Aston Villa v Fulham Post-Match Thread

[glasses]

Could say a lot of things, but it all boils down to a simple fact. You can have as much of the ball you want in ineffective areas of the pitch, but if you don't defend well enough, and you don't create enough chances to score, you don't win football matches. Poor tactics, poor formation choice and poor selections by our management team. Not for the first time this season. A reality check to all those people who thought we had turned the corner. We still look like a poor team.

[WikiVilla]

Just back from a very windy Villa Park.

Poor defensively again today but we put too much pressure on them by allowing their midfield so much time and space. For long periods Sidwell, yes him, & Murphy ran the show.

Again, having gone 2-1 up we've failed to professionally close a game out. Where was Friedel for the corner ? Having said that he saved us again with that late save from Johnson

[The Situation]

Dropping Ashley Young to try and make a point when we're only a few points above the relegation zone would be a silly thing to do.

Not bothered about dropping Petrov though.

Is Delph STILL injured? No way can we afford to not be playing him. We need his energy.

Bradley - Makoun - Delph

Melt in your mouth midfield.

Just play it!

[WikiVilla]

The tippy tappy thing is all very pretty, but when your executing it in your own half, there's no end result other than the chance you're going to fuck up and lose possession.

We need to vary it a bit

[BC54 VFC]

We never looked like winning, Fulham were always the better side on the ball and going forward, if anything we were lucky to come away with a point.
Sorry Houllier I see no point in a system that completely nullifies our 3 strikers. Why not play Bent on his own and replace Young and Gabby with midfield players like Bannan and Coker at least they would contribute to the game.
Awful tactics, and a waste of 2 points.
Friedel was abysmal apart from one save but the midfield was over run because Petrov and Makoun were often outnumbered.
Makoun, despite his one touch football, doesn't cover players he covers spaces and he gives the ball away at the wrong time. Still looks impressive, as did Petrov until he tired, but there was always one or two extra players in white.
They score 2 well engineered goals we scored 2 lucky ones, albeit a nice shot from Walker that 9/10 times would have gone wide.
You don't win matches if you don't give your strikers chances and today we didn't get enough balls into the danger area and created little else. Downing ran and ran but then ran out of ideas and then what happens we pass the ball back to Friedel and he kicks it up for it to come back, where is the player to hold the ball, to create the killing pass. Why are Bent and Gabby not played as twin strikers, as it stood neither contributed.

We need to pick up 3 points at home to survive, those tactics won't achieve them.

Agree entirely with everything you've said.

[The Left Side]

Good in parts today but Petrov and Gabby didn't get up to speed today, Stan's legs had gone and Gabby is in the wrong position. Clark is good but not a left back and Friedel let us down with the two goals today. On the plus side Jean Deux Makoun looks good but we need to sort out our formation and GH needs to make changes earlier, still we could have lost if Brad hadn't have made that save so on we move to next week.

[WikiVilla]

was Bent off for the disallowed goal ? couldn't see from where I was sitting ??

[eastie]

It will take time for GED to get all the pieces for his 4-3-3 preferred formation , ash and gabby are square pegs in round holes, I see albrighton and downing as the wide men supporting bent with a midfield of makoun delph/bannan and Bradley being a more viable option long term.

The system relies on defenders who are comfortable in possession of the ball and Clark would be better in central defence eventually, we need to bring in a quality left back and keeper in the summer , but I don't think for now playing players out of form and out of position is the answer.

Bent was offside for his goal but only by the slightest fraction , very close!

[damon loves JT]

I do wonder why so many of us see Delph as a magic solution to our problems in midfield. Is it just because he's never available?

[Lobsterboy]

Okay so we didn't win and are still looking over our shoulder but we didn't get beat and Fulham are on a very good run at the moment.

Yes, Petrov is past his sell buy date but I have no doubt GH will put Bradley in to the team soon and that should take care of that problem.

Not a great performance nor a great result but have seen much worse from us this season so onwards and upwards

[CJ]

Disappointing result.  Haven't seen the disallowed goal yet but other than that one chance Bent had precious little service all afternoon.  Random thoughts - Walker got in a good position to cross a few times but unfortunately failed to to deliver for Bent - although overall he had a decent game and showed that if you run at players and have a shot you can, er, score.  Friedel is not the keeper he used to be and we need to find a top quality Number 1 for next season.  Petrov is finished - although he broke up the play he invariably passed sideways or backwards (the new George 'the crab' Boateng?) or to them. Makoun's one touch passing is quality, but in the second half we got overrun in midfield and Houllier left it too late to change.   Downing had a decent game.  Gabby was again pointless in that position - if we want someone wide left it should be Downing or Young. 

Overall - meh.  At least it didn't rain

[eamonn]

I do wonder why so many of us see Delph as a magic solution to our problems in midfield. Is it just because he's never available?

I think it's a combination of his sexy name and that gruff Yorkshire accent that exudes control and confidence.

[darren woolley]

I'm disappointed with the result and with some of our players performances Brad needs to keep hold of the ball or put it to safety  and like i have said many times before Gabby and AY need to go back to there proper positions but that's another two points dropped.

[TheSandman]

I do wonder why so many of us see Delph as a magic solution to our problems in midfield. Is it just because he's never available?

I agree with that. For me he is not creative enough to be the third man. He can pass, tackle but he doesn't have the creativity or the 'Sidness' to fill the role. I see him as in the position I expect either Makoun or Bradley to fill.

The magic solution to our midfield problems is Barry Bannan. He has some 'Sidness'!

[damon loves JT]

The magic solution to our midfield problems is Barry Bannan. He has some 'Sidness'!

Well I hope so. If Bradley can win the ball and makoun can keep it, maybe Barry is the one to make something of it.