Aston Villa vs. Leicester City Post-Match Thread

[David_Nab]

From the game what stands out for me is Garde has got them working harder and its reaping rewards however fundamentally we have a personnel issue which is we have any hope of surviving he needs to somehow address.

We lack pace and movement upfront , Kozak gets in good positions but has no pace at all.Sinclair and Gabby have pace but both seem well out of favour , the former's poor performance at Wycombe seems to have been last straw for Garde

Lack of goals from midfield both from lack of a midfielder who can hit long range shots and also no late runs into the box.

Crossing is generally poor from open play ( and set pieces tonight ) both Kozak and Gestede are good headers of the ball based on goals they have scored at previous clubs but we never exploit this.Signing Debaucey to play RB might help this and push Bacuna further forward who we know from his assists to Benteke he can whip a decent ball in.

Gil looks good on ball and has scored some good goals but I'm not sure he is offering enough.It doesn't help with movement in front that he has no one to thread balls to.He also lacks pace so out wide he finds it hard to get round a fullback even with his good control and skill on ball.

We need a striker and someone to score goals from midfield in the window both having pace would help too.



 

[Matt C]

I find it interesting how different the team looks in general demeanor and spirit without Guzan, Gabby and Richards. Perhaps in one, maybe two, cases that is coincidence but all three? I suspect not.

[villan from luton]

I find it interesting how different the team looks in general demeanor and spirit without Guzan, Gabby and Richards. Perhaps in one, maybe two, cases that is coincidence but all three? I suspect not.

I would have Richards in my team any week

[West Derby Villan]

I find it interesting how different the team looks in general demeanor and spirit without Guzan, Gabby and Richards. Perhaps in one, maybe two, cases that is coincidence but all three? I suspect not.

I would have Richards in my team any week

I agree, I think Richards is a team player, but not a leader. But he would be a part of my team

[tomd2103]

From the game what stands out for me is Garde has got them working harder and its reaping rewards however fundamentally we have a personnel issue which is we have any hope of surviving he needs to somehow address.

We lack pace and movement upfront , Kozak gets in good positions but has no pace at all.Sinclair and Gabby have pace but both seem well out of favour , the former's poor performance at Wycombe seems to have been last straw for Garde

Lack of goals from midfield both from lack of a midfielder who can hit long range shots and also no late runs into the box.

Crossing is generally poor from open play ( and set pieces tonight ) both Kozak and Gestede are good headers of the ball based on goals they have scored at previous clubs but we never exploit this.Signing Debaucey to play RB might help this and push Bacuna further forward who we know from his assists to Benteke he can whip a decent ball in.

Gil looks good on ball and has scored some good goals but I'm not sure he is offering enough.It doesn't help with movement in front that he has no one to thread balls to.He also lacks pace so out wide he finds it hard to get round a fullback even with his good control and skill on ball.

We need a striker and someone to score goals from midfield in the window both having pace would help too.

I agree with the points about pace.  In the past couple of games, our attacking 'unit' has been Westwood, Veretout, Gil, Ayew and Kozak.  Ayew aside, there is no real pace there and it means are attacking play can be quite laboured at times.  As you say, two players who might be able to help with that - Agbonlahor and Sinclair - aren't really options at the moment due to their poor efforts so far this season. 

[pbavfckuwait]

Seeds of hope being sown, disappointed with Gill, just think he is to easily overpowered and I do not think his assists (not many) make up for the amount of ball he loses.
The guy hopefully coming in from Arsenal may steady the back line and offer something on the right flank, as I still think Bacunna is dodgy and offers nothing going forward, Veretout was poor today and I still have an unreasonable reaction to seeing Westwood in a Villa shirt.
I would go with Sanchez added to the midfield instead of Westwood, pushing Veretout further forward and allowing Ghana support  from Carlos.
I also , thou I seem to be in a minority did not think we were that bad in the first half, yes alot better second, but thought we started quite brightly and the penalty save galvanized us again, before we could feel sorry for ourselves.
Beat the bitters next week and that would be a very nice 7 points from a possible 9, then we just have to hope other results go our way and we drag the likes of Norwich and one other into the mess.
Main thing is there seems to be a lot of effort and a bit of fight, maybe the players are not good enough and a goal scorer in this window is essential, but at least the last two games they have showed something that had been previously missing, well done Remi.

[Richard E]

Encouraging performance, the last 3 at home have all been decent. If we had someone who could cross we would be flying.

We can safely say there is no chance in a million years Leicester will win the title. They were well organised but that is it. Vardy is a bang average striker who had one atypical purple patch.

The referee was poor, but then Robert Huth has always got away with murder at Villa Park.

[ROBBO]

Glad I always played on the forward line defenders get torn to shreds for one mistake. Leicester are a one season wonder in my book next year they will struggle but let them enjoy it while they can. Our lack of pace up front was telling and both sides gave the ball away too easily,
Different side second  half so maybe the manager is having an influence.

[PeterWithe]

Apart from conceding a goal that would shame an under 10s side I thought we battled very well and deserved the point, credit to Garde for installing a little belief in them as a few weeks ago the first goal would have been the winner.

Special mention for Gana who was magnificent with Okore not far behind, credit too to Gil and Ayew who kept at it even in a frustrating game for them.

[kippaxvilla2]

Nice measured match report from our friends at The Mirror.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/leicester-were-complacent-against-aston-7192740

[Ron Manager]

Gueye was excellent in the second half. Cissokho coming back is a bonus,he has improved the left back position no end. However unless we get a big enforcer in the midfield to look after Gil it is pointless playing him. All in all not a bad display we have a slight chance of getting amongst the other relegation candidates if we keep this inproved form going.

[LeeB]

Nice measured match report from our friends at The Mirror.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/leicester-were-complacent-against-aston-7192740

I would say there are few professions I have less regard for than football 'journalists'.

[not3bad]

Did well 2nd half. Ref was an idiot. The Baggies will be desperate to help us down, we shouldn't let them.

[andyh]

It seems to me that Remi has managed to 'patch up' some of the big problems the team has.
I wouldn't say fix, because I think it's all very fragile, but he is definitely getting there.
Fitness is improving.
Moral seems to be improving.
Confidence is growing.
Negative influences are reducing.

Unfortunately, the biggest issue that can't be easily fixed is the lack of quality.
That is going to take more time and more money.

As for last night, a very good battling performance in the second half.
The first half was utter frustration.
We started very well, then after 15 mins, we reverted to walking pace football, with no movement, no urgency and no passion. Bacuna must have played more backwards passes that any other player this season.
Second half was much better. I would have put Richards in centre mid for the last 15 mins and let him run at them.

And, Gestede and Kozak. Wow! Have we stumbled on a partnership here?
Let's face is , tippy, tappy football has not been good for us for a long, long time.
Maybe 2 big buggers up front, keep lumping it up to them and play off them with Ayew is the way to try and shake thinks up for the last 15 games or so.
After all, we have nothing to lose now.

[Nunkin1965]

It seems to me that Remi has managed to 'patch up' some of the big problems the team has.
I wouldn't say fix, because I think it's all very fragile, but he is definitely getting there.
Fitness is improving.
Moral seems to be improving.
Confidence is growing.
Negative influences are reducing.

Unfortunately, the biggest issue that can't be easily fixed is the lack of quality.
That is going to take more time and more money.

As for last night, a very good battling performance in the second half.
The first half was utter frustration.
We started very well, then after 15 mins, we reverted to walking pace football, with no movement, no urgency and no passion. Bacuna must have played more backwards passes that any other player this season.
Second half was much better. I would have put Richards in centre mid for the last 15 mins and let him run at them.

And, Gestede and Kozak. Wow! Have we stumbled on a partnership here?
Let's face is , tippy, tappy football has not been good for us for a long, long time.
Maybe 2 big buggers up front, keep lumping it up to them and play off them with Ayew is the way to try and shake thinks up for the last 15 games or so.
After all, we have nothing to lose now.

Got to agree with the Gestede/Kozak pairing.

With our present limited ability to totally fail in getting through teams it certainly might be worth a go.

Baggies next week could be the ideal game for those two.