Aston Villa v Brentford Post Match Thread

[JJ-AV]

The squad is incredibly imbalanced, way too many forwards. You've got Ayew out of position and McCormack forcing us to play a specific way.

4-2-3-1 might work when we're playing well, but it's way too open. 433, Jedinak, Tish and Westwood with Adomah on the right, Kodj through the middle and whoever of the number 10s playing from the left.

You'll never get Grealish, Ayew and McCormack in the same side successfully. IMO.

[CJ]

Think we missed Grealish hugely - anyone know why he wasn't in the squad last night?

[Monty]

Well we did against Forest, and we battered them senseless for most of the match. We just need to find a way to make ourselves less easily contested against - and drop Westwood to the bottom of a well.

[Walmley_Villa]

Think we missed Grealish hugely - anyone know why he wasn't in the squad last night?

Hamstring

[in exile]

Think we missed Grealish hugely - anyone know why he wasn't in the squad last night?

Hamstring problem.

There was me thinking after all I had read on here that Jedinak was going to boss the midfield. He beat Westwood on points though.
Amavi & Gardner - not up to the job.
Not looking too good is it?

[Monty]

I actually thought Jedi was pretty good. His pressing was much much better and he was fine defensively, especially when you consider we were only playing him as the one in midfield.

[Clark W Griswold]

Can't see a win coming in the next 2 matches either.

[olaftab]

The really, really stupid thing was, with Just-Head up front on his own, Brentford knew there was no chance of us breaking. They could relax and push us back at their leisure. That was staggering, a bit like our unfit players in the last 20 minutes.

And  not playing our most effective  forward, Kodjia,  right in the middle! On fitness it was alarming how our players faded away post  60+ and bringing on an unfit Amavi did not help at all.

[olaftab]

I actually thought Jedi was pretty good. His pressing was much much better and he was fine defensively, especially when you consider we were only playing him as the one in midfield.

I think Jedi will work very well with 3 in middle in a 433 however not sure if we have the players to do that.

[Pete]

Still, £1,300 win from the bookies softens the blow somewhat.

My reaction to the equaliser was a smile at your earlier bet suggestion rather than throwing my phone at the wall.

So we're both winners in a way.

I'll buy you a pint!

What odds did you get Risso?

[olaftab]

Can't see a win coming in the next 2 matches either.

Well if we don't ....I am afraid he has to go.

[Monty]

Jack in the middle. That's my new drum and I'm banging it.

[nick harper]

There was quite an exodus from the stands when their goal went in. The sound of upturned seats banging - like a toll of doom.

Oh and typical of Villa, we were pinned back on our own half for pretty much the whole of the 5 minutes injury time. They couldn't stir themselves such was the lethargy.

[PeterWithe]

You'll never get Grealish, Ayew and McCormack in the same side successfully. IMO.

It hasn't worked yet but I think its got potential, I'd like to see Jedinak and Tish as the two before abandoning the idea but that has its own problems as a partnership as we haven't got a link man without Westwood.

[Jimbo]

The really, really stupid thing was, with Just-Head up front on his own, Brentford knew there was no chance of us breaking. They could relax and push us back at their leisure. That was staggering, a bit like our unfit players in the last 20 minutes.

And  not playing our most effective  forward, Kodjia,  right in the middle! On fitness it was alarming how our players faded away post  60+ and bringing on an unfit Amavi did not help at all.

Exactly. With Kodjia up there at least we would have had an outlet on the break. Brentford would have had to watch that, giving them less freedom to maraud through our midfield.

When Kodjia did break from deep on that right side, he seemed to get lost in an immediate swarm of Brentford players. They were more up and at it than us, as most teams have been in this league, particularly Huddersfield in the second half.