Aston Villa v Stoke City post match thread

[Risso]

The team selection was a bit odd but he's obviously had Stoke watched and it's something he wanted to do.

And that doesn't worry you?

[Clampy]

The team selection was a bit odd but he's obviously had Stoke watched and it's something he wanted to do.

And that doesn't worry you?

Did I say it didn't?

[aj2k77]

I can't believe he watched Stoke and thought the wing backs and basically three holding midfielders would be a good idea. There was so much space in behind Hutton because he's slow to get back it looked a goal waiting to happen.

[andyh]

See even the minute detail like corners, throw ins, goal kicks, it's all bloody wrong. What do they do all week? Does he have the running around trying to build up this legendary fitness level that he requires for them to play his bizarre formations? We need to start getting angry.

It's like deja vue isn't it?

Westwood taking all corners and being shit at it, is the new Barry Bannan.
We couldnt take throw ins properly under Lambert.
Guzman was taking goal kicks and actually playing them backwards during our 'keep possession at all costs' phase.

When will this bloody nightmare end?

[Ron Manager]

I have been thinking overnight who we could do with losing from the squad. Guzan although he has improved in recent matches, possibly,
Hutton who does get forward aggressively but cannot cross a ball. Lescott who has turned out to be well past his considerable best. Bacana and Westwood who are both awful.Joe Cole,Agbonlahor and Sinclair who flatters to deceive.

That is eight in all from the first team squad. We do,however, have some very talented players  Amavi, Richards,Sanchez,Veretout,Gueye,Jack and Gil, and Adama when he is fit. The team performance brightened up when Gil came on yesterday but it is obvious both Gestede and Ayew
need more time although they have shown bits and pieces at times.

Under a new manager we have the talent to improve considerably but I doubt very much if Lerner/Fox have the morale fibre to get him and his cohorts out as soon as possible.

[PeterWithe]

That tactic of Guzan giving the ball to Richards, however many players he has around him, is ridiculous.

[PeterWithe]

Two things from yesterday as well. The chap in front of me who slaughtered Guzan for being off his line for Charlie Adam's long range effort.

That was a moment of genius in a pretty forgettable match.

[TopDeck113]

Two things from yesterday as well. The chap in front of me who slaughtered Guzan for being off his line for Charlie Adam's long range effort. I've honestly never heard such bollocks.

Also, after returning to my seat from visiting the little boys room, the chap who refused to let me get past him despite me and his mate nudging him and asking him several times. He just sat there in a trance like state and refused to budge, it was weird.

Were you sitting in the home dugout?

[pauliewalnuts]

Would him sticking with the same side that had performed so poorly the week before been preferable?  Of course not. There is I'm sure a more astute way of vebalising a change in line up and formation and he needs to find it raher than make rod for his own back with ill considered soundbites.

What I don't get is why, when he stumbles across something that works, he seems reluctant to stick with it.

First half against Leicester, for example, we were easily the better side. Second half we were under the cosh but with 25 to go, he just needed to make that change and tighten up in midfield and see out the game. Instead, he did the absolute opposite of what he needed to do.

Second half against Small Heath, Grealish and Ayew changed the game in the second half. Veretout played with a bit of confidence. Two of them were then dropped for Liverpool. I appreciate Liverpool are a different proposition to Small Heath, but you can only beat what is in front of you at the time. Yesterday, both Gil and Grealish on the bench, and you could see within about ten minutes that the players didn't look comfortable the way they were set up.

Sometimes he seems to needlessly over complicate things. It almost comes across as an attempt to make himself seem clever. He's just making things more difficult for himself in the long run.

[Clampy]

Two things from yesterday as well. The chap in front of me who slaughtered Guzan for being off his line for Charlie Adam's long range effort. I've honestly never heard such bollocks.

Also, after returning to my seat from visiting the little boys room, the chap who refused to let me get past him despite me and his mate nudging him and asking him several times. He just sat there in a trance like state and refused to budge, it was weird.

Were you sitting in the home dugout?

Haha, very good.

[PeterWithe]

Sometimes he seems to needlessly over complicate things. It almost comes across as an attempt to make himself seem clever. He's just making things more difficult for himself in the long run.

I said the same on another thread, I'd guess Tim is far less confident that he appears and the press stuff is over compensation. I reckon the 'Tactics Tim' stuff bothers him far more than it should and the constant tinkering is an attempt to answer his critics.

[rob_bridge]

Two things from yesterday as well. The chap in front of me who slaughtered Guzan for being off his line for Charlie Adam's long range effort. I've honestly never heard such bollocks.

Also, after returning to my seat from visiting the little boys room, the chap who refused to let me get past him despite me and his mate nudging him and asking him several times. He just sat there in a trance like state and refused to budge, it was weird.

Were you sitting in the home dugout?

Haha, very good.

A rare light hearted moment in a cloud of resignation.

[brontebilly]

To be honest I don't think there was much between the two teams. But like West Brom, you could see they had a definitive team structure, style of play and ultimate gameplan. I watched the game with a neutral (Man Utd fan..spit) , he kept commenting on how there wasn't one position not to mind line (defence, midfield, up front) where Villa looked like they had a clue.

I was disappointed with the crowd getting on Westwood's back. Not that he was great but he made the Richards chance and was better than the two clowns playing next to him in midfield. Sherwood played to the gallery taking him off.

It's been said before but Lescott should never play for the club again. Scott Sinclair is a charlatan too, gutless to Stephen Ireland levels.

There really was no positive from yesterday and no sign of any pending improvements. That should be it for the Sherwood reign

[Clampy]

To be honest I don't think there was much between the two teams. But like West Brom, you could see they had a definitive team structure, style of play and ultimate gameplan. I watched the game with a neutral (Man Utd fan..spit) , he kept commenting on how there wasn't one position not to mind line (defence, midfield, up front) where Villa looked like they had a clue.

I was disappointed with the crowd getting on Westwood's back. Not that he was great but he made the Richards chance and was better than the two clowns playing next to him in midfield. Sherwood played to the gallery taking him off.

It's been said before but Lescott should never play for the club again. Scott Sinclair is a charlatan too, gutless to Stephen Ireland levels.

There really was no positive from yesterday and no sign of any pending improvements. That should be it for the Sherwood reign

Calling Sinclair a charlatan is a bit harsh.

[Ads]

Of all the major worries, it's the fact that Stoke were utter wank. Yet comfortably beat us.