Sheffield Wednesday v Aston Villa Post Match Thread

[Gregorys Boy]

There some positives from yesterday, like Elphick's debut and the improvement in the second half.  I think the manager got the selection in midfield wrong and felt he should have brought Grealish on sooner.  Its just a shame we couldn't hold out for what would have been a decent point.  We need to learn to stop giving away sloppy late goals and to see results out. 

[brentastonb6]

Whilst a lot of the squad are the same we are a team under new management and it will take a  while to get going but at least for once I feel like I can say us / we / team , despite the defeat it was a massive step in the right direction, bring on Rotherham and Huddersfield !

[Gregorys Boy]

Whilst a lot of the squad are the same we are a team under new management and it will take a  while to get going but at least for once I feel like I can say us / we / team , despite the defeat it was a massive step in the right direction, bring on Rotherham and Huddersfield !

And I think those home games are important because of how tricky the two league away games are.  Was hopeing we might nick a point yesterday as combined with what should be two home wins then they would be a decent start.  Not sure I can see us getting anything at Derby but you never know. 

[papa lazarou]

I keep thinking, how long is it since we've had anything even remotely resembling a bit of steel in midfield?

It is the one thing which would improve us instantly.

This has been part of the issue for years paulie, along with a lack of presence in the middle of the pitch. It seemed that every game last season we surrendered the midfield to the opposition from the kick off. Stan Petrov wasn't the greatest player but he occupied the central ground and could tackle and offer some protection to the defence. We haven't had anyone like it since. Hopefully, Tshibola will fill this role but he's got a lot to learn. It is also Gardner's position but is he really good enough?

[SoccerHQ]

I keep thinking, how long is it since we've had anything even remotely resembling a bit of steel in midfield?

It is the one thing which would improve us instantly.

2010.

There is no excuse for not sorting it out now we're not in the premier league.

[tomd2103]

I haven't seen a single post saying they were pleased we lost 1-0. Just that it isn't the end of the world and there were positives to be taken from the game.

I would add to that a general acceptance that we are very much rebuilding and we are going to have to be patient. 

[gpbarr]

I haven't seen a single post saying they were pleased we lost 1-0. Just that it isn't the end of the world and there were positives to be taken from the game.

I would add to that a general acceptance that we are very much rebuilding and we are going to have to be patient.

Exactly. It took 5 years to get to where we are, so it's going to take more than 5 mins to put it right again. Results will be a little unpredictable through the first half but I see things settling down and clicking into place and finishing strong. I don't see us as top two but I think we will be there or there abouts.

[old man villa fan]

I keep thinking, how long is it since we've had anything even remotely resembling a bit of steel in midfield?

It is the one thing which would improve us instantly.

This has been part of the issue for years paulie, along with a lack of presence in the middle of the pitch. It seemed that every game last season we surrendered the midfield to the opposition from the kick off. Stan Petrov wasn't the greatest player but he occupied the central ground and could tackle and offer some protection to the defence. We haven't had anyone like it since. Hopefully, Tshibola will fill this role but he's got a lot to learn. It is also Gardner's position but is he really good enough?

It would help greatly taking Westwood out of there.  It is a key position and he does not have any presence.  I do feel that he goes missing defensively and you just cannot afford that.  His reading of the game is not good as can be seen when he gets caught outside our penalty area picking up nobody and pointing to others to pick up players.  At this level, he may be ok playing further forward but, having said that, he lacks pace and stamina.

[cheltenhamlion]

Not too downhearted about yesterday. That is one of the best sides in this league and we were the better side quite comfortably. It showed we have enough to be competitive. We need a few more to be definite title challengers.

Quite comfortably? Not sure about that. They dominated first 30 mins and it was interesting thinking anout the match today in that I think they had a number of shots on goal (havent checked the stats) but Gollini always seemed to be in the right place. We were much improved in the second half and deserved a point overall

Both sides were bang average in the first half. They created bugger all in terms of chances.

[papa lazarou]

I keep thinking, how long is it since we've had anything even remotely resembling a bit of steel in midfield?

It is the one thing which would improve us instantly.

This has been part of the issue for years paulie, along with a lack of presence in the middle of the pitch. It seemed that every game last season we surrendered the midfield to the opposition from the kick off. Stan Petrov wasn't the greatest player but he occupied the central ground and could tackle and offer some protection to the defence. We haven't had anyone like it since. Hopefully, Tshibola will fill this role but he's got a lot to learn. It is also Gardner's position but is he really good enough?

It would help greatly taking Westwood out of there.  It is a key position and he does not have any presence.  I do feel that he goes missing defensively and you just cannot afford that.  His reading of the game is not good as can be seen when he gets caught outside our penalty area picking up nobody and pointing to others to pick up players.  At this level, he may be ok playing further forward but, having said that, he lacks pace and stamina.

This is my point old man. Successive managers continued to play him in a role that he's not capable of fulfilling. It's not easy finding the right player but we need a strong, dominant type or we will continue to be overrun in midfield in this league also.

[PeterWithe]

Just having a quick scan of some of their boards and quite a few have got the arsehole about being described as 'poor' on these boards, I dont recall too many people saying that, more like they are one of the fancied teams and, for a change, they didn't look like thrashing us. We were the better side in the second half.

[paul richard]

The good news:

Nzog, Richardson, Guzan, Clark and Sinclair are history.
Gabby and Lescott were nowhere near the match day squad.  We may actually have seen the last of both of them.
Sheffield Wednesday look bang average to me.  If they really are one of the better sides in this division, then there is less to fear in this league than I had supposed.
Elphick looks like the real deal.
Ayew looks like he will be a threat this season.
We looked half decent for a spell in the second half.

The bad news:

The starting line-up still looks nowhere near strong enough.  Particularly the midfield and the full backs.
We appeared to have better players on the bench than on the pitch at kick off.  Why didn't Amavi, Grealish, Tshibola and/or Green actually start?
August 2015.  Selhurst Park.  A competitive performance which should have yielded a hard-earned point is undermined by a late mix-up between the goalkeeper and the left back.  August 2016.  Hillsborough.  Ditto.  Groundhog Day.
We lost again.  When will the agony finally stop??

[J]

Agree with all of that, Paul.

[Villatillidie1982]

I keep thinking, how long is it since we've had anything even remotely resembling a bit of steel in midfield?

It is the one thing which would improve us instantly.

This has been part of the issue for years paulie, along with a lack of presence in the middle of the pitch. It seemed that every game last season we surrendered the midfield to the opposition from the kick off. Stan Petrov wasn't the greatest player but he occupied the central ground and could tackle and offer some protection to the defence. We haven't had anyone like it since. Hopefully, Tshibola will fill this role but he's got a lot to learn. It is also Gardner's position but is he really good enough?

Sanchez can provide steel. It's a player with a brain that is required. No brains of any kind in midfield since Stan retired. How much is he missed?