Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: kippaxvilla2 on October 01, 2020, 08:55:19 PM
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Garbage
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Fuck off Dean you threw that away.
No need to bother with this thread.
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Meek.
I'm off to bed.
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Well that was pretty dour.
Any redeeming features? The final whistle.
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Yeeshk. Timely bump down to earth about the squad.
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Lansbury has all but retired. He’s dining out on one decent performance for Forest against Barnsley four years ago. £40k a week and a man bun and this is what you get.
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Rubbish to a man but fortunately most of those players will get very little PL time all being well.
It annoys me that I'm not more annoyed by going out of the cup though
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And that's why we're an injury or two from being in deep shit this season. Fuck knows what will happen if Watkins gets injured with Kienan Van Bastan to come in and its a paper thin squad depth all over the team. I really think Smith hates Davis because you wouldn't keep playing him if you like the guy would you? No chance of getting rid of the deadwood on that performance so I guess we're stuck with Traore.
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Our 2nd 11 are pretty shit.
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May that be the last game for AEG for Villa... jaysus
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Our second string are just not good enough and Smith will only try Ramsey (who was OK in the first half) from the U23s.
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A number of those players should have been trying to force their way into the first team match squad, if not first eleven. Most of them played their way out of contention.
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The only good thing I can say about that game is hopefully it will show the owners that we've still no strength in depth, especially at the back. That was utter wank from start to finish.
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Oh well, losing the final is worse and I didn't want to qualify for the European Windscreens Shield anyway...
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And there's me thinking that playing like that was behind us.
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Starting line up didn't help matters. Playing Elmo centre back was a bit of a farce. Thought AEG, Guilbert and Nakamba did ok. Some others were very poor and others dreadful. It was worrying how bad the likes of Traore and Davis were. Season on loan in championship might be needed for Ramsey, struggled with the physicality of it tonight.
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In reality we fielded a majority team that contained players we'd have been disappointed with in the Championship. We came up against an incredibly limited, but hugely organised side defensively and fluffed two absolute sitters.
Lansbury
Davis
Elmore
House
Taylor
El Ghazi
Steer
All not Premier League quality and with the toughest game of the season to come its no surprise we made so many changes.
A real lack of composure and tempo in our passing. It starts from the back and filters into midfield.
Think our fist XI would have demolished them, but it is what it is. We've confirmed what we knew already, that the squad is weak and likely will be for a few more cycles of the window.
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What that tells us is that if we have to rely on any of the second stringers, we're screwed.
Special levels of shitness from Davis, Hause, Lansbury, Taylor though.
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That team selection tonight screamed out "we couldn't give a shit about the league cup".
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Very annoyed. Shite.
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Too many sideways pass merchants and no alternatives to the 4-3-3. O'Neill out thought Smith in every aspect of tonight. They looked like the Prem team.
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We can criticise players such as Davis, Angela and Taylor but at the end of the day the didn’t produce anything that we didn’t expect. They’ve played like that time after time when they’ve all been selected. They didn’t pick themselves, just have to face it that Dean got it massively wrong tonight. Left it way to long to change it as well.
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That game shows the importance of the first 11 avoiding injuries.
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Yeeshk. Timely bump down to earth about the squad.
Come on, it had to come sooner or later. Shame it was tonight. Wasted opportunity to have another nice cup run!
I'd been enjoying this season's condensed League Cup. Note I've used the past tense! :(
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However, finally, finally, some real good has come out of the coronavirus.
Had the pandemic not happened, I'd probably have paid a tenner to go and sit with 20,000 other miserable people to go and watch that and be sat in my car trying to get back to the motorway about now.
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Wouldn't be Villa without reminding us not to get ideas above our stations. O'Neill made a name for himself at Norn Iron as a manager who grinds out wins based on organised, physical defenders and decent players in the air in the other box. Sounds like he's maintained that. A bitch to play against once you're losing but this is a really disappointing result and performance. I would predict at least one or two have played their last game for the Villa.
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It’s probably obvious to a lot of them they are surplus to requirements... the know they aren’t good enough.
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Credit to Stoke, they deserved that. We are stuck with so much dead wood. Who in their right mind would want any of that lot. Headless chickens without a sign of any tactics. Shocking performance.
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I knew this second string side wouldn't get past them if they nicked a goal. I rate them all 0.
Davis is not a goal scorer in a million years and wasn't deserving of a new 4 year contract. He holds the ball up well sometimes and that's about it.
Lansbury is a disgrace, he doesn't even look fit.
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That team selection tonight screamed out "we couldn't give a shit about the league cup".
It was the same as last weeks.
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Think our fist XI would have demolished them, but it is what it is. We've confirmed what we knew already, that the squad is weak and likely will be for a few more cycles of the window.
Our first XI bloody well ought to demolish Stoke's stiffs. Our second XI bloody well ought to beat Stoke's stiffs.
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May that be the last game for AEG for Villa... jaysus
100% this.
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Not the best tenner I’ve ever spent.
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Rubbish to a man but fortunately most of those players will get very little PL time all being well.
It annoys me that I'm not more annoyed by going out of the cup though
I'm gutted, love the league cup. Best chance of winning anything.
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It’s probably obvious to a lot of them they are surplus to requirements... the know they aren’t good enough.
But was there any need for them to go all out to prove it?
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Not acceptable, even for the second team.
Jota did more in 10 minutes than most did in 90.
I hope nobody in the first eleven gets injured.
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The best thing about tonight is that a number of our best players didn’t play and will hopefully be rested for Sunday. Because I am really struggling for anything else remotely good to say. Not one player stood out. And Lansbury, Hause and Neil Taylor have absolutely stolen a pay cheque tonight. Utter shit.
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Think our fist XI would have demolished them, but it is what it is. We've confirmed what we knew already, that the squad is weak and likely will be for a few more cycles of the window.
Our first XI bloody well ought to demolish Stoke's stiffs. Our second XI bloody well ought to beat Stoke's stiffs.
The difference in quality between our first XI and reserves is astronomical. The difference between our reserves and a mixture of Stokes first team squad isn't particularly great. They're all Championship players of a much of a muchness.
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Nakamba did well, even with his decision-making and passing and useful experience for Ramsey but that apart, nothing to be pleased about.
Lansbury and AEG were especially poor and we will struggle to move them on unless we take a big loss on both.
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Going out is a pisser, but not the end of the world. The worst thing is the alarming lack of quality among our squad players. Yes we made changes, but so did they, and we should always have enough to beat a Championship club's stiffs.
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Not worried about it as it was the second team. Onto Sunday.
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Well, if this isn't the game to prove Keinan Davis has all the makings of a decent centre back (cuz he ain't a centre forward) I don't know what is.
And while we're at it, the same applies to Kourtney Hause and career criminal.
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May that be the last game for AEG for Villa... jaysus
That was a farewell performance if ever I saw one topped off with two fingers to the coaching staff.
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Sorry, but another thing that boils my piss is the number of cowards in that team that duck out of headers...yes Guilbert, Lansbury and Taylor I'm looking at you.
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As poor as it was, I'm not overly gutted if I'm honest. On to the next one.
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Let's hope that for the second time this century the answer to the question will be "Stoke".
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That team selection tonight screamed out "we couldn't give a shit about the league cup".
It was the same as last weeks.
Did Bristol knock out a strong Wolves side? The selection was piss poor and naive.
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That was a team made up of 2nd division quality players, performing accordingly.
The passing was inept and, for the most part inaccurate
Little or no movement off the ball or support for the man on the ball.
Taxi for:
Lansbury
AEG
Taylor.
Nakamba, Hause, Davis and Fred were barely adequate.
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I don't think Dean Smith will be too disappointed. Didn't put out a team to win, and not including any quality on the bench showed his lack of interest in the competition. For me though, I worry that at some stage we are going to look to one or two of those players to come into the side as injuries and suspensions happen, and denting their confidence like that doesn't help.
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May that be the last game for AEG for Villa... jaysus
I held out some high hopes for him after promotion. Pace, strength, trickery, confidence, eye for goal, a player ready for a bigger stage. Hugely disappointing to say the least.
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Half the Stoke team were kids, I don't blame DS for picking that starting 11, those players should be putting in a much better performance than they did. The blame, for me, is mainly on the players.
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Ivo's full-time verdict
Steer - perhaps it's still an aura of penalty saves at West Brom about him, but he always looks compentent to me. Amazing how many dodgy keepers we have signed ahead of him (in particular that lad on load from Spain)
Gilbert - a couple of weeks ago, I was like "do we really need Matty Cash"..? Answer: YES
Elmohamady - normally 7/10 but dropped down to 6.5/10 for a miscontrol into touch near the end
Hause - I sometimes suspect he passes the ball to the opposition because he knows his strengths are defending out of possession
Taylor - not the worst offender for backwards passes tonight but still does his level best to thwart us attacking down the left. At one point the commentator started rhapsodising about Taylor's attacking process whilst declaring Gilbert a defender-only full-back...
Nakamba - at least he has some urgency about his play. Not sure why he was playing further ahead of Lansbury second half.
Lansbury - not only does he only pass backwards but he has to do so in the fashion of a golfer chipping out of a bunker. Please God don't let him reappear in the FA Cup 3rd round.
Ramsey - faded in the second half, still showed much more invention than Lansbury
El Ghazi - drives me potty, so much talent so little urgency. Can we fit him with a shock collar so that Dean can zap him when he takes a second and then third unnecessary touch. Did a Grealish by coming far too deep near the end. Still capable of putting in an inviting cross on occassion, one right at the death to the back post was begging to be headed in.
Davis - really disappointed with him tonight. He no longer seems like that player who had the barnstormer on his full debut against Norwich. Watching him you can understand why they say "the first yard is in your head". We must get another striker in before deadline day because the other option is...
Traore - ...who apparently the French fans weren't distraught to see leave. You know you have signed a good player when the Brentford, Forest or Arsenal fans are gutted to see their man leave. Trezeguet improved without playing tonight.
Subs
Konza - not really troubled by Stoke who were happy to defend
Watkins - quick to force the Stoke keeper into a save, starved of service afterwards.
Jota - I would have played him instead of Lansbury (with Nakamba pushed back). At least he tries to pass forwards.
Overall: anyone think we should have played a stronger team tonight seeing as Liverpool will beat us anyhow? I am desperate to see Jack win something with the Villa (particularly to validate his contract extension) and now we only have the FA Cup to dream of this season. (Also it sticks in my throat that Small Heath have won "our trophy" more recently than us.)
Final thoughts: wish I had sought out that Romanian stream rather than forking out £10 of my hard-earned cash.
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And there's me thinking that playing like that was behind us.
Why? Does any team play well every game? Didn't Man City just concede five at home? Didn't Bayern Munich just lose to a village team? Nobody plays well every match. The season so far suggests we have already made massive strides on last season and I don't think we need to abandon all hope after one poor performance against a well organised team.
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That team selection tonight screamed out "we couldn't give a shit about the league cup".
It was the same as last weeks.
Did Bristol knock out a strong Wolves side? The selection was piss poor and naive.
We also play Liverpool in three days time. Every team makes changes in the League Cup. The line up was fine, the performance wasn't.
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Rubbish to a man but fortunately most of those players will get very little PL time all being well.
It annoys me that I'm not more annoyed by going out of the cup though
You say that but Davis, Elmo and Taylor nearly always make up the bench. Don’t ask me either
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Not very good tonight disappointed.
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And there's me thinking that playing like that was behind us.
Why? Does any team play well every game? Didn't Man City just concede five at home? Didn't Bayern Munich just lose to a village team? Nobody plays well every match. The season so far suggests we have already made massive strides on last season and I don't think we need to abandon all hope after one poor performance against a well organised team.
Spot on.
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AEG getting stick but was our best player 2nd half, whilst Traore was very poor.
Steer, AEG, Nakamba and Elmo all did OK. The rest not very good.
Smith gets 1 out of 10, he basically decided he didn't want to be in the competition.
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Lansbury is a disgrace, he doesn't even look fit.
Agreed, I can't stomach watching him. Just bin him off, has stolen a living from the club since the day he arrived. Dropping back into the quarter back position tonight, hoofing balls nowhere and walking around the pitch. And he was even worse against Burton!
Hause, Davis, Elmo, Taylor, Jota, AEG....all championship level players.
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That team selection tonight screamed out "we couldn't give a shit about the league cup".
It was the same as last weeks.
Did Bristol knock out a strong Wolves side? The selection was piss poor and naive.
We also play Liverpool in three days time. Every team makes changes in the League Cup. The line up was fine, the performance wasn't.
I'd agree with that.
Nothing wrong with the selection, it should have been easily enough.
I can live with being out of the league cup, but really, although our first XI might be getting better, on the evidence of that showing, we are still relatively fucked if we pick up injuries and have to rely on any of these chumps.
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That team selection tonight screamed out "we couldn't give a shit about the league cup".
It was the same as last weeks.
Did Bristol knock out a strong Wolves side? The selection was piss poor and naive.
How was it naive? He picked the team he wanted for the stage of the season we're at.
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Ivo's full-time verdict
Steer - perhaps it's still an aura of penalty saves at West Brom about him, but he always looks compentent to me. Amazing how many dodgy keepers we have signed ahead of him (in particular that lad on load from Spain)
Gilbert - a couple of weeks ago, I was like "do we really need Matty Cash"..? Answer: YES
Elmohamady - normally 7/10 but dropped down to 6.5/10 for a miscontrol into touch near the end
Hause - I sometimes suspect he passes the ball to the opposition because he knows his strengths are defending out of possession
Taylor - not the worst offender for backwards passes tonight but still does his level best to thwart us attacking down the left. At one point the commentator started rhapsodising about Taylor's attacking process whilst declaring Gilbert a defender-only full-back...
Nakamba - at least he has some urgency about his play. Not sure why he was playing further ahead of Lansbury second half.
Lansbury - not only does he only pass backwards but he has to do so in the fashion of a golfer chipping out of a bunker. Please God don't let him reappear in the FA Cup 3rd round.
Ramsey - faded in the second half, still showed much more invention than Lansbury
El Ghazi - drives me potty, so much talent so little urgency. Can we fit him with a shock collar so that Dean can zap him when he takes a second and then third unnecessary touch. Did a Grealish by coming far too deep near the end. Still capable of putting in an inviting cross on occassion, one right at the death to the back post was begging to be headed in.
Davis - really disappointed with him tonight. He no longer seems like that player who had the barnstormer on his full debut against Norwich. Watching him you can understand why they say "the first yard is in your head". We must get another striker in before deadline day because the other option is...
Traore - ...who apparently the French fans weren't distraught to see leave. You know you have signed a good player when the Brentford, Forest or Arsenal fans are gutted to see their man leave. Trezeguet improved without playing tonight.
Subs
Konza - not really troubled by Stoke who were happy to defend
Watkins - quick to force the Stoke keeper into a save, starved of service afterwards.
Jota - I would have played him instead of Lansbury (with Nakamba pushed back). At least he tries to pass forwards.
Overall: anyone think we should have played a stronger team tonight seeing as Liverpool will beat us anyhow? I am desperate to see Jack win something with the Villa (particularly to validate his contract extension) and now we only have the FA Cup to dream of this season. (Also it sticks in my throat that Small Heath have won "our trophy" more recently than us.)
Final thoughts: wish I had sought out that Romanian stream rather than forking out £10 of my hard-earned cash.
Overall- I completely agree.
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AEG getting stick but was our best player 2nd half, whilst Traore was very poor.
Steer, AEG, Nakamba and Elmo all did OK. The rest not very good.
Smith gets 1 out of 10, he basically decided he didn't want to be in the competition.
I thought AEG was ok too. Was involved in anything good we did second half, generally through his own hard work. Made a number of poor passes/decisions too but was always involved anyway. Jota wasn't too bad either when he came on, should have brought him on a lot earlier. He'll get a move I think.
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If Hause is injured does that we have no cover at all in central defence? That's one area that still needs strengthening this window.
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If Hause is injured does that we have no cover at all in central defence? That's one area that still needs strengthening this window.
Engels?
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The single redeeming feature - will hopefully serve as a reminder that we are not yet capable or strong enough to field a second 11 anywhere near the quality needed.
All 10 can go (I’ll give Ramsey the one pass)
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The single redeeming feature - will hopefully serve as a reminder that we are not yet capable or strong enough to field a second 11 anywhere near the quality needed.
All 10 can go (I’ll give Ramsey the one pass)
Steer as well?
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I guess despite the new contract Davis knows he is now 3rd choice and will be 4th once Wesley is back.
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We were shit. This lot won't get a look in. Next.
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Rubbish to a man but fortunately most of those players will get very little PL time all being well.
It annoys me that I'm not more annoyed by going out of the cup though
You say that but Davis, Elmo and Taylor nearly always make up the bench. Don’t ask me either
Davis, Elmo and Taylor can do a 10 minute job or so from the bench. Reliable to an extent. Give them right conditions and they ok. Wasn't the night tonight but Elmo was fine and Davis and Taylor showed what we know - limited.
I’ve sort of had enough of these three, the later two in particular. We aren’t going to get anything out of them, they offer next to nothing. I’d sooner turn to the bench and see Jota & Gilbert.
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The single redeeming feature - will hopefully serve as a reminder that we are not yet capable or strong enough to field a second 11 anywhere near the quality needed.
All 10 can go (I’ll give Ramsey the one pass)
So you'd get rid of Traore after a couple of games?
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A game that shows the importance of the first 11 avoiding injuries.
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Awful. No movement, no magic & not even the basic physical effort.
Hopefully the majority of these players will not be near the first team in the league games.
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The single redeeming feature - will hopefully serve as a reminder that we are not yet capable or strong enough to field a second 11 anywhere near the quality needed.
All 10 can go (I’ll give Ramsey the one pass)
Traore too?
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AEG getting stick but was our best player 2nd half, whilst Traore was very poor.
Steer, AEG, Nakamba and Elmo all did OK. The rest not very good.
Smith gets 1 out of 10, he basically decided he didn't want to be in the competition.
I thought AEG was ok too. Was involved in anything good we did second half, generally through his own hard work. Made a number of poor passes/decisions too but was always involved anyway. Jota wasn't too bad either when he came on, should have brought him on a lot earlier. He'll get a move I think.
Being involved isn't enough. Touching the ball is being involved.
Doing something with it is the difference. The guy wasn't the worst tonight by any stretch, but his execution in possession was poor until we increased the tempo with 10 mins to go.
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If Hause is injured does that we have no cover at all in central defence? That's one area that still needs strengthening this window.
Reports coming out of Villa park suggest we have done all our business in this transfer window. I think a few of tonight's team will be moved on if we can find suitors.
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Annoyed we didn't play a stronger team but Richarlison and Allan had to go off last night for Everton and we could do without similar injuries.
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Who would buy them?
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Our midfield was so poor tonight. Lansbury in particular was gutless with receiving the ball and then passing backwards or trying showboating long balls which were intercepted. He is a coward of a player who never looks to move the ball quickly forward. Our backup players are plainly not up to premier league standard and it was infuriating watching AEG wildly blasting shots over all night.
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The single redeeming feature - will hopefully serve as a reminder that we are not yet capable or strong enough to field a second 11 anywhere near the quality needed.
All 10 can go (I’ll give Ramsey the one pass)
So you'd get rid of Traore after a couple of games?
He was certainly the biggest worry for me out there tonight
the rest I know what they are but Traore was supposedly the upgrade on the wingers
can’t judge him on that one performance but if you can’t shine against Stokes seconds then it’s not looking good when it comes to top teams in the prem
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Please can we have the Aston Villa v Liverpool thread up soon as it's only on Sunday ...
We can forget all this now
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Hopefully we've got time to shift three or four of these out before the window closes!!
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Traore worries me. Odds on to be this summers dud. Hopefully the only one
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The single redeeming feature - will hopefully serve as a reminder that we are not yet capable or strong enough to field a second 11 anywhere near the quality needed.
All 10 can go (I’ll give Ramsey the one pass)
So you'd get rid of Traore after a couple of games?
He was certainly the biggest worry for me out there tonight
the rest I know what they are but Traore was supposedly the upgrade on the wingers
can’t judge him on that one performance but if you can’t shine against Stokes seconds then it’s not looking good when it comes to top teams in the prem
So, you are judging him on one performance then?
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Hopefully we've got time to shift three or four of these out before the window closes!!
Well I hope the prospective buyers weren’t watching
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The single redeeming feature - will hopefully serve as a reminder that we are not yet capable or strong enough to field a second 11 anywhere near the quality needed.
All 10 can go (I’ll give Ramsey the one pass)
So you'd get rid of Traore after a couple of games?
He was certainly the biggest worry for me out there tonight
the rest I know what they are but Traore was supposedly the upgrade on the wingers
can’t judge him on that one performance but if you can’t shine against Stokes seconds then it’s not looking good when it comes to top teams in the prem
So, you are judging him on one performance then?
Did you read the fucking post
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Pretty poor stuff. Shows reliance on the likes of Davis and Hause in the event of any injuries is a problem.
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The single redeeming feature - will hopefully serve as a reminder that we are not yet capable or strong enough to field a second 11 anywhere near the quality needed.
All 10 can go (I’ll give Ramsey the one pass)
So you'd get rid of Traore after a couple of games?
He was certainly the biggest worry for me out there tonight
the rest I know what they are but Traore was supposedly the upgrade on the wingers
can’t judge him on that one performance but if you can’t shine against Stokes seconds then it’s not looking good when it comes to top teams in the prem
So, you are judging him on one performance then?
No, he isn't.
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That was feeble tonight, especially after last week's promising display. Also, Stoke rested about 5 of their regulars so let's not pretend they put out their strongest line up. Bristol City beat them comfortably the other week.
If any of our starting eleven were in the shop window, then there won't be a mad rush.
Davis had a chance to show what he can do, but unfortunately didn't and showed why we need another forward, and if those are the kind of performances Traore throws in, then it is no wonder Lyon weren't fussed, so let's hope he can do a lot better.
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Traore worries me. Odds on to be this summers dud. Hopefully the only one
After one game? Wow.
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Hopefully we've got time to shift three or four of these out before the window closes!!
Well I hope the prospective buyers weren’t watching
They probably fell asleep.
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With all due respect those people saying they aren’t bothered by it obviously aren’t interested in Villa doing what they and us are in football for. To win things like er trophies. 24 Fcukin years.
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The single redeeming feature - will hopefully serve as a reminder that we are not yet capable or strong enough to field a second 11 anywhere near the quality needed.
All 10 can go (I’ll give Ramsey the one pass)
So you'd get rid of Traore after a couple of games?
Harsh perhaps but I would. He was everything tonight that many sources have said he is - half arsed, poor on the ball, lacked discipline.
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The single redeeming feature - will hopefully serve as a reminder that we are not yet capable or strong enough to field a second 11 anywhere near the quality needed.
All 10 can go (I’ll give Ramsey the one pass)
So you'd get rid of Traore after a couple of games?
He was certainly the biggest worry for me out there tonight
the rest I know what they are but Traore was supposedly the upgrade on the wingers
can’t judge him on that one performance but if you can’t shine against Stokes seconds then it’s not looking good when it comes to top teams in the prem
So, you are judging him on one performance then?
No, he isn't.
It does sound like it if he suggesting if he cant do it against Stoke, he won't do it against the top teams. It's his second game.
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Traore worries me. Odds on to be this summers dud. Hopefully the only one
After one game? Wow.
nah thought he was bobbins before we bought him. I will wait and see if he proves me wrong.
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Traore may end up being more hit than miss, it happens, but deciding after a couple of games seems a bit OTT to me.
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I agree that we were shit, but there's no point going overboard with the second XI. It's unlikely we'll have to use them all at once again.
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Please can we have the Aston Villa v Liverpool thread up soon as it's only on Sunday ...
We can forget all this now
You could always start it yourself.
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The single redeeming feature - will hopefully serve as a reminder that we are not yet capable or strong enough to field a second 11 anywhere near the quality needed.
All 10 can go (I’ll give Ramsey the one pass)
So you'd get rid of Traore after a couple of games?
Harsh perhaps but I would. He was everything tonight that many sources have said he is - half arsed, poor on the ball, lacked discipline.
It’s not just harsh, it’s absolutely ridiculous. I don’t know whether he’ll succeed or not, but drawing a line under him after two games is just nonsense.
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How many times does our second string squad need to show Dean that they are not very good?
As soon as saw the line up, I wanted my £10 back!
Apart from the obvious players tonight, the rest belong in the bomb squad and if Messrs Smith, Lange & Purslow have said that we are done in the transfer market as far as further incomings are concerned, then we need to wrap the first team in cotton wool & pray for no injuries.
I know Davis has just earned a new contract but he needs to go out on loan for his sake and my anger management.
For Sale / Loan ASAP :- Davis, AEG, Hause, Taylor, Lansbury, Jota, Kalinic, Nyland.
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I agree that we were shit, but there's no point going overboard with the second XI. It's unlikely we'll have to use them all at once again.
Yeah, that's true, but it is inevitable that we will have to rely on most of these at some point this season, and they almost all look every bit as shit as they did last year.
The fact we have players as piss poor as Taylor, Lansbury, Hause to name three, on our bench is a matter of real concern.
Oh and right now, if Watkins gets injured, we're relying on a non-scoring striker to provide goals.
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I agree that we were shit, but there's no point going overboard with the second XI. It's unlikely we'll have to use them all at once again.
FA Cup?
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We should have showed them a little more respect, but at the same time, you'd have expected certain players in that lineup to do more. Lansbury could have played his final game. We've brought in another player in his position. This may have been a last chance to stake a claim, but he was terrible.
Today showed that if you play without a core of your best players, you'll struggle. I know the liklihood of us getting to two consecutive finals would have been incredibly slim, but it still feels like chucking the tie.
Ramsey did well though, but was one of the few bright spots and seemed the only one confident in his one touch passing. Nakamba can't pass forward, and the chasm between himself and Luiz now is very clear. Luiz can drive the ball forward and find players quicker, and he's more decisive on the ball too. Lansbury was cumbersome and mixed his passing between being overly safe, or overly ambitious. The latter is good if those passes pay off. They didn't. As I say, probably his last chance to keep himself in the thoughts of Smith with Barkley now arriving.
Taylor is hopeless. I'd be very worried to see him coming in should something happen to Targett. Targett is the weak link in our first 11, for sure, but he's serviceable, and doesn't look bewildered when he's in forward positions.
Today also showed the benefits of Trezeguet, who can provide more defensive cover against counter attacks. AEG, we already know just doesn't defend. Traore is the same. You play one of those types of winger, not two. Jack isn't always the best defensively but he still has the fitness and discipline to also track back too.
Hause, who largely has done okay for us when called upon, was worrying today. Must do better. Stoke have perenially been a big side, with brick outhouses, so we looked decidedly lightweight aside from Hause and Davies, but they both lost most of their physical battles. I grant you, in the Premier League, I suspect they'll find many of the physical tussles a little easier. Keinan sadly showed the side of his game we all want him to improve on, but seems like it might be beyond him...he missed a sitter. Lansbury too, blew a free header. Watkins showed the different almost immediately between himself and Davies, just by being assertive and direct and forcing a save from their keeper.
Disappointing but we play again in 3 days against the Champions, so keeping hopefully our star men are fresh. With Barkley having arrived however, I'd have played Conor today.
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How many times does our second string squad need to show Dean that they are not very good?
As soon as saw the line up, I wanted my £10 back!
Apart from the obvious players tonight, the rest belong in the bomb squad and if Messrs Smith, Lange & Purslow have said that we are done in the transfer market as far as further incomings are concerned, then we need to wrap the first team in cotton wool & pray for no injuries.
I know Davis has just earned a new contract but he needs to go out on loan for his sake and my anger management.
For Sale / Loan ASAP :- Davis, AEG, Hause, Taylor, Lansbury, Jota, Kalinic, Nyland.
That same second string squad won the previous two rounds.
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The single redeeming feature - will hopefully serve as a reminder that we are not yet capable or strong enough to field a second 11 anywhere near the quality needed.
All 10 can go (I’ll give Ramsey the one pass)
So you'd get rid of Traore after a couple of games?
He was certainly the biggest worry for me out there tonight
the rest I know what they are but Traore was supposedly the upgrade on the wingers
can’t judge him on that one performance but if you can’t shine against Stokes seconds then it’s not looking good when it comes to top teams in the prem
So, you are judging him on one performance then?
No, he isn't.
It does sound like it if he suggesting if he cant do it against Stoke, he won't do it against the top teams. It's his second game.
I know your a massive troll
but 2 games is all we can talk about because that’s all we’ve seen so far what else are we supposed to do
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The single redeeming feature - will hopefully serve as a reminder that we are not yet capable or strong enough to field a second 11 anywhere near the quality needed.
All 10 can go (I’ll give Ramsey the one pass)
So you'd get rid of Traore after a couple of games?
He was certainly the biggest worry for me out there tonight
the rest I know what they are but Traore was supposedly the upgrade on the wingers
can’t judge him on that one performance but if you can’t shine against Stokes seconds then it’s not looking good when it comes to top teams in the prem
So, you are judging him on one performance then?
No, he isn't.
It does sound like it if he suggesting if he cant do it against Stoke, he won't do it against the top teams. It's his second game.
I know your a massive troll
but 2 games is all we can talk about because that’s all we’ve seen so far what else are we supposed to do
Cut that out, please.
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Ivo's full-time verdict
Steer - perhaps it's still an aura of penalty saves at West Brom about him, but he always looks compentent to me. Amazing how many dodgy keepers we have signed ahead of him (in particular that lad on load from Spain)
Gilbert - a couple of weeks ago, I was like "do we really need Matty Cash"..? Answer: YES
Elmohamady - normally 7/10 but dropped down to 6.5/10 for a miscontrol into touch near the end
Hause - I sometimes suspect he passes the ball to the opposition because he knows his strengths are defending out of possession
Taylor - not the worst offender for backwards passes tonight but still does his level best to thwart us attacking down the left. At one point the commentator started rhapsodising about Taylor's attacking process whilst declaring Gilbert a defender-only full-back...
Nakamba - at least he has some urgency about his play. Not sure why he was playing further ahead of Lansbury second half.
Lansbury - not only does he only pass backwards but he has to do so in the fashion of a golfer chipping out of a bunker. Please God don't let him reappear in the FA Cup 3rd round.
Ramsey - faded in the second half, still showed much more invention than Lansbury
El Ghazi - drives me potty, so much talent so little urgency. Can we fit him with a shock collar so that Dean can zap him when he takes a second and then third unnecessary touch. Did a Grealish by coming far too deep near the end. Still capable of putting in an inviting cross on occassion, one right at the death to the back post was begging to be headed in.
Davis - really disappointed with him tonight. He no longer seems like that player who had the barnstormer on his full debut against Norwich. Watching him you can understand why they say "the first yard is in your head". We must get another striker in before deadline day because the other option is...
Traore - ...who apparently the French fans weren't distraught to see leave. You know you have signed a good player when the Brentford, Forest or Arsenal fans are gutted to see their man leave. Trezeguet improved without playing tonight.
Subs
Konza - not really troubled by Stoke who were happy to defend
Watkins - quick to force the Stoke keeper into a save, starved of service afterwards.
Jota - I would have played him instead of Lansbury (with Nakamba pushed back). At least he tries to pass forwards.
Overall: anyone think we should have played a stronger team tonight seeing as Liverpool will beat us anyhow? I am desperate to see Jack win something with the Villa (particularly to validate his contract extension) and now we only have the FA Cup to dream of this season.
Pretty much spot on again, Ivo. Only thing missing was our complete lack of tactics. Dean should go knock on the away team door and ask O'Neil for his arse back.
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The single redeeming feature - will hopefully serve as a reminder that we are not yet capable or strong enough to field a second 11 anywhere near the quality needed.
All 10 can go (I’ll give Ramsey the one pass)
So you'd get rid of Traore after a couple of games?
He was certainly the biggest worry for me out there tonight
the rest I know what they are but Traore was supposedly the upgrade on the wingers
can’t judge him on that one performance but if you can’t shine against Stokes seconds then it’s not looking good when it comes to top teams in the prem
So, you are judging him on one performance then?
No, he isn't.
It does sound like it if he suggesting if he cant do it against Stoke, he won't do it against the top teams. It's his second game.
I know your a massive troll
but 2 games is all we can talk about because that’s all we’ve seen so far what else are we supposed to do
Cut that out, please.
ok
but he does my head in everyone on here knows what he is it’s no secret
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but he does my head in everyone on here knows what he is it’s no secret
If you're going down that road perhaps you should take the rest op the evening off.
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How many times does our second string squad need to show Dean that they are not very good?
As soon as saw the line up, I wanted my £10 back!
Apart from the obvious players tonight, the rest belong in the bomb squad and if Messrs Smith, Lange & Purslow have said that we are done in the transfer market as far as further incomings are concerned, then we need to wrap the first team in cotton wool & pray for no injuries.
I know Davis has just earned a new contract but he needs to go out on loan for his sake and my anger management.
For Sale / Loan ASAP :- Davis, AEG, Hause, Taylor, Lansbury, Jota, Kalinic, Nyland.
That same second string squad won the previous two rounds.
Last week maybe but not at Burton where Jack has to bail us out.
Also it wasn't Stoke's first choice eleven either.
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How many times does our second string squad need to show Dean that they are not very good?
As soon as saw the line up, I wanted my £10 back!
Apart from the obvious players tonight, the rest belong in the bomb squad and if Messrs Smith, Lange & Purslow have said that we are done in the transfer market as far as further incomings are concerned, then we need to wrap the first team in cotton wool & pray for no injuries.
I know Davis has just earned a new contract but he needs to go out on loan for his sake and my anger management.
For Sale / Loan ASAP :- Davis, AEG, Hause, Taylor, Lansbury, Jota, Kalinic, Nyland.
That same second string squad won the previous two rounds.
We had Mings, Jack and Ollie against Burton but I agree Dave, but why didn’t they play like they did a week ago against Bristol City? - no consistency
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The single redeeming feature - will hopefully serve as a reminder that we are not yet capable or strong enough to field a second 11 anywhere near the quality needed.
All 10 can go (I’ll give Ramsey the one pass)
So you'd get rid of Traore after a couple of games?
Harsh perhaps but I would. He was everything tonight that many sources have said he is - half arsed, poor on the ball, lacked discipline.
It’s not just harsh, it’s absolutely ridiculous. I don’t know whether he’ll succeed or not, but drawing a line under him after two games is just nonsense.
But it isn’t just two games - that’s like ignoring his whole professional career. He has played over 200 top flight professional games in his career - ignoring 198 is what’s ridiculous
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How many times does our second string squad need to show Dean that they are not very good?
As soon as saw the line up, I wanted my £10 back!
Apart from the obvious players tonight, the rest belong in the bomb squad and if Messrs Smith, Lange & Purslow have said that we are done in the transfer market as far as further incomings are concerned, then we need to wrap the first team in cotton wool & pray for no injuries.
I know Davis has just earned a new contract but he needs to go out on loan for his sake and my anger management.
For Sale / Loan ASAP :- Davis, AEG, Hause, Taylor, Lansbury, Jota, Kalinic, Nyland.
That same second string squad won the previous two rounds.
We had Mings, Jack and Ollie against Burton but I agree Dave, but why didn’t they play like they did a week ago against Bristol City? - no consistency
Maybe a bit of complacency, maybe they didn't know how to cope with stronger opposition- who knows?.
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With all due respect those people saying they aren’t bothered by it obviously aren’t interested in Villa doing what they and us are in football for. To win things like er trophies. 24 Fcukin years.
Absolutely. Tonight was for a place in the quarter final. Right now there are other priorities, I get that, but I grew up with my dad telling me that winning trophies was in the DNA of Aston Villa football club. I'll get over it of course but I am fucking gutted.
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How many times does our second string squad need to show Dean that they are not very good?
As soon as saw the line up, I wanted my £10 back!
Apart from the obvious players tonight, the rest belong in the bomb squad and if Messrs Smith, Lange & Purslow have said that we are done in the transfer market as far as further incomings are concerned, then we need to wrap the first team in cotton wool & pray for no injuries.
I know Davis has just earned a new contract but he needs to go out on loan for his sake and my anger management.
For Sale / Loan ASAP :- Davis, AEG, Hause, Taylor, Lansbury, Jota, Kalinic, Nyland.
That same second string squad won the previous two rounds.
We had Mings, Jack and Ollie against Burton but I agree Dave, but why didn’t they play like they did a week ago against Bristol City? - no consistency
That's just it. It wasn't the line up as such, it was the performance. It wasn't great to say the least.
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With all due respect those people saying they aren’t bothered by it obviously aren’t interested in Villa doing what they and us are in football for. To win things like er trophies. 24 Fcukin years.
Absolutely. Tonight was for a place in the quarter final. Right now there are other priorities, I get that, but I grew up with my dad telling me that winning trophies was in the DNA of Aston Villa football club. I'll get over it of course but I am fucking gutted.
Clubs aren't in football to win things anymore. They exist to be in two leagues that haver led us to situations like tonight.
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I think Ivo Stas put it best.
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In what was mostly an abomination of a 2019/2020 season a highlight was our cup run and playing so well against Man City only to lose narrowly. I would have loved another one of those coupled with a much steadier league campaign. I don’t like this “It’s only the League Cup“ attitude. We’re not at the top of the tree where you might have to make a choice. Not even close. But then you see how many FA Cups Arsenal have won in recent years or that a Man City have won the past 4 LC’s. It’s important to learn how to win to create that culture of accomplishment.
I’m pretty sure Jack Grealish is mightily fucked off tonight.
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100%, this side dispatched comfortably a better side arguably, have let themselves and Smithy down.
80% of tonight’s team will not get game time until January with a bit of luck.
Roll on Sunday
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And there's me thinking that playing like that was behind us.
Why? Does any team play well every game? Didn't Man City just concede five at home? Didn't Bayern Munich just lose to a village team? Nobody plays well every match. The season so far suggests we have already made massive strides on last season and I don't think we need to abandon all hope after one poor performance against a well organised team.
Spot on.
Yes this. That was shite, but meh. Gutted to go out of a competition that we could of won, but we had a game 3 days ago and another in 3 days time. The idea of playing a stronger side tonight because we are bound to lose to Liverpool is bizarre, if smith actually did that he would be crucified.
So lots of our second 11 aren’t good enough, well hello apart from Man City and Liverpool, most teams second 11 isn’t that good.
We do need another couple in, but not necessarily now, we’ve done enough this summer and need a period of consolidation before getting more players in. It’s all a work in progress.
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Besides, there wasn't too many complaints about the line up before the game.
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With all due respect those people saying they aren’t bothered by it obviously aren’t interested in Villa doing what they and us are in football for. To win things like er trophies. 24 Fcukin years.
Absolutely. Tonight was for a place in the quarter final. Right now there are other priorities, I get that, but I grew up with my dad telling me that winning trophies was in the DNA of Aston Villa football club. I'll get over it of course but I am fucking gutted.
Clubs aren't in football to win things anymore. They exist to be in two leagues that haver led us to situations like tonight.
I drag myself to Villa Park and around the country when I get chance with the vague hope that one day I can celebrate us winning a trophy again with my lads, both born in the 90's and have only ever seen us win at Wembley the once and that was the play off final. I can't accept that we aren't in football to win things anymore.
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With all due respect those people saying they aren’t bothered by it obviously aren’t interested in Villa doing what they and us are in football for. To win things like er trophies. 24 Fcukin years.
Absolutely. Tonight was for a place in the quarter final. Right now there are other priorities, I get that, but I grew up with my dad telling me that winning trophies was in the DNA of Aston Villa football club. I'll get over it of course but I am fucking gutted.
Clubs aren't in football to win things anymore. They exist to be in two leagues that haver led us to situations like tonight.
I drag myself to Villa Park and around the country when I get chance with the vague hope that one day I can celebrate us winning a trophy again with my lads, both born in the 90's and have only ever seen us win at Wembley the once and that was the play off final. I can't accept that we aren't in football to win things anymore.
Unless I've missed something the final is going to be played BCD isn't it given it's early March.
Perhaps the FA cup final will have some fans back in although it's certainly not going to be a 90k capacity.
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With all due respect those people saying they aren’t bothered by it obviously aren’t interested in Villa doing what they and us are in football for. To win things like er trophies. 24 Fcukin years.
Absolutely. Tonight was for a place in the quarter final. Right now there are other priorities, I get that, but I grew up with my dad telling me that winning trophies was in the DNA of Aston Villa football club. I'll get over it of course but I am fucking gutted.
Clubs aren't in football to win things anymore. They exist to be in two leagues that haver led us to situations like tonight.
I drag myself to Villa Park and around the country when I get chance with the vague hope that one day I can celebrate us winning a trophy again with my lads, both born in the 90's and have only ever seen us win at Wembley the once and that was the play off final. I can't accept that we aren't in football to win things anymore.
Unless I've missed something the final is going to be played BCD isn't it given it's early March.
Perhaps the FA cup final will have some fans back in although it's certainly not going to be a 90k capacity.
I'm not expecting to be at a match anytime soon.
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This is the least disappointed I think I've ever been about us being knocked out of a cup competition. Which is strange, given it was a Wembley day out last season. Maybe it's the notgoing to matches thing, maybe it's just that I didn't expect much from that particular line-up. Either way, we didn't really learn anything we didn't already know. I think my biggest disappointment is that none of our reserves gave Dean anything to think about in terms of the first 11.
We're definitely going to see a few of these players in the first 11 over the coming weeks, we've just to go hope they do better than they did tonight.
The most disappointing performance for me was Traore, not because he was particularl bad, but because I was really hoping to see him stand out as being a bit too good for this level, and that he was absolutely ready and raring to go to take Trez's place - I don't think he is off the back of that performance.
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Sorry if it's already been posted but Deano's not happy...
Aston Villa boss Dean Smith: "First half we were awful even though we had two open goals. We were better in the second half and I thought we could have had two penalties for a couple of shirt pulls. We were excellent at Bristol City and rightly lauded there but we made too many basic errors.
"We still had chances but we didn't take them. It's a set-back, but in terms of our priorities, making 11 changes lets you know where we are at. It's certainly a blip and now we have got a tough game on Sunday. I have had these players long enough to know about them but the players who came in tonight certainly did not do themselves credit."
https://www.skysports.com/football/a-villa-vs-stoke/report/438843
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Can't argue with that.
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Although we where shite pretty much all over the pitch, there was still two sitters missed.
That Lansbury header should’ve been his last touch in a Villa shirt. £40k a week for that level of dross makes me feel sick.
I agree that if we are putting out a second string lineup then why not play a youth centre back for example instead of Elmo. Same applies to Lansbury. To be fair Jota offered more in his 10 minute cameo than he did all match.
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I don't recall any penalty shouts but by the second half I wasn't giving it my full attention.
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Probably an element of shop window, probably an element of getting them fit .Other than that in terms of squad development and competition, I can't really make an argument for why the likes of Lansbury are playing instead of kids.
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A couple of injuries to key players in the 1st 11 and we don't have much cover i.e. we could well be fooked. If Mings, Jack or Watkins is out then we are looking at a big drop in quality stepping in.
Mind you, we need another striker whatever.
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Merely speculation, but I assume the reasoning behind playing those players tonight as opposed to a few more kids was that there's a fair chance we'll have to call on the services of one or two of them in the near future, and a lack of reserve team football means that games like tonight are the only opportunity to instill any kind of match readiness in them.
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Surprised he keeps playing Watkins. I'd be wrapping him up in cotton wool after every league game.
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Besides, there wasn't too many complaints about the line up before the game.
Yes 100% complaints in a poll of 1... mainly me.
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I don't recall any penalty shouts but by the second half I wasn't giving it my full attention.
Ollie Watkins certainly got knocked over. I couldn’t really see how bad the challenge was and had there been VAR it might have been given. Not a certainty though
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Surprised he keeps playing Watkins. I'd be wrapping him up in cotton wool after every league game.
Shows how light up top we are. Smith has very few alternatives. Glaringly obvious that another striker is needed. Will he act before Monday's deadline??
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Besides, there wasn't too many complaints about the line up before the game.
Yes 100% complaints in a poll of 1... mainly me.
Eh?
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Surprised he keeps playing Watkins. I'd be wrapping him up in cotton wool after every league game.
Shows how light up top we are. Smith has very few alternatives. Glaringly obvious that another striker is needed. Will he act before Monday's deadline??
Agreed. Archer from the U23s, but Smith is no longer interested in him.
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Merely speculation, but I assume the reasoning behind playing those players tonight as opposed to a few more kids was that there's a fair chance we'll have to call on the services of one or two of them in the near future, and a lack of reserve team football means that games like tonight are the only opportunity to instill any kind of match readiness in them.
Sounds about right - and that we’re more than likely trying to shift a couple of them so this is an opportunity to get them in the shop window; doesn’t sound like they did themselves any favors on that front either.
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The way the league fixtures are shaping up this year for once I'm not going to moan about not trying as hard in the League Cup.
Right selection, just lacking creativity to get through a stubborn defence.
We need to focus on the league before Christmas and then go all out for the FA Cup....
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Besides, there wasn't too many complaints about the line up before the game.
Yes 100% complaints in a poll of 1... mainly me.
I feel very much the same,.mate.
If you pick largely crap or average players, that's the kind of result you're going to get.
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Sorry if it's already been posted but Deano's not happy...
Aston Villa boss Dean Smith: "First half we were awful even though we had two open goals. We were better in the second half and I thought we could have had two penalties for a couple of shirt pulls. We were excellent at Bristol City and rightly lauded there but we made too many basic errors.
"We still had chances but we didn't take them. It's a set-back, but in terms of our priorities, making 11 changes lets you know where we are at. It's certainly a blip and now we have got a tough game on Sunday. I have had these players long enough to know about them but the players who came in tonight certainly did not do themselves credit."
https://www.skysports.com/football/a-villa-vs-stoke/report/438843
Dean gives me jokes. He prioritises most of our better quality players for a very tough league game, but if we lose I guarantee in his post-match interview he'll say "Our season is not going to be defined by playing Liverpool." ::)
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With all due respect those people saying they aren’t bothered by it obviously aren’t interested in Villa doing what they and us are in football for. To win things like er trophies. 24 Fcukin years.
I'm fuming we're out of the cup.
Those people not bothered about potential silverware and European football are the worst.
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Not fussed at all about this, Smith gave all the players a last chance to show they are worth keeping and apart from the keeper and possibly one outfielder they were diabolical. A decent Festival league team would have had less mis-directed passes. Would like one more forward before Sunday please.
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Sorry if it's already been posted but Deano's not happy...
Aston Villa boss Dean Smith: "First half we were awful even though we had two open goals. We were better in the second half and I thought we could have had two penalties for a couple of shirt pulls. We were excellent at Bristol City and rightly lauded there but we made too many basic errors.
"We still had chances but we didn't take them. It's a set-back, but in terms of our priorities, making 11 changes lets you know where we are at. It's certainly a blip and now we have got a tough game on Sunday. I have had these players long enough to know about them but the players who came in tonight certainly did not do themselves credit."
https://www.skysports.com/football/a-villa-vs-stoke/report/438843
Good to hear him sound pissed off for once. He’s normally so laid back he loses his balance. How many were his signings? Not very encouraging for Traore!
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We would have played Spurs at home in the QF.
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The worst thing about going out of the Carabao is that the second string will have no real competitive football for the foreseeable future excluding individual knocks and bit part appearances. I expected them to self motivate and progress for that reason alone.
If we got a long term first team injury, you would not have much confidence in any of those players we saw tonight, least of all AEG and KD (no end product) and CH (ball retention) and don't even get me started on Angela L (stealing a living).
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That could be a blessing in disguise. The owners now know how paper thin our quality threshold is and will have to continue to invest until the academy starts to bear fruit
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I am still struggling to understand the team selection. I get the “it was the same team that beat Bristol” but we hadn’t signed Barkley then. Given that we have now, why didn’t Connor (who is going to have game time restricted) play? He should have been the first name on the team sheet, he is the best player of the “back up” team. Ironically, it was lack of creativity or a goal threat that we missed, something he offers.
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We have 2 realistic chances to win a trophy and last night we chucked 1 away
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We have 2 realistic chances to win a trophy and last night we chucked 1 away
Still in the title race.
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Cups matter, what is the point of supporting a club, if it is not about winning things. I understand the debate about staying in the premier league or winning a trophy, because of the money, but if we think we will be ok this season, why not try to win something? I would rather be in the quarter finals and give this a go than beat Liverpool. Personally I would rather finish 16th and win the League Cup than finish 8th.
The attitude of cups don't matter is silly. Some of best Villa memories have been in the League cup. Listening on the radio with my Dad to the third replay v Everton as a six year old, 1994, 1996, Leicester away last season, Arsenal away and Dwight Yorke in 1996, plus loads more. Personally I am very disappointed.
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Credit to Stoke, they deserved that. We are stuck with so much dead wood. Who in their right mind would want any of that lot. Headless chickens without a sign of any tactics. Shocking performance.
Agree. I don't blame Dean, the games have been coming thick and fast. If any of these players wanted to prove they are good enough for the first team tonight was the night. Obviously they are not. Anyway, we are more interested in the FA Cup this year.
Everton played a near first team two nights ago and had two injuries to key players. That's the risk.
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Credit to Stoke, they deserved that. We are stuck with so much dead wood. Who in their right mind would want any of that lot. Headless chickens without a sign of any tactics. Shocking performance.
Agree. I don't blame Dean, the games have been coming thick and fast. If any of these players wanted to prove they are good enough for the first team tonight was the night. Obviously they are not. Anyway, we are more interested in the FA Cup this year.
Everton played a near first team two nights ago and had two injuries to key players. That's the risk.
As someone else pointed out, that can happen in any game
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On the evidence of last night we can expect a struggle again this season if we suffer two or more injuries to our first team.
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Deleted. What's the point?
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Deleted. What's the point?
I like your posts. What did you say?
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I can imagine the meltdown on here if he had played a near strength full side three days before playing the League Champions and we go on to pick up or or two injuries. It would have been 'Why didn't he go with the same side that beat Bristol City so easily'.
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Deleted. What's the point?
I like your posts. What did you say?
Nothing of any great wit or substance. Something about that team not being good enough for the Championship, but it felt a bit like gloating after a discussion yesterday and I didn't want to be that guy.
It's too easy to lash out after performances like that, so I'm going to take a deep breath.
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Cups matter, what is the point of supporting a club, if it is not about winning things. I understand the debate about staying in the premier league or winning a trophy, because of the money, but if we think we will be ok this season, why not try to win something? I would rather be in the quarter finals and give this a go than beat Liverpool. Personally I would rather finish 16th and win the League Cup than finish 8th.
The attitude of cups don't matter is silly. Some of best Villa memories have been in the League cup. Listening on the radio with my Dad to the third replay v Everton as a six year old, 1994, 1996, Leicester away last season, Arsenal away and Dwight Yorke in 1996, plus loads more. Personally I am very disappointed.
100%
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I'm pissed off more with the lethargic performance than being out of the cup. In the last round, albeit against a second string Bristol City side, the backups played with energy, movement and creativity which made us think we had the basis of a squad. This poor performance gave the opposite impression. The truth is probably somewhere in between but Traore didn't exactly shine in a £19m kind of way and Davis struggled against a couple of big strong centre backs. Despite being crap we created at least two clear chances - on another day one or both of those sitters get tucked away and maybe we go through. Many of us have been saying for a while we are light on cover for CB and LB - I think last night underlined the case.
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On another day those chances go in because on an(y)other day it's not Davis and Lansbury on the end of those chances.
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It was the walking pace of the game that pissed me off, in the first half we kept recycling the ball backwards and sideways, we weren't even putting a glove on them, and allowing them time to organise themselves.
At least in the 2nd half we showed a bit more intensity, but we can all see why Lansbury and AEG will not be regular PL starters, no consistency.
We definitely need another striker IMO. I like Davis' work rate, but my god he misses some sitters.
Oh well, it would have been rubbish playing a final in an empty Wembley anyway, you can keep your Covid Cup.
Looking forward to a better league performance on Sunday.
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Early days yet and I am not for one moment writing him off, but I was massively unimpressed with Traore last night. Hopefully he'll come good when surrounded by the likes of Jack and Luiz, but he didn't seem very interested in trying to beat some average Championship defenders last night. Can't see him dislodging Trez from the first team for a while yet.
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I don't think anyone came out of last night with too much credit really, apart from Ramsey and Watkins when he came on. Even Jota tried to make things happen.
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I thought Steer was OK as well.
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Great save from Steer first half, and nothing he could do for the goal really, with three defenders failing to stop the header. I'd give him a 7 out of 10 for the performance, with 2 marks deducted for having a man bun.
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They mentioned it in the commentary towards the end of the game last night but Stoke's centre half wearing no36 was immense for them. One to keep an eye on if he carries on playing like that.
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On the hunt for a positive regarding last nights result I came up with the idea that the loss, and in particular the performance will focus the minds of both club staff and fans that there is plenty of work to do outside of the first eleven.
We have been, rightly so in my opinion, praised for our work during this transfer window and the evidence so far is that we are a better side but as good as the recruitment has been it's the results that matter and we do need to strengthen in a few positions.
The giddy excitement of recent times has been nice but to see it reigned in a bit may stand us in good stead in the long term.
Unfortunately I fear more reigning in on Sunday.....
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Early days yet and I am not for one moment writing him off, but I was massively unimpressed with Traore last night. Hopefully he'll come good when surrounded by the likes of Jack and Luiz, but he didn't seem very interested in trying to beat some average Championship defenders last night. Can't see him dislodging Trez from the first team for a while yet.
I agree. Just for his work rate alone Trez deserves to keep his place. There also seems to be a good understanding growing between him and Cash on that right side, so I only see Traore coming off the bench in the next few games.
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On the hunt for a positive regarding last nights result I came up with the idea that the loss, and in particular the performance will focus the minds of both club staff and fans that there is plenty of work to do outside of the first eleven.
We have been, rightly so in my opinion, praised for our work during this transfer window and the evidence so far is that we are a better side but as good as the recruitment has been it's the results that matter and we do need to strengthen in a few positions.
The giddy excitement of recent times has been nice but to see it reigned in a bit may stand us in good stead in the long term.
Unfortunately I fear more reigning in on Sunday.....
I think you're right Nev. Easy to get carried away, and it's only six years since we got 11 points from the first 4 games (including beating Liverpool) under Lambert and thinking everything was hunky dory and giving him a new contract on the back of it. We then went on to lose 6 games in a row, conceding 15 and scoring only 1 goal while doing so. I don't think that will happen again, but we do need to temper expectations.
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Shows how light up top we are. Smith has very few alternatives. Glaringly obvious that another striker is needed. Will he act before Monday's deadline??
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Agreed. Archer from the U23s, but Smith is no longer interested in him.
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So has something happened/been said that makes you have this opinion, Legion? Thought Cameron was one of the up and coming hopefuls?
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It has cost us (if you believe the numbers) over £200m to get this squad together. And there are still probably seven that aren't good enough to step up to the first team.
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Early days yet and I am not for one moment writing him off, but I was massively unimpressed with Traore last night. Hopefully he'll come good when surrounded by the likes of Jack and Luiz, but he didn't seem very interested in trying to beat some average Championship defenders last night. Can't see him dislodging Trez from the first team for a while yet.
I agree. Just for his work rate alone Trez deserves to keep his place. There also seems to be a good understanding growing between him and Cash on that right side, so I only see Traore coming off the bench in the next few games.
Jesus, £19m on someone not capable of displacing the utterly underwhelming Trezeguet. Come back Suso all is forgiven.
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On the hunt for a positive regarding last nights result I came up with the idea that the loss, and in particular the performance will focus the minds of both club staff and fans that there is plenty of work to do outside of the first eleven.
We have been, rightly so in my opinion, praised for our work during this transfer window and the evidence so far is that we are a better side but as good as the recruitment has been it's the results that matter and we do need to strengthen in a few positions.
The giddy excitement of recent times has been nice but to see it reigned in a bit may stand us in good stead in the long term.
Unfortunately I fear more reigning in on Sunday.....
I think you're right Nev. Easy to get carried away, and it's only six years since we got 11 points from the first 4 games (including beating Liverpool) under Lambert and thinking everything was hunky dory and giving him a new contract on the back of it. We then went on to lose 6 games in a row, conceding 15 and scoring only 1 goal while doing so. I don't think that will happen again, but we do need to temper expectations.
I know it was a bit of an attritional draw against Newcastle, but I'm pretty sure we only got one point for it, not two.
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Didn't Traore spend last season at right-back? Traore to right-back, Cash to left-back. Sorted..
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Early days yet and I am not for one moment writing him off, but I was massively unimpressed with Traore last night. Hopefully he'll come good when surrounded by the likes of Jack and Luiz, but he didn't seem very interested in trying to beat some average Championship defenders last night. Can't see him dislodging Trez from the first team for a while yet.
Biggest disappointment of the night for me. Kind of expected a poor level of performance from some of those in the side last night, but was hoping for a good performance from him.
Guess the Thursday to Sunday turnaround was too short, but it pretty clear from last night that we needed some of the first team playing to add a bit of quality. Pretty disappointed to miss out on a quarter final to be honest.
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Early days yet and I am not for one moment writing him off, but I was massively unimpressed with Traore last night. Hopefully he'll come good when surrounded by the likes of Jack and Luiz, but he didn't seem very interested in trying to beat some average Championship defenders last night. Can't see him dislodging Trez from the first team for a while yet.
Agreed, just praying that he’s just not fit yet. On the albeit limited evidence of last night he seems a bit Nzogbia. His goal in the last game was a cracker, did he play well in that game?
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Shows how light up top we are. Smith has very few alternatives. Glaringly obvious that another striker is needed. Will he act before Monday's deadline??
Agreed. Archer from the U23s, but Smith is no longer interested in him.
So has something happened/been said that makes you have this opinion, Legion? Thought Cameron was one of the up and coming hopefuls?
He is (or was) as Smith prefers Ramsey and Vassilev.
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Bridge is another one that could have been tried instead of Hause yesterday. Just my opinion of course.
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Shows how light up top we are. Smith has very few alternatives. Glaringly obvious that another striker is needed. Will he act before Monday's deadline??
Agreed. Archer from the U23s, but Smith is no longer interested in him.
So has something happened/been said that makes you have this opinion, Legion? Thought Cameron was one of the up and coming hopefuls?
He is (or was) as Smith prefers Ramsey and Vassilev.
Surely if they are all good enough there will be room for all of them? Send him out on loan and see how he develops.
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Agreed. All would benefit greatly, Bridge as well.
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Early days yet and I am not for one moment writing him off, but I was massively unimpressed with Traore last night. Hopefully he'll come good when surrounded by the likes of Jack and Luiz, but he didn't seem very interested in trying to beat some average Championship defenders last night. Can't see him dislodging Trez from the first team for a while yet.
I agree. Just for his work rate alone Trez deserves to keep his place. There also seems to be a good understanding growing between him and Cash on that right side, so I only see Traore coming off the bench in the next few games.
Jesus, £19m on someone not capable of displacing the utterly underwhelming Trezeguet. Come back Suso all is forgiven.
Traore just looked so disinterested last night and not the type of performance you would expect from a player who had just joined the club and was looking to cement a place in the team.
I may be wrong and I hope I am, but he will need to step up with better performances than he did last night.
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Thankfully didn't see the match but Villa Talk are saying Jota was man of the match and he was only on for about 15 mins of the match, just shows how bad we must have been.
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Man of the Match? Hardly. Watkins offered far more when he came on.
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Given the quality teams left in the competition and our struggles in the league last season I am quite comfortable with us going out of the cup and concentrating on the league.
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Thankfully didn't see the match but Villa Talk are saying Jota was man of the match and he was only on for about 15 mins of the match, just shows how bad we must have been.
Can’t say I’ve watched Jota and thought he has massively let us down. The only thing I would say is that he clearly with never complete 90 minutes in a Villa shirt. There have been time’s though where we’ve needed a goal, not used him and I feel we could have.
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Well said Footy...this season must be about the league..I don’t want cup runs as I want us to consolidate and make ourselves a permanent fixture in the too division
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Bridge is another one that could have been tried instead of Hause yesterday. Just my opinion of course.
Hause could have been moved over to left back where he's possibly had his best performances in a Villa shirt.
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We must, too, remember we are still in league fighting for the title (well at this time) and have a major match in the league Sunday . Any chance of a pre match thread today.(please ,it so makes sense)
Then we can put that Cup game aside and focus on what sort of Line up and performance Vs Liverpool!
Beat Liverpool then this Stoke cup thread means nothing!
How about we all move on to the next game?
And see the bigger picture. Because that's why yesterday's team were on the field.
And now it's gone . No need to dwell when we have a big game on Sunday
Bring on Liverpool - I think we can get a result!
Yours optimistically (for a thread some time today)
FV!
Some of us used to like winning cups not finishing 17th in the league. Even the Peace Cup win was exciting. Okay so I might have overegged that.
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The highlight of NRC's career.
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We must, too, remember we are still in league fighting for the title (well at this time) and have a major match in the league Sunday . Any chance of a pre match thread today.(please ,it so makes sense)
Then we can put that Cup game aside and focus on what sort of Line up and performance Vs Liverpool!
Beat Liverpool then this Stoke cup thread means nothing!
How about we all move on to the next game?
And see the bigger picture. Because that's why yesterday's team were on the field.
And now it's gone . No need to dwell when we have a big game on Sunday
Bring on Liverpool - I think we can get a result!
Yours optimistically (for a thread some time today)
FV!
Some of us used to like winning cups not finishing 17th in the league. Even the Peace Cup win was exciting. Okay so I might have overegged that.
but the point is that finishing 17th isn't good enough. If the manager thinks he can't afford to put out the string team in the cup, and 11 changes from Monday tells you that as clearly as can be, then that's fair enough. He'll be judged on our league position this year, just like a cup final last season wouldn't have been enough to save his job if we'd gone down.
Our aim, if you believe the owners/CEO, is to re-establish ourselves in the top half of the premier league, to do that we need to attract better players and to do that we need to improve our league placing to show we're moving in the right direction. finishing 10-12 in the league and being safely out of the dog fight with 5-6 games to go will do more to show our progress than another league cup run. If we're looking on target for that when the FA cup comes around then lets put out a stronger team in that and go for the cup that we all actually want to see Jack lift.
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We must, too, remember we are still in league fighting for the title (well at this time) and have a major match in the league Sunday . Any chance of a pre match thread today.(please ,it so makes sense)
Then we can put that Cup game aside and focus on what sort of Line up and performance Vs Liverpool!
Beat Liverpool then this Stoke cup thread means nothing!
How about we all move on to the next game?
And see the bigger picture. Because that's why yesterday's team were on the field.
And now it's gone . No need to dwell when we have a big game on Sunday
Bring on Liverpool - I think we can get a result!
Yours optimistically (for a thread some time today)
FV!
Some of us used to like winning cups not finishing 17th in the league. Even the Peace Cup win was exciting. Okay so I might have overegged that.
but the point is that finishing 17th isn't good enough. If the manager thinks he can't afford to put out the string team in the cup, and 11 changes from Monday tells you that as clearly as can be, then that's fair enough. He'll be judged on our league position this year, just like a cup final last season wouldn't have been enough to save his job if we'd gone down.
Our aim, if you believe the owners/CEO, is to re-establish ourselves in the top half of the premier league, to do that we need to attract better players and to do that we need to improve our league placing to show we're moving in the right direction. finishing 10-12 in the league and being safely out of the dog fight with 5-6 games to go will do more to show our progress than another league cup run. If we're looking on target for that when the FA cup comes around then lets put out a stronger team in that and go for the cup that we all actually want to see Jack lift.
Guess so Paul and cup competitions have sadly long paled into insignificance compared to a spot in the Premier League.
The aim surely is to build a squad that can be competitive in all competitions (including Europe hopefully), but we are a way off that at the moment.
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Guess so Paul and cup competitions have sadly long paled into insignificance compared to a spot in the Premier League.
The aim surely is to build a squad that can be competitive in all competitions (including Europe hopefully), but we are a way off that at the moment.
The 2nd line is the key here, we don't have the depth right now so what focus gives us the best chance to build that depth of quality over the next few windows? I think everyone knows it's all about league placing if they're honest with themselves.
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We’ve spent £200m and don’t have the depth.
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We’ve spent £200m and don’t have the depth.
We have better depth than last year and next year it will be deeper again. I expect by this time next season 5 or 6 of the players we saw last to be gone. That’s still a lot of turnover in a short space of time.
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We have depth. the problem is that in almost every case the backup player isn't able to play at a consistent level that matches the first 11, they're either consistent but not good enough or too erratic.
If a couple of people are missing then we can cover for it but if we replace all 11 and 5-6 have a bad night (as happened last night) then it looks a mess.
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Guess so Paul and cup competitions have sadly long paled into insignificance compared to a spot in the Premier League.
The aim surely is to build a squad that can be competitive in all competitions (including Europe hopefully), but we are a way off that at the moment.
The 2nd line is the key here, we don't have the depth right now so what focus gives us the best chance to build that depth of quality over the next few windows? I think everyone knows it's all about league placing if they're honest with themselves.
Agree Paul, but I would be hoping the ambition is slightly higher than simply surviving this season. I think the problem is that currently there are still a few too many positions where we are only one injury or suspension away from having a significantly poorer replacement in the side.
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I'd imagine the same applies to most, if not all, sides that will finish outside the top 8.
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I'd imagine the same applies to most, if not all, sides that will finish outside the top 8.
True PWS and we are where we are at the moment, which looks a stronger position than last season. Guess I was talking about where I hope we will be in a few seasons.
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Disappointing to go out to a lower league side once again ...I accept that "survival" is the principal aim for the club but not wishing to progress further in a cup irrespective of its standing is not something that sits well with me - if it's good enough for Citeh it should be for us - facing Spuds would have been a challenge that would have demonstrated any significant improvement of the starting eleven - but the modern game is all about cash and premier league status - I'd just love us to win a cup again
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It is a shame ? One game before January to get into the quarters could we not have been a bit stronger and then brought them off if and when we were comfortable, leaves everything a bit flat 🙁
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https://underagaslitlamp.com/2020/10/02/anwar-el-ghazi-and-henri-lansbury-leave-twitter-amidst-fan-backlash/
I mean I think they’re not good enough and all but this is a bit much.
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I’m sorry but anyone who goes to the lengths of personal abuse directly to a footballer is a massive wanker. In the end they are just players. But they are also real people too. I don’t get anyone who would do this.
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Let's hope they don't come here for reassurance then shall we.
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I’m sorry but anyone who goes to the lengths of personal abuse directly to a footballer is a massive wanker. In the end they are just players. But they are also real people too. I don’t get anyone who would do this.
A few suspects on here for starters.
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Let's hope they don't come here for reassurance then shall we.
:D :D
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I hope all you Twitter users are proud of yourselves :)
Aston Villa pair deactivate Twitter accounts after Stoke City defeat (https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-lansbury-ghazi-twitter-19042920)
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It’s actually tragic that individuals would bother to do that. You must have very little going on in your live to give abuse directly to a footballer or anyone else online.
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Just as well Henry doesn’t frequent on here or he would have a serious meltdown of social media insecurity.
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We've not done much other than discuss his contribution to Aston Villa, have we? This is an Aston Villa supporters' forum, after all.
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Just as well Henry doesn’t frequent on here or he would have a serious meltdown of social media insecurity.
Christ, after the shit you've given Davis, that really is a bit rich.
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There’s being critical of a players ability ( of which I’m guilty of like others), then their is personal abuse which Henry has taken dogs.
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I don't think I've ever seen anybody on here do that.
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How can saying that players are shit and not fit to wear the shirt be considered constructive criticism?
What short memories some people have. Many of the second XI got us to 2 consecutive playoff finals, kept us up by the skin of our teeth last season and got us to last season's Cup final. In my opinion some contributors on this site should ask themselves if they themselves are actually fit to pull on their replica Villa shirt while calling themselves a supporter. Some seem to actually hate some of our players!
And how oh how can Traore be written off after 3 games one of which he only came on for in the 84th minute! Are you really serious? He scored a peach on his debut and John Terry has said he hadn't played for some time.
Thank god some of you don't have access to the youngsters. They'd be hiding under their beds.
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Beats me why any player would go on Twitter if you're not a big name. Even if you're half decent you'll gonna get dogs abuse. At least go on under an assumed name or something.