Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: PeterWithesShin on December 28, 2019, 04:54:50 PM
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Well that was shit.
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Worst to date?
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I had hoped the game against Southampton was rock bottom, but we managed to plumb even further depths with that humiliating shambles. Something needs to change, and very quickly.
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Humiliating
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Smith out. Simple
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Has to be the end!
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Incoming.
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Let’s start with the positives........(tumbleweed)
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This was as bad as anything in 2015-16. Quite simply we are getting relegated unless there is a change of manager now and time to buy new players.
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Disgraceful. How are your traps Dean. Unacceptable and it’s gettuhg worse.
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He's not a quick learner our Dean is he.
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*Villa badge torn asunder gif*
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That starting 11 had a sound beating written all over it, I know we are down 2 first choice players but bloody hell, we've wasted some money on shit.
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Scandalous but predictable. Awful team selection to Deeney scoring.
Distressingly bad.
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Unacceptable and it’s getting worse.
And there's no rational reason to think it will get any better with the current set up.
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The brief flicker of hope at the red card was unfortunately a false dawn.
Slow in closing down, laborious in possession. Wesley will take a lot of flak but the time we take in recycling the ball means he’s very little chance of being effective.
3 goals again given away from individual mistakes which you can’t blame Smith for. But sadly I think his time is up.
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No other way now, I would expect news that Smith has gone within the next 24 hours, not saying this with any malice, I always thought this was going to be tough for him to attract the right players and no experience of the Premiership, so there it is, he must go.
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Jack getting himself booked on 95 + put the tin hat on today.
As disgraceful a performance I have seen from a Villa team, and I have witnessed some real shit over the years, like most of us on here.
There really is no point analysing or rationalising the game, the decisions and the performance.
The only thing to hope for is that the owners have a decisive streak in them.
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Horrible, horrible, horrible stuff.
Only Hause comes out with his head held high for me.
But a word about Sarr. What a t*** he was all game, notwithstanding the fact he's a decent player.
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Legend for getting us up, massively out of his depth now.
Watch Wolves against 10 men yesterday, watch us against 10 men four times this season. Embarrasing stuff.
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Anyone who thinks Smith will resign is very much mistaken, he will want his payout,and I don’t blame him
If they do get rid then i should imagine that Moyes will get the job
Listening to Jack at lunchtime today, I would imagine he will want away as well
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The manager looks lost, the players look half arsed, the stats are damning. Only a change will give us a chance I'm afraid, I don't believe any manager would expect to survive this set of results, performances and our place in the table.
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No athleticism is midfield. Awful squad once a couple of key players are out.
The line up looked Championship standard but didn't even perform to league one level. Where do we go next? Can anyone see where another 20 points are coming from?
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So to the posters who questioned any one who said the team Dean played or had a hand in bringing to the club were being negative, A blind man could see that team was going to get beat. I hope people realise that the players & how they are played, along with Dean are letting us down. I feel sorry for Dean, but he will take us down. Over to the board
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That was a catastrophe from beginning to end. Even when we had reasonable spells our ability to shoot our selves in the foot was exemplary. Their second goal was just bizarre. Every body in the ground could see Targett was prostrate except our bloody players and guess what, not for the first time this season the opposition score where there is huge gap. Amateurs
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Anyone who thinks Smith will resign is very much mistaken, he will want his payout,and I don’t blame him
If they do get rid then i should imagine that Moyes will get the job
Listening to Jack at lunchtime today, I would imagine he will want away as well
Why Moyes? I can't fucking stand the bloke.
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There is something not right between the players and coaching staff and when that happens there is usually just one outcome.
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That was genuinely as bad as anything in the relegation season.
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That was utter Blues. The worst Villa performance I’ve seen for quite a long time.
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Moyes because he has premier league experience and kept West Ham up when they were in the shit, also he is available now!
Can’t think of anyone else who is going to walk away from their job to a relegation threatened team
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That was shockingly bad - from selection, to performance, to lack of effort or even pride. I wouldn't give Smith any more money - he'd still pick Wesley and play Jack out of position. Trouble is, given our current position it's going to be hard to attract either decent players or a decent replacement for Smith. I think we're well and truly fucked.
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We lacked energy, pace, nous and flair. Oh, and discipline.
Everything else was fine.
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There clearly was truth in the rumours that the players were having meetings from which Smith was excluded. As somebody said they played today as though they wanted him sacked.
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Leave now, your level is Walsall and Brentford, take Terry with you as well... GO!
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Catastro fucking omnishambles.
If Smith survives this I’ll be amazed.
Time to move from worried to extremely worried.
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Smith stood in the tunnel at the end there, like he was about to go to war with the players. A post above mentioned that there's something not right in the camp.
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For once I'll be genuinely interested to hear what Smith has to say post-match. If he mentions effort or the officials I'll be raging.
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There clearly was truth in the rumours that the players were having meetings from which Smith was excluded. As somebody said they played today as though they wanted him sacked.
This is very worrying.
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So much for the Norwich win giving the team some confidence, never thought for a moment we would go onto win, when they went down to 10 men, sorry Dean you've gotta to go.
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Steven Gerrard for me. He'd get the team fired up.
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There clearly was truth in the rumours that the players were having meetings from which Smith was excluded. As somebody said they played today as though they wanted him sacked.
Well the players meetings certainly didn’t bring an upturn in performances. They are equally to blame with one or two exceptions. Awful
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For some reason or other something seems to have happened between Smith and the players. We are no longer a unit. No idea how we have come to this.
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There clearly was truth in the rumours that the players were having meetings from which Smith was excluded. As somebody said they played today as though they wanted him sacked.
This is very worrying.
Where did these rumours come from?
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Fuck me. That was horrific.
What a rabble.......It was like they just met in the car park before the game.
Something is clearly wrong in the dressing room as there was a clear lack of effort out there today.
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Clueless, gutless, and completely unacceptable. It’s time to stick somebody else in the manager’s office - in a bid to sort out this utter feckin’ shambles. Sorry Dean: you’re completely out of your depth. Next!
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There clearly was truth in the rumours that the players were having meetings from which Smith was excluded. As somebody said they played today as though they wanted him sacked.
This is very worrying.
Exactly. The sort of thing the 2015/16 players would have done. If it's true, we're down, they clearly don't care.
On the plus side today, the kit man can have a day off because there won't be a drop of sweat on those shirts.
Spineless.
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There clearly was truth in the rumours that the players were having meetings from which Smith was excluded. As somebody said they played today as though they wanted him sacked.
This is very worrying.
Exactly. The sort of thing the 2015/16 players would have done. If it's true, we're down, they clearly don't care.
On the plus side today, the kit man can have a day off because there won't be a drop of sweat on those shirts.
Spineless.
Hang on. If these “rumours” are true then surely they do care. Or am I missing something?
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Thank goodness Watford only had one player sent off. Might have been embarrassing otherwise...
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There clearly was truth in the rumours that the players were having meetings from which Smith was excluded. As somebody said they played today as though they wanted him sacked.
If there's any truth in this, I'd happily sell those players and give Smith more time.
they clearly weren't trying. you don't need an elite manager to tell you to chase your man instead of casually stroll about the pitch. If the players aren't going to work their arses off, they can fuck off.
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There clearly was truth in the rumours that the players were having meetings from which Smith was excluded. As somebody said they played today as though they wanted him sacked.
This is very worrying.
Exactly. The sort of thing the 2015/16 players would have done. If it's true, we're down, they clearly don't care.
On the plus side today, the kit man can have a day off because there won't be a drop of sweat on those shirts.
Spineless.
Hang on. If these “rumours” are true then surely they do care. Or am I missing something?
Yeah, because they really cared today didn't they? They've just led down and let the team at the bottom of the league, with ten men, trample all over them.
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Seemed to lose all spirit in that game.
As game wore on villa wore out
Pretty lacking all round.
Grealish lost his emotional control and too many were not up to the grade.
Smith was rampant in touchline never seen him so wild
Those 2 in particular are feeling strain .
Very disappointed in Jota and Hourihane as well as Elmo they didn't see up to speed
Targett isn't doing his recovery right with his Hamstring going and Lansbury just hasn't the legs.
Konsa and Hause try but the squad and players are lacking at the moment and confidence seems shot.
Hopefully something can be done to boost the players
Can only look onto Burnley next.
Hope can be there having seen a Southampton side lose 9-0 at home and turns things around so it's not lost .
I don't think Smith should be going he can just get the results going then be ok.
Will see what happens v Burnley as that game is one that can be won if Villa get going
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For some reason or other something seems to have happened between Smith and the players. We are no longer a unit. No idea how we have come to this.
I think its the cumulative effect he has had on the team.
Players are not automatons, they see close up what we are seeing. Eventually they get affected by poor management.
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The ball retention was terrible. Discipline poor- Grealish in particular, which gives me no pleasure to say. If it wasn’t for Heaton it could’ve been 5 or 6 nil. Not a fucking clue any of them. We’re in the shit now and probably going down. It looks like he’s lost the players.
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I had really, really hoped that I'd never have to experience the utter corrosive nothingness of a meek, factional relegation again. Going down will always suck, but having to clean up a toxic culture again without one of the best players we'll ever produce really fucking sucks.
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This must be the only team whose supporters' hearts sink when the opposition have a player sent off. Being less effective against 10 men does not bode well as it shows we can't adapt.
The form rate in the Sports Argus would have been the very rarely used "dismal".
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These three games against the bottom three were going to define our season. Well they have certainly done that, and not in a good way. Only 3 rather fortunate points from 9 is nowhere near good enough, and that’s before you take into account the sheer ineptitude of at least two of the performances. And conceding two goals to the bottom side after they have gone down to 10 men? It doesn’t get much more damning than that.
Either we’ve pissed £130m down the drain on a load of carthorses or else they aren’t being coached properly. I think it’s a bit of both.
I’d say there is potential in some of this lot to come good, like Ayew, Amavi, Veretout, Guye, and Traore did when they experienced some decent coaching and development, after looking mostly shite or mediocre for us. But others look like complete duds. Pitarch must take some of the blame I suppose, but Smith also seems to have lost them, along with the plot and his coaching manual. Lack of effort, energy, urgency, organisation and confidence are very obvious.
When one of his “answers” is to move our best and most effective player out of position to accommodate Henri Lansbury I think it’s time for a change. That’s the only way we’re getting out of this now, and even then it’s a big ask. Sorry Deano, you had your chance and you’ve blown it.
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The starting line up was a concern to start with ,Watford are full of big ,pacy players ..picking Jota to play wide was a mistake.Houriane again starts and is woeful ,unable to dictate play,no strong or fast enough to impose himself.
Goals wise all mistakes from us really.Firsr should be cleared but Konsa no outball just tries to wack it away ,gets blocked and they end up scoring .2nd Targett on floor they see the gap play Deeney through who waits for Luiz to run into him and goes to ground ..Traore got away with the same move for Wolves last night so not much consitancy but Luiz has to be smarter.3rd Jack pressured gives away the ball and someone how with less men they counter and score with a free man coming in on back post.
We created nothing all game really apart from one Wes chance in FH
When we had the extra man we did nothing ,not for the first time this season either.
Players perhaps not up to it ,physically certainly but the constant playing of the same formation is killing us.
I'm leaning towards Smith needing to go for us to stay in league ,I don't think just adding players will be enough now
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We gave up.
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The starting line up was a concern to start with ,Watford are full of big ,pacy players ..picking Jota to play wide was a mistake.Houriane again starts and is woeful ,unable to dictate play,no strong or fast enough to impose himself.
Goals wise all mistakes from us really.Firsr should be cleared but Konsa no outball just tries to wack it away ,gets blocked and they end up scoring .2nd Targett on floor they see the gap play Deeney through who waits for Luiz to run into him and goes to ground ..Traore got away with the same move for Wolves last night so not much consitancy but Luiz has to be smarter.3rd Jack pressured gives away the ball and someone how with less men they counter and score with a free man coming in on back post.
We created nothing all game really apart from one Wes chance in FH
When we had the extra man we did nothing ,not for the first time this season either.
Players perhaps not up to it ,physically certainly but the constant playing of the same formation is killing us.
I'm leaning towards Smith needing to go for us to stay in league ,I don't think just adding players will be enough now
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Well that started badly, went downhill quickly and the less said about the end the better.
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After the euphoria of March - May this thread makes me sad. He deserves no abuse, but perhaps a thank you for the miracle of May and get an experienced top fight manager in. Not a Moyes or an Allardyce, but honestly think we should make a big play for Sean Dyche
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He came out on sky afterwards having a massive go at the players first half performance. He mentioned the two decisions but then went back to the players performance. If there is a split that’s not going to fix it.
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We’ve signed some footballers this summer, unfortunately you need to be a physical athlete in this league as well.
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After the euphoria of March - May this thread makes me sad. He deserves no abuse, but perhaps a thank you for the miracle of May and get an experienced top fight manager in. Not a Moyes or an Allardyce, but honestly think we should make a big play for Sean Dyche
We can make a big play as much as we like, but why the f**k would Sean Dyche leave Burnley for us????
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After the euphoria of March - May this thread makes me sad. He deserves no abuse, but perhaps a thank you for the miracle of May and get an experienced top fight manager in. Not a Moyes or an Allardyce, but honestly think we should make a big play for Sean Dyche
We can make a big play as much as we like, but why the f**k would Sean Dyche leave Burnley for us????
Probably because we are an infinitely bigger club with better resources and if Villa went for Dyche he would come on the basis it’s probably the biggest job he’d ever get on double the money
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Is this Dyche the manager at Burnley that are also in a relegation scrap?
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Dyche, moyes, Relicdyce all so utterly uninspiring.
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...will any of those managers be able to make some of our players break into sweat?
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After the euphoria of March - May this thread makes me sad. He deserves no abuse, but perhaps a thank you for the miracle of May and get an experienced top fight manager in. Not a Moyes or an Allardyce, but honestly think we should make a big play for Sean Dyche
We can make a big play as much as we like, but why the f**k would Sean Dyche leave Burnley for us????
Probably because we are an infinitely bigger club with better resources and if Villa went for Dyche he would come on the basis it’s probably the biggest job he’d ever get on double the money
Never in a million years.
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Is this Dyche the manager at Burnley that are also in a relegation scrap?
Dyche spent about a fifth what we did in the summer and Burnley have been established playing in the premier league. Isn’t that what we want? They have a tremendous work ethic.
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WM post match interview
https://audioboom.com/posts/7464671
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I'd say one thing for Dyche - he'd know how to use Wesley a damn sight better than Smith. But then so would Allardyce and Pulis. And my nan, and she's been dead nine year.
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After the euphoria of March - May this thread makes me sad. He deserves no abuse, but perhaps a thank you for the miracle of May and get an experienced top fight manager in. Not a Moyes or an Allardyce, but honestly think we should make a big play for Sean Dyche
We can make a big play as much as we like, but why the f**k would Sean Dyche leave Burnley for us????
Probably because we are an infinitely bigger club with better resources and if Villa went for Dyche he would come on the basis it’s probably the biggest job he’d ever get on double the money
I just don't know where we get this from? No, as it stands, Burnley are a better proposition...
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WM post match interview
https://audioboom.com/posts/7464671
That really is poor from him. I know he's under pressure but whinging about perceived injustices helps absolutely nobody. He does it too much.
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After the euphoria of March - May this thread makes me sad. He deserves no abuse, but perhaps a thank you for the miracle of May and get an experienced top fight manager in. Not a Moyes or an Allardyce, but honestly think we should make a big play for Sean Dyche
We can make a big play as much as we like, but why the f**k would Sean Dyche leave Burnley for us????
Probably because we are an infinitely bigger club with better resources and if Villa went for Dyche he would come on the basis it’s probably the biggest job he’d ever get on double the money
I just don't know where we get this from? No, as it stands, Burnley are a better proposition...
I kinda agree and I’m really not one for the over emotional ‘we’re a big club because we won the biggest trophy of them all’ nonsense but I genuinely believe Dyche would not only sort us out, not only keep us up, but also firmly believe he’d leave them for us. Just read in the other thread about Rafa, Poch, et al. Fucking mental talk.
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I've been going to Villa Park for the last 50 years. The last 30 apart from odd exceptions have been nothing to write home about. These days teams like Burnley,The fuckin dingles and Bournemouth look down upon us. A massive fan base we have but a decent football team we dont have. I am getting fuckin tired of it now.
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Smith sounds like a dead man walking in that interview - clutching at the straws of too many games (same for everyone Dean) injuries (same for everyone Dean) dodgy decisions and poor use of VAR can't disguise a series of tactical and motivational abominations.
Fuck no to Dyche - Too much like hoofball for my taste, solid-ish but dull as ditchwater.
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Dyche is a ginger Allardyce really. Can't argue with his results but the football is really poor and wouldn't be welcome at Villa Park.
Only saw first half, two poor sides with both number nines missing complete sitters the only notable moments. Until we kindly handed Deeney the opener. I don't think Smith will or should survive after that result but the new manager has some job to keep that rabble in the division.
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Smith sounds like a dead man walking in that interview - clutching at the straws of too many games (same for everyone Dean) injuries (same for everyone Dean) dodgy decisions and poor use of VAR can't disguise a series of tactical and motivational abominations.
Fuck no to Dyche - Too much like hoofball for my taste, solid-ish but dull as ditchwater.
Not sure this is a time for pretty football triangles. It’s a time for back to the walls fucking fighting to stay in the division
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What's most concerning is that we resemble nothing of the team that ran Spurs and Arsenal ragged at times with high tempo football. Yes, we gave chances away but we were a threat in every game and goals almost guaranteed. Now we still give chances away but don't look like we're ever going to score. We go behind and it's curtains. What has changed so much?
And, off topic but that Pukki offside decision is ludicrous.
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WM post match interview
https://audioboom.com/posts/7464671
That really is poor from him. I know he's under pressure but whinging about perceived injustices helps absolutely nobody. He does it too much.
One of the worst interviews I have heard from him (if not THE worst).
Ranting and rambling, having a dig at the interviewer. He’s lost the plot.
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I wouldn't exchange the playoff win, but how many times do the winners do this? If you go up automatically, it seems to me, it's because you're well ahead of the pack because of teamwork, an ethos and a settled squad. The playoff winners are the ones still standing in the prizefight.
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Just back. Only consolation is how quick I can get home from there! We were physically dominated by them. They worked harder than us and we’re happy to foul when they had to whereas we are too nice.
Desperately need a Capoue type in midfield and also a proper leader. Heaton was the only you could here talking today.
A few of them didn’t look up for the fight today. Don’t think sacking the manager is the answer but we do need to do something quick as we’re heading down without a whimper at the moment.
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What's most concerning is that we resemble nothing of the team that ran Spurs and Arsenal ragged at times with high tempo football. Yes, we gave chances away but we were a threat in every game and goals almost guaranteed. Now we still give chances away but don't look like we're ever going to score. We go behind and it's curtains. What has changed so much?
And, off topic but that Pukki offside decision is ludicrous.
John mcginn and Tyrone Mings
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Just back. Only consolation is how quick I can get home from there! We were physically dominated by them. They worked harder than us and we’re happy to foul when they had to whereas we are too nice.
Desperately need a Capoue type in midfield and also a proper leader. Heaton was the only you could here talking today.
A few of them didn’t look up for the fight today. Don’t think sacking the manager is the answer but we do need to do something quick as we’re heading down without a whimper at the moment.
How did the fans react at the end and during the game toward DS and the team?
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A very sad end to 2019. it's been a fucking disaster since he signed the new contract.
heard a few rumours about Smith being too soft on the players and the squad not being too fond of Terry either.
Jan is huge.
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I've been going to Villa Park for the last 50 years. The last 30 apart from odd exceptions have been nothing to write home about. These days teams like Burnley,The fuckin dingles and Bournemouth look down upon us. A massive fan base we have but a decent football team we dont have. I am getting fuckin tired of it now.
We need to start thinking bigger. That dosen't mean we can just click our fingers and world class managers will come running to us if we sack DS as they won't but you can eventually get to that level through stages. Dean Smith is stage one as he promoted us. Now we need a manager who can keep us up and then establish us as mid table team, that person may not be a popular appointment.
Then you can get to stage where you can attract a really good manager like Everton have. I know they were below us when they got Ancelotti but that was just a case of a mid table club falling below their potential so different perception to us from outside the club.
I'll bang on about it but as a club we never seem to believe we can attract game changing players as ultimately they help lift you up the table. The cry during the MON era was we rarely signed top level players like Spurs did with Van Der Vaart. For every Young or Benteke we sign who do develop into excellent players, we've signed four poor ones who've quickly faded into obscurity.
The difference between these owners and the last ones are if they actually go out and do these things rather than endlessly talking about it. Being in the premier league gives you that advantage we won't have this time next year if we carry on as we are.
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*Villa badge torn asunder gif*
Save it.
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Pathetic interview. As they say, in life, if you don’t accept that you personally have a problem then you can’t even start to put it right.
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What's most concerning is that we resemble nothing of the team that ran Spurs and Arsenal ragged at times with high tempo football. Yes, we gave chances away but we were a threat in every game and goals almost guaranteed. Now we still give chances away but don't look like we're ever going to score. We go behind and it's curtains. What has changed so much?
And, off topic but that Pukki offside decision is ludicrous.
John mcginn and Tyrone Mings
The rot started way before the Saints game. McGinn looked a shadow, Mings stopped defending. It's not helped but there were signs before these two went off.
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Smith sounds like a dead man walking in that interview - clutching at the straws of too many games (same for everyone Dean) injuries (same for everyone Dean) dodgy decisions and poor use of VAR can't disguise a series of tactical and motivational abominations.
Fuck no to Dyche - Too much like hoofball for my taste, solid-ish but dull as ditchwater.
Not sure this is a time for pretty football triangles. It’s a time for back to the walls fucking fighting to stay in the division
100%. This bollocks of passing it around the back 4 and to the goalie when we're three nil down? Stick it. I hate modern football and the "experts" it's spawned. Get the bloody ball up the pitch and in the area. Create danger. Get it away from our area.
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Think Deano has lost the players - they're not playing for him and I suspect are fucked off with the repeated Wesley-potential bollucks from him thats detrimental to the team. We havent got the personnel to pull off 2 wingers leaves the midfield overrun. Harking back to getting a draw at ManUre is not helping justifying we can go back to playing like that.
He's surrounded by Villans and they must say the same thing that gets repeated all over the city, drop Wes, Jack central etc. etc. He's saving face by doing it "his" way and we dont know shit. I like the bloke but the results say he is limited - we're half way through the season and in the bottom 3. Many games have been piss poor performances, defending from set pieces and the astonishing record v 10 men.
No substitutions until it's too late and Terry just seems to be propping up a bar somewhere rather than "coaching".
We're doing our bit by making VP a sellout every game but we're getting 2015/16 performances.
Think he has taken Villa as far as he can and cant expect a player to come in Jan and turn it around. Board should fire him so we can start 2020 with new optimism because at the moment there isnt any. The fans will turn v burnley when their 3rd goes in.
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Smith sounds like a dead man walking in that interview - clutching at the straws of too many games (same for everyone Dean) injuries (same for everyone Dean) dodgy decisions and poor use of VAR can't disguise a series of tactical and motivational abominations.
Fuck no to Dyche - Too much like hoofball for my taste, solid-ish but dull as ditchwater.
Not sure this is a time for pretty football triangles. It’s a time for back to the walls fucking fighting to stay in the division
100%. This bollocks of passing it around the back 4 and to the goalie when we're three nil down? Stick it. I hate modern football and the "experts" it's spawned. Get the bloody ball up the pitch and in the area. Create danger. Get it away from our area.
I reckon you’d struggle to find any “expert” who thinks the guff we play is anything other than utter bollocks.
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Ok there are a few mate, there really are.
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All three of Watford's goals were perfectly fine. You play to the whistle, end of story.
Smith is delusional and needs to be relieved of his duties with immediate effect.
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the goals are always so soft. Deeney scuffs it and Heaton and Hause both fail to keep it out. luiz dives in when there's no need and two free players at the back post when we've a man advantage.
Frankly it's amateur and Smith needs to go
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The wheels have been coming off for weeks and today the vehicle finally fell apart, its pieces sprawled all over the wrekin. This afternoon’s farrago is no shock to any of us, that first eleven read like a cross between a resignation letter and a suicide note. Hopeless.
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Balls.... Got a sneaking suspicion the Burnley game is on the box too isn't it?
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I dont know who we have gone from front foot attacking football, setting traps etc back too hoofing it at every opportunity. Elmo hoofing it down the line was our favourite 'tactic' under Bruce and now its well and truly back. Our ball retention is fucking hideous and our fitness levels are (and have been for years) absolutely pathetic.
Theres something about this club that eats managers alive. We spent enourmous amounts in the summer, we need to be spending enourmous amounts on a big bolloxed manager with the ego to take on this job.
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I mean it’s utterly baffling that Elmo is playing full stop. Freddie is one of our better players and at least has pace.
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Doug luiz is headless shoulders him straight in back, gave away 3 stupid frees in last 20 mins against Norwich the last day. Should have put kojd on straight after red card.
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Smith sounds like a dead man walking in that interview - clutching at the straws of too many games (same for everyone Dean) injuries (same for everyone Dean) dodgy decisions and poor use of VAR can't disguise a series of tactical and motivational abominations.
Fuck no to Dyche - Too much like hoofball for my taste, solid-ish but dull as ditchwater.
Not sure this is a time for pretty football triangles. It’s a time for back to the walls fucking fighting to stay in the division
100%. This bollocks of passing it around the back 4 and to the goalie when we're three nil down? Stick it. I hate modern football and the "experts" it's spawned. Get the bloody ball up the pitch and in the area. Create danger. Get it away from our area.
I reckon you’d struggle to find any “expert” who thinks the guff we play is anything other than utter bollocks.
Indeed.
Even Perry Facking Groves summed up the latest debacle this afternoon ie JG being played out of position; tactical ineptitude; players not raising a sweat; a manager who is out of his depth etc etc etc.
We’re becoming a laughing stock.
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I mean it’s utterly baffling that Elmo is playing full stop. Freddie is one of our better players and at least has pace.
Watching the highlights back, what the hell is Elmo doing for their first goal, he's just standing still while Deeney runs through onto the rebound.
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Lost this with team selection Jota for Christ sake he should never ever be picked again and what has Kodja done when he can't even get on as sub, sorry but Dean Smith is looking like all our recent past managers when the pressure comes on, he surely has to go but not for none of the merry go round managers we have had over the years.
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Todays team selection was just baffling. You know a Pearson team will be physical and battle and yet we put out the most lightweight midfield I can remember Jota, Lansbury, Luiz, Jack and Hourihane ... how can anyone in their right mind think that is a suitable team selection ?
As for continuing with playing Wesley and the same shape that in itself asks serious questions about Dean's suitability at the top level. Why not try 1 back 3 with two wing backs, it negates reliance on their defensive ability and would allow you to have two holding midfield players and then have Jack and one other to float behind Kodja.
Sadly time is running out for Dean.
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Lost this with team selection Jota for Christ sake he should never ever be picked again and what has Kodja done when he can't even get on as sub, sorry but Dean Smith is looking like all our recent past managers when the pressure comes on, he surely has to go but not for none of the merry go round managers we have had over the years.
Kod came on.
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I dont know who we have gone from front foot attacking football, setting traps etc back too hoofing it at every opportunity.......
See, I think this is a myth that has been perpetuated and grown with the haziness of time.
I don’t think we have ever been a high press, front foot attacking team under Smith, or anyone else.
During that incredible 10 game winning run, we dominated many teams and played some superb football. But we were never an ‘in your face’ and ‘up at ‘em’ team.
I think the run of results gave the impression we must be a high press, high tempo team, and the lazy fucker pundits just accepted it, like they do with so many perpetual bullshit stories.
We have had as many backwards and sideways games under Smith as we did under the previous manager. We were just extremely fortunate to have a few players who hit top form and carried us across the line.......just.
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Lost this with team selection Jota for Christ sake he should never ever be picked again and what has Kodja done when he can't even get on as sub, sorry but Dean Smith is looking like all our recent past managers when the pressure comes on, he surely has to go but not for none of the merry go round managers we have had over the years.
Kod came on.
Indeed he did. At a time in the game when it seemed like a punishment.
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The third goal was abysmal, look at the Watford players streaming forward busting a gut to attack compared to a couple of ours meandering backwards.
I don't like using the phrase but it appears the players aren't playing for him. He's lost the dressing room. The last month has been atrocious. Not just results wise but work ethic, tactics, the lot. Pure shit.
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The third goal was abysmal, look at the Watford players streaming forward busting a gut to attack compared to a couple of ours meandering backwards.
I don't like using the phrase but it appears the players aren't playing for him. He's lost the dressing room. The last month has been atrocious. Not just results wise but work ethic, tactics, the lot. Pure shit.
Agreed on all counts
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Today was the kind of perfomance that starts giving owners cause to doubt, it was that bad. I honestly thought they would go on and get a 4th and they had 10 men.
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Always thought DS would be the man for the next 10 years but when you go down heavily against the bottom team with 10 men it does make you imagine that a change might not be a bad thing.
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If he 'read the riot act' at half time then either the players are not listening or not trying. Not good. Time to get rid.
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My son's first away game, he'd only lost 1 in 12 until today, the lucky scarf is being put away. To fair I asked if he still wants to go to Fulham and he said yes so more fool him.
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If he 'read the riot act' at half time then either the players are not listening or not trying.
Maybe they all had their new Xmas Dre Powerbeats on
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This ‘read the riot act’ guff is feeble, it’s just lame posturing to appease the supporters, a desperate act from a drowning man, he’s flailing around looking for sympathy. Same goes for blaming officials and VAR etc, I want to hear that he’s dragging the players in for extra training not letting them off the hook by blaming others. Pathetic.
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I honestly never thought it would come to this, but I am beginning to resent Dean. His stubborn approach and failure to change anything when we are clearly spiraling out of control is not the mark of a leader. We were absolutely gash today. Fewer corners, fewer shots, lost 50/50 balls, sloppy all over the park, no feckin fight in the boys.. it showed a man unable to inspire those who should be foaming at the mouth to get in the first team. Albeit, against Watford, no less.
It was truly pathetic and I hope this is our lowest point. I can't help but think it will only get worse and we will drift back into the chxmpionship without so much as a whimper.
If Dean truly "read them the riot act" at halftime only to get completely embarrassed in the second half then he must go.
I cannot stand this 4-3-3 anymore. It's a fool's formation with the players we've got at our disposal.
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Lets face it we knew the final result as soon as we saw the team sheet. Watford are a dreadful side and I'm sure they will be relegated but they outplayed us and that's how far this Dean Smith side has deteriorated. I wanted Jota off after ten minutes a dreadful player who should never have been bought so again the game plan was to give the ball to Grealish whenever possible because it's the only way we can score. I don't know what happens behind the scenes so I can't say the manager is solely to blame but as we know he is the one that will get the sack.
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Lets face it we knew the final result as soon as we saw the team sheet. Watford are a dreadful side and I'm sure they will be relegated but they outplayed us and that's how far this Dean Smith side has deteriorated. I wanted Jota off after ten minutes a dreadful player who should never have been bought so again the game plan was to give the ball to Grealish whenever possible because it's the only way we can score. I don't know what happens behind the scenes so I can't say the manager is solely to blame but as we know he is the one that will get the sack.
Well, if Dean had any say in our summer recruiting than its even more damning.
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When they went to ten, DS had the perfect storm in which to get Kodjia on, maybe go three at the back and push onto them, really have a go. He didn’t.
I think he’ll get the Burnley game, however I fully expect the board to spend the time between now and then doing what Dean can’t - working on a plan b.
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Turf Moor could be Dean's last stand...
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When you see a back four of Elmohamady, Konsa, House and Targett it's worrying, to then see a midfield in front of them that has Jota and Lansbury it gets frightening. Watford were only ever going to be big, strong, well organised and we had to match them. We didn't. To lose so pitifully with our opponents down to 10 (Yet again) says it all.
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Unless DS changes the system, which we all know he won’t, 3 more points will be lost at Burnley. Not looking forward to seeing what team he puts out. If Mings is fit then play Hause at left back as seems Targett is our latest player out with a hamstring injury. Mind you, unless the players all get some steel and determination into their play, it won’t matter what team he puts out.
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Just channel hopped while the darts was on adverts.
We're on the "game of the day" - when Deeney scores he clearly looks over to our fans and says "pricks".
I'm going back to the darts.
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Lost this with team selection Jota for Christ sake he should never ever be picked again and what has Kodja done when he can't even get on as sub, sorry but Dean Smith is looking like all our recent past managers when the pressure comes on, he surely has to go but not for none of the merry go round managers we have had over the years.
Kod came on.
Apologise I turned off in disgust after the third.
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I actually thought we were better first half so don't get the DS comments, we competed, could've scored but just conceded a cheap goal at end of first half.
Second half was a disgrace. Conceded twice against ten men to a team below us. Watford shouldn't have even come within ten yards of our box given the man advantage.
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I actually thought we were better first half so don't get the DS comments, we competed, could've scored but just conceded a cheap goal at end of first half.
Second half was a disgrace. Conceded twice against ten men to a team below us. Watford shouldn't have even come within ten yards of our box given the man advantage.
The Target injury did not help as Gilbert looked like he was sulking from being dropped.
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Targett was getting a mauling anyway.
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When you see a back four of Elmohamady, Konsa, House and Targett it's worrying, to then see a midfield in front of them that has Jota and Lansbury it gets frightening. Watford were only ever going to be big, strong, well organised and we had to match them. We didn't. To lose so pitifully with our opponents down to 10 (Yet again) says it all.
Lansbury.
I don’t want to scapegoat, but fuck me he is as bad as it gets.
Poncing around like a fucking show pony. He was a shit squad player in a team that finished 5th in the championship. How the fuck he is a starter in the premier league is beyond comprehension.
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When you see a back four of Elmohamady, Konsa, House and Targett it's worrying, to then see a midfield in front of them that has Jota and Lansbury it gets frightening. Watford were only ever going to be big, strong, well organised and we had to match them. We didn't. To lose so pitifully with our opponents down to 10 (Yet again) says it all.
Lansbury.
I don’t want to scapegoat, but fuck me he is as bad as it gets.
Poncing around like a fucking show pony. He was a shit squad player in a team that finished 5th in the championship. How the fuck he is a starter in the premier league is beyond comprehension.
Swans around, all 'look at me, I'm a professional footballer with my fancy tattoo sleeves and my shit hair cut' whilst delivering absolutely nothing.
All fart and absolutely zero shit.
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I actually thought we were better first half so don't get the DS comments, we competed, could've scored but just conceded a cheap goal at end of first half.
Second half was a disgrace. Conceded twice against ten men to a team below us. Watford shouldn't have even come within ten yards of our box given the man advantage.
The Target injury did not help as Gilbert looked like he was sulking from being dropped.
Didn't appear to try a leg to get back for their third.
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The goals really are atrocious aren't they? Crap from Heaton for the first, twice. Konsa awful too. Douglas rushing in for the penalty, even though the fat fuck he went shoulder to shoulder with went down easy. Really naive from Douglas. Heaton dive out of the way of the penalty. The third, whilst Grealish was fouled, he had already given the ball away and I can understand the decision. The Targett injury was laughable as an incident. Clearly not a head injury, so why should Watford kick it out? Stupid decision making from several Villa players.
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Just channel hopped while the darts was on adverts.
We're on the "game of the day" - when Deeney scores he clearly looks over to our fans and says "pricks".
I'm going back to the darts.
Deeney doesn't like us for obvious reasons and we don't like him for obvious reasons. We give him stick and he gives it back. It is no big deal.
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How many times this season has Targett lay down crying while the game has carried on around him?
I think that’s at least 3.
I hate to use the term fucking Jessie, but he’s a right fucking Jessie,
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“My future isn’t in question. All I can do is get my players ready for the next game. We knew that it was going to be a tough season," he said.
“If you ask me about my future - then no - I’m thinking about the next game."
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I don't mind Deeney.
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I don't mind Deeney.
Hes like a Messiah on the Small Heath pages. You'd have thought THEY had beaten us.....
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When you see a back four of Elmohamady, Konsa, House and Targett it's worrying, to then see a midfield in front of them that has Jota and Lansbury it gets frightening. Watford were only ever going to be big, strong, well organised and we had to match them. We didn't. To lose so pitifully with our opponents down to 10 (Yet again) says it all.
Lansbury.
I don’t want to scapegoat, but fuck me he is as bad as it gets.
Poncing around like a fucking show pony. He was a shit squad player in a team that finished 5th in the championship. How the fuck he is a starter in the premier league is beyond comprehension.
His efforts at Sheff Utd should have been his last in a Villa shirt. Lazy Bruce signing that somehow Smith seems to rate. I really wonder about our academy if we haven't someone better than Lansbury to be part of the first team squad. Surely O'Hare has more to his game?
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Lansbury is everything I dislike in a player, good whack of talent and wastes most of it.
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Deeney is to have a lounge named after him at Stans. For being voted one of their top 10 legends. The second non blues playing recipient after Paul whatshisface.
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When you see a back four of Elmohamady, Konsa, House and Targett it's worrying, to then see a midfield in front of them that has Jota and Lansbury it gets frightening. Watford were only ever going to be big, strong, well organised and we had to match them. We didn't. To lose so pitifully with our opponents down to 10 (Yet again) says it all.
Lansbury.
I don’t want to scapegoat, but fuck me he is as bad as it gets.
Poncing around like a fucking show pony. He was a shit squad player in a team that finished 5th in the championship. How the fuck he is a starter in the premier league is beyond comprehension.
His efforts at Sheff Utd should have been his last in a Villa shirt. Lazy Bruce signing that somehow Smith seems to rate. I really wonder about our academy if we haven't someone better than Lansbury to be part of the first team squad. Surely O'Hare has more to his game?
Post match Smith even commented that Henri moved position which allowed them in for the first , can't believe he started today
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Differences in ability you can excuse, especially given the gulf from fifth place in the Championship to PL these days, but this tepid, meek throwing in of the towel we’re seeing increasingly in recent weeks is alarming and not good enough. This team seems to crumble under adversity.
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When you see a back four of Elmohamady, Konsa, House and Targett it's worrying, to then see a midfield in front of them that has Jota and Lansbury it gets frightening. Watford were only ever going to be big, strong, well organised and we had to match them. We didn't. To lose so pitifully with our opponents down to 10 (Yet again) says it all.
Lansbury.
I don’t want to scapegoat, but fuck me he is as bad as it gets.
Poncing around like a fucking show pony. He was a shit squad player in a team that finished 5th in the championship. How the fuck he is a starter in the premier league is beyond comprehension.
Swans around, all 'look at me, I'm a professional footballer with my fancy tattoo sleeves and my shit hair cut' whilst delivering absolutely nothing.
All fart and absolutely zero shit.
Not even that. All gurgling stomach and no fart or shit.
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How many times this season has Targett lay down crying while the game has carried on around him?
I think that’s at least 3.
I hate to use the term fucking Jessie, but he’s a right fucking Jessie,
The previous two times he has gone off when we were up against it, he has been fit to play the next game. Wonder if that will be the case this time and if he is, then surely someone will see a bit of a pattern emerging.
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the goals are always so soft. Deeney scuffs it and Heaton and Hause both fail to keep it out. luiz dives in when there's no need and two free players at the back post when we've a man advantage.
Frankly it's amateur and Smith needs to go
I didn’t think there was anything wrong really with the goals,
Certainly not for either of the second and third to be disallowed.
The first one was a bit unlucky, cracking save from Heaton, then Deeney does well to get the rebound on target from a tight angle, but scuffs it and I think Heaton was maybe expecting it to go a bit higher and dives over it. Hause I think would’ve been a bit unsighted but Heaton and also probably wasn’t expecting it to go under the keeper.
2nd wasn’t a nailed on penalty, but it was a shove in the ribs rather than a shoulder charge and the defender can’t complain too much about it being given. The ref blew straightaway.
The third I thought was quick thinking and reaction from yet another incidence of us giving the ball away in dangerous areas. They reacted quicker and it was a great finish.
The shit ball retention set the tone early on, we just couldn’t keep it at all and after the first went in, a spanking I feared.
Not sure who the match commentators were in UK, but Andy Thownsend was co-commentator on Optus Sport in Aus. He was trying to be fair to both sides, had some pretty fair criticism of Villa. Seems he still has affection for the club.
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How many times this season has Targett lay down crying while the game has carried on around him?
I think that’s at least 3.
I hate to use the term fucking Jessie, but he’s a right fucking Jessie,
The previous two times had has gone off when we were up against it, he has been fit to play the next game. Wonder if that will be the case this time and if he is, then surely someone will see a big if a pattern emerging.
I have never liked the cut of his jib, to be honest. I grew up watching Charlie Aitken who had his faults, but I always loved to watch him play.
Warnock was good for a bit, and got selected for England. Bouma was good for a while as well. Even Bertrand on loan did not really cut it.
Colin Gibson was decent, so we sold him to Man U.
So it goes.
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Dyche is a ginger Allardyce really. Can't argue with his results but the football is really poor and wouldn't be welcome at Villa Park.
Thing is, we've had years of poor football with poor results, the 10 game run last year aside. Even the up and coming, progressive type managers have reverted to poor football. So I'd be perfectly happy, after years of this, to get someone in who gets results, regardless of how it pretty it looks.
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When I started reading this thread I thought I'd fell asleep any woke up at the end of the season, with Smith gone
the way people are talking about other managers.
His job this season was to stay up, and until we can't stay up the bloke ain't failed, yes it's poor at the moment but ffs at least he deserves one full season at the top level.
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When I started reading this thread I thought I'd fell asleep any woke up at the end of the season, with Smith gone
the way people are talking about other managers.
His job this season was to stay up, and until we can't stay up the bloke ain't failed, yes it's poor at the moment but ffs at least he deserves one full season at the top level.
I agree with this, though we appear to be in the minority. Though admit things are looking bleak and Dean is making mistakes, Grealish on the left doesn’t make any sense, less so with McGinn out and especially to accommodate Lansbury of all players. Hourihane should of been on the left.
We were actually lucky in that most results went our way yesterday. Norwich aren’t getting out of this, Watford night or the bubble might burst, Bournemouth and West Ham both look in trouble and there is sometimes a team that drops from the middle. I maintain newcastle are the worst team I’ve seen down the villa ‘this season (apart from the villa). But saying all that can’t see where our next wins coming from. Need any sort of reaction from players on New Years Day
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I understood the need for team changes yesterday but picking Lansbury (who was totally anonymous up at Sheff Utd) and persisting with Wesley again was a mistake. The latter might cost him his job and the fans patience.
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the goals are always so soft. Deeney scuffs it and Heaton and Hause both fail to keep it out. luiz dives in when there's no need and two free players at the back post when we've a man advantage.
Frankly it's amateur and Smith needs to go
I didn’t think there was anything wrong really with the goals,
Certainly not for either of the second and third to be disallowed.
The first one was a bit unlucky, cracking save from Heaton, then Deeney does well to get the rebound on target from a tight angle, but scuffs it and I think Heaton was maybe expecting it to go a bit higher and dives over it. Hause I think would’ve been a bit unsighted but Heaton and also probably wasn’t expecting it to go under the keeper.
2nd wasn’t a nailed on penalty, but it was a shove in the ribs rather than a shoulder charge and the defender can’t complain too much about it being given. The ref blew straightaway.
The third I thought was quick thinking and reaction from yet another incidence of us giving the ball away in dangerous areas. They reacted quicker and it was a great finish.
The shit ball retention set the tone early on, we just couldn’t keep it at all and after the first went in, a spanking I feared.
Not sure who the match commentators were in UK, but Andy Thownsend was co-commentator on Optus Sport in Aus. He was trying to be fair to both sides, had some pretty fair criticism of Villa. Seems he still has affection for the club.
The end result of the first was unlucky, but it came about because Elmo was like a statue and stood and watched Deeney run to get on the end of it. Its a pattern though, how often do we see an opposition forward or midfielder bust a gut to get in the box, no-one tracks them and then surprise surprise they're on hand to grab a "lucky" tap in.
If I was taking training today, my message would be we're in a bloody scrap and I only want you in the team if you are willing to shed blood sweat and tears for the shirt. Do that, show some stomach for the fight, work hard and get stuck in and we , the fans, will be happy. At the moment we're going down without a whimper . Whinging about decisions and fouls, how about we make the opposition scared to foul Jack? Keep your hands down but get in their face, look like you care.
I know I sound like Smithy in that Comic Relief sketch, but honestly, that's what they need. Show some f**king bollocks !!!!!
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Asking for Smith to be gone is short sited. We know it was going to be a relegation battle from the start of the season. Changing managers will not change that. Lets see what happens in the transfer window.
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I appreciate too much can be made of social media but after every game this season, win, lose or draw, the players have always posted something. Even if its just thanks for the support etc. Still nothing after yesterdays game.
Probably looking too deep into a nothing situation but I find it slightly odd.
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Just realised that. Maybe Jack‘a just had enough of writing “Not good enough today but on to ‘insert next opponents”. Nothing from Konsa, Hause, Jota etc though either.
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Good. I don't give a fuck about their ''insta'' comments. The entire lot of them need to do some soul searching because the effort has not been there the last month. Compare and contrast the workrate from a 10 man Watford team flooding forwards to bury us yesterday with our lot trudging back being swamped, not even the basic minimum of running backwards with all your energy to defefnd. They gave up and not for the first time. They need to take a look at themselves aswell.
It's not just Smith's fault for repeatedly picking Emile Wesley.
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Just realised that. Maybe Jack‘a just had enough of writing “Not good enough today but on to ‘insert next opponents”. Nothing from Konsa, Hause, Jota etc though either.
Jack looked frustrated yesterday to me and I suspect it contributed to his poor discipline, especially towards the end of the match. Whether the frustration was down to others not putting in a shift, towards Smith’s lack of tactical creativity, or maybe Deeney winding him up, I don’t know. As far as the players are concerned it seems a pretty clear choice: either pull together, dig deep and try and turn things round, or cruise until the manager gets fired and try and impress the next manager. I’d love to think it was just an off day for players and management, but it doesn’t seem that way. Next couple of games will likely tell us.
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I was sat in the lower Graham Taylor stand for this.
I was baffled by the team selection for this and even more baffled by how we were set up with Lansbury playing off Wes.
Who thought it was a good idea to match-up Luiz with the cnut that is deeney at deadball situations like corners? Terry?
Where I was sat gave me a great view of Jack for the whole of the second half. His performance at best was abject. I know he's being played out of position and he's carrying the team, but he is our talisman and captain. It's arguable that 2 mistakes by Jack led to their 2nd half goals, that other players on here would be scapegoated for. He's not beyond reproach and he's certainly not untouchable otherwise we are a mirror image of our relegation team, in which there were a number of players who thought they were untouchable. The mistakes weren't what really annoyed me though. He allowed his head to drop and he became ill-disciplined. He hadn't a clue as to how to gee up his team. For their pen, he stood on the half-way line ready for the re-take. There was no communication with his team mates and no psyching out of their pen taker. He had given up. On another occasion when their player was down injured in their box, Kodjia was approaching Jack but was completely blanked by him. Kodj continued to walk on by and said something to another Villa player and Jack took himself further away to the touchline where he stood so he didn't have to communicate with anyone. There was no fist pumping, no encouragement, there was nothing from our captain. Jack is by far our best player and the captaincy is great when things are going well, but maybe the weight of the captaincy is too much for him when things are going badly.
Based on what I saw I would be very surprised if all was not well in the changing room.
Finally Watford fans are a pathetic bunch who need a mascot dressed up as a hornet banging a drum to get them going!
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We get caught time after time taking too long on the ball, giving away possession in the wrong areas of the pitch. It happened with Konsa yesterday, Marvellous, Luis, Guilbert, Mings previously.
Watch Luis & Marvellous racing around midfield looking to see where they're meant to be but not actually marking anyone.
The lack of coaching, intensity & experience at this level is what's killing us.
We're in a fight for survival without any fighters in the team.
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Lansbury is everything I dislike in a player, good whack of talent and wastes most of it.
As I may have mentioned before, I met one of his old games teachers at a school near here last year. He didn't use the exact words obviously, but "talented but a massive ponce" was basically his opinion.
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I understood the need for team changes yesterday but picking Lansbury (who was totally anonymous up at Sheff Utd) and persisting with Wesley again was a mistake. The latter might cost him his job and the fans patience.
It was complete madness.
We're conceding twenty shots a game and two goals on our travels, so he needs to be making our midfield as tight as he possibly can. So what does he do? Picks our most powder puff player in the middle of it. When Mings is back, I'd stick Hause at left back and Konsa as defensive midfield away from home.
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And Jota out wide was stupid. He's not winger, he doesn't even resemble a winger. Play him behind the striker and you'd see a more effective player. Bearing in mind Smith has worked with him before, you'd think he would know that.
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I understood the need for team changes yesterday but picking Lansbury (who was totally anonymous up at Sheff Utd) and persisting with Wesley again was a mistake. The latter might cost him his job and the fans patience.
It was complete madness.
We're conceding twenty shots a game and two goals on our travels, so he needs to be making our midfield as tight as he possibly can. So what does he do? Picks our most powder puff player in the middle of it. When Mings is back, I'd stick Hause at left back and Konsa as defensive midfield away from home.
exactly what I suggested, the failure to address the openness of our midfield is worse than persisting with Wes up front.
It’s killing us every away game.
I also agree about Jota.
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Wesley missing that sitter really hurt us. Goals change games and the past few games, including Southampton, we've had the first chance, its fallen to Wesley and he's fluffed it.
The other issue is an absence of pace to get on the shoulders of full backs or centre halves. El Ghazi is probably our fastest player or Guilbert and both have been dropped.
Thirdly, we've lost all semblance of structure. I enjoy the tactical side of the game and picking out patterns of play. Watford for example were all about by passing the midfield in the first phase. A long ball to the wide men and picking up territory to cross, with Hughes et al trying to scoop up scraps on the 2nd phase if the ball was recycled, but crucially only 20-30 yards from goal. It was largely ineffective, until we gave away the softest of goals, but it was a plan.
I don't know what ours is anymore. I cannot fathom how we play. There's no method of how we approach, save Elmo is perhaps asked to hit the early cross. But we're too ponderous in moving the game on, players hide away from risk. Nobody commits, save Jack and his presence allows others to shirk taking responsibility. It also does not help that we have nobody up front.
Off the ball, we become ragged too often as we've suddenly fogot how to retain it. Our press is too loose and uncoordinated and we lack an out ball...as we have no pace and nobody up front.
We're carrying players not good enough for this division and players too inexperienced for it, that they're inconsistent. Jota, Lansbury and Elmo are in the first category, El Ghazi, Konsa, Hause, Hourihane the latter. That's not exhaustive.
The manager is also naive. We need to avoid defeat on the road and that means sometimes being ugly out of design rather than haphazard selection or jumbled tactics.
We're more than capable of staying up, especially with such a small gap (1 point) and a window to add quality. But these structural issues are bewildering.
I wonder if we're streaky. Last season we collapsed into dire form. We bizarrely won 1-0 last Boxing Day away at Swansea where the first 45 minutes was absolutely, utterly, diabolical and we generally stank the place out in a woeful 6 or 7 week run.
Then we, the away following, did something very un-Villa like and actually blindly got behind our lot and roared them off at Stoke and Sweet Carolined them back on. A different second half and a game we ought to have won.
I cannot square the circle of a performance like Man United away, outclassed yet dogged at Chelsea, to everything that's followed. There's been a mental disconnect.
We need to be going to Burnley and putting in the most mind numbing, dreary and pragmatic performance possible. We must avoid defeat. I have ideas on selection, but that's for another thread. Lose and it will probably be it for Smith.
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Good post Ads.
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Then we, the away following, did something very un-Villa like and actually blindly got behind our lot and roared them off at Stoke and Sweet Carolined them back on. A different second half and a game we ought to have won.
I cannot square the circle of a performance like Man United away, outclassed yet dogged at Chelsea, to everything that's followed. There's been a mental disconnect.
We need to be going to Burnley and putting in the most mind numbing, dreary and pragmatic performance possible. We must avoid defeat. I have ideas on selection, but that's for another thread. Lose and it will probably be it for Smith.
Great post Ads.
That Stoke game was surreal, Stoke got a goal when Hutton got injured and was off the field but we played well after that and I think the fans could see that we had put the Swansea shambles behind us and the players were showing commitment, effort and desire to get back into the game. The players got a standing ovation from the fans at half-time and we were 1-0 down, I think DS even clapped us as he went off with the players. I had never known that before or since and we went on to get a draw and would have won except for Butland in the Stoke goal. That was definitely the turning point of last season!
Also agree about Burnley, however we do it don't lose, scrap this expansive football and get back to basics, defend as if your lives depend on it, if it is ugly so be it! UTV
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Then we, the away following, did something very un-Villa like and actually blindly got behind our lot and roared them off at Stoke and Sweet Carolined them back on. A different second half and a game we ought to have won.
I cannot square the circle of a performance like Man United away, outclassed yet dogged at Chelsea, to everything that's followed. There's been a mental disconnect.
We need to be going to Burnley and putting in the most mind numbing, dreary and pragmatic performance possible. We must avoid defeat. I have ideas on selection, but that's for another thread. Lose and it will probably be it for Smith.
Great post Ads.
That Stoke game was surreal, Stoke got a goal when Hutton got injured and was off the field but we played well after that and I think the fans could see that we had put the Swansea shambles behind us and the players were showing commitment, effort and desire to get back into the game. The players got a standing ovation from the fans at half-time and we were 1-0 down, I think DS even clapped us as he went off with the players. I had never known that before or since and we went on to get a draw and would have won except for Butland in the Stoke goal. That was definitely the turning point of last season!
Also agree about Burnley, however we do it don't lose, scrap this expansive football and get back to basics, defend as if your lives depend on it, if it is ugly so be it! UTV
Agree with this. I don’t get to too many away games, but was at Stoke and the away support was fantastic considering our dire form of that period continued in the first half, second half different story and the tide and our season turned. Sheff We’d away was similar in terms of the support I felt helped to drag the team to victory.
I think Burnley is a horrible place to go in our current form and the apparent mental state of the players at the moment. I’m not sure I see us getting anything. But agree we just need to load up the middle, Targett getting injured may be a blessing as well.
Just somehow need a very ugly draw or win
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I think the best we can hope for is a draw. The last time we won at Turf Moor was 12 September 1936.
I suppose we’re going to have to break that hoodoo at some point, however it’s not looking likely at the moment.
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Safely say I never want to see Lansbury in the starting lineup again. He’s utter crap. Ponces around and offers sweet f all
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Good post Ads.
It was and I can only conclude that the issue is down to the absence of Mings as the main cause. He hasn’t always been at the top of his game but what he always did was make sure those around him were putting a shift in. Jack doesn’t do that. If you add the absence of McGinn you have no one on the pitch to tell or show the rest what needs to be done.
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It was a poor game for us when they went down to ten men they played better I was gutted and freezing cold at Vicarage Road Burnley will be another tough game they don't get any easier know.
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I think the best we can hope for is a draw. The last time we won at Turf Moor was 12 September 1936.
Wood is due a goal or two. Him scoring against us is totally not going to happen. Then Man City after, it's looking grim.
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Higher higher Watford
Lower lower Villa
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Smith deserved a full season in the PL, and I'd be happy to stick with that if we were playing some decent stuff and were at least competitive even in games we lost. Like we were up to the Man Yoo game apart from the odd aberration. But that's no longer the case. Anyone can see we're not even doing the basics now- lack of effort, lack of heart, lack of fitness, lack of leadership, lack of adaptability, lack of squad depth of the right quality, lack of managerial nous, lack of experience. There are few, if any, positives. It's become a perfect storm of inadequacy and it's difficult to see Smith turning it around if the players aren't even putting in effort for him.
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Lansbury is everything I dislike in a player, good whack of talent and wastes most of it.
I don't understand why we kept this waster and got rid of Birkir Bjarnason who at least gave a reasonable impression that he wanted to be a footballer. Lansbury is just a shit Stephen Ireland.
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Lansbury is everything I dislike in a player, good whack of talent and wastes most of it.
I don't understand why we kept this waster and got rid of Birkir Bjarnason who at least gave a reasonable impression that he wanted to be a footballer. Lansbury is just a shit Stephen Ireland.
With hair
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Lansbury is everything I dislike in a player, good whack of talent and wastes most of it.
I don't understand why we kept this waster and got rid of Birkir Bjarnason who at least gave a reasonable impression that he wanted to be a footballer. Lansbury is just a shit Stephen Ireland.
Guess we didn't have much of a choice really. He was among a crop of players we signed when we went down, who probably couldn't believe their luck at the deal we agreed with them. I suspect there is little chance of shifting the likes of Lansbury and we are stuck with them until their contracts expire.
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Regarding Lansbury, before the pre season game we played in Minnesota Dean Smith spent some time chatting with a few of us at a pub we were all gathered at. He spoke really highly of Lansbury and felt he could be a big year for him. That should have been the warning that not all was well.
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He would hardly say he was shit.
I'd have thought that a player like Lansbury could do well in what a normal Smith side would be. However, this season he, as with most of the rest of our squad, are being found out.
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He would hardly say he was shit.
I'd have thought that a player like Lansbury could do well in what a normal Smith side would be. However, this season he, as with most of the rest of our squad, are being found out.
True, we got a few duds in
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I wouldn't say most are duds. I think we have a similar situation to a few seasons ago with Gueye, Veretout. Good developing players who aren't quite ready to lead a team, but would be better as part of one.
We have to start somewhere.