Aston Villa vs Sunderland Post-Match Thread

[oswald funkletrumpet]

Re Guzan - i don't get the criticism. That's the side the wall is protecting isn't it?

when i was 13 and played in goal i got told that even though you have a wall its not going to stop the ball coming over it so stand in the middle of the goal. guzans positioning was schoolboy stuff a bit like his distribution

if we as a team are ever going to progress we have to stop accepting mediocraty

[brian green]

Guzan is a real cause for concern. Occasional fans do not see the deterioration of a player. "Good old Brad. Saved our sorry arses loads of time in the past" is the entirely understandable reaction. However, he like Good Old Gabby, is not addressing the areas of his game that are deteriorating. I like him a lot and he is a good Villa man but he is making too many mistakes for top flight football.

[ciggiesnbeer]

It was a cracking game, I actually went home feeling like I'd been entertained, which to put it mildly hasn't always been the case in recent seasons.

I thought Sanchez was excellent for us, this season we will hopefully see the best of him now he's acclimatised to this League.

We were unlucky not to win. On another day we will play worse than that and take the 3 points.

Sunderland need to be relegated just so there is no danger of having to spend 90 minutes looking at that hideous away kit ever again.

It really was pretty fun wasn't it?

I am really warming to Richards. His amazing header save was awesome and his miss only happened because he created the entire move from robbing fletcher and charging up field. I like him.

Sunderland away kit? Poor mans Norwich.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Guzan is a real cause for concern. Occasional fans do not see the deterioration of a player. "Good old Brad. Saved our sorry arses loads of time in the past" is the entirely understandable reaction. However, he like Good Old Gabby, is not addressing the areas of his game that are deteriorating. I like him a lot and he is a good Villa man but he is making too many mistakes for top flight football.

I reckon you are right. I thought Sherwood was crazy for dropping him and (allegedly) looking for a replacement this summer but maybe he just had the benefit of an outsiders perspective.

Sad to say but I saw Pantilimon deliver far better distribution under pressure than Brad did when he had all the time in the world.

[cdbearsfan]

No excuses.  Not beating Sunderland at home is totally unacceptable.  It says a lot that even with the amount of work done in the Summer that we are still well short.

This post brought to you in association with Hyperbole Today.

Sunderland are bloody awful.  If we want to be clear of trouble, we have to be taking maximum points from games like this.

Did Chelsea get relegated last season then as they didn't get maximum points against Sunderland?

Nor did Tottenham, Southampton or Man U.

Must've been a brilliant relegation battle last season with all those teams involved.

[brian green]

Agree cigs but I still don't know he did not score. Looked unmissable from where we sit. Third bench from the left Aston Hall rose garden.

[ciggiesnbeer]

heh, yeah I have no idea either, I think the pace of the cross (which was excellent) and the power of his header somehow conspired for the ball to bounce the wrong way. Strange miss.

[oswald funkletrumpet]

Guzan is a real cause for concern. Occasional fans do not see the deterioration of a player. "Good old Brad. Saved our sorry arses loads of time in the past" is the entirely understandable reaction. However, he like Good Old Gabby, is not addressing the areas of his game that are deteriorating. I like him a lot and he is a good Villa man but he is making too many mistakes for top flight football.

100% agree

guzan, gabby, bacuna, bunn not good enough

as far as guzan goes his distribution is poor so why doesnt he practice it? it isnt that difficult is it?

[brian green]

One big plus we have is the muscularity of our new line up. I don't think we will be bullied this season the way we have in the past. Richards is the original brick shithouse and Sanchez is the same.

[VinnieChase84]

Can't shake the feeling of 2 big points dropped. Should have won that game. If Adama and Grealish had been fit then that would have made the difference.

Richards fast becoming my favourite player, absolutely colossus
Sanchez had a cracking game
Gana - was everywhere. If only we have a striker version of him.

On the negative, the side selection. At home against teams like Sunderland I do not see why we have to play a midfield 3 of Westwood, Gana and Sanchez. For me, Veretout in place of Westwood for home matches like this. On play, Sanchez is more valuable than Westwood

Gestede - hope he settles in quickly. Frustrating at best today, showed some nice touches/layoffs but then let himself down with poor control a times and movement.
Imo - we need a striker badly before deadline. Would happily take Ade it possible. Other than him I can't see any other striker links......

[Percy McCarthy]

Guzan is a real cause for concern. Occasional fans do not see the deterioration of a player. "Good old Brad. Saved our sorry arses loads of time in the past" is the entirely understandable reaction. However, he like Good Old Gabby, is not addressing the areas of his game that are deteriorating. I like him a lot and he is a good Villa man but he is making too many mistakes for top flight football.

100% agree

guzan, gabby, bacuna, bunn not good enough

as far as guzan goes his distribution is poor so why doesnt he practice it? it isnt that difficult is it?

I'm pretty sure he does practice it.

[robbo1874]

I know that not everyone will agree with the post above, but this gives me great heart about this season. Four games in and things look to be coming together. Ok only a point, but better than none and the performance good enough for some people to walk away feeling like they've had their money's worth.

I've got a spurs mate who was giving me heaps at the start of the season- I just texted him earlier: have you won any games yet? We'll be more than fine this season.

Sorry - not the post above. Richard E's post from the last page.

[olaftab]

robbo1874 we have some proper exciting footballers in our team. Players with vision, skill and guile. We are no longer full of barely functional donkeys who were there to run and sweat and little else. Let's see how it all comes together over the next few games.

[Matt Collins]

Based on the early season games I don't think there are too many teams that id say I think we look much better than - maybe Sunderland, Watford.

But there are plenty that I think we are roughly equal to. I think there's plenty more to come in an attacking sense. Hopefully including  new striker signing

[oswald funkletrumpet]

Guzan is a real cause for concern. Occasional fans do not see the deterioration of a player. "Good old Brad. Saved our sorry arses loads of time in the past" is the entirely understandable reaction. However, he like Good Old Gabby, is not addressing the areas of his game that are deteriorating. I like him a lot and he is a good Villa man but he is making too many mistakes for top flight football.

100% agree

guzan, gabby, bacuna, bunn not good enough

as far as guzan goes his distribution is poor so why doesnt he practice it? it isnt that difficult is it?

I'm pretty sure he does practice it.

not enough!