Aston Villa vs Manchester United Post-Match thread

[tomd2103]

A tough game to review really. It was quite bitty and scrappy from both teams in all honesty with them having marginally more luck and a tiny bit more cutting edge being enough to steal all 3 points.
I wouldn't be surprised if we don't see similar performances throughout the season. We just need to hope, a little like last weekend, that more of those games fall in our favour than against - most definitely a season of transition, which will probably frustrate a number of fans but it is incredibly refreshing to finally see that there is a plan, some renewed vigour and a manager who is desperate to win, not just "go again".

Guzan - 6 - Didn't have a lot to do in all honesty other than a couple of decent claims from crosses. His kicking looked better but he still looked nervous with it (or maybe that was just me that was nervous).

Bacuna - 7 - Solid performance from the right back. I thought he was a little less suspect defensively as well tonight but then United played far fewer of those balls inside the full back than other teams might. In a one on one situation he is ok, certainly enough to slow the attacker down but his positional awareness sometimes lacks but this wasn't put under much pressure last night. Didn't do as much going forward though.

Richards - 7 - Another good performance from Richards defensively. I like him bringing the ball out although Gueye/Sanchez/Westwood will need to be aware if he does this as he's going to lose it at some point. His distribution needs improving as well.

Clark - 7 - Another solid game for Clark, who is really maturing into a decent player. I don't think we are in much need of a new centre back to be honest now, just need to ship Senderos out.

Amavi - 8 - Another good performance from Amavi. Created our best opening where he fizzed one across the box, only to see Ayew and Gabby run to the same place. One mistake in the second half where he tried to run the ball out and got robbed and a couple of misplaced passes but he is a class act.

Gueye - 8 - My man of the match. Thought he worked his socks off, breaking play up but also quick with the pass. Given that he is probably still getting up to speed (although seems to be closer than others) I think we have a very useful player on our hands here

Westwood - 7 - Thought Westwood, set pieces aside, had a good game. He moved the ball a bit quicker than normal and played a couple of excellent cross-field balls. I feel he will ultimately be replaced though by Sanchez once he is back up to speed.

Veretout - 5 - Largely ineffectual. One of the signings I was most excited about but he clearly isn't both fit or up to Premiership speed yet. He shows some good touches but I think he is one that will either take a while to settle or will never quite adapt, which would be a shame as I think there is a good player there.

Sinclair - 6 - Worked hard, had a good spell just before being subbed (an incorrect decision in my opinion) but, overall, lacks an end product. If he is to play out wide on a regular basis, he needs to ensure that he either delivers a cross or plays an incisive pass on a far more regular basis. Too often does he go on a dribble, either get tackled (eventually) or turn back and play to Amavi/a midfielder.

Gabby - 4 - I will always have a soft spot for Gabby and while I understand people's view that he isn't necessarily that loyal given that it has never truly been put to the test he does obviously genuinely care for the cause. Nevertheless, he just isn't good enough. His movement is poor, first touch shocking (certainly when playing as a loan striker) and he blistering pace seems to have deserted him these days. Sad but he should be an impact sub at best now.

Ayew - 5 - Another one that will take a while to settle I suspect, although I also feel the lack of play between the midfield and forwards (missing Gil/Grealish) will also have hindered him. He looks like he could have something about him but I suspect he will be one that flatters to deceive more often than not and will almost certainly one that drives the Villa faithful mad (CNZ mark II he may well be, although an upgrade on him for sure)

Subs

Sanchez - 6 - not on long but, as with Bournemouth, came on and impressed me. He should start next week instead of Veretout if Gil/Grealish are back or Westwood if they aren't.
Gestede - 5 - Not as impressed this week with Rudy, although I think that was largely because United dropped a bit deeper and handled him much better than Bournemouth did. What we failed to realise was that space opened up between him and the midfield but without genuine attacking midfielders on the pitch (just forwards playing out wide) we lacked someone to realise this and pick up positions in the space.

Overall, it wasn't a dissimilar performance to the Bournemouth match really but we were playing a better team. Both sides looked disjointed, especially in the final third but they created the best two openings of the match and so probably just about shaded it. Very much a work in progress but one that we probably won't know how it is going until after about 10 games - seen enough to suspect we won't struggle but not much to suggest we will prosper either. I think goals will be an issue this season.

Would agree with most of that.  I didn't think the 'Cleverley' role really suited Veretout and he would be better suited to a more defensive role alongside Gueye.  I thought Gestede did OK last night and held the ball up well.  Agree that he had little support though and would like to see Grealish or Gil play off him when they return.

[tomd2103]

I have no idea how Sherwood is going to line us up with Gestede, Ayew, Gabby, Traore, Sinclair, Gil, Grealish and another forward he's been wanting to bring in. With Veretout, Gueye, Westwood and Sanchez that's 12 players for 6 positions.

When everyone is fit and up to speed I would like to see:


           Sanchez / Veretout            Gueye


Traore                    Gil / Grealish                Sinclair

     
                                 Gestede                     
                 

[Witton Warrior]

Guzan - Not really had much to do.
Bacuna - If he is going to be our right back then i'm going to make a return from retirement. Poor decision making, poor positioning - He ain't a right back!
Amavi - A couple of errors, but looks the business going forwards and backwards
Richards - Shouldn't have gone to ground for their goal, that aside I thought he looked good
Clark - Did well when called upon. Distribution average at times when going long.
Vertout - Ineefective and off the pace - needs time and more fitness work by the looks of it.
Gueyes - Very good on the whole, worry about the amount of bookings he'll get
Westwood - Did well on the whole, neat touches and held the shape of the midfield at times.
Sinclair - Didn't really get much service, didn't really deserve to go off either
Gabby - Personally I'd give him until November to find some form or sell him in January. His pace doesn't even frighten teams now as he doesn't do much when he does get behind. His cross when out wide in the second half is my example.
Ayew - Obviously needs time, didn't really see him do anything of any quality. Didn't like the dive either.

Gestede - Did ok, but surely when he plays we need to have him up with a striker and two wide players to get in crosses? 4-3-3 allows us no width and doesn't play to his strength.
Sanchez - Did well I thought, maybe needs to start instead of Vertout who needs more time to get used to the pace, maybe in 20/25 minute patches this will help.

Pretty much how I saw it as well.

Main negative was the lack of through-balls when a forward was in position to run onto them (very frustrating), some bloody awful passing (basic stuff) and delaying crosses into the box (due to no target man I suppose)

Positives were the close-control skills of some of our new boys which nearly unlocked the Manure defence in the second half and having Amavi looking to take on defenders. Gana/Ghana (?) nice player.

They looked a group of individuals but tried some decent moves especially second half - keep it up and we will be OK

[Chris Smith]

We were hoping for a season of mid table anonymity and so far have beaten relegation candidates and lost to top four candidates. So on a purely statistical basis we have done as expected.

We are obviously a side in transition so any attempt at a wider judgement is pointless.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Guzan - Not really had much to do.
Bacuna - If he is going to be our right back then i'm going to make a return from retirement. Poor decision making, poor positioning - He ain't a right back!
Amavi - A couple of errors, but looks the business going forwards and backwards
Richards - Shouldn't have gone to ground for their goal, that aside I thought he looked good
Clark - Did well when called upon. Distribution average at times when going long.
Vertout - Ineefective and off the pace - needs time and more fitness work by the looks of it.
Gueyes - Very good on the whole, worry about the amount of bookings he'll get
Westwood - Did well on the whole, neat touches and held the shape of the midfield at times.
Sinclair - Didn't really get much service, didn't really deserve to go off either
Gabby - Personally I'd give him until November to find some form or sell him in January. His pace doesn't even frighten teams now as he doesn't do much when he does get behind. His cross when out wide in the second half is my example.
Ayew - Obviously needs time, didn't really see him do anything of any quality. Didn't like the dive either.

Gestede - Did ok, but surely when he plays we need to have him up with a striker and two wide players to get in crosses? 4-3-3 allows us no width and doesn't play to his strength.
Sanchez - Did well I thought, maybe needs to start instead of Vertout who needs more time to get used to the pace, maybe in 20/25 minute patches this will help.

Pretty much how I saw it as well.

Main negative was the lack of through-balls when a forward was in position to run onto them (very frustrating), some bloody awful passing (basic stuff) and delaying crosses into the box (due to no target man I suppose)

Positives were the close-control skills of some of our new boys which nearly unlocked the Manure defence in the second half and having Amavi looking to take on defenders. Gana/Ghana (?) nice player.

They looked a group of individuals but tried some decent moves especially second half - keep it up and we will be OK

Agree with all of that pretty much.

If a few of those potential through balls had actually happened - and a bit quicker; we do seem to take an age to spot a pass at times - we could have seen a very different result.
I am hoping that Gil, Grealish and Traore can provide that bit extra that we - and ManU - were clearly missing last night.

[PaulWinch again]

God almighty we lost 1-0 to Man Utd, some of the reactions to the new players are like we've lost ten on the spin. These players need a chance to gel as a unit, get used to the league and get match fit. Writing off Ayew after two games is genuinely insane. As I stated earlier in this thread Ronaldo struggled at first in this league, but he ended up doing fairly well for himself.

[silhillvilla]

We were hoping for a season of mid table anonymity and so far have beaten relegation candidates and lost to top four candidates. So on a purely statistical basis we have done as expected.

We are obviously a side in transition so any attempt at a wider judgement is pointless.

The next 4 games are probably more meaningful in the sense they are teams probably in and around where we are in terms of league within a league - palace, Leicester , Sunderland , WBA

[Clampy]

God almighty we lost 1-0 to Man Utd, some of the reactions to the new players are like we've lost ten on the spin. These players need a chance to gel as a unit, get used to the league and get match fit. Writing off Ayew after two games is genuinely insane. As I stated earlier in this thread Ronaldo struggled at first in this league, but he ended up doing fairly well for himself.

Totally agree. Some of the criticisms of one or two of the new guys after 180 minutes of football is just ridiculous.

[TonyD]

When is Jack N Gil going to be fit?

[Lastfootstamper]

In two-thirds of the pitch we look pretty good. My first viewing of the new boys.
Richards, a massive step-up on what we've had in that position of late.
Amavi, bloody hell, I hope we're scouting his replacement, cos I can't seeing it being too long before one of the moneybags lot come sniffing.
Gueye, quality, energy, intelligence, looks tailor-made for a PL midfield. Impressed.
Veretout, hmm, a bit early Cleverley-ish, didn't influence the game, I thought he struggled to get involved. Judgement reserved.
Ayew, again I'll wait. Doesn't look like someone to lead the line.
Gestede, I think he'll get a fair few once we're gelling, a bit like his predecessor in that he won't get many with his back to goal on the halfway line.
The last three, imo, were all hampered last night by our lack of a creative spark. With Gil, Grealish and Traore to come in, this'll hopefully change very soon. I remain optimistic, and look forward to being entertained.

[oldham_villa]

Brian Green, I love your posts fella. Spot on IMO

[saint13]

It was an awful game. Both teams looked unfit and sluggish. Rooney was abysmal. One of the worst Utd teams I have ever seen and one that wouldn't have beaten many teams playing like that. Like so many Villa sides of the last 20 years we looked happy to lose 1-0 against them. That is worrying for us. We looked like a team of strangers and very light weight in midfield and attack. We had no creativity. Their goalie, (who is a bag of nerves) only had to throw his cap on one Gabby header. This was despite Man U presenting us with the ball in their half on 6 to 8 occasions. Like everyone else I am mystified what the manager sees in Gabby. Years ago he was young and rubbish, now he is old and rubbish and a stone overweight by modern footballer standards.
Albeit early days, I am not wowed by Ayew for the money we paid, (his brother looked better for Swansea last week on a free). The other 2 midfield players we have bought were no better and I remain unconvinced. I hope they are not Jean Makoun and/or Yacuba Silla revisited. Bacuna is not good enough. I like Gestede & Richards and the left back looks very good. We definitely need better players or the best we can achieve is bottom half of the table.  I would have liked him to try & get Huddlestone from Hull. we will wait & see...

[Small Rodent]

Wasn't as bad as some are making out.

Richards would have got a penalty if he'd gone down and not tried to get his head on the ball. 10/10 for tenacity, but you can't do that against Man Itd. Or any team really.

Amavi looks great.

[Proposition Joe]

the sad thing is no matter what team, what the manager or what the tactics we have failed to beat them at home  in 20 meetings. That's pretty shit really

They should open up this fixture to let 11 lucky fans turn out for ManU. I mean, if they picked 11 people at random off the street we'd still find a way not to win.

[Martyn Smith]

Why did we bring a target man on in replacement for the only player likely to provide him with decent service? Ayew should have been subbed IMV, not impressed with him so far.