leaves us with too much to do post January. But we have Bruce to thank for the lack of planning.
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Wish we'd got Tierry.
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Fancy football is fine but there's no steel. Too weak and "girly". Need to break some legs.
Girly?
Yes this Post Match thread has moved back to 1984.
Thanks for confirmation, Olaftab.
* adjusts shoulder pads and applies wet look lippy*
Now the team looks cool, hope Deano’s got some crucial moves to pass on.
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Why are the likes of Bree and Callum O'Hare discarded? Bree should play at RB instead of Hutton. I'd stick Hutton back at left back and drop Taylor.
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Deano is not being helped by the fact that Chester’s form has dropped off a cliff.
I'm not convinced he's good enough on the ball to play in this system. I think long term he might be replaced.
Yep, which is why he’s never held down a position in a pl team
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back to reality after a fun Saturday. if only we'd sacked Bruce in the summer.
we were resilient last year but now we've reverted to our first yr in this division.
I enjoy international breaks
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Just one of those days, they were jammy as fuck. We will batter more teams than we lose to if we keep going at teams like that.
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That wet look lippy does not suit you Lou. Too Cruella de Ville, or should that be Cruella de Villa.
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So frustrating to watch that tonight. One defensive howler every game is killing us. Chester has cost us twice in a week
Tuesday a point wouldn’t of flattered us and today we should have won. We are playing better and I am convinced the coaching will improve us.
The players need to play with much greater desire. Good players find ways to win and at the moment we have a soft underbelly
Abraham kodija Grealish need to stop being champagne Charlie’s and take responsibility and perform.
Big week to get some coaching and hard work into them. We will improve but it will be too late I’m afraid
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Just one of those days, they were jammy as fuck. We will batter more teams than we lose to if we keep going at teams like that.
Always jam tomorrow isn't it though
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Wish we'd got Tierry.
Yes, the point he has gained from his opening two games shows what fools we were not to give the most important job at the club to a bloke with precisely zero experience.
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We're not going to go from the shit Bruce football was serving up to where we and Smith want us to be after about 4 full training sessions. Last 2 results have been frustrating but performance wise there was a small step in the right direction tonight imo.
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Just on the train coming back.
We were the better team generally and the second half was better until about 75 mins but there was no real end product and it's a first league game without scoring. Tammy loses the ball too easily and was wasteful.
We certainly don't have the players to play out from the back so I'm not sure why we are doing it all the time. The defence is shaky and I'd put Hutton back at left back and Elmo at right back for now.
Smith hasn't instilled any noticeable team spirit yet as there were several occasions tonight where players were gesticulating or berating each other.
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It’s Bruce’s fault we’ve got the squad we’ve got.
But so far Deano has not got a magic wand, and he’s not getting anything more out of them than Bruce did.
This is going to be a long haul
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Why are the likes of Bree and Callum O'Hare discarded? Bree should play at RB instead of Hutton. I'd stick Hutton back at left back and drop Taylor.
Apart from the last 5-10 minutes I thought Taylor had a decent game. Hutton made 3 mistakes in 2 minutes in the first half but other than that worked well. Their big problem is neither ever look to cross the ball and understandably so as neither can deliver a decent cross. Defensively they coped well. Based on tonight's performance we have much bigger problems to worry about, our awkward strikers being the main one. None of them actually looked like strikers tonight.
Pre-match Abraham said his favourite position is out wide on the left. I'd like to see him switch positions with Kodja and see how they get on as again tonight neither looked a real threat.
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It’s just sickening to hear McClaren talking about how proud he was of his team when we fucking dominated them. When will this stop
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Just one of those days, they were jammy as fuck. We will batter more teams than we lose to if we keep going at teams like that.
Doubt it, we barely score more than a goal a game.
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Three points out of Nine... please don't extrapolate that :)
We can see the difference already though, and yes, it will take time to seed and bed.
One of Two points though, is our new owners.
I really, sincerely, want them to be 1000% better than Xia.
I don't want itchy trigger fingers, I want them to be bold and loyal.
Three games and we can all see a change taling shape a change coming. Let our owners welcome it, fund it and support it. Please.
Second point is that as we excuse Dean, by 'blaming' Steve.
We did it before. On this Forum.
We praised Paul for 6 months because he wasn't Alex.
We praised Tim because he wasn't Paul.
We even praised Steve because he wasn't RDM.
Everytime we "excused" our new Saint, because of his inheritance
A Good Craftsman works well with the tools he is given.
Dean will do that.
No excuses about inherited players, just support from our owners is needed.
I would gladly have paid double to see us perform as we did tonight.
OK we lost, but what a glorious performance. ;D
Well Done you guys.
All right.... thread can now revert to slagging players as per..... 8)
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We're not going to go from the shit Bruce football was serving up to where we and Smith want us to be after about 4 full training sessions. Last 2 results have been frustrating but performance wise there was a small step in the right direction tonight imo.
Absolutely. I am willing to be patient.
The result wasn't good enough, but we showed signs of having an idea of how to go about it. I'll repeat that at full back and at the midfield anchor, we lack the players to be truly effective. It's effecting Grealish, but I think it will come.
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Just one of those days, they were jammy as fuck. We will batter more teams than we lose to if we keep going at teams like that.
Doubt it, we barely score more than a goal a game.
We're the 6th highest scorers. Not exactly something to get excited about but also not a side that barely scores 1 a game.
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That wet look lippy does not suit you Lou. Too Cruella de Ville, or should that be Cruella de Villa.
Looks lovely on the team, though, Brian.
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Why are the likes of Bree and Callum O'Hare discarded? Bree should play at RB instead of Hutton. I'd stick Hutton back at left back and drop Taylor.
Apart from the last 5-10 minutes I thought Taylor had a decent game. Hutton made 3 mistakes in 2 minutes in the first half but other than that worked well. Their big problem is neither ever look to cross the ball and understandably so as neither can deliver a decent cross. Defensively they coped well. Based on tonight's performance we have much bigger problems to worry about, our awkward strikers being the main one. None of them actually looked like strikers tonight.
Pre-match Abraham said his favourite position is out wide on the left. I'd like to see him switch positions with Kodja and see how they get on as again tonight neither looked a real threat.
Are you serious? That was possibly the worst performance I have ever seen from a Villa full back. Just powder puff
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Not thinking how much money I have spent on that crap today - terrible
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It’s just sickening to hear McClaren talking about how proud he was of his team when we fucking dominated them. When will this stop
They were very organised, hard working and moved the ball well. They fought extremely hard to win the 3 points, as much as I hate to say it, he has reason to be proud.
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Not thinking how much money I have spent on that crap today - terrible
Over the years I dread to think how much I have spent.
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We're not going to go from the shit Bruce football was serving up to where we and Smith want us to be after about 4 full training sessions. Last 2 results have been frustrating but performance wise there was a small step in the right direction tonight imo.
Absolutely. I am willing to be patient.
The result wasn't good enough, but we showed signs of having an idea of how to go about it. I'll repeat that at full back and at the midfield anchor, we lack the players to be truly effective. It's effecting Grealish, but I think it will come.
The midfield anchor would have been fine if Thor hadn’t got injured.
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Just one of those days, they were jammy as fuck. We will batter more teams than we lose to if we keep going at teams like that.
Doubt it, we barely score more than a goal a game.
We're the 6th highest scorers. Not exactly something to get excited about but also not a side that barely scores 1 a game.
Well no goals tonight, 1 at Norwich, 1 v Swansea, 1 at Millwall, 1 at Bristol, 1 v Sheff Weds, 1 v Blackburn, 1 at Sheffield United, all games we've played since September 1st.
For our attacking options we just don't click in the final third enough and that's reflected in lack of goals against decent top half teams particularly away from home.
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Why are the likes of Bree and Callum O'Hare discarded? Bree should play at RB instead of Hutton. I'd stick Hutton back at left back and drop Taylor.
Apart from the last 5-10 minutes I thought Taylor had a decent game. Hutton made 3 mistakes in 2 minutes in the first half but other than that worked well. Their big problem is neither ever look to cross the ball and understandably so as neither can deliver a decent cross. Defensively they coped well. Based on tonight's performance we have much bigger problems to worry about, our awkward strikers being the main one. None of them actually looked like strikers tonight.
Pre-match Abraham said his favourite position is out wide on the left. I'd like to see him switch positions with Kodja and see how they get on as again tonight neither looked a real threat.
Are you serious? That was possibly the worst performance I have ever seen from a Villa full back. Just powder puff
Trust me, I've seen a hell of a lot worse than tonight.
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Three points out of Nine... please don't extrapolate that :)
We can see the difference already though, and yes, it will take time to seed and bed.
One of Two points though, is our new owners.
I really, sincerely, want them to be 1000% better than Xia.
I don't want itchy trigger fingers, I want them to be bold and loyal.
Three games and we can all see a change taling shape a change coming. Let our owners welcome it, fund it and support it. Please.
Second point is that as we excuse Dean, by 'blaming' Steve.
We did it before. On this Forum.
We praised Paul for 6 months because he wasn't Alex.
We praised Tim because he wasn't Paul.
We even praised Steve because he wasn't RDM.
Everytime we "excused" our new Saint, because of his inheritance
A Good Craftsman works well with the tools he is given.
Dean will do that.
No excuses about inherited players, just support from our owners is needed.
I would gladly have paid double to see us perform as we did tonight.
OK we lost, but what a glorious performance. ;D
Well Done you guys.
All right.... thread can now revert to slagging players as per..... 8)
Glorious performance? What are you smokin?
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This trying to play football on the deck malarchy makes me realise just how bad some of the Villa players are. Throw in to the mix those who constantly take the wrong option or are lazy bastards and it does not make a happy combination. Dean Smith has a hell of a lot of work to do on this shower of shit.
Taylor is absolute garbage. Him and Chester were badly at fault for the goal. If we were to sign Collins, for me, it would be at the expense of Chester. Whelan offers nothing whatsoever. Abraham turns like the QE2, Kodjia is a lazy diving fecker, selfish, slack and not worth his place at the moment. Hutton is a spent force and we will be better off when his contract comes to and end. McGinn and Grealish really are the only two worth a place and it just isn't clicking for either of them. It was poor again tonight. I felt that QPR worked harder and wanted it more than we did. Narrow margins though as neither side created very much.
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Not thinking how much money I have spent on that crap today - terrible
Safe journey home buddy - we will have to start watching Marine !!!!
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It’s just sickening to hear McClaren talking about how proud he was of his team when we fucking dominated them. When will this stop
They were very organised, hard working and moved the ball well. They fought extremely hard to win the 3 points, as much as I hate to say it, he has reason to be proud.
Fucking right. We kept hold of the ball for minutes at a time and threatened zilch. Every time it broke for them it looked like something might happen. Their no. 7 looked a good player too.
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did our neil taylor play tonight ? just like to keep tabs on his progress back . want him to be in tip top form ahead of the wales game against denmark in a few weeks time .
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did our neil taylor play tonight ? just like to keep tabs on his progress back . want him to be in tip top form ahead of the wales game against denmark in a few weeks time .
He was outstanding, a fucking genius.
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Three points out of Nine... please don't extrapolate that :)
We can see the difference already though, and yes, it will take time to seed and bed.
One of Two points though, is our new owners.
I really, sincerely, want them to be 1000% better than Xia.
I don't want itchy trigger fingers, I want them to be bold and loyal.
Three games and we can all see a change taling shape a change coming. Let our owners welcome it, fund it and support it. Please.
Second point is that as we excuse Dean, by 'blaming' Steve.
We did it before. On this Forum.
We praised Paul for 6 months because he wasn't Alex.
We praised Tim because he wasn't Paul.
We even praised Steve because he wasn't RDM.
Everytime we "excused" our new Saint, because of his inheritance
A Good Craftsman works well with the tools he is given.
Dean will do that.
No excuses about inherited players, just support from our owners is needed.
I would gladly have paid double to see us perform as we did tonight.
OK we lost, but what a glorious performance. ;D
Well Done you guys.
All right.... thread can now revert to slagging players as per..... 8)
Do you actually know what extrapolate means? Keep your sarcastic sanctimonious shite to yourself.
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I'm not sure about that. Chester does his job, they never look or looked like scoring. They had a number of shots, but they played on the counter and very much like the away team.
They defended well, but I thought we dominated them and they couldn't have complained had we equalised.
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did our neil taylor play tonight ? just like to keep tabs on his progress back . want him to be in tip top form ahead of the wales game against denmark in a few weeks time .
MOTM. You can have him for Cardiff in January for £10m.
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It’s just sickening to hear McClaren talking about how proud he was of his team when we fucking dominated them. When will this stop
They were very organised, hard working and moved the ball well. They fought extremely hard to win the 3 points, as much as I hate to say it, he has reason to be proud.
particularly when he started the season very badly and looked set for the chop
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I'm not sure about that. Chester does his job, they never look or looked like scoring. They had a number of shots, but they played on the counter and very much like the away team.
They defended well, but I thought we dominated them and they couldn't have complained had we equalised.
They couldn't, but we never came close. Abraham from the free kick was as good as it got, but he never looked like he thought it was really going to come off.
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did our neil taylor play tonight ? just like to keep tabs on his progress back . want him to be in tip top form ahead of the wales game against denmark in a few weeks time .
I'd play him instead of Bale.
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not sure of your replys lads but an in form taylor is good for us
i hope chester is solid as a rock he's been that for us the last few years tho he missed a sitter from 2 yards out against ireland a few weeks ago
i guess your all p*ssed off with losing tonight . it's ok i,m used to it with us in the prem . liverpool tomorrow oh lordy
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Why are the likes of Bree and Callum O'Hare discarded? Bree should play at RB instead of Hutton. I'd stick Hutton back at left back and drop Taylor.
Apart from the last 5-10 minutes I thought Taylor had a decent game. Hutton made 3 mistakes in 2 minutes in the first half but other than that worked well. Their big problem is neither ever look to cross the ball and understandably so as neither can deliver a decent cross. Defensively they coped well. Based on tonight's performance we have much bigger problems to worry about, our awkward strikers being the main one. None of them actually looked like strikers tonight.
Pre-match Abraham said his favourite position is out wide on the left. I'd like to see him switch positions with Kodja and see how they get on as again tonight neither looked a real threat.
Are you serious? That was possibly the worst performance I have ever seen from a Villa full back. Just powder puff
May not have been great but wouldn’t make the top 100 worst full back performances i’ve seen. Im assuming you weren’t around between 1985 and 1991.
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not sure of your replys lads but an in form taylor is good for us
i hope chester is solid as a rock he's been that for us the last few years tho he missed a sitter from 2 yards out against ireland a few weeks ago
i guess your all p*ssed off with losing tonight . it's ok i,m used to it with us in the prem . liverpool tomorrow oh lordy
To clarify, he's totally shit.
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not sure of your replys lads but an in form taylor is good for us
i hope chester is solid as a rock he's been that for us the last few years tho he missed a sitter from 2 yards out against ireland a few weeks ago
i guess your all p*ssed off with losing tonight . it's ok i,m used to it with us in the prem . liverpool tomorrow oh lordy
They are both a liability to us at the moment, especially Taylor. Chester, unusually, has been quite poor at times this season and Taylor is amongst the worst players I think I've seen at Villa.
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Lets get this right, Taylor is shite and has been for ages, Chester is beginning to get the same disease!
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that's a bit worrying on both players . taylor has been outstanding when representing wales in the past . chester is just chester a solid rock
maybe your new manager can give them both a kick up the ar5e
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did our neil taylor play tonight ? just like to keep tabs on his progress back . want him to be in tip top form ahead of the wales game against denmark in a few weeks time .
MOTM. You can have him for Cardiff in January for £10m.
I would say he is the best leftback playing in English football since Ashley Cole.
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Positives:
Jack’s back - best performance of season by far!
Kodjia was lively (without really threatening)
McGinn is back, but felt he tailed off a little and needs to whip those corners in!
Tuanzebe - quickly becoming our first (and probably only) choice cb
Negatives
Chester - looks a husk of the man he was last season
Neil Taylor - I’ve given him the benefit of the doubt till now, but he is bloody awful isn’t he!
Tammy - control the soddin ball when holding it up please!
Dean Smith - Whelan sub impacted game.... maybe should have risked it with Angela instead?
On the whole, team performances ARE improving, but until we can fix defence in Jan, we’ve just got to hold in there.... stay in touch of playoffs
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i hope chester is solid as a rock he's been that for us the last few years
Lately he has been quite solid, solid as a rock made out of cotton wool.
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I would play Jedinak in front of the back 4, given their propensity to mess things up. He may not have the legs or be up to any new system in the long run, but he did well last season there and is a much better bet at the moment.
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did our neil taylor play tonight ? just like to keep tabs on his progress back . want him to be in tip top form ahead of the wales game against denmark in a few weeks time .
I thought Giggs had stopped calling him up?
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not sure of your replys lads but an in form taylor is good for us
i hope chester is solid as a rock he's been that for us the last few years tho he missed a sitter from 2 yards out against ireland a few weeks ago
i guess your all p*ssed off with losing tonight . it's ok i,m used to it with us in the prem . liverpool tomorrow oh lordy
Dinas, not the right time and not your fault for asking. The replies are sarcastic because quite frankly Taylor has been excruciatingly awful for us for some considerable time. But, in his defence, there is a view that he hasn't been the same player since the Coleman tackle.
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did our neil taylor play tonight ? just like to keep tabs on his progress back . want him to be in tip top form ahead of the wales game against denmark in a few weeks time .
MOTM. You can have him for Cardiff in January for £10m.
I would say he is the best leftback playing in English football since Ashley Cole.
He's a Complete Pr**k.....totally Useless with a Football
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Oh and Chester is competing with him to be the worst defender we have currently. But this is probably down to the fifteen changes of defensive partners he has had this season.
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i wish i hadn't posted now .
was hopeing for some more positive tones that you lot are saying.
on a positive note noticed we went up to 18'th in the world rankings tonight
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On Taylor, Burnley will probably snap him up in January and he will go onto have a stellar PL career.
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Dinas, things are very tense here at the minute. 16th in the Championship and possibly worse by the end of the weekend wasn't quite in the original script.
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Hope Smith see's the Pile of shit he has to deal with Sooner Rather than Later...
Nyland
Taylor
Whelan
Kodija
Elmo
Bolasie
Hogan
Hourihane
Hutton
Bree
Jedinak
Adomah
Fair Collection of Rubbish there..........Stealing A Living Aswell.....
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kippa i understand. when warnock took us over we were langishing in the bottom 3 of the championship and look we are now . i don't want to comment on villa things as we are now in the prem but only interested in the wales players i,m sure you'll understand . must be hard when brum are above you in the league tho . it was the same with us when swansea were in the prem
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Much better performance wise and encouraging signs .
Very frustrating not to score goals tonight and win the match.
Dominated the ball and can see the plan and systematic idea in place .
John mcginnn excitement saw him over hit a big chance when he made excellent movement and created opportunity but blazed it wide
QPR played a defensive game and weren't so open and paid lot of respect to villa attack.
1 QPR Aston villa 0
32% Possession 68%
Passes
276 Total 587
206 Short Passes 487
63% Pass Success 85%
16 Shots 18
7 Shots on target 5
For villa 13 of those shots were from open play and 5 came from set plays
I think as Dean Smith said and having watched match the big chances not taken were obviously costly. But also we put in a good football playing performance .
However too many passes for the back defensive players .
A real need for a creative midfielder to get on the ball. Or for the midfield to come and pick the ball up off the defense. McGinn passing was loose at times and that needed improving .
Outside of Grealish (65 passes) the players which passed the ball the most Tuanzebe 68 (most passes) , Chester 63 , Taylor 64 and Hutton 60.
Even though villa dominated possession we were poor at finishing but the encouraging signs were there to see and such a shift in style from the previous regime .
Felt Tuanzabe and Hutton had a good game to day and Grealish was very decent too.
***Jack stats***
Jack was having more shots and attacking a lot more.
He had 96.9 passing accuracy played 65 passes
96 touches the most in the team.
Dispossessed twice
He had 6 shots 1 on target and the most of any villa player. Jack had a cheeky free kick that hit the post .
And 4 crosses.
Won 5 free kicks
Did 2 fouls.
Could see the difference and difficulty defenders have with Kodija when he plays right up top and he would be good to take those big chances that were falling to Tammy .
Kodjia won the most fouls 6 tonight and he was troubling QPR defence.
Before match they played interview on sky with Tammy saying his favorite position is wide left striker I think that would have been good option for him today.
Only for a smalll while he was out left.
Chester switched off for the goal as it went over his head ball watching and Taylor was unable to get across too but it was Chester who should have been alert and was poor defending.
Axel Tuanzebe was best defender but I think Hutton ran close as he played position well and due to limited QPR attacks didt get much trouble having to defend!
I enjoyed Grealish game and he's really performing in this side and hopeful comes together with goals and assists
Kodjia too showing signs but performance need to grow.
Set pieces weren't the greatest by Villa and the confidence levels at times were lacking in passing ball effectively but it certainly a lot of positive play.
I think with a week ahead of coaching and becoming more accustomed to Smith philosophy then Bolton at home could be a great goal scoring total football performance!
Up the villa.
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on a positive note noticed we went up to 18'th in the world rankings tonight
Fair play, impressive work by Warnock.
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Still not quite too sure what to make of that to be honest. There were some periods where we played some good football at a decent tempo, but that was interspersed with some really poor play.
The front three towards the end of Bolasie, Kodjia and Abraham were particularly disappointing and did not look up for the physical challenge that their defenders brought. The defence looked suspect again and although I thought Tuanzebe did OK again apart from a few stray passes, the other 3 were poor. Chester just doesn't look comfortable on the left side and it was a really poor goal to concede.
Game by game, players are getting found out by the new system and style Smith is trying to implement. We are short on cover, but I think Taylor and Hutton are two that are just not going to fit into the style of play along with a number of others. The job is looking bigger after each game at the moment.
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It just shows me how little actual coaching has gone into this bunch in the last couple of years. It is borderline negligent.
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To be fair, on another night we could have easily scored 4 or 5 goals such was the domination for large spells of the match.
Unfortunately we are more than a 3rd into the season now and we have a pathetic 18 points. Way too much time.was taken getting rid of Bruce and we are now trying to learn a whole new philosophy at a time we should be easily picking up points.
Its difficult to see us getting enough points from the next month or so to keep touch.
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I know we had plenty of the ball tonight but a lot of it reminded me of the flirts Lambert game at West Ham with little to offer, just lots of sideways stuff with no end product.
I don’t remember their keeper making a real save, though Abraham should have buried his chance, and we have to be better in the final third - the front players never seemed to really be in tune with each other. From my live games this season it appears Abraham cannot play with his back to goal so maybe Kodjia would have been better there.
We had a good spell just after half time but those corners led to little as their defence was winning all the headers. According to those stats a few posts above QPR had more shots on target than us.
Overall I was really disappointed tonight - a poor result away at a poor team.
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To be fair, on another night we could have easily scored 4 or 5 goals such was the domination for large spells of the match.
Unfortunately we are more than a 3rd into the season now and we have a pathetic 18 points. Way too much time.was taken getting rid of Bruce and we are now trying to learn a whole new philosophy at a time we should be easily picking up points.
Its difficult to see us getting enough points from the next month or so to keep touch.
We could've scored 4 or 5? When?!
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I know we had plenty of the ball tonight but a lot of it reminded me of the flirts Lambert game at West Ham with little to offer, just lots of sideways stuff with no end product.
I don’t remember their keeper making a real save, though Abraham should have buried his chance, and we have to be better in the final third - the front players never seemed to really be in tune with each other. From my live games this season it appears Abraham cannot play with his back to goal so maybe Kodjia would have been better there.
We had a good spell just after half time but those corners led to little as their defence was winning all the headers. According to those stats a few posts above QPR had more shots on target than us.
Overall I was really disappointed tonight - a poor result away at a poor team.
That was the game I saw.
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To be fair, on another night we could have easily scored 4 or 5 goals such was the domination for large spells of the match.
Unfortunately we are more than a 3rd into the season now and we have a pathetic 18 points. Way too much time.was taken getting rid of Bruce and we are now trying to learn a whole new philosophy at a time we should be easily picking up points.
Its difficult to see us getting enough points from the next month or so to keep touch.
We could've scored 4 or 5? When?!
During the course of the match. Abraham especially was very poor tonight with his touch in and around goal.
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Abraham was poor, and because he was poor there was no way we could've scored two, let alone four or five.
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Plenty of possession with no end product...the final ball is either misplaced or miscontrolled. Too many bad players pretending they are better than they are in Villa shirt, and there is a lack of genuine quality throughout the squad. Much needed time on the training ground this week even if its getting them to do the basics like being able to pass to each other to create chances and shoot...oh, and how not to take foul throws.
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We played like Tony Mowbrays side when he was in charge of smethwick.
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Any links to Deans post game interviews?
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Just got back. Like many I'm a bit perplexed by the way the game played out. My real worry was thinking late in the second half that I could well be watching Villa play in the second tier of English football for the next decade. All very sad!
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To be fair, on another night we could have easily scored 4 or 5 goals such was the domination for large spells of the match.
Unfortunately we are more than a 3rd into the season now and we have a pathetic 18 points. Way too much time.was taken getting rid of Bruce and we are now trying to learn a whole new philosophy at a time we should be easily picking up points.
Its difficult to see us getting enough points from the next month or so to keep touch.
We could've scored 4 or 5? When?!
Yes makes sense.
Breakdown:
Taking literally 5 shots on target so yes.
However there were the 5 combined shots Abrahams and Kodjia but a failure to get any shot on target . So yes if they we're on target then yes .
But chances wise Mcginn and Grealish could have scored as could have Abraham and Bolasie.
To say 4 or 5 makes sense !
Shots 18
Shots on target 5
Grealish 6 with 1 on target.
Abraham 4 shots
McGinn 3 shots
Tuanzebe 2 shots both on target
Bolasie 2 shots both on target
Kodjia 1 shot.
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Abraham was poor, and because he was poor there was no way we could've scored two, let alone four or five.
Thats a fair enough point. On the flip side I'd say we got into easily enough situations to score multiple goals tonight. We will play far far worse and win games going forward.
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I know we had plenty of the ball tonight but a lot of it reminded me of the flirts Lambert game at West Ham with little to offer, just lots of sideways stuff with no end product.
I don’t remember their keeper making a real save, though Abraham should have buried his chance, and we have to be better in the final third - the front players never seemed to really be in tune with each other. From my live games this season it appears Abraham cannot play with his back to goal so maybe Kodjia would have been better there.
We had a good spell just after half time but those corners led to little as their defence was winning all the headers. According to those stats a few posts above QPR had more shots on target than us.
Overall I was really disappointed tonight - a poor result away at a poor team.
Makes a lot of realistic reading that Pat. And great observations. I concur with Tammy and like Kodjia up top and Abraham left wide.
I can understand the disappointment and frustration .
And a few times I felt there was shades of Lambert style possession theory with the many touches and passing in our half .
I was encouraged and hope somewhere you were too .
I read too someone posting and sounding hopeful of Bolton match. I certainly am as they are quality wise far less than QPR who were a try hand defending lead countr attack outfit tonight rightly said quite poor but a team no less where as Bolton much weaker.
I think playing as we did and taking big chances then obviously a hopeful of a big win next time out
I hope you get to enjoy that match and moving forward to enjoy some winning matches .
But it's such a good post felt needed reference and hopefully spread you some good vibes for future .
Cheers
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To be fair, on another night we could have easily scored 4 or 5 goals such was the domination for large spells of the match.
Unfortunately we are more than a 3rd into the season now and we have a pathetic 18 points. Way too much time.was taken getting rid of Bruce and we are now trying to learn a whole new philosophy at a time we should be easily picking up points.
Its difficult to see us getting enough points from the next month or so to keep touch.
We could've scored 4 or 5? When?!
During the course of the match. Abraham especially was very poor tonight with his touch in and around goal.
Stats:
Possession wise it was his best match of the season .
A notable far higher passing accuracy at 81%
32 touches.
However he was dispossessed 4 times
And miscontrolled 2 times
Basically there's talent and it's raw and developing .
I've seen him under 21 level miss glorious chances yet remember how clinic he was at Bristol city.
For Swansea in premier he had a spell of a few goals but was generally lacking at that level and also not putting away his big chances
I think at this level he needs the right system and obvious service.
Tonight I didn't think he was great apart from noticeable playing better passing / link up .
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I was out tonight so watched the whole thing on record without knowing the score.
MaClaren: What game was he watching? 'I thought we controlled the second half.' He must have blinked during the 15-minute battering we gave them during that half.
Their defence: Strong, resolute, brave.
Our attack: Sometimes wayward, sometimes unlucky, most of the time powder puff.
Our football generally: Too many on here are giving everyone a hard time. If we'd put a couple of those chances away we'd be saying how well we played and controlled the game.
Hutton, Elmo: Not deserving of half the invective flying at them on here. They both put in a shift and both work well together.
Taylor: Now that's another matter.
Dean Smith: You can already see what he's trying to do and he's had about three full training sessions. Patience boys and girls.
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You can't polish a turd and we are currently a massive pile of shite.
Long way back.
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We had more than enough chances to win, and controlled much of the game. We were not bullied by a very physical side on a good run of form.
Bruce has left us hobbled, but we are on our way.
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I thought we played alright, not wonderful, but enough for me to stay awake after getting up at 3:45am to watch it.
I think we'll beat Bolton and do ok after that. I predict top 8 by January 1st, touching distance to the top 6 and think playing the so called bigger teams will suit us.
I also think the Blues game is pivotal. A win against them will galvanise us.
It's definitely not a season to write off just yet. Judging by some of the things being said on twitter, you'd think we were at the bottom of some senior League.
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There is reason to be concerned though at the moment though - I can't be bothered to do the maths but we could easily be in the bottom five or so tonight . Again Skillz would know in a flash but we've hardly won a game since QPR beat us at Villa Park last season to effectively ruin any hope of automatic promotion and it feels like they have done so again after last night. Very depressing - nobody knows at this stage how things will pan out, I'm being more than pessimistic I know, but my faith is being sorely tested.
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From the match thread
So our fullbacks ever stop a cross?
No.
Nor do they ever seem capable of stopping a winger turning to face goal. It's as though they have no faith in their own ability, so are scared to stay tight early.
Everybody loves to see a committed last-ditch slide or block, but I'd sooner we defended properly and stopped the danger in the first place.
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You're being pessimistic? Really?
Chester needs to pull his head out of his arse the dopey twat. Two utter fucking horror shows from him.
Axel meanwhile, some loose passing aside, is looking decent. Collins in please and Chester out.
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my little lad and i got on SKY tv last night in that fans outside the ground bit filmed near the start of the programme
that was his best moment from the evening
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Is Chester sulking?
He doesn’t seem right to me.
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I’ve reflected on the second half and maybe I was too harsh. It’s not that we were terrible, it’s more that in the second half in spite of all the possession we had there’s not one player I could say played really well. Maybe that’s a good thing, because once they do we might create a lot more clear cut chances.
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I didn't see the game but from the comments it sounds like sort of performance you get if you've focused on passing but not had the time (or inclination) to work on movement.
I think a full week of training will help massively.
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It was an improvement on Tuesday. A combination of wasteful finishing and strong defending by QPR cost us added to a touch of dozy defending for their goal. I reckon if McGinn had taken his chance in the first half then it could have been very different.
Overall I think there are clear signs that the manager is getting his message across. I think we will see steady improvement over the next couple of months.
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Smith has had literally about 3 days training with the full squad since he got the job. The next week will be bliss for him to actually work on things a bit more thoroughly. We are in transition from a hit n hope merchant to one who plays football. It's going to take time to work, some astute signings and some cutting of the ones that can't follow.
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Their goal came about because our entire team momentarily switched off, waiting for a whistle against us. Milliseconds later, it means we've no pressure on the ball in midfield where McGinn would've been, and the goalscorer's stolen a march on Chester.
That's somewhat annoying, and we had enough decent possession around their box that we should've scored enough for it to have seen us still come away with at least a point.
We're getting more shots in, and I think once we can get 90 minutes out of Bolasie we'll be a whole different threat.
I take back everything negative I might have ever said about Bjarnason, alongside McGinn he's looked a force, and I hope he's straight back.
Piss poor all round on Tuesday, but enjoyed watching us last night for the most part. I can well live with this passing malarky, get the movement bit up to speed too and it's definitely the way to go.
This was always going to be a difficult week for a new manager, but I can see more of a style after it than I could after two years previously. It's coming, we've got no midweek games to distract Smith for a while, it'll all be firing in time to give the rags a good shoeing.
Onwards and upwards, I have no doubt.
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I know every team has got them but we’ve got some right twats following us. Why do people travel away and then just constantly moan and slag off everything the team do? The bloke next to me considered this reasonable behaviour along with belching out loud every two minutes.
When I queried his constant negative ‘backing’ I was met with “fuck off i’ve payed, I can say what I want”
I tried the “it isn’t going to change overnight” tact but gave up. Dick.
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Their goal came about because our entire team momentarily switched off, waiting for a whistle against us. Milliseconds later, it means we've no pressure on the ball in midfield where McGinn would've been, and the goalscorer's stolen a march on Chester.
That's somewhat annoying, and we had enough decent possession around their box that we should've scored enough for it to have seen us still come away with at least a point.
We're getting more shots in, and I think once we can get 90 minutes out of Bolasie we'll be a whole different threat.
I take back everything negative I might have ever said about Bjarnason, alongside McGinn he's looked a force, and I hope he's straight back.
Piss poor all round on Tuesday, but enjoyed watching us last night for the most part. I can well live with this passing malarky, get the movement bit up to speed too and it's definitely the way to go.
This was always going to be a difficult week for a new manager, but I can see more of a style after it than I could after two years previously. It's coming, we've got no midweek games to distract Smith for a while, it'll all be firing in time to give the rags a good shoeing.
Onwards and upwards, I have no doubt.
Absolutely Agreed.
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I think we all need to give Smith some time.
The last few performances under Bruce were shambolic.
Smith is assessing the players whilst at the same time trying to introducing concepts that have become alien to them: passing, possession and supporting the man on the ball.
Things are improving albeit perhaps too slowly for some fans. We wanted Bruce out and most of us were happy to see Smith appointed.We need to give him time and get behind the team.
There will be mistakes as the new approach is adopted and the players need to know that they won't be booed during this period - we need to boost their confidence.
Bruce turned them into the basket cases they've become. Smith is slowly turning that around.
Rome wasn't (re)built in a day. Nor will the World's Greatest Football Club.
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Is Chester sulking?
He doesn’t seem right to me.
Have been wondering the same to be honest Andy. He's been with Bruce for quite a bit of his career so I suppose there is a chance that he is not happy about his sacking.
I would add that he never looks too comfortable when he plays on the left side of central defence and having watched him play for us and Wales for a few years now, he is not the greatest in possesion.
All that said, he's been a very good signing for us and it's a bit early to be writing him off just yet.
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Chester was OK a couple of years ago but only really looked a class player when he was alongside Terry. Not only did that give him an excellent partner, it also took him out of the limelight.
To me, Chester doesn't appear to be a great leader/organiser. He either needs an experienced partner alongside him or a confident/vocal keeper behind him.
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We played like Tony Mowbrays side when he was in charge of smethwick.
Won the league in 07/08 with 81 points so would take a bit of that!
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Chester was OK a couple of years ago but only really looked a class player when he was alongside Terry. Not only did that give him an excellent partner, it also took him out of the limelight.
To me, Chester doesn't appear to be a great leader/organiser. He either needs an experienced partner alongside him or a confident/vocal keeper behind him.
I would agree with that. If you look back to his first season it just didn't click when he played with Elphick yet he looked much better with Baker in the second half of the season so suggests he needs a CB next who can dominate in the air and he can drop off and read the game.
Good player but massively out of form atm.
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Is Chester sulking?
He doesn’t seem right to me.
Have been wondering the same to be honest Andy. He's been with Bruce for quite a bit of his career so I suppose there is a chance that he is not happy about his sacking.
I would add that he never looks too comfortable when he plays on the left side of central defence and having watched him play for us and Wales for a few years now, he is not the greatest in possesion.
All that said, he's been a very good signing for us and it's a bit early to be writing him off just yet.
Not being happy at Bruce’s sacking doesn’t explain his poor form before Bruce was given the boot though. He’s been poor from day one this season.
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I know we had plenty of the ball tonight but a lot of it reminded me of the flirts Lambert game at West Ham with little to offer, just lots of sideways stuff with no end product.
I don’t remember their keeper making a real save, though Abraham should have buried his chance, and we have to be better in the final third - the front players never seemed to really be in tune with each other. From my live games this season it appears Abraham cannot play with his back to goal so maybe Kodjia would have been better there.
We had a good spell just after half time but those corners led to little as their defence was winning all the headers. According to those stats a few posts above QPR had more shots on target than us.
Overall I was really disappointed tonight - a poor result away at a poor team.
Makes a lot of realistic reading that Pat. And great observations. I concur with Tammy and like Kodjia up top and Abraham left wide.
I can understand the disappointment and frustration .
And a few times I felt there was shades of Lambert style possession theory with the many touches and passing in our half .
I was encouraged and hope somewhere you were too .
I read too someone posting and sounding hopeful of Bolton match. I certainly am as they are quality wise far less than QPR who were a try hand defending lead countr attack outfit tonight rightly said quite poor but a team no less where as Bolton much weaker.
I think playing as we did and taking big chances then obviously a hopeful of a big win next time out
I hope you get to enjoy that match and moving forward to enjoy some winning matches .
But it's such a good post felt needed reference and hopefully spread you some good vibes for future .
Cheers
Ha cheers footy skills. If you’d heard me during the game you’d think I was suffering from Tourette’s. I never really felt we were going to score.
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I thought we played some good football at times , you can see what Deano is trying to do but he has hardly had any time, but lovely not to see Bruceball.
I thought Jack was back to his best , I liked watching him last night and SJM had a great first half .
Taylor , Elmo , Whelan and Hutton all crap , I will be glad when these lot have gone and Deano brings in young positive players who can play his style of football.
Why did the football turn into a Rugby ball every time Abraham went to control it or shoot.
Kodja looked ok without doing anything , and I wish Bolaise would get fit to start at least.
disappointed but can see what Deano is trying to do.
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How many balls did we give away last night due to unforced errors?
Way to many
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it looked like a 433 to me, yet the wingers/inside forwards looked like square pegs in round holes. Kodija and Elmo worked hard but didn't look like beating the full backs too often. Jimmy likes to come inside but taylor never overlapped that I can remember.
A fit Bolasie could unlock the team.
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I noticed at half time Bolasie was doing extra sprinting and after he crossed the ball he stamped his foot down. I just wonder how far off fitness he is.
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Smith has had literally about 3 days training with the full squad since he got the job. The next week will be bliss for him to actually work on things a bit more thoroughly. We are in transition from a hit n hope merchant to one who plays football. It's going to take time to work, some astute signings and some cutting of the ones that can't follow.
This. QPR reminded me of our average level of performance under O'Neill - all counter-attacking stuff but no real mix of play. Early days I know, but I thought in our better moments we moved the ball well and I didn't detect the 'rabbit-in-the headlights' response from most of our players (sorry Neil!) that's been too much in evidence: for how many years/managers...?
Probably been said ad nauseam already, but the fixture timetabling genius who decided that 3 league matches with 2-day gaps is conducive to good football might have something to do with some of the tired decision-making when we needed decisiveness (Jack). Before anyone says that many clubs have the same shit fixture-crowding, I would no more wish this on any other club than I would want to feel schadenfreude in response to the steady impoverishment of any 'Leave' voters when you-know-what happens. (Except the rich architects of it all: Aaron Banks, Nigels Farage & Lawson, James Dyson, John Redwood, Lord Snooty and many other pals who've made cosy alternative arrangements anyway - mouth in one direction, money in another.)
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I think Smith needs to make some decisions based on how he sees this team looking next season. We have older players at the end of their contracts and we have loan players that I do not think we will be buying. With that in mind, he has to start to weed out some of those players.
Chester needs a strong centre half alongside him and he needs to play on the right. So straight away, Smith has a dilemma there as Axel has looked good but also needs a strong centre half alongside him. It is clear that we need a dominant left-sided central defender.
You could then move on to the right back position and think that Hutton is not defending well and doesn't make up for that on an attacking front. He will not get another contract, so another position to review. At left back we have been weak for some time and this needs to be sorted once and for all in January. Strangely, we have two players out on loan that could come in if they were available.
There are other positions where we have similar situations. Bruce has left us in a terrible situation with his short term thinking. Now is the time to start making some of those changes and stop rotating the same players.
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did our neil taylor play tonight ? just like to keep tabs on his progress back . want him to be in tip top form ahead of the wales game against denmark in a few weeks time .
MOTM. You can have him for Cardiff in January for £10m.
We'd have to pay them more than that!
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Firstly many thanks to Horatio horblower for the tickets. Gallagher, sims, Evans and gage, a back 4 that did its job 30 years ago. We need a defence that can dig in and be solid when needed. If we can turn the year and be 3 points near the play offs we have a chance. I'm chuffed Bruce is gone and chuffed Smith is in charge. I sat last night in an area that I stood in 1990, awful. £5 for a bottle of beer. London is a souless shit hole, fucking hate the potentious toilet.
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Highlights from last night
Walking into the royal George at Euston full of villa
Paying £5.20 a pint in the pub next to the shopping arcade on Shepherd’s Bush road
Going the weatherspoons
That qpr bloke who thought he was a Mexican
A quick getaway from what was a disaster of a game
Looking forward to next Friday
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The wetherspoons was great, top value and we managed to get a table.
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Highlights from last night
Walking into the royal George at Euston full of villa
Paying £5.20 a pint in the pub next to the shopping arcade on Shepherd’s Bush road
Going the weatherspoons
That qpr bloke who thought he was a Mexican
A quick getaway from what was a disaster of a game
Looking forward to next Friday
The various dreadful singing on public transport including a rendition of the 12 days of Christmas (the European Cup-winning team version) where they kept forgetting who was number 6 & in the end one of them had to google it!
The young lads on the tube whose smooth chat up lines to the poor unsuspecting young girls in the carriage between Marble Arch & Oxford Circus included ‘Do you know if there’s a shop round here?’
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London is a souless shit hole, fucking hate the potentious toilet.
The wetherspoons was great, top value and we managed to get a table.
Soulless, you say?
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Wetherspoons has no boundaries or borders.
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Ok mate.
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They are the kiddies to help Mrs May with her back stop problem.
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Highlights from last night
Walking into the royal George at Euston full of villa
Paying £5.20 a pint in the pub next to the shopping arcade on Shepherd’s Bush road
Going the weatherspoons
That qpr bloke who thought he was a Mexican
A quick getaway from what was a disaster of a game
Looking forward to next Friday
The various dreadful singing on public transport including a rendition of the 12 days of Christmas (the European Cup-winning team version) where they kept forgetting who was number 6 & in the end one of them had to google it!
The young lads on the tube whose smooth chat up lines to the poor unsuspecting young girls in the carriage between Marble Arch & Oxford Circus included ‘Do you know if there’s a shop round here?’
Mortimer. There is another version to the Mcnaught song - when they sing Paul McGrath for each position arrrrrrrhhhhh
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I thought the McGrath version was sang by Ireland fans rather than us, can't remember Villa ever singing it.
Who is twelfth in our European Cup twelve days of Christmas song?
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I thought the McGrath version was sang by Ireland fans rather than us, can't remember Villa ever singing it.
Who is twelfth in our European Cup twelve days of Christmas song?
I don’t remember but logically Spink. Or the linesman who flagged their offside goal 3 minutes from the end.
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Spink would make sense. I was wondering if we might just skip the numbering convention and sing something like "Manager Tony Barton", before carrying on with "11 Tony Morley", etc.
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Although apparently Spink was actually number sixteen!
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Highlights from last night
Walking into the royal George at Euston full of villa
Paying £5.20 a pint in the pub next to the shopping arcade on Shepherd’s Bush road
Going the weatherspoons
That qpr bloke who thought he was a Mexican
A quick getaway from what was a disaster of a game
Looking forward to next Friday
The various dreadful singing on public transport including a rendition of the 12 days of Christmas (the European Cup-winning team version) where they kept forgetting who was number 6 & in the end one of them had to google it!
The young lads on the tube whose smooth chat up lines to the poor unsuspecting young girls in the carriage between Marble Arch & Oxford Circus included ‘Do you know if there’s a shop round here?’
Mortimer. There is another version to the Mcnaught song - when they sing Paul McGrath for each position arrrrrrrhhhhh
Just to be clear - I wasn’t asking! I just couldn’t quite understand how a group of fans who tortured the entire carriage with every Villa song back to Patmcmacmcmahon had forgotten that Dennis Mortimer was number 6 in our European Cup winning team!
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The man was much greater than the number on his back that's why and....and also may be they were pissed yoof? :)
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Their supporters sounded right wankers at the end. Terry getting stick. Our away support getting stick...... Even Lee Hendrie pitch side.
One of our fans was giving Hendrie stick as well.
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I'm not surprised - he looks like he takes a bath in Tango every night
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....as I say - every tune back to Patmcmacmcmahon - not pissed yoof. (A bloke about my age definitely pissed, but definitely no yoof!)
Of course much more than the number on the back of his shirt, but when you are on a shirt numbering based song about the greatest Villa team any of us remember, forgetting that one in particular is decidedly weird. There’s probably only Peter Withe that could be less easy to forget!
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Went with my poor brother who has only known misery supporting the Villa and always seems to go to games where we lose and don't score. I probably put the kiss of death on it before the game saying we had scored in every game this season...
I know people are annoyed that for all our approach play we didn't test their keeper enough but to be honest, I've never seen us dominate a game like that under Bruce.
To be honest, it reminded me of a big team playing a plucky underdog away in the Cup - the crowd getting antsy in both first and second halves when we had sustained possession coupled with their fuckwit supporters throwing the ball to each other to time-waste and prevent us from getting on with the game (fucking hell Fernandes, a few ball boys on six quid an hour is hardly going to put a dent in your coffers).
Grealish was head and shoulders the best player on display - demanding the ball, taking it out of tight situations, probing and trying to get us going. Lack of end product more down to the lack of movement ahead of him and players on nowhere near the same wavelength. It was the first Villa game I've seen in the flesh this season and I thought he was outstanding and unfortunately, if he wants it, will definitely get a PL move next summer if we're still stuck here.
Abrahams got no change out of the centre back marking him but he seemed to be obsessed with anticipating the challenge from behind when a high ball came to him so much that he started to lean back into the defender and was off-balance when trying to control the ball and invariably lost it. He really needs to work at that or if coming in from the left is his stronger position as he has stated, let's try him there. Kodjia was his usual infuriating self...I was desperately hoping for Hogan to replace one of them such was their ineffectiveness.
One other observation - Bolasie looked like he couldn't run properly when he came on, he had a real awkward gait especially noticeable just after releasing the ball. I really hope we haven't signed a crock as he certainly has the ability to terrorise defences in this league. Is he always so quick at swinging a cross over? Makes a nice change from our usual dilly-dallying but I did wonder was he doing it due to physical pain.
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Disappointed with losing I know Dean Smith will get us going on a winnng run and then watch us climb the table.
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Chester was at fault for the goal, but Axel should have been on the cover. As soon as he saw their midfielder getting set to loft the pass, he should have been on his bike, and he would have beaten the scorer easily with his pace.