Aston Villa vs. West Brom Post-Debacle Thread

[Richard E]

The set up was all wrong. We were far too open, too disorganised, too slow and critical Stoke out numbered us in the midfield.

Stoke's back four played pretty narrow, with their midfield widemen tucking in. They would condense the space between the midfield and back four and really congest the central areas. We played at such a slow tempo, with no movement or width that it was easy all game.

There was space outwide, yet we didn't exploit it. Stoke lack any sort of pace, yet how many times did we turn their defence?

Once they'd taken the lead it was obvious that we would lose. The second half was typical Pulis anti-football. 30 seconds to take a throw in. 45 seconds for a corner. Cynical fouls, slowing the game down, 7 men congesting the back line. And us, clueless to do anything about it.

Long balls to Gabby. Why? Taking our one effective player in Gil off. Why? No width. Why? Bringing on Gestede and putting one cross into the box for him. Why?

Gestede doesn't look up to it at the moment, but you've got to play to his strengths to at least give him a chance. Amavi weak in the tackle and barely getting forward, but the biggest culprit in the team is Ashley fucking Westwood.

He is utter shite. I could do his job. No I actually could. I am full of neat passes and I neve give the ball away when I play either. He is the biggest problem with us. You want to know why Sanchez is fucked after 70 minutes, it's covering for this dimlow.

Time and again second half at Leicester their midfield ran off him. It happened all day today. He has no ability to game manage, he cannot pick a man up, they just drift by. When he does spot one, he's so flat footed that a tectonic plate could out run him. He's weak in the tackle and when you're outnumbered 3-2, it's no wonder Sanchez struggles, even if he does look clumsy, as to say we had two centrally either today or at Leicester is stretching credulity. Have a League 1 player in our midfield is part of the problem for why we are consistently poor.

I cannot believe Veretout on one leg would have less to offer.

I am a positive chap, but my patience has been exhausted. We are in for a season of struggle. Forget Man United, drawing at home to relegation certainties like Sunderland, getting beat by Stoke mk II suggests another season scrapping the barrel.

Sherwood is naive beyond belief. Today was the worst sort of McLiesh/Houiller/Lambert garbage. I am sick and tired of it and I am not sure whether we will stay up. Gana looks very good. Light years ahead of any of the pish masquerading as midfielders today. Traore looks to be of unbelieveable quality. They may make a difference, but we are woefully short up front, cannot defend and persist with lower league standard crap like Westwood and Guzan, then we will struggle.

Bloody hell. If even you are feeling pessimistic then we really are in trouble...

[Stu]

Welp. This sounded fun. Was at a wedding with Albion in-laws yesterday, which was great.

Were we really that bad, or is there a bit of hyperbole on here?

[silhillvilla]

Welp. This sounded fun. Was at a wedding with Albion in-laws yesterday, which was great.

Were we really that bad, or is there a bit of hyperbole on here?

Didn't go and haven't seen any footage so I can't say.

[Salsa Party Animal]

I sat on my seat for first time with season ticket and it is awful seat. As the linesman block my view for goalmouth at Holte End. Will be asking to change seat next time I pop in Birmingham.

Aston Villa is awful to watch as there is too much passing backward and sideways and no movement or cutting edge. There is also couple of crosses in the box in first half for Agbonlahor to head and he can't do it. We still have not overcome losing Benteke yet. I have now regret my decision to buy a season ticket this season

I wonder how long would it take to get the team playing well with good tactics, substitute and no soft belly and no place for the like of Agbonlahor or Westwood. We need a new manager I wonder would Jurgen Klopp be able to sort the team out. 

From what I seen this season we will go down

[manic-road]

Wasn't long ago TS was saying that the Villa team were used to losing and it had become a habit, so he buys his own team and we are fucking worse. His new team is used to losing already and we don't have a player who looks remotely like getting ten goals all season.

[PaulTheVillan]

..... Jurgen Klopp.

Hahahahahaha. Comedy.

[Clampy]

We beat them twice in the space of a week last season (and denied them a day out at Wembley) so this is one we'll have to take on the chin i'm afraid.

[DB]

We beat them twice in the space of a week last season (and denied them a day out at Wembley) so this is one we'll have to take on the chin i'm afraid.

What strange logic.
I don't care about them, or taking one on the chin for them, I want to see us win, whoever it it we play.

[aj2k77]

We beat them twice in the space of a week last season (and denied them a day out at Wembley) so this is one we'll have to take on the chin i'm afraid.

To be honest I'm sick of taking shit on the chin from Villa. If Villa were a woman I'd have walked.

[Clampy]

We beat them twice in the space of a week last season (and denied them a day out at Wembley) so this is one we'll have to take on the chin i'm afraid.

What strange logic.
I don't care about them, or taking one on the chin for them, I want to see us win, whoever it it we play.

It's not strange logic, we were playing a local rival so defeat is always that bit more gutting to take. You might not care if we lose to them, but some people do.

[Villa Lew]

Due to illness didn't go to the match, but what I've read and heard we must have been crap. But after watching Match of the Day have to say, that was shocking refereeing by Atkinson leading up to Richards disallowed goal. He was blowing the whistle, when Lescott was already putting the ball into the box, the obvious thing to do was to play the advantage. Admittedly Myhill might have got the ball, as he stopped, when he heard the whistle.

[goldenjimi]

What an awful day, thanks to a combination of the M25 and M40 I didn't get to my seat until just before the goal and it was pretty obvious we weren't getting back into the game.  We don't ever look like scoring at home, no one takes a chance, it takes ages to put a cross in, we never up the tempo when we go behind, it's as though we accept our fate.  Adama might have made a difference with his pace and unpredictability, the lad has plenty of pressure on him when he returns.
The only slight bit of entertainment was watching Rudy throw himself at any ball in the air, and failing most the time!
All in all a shocking day, bring on Tuesday!

[Malandro]

..... Jurgen Klopp.

Hahahahahaha. Comedy.

Not the only comedy gold on this page

[Chris Jameson]

I always enjoy my day out with my son to Villa but as he said we could have done without the football that broke the day up, utterly depressing experience from first to last minute and the atmosphere was very flat throughout which I guess is understandable. We were sat in the family stand and Sanchez was getting stick throughout, I thought he played well first half, seems he is the latest scapegoat. I reckon Ayew, Gestede and Agbonlahor will struggle to match Benteke's 13 league goals last season between them, I'm not a fan but Gabby was okay in brief spells yesterday but if Gestede is the answer then Cascarino must have been part of the question and what is it with bloody Guzan playing defenders into trouble with his useless distribution?

Jonas Okore was sat near us and a few kids went and got his autograph and photo completely ignoring the guy say next to him, to be fair Gana was dressed like a member of a boy band. Day was rescued for my son by Jack's dad coming and making sure Jack signed his poster and having a chat with him and shaking his hand and telling him he's a proper Villan for making the trip from the North to watch Villa, made him very proud I can tell you! I was pleased to see all the players with the exception of Bacuna were happy to sign for the few kids waiting behind, Joe Cole was especially friendly with them all.

[amfy]

Welp. This sounded fun. Was at a wedding with Albion in-laws yesterday, which was great.

Were we really that bad, or is there a bit of hyperbole on here?

So bad that even I can't begin to defend that performance. Weirdly, I don't even think it was so much us being shit, as looking totally unbothered (although high balls up to Gabby is certainly a seriously questionable tactic).

Albion were never put under any pressure, we never got into them. Especially in a derby, I expect so much more grit than that.

With the Blues match following on, I feel less about yesterday's result than I should, but I cannot see how we'll drag a positive result out of Tuesday & that is a horrible feeling - I can't remember going into a Blues game felling less up for it than I do - and they're a division below us now!