Aston Villa vs Stoke Post Match Thread

[myf]

Did vlaar lose his man for the equaliser? Is it a 1 or 3 match ban? Horrendous performance for an experienced captain. Get okore back.

The stokies were acting like complete twats when they were let out. A horrible game for my littleuns' first

[JD]

Gutted by this result. Sounds like nothings changed with some of the senior players. I'm glad Vlaar is now suspended as he hasn't looked interested. Gabby should be dropped as well.     

[Rigadon]

Went to the game earlier and left gutted.  I personally thought the formation was OK and the simple tactic of getting the ball up to Benteke was understandable given the short time he has had to work with the players.  Unfortunately, we were up against the team in the league best equipped to deal with that tactic, so we didn't really make much of an impact.  We got in some decent positions, but our quality in the final third was desperately poor.  To be honest, the quality of our set pieces today would have been disappointing for most Sunday league sides.

As for Sherwood, I hope he can build on the way we played today.  I don't think it was a bad start and had Vlaar not made two awful errors at the end we would have got a point.  He made changes throughout the game (would have brought Bacuna on instead of Weimann), but really doesn't have too much to work with.  As I said, I think the formation could work, but he's got to realise:

- Agbonlahor and Weimann are impact subs at best

- When Sanchez goes off the boil in a game he needs to be taken off

- Gil is a bit of liability when he comes into deeper positions.  He needs to stay in the final third

- If we are going to continue with the formation then Bacuna or maybe even Grealish need to come in on the right - Edit or even try and get something out of N'Zogbia

- Guzan's kicking off the floor is a problem if we are trying to hit Benteke.  His kicks are too short and too flighted     

Agree with most of this.

It was cold as fock.

[silhillvilla]

Can't fault sherwood really at all.
The players on the other hand are largely an absolute disgrace. The very minimum should be 100% effort.
Clearly this isn't happening, with a heavy heart I've seen enough now, it's not worth the time,effort, money or emotional involvement . I've been for a long walk , fielded texts from noses and Geordies . It's fine, I've thought for a while we are gone and we are.

[Toronto Villa]

Did vlaar lose his man for the equaliser? Is it a 1 or 3 match ban? Horrendous performance for an experienced captain. Get okore back.

The stokies were acting like complete twats when they were let out. A horrible game for my littleuns' first

Straight red but 1 game I think it is one game as it wasn't violent conduct.

[Richard E]

It was a second yellow so it'll be a one match ban.

[tomd2103]

Did vlaar lose his man for the equaliser? Is it a 1 or 3 match ban? Horrendous performance for an experienced captain. Get okore back.

The stokies were acting like complete twats when they were let out. A horrible game for my littleuns' first

Straight red but 1 game I think it is one game as it wasn't violent conduct.

It was two bookings.  He got booked only a few minutes before the penalty and the ref showed two yellows.

[PeterWithesShin]

Spot the mistake on the team sheet. And it's the naughty step for anyone who says it included Gabby!

[Toronto Villa]

Did vlaar lose his man for the equaliser? Is it a 1 or 3 match ban? Horrendous performance for an experienced captain. Get okore back.

The stokies were acting like complete twats when they were let out. A horrible game for my littleuns' first

Straight red but 1 game I think it is one game as it wasn't violent conduct.

It was two bookings.  He got booked only a few minutes before the penalty and the ref showed two yellows.

Yes, you're right it was. Forgot he got one earlier. I think the basic rule is correct though, that even if it was a straight red, the offense carries a one game ban as long as it wasn't violent conduct.

[tomd2103]

A long and disappointing day.   Having thought about it through four hours of traffic, I think today we lost because of the Lambert legacy.   The inability to stay calm and play intelligently.   Things happen, like the equalizer but instead of simply pressing on and staying on the front foot we start to panic and make unforced errors.   The longer the game goes on the more error prone we become and defeat becomes a self fulfilling expectation.   We needed to keep the ball on the ground against Stoke but constantly indulged in looping aimless headers and long clearances.   Now I agree with Hilts that long ball may be our only option with so little time to eradicate player faults, but it has to be long ball played properly and with skill but it degenerates into aerial mayhem. I also agree with Robbo when he says he thinks we have been guilty of self deception in the belief that we have a good squad.   However you cut it the fact remains that a big element of our plight is due to lack of player quality.  The quality many of them fail to show has been touched on a number of times in this thread. It is lack of intelligence.   Too many stupid things happen which should not happen, today's winning penalty being a perfect example.   I also agree with all the posters who have said the core of our current disastrous run is not getting rid of Lambert much sooner. We know that the new four year contract is to blame for that.  With a heavy heart I have to say that based on today's game I think it will be too much for Tim Sherwood to keep us in the Premiership in the time he has available.

I think it is the fact that he can't bring anyone in that could prove decisive. 

[Dave]

Can't fault sherwood really at all.

Hang on, I thought the reason why he was a good option was the he could provide an instant lift and raise their games with his praise and positivity?

If he's not been brought in to do that, what is he here for? Based on today (and his whole managerial career), it's not his incisive tactical mind.

[Toronto Villa]

Spot the mistake on the team sheet. And it's the naughty step for anyone who says it included Gabby!

We could have done with Rico in the middle today. Along with Parker and Houghton.

[silhillvilla]

Can't fault sherwood really at all.

Hang on, I thought the reason why he was a good option was the he could provide an instant lift and raise their games with his praise and positivity?

If he's not been brought in to do that, what is he here for? Based on today (and his whole managerial career), it's not his incisive tactical mind.

I think there is something poisonous within this group of players.

[PeterWithesShin]

A snake? A triffid? A spider?

[silhillvilla]

Horrendous day and I'm off to bed before Motd comes on. Night, see you all in the championship with munish and claridge.