Aston Villa v Brentford Post Match Thread

[supertom]

We need to play 3 in the middle. Jedinak can hold deeper and then get Tish and then one of Westwood or Gardner (for want of better options) in there too. I'd like to know why Lyden has disappeared. I feel he could do a job and add some energy.

I think you have to make a choice between Gestede or Kodija. Not both (unless changing it during a game if you're chasing a goal).
Likewise Ayew is shoehorned. McCormack is sort of playing in no mands land. There's no balance. If you've got Grealish, McCormack and Ayew, essentially they're all going to play more or less the same position. You can only play 1 of them, 2 at most (as Grealish does well coming in from the left). We do need to play a wide man who will open up the pitch a bit too, be that Adomah or Bacuna.

He's got to find a balanced formation very soon and get the team gelling. Right now we're 11 individuals running around without much cohesion and that's down to RDM largely.

The most frustrating thing is that in so many of these games, when we're on top, we look a class above. We should have beaten Huddersfield, Derby, Forrest, Brentford and Bristol comfortably. We're wasting chances, but what's more galling is the games where we go ahead and don't fully capitalize on our dominence. The only game we did that was Rotherham where we put them to bed. But they're an utterly dreadful side.

I know talking about RDM's job so soon might sound silly but if we get to 10-15 games and we're not winning??? No one will come in and instantly fix it mind you, but I do think RDM has got to get fucking tough and he's got to think sensibly. He's not playing fifa. You can't just cram in all of your best players. Sometimes you have to go for balance. And he's got to start holding his players accountable when they give away late goals. Every bastard game isn't acceptable. 

[mr underhill]

Meet the new shit, same as the old shit. well nearly, we draw now I suppose instead of losing

[JB1811]

Does anyone else think that De Laet could just be Hutton in a wig....there doesn't seem to be any significant improvement!

[Holte L2]

We need to play 3 in the middle. Jedinak can hold deeper and then get Tish and then one of Westwood or Gardner (for want of better options) in there too. I'd like to know why Lyden has disappeared. I feel he could do a job and add some energy.

I think you have to make a choice between Gestede or Kodija. Not both (unless changing it during a game if you're chasing a goal).
Likewise Ayew is shoehorned. McCormack is sort of playing in no mands land. There's no balance. If you've got Grealish, McCormack and Ayew, essentially they're all going to play more or less the same position. You can only play 1 of them, 2 at most (as Grealish does well coming in from the left). We do need to play a wide man who will open up the pitch a bit too, be that Adomah or Bacuna.

He's got to find a balanced formation very soon and get the team gelling. Right now we're 11 individuals running around without much cohesion and that's down to RDM largely.

The most frustrating thing is that in so many of these games, when we're on top, we look a class above. We should have beaten Huddersfield, Derby, Forrest, Brentford and Bristol comfortably. We're wasting chances, but what's more galling is the games where we go ahead and don't fully capitalize on our dominence. The only game we did that was Rotherham where we put them to bed. But they're an utterly dreadful side.

I know talking about RDM's job so soon might sound silly but if we get to 10-15 games and we're not winning??? No one will come in and instantly fix it mind you, but I do think RDM has got to get fucking tough and he's got to think sensibly. He's not playing fifa. You can't just cram in all of your best players. Sometimes you have to go for balance. And he's got to start holding his players accountable when they give away late goals. Every bastard game isn't acceptable. 

Great post. Exactly the same as I said last night at the game.

One thing that was alarming that we couldnt freshen the team up with another attacker becuase they were all on the sodding pitch.

It's like Ron Saunders said, the most important thing in a team is shape.

[brontebilly]

With the wrong personnel though.

Amavi looked unfit and poor.

Ayew is not suited to playing the wide midfield workhorse.

Ayew was man of the match in that position against Forest and arguably Derby too

Unfortunately he hasnt scored in the league this season, if we are playing with very attacking wide players we need them to be getting 10 league goals each at a minimum.

Ideally we would have Ayew, Adamoah and Grealish competing for 2 wide positions supporting Kodija with a solid midfield trio behind.

We should never ever be starting with Ayew, McCormack, Gestede, Kodija as the front four, that is madness.

McCormack doesnt really fit at all, his lack of conditioning is also a serious problem and a disgrace frankly for a new 12m signing.

[RussellC]

We need to play 3 in the middle. Jedinak can hold deeper and then get Tish and then one of Westwood or Gardner (for want of better options) in there too. I'd like to know why Lyden has disappeared. I feel he could do a job and add some energy.

I think you have to make a choice between Gestede or Kodija. Not both (unless changing it during a game if you're chasing a goal).
Likewise Ayew is shoehorned. McCormack is sort of playing in no mands land. There's no balance. If you've got Grealish, McCormack and Ayew, essentially they're all going to play more or less the same position. You can only play 1 of them, 2 at most (as Grealish does well coming in from the left). We do need to play a wide man who will open up the pitch a bit too, be that Adomah or Bacuna.

He's got to find a balanced formation very soon and get the team gelling. Right now we're 11 individuals running around without much cohesion and that's down to RDM largely.

The most frustrating thing is that in so many of these games, when we're on top, we look a class above. We should have beaten Huddersfield, Derby, Forrest, Brentford and Bristol comfortably. We're wasting chances, but what's more galling is the games where we go ahead and don't fully capitalize on our dominence. The only game we did that was Rotherham where we put them to bed. But they're an utterly dreadful side.

I know talking about RDM's job so soon might sound silly but if we get to 10-15 games and we're not winning??? No one will come in and instantly fix it mind you, but I do think RDM has got to get fucking tough and he's got to think sensibly. He's not playing fifa. You can't just cram in all of your best players. Sometimes you have to go for balance. And he's got to start holding his players accountable when they give away late goals. Every bastard game isn't acceptable. 

But don't the two highlighted sections contradict each other? I honestly don't think that the team-shape or line-up was the problem last night. In the first half we were very good, and probably deserving of a greater lead. It was how we approached the game int the second half and, worryingly, it seemed that RDM had not anticipated that Brentford might try top change their approach to get back into it. Initially we played like were still at 0-0, taking unnecessary risks with the ball, looking for a second goal. When that didn't happen with around 30 minutes still to pay, we stopped pressing higher up the pitch and the whole team dropped 15 yards deeper, effectively inviting Brentford onto us. By this stage we'd also lost our attacking shape from the first half, so were unable to offer any real threat on the counter. The option of Gestede holding the ball up (to some extend) was also taken away by another poor RDM change. The equaliser, against a team who really had very little attacking threat, was inevitable.

We lack nous. We've lacked it for years. On the pitch and, seemingly, still in the dugout.

[sirlordbaltimore]

I think McCormack is probably the only player we have with any ability to spot a run or make a run himself to be honest. He should start off Kodjia every time for me

Which leaves the question where do all the other attacking options fit in ?

If we play a four man midfield with two wingers, then it's a choice between Ayew, Grealish and Adomah by the look of it. We certainly cna't play them all

Gestede to be used in emergencies only for me, like 15 minutes to go when we're losing and need to go more direct

[ClarrieBlue]

I know he's got a couple of goals, but I think we have definitely got to sort out how we use Ross McCormack. When we signed him, some of my Bluenose friends actually said we had all but secured promotion by signing him. They were dead jealous. However he looks to me like a fish out of water in our team - searching for a role almost. Playing in no-man's land as somebody said earlier. With his goal scoring record and reputation within this division, there has to be one hell of a player in there somewhere. Maybe it's time to watch some old videos and sort out how he needs to play or maybe just ask him.

[ciggiesnbeer]

I was listening to it on Radio WM , they absolutely loved that. Twats.

I have no idea what to say re the game. It is amazing just how much of a habit the late conceding has become.

I wouldn't have said that - I thought last night's coverage was ok - although when I saw it was on R5SE I assumed, wrongly it would have been one of the R5 core team.  Still I thought Garry Thompson told it as it was and I thought Mark Reagan (I've got no idea where his loyalties really lie) covered it pretty much spot on and felt the tension we were all feeling (and that was all around the world as well).

I was annoyed by their constant praise of Brentford and almost willing their equalizer. Followed by the smug satisfaction of "called it" sentiment after they did and speculating they might go on to win it.

I admit to being very angry at the time so I could have been projecting my frustration at them. I also think I am fair to be paranoid and overly sensitive about our local media. Is it too much to ask for them to be openly on the local teams side for a change?

[django]

I think McCormack should be played off Kodja, it gives us our best movement up front which might make up for our poor creativity behind. Adomah should play once he's fit as we would benefit from some genuine width and he's someone else with sorely needed pace and a trick to stretch teams.

Think you then need to decide whether you have Grealish or Ayew playing, Ayew has created more this season but currently i'd play Jack because he keeps the ball better. Once things have settled down, players are settled, fit and playing with less fear we could mix its up. I'm not sure you would ideally have this many attacking players in the team until you have sorted the midfield out but we really are short of other types of midfielder at the moment and I'm not sure how many games you are likely to get out of the ones we have. Tshibola, and Gardner are both regularly injured and Jedinak is at the stage of his career where he is likely to be out too.

[Stirchley Villain]

There was a point in the 2nd half when I genuinely thought the players had downed tools.

[VancouverLion]

McCormack's goals per game ratio in the championship is 1 in 2 or very close for both Leeds and Fulham.

Only at Aston Villa could we sign a striker with that record and not know where to play him FFS!

[Duncan Shaw]

McCormack's goals per game ratio in the championship is 1 in 2 or very close for both Leeds and Fulham.

Only at Aston Villa could we sign a striker with that record and not know where to play him FFS!

And is also well know to take a few weeks to really get going!

[Ron Manager]

Didn't see or hear the match.No idea of the score until I bought the Mirror at the local Spar in Llanberis this morning. To say I was disappointed is understating it
somewhat. Especially as I had injured myself half way up a mountain in a minor fall and then later found no real ale in a pub that states it has a fine selection on a big banner outside! That is 1 in 7 unless I am mistaken and that is plainly not acceptable for any club and not just Aston Villa.

[fredm]

I think McCormack has a bit of the Robbie Keanes about him, in that he can come deep looking for the ball then to give it and go and get in the box for when it comes in. Unfortunately it took a while for the rest of the team to appreciate what Keane was doing and I think it is the same with McCormack.  RDM needs to sort out what his team is going to be and get them on the field at BH drilling movement into them so they are aware of what each other is doing.