Aston Villa vs Manchester United Post-Match thread

[ozzjim]

We didn't play direct balls in the first half hour. They tied badly and went long. Gueye and Veretout can clearly party but both look like they are 4-5 games from match fitness.

[Tayls_7]

A bit annoyed by the despondancy here. Apart from a lack of cutting edge we were the better team. We played better than we have a right to expect given the dramatic change in personnel. We are certainly heading in the right direction which is a concept that has been absent for years.

Better team? Whoah there pardner.They were much better than us.Kept us on a leash and zipped it about when they wanted.And they are average.

Bullshite. They were fortunate enough to get the first goal. From that, rather than put us to the sword they continued in a similar vein and struggled across the line. Much better? Rollocks.

Can you illicit your thinking how we were the better team?

There's really nothing illicit about my thinking. We played with tempo, were sharper in midfield and played in a manner that belied our newness.. United will be breathing a sigh of relief that they are fortunate enough to have obtained maximum points and we ahould be positive that we are in the very early stages of a positive transformation. N'est ce-pas?

[PeterWithesShin]

I wonder how different the night would have been if the ref wasn't a cheat bottler?

[AlexAlexCropley]

A bit annoyed by the despondancy here. Apart from a lack of cutting edge we were the better team. We played better than we have a right to expect given the dramatic change in personnel. We are certainly heading in the right direction which is a concept that has been absent for years.

Better team? Whoah there pardner.They were much better than us.Kept us on a leash and zipped it about when they wanted.And they are average.

Bullshite. They were fortunate enough to get the first goal. From that, rather than put us to the sword they continued in a similar vein and struggled across the line. Much better? Rollocks.

Can you illicit your thinking how we were the better team?

There's really nothing illicit about my thinking. We played with tempo, were sharper in midfield and played in a manner that belied our newness.. United will be breathing a sigh of relief that they are fortunate enough to have obtained maximum points and we ahould be positive that we are in the very early stages of a positive transformation. N'est ce-pas?

Now I see thanks.

[Caiphus]

I could only see what was on telly, but I thought Bacuna was very solid as a right back.  Memphis was pretty quiet except for the one shot on the counter where he ran the inside channel and became more Richards's to deal with.  He also got forward pretty well, we were just too afraid to give the ball away by killer balls when we did venture into the forward third of the field.  We held our position behind the ball a bit and we ended up just letting ourselves peter out.  The forwards were putting effort in, they just kept running to the same areas and clogging up the centre by bringing all their defenders with them.

I know it's easy to blame Gabby, but it seems like he was named as the central striker and Ayew kept on getting in his space which made it difficult for either to be effective.

[villadelph]

I wonder how different the night would have been if the ref wasn't a cheat bottler?

His was pretty bad tonight. I remember a few Gueye and Ayew challenges that were fair.

[olaftab]

Well a first this one Friday night game at VP but inevitably an exercise in futility. Why oh why we keep losing to these fuckers? One day may be one day we will have a team to ......

[Salsa Party Animal]

I was at the match and though we were struggling to keep up the pace and is lacking fitness.

Think Tim should have taken off Agbonloahor instead of Sinclair.

Ayew must replace Agbonlahor instead of playing both together.
Ayew look more hungry and work hard but need to show his talent more, I saw a shot of Ayew and it look very powerful but wayful.

Amavi look very good defender and got the skills but need to pass the ball a little bit better and don't give it away. He will be our best left back and I think he will be greatest left back in my lifetime for Aston Villa.

Gueye look strong and showing lot of promise but need more fitness and games.

Veretout look really struggling and lacking fitness. I fear he will be a flop, but it is too early to tell as I know nothing about him.

We also need to test Romero more often. If I was LVG after selling David de Gea, i would stick with Romero for the season.

[Sexual Ealing]

I took a lot of positives from that. One thing I always used to moan about with Villa teams since the departure of Big Racist Ron was that, when we're chasing a game in the last 5 minutes, we've always looked as vulnerable as we did when we were protecting a similar lead. I thought we were easily the better team in the second half tonight.

I think we ought to enjoy Amavi this season because he looks like he'll be a great addition to the Arsenal team to me.
Sinclair should never have been taken off with Ayew struggling as he was.
Gabby looked like a man with a moustache.
Gueye is a player.
The long-ball to Gestede ought to be an option on the menu rather than the recipe.

All my love,

VillaiNorseVillan, GCSE

[Percy McCarthy]

Encouraged, but we have to get fitter if we're going to press like we did at the start of both halves. Lucky deflection on the goal, it was going straight at Guzan. Definite penalty denied. Thought the defence looked okay, no panic for a right-back for me and the rest of the back four/five I'm pretty happy with, especially Amavi. That said, I won't be surprised by anything that happens in this transfer window.

Westwood and Marvin did well as did Sanchez when he came on. The front three were disappointing but none of them got played in by a midfield that is, temporarily I hope, lacking creativity. It's nobody's fault that possibly our three most creative players are all out. Veretout and Ayew were terrible I thought (early days of course). Replace those two with a couple of our missing players at their best and it would have made a big difference I reckon. Overall I think we will get better as we gain in fitness and familiarity. A few results to add a bit of confidence and we'll have a good season.

The standard of analysis from Redknapp and Yorke was absolute shit, as bad as anything you see on MOTD.

[olaftab]

Our back four is as disorganised as badly as at time since TSM was here.

Fuck me I must have been at the wrong match. I didn't know we got beat 4-0!

[old man villa fan]

I think some people need to get real.  To pull together so many new players that are new to this league an expect them to suddenly click was never going to happen.  Add to this the lack of fitness and sharpness, together with a few injuries and it is going to tack 5 or 6 games to get anywhere near a cohesive team.

The new players need helping out by the more experienced and felt sorry for Ayew as he was getting no help from Gabby.  I would be inclined to bring Sanchez in and play 4 in the middle until we get up to speed and get Grealish back.  Although Sanchez has mad spells during games, he is quite a calm player and brings players into the game.

I still worry about Bacuna and would like to see a better RB come in that plays a lot tighter.  An experienced central striker on loan looks needed.

Although disappointed not getting anything from the game, I can see promise in the shape the squad is taking.  I do worry a bit about scoring goals though.  I think we have to get more players into the box and get the ball forward quicker from the back.

[andyh]

We are very,very toothless.

Adebayor looks like he was a good idea now.

[joe_c]

I'm fairly optimistic after that. I think we're decent enough and improving and there are a handful of players we've still not seen who can improve things too.

On the one hand I'm glad that this particular game is done and dusted for another season but frustrating that another mediocre Man U side have dragged us down to their level and escaped with three points. We only ever seem to put in a decent performance when they are really good or we are really bad.

[olaftab]

The last 3 ManUre teams to come to Villa Park have been the worst since 1990 - and we still can't beat them.  Says it all really.

Unfortunately coincides with our 3 worst teams since 1990.