Remi Garde - Departs Aston Villa

[avfcdale]

He is a disaster, easily the worst keeper we have had since Enkleman

[oldhill_avfc]

Possibly.

But the more relevent point is that most of the outfield 10 are the worst we've had since the early 70s.

[avfcdale]

Yes but by churning the midfield again you will achieve nothing, by getting a quality Goalkeeper, advising a world class Right back to play there instead of being shit and out of position as a centre half, you don't concede so many goals, look how many games Arsenal used to win 1-0 with George Graham in charge, look how many games we won by similar margins under John Gregory, a secure defence is something you can build on, you can never build if your foundations are poor, Brad Guzan is not and never will be a great goalkeeper and Richards is an ordinary centre half but potentially a world class right back.

[oldhill_avfc]

Ok.

Start off by all means playing Richards at right back (or rt. side of back 3). 

Then sort out the defensive midfield (its not churn to get players out of the team who aren't good enough - see Westwood).

Then get a better keeper.

Or ideally do all three in January - but don't just change the keeper and do nothing else.

[ozzjim]

An experienced effective holding midfielder that reads the game with an organised centre half and 2 genuine full backs.. plus a keeper and a striker.  Not much really. No coincidence that our best defensive run came with Vlaar and Senderos together.  Nothing spectacular but experienced stoppers.

[Dave Cooper please]

Apart from ability we lack physical presence, athleticism and experience.

But apart from that we're okay.

[tomd2103]

An experienced effective holding midfielder that reads the game with an organised centre half and 2 genuine full backs.. plus a keeper and a striker.  Not much really. No coincidence that our best defensive run came with Vlaar and Senderos together.  Nothing spectacular but experienced stoppers.

Agree about a holding midfielder.  I have seen enough of Sanchez and Westwood to conclude that neither are the answer.  We need better protection in front of the back four.   

[Hookeysmith]

I heard supporters giving Garde a hard time on Sunday, mainly about Adama coming on so late. If you take out the first run he had (which was impressive to be honest) he actually offered not a single other thing, especially defensively. The same could be said of Gil and Grealish

He is a weapon that has to be used correctly or as a last throw of the dice as his attacking advantage will be lost when we have only 10 men trying to retrieve the ball

[Clampy]

I heard supporters giving Garde a hard time on Sunday, mainly about Adama coming on so late. If you take out the first run he had (which was impressive to be honest) he actually offered not a single other thing, especially defensively.

Jesus Christ, how long was he on the pitch for, what 5 minutes? What did you expect, a hat-trick and a couple of clearances off the line?

[Pat McMahon]

Apart from ability we lack physical presence, athleticism and experience.

But apart from that we're okay.

I forgot to mention our warm up is shite too

[Pete]

Picking up on the posts about our physical and mental inadequacies, for that to be corrected in whatever division we are in we have to have a style of play that our players are able, mentally, physically and technically to deliver.

Watching us against the Arsenal playing the ball sideways and backwards it seems clear to me that our coaches and managers have gone with the contemporary fashion for want of a more specific description you could call the Spanish style.  Retain possession, probe, feint, manouevre to find an opening then go through it. It is a joy to watch and utterly effective.  You can see why coaches want to play that way.

But, and it is a huge but, to play that way you have to have a full team of technically perfect, athletic, strong and intelligent players.  Every pass has to be precisely weighted and inch perfect and if the ball is lost they have to chase and harry relentlessly until possession is regained.  Without all those qualities all you do is wear out the turf in your own half, lose the ball and concede soft goals.

The alternative is NOT Route One or hoofball, it is fast, direct, thrusting football using the best qualities of your players and eliminating their individual flaws - being easily dispossessed, bad first touch, floaty crosses, running and pointing, proneness to panic.

In a nutshell start to punch your weight by doing what you can do well and stop not landing a punch at all by trying to do things you are not up to.

I hate to say it, but that sounds like Leicester.

[ClaretAndBlueBlood]

Apart from ability we lack physical presence, athleticism and experience.

But apart from that we're okay.

I forgot to mention our warm up is shite too

I cant agree with that Pat. I was only saying on Sunday to my mate how good we look in the warm up. Its when the other team get involved that it all goes to pot

[Chico Hamilton III]

Apart from ability we lack physical presence, athleticism and experience.

But apart from that we're okay.

I forgot to mention our warm up is shite too

I cant agree with that Pat. I was only saying on Sunday to my mate how good we look in the warm up. Its when the other team get involved that it all goes to pot

We lost 3 nil to the cones in the warm up at Southampton

[Villa in Denmark]

Apart from ability we lack physical presence, athleticism and experience.

But apart from that we're okay.

I forgot to mention our warm up is shite too

I cant agree with that Pat. I was only saying on Sunday to my mate how good we look in the warm up. Its when the other team get involved that it all goes to pot

We lost 3 nil to the cones in the warm up at Southampton

Well it's the best explanation for some of our half arsed chasing down and lax passing I've heard so far this season.

[Toronto Villa]

I heard supporters giving Garde a hard time on Sunday, mainly about Adama coming on so late. If you take out the first run he had (which was impressive to be honest) he actually offered not a single other thing, especially defensively.

Jesus Christ, how long was he on the pitch for, what 5 minutes? What did you expect, a hat-trick and a couple of clearances off the line?

And for the 5 minutes he was on he actually didn't even get the ball for the first 3 minutes.