Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: PeterWithesShin on June 24, 2020, 07:55:10 PM
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Frustrating not to win this one, well on top for most of the game but lacked a cutting edge.
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I am furious.
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So where were all the subs when it was 0-0.
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Pathetic
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So where were all the subs when it was 0-0.
Getting ready to come on
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Really poor goal to concede. Probably on balance the better side. St Twat Band did a nice twirl and shunted the ball ten yards high and wide.
Fuck it. We're still in it. Skin of our teeth. There's 3 shit sides all locked on 27th points.
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Massive opportunity tonight, well and truly missed.
Newcastle are absolute garbage.
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100% Smiths fault
won’t get an easier game to pick up 3 points and we only started to play for it in the last 10
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So where were all the subs when it was 0-0.
Getting ready to come on
Too late, weren't it.
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So where were all the subs when it was 0-0.
Getting ready to come on
Yeah you heard him call Connor and Davis on.
For me, Trez and AEG were incredibly disappointing.
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We played better. Not enough for me though considering this was a winnable game.
At least we finished with a front two and Jack in a free role. Let's have that for the final 7 games and see what happens as our wide players are laughable.
If we get relegated sign Dwight Gayle btw.
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I thought we played pretty well. Obvious weaknesses and errors still happening, but we're fighting and are still in it.
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Should have had all three, but if I never see Trez or El Gazi this season I won’t be too upset. Awful players.
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4 goals between us and West Ham. Us and Bournemouth and West Ham having an identical record.
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Better stuff from us this week but we just can't defend. A point just isn't enough with the awful run in we've got coming up.
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Luckily next three games are a piece of piss; Wolves, Liverpool and Man U
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Should have won. Not good enough again, but at we gained ground.
Konsa should never ever play at right back.
McGinn still miles off the pace.
Douglas - quality.
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Taken in isolation, that wasn't bad. But in the current situation, we needed a win. We might not get a win between now and the end of the season, I had Palace pencilled in as 3 points, but they actually look good.
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Please no more Trez and El Ghazi
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A point is good but hopefully the main result from that game will be Dean realising that we're a far more potent force when we go 2 up front. Luiz very good for us; Jack not far behind. Saint-Maximim for them.
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Today was the day I officially lost my patience with Smith and this team. We make the same mistakes over and over and over and over again. The sooner we get relegated the better and I can go back to ignoring football.
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Crap conceded goal notwithstanding, that was the most i have enjoyed watching a villa game for a while. As stated above 3 shit sides on 27 points. All to play for.
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Well all the other teams at the bottom are doing their best to help us but we are still our own worst enemy
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Well every other result has gone well for us. Hopefully Burnley can beat Watford tomorrow as well. What worries me is the fact that only wins will keep us up and especially with the games we’ve got left, I just can’t see where the wins are going to come from. We deserved at least a point but I’m not sure it’s enough now.
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We were decent for most of the first half but just couldn't quite get it to click. 2nd half we were fucking shit until they scored, slightly less shit until Elmo and Nakamba came on and then got better and better from there. How we finished is how we should've been playing from the start.
I like Knosa and think he's done a decent job at right back but taking both wingers off, putting an extra striker on and leaving him at full back was fucking stupid, we were far too narrow until the 2nd set of subs when out shape suddenly looked right.
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There's no good time to play Liverpool. But a game in an empty stadium after they've just won the league is probably the best, of any, opportunity.
We're nailed on to beat Man United with no fucker there to see it.
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We are just not good enough, ultimately.
Since the season re-start, three matches, two of them against arguably the most beatable sides we have to face, two of them at home, and we have managed to take 2 points from 9.
We just never, ever look like winning matches, and I can not for the life of me see how this changes under this manager.
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53 mins I was screaming for subs which I believe would have won it for us.Not 1-0 down on 70
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Very tense at the rear end of things.
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Feels like a defeat
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For me, Trez and AEG were incredibly disappointing.
As was Jack, sadly.
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Disappointing not to get all three points, and it does feel like another wasted opportunity. But ultimately, we've gained a point on West Ham and Bournemouth. Doesn't feel like it, but technically we are in a better position than we were.
I don't see much evidence we'll improve over the next 7 fixtures, but West Ham and Bournemouth fans will be saying the same. All we need to do is better their points totals by 1. All is not lost.
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Very tense at the rear end of things.
Senokot mate
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Today was the day I officially lost my patience with Smith and this team. We make the same mistakes over and over and over and over again. The sooner we get relegated the better and I can go back to ignoring football.
Today was the day I officially lost my patience with Smith and this team. We make the same mistakes over and over and over and over again. The sooner we get relegated the better and I can go back to ignoring football.
So you only support us when we are in the PL?
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Start next game with the side that finished this one. Trez, AEG and SJM don't deserve to the start the next game on current form.
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2 points from 9 is abysmal.
We all know how it ends...
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Piss poor game management again, AEG and Trez crap but he waits until they score to do anything about it. He met his equal in Bruce tonight.
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I see people praise Davis, but I don't see why... either passed it to tight space or lost it.
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I've been to St James Park Close to 30 times and I've seen us win twice. It's one of our biggest grave yards going. A point up there is decent.
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If we’d shown that last ten minutes in periods against Sheffield Utd we would have won the game. Maybe even got summat out of Chelsea.
I can’t complain too much at that performance, however it’s made me a little more angry about the last two.
For all the criticism Purslow and Suso will get, I believe there’s more than enough in this squad to keep us in this league. The coaching staff and the players deserve just as much stick.
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Please no more Trez and El Ghazi
Absolutely. Both are so out of form.
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Can't see the point of pissing about.
Go for it from the start, 2 up front.
Bravery, not caution required at this stage of the season.
Why does Smith keep repeating what hasn't worked all season?
Bloody mindedness?
Short sighted?
Delusional?
He's beginning to lose the goodwill of quite a large body of the fans.
He needs to change things.
Points dropped - again
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We should have won that. It is a worry that for all our possession in the final third, we don't really create clear cut chances.
If I'm clawing around in the scraps looking for a bright side, I guess we're closer to safety than we were when the league restarted? (thin, I know).
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Today was the day I officially lost my patience with Smith and this team. We make the same mistakes over and over and over and over again. The sooner we get relegated the better and I can go back to ignoring football.
Today was the day I officially lost my patience with Smith and this team. We make the same mistakes over and over and over and over again. The sooner we get relegated the better and I can go back to ignoring football.
So you only support us when we are in the PL?
OK if you want to be pedantic I can ignore football until next season
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I had a fivefold on Newcastle, Manure, Everton, Wolves and Liverpool so I am claiming some credit for the point. ;)
With Everton and Wolves winning that has to be classed as a point gained surely?
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We are just not good enough, ultimately.
Since the season re-start, three matches, two of them against arguably the most beatable sides we have to face, two of them at home, and we have managed to take 2 points from 9.
We just never, ever look like winning matches, and I can not for the life of me see how this changes under this manager.
Nope because it’s always the same.
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I've been to St James Park Close to 30 times and I've seen us win twice. It's one of our biggest grave yards going. A point up there is decent.
Usually yes. Not if you’re on the bottom three, with the fixtures we have coming and the last ten games we’ve had.
Idiots said this after Sheffield Utd. Two points dropped again.
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2 points from 9 is abysmal.
We all know how it ends...
Sadly that's the crux of it, eh.
If you can't find a way to win a single match, you're just delaying the inevitable. Smith has to go regardless.
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Looked much better with two up top, (Who'd have thought eh?)
The first game since the restart that has actually gave me a bit of hope.
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Another missed opportunity to win a game, and actually look like we might avoid relegation. Smith is a lower league manager utterly out of his depth. The sooner he's gone, the better.
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Better but all still a little bit hopeless. We also looked better with Davis and Samatta playing together. Time for two up top. The defending for their goal was atrocious but standard for us.
This was there to be won. We didn't take the chance, and we're running out of 'winnable' games. Had we grabbed the 3 points here, I'd have fancied us to take some confidence into the Wolves game and possibly do okay. Now, I think we'll do well to scrape a point.
I think we've blown it in the Sheff Utd game and today. These were ones we needed to get more from to give us a chance. Better from Grealish today too, but it's as if everyone's waiting on him to do something. He's gonna shit a lung before the season is out. We're wearing him out. Time for the others to step up.
Nakamba also needs to start games. We need his energy in midfield.
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I've been to St James Park Close to 30 times and I've seen us win twice. It's one of our biggest grave yards going. A point up there is decent.
Against a mediocre team with no home fans to give them an advantage, it was arguably our best chance in years to beat them.
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I had a fivefold on Newcastle, Manure, Everton, Wolves and Liverpool so I am claiming some credit for the point. ;)
With Everton and Wolves winning that has to be classed as a point gained surely?
we needed 3 check out our next 4 games and West Ham’s
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How the fuck that team beat Sheff Utd 3-0 is beyond me.
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The one game on the restart where I fancied us - but we find new ways of sinking worselves.
Brainless, artless football for the most part.
The foul by Hause on Carroll in a non threatening area (as if Carroll was suddenly going to burst past him Ronaldo 1997 style) and Hourihane's miserable free kick at the end illustrate the genuine lack of nous we possess in both areas of the pitch.
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2 from 9 since the restart when we needed to hit the ground running.
We are done for I think.
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I've been to St James Park Close to 30 times and I've seen us win twice. It's one of our biggest grave yards going. A point up there is decent.
Against a mediocre team with no home fans to give them an advantage, it was arguably our best chance in years to beat them.
Best we've played up there since O'Leary. Post Small Heath beating at Villa Park and Bowyer and Dyer fighting on the pitch.
Certainly wanted to win, tried to win, but we didn't get beat. If we'd found a way to do that more in the season, we'd not be in half the bother.
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Well every other result has gone well for us. Hopefully Burnley can beat Watford tomorrow as well. What worries me is the fact that only wins will keep us up and especially with the games we’ve got left, I just can’t see where the wins are going to come from. We deserved at least a point but I’m not sure it’s enough now.
I am beginning to think a point per game could be enough. We are only in the drop zone on goal difference (which is improving).
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Thought we looked so much better after the subs came on. Konsa is not a right back, for me Elmo has to start there. Left back has been a problem for ages and Targett isn't the answer.
Surely he has to try something different. Davis for El Ghazi so can partner Samatta, picking up the knock downs would be a start.
Grealish was better second half but I fear his head has been turned ny the red filth.
Why couldn't they show the urgency they had in the last 10 minutes during the rest of the game?? We're in the shit so 100% effort is an absolute minimum requirement.
As usual Smith was tactically clueless. Subs must be made earlier.
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Smith is a lower league manager utterly out of his depth. The sooner he's gone, the better.
He doesn't get the concept of game management, which is a problem to say the least at this level.
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How the fuck that team beat Sheff Utd 3-0 is beyond me.
Didnt Toon score all 3 goals after a red card a few minutes after halftime?
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Since we beat Leicester in January (!) we’ve played 8 won 0 drawn 2 lost 6.
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I've been to St James Park Close to 30 times and I've seen us win twice. It's one of our biggest grave yards going. A point up there is decent.
Against a mediocre team with no home fans to give them an advantage, it was arguably our best chance in years to beat them.
Best we've played up there since O'Leary. Post Small Heath beating at Villa Park and Bowyer and Dyer fighting on the pitch.
Certainly wanted to win, tried to win, but we didn't get beat. If we'd found a way to do that more in the season, we'd not be in half the bother.
How we play at this stage of the season is utterly irrelevant if we don't win. 2 points from the last 21 now, a million miles from being good enough, and just the small matter of Wolves, Man U and Liverpool next, which will make it two points out of 30.
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Not too bad first half but we really only looked like scoring in the second half when he changed it. Deserved a point but that was it.
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Better game management against Spurs twice, Arsenal and Liverpool and we’d be in a better position now.
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Yeah we’re not actually playing that badly but bizarrely we seem to be playing tighter and containing teams better at the point of the season when it’s sod all good to us and we need to be going all out for wins.
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We are prone to ( at least) one defensive f**k up a game. Three defenders within six feet of Carrol leaving Gayle one on one. Whoever is supposed to be organising the defence on the pitch needs stringing up. In hindsight big mistake not signing Cahill.
Thought we looked ok going forward and more likely to score.
They were there for the taking. Should have been two up in 20 minutes.
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I dont want smith to have anything to do with the Grealish (£80m) Mings (£40m) and Mcginn (£35m) money in a few weeks time.
Hopefully he’ll be long gone.
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Mings terrifies me. It's not the fact he's got a rick in him 3-4 times a game (I love the guy, but if he's England quality, then the national side will be miles off competing) but it's how he has to do everything so fucking awkwardly. A player comes past and he opts to dive in. The comfortable way and most logical would be to use your right foot. He stretches out his left. In the first half he managed to get the ball away, in the second half he got done and we thankfully didn't get punished. My worry is that he'll do himself a mischief and be out for months. He's so ungainly and so inefficient in how he uses his body. Can we not get the lummox a ballet teacher or something? Or train him in body positioning? Maybe some Yoga? He's gonna tear his own leg out the fucking socket or obliterate his Achilles or something.
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Better game management against Spurs twice, Arsenal and Liverpool and we’d be in a better position now.
Yep and Chelsea. We’ve thrown away so many points. Primarily because Dean consistently adjusts too late, and when he does it looks to have been predetermined.
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At least we showed some fight and intent.
Perm any 2 from 4 to go down with Norwich.
Watford, Spam and Bournemouth are as poor as us.
Somebody will get a very unexpected/lucky 3 points somewhere.
All to play for, I would have taken 17th at the start of the season and I reckon it's 50/50 we can do it.
UTV !
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My only hope for the Liverpool game is that they've won the league against City three days before, and they rest a load of players who will have run themselves into the ground the game before. There'll be no fan celebration in the ground, and maybe, just maybe we can capitalise. Slim chance, but there are MUCH worse points in the season to be playing them.
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I am usually as negative as they come but I am really surprised by the negativity tonight.
I reckon 7 points from here could be enough, regardless of how we get them. Can you see West Ham and Bournmouth both getting 7 more points and/or Watford getting 6 more points? It's tough going but we are in with a much better chance of staying up than we were one week ago.
If we gain one more point on 2 teams in the next round of games we are out the drop zone and if things had to stop then we probably avoid relegation.
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We’ve taken 2 points from the last 21. Why are we suddenly going to get 7 out of the next 21?
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Yes with Wolves, Liverpool and Man Utd up next I see three defeats.
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I am usually as negative as they come but I am really surprised by the negativity tonight.
I reckon 7 points from here could be enough, regardless of how we get them. Can you see West Ham and Bournmouth both getting 7 more points and/or Watford getting 6 more points? It's tough going but we are in with a much better chance of staying up than we were one week ago.
If we gain one more point on 2 teams in the next round of games we are out the drop zone and if things had to stop then we probably avoid relegation.
Watford could easily pick up another 6 points, yes. They're a better side than us and have more heart and fight. And a manager with a bit of will and determination about him.
Not sure about the others. It's a fucking lucky dip between ourselves, Wet Spam and Bournemouth.
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I thought Jack was back to his best tonight, and SJM looks to be improving slowly.
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My only hope for the Liverpool game is that they've won the league against City three days before, and they rest a load of players who will have run themselves into the ground the game before. There'll be no fan celebration in the ground, and maybe, just maybe we can capitalise. Slim chance, but there are MUCH worse points in the season to be playing them.
They'll be far too good for us, and put on an exhibition as they smash us 5-0. No way this Villa team in this form is beating them.
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I thought Jack was back to his best tonight, and SJM looks to be improving slowly.
I couldn't disagree more, respectfully.
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I thought Jack was back to his best tonight, and SJM looks to be improving slowly.
Has the sun got to you?
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Another reason why we are almost certainly getting relegated is our strikers rarely score goals. Out of the available strikers, only Samatta has scored a league goal in 2020, and even that came in a defeat.
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I really hate AEG and Trezeguet. Have we ever had a good performance with them both starting? Both got worse as the seasons got on, both have a petulant can’t be arsed to get a foot in streak.
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I thought Jack was back to his best tonight, and SJM looks to be improving slowly.
I couldn't disagree more, respectfully.
No idea what game you watched, Taylor. Wasn't the same one I watched.
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Jack was clearly head and shoulders above every other player on that pitch not named Saint Maximin. The problem is his teammates are a class below and thus not on the same wavelength.
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I really hate AEG and Trezeguet. Have we ever had a good performance with them both starting? Both got worse as the seasons got on, both have a petulant can’t be arsed to get a foot in streak.
They're both woefully inadequate. So the obvious answer is to start them both, of course.
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No Douglas Luiz was our best player.
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Our two wingers boil my piss, they offer very little and visibly fade as the game goes on. Just for once, leave them both out, get two up top to drag defenders about and let Jack loose to capitalise.
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We’ve taken 2 points from the last 21. Why are we suddenly going to get 7 out of the next 21?
We look harder to beat. That's the first one. Second, we have Palace, United, Wolves Arsenal and West Ham left. Win one, draw the rest. Win two, draw one. Win three and we're laughing.
We are in a better position than we were. Douglas Luiz has played well and hopefully McGinn can find form. look, we are not finished by any stretch.
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Jack looks like the player who was overshadowed by McGinn for a while in those early games. He’s so much better than everyone else he will always be our best player even on his off days. But he’s not running games, and we can’t afford any less than that to get wins, which of course is not his fault at all.
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No Douglas Luiz was our best player.
Agreed, and has been since the restart.
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That Newcastle goal sums up why we're going to get relegated. Nobody else in the league would concede a goal like that.
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No good but we're inching closer. Missed opportunity.
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At full time I had a surge of optimism about our survival chances. I think mainly due to the fact I was convinced we would concede a late late goal and lose.
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Jack was clearly head and shoulders above every other player on that pitch not named Saint Maximin. The problem is his teammates are a class below and thus not on the same wavelength.
In a nut shell
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We’ve taken 2 points from the last 21. Why are we suddenly going to get 7 out of the next 21?
We look harder to beat. That's the first one. Second, we have Palace, United, Wolves Arsenal and West Ham left. Win one, draw the rest. Win two, draw one. Win three and we're laughing.
The only problem there is that there appears to be no evidence we're capable of beating shit like Newcastle at the moment, let along three really good sides, one decent one and one almost as shit as us.
Can you really, really see us having an unbeaten run through those fixtures? Or winning two, for that matter.
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That Newcastle goal sums up why we're going to get relegated. Nobody else in the league would concede a goal like that.
Yes it was shocking. Rather like both Chelsea goals at the weekend.
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Better today, but sadly don't think a draw will prove to be good enough. Another good display from Luiz and better from Jack, but still some way off his best. If Smith had made subs earlier we may have nicked it. Goal we conceded was a shocker, allowing Gayle to wander into the box alone, as up to then we had defended ok.
Let's hope he plays 2 upfront against Wolves, but I doubt it.
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Jack was clearly head and shoulders above every other player on that pitch not named Saint Maximin. The problem is his teammates are a class below and thus not on the same wavelength.
In a nut shell
Can’t agree. Douglas was the best, as he has been in all the games since the restart.
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I fear the fact we failed to win one of Sheffield United but particularly tonight will kill us. Smith’s instance on the 4-3-3 tonight cost us but we missed some big chances
Samatta cannot be the lone striker it’s as simple as that.
El ghazi and trez have had there chance and not taken it they are a luxury we don’t have
Problem is I don’t know how we play if we get Guilbert back do we go back to three at back and have two up top
Smith should of made changes earlier thN he did they were the better team for about 20 mins of that game and we didn’t take advantage
Nkamba is unlucky not to be featuring more and Luiz has been our best player
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Jack was clearly head and shoulders above every other player on that pitch not named Saint Maximin. The problem is his teammates are a class below and thus not on the same wavelength.
In a nut shell
Can’t agree. Douglas was the best, as he has been in all the games since the restart.
Agreed.
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Should have won, Newcastle were terrible.
AEG and Trez nowhere near good enough at this level and McGinn was a passenger again. Jack just isn’t showing enough desire at the moment for me and isn’t captain materiel at present.
Davis and Samatta have to start from now on also.
Smith has to go whatever division we are in next season.
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https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/12014176/late-equaliser-earns-villa-a-point
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I thought Jack was back to his best tonight, and SJM looks to be improving slowly.
Jack had a good last two minutes. John McGinn was nowhere to be seen throughout. I admire your positivity though.
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We’ve taken 2 points from the last 21. Why are we suddenly going to get 7 out of the next 21?
We look harder to beat. That's the first one. Second, we have Palace, United, Wolves Arsenal and West Ham left. Win one, draw the rest. Win two, draw one. Win three and we're laughing.
The only problem there is that there appears to be no evidence we're capable of beating shit like Newcastle at the moment, let along three really good sides, one decent one and one almost as shit as us.
Can you really, really see us having an unbeaten run through those fixtures? Or winning two, for that matter.
Since the restart we have kept a clean sheet, lost by a goal to Chelsea and drew 1-1 away at Newcastle - a bit of a bogey team for us. I don't think it's much of a leap of faith to think we could do both Palace and Arsenal 1-0 and nick a point somewhere else against a team that could be on the beach. Say, for example, we catch a team like Wolves on an 'off day' or a Liverpool celebrating their title win? I am more positive than I was on 16 June, that's for sure.
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No Douglas Luiz was our best player.
He’s finding his feet and another to add to the post-relegation* list of players sold.
*if it happens
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Let’s not forget we still have Drinkwater to come back ;)
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Let’s not forget we still have Drinkwater to come back ;)
He can't be any worse than SJM.
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Well now its just goal difference with the two above us. A Burnley win tomorrow would be very welcome.
The better side let down by a defensive howler. How the fuck you let someone like Gayle drift in like that is beyond me. Whose fault was that? Can Smith and/or Terry be blamed for that?
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Well now its just goal difference with the two above us. A Burnley win tomorrow would be very welcome.
The better side let down by a defensive howler. How the fuck you let someone like Gayle drift in like that is beyond me. Whose fault was that? Can Smith and/or Terry be blamed for that?
Mings for fucking drifting
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Joking aside there’s not much between drinkwater and post lockdown SJM. Two players so lacking in match sharpness they should be nowhere near the first team.
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Since the restart we have kept a clean sheet, lost by a goal to Chelsea and drew 1-1 away at Newcastle - a bit of a bogey team for us. I don't think it's much of a leap of faith to think we could do both Palace and Arsenal 1-0 and nick a point somewhere else against a team that could be on the beach. Say, for example, we catch a team like Wolves on an 'off day' or a Liverpool celebrating their title win? I am more positive than I was on 16 June, that's for sure.
Even Liverpool with hangovers and one eye on the beach would have too much for us.
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If we stay up, Dougie L will be a key player for us; getting better and better.
If Jacob Ramsey is back from loan, maybe he should come in to provide some energy in MF.
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Since the restart we have kept a clean sheet, lost by a goal to Chelsea and drew 1-1 away at Newcastle - a bit of a bogey team for us. I don't think it's much of a leap of faith to think we could do both Palace and Arsenal 1-0 and nick a point somewhere else against a team that could be on the beach. Say, for example, we catch a team like Wolves on an 'off day' or a Liverpool celebrating their title win? I am more positive than I was on 16 June, that's for sure.
Even Liverpool with hangovers and one eye on the beach would have too much for us.
Well only shaded it November when we were without Jack. If Kodjia could defend or Mane had been rightfully sent off we'd have beaten em
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Since the restart we have kept a clean sheet, lost by a goal to Chelsea and drew 1-1 away at Newcastle - a bit of a bogey team for us. I don't think it's much of a leap of faith to think we could do both Palace and Arsenal 1-0 and nick a point somewhere else against a team that could be on the beach. Say, for example, we catch a team like Wolves on an 'off day' or a Liverpool celebrating their title win? I am more positive than I was on 16 June, that's for sure.
Even Liverpool with hangovers and one eye on the beach would have too much for us.
Well only shaded it November when we were without Jack. If Kodjia could defend or Mane had been rightfully sent off we'd have beaten em
If......
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Needed to win with the run we’ve got coming and think you could see that with the players with 10 mins left, too little too late though. But we’re not down as some posters would have us believe. Yes wolves, Liverpool and Man Utd are miles better than us, but sometimes strange things happen and we could nick one result.
Negatives apart from goal conceded, El Ghazi has some talent but too lightweight, Trez huffs and puffs but is not very good.
Grealish played ok with 10 mins to go and made Newcastle panic a bit, previous 70 mins the same as every game since cup final, half hearted. Don’t want to see him sitting down on the turf again post game, like he’s given everything when to me he hasn’t.
Positives, Samatta looked ok, especially first half. SJM was shite but a bit less shite. Luiz impressed again, Nakamba looked like he cared when he came on. Elmo is limited but a dog of war and just what we need now.
Smith has to look and realise that team that finished the game has to be the team for rest of season, no matter what the result against wolves. Let Samatta and Davies try and build an understanding and Targett and Elmo to cross the ball
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Since the restart we have kept a clean sheet, lost by a goal to Chelsea and drew 1-1 away at Newcastle - a bit of a bogey team for us. I don't think it's much of a leap of faith to think we could do both Palace and Arsenal 1-0 and nick a point somewhere else against a team that could be on the beach. Say, for example, we catch a team like Wolves on an 'off day' or a Liverpool celebrating their title win? I am more positive than I was on 16 June, that's for sure.
Even Liverpool with hangovers and one eye on the beach would have too much for us.
Well only shaded it November when we were without Jack. If Kodjia could defend or Mane had been rightfully sent off we'd have beaten em
If......
Maybe he’ll play a few of those kids we beat in the league cup.
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I think the fact we finished the game on the front foot and coming from behind will do us some good. I just wish the players had a bit more belief in themselves because tonight was winnable. I just think if we can somehow gain a win against one of the top teams it might just be enough to see us over the line.
It's a big if though.
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That Newcastle goal sums up why we're going to get relegated. Nobody else in the league would concede a goal like that.
Did you see the goal they conceded?!
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That Newcastle goal sums up why we're going to get relegated. Nobody else in the league would concede a goal like that.
Did you see the goal they conceded?!
Or the first one they scored against Sheff U?
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I agree that today was a missed opportunity, but if we actually won all the "must win" games identified on here we'd end up in Europe.
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I agree that today was a missed opportunity, but if we actually won all the "must win" games identified on here we'd end up in Europe.
Conversely if we don't win any of our must win games we'll end up in Coventry.*
* Which I accept is in Europe.
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I agree that today was a missed opportunity, but if we actually won all the "must win" games identified on here we'd end up in Europe.
Conversely if we don't win any of our must win games we'll end up in Coventry.
Great point.
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It's bad enough that we'll very likely be having to play the Blue shite again next season, but bloody Coventry as well. Urgh.
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Should have won, Newcastle were terrible.
AEG and Trez nowhere near good enough at this level and McGinn was a passenger again. Jack just isn’t showing enough desire at the moment for me and isn’t captain materiel at present.
Davis and Samatta have to start from now on also.
Smith has to go whatever division we are in next season.
I was explaining some of our more obvious weaknesses to a mate a few days ago and our wide men are at the top of that list. They don’t offer enough threat going forward and they don’t do enough dirty work to help the defence and midfield. Oh for the likes of Ashley Young and the wide James Milner, two workaholic wide players with a good cross on them.
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We’ve taken 2 points from the last 21. Why are we suddenly going to get 7 out of the next 21?
We look harder to beat. That's the first one. Second, we have Palace, United, Wolves Arsenal and West Ham left. Win one, draw the rest. Win two, draw one. Win three and we're laughing.
The only problem there is that there appears to be no evidence we're capable of beating shit like Newcastle at the moment, let along three really good sides, one decent one and one almost as shit as us.
Can you really, really see us having an unbeaten run through those fixtures? Or winning two, for that matter.
Since the restart we have kept a clean sheet, lost by a goal to Chelsea and drew 1-1 away at Newcastle - a bit of a bogey team for us. I don't think it's much of a leap of faith to think we could do both Palace and Arsenal 1-0 and nick a point somewhere else against a team that could be on the beach. Say, for example, we catch a team like Wolves on an 'off day' or a Liverpool celebrating their title win? I am more positive than I was on 16 June, that's for sure.
Back in the 70s after we returned to the top flight Liverpool seemed to clinch th league every year by beating us by 3 or 4 nil at Anfield.
On the bogey team front, we haven’t beaten Manu at home in the league since 1995 and Arsenal since 1998. Please help us to grow a pair and rectify these stats, even if we can’t be in the ground to witness it.
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Should have won, Newcastle were terrible.
AEG and Trez nowhere near good enough at this level and McGinn was a passenger again. Jack just isn’t showing enough desire at the moment for me and isn’t captain materiel at present.
Davis and Samatta have to start from now on also.
Smith has to go whatever division we are in next season.
I was explaining some of our more obvious weaknesses to a mate a few days ago and our wide men are at the top of that list. They don’t offer enough threat going forward and they don’t do enough dirty work to help the defence and midfield. Oh for the likes of Ashley Young and the wide James Milner, two workaholic wide players with a good cross on them.
Yes, oh for one of those. Sod it, wish for both of them.
And for the next 2 games, Wolves (H) and L'pool, (A) we might as well have a go with 2 forwards, and maybe drop McGinn to the bench. Go for broke, we need points, our goal difference, isnt going to make any difference ;D ;D
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Since the restart we have kept a clean sheet, lost by a goal to Chelsea and drew 1-1 away at Newcastle - a bit of a bogey team for us. I don't think it's much of a leap of faith to think we could do both Palace and Arsenal 1-0 and nick a point somewhere else against a team that could be on the beach. Say, for example, we catch a team like Wolves on an 'off day' or a Liverpool celebrating their title win? I am more positive than I was on 16 June, that's for sure.
That's where I'm at. There's always some crazy results come the end of the season when teams switch off. Not giving up hope just yet and I'm sure the West Ham fans are just as pessimistic.
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A point against Newcastle ain’t going to save us. Should have been 3.
Playing Trez and AEG is criminal. Smith clearly is using hats out of a bag to pick the team.
Ultimately the owners are to blame. Smith should have potted before Christmas.
I think Doug is really playing well. The only positive. UTV
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Still in the race though......!!
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We could/should of won tonight. Away at Newcastle you have to say that's a decent point. Luiz looks accomplished in that role which is a huge bonus. Over the whole game he was my motm but I thought Jack ran the show in spells during second half. Some of our lot are writing us off and that's up to them but I'll just say this. Watford beat Liverpool on the 29th of February. As someone once said :
"football's a funny old game"
Keep the faith chaps.
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A point against Newcastle ain’t going to save us. Should have been 3.
Playing Trez and AEG is criminal. Smith clearly is using hats out of a bag to pick the team.
Ultimately the owners are to blame. Smith should have potted before Christmas.
I think Doug is really playing well. The only positive. UTV
Hats out of a bag seems an odd way to pick a team though?
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We could/should of won tonight. Away at Newcastle you have to say that's a decent point. Luiz looks accomplished in that role which is a huge bonus. Over the whole game he was my motm but I thought Jack ran the show in spells during second half. Some of our lot are writing us off and that's up to them but I'll just say this. Watford beat Liverpool on the 29th of February. As someone once said :
"football's a funny old game"
Keep the faith chaps.
Leap Year Day Miracle. Maybe our turn in 2024.
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A point against Newcastle ain’t going to save us. Should have been 3.
Playing Trez and AEG is criminal. Smith clearly is using hats out of a bag to pick the team.
Ultimately the owners are to blame. Smith should have potted before Christmas.
I think Doug is really playing well. The only positive. UTV
Hats out of a bag seems an odd way to pick a team though?
It's the method they used to picked the teams in the No Man's Land Christmas games of 1914-18. I can't help noticing that you're not wearing a poppy, you communist scum.
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Are they really small hats in a normal sized bag, or normal sized hats in a really big bag?
That's the kind of question that will keep me up all night.
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Really can’t see where the goals are going to come from to keep us up, even the equaliser from a corner, we had no one attacking the second ball in the 6 yard box.
Resigned to it.
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Oh and a shout out for Conor Hourihane. With 94min & 30 seconds on the clock we get a free kick in a perfect position to hang one up to the far post where all our big guns had gathered. He hits a fekkin bobbler straight to a Newcastle player. With all the doors and windows open I let off a volley of swear words which I'm sure my neighbour's really appreciated. Thanks Conor.
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Oh and a shout out for Conor Hourihane. With 94min & 30 seconds on the clock we get a free kick in a perfect position to hang one up to the far post where all our big guns had gathered. He hits a fekkin bobbler straight to a Newcastle player. With all the doors and windows open I let off a volley of swear words which I'm sure my neighbour's really appreciated. Thanks Conor.
Also thanks for the assist for our equaliser.
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Oh and a shout out for Conor Hourihane. With 94min & 30 seconds on the clock we get a free kick in a perfect position to hang one up to the far post where all our big guns had gathered. He hits a fekkin bobbler straight to a Newcastle player. With all the doors and windows open I let off a volley of swear words which I'm sure my neighbour's really appreciated. Thanks Conor.
It’s not like he has any time or opportunity to practice.
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We’ve taken 2 points from the last 21. Why are we suddenly going to get 7 out of the next 21?
Aha but we have taken 1 out of the last 3. You do the math...or is it maths? :o
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Oh and a shout out for Conor Hourihane. With 94min & 30 seconds on the clock we get a free kick in a perfect position to hang one up to the far post where all our big guns had gathered. He hits a fekkin bobbler straight to a Newcastle player. With all the doors and windows open I let off a volley of swear words which I'm sure my neighbour's really appreciated. Thanks Conor.
Also thanks for the assist for our equaliser.
Yeah that was an amazing corner. Cheers Conor
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Really can’t see where the goals are going to come from to keep us up, even the equaliser from a corner, we had no one attacking the second ball in the 6 yard box.
Resigned to it.
Really think we are now reliant on Bournemouth and West Ham pretty much losing every game from here on in and is just pulling off a couple of wins from somewhere (has looked unlikely since the season resumed to be honest).
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It was a bit of a pisser, a bloke who’s only real talent suited to the PL is the dead ball on the edge of their box with glory abound. I really fancied us to score.
It’s the hope that kills you.
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I agree that today was a missed opportunity, but if we actually won all the "must win" games identified on here we'd end up in Europe.
How many times do I have to TELL YOU we are OUT of Europe >:(
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I agree that today was a missed opportunity, but if we actually won all the "must win" games identified on here we'd end up in Europe.
How many times do I have to TELL YOU we are OUT of Europe >:(
I'm crying salt tears at the status of this once-great club.
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I agree that today was a missed opportunity, but if we actually won all the "must win" games identified on here we'd end up in Europe.
How many times do I have to TELL YOU we are OUT of Europe >:(
Maybe we could come to a compromise? So we can enter, and win, but we choose our own draw, all of our games are at home, we keep all the matchday revenue and TV money, but in exchange, the opposition can have a discount fishing trip in Skegness once a year. Deal?
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Douglas comes out with some credit .
Though second half apart from last 10 were 2nd best and woeful.
Of course spurned chances first half and Trez and Samatta for sure should be hitting target.
Well done Elmo and just so frustrating to see another goal coming from the left side of our pitch.
Could have done with 3pts but have to do things the hard way.
Only good thing is we play before West Ham and Bournemouth matches .
Need Chelsea and Newacstle favours.
Already panicked about Traore and Doherty taking liberties on the left side.
How we'll stop them is anyone's guess.
A fighting chance
Lost and I may have resigned myself.
We go on
Up the villa
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It was a bit of a pisser, a bloke who’s only real talent suited to the PL is the dead ball on the edge of their box with glory abound. I really fancied us to score.
It’s the hope that kills you.
Free kicks are funny things as we tend to selectively remember the successful ones.
There was a similar stat about Ronaldo's free kicks a few years ago when he was at his peak but here's last season's.
https://www.sportbible.com/football/news-stats-ronaldo-is-statistically-the-second-worst-free-kick-taker-in-serie-a-20190925
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Mings terrifies me. It's not the fact he's got a rick in him 3-4 times a game (I love the guy, but if he's England quality, then the national side will be miles off competing) but it's how he has to do everything so fucking awkwardly. A player comes past and he opts to dive in. The comfortable way and most logical would be to use your right foot. He stretches out his left. In the first half he managed to get the ball away, in the second half he got done and we thankfully didn't get punished. My worry is that he'll do himself a mischief and be out for months. He's so ungainly and so inefficient in how he uses his body. Can we not get the lummox a ballet teacher or something? Or train him in body positioning? Maybe some Yoga? He's gonna tear his own leg out the fucking socket or obliterate his Achilles or something.
Well he used his left to good effect to make a super block from Joelington in first half, likely saved a goal. Tried same in second half and Saint-Maxime destroyed him, easier to make a tackle with right but Mings is horribly one sided in everything he does. Hourihane has the exact same deficiency. Its like if they have to turn onto their right side they could fall over.
Mings is the type of defender beloved by the British media for all the last ditch stuff. Top defenders, McGrath, Ferdinand etc read dangerous situations so they didnt need to be diving in all over the place. Look at how poor he read the situation for our goal, one of maybe three or four at fault, mind.
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Some classic Villa moments. Dominate early exchanges and fail to take advantage, defence leaves a gap big enough to drive a bendy bus sideways through and practically sends a written invitation to score, Smith brings on subs on 70 minutes just as it's too late, two wide front players contribute the cubed root of bugger all, Conor chooses the last kick of the game to take the worst free kick of his career, completely wasting the last chance to nick a win. Brainless all round.
It;s a race to the bottom between us West Ham and Bournemouth and we all seem to be competing to see who can be the most shite. Which means we may even draw our way out of it, but I doubt it.
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Claret benny hats with squad numbers
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Mings is the type of defender beloved by the British media for all the last ditch stuff. Top defenders, McGrath, Ferdinand etc read dangerous situations so they didnt need to be diving in all over the place. Look at how poor he read the situation for our goal, one of maybe three or four at fault, mind.
Thought he was poor for the Saint-Maximin chance. On SHA they thought it was a push by Carroll in the lead up to their goal. Looked like a nudge to me so surprised it wasn't mentioned here.
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We have got better defensively but seem to have lost something with our attacking play. We missed a couple of good chances tonight but only in the last couple of minutes did we seem to attack aggressively. These last three games were the ones where we needed, say, 5 points. The next three games are tough with Wolves in good form, Liverpool and an ever improving Man United. Our best chance lies with results against Palace, Arsenal and West Ham, by them, it might be too late and we rue what might have been. Needed a win tonight, needed to beat Sheffield United and that now looks like a poor result. We were wank against Chelsea.
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Well now its just goal difference with the two above us. A Burnley win tomorrow would be very welcome.
The better side let down by a defensive howler. How the fuck you let someone like Gayle drift in like that is beyond me. Whose fault was that? Can Smith and/or Terry be blamed for that?
Have watched a few replays of their goal, its genuinely surreal how bad our defending is.
Targett - despite being ahead of Carroll misses a standard header from the throw in to deal with the first ball
Mings - gets drawn to competing with Carroll on the sideline but neither competes with Carroll nor marks Saint-Maxime, ending up in no mans land near the sideline
Hause - maybe inexperience at RCB coming back to bite but leaves his station to pick up Saint-Maxime without even seeing Gayle get in behind him
Luiz - another one drawn to Carroll on the sideline, lets Gayle run off the back of him while ball watching
Konsa - arguably the least to blame for me, spotted the danger at least just a bit too late.
Again, you would have to wonder about the value of John Terry on the coaching staff or what if anything he brings.
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PWS, do you have the audioboom link for the post-match interview with Smith on BBC WM, presuming there was one ? I've lost the link since I changed phone.
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Mings is the type of defender beloved by the British media for all the last ditch stuff. Top defenders, McGrath, Ferdinand etc read dangerous situations so they didnt need to be diving in all over the place. Look at how poor he read the situation for our goal, one of maybe three or four at fault, mind.
Thought he was poor for the Saint-Maximin chance. On SHA they thought it was a push by Carroll in the lead up to their goal. Looked like a nudge to me so surprised it wasn't mentioned here.
Would have to disagree with that, as its difficult to defend from a standing start against an oncoming attacker. Thought he did well to the block in, as he was turned onto his wrong side.
Having had the pleasure of watching two of the best centre halves of their respective generations in McGrath and Terry (although the latter was past his peak), it was their ability to read the game, get to the ball first and then make the right decision more times than not which really singled them out. Mings does get to the ball first more often that not in all fairness, but then seems to have that moment of hesitation which often gets him into trouble.
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Who cares what SHA think? Or grunt.
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thought it was another garbage performance. how did Trez last 70 minutes? Danny Rose was looking knackered (and overweight) but no one is interested in taking advantage.
I despair at the delayed substitutions. even fucking Bruce sees how easy it is to bring some energy with a couple of subs (the first 2 creating their goal).
we are an incredibly sloppy side. loose passing. poor concentration. soft and slow midfield. giving stupid fouls away. no cutting edge
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We have got better defensively but seem to have lost something with our attacking play. We missed a couple of good chances tonight but only in the last couple of minutes did we seem to attack aggressively. These last three games were the ones where we needed, say, 5 points. The next three games are tough with Wolves in good form, Liverpool and an ever improving Man United. Our best chance lies with results against Palace, Arsenal and West Ham, by them, it might be too late and we rue what might have been. Needed a win tonight, needed to beat Sheffield United and that now looks like a poor result. We were wank against Chelsea.
We needed a win against Sheffeld United, and a draw looks like a poor result, yet they lost 3-0 to the team we should have beaten. How does that work?
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PWS, do you have the audioboom link for the post-match interview with Smith on BBC WM, presuming there was one ? I've lost the link since I changed phone.
They haven't done any with DS since Leicester.
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Thought Grealish was utterly anonymous in first half. Worth maybe trying in the midfield three after his no show v Chelsea but he hasn't the strength and mobility to play in there and is quite a poor defender. Think he was quoted earlier in the season as saying that's where he wants to play but I'd like to see that knocked on the head now.
He improved second half and to be fair to him after the tactical reshuffle he was by a distance the best player on the pitch. That cross at the end was the best moment of quality in a very average game. Our two centre forwards want shooting for not getting on the end of it. Play him there for all the remaining games with Davis and Samatta ahead of him.
McGinn was hopeless again. As was Trez, AEG not much better. No more wingers please.
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Mings terrifies me. It's not the fact he's got a rick in him 3-4 times a game (I love the guy, but if he's England quality, then the national side will be miles off competing) but it's how he has to do everything so fucking awkwardly. A player comes past and he opts to dive in. The comfortable way and most logical would be to use your right foot. He stretches out his left. In the first half he managed to get the ball away, in the second half he got done and we thankfully didn't get punished. My worry is that he'll do himself a mischief and be out for months. He's so ungainly and so inefficient in how he uses his body. Can we not get the lummox a ballet teacher or something? Or train him in body positioning? Maybe some Yoga? He's gonna tear his own leg out the fucking socket or obliterate his Achilles or something.
Well he used his left to good effect to make a super block from Joelington in first half, likely saved a goal. Tried same in second half and Saint-Maxime destroyed him, easier to make a tackle with right but Mings is horribly one sided in everything he does. Hourihane has the exact same deficiency. Its like if they have to turn onto their right side they could fall over.
Mings is the type of defender beloved by the British media for all the last ditch stuff. Top defenders, McGrath, Ferdinand etc read dangerous situations so they didnt need to be diving in all over the place. Look at how poor he read the situation for our goal, one of maybe three or four at fault, mind.
Didn't Mings crock himself last season with a similar challenge going in with the wrong leg? It's knee ligament damage waiting to happen.
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The play-off final?
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Least we’re hanging on. We could just scrape through. I thought Brucey would try and turn the screw in this one for a bit of revenge. If he did, it didn’t work and we’re still in it. Some
Easy fixtures coming up too- Liverpool wolves and Utd. I’d bite your hand off for 2 pts from those 3 matches.
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I’m just hoping that DS has learned from the game tonight. We at least seemed more on the ball when we went with the two strikers and Jack just behind those front two and, he looked more like his normal self playing there.
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I’m just hoping that DS has learned from the game tonight. We at least seemed more on the ball when we went with the two strikers and Jack just behind those front two and, he looked more like his normal self playing there.
His problem is he doesn't learn.
For the best part of ten games before lockdown, we were fucking awful.
Fast forward three months, and we are still awful, but we are still making the same mistakes, and so is he.
He's learned absolutely nothing, and I don't expect he'll take anything from tonight, either.
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We look fucked. Can’t just play in last ten minutes of a game
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I’m just hoping that DS has learned from the game tonight. We at least seemed more on the ball when we went with the two strikers and Jack just behind those front two and, he looked more like his normal self playing there.
His problem is he doesn't learn.
For the best part of ten games before lockdown, we were fucking awful.
Fast forward three months, and we are still awful, but we are still making the same mistakes, and so is he.
He's learned absolutely nothing, and I don't expect he'll take anything from tonight, either.
Surely must see that McGinn is way off the pace (understandably so) and might be better coming on in the closing stages at the moment.
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I’ll admit. Mentally I’m already at a place where I’ve accepted relegation and I’m ok with it. Been there done it. Last time was a miserable end to years of circling the drain. And as much as I will hate the moment itself and the concept of once again being a Championship club, with everything else going on in the world my energy for Villa has diminished considerably. If we find a way to escape then great. If not c’est la vie.
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Some positives. At 1-0 I thought we were done so in the end, it’s an OK point. We played reasonably well in the first half. All the results went our way. Luiz looks vastly improved. Overall we look far, far more solid than we did. However....
We always look capable of an utter brain freeze and if you’re not scoring many you can’t afford many of those. If we’re going to stay up then we need wins which I gather, involves scoring goals and we rarely look like doing so in the current shape. Pointless playing a system dependent on wingers when we don’t have any so we have to try a different shape which gets more bodies in advance of the ball and gets Grealish more involved. With the current personnel that has to mean a flat midfield - Luiz, Nakamba, Hourihane - push Grealish in advance and then Davis & Samatta up front. At this point what do we have to lose?
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I’m just hoping that DS has learned from the game
Not having a dig at you but you could've said this after pretty much every game we've played since Spurs away in August. He hasn't and I can guarantee you he wont.
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As predicted by many pundits before the break, it is between us and WHU who will go down with the doomed.
We have shown plenty of fight, energy and aggression, and will not go down on that score. Yet again, we need to click. It's Déjà vu all over again and again. Fucked up, to be fair.
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Trez and AEG absolute rubbish would rather a youngster be given a go, and what was Smith waiting for with no subs til 70th minute. Feel sorry for JM as he is not near fitness level required. Grealish playing at 80%.
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In his defence it is abundantly clear that we can not get 10 Fit players who are capable starting at this level.
Trez AEG Hourihane Nakamba Not good enough and we have a few more just about competent Target Konsa Hause.
He should start by picking his best players and then working out how to set them up instead of trying to fit a team around his failed 4 3 3 formation.
So you start with Konsa Mings Hause Target Jack Davies Samatha Luiz SJM Leaving only 1 weak link as opposed to carrying at least 2 every game.
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we're shit and everybody knows it.
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May as well drop the wingers, play Jack in the middle and go 2 up top.
4-3-1-2 formation and play through the middle, play Elmo at right back and try and get him forward to put some crosses in.
Needs to do something different either way, not that he will.
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Whilst watching the highlights of the game I was distracted by how much Miguel Almiron looks like Dr Sheldon Cooper off of The Big Bang Theory.
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I’ll admit. Mentally I’m already at a place where I’ve accepted relegation and I’m ok with it. Been there done it. Last time was a miserable end to years of circling the drain. And as much as I will hate the moment itself and the concept of once again being a Championship club, with everything else going on in the world my energy for Villa has diminished considerably. If we find a way to escape then great. If not c’est la vie.
This is exactly where I am.
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May as well drop the wingers, play Jack in the middle and go 2 up top.
4-3-1-2 formation and play through the middle, play Elmo at right back and try and get him forward to put some crosses in.
Needs to do something different either way, not that he will.
My thoughts exactly, and I’m sure many feel the same. We simply cannot be any less effective going forward by taking our wingers out of the team. They simply aren’t good enough.
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May as well drop the wingers, play Jack in the middle and go 2 up top.
4-3-1-2 formation and play through the middle, play Elmo at right back and try and get him forward to put some crosses in.
Needs to do something different either way, not that he will.
My thoughts exactly, and I’m sure many feel the same. We simply cannot be any less effective going forward by taking our wingers out of the team. They simply aren’t good enough.
Yep, same for me too. I’d like to see Vassilev given a run. He looked quite handy pre lockdown and might just offer something that neither Trez or AEG are likely to give.
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There’s no way he’s starting with two up front against Wolves the kings of the counter attack. It will be sit back, hope not to concede, concede, bring three subs on, go two up front, toil and not score, see them break and probably score again. We’ve become ‘plucky’.
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Id be going with a diamond for the rest of the season with 2 up top. The wide players are not good enough for this level.
Samatta and Davis, with Grealish tip of the diamond and Dougie anchoring. The other two is a much of a muchness now with McGinn off the pace.
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He was a funny signing that Trezuguet, with most players you can see glimpses of something, even if they dont do very well. I know he's chipped in with a goal or two but I see no qualities that the scouts would have identified making him suitable for this season. Maybe he was signed more for the commercial benefits than the footballing ones.
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He was a funny signing that Trezuguet, with most players you can see glimpses of something, even if they dont do very well. I know he's chipped in with a goal or two but I see no qualities that the scouts would have identified making him suitable for this season. Maybe he was signed more for the commercial benefits than the footballing ones.
His performance yesterday was comically awful. Not only did he barely pass to one of his own team mates, he gave next to no cover for the full backs. El Ghazi was much the same although can occasionally have a moment of quality.
In a relegation battle, both are a luxury we can’t afford. I agree with the 2 up top and the full backs provide the width. Elmo back in as he has a good cross on him.
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Id be going with a diamond for the rest of the season with 2 up top. The wide players are not good enough for this level.
Samatta and Davis, with Grealish tip of the diamond and Dougie anchoring. The other two is a much of a muchness now with McGinn off the pace.
Yeah, I think I would pretty much agree with that. Seems the best way to get our attacking players close enough together to be able to get something out of them. Presuming we are not going to completely abandon having the ball again, as against Chelsea, it’s needs Guilbert rather than Konsa though otherwise we will have no width whatsoever.
Hourihane needs to be playing - he looks one of our best routes to goal currently.
I think I’d put McGinn on the beach for Saturday. He can’t play the whole game currently and it would be nice to have an option on the bench that could make a difference. Plus it beats wasting him by having him chase round after the ball all of the first half.
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Id put money on trez being signed based on our owner’s influence.
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He was a funny signing that Trezuguet, with most players you can see glimpses of something, even if they dont do very well. I know he's chipped in with a goal or two but I see no qualities that the scouts would have identified making him suitable for this season. Maybe he was signed more for the commercial benefits than the footballing ones.
His performance yesterday was comically awful. Not only did he barely pass to one of his own team mates, he gave next to no cover for the full backs. El Ghazi was much the same although can occasionally have a moment of quality.
In a relegation battle, both are a luxury we can’t afford. I agree with the 2 up top and the full backs provide the width. Elmo back in as he has a good cross on him.
I would assume he is already out the door - Besiktas is a strong rumour so half arsed performances are not a surprise. Doesn't explain the previous games of course.
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Id put money on trez being signed based on our owner’s influence.
Yeah I make you right there. Neither Trez nor El Ghazi are PL standard players. Imagine the difference some quality wide players could have made to our season. How much influence does Smith have on squad recruitment? That seems to be the million dollar question.
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Albrighton for example.
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He was a funny signing that Trezuguet, with most players you can see glimpses of something, even if they dont do very well. I know he's chipped in with a goal or two but I see no qualities that the scouts would have identified making him suitable for this season. Maybe he was signed more for the commercial benefits than the footballing ones.
That incident with Danny Rose before he was taken off sums him up. He was favourite to get to the pass but Rose, who looks finished as a top player, just eased him out of the way and Trez ending up fouling him.
Even the obligatory YouTube clips of him weren't all that positive, he looked completely one sided and his club career pedigree was decidedly average.
He gets himself into good positions but that aside is miles off the required level.
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Id be going with a diamond for the rest of the season with 2 up top. The wide players are not good enough for this level.
Samatta and Davis, with Grealish tip of the diamond and Dougie anchoring. The other two is a much of a muchness now with McGinn off the pace.
It might be a forlorn hope but Drinky might come back into the reckoning for one of the other two spots. He simply can't be any worse or less fit than McGinn on the basis of the last three performances. At his peak he was never a holding midfielder so maybe the diamond might suit him a bit better. Could try him next to Nakamba for the Wolves game leaving Hourihane and McGinn in reserve. Is he injured currently ?
If we play a diamond then Wolves will obviously play everything down our flanks so possibly a change at left back required too. I don't rate Taylor in the slightest but he might be up for more of a battle than Targett.
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There’s no way he’s starting with two up front against Wolves the kings of the counter attack. It will be sit back, hope not to concede, concede, bring three subs on, go two up front, toil and not score, see them break and probably score again.
This sounds frighteningly likely. If you've got timings for the goals then I might have a bet.
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Smith just doesn’t learn. Persisting with using wingers when the ones we have are utter crap. Can’t wait to see the back of them. Utterly useless.
Width has to come from fullbacks
Either 4312 or 4321
Nyland
Guilbert Konsa Mings Targett
McGinn Luiz Connor
Jack
Samatta Davis
Nyland
Guilbert Konsa Mings Targett
McGinn Luiz Connor
Jota Jack
Samatta
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Id be going with a diamond for the rest of the season with 2 up top. The wide players are not good enough for this level.
Samatta and Davis, with Grealish tip of the diamond and Dougie anchoring. The other two is a much of a muchness now with McGinn off the pace.
It might be a forlorn hope but Drinky might come back into the reckoning for one of the other two spots. He simply can't be any worse or less fit than McGinn on the basis of the last three performances. At his peak he was never a holding midfielder so maybe the diamond might suit him a bit better. Could try him next to Nakamba for the Wolves game leaving Hourihane and McGinn in reserve. Is he injured currently ?
If we play a diamond then Wolves will obviously play everything down our flanks so possibly a change at left back required too. I don't rate Taylor in the slightest but he might be up for more of a battle than Targett.
I'd throw Jacob Ramsey in, if available; get some youthful enthusiasm into the middle of the park.
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So ideal midfield with Davies and Smatta up front:
Luiz
Hourihane/Drinkwater McGinn
Grealish
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Thought 1-1 was a fair result on the balance of play.
I saw in your pre-match thread you were worried that Smith couldn't react to changes during the game. It seems he did. We were growing into the game with ASM growing in influence until we went 2 up front. Sure, we scored, but the goal aside we looked like we couldn't handle you at all. Losing the extra man in midfield did for us, I think. Looks to me like Smith made changes to take advantage of that, might be wrong though.
Uncharacteristic error for Dubravka might have given you a point, but it wasn't like you weren't good for it.
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Id put money on trez being signed based on our owner’s influence.
Yeah I make you right there. Neither Trez nor El Ghazi are PL standard players. Imagine the difference some quality wide players could have made to our season. How much influence does Smith have on squad recruitment? That seems to be the million dollar question.
I do not think Sawiris had anything to do with it. I doubt it if he even knew that Mahmoud Hassan was a footballer.
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Id be going with a diamond for the rest of the season with 2 up top. The wide players are not good enough for this level.
Samatta and Davis, with Grealish tip of the diamond and Dougie anchoring. The other two is a much of a muchness now with McGinn off the pace.
It might be a forlorn hope but Drinky might come back into the reckoning for one of the other two spots. He simply can't be any worse or less fit than McGinn on the basis of the last three performances. At his peak he was never a holding midfielder so maybe the diamond might suit him a bit better. Could try him next to Nakamba for the Wolves game leaving Hourihane and McGinn in reserve. Is he injured currently ?
If we play a diamond then Wolves will obviously play everything down our flanks so possibly a change at left back required too. I don't rate Taylor in the slightest but he might be up for more of a battle than Targett.
I'd throw Jacob Ramsey in, if available; get some youthful enthusiasm into the middle of the park.
Surprised he isn't even making bench. Throwing him in against Neves and Moutinho might be a step too far though.
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Id put money on trez being signed based on our owner’s influence.
Yeah I make you right there. Neither Trez nor El Ghazi are PL standard players. Imagine the difference some quality wide players could have made to our season. How much influence does Smith have on squad recruitment? That seems to be the million dollar question.
I do not think Sawiris had anything to do with it. I doubt it if he even knew that Mahmoud Hassan was a footballer.
After watching him play I am not sure I am convinced he is a footballer.
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He was a funny signing that Trezuguet, with most players you can see glimpses of something, even if they dont do very well. I know he's chipped in with a goal or two but I see no qualities that the scouts would have identified making him suitable for this season. Maybe he was signed more for the commercial benefits than the footballing ones.
Funny? I'm not laughing. Well apart form his attempts to play football which are absolutely comical. Even the goals he's got, apart from the one in the semi, have been half hit scuffed efforts that squirm over the line. His signing smacks of Sawiris' influence. He looks like a bloke who won a bet to turn out in a PL game. Or maybe he's George Weah's cousin. As you say not even a glimpse of quality anywhere. If Smith's system depends on two wide strikers we were doomed having him and AEG as two of the main choices. You can kind of see why Smith plays Jack wide when this is the alternative. Adomah would have been 100 times more effective if we'd kept him. Hepburn-Murphy or Green could not possibly have been worse. I'd rather see Indiana or Archer, they would probably be better. He's utterly utterly pointless.
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Thought 1-1 was a fair result on the balance of play.
I saw in your pre-match thread you were worried that Smith couldn't react to changes during the game. It seems he did. We were growing into the game with ASM growing in influence until we went 2 up front. Sure, we scored, but the goal aside we looked like we couldn't handle you at all. Losing the extra man in midfield did for us, I think. Looks to me like Smith made changes to take advantage of that, might be wrong though.
Uncharacteristic error for Dubravka might have given you a point, but it wasn't like you weren't good for it.
Hi I take it you're a Tooner and it's a very fair post. We should have been leading at HT. Once Grealish got going your were done for but unfortunately he couldn't be bothered till the last quarter and that also coincided with when Maximin faded out of the match. Overall a dreadful match and Bruce still sticking with football that makes your eyes bleed. Good luck with the takeover. We dislike Ashley as much as you do.
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After watching him play I am not sure I am convinced he is a footballer.
I knew I was setting him up as I wrote my post but reluctantly totally agree. This is a man carrying fair amount of belly around the football pitch so we need to show some sympathy.
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Id put money on trez being signed based on our owner’s influence.
Yeah I make you right there. Neither Trez nor El Ghazi are PL standard players. Imagine the difference some quality wide players could have made to our season. How much influence does Smith have on squad recruitment? That seems to be the million dollar question.
I do not think Sawiris had anything to do with it. I doubt it if he even knew that Mahmoud Hassan was a footballer.
After analysing all possible reasons for signing him the only plausible explanation is the influence of Mr Sawiris so it must be right.
# I think that's called Occam's Razor. (I learnt that on here)
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Thought 1-1 was a fair result on the balance of play.
I saw in your pre-match thread you were worried that Smith couldn't react to changes during the game. It seems he did. We were growing into the game with ASM growing in influence until we went 2 up front. Sure, we scored, but the goal aside we looked like we couldn't handle you at all. Losing the extra man in midfield did for us, I think. Looks to me like Smith made changes to take advantage of that, might be wrong though.
Uncharacteristic error for Dubravka might have given you a point, but it wasn't like you weren't good for it.
This is the most optimistic post I've seen on here since Christmas!
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Id put money on trez being signed based on our owner’s influence.
Yeah I make you right there. Neither Trez nor El Ghazi are PL standard players. Imagine the difference some quality wide players could have made to our season. How much influence does Smith have on squad recruitment? That seems to be the million dollar question.
I do not think Sawiris had anything to do with it. I doubt it if he even knew that Mahmoud Hassan was a footballer.
After analysing all possible reasons for signing him the only plausible explanation is the influence of Mr Sawiris so it must be right.
# I think that's called Occam's Razor. (I learnt that on here)
Didn’t Elmo recommend him? - which has killed his future scouting career.
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Id be going with a diamond for the rest of the season with 2 up top. The wide players are not good enough for this level.
Samatta and Davis, with Grealish tip of the diamond and Dougie anchoring. The other two is a much of a muchness now with McGinn off the pace.
It might be a forlorn hope but Drinky might come back into the reckoning for one of the other two spots. He simply can't be any worse or less fit than McGinn on the basis of the last three performances. At his peak he was never a holding midfielder so maybe the diamond might suit him a bit better. Could try him next to Nakamba for the Wolves game leaving Hourihane and McGinn in reserve. Is he injured currently ?
If we play a diamond then Wolves will obviously play everything down our flanks so possibly a change at left back required too. I don't rate Taylor in the slightest but he might be up for more of a battle than Targett.
Any team able to move the ball from one side of the pitch to the other quickly causes us all kinds of problems. Neves is rather good at that.
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Dean Smith signed:
Tom Heaton
Tyrone Mings
Ezri Konsa
Bjorn Engels
Kortney Hause
Jota
*Anwar El Ghazi already at club on loan
Jesús García Pitarch
Suso made Smith aware and imposed upon him signings :
Kalanic
Reina
Freddie Guilbert
Matt Targett
Douglas Luiz
Marvelous Nakamba
Trezeguet
Wesley Moraes
Aly Samatta.
Borja Baston
John Terry's Chelsea players advisory signing
Danny Drinkwater
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Dean Smith signed:
Tom Heaton
Tyrone Mings
Ezri Konsa
Bjorn Engels
Kortney Hause
Jota
*Anwar El Ghazi already at club on loan
Jesús García Pitarch
Suso made Smith aware and imposed upon him signings :
Kalanic
Reina
Freddie Guilbert
Matt Targett
Douglas Luiz
Marvelous Nakamba
Trezeguet
Wesley Moraes
Aly Samatta.
Borja Baston
John Terry's Chelsea players advisory signing
Danny Drinkwater
How do you know this?
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I thought we played okay given how we performed in the last two games. We actually took the game to Newcastle for the first 15 minutes. The goal we gave away was a horror show from a defensive point of view. Absolutely shocking. To get the equaliser from a corner was most unexpected but fair play As we kept at it and looked the more likely to get a winner as Villa were well on top at the end.
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For the second game running our defenders failed to organise quickly enough after substitutions leaving players unmarked. Other than that we probably should have won but wasted chances again. Grealish, McGinn and Luiz all had good games. We are marginally better off than we were before the restart so I still think we have a reasonable chance of avoiding relegation.
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We simply have to stay up. The 3 clubs coming up have to be in a worse position than ourselves. Another season in the Championship will knock us back years. We need to be thinking of getting back to at least where we were in the mid to late 00's and building from there.
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For the second game running our defenders failed to organise quickly enough after substitutions leaving players unmarked. Other than that we probably should have won but wasted chances again. Grealish, McGinn and Luiz all had good games. We are marginally better off than we were before the restart so I still think we have a reasonable chance of avoiding relegation.
2nd Game running the opposition have made subs before us that have changed game and we had had to react
FH we were mostly decent and should of scored , 2h we didn't start that well and to me at least it was obvious we needed to change things but we sit and wait and game changes in that period.
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that's exactly the MO of every recent Villa manager - too little too late.
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If people are thinking Drinkwater coming back is the answer then Christ knows what the question is and we are in a far worst state than even I thought we were.
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Whilst watching the highlights of the game I was distracted by how much Miguel Almiron looks like Dr Sheldon Cooper off of The Big Bang Theory.
And El Ghazi plays football like Penny would.
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Whilst watching the highlights of the game I was distracted by how much Miguel Almiron looks like Dr Sheldon Cooper off of The Big Bang Theory.
And El Ghazi plays football like Penny would.
I don't rate Penny either. ;)
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If people are thinking Drinkwater coming back is the answer then Christ knows what the question is and we are in a far worst state than even I thought we were.
I forgot we had him to be honest. Oh great!
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Seems to me that Mings, Hause, Konsa and Targett were all culpable for the goal...
Here Targett would be better placed behind Carroll even though he is unlikely to win a header. As he is in front, Mings is pulled over to challenge for anything behind Carroll, which forces Hause to cover St.M. Konsa is in position as if Hause were where he would normally be...
(https://i.ibb.co/Kzdq1GZ/NewGoal1.png) (https://ibb.co/Kzdq1GZ)
Konsa then fails to appreciate Hause's position (and Gayle's) and doesn't read the play until it's too late (Mings is now useless, neither pressing or dropping)...
(https://i.ibb.co/5F4VR8Z/NewGoal2.png) (https://ibb.co/5F4VR8Z)
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Id put money on trez being signed based on our owner’s influence.
Yeah I make you right there. Neither Trez nor El Ghazi are PL standard players. Imagine the difference some quality wide players could have made to our season. How much influence does Smith have on squad recruitment? That seems to be the million dollar question.
I do not think Sawiris had anything to do with it. I doubt it if he even knew that Mahmoud Hassan was a footballer.
After analysing all possible reasons for signing him the only plausible explanation is the influence of Mr Sawiris so it must be right.
# I think that's called Occam's Razor. (I learnt that on here)
Didn’t Elmo recommend him? - which has killed his future scouting career.
If so, we haven’t learned our lesson from Petrov - Tonev that buying an unknown player due to a recommendation from a fellow countryman may not be the best idea!
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Seems to me that Mings, Hause, Konsa and Targett were all culpable for the goal...
Here Targett would be better placed behind Carroll even though he is unlikely to win a header. As he is in front, Mings is pulled over to challenge for anything behind Carroll, which forces Hause to cover St.M. Konsa is in position as if Hause were where he would normally be...
(https://i.ibb.co/Kzdq1GZ/NewGoal1.png) (https://ibb.co/Kzdq1GZ)
Konsa then fails to appreciate Hause's position (and Gayle's) and doesn't read the play until it's too late (Mings is now useless, neither pressing or dropping)...
(https://i.ibb.co/5F4VR8Z/NewGoal2.png) (https://ibb.co/5F4VR8Z)
Mings goes out of position and does nothing, if he decides to go when there are other bodies out there he has to deal with it.
As the play develops Konsa allows Gale to get ball and goal side of him.
But the problem starts with a Mings.
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Seems to me that Mings, Hause, Konsa and Targett were all culpable for the goal...
Here Targett would be better placed behind Carroll even though he is unlikely to win a header. As he is in front, Mings is pulled over to challenge for anything behind Carroll, which forces Hause to cover St.M. Konsa is in position as if Hause were where he would normally be...
(https://i.ibb.co/Kzdq1GZ/NewGoal1.png) (https://ibb.co/Kzdq1GZ)
Konsa then fails to appreciate Hause's position (and Gayle's) and doesn't read the play until it's too late (Mings is now useless, neither pressing or dropping)...
(https://i.ibb.co/5F4VR8Z/NewGoal2.png) (https://ibb.co/5F4VR8Z)
Mings goes out of position and does nothing, if he decides to go when there are other bodies out there he has to deal with it.
As the play develops Konsa allows Gale to get ball and goal side of him.
But the problem starts with a Mings.
The second still picture there highlights just how bad our defending has become at times. Any coach worth his salt would look at that tear strips off the defenders.What the fuck happened to our shape there? It's criminally bad. Just what the hell is John Terry doing with them at the training ground? Dwight Gayle is known to us and has previous in scoring against us. He came onto the pitch and just strolled into our penalty area with only Konsa showing even the slightest awareness of the danger. Once again it would appear that we have backroom staff coasting through a highly paid stint at Villa Park.
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Hi I take it you're a Tooner and it's a very fair post. We should have been leading at HT. Once Grealish got going your were done for but unfortunately he couldn't be bothered till the last quarter and that also coincided with when Maximin faded out of the match. Overall a dreadful match and Bruce still sticking with football that makes your eyes bleed. Good luck with the takeover. We dislike Ashley as much as you do.
I think Grealish was being specifically targeted in our initial set up. He's clearly your most dangerous player. When we made our subs, that freed up Grealish to impose himself more on the game.
Last sentence surprised me, why do you dislike Ashley?
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Yes, we should have won the game, based on the first thirty minutes and the strong finish. But when you can't score from good chances -Ally from El-Ghazi's perfect cross- and you insist on making comedic errors at the back, you can't expect to win.