Aston Villa vs Sunderland Post-Match Thread

[ChicagoLion]

BTW how bad were Sunderland and yet they'll probably stay up pretty comfortably like us.

Frightening to think their frontline cost about 25m, I wonder who signed them....

To be fair, Wickham was Steve Bruce.

Yes they look similar.

[caster troy]

Do people on here think we should be challenging for Europe under the current ownership? Get a grip. We're avoiding relegation.

I think we should be challenging for 7th/8th place, which I'd count as Europe.

Agreed. West Ham are 6th and have scored almost 3 times as many goals as we have. Do they have considerably better players than us? No. Do they have a considerably better manager? Absolutely.

We could easily challenge for Europe if only our Chairman would finally appoint a decent manager instead of persisting with this clown.

[olaftab]

Do people on here think we should be challenging for Europe under the current ownership? Get a grip. We're avoiding relegation.

I think we should be challenging for 7th/8th place, which I'd count as Europe.

Yes would should be challenging for Europe regardless of who owns us.

[Witton Warrior]

Thought the atmosphere was bizarre today. 35k in the ground and all you could hear were the Sunderland. First time in ages I have sat in the U Trinity and not heard the Holte for nigh on 75 minutes even at kick off.

Cisshoko looks terrified to cross the ball and N'zogbia can't. Thought Charlieboy had three runs more than he usually does and a shot. No use singling him out really as they all looked pretty meh.

Sanchez may be good but he still gives me palpitations at times. Cleverly just kept giving up in the first half. Hutton did a job as did Vlaar and Clarke. Guzan solid. Is it me or is Benteke not really trying very hard - looks good in the midfield under no pressure but his lack of penetration for Jack's ball into the middle was criminal.

Andy, Oh Andy...

Give Grealish a start against Palace please! If he's crap I promise we will all shut up. He was 50:50 with his corners today but that is twice as good as anyone else. Great runs behind and into the penalty area and unlucky with his shot. Bacuna looks creative and his deep cross at the end deserved a goal.

At least Delph made it more interesting and gives Lambert an get-out...

[Ron Manager]

Carlos Sanchez turned in the best cultured defensive performance in a Villa shirt since Leighton Phillips at his very best. Once again Hutton and Clark played well. We could not see why Clark was subbed (for Okore) as he did not appear to be injured. Weimann was consistently dreadful
but its not his fault that Lambert picks him. Cleverley and N'Zogbia were just awful... yet again.

Benteke could have done more for the Villa cause than he did. Not an Andy Gray that's for sure. Delph who was sloppy in the time he was on the pitch got his just desserts for an undisciplined lunge.

We deserved a point as we did at Swansea. The difference being today we got one. But we needed the three!

[Gerrin]

Do people on here think we should be challenging for Europe under the current ownership? Get a grip. We're avoiding relegation.

I think we should be challenging for 7th/8th place, which I'd count as Europe.

1. Man City
2. Chelsea
3. Man United
4. Arsenal
5. Liverpool
6. Tottenham

We're not on a level playing field with any of these. So you think we're trying to finish above the likes of Everton, Southampton, West Ham and Newcastle no problem considering our financial situation?

[barrysleftfoot]

He brought Okores on because oh his pace.There was a couple of times at the start of the 2nd half when Clarks/Vlaars lack of pace was exposed.

 Vlaar was a bit lucky with the tackle on Wickham imho.

 Defensively/midfield was fine today, Sanchez was magnificent, a proper central midfielder, and Bacuna and Jack added something.

 I thought Weimann NZog and Cleverley were awful.Get 2 players in of real quality, and we could be challenging for the top 7/8.

 Don't think we will miss Vlaar or Delph tbh.

[Goldie.7]

When we get a half decent squad then i'll think we should be challenging for Europe, as it stands, No.

We are nowhere near good enough to be playing on Thursday's and Sunday's. Would I like us to have a decent squad and be in Europe........of course.

[Dave]

Vlaar was a bit lucky with the tackle on Wickham imho.

I don't see why.

It was a good defender timing a tackle well against a mediocre striker. That's not luck, that's just defending well.

[rougegorge]

Playing with 10 for most of the second half will doubtless help the manager conceal what was a dreadful first half. We're having more of the ball in recent games but the build up is just too slow and narrow.  Sanchez deservedly named as MoM.

[barrysleftfoot]

 We're not that far behind them though Gerrin, partic Spuds and Lplop.

 We might not win the league, but at the same time we're not a small time club either.

[PeterWithesShin]

Clark went straight down the tunnel so probably had an injury of some kind.

[barrysleftfoot]

 I don't think he played the ball 1st, thats why.

[CJ]

Weird atmosphere. Boring game between 2 tired and poor teams. Livened up a bit in the second half after Delph's red - haven't seen a replay yet so don't know whether it was justified or not but we didn't seem to complain too much. Worked hard to hang on for a point, but nearly blew it when they hit the post. Weimann, Cleverley and N'zogbia a waste of three places in the team - get Bacuna and Grealish in from the start, with the third shirt going automatically to Gabby, deservedly or not. Play Clark in midfield while Delph's out. All in all it was just....meh

[Gerrin]

We're not that far behind them though Gerrin, partic Spuds and Lplop.

 We might not win the league, but at the same time we're not a small time club either.

I mean with regards to spending. We are a bigger club than Spurs, Chelsea and Man City, but financially not currently.