Aston Villa v West Ham Post-Match Thread

[Lastfootstamper]

Could've won. Probably should've won. We didn't. Frustrated, and becoming more resigned by the day. We played well, the sort of performance where if you're comfortably mid-table you think things look rosy, you're safe, maybe look to push on in January. But we needed all the points today, and we didn't get them. About the only straw left to clutch at is that somehow, the gap to safety has closed. But it's closing at a snail's pace, and we can't keep relying on the situation repeating week after week. We're not quite dead, but the miracle needed isn't getting any smaller.
Any news on a new centre-forward yet? I don't blame Rudy for not being good enough, it's not his fault someone has given him an opportunity way above that which his ability warrants, but if he can't bury those chances today, well, what's the use?

[Malandro]

Another game, another sick feeling in my stomach.
Played well yet their keeper made a number of great saves.

Bacuna at left back makes me miserable.

[rob_bridge]

Best we played since Wembley in April, should have could have etc..

Lescott's best game for us, Veretout looks like a genuinely good player. Ayew did well. And Gana probably had his best game for us.

Guzan made a couple of good saves but not see goal replayed - Hutton out of position. Bacuna below average but still better than Richardson. Big Rudy never stopped trying. Gil sub was the right one. The final sub was 5-10 mins too late. If we have had a player who has played 100 top flight games for us and is worse than Westwood then let me know.

More positives than negatives but much work to be done.

[Goldie.7]

Another game, another sick feeling in my stomach.
Played well yet their keeper made a number of great saves.

Bacuna at left back makes me miserable.

Needs must plus he wasn't even that bad today, their goal came because fresh legs 'Gil' was ball watching and Hutton just stands there looking like a right wally, instead of actually closing the ball down.

[Goldie.7]

Deserved a win today but too many half chances went begging. At least I enjoyed the game which is some consolation. So much possession outside of their box second half, wish we would try shooting from there instead of gradually getting it to Hutton.

Well at least we'll soon have Cissokho back as another outlet for crosses.

[SoccerHQ]

6 points from the next two games otherwise that's it.

Agree. Needed a win n today. If we don't win the next 2 then it preparation for the championship.

In fairness if you had to pick 2 away games Sunderland and Norwich would be the venues (maybe not for the travelling support!) We always win at Sunderland and have had a very good record at Norwich in recent years although that was probably just down to a fired up Lambert on his returns.

[Toronto Villa]

Another game, another sick feeling in my stomach.
Played well yet their keeper made a number of great saves.

Bacuna at left back makes me miserable.

Having to play Bacuna at LB is like choosing between the two ugly fat birds at the end of the night. Would you rather have the Richardson looking fat bird?

[Malandro]

Another game, another sick feeling in my stomach.
Played well yet their keeper made a number of great saves.

Bacuna at left back makes me miserable.

Having to play Bacuna at LB is like choosing between the two ugly fat birds at the end of the night. Would you rather have the Richardson looking fat bird?

Good point. No.

[CT Villan]

Having to play Bacuna at LB is like choosing between the two ugly fat birds at the end of the night. Would you rather have the Richardson looking fat bird?

That's an image I didn't need, thanks !

Thought we played well today and deserved all 3 points. The only time we lost focus was when Sanchez went off and WH duly scored. Still, we fought back again and there are signs that we are improving, we need to win the next 2 to stand a chance, then confidence will be increasing and hopefully we can go on an extended run to haul ourselves to safety (yes, my glass is half-full).

[Fin Feds Dad]

It's Christmas and the time of goodwill to all men. That is all men apart from that complete minge bag Leandro fucking Bacuna .

Yet another in the long list of complete shite recently given an extended & probably improved contract .

I could weep .

[CJ]

Decent atmosphere today. With most of their best players missing West Ham were the worst team I've seen at VP this season (apart from us obviously). Failing to beat them is the prime example of why we're going down.

[Des Little]

Can't fault the effort or application...just like the second half against Newcastle - we are winning our battles in many cases but we simply do not have the quality required to convert it into an end product. This is precisely the reason we are dropping out of this league.

[oswald funkletrumpet]

our lack of quality is painful plus we didnt have a single leader on the pitch

[PaulWinch again]

Next two are both must win. We've got to stop having a poor 1st half.

[Villa in Denmark]

It's Christmas and the time of goodwill to all men. That is all men apart from that complete minge bag Leandro fucking Bacuna .

Yet another in the long list of complete shite recently given an extended & probably improved contract .

I could weep .

Well in that case, have a pop at the bloke who signed him.
Or the bloke that organised his new contract. (I'll hazard a guess that even if he got a 50% rise, he's on less per month than Gabby per week)
Or the bloke that picked him.
Instead of the guy who's filling in on the wrong side and doing a far better job than the natural left sided player he displaced.
From what I've seen since he started at left back he's not let himself down defensively, probably generally been a bit more solid than on the right if anything and is still trying to get up and down in support.
Is he a world beater? Obviously not.
Is he an OK premier league player? Well if you put him in a half decent team, he'd probably stand out as mediocre but OK.
Put him in a struggling team and he looks like someone who's technique is a bit suspect at times which us what he is.
He doesn't hide and he tries to make best use of what he's got. Yes it's only the basic level you'd expect, but too many players who are worthy of far more criticism have coasted through contracts he can only dream about whilst giving f##k all in return. At least he looks like he gives a shit.