Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: Toronto Villa on February 21, 2026, 05:01:42 PM
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Very disappointing but a point at least.
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We have properly got away with one today with Chelsea drawing as well.
Unai needs to make our subs sooner and start Tammy from now on in.
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He picked the wrong team.
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Crap but could be a vital point.
Waiting so long to bring Tammy on feels like a mistake.
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We keep blowing any opportunities we ger to push on at the top. But a good ppint in the end.
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Just want to give some props to Barkley before everyone wades in. That was a superb half hour or so of football from him. Completely changed the pattern of the game. Sancho did well too.
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4 wins and a couple of draws might just clinch top 5.
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Too slow, too uninventive, too easy for the opposition goalie and too many poor individual performances, too often.
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Play like we did in the second half from the off I fancy we'd have a nice 3 points in the bag.
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They showed some spirit in the second half but there's a lack of confidence and a lack of guile. Sancho much better than Bailey.
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No more Bailey please for the love of McGrath.
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5 goals out the last 7 league games and we still don’t start Tammy. I love Ollie but he’s bereft of confidence atm
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Emery needs to adopt a different style of play. Involve Tammy from the start. Ross looked very lively. Ollie isn’t the answer up front but maybe we can play him and Tammy together. But the way we always set up isn’t working. At least not working with Youri and SJM out for a while. Too rigid, too predictable. We got a point but 4 points from a possible 12 against mediocre teams at home isn’t good if we really want to be in the CL next season.
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I never ever want to see Bailey playing for Villa again. Shocking. Martinez being beaten from 30 yards from a wide position is awful.
The first half was unbelievably bad. The second better. But a point at home to Leeds is nowhere near good enough if we’re being demanding.
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Well despite that "effort", we've maintained the 6 point gap to Chelsea
Burnley scored a 93rd minute equaliser at Stamford Bridge after Chelsea had Fofana sent off for a 2nd yellow in the 72nd minute.
Chelsea will be really pissed off - until late on they were looking at a 3 point gain.
Instead the status quo has been preserved.
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He picked the wrong team.
Indeed. All very predictable plus too many forgetting why we have such a great home record and just expecting us to win without the hard work and urgency.
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Freekick was a beauty but Emi had a poor starting position imo.
Bailey cannot keep starting. I'd rather have Guessand there.
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We only started to play when Barclay came on, Unai please forget about Bailey it's like we are a man short. Team selection cost us but relieved to get a point. We really miss McGinn.
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If Forest beat Liverpool I'll take the point. Even a draw. If Liverpool win it's another costly fuck up.
Onana has gotten off lightly btw. Anybody else notice how half-arsed he looked today?
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Bonus point in the end after Chelsea fluffed their lines.
Really poor performance again. Barkley and Sancho improved us greatly. I don't want to see Bailey start again. He was a disgrace.
We need to change the way we play with our injuries in midfield.
Some of the supporting cast need to step up if we are to start winning again, (Onana, Buendia, Maatsen, Bailey, Sancho). I think they are content to play safe and wait for someon else to di it.
I said last week that we may just limp to 5th Place as Chelsea have the hardest run in, (I didn't bank on them drawing with Burnely). However we have to improve drastically, as I dont see us beating anyone the way we are playing lately.
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Freekick was a beauty but Emi had a poor starting position imo.
Bailey cannot keep starting. I'd rather have Guessand there.
I'd rather we played with ten men. First half was like playing with nine. As somebody mentioned on the Match thread, hopefully the Bailey experiment is over.
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The return from a run of "easy" home fixtures has been really poor. Yes, there's all the injuries, but we're better than this.
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Freekick was a beauty but Emi had a poor starting position imo.
Bailey cannot keep starting. I'd rather have Guessand there.
I'd rather we played with ten men. First half was like playing with nine. As somebody mentioned on the Match thread, hopefully the Bailey experiment is over.
We tried with 10 men and got battered. Any time 10 men for them or us is introduced it leads to a Villa defeat.
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Onana has gotten off lightly btw. Anybody else notice how half-arsed he looked today?
If it was only today. He's been going through the motions since returning from injury.
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A point. At home. To a poor Leeds team.
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Wrong team. Subs too late..Bailey and Buendia should not have played. The Onana/Dougie combo isn't working. Is Tammy the new Malen. Thought Torres would have helped in his passing. Lucky to get a point. The Chelsea result helps but the general level of play is so poor at the moment. Need McGinn back..
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When Onana is good, he’s very good.
Unfortunately this happens about one game in ten.
Or he’s injured. He’s not the answer.
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Freekick was a beauty but Emi had a poor starting position imo.
Bailey cannot keep starting. I'd rather have Guessand there.
i agree he may be poor but he at least puts effort in, Bailey had a good few months in 23/24 and has been at best below average the rest of the time
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Atrocious performance, bar the equaliser there wasn't another positive. Team selection, timing of subs from Emery also miles off. Tempo of play scandalous. Not too optimistic after that. Burnley equalising late on could be crucial.
Martinez 5 - can't be beaten from there, good save late on
Cash 6 - battled hard until he tired late on
Konsa 4 - bullied by DCL to an embarrassing degree, great jump for the goal
Mings 4 - picked to deal with DCL but he just pulled onto Konsa instead, awful in possession
Maatsen 5 - very much meh, kept trying to do the the right thing though
Onana 2 - hologram - didn't show up yet again
Luiz 4 - so disappointing, no imagination in his distribution and didn't attempt to dictate play
Bailey 3 - one step forward, two back. No courage
Buendia 6 - reasonable enough, shouldn't have been replaced
Rogers 5 - awful first half, form seems to be cooling a bit
Watkins 4 - what was that before half time? Tried hard second half but best days seem long past him
Sancho, looks the part but delivers nothing, Barkley did improve things a bit. Tammy scored with his only touch. Strange timing for last two.
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Anyone that clicks on the 'Micah on Milner" link on BBC football needs to remove themselves from this site following a grovelling apology.
F uck Leeds and f uck mica
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A point. At home. To a poor Leeds team.
They’ve not been bad away from home lately, and we’ve been poor at home.
I was worried about this fixture.
A late equaliser, and Chelsea drawing isn’t too bad a day for us.
If we can get SJM back soon we could have a decent run in still.
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Martinez wasn’t a 5. At least a 7. The goal was brilliant and while his starting position might have been better the positioning of the shot was superb. But Martinez rescued us later. Without him we lose that game.
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We need to change the way we play with our injuries in midfield.
Playing two midfielders to replace our three injured diamonds, we're just too weak in midfield now and it shows, every bloody game.
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Bailey and Watkins were absolute crap, Watkins has been pretty much all season and Roma will have been overjoyed we took Bailey back. Tammy and Sancho start, simple as, Barkley needs more of a role too going forward. Manager needs a kick up the arse too
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Onana has gotten off lightly btw. Anybody else notice how half-arsed he looked today?
Just today? Salzburg, Brighton...he's a fraud
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Martinez wasn’t a 5. At least a 7. The goal was brilliant and while his starting position might have been better the positioning of the shot was superb. But Martinez rescued us later. Without him we lose that game.
No keeper should be beaten from there
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Not great. We huffed and puffed in the 2nd half and probably just about deserved the point. Baily woeful. Luiz is the frustrating Luiz in the 6 months before he was sold as opposed to the creative, aggressive player we had before that.
Special marks for the Cockney knob end on whichever feed I was watching suggesting Rogers has 'been off the boil'.
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Down on form and confidence and missing 3 key players, we kept going and got a deserved equaliser against a well organised defence.
Barkley, Sancho and Tammy should all start next week.
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Yeah, I was going gentle. To be honest, if one of the clubs is so desperately wants to join are interested in the summer...crack on, mate.
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If Forest beat Liverpool I'll take the point. Even a draw. If Liverpool win it's another costly fuck up.
Onana has gotten off lightly btw. Anybody else notice how half-arsed he looked today?
Indeed. We've needed leadership in there since the loss of out three best midfielders and he's offered zip.
Good energy and poses a physical threat when he's on it. But he's on it nowhere near enough. Even when he makes it out on to the pitch, which is by no means a given.
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We must start with Tammy against Wulves! Couldn't understand why Buendia was on for so long: he kept getting knocked over by the Leeds midfield
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I said before kick off that Tammy should've started. Watkins was as shit as he I thought he would be.
It wasn't just him though, there were terrible performances all over the pitch. Special mention for Bailey who was diabolical.
We've got away with one today, I just hope they learn from it
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Bonus point in the end after Chelsea fluffed their lines.
Really poor performance again. Barkley and Sancho improved us greatly. I don't want to see Bailey start again. He was a disgrace.
We need to change the way we play with our injuries in midfield.
Some of the supporting cast need to step up if we are to start winning again, (Onana, Buendia, Maatsen, Bailey, Sancho). I think they are content to play safe and wait for someon else to di it.
I said last week that we may just limp to 5th Place as Chelsea have the hardest run in, (I didn't bank on them drawing with Burnely). However we have to improve drastically, as I dont see us beating anyone the way we are playing lately.
Chelsea’s next 6 opponents: Arsenal, Villa, Newcastle, Everton, Manchester City and Manchester United.
We MUST earn more points than them over our next 6.
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Thought Cash was the only player who started who had a decent game.
Tammy has to start v Wolves.
Luiz and Onana don’t seem to be a good combination, but we’re stuck for the time being.
Emery needs to change something, somehow. We’re becoming very predictable.
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We can match what Chelsea do from here on in points wise, and we’ve got a six point head start. It sounds much better when it’s put like that I think.
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Luiz still not up to speed, Onana playing like he has no competition for his place!!
Get Lindelof in to replace one of them.
He has been one of our better players recently, will give 100% and until we get Tielemans/McGinn back we will have to scrap hard in midfield for a victory.
All opponents know our achilles heel and are taking advantage.
Draw fair result, but really another two points dropped.
Unai, sort it out.
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Decent point in the end, but only because I remember how depressed I was before Tammy & the Burnley goal gave me a quick double hit of good news. Let’s hope other results keep going for us over the next two days.
Hopefully, Unai saw some things he can learn from today.
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Chelsea will be far more down after today than we are, as players/coaches and fans.
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We can match what Chelsea do from here on in points wise, and we’ve got a six point head start. It sounds much better when it’s put like that I think.
I agree and a lot of the metrics look really positive, (i.e., 66 points should do it, 4, five more wins required etc). However, the problem is, the drop-off in form of late has been staggering. I knew we would struggle without the three lads in midfield, but I didn't think our general play would go to shit like it has.
Let's face it we were very lucky v Brighton and again today. Playing like that, I'm not confident of us beating anyone and I include Wolves in that.
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We are limping through these games without our best midfield. Thank god teams below us are also dropping points.
PS Tammy to start next match
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Chelsea will be far more down after today than we are, as players/coaches and fans.
Yeah, we'd be a lot more pissed off if the situations were reversed (or if we'd blown a 2 goal lead at Molineux). Decent point in the end, which will be even better should Forest and/or Everton do us a favour.
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Have to say with some of the players we have ( the not very good ones ) it's still pretty unbelievable how we're 3rd. All to do with tactics, even though it's tough to sit through at times.
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Proper frustrating. Buendia and Bailey swapped for Barkley and Sancho and we’d have won that. Onwards….
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I wish we could push Dougie further forward. He’s such a good player. Onana and Bogarde further back and Sancho for Bailey.
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I wish we could push Dougie further forward. He’s such a good player. Onana and Bogarde further back and Sancho for Bailey.
I like Luiz but he was miles off it today
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Wrong team. Subs too late..Bailey and Buendia should not have played. The Onana/Dougie combo isn't working. Is Tammy the new Malen. Thought Torres would have helped in his passing. Lucky to get a point. The Chelsea result helps but the general level of play is so poor at the moment. Need McGinn back..
The selection I found most surprising was Mings for Torres, together with the reticence to bring Torres on as an attacking substitution – especially in that second half where we were on the ball for 70% of the time. Can only assume there is some lingering injury problem there. Maybe it was with one eye on Calvert-Lewin?
Great admirer of Mings, of course. But his passing is relatively blunt compared to Pau.
Stating the bleedin' obvious but we were very poor today, and got what we deserved.
But trust in Unai to make us competitive again when it matters.
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Proper frustrating. Buendia and Bailey swapped for Barkley and Sancho and we’d have won that. Onwards….
In the first half those pair were laughably bad, I try to find positives as much as possible but Bailey in particular was both utterly shit and completely disinterested. I'd honestly prefer it if we'd kept Jimoh and Young over this pair on that showing, Sancho and Barkley improved us massively and then Abraham for Buendia meant we suddenly had no one giving the ball away cheaply and we started to really dominate play and build pressure.
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I wish we could push Dougie further forward. He’s such a good player. Onana and Bogarde further back and Sancho for Bailey.
I like Luiz but he was miles off it today
Our whole mood since losing the three midfields has been shot of confidence. We have fight, yes, but we look lost as a great attacking team.
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If Forest beat Liverpool I'll take the point. Even a draw. If Liverpool win it's another costly fuck up.
Onana has gotten off lightly btw. Anybody else notice how half-arsed he looked today?
Indeed. We've needed leadership in there since the loss of out three best midfielders and he's offered zip.
Good energy and poses a physical threat when he's on it. But he's on it nowhere near enough. Even when he makes it out on to the pitch, which is by no means a given.
I don't think the problem is directly with Onana. But there is an issue with the Luiz-Onana tandem.
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Wrong team. Subs too late..Bailey and Buendia should not have played. The Onana/Dougie combo isn't working. Is Tammy the new Malen. Thought Torres would have helped in his passing. Lucky to get a point. The Chelsea result helps but the general level of play is so poor at the moment. Need McGinn back..
The selection I found most surprising was Mings for Torres, together with the reticence to bring Torres on as an attacking substitution – especially in that second half where we were on the ball for 70% of the time. Can only assume there is some lingering injury problem there. Maybe it was with one eye on Calvert-Lewin?
Great admirer of Mings, of course. But his passing is relatively blunt compared to Pau.
Stating the bleedin' obvious but we were very poor today, and got what we deserved.
But trust in Unai to make us competitive again when it matters.
I don't think Torres is fully fit, since he came off against Newcastle in the league he's been used really sparingly and he wasn't moving all that well in the game. Given he was out for a while with a calf problem I suspect there's an underlying issue that they're trying to manage so he can be fully involved again once the European games come back as he's a far better option than Mings for those.
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Some of this is on Unai.
Torres has to start. Barkley has to start. Watkins needs to be dropped and Buendia should be on the bench at best.
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A point. At home. To a poor Leeds team.
What's your point?
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Best thing to do when something clearly isn’t working is to keep on repeating it game after game because that always works.
Worst offenders today:
* Bailey: completely abject in every regard. We also saw some of the lazy tracking back we’ve all become use to.
* Watkins. One good cross field pass followed by plenty of lost duels, poor runs off the ball and poor hold up play. Couldn’t stay onside most of the time. A dream to defend against.
* Buendia: easily swamped, easily dealt with.
* The manager; picked Buendia again after the game at Eland road where he was easily dealt with. Picking Mings in another game where we have more possession and lack ball progressors. Continuing to pick a completely abject Watkins when we now have a good alternative.
Barkley was bright.
We are far too easy to play against although credit to Leeds who carried on where Everton, Brighton and Brentford went before them.
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Decent point in the end, but only because I remember how depressed I was before Tammy & the Burnley goal gave me a quick double hit of good news. Let’s hope other results keep going for us over the next two days.
Hopefully, Unai saw some things he can learn from today.
Does Unai ever show evidence he's learned from previous games?
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We can match what Chelsea do from here on in points wise, and we’ve got a six point head start. It sounds much better when it’s put like that I think.
I agree and a lot of the metrics look really positive, (i.e., 66 points should do it, 4, five more wins required etc). However, the problem is, the drop-off in form of late has been staggering. I knew we would struggle without the three lads in midfield, but I didn't think our general play would go to shit like it has.
Let's face it we were very lucky v Brighton and again today. Playing like that, I'm not confident of us beating anyone and I include Wolves in that.
Wolves just battled back to draw with the next Champions. We ain't winning there.
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We got ourselves into an unbelievable position in the league with an incredible run.
There is absolutely no doubt that the injuries have hurt us BUT, that doesn’t excuse the performances of individuals over the last 6 weeks or so.
As I have said before, losing top, top players like Kamara, Tielemans and Ginny is a double whammy.
Not only do you lose that quality, but the replacements are shit.
Buendia and Bailey are players we tried to offload in the summer but no other fucker wants them.
I’m not convinced that Onana and Luiz can play together either.
For me, I am worried that we will also blow 5th.
The team looks devoid of confidence and the drop off in the quality of our attacking play is incredibly worrying.
One big positive for me is Rogers. We know how good he is, but it’s noticeable over the last few weeks how much more involved in play all over the pitch he has become.
He is becoming a proper leader and is doing his best to drag us through games.
Lots of others can take a leaf out of his book.
Finally, Bailey has his Callaghan moment today. He can fuck off.
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Proper frustrating. Buendia and Bailey swapped for Barkley and Sancho and we’d have won that. Onwards….
In the first half those pair were laughably bad, I try to find positives as much as possible but Bailey in particular was both utterly shit and completely disinterested. I'd honestly prefer it if we'd kept Jimoh and Young over this pair on that showing, Sancho and Barkley improved us massively and then Abraham for Buendia meant we suddenly had no one giving the ball away cheaply and we started to really dominate play and build pressure.
Unlike Bailey, at least Buendia doesn't give up. He nearly scored twice in the second half and was always going to be targeted by Leeds' physical players.
Barkley hasn't started a PL game in .... how many months (?), I'm not sure he has the fitness for it. Did well when he came on but also did a couple of stupid things that Buendia would get pelters for - a wayward shot from a position he was never going to score from and giving away a stupid free-kick with a push to the back in front of the referee when we were 1-0 down with less than 10 minutes left.
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Decent point in the end, but only because I remember how depressed I was before Tammy & the Burnley goal gave me a quick double hit of good news. Let’s hope other results keep going for us over the next two days.
Hopefully, Unai saw some things he can learn from today.
Does Unai ever show evidence he's learned from previous games?
Duran and Rashford forcing their way into the team. Maatsen the same.
That’s the kind of thing I’m hoping for with Tammy and Sancho in particular.
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Exactly. Bogarde/Onana or Barkley/Onana might be better.
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It’s not great at the moment. Least we salvaged a point, but if we don’t improve we’re going to finish 6th. We have to start playing with more intent, particularly at the start of games. It’s so lifeless.
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Emery reflects on 'deserved draw' against Leeds
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/videos/ckg34yd1g98o
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Some of this is on Unai.
Torres has to start. Barkley has to start. Watkins needs to be dropped and Buendia should be on the bench at best.
Torres played v Newcastle twice and was average at best in both games. Lindelof should be playing instead of Mings and Torres.
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Proper frustrating. Buendia and Bailey swapped for Barkley and Sancho and we’d have won that. Onwards….
In the first half those pair were laughably bad, I try to find positives as much as possible but Bailey in particular was both utterly shit and completely disinterested. I'd honestly prefer it if we'd kept Jimoh and Young over this pair on that showing, Sancho and Barkley improved us massively and then Abraham for Buendia meant we suddenly had no one giving the ball away cheaply and we started to really dominate play and build pressure.
The problem is that we have a number of players who look good in 20 minute cameos yet are poor when they start.
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We’ve just got to keep battling away.
I thought the support was appalling in places. Boo’s from some at half time and that sarcastic cheer when Bailey went off. We’ve been here before with Rogers.
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I thought we started well, killed the game, kept the crowd quiet and ... Ah.
I'd love us to start games more on the front foot, but I accept it's not Unai's way. Not usually, anyway.
I'd definitely start Barkley and Sancho in the next game.
Hoping for a new manager bounce at Forest tomorrow, and for an Everton favour on Monday. We may well escape this disappointment relatively unscathed.
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Wrong team. Subs too late..Bailey and Buendia should not have played. The Onana/Dougie combo isn't working. Is Tammy the new Malen. Thought Torres would have helped in his passing. Lucky to get a point. The Chelsea result helps but the general level of play is so poor at the moment. Need McGinn back..
The selection I found most surprising was Mings for Torres, together with the reticence to bring Torres on as an attacking substitution – especially in that second half where we were on the ball for 70% of the time. Can only assume there is some lingering injury problem there. Maybe it was with one eye on Calvert-Lewin?
Great admirer of Mings, of course. But his passing is relatively blunt compared to Pau.
Stating the bleedin' obvious but we were very poor today, and got what we deserved.
]But trust in Unai to make us competitive again when it matters.
It matters now!
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I think Sancho has been showing great attitude lately. Night and day difference with Bailey who's only any good when things are going well, but whose head - and willingness to work for the team -drop frighteningly quickly when the going gets even slightly tough. Far too weak mentally for this level.
I'd definitely be starting Sancho next game. He looks like he's playing for his next contract, so we might as well make the most of that.
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Desperate stuff. 1 point from leeds, 10 man brentford and Everton. Dire home results
We were lucky vs Brighton too.
The performances have returned to the start of the season where we struggled to score and create anything
We got lucky today.
Too many poor performances. Buendia and bailey in particular were shocking. Mings overhit long passing was very frustrating as well.
God bless Burnley though
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Wrong team. Subs too late..Bailey and Buendia should not have played. The Onana/Dougie combo isn't working. Is Tammy the new Malen. Thought Torres would have helped in his passing. Lucky to get a point. The Chelsea result helps but the general level of play is so poor at the moment. Need McGinn back..
The selection I found most surprising was Mings for Torres, together with the reticence to bring Torres on as an attacking substitution – especially in that second half where we were on the ball for 70% of the time. Can only assume there is some lingering injury problem there. Maybe it was with one eye on Calvert-Lewin?
Great admirer of Mings, of course. But his passing is relatively blunt compared to Pau.
Stating the bleedin' obvious but we were very poor today, and got what we deserved.
]But trust in Unai to make us competitive again when it matters.
It matters now!
Yes. We need champions league for next season and got ourselves into pole position for it to happen. Yet it’s starting to look like it’s going to slip through our fingers. Emery’s team selections have been wrong for the past 4 home games now.
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I thought we started well, killed the game, kept the crowd quiet and ... Ah.
I'd love us to start games more on the front foot, but I accept it's not Unai's way. Not usually, anyway.
True.
Would be nice to shake it up a bit, mind.
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Play like we did in the second half from the off I fancy we'd have a nice 3 points in the bag.
Yep and that’s a massive issue - we are starting games in such a meek fashion at the moment. It’s absolutely killing any momentum from the off.
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Luiz is such a nothing player now, drifts through the game like a hologram.
Pretty much everything else has already been said, fucking shit. I dispair with Watkins, it looks like he's forgtton how to kick a football. Tammy absolutely has to start against Wolves.
This squad needs an overhaul and a serious injection of quality. If we bottle top 5 we're fucked trying to do it on a shoestring.
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Play like we did in the second half from the off I fancy we'd have a nice 3 points in the bag.
Yep and that’s a massive issue - we are starting games in such a meek fashion at the moment. It’s absolutely killing any momentum from the off.
I agree.
It happens too often, and although we've gained more points than anyone else from a losing position, we shouldn't keep on putting ourselves in such a position.
We don't have our best midfielders who are good at playing out from the back, but we compounded it today by slowing it all down in the first half. I do like Mings, but as already noted, he doesn't pick a pass quickly and slows it all down and Konsa then slips into the same ways.
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Just got back from a pretty subdued VP, although it livened up towards the end thankfully. Barkley and Sancho coming on changed the game, they were both excellent. Martinez saved us more than once with a couple of excellent saves. Haven’t seen their goal back so not sure if he could have done better, but it seemed to fly in like a rocket. Great to see Cash back - he was solid and combined well with Sancho in the second half.
Watkins has plenty of credit in the bank but today might be the day I’ve finally lost patience with him. Fluffed the one on one, and the amounts of crosses/pull backs into dangerous areas where he was nowhere to be seen was ridiculous. Seems to have lost all strikers instinct. Bailey’s body language just before he was subbed off was pathetic - lost the ball easily, gave up trying to win it back, then basically subbed himself off, he couldn’t get off the pitch quick enough. I thought Dougie was poor and Onana not much better.
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Not great, and I’m worried about the next 4 but think we should have enough to get over the line in 5th when the boys are back
Our frontline has been below par all season tbh, we can’t create many chances and relying on something special to happen too frequently. Set pieces helping us currently.
Just need to get through now. Minimal spend and getting in CL in the current context would be great
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Luiz is such a nothing player now, drifts through the game like a hologram.
Pretty much everything else has already been said, fucking shit. I dispair with Watkins, it looks like he's forgtton how to kick a football. Tammy absolutely has to start against Wolves.
This squad needs an overhaul and a serious injection of quality. If we bottle top 5 we're fucked trying to do it on a shoestring.
Got to remember dougies played so little football and has been thrown in. He wasnt great but he did wipe in some good balls yet no one was close to it.
What was up with that freekick 1st half? Luiz whipped a great balm in but three of our players ran out the box towards dougie
Was one of the worst set plays gone wrong i have ever seen
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Desperate stuff. 1 point from leeds, 10 man brentford and Everton. Dire home results
We were lucky vs Brighton too.
How about 4 points from last two league games which is not so desperate and we at least deserved a point today?
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Desperate stuff. 1 point from leeds, 10 man brentford and Everton. Dire home results
We were lucky vs Brighton too.
How about 4 points from last two league games which is not so desperate and we at least deserved a point today?
Did we play well vs Brighton? Or were we fortunate?
All four home performances were poor. We got out of jail vs brighton lets not sugar coat it.
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I thought we started well, killed the game, kept the crowd quiet and ... Ah.
I'd love us to start games more on the front foot, but I accept it's not Unai's way. Not usually, anyway.
I'd definitely start Barkley and Sancho in the next game.
Hoping for a new manager bounce at Forest tomorrow, and for an Everton favour on Monday. We may well escape this disappointment relatively unscathed.
See, this is the thing I don't get. For the first 18 months of Unai this was our way. We regularly blew teams away in the first half an hour and killed games. it was absolutely fantastic!
Last season we changed it up looking to get to half time in the game and then win it second half. It doesn't suit us as well.
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Desperate stuff. 1 point from leeds, 10 man brentford and Everton. Dire home results
We were lucky vs Brighton too.
How about 4 points from last two league games which is not so desperate and we at least deserved a point today?
Did we play well vs Brighton? Or were we fortunate?
All four home performances were poor. We got out of jail vs brighton lets not sugar coat it.
Very harsh. The way I see it, we desrve huge credit for getting to this position in the first place where are third in the league. I don't care how we finish the job - grind out five 1-0 wins from here and it's dreamland.
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I thought we started well, killed the game, kept the crowd quiet and ... Ah.
I'd love us to start games more on the front foot, but I accept it's not Unai's way. Not usually, anyway.
I'd definitely start Barkley and Sancho in the next game.
Hoping for a new manager bounce at Forest tomorrow, and for an Everton favour on Monday. We may well escape this disappointment relatively unscathed.
See, this is the thing I don't get. For the first 18 months of Unai this was our way. We regularly blew teams away in the first half an hour and killed games. it was absolutely fantastic!
Last season we changed it up looking to get to half time in the game and then win it second half. It doesn't suit us as well.
The style of play changed when we sold diaby. Diaby was critical to our first on the break counter attack. He was rapid.
Now we have bailey running into a player or failing over. We lack any form of pace from our attacking players now
I just do not get why we have sacrificed our pace and the style your ighly say, to this slow pedestrian predictable football. We have been found out now. Park the bus stop the long range shooting and you stop villa. Unai needs a plan b as this style isnt working anymore
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Is this a Bailey scapegoat thread? Must we always have to have one? Was Cash for last 2 years, Mcginn before Unai and there were lots of calls of never wanting them to play in a Villa shirt again. Eggs on faces now. Its a team game ffs and there were players out there today who were worse than Bailey. It was the shite system and the non existent midfield that caused the problems, too big a gap between midfield and forwards. Buendia and Rogers both playing in no 10 role getting in each others space meaning no width on left wing which nullified Maatsen until changes made later in rhe game when Rogers linked up with him. No team in the league would cope with loss of their best 3 midfield players. Newcastle are shit without Bruno and Man City are shit without Rodri, and Utd are shit without Fernandez. Anybody who expected us to keep winning all of our games with those 3 out need to give their head a wobble. Unlike City we cannot go out and spend £100m to replace them. When they return we will get better but hopefully it is not too late.
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Desperate stuff. 1 point from leeds, 10 man brentford and Everton. Dire home results
We were lucky vs Brighton too.
How about 4 points from last two league games which is not so desperate and we at least deserved a point today?
Did we play well vs Brighton? Or were we fortunate?
All four home performances were poor. We got out of jail vs brighton lets not sugar coat it.
Very harsh. The way I see it, we desrve huge credit for getting to this position in the first place where are third in the league. I don't care how we finish the job - grind out five 1-0 wins from here and it's dreamland.
Is correct. We weren’t going to keep up a 12 game winning streak and the injuries on top have absolutely bollocksed us. We’re just going to have to suck it up and try and see it through.
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I think we deserved a point today , just about . Too passive slow and weak on the ball first half. Why don’t we show width down the left anymore or balls down the channels to get there defence turning around . Good responses from Barkley and Sancho when they came on.
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We've lost 2 of 8 league games in 2026, we've hardly turned into Wolves.
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I am not too disappointed today. We controlled the game in the second half and there was enough on the pitch to convince me that we will win a few in the last leg of the season. We, of course, lack quality that Bouba, Youri and John provided but have picked up 4 points from last two so we are doing what's necessary.
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Hold on, we’ve been up with the top three sides since around October and had some fantastic performances, but Emery’s style doesn’t suit us well?
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Cash was solid and gave us a good option and outlet which we’ve lacked for a few games. Maatsen was the same in the second half and Barkley and Sancho were great when they came on.
Thought Tammy should have come on a bit earlier, Watkins was struggling to get anything from the long ball that were played up to him, that was an obvious ploy so strange that Tammy never started or that the balls weren’t giving Watkins a chance.
Good job Maatsen got in the way and stopped Rogers ripping their players head off after that cynical foul at the end.
First time I’ve sat in The Holte this season and there’s some right moaning bastards!
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Desperate stuff. 1 point from leeds, 10 man brentford and Everton. Dire home results
We were lucky vs Brighton too.
How about 4 points from last two league games which is not so desperate and we at least deserved a point today?
Did we play well vs Brighton? Or were we fortunate?
All four home performances were poor. We got out of jail vs brighton lets not sugar coat it.
Very harsh. The way I see it, we desrve huge credit for getting to this position in the first place where are third in the league. I don't care how we finish the job - grind out five 1-0 wins from here and it's dreamland.
I disagree- obviously i am happy we beat brighton but the performance was similar today. Martinez saved us in thag Brighton game. We should be beatin team like everton ans especially brentford who had 10 me . Be honest mate did you expect morr than 4 points from these four home games?i certainly did! What counters one of those losses was beating Newcastle though tbf as i expected a loss there. So really we are 3 points worse off than i expected
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Hold on, we’ve been up with the top three sides since around October and had some fantastic performances, but Emery’s style doesn’t suit us well?
Time to get Pardew in I reckon.
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Hold on, we’ve been up with the top three sides since around October and had some fantastic performances, but Emery’s style doesn’t suit us well?
Time to get Pardew in I reckon.
Fuck it. Let’s get Dyche, he’s available.
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Is this a Bailey scapegoat thread? Must we always have to have one? Was Cash for last 2 years, Mcginn before Unai and there were lots of calls of never wanting them to play in a Villa shirt again. Eggs on faces now. Its a team game ffs and there were players out there today who were worse than Bailey. It was the shite system and the non existent midfield that caused the problems, too big a gap between midfield and forwards. Buendia and Rogers both playing in no 10 role getting in each others space meaning no width on left wing which nullified Maatsen until changes made later in rhe game when Rogers linked up with him. No team in the league would cope with loss of their best 3 midfield players. Newcastle are shit without Bruno and Man City are shit without Rodri, and Utd are shit without Fernandez. Anybody who expected us to keep winning all of our games with those 3 out need to give their head a wobble. Unlike City we cannot go out and spend £100m to replace them. When they return we will get better but hopefully it is not too late.
Put so well here.
This should be the last word on the recent dip in form. It isn't rocket science and it is so harsh to see people criticise us without referencinf this context.
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Really poor selection and it cost us.
Mings starting. Why? Not sure we ought to be changing our centre half pairing that achieved Champions League football to try and nullify DLC. He attacked Konsa anyway. Given we spent the overwhelming majority of the game in possession, it was impossible to progress the ball out from the left or through the lines. Leeds doing what everybody does and puts a box four to block the middle. Fine, when you have Torres that can thread it anyway, but a big problem when you can shepherd Mings to play a square ball and throttle Maatsen.
Bailey and Buendia wide were awful. Both lightweight, not capable of a cross and utterly excruciating to watch first half.
Barkley much better for us second when he come on. He has vision to thread a ball, which suited Sancho, who was in turn infinitely more of a threat. He would wither take a man on, put a cross in or bring Cash on the overlap.
We should have committed two up top much sooner.
Really poor first half and that is down to the selection. 4 points from the last 4 home games is not good enough.
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Did we play well vs Brighton? Or were we fortunate?
All four home performances were poor. We got out of jail vs brighton lets not sugar coat it.
We were not fortunate v Brighton as we scored one more than them in normal time. That's how football is played and games won.
I suggest you adjust your parameters, its a long season and it's League football played over 9 months. As I said we have lost 3 of the best midfielders in England, possibly Europe with injuries and that was bound to take it's toll.
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Did we play well vs Brighton? Or were we fortunate?
All four home performances were poor. We got out of jail vs brighton lets not sugar coat it.
We were not fortunate v Brighton as we scored one more than them in normal time. That's how football is played and games won.
I suggest you adjust your parameters, its a long season and it's League football played over 9 months. As I said we have lost 3 of the best midfielders in England, possibly Europe with injuries and that was bound to take it's toll.
Yet imagine we had the injuries spurs have had? We cant keep using 3 injuries as a excuse for these poor performances. We went newcastle and played well without those three players and won. So why have we become shit at home lately.
Disagree.Just because you win a game at home doesnt mean you were not fortunate to win that game. We were average in that game and struggled to create anything like today for large parts of the game. It wasnt a deserved victory at all (not that im complaining ill take those all day) but the point is you cant get away playing this poorly and expect to get results
To answer your question my expectations at start of season were midtable so naturally happy of course we sit 3rd. But we have put us in a fantastic position to get 3rd why blow it without showing any passion on fight? There has been very little of that in the last 5 games at home
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We got the point, Chelsea lost 2, its not so bad, I actually thought we was bang on to lose that.
We are still third and clinging on and that's all we need to keep doing.
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Lost to Everton and Brentford and drew with Leeds but beat Man City and Arsenal and Man Utd. Had,we beaten the 1st 3 and lost to the latter 3 would everybody be moaning? Its better to beat the teams around us and 9 pts from the latter have put us in a better position than 9 pts from the former. Things need to be put in perspective and look at the overall position we are in and not just pick on the fact that we should beat Everton and Brentford. If City and Arsenal fans spoke like that, that they should beat teams like the Villa then we would call them arrogant *unts. We have no divine right to beat anyone, we have to earn it. Everybody needs to calm down, get behind the team and get back the atmosphere that made Villa Park a fortress, the atmosphere has been as dull as dishwater last few home games and I'm sure the opposition gets lifted by that. Rant over.
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I'm of the view that we should be beating bottom six, newly promoted drek like Leeds at home. We cant give them a 45 minute head start, we're not that good and the league isn't that dull that we need to invent challenges. Its not controversial and its a totally false dichotomy to conflate an imaginary Man City fan doing anything but fear coming to Villa Park with Villa fans wanting and thinking we should roll shite like Leeds.
Pick the right side today and we would have.
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Yet imagine we had the injuries spurs have had? We cant keep using 3 injuries as a excuse for these poor performances. We went newcastle and played well without those three players and won. So why have we become shit at home lately.
Disagree.Just because you win a game at home doesnt mean you were not fortunate to win that game. We were average in that game and struggled to create anything like today for large parts of the game. It wasnt a deserved victory at all (not that im complaining ill take those all day) but the point is you cant get away playing this poorly and expect to get results
To answer your question my expectations at start of season were midtable so naturally happy of course we sit 3rd. But we have put us in a fantastic position to get 3rd why blow it without showing any passion on fight? There has been very little of that in the last 5 games at home
As I said having lost top quality players we can not dictate play at home to force wins. With current set up we are better away team. I don't think we are playing poorly as we are not comparing like for like. We were spoilt in that run of 11 games. When Kamara, Tielemans and McGinn are in we are Rolls Royce of a team but currently just a BMW X5, doing an adequate job.
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Lost to Everton and Brentford and drew with Leeds but beat Man City and Arsenal and Man Utd. Had,we beaten the 1st 3 and lost to the latter 3 would everybody be moaning?
Yes, but that narrative ignores time - these shit results have all come recently, that's why people are more concerned. Bad performances happen, you can't win them all, but we seem to be on a run of them, performances recently have been piss poor on the whole. We are lucky, other results have largely gone well for us, though.
We are missing almost our entire first choice midfield, which is a big contributing factor, but I am not sure it is enough to explain the shiteness against absolute dross like Leeds.
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We went newcastle and played well without those three players and won.
Tielemans played 75 minutes at Newcastle.
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just play your best players
Sancho might not be worth his money but he’s way better than Bailey, Bailey is just a pathway where the ball goes to die along with our hopes and dreams
Scapegoat or not he’s no where near good enough
Pau is the best passer of the ball we have out of all the defensive players so instead of pissing our pants worrying about the threat of Dominic fucking Calvert fucking Lewin let’s move the ball quicker and sharper in a forward direction and stop pissing about and have a bit more courage cus at the moment we’re like that fucking Lion in the Wizard of Oz to much shitting the bed over fuck all DCL is no threat if the ball is in there half
Watkins has been mostly shit all season Malen was far better if Malen had got the minutes Watkins has had this season we’d have more points on the board imo
but unfortunately we sold our best striker maybe there were financial reasons I dont know but Tammy looks a greater threat at the moment
I’ve been pleasantly surprised with Barkley he’s always been technically gifted but he definitely adds to the team at the moment when he comes on, I’d start him and try and get the upper hand earlier on in games
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I'm of the view that we should be beating bottom six, newly promoted drek like Leeds at home. We cant give them a 45 minute head start, we're not that good and the league isn't that dull that we need to invent challenges. Its not controversial and its a totally false dichotomy to conflate an imaginary Man City fan doing anything but fear coming to Villa Park with Villa fans wanting and thinking we should roll shite like Leeds.
Pick the right side today and we would have.
Agree. The selection of Mings over Torres, unless there’s an injury, is a major issue.
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Yes agreed. When Mings replaces Torres our creative quality nose dives.
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just play your best players
Sancho might not be worth his money but he’s way better than Bailey, Bailey is just a pathway where the ball goes to die along with our hopes and dreams
Scapegoat or not he’s no where near good enough
Pau is the best passer of the ball we have out of all the defensive players so instead of pissing our pants worrying about the threat of Dominic fucking Calvert fucking Lewin let’s move the ball quicker and sharper in a forward direction and stop pissing about and have a bit more courage cus at the moment we’re like that fucking Lion in the Wizard of Oz to much shitting the bed over fuck all DCL is no threat if the ball is in there half
Watkins has been mostly shit all season Malen was far better if Malen had got the minutes Watkins has had this season we’d have more points on the board imo
but unfortunately we sold our best striker maybe there were financial reasons I dont know but Tammy looks a greater threat at the moment
I’ve been pleasantly surprised with Barkley he’s always been technically gifted but he definitely adds to the team at the moment when he comes on, I’d start him and try and get the upper hand earlier on in games
I agree with john e.
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I know we were poor today but I keep thinking about where we were before Unai came here. We are;I’m sure going to have periods like the one we find ourselves now. It still is a mile away from where we were with SG.
Things will gel. There’s still a way to go.
I think Bailey has had his chances and he is not good enough. Tammy has to start as does Sancho on current form. Buendia looks a little lightweight and often gives the ball away. Maybe give Ross a chance starting.
Up the Villa
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Whatever injuries we have or what team Emery picks for games we all expect players to put in a shift, something I think we are lacking in a few games especially recently
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The problem with starting Barkley is it means we have to push Rogers out to the left to accommodate him and Rogers is the one of them that is still playing pretty well right now but it just being crowded out because the rest of the attack are so easy to cover.
Buendia is back to the player he was for most of his career with us, capable of flashes of quality but far too often gives the ball away really easily when he has time and options to do something.
Bailey was terrible today, he knew it as well and looked relieved when he got to go off early. He was ok for a few games when he came back so there's definitely more there but today literally nothing was working for him and he just shrank. Watkins wasn't great either but, in my opinion, he improved massively when Sancho and Barkley came on and we had some dynamism to our play that hadn't been there.
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4 games at home against Everton, Brentford, Brighton and Leeds have seen a total of 2 goals. I know we have injuries but even with the players out that is so so poor.
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Can someone explain why Lindelof doesn't get a look in any more? He was possibly our best Centre back during his run in the team as far as I could see.
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4 games at home against Everton, Brentford, Brighton and Leeds have seen a total of 2 goals. I know we have injuries but even with the players out that is so so poor.
It is, we’re not approaching games in the right way at the moment. I’m sure confidence is a massive factor, but it feels like we’re hoping for positive stuff to happen rather than making it. Selection errors aren’t helping either.
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Yet imagine we had the injuries spurs have had? We cant keep using 3 injuries as a excuse for these poor performances. We went newcastle and played well without those three players and won. So why have we become shit at home lately.
Disagree.Just because you win a game at home doesnt mean you were not fortunate to win that game. We were average in that game and struggled to create anything like today for large parts of the game. It wasnt a deserved victory at all (not that im complaining ill take those all day) but the point is you cant get away playing this poorly and expect to get results
To answer your question my expectations at start of season were midtable so naturally happy of course we sit 3rd. But we have put us in a fantastic position to get 3rd why blow it without showing any passion on fight? There has been very little of that in the last 5 games at home
As I said having lost top quality players we can not dictate play at home to force wins. With current set up we are better away team. I don't think we are playing poorly as we are not comparing like for like. We were spoilt in that run of 11 games. When Kamara, Tielemans and McGinn are in we are Rolls Royce of a team but currently just a BMW X5, doing an adequate job.
Would you say we are over achieving with this group of players?
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Injuries aside, Everton, Brentford, Brighton and Leeds at home, player for player I don't think anyone sane would say that we haven't had the stronger 11 and we've got 2 goals in those games.
Weak mentality from the players
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I'm mainly relieved we avoided another defeat and I'm pleased with the character shown to get something out of it. Mad minute or so after the equaliser where we both seemed to be throwing caution to the wind, thought we might sneak it.
I agree with criticism of our attacking play. I'd rather Bailey didn't come back, he didn't deserve another chance. I'd also like to see Abraham given a start, although his first touch was a shocker and I'm not sure he did a lot other than score. Still an improvement on Ollie.
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It’s the xG gods coming for their payment
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The basics of shooting, crossing, set pieces were all well below par today. We got in so many decent positions but just couldn't find the quality needed. It's painful at times to watch. We are obviously missing the three in midfield but others need to step up. You can't win games with so many playing below par. I really thought Bailey would be a bit part player. so to have him starting is disappointing.
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The basics of shooting, crossing, set pieces were all well below par today. We got in so many decent positions but just couldn't find the quality needed. It's painful at times to watch. We are obviously missing the three in midfield but others need to step up. You can't win games with so many playing below par. I really thought Bailey would be a bit part player. so to have him starting is disappointing.
Bailey has continued his crap form from last year. I feared we would really struggle without our midfield 3 and sadly we are. Berkeley did well I thought but I do t think he has the legs to start and finish a game. Watkins kept going today, some decent running into spaces late on, but the goals threat has gone. Frustrating afternoon to say the least but I did think we deserved a point. Calvert Lewin impressed me today, led the line very well.
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Is Mings playing as he is the best leader in the absence of McGinn?
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A decent point in the end today. I wonder if Mings is playing more at the moment to try and replace the character McGinn brings to the team, I'm a huge fan of Mings but that was a game for Torres today. It was my girls first game today so I'm so glad she got to see a Villa goal, she's wants to go again so thats a win for me!
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Did we play well vs Brighton? Or were we fortunate?
All four home performances were poor. We got out of jail vs brighton lets not sugar coat it.
We were not fortunate v Brighton as we scored one more than them in normal time. That's how football is played and games won.
I suggest you adjust your parameters, its a long season and it's League football played over 9 months. As I said we have lost 3 of the best midfielders in England, possibly Europe with injuries and that was bound to take it's toll.
Yet imagine we had the injuries spurs have had? We cant keep using 3 injuries as a excuse for these poor performances. We went newcastle and played well without those three players and won. So why have we become shit at home lately.
Disagree.Just because you win a game at home doesnt mean you were not fortunate to win that game. We were average in that game and struggled to create anything like today for large parts of the game. It wasnt a deserved victory at all (not that im complaining ill take those all day) but the point is you cant get away playing this poorly and expect to get results
To answer your question my expectations at start of season were midtable so naturally happy of course we sit 3rd. But we have put us in a fantastic position to get 3rd why blow it without showing any passion on fight? There has been very little of that in the last 5 games at home
Jesus, the memory on you.
Maybe you should take notes.
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Did we play well vs Brighton? Or were we fortunate?
All four home performances were poor. We got out of jail vs brighton lets not sugar coat it.
We were not fortunate v Brighton as we scored one more than them in normal time. That's how football is played and games won.
I suggest you adjust your parameters, its a long season and it's League football played over 9 months. As I said we have lost 3 of the best midfielders in England, possibly Europe with injuries and that was bound to take it's toll.
Yet imagine we had the injuries spurs have had? We cant keep using 3 injuries as a excuse for these poor performances. We went newcastle and played well without those three players and won. So why have we become shit at home lately.
Disagree.Just because you win a game at home doesnt mean you were not fortunate to win that game. We were average in that game and struggled to create anything like today for large parts of the game. It wasnt a deserved victory at all (not that im complaining ill take those all day) but the point is you cant get away playing this poorly and expect to get results
To answer your question my expectations at start of season were midtable so naturally happy of course we sit 3rd. But we have put us in a fantastic position to get 3rd why blow it without showing any passion on fight? There has been very little of that in the last 5 games at home
Jesus, the memory on you.
Maybe you should take notes.
Seems you have forgotten the start of the season.
Maybe you should take some notes too.
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The midfield set up of Onana and Luiz does not work.
We are trying to play the same system but with different players. Stunned he let the ineptitude of the first half continue. Bailey Watkins Luiz Onana were so poor.
Emery needs to learn from that second half.
Despite the injuries we still have better resources than the teams we are struggling against.
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Injuries aside, Everton, Brentford, Brighton and Leeds at home, player for player I don't think anyone sane would say that we haven't had the stronger 11 and we've got 2 goals in those games.
Weak mentality from the players
Agree, we should not be feeling inferior to those teams despite our injuries.
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It might turn out to be a good point given we scored so late in the game and at least we didn’t give up. We now have three massive games coming up, one against a local rival and two against the clubs just below us. We really do need to find some form and quickly. The second half was much better and I wonder whether Barkley should start next to Douglas Luiz and Onana is either on the bench or plays further forward. Abraham for Watkins.
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Injuries aside, Everton, Brentford, Brighton and Leeds at home, player for player I don't think anyone sane would say that we haven't had the stronger 11 and we've got 2 goals in those games.
Weak mentality from the players
Agree, we should not be feeling inferior to those teams despite our injuries.
I think it’s confidence combined with muddled thinking. We’re not getting the team selection right - or at optimal, at least - and then we’re starting games trying not to make mistakes rather than imposing our game.
All of our (frequent) excellent periods under Unai have been when we’ve played with purpose and intent - even if that is just trying to control the game. At the moment we’re tentative and ponderous. We have to break through that.
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Injuries aside, Everton, Brentford, Brighton and Leeds at home, player for player I don't think anyone sane would say that we haven't had the stronger 11 and we've got 2 goals in those games.
Weak mentality from the players
Agree, we should not be feeling inferior to those teams despite our injuries.
I think it’s confidence combined with muddled thinking. We’re not getting the team selection right - or at optimal, at least - and then we’re starting games trying not to make mistakes rather than imposing our game.
All of our (frequent) excellent periods under Unai have been when we’ve played with purpose and intent - even if that is just trying to control the game. At the moment we’re tentative and ponderous. We have to break through that.
I agree , it starts with poor selections and tactics that do not suit the players he is picking.
You have to win the midfield and we are failing to do that with and without the ball.
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A point. At home. To a poor Leeds team.
What's your point?
The fact that we only got a point at home to a poor Leeds team. Even without arguably our best three midfielders and an ineffective Watkins as opposed to Abraham as our starting striker.
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Watkins needs to be replaced at the end of the season.
He's not doing it any more.
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We are now playing like a team low on confidence, why are our wide players consistently checking back? we have issues with injuries but surely management have found a system to cope with this and push forward.
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Watkins needs to be replaced at the end of the season.
He's not doing it any more.
It's been a really long spell of poor form now. Unless there is a big change, it might be best for both to.part ways in the summer. He's been great during his time with us, but he's looked lost for some time now.
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Injuries aside, Everton, Brentford, Brighton and Leeds at home, player for player I don't think anyone sane would say that we haven't had the stronger 11 and we've got 2 goals in those games.
Weak mentality from the players
We've had the inability to keep clean sheets for some time and it's really bitten us these last few games. Going 1-0 down when we're not playing well just increases the pressure on us.
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An alternative viewpoint: Playing poorly. Still not losing.
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Yup, but need to start playing better and winning reasonably consistently.
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Just seen the goals again. Their free kick was further out than I initially thought at the game and didn't go right in the corner. Emi must have not been fully concentrating.
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He was looking to his left, expecting a cross.
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Unless you are way ahead on points, it does become a war of attrition.
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Earlier in the season it felt like Malen was the wildcard who could shake things up by running at the opposition with the ball, and being decisive around goal. Whilst it’s great to have the rotation for Watkins that Abraham brings, I thought it was better to have that variety.
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Injuries aside, Everton, Brentford, Brighton and Leeds at home, player for player I don't think anyone sane would say that we haven't had the stronger 11 and we've got 2 goals in those games.
Weak mentality from the players
We've had the inability to keep clean sheets for some time and it's really bitten us these last few games. Going 1-0 down when we're not playing well just increases the pressure on us.
We've kept a clean sheet at Newcastle and at home to Brighton in the last month. We haven't conceded more than once in a game since the defeat at Arsenal. Our GA column is absolutely fine. It's the other end of the pitch where we're struggling massively.
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It's not just us, all the top side ares struggling against lesser opposition, Chelsea - Arsenal this week. It's difficult to play against a low defence and the more you press it leaves gaps for them to counter attack. If you were to pick players on form Lendelof would be first pick, I can't remember one game where he has been poor and this is the time to pick fighters not the Baileys of this world. I will give Watkins credit for the effort second half, although completely out of form at least he kept at it. I would play Lindelof in midfield, Sancho on the wing and give Tammy and Watkins a half to see if it produces results.
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The positives for me today were Cash, Barkley and to some extent Sancho, who I have never rated but has improved of late.
We were very ponderous in the first half and we looked much better when we played with more tempo after Barkley played centre midfield. We are still hesitant at times and don’t get our crosses and shots away quickly enough - their keeper barely had to make a save.
I presume Mings played to help negate Calvert Lewin as he caused loads of problems against Torres and Konsa last season, and he was the best forward on the pitch today. He gave Konsa more problems than anybody I can think of this season other than Mateta.
Spoke to a good number of Leeds fans today and they were all very friendly and amenable.
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The camera panned to Youri during the second half, chatting to his mate. Good to know he's at the games. Darren Bent went to Brent shopping centre when he was out.
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Did we play well vs Brighton? Or were we fortunate?
All four home performances were poor. We got out of jail vs brighton lets not sugar coat it.
We were not fortunate v Brighton as we scored one more than them in normal time. That's how football is played and games won.
I suggest you adjust your parameters, its a long season and it's League football played over 9 months. As I said we have lost 3 of the best midfielders in England, possibly Europe with injuries and that was bound to take it's toll.
Yet imagine we had the injuries spurs have had? We cant keep using 3 injuries as a excuse for these poor performances. We went newcastle and played well without those three players and won. So why have we become shit at home lately.
Disagree.Just because you win a game at home doesnt mean you were not fortunate to win that game. We were average in that game and struggled to create anything like today for large parts of the game. It wasnt a deserved victory at all (not that im complaining ill take those all day) but the point is you cant get away playing this poorly and expect to get results
To answer your question my expectations at start of season were midtable so naturally happy of course we sit 3rd. But we have put us in a fantastic position to get 3rd why blow it without showing any passion on fight? There has been very little of that in the last 5 games at home
Jesus, the memory on you.
Maybe you should take notes.
Seems you have forgotten the start of the season.
Maybe you should take some notes too.
I only got as far as you forgetting who played at Newcastle (fresh from you forgetting we qualified for the Champions League)). After that I gave up.
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It’s the xG gods coming for their payment
Was just thinking exactly the same, reflecting on how our last 2 goals have been scruffy 6-yard box grubunters!
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It's not just us, all the top side ares struggling against lesser opposition, Chelsea - Arsenal this week. It's difficult to play against a low defence and the more you press it leaves gaps for them to counter attack. If you were to pick players on form Lendelof would be first pick, I can't remember one game where he has been poor and this is the time to pick fighters not the Baileys of this world. I will give Watkins credit for the effort second half, although completely out of form at least he kept at it. I would play Lindelof in midfield, Sancho on the wing and give Tammy and Watkins a half to see if it produces results.
That's the most flustrating thing. When Leicester won the Premier League in 2015-2016 none of the 'Big 6' were firing on all cylinders.
I'm convinced, if we had our full midfield to pick from we would win the league this season.
Alas, shit happens.
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It's not just us, all the top side ares struggling against lesser opposition, Chelsea - Arsenal this week. It's difficult to play against a low defence and the more you press it leaves gaps for them to counter attack. If you were to pick players on form Lendelof would be first pick, I can't remember one game where he has been poor and this is the time to pick fighters not the Baileys of this world. I will give Watkins credit for the effort second half, although completely out of form at least he kept at it. I would play Lindelof in midfield, Sancho on the wing and give Tammy and Watkins a half to see if it produces results.
That's the most flustrating thing. When Leicester won the Premier League in 2015-2016 none of the 'Big 6' were firing on all cylinders.
I'm convinced, if we had our full midfield to pick from we would win the league this season.
Alas, shit happens.
Agreed.
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Again, no lack of effort but we're missing that extra bit of quality the three missing midfielders bring. Throw in the likes of Buendia and Watkins not being at it. Still, it was a deserved point i think.
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Onana has gotten off lightly btw. Anybody else notice how half-arsed he looked today?
If it was only today. He's been going through the motions since returning from injury.
I get the impression that he’s playing under instruction so as not to risk injury. One more absentee in central midfield would just about finish our ambitions.
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Onana has gotten off lightly btw. Anybody else notice how half-arsed he looked today?
If it was only today. He's been going through the motions since returning from injury.
I get the impression that he’s playing under instruction so as not to risk injury. One more absentee in central midfield would just about finish our ambitions.
Strange old situation if true. Is a half arsed Onana better than no Onana?
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Easy to say on hindsight but the team just wasn’t right yesterday, there is no way Bailey or Buendia get anywhere near any other matchday squad in top 6.
For me the big selection issue was not playing Torres, lost count in first half of how many times Ollie span the centre halves and started running and each time either Konsa or Mings looked but lacked the conviction to put a ball over the top or into a channel. I get the criticisms of Ollie but yesterday wasn’t one of those performances. Our best front 3 is 3 out of Ollie, Tammy, Rogers and Sancho….time to stop trying to get performances out of Bailey & Buendia
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Some of this is on Unai.
Torres has to start. Barkley has to start. Watkins needs to be dropped and Buendia should be on the bench at best.
I think Mings played due to the threat of Calvert-Lewin. He’s very strong in the air and even Tyrone struggled with him yesterday.
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Also, the lads in front of us who go downstairs on 38 mins (now named the 38 Boys) again went down on 38 mins and for the second time this season didn't come back.
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He picked the wrong team.
Indeed. All very predictable plus too many forgetting why we have such a great home record and just expecting us to win without the hard work and urgency.
This time last year he could pick Kamara, Mcginn, Tielemans, Rashford and Asensio. It's hardly fair on Unai to say he picked the wrong team when you look at his options.
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Maybe we need to adjust our style of play and formation.
Buendia has been poor of late - Onana and Luiz dont feed him the type of balls he was doing well with earlier in the season. If you couple that with Watkins and Bailey/Sancho offering very little in terms of goals and assists, if men’s the whole of the attack is relying on Rogers.
FWIW I’d go with more of 4 3 3 - Watkins to the left, Tammy in the middle, Rogers wherever he wants.
Put an extra body in midfield. Probably not Barkley as he won’t last the 90, so maybe Lindeloff. Solid 4 at the back. Torres instead of Mings if fit.
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He picked the wrong team.
Indeed. All very predictable plus too many forgetting why we have such a great home record and just expecting us to win without the hard work and urgency.
This time last year he could pick Kamara, Mcginn, Tielemans, Rashford and Asensio. It's hardly fair on Unai to say he picked the wrong team when you look at his options.
Ramsey too. Imagine us with all those players now.
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Another frustrating day, but there is some context. Leeds aren’t great but including yesterday, out of their last 7 away games they have lost once, to a last minute goal at Newcastle. They have drawn the other 6, including at Brentford, Sunderland, Everton, Liverpool and Chelsea. So not an easy game with their current form.
Any team would struggle losing their three main midfielders at the same time, we just have to find a way of scraping results till firstly McGinn then Tielemans is back.
If Torres isn’t injured he has to play. Dougie for me considering he’s had virtually no football for two years, is slowly getting better and played well in the second half.
Onana was poor but i don’t think there is an option to take him out at the moment.
I doubt whether Barklay could last a whole game, but I think its worth starting him instead of Beundia. Emi was never meant to be as good as he has been but he’s regressing now, I think he would still be a decent impact sub for the rest of the season.
I thought Bailey has been ok since he’s been back but not yesterday. Sancho to start from now on.
Watkins brightened up second half but he’s struggling badly, Abraham is a different player, in terms of Im not sure he’ll stretch play as much, even so he’s a fox in the box and I would start him for the next couple of games.
We’re not playing great but we’ve lost once in the last 5 league games, so just need to scrape through this period.
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Lost to Everton and Brentford and drew with Leeds but beat Man City and Arsenal and Man Utd. Had,we beaten the 1st 3 and lost to the latter 3 would everybody be moaning?
Yes, but that narrative ignores time - these shit results have all come recently, that's why people are more concerned. Bad performances happen, you can't win them all, but we seem to be on a run of them, performances recently have been piss poor on the whole. We are lucky, other results have largely gone well for us, though.
I think we’re in a holding pattern at the moment, need to keep ticking along until we get our injured players back and hope they can pick up where they left off.
We are missing almost our entire first choice midfield, which is a big contributing factor, but I am not sure it is enough to explain the shiteness against absolute dross like Leeds.
I think you’re underestimating Leeds performance, they were organised and worked their bollocks off to make it difficult for us. I think a big part of why the subs made such an impact was that they were up against tiring opponents who had put so much into the game.
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Yet another worrying performance, enough so we should have won the game, if Ollie hadn't given away a needless free kick, which led to their goal and re our disallowed goal, Ollie was half asleep, could easily have avoided being offside, if he had been quicker coming out.
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Our last four home league games have been turgid, insipid, soporific affairs. Tough watches. There is obviously huge mitigation in view of the players that we have been missing but I can't believe that that alone explains the half-paced, pedestrian lack of intent that we seem to bring to each of these games.
The number of times Konsa or Mings have the ball and amble forward, stop and amble forward a little more with our players showing no movement and the opposition camped, set and ready ahead of them...
There are times when a quick ball option is available but we actively avoid doing it.
I don't get it. I don't see how such inert play offers us any benefit.
I'm sure that with Tielemans and McGinn in the side that guile and creativity would noticeably improve but surely upping the tempo and generating some energy isn't beyond the players who are available to us?
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Easy to say on hindsight but the team just wasn’t right yesterday, there is no way Bailey or Buendia get anywhere near any other matchday squad in top 6.
For me the big selection issue was not playing Torres, lost count in first half of how many times Ollie span the centre halves and started running and each time either Konsa or Mings looked but lacked the conviction to put a ball over the top or into a channel. I get the criticisms of Ollie but yesterday wasn’t one of those performances. Our best front 3 is 3 out of Ollie, Tammy, Rogers and Sancho….time to stop trying to get performances out of Bailey & Buendia
Agree very much with the broad assessment. Bit harsh on Buendia, though, given what he has contributed this season so far. As for Leon, he was sent packing because he wasn't at the races, and has come back to a warm reception and a starting berth. I'd say he was in debit right now, and needs to earn his keep first.
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No chance of that, I fear his one good season has long gone, it just looks as if he doesn't want to be there.
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Easy to say on hindsight but the team just wasn’t right yesterday, there is no way Bailey or Buendia get anywhere near any other matchday squad in top 6.
For me the big selection issue was not playing Torres, lost count in first half of how many times Ollie span the centre halves and started running and each time either Konsa or Mings looked but lacked the conviction to put a ball over the top or into a channel. I get the criticisms of Ollie but yesterday wasn’t one of those performances. Our best front 3 is 3 out of Ollie, Tammy, Rogers and Sancho….time to stop trying to get performances out of Bailey & Buendia
Agree very much with the broad assessment. Bit harsh on Buendia, though, given what he has contributed this season so far. As for Leon, he was sent packing because he wasn't at the races, and has come back to a warm reception and a starting berth. I'd say he was in debit right now, and needs to earn his keep first.
I’m not sure hindsight even comes into this one – everyone knew how Leeds were going to set up yesterday. As much as I rate Unai Emery and think he walks on water he got the setup wrong this time. Even the best managers make mistakes.
I’ve seen people say Tyrone Mings was in there to deal with Dominic Calvert-Lewin, but for me Pau Torres should have started. In fact, until we get some proper creativity back into midfield, I’d have Pau starting every week for his composure and distribution.
At home, against poor opposition like Leeds, we’ve got to be braver. I’d have no problem going with Ollie Watkins, Tammy Abraham, and Jadon Sancho, with Morgan Rogers roaming in behind. Leon Bailey just left behind.
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An alternative viewpoint: Playing poorly. Still not losing.
Against poor teams though, could take a hiding when we play better teams in our current form. There's a lot wrong but no easy fixes right now.
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Leeds haven’t been poor lately and nor have Brentford. It’s sometimes about form. We’re not in form, those have been. Football isn’t always about who’s the best side, it never has been.
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An alternative viewpoint: Playing poorly. Still not losing.
Against poor teams though, could take a hiding when we play better teams in our current form. There's a lot wrong but no easy fixes right now.
Im not saying Leeds are a good side, but since we beat them in November and then they were unlucky to lose away at Man City the week after, they have lost 2 in 13 league games. One to a last minute goal away at Newcastle, the other a humping to Arsenal, which as we know, can happen.
Yesterday was never going to be easy, especially with our injuries which are in turn impacting on our form.
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We're in a bad run, lacking inspiration and everything feels like a grind but we remain in a great position and we'll improve before long.
I wasn't expecting much yesterday and got precisely that.
It was good to have a Sat 3pm ko, a drink with old mates before and after reminding us of days gone by. And hopefully more days like that next season if we do qualify for the CL.
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I’m as much a fan of Ollie as anyone else but I called him starting before the crowd had left against Newcastle. He simply cannot start against wolves. Tammy has earned the right to start. Whilst we are at it Barkley should start as well. Even if he does look the sweaty antithesis of Andrew of Windsor after ten minutes.
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Leeds haven’t been poor lately and nor have Brentford. It’s sometimes about form. We’re not in form, those have been. Football isn’t always about who’s the best side, it never has been.
Correctamundo
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An alternative viewpoint: Playing poorly. Still not losing.
Against poor teams though, could take a hiding when we play better teams in our current form. There's a lot wrong but no easy fixes right now.
Im not saying Leeds are a good side, but since we beat them in November and then they were unlucky to lose away at Man City the week after, they have lost 2 in 13 league games. One to a last minute goal away at Newcastle, the other a humping to Arsenal, which as we know, can happen.
Yesterday was never going to be easy, especially with our injuries which are in turn impacting on our form.
We let them play their way into the game though. Walking pace football early on - made no sense. They started to get comfortable in midfield and DCL started getting down the side of Konsa at every turn.
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Leeds haven’t been poor lately and nor have Brentford. It’s sometimes about form. We’re not in form, those have been. Football isn’t always about who’s the best side, it never has been.
I agree with you however a couple of cheating clubs have knocked chunks out of that eternal truth.
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At home, against poor opposition like Leeds, we’ve got to be braver. I’d have no problem going with Ollie Watkins, Tammy Abraham, and Jadon Sancho, with Morgan Rogers roaming in behind. Leon Bailey just left behind.
You can be as brave as you want but you still need to supply the ball to the forwards. I said prematch we needed another body in midfield to counter Leeds energy and pressing and so it showed. Their 5-4-1 switched to a 3-5-2 with the ball and we had little in reply. They were highly organised and further deduced the space for us by playing such a high line and at times went man for man marking. First half they were anything but 'poor opposition' and as others have pointed out, their form's more than decent.
We created almost nothing other than a couple of decent shots from Buendia, one hitting the post for an offside Watkins to tap in. Buendia is getting some stick on here but he was one of few that showed any energy but I struggled to understand what his role was, a left sided 10, a left winger, dropping back to cover Maatsen's attacking play and Rogers coming over to occupy the same space? All of the above.
Bailey however was no surprise though Sanchos was and immediately had an impact even if his final ball needs some serious work. Great to see Matty Cash actually crossing a ball, who'd have thought, just a shame Leeds' three centre halves dealt with them comfortably. Those claiming Torres should have started, I suspect DCL would have just switched his attention from Konsa to Torres.
I can take a draw if we learn from yesterday. Nothing less than 3 points now against the Dingles though. Until we get SJM and Youri back, the team now should pretty much pick itself.
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Really poor selection and it cost us.
Mings starting. Why? Not sure we ought to be changing our centre half pairing that achieved Champions League football to try and nullify DLC. He attacked Konsa anyway. Given we spent the overwhelming majority of the game in possession, it was impossible to progress the ball out from the left or through the lines. Leeds doing what everybody does and puts a box four to block the middle. Fine, when you have Torres that can thread it anyway, but a big problem when you can shepherd Mings to play a square ball and throttle Maatsen.
Bailey and Buendia wide were awful. Both lightweight, not capable of a cross and utterly excruciating to watch first half.
Barkley much better for us second when he come on. He has vision to thread a ball, which suited Sancho, who was in turn infinitely more of a threat. He would wither take a man on, put a cross in or bring Cash on the overlap.
We should have committed two up top much sooner.
Really poor first half and that is down to the selection. 4 points from the last 4 home games is not good enough.
Yes, agree with this, and I'd add that Onana needs to be making a much bigger impact than he usually does. He doesn't look like a £50m player right now. As someone else said, either play him further up the pitch or off the bench. I think I'd be playing Barkley and Luiz as the MF pivot.
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Yet another worrying performance, enough so we should have won the game, if Ollie hadn't given away a needless free kick, which led to their goal and re our disallowed goal, Ollie was half asleep, could easily have avoided being offside, if he had been quicker coming out.
Agree.
Disapointed in Onana too , really thought he could control the midfield and help us out with the players out , but lately he has been meh.
not going to mention Bailey , just odd he started in front of Sancho .
barkley looked good.
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We need more variety in our attack. We are far too reliant on Rodgers and Maatsen to create something.
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We need more variety in our attack. We are far too reliant on Rodgers and Maatsen to create something.
I’d throw Cash in there as well, the difference when he was out for those few games really showed how important he’s been and what an impressive season he’s had so far.
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A bit of a re run of so many recent home games, we control the pace but that pace is too slow to trouble teams who are well organised, athletic and aggressive. A lot of the times we create our 2 or three chances, score one and win. Recently we dont, and let them in. Perhaps at home we need to commit more players forward quicker, score an early one and knacker the opps boring games plan.
I get that going the game is very expensive and the club now treats us as consumers, but we the crowd need to be more patient and calmer, and more supportive. The tension in the crowd was palpable and unnecessary given our over performance and league position.
Anyone else go toward Witton Station afterward, I have never seen Manor Rd through Brookvale Rd so crowded, you really could not move. There was no obvious reason for it other than, possibly, every single Leeds fan coming by coach. Strange.
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We need more variety in our attack. We are far too reliant on Rodgers and Maatsen to create something.
I’d throw Cash in there as well, the difference when he was out for those few games really showed how important he’s been and what an impressive season he’s had so far.
Agreed. I’ve not always been his biggest fan, but Cash has been excellent this season.
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Taken me a few days to get over this one. Felt sorry for my Uncle who was sat next to me all game and had to deal with my overly explicit frustrations. I nearly leapt over the barrier of the upper DE when Watkins froze up for his chance. Didn't calm down until I saw the replay after the game where it shows a slightly better angle of why he struggled to hit it.
Thought we where really, really poor for such long stretches. Team selection didn't help and I think that put's pay to Bailey ever being favored again. Yes, they stuck two on him more often then not, but he was absolutely appalling even with space.
Another dry performance from Luiz. He looks an excellent option off the bench to see a game out, but lacks any of the creativity needed to gain the front foot. Hopefully just a fitness issue. Onana poor again, clearly needs a strong presence to play off for him to do his best work.
Dibu showing again why we'll be all the worse off when he's gone. He's probably saved us 4 point from the past 2 league games.
Thought everyone else beside Sancho and Tammy where bang average, which speaks volumes. Buendia getting too much criticism as per seeing as he was the only one bothering to make things happen.
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I'd agree on Buendia, he was reasonable enough. Cracking shot that hit the post and kept trying to do the right thing. Rogers only got going when he moved out to the left. Struggling to make an impact at 10 of late.
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I'd agree on Buendia, he was reasonable enough. Cracking shot that hit the post and kept trying to do the right thing. Rogers only got going when he moved out to the left. Struggling to make an impact at 10 of late.
He get's completely crowded out the game in the center against weaker sides who don't trust one man on him. If it where me I'd bench Buendia on Friday for Barkley (who I also thought was excellent) and stick Rogers on the left. They'll shit themselves trying to keep him out and it would allow the front line a hair more space.
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Yet another worrying performance, enough so we should have won the game, if Ollie hadn't given away a needless free kick, which led to their goal and re our disallowed goal, Ollie was half asleep, could easily have avoided being offside, if he had been quicker coming out.
Agree on the Ollie analysis.
His reaction to things happening around him has dropped off noticeably in the last few weeks. He is slow to react, if he reacts at all.
I go back to the game at Bournemouth. A cross came into the box that would be meat and drink to a CF and yet he just stood and watched it go past him. Thats when I first noticed it, and there have been a number of those type of incidents since.
Is it a concentration thing ? Is he injured ? Who knows.
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It's both, but there's also a lot of confirmation bias from the fans with regards his errors. For every bad bit of positional play or a lack of concentration, there's 3 or 4 great runs in behind that aren't spotted by the midfield and a lot of tracking back. He had to do the latter at least 3 times on Saturday to cover for Baileys pathetic lack of effort.
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Mings has been great for us but most noticeable was how slow he brings the ball out of defence,
his job is to give the midfield the ball a.s.ap.
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Mings has been great for us but most noticeable was how slow he brings the ball out of defence,
his job is to give the midfield the ball a.s.ap.
To do that he needs players available for a pass and there was a shortage of those most of the game. Even Torres would have struggled to find someone
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Mings has been great for us but most noticeable was how slow he brings the ball out of defence,
his job is to give the midfield the ball a.s.ap.
Holds back Maatsen too. Buendia, Luiz they all struggle on that side as Mings takes an age to get the ball out of his feet. Picking Mings really hurt us, Leeds let him have the ball as they knew he would struggle to distribute it and then DCL played off Konsa so defensively he had little to do. Torres could have come in at half time.
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Mings has been great for us but most noticeable was how slow he brings the ball out of defence,
his job is to give the midfield the ball a.s.ap.
I’m not sure that’s the case. Unai loves to invite the press and open up space.
The problem is, when teams don’t bother pressing all it does is make Mings and Konsa dawdle on the ball, devoid of ideas while in the meantime the opposition have had time to track back, pack the middle of the pitch and make it 10 times harder to pass through them.
The problem I have with it is that we rarely mix it up.
In games where we have played with more zip and intensity we have battered teams.
We don’t seem to want to play that way very often.
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Mings has been great for us but most noticeable was how slow he brings the ball out of defence,
his job is to give the midfield the ball a.s.ap.
Holds back Maatsen too. Buendia, Luiz they all struggle on that side as Mings takes an age to get the ball out of his feet. Picking Mings really hurt us, Leeds let him have the ball as they knew he would struggle to distribute it and then DCL played off Konsa so defensively he had little to do. Torres could have come in at half time.
Yep, it was quite clear DCL was going nowhere near Mings a battle he would have lost and he gave Konsa a bit of the runaround most of the afternoon. I have a feeling if Torres had appeared though DCL would have moved straight onto him forcing Konsa into the distributor role. However we’ll never know.🤷🏼♂️
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Mings has been great for us but most noticeable was how slow he brings the ball out of defence,
his job is to give the midfield the ball a.s.ap.
Holds back Maatsen too. Buendia, Luiz they all struggle on that side as Mings takes an age to get the ball out of his feet. Picking Mings really hurt us, Leeds let him have the ball as they knew he would struggle to distribute it and then DCL played off Konsa so defensively he had little to do. Torres could have come in at half time.
Yep, it was quite clear DCL was going nowhere near Mings a battle he would have lost and he gave Konsa a bit of the runaround most of the afternoon. I have a feeling if Torres had appeared though DCL would have moved straight onto him forcing Konsa into the distributor role. However we’ll never know.🤷🏼♂️
That's true I guess but you would have to seriously question our midfield for allowing Leeds to keep playing that ball into the channel between Konsa and Cash. Our guys are not reacting to things in front of them currently. Ampadu and DCL were allowed to do what they liked at times, that's not acceptable.
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Mings has been great for us but most noticeable was how slow he brings the ball out of defence,
his job is to give the midfield the ball a.s.ap.
Holds back Maatsen too. Buendia, Luiz they all struggle on that side as Mings takes an age to get the ball out of his feet. Picking Mings really hurt us, Leeds let him have the ball as they knew he would struggle to distribute it and then DCL played off Konsa so defensively he had little to do. Torres could have come in at half time.
Yep, it was quite clear DCL was going nowhere near Mings a battle he would have lost and he gave Konsa a bit of the runaround most of the afternoon. I have a feeling if Torres had appeared though DCL would have moved straight onto him forcing Konsa into the distributor role. However we’ll never know.🤷🏼♂️
That's true I guess but you would have to seriously question our midfield for allowing Leeds to keep playing that ball into the channel between Konsa and Cash. Our guys are not reacting to things in front of them currently. Ampadu and DCL were allowed to do what they liked at times, that's not acceptable.
It felt at times are midfield was coasting abit especially first half , slow to react to their attacks and also slow moving the ball through the lines. We so miss Tielemans and Kamara . I would be tempted to try Bogart and Barkley next time
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I would be tempted to try Bogart and Barkley next time
They sound like a deeply unfunny Victorian music hall 'turn'.
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I would be tempted to try Bogart and Barkley next time
They sound like a deeply unfunny Victorian music hall 'turn'.
HA HA , they are touring now though
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As the arbiter of these things, there is nothing, NOTHING, more cringe in football than singing about a trophy you have not won, to a team that has actually won it. Especially when the team what won said trophy, that you pretend you've won, actually beat the side what done did you, off side or not.
Absolute small time twats.