Leicester City v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[LTA]

Maybe shows that, early as it is, how important our missing number 8 was. Not sure we'd have given up the midfield with him there.

He's our best midfielder by a mile. Sanchez is good for an hour, needs to be routinely subbed in games for now. You can see when he's 'gone' I think - he seems to stop seeing simple passes and starts dwelling on the ball and getting us into trouble. If we can get Veretout contributing and Gana fit we'll have a decent midfield with options.

For all his sins Gabby occupies centre-halves and brings a structure that Sinclair, Adama, Jack and Gil can work around, and thankfully there appears to be a goal threat emerging from those players.

Okore/Ilori/Crespo at right-back will hopefully be looked at. I still like Bacuna more than Hutton, I can just see him losing it in the derbies.

Fuck knows what we're gonna do about Guzan.

Guzan needs replacing in January.  He should have been chopped in the Summer.  Awful keeper who should be nowhere near a premier league starting 11.

[themossman]

I don't entirely blame Guzan for his own collapsing standards. As I said elsewhere Tim has fucked up there as well by fatally undermining a player we are now forced to rely on because of the lack of alternatives. He's not great but a good pro and has been a rare positive many a time over the last few shitty years. But he plays in a position where confidence is all important and he's only going to go one way now under TS, unfortunately,

[pauliewalnuts]

Thought we are struggling even before our second goal. Both full backs hopeless, seriously when will Amavi learn that repeatedly taking on a player inside our half or kicking his opponent down next to the corner flag is a good idea. If Bacuna went to clear the second goal with his left foot he would have cleared it, gutless.

We were calling out for a third player to come into midfield. Sanchez was out on his feet after 70, playing him and Westwood together in a two man midfield is asking for trouble but manager somehow was watching another game.
Two brilliant goals but no gumption or leadership throughout the side. We are a soft touch and other teams know it. Special mention to Ayew who must be adopted as he doesn't look related to a footballer

We were definitely struggling. Our second was completely against the run of play.

That substitution just defied belief.

[Steve R]

Another thumbs up for the third tit.

[brian green]

In half an hour Sherwood has destroyed what remained of Ayew's career.   I cannot see him recovering from that.   It was not his fault but he will inevitably carry the can.   Ayew will finish up with Tonev at Rowzed FC.

[olaftab]

Another thumbs up for the third tit.

No two tits are enough to deal with.

[villadelph]

In half an hour Sherwood has destroyed what remained of Ayew's career.   I cannot see him recovering from that.   It was not his fault but he will inevitably carry the can.   Ayew will finish up with Tonev at Rowzed FC.

To be fair he was pretty awful.

I mean.. the saggy basketball shorts and lackadaisical effort. Couldn't trap a ball or hold up play to garner support. I wouldn't trust him up top alone, might as well give that to Sinclair. Not to mention with Adama and Gueye fit can you make an argument he'd be frozen out?

Lorient is probably still counting their money. How on earth was his fee so high?

[curiousorange]

Is Ayew getting a run out for the reserves? Seems like he needs fitness and confidence.

[Legion]

Thought we are struggling even before our second goal. Both full backs hopeless, seriously when will Amavi learn that repeatedly taking on a player inside our half or kicking his opponent down next to the corner flag is a good idea. If Bacuna went to clear the second goal with his left foot he would have cleared it, gutless.

We were calling out for a third player to come into midfield. Sanchez was out on his feet after 70, playing him and Westwood together in a two man midfield is asking for trouble but manager somehow was watching another game.
Two brilliant goals but no gumption or leadership throughout the side. We are a soft touch and other teams know it. Special mention to Ayew who must be adopted as he doesn't look related to a footballer

First time I've laughed since Gil was substituted. Great day out with UKR, PWS and Freddy totally ruined by one of the most inept 20 minutes I've seen us put together.

[Taylor]

I was so depressed and angry earlier that I decided not to post. I've calmed down a bit now. I maintain that TS bought well in the summer, with the exception of Ayew. These players still need to get up to speed.

In the past three games we have shown that we can play strong attacking football, and in every case stupid errors have cost us. Guzan being the main culprit. Sherwood made mistakes today and will learn from these mistakes I am sure, though I'm not sure why Wilkins isn't advising him (was he there today I didn't see him on the TV?).

I think we'll be OK. We need to drop Guzan though.

[nick harper]

On a slightly brighter note, that was a beautiful goal by Gil. Thought he had a decent 60 minutes.

Playing Gil and Grealish was great offensively but the amount of cover they gave the full backs deteriorated as the game went on. Not only did Sherwood not see this, he actually managed to make it worse with his first substitution. Inexcusable really - we are in real trouble if he can't see this himself.

[Legion]

Grealish: https://vine.co/v/eFpEFOxjKYV

[Legion]

Gil: https://vine.co/v/eFDA1nmWx6K

[KRS]

Just back from the game...havent read any comments so far but imagine it will make interesting reading once I'm calmed down. Very pissed off and frustrated at throwing away 3 points...in addition to the 2 against Sunderland, thats 5 points dropped in the last 2 games.

We looked excellent in the first half...controlled the game and dominated possession without creating many chances but the game was clearly ours for the taking, and outplayed Leicester in their back yard. Both the team and Jack deserved the goal. We should have been more than 1-0 up at half time though.

The second half is where we show ourselves to be Jekyll and Hyde...for the second game running, the opposition make changes, come out the blocks fast and we look completely lost. Our second goal (can't wait to see it again!) was against the run of play but we deserved it, but a few minutes later TS substitutes Gil and replaces him with Ayew...WTF???!!! I spent the next 5-10 minutes trying to work out what and why he made that decision...I'm still none the wiser. I have no idea why he took Gil off...if he was carrying a knock then surely the obvious change is to bring on Veretout and do whatever it takes to shut up shop in order to take 3 points away from home...you don't bring on Ayew and Gestede...seriously WTF is that all about?!

I heard TS on the radio blaming the players for making mistakes and conceding possession in bad areas...personally I blame TS for not seeing Sanchez was dead on his arse, not making the necessary changes to protect a 2-0 lead and making yet more stupid substitutions.

Looking at the positives...we played some awesome football and were the best team by a long way for at least an hour..."we're Aston Villa...we're taking the piss"...it hurts to have that thrown back in your face after the team capitulate so badly. Absolutely gutted at the moment but this team has shown the signs that they can be a very very good side.

[Risso]

I thought for the first half we were mostly very good, and the decision to play both Gil and Grealish was a bold one, and it mostly worked.  However, it was inevitable that they'd come back into it, and that's where Veretout or Clark could have come on to shore things up a bit.  But to be 2-0 up with 20 minutes left, and then to lose is inexcusable, and while I've been a big fan of Sherwood's, he go it utterly wrong today.  Playing the furious boss unwilling to give a proper interview afterwards as well doesn't work when it's mostly your fault we've lost. 

We've still got too many underwhelming players who just aren't good enough for the Premier League, e.g. Guzan, Westwood and Bacuna.