Aston Villa v Chelsea Match Thread

[Axl Rose]

Pathetic from Gil, barely touched with a defenders finger and he's rolling around holding his head.

He's hopeless, isn't he. What a rubbish player.

[AVFC Tom]

A very decent first half. Carlos Sanchez is playing sensational as usual, how we've managed to keep hold of him is beyond me.

[Toronto Villa]

We likely won't win again this season while it matters. In fact it would be stunning if we win again full stop. But going down without even any semblance of effort let alone fight is stunningly embarrassing.

[OzVilla]

Chelsea did the bare minimum, goof enough to be 2-0 up.

We are so short on quality its untrue.

Cissokho, Hutton, Gestede, Guzan, Westwood, Sanchez all try hard but no where near good enough.

[dorsetvillian]

Thank god my son was ill over night and so we didn't go up today. How can a Villa team show so little effort and be so utterly clueless in all phases of play. 
So so sad!

[TopDeck113]

A typically Villa-esque, curate's egg of a first half.

[DaveD]

A very decent first half. Carlos Sanchez is playing sensational as usual, how we've managed to keep hold of him is beyond me.

Carlos ! Thank you, I've spent the entire first half trying to remember his first name, that's how much he means to me as a player. Emilio no, Dirty no, Alexei, we should be so lucky...

[Villafirst]

How many times do Villa concede in added time in each half? Nothing ever changes. Pathetic.

[brontebilly]

Ayew competes well but he's about as prolific as Heskey at this stage of his career. Why they thought he could replace Benteke is anyone's guess

more a replacement for Flabby or Weimann, better than both of those to be fair

back five a rabble, getting no protection from a woeful narrow midfield, Gil powder puff and useless, front two have been decent enough

Gueye is another one, can get past a player but the backbone of a snail, walking back routinely

Sanchez is another one that needs to be f*cked off at the earliest, his legs move in slow motion

Vertout and Grealish for Gil and Sanchez I reckon

[Risso]

Different manager, same old shite

With these players the manager is irrelevant.

Exactly.

I don't know what sort of significantly different line up people expect Black to pick.

I just can't fathom how playing 4-3-3 with no width is going to work with Gestede in the team.

I'd try something like this:

Hutton Okore Clark Cissokho
Gil Gana Veretout Sinclair
Ayew Gestede

Just keep it tight in the middle, bang it out wide, then launch crosses for Gestede.

[richl]

What's up with kozak?

[Legion]

Noone loves him, baby.

[kippaxvilla2]

What's up with kozak?

An ankle injury not expected back until May.  Oka August.

[curiousorange]

So never, essentially.

[tomd2103]

Chelsea did the bare minimum, goof enough to be 2-0 up.

We are so short on quality its untrue.

Cissokho, Hutton, Gestede, Guzan, Westwood, Sanchez all try hard but no where near good enough.

That's all sides need to do, as we make things so easy for them.  We don't pressurise them and gift them goals, so they can just ho through the motions.

Can we just please see a bit of attacking intent now the game has gone.  Take one of Westwood or Sanchez off and bring Grealish on, and take Gil off and bring sinclair on to add a bit of pace.