Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: kippaxvilla2 on August 28, 2022, 03:54:04 PM
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I’m speechless.
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Get the fuck out of here Gerrard and take McGinn with you
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I can think of a few words but I'd probably get banned!
Hes a clown and needs to go NOW!
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When you consider the talent pool available to him, Gerrard is by some distance the worst manager we've had in the Premier League era.
I am not a fan of the chop and change approach but this appointment has been a disaster.
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Complete and utter shite.
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That performance was beyond troubling
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the players are not as bad as they look at the moment. The manager is clueless. 1 trophy up in the mickey mouse league North of the border and he is given a job in the most demanding league in the world. Cue someone sayingbits only 4 games...
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We are definitely in a relegation battle. I have only seen 1 team worse than us this season and that is Bournomouth..oh yes they beat us on the opening day!
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Oh my life that was a shocker.
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We have three , maybe four, players who should have started today! An embarrassment
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Thank god I've moved away and no longer have a season ticket or even membership. Today is just another shrug of the shoulders as we've had this for so long now regardless of who the manager is (Smith apart briefly).
There is something majorly wrong behind the scenes. Not sure where we go from here apart from another manager change, there is an air of resignation about it all.
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Poxy goal to concede but we offered zip after.
Takes a special blend of ineptness to have the amount of attacking players we have and look so short on ideas in the final third.
Did their keeper even make a save?
When the cameras panned over to Neil Critchley second half I thought Lamberk was back managing us for a moment. His team (because it is him doing the coaching, not sure what the other lad does apart from meet new signings) certainly looked like one after the break.
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StevieOut.
Managers are responsible for results. And this yet another shit one.
Calendar year has been utter dire
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Utter shite. Get rid now.
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Shit. It's all on the manager! He's got to go!
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We are definitely in a relegation battle. I have only seen 1 team worse than us this season and that is Bournmouth..oh yes they beat us on the opening day!
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We have the squad, it's not the players, it's the complete incompetence of Gerrard and his back room staff. He talks a great game but he's so out of his depth it's almost funny. West Ham were so poor, especially first half yet we gift them three points. It may have been their first goal of the season but I really fear we'll be the team struggling for goals this season.
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I think those of us who have supported Gerrard up till now have got to face the inevitable he hasn’t got a scooby
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We were the better team for an hour, but on 60 mins it was clear things needed changing as west ham started to knock it about better.
Gerrard has the air of a manager hoping for a miracle while not changing anything, and with that said unless we miraculously get anything out of the next two games he might be gone.
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Disappointing.
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Let's hear his post match bullshit this week, yet again. No excuses anymore, just do one.
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Most predictable result all weekend.
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So this is what 'continuous improvement' looks like.
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I can think of a few words but I'd probably get banned!
Hes a clown and needs to go NOW!
I can think of far worse things than that to call the clueless, incompetent coward. Kopite Gobshite to coin a phrase from the other week.
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As soon as they progressed beyond walking football pace at half time we couldn't cope.
The only positive today was he'd stopped the suicidally high full backs.
That looked to me like 8 or 9 players that really couldn't be arsed beyond going through the motions.
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That’s unacceptable.
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Off the fence
Clueless, created the sum total of fuck all
Write this season off, early days but no salvation from Steveevie, early break for world cup maybe world class manager available afterwards.
WHam were dreadful but for all the 1st half possession and the disallowed goal we never looked like scoring, players standing still looking who to pass to and then giving it away.
Fuck
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I think those of us who have supported Gerrard up till now have got to face the inevitable he hasn’t got a scooby
Agreed. Yes it's only four games but there are no signs he knows what he's doing. If we are to believe what Rangers fans said about him it shouldn't come as a big surprise, he's lost without Beale.
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Even when we were the better side we created pretty much nothing of note.
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How Gerrard can claim that McGinn is untouchable when he brings him off after Dougie at 90 minutes.
Look at our players positioning for the first half, all players on the left hand side! Crossing balls to no one in the middle.
Leaving our 2 best players (Bailey and Archer) on the bench!!
No more excuses Gerrard is useless.
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He's lost the dressing room and the players don't want to play for him.
Time to go and the most over paid man in world football, our set piece coach, can bugger off as well.
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has there ever been a least productive front pairing of Ings and Watkins
Just fuck off Gerrard
there you go Archer you can have the last 2 1/2 minutes
Fuck off
Oh we’re one nil down I better bring Bailey on
Piss off you twat
West Ham there for the taking absolutely crap in the first half
So Let’s roll over and have a belly tickled whilst losing again
Just fuck right off you useless tossbasket
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Gerrard is going to get himself the sack. He’s going to persist playing with this system that doesn’t work with the players he has and going to keep playing players who aren’t performing in it. He’ll have nobody else to blame but himself except he’ll never have that insight.
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He basically just looks absolutely clueless.
Taking Luiz off and seeing the midfield fucking implode to the shit it has been most of this season.
Ings and Watkins AGAIN
McGinn stinking the place out again yet only getting hooked in injury time
Waiting till 91 minutes to give Archer a run
Absolutely no idea how to create in the final third beyond MON style endless hit and hope crosses.
We just look dreadful and like we are getting worse.
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agent Gerrard
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It seems to me that there are three main questions or problems that need asking and answering.
1) Coutinho - without doubt he’s our most talented player but he appears both physically and maybe more importantly mentally shot. He has shown flashes since he’s been here that he’s still got it but he cannot influence a game. This is also keeping Buendia out of the team.
2) McGinn - he’s quite obviously massively out of form and now with the added burden of captaincy he seems to be sinking. I’ve often felt his game isn’t good enough for the top half of the PL and that really been born out by the last 6 months where he’s been shadow of a player and not worthy of his starting place.
3) Gerrard - solve the two issues above and he has a slim chance of turning this around but if he isn’t willing to bite the bullet then he’ll pay for it with his job. I’m becoming less convinced as the games pass that he knows what he’s doing and despite having only attended 1 game this season, it’s all gone a bit meh. I said in one of the pre season review threads he didn’t seem to know how to put the bits of the jigsaw together and whilst he hasn’t started throwing shit at the walls to see what sticks yet, I’ll be intrigued to see what reaction he gets from the players to the next two games.
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That was so predictable, game after game the only tactic is lump it into the channels and get crosses in to be easily headed out by their defenders as we have nobody that can win a header in the opposition box. The only time we looked dangerous was with Buendia trying to play little one twos around the box and Baileys direct running and both started on the bench. Gerrard is utterly out of his depth but continues to persist with the same tactics and not adjust things in the middle of the game, that is the most damning thing.
West Ham were abysmal as were Bournemouth but we lost both games, he has to go and now, Edens and Sawiris will not mess around having pumped so much money in. Go and get a world class manager instead of listening to Purslows vanity projects and while you are on pot him as well.
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I’ve found my voice.
We would be looking at 1 point if the game against Everton had gone on another five minutes.
He’s his own worst enemy and obviously very stubborn. He picks the same team and formation week after week including starting with ten players given that McGinn is blackmailing him.
This job is extremely difficult for experienced managers as we are unreasonably demanding at times. But he’s heading to be the worst manager since McBingo. Even Lamberk would be better. I don’t think the players are buying into anything he’s trying to do. This only ends one way.
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Need a full pre-season? All the players fit??? Why are we the lowest distance ran in the Prem.
Offer 20m for Potter, it will be the best signing of the summer!
What are we doing in training?
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Within our squad we have the makings of a good 'football' team. Gerrard couldn't pick his nose.
In the history of West Ham, they have probably never played so shit and gone home with 3 points.
Get rid now and let him bring his one trick pony Coutinho with him (he lost that one trick 5 years ago). >:(
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Two games. Two sets of (on paper) evenly matched teams. Wolves go one up at Newcastle. We go one down against West Ham.
As a Villa fan I look at the other game from afar and I fancy Newcastle to get pull it back and maybe even go onto win.
We go one down and I know that's all she wrote. I've watched us for 30 years now. Most of those years we've been predictably hopeless when we go 1-0 down in a drab match like today where both sides have effectively cancelled each other out. West Ham were fucking dreadful by the way. Make no mistake about that.
Maybe this is Villa law, carved into stone tablet, sent down from the McGraths but:
-We go behind in the second half and we down look like equalising or McGrath forbid, winning.
- We look less able to pass and move with any zip and accuracy than most of the sides in the division. Like persistently. Year on fucking year. Are we ever going to get that right? And 60% possession in the second half, never in dangerous areas, without creating, doesn't count.
- Bogey sides. We seem to be swamped with bogey sides in this division. Always. Sides who seem to revel playing us, always get the rub of the green. We lost Norwich in May sadly. Who else is there? We've done Everton at VP. That's our banker gone. We still have the 'big six (vomits)' to play twice apiece, West Ham at their play, Leicester, Bournemouth, Wolves, Newcastle to play too. All of whom we're almost never likely to do a double on, and some of which we're lucky to do a point a season. We hate playing sides a lot more than they hate playing us. We've got a good recent record vs Forest (clutches prayer beads).
- Holding onto leads. Again, historically a bit shit. We've had seasons where we were built on a resolute defence. That tends to be our best recipe for some success over being a dynamic flair side at the other end. So when we don't have the defensive solidity it's tough.
- Historically awful to watch. Us having a squad with a South American contingent, a winger like Bailey and exciting youngsters. We should be good to watch. It's not unlike the time we had Angel, Hadji, Merson, Ginola, Hendrie, and Vassell, but played crap football (but at least for the most part had a good backline).
- Managers never having an answer to glaring problems. Maybe this is just a football thing, but Moyes found a way to take West Ham on. Arteta Arsenal. Howe switched things around at Newcastle. When a manager looks lost at Villa the writing is on the wall. They're done for and Gerrard unfortunately looks this way. He's just digging himself and us, deeper and deeper.
We've shown ambition in the player recruitment. I think it's time we got a statement manager that's a bit more assured than Gerrard. We should look at someone who is progressive, adaptable and ahead of the curve. The Gerrard gamble hasn't paid off.
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The most worrying part is that Watkins, Ings, Coutinho, Luiz and McGinn have played plenty of football under Gerrard, and he still doesn’t know where they go or how to play them.
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I'm convinced the players hate him. Because he's got no clue tactically and he will kill them in the press. In addition as much as being a ****** is sometimes needed as a leader I can absolutely see him alienating the squad with how he talks to them. Mings is very popular and him losing the armband was clearly not well received. And fuck knows if McGinn even wanted it after that but was forced into something that I don't know he's comfortable with. It's all completely come apart.
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I only saw some of the first half and last 20 as sold a kidney to take the kids to LEGOLAND. I thought we looked good in the bits from the first half - but last 20 mins was aimless.
How did the fans react at the end - when the whistle went and they went over etc?
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Luiz sub summed up everything to me and why he's clueless at premier league level.
With Kamara and Luiz we at least had reasonable control of midfield when out of posession. He goes off and suddenly West Ham players are unmarked 30 yards from goal and can get shots away and one of them deflects in.
He then takes McGinn off in injury time.
I think Gerrard is much worse in in game management than DS which is saying something given the squad he has.
A season of him constantly making the wrong calls which was compounded by making McGinn captain.
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Pull the trigger by sundown. His next gig won't be Liverpool. Transfered maybe. But more likely runcorn.
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Rubbish manager and inept players. An awful combination.
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Luiz being subbed... one of those moments when you think 'shit, this guy really doesn't know what he's doing'.
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I only saw some of the first half and last 20 as sold a kidney to take the kids to LEGOLAND. I thought we looked good in the bits from the first half - but last 20 mins was aimless.
How did the fans react at the end - when the whistle went and they went over etc?
Booing. Gerrard straight down the tunnel.
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Luiz being subbed... one of those moments when you think 'shit, this guy really doesn't know what he's doing'.
Yes that was brain transplant stuff.
And the impact was absolutely instant.
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Luiz being subbed... one of those moments when you think 'shit, this guy really doesn't know what he's doing'.
Yes that was brain transplant stuff.
And the impact was absolutely instant.
A double switch for no reason. It totally threw off the chemistry and flow.
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Luiz being subbed... one of those moments when you think 'shit, this guy really doesn't know what he's doing'.
Yes that was brain transplant stuff.
And the impact was absolutely instant.
It was more replacing him with Ramsey and going back to the "inverted" wide midfielders. If he'd brought Tim on then he could gave kept the samebasic shape that was working defensively.
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Yet another game we could have played all night and never score. There's no tactics aside from pass it around the defence.
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I only saw some of the first half and last 20 as sold a kidney to take the kids to LEGOLAND. I thought we looked good in the bits from the first half - but last 20 mins was aimless.
How did the fans react at the end - when the whistle went and they went over etc?
Booing. Gerrard straight down the tunnel.
He needs something akin to a cabbage thrown at him.
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We have the 'The Mighty Reds YNWA' a favour there is no way this guy is good enough for the Championship even and should go back to playing in the Porridge league and beating cowdenbeath 1-0. What a total and utter shithouse!
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Any chance the devoted Liverpool fans want to speed-up his inevitable ascent to becoming their manager?
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Gerrard is going to get himself the sack. He’s going to persist playing with this system that doesn’t work with the players he has and going to keep playing players who aren’t performing in it. He’ll have nobody else to blame but himself except he’ll never have that insight.
As a player he had sycophants telling him he was greatest player ever including for England. No way would ever have self awareness
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They came not to lose but at half time were obviously told with a bit more positivity they could get something more as we are so poor atm.
A deflection I know but you make your own luck.
Are they going to trust him with any more money before Wednesday?
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We’re only a stepping stone remember
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Pull the trigger now and Purslow can go with him. Allow the players to play with a bit of freedom for the next two (extremely hard and very likely unwinnable) games whilst we look for someone who has a clue about management, not some up and coming manager but an experienced premier league manager. Potter would be ideal, Poch would be just as good. As for transfer window, the owners would be mad to allow him another penny. Another season gone to shit, brilliant.
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Just so typical from Villa to manage such a result against a woeful West Ham. The second half subs were brain dead. Surely bottom 3 after the next two games. I just wonder how ruthless the board will be? Did speak to Nev of this parish on the way out. Sits just behind me in K7. I don't think he is a great fan of Gerrard!!
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West ham were really poor and yet............
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The combined record of the three teams who have beaten Aston Villa this season excluding their games against Aston Villa: P9 W0 D1 L8 F3 A28
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Luiz sub summed up everything to me and why he's clueless at premier league level.
With Kamara and Luiz we at least had reasonable control of midfield when out of posession. He goes off and suddenly West Ham players are unmarked 30 yards from goal and can get shots away and one of them deflects in.
He then takes McGinn off in injury time.
I think Gerrard is much worse in in game management than DS which is saying something given the squad he has.
A season of him constantly making the wrong calls which was compounded by making McGinn captain.
Moyes changed at half time from a five to a four and put Benrahma as a 10 and another body in midfield. We never reacted and West Ham gradually took control of the game. Lucky goal but we were struggling to get hold of the ball. Needed to go 4-2-3-1 - Bailey, Buendia and Ramsey as the three.
Luiz may not have been able to do 90 mins - played well though. Think Chambers is our best central defender. Digne dreadful.
Possession is so slow and laboured. We only injected a modicum of movement and pace when Buendia and Bailey came on.
It’s not going to work - just a matter of when now.
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First half I thought we won the midfield battle which was a surprise. What we didn’t do was create and that’s been a problem every game. So slow in the build up again and what does Gerrard see in the Watkins/Ings partnership that everyone else doesn’t ?
Moyes then makes a tactical change and they began to take over and the writing was in the wall. Gerrard didn’t react quickly enough and when he did it was too late and too predictable. Sick of saying we are to physically weak, it stands out a mile but the worst part of the game was, was seeing players knackered after an hour. The signs are there, there’s no style to our play and what he is doing doesn’t suit what we currently have in the squad. Bottom of the stats league for fitness is simply unacceptable.
We’ve had a poor transfer market so far and haven’t addressed the stand out midfield and forward issues either. This won’t change by just giving it time, very unfortunate a change has to be made.
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Think it would probably take us to lose the next 4 games before Purslow would sack him, he was desperate to appoint him and doesn't want to be proved wrong.
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Gerrard is going to get himself the sack. He’s going to persist playing with this system that doesn’t work with the players he has and going to keep playing players who aren’t performing in it. He’ll have nobody else to blame but himself except he’ll never have that insight.
As a player he had sycophants telling him he was greatest player ever including for England. No way would ever have self awareness
I wonder how he looked at the Bolton game; did he think won comfortably, nothing to worry about carry on or did the alarm bells ring? I was hoping it would be the latter but it was the forma. It won’t be his concern for too much longer.
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Just got back. Absolutely dire.
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The most worrying part is that Watkins, Ings, Coutinho, Luiz and McGinn have played plenty of football under Gerrard, and he still doesn’t know where they go or how to play them.
At this moment in time , they are all playing shite!
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Luiz being subbed... one of those moments when you think 'shit, this guy really doesn't know what he's doing'.
Yes that was brain transplant stuff.
And the impact was absolutely instant.
if he cannot see with his own eyes that Buendia and Luiz are MUCH better options that persisting with McGinn and Ings right now then he's a bigger idiot than he's making himself appear. McGinn offers NOTHING right now. Luiz is the much superior footballer. And HOW THE FUCK has he not figured out yet how to play both Coutinho and Buendia. We have literally snuffed all of the fire out of Buendia. Came here and made an immediate impact and now just looks a shadow of himself picking the ball up too deep and rarely ever in dangerous positions. It's an absolute crime.
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Dull, slow, predictable and poor in front of goal! ..
..... ..... ........ and we were even worse!
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Gerrard is going to get himself the sack. He’s going to persist playing with this system that doesn’t work with the players he has and going to keep playing players who aren’t performing in it. He’ll have nobody else to blame but himself except he’ll never have that insight.
A fair summary, unlike some of the nonsense (coward?!?) we’re seeing on here.
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https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/12684064/gerrard-we-didnt-create-enough-good-chances
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Such a lack of strength and athleticism in our side. Even a change of manager won’t fix that.
But hey, nice nice stand to come.
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In his interview he’s just said he’s happy with us fighting against a tough opponent . We did ever so well around certain areas of the pitch
How can he look at himself in the mirror quoting those things !?
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Absolute fucking garbage. Don't think I've ever been so angry whilst at Villa Park.
3 players came out of that with any slight hint of credit -
Chambers - Should be our first choice CB imo. Never flustered, picks a good pass
Doug Luiz - Not a huge fan of Doug, but Gerrard dropped a bollock taking him off. He was holding our midfield together today and played pretty well.
Ollie - Still doesn't look much like scoring, but ran himself into the ground today for a dysfunctional team.
Predicted how it would go today, and I wasn't wrong. No amount of new signings are going to turn Gerrard's tenure at Villa Park around. He's a busted flush.
A manager's first job should be to work with what you have at your disposal, whilst also IMPROVING the players at your disposal - HE DOES NOT HAVE AN EFFIN CLUE! Our players' performances and abilities are regressing game by game, and the bond that Dean Smith created between the player group and the players and fans is being destroyed the longer this shitshow goes on.
Purslow, get rid TONIGHT. We are not getting anything against Arsenal or the Plastics, so throw a tonne of money at Pocchetino and at least he has a free pass for a couple of games, with the possiblity of an upset with new manager bounce.
And as for fucking John McGinn! FUCKING HELL! Nothing against the guy personally, but he shouldn't be anywhere near our starting lineup, let alone captain.
FUCKING BOO! #UTV
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Another desperately poor performance against a West Ham team who were nervous and off their game from the start and were absolutely there for the taking.
However we played with the energy and tempo of a testimonial so we completely let them off the hook until they realised that there was nothing to fear from us either and gradually stepped it up.
I cannot believe how bad we are, what a dull, predictable, pedestrian mess we are.
Gerrard, in the name of God, go!
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Purslow, get rid TONIGHT. We are not getting anything against Arsenal or the Plastics, so throw a tonne of money at Pocchetino and at least he has a free pass for a couple of games, with the possiblity of an upset with new manager bounce.
X 2
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Purslow, get rid TONIGHT. We are not getting anything against Arsenal or the Plastics, so throw a tonne of money at Pocchetino and at least he has a free pass for a couple of games, with the possiblity of an upset with new manager bounce.
X 2
X3
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https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/12684064/gerrard-we-didnt-create-enough-good-chances
He seems much more frustrated with the players in his sky report than the bbc one I commented on
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That interview says it all basically putting it all on the players rather than his mistakes with team selections, lack of tactics, and substitutions. Really starting to dislike him as much as I did when he was a player.
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Easier to do deal with the positives, as there were so few and as I'm not feeling generous, it's Chambers.
So much is wrong with that midfield. Douglas Luiz flattens out and leaves acres of space in midfield that we could benefit from us occupying. McGinn drifts wide and there's so many occasions where he is as wide as the full back, which can often see one of the 10s occupy a linear position too. What's the structure supposed to be for this sort of positional play?
Luiz going off didn't help as while I'm scratching my head to work out an attacking purpose to his positional play, it did at least provide cover.
McGinn is so poor. He gives the ball away so easy and in such poor positions and situations. He created the Bowen chance. He's a Championship player and shouldn't be captain or anywhere near our side.
Our delivery into the box is very weak and I don't think we play the sort of balls that benefit Ings. Not until 70+ minutes and Buendia coming on did we make a through ball.
Slow and tepid in our build up first half against a really poor opponent. We don't seem to move the ball with confidence and attack space that we create. The means of attack was looking for a diagonal over the right of the 3 centre halves and beyond that, I didn't see a consistent movement or plan.
It's all so very clueless. 2nd half West Ham change their system and they did improve, but from dreadful to poor. They created the Bowen chance thanks to McGinn, but didn't really offer a threat. That makes the performance and result all the worse, as they were there for the taking but we didn't lay a glove on them.
If it continues like this, then the end is inevitable. It's hard at the moment to see a change, as pre-season doesn't appear to have interrupted the form since March. We absolutely need players, as McGinn for example are just atrocious and shouldn't be near the side. We have two very tough fixtures coming up, which we probably wouldn't do anything in regardless. So it's a curious situation, he probably gets de facto Leicester and Southampton. Things just have to improve, but I'm not seeing it right now.
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In his interview he’s just said he’s happy with us fighting against a tough opponent . We did ever so well around certain areas of the pitch
How can he look at himself in the mirror quoting those things !?
Tough opponent??? In the first half they looked like a side that would never again win a game of football.
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Another desperately poor performance against a West Ham team who were nervous and off their game from the start and were absolutely there for the taking.
However we played with the energy and tempo of a testimonial so we completely let them off the hook until they realised that there was nothing to fear from us either and gradually stepped it up.
I cannot believe how bad we are, what a dull, predictable, pedestrian mess we are.
Gerrard, in the name of God, go!
This match summary says it all. West Ham were the lamest opponents we could have hoped for in the first half. However we had no pace, no movement and such a slow tempo, it didn't matter.
Their goal was fortunate, but they were the ones trying to take the game on in the second half and the best we were ever going to get would have been a goalless draw. How has it got to this...again?
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Another desperately poor performance against a West Ham team who were nervous and off their game from the start and were absolutely there for the taking.
However we played with the energy and tempo of a testimonial so we completely let them off the hook until they realised that there was nothing to fear from us either and gradually stepped it up.
I cannot believe how bad we are, what a dull, predictable, pedestrian mess we are.
Gerrard, in the name of God, go!
Spot on analysis.
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Definitely think Gerrard should stay.
no point wasting new manager bounce on Arsenal and Man City. wait till they batter us then sack him.
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Strikes me he’s throwing the players under the bus again! Just fuck off!
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https://twitter.com/lukewoodyy/status/1563921931740618760
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I hope someone throws a frozen chicken at him. Scousers hate saying chicken!
I can see the waiting list fr season tickets reducing after every home game!
If after nearly 12 months this is the best he can give us then its the end of the road!
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Having just seen Gerrard's post match interview he absolutely does not sound like a dead man walking . Seems he may not be going anywhere soon sadly
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Absolute fucking garbage. Don't think I've ever been so angry whilst at Villa Park.
3 players came out of that with any slight hint of credit -
Chambers - Should be our first choice CB imo. Never flustered, picks a good pass
Doug Luiz - Not a huge fan of Doug, but Gerrard dropped a bollock taking him off. He was holding our midfield together today and played pretty well.
Ollie - Still doesn't look much like scoring, but ran himself into the ground today for a dysfunctional team.
Predicted how it would go today, and I wasn't wrong. No amount of new signings are going to turn Gerrard's tenure at Villa Park around. He's a busted flush.
A manager's first job should be to work with what you have at your disposal, whilst also IMPROVING the players at your disposal - HE DOES NOT HAVE AN EFFIN CLUE! Our players' performances and abilities are regressing game by game, and the bond that Dean Smith created between the player group and the players and fans is being destroyed the longer this shitshow goes on.
Purslow, get rid TONIGHT. We are not getting anything against Arsenal or the Plastics, so throw a tonne of money at Pocchetino and at least he has a free pass for a couple of games, with the possiblity of an upset with new manager bounce.
And as for fucking John McGinn! FUCKING HELL! Nothing against the guy personally, but he shouldn't be anywhere near our starting lineup, let alone captain.
FUCKING BOO! #UTV
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FbQqlCDWAAIeHJJ?format=jpg&name=large)
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McGinn did his best impression of Gerrard for that Bowen chance.
Agree with everything in Nii Lamptey's post, I'm not a fan of chopping managers but we need shot of this one in double quick time.
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Gerrard on the boo's today
"I understand. I have two ears and I hear a lot of things. I heard the fans' frustration, I pick up everything."
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Just seen his risible comments after the game, definitely thrown the players under a bus! Disgusting bin dipping prick!
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Yet another game we could have played all night and never score. There's no tactics aside from pass it around the defence.
You must have missed the give it to Digne to swing crosses in for easy heading practice for the opposition defence.
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Just think how much better we would be if we signed that Bednarak fella though
I mean I reckon he’s just what we need to put us back on track
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https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/12684064/gerrard-we-didnt-create-enough-good-chances
He looks done to be honest from that interview.
Im not into hypebole and anger, told my kid at full time to stop booing. Im not into slagging off Gerard, i don’t know him and never will, he could be a twat, he might be sound, i don’t know and i don’t care, but i don’t really get the personal anger towards him, there are people out there that are literally killing us with the way they are not running the country, so the personal stuff against Gerard over the last few weeks seems a bit sad to me.
However, the team have lost their way, West Ham were 100% there for the taking, totally lacking in confidence and its the first time since we came back up that we controlled midfield, first half anyway. But we created nothing and then second half we let them have a tad more control, lucky goal and we still created nothing. I actually feel sorry for Ings and Watkins, its not about them not working as a duo, they were feeding off scraps, lobs into the box or hopeful chips from Coutinhio.
Even when Deano was struggling, you always thought the the players were trying for him, see Targett almost in tears after Southampton. But today there seemed to be apathy, even dissent with Cash arguing with Gerard towards the end. Its a mess and the idea that the best way i can spend next Saturday night watching us getting battered by man city is laughable.
A change is needed, im not sure who to be honest.
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Loud boos at the end from the Holte, this isn't a league for novice managers I hope the board are already looking for a top manager that match the owners ambitions.
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We were alright 1st half and Westham were awful. 1 Tactical change at half time from Moyes and they were the only team in it 2nd half.
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When you consider the talent pool available to him, Gerrard is by some distance the worst manager we've had in the Premier League era.
I am not a fan of the chop and change approach but this appointment has been a disaster.
Most our players in their mid twenties came from the championship not the champions league
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Gerrard on the boo's today
"I understand. I have two ears and I hear a lot of things. I heard the fans' frustration, I pick up everything."
Was that with BBC WM as he didn't say it on the MOTD or Sky Sports ones?
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Gerrard on the boo's today
"I understand. I have two ears and I hear a lot of things. I heard the fans' frustration, I pick up everything."
Shame he can't pick up how to be a decent manager.
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Just think how much better we would be if we signed that Bednarak fella though
I mean I reckon he’s just what we need to put us back on track
I reckon if we can just sneak a whole new first team and manager in before the window shuts we'll be alright.
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https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/12684064/gerrard-we-didnt-create-enough-good-chances
He looks done to be honest from that interview.
Im not into hypebole and anger, told my kid at full time to stop booing. Im not into slagging off Gerard, i don’t know him and never will, he could be a twat, he might be sound, i don’t know and i don’t care, but i don’t really get the personal anger towards him, there are people out there that are literally killing us with the way they are not running the country, so the personal stuff against Gerard over the last few weeks seems a bit sad to me.
However, the team have lost their way, West Ham were 100% there for the taking, totally lacking in confidence and its the first time since we came back up that we controlled midfield, first half anyway. But we created nothing and then second half we let them have a tad more control, lucky goal and we still created nothing. I actually feel sorry for Ings and Watkins, its not about them not working as a duo, they were feeding off scraps, lobs into the box or hopeful chips from Coutinhio.
Even when Deano was struggling, you always thought the the players were trying for him, see Targett almost in tears after Southampton. But today there seemed to be apathy, even dissent with Cash arguing with Gerard towards the end. Its a mess and the idea that the best way i can spend next Saturday night watching us getting battered by man city is laughable.
A change is needed, im not sure who to be honest.
Well said, mate, some of the personal stuff is awful and bigoted. Yes, we probably need a new manager.
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We were alright 1st half and Westham were awful. 1 Tactical change at half time from Moyes and they were the only team in it 2nd half.
Exactly. That’s when a decent manager would have also changed things. All very Steve Bruce like. Gerrard has no idea how he wants us to play and the players are unsurprisingly looking uncertain too.
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Loud boos at the end from the Holte, this isn't a league for novice managers I hope the board are already looking for a top manager that match the owners ambitions.
And yet we treat it as a league for novice players. Watkins, Buendia, Konsa, Mcginn, Mings, Cash all signed when in or from the championship.
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I feel such a disconnect with the club now, and I don't think I'm alone in this. We can argue about the pitfalls of Dean Smith from the tactical side of the game, but his greatest strength was the unity he brought back to the club during his three seasons. That has been eradicated in the space of ten months.
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Loud boos at the end from the Holte, this isn't a league for novice managers I hope the board are already looking for a top manager that match the owners ambitions.
And yet we treat it as a league for novice players. Watkins, Buendia, Konsa, Mcginn, Mings, Cash all signed when in or from the championship.
....and 5 of those 6 players play for their National teams. They ARE good enough... It's the manager that is substandard (at best!).
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Mings and McGinn weren't from the Championship.
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https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/12684064/gerrard-we-didnt-create-enough-good-chances
He looks done to be honest from that interview.
Im not into hypebole and anger, told my kid at full time to stop booing. Im not into slagging off Gerard, i don’t know him and never will, he could be a twat, he might be sound, i don’t know and i don’t care, but i don’t really get the personal anger towards him, there are people out there that are literally killing us with the way they are not running the country, so the personal stuff against Gerard over the last few weeks seems a bit sad to me.
However, the team have lost their way, West Ham were 100% there for the taking, totally lacking in confidence and its the first time since we came back up that we controlled midfield, first half anyway. But we created nothing and then second half we let them have a tad more control, lucky goal and we still created nothing. I actually feel sorry for Ings and Watkins, its not about them not working as a duo, they were feeding off scraps, lobs into the box or hopeful chips from Coutinhio.
Even when Deano was struggling, you always thought the the players were trying for him, see Targett almost in tears after Southampton. But today there seemed to be apathy, even dissent with Cash arguing with Gerard towards the end. Its a mess and the idea that the best way i can spend next Saturday night watching us getting battered by man city is laughable.
A change is needed, im not sure who to be honest.
Well said.
I don't want him to fail, but fail he will.
I'd love to go for Pochettino but it's unlikely, I'd like Potter but the timing might be off. I don't what Bielsa is up to but I'd find out. I don't care about getting tired in March, he'd have us running through brick walls and would turn Archer and Tim into stars.
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Im not into hypebole and anger, told my kid at full time to stop booing. Im not into slagging off Gerard, i don’t know him and never will, he could be a twat, he might be sound, i don’t know and i don’t care, but i don’t really get the personal anger towards him,
Well said, mate, some of the personal stuff is awful snd bigoted. Yes, we probably need a new manager.
Same, don't get the personal stuff at all.
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https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/12684064/gerrard-we-didnt-create-enough-good-chances
He looks done to be honest from that interview.
Im not into hypebole and anger, told my kid at full time to stop booing. Im not into slagging off Gerard, i don’t know him and never will, he could be a twat, he might be sound, i don’t know and i don’t care, but i don’t really get the personal anger towards him, there are people out there that are literally killing us with the way they are not running the country, so the personal stuff against Gerard over the last few weeks seems a bit sad to me.
However, the team have lost their way, West Ham were 100% there for the taking, totally lacking in confidence and its the first time since we came back up that we controlled midfield, first half anyway. But we created nothing and then second half we let them have a tad more control, lucky goal and we still created nothing. I actually feel sorry for Ings and Watkins, its not about them not working as a duo, they were feeding off scraps, lobs into the box or hopeful chips from Coutinhio.
Even when Deano was struggling, you always thought the the players were trying for him, see Targett almost in tears after Southampton. But today there seemed to be apathy, even dissent with Cash arguing with Gerard towards the end. Its a mess and the idea that the best way i can spend next Saturday night watching us getting battered by man city is laughable.
A change is needed, im not sure who to be honest.
Well said, mate, some of the personal stuff is awful snd bigoted. Yes, we probably need a new manager.
I haven’t seen much of the personal stuff. I hated him as a player, and I hate Rangers, but it means nothing to me re: his managing of Villa. I just want him to be good at it. Sadly he’s absolutely shit.
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Just seen his risible comments after the game, definitely thrown the players under a bus! Disgusting bin dipping prick!
I am not and never been a Gerrard fan, didn't want him and he should be sacked but there is no need for this comment.
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After the 2 inevitable defeats this coming week he will have no one to blame if owners do bin him.
Tactically inept….for all the slagging Mings gets for perceived hoofing then Chambers / Konsa had the same problems, three up top, none capable of winning a header but worse only Watkins prepared to run….where are they supposed to pass the ball??
Three up top just does not work….Ings is an absolute passenger, stick him in the Brighton team he will score lots of goals, here not so much….should have been hooked after an hour and Archer given a go.
Midfield, poor Kamara playing as a 1 in there….McGinn & Douglas playing wide covering full backs is an absolute nonsense, particularly when Digne & Cash aren’t producing any quality. Actually thought Kamara, McGinn & Watkins were probably our best players today.
Lack of tactical flexibility makes us easy to play against as we are sooo physically weak and predictable - that will get him fired….
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Compared to the stick that managers like McLeish, Bruce and Lambert received, Gerrard’s had it relatively easy so far. Unless I’m missing something.
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Two home games on the bounce we have watched pretty much everything go down our left.
Cash, other than a bit of defending was like a spare prick at a wedding for all of the first half.
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Just seen his risible comments after the game, definitely thrown the players under a bus! Disgusting bin dipping prick!
I am not and never been a Gerrard fan, didn't want him and he should be sacked but there is no need for this comment.
agreeded
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I actually thought we played some nice stuff first half without creating much but second half was abysmal. West Ham were awful but you just knew it was coming.
Cannot see how he keeps his job.
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Compared to the stick that managers like McLeish, Bruce and Lambert received, Gerrard’s had it relatively easy so far. Unless I’m missing something.
think that about to change
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Neither of his two systems 433 or 4312 work. This was evident last season, he should have sorted out another formation that uses the players he has, but he didnt.
Lose to southampton in a couple of weeks time and he’ll be gone.
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I actually thought we played some nice stuff first half without creating much but second half was abysmal. West Ham were awful but you just knew it was coming.
Cannot see how he keeps his job.
We did. We controlled the game and TBH West Ham let us do that. They were here for a point to stop the rot and got lucky. Their first shot on target was a meek effort on 62 minute.
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Just seen his risible comments after the game, definitely thrown the players under a bus! Disgusting bin dipping prick!
What a fucking horrible thing to say. We don’t need comments like that. By all means be angry at his performance as manager but there is no need for that.
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We look like we’re in a relegation battle after four games which is somewhat troubling.
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We look like we’re in a relegation battle after four games which is somewhat troubling.
If you think this looks like a relegation battle wait until we're playing Leicester in a six pointer in a couple of weeks.
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Just so typical from Villa to manage such a result against a woeful West Ham. The second half subs were brain dead. Surely bottom 3 after the next two games. I just wonder how ruthless the board will be? Did speak to Nev of this parish on the way out. Sits just behind me in K7. I don't think he is a great fan of Gerrard!!
Good to meet you me old pal. Safe journey back.
I'm doing my best but everywhere I look I see negativity, the whole things stinks and needs sorting ASAP.
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It’s been obvious for months that he hasn’t got a clue.
But I must admit I didn’t expect him to keep on repeating the same blindingly obviously mistakes.
He truly is the worst manager I’ve seen us have - given the squad he has to play with.
Comparing him to Bruce - do me a favour - he ain’t good enough to lace Bruce’s boots.
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I don't think he will be our manager by the end of the season, but even after today's poor performance I was willing to give him time to turn it around (in hope more than evidence of what's been served up). That said , the post match interview smacks of pushing the blame on the players . We all know how that will pan out , I wonder if the board do .
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Loud boos at the end from the Holte, this isn't a league for novice managers I hope the board are already looking for a top manager that match the owners ambitions.
And yet we treat it as a league for novice players. Watkins, Buendia, Konsa, Mcginn, Mings, Cash all signed when in or from the championship.
....and 5 of those 6 players play for their National teams. They ARE good enough... It's the manager that is substandard (at best!).
Thanks, Nii - saved me from saying it again.
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A tidy first half performance in which McGinn played better than of late, Luiz looked okay (although he slowed the game down too much) and Ings and Watkins both looked for the space and did lots of good closing-down.
After Moyes played his masterstroke of going to a back four, allowing Benrahma and Fornals to cut free, there was no reaction from SG and we just did the same things, expecting a different outcome. This is the bit that kills me: there is no obvious tactical shift in order to make more impact or counteract the opponents' changes. It was madness!
I feel pretty despondent about our prospects, in a way that reminds me of the Bruce and McLeish days; which says it all, I suppose.
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... and sending Archer on for 3 minutes' play is actually very disrespectful toward the boy - what the hell was the point??!!
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Pedestrian, lethargic and one paced and I still think we were ok compared to some of the performances previously. It helped that the full backs weren’t suicidally bombing on and we had more control with Kamara and Doug in midfield but this has to be mitigated against the fact West Ham were poor, particularly in the first half, they gained more control in the second half when they switched to 4 at he back.
However one tame shot by Ramsey aside their keeper never had to make a save, Martinez was equally redundant but the onus should be on us to take the game to the oppo as the home side and t he see was no spark.
Previously Rice and Soucek have dominated against us, this was t the case today but we couldn’t lay a glove on them.
Next two games could be even more embarrassing.
Let’s hope there’s someone with some semblance of a plan and how to get a good squad working in unison lined up as the job appears to be beyond the current manager.
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... oh, and another thing: Digne has to be the worst signing we've had for a while - pound for pound. He was effing useless today in every way.
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Did their goalie actually make a save
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I feel such a disconnect with the club now, and I don't think I'm alone in this. We can argue about the pitfalls of Dean Smith from the tactical side of the game, but his greatest strength was the unity he brought back to the club during his three seasons. That has been eradicated in the space of ten months.
A leader brings unity.
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Did their goalie actually make a save
Yes, Ramsey had a shot from 20 yards straight at him with about 10 minutes to go.
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Thanks Gerrard for ruining a 6 year olds first match. Honestly abysmal. Tactically inept
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I'm convinced the players hate him. Because he's got no clue tactically and he will kill them in the press. In addition as much as being a ****** is sometimes needed as a leader I can absolutely see him alienating the squad with how he talks to them. Mings is very popular and him losing the armband was clearly not well received. And fuck knows if McGinn even wanted it after that but was forced into something that I don't know he's comfortable with. It's all completely come apart.
That’s how I see it.
It stinks.
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I assume it's unpleasant, but what does bin dipping actually mean?
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... oh, and another thing: Digne has to be the worst signing we've had for a while - pound for pound. He was effing useless today in every way.
His crossing was absolutely abysmal as well. He appears to be a very poor signing indeed.
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I thought first half we played well. Konsa and Chambers were great at the back, neat and tidy, and distributed it well. Cash and Digne seemed to rein it in a bit so we looked very sound. McGinn's passing was good and Coutinho was finding space and getting balls to Watkins and Ings.
And therein lies the fucking problem, those two are fucking gash and because it sort of clicks once every ten games, it's now Gerrard's go to formation and IT DOESN'T WORK. Ings is slow and shit, and Watkins just runs around like a puppy chasing a balloon. Pick one of them, and put an extra player like Buendia or Bailey in, for the love of god.
It's almost certainly too late now, because we'll get dicked by Arsenal and Man City, and that will be that. I feel a bit sorry for him that he hasn't been backed properly, but the rest of it he's brought on himself, so tough shit.
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I assume it's unpleasant, but what does bin dipping actually mean?
It's a derogatory term aimed at their fan base.
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I assume it's unpleasant, but what does bin dipping actually mean?
It's a derogatory term aimed at their fan base.
But why? Saying they're binmen?
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https://www.quora.com/Why-are-Liverpool-FC-and-their-fans-sometimes-referred-to-as-bin-dippers
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Ta, can't say I've heard that before tbh.
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We played okay the first half.
We didn’t play well.
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It was a nothing performance. We kept the ball well in the first half, but we never looked like scoring apart from the disallowed goal.
as soon as they scored the ref should have blown for full-time. It was just soft and weak all round. Boring Villa.
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Thanks Gerrard for ruining a 6 year olds first match. Honestly abysmal. Tactically inept
You post quite well for a 6 year old.
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I thought first half we played well. Konsa and Chambers were great at the back, neat and tidy, and distributed it well. Cash and Digne seemed to rein it in a bit so we looked very sound. McGinn's passing was good and Coutinho was finding space and getting balls to Watkins and Ings.
And therein lies the fucking problem, those two are fucking gash and because it sort of clicks once every ten games, it's now Gerrard's go to formation and IT DOESN'T WORK. Ings is slow and shit, and Watkins just runs around like a puppy chasing a balloon. Pick one of them, and put an extra player like Buendia or Bailey in, for the love of god.
It's almost certainly too late now, because we'll get dicked by Arsenal and Man City, and that will be that. I feel a bit sorry for him that he hasn't been backed properly, but the rest of it he's brought on himself, so tough shit.
Yep agreed persisting with them both upfront, along with having McGinn play 90 odd minutes each week are killing us. If the idea is having two goal scorers on the pitch increases your chances of scoring goals it’s nonsense, because that very decision is undermining our ability to create chances.
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I assume it's unpleasant, but what does bin dipping actually mean?
It's a derogatory term aimed at their fan base.
But why? Saying they're binmen?
More like they rely on eating things from the bin because they are all signing on and live in abject poverty.
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Thanks Gerrard for ruining a 6 year olds first match. Honestly abysmal. Tactically inept
Vinnie you're pretty clued up with someone inside the club, what do you think the breaking point would be? Getting battered by Arsenal AND Man. City? Losing at Leicester? Failing to win v Southampton (with two week break coming up).
This can't go on regardless of what signings we make in next three days.
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I thought first half we played well. Konsa and Chambers were great at the back, neat and tidy, and distributed it well. Cash and Digne seemed to rein it in a bit so we looked very sound. McGinn's passing was good and Coutinho was finding space and getting balls to Watkins and Ings.
And therein lies the fucking problem, those two are fucking gash and because it sort of clicks once every ten games, it's now Gerrard's go to formation and IT DOESN'T WORK. Ings is slow and shit, and Watkins just runs around like a puppy chasing a balloon. Pick one of them, and put an extra player like Buendia or Bailey in, for the love of god.
It's almost certainly too late now, because we'll get dicked by Arsenal and Man City, and that will be that. I feel a bit sorry for him that he hasn't been backed properly, but the rest of it he's brought on himself, so tough shit.
Gerrard hasn't been backed properly, a very interesting statement that demands a little more scrutiny.
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I thought first half we played well. Konsa and Chambers were great at the back, neat and tidy, and distributed it well. Cash and Digne seemed to rein it in a bit so we looked very sound. McGinn's passing was good and Coutinho was finding space and getting balls to Watkins and Ings.
And therein lies the fucking problem, those two are fucking gash and because it sort of clicks once every ten games, it's now Gerrard's go to formation and IT DOESN'T WORK. Ings is slow and shit, and Watkins just runs around like a puppy chasing a balloon. Pick one of them, and put an extra player like Buendia or Bailey in, for the love of god.
It's almost certainly too late now, because we'll get dicked by Arsenal and Man City, and that will be that. I feel a bit sorry for him that he hasn't been backed properly, but the rest of it he's brought on himself, so tough shit.
I thought the first half was one of the most soporific games of football I've ever witnessed.
It was like the Stoned XI against the Dazed & Confused XI.
Kamara and Luiz in particular. Slow and slower.
Absolutely deadly in nullifying any attacking intent.
(I like Kamara by the way but not the two of them together)
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I thought first half we played well. Konsa and Chambers were great at the back, neat and tidy, and distributed it well. Cash and Digne seemed to rein it in a bit so we looked very sound. McGinn's passing was good and Coutinho was finding space and getting balls to Watkins and Ings.
And therein lies the fucking problem, those two are fucking gash and because it sort of clicks once every ten games, it's now Gerrard's go to formation and IT DOESN'T WORK. Ings is slow and shit, and Watkins just runs around like a puppy chasing a balloon. Pick one of them, and put an extra player like Buendia or Bailey in, for the love of god.
It's almost certainly too late now, because we'll get dicked by Arsenal and Man City, and that will be that. I feel a bit sorry for him that he hasn't been backed properly, but the rest of it he's brought on himself, so tough shit.
Gerrard hasn't been backed properly, a very interesting statement that demands a little more scrutiny.
The net spend since he's been in is around £30m. We've got 1 new player in the starting line up from the team that finished 14th. Even with Grealish at his very best and no crowds, the majority of the team could only manage 11th. Gerrard absolutely should be getting more out of them, but we've still got half a team who are mostly very, very average. At best.
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I thought first half we played well. Konsa and Chambers were great at the back, neat and tidy, and distributed it well. Cash and Digne seemed to rein it in a bit so we looked very sound. McGinn's passing was good and Coutinho was finding space and getting balls to Watkins and Ings.
And therein lies the fucking problem, those two are fucking gash and because it sort of clicks once every ten games, it's now Gerrard's go to formation and IT DOESN'T WORK. Ings is slow and shit, and Watkins just runs around like a puppy chasing a balloon. Pick one of them, and put an extra player like Buendia or Bailey in, for the love of god.
It's almost certainly too late now, because we'll get dicked by Arsenal and Man City, and that will be that. I feel a bit sorry for him that he hasn't been backed properly, but the rest of it he's brought on himself, so tough shit.
Going to go against the grain a bit, as I didn’t think we were as abysmal and horrendous as others have said. I actually think we did OK in the first two thirds of the pitch and worked the ball out of tight areas pretty well at times.
It just all breaks down in the final third though and we rarely threatened because of that. We have no real width in the final third and just look completely disjointed in those areas. Ings and Watkins with Coutinho behind just isn’t working, but we haven’t really got too many options to change the shape now. Bailey looked miles off it again when he came on.
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It just all breaks down in the final third though and we rarely threatened because of that. We have no real width in the final third and just look completely disjointed in those areas. Ings and Watkins with Coutinho behind just isn’t working, but we haven’t really git too many options to change the shape now. Bailey looked miles off it again when he came on.
Bailey came on for a few minutes when they had 9 men behind the ball though, too little, too late. I don't think he's very good, but he'd possibly be better running at them from the start.
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Watkins out wide isnt the worst option, with bailey on the other side.
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Watkins out wide isnt the worst option
Terrible option in my opinion, he adds nothing.
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I thought first half we played well. Konsa and Chambers were great at the back, neat and tidy, and distributed it well. Cash and Digne seemed to rein it in a bit so we looked very sound. McGinn's passing was good and Coutinho was finding space and getting balls to Watkins and Ings.
And therein lies the fucking problem, those two are fucking gash and because it sort of clicks once every ten games, it's now Gerrard's go to formation and IT DOESN'T WORK. Ings is slow and shit, and Watkins just runs around like a puppy chasing a balloon. Pick one of them, and put an extra player like Buendia or Bailey in, for the love of god.
It's almost certainly too late now, because we'll get dicked by Arsenal and Man City, and that will be that. I feel a bit sorry for him that he hasn't been backed properly, but the rest of it he's brought on himself, so tough shit.
Gerrard hasn't been backed properly, a very interesting statement that demands a little more scrutiny.
The net spend since he's been in is around £30m. We've got 1 new player in the starting line up from the team that finished 14th. Even with Grealish at his very best and no crowds, the majority of the team could only manage 11th. Gerrard absolutely should be getting more out of them, but we've still got half a team who are mostly very, very average. At best.
On flip side we've spent nearly 30m on Coutinho which sadly is looking more like a vanity project every single week given his age so we're getting little back on him when he leaves.
He also decided early on he didn't rate Targett, fair enough but again our model under Smith was to sign guys like Cash from championship and develop them. Aaron Hickey was reguarly linked but instead we go for Digne, again similar profile to Coutinho with the fee and wage bill. I don't think Digne was as bad as made out last season but he's been really poor so far and little better than Targett at both ends.
Nearly 60m there and huge increase in wages on two late 20 players.
Chambers came in at barely any cost so actually a good value for money signing by us yet Gerrard pretty much always picks Konsa over him.
Then start of the summer he gets in Kamara and Carlos, just unlucky with Diego injury but made him look foolish trying to get Mings out and then quickly having to restore him to the line up.
He's been back well, I'm sure our wage bill compared to 12 months back would reflect this and I'm sure he was happy to inherit likes of Ings and Bailey who DS only had two months to work with.
Does every manager in world football need to spend 100m per window net to win more than 3 games in 15? I'm sure net spends of likes of Potter and Vieria would be minute in recent times. They get given a group of players and actually have to improve them on training ground.
Edit; We should've finished higher than 14th last season aswell. Think we were 9th after beating Leeds in mid March with many winnable games left.
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Watkins out wide isnt the worst option, with bailey on the other side.
I think it is. Watkins can be a Premier League striker, when he’s ok form and on his own. He is not a Premier League wide player - he just doesn’t have enough to beat people out wide.
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It’s been obvious for months that he hasn’t got a clue.
But I must admit I didn’t expect him to keep on repeating the same blindingly obviously mistakes.
He truly is the worst manager I’ve seen us have - given the squad he has to play with.
Comparing him to Bruce - do me a favour - he ain’t good enough to lace Bruce’s boots.
Rubbish. Bruce failed in a sub standard league. Let’s not get too carried away
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Watkins out wide isnt the worst option, with bailey on the other side.
I think it is. Watkins can be a Premier League striker, when he’s ok form and on his own. He is not a Premier League wide player - he just doesn’t have enough to beat people out wide.
The problem is that any striker relies on service.
Where is our service coming from? Who's creating chances?
There was zero service today, zero.
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With squad we currently have watkins is one of only three that can play wide - bailey and buendia at a push. With bert gone who else is there?
4231 would get the best out of the existing squad.
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I just think the way we move the ball is amateurishly slow. We look, for the billionth time in the last decade and a half, like a team behind the times, like an analogue team in a digital world.
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I just think the way we move the ball is amateurishly slow. We look, for the billionth time in the last decade and a half, like a team behind the times, like an analogue team in a digital world.
Well put. That's it exactly.
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Watkins out wide isnt the worst option
Terrible option in my opinion, he adds nothing.
Not a top flight quality wide player, yet him and Ings inexplicably spend a lot of the game in those areas where they are both ineffective.
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Watkins out wide isnt the worst option
Terrible option in my opinion, he adds nothing.
Not a top flight quality wide player, yet him and Ings inexplicably spend a lot of the game in those areas where they are both ineffective.
The only way you can play two up front these days is if they're capable of dropping wide to supply the width the system lacks (this has the benefit of pulling defenders out of position). But for this, both forwards have to be able to kick the ball AND run, a trick thus far that eludes even one of our main two.
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Sorry.
https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/12684025/aston-villa-0-1-west-ham-premier-league-highlights
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There is one thing guaranteed in life.
If Villa are shit then the pathetic lightweight hosting of H&V will collapse because of the traffic. Embarrassing considering how many cloud computing options are available
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Gerrard's spend is a little distorted by the fact that Kamara's market value would have been ...£30m(?) perhaps but he was out of contract.
No doubt there was a hefty signing-on fee (£5m or more?) but presumably he was the player Gerrard wanted (and in fairness probably wouldn't have come to us without Gerrard).
Still early to judge him as he's probably not used to playing in such a disjointed midfield.
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There is one thing guaranteed in life.
If Villa are shit then the pathetic lightweight hosting of H&V will collapse because of the traffic. Embarrassing considering how many cloud computing options are available
Ouch...we may need more paid subscriptions for that.
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I thought first half we played well. Konsa and Chambers were great at the back, neat and tidy, and distributed it well. Cash and Digne seemed to rein it in a bit so we looked very sound. McGinn's passing was good and Coutinho was finding space and getting balls to Watkins and Ings.
And therein lies the fucking problem, those two are fucking gash and because it sort of clicks once every ten games, it's now Gerrard's go to formation and IT DOESN'T WORK. Ings is slow and shit, and Watkins just runs around like a puppy chasing a balloon. Pick one of them, and put an extra player like Buendia or Bailey in, for the love of god.
It's almost certainly too late now, because we'll get dicked by Arsenal and Man City, and that will be that. I feel a bit sorry for him that he hasn't been backed properly, but the rest of it he's brought on himself, so tough shit.
There is absolutely no way this can be blamed on him not being backed properly. Everyone said we needed a DM, he got the one he wanted. He's had Coutinho, Digne, Carlos, Olsen & Chambers so far.
He persists with a shit system, has pissed off and binned off the Captain and keeps playing two strikers, that doesn't work and doesn't allow either of them to flourish.
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Watkins out wide isnt the worst option, with bailey on the other side.
I think it is. Watkins can be a Premier League striker, when he’s ok form and on his own. He is not a Premier League wide player - he just doesn’t have enough to beat people out wide.
The problem is that any striker relies on service.
Where is our service coming from? Who's creating chances?
There was zero service today, zero.
Well yeah but putting Watkins out wide isn’t sorting that. I think strengthening the base of midfield, which will help the fullbacks pushing on and then having 3 attacking players (say 3 from Bailey, Buendia, Ramsey, PC) would massively help the team at both ends of the pitch.
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There is one thing guaranteed in life.
If Villa are shit then the pathetic lightweight hosting of H&V will collapse because of the traffic. Embarrassing considering how many cloud computing options are available
Ouch...we may need more paid subscriptions for that.
mine just expired. Maybe I’ll renew when the hosting improves
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I thought first half we played well. Konsa and Chambers were great at the back, neat and tidy, and distributed it well. Cash and Digne seemed to rein it in a bit so we looked very sound. McGinn's passing was good and Coutinho was finding space and getting balls to Watkins and Ings.
And therein lies the fucking problem, those two are fucking gash and because it sort of clicks once every ten games, it's now Gerrard's go to formation and IT DOESN'T WORK. Ings is slow and shit, and Watkins just runs around like a puppy chasing a balloon. Pick one of them, and put an extra player like Buendia or Bailey in, for the love of god.
It's almost certainly too late now, because we'll get dicked by Arsenal and Man City, and that will be that. I feel a bit sorry for him that he hasn't been backed properly, but the rest of it he's brought on himself, so tough shit.
There is absolutely no way this can be blamed on him not being backed properly. Everyone said we needed a DM, he got the one he wanted. He's had Coutinho, Digne, Carlos, Olsen & Chambers so far.
He persists with a shit system, has pissed off and binned off the Captain and keeps playing two strikers, that doesn't work and doesn't allow either of them to flourish.
There is no doubt that Gerrard is not getting the most out of what we’ve got and there is only one person responsible for that.
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I didn't think the first half was too bad really. The rest was just a mess and needs sorting quickly.
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#AVFC boss demands that his players step up after collecting 3/12 points - "I'm all in, my staff are, but it's got to come from within the players as well."
You got the selection up front wrong, blame yourself.
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they're all to blame. Fucking useless.
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#AVFC boss demands that his players step up after collecting 3/12 points - "I'm all in, my staff are, but it's got to come from within the players as well."
You got the selection up front wrong, blame yourself.
Gerrard is talking complete b*llocks. It was not about endeavour today. The instructions and set up we are using are complete nonsense with what we have.
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First half was ok. But, we’re too light. We didn’t trouble them at all. What’s the point oglf Ings and Watkins? Take one of them out and the threat first decrease by 50%
Our shape or substance is gone.
I want Gerrard to work. I liked him as a player as he was committed. It’s going to end in tears
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As soon as I saw the selection I knew we were in trouble.
You can not win a game with 10 men and Ings was a total passengers and offered nothing.
It took him 77 minutes and West Ham scoring for him to realise.
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Were the owners definitely at the game?
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Were the owners definitely at the game?
No, definitely not.
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#AVFC boss demands that his players step up after collecting 3/12 points - "I'm all in, my staff are, but it's got to come from within the players as well."
You got the selection up front wrong, blame yourself.
Yep
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#AVFC boss demands that his players step up after collecting 3/12 points - "I'm all in, my staff are, but it's got to come from within the players as well."
You got the selection up front wrong, blame yourself.
your job sort it out, just like Ron Saunders did
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#AVFC boss demands that his players step up after collecting 3/12 points - "I'm all in, my staff are, but it's got to come from within the players as well."
You got the selection up front wrong, blame yourself.
Unbelievable finger pointing.
What sort of atmosphere is that sort of bollocks going to engender?
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It's the witterings of a man who knows the fat lady is clearing her throat. Dean Smith was coming out with a load of bollocks by the time his time was up, and now Gerrard's doing the same.
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We’re got about enough resilience as this site
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Thanks Gerrard for ruining a 6 year olds first match. Honestly abysmal. Tactically inept
My five year olds first trip to Villa Park too 😕
My nine year old can point out The tactical errors, why can’t Gerrard? Was a long drive back north.
Thought we were ok first half, but Moyes made the right changes and we didn’t respond. Struggling to see how we beat anyone when we can’t get points against that lot.
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Out thought by Moyes. A sobering thought.
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Martinez 6, Cash 7, Konsa 6, Chambers 6, Digne 4, Kamara 5, Luiz 5, McGinn 4, Coutinho 4, Ings 4, Watkins 4. Subs ...Bailey at least tried to do something, Buendia I'm sure was meant to go left wing when Bailey came but didn't
Ah it was a shambles. Any decent side would have annihilated West Ham in the first half given how poor they were. They changed shape, upped it all over the pitch and were the better team second half. Fortunate winner but Bowen last season would have scored off McGinns mistake. Terrible game in truth, reminiscent of the final days of Sherwood's reign (Stoke at home comes to mind).
Speaking of Tim, he was on with Shearer at half time. Slating Moyes tactics, saying he needed to change formation and put Villa under pressure until the crowd got at the Villa players. F*ck me, he was right!
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Two random observations:
1) That big carthorse that West Ham have signed up front is awful, looks about as mobile as a container ship.
2) Last 30 seconds, what the fuck was Kamara doing fucking about holding on to the ball instead of just launching it into the area?
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Martinez 6, Cash 7, Konsa 6, Chambers 6, Digne 4, Kamara 5, Luiz 5, McGinn 4, Coutinho 4, Ings 4, Watkins 4. Subs ...Bailey at least tried to do something, Buendia I'm sure was meant to go left wing when Bailey came but didn't
Ah it was a shambles. Any decent side would have annihilated West Ham in the first half given how poor they were. They changed shape, upped it all over the pitch and were the better team second half. Fortunate winner but Bowen last season would have scored off McGinns mistake. Terrible game in truth, reminiscent of the final days of Sherwood's reign (Stoke at home comes to mind).
Speaking of Tim, he was on with Shearer at half time. Slating Moyes tactics, saying he needed to change formation and put Villa under pressure until the crowd got at the Villa players. F*ck me, he was right!
A broken clock is right twice a day.Sherwood is a numpty.
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Out thought by Moyes. A sobering thought.
Not particularly, Moyes is a decent manager and has far more nous than Gerrard. It was also his 6th win in a row against Villa, I think.
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Thanks Gerrard for ruining a 6 year olds first match. Honestly abysmal. Tactically inept
My five year olds first trip to Villa Park too 😕
My nine year old can point out The tactical errors, why can’t Gerrard? Was a long drive back north.
Thought we were ok first half, but Moyes made the right changes and we didn’t respond. Struggling to see how we beat anyone when we can’t get points against that lot.
If both first-timers still want to go back, you just know they're doomed...
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He needs to try something different, we need a flat back 4, 2 holding midfielders and then 3 creative players like Coutinho, Buendia and Bailey behind a lone striker. This would allow playing the 3 behind the forward to interchange and be working 1/2s off the forward or take up the space when the CF pulls wide. We have enough talent in the squad but continually lumping balls into the channels and raining crosses in to forwards who are not good in the air is asinine and he has already done this at Bournemouth, Palace and now West Ham where their big center halves can see all the play in front of them and just head balls out. The biggest knock is he watches this game after game and does not try to change it when its clearly not working. At the very least try and get to the bye line where at least you get the defenders turned.
We have a massive coaching staff and yet they do the same thing week after week surely one of them has the balls to challenge Gerrard.
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Out thought by Moyes. A sobering thought.
Not particularly, Moyes is a decent manager and has far more nous than Gerrard. It was also his 6th win in a row against Villa, I think.
Moyes is the 2022 version of our Martin O’Neill
Stubborn, inflexible football. Same team, same shape
At least it works
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2) Last 30 seconds, what the fuck was Kamara doing fucking about holding on to the ball instead of just launching it into the area?
Kamara was like this all game, though he battled hard and made one great tactical foul when ham were through but in possession he kept slowing the tempo down taking extra touches instead of zipping it forward. Plays like he's still in the French league. At Villa Park we need to play faster first time passes into the players who can make stuff happen.
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But at least he changed things at half time which won them the game. When was the last time Gerrard did that?
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I thought Kamara was decent, broke up play well. Gave the ball to the creative players who did fuck all with it.
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But at least he changed things at half time which won them the game. When was the last time Gerrard did that?
Today when he took Luiz off.
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It's the witterings of a man who knows the fat lady is clearing her throat. Dean Smith was coming out with a load of bollocks by the time his time was up, and now Gerrard's doing the same.
Have you turned mate?
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But at least he changed things at half time which won them the game. When was the last time Gerrard did that?
he was proactive, Gerard was reactive.
The game was there to be won, but he thought it was a good idea to play with 10 men.
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Smith used to get plenty of stick for his limitations when it came to changing in-game but Gerrard is worse.
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Aston Villa points fairies strikes again. I might get a better more satisfying hobby. Like licking jellyfish or juggling with live grenades.
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Aston Villa points fairies strikes again. I might get a better more satisfying hobby. Like licking jellyfish or juggling with live grenades.
I'll hold them for you.
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WHU came for the Steve Bruce point and we didn't lay a glove on them. It's embarrassing.
Gerrard needs to go now, but I would go caretaker through the next couple of tough games so a new manager doesn't get burdened with immediate loses.
I am also still at a loss to understand exactly what Gerrard does other than talk. He doesn't coach, he doesn't do tactics, he doesn't motivate players, he doesn't do subs, he is the epitome of a figure-head. I have to laugh how he says he's looking for a reaction in the next game...Steven boy this is the third game out of four where you've been looking for a reaction. I'm looking for a reaction too...from the owners.
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WHU came for the Steve Bruce point and we didn't lay a glove on them. It's embarrassing.
Gerrard needs to go now, but I would go caretaker through the next couple of tough games so a new manager doesn't get burdened with immediate loses.
Thanks for the offer mate, have you got your badges? ;)
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Could hardly do any worse.
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I'm left disappointed leaving Villa Park again I don't know where the next win is coming from.
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Thanks for the offer mate, have you got your badges? ;)
I've coached my daughters teams for 8 years and I have a blue peter badge which should make me infinitely more qualified than the incumbent :)
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I'm left disappointed leaving Villa Park again I don't know where the next win is coming from.
Considering we can't play Norwich, we've already played Everton, and we can't play ourselves, I don't think anyone knows when the next one is coming.
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CT Villan's Claret and Blue Army!
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I just think the way we move the ball is amateurishly slow. We look, for the billionth time in the last decade and a half, like a team behind the times, like an analogue team in a digital world.
Very well put. The rest of the league seems to play with an intensity and pace that seems to be beyond us.
Tediously dull today.
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I thought Kamara was our best player today, I’m surprised some people think he was the problem. I thought his energy and positioning were good, and his passing was pretty good too. He’s what we’ve been missing in that role.
The problems were
1) Gerrard - no tactics, no plan, alienating certain players, blindly backing others, critical of everyone but himself, deeply unlikeable.
2) Digne - downgrade on Target defensively, but not adding much going forward either. 4 years older and on three times the wages.
3) Ings- not helped by the shit formation but genuinely might as well not have been on the pitch.
4) McGinn - slightly better energy than recently I thought, particularly first half, but technically miles off the pace
5) Luiz / Watkins - just so little spark, nothing awful but just didn’t do anything
6) Luck - lucky West Ham goal, unlucky that Digne’s corner drifted out.
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It took till the 86th minute to see McGinn attempt to gee up his colleagues.
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I thought Kamara was our best player today, I’m surprised some people think he was the problem. I thought his energy and positioning were good, and his passing was pretty good too. He’s what we’ve been missing in that role.
The problems were
1) Gerrard - no tactics, no plan, alienating certain players, blindly backing others, critical of everyone but himself, deeply unlikeable.
2) Digne - downgrade on Target defensively, but not adding much going forward either. 4 years older and on three times the wages.
3) Ings- not helped by the shit formation but genuinely might as well not have been on the pitch.
4) McGinn - slightly better energy than recently I thought, particularly first half, but technically miles off the pace
5) Luiz / Watkins - just so little spark, nothing awful but just didn’t do anything
6) Luck - lucky West Ham goal, unlucky that Digne’s corner drifted out.
2-6 can be worked with, 1, not a chance.
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I just think the way we move the ball is amateurishly slow. We look, for the billionth time in the last decade and a half, like a team behind the times, like an analogue team in a digital world.
Very well put. The rest of the league seems to play with an intensity and pace that seems to be beyond us.
Tediously dull today.
My dad, he’s retired and watches a lot of football. He said the same last week. We seem to have a manager who does not seem to know how to play in this modern fast paced, high intensity footballing era.
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I thought Kamara was our best player today, I’m surprised some people think he was the problem. I thought his energy and positioning were good, and his passing was pretty good too. He’s what we’ve been missing in that role.
The problems were
1) Gerrard - no tactics, no plan, alienating certain players, blindly backing others, critical of everyone but himself, deeply unlikeable.
2) Digne - downgrade on Target defensively, but not adding much going forward either. 4 years older and on three times the wages.
3) Ings- not helped by the shit formation but genuinely might as well not have been on the pitch.
4) McGinn - slightly better energy than recently I thought, particularly first half, but technically miles off the pace
5) Luiz / Watkins - just so little spark, nothing awful but just didn’t do anything
6) Luck - lucky West Ham goal, unlucky that Digne’s corner drifted out.
2-6 can be worked with, 1, not a chance.
And Targett had another decent game for toon again today
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They made us look good the first half so intent were they on stifling us in the last third of the pitch, we looked in control, but for all our posession I can remember only one shot on goal. The attitude of both managers was significant,
After the break Moyes bought on a player that gave them more zip going forward, they started to press, this was when Gerrard needed to make changes. But just like Dean Smith on many occassions, he reacted only when we went a goal down. I want a pro-active manager that sees problems and makes changes before the inevitable happens. There is nothing at all that says Gerrard is going to improve us, far from it, I want him gone before the damage becomes unrecoverable.
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With still a test match to go this summer fair play to the Villa in already tempering my expectation for the season.
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McGinn (although I will always be thankful for promotion year) is as much a captain as Mark Corrigan from peep show in the episode where JLB go bust. Keep kicking the ball. Soon as. Chance will be a fine thing. A fine thing indeed
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Throw a cabbage on and be done with this changer - get for gods sake a proper and proven manager - we have been crap because we have never committed to a decent manager - I’d also take potter but we need to nail this
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Chancer not changer - but changer - from 5 string losers to 6 string - nice. What a colossal cluster
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It took till the 86th minute to see McGinn attempt to gee up his colleagues.
I can't believe he's captain. When Gerrard does get the tin tack, that'll be one of the reasons.
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Should be Mings.
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Or Martinez.
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Yep the captain decision is one of the really big mistakes.
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Just got rinsed on MOTD for constantly trying to play all his best players (example here Ings and Watkins) when it clearly does not work.
Micah Fucking Richards can see it.
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It took till the 86th minute to see McGinn attempt to gee up his colleagues.
I can't believe he's captain. When Gerrard does get the tin tack, that'll be one of the reasons.
Absolutely.
Bizarre hill he has chosen to die on.
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I don’t even think McGinn enjoys it yet Gerrard wanted “his captain”. The captaincy wasn’t broken at all and it appears he has put a player in a position he felt obligated to accept.
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Martinez 6, Cash 7, Konsa 6, Chambers 6, Digne 4, Kamara 5, Luiz 5, McGinn 4, Coutinho 4, Ings 4, Watkins 4. Subs ...Bailey at least tried to do something, Buendia I'm sure was meant to go left wing when Bailey came but didn't
Ah it was a shambles. Any decent side would have annihilated West Ham in the first half given how poor they were. They changed shape, upped it all over the pitch and were the better team second half. Fortunate winner but Bowen last season would have scored off McGinns mistake. Terrible game in truth, reminiscent of the final days of Sherwood's reign (Stoke at home comes to mind).
Speaking of Tim, he was on with Shearer at half time. Slating Moyes tactics, saying he needed to change formation and put Villa under pressure until the crowd got at the Villa players. F*ck me, he was right!
A broken clock is right twice a day.Sherwood is a numpty.
Sherwood was a Premier League winning captain, something our current manager wasn’t. So there is that.
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Watched about 20 mins of Forest v Spurs in the pub this afternoon. Forest were 1 down, were playing on the front foot, and created at least 3 big chances. They looked so much better than us, even though they messed up their chances.
Plus it was also noticeable how animated Conte was on the touchline, shouting instructions, waving and pointing at positions he wanted his players in.
Both teams showing qualities Steven Gerrards Aston Villa don’t.
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I'm left disappointed leaving Villa Park again I don't know where the next win is coming from.
Considering we can't play Norwich, we've already played Everton, and we can't play ourselves, I don't think anyone knows when the next one is coming.
Has to be Southampton really. Pretty much our best 90 minute performance under Gerrard as we could've scored 8 that day.
If we can't beat them or get anything at Leicester than it's even worse than the mediocre form last 10 games of last season when we were getting 4 points off the same opponents.
And of course decent fixtures for a new manager to start with.
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Bottom of the league? Yet to pick up a point? Yet to even score a goal? Fear not help is at hand. Come to Villa Park. Pick up three easy points and get your season up and running. You're guaranteed a lovely day out. Apply now to Aston Villa football club. B6 Birmingham.
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Smith used to get plenty of stick for his limitations when it came to changing in-game but Gerrard is worse.
That used to infuriate me with Dean but in fairness the bench options in those days tended to consist of Wesley, Davis and Trez so bit different to Gerrard having pretty much 100m worth of talent.
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I just think the way we move the ball is amateurishly slow. We look, for the billionth time in the last decade and a half, like a team behind the times, like an analogue team in a digital world.
Very well put. The rest of the league seems to play with an intensity and pace that seems to be beyond us.
Tediously dull today.
Anyone know if we do double sessions under Gerrard?
We have very much look of team that trots out for training at 10am, does some light jogging and shooting drills and then everyone goes in at 12pm and maybe are home for lunch at 1.
Worrying lack of spirit aswell once we went 1 down and lost pretty much every 50/50 for a spell afterwards.
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Smith used to get plenty of stick for his limitations when it came to changing in-game but Gerrard is worse.
Gerrard spends an awful lot of time consulting with the other 'coaches' on the bench I've noticed. I like a coach/manager to be decisive on the sideline
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Smith used to get plenty of stick for his limitations when it came to changing in-game but Gerrard is worse.
That used to infuriate me with Dean but in fairness the bench options in those days tended to consist of Wesley, Davis and Trez so bit different to Gerrard having pretty much 100m worth of talent.
Hence I said worse.
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they're all to blame. Fucking useless.
There is of course the possibility that there is a bad culture amongst the players at the club, which Gerrard has called out and the players don't like it. As fans, we never really get to hear what is really going on, but I just go back to Beale's departure and things just not seeming right at the club.
Doesn't excuse some of the tactical decisions that have been made though.
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There is one thing guaranteed in life.
If Villa are shit then the pathetic lightweight hosting of H&V will collapse because of the traffic. Embarrassing considering how many cloud computing options are available
That's the first thing on your mind?
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McGinn (although I will always be thankful for promotion year) is as much a captain as Mark Corrigan from peep show in the episode where JLB go bust. Keep kicking the ball. Soon as. Chance will be a fine thing. A fine thing indeed
At least Mark had an ergonomic management keyboard.
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Smith used to get plenty of stick for his limitations when it came to changing in-game but Gerrard is worse.
That used to infuriate me with Dean but in fairness the bench options in those days tended to consist of Wesley, Davis and Trez so bit different to Gerrard having pretty much 100m worth of talent.
Yep.
Ironically, Dean Smith made a triple substitution after 60 minutes including Aaron Ramsey which won Norwich the game this weekend.
SG has done himself no favours today. Moyes changed it at half time and he had no answer.
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When are deflected goals going to be banned? If they change direction, VAR it to see if the keeper would have saved it.
It did for Deano with Wolves' shitty free-kick off hapless Matty Targett last October to give them an unlikely win when Wes Edens went ballistic in the Trinity. Fornals' crap shot today which went down as his 3rd goal in a row against us will likely do for Gerrard.
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They made us look good the first half so intent were they on stifling us in the last third of the pitch, we looked in control, but for all our posession I can remember only one shot on goal. The attitude of both managers was significant,
After the break Moyes bought on a player that gave them more zip going forward, they started to press, this was when Gerrard needed to make changes. But just like Dean Smith on many occassions, he reacted only when we went a goal down. I want a pro-active manager that sees problems and makes changes before the inevitable happens.
A top manager makes changes to affect the game, just like Smith we have one that has no idea when and who to change.
How could anyone not see that Ings was contributing fuck all.
But let’s go a goal down before we make a change on 77 minutes.
The fact that he started with Ings Watkins again tells you that he should be sacked because it’s pretty obvious he hasn’t worked out that doing the same things and expecting a different result is insanity.
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I think Kamara and Luiz (and Sanson would fall into this category) are being done a disservice. Both can clearly pick a pass but there is nothing in front of them to work with because it’s all so static in the middle. The preferred tactic is to get it out to the full backs, so the ball constantly has to pass back to the centre halves to create the angle for this to happen. All this changes when Buendia plays because he’s either looking for space or can take a ball in tight conditions. Similarly, Bailey provides an option because of speed and close control allows for balls in behind the opposition full backs. It’s not rocket science, it’s barely even sub-orbital ballistics.
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Gerard’s comments tonight again another sign the dressing room is not a happy place currently. The whole “I’m in” and “I HOPE my players are too”
Hope, f**king hope. You're the manager. Rangers fans warned about this specific thing, throwing players under the bus. Man’s ego is a huge issue imo
As for the match. I never want to see fullbacks acting as wingers when and here’s an idea, you could actually just play wingers 🤷🏻♂️ Then you have CM’s covering back in fullback as they’ve gone on a jolly upfront
The whole narrow ass system is broken. Yet he is not moving away from it, doesn’t matter who he picks.
It’s pretty clear to me the players find it insane as well
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In my opinion not much between the teams. We had the better of a poor first 45 minutes and West Spam were the better of a poor second half. Cash and Dinge were extremely poor and why on earth is McGinn being played so deep, where he is clearly vulnerable in losing the ball and putting the defence under pressure.
Think overall we got what we deserved on the day. What a waste of time and money the pre season jaunts have proved to be.
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I never want to see fullbacks acting as wingers when and here’s an idea, you could actually just play wingers 🤷🏻♂️ Then you have CM’s covering back in fullback as they’ve gone on a jolly upfront
I have no doubt I am tactically ignorant, but I just cannot see the logic behind this, either. Send defenders up to provide chances and expect midfielders to drop deep and perform the job of defenders.
I'm only surprised the England cricket team don't open the batting with Jimmy Anderson and use Ben Foakes as the spearhead bowler.
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I never want to see fullbacks acting as wingers when and here’s an idea, you could actually just play wingers 🤷🏻♂️ Then you have CM’s covering back in fullback as they’ve gone on a jolly upfront
I have no doubt I am tactically ignorant, but I just cannot see the logic behind this, either. Send defenders up to provide chances and expect midfielders to drop deep and perform the job of defenders.
I'm only surprised the England cricket team don't open the batting with Jimmy Anderson and use Ben Foakes as the spearhead bowler.
Wish some of his media darlings would actually ask him about this stuff during press conferences. It’s bat shit crazy. He’s trying to be too bloody clever for his own ego. It doesn’t work
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I never want to see fullbacks acting as wingers when and here’s an idea, you could actually just play wingers 🤷🏻♂️ Then you have CM’s covering back in fullback as they’ve gone on a jolly upfront
I have no doubt I am tactically ignorant, but I just cannot see the logic behind this, either. Send defenders up to provide chances and expect midfielders to drop deep and perform the job of defenders.
I'm only surprised the England cricket team don't open the batting with Jimmy Anderson and use Ben Foakes as the spearhead bowler.
Wish some of his media darlings would actually ask him about this stuff during press conferences. It’s bat shit crazy. He’s trying to be too bloody clever for his own ego. It doesn’t work
They'll never ask him anything. As soon as we sack him, the narrative will be the usual 'uppity Villa, not appreciating how lucky they are to have Stevie G. They should be grateful to be in the division.'
Then within 18 months, he'll be manager of QPR.
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I never want to see fullbacks acting as wingers when and here’s an idea, you could actually just play wingers 🤷🏻♂️ Then you have CM’s covering back in fullback as they’ve gone on a jolly upfront
I have no doubt I am tactically ignorant, but I just cannot see the logic behind this, either. Send defenders up to provide chances and expect midfielders to drop deep and perform the job of defenders.
I'm only surprised the England cricket team don't open the batting with Jimmy Anderson and use Ben Foakes as the spearhead bowler.
There we’re many times in the first half that we had decent possession in midfield and there was space in the opposition full back position but no one there or moving there to pass to, so every time we play the ball backwards or sideways.
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I never want to see fullbacks acting as wingers when and here’s an idea, you could actually just play wingers 🤷🏻♂️ Then you have CM’s covering back in fullback as they’ve gone on a jolly upfront
I have no doubt I am tactically ignorant, but I just cannot see the logic behind this, either. Send defenders up to provide chances and expect midfielders to drop deep and perform the job of defenders.
I'm only surprised the England cricket team don't open the batting with Jimmy Anderson and use Ben Foakes as the spearhead bowler.
There we’re many times in the first half that we had decent possession in midfield and there was space in the opposition full back position but no one there or moving there to pass to, so every time we play the ball backwards or sideways.
We always have that. The concensus is that we are too demanding and the unrealistically high fan pressure destroys managers.
I don't buy that. We're not fucking Tottenham. Who here wouldn't take a 12th-placed finish if we tried to play attractive attacking football?
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I've seen loads of comments thatcwe were OK/decent in the first half. I beg to differ. We were the least inept in a game of walking football. Then Moyes saw we were there for the taking, Benrahma comes on to introduce a bit of pace and we come undone.
You'd think given his background Gerrard would know most games are won and lost in midfield through a combination of ability and hard work. We look like we're playing in deep sea divers suits both athletically and skill wise.
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We were allowed to look decent, all those passes across the backline then on to the midfied who immediately pass it back to them. Until Bailey came on I never saw a wide player take on a defender, never saw any one two's. Pedestrian the lot of them, but i don't blame them, it's all in the coaching and team selection.
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We were allowed to look decent, all those passes across the backline then on to the midfied who immediately pass it back to them. Until Bailey came on I never saw a wide player take on a defender, never saw any one two's. Pedestrian the lot of them, but i don't blame them, it's all in the coaching and team selection.
It was constant, tippy, tappy across the back line, pop it into a midfielder who’d pop it back to the CH, then one of them would whack a speculative ball upfield (generally for Zouma to easily deal with).
We were discussing it during the game and when you are looking for it, you see we do it all too often.
Our ‘identity’ that he keeps banging on about, appears to be, pub team.
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Listening to Talksport last night and the way that Gerrard is perceived by his fellow ex-professionals is hilarious! Born winner, one of the best midfielders ever etc etc.... makes me sick, he has been given loads of chances to improve this team and we as fans have been patient but the bin dipper needs to go NOW! When Deano had a similar record the board acted, now is the time to be ruthless again!
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I thought Kamara was decent, broke up play well. Gave the ball to the creative players who did fuck all with it.
agreed. The combination of slow build-up from the back and poor movement upfront meant that the ball was always being recycled slowly, despite Kamara's efforts to move it quickly to the supposed creative players.
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Listening to Talksport last night and the way that Gerrard is perceived by his fellow ex-professionals is hilarious! Born winner, one of the best midfielders ever etc etc.... makes me sick, he has been given loads of chances to improve this team and we as fans have been patient but the bin dipper needs to go NOW! When Deano had a similar record the board acted, now is the time to be ruthless again!
Let's not be revisionist, the guy was an incredible player, a one-man team and one of the most insanely driven and motivated people I've ever seen on a football pitch.
Indeed, it could be that these qualities as a player are exactly his problem in transitioning to management - how many times have we seen a great former player, with super talent and self-doubt at 0%, struggle to connect as a coach with players who don't happen to have the gifts he was born with? Maradona, Keane, Bryan Robson, Bobby Charlton, Pirlo recently. Seems that Beckenbauer, Cruyff and, his own mad way, Zidane are very much the exceptions (we'll see about Xavi).
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Bobby Charlton 'recently'?! Blimey, I think you'd need your bus pass to remember him as a manager! ;)
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Geologically speaking.
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I don't see that how he was as a player gives him more slack with his results as a manager? We are not talking about him as a player.
The only recent manager (last 10 years or so) to leave with the team in a better place has been Dean, I was surprised he was sacked but understood and probably agreed with why. I also thought that Gerrard was a good punt in the position we were in but it has not worked.
I believe we have a decent squad that with decent coaching could easily make top 10 but until we get that coach then we are doomed to fail? Poch or Potter would suit IMO and the more I think of Southampton and Spurs and where they were when he joined the more I am warming to Poch.
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Pirlo recently.
Currently managing a dream strike force of Colin Kazim-Richards and Fabio Borini at Fatih Karagümrük in Turkey.
So who knows, maybe they're his path back to the top.
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I don't see that how he was as a player gives him more slack with his results as a manager? We are not talking about him as a player.
Very, very not saying that. Just saying that he was, actually, a great midfielder and a born winner. Doesn't stop him from being a seemingly terrible coach!
Agreed on Dean, was thinking last night how in my Villa-watching lifetime (I'm nearly 32) Dean is the only Villa manager about whom I was never deluded. I underestimated him, he did many good things, he had a ceiling and that's fine. Every other manager I've ever watched us under has, ultimately, left the club worse-off.
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It seemed obvious to me that Moyes would change things round at half time but our manager appeared to be taken by complete surprise. From that moment on it appeared inevitable that we were done for.
Gerrard hasn’t done the hard yards as a a manager and has nothing to draw on when things aren’t going to plan. I think he needs a miracle if he is going to keep his job.
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Turkish football made a best selling author out of Darius Vassell so who knows?
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Listening to Talksport last night and the way that Gerrard is perceived by his fellow ex-professionals is hilarious! Born winner, one of the best midfielders ever etc etc.... makes me sick, he has been given loads of chances to improve this team and we as fans have been patient but the bin dipper needs to go NOW! When Deano had a similar record the board acted, now is the time to be ruthless again!
You make some decent points, but thats the second time you’ve used bin dipper, are we really referring to him as a bin dipper because he’s from Liverpool ffs. I started feeling embarrassed by the ‘in the Liverpool slums’ holte end song by the age of about 15.
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I think it's harsh to include Pirlo, he was sacked for not winning the title at Juventus. There are so many factors involved in a manager being successful or not, the main one being the 'fit' between club and manager and who the owners are.
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Nah he was sacked for nearly not qualifying for the Champions League - which, honestly, would have been an amazing achievement. They were incredibly incoherent that year, and Pirlo - despite his immense personal caché with Andrea Agnelli - just had to go.
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I've seen loads of comments thatcwe were OK/decent in the first half. I beg to differ. We were the least inept in a game of walking football. Then Moyes saw we were there for the taking, Benrahma comes on to introduce a bit of pace and we come undone.
You'd think given his background Gerrard would know most games are won and lost in midfield through a combination of ability and hard work. We look like we're playing in deep sea divers suits both athletically and skill wise.
West Ham were like a boxer holding us at arms length, then once we tired they took over.
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I've seen loads of comments thatcwe were OK/decent in the first half. I beg to differ. We were the least inept in a game of walking football. Then Moyes saw we were there for the taking, Benrahma comes on to introduce a bit of pace and we come undone.
You'd think given his background Gerrard would know most games are won and lost in midfield through a combination of ability and hard work. We look like we're playing in deep sea divers suits both athletically and skill wise.
West Ham were like a boxer holding us at arms length, then once we tired they took over.
Moyes made the mistake of overestimating us in the first half by playing 5 at the back. Changed it at half time and without playing particularly well took control of the game.
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It took till the 86th minute to see McGinn attempt to gee up his colleagues.
The German commentator noted this too. He wondered where the reaction was when we're 1-0 down with 10 to go (hasn't watched Villa a lot I guess, as our reaction to going 1-0 is invariably accepting our fate). Also branded our attacking play as "bereft of ideas", and wondered how we are managing to squander such a gifted player as Bailey (Bundesliga bias?).
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First Prem match this season with a combined XG for both teams lower than one!
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XG?
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XG?
Expected goals. Its s shitty stat that almost never means anything. Basically you can win 4 or5 - 0 with an xg of 1
Sorry for an added example vs liverpool in the 7-2 we had an xg of 3 they had an xg of 1.
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Ex-Gerrard
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I kept off here yesterday, knowing what a pit of misery it would be. What was the fan's reaction at the end? Was there abuse aimed at Gerrard? The players collectively? Individual players?
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Smattering of booing, no real grief for gerrard from the Trinity.
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I kept off here yesterday, knowing what a pit of misery it would be. What was the fan's reaction at the end? Was there abuse aimed at Gerrard? The players collectively? Individual players?
The visceral anger around me was all directed at the manager from I could tell. It morphed into two old fat guys having a road rage row at the junction of Bevington Rd and Whitehead Rd after, which was more entertaining than what I saw on the pitch.
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I kept off here yesterday, knowing what a pit of misery it would be. What was the fan's reaction at the end? Was there abuse aimed at Gerrard? The players collectively? Individual players?
He was getting Stevengerrardsc larabluarmy from the Holte before we went a goal down.
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Well in truth in was a poor game of football, and in the end the main difference I guess was luck - bad luck for Villa that Digne’s corner just drifted out of play, and good luck for West Ham that Fornal’s speculative shot deflected over the keeper.
Moyes got our formation horribly wrong first half. Id hoped that it’d be a 3-4-3 but it ended up a flat back 5 with 2 DMs and Fornals barely getting forward. The net result was that West Ham offered no attack threat, and constantly gave the ball back to Villa. Nonetheless we were solud at the back and, in truth, Villa didn’t seem to have a lot of ideas of how to score despite the quality players you have.
Luckily Moyes saw the error of his ways and brought Benrahma on. The second half wasn’t vintage but it was better. Gerrard taking Luis off, who I thought was playing alright, seemed to open things up and create more space for us which led to the goal. The result never really looked in doubt after that, and there was no expected Villa onslaught.
You lot dont seem to have any balance to your team, and I cant work out what Gerrard is doing. I was concerned about Ings before the game, but I dont remember him doing anything. Im also not sure what McGinns role is supposed to be? When we played you before Cash was great down the right, getting crosses in. One of your best players, but he didnt seem to get forward as much yesterday.
Youve added some great players on paper but the team looks like its gone backwards if anything.
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I kept off here yesterday, knowing what a pit of misery it would be. What was the fan's reaction at the end? Was there abuse aimed at Gerrard? The players collectively? Individual players?
He was getting Stevengerrardsc larabluarmy from the Holte before we went a goal down.
There was an effort from a relatively large section of the holte to get that going, but kind of petered out as the match petered out into the drab affair it was. Lots of booing at the end and vitriol. Chambers being the only one with the b**ocks to come right up the holte end, got a good reception, he played well, as well.
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I kept off here yesterday, knowing what a pit of misery it would be. What was the fan's reaction at the end? Was there abuse aimed at Gerrard? The players collectively? Individual players?
He was getting Stevengerrardsc larabluarmy from the Holte before we went a goal down.
There was an effort from a relatively large section of the holte to get that going, but kind of petered out as the match petered out into the drab affair it was. Lots of booing at the end and vitriol. Chambers being the only one with the b**ocks to come right up the holte end, got a good reception, he played well, as well.
Yeah, I made a point of clapping him as once again he did his job with minimum fuss.
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Well in truth in was a poor game of football, and in the end the main difference I guess was luck - bad luck for Villa that Digne’s corner just drifted out of play, and good luck for West Ham that Fornal’s speculative shot deflected over the keeper.
Moyes got our formation horribly wrong first half. Id hoped that it’d be a 3-4-3 but it ended up a flat back 5 with 2 DMs and Fornals barely getting forward. The net result was that West Ham offered no attack threat, and constantly gave the ball back to Villa. Nonetheless we were solud at the back and, in truth, Villa didn’t seem to have a lot of ideas of how to score despite the quality players you have.
Luckily Moyes saw the error of his ways and brought Benrahma on. The second half wasn’t vintage but it was better. Gerrard taking Luis off, who I thought was playing alright, seemed to open things up and create more space for us which led to the goal. The result never really looked in doubt after that, and there was no expected Villa onslaught.
You lot dont seem to have any balance to your team, and I cant work out what Gerrard is doing. I was concerned about Ings before the game, but I dont remember him doing anything. Im also not sure what McGinns role is supposed to be? When we played you before Cash was great down the right, getting crosses in. One of your best players, but he didnt seem to get forward as much yesterday.
Youve added some great players on paper but the team looks like its gone backwards if anything.
Good summary of the game.There was a stoppage for injury in the first half and Rice came to Moyes and pointed out some problems.
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I kept off here yesterday, knowing what a pit of misery it would be. What was the fan's reaction at the end? Was there abuse aimed at Gerrard? The players collectively? Individual players?
He was getting Stevengerrardsc larabluarmy from the Holte before we went a goal down.
It seemed more wishful thinking than anything and was noticeable how few joined in.
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I kept off here yesterday, knowing what a pit of misery it would be. What was the fan's reaction at the end? Was there abuse aimed at Gerrard? The players collectively? Individual players?
He was getting Stevengerrardsc larabluarmy from the Holte before we went a goal down.
It seemed more wishful thinking than anything and was noticeable how few joined in.
It came over loud and clear from the Trinity. Didn't last very long though.
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There was still the usual scrotes popping on a hi-vis and charging everyone £5 to park on the road. No point arguing with them especially when we've got a kid with us, and don't fancy coming back to a scratched car.
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I think there is a little bit of an over-reaction going on. Yes, it's not been a good start, but we were the better team yesterday in the first half and ultimately lost on a deflected goal. The problem he has is that we will lose the next two games and then his position is pretty much untenable.
I said it before the season started, that the best 3 midfielders are Ramsay, Luiz & Kamara. The problem he has is that he made McGinn the captain and he won't drop him. Coutinho needs to sit until he finds his form, at least we get work rate out of Emi.
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There was still the usual scrotes popping on a hi-vis and charging everyone £5 to park on the road. No point arguing with them especially when we've got a kid with us, and don't fancy coming back to a scratched car.
Tell the police and the council. They've dealt with similar before.
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Well in truth in was a poor game of football, and in the end the main difference I guess was luck - bad luck for Villa that Digne’s corner just drifted out of play, and good luck for West Ham that Fornal’s speculative shot deflected over the keeper.
Moyes got our formation horribly wrong first half. Id hoped that it’d be a 3-4-3 but it ended up a flat back 5 with 2 DMs and Fornals barely getting forward. The net result was that West Ham offered no attack threat, and constantly gave the ball back to Villa. Nonetheless we were solud at the back and, in truth, Villa didn’t seem to have a lot of ideas of how to score despite the quality players you have.
Luckily Moyes saw the error of his ways and brought Benrahma on. The second half wasn’t vintage but it was better. Gerrard taking Luis off, who I thought was playing alright, seemed to open things up and create more space for us which led to the goal. The result never really looked in doubt after that, and there was no expected Villa onslaught.
You lot dont seem to have any balance to your team, and I cant work out what Gerrard is doing. I was concerned about Ings before the game, but I dont remember him doing anything. Im also not sure what McGinns role is supposed to be? When we played you before Cash was great down the right, getting crosses in. One of your best players, but he didnt seem to get forward as much yesterday.
Youve added some great players on paper but the team looks like its gone backwards if anything.
Two teams devoid of confidence in a game settled by a bit of good fortune in West Ham's favour. I thought Rice and Soucek were really poor, have they been like that for a while? Apart from one trademark surging run second half Rice did very little all game, where usually he murders us. I feared the worst when I saw the teams lining up for the handshakes. It was hard to know who was the mascot and who was the player with Coutinho, then down the line there was this big tattooed beast for West Ham. Needn't have worried though, he was absolutely dreadful.
Zouma might be a deeply rubbish human being, but he's a very good defender, and he won everything in the air.
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I think there is a little bit of an over-reaction going on. Yes, it's not been a good start, but we were the better team yesterday in the first half and ultimately lost on a deflected goal. The problem he has is that we will lose the next two games and then his position is pretty much untenable.
I said it before the season started, that the best 3 midfielders are Ramsay, Luiz & Kamara. The problem he has is that he made McGinn the captain and he won't drop him. Coutinho needs to sit until he finds his form, at least we get work rate out of Emi.
Ramsey has been rubbish for ages now. He's a young player still, so you expect the ups and downs in form, but he was rightly dropped yesterday. He was terrible when he came on too. If it was my job on the line against Arsenal on Wednesday, I think I'd go:
Martinez
Cash Konsa Chambers Digne
Luiz Kamara
Buendia McGinn Coutinho
Watkins
Not that it would probably make much difference, it all feels like rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic at the moment.
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Interesring line up there Risso. You've been slaughtering McGinn for ages, saying how he should be dropped, he's fat and what a terrible foootballer he is.
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I'd go
Martinez Olsen
Cash Konsa Mings Chambers Digne
Luiz McGinn (lying down) Kamara
Watkins
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Coutinho is injured, he'll put Bailey back in.....if he's still here.
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I think there is a little bit of an over-reaction going on ... his position is pretty much untenable.
I think you pretty much answered your own point there.
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Interesring line up there Risso. You've been slaughtering McGinn for ages, saying how he should be dropped, he's fat and what a terrible foootballer he is.
He's all of those things, but we don't have anybody else.
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I'd drop McGinn and play Luiz Bailey and Buendia behind Watkins with Kamara and Tim or Nakamba pivoting.
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McGinn shouldn’t be starting. It should be Luiz, Kamara and Buendia, with Bailey wide right and Coutinho on the left. JJ needs to play in the middle whenever he does start or comes on. Not on the left where he is isolated. And our full backs should be full backs and occasionally overlap. What Matt Targett did for example but we now have a superior LB at both attacking and defending. But Digne isn’t Maldini and Cash isn’t the “real” Cafu or Dani Alves. Let them defend first and we won’t get torn to shreds.
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Not too long ago we went to Arsenal and annihilated them. It's really hard to fathom how both clubs have diverged so much since then. From a NSWE perspective we must have looked like we would be pushing past the likes of Arsenal and Spurs then but it's gone to shit since. It can't just be about the loss of Grealish.
Looking at the Arsenal side that played that night, you do see parallels to our situation. A load of piss weak players like Pepe and Ceballos who were lost in the PL. Others like Willian long past it and a talented but troublesome captain Auba (not saying Mings is btw). To be fair to Arteta he made some hard decisions that cost them in the short term (letting Auba go on a free when they had no forwards), recognizing his mistake with Willian etc But a real focus on young quick players has helped them. They look a really good team these days.
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Another thing from yesterday is that penalty shout we had in the second half which VAR looked at for a whole 20 seconds again. Was there anything in it?
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Not too long ago we went to Arsenal and annihilated them. It's really hard to fathom how both clubs have diverged so much since then. From a NSWE perspective we must have looked like we would be pushing past the likes of Arsenal and Spurs then but it's gone to shit since. It can't just be about the loss of Grealish.
Looking at the Arsenal side that played that night, you do see parallels to our situation. A load of piss weak players like Pepe and Ceballos who were lost in the PL. Others like Willian long past it and a talented but troublesome captain Auba (not saying Mings is btw). To be fair to Arteta he made some hard decisions that cost them in the short term (letting Auba go on a free when they had no forwards), recognizing his mistake with Willian etc But a real focus on young quick players has helped them. They look a really good team these days.
They've spent about £250m in the last 12 months.
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Well in truth in was a poor game of football, and in the end the main difference I guess was luck - bad luck for Villa that Digne’s corner just drifted out of play, and good luck for West Ham that Fornal’s speculative shot deflected over the keeper.
Moyes got our formation horribly wrong first half. Id hoped that it’d be a 3-4-3 but it ended up a flat back 5 with 2 DMs and Fornals barely getting forward. The net result was that West Ham offered no attack threat, and constantly gave the ball back to Villa. Nonetheless we were solud at the back and, in truth, Villa didn’t seem to have a lot of ideas of how to score despite the quality players you have.
Luckily Moyes saw the error of his ways and brought Benrahma on. The second half wasn’t vintage but it was better. Gerrard taking Luis off, who I thought was playing alright, seemed to open things up and create more space for us which led to the goal. The result never really looked in doubt after that, and there was no expected Villa onslaught.
You lot dont seem to have any balance to your team, and I cant work out what Gerrard is doing. I was concerned about Ings before the game, but I dont remember him doing anything. Im also not sure what McGinns role is supposed to be? When we played you before Cash was great down the right, getting crosses in. One of your best players, but he didnt seem to get forward as much yesterday.
Youve added some great players on paper but the team looks like its gone backwards if anything.
Yes. Spot on mate!
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Another thing from yesterday is that penalty shout we had in the second half which VAR looked at for a whole 20 seconds again. Was there anything in it?
No. Never a pen.
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Well in truth in was a poor game of football, and in the end the main difference I guess was luck - bad luck for Villa that Digne’s corner just drifted out of play, and good luck for West Ham that Fornal’s speculative shot deflected over the keeper.
Moyes got our formation horribly wrong first half. Id hoped that it’d be a 3-4-3 but it ended up a flat back 5 with 2 DMs and Fornals barely getting forward. The net result was that West Ham offered no attack threat, and constantly gave the ball back to Villa. Nonetheless we were solud at the back and, in truth, Villa didn’t seem to have a lot of ideas of how to score despite the quality players you have.
Luckily Moyes saw the error of his ways and brought Benrahma on. The second half wasn’t vintage but it was better. Gerrard taking Luis off, who I thought was playing alright, seemed to open things up and create more space for us which led to the goal. The result never really looked in doubt after that, and there was no expected Villa onslaught.
You lot dont seem to have any balance to your team, and I cant work out what Gerrard is doing. I was concerned about Ings before the game, but I dont remember him doing anything. Im also not sure what McGinns role is supposed to be? When we played you before Cash was great down the right, getting crosses in. One of your best players, but he didnt seem to get forward as much yesterday.
Youve added some great players on paper but the team looks like its gone backwards if anything.
Two teams devoid of confidence in a game settled by a bit of good fortune in West Ham's favour. I thought Rice and Soucek were really poor, have they been like that for a while? Apart from one trademark surging run second half Rice did very little all game, where usually he murders us. I feared the worst when I saw the teams lining up for the handshakes. It was hard to know who was the mascot and who was the player with Coutinho, then down the line there was this big tattooed beast for West Ham. Needn't have worried though, he was absolutely dreadful.
Zouma might be a deeply rubbish human being, but he's a very good defender, and he won everything in the air.
Rice hasn’t been at his best all season. He’s started slow and not improved. It might be a confidence thing. The added pressure of now being club captain added to the expectations ramping up now we’ve had two good seasons and spent a load of money on new players. Mark Noble used to do an awful lot behind the scenes, especially welcoming new players, helping them settle. There’s also the fact that his partner has just had a baby. Fornal’s form went to shit last season when he had a kid.
Soucek did alright, but he’s never going to be the player to carry the ball forward. He needs to win it then lay it off, and wait for the team to move up the pitch so that he can get into the box.
I think Scamacca will come good, but we can’t play him like we play Antonio, fizzing high balls at him. He wants balls to feet with his back to goal, you can see he has the footwork for it. We just need Bowen, Benrahma, Fornals et al to get closer to him.
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He reminded me of a big useless lump we had a few years ago called Kozak.
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He reminded me of a big useless lump we had a few years ago called Kozak.
Kozak is a good yard stick. I thought he would destroy our centre backs. Turns out he was a plodder of the highest order who will get devoured by the premier league. I suspect Moyes already knows that but thought he might get some joy out of a relatively small Villa team.
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There was still the usual scrotes popping on a hi-vis and charging everyone £5 to park on the road. No point arguing with them especially when we've got a kid with us, and don't fancy coming back to a scratched car.
Whereabouts was that? I parked on Trinity Road and the only ones I saw were taking money for cars parking on driveways, not on the road.
Didn't go to the Everton game, but yesterday the school at the top of Trinity Road was open for parking.
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I think there is a little bit of an over-reaction going on. Yes, it's not been a good start, but we were the better team yesterday in the first half and ultimately lost on a deflected goal. The problem he has is that we will lose the next two games and then his position is pretty much untenable.
I said it before the season started, that the best 3 midfielders are Ramsay, Luiz & Kamara. The problem he has is that he made McGinn the captain and he won't drop him. Coutinho needs to sit until he finds his form, at least we get work rate out of Emi.
Ramsey has been rubbish for ages now. He's a young player still, so you expect the ups and downs in form, but he was rightly dropped yesterday. He was terrible when he came on too. If it was my job on the line against Arsenal on Wednesday, I think I'd go:
Martinez
Cash Konsa Chambers Digne
Luiz Kamara
Buendia McGinn Coutinho
Watkins
Not that it would probably make much difference, it all feels like rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic at the moment.
You both make good points. We didn't deserve to lose yesterday, but we also didn't deserve to win as we could have played for another 3 hours and never look like scoring. They got an arsey goal, but didn't look like scoring otherwise.
Controlled play and tempo in the first half, but in deep areas with no end product. I feel like this describes our situation for a number of years now. There has never been discernible patterns of play in the final third, no method to how we might create chances. It's mainly been down to individual moments of skills (mainly Joe) that have created chances.
I'd go with Risso's team, but swap Bailey for Coutinho. Changing personnel is tinkering at the edges though - it will make nowt difference unless our system changes.
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This is very early days. We all need to remember that when we take to these forums. We are lucky to have Gerrard - FACT. He only knows success - FACT.
He's The only reason we have signed Coutinho - FACT.
Its too early to panic, if he dont read these forums some of his family will. Alot of tactics are about luck anyway, on another day his system would work, ie a goal goes in and its a different story / different outcome.
I honestly think we underestimate him. He's under enough pressure being part of our club as it is. His decisions will come off in the mane.
The lads in the dressing room do rate him, trust me... my sons best mate is one of thems brother!
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This is very early days. We all need to remember that when we take to these forums. We are lucky to have Gerrard - FACT. He only knows success - FACT.
He's The only reason we have signed Coutinho - FACT.
Its too early to panic, if he dont read these forums some of his family will. Alot of tactics are about luck anyway, on another day his system would work, ie a goal goes in and its a different story / different outcome.
I honestly think we underestimate him. He's under enough pressure being part of our club as it is. His decisions will come off in the mane.
The lads in the dressing room do rate him, trust me... my sons best mate is one of thems brother!
Difficult to know whether this is a FACT-based genuine opinion or a wind up... We aren't lucky to have him, quite the opposite at the moment I'd say. He is the only reason we have Coutinho, but that isn't working out very well right now either. I"m sure the players respect the player Gerrard was, but when results are so shite, they won't respect him as their manager, because their career trajectories are built on results.
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The main point here is, lets just give him more time. Agreed, he hasn't made perfect decisions but Its his 1st full season. It was a decent 1st half on Sunday, play that game again and youll see a different result!
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Hmm...
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The main point here is, lets just give him more time. Agreed, he hasn't made perfect decisions but Its his 1st full season. It was a decent 1st half on Sunday, play that game again and youll see a different result!
Well we can't play That Game again and can you articulate why it would be different? Gerrard (who is far luckier than Villa to be in the manager seat) wouldn't play a different formation or tactics or subs. That was the difference between he and Moyes.
Villa manager/head coach has never been a place to learn on the job and, even if it were, he certainly isn't learning.
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Awful game of football - it was more interesting listening to the lad who sits by me talking about his holiday.
Ings looks like a sunday morning pub footballer who has been on the piss all night, smoking 20 fags and then eaten a doner kebab on the way home at 6 in the morning - awful signing - but will be here for the next 3 seasons on £100k a week - and we are told that Purslow knows what he is doing!
Too many very average footballers who are massively overpaid - Martinez must already be telling his agent he wants out after the world cup.
We will finish bottom 6 unless there is a dramatic improvement
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This is very early days. We all need to remember that when we take to these forums. We are lucky to have Gerrard - FACT. He only knows success - FACT.
He's The only reason we have signed Coutinho - FACT.
Its too early to panic, if he dont read these forums some of his family will. Alot of tactics are about luck anyway, on another day his system would work, ie a goal goes in and its a different story / different outcome.
I honestly think we underestimate him. He's under enough pressure being part of our club as it is. His decisions will come off in the mane.
The lads in the dressing room do rate him, trust me... my sons best mate is one of thems brother!
The only bit of this that is right is the bold bit and it's one of the reasons he's failing, not a strength. To go against the grain of the forum I think he has a good idea of what he wants to do and I think how he wants to play would work but he hasn't got the experience or natural ability to actually deliver it. In scotland he got away with it because the rest of the league was so weak that even a poorly implemented version of his vision was enough to be 'successful'.
For us he has a whole bunch of problems that he isn't addressing and better managers are targeting us in those areas. It started out with us letting the fullbacks bomb on but not covering in behind, so teams started playing in behind our fullbacks and finding huge amonuts of space. To 'fix' this he's basically abandoned our midfield. This has left us with no way to play through teams so now we're hitting long balls into the channels or seeing Coutinho 20-30 yards deeper than he should be, and, unsurprisingly, his game has fallen apart as a result.
Oh, and anyone who has to put fact in all caps after a statement is talking out of their arse, just FYI.
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There was still the usual scrotes popping on a hi-vis and charging everyone £5 to park on the road. No point arguing with them especially when we've got a kid with us, and don't fancy coming back to a scratched car.
Whereabouts was that? I parked on Trinity Road and the only ones I saw were taking money for cars parking on driveways, not on the road.
Didn't go to the Everton game, but yesterday the school at the top of Trinity Road was open for parking.
Vicarage Road. I went through the process of an online chat with WMP who said to contact the police force who's local to Aston, then ended the chat, which was helpful.
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There often comes a point in a bad run where at least the performances (if not the results) show SOMETHING is developing; where it's just not quite clicking - but we're not even getting that right now.
Dean got 10 games. I don't see Gerrard getting 10 games unless we pull off a shock against Arsenal or Man City. It's more than likely we'll be one win from 6 and in the bottom 3 by next Sunday, which might be enough for them to pull the trigger. I suppose they might give him another fortnight and the Leicester and Southampton fixtures up to the first international break, and six points there could well give him some breathing room. An upset win against Arsenal or Man City will buy him until the World Cup as minimum. I've always said you should give a new manager a full year before making a change, and I don't think it would be the end of the world if he got the requisite 10 games this season, as long as the next appointment is, finally, the right one.
But for me, we need to see an improvement in the performances. I can accept a defeat where it looks like we've been threatening for periods. Where you can look back and say we were a bit unlucky, and "we win that game 8 times out 10 in normal circumstances", but right now we're not even getting that.