Aston Villa vs Arsenal Post-Match Thread

[joe_c]

RANDY LEARNER - YOU'VE FAILED!
RANDY LEARNER - YOU'RE FIRED!

And you can take those useless bastards Clarke and Guzman with you.

And sack the manger.

Get rid of Remy.

And Focks

[Skerra]

I see there are still some people talking about how many points we should get in the next x number of matches. Apologies, but if you have been watching the same team as me you will know in your "heart of hearts" that you are clutching at straws. We will be lucky to get into double figures this season judging by our performances. Every match we seem to have a good 10 minute spell but, always with no end result.

I don't think we should spend a penny in January as. it's too late for all that as, you would need to buy virtually a whole new team and, no-one of any quality is going to come to us, given our current position.

Some are still thinking a win at Newcastle etc.etc. but, sorry, every team now sees playing us as a match to kick start their own seasons. Look at Arsenal, hadn't kept a clean sheet for yonks but then along comes Aston Villa. Swansea hadn't won a game for some time - need I go on?

Let's stop dreaming, we are down and need to start making plans to target appropriate players to compete in the Championship as, this current squad with their lack of fighting spirit, will be struggling in the Championship as well. Imagine how many games we will have to play and, most of our current players will be injured for large parts of the season.

Wish I could offer just a glimmer of hope but, alas cannot.

[saunders_heroes]

Well thanks for that, Skerra, but the rest of us aren't giving up so easily. It's not even Christmas yet and there's plenty more football to play till the season ends. Still time to turn it around, even if it's a long shot.
The fat lady ain't sang yet.

[old man villa fan]

Next season starts now. How we finish this season will determine how well we do next.

If we give up now, we will be in no state to get promotion next season. I think we will be relegated but the future is more important to me than this season.

[Skerra]

Hi Saunders,

I really do admire your being upbeat, like I was when Remi was appointed. However, nothing has changed and, please do come back to me after we have won 2 of our next 3 matches to shove my words down my throat. Having been a supporter since the year dot, I see absolutely nothing in our current squad to brighten my outlook. I played football for more years that I can remember and, am just being realistic. If you honestly think we are going to get out of this mess then I think a lot of you for your enthusiasm alone. Sadly, just cannot see it. When I played, against the equivalent of a team like Villa with their dodgy defence, I always backed myself to score a hat-trick and, more often as not, I did get at least 2 if not the 3. Playing against a team like Villa at the moment gives every other team the confidence that they will win and, our record speaks for itself - 1 win all season and, from what I saw, I thought Bournemouth were unlucky not to get at least a point out of that match as well.

[pbavfckuwait]

Must have saw a different match to alot of people on here, I thought Arsenal coasted it and at the times they left first gear left us floundering.
Veretout, Gaye still undecided, they have had a good number of shoots this season, but I can not recall too many on target, I know if they did not shoot I would not be happy.
Defence is a major concern as I thought it might be one area that Remi would get a significant improvement out of, but this has not been the case, but I also agree with another poster who wrote that Brad inspires nothing but panic into his back line and the easy ball back to him is not as seen as an option as they do not trust him, this is also manifesting itself at corners, we can never rely on him to come and collect, the one time yesterday he came for a cross and the closest he got was about 3 yards away, with about 4 players between him and the ball, Bunn must have lost the use of his arms and sight for Brad to be number 1.
Attack just no quality and no killer instinct, Sinclair seems to have a great first ten then what the hell happens.
The basis of this team will struggle in the championship, that I have no doubt.

[oswald funkletrumpet]

Agree with that, I thought Arsenal played well within themselves especially second half and I think if we had of pulled one back they would have gone straight down the other end and scored another.

I also agree with Skerra, as it stands before our next massive 4 games when we are playing the teams immediately around us we need to be taking 1.45 points per game which is top 8 form.

Really??

I admire peoples optimism but we have taken 0.68 per game over the last 50, haven't won at VP for half a season, won 3 home games in a year and are in the middle of the clubs worst ever streak without a win in our history.

But we can still turn it around 

[oldhill_avfc]

You can't keep playing the same players in the same positions and expecting a different result.

Both managers have kept to roughly the same team and formations - and surprise surprise got the same result.

Sanchez, Gana, Vertout - what's the point of any of them?  They make so many basic errors that the opposition must feel like they have an extra attacking option in the final third.  Going forward they offer nothing - no creativity, no goals, nothing.

We have simply got to try something different - if we get very very lucky then there are enough games left, but more likely do something difference to prepare for next season.  This bunch of players may or may not be good enough for the championship but they certainly aren't for the premiership should we get promoted. 

So we have to find a different way sooner or later.  Different players, different formation, different tacts - all available to Garde here and now.

In the meantime.  Kick some ass, get sent off - show some passion, pride and fight

Just do something for fucks sake. 

[old man villa fan]

You can't keep playing the same players in the same positions and expecting a different result.

Both managers have kept to roughly the same team and formations - and surprise surprise got the same result.

Sanchez, Gana, Vertout - what's the point of any of them?  They make so many basic errors that the opposition must feel like they have an extra attacking option in the final third.  Going forward they offer nothing - no creativity, no goals, nothing.

We have simply got to try something different - if we get very very lucky then there are enough games left, but more likely do something difference to prepare for next season.  This bunch of players may or may not be good enough for the championship but they certainly aren't for the premiership should we get promoted. 

So we have to find a different way sooner or later.  Different players, different formation, different tacts - all available to Garde here and now.

In the meantime.  Kick some ass, get sent off - show some passion, pride and fight

Just do something for fucks sake.

Any positive suggestions?

[Clampy]

Whilst it looks bleaker than a bleak thing, I'm not giving up hope yet either.

[mattjpa]

You can't keep playing the same players in the same positions and expecting a different result.

Both managers have kept to roughly the same team and formations - and surprise surprise got the same result.

Sanchez, Gana, Vertout - what's the point of any of them?  They make so many basic errors that the opposition must feel like they have an extra attacking option in the final third.  Going forward they offer nothing - no creativity, no goals, nothing.

We have simply got to try something different - if we get very very lucky then there are enough games left, but more likely do something difference to prepare for next season.  This bunch of players may or may not be good enough for the championship but they certainly aren't for the premiership should we get promoted. 

So we have to find a different way sooner or later.  Different players, different formation, different tacts - all available to Garde here and now.

In the meantime.  Kick some ass, get sent off - show some passion, pride and fight

Just do something for fucks sake. 

You are Tim Sherwood and I claim my ten pounds.

Sorry, couldnt resist

[oldhill_avfc]

You can't keep playing the same players in the same positions and expecting a different result.

Both managers have kept to roughly the same team and formations - and surprise surprise got the same result.

Sanchez, Gana, Vertout - what's the point of any of them?  They make so many basic errors that the opposition must feel like they have an extra attacking option in the final third.  Going forward they offer nothing - no creativity, no goals, nothing.

We have simply got to try something different - if we get very very lucky then there are enough games left, but more likely do something difference to prepare for next season.  This bunch of players may or may not be good enough for the championship but they certainly aren't for the premiership should we get promoted. 

So we have to find a different way sooner or later.  Different players, different formation, different tacts - all available to Garde here and now.

In the meantime.  Kick some ass, get sent off - show some passion, pride and fight

Just do something for fucks sake.

Any positive suggestions?

Yeah.

I'd play 3 central defenders + 2 wing backs/wide midfielders + 1 central holding defensive midfielder.

I'd encourage them to sit deep and play on the counter - ie get the ball forward quickly - stop trying to pass the ball through the midfield.

Up front I'd try Kozak & Traore centrally with Grealish and Aye/Gill attacking midfield/drfting out wide.

Obviously we'd still loose, so I'd get a reserve to come on for the last 2 minutes to wipe out one of oppositions annoying fuckers and then get sent off - see Lee Hendrie vs. Leicester in league cup circa 1996.

There - that's a nice positive way to look at things.

[chrisf]

Obviously we'd still loose, so I'd get a reserve to come on for the last 2 minutes to wipe out one of oppositions annoying fuckers and then get sent off - see Lee Hendrie vs. Leicester in league cup circa 1996.

There - that's a nice positive way to look at things.

That made me laugh. Like you I've always thought of the opposition's world class players as "annoying fuckers".

[onje_villa]

You can't keep playing the same players in the same positions and expecting a different result.

Both managers have kept to roughly the same team and formations - and surprise surprise got the same result.

Sanchez, Gana, Vertout - what's the point of any of them?  They make so many basic errors that the opposition must feel like they have an extra attacking option in the final third.  Going forward they offer nothing - no creativity, no goals, nothing.

We have simply got to try something different - if we get very very lucky then there are enough games left, but more likely do something difference to prepare for next season.  This bunch of players may or may not be good enough for the championship but they certainly aren't for the premiership should we get promoted. 

So we have to find a different way sooner or later.  Different players, different formation, different tacts - all available to Garde here and now.

In the meantime.  Kick some ass, get sent off - show some passion, pride and fight

Just do something for fucks sake. 

You are Tim Sherwood and I claim my ten pounds.

Sorry, couldnt resist

Yes, what we really need now is a "no-nonsense", "get-into-them", British-style manager to "show some fight" and "have a go". We haven't had one of those recently and I really think it's high time we get rid of this clown (who let's face it has been given far too long).

[frank]

Upfront is also an issue ,I see what he is trying to do with Gestede he wants him to flick the ball on or hold it up to bring Ayew/Sinclair / Veretout into the game but he is just no good at it.His other option them is Ayew through the middle but he isn't as effective there and gets on the ball less

Others may not agree, but one of the best players we've had in the flicking-on role is Heskey. Yes, he was pretty useless in the box and did fall over a lot, but he always got his head to the ball from a long kick and usually flicked it on intelligently. Gestede doesn't time his jumps, is often outjumped and when he does get his head to the ball his direction is aimless. In numerous attempts yesterday he hardly ever managed an effective flick-on.
I agree, though, that Ayew isn't the answer in that role. He's a skilful player and can run at the defence, but he's not a target man. I can't remember him winning a header after he moved into the middle yesterday.
So, given the players we've got and with Kozak apparently out of favour, is there any point at all in hoofing the ball up the middle?