Aston Villa vs Arsenal Post-Match Thread

[Lastfootstamper]

I'd play 3 central defenders

To me, this just means increasing the chances of a calamitous fuck-up by 50%

[cdward]

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.

So, in summary, you'd play 6 sitting deep at the back, then lump the ball past the midfield up to a striker that has yet to start a PL game.

[rob_bridge]

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

That was exactly what I was thinking as I scrolled through the post.

Welcome Back Tim - thanks for the Cup Run and especially the Semi Final.

[Brend'Watkins]

I'd get Veretout and Gana to concentrate on their shooting. As good as they are in other aspects of their game this part of it is clearly lacking.  In fact, both have techniques that border on downright awful considering they are professional footballers.

[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.

So, in summary, you'd play 6 sitting deep at the back, then lump the ball past the midfield up to a striker that has yet to start a PL game.

No.

I'd play 6 in a flexible but mostly defensive formation and then lump the ball up to two strikers who've yet to start a game.

[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. 

You are Tim Sherwood and I claim my ten pounds.

Sorry, couldnt resist

That was exactly what I was thinking as I scrolled through the post.

Welcome Back Tim - thanks for the Cup Run and especially the Semi Final.

You're welcome.

And you're also welcome to watch the rest of the season play out in heart sapping pathos (or maybe that should be bathos) as those masquerading as footballers laughably fail in their attempt to play the beautiful game.

[cdward]

What was that saying about wrestling a pig...

[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. 

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).

I think you misunderstand. 

Nobody said having such an inadequate bunch of players was this manager's fault.

The proposition was three-fold;
(1) If you don't change things then you'll get the same result.
(2) If you don't have ability, you have to have a stronger work ethic/spirit/attitude - call it what you will.
(3) If you still don't compete it would understandable (and tongue in cheek condonable) if a sportsman with professional pride didn't get so frustrated he felt like he needed to kick the shit out of his opponent.

If you think any of these sentiments point at a certain nationality then feel free to enlighten me.

[oldhill_avfc]

What was that saying about wrestling a pig...

dunno - tell me

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

From where I was sitting I thought we were doing okay until the penalty, which I thought was harsh at the time and didn't make sense being given by the linesman - someone on here said it was given by the 4th official? In my view, unlucky.
For the second goal I thought Gana was fouled, we had committed players forward and were caught out by the speed of Arsenal's break.
On another day there would have been no penalty and a different/better ref would have given us a free kick, going forward. Mr K Friend was shite.
In my eyes that amounted to shite luck/bad officiating against the best footballing team in the league. Just what we needed and the way all things seem to be going for us this season.
I haven't thrown the towel in yet, and I'll be at Newcastle next Saturday, but my sense of hope is simply running out.

[QuintonVilla]

It was a blatant penalty, and the second goal was a good tackle, he won the ball.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

Just saying how I saw it live Quinton, and how it made me feel so fu*king depressed at the time - I haven't seen anything on tv.


And K Friend is still shite. Even the Guardian referred to his "strange refereeing".

Unfortunately, I'm clutching at straws mate.

[mr-villa]

It was a blatant penalty, and the second goal was a good tackle, he won the ball.

You are correct Ramsay did win the ball but he did have to go through the man to get to it.  Many refs on another day would have given that as  a free kick to the player in possession, you see that type of challenge punished week in week out in the Prem by most refs but unfortunately for us not by Mr Friend yesterday.  Not that it would have changed the result mind!

[Steve R]

Penalty or not it was a strange way to make the decision. Friend gave nothing and moved away as if to make his way back upfield, the linesman signalled absolutely nothing, turned tail and set off upfield himself. It was only when the referee suddenly stopped, turned around and blew his whistle so the lino did the same. The ref could not possibly have seen from his angle what Hutton actually did, so the notion that the 4th official had a hand in it makes sense. It is also against the rules.

I'd like to know what the 4th official, the line and the ref were doing in the game against ManU when the rest of the world saw Darmian wrestle Richards off a free header at goal.

[QuintonVilla]

The referees are the least of our worries mate.

Let's be honest anyone who thinks we played well or did ok are kidding themselves, Arsenal strolled through the game and could have stepped up another few gears if required. They won't have many easier games all season, lets not forget they lost at Albion and only drew at Norwich. They don't like it if you get in their faces but we got nowhere near them.