Aston Villa vs Sunderland Post-Match Thread

[Villa in Denmark]

No excuses.  Not beating Sunderland at home is totally unacceptabledisappointing. It says a lot that even with the amount of work done in the Summer that we are still well short. it's amazing that we're close to looking like a team already.

Close to the correct answer. B-

[E I Adio]

We're a work in progress and that can be very frustrating, but I think the signs are that we'll settle down as the season progresses and become a much better team than we have been for these last few years. I know stats can be misleading, but when was the last time we had 21 shots recorded on goal in one game?

[Toronto Villa]

We're a work in progress and that can be very frustrating, but I think the signs are that we'll settle down as the season progresses and become a much better team than we have been for these last few years. I know stats can be misleading, but when was the last time we had 21 shots recorded on goal in one game?

I think it took us until late December last season to get to 20 shots on goal.

[Villa in Denmark]

We're a work in progress and that can be very frustrating, but I think the signs are that we'll settle down as the season progresses and become a much better team than we have been for these last few years. I know stats can be misleading, but when was the last time we had 21 shots recorded on goal in one game?

That might well be more than we managed in Lambert's last 38 games together.

[Dave]

Sorry when you said it was a "must win game " I thought you meant it was a must win game

I don't like not taking chances either but going into hyperbolic panic mode with 34 games left to play is just absurd

Sunderland at home is not a game we have to win, either. There aren't any such games until you start running out of matches left to play.

I assume Bournemouth away was not on this have to win list, mind, so imagine you'll be balancing this result out with that one?

What a terrible approach.

But still miles better than the wailing loudly and long that we're all doomed to inevitable relegation just because we're only twelfth in the league.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I felt a bit sorry for our front two today as we were so predictable in throwing crosses into the box and the Sunderland defence won the vast majority. Only on the very odd occasion when we played it on the deck and ran at them did we ever look like scoring. Sinclair's second being the perfect example. Neither Sinclair or Gestede were in the match much but that was more down to tactics than anything else. There was an improvement when Gil came on but over 90 minutes we made it very difficult for both to get involved in the game.

On a positive note, Sanchez and Gueye look to be forming a great partnership though it did look like Gueye was tiring for the last 15 minutes, as did Amavi who had a great first half again but never manages to repeat it 2nd half. As much as I appreciate Westwood, he's no attacking midfielder and today it showed, wasting a couple of the few real opportunities we created. Bacuna should thank his lucky stars he's got a new contract. Not his best today bu a very long way.

Hutton put in a real shift, getting forward plenty of times and still managing to take care of his defensive duties. The two alongside him still worry me though. Clark was at fault for one of their goals and Richards still doesn't fill me with confidence. Both need to learn how to dominate their space.

Overall a draw was a fair result despite us having plenty of the ball we didn't really do much with it. Sunderland always looked more threatening in attack but overall they're a pretty poor side. They got lucky that we played to their strengths with our tactics.

[villadelph]

Sorry when you said it was a "must win game " I thought you meant it was a must win game

I don't like not taking chances either but going into hyperbolic panic mode with 34 games left to play is just absurd

Sunderland at home is not a game we have to win, either. There aren't any such games until you start running out of matches left to play.

I assume Bournemouth away was not on this have to win list, mind, so imagine you'll be balancing this result out with that one?

What a terrible approach.

But still miles better than the wailing loudly and long that we're all doomed to inevitable relegation just because we're only twelfth in the league.

I said we played well? I think bringing up we're 12th in August is worse than complaining about a result that should've been a victory.

Wailing loudly, though? Ha, I guess I left caps lock on or something?

[Chris Jameson]

Have any of the bookmakers paid out on our relegation after the result today?

[PeterWithesShin]

Compare how we look going forward today to how we looked last time at home to Sunderland. We have the potential for this to be a more than decent side.

As for Gil, after not playing for a while was probably too much of an ask to start today after Tuesday. I'm interested in seeing the 'dive' again. And quality time wasting from them starting pretty much when they equalised. How it tookcso long to book the keeper is beyond me.

[Morten]

Frustrated at the draw, but yes, there are lots of positive signs, and we were missing Adama and Grealish. And we might even strengthen us a bit more in the coming days.

[Dave]

Sorry when you said it was a "must win game " I thought you meant it was a must win game

I don't like not taking chances either but going into hyperbolic panic mode with 34 games left to play is just absurd

Sunderland at home is not a game we have to win, either. There aren't any such games until you start running out of matches left to play.

I assume Bournemouth away was not on this have to win list, mind, so imagine you'll be balancing this result out with that one?

What a terrible approach.

But still miles better than the wailing loudly and long that we're all doomed to inevitable relegation just because we're only twelfth in the league.

I said we played well? I think bringing up we're 12th in August is worse than complaining about a result that should've been a victory.

I quite agree - it's ridiculous to even suggest that the league table matters at the moment, just like describing anything as a "must-win game" in August would be absolutely daft.

[ciggiesnbeer]

Meh result against a crap side. Quite liked the way we played though.

[Toronto Villa]

I tell you Sunderland will consider this a massive point gained because for all intents and purposes they are fucking awful

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

How we didn't win this I'll never know.

They're fucking awful.

Going forward we looked quite good (though Gestede only bothered with 15/20 to go.

Great second goal. That's how we should be playing more often. Quick movement and passing.

Really can't believe we didn't win that.

Promising, but obviously could do better.

[PaulWinch again]

Sorry when you said it was a "must win game " I thought you meant it was a must win game

I don't like not taking chances either but going into hyperbolic panic mode with 34 games left to play is just absurd

Sunderland at home is not a game we have to win, either. There aren't any such games until you start running out of matches left to play.

I assume Bournemouth away was not on this have to win list, mind, so imagine you'll be balancing this result out with that one?

Yes 'must win' at this stage is utter nonsense. It's a disappointing result, but that's principally because we should have won. Sinclair, Gueye, Amavi and Sanchez did well overall. Clark and Gestede need to up their game. Gil had a positive cameo.