Fulham v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[ozzjim]

Watching Everton, their loans of Delefou and Barry have been totally inspired. Barry is just the type we need to give experience and Delefou is just the sort we could do with to open up a game. Inspired loan deals by them. It is a market we have to look at to help bring the young players through. They will mature, they will improve, but it was noticeable today the only really experienced leader in the side was missing.

[Toronto Villa]

I haven't seen the match today and only got the chance to listen to occasional snippets on the car radio. A brief, constructive synopsis would be appreciated. Or a link to highlights as I cannot find any yet.

In terms of passing and control it was a lot of the same from previous weeks. We didn't create too many chances. Benteke is playing like Ian Olney, Berbatov played like the very good Berbatov and not the invisible one, they got a really soft penalty, we were denied a really good one. Westwood and Bacuna had very poor games. We really missed Ron Vlaar.

[PeterWithesShin]

We were shit. The ref skanked us twice at least, but doesn't change we were shit. Bacuna was really really shit as was Weimann. And Benteke didn't cover himself in glory again. Delph got booked so is out the manure game.

I await a call from the beeb to go professional.

[Legion]

Thank you.

[ozzjim]

I haven't seen the match today and only got the chance to listen to occasional snippets on the car radio. A brief, constructive synopsis would be appreciated. Or a link to highlights as I cannot find any yet.

Early doors it was in truth even, we had a couple of really good chances that Benteke spurned. They go in, we are on the way to a result, but we then gave away a really poor goal that Guzan and Bacuna should share blame for. We got forward and won a couple of corners, from one they broke. A brilliant flicked ball from Berbatov got one of theirs behind us, Bacuna caught him, but the guy essentially backed into Bacuna (leaving the ball) and won a penalty Dean was itching to give. Berbatov scored. We then missed a 3rd great chance just before half time. Tonev came on, what little shape we had went completely and we were very poor second half, looking likely to conced a 3rd in all truth, but then Gabby had a great shout for a pen that was not given by Dean (shock) and we had a brilliant chance when Weiman and Tonev seemed to get in each others way. Another penalty appeal for handball was turned down, but a goal would have flattered us to be honest. Benteke started well but visible lost confidence and never looked up for it after that. Lack of movement and confidence going forwards hurts the midfield options too. Very frustrating day all round, and Berbatov showed us the type of creativity we desperately lack.

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

We were shit. Very shit. We won't get lucky all the time like we have been against some teams (Man City and Southampton (especially this game, we were awful and deserved to be beat)).

After watching this rubbish, I worry about whether we'll be once again worrying about potential relegation come the end of the season.

I can't believe how little we pass the ball. I have seen these players do it, so know they can do it. Whether it's a confidence thing or they're not instructed to pass it, but it's ridiculous.

No idea what Weimann was doing today and Bacuna simply is not a right-back and persistently playing him there won't change it.

Awful. Something needs to change and fast because it's not good enough.

[VinnieChase84]

Lowton needs to come back in at RB with Bacuna moving into midfield. Delph, Sylla and Bacuna as our 3. I'd even bring Albrighton back in for Weimann who has been terrible all season.

[Legion]

Goals

Steve bloody Sidwell. Coolly-taken penalty, though. Did Guzan go too early?

[Tuco Salamanca]

Bacuna is not a full back.

Herd is not a centre back (I dunno what is).

Baker is not a full back.

El-Ahmadi is not a premier league footballer.

Lambert made a mess of it today.

[Legion]

[Matt C]

Too many players had absolute mares (Bacuna, Westwood, Weimann - I could go on) and were not good enough to carry anyone. They looked knackered too.

[ozzjim]

They did look like 90 minutes of sheer war like effort in the week left them done today.

[Ron Manager]

I haven't seen the match today and only got the chance to listen to occasional snippets on the car radio. A brief, constructive synopsis would be appreciated. Or a link to highlights as I cannot find any yet.

In terms of passing and control it was a lot of the same from previous weeks. We didn't create too many chances. Benteke is playing like Ian Olney, Berbatov played like the very good Berbatov and not the invisible one, they got a really soft penalty, we were denied a really good one. Westwood and Bacuna had very poor games. We really missed Ron Vlaar.

Oh,and by the way Weimann didnt play...but he did!

[Monty]

What a typical dumb bloody interview. The manager clearly wants to dodge the poor performance and focus on the referee so the interviewer lets him by spending ages talking about the penalty decisions and the Berbatov-Herd non-event.

[Irish villain]

Lets speak my mind a little more then. I found it depressing how many posters were glorying in the fact that we were so shite on the ball against Soton. I found it very depressing in fact, and all this 'there's no right way to play the game' etc. Anybody concerned about how bad we actually were got the whole 'we scored three times' thrown in their face.

Football of course is about points accumulated but over the course of a season, teams who struggle with the ball will generally be under pressure more and therefore concede more goals. You might get away with it six or seven times a season and that can push you into mid-table. But that shouldn't be enough. We should be striving to get back with the big boys and to that the whole culture of the club has got to change.

Fulham didn't let us 'smash and grab' and instead played us off the park.

I agree. It's why I always smile when people say it's a sign of a good team that they can play badly and still win and get three points. Yes, perhaps that's true for one or two of the top teams, but down at our level it usually means you're pretty poor, got away with it, and will get found out sooner or later. As tended to happen with MON as the season wore on...though tiredness due to lack of squad rotation was clearly a factor there

And that's another consequence. When you don't play with the ball you tire chasing the team that has it. Against Southampton we grabbed three goals and gave them over 70% possession. Is it any wonder we were tired today? There's a reason top sides play possession football so again, I feel the philosophy has to change. I'd rather watch us play football every week than marvel six or seven times a season at how we got a smash and grab.