Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: Bad English on September 11, 2021, 07:46:44 PM
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Oh well.
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Played quite well really. This sport is a right arsehole, sometimes. Enjoy your night, all.
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Largely a good performance against the European champions. Another shocking referee. What is the officials problems with us? We’ve pretty much had this ever since we came back into the premier league.
If we’re going to progress as a club Mings has to become a bit part player. However good he can be for the majority of a game he is always prone to dropping major clangers that cost us.
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Played quite well really. This sport is a right arsehole, sometimes. Enjoy your night, all.
Tennis in a bit.
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Played ok, but ultimately not good enough at either end of the pitch. There’s some mitigating factors, not least being unable to select our number 1 keeper and our record signing, but we need to be more efficient. Mings and Tuanzebe need to be much better. Ramsey did really well and was a real positive.
We need to start picking up points quickly though.
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You have to take your chances! The second killed us with that stupid back pass, although Strer could've shut the angle down quicker - that's where you miss Martinez!
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Shit ref.
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Pathetic 2nd half. I still stand by that.
Captain unfantastic costs again
The ref was absolutely fucking corrupt
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Felt this was our most encouraging performance of the season despite the result. We put Chelsea on the backfoot repeatedly particularly in the first half.
However, got to do the same next game against Everton.
No reason why we can't.
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That's why you need world class players in your team. Promising at times, but the Mings fuck up closed the game down.
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Our next major purchase must be a centre back. Mings fucks up too many times.
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We just need to believe more. We have a fatalism playing at these places.
Went toe to toe for the most part and made Chelsea make changes but they have the best striker in the world.
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Can't defend like that for the 1st 2 goals and expect to win any game in the Premiership. Easily the better side till half time when they took saul off and got better. Ramsey and Watkins caused them loads of problems. Mcginn was good, Ings terrible. Mings fuck-up killed the game dead. Bailey looked good imo. Weren't expecting anything, so probably more disappointed given we had them on their uppers for 45 minutes. ah well.
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We just need to believe more. We have a fatalism playing at these places.
Went toe to toe for the most part and made Chelsea make changes but they have the best striker in the world.
They won the European Cup and strengthened. That is what you need to do.
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Played quite well really. This sport is a right arsehole, sometimes. Enjoy your night, all.
Tennis in a bit.
Mon Emma.
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Defensive brain-farts aside we actually played quite well. Particularly through Ramsey in the first half. Unfortunately the second goal killed the game for us and Chelsea just saw it out.
Shooting practice on Monday in training please! Oh and also, I’m not usually one for moaning about the ref but today was shameful.
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Feel strangely upbeat. Thought we played well. More positives than a 3-0 defeat would suggest.
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I don't post much, a reader more than a poster. Personally, i thought we did really well. A homer ref, against the current european champions who are as strong a side we will face this season, honestly did anyone expect a result? Plenty of positive signs. Plenty. We will do well. The 3 at the back thing surprised me with how well we took to it. Watkins and McGinn superb. New home grown hero incoming with Ramsey senior. . Strong bench with options UTFV
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You have to take your chances! The second killed us with that stupid back pass, although Strer could've shut the angle down quicker - that's where you miss Martinez!
I should imagine Steer expected the ball to his feet rather than 10 metres in front. I doubt even Martinez, as good as he is, would have done much better
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Good performance but poor where it mattered in front of both goals.
We should be putting in a complaint against the ref.
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We had a good account 1st half . Poor finishing 2nd half faded and disappointed.
Steer 5.5
Cash 6 set piece throws provided some attack threat
Konsa 6 Great goal line clearance. Good threat in opponents box
Mings 5 at fault for goal also booked. Good set piece and shot nearly scored
Tuanzebe 5.5 marked down due to poor defending for 1st goal.
Targett 5.5 marked down due to booking stuggled in wing back role.
McGinn 7 Marked down due to ill discipline and another yellow. Best villa player today though. (7.5 levels) really energy , won ball back and brilliant
Douglas Luiz 7
Ramsey 6.5 Good runs in first half with ball but silly yellow
Watkins 7 all game a real goal threat
Ings 6 lacked service some nice touches but bismuth service. He was offside a few times
Subs used:
Bailey 6 outrageous skill vs Alonso.
Traore 6 should gave passed in 93rd minute for consolation goal
Nakamba 6 OK
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Didn't see the game...how did the 3 centre backs work out performance wise (Mings doing a Mings aside)?
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As much as some want to have a dig at Mings, we didn’t score, we should have, so in my mind that’s just as at fault as the back pass.
We played pretty well against one of the best teams in the world and that score line wasn’t a fair reflection on the game.
Well played, quite unfortunate but again, due to one thing or another we seem to be a work in progress all over again.
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I'm not bothered really. FTF! ******!
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Axel on the first and Mings on the second make huge mistakes. Emi gets one of them though I'm pretty certain. Steer was on his heels both times.
Overall, we had the better chances and got done by errors and a stunningly good striker. Deserved a draw in my opinion.
Watkins needs a bit of sharpness but changed the whole output going forward. Had him in the first 3 I'm sure we have more points now.
Traore looked really lively. Ramsey was terrific.
We tired badly though in mdifield and much of what we did well was through press in there, and Ramsey was at the forefront. We need ready made replacements to rotate in and not lose momentum in that 3.
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33 points from the last 28 games. Awful consistency
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With Smith in charge, we finish 15th/16th, if thats acceptable to our owners then sound, but it goes against everything that was said.
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As much as some want to have a dig at Mings, we didn’t score, we should have, so in my mind that’s just as at fault as the back pass.
Ming’s error completely changed the game. At 1 nil we’re still very much in the game. After that, Chelsea know they can just sit back and counter attack us. It’s too regular an occurrence to be ignored 3 seasons in being a premier league regular.
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It showed the level at which we are today. Their striker cost 3 times as much as ours, they struggled and bought the best player from this summers tournament on. Oh and the ref loved them as well.
Having said that we put up a decent showing which bodes well but we're light years away from the likes of Chelsea in terms of personel.
And I'm afraid time is running out for Mings, the game may have been different but for his mistake and there's little or no excuse now.
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With Smith in charge, we finish 15th/16th, if thats acceptable to our owners then sound, but it goes against everything that was said.
Really harsh. Considering we bettered that last season i'd be amazed if we slipped with a better squad to call on
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With Smith in charge, we finish 15th/16th, if thats acceptable to our owners then sound, but it goes against everything that was said.
Not sure what Smith did wrong today
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As much as some want to have a dig at Mings, we didn’t score, we should have, so in my mind that’s just as at fault as the back pass.
We played pretty well against one of the best teams in the world and that score line wasn’t a fair reflection on the game.
Well played, quite unfortunate but again, due to one thing or another we seem to be a work in progress all over again.
Ming’s error completely changed the game. At 1 nil we’re still very much in the game. After that, Chelsea know they can just sit back and counter attack us. It’s too regular an occurrence to be ignored 3 seasons in being a premier league regular
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We played well there and carried a threat throughout. Played some good football and were probably the better side.
The difference was a £98m striker who had two touches in the box and scored.
Terrible goal from Mings at a terrible time too.
Felt Watkins played well, but should have scored. We lack that killer instinct in the box. Ings on the peripheral, but Bailey has a trick or ten up his sleeve.
Ramsey a big plus, McGinn too. No way was it a booking, but the referee was absolutely shambolic.
Lots to work on, but a lot more to work with.
Good atmosphere in the away end. Fan of the rails.
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Really upbeat despite the loss. I've only ever wanted a Villa team that plays on the front foot and excites me.Think we have one now.
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With Smith in charge, we finish 15th/16th, if thats acceptable to our owners then sound, but it goes against everything that was said.
Not sure what Smith did wrong today
Agreed. I thought he set us up well. I was dubious about the 3 centre backs but it largely worked well against Chelsea.
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I don't post much, a reader more than a poster. Personally, i thought we did really well. A homer ref, against the current european champions who are as strong a side we will face this season, honestly did anyone expect a result? Plenty of positive signs. Plenty. We will do well. The 3 at the back thing surprised me with how well we took to it. Watkins and McGinn superb. New home grown hero incoming with Ramsey senior. . Strong bench with options UTFV
Great post.
Consider this: Steer had no saves to make apart from the 3 friggin' goals scored! I know that sounds a bit weird (in a "positive to the power of 'n' way"), but it's pretty much true!
I have to say, despite Lukaku scoring twice, that Axel played really well. Him and Konsa looked really classy.
I thought the 2 wingbacks played well.
McGinn was excellent, although some of his passing was a little wayward. Luiz had a really cool game, and Ramsey impressed in the first half.
Bailey showed flashes of what he can do but was largely anonymous. Traore looked authoritative when he came on.
There was much to admire about our play: well done to Smith for doing something different. £-0 doesn't feel right, and we gifted them the 2nd and 3rd goals really, but - hey-ho - the game should encourage us (the first goal was a product of a brilliant Kovakic pass - many defenders would have failed to cut that out).
Oh, and I thought Tuchel bringing on Jorginho was both flattering to us and a game-changer: he nailed their game down for them in the 2nd half.
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The scoreline flatters Chelsea. Two silly goals and a third in stoppage time. I thought Bailey and Traore were ok when they came on and will be a handful. Watkins was energetic and Ings the complete opposite. I think we needed that third man in the centre of the park. We lost a bit of momentum when Ramsey went off and felt he was sacrificed for us trying to get a goal to get us back in the game, which is fair enough. Only four games in, we will be ok but Dean needs to settle into a pattern of play quickly and try to get our more destructive players into the side.
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Agree Mister Ed. Other thing, whisper it but I think we're (finally) passing the ball around faster. Even Marvelous in his last two appearances is moving it on a hell of a lot faster. Fingers crossed.
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As much as some want to have a dig at Mings, we didn’t score, we should have, so in my mind that’s just as at fault as the back pass.
We played pretty well against one of the best teams in the world and that score line wasn’t a fair reflection on the game.
Well played, quite unfortunate but again, due to one thing or another we seem to be a work in progress all over again.
Ming’s error completely changed the game. At 1 nil we’re still very much in the game. After that, Chelsea know they can just sit back and counter attack us. It’s too regular an occurrence to be ignored 3 seasons in being a premier league regular
He brings so much positivity and leadership to the team though so I’m at odds with it. I know he has an error in him but over the whole season I’d rather have him than not.
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Graeme Souness is glowing in his praise of Villa in the after match summary.
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Graeme Souness is glowing in his praise of Villa in the after match summary.
Jeez, that's worrying!
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Agree Mister Ed. Other thing, whisper it but I think we're (finally) passing the ball around faster. Even Marvelous in his last two appearances is moving it on a hell of a lot faster. Fingers crossed.
Yes, Marv actually looked quite good apart from a 'to no-one' pass late on.
Edit: Mister Ed?!!! WTF? - I'm not a fucking horse! (I'm not even hung like one!!).
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Performance first half, well pleased, with Ming's mistake it's looking like it killed the momentum, noticed that we are slow in coming out when on the break, you could see Mcginn pulling the ref up for being bias, need a few more players doing the same but on mass,as with the Brasil debacle we have got to stop being nicey nicey, other teams don't stand for it why should we
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Love seeing the magic feet of Traore again. What a wonderful sight he is.
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After ending this game as a contest by gifting them the second with a lazy back pass, Mings spent the rest of the game randomly hoofing the ball all round the pitch. He was also nutmegged for the third. He has the nerve to tell us that WE need educating? He needs to be dropped from this team, but we all know he won’t be.
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The fact that we have not had anything close to a settled side and used so many different players already shows we are very much a work in progress. There were lots of very encouraging signs though. And while the next few games will be really hard it won’t determine how we will ultimately look. We are also still learning to be a team missing out best player of the past 4 years and in doing so play a very different way. It’s going to come together but there will be turbulence on the journey there.
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Pretty happy with what I saw.
Lots to work with in next few months with hopefully no more injuries or international disruptions.
A reminder, we once lost 7-1 to them and finished 6th. Not going to finish that high this season but Chelsea away has long since ceased to be season defining for us I'm afraid and I think they'll win the league.
Thought we played better tonight than drawing 1-1 last season there and they're a much better all round team now.
Everton is big game though. Don't want to be losing that with Man. United and Spurs coming up.
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I’d make Mings captain for life just to piss off the right wingers on here.
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Sorey but for me we showed more fight last year than this. We gave up after that mings error. Havent been impressed with our start of the season.
What worrys me is we have 60m worth of attackjng talent out there and we couldnt score for toffee
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I’d make Mings captain for life just to piss off the right wingers on here.
What does that even mean?
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I’d make Mings captain for life just to piss off the right wingers on here.
What the hell you waffling about?
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I’d make Mings captain for life just to piss off the right wingers on here.
What does that even mean?
Maybe there's an aitch missing.
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I’d make Mings captain for life just to piss off the right wingers on here.
What does that even mean?
Check out brackley above.
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Sorey but for me we showed more fight last year than this. We gave up after that mings error. Havent been impressed with our start of the season.
What worrys me is we have 60m worth of attackjng talent out there and we couldnt score for toffee
Your first two sentences are nonsense.
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There were certainly a lot of positives and we played a lot better than I thought we would
Mings mistake killed the game for us
can’t say the back 5 worked because we conceded three
I wouldn’t have took Ramsey off I would’ve put Bailey or Bert on for Axle
I think that’s the thing that will do for Smith in the end he like all the other British managers we’ve had just isn’t brave enough
Nevertheless we played some good football Ramsey McGinn Luiz All looked very good and when they were disturbed we we never looked the same
Unfortunately goalkeeper and strikers who are the most important players on the pitch we’re not up to scratch today
All in all though I’m not as disappointed as I should be
as someone once said show me a good loser and I’ll show you a loser
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Sorey but for me we showed more fight last year than this. We gave up after that mings error. Havent been impressed with our start of the season.
What worrys me is we have 60m worth of attackjng talent out there and we couldnt score for toffee
Your first two sentences are nonsense.
How it be nonsense if we went to chelsea and drew last year? Unless of course you think a 3-0 whooping is a good result.
Then second half we struggled to create anything. 1st half was good 2nd was very poor
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As much as some want to have a dig at Mings, we didn’t score, we should have, so in my mind that’s just as at fault as the back pass.
We played pretty well against one of the best teams in the world and that score line wasn’t a fair reflection on the game.
Well played, quite unfortunate but again, due to one thing or another we seem to be a work in progress all over again.
Ming’s error completely changed the game. At 1 nil we’re still very much in the game. After that, Chelsea know they can just sit back and counter attack us. It’s too regular an occurrence to be ignored 3 seasons in being a premier league regular
He brings so much positivity and leadership to the team though so I’m at odds with it. I know he has an error in him but over the whole season I’d rather have him than not.
When he’s not in the team we’re weaker for sure. He’s just incredibly frustrating with these errors but we know it comes with the package.
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There were certainly a lot of positives and we played a lot better than I thought we would
Mings mistake killed the game for us
can’t say the back 5 worked because we conceded three
I wouldn’t have took Ramsey off I would’ve put Bailey or Bert on for Axle
I think that’s the thing that will do for Smith in the end he like all the other British managers we’ve had just isn’t brave enough
Nevertheless we played some good football Ramsey McGinn Luiz All looked very good and when they were disturbed we we never
looked the same
Unfortunately goalkeeper and strikers who are the most important players on the pitch we’re not up to scratch today
All in all though I’m not as disappointed as I should be
as someone once said show me a good loser and I’ll show you a loser
I was worried as hell about Steer but - tbh - he had little to do and didn't let us down this evening.
By the way, John, when you post I read your posts as if Ozzy O was speaking .... I hope that is not upsetting to you.
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Played quite well really. This sport is a right arsehole, sometimes.
Try being a Mayo fan, that's misery.
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Sorey but for me we showed more fight last year than this. We gave up after that mings error. Havent been impressed with our start of the season.
What worrys me is we have 60m worth of attackjng talent out there and we couldnt score for toffee
Your first two sentences are nonsense.
How it be nonsense if we went to chelsea and drew last year? Unless of course you think a 3-0 whooping is a good result.
Then second half we struggled to create anything. 1st half was good 2nd was very poor
Either stop arguing with everyone or take the rest of the night off. Your choice.
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I’d make Mings captain for life just to piss off the right wingers on here.
What does that even mean?
Check out brackley above.
No ta. Once was enough for that absolute shite.
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I’d make Mings captain for life just to piss off the right wingers on here.
What does that even mean?
Check out brackley above.
Just some of the non-footballing attacks on Mings this evening:
"He has the nerve to tell us that WE need educating?"
"Mings always has something to say on social media, but yet again can't even do basic defending properly."
"He’s just a snowflake."
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Sorey but for me we showed more fight last year than this. We gave up after that mings error. Havent been impressed with our start of the season.
What worrys me is we have 60m worth of attackjng talent out there and we couldnt score for toffee
Your first two sentences are nonsense.
How it be nonsense if we went to chelsea and drew last year? Unless of course you think a 3-0 whooping is a good result.
Then second half we struggled to create anything. 1st half was good 2nd was very poor
I agree with LFS.
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After ending this game as a contest by gifting them the second with a lazy back pass, Mings spent the rest of the game randomly hoofing the ball all round the pitch. He was also nutmegged for the third. He has the nerve to tell us that WE need educating? He needs to be dropped from this team, but we all know he won’t be.
And a bit less of that please.
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Sorey but for me we showed more fight last year than this. We gave up after that mings error. Havent been impressed with our start of the season.
What worrys me is we have 60m worth of attackjng talent out there and we couldnt score for toffee
Your first two sentences are nonsense.
How it be nonsense if we went to chelsea and drew last year? Unless of course you think a 3-0 whooping is a good result.
Then second half we struggled to create anything. 1st half was good 2nd was very poor
Either stop arguing with everyone or take the rest of the night off. Your choice.
.dave im not arguing with anyone? Im responding to his post. This is a forum where we can debate?
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The 5-3-2 was a load of bollocks and cost us the game. It did mean that we had a proper midfield 3 for once, which is why Luiz and McGinn looked better than they usually do in that godawful 4-2-3-1 that Smith is so bafflingly enamoured with. But all having the extra man meant is that we had Tuanzebe in, who is crap, and that Mings looked confused as to where he was supposed to be, and it's a job getting him to concentrate for 90 minutes at the best of times. A proper 4-3-3 and I reckon we could have got something out of that.
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Strangely, the first half was easily our best of the season so far. But I guess that's what 97.5m quid buys you. Vaguely optimistic for next week.
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There were certainly a lot of positives and we played a lot better than I thought we would
Mings mistake killed the game for us
can’t say the back 5 worked because we conceded three
I wouldn’t have took Ramsey off I would’ve put Bailey or Bert on for Axle
I think that’s the thing that will do for Smith in the end he like all the other British managers we’ve had just isn’t brave enough
Nevertheless we played some good football Ramsey McGinn Luiz All looked very good and when they were disturbed we we never
looked the same
Unfortunately goalkeeper and strikers who are the most important players on the pitch we’re not up to scratch today
All in all though I’m not as disappointed as I should be
as someone once said show me a good loser and I’ll show you a loser
I was worried as hell about Steer but - tbh - he had little to do and didn't let us down this evening.
By the way, John, when you post I read your posts as if Ozzy O was speaking .... I hope that is not upsetting to you.
Well he is a top bloke same as me
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The 5-3-2 was a load of bollocks and cost us the game. It did mean that we had a proper midfield 3 for once, which is why Luiz and McGinn looked better than they usually do in that godawful 4-2-3-1 that Smith is so bafflingly enamoured with. But all having the extra man meant is that we had Tuanzebe in, who is crap, and that Mings looked confused as to where he was supposed to be, and it's a job getting him to concentrate for 90 minutes at the best of times. A proper 4-3-3 and I reckon we could have got something out of that.
Nah, disagree.
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The 5-3-2 was a load of bollocks and cost us the game. It did mean that we had a proper midfield 3 for once, which is why Luiz and McGinn looked better than they usually do in that godawful 4-2-3-1 that Smith is so bafflingly enamoured with. But all having the extra man meant is that we had Tuanzebe in, who is crap, and that Mings looked confused as to where he was supposed to be, and it's a job getting him to concentrate for 90 minutes at the best of times. A proper 4-3-3 and I reckon we could have got something out of that.
Completely agree. Luiz / McGinn / Ramsey looked well balanced, especially considering the opposition. If he is obsessed by having a ten then notionally give McGinn that role as he is Milner-esque at being everywhere.
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There were certainly a lot of positives and we played a lot better than I thought we would
Mings mistake killed the game for us
can’t say the back 5 worked because we conceded three
I wouldn’t have took Ramsey off I would’ve put Bailey or Bert on for Axle
I think that’s the thing that will do for Smith in the end he like all the other British managers we’ve had just isn’t brave enough
Nevertheless we played some good football Ramsey McGinn Luiz All looked very good and when they were disturbed we we never
looked the same
Unfortunately goalkeeper and strikers who are the most important players on the pitch we’re not up to scratch today
All in all though I’m not as disappointed as I should be
as someone once said show me a good loser and I’ll show you a loser
I was worried as hell about Steer but - tbh - he had little to do and didn't let us down this evening.
By the way, John, when you post I read your posts as if Ozzy O was speaking .... I hope that is not upsetting to you.
Well he is a top bloke same as me
;D ;D ;D
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I thought that we were very good in the first half, created quite a few chances away at a very good side and the final scoreline flattered them. The second goal killed us and yes it was a mistake by Mings but I wonder why he is picked out for every mistake he makes? Other players make mistakes on the pitch but don't picked out as often as Mings. A 3-0 loss but I thought plenty to be optimistic about for the rest of the season.
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The 5-3-2 was a load of bollocks and cost us the game. It did mean that we had a proper midfield 3 for once, which is why Luiz and McGinn looked better than they usually do in that godawful 4-2-3-1 that Smith is so bafflingly enamoured with. But all having the extra man meant is that we had Tuanzebe in, who is crap, and that Mings looked confused as to where he was supposed to be, and it's a job getting him to concentrate for 90 minutes at the best of times. A proper 4-3-3 and I reckon we could have got something out of that.
Completely agree. Luiz / McGinn / Ramsey looked well balanced, especially considering the opposition. If he is obsessed by having a ten then notionally give McGinn that role as he is Milner-esque at being everywhere.
And maybe that was because they had 3 playing behind them and 2 wingbacks to pass to?
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They're a better team than us, which makes the difference when differences are made. We did Ok, they were below par, but they had enough to see us off. Obviously Mings did his thing and McGinn's passing was Russian roulette, but we should put it behind us and move on.
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The second goal killed us and yes it was a mistake by Mings but I wonder why he is picked out for every mistake he makes? Other players make mistakes on the pitch but don't picked out as often as Mings.
Because he makes a lot of mistakes that seem to cost us goals and games.
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The 5-3-2 was a load of bollocks and cost us the game. It did mean that we had a proper midfield 3 for once, which is why Luiz and McGinn looked better than they usually do in that godawful 4-2-3-1 that Smith is so bafflingly enamoured with. But all having the extra man meant is that we had Tuanzebe in, who is crap, and that Mings looked confused as to where he was supposed to be, and it's a job getting him to concentrate for 90 minutes at the best of times. A proper 4-3-3 and I reckon we could have got something out of that.
Nah, disagree.
I too disagree. For a manager much slated for no plan b, it was right today. Individual brilliance and fallibility did for us today.
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Quite simply, we've just sold a player for a hundred million quid, and they just bought one for a hundred million quid.
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Quite simply, we've just sold a player for a hundred million quid, and they just bought one for a hundred million quid.
Indeed.
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The 5-3-2 was a load of bollocks and cost us the game. It did mean that we had a proper midfield 3 for once, which is why Luiz and McGinn looked better than they usually do in that godawful 4-2-3-1 that Smith is so bafflingly enamoured with. But all having the extra man meant is that we had Tuanzebe in, who is crap, and that Mings looked confused as to where he was supposed to be, and it's a job getting him to concentrate for 90 minutes at the best of times. A proper 4-3-3 and I reckon we could have got something out of that.
Nah, disagree.
I too disagree. For a manager much slated for no plan b, it was right today. Individual brilliance and fallibility did for us today.
I thought Smith got it pretty much spot on and not many sides will go there and play that well.
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On the way home. Despite it being 3-0 I thought both players and fans were magnificent. Spoke to number of Chelsea fans at Clapham Junction who were very complimentary about Villa. Hopefully build on that against Everton.
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Dont want to see 5 at the back again. Have we ever won a game with 5 at the back under smith?
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On the way home. Despite it being 3-0 I thought both players and fans were magnificent. Spoke to number of Chelsea fans at Clapham Junction who were very complimentary about Villa. Hopefully build on that against Everton.
Mey, typical sort of game where a big 4 team can be condescending about us, and pat us on the head for giving it a go after they've smashed 3 past us.
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Didn't see the game. Disappointed obviously but encouraged by the more level-headed posts on how the game went.
I feel we have a proper captain in Tyrone Mings and he will probably be feeling his mistake more than anyone. The captaincy is in good hands and he will more than make up for any errors over the course of the season. Keep going Tyrone and UTV!
Regarding referees, whenever we play any of the scab 6 I expect them to be scab 6 fan boys and it seems the one today didn't disappoint.
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I feel like it's been quite a long time since Mings dropped a clanger for us, and maybe it's no coincidence it was without Martinez behind him today. With Emi there I reckon the defenders dare not make a mistake like that, and Mings in particular takes less risks.
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The 5-3-2 was a load of bollocks and cost us the game. It did mean that we had a proper midfield 3 for once, which is why Luiz and McGinn looked better than they usually do in that godawful 4-2-3-1 that Smith is so bafflingly enamoured with. But all having the extra man meant is that we had Tuanzebe in, who is crap, and that Mings looked confused as to where he was supposed to be, and it's a job getting him to concentrate for 90 minutes at the best of times. A proper 4-3-3 and I reckon we could have got something out of that.
Nah, disagree.
I too disagree. For a manager much slated for no plan b, it was right today. Individual brilliance and fallibility did for us today.
I also disagree. We looked surprisingly good today and great finishing by them plus two mistakes and poor finishing by us led to a very disappointing scoreline. But play that way and that well and we’ll have a great season.
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Agree Martin. I would sooner scrap and win ugly with the Cockneys left to slag us off.
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I thought that we were very good in the first half, created quite a few chances away at a very good side and the final scoreline flattered them. The second goal killed us and yes it was a mistake by Mings but I wonder why he is picked out for every mistake he makes? Other players make mistakes on the pitch but don't picked out as often as Mings. A 3-0 loss but I thought plenty to be optimistic about for the rest of the season.
No you can’t keep making excuses for him
He’s made quite a few mistakes with his sloppy play which have led to goals or good chances for the opposition
We have been saying for a while now he has to learn but he doesn’t he just keeps doing them
He’s not a youngster coming through he’s an international and Villa captain he should be better than that
Cut out the sloppy play is what we’ve been saying for a long long time to no avail
He strolls around thinking he’s Maldini or Baresi but he’s nowhere near
And because he keeps making these silly mistakes I’m not sure he’s ever going to be capable of cutting them out of his game which is concerning
He’s a good defender but he’s never been a ball player same as Konsa
They’ve not got good skills or control
But Konsa knows it And plays to his ability which is what Mings needs to do
But I’m not holding my breath
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The second goal killed us and yes it was a mistake by Mings but I wonder why he is picked out for every mistake he makes? Other players make mistakes on the pitch but don't picked out as often as Mings.
Because he makes a lot of mistakes that seem to cost us goals and games.
This really. I like Mings, but he makes a lot of costly mistakes, even compared to Konsa for example.
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Do people honestly think we played well 2nd half? I mean 1st half we were great but its a 90 minute game. No point playing well for 45 then shit for the other 45
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McGinn looks fitter this season
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The 5-3-2 was a load of bollocks and cost us the game. It did mean that we had a proper midfield 3 for once, which is why Luiz and McGinn looked better than they usually do in that godawful 4-2-3-1 that Smith is so bafflingly enamoured with. But all having the extra man meant is that we had Tuanzebe in, who is crap, and that Mings looked confused as to where he was supposed to be, and it's a job getting him to concentrate for 90 minutes at the best of times. A proper 4-3-3 and I reckon we could have got something out of that.
Totally disagree . We set up well and matched them well apart from the first goal. The Mings catastrophe killed us , and knocked the stuffing out of the players. We would have got a draw at least but for that, we were on top.
But here's the difference. We bought Wesley for 20m, he didn't work out , everyone questions recruitment policy,manager, everything. Chelsea bought Werner for 50m, he didnt work, they replaced him with Lukaku for 97m, no-one questions anything.
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Do people honestly think we played well 2nd half? I mean 1st half we were great but its a 90 minute game. No point playing well for 45 then shit for the other 45
Well we were meh 2nd half, but then the game was over 4 minutes into it. We knew it, and so did they.
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Genuinely surprised at the negativity. I saw much today that makes me think Villa are genuinely building a strong foundation. The beginning of this season has been so disrupted by Covid and injuries, it's going to take time to gel. Next week is important to get points on the board.
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I’d make Mings captain for life just to piss off the right wingers on here.
?
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https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/12405548/lukaku-nets-brace-as-chelsea-ease-past-villa
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Their second goal was shocking from us. Well, Mings.
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I’d make Mings captain for life just to piss off the right wingers on here.
?
explanation few pages back.
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I’d make Mings captain for life just to piss off the right wingers on here.
?
explanation few pages back.
I'm with you on this, Dr, even if I couldn't ever get a handle on The Cherry Orchard.
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I’d make Mings captain for life just to piss off the right wingers on here.
?
explanation few pages back.
I see it now.
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Do people honestly think we played well 2nd half? I mean 1st half we were great but its a 90 minute game. No point playing well for 45 then shit for the other 45
Me. We definitely weren’t shit in the 2nd, we were in it right up to their third goal. Outside of Man City and possibly Liverpool, there won’t be many teams that make Chelsea work for a win like that. I definitely wasn’t a 3-0 either
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Could Tuanzebe have put the ball out for a throw-in rather than play it inside for Mings?
The safest bet would have been to simply clear it.
I think Ings is a luxury / passenger in games like these. I would prefer to see another midfielder / link up man in the team.
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Could Tuanzebe have put the ball out for a throw-in rather than play it inside for Mings?
The safest bet would have been to simply clear it.
I think Ings is a luxury / passenger in games like these. I would prefer to see another midfielder / link up man in the team.
The trouble is that, if Watkins' chances had fallen to Ings he'd have scored a couple of them. The other problem is that they didn't, because Watkins works harder.
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Well the result was just as I forecast, but (dreadful error(s) apart), I enjoyed our performance much more than I'd expected. The referee was amazingly one sided in his distribution of yellow cards.
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XG was 1.37 for both teams today.
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If you'd have told me we would have had 18 shots and 6 on target away at Chelsea (more than Chelsea had) then I would have been very surprised. Maybe we have found our formation 😈. 11 corners as well, I couldn't watch the game but we must have had decent bouts of pressure for those sort of stats.
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Nothing wrong with the system or the performance first or second half.
Finishing is what let us down. Their finishing is what will also probably win them the title.
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I think our shit defending played a rather large part as well.
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Same old. We played ok but convincingly lost.
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XG was 1.37 for both teams today.
That sums it all up.
We won the first half
They won the second.
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XG was 1.37 for both teams today.
That sums it all up.
We won the first half
They won the second.
Well no - they won the first half and the second.
I suspect XG is a useful indicator across a season, but in individual games can be slightly spurious.
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Chelsea were poor by their standards but were gifted 3 goals by our haphazard defence. No idea why he kept 3 centre half’s on the pitch when we were 2 nil down. Mings and Tunzabe looked like Sunday league players.
H
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Chelsea were poor by their standards but were gifted 3 goals by our haphazard defence. No idea why he kept 3 centre half’s on the pitch when we were 2 nil down. Mings and Tunzabe looked like Sunday league players.
H
I saw konsa hoofing it out and dragging down players too . As well as completely scuffing his shot and struggling to direct headers in their penalty area. Mings had an excellent shot right footed too with konsa on rebound was embarrassing as he should have scored scuffed it.
Be fair they were all only OK and also not too awful generally.
Still they (the defenders)struggle with the set piece attacking the ball appropriately.
That frustrating
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Shout out for the ref and his yellow card. The thing that sticks in my craw is Ramsey got booked for holding back a Chelsea player, one of theirs did the same and… nothing. And the Mings one was soft as shite.
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Graeme Souness is glowing in his praise of Villa in the after match summary.
Jeez, that's worrying!
Especially if you heard him gush about the "real deal" chelsea before hand . Based solely on his Liverpool not getting a result.v 10 men last time out
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Mings is the sort where you have to accept 2-3 bad errors during the season but he'll make up for it in other areas with leadership and simply talking others through the game.
Not every CB has that ability and he missed Palace away last year and we folded very weakly from 2-1 up so not like we're missing in backline when he's not around.
While not an obvious bad error Axel looked a complete schoolboy trying to deal with the 1st goal. Didn't have his positioning right to cut the ball out, didn't get close enough to Lukaku to keep him on his left and then far too easily beaten so thought that was nearly as bad as what Mings did in a way.
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Shout out for the ref and his yellow card. The thing that sticks in my craw is Ramsey got booked for holding back a Chelsea player, one of theirs did the same and… nothing. And the Mings one was soft as shite.
Thiago Silva that was who made their foul
Ramsey needed to let go quickly and take the foul but he made it blatant. Ref would have whistled anyway so didn't need to drag him to ground
The difference was experience
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Agree Mister Ed. Other thing, whisper it but I think we're (finally) passing the ball around faster. Even Marvelous in his last two appearances is moving it on a hell of a lot faster. Fingers crossed.
Well that's because there is no Grealish!
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Agree Mister Ed. Other thing, whisper it but I think we're (finally) passing the ball around faster. Even Marvelous in his last two appearances is moving it on a hell of a lot faster. Fingers crossed.
Well that's because there is no Grealish!
Not really, in fact, not at all. There's never been any pace on our passing, it's always been safety first. Today we knocked it about like 'control that ya fecker!'. Nothing to do with Joe. Joe likes to sit on it, lay a few eggs but can still create something. Today, mainly after they scored the first, played with a confidence that the handbrake had finally been released. Rise up or step aside. Plenty rose up. Most encouraging from a Smith team. Keep it coming as practice makes perfect.
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Differences at either end of the pitch were that they had defenders who blocked everything we threw at them, especially one block by Thiago Silva (the irony of allowing him to play last minute), whereas goals one and two were through our defensive errors (albeit one more glaring than the other); and in attack, they scored their fewer chances and we didn't. Simple. That's the difference between top six and midtable at the moment. But I'm encouraged that we may be starting to bridge that gap.
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Mings will relive that moment for a while, he had cut that out of his game and was content to put the ball out of play for most of lasy season. We lost momentum when Ramsey went off, thought he did very well. Yes the second goal killed the game for us and the legs got a little slower, but what we showed in the first half is we can match it with the best of them, across the pitch we are a stronger side, JM was superb first half but tired toward the end, not sure about Luiz seems a little too slow and Ings was lost with no supply.
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Not greatest result but rather sickened by some of the comments about Mings on here. I don’t want to open a huge debate on this but I thought some of our fans were better than that. I will leave it at that.
Positive enough performance against the possible league winners. Let’s hope we have a decent 11 fit, not isolating or getting villa injured in the weeks to come.
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Four points out of 12 and 1 win in 4 is a poor start to the season.
Its still early in the season and things can change but they need to happen quick if we have aspurations for europe
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I don't know what aspurations are but I'd be aspiring to something better than we have - Potter in.
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Like most on here I though there was plenty to be pleased with in our performance, it showed plenty of promise for the future. It also emphasised the size of the challenge to get to the level where we can realistically challenge Chelsea. They’re European Champions and strengthened by signing arguably the best centre forward in the world and were able to bring on the European Player of the Year at half time after they had been outplayed in the first half.
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Mings maybe lost his composure from the referees performance and being annoyed at letting in an early goal - whatever the reason, he needs to be mentally stronger than that.
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The only excuse I could offer N'ZMAV for Tyrone is that he loses focus on his own game in his attempts to get points across to clearly erring referees. He takes leadership very seriously in a way that other token Captains do not. He got a yellow card in his last England game because he clearly made his views known to the referee about the kicking the England players were getting that was going unpunished. Players of the intelligence, integrity and articulation of Tyrone are rare in the professional game. In my book the errors in play are a price worth paying for everything else he brings to the game.
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The only excuse I could offer N'ZMAV for Tyrone is that he loses focus on his own game in his attempts to get points across to clearly erring referees. He takes leadership very seriously in a way that other token Captains do not. He got a yellow card in his last England game because he clearly made his views known to the referee about the kicking the England players were getting that was going unpunished. Players of the intelligence, integrity and articulation of Tyrone are rare in the professional game. In my book the errors in play are a price worth paying for everything else he brings to the game.
I agree, Brian. As frustrating as it is when it happens, he's more good than bad for us.
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I only saw from 2-0 onwards, but thought we were pretty good. Bailey looks a trickster. Chelsea looked solid at the back and of course they had the ref on their side. Score line was disappointing, but I think there’s a fair bit more when we get our strongest line up back and hopefully shake this run of players injured / COVID bound. From what I’ve seen so far of this season I reckon it will be an inversion of last season- poorish start but strong run in.
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Chelsea are solid at the back. No goals from open play so far and 14 clean sheets out of their last 23 games. The only time they've conceded a hat full was against the Stripey Filth.
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Mings is the sort where you have to accept 2-3 bad errors during the season but he'll make up for it in other areas with leadership and simply talking others through the game.
Not every CB has that ability and he missed Palace away last year and we folded very weakly from 2-1 up so not like we're missing in backline when he's not around.
While not an obvious bad error Axel looked a complete schoolboy trying to deal with the 1st goal. Didn't have his positioning right to cut the ball out, didn't get close enough to Lukaku to keep him on his left and then far too easily beaten so thought that was nearly as bad as what Mings did in a way.
Better players and many of them will be bamboozled by Lukaku though. He’s absolutely exceptional and the difference between the teams today.
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The only excuse I could offer N'ZMAV for Tyrone is that he loses focus on his own game in his attempts to get points across to clearly erring referees. He takes leadership very seriously in a way that other token Captains do not. He got a yellow card in his last England game because he clearly made his views known to the referee about the kicking the England players were getting that was going unpunished. Players of the intelligence, integrity and articulation of Tyrone are rare in the professional game. In my book the errors in play are a price worth paying for everything else he brings to the game.
Well said
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Ramsey is really developing nicely. I was skeptical after last season, as he didn't seem to influence games he started in and didn't seem to have a position. But he's really improved and kicked on. Made their new boy look a mug.
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Agree 100% with RB above. His leadership qualities are priceless.
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Ramsey is really developing nicely. I was skeptical after last season, as he didn't seem to influence games he started in and didn't seem to have a position. But he's really improved and kicked on. Made their new boy look a mug.
He's my highlight of the season so far, looks due a real starmaking MOTM performance very soon.
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Ramsey is really developing nicely. I was skeptical after last season, as he didn't seem to influence games he started in and didn't seem to have a position. But he's really improved and kicked on. Made their new boy look a mug.
Agreed, he appears to have more belief in himself now. He’s made himself a genuine contender for a place rather than somebody who can step in when we’re short.
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Yes, I was wrong about his potential. He's going to be really good.
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Ramsey is really developing nicely. I was skeptical after last season, as he didn't seem to influence games he started in and didn't seem to have a position. But he's really improved and kicked on. Made their new boy look a mug.
i know where you’re coming from with the Ramsey comments but he seems to have that hallmark of the kids coming through now. Yes they’ve got their different individual attributes, but they all look very cool and composed on the ball, very professional and don’t tend to flap when under a bit of pressure. Yes there is room for improvement, but they all seem to have a solid grounding and none of them have really looked out of place in the side when they’ve featured.
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I didn't think that much of Chelsea yesterday, we could and should have won, let alone not lost.
However, Lukaku really makes the difference with them. I have *dry heaves* quite enjoyed watching their matches that i have seen this season, I like the way they play - it might not be as technically refined as Man City but it's much more watchable (nothing to do with Grealish btw).
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I think that's probably the most positive I've felt after a 3 nil defeat, after their first goal, we played them off the park the rest of the half, we're talking Champions League winners here, sadly it was just the finishing that let us down. That's the best first half display we've put in against a top 4 side for a long long time, and that's without Martinez, Buendia and Bailey. The stats for the match say it all 18 shots 6 on target for us 12 shots 4 on target for them. Possibly the most pleasing thing for me was Ramsey's performance, gets better with every game and he's one of our own.
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They all seem to be able to find a pass too, even in difficult positions. Edit: I was still talking about the kids, btw.
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Just watched it on motd through sober eyes.The second and 3rd goals were both down to mistakes by Mings. Total lack of awareness for their second and why didn't he put a challenge in on the touch line just before their third? The ball should never have got to Lukaku. Mings can be such a frustrating player at times.
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I think a little bit of credit needs to go to the Chelsea player for their second goal. He knew exactly what Mings was going to do and he pounced on it.
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I didn't think that much of Chelsea yesterday, we could and should have won, let alone not lost.
However, Lukaku really makes the difference with them. I have *dry heaves* quite enjoyed watching their matches that i have seen this season, I like the way they play - it might not be as technically refined as Man City but it's much more watchable (nothing to do with Grealish btw).
Because watching Man City is like watching FIFA? Or a bunch of robots?
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I didn't think that much of Chelsea yesterday, we could and should have won, let alone not lost.
However, Lukaku really makes the difference with them. I have *dry heaves* quite enjoyed watching their matches that i have seen this season, I like the way they play - it might not be as technically refined as Man City but it's much more watchable (nothing to do with Grealish btw).
Because watching Man City is like watching FIFA? Or a bunch of robots?
Yep, Pep's great Barça team was great because of a collaboration, between his ideas and three extraordinary players in Xavi, Iniesta and Messi (not to mention Puyol, the heart any team needs). Without them, these ideas serve to turn every player into an automoton. Because of the talent the money buys it can be an amazing machine to watch whirl around, but it is nonetheless a machine.
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I think a little bit of credit needs to go to the Chelsea player for their second goal. He knew exactly what Mings was going to do and he pounced on it.
Good point.
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I didn't think that much of Chelsea yesterday, we could and should have won, let alone not lost.
However, Lukaku really makes the difference with them. I have *dry heaves* quite enjoyed watching their matches that i have seen this season, I like the way they play - it might not be as technically refined as Man City but it's much more watchable (nothing to do with Grealish btw).
Because watching Man City is like watching FIFA? Or a bunch of robots?
Exactly that.
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There's no soul with how Man City play. Absolutely everything about them is a dull corporate grey.
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Not sure why Ramsey was taken off but our midfield drive suffered because of it. I think he has realised he belongs and can kick on. If he is an indication of what is to come from the youngsters we are in for some quality players to look forward too. Thinking that the Captaincy may be overload for Mings, he is the type that wears his heart on his slieves and may detract from him able to totally concentrate on his football. Just putting it out there.
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Poo back pass from Ming's but looking the replays Steer was not sure to come for the ball or stay. He didn't commit and was in no man's land.
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The 5-3-2 was a load of bollocks and cost us the game. It did mean that we had a proper midfield 3 for once, which is why Luiz and McGinn looked better than they usually do in that godawful 4-2-3-1 that Smith is so bafflingly enamoured with. But all having the extra man meant is that we had Tuanzebe in, who is crap, and that Mings looked confused as to where he was supposed to be, and it's a job getting him to concentrate for 90 minutes at the best of times. A proper 4-3-3 and I reckon we could have got something out of that.
Totally disagree . We set up well and matched them well apart from the first goal. The Mings catastrophe killed us , and knocked the stuffing out of the players. We would have got a draw at least but for that, we were on top.
But here's the difference. We bought Wesley for 20m, he didn't work out , everyone questions recruitment policy,manager, everything. Chelsea bought Werner for 50m, he didnt work, they replaced him with Lukaku for 97m, no-one questions anything.
The Guardian match reports says we "matched Chelsea’s 3-4-3 system" which I took the mean we played the same formation. Which made no sense looking at the players we fielded.
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Why Tuanzebe gets in ahead of Hause, I don't really understand. Is that just me?
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The 5-3-2 was a load of bollocks and cost us the game. It did mean that we had a proper midfield 3 for once, which is why Luiz and McGinn looked better than they usually do in that godawful 4-2-3-1 that Smith is so bafflingly enamoured with. But all having the extra man meant is that we had Tuanzebe in, who is crap, and that Mings looked confused as to where he was supposed to be, and it's a job getting him to concentrate for 90 minutes at the best of times. A proper 4-3-3 and I reckon we could have got something out of that.
Totally disagree . We set up well and matched them well apart from the first goal. The Mings catastrophe killed us , and knocked the stuffing out of the players. We would have got a draw at least but for that, we were on top.
But here's the difference. We bought Wesley for 20m, he didn't work out , everyone questions recruitment policy,manager, everything. Chelsea bought Werner for 50m, he didnt work, they replaced him with Lukaku for 97m, no-one questions anything.
The Guardian match reports says we "matched Chelsea’s 3-4-3 system" which I took the mean we played the same formation. Which made no sense looking at the players we fielded.
Yeah I thought that was strange too, as we clearly went 3-5-2. In fact this was the key to how we played, as we outnumbered them in the centre.
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Ramsey is really developing nicely. I was skeptical after last season, as he didn't seem to influence games he started in and didn't seem to have a position. But he's really improved and kicked on. Made their new boy look a mug.
Agreed, he appears to have more belief in himself now. He’s made himself a genuine contender for a place rather than somebody who can step in when we’re short.
He certainly caught the eye yesterday. Maybe (and hopefully) the lack of midfield signings in the window was because they have massive faith in the players coming through the ranks.
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Why Tuanzebe gets in ahead of Hause, I don't really understand. Is that just me?
Apparently Manure are very insistent on the terms they loan players out.
So instead of Mings taking Lukaku and Hause left side, he pushes Mings to the Left to accommodate Tuazabe at centre half and we saw how that turned out.
1-0 Chelsea.
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Decent performance, and the difference ultimately was that Lukaku finished his chances, and Mendy saved the equivalent chance for Watkins.
The thing I really can't get over from yesterday was just how dead the home fans were. No atmosphere at all. For all I want us to be successful, I'd hate for Villa Park to become a soulless half-and-half scarf day trip out.
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Why Tuanzebe gets in ahead of Hause, I don't really understand. Is that just me?
Apparently Manure are very insistent on the terms they loan players out.
So instead of Mings taking Lukaku and Hause left side, he pushes Mings to the Left to accommodate Tuazabe at centre half and we saw how that turned out.
1-0 Chelsea.
I don’t see that. When Tuanzebe came on the other week he played as a holding midfield player. If Mings plays in a 3 for England it’s on the left so seemed the natural place for him.
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Why Tuanzebe gets in ahead of Hause, I don't really understand. Is that just me?
Apparently Manure are very insistent on the terms they loan players out.
So instead of Mings taking Lukaku and Hause left side, he pushes Mings to the Left to accommodate Tuazabe at centre half and we saw how that turned out.
1-0 Chelsea.
I don’t see that. When Tuanzebe came on the other week he played as a holding midfield player. If Mings plays in a 3 for England it’s on the left so seemed the natural place for him.
I would have thought that the Senior Pro and Captain would have been detailed to handle the biggest threat.
Instead of putting the rookie loan player on the spot.
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Why Tuanzebe gets in ahead of Hause, I don't really understand. Is that just me?
Apparently Manure are very insistent on the terms they loan players out.
So instead of Mings taking Lukaku and Hause left side, he pushes Mings to the Left to accommodate Tuazabe at centre half and we saw how that turned out.
1-0 Chelsea.
I don’t see that. When Tuanzebe came on the other week he played as a holding midfield player. If Mings plays in a 3 for England it’s on the left so seemed the natural place for him.
I would have thought that the Senior Pro and Captain would have been detailed to handle the biggest threat.
Instead of putting the rookie loan player on the spot.
You can’t have 3 centre backs constantly having to swap over depending on when the striker pops up.
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There's no soul with how Man City play. Absolutely everything about them is a dull corporate grey.
Would you feel this way if Villa were beating teams 5-0 and dominating possession and controlling games? What Man City do is impressive and to be honest what I'd like to see more than anything is Villa looking like a team that can dominate others through relentless possession of the ball and controlling the tempo of a game.
We rarely look like we can do that and until we can we won't be knocking on the door of European football.
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There's no soul with how Man City play. Absolutely everything about them is a dull corporate grey.
Would you feel this way if Villa were beating teams 5-0 and dominating possession and controlling games? What Man City do is impressive and to be honest what I'd like to see more than anything is Villa looking like a team that can dominate others through relentless possession of the ball and controlling the tempo of a game.
We rarely look like we can do that and until we can we won't be knocking on the door of European football.
If we were doing that, we'd be doing it in our way. The Man City way is utterly tedious, death by a thousand passes. All in front of bored senseless fans, yawning away amongst the empty seats in a soulless exhibition centre, brought occasionally to colour by the blinking lights of their digital advertising hording flags. Is it over? Have we won yet? Oh yes, he's Roll With It, we must have won. Again. Time for another quarter of a billion of left backs? Is it a Tuesday night? Let's boo the anthem of the competition. Have our owners hanged any of the LGBT community recently? Who knows, who cares, our manager wears pumps and a jumper!
I want us to win trophies. I want us to never look anything like that abomination.
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Disappointed with the result good first half great day out at Chelsea with friends.
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The thing I really can't get over from yesterday was just how dead the home fans were. No atmosphere at all. For all I want us to be successful, I'd hate for Villa Park to become a soulless half-and-half scarf day trip out.
Same here. I follow a Brazilian girl from Belem on Twitter since she tweeted on Grealish. She likes Jack but is a keen Chelsea "fan", pictures in her Chelsea shirt etc. During the international break she was was posting videos of the England team (nothing on Brasil), retweeted Mings' statement with an "Amo" (I love) and tweets about watching the PL all day on Saturday instead of drinking with her mates. Just a random example of the PL's spread and the how some clubs such as Chelski have "supporters" with no natural affiliation to the club.
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Only saw last 20 of either half as watching Mayo lose again. I dont really like praising us when get thumped, almost like the mentality of being a happy loser. However, from what i saw, we actually did play really well.
To my mind if we can play like that every week, we will win a lot more than we will lose. Just want us to get some points on the board quickly now to take the pressure of. Despite their good start, Everton are beatable, looking forwards to that next week.
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Disappointed with the result good first half great day out at Chelsea with friends.
Has the away end been improved or is it still a bit basic?
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There's no soul with how Man City play. Absolutely everything about them is a dull corporate grey.
Would you feel this way if Villa were beating teams 5-0 and dominating possession and controlling games? What Man City do is impressive and to be honest what I'd like to see more than anything is Villa looking like a team that can dominate others through relentless possession of the ball and controlling the tempo of a game.
We rarely look like we can do that and until we can we won't be knocking on the door of European football.
If we were doing that, we'd be doing it in our way. The Man City way is utterly tedious, death by a thousand passes. All in front of bored senseless fans, yawning away amongst the empty seats in a soulless exhibition centre, brought occasionally to colour by the blinking lights of their digital advertising hording flags. Is it over? Have we won yet? Oh yes, he's Roll With It, we must have won. Again. Time for another quarter of a billion of left backs? Is it a Tuesday night? Let's boo the anthem of the competition. Have our owners hanged any of the LGBT community recently? Who knows, who cares, our manager wears pumps and a jumper!
I want us to win trophies. I want us to never look anything like that abomination.
But we will, and we all know it.
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There's no soul with how Man City play. Absolutely everything about them is a dull corporate grey.
Would you feel this way if Villa were beating teams 5-0 and dominating possession and controlling games? What Man City do is impressive and to be honest what I'd like to see more than anything is Villa looking like a team that can dominate others through relentless possession of the ball and controlling the tempo of a game.
We rarely look like we can do that and until we can we won't be knocking on the door of European football.
If we were doing that, we'd be doing it in our way. The Man City way is utterly tedious, death by a thousand passes. All in front of bored senseless fans, yawning away amongst the empty seats in a soulless exhibition centre, brought occasionally to colour by the blinking lights of their digital advertising hording flags. Is it over? Have we won yet? Oh yes, he's Roll With It, we must have won. Again. Time for another quarter of a billion of left backs? Is it a Tuesday night? Let's boo the anthem of the competition. Have our owners hanged any of the LGBT community recently? Who knows, who cares, our manager wears pumps and a jumper!
I want us to win trophies. I want us to never look anything like that abomination.
Good summary
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Been a right balls up by FIFA. Clubs that didn’t release players for South American matches won at the end of the day. No one punished. Clubs like Villa, who did release the players now have our players in Croatia. No justice at all and needs to be sorted before the next round of matches.
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Why Tuanzebe gets in ahead of Hause, I don't really understand. Is that just me?
Hause is horrific in a back 3....maybe a bit of a surprise Tuanzebe played ahead of him at LCB v Brentford alright but he did well
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Been a right balls up by FIFA. Clubs that didn’t release players for South American matches won at the end of the day. No one punished. Clubs like Villa, who did release the players now have our players in Croatia. No justice at all and needs to be sorted before the next round of matches.
It's more of a UK government issue than a FIFA one. I don't necessarily agree or disagree with the quarantine policy, but it's hardly FIFA's problem.
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The problem is that FIFA said if clubs didn’t release the players, they would be banned from playing for their clubs for 5 days. They then changed their minds and allowed them all to play, which is why I think Villa were hard done by. The Villa problem was made by our government’s quarantine rules but, fifa didn’t carry out their threat either.
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There's no soul with how Man City play. Absolutely everything about them is a dull corporate grey.
Would you feel this way if Villa were beating teams 5-0 and dominating possession and controlling games? What Man City do is impressive and to be honest what I'd like to see more than anything is Villa looking like a team that can dominate others through relentless possession of the ball and controlling the tempo of a game.
We rarely look like we can do that and until we can we won't be knocking on the door of European football.
If we were doing that, we'd be doing it in our way. The Man City way is utterly tedious, death by a thousand passes. All in front of bored senseless fans, yawning away amongst the empty seats in a soulless exhibition centre, brought occasionally to colour by the blinking lights of their digital advertising hording flags. Is it over? Have we won yet? Oh yes, he's Roll With It, we must have won. Again. Time for another quarter of a billion of left backs? Is it a Tuesday night? Let's boo the anthem of the competition. Have our owners hanged any of the LGBT community recently? Who knows, who cares, our manager wears pumps and a jumper!
I want us to win trophies. I want us to never look anything like that abomination.
Standing ovation.
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Disappointed with the result good first half great day out at Chelsea with friends.
Has the away end been improved or is it still a bit basic?
Seating wise, in the upper tier in the corner of the Shed it is a reasonable view. Nothing like the opposite end in the 80s + 90s which was a tip. One thing that strikes me at Chelsea is that it has roughly the same capacity as Villa Park but you are much closer to the pitch, even in the upper tier.
Yesterday was really annoying as they took their chances and we fluffed ours. The half time score was a travesty, although one problem was once they had passed our high press we were in trouble. Kovacic (sp?) had far too much time to play an admittedly good ball for their first goal. I thought we didn't take our chances cleanly and paid the price.
Mings' poor back pass was a real blow but I think that Jorginho made a massive difference to their game, and gave them much more control in midfield. Saul had been outmuscled in the first half and once Jorginho came on they just had too much know how for us. I thought Mings should have done better for the 3rd but he was already on a yellow so possibly held back from a clever foul.
Overall we played pretty well but were just not good enough in key moments. I thought McGinn and Ramsey were very good, with Watkins not too far behind. The fans responded to this and our support yesterday was the best I have heard away from home in a long time (obvious comment re Covid notwithstanding) and the players earned a very good ovation at the end.
4 points from 4 games is a poor return compared to the fab start last season, so we really need to get 3 points from Everton next week with trips to Manyoo and Spurs to follow.
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I don't know what aspurations are but I'd be aspiring to something better than we have - Potter in.
Sorry but absolutely not
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Why Tuanzebe gets in ahead of Hause, I don't really understand. Is that just me?
Apparently Manure are very insistent on the terms they loan players out.
So instead of Mings taking Lukaku and Hause left side, he pushes Mings to the Left to accommodate Tuazabe at centre half and we saw how that turned out.
1-0 Chelsea.
Another reason why I hate loans
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There's no soul with how Man City play. Absolutely everything about them is a dull corporate grey.
Would you feel this way if Villa were beating teams 5-0 and dominating possession and controlling games? What Man City do is impressive and to be honest what I'd like to see more than anything is Villa looking like a team that can dominate others through relentless possession of the ball and controlling the tempo of a game.
We rarely look like we can do that and until we can we won't be knocking on the door of European football.
If we were doing that, we'd be doing it in our way. The Man City way is utterly tedious, death by a thousand passes. All in front of bored senseless fans, yawning away amongst the empty seats in a soulless exhibition centre, brought occasionally to colour by the blinking lights of their digital advertising hording flags. Is it over? Have we won yet? Oh yes, he's Roll With It, we must have won. Again. Time for another quarter of a billion of left backs? Is it a Tuesday night? Let's boo the anthem of the competition. Have our owners hanged any of the LGBT community recently? Who knows, who cares, our manager wears pumps and a jumper!
I want us to win trophies. I want us to never look anything like that abomination.
Great rant sir!
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Another one who missed the most of the game as I was watching the Gaelic Football final and hoping Mayo would finally stop being the Sunderland of GAA. I did worry at half time that Deano would be saying "More of the same guys, well done" as it was inevitable Tommy Tippee would change things for Chelsea given how good we had been, the quality on their bench and their debutant Saul Goodman not being quite at the races. Sure enough, Jorginho comes on and steadies their ship. They get a gimme of a second goal and we then sacrifice our best player, young JJ to try and get back in the game. Surely Luiz was the one to be hooked in that instance?
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Another one who missed the most of the game as I was watching the Gaelic Football final and hoping Mayo would finally stop being the Sunderland of GAA.
A bit harsh on Sunderland as they won at Wembley this year. Can you imagine if we'd lost 10 FA Cup finals in 25 years and 6 since 2012? We'd be a bit miffed to say the least.
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Has the away end been improved or is it still a bit basic?
Seating wise, in the upper tier in the corner of the Shed it is a reasonable view. Nothing like the opposite end in the 80s + 90s which was a tip. One thing that strikes me at Chelsea is that it has roughly the same capacity as Villa Park but you are much closer to the pitch, even in the upper tier.
I've only ever been in the lower tier, not great inside from what I remember.
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Another one who missed the most of the game as I was watching the Gaelic Football final and hoping Mayo would finally stop being the Sunderland of GAA.
A bit harsh on Sunderland as they won at Wembley this year. Can you imagine if we'd lost 10 FA Cup finals in 25 years and 6 since 2012? We'd be a bit miffed to say the least.
I discount Sunderland winning a Zenith Data equivalent, just like I would cringe at us adding the play-off trophy to our list of honours. It would be like counting Mayo winning an O'Byrne Cup or whatever, although the poor bastards have probably never managed that either.
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Another one who missed the most of the game as I was watching the Gaelic Football final and hoping Mayo would finally stop being the Sunderland of GAA.
A bit harsh on Sunderland as they won at Wembley this year. Can you imagine if we'd lost 10 FA Cup finals in 25 years and 6 since 2012? We'd be a bit miffed to say the least.
I discount Sunderland winning a Zenith Data equivalent, just like I would cringe at us adding the play-off trophy to our list of honours. It would be like counting Mayo winning an O'Byrne Cup or whatever, although the poor bastards have probably never managed that either.
I'd be very impressed if they won the O'Byrne as it's for Leinster teams, in Connacht it's the Dwyer Cup (FBD League). :)
Tottenham's FA Cup semi-final final record is probably the closest comparison in England as both they and Mayo have been top 6/8 teams for about 30 years now and won diddly-squat.
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I’d make Mings captain for life just to piss off the right wingers on here.
What does that even mean?
Having a sly dig at the racists, maybe?
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Played ok, fitness levels looked good. Pressing was good.
Overall being poor in both boxes cost us.
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Play like that next Saturday and we’ll hand Everton their arses.
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Play like that next Saturday and we’ll hand Everton their arses.
Aye. Be interesting to see how we line up and whether Smith deems the formation a success performance wise, if not result wise.
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The positive news is we are adding £100m of talent into the line-up that will start on Saturday...
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I can't believe I feel as positive as I do on the back of a 3-0 defeat.
It's weird but it just didn't feel like a 3-0 defeat and we deserved more.
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I can't believe I feel as positive as I do on the back of a 3-0 defeat.
It's weird but it just didn't feel like a 3-0 defeat and we deserved more.
Yep, I thought it was a massive improvement in terms of planning, cohesion, tactics, teamwork etc. The problem was the even massiver improvement in opposition.
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If we were doing that, we'd be doing it in our way. The Man City way is utterly tedious, death by a thousand passes. All in front of bored senseless fans, yawning away amongst the empty seats in a soulless exhibition centre, brought occasionally to colour by the blinking lights of their digital advertising hording flags. Is it over? Have we won yet? Oh yes, he's Roll With It, we must have won. Again. Time for another quarter of a billion of left backs? Is it a Tuesday night? Let's boo the anthem of the competition. Have our owners hanged any of the LGBT community recently? Who knows, who cares, our manager wears pumps and a jumper!
I want us to win trophies. I want us to never look anything like that abomination.
That's just down to Guardiola and his tippy tappy tactics though. Liverpool have spent squillions as well, but I'd argue they're far less boring to watch, and at least their fans still feel like proper fans for the most part.
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I’d go further and say even Man United are being made to look authentic by Citehs plasticity. I’m just off for a shower….
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If we were doing that, we'd be doing it in our way. The Man City way is utterly tedious, death by a thousand passes. All in front of bored senseless fans, yawning away amongst the empty seats in a soulless exhibition centre, brought occasionally to colour by the blinking lights of their digital advertising hording flags. Is it over? Have we won yet? Oh yes, he's Roll With It, we must have won. Again. Time for another quarter of a billion of left backs? Is it a Tuesday night? Let's boo the anthem of the competition. Have our owners hanged any of the LGBT community recently? Who knows, who cares, our manager wears pumps and a jumper!
I want us to win trophies. I want us to never look anything like that abomination.
That's just down to Guardiola and his tippy tappy tactics though. Liverpool have spent squillions as well, but I'd argue they're far less boring to watch, and at least their fans still feel like proper fans for the most part.
Yep, it's that football. Disinfected, lab-produced sterile, boring shite. I'm sorry but football for me is art, is needs flow, imagination and instinct for it to appeal.
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Why Tuanzebe gets in ahead of Hause, I don't really understand. Is that just me?
Apparently Manure are very insistent on the terms they loan players out.
So instead of Mings taking Lukaku and Hause left side, he pushes Mings to the Left to accommodate Tuazabe at centre half and we saw how that turned out.
1-0 Chelsea.
I don’t see that. When Tuanzebe came on the other week he played as a holding midfield player. If Mings plays in a 3 for England it’s on the left so seemed the natural place for him.
I would have thought that the Senior Pro and Captain would have been detailed to handle the biggest threat.
Instead of putting the rookie loan player on the spot.
You can’t have 3 centre backs constantly having to swap over depending on when the striker pops up.
Thats why Mings should have marked Lukaku.
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Yep, it's that football. Disinfected, lab-produced sterile, boring shite. I'm sorry but football for me is art, is needs flow, imagination and instinct for it to appeal.
They were a bit better when they had a proper number 9 in Aguero. Now it's all "total football" (puke), tippy tappy, walking the ball into the net shit, with added falling over from you-know-who.
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Thats why Mings should have marked Lukaku.
Totally agree. I really don't get it with Tuanzebe at all. We'd have been better with Mings in the middle and Hause left of him, if we did have to play 5-3-2.
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Thats why Mings should have marked Lukaku.
Totally agree. I really don't get it with Tuanzebe at all. We'd have been better with Mings in the middle and Hause left of him, if we did have to play 5-3-2.
Because, as usual , people have to back the manager even when he gets it wrong.
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Thats why Mings should have marked Lukaku.
Totally agree. I really don't get it with Tuanzebe at all. We'd have been better with Mings in the middle and Hause left of him, if we did have to play 5-3-2.
Because, as usual , people have to back the manager even when he gets it wrong.
Everyone who disagrees with me is just blinded by loyalty.
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If we were doing that, we'd be doing it in our way. The Man City way is utterly tedious, death by a thousand passes. All in front of bored senseless fans, yawning away amongst the empty seats in a soulless exhibition centre, brought occasionally to colour by the blinking lights of their digital advertising hording flags. Is it over? Have we won yet? Oh yes, he's Roll With It, we must have won. Again. Time for another quarter of a billion of left backs? Is it a Tuesday night? Let's boo the anthem of the competition. Have our owners hanged any of the LGBT community recently? Who knows, who cares, our manager wears pumps and a jumper!
I want us to win trophies. I want us to never look anything like that abomination.
That's just down to Guardiola and his tippy tappy tactics though. Liverpool have spent squillions as well, but I'd argue they're far less boring to watch, and at least their fans still feel like proper fans for the most part.
Liverpool are still good to watch. Fast and exciting. City are not. Everyone I know thinks they're dull. obviously they are also brilliant at what they do. Would I want Villa to win playing like that? One season, a couple of trophies, maybe, otherwise, no thanks.
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Thats why Mings should have marked Lukaku.
Totally agree. I really don't get it with Tuanzebe at all. We'd have been better with Mings in the middle and Hause left of him, if we did have to play 5-3-2.
Hause is rubbish in a 3...his inability to kick a ball really gets exposed....Mings is rubbish in the middle of a three too as he can't turn onto his right side and has plenty of experience with England on the left of a three. It was worth trying anyway against Chelsea. Lukaku is that good at the moment he can dominate any defender.
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I can't remember the last time I was this positive after a 3-0 defeat. Probably never. Yes, the goals were very sloppy, but we actually played pretty well, especially in the first half, against one of the best sides in the world who won the champions league last year and then added a £100m striker. Swap Lukaku for Ings and it could have been 3-0 to us.
People have repeatedly pointed to the draw last year as being a better performance, or showing more fight - but last year we had less of the ball, had fewer shots, fewer shots on target, fewer corners - and Chelsea had more of the ball and more shots on target. Goals are the only stat that really matter, obviously, but by every other metric, Saturday was a better performance than last year.
I also just saw the expected goals was 1.37 each. Pretty rare that a team that wins by three goals doesn't also win on Xg.
If we play like that for the rest of the season we'll be absolutely fine. We won't miss that many chances every week, and we won't give away many silly goals from individual errors like that either.
I expected us to lose, and we did, but I also saw a lot of positives so I'm going to focus on that :-)
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Thats why Mings should have marked Lukaku.
Totally agree. I really don't get it with Tuanzebe at all. We'd have been better with Mings in the middle and Hause left of him, if we did have to play 5-3-2.
Because, as usual , people have to back the manager even when he gets it wrong.
Because, as usual, people can’t accept genuinely held differences of opinion.
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Thats why Mings should have marked Lukaku.
Totally agree. I really don't get it with Tuanzebe at all. We'd have been better with Mings in the middle and Hause left of him, if we did have to play 5-3-2.
Because, as usual , people have to back the manager even when he gets it wrong.
Because, as usual, people can’t accept genuinely held differences of opinion.
Also, how the hell did the manager get it wrong? Put any manager in the world in charge of our squad up against that Chelsea team and their manager, and there's more chance than not that Chelsea win.
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Thats why Mings should have marked Lukaku.
Totally agree. I really don't get it with Tuanzebe at all. We'd have been better with Mings in the middle and Hause left of him, if we did have to play 5-3-2.
Because, as usual , people have to back the manager even when he gets it wrong.
Because, as usual, people can’t accept genuinely held differences of opinion.
Also, how the hell did the manager get it wrong? Put any manager in the world in charge of our squad up against that Chelsea team and their manager, and there's more chance than not that Chelsea win.
Well I suppose in theory he gets it wrong if he doesn't set us up to maximise our chances of winning, whoever we're up against. However on this occasion I think that would be very harsh to say - sometimes neutral eyes are useful, and virtually every journo I've read who was at the match thought we played really well, and that 3-0 enormously flattered them (though it didn't flatter Lukaku).
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Saturday didn’t go to plan so missed the game completely. Just watched the highlights and reckon if you swapped the keepers around we might have taken the points.
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I said last season that I hate to watch Citeh play. Bores me to death.
As for our performance v Chelsea, I had us down to lose but, our overall performance warranted at least a point. Hope we can keep playing in a similar fashion and it will come good for is. Have us down to win against Everton so don’t blame me if we don’t!!
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I don't post much, a reader more than a poster. Personally, i thought we did really well. A homer ref, against the current european champions who are as strong a side we will face this season, honestly did anyone expect a result? Plenty of positive signs. Plenty. We will do well. The 3 at the back thing surprised me with how well we took to it. Watkins and McGinn superb. New home grown hero incoming with Ramsey senior. . Strong bench with options UTFV
Thanks JimmyV. Good post.
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I can't remember the last time I was this positive after a 3-0 defeat.
I remember losing 3-0 at Middlesbrough and absolutely battering them, probably under Taylor II or O'Leary.
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Yeah, but then we dicked them the year after, Luke Moore hat-trick(?) and Kevin Phillips laughing in little Lee Cattermole's face and actually making him cry. Maybe that explains all the dirty play and yellow cards in his subsequent career (Cattermole), over-compensating innit.
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Thats why Mings should have marked Lukaku.
Totally agree. I really don't get it with Tuanzebe at all. We'd have been better with Mings in the middle and Hause left of him, if we did have to play 5-3-2.
Because, as usual , people have to back the manager even when he gets it wrong.
Because, as usual, people can’t accept genuinely held differences of opinion.
we lost 3 nil because of our defence.
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Thats why Mings should have marked Lukaku.
Totally agree. I really don't get it with Tuanzebe at all. We'd have been better with Mings in the middle and Hause left of him, if we did have to play 5-3-2.
Because, as usual , people have to back the manager even when he gets it wrong.
Because, as usual, people can’t accept genuinely held differences of opinion.
we lost 3 nil because of our defence.
We let in 3 because of our defence. We scored nil because of our attack.
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Thats why Mings should have marked Lukaku.
Totally agree. I really don't get it with Tuanzebe at all. We'd have been better with Mings in the middle and Hause left of him, if we did have to play 5-3-2.
Because, as usual , people have to back the manager even when he gets it wrong.
Because, as usual, people can’t accept genuinely held differences of opinion.
we lost 3 nil because of our defence.
We let in 3 because of our defence. We scored nil because of our attack.
And given that all the players have a responsibility for each, everyone's to blame. It's a team game.
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Not being funny, and I hope not stupid, but what's Xg?
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Expected goals. It's a stat that the kids are into.
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Not being funny, and I hope not stupid, but what's Xg?
It stands for Expected Goals. It's a stat used to track the "quality" of the chances you create in a game. "Shot on target" will obviously tell you something about how a team has played, but if they're all 30-yard speculative efforts it can be misleading about the quality of the performance. Xg tracks where the shot was taken, whether it was with the foot or head, how the ball arrived etc and so on, and applies a "likelihood of a goal" to it (i.e. how often does a shot from this position actually result in a goal). A chance with an Xg of 0.35 would be scored 35% of the time. So a pull back to a striker on the six yard line with an open goal is probably something like 0.9 - whereas a header from the edge of the box from a corner clearance is probably 0.05. Both would technically be a "shot on target".
The fact we both had 1.37 expected goals means Chelsea did really well with their chances, and we did not. That doesn't tell us anything we didn't already know, certainly not if you saw the game, except to add a little weight to the argument that we actually played OK, barring a couple of defensive lapses and our finishing (which are both obviously very important!).
To put a bit of context on it, when we beat them 2-1 at the end of last season our expected goals was 0.98, and theirs was 3.43. We just did great with our chances, and they did poorly with theirs.
I like the Xg stat purely because it's useful track how creative the team has been.
Our expected goals for last season was 56.72, we actually scored 55 - so it was pretty accurate. The better your attacking players are at finishing, the more likely your actual goals will be higher than your expected goals. The team with the biggest difference between actual goals and expected goals last season was Spurs, who had Kane up front. Probably not a coincidence.
It's just another way of looking at a game after the fact, as sometimes it's easy to let emotions decide whether a performance was good or bad.
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Thanks for the explanation but i do feel it is statistics for statistics sake. Anyone who sees a full game and has a basic understanding of it can see who is on top, who was lucky etc
I thought MOTD gave us very little credit
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I don't think it is that useful for matches but imagine it could have a purpose for scouting players. If a player scores fifteen a season, but his xG is thirty, that means his teammates are creating loads of chances that he messes up. If he he scores fifteen a season but his xG is six or seven, that means he is capable of creating goals out of nothing and might be worth signing, I imagine.
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Thanks for the explanation but i do feel it is statistics for statistics sake. Anyone who sees a full game and has a basic understanding of it can see who is on top, who was lucky etc
I thought MOTD gave us very little credit
Like all statistics, the smaller the sample, the harder it is to draw any proper conclusions. That's why Xg is just an interesting aside on a game-by-game basis, nothing more. Xg is often miles away from the actual result in an individual game, but over time, over a season, it becomes more accurate for a team's performance. It also becomes useful to see how many "quality" chances you're creating over time, vs those you're converting. As others have said, this is also useful for scouting players.
As you rightly pointed out, anyone watching the Chelsea game will know it wasn't 3-0, we probably should have scored at least once, and they shouldn't have got 3. But over the longer term, when we're 10 games in, it's harder to gauge how we've performed beyond 'gut feel' (which if this forum has taught us anything, it's that people rarely agree on stuff like that).
In a game that is increasingly influenced by statistical analysis, I think it's useful for us as fans to have a basic understanding of the metrics being used by the teams themselves.
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If you watch the match at 88 mins, the bit where McGinn appears to be fouled but the ref (the egregious Atwell) awards Chelsea a goal-kick -one of the many decisions to go in the home side's favour that afternoon- the camera cuts away to the touchline where Deano is having a conversation with the fourth official.
Unless my GCSE(failed) lip-reading is wrong, Deano appears to be making a reference to propelling spheroids, a subject that we all know is close to his heart.
But he didn't get sent to the stand and he wasn't fined £25,000, either.
I presume from this that the FO was an adult.