Oh for a Gareth Barry, an Ian Taylor or a Paul Birch.
Judging from the crowd's reaction yesterday, I think things have passed the point of no return for Ashley. Things will start to get ugly if he continues to be a starter.
In a bit of fairness to him, it does look the first challenge attempt at a tackle is just a kick at his ankles and that's why his arms go up after the second attempt takes the ball. He's also the only one attempting to block the goal as the defence are wank as usual. Having said that I really wish we had better and he was at best an option from the bench, that he's still pretty much a guaranteed starter is ridiculous.
I feel sorry for him. He's not unprofessional like Gabby and seems to try hard. He's just not very good.
He's a neat and tidy player but needs strong players around him. He will never work in a two which is why he is looking particularly poor this season.He needed to have gone in the summer but the period where he was playing in a narrow three with Delph and Cleverly, he generally did ok.Can't understand why the manager keeps thinking the shape of the midfield he has used all season is ever going to work.
Quote from: nick harper on October 02, 2016, 11:44:16 AMHe's a neat and tidy player but needs strong players around him. He will never work in a two which is why he is looking particularly poor this season.He needed to have gone in the summer but the period where he was playing in a narrow three with Delph and Cleverly, he generally did ok.Can't understand why the manager keeps thinking the shape of the midfield he has used all season is ever going to work.Agree with this, but the lack of investment in the midfield area means we can only really play with a two in midfield.
Quote from: tomd2103 on October 02, 2016, 11:47:51 AMQuote from: nick harper on October 02, 2016, 11:44:16 AMHe's a neat and tidy player but needs strong players around him. He will never work in a two which is why he is looking particularly poor this season.He needed to have gone in the summer but the period where he was playing in a narrow three with Delph and Cleverly, he generally did ok.Can't understand why the manager keeps thinking the shape of the midfield he has used all season is ever going to work.Agree with this, but the lack of investment in the midfield area means we can only really play with a two in midfield.Yes, agree. Overloaded with forward types but only four midfield options and that includes Bacuna. He needed to find an energetic box to box midfielder instead of Adomah who seems to be another option we don't need.
Quote from: Risso on October 02, 2016, 10:49:32 AMJudging from the crowd's reaction yesterday, I think things have passed the point of no return for Ashley. Things will start to get ugly if he continues to be a starter.Yeah, a lot of booing when his name was read out. I was flabbergasted when I realised Tsibola was on the bench whilst that useless waste of a skin was selected.
Not replacing him in the summer and persevering with him in the team was RDM's first and biggest mistake at Villa in my opinion. The midfield was always our weakest area and why we never had a complete overhaul is staggering considering how bad we were. Looks like it's gonna cost RDM his job and I have no sympathy for him.