Barnsley v Villa predictable post match thread

[aj2k77]

The Dr hasn't spent £30m+ to win one game, struggle to score, be near the relegation zone and generally be a joke in this division too. RDM is shit, it's plain to see, mistake after mistake and we are getting worse, the last 4 games have been our worst of the season. We flop from formation to formation looking to find something that works but now it's starting to look a confusing mess. He will be sacked after we draw 1-1 with Preston, does him and his pals on the bench even look interested?

[LeeB]

He's gorra go Tom.

[FranzBiberkopf]

2 things that you do not need to play 30 games as Villa manager to learn:

1) Grealish never lasts 90 min, he is all heart and no brains. Charge around for 60 min until tank is totally empty and then stalls.

Spot on. He was bent double gasping for breath last night with about 20 minutes to go. In fact when Tish got pulled off Grealish was staring at the bench just before that in what I can only assume was a "I'm fcuked, I need subbing off" look.

Other thoughts on last night:
I clocked Steve Clark in a heated conversation with some fans as they headed down the tunnel after the whistle. Not a happy bunch of campers.
Chester was rocky. Gave the ball away a couple of times in risky positions.
I thought Jedeniak was OK. Won a lot of headers, broke up play - did what we pay him to do.
Tish too - though his passing ain't the best (putting it mildly).

[aj2k77]

Aren't we getting to the stage now that only a moron would fail to see that with the combination of midfielders we have and their different weaknesses that we absolutely need to have 3 in the middle. Tough that we spent a shed load on attacking players, the engine room is where games are controlled and won and we must shape the team around the midfield to try and get the best out of it.

[Clampy]

I'd agree about going three in the middle. Maybe with Gardner playing a bit further forward than the other two seeing as he has a decent shot on him. It would also protect the back line a little more as well.

[steffo]

Listening to RDM on the radio this morning, one thing that struck me about his reply to the fact we have conceded at the death, was his claim that we should have been 3 up by then.

Maybe so. It struck me as being 'Keeganeske'. We do seem very top heavy with the emphasis on attack and very little defence. This of course is fine as long as your strikers are prolific. This would be a folly at the next level.

[mr underhill]

we've snagged the most free scoring forwards in the league - typical that when they pull on a Villa shirt, that prowess deserts them

[aj2k77]

If we were 3-0 up last night it would have been very flattering, he's going in to the realms of expecting every shot to be a goal.

[mr underhill]

in which case we'd have scored about 700

[aj2k77]

in which case we'd have scored about 700

And would still find a way to draw.

[Fin Feds Dad]

The bloke is tactically inept.

Just one simple example - we have every single player back in our box for every corner - which means if we do clear it, it just keeps coming back , to put us under more pressure. It also means the attacking team can commit more players forward.

Pressure on pressure - leads to the inevitable surrender.

As soon as Bacuna got injured last night, you knew where they were going to attack - why wasn't Hutton brought on immediately insteas do f the usual buggering about by our 'coaching' staff ?

[aj2k77]

What I see is that with all the players we've signed we are confusing ourselves. Trying to be too clever. The start of the season even a miserable git like me could see we were playing pretty well but missing the killer touch, we've now fiddled and twiddled and look pretty poor. Whatever we were doing in the first 5 or so games we need to return to.

[Hookeysmith]

Firstly  - my first trip in a long time to an away game, especially at a dump like Oakwell. Parked on the sports complex car park for £4 and did not even to attempt to turn car on after game until around 11pm. Total chaos with a complete free for all to get off the site and through a 1800 housing estate in single file.

The game

Saw line up and assumed 4 2 3 1 and was pleased especially with Westwood dropped. First half we were awful but so were they so a drab 0-0 was probably fair. 2nd half so much attacking play up to the final 3rd then shambolic movement & decision making resulted in total frustration and this was evident in the crowd and then filtered through to the team. It is clear that some of the "bigger" reputations are not living up to the billing and I do wonder what format of coaching they do all week as some of the basics of positioning, ball retention and control are clearly lacking. The amount of times clearances were scuffed either to opposition or out of play was unbelievable, it may be the Championship but these are very well paid footballers and they at times look like pub players skill levels. I know its easier to see in the stands but the space some of our players got only for the controller of the ball to turn back or inside was unreal.  In fairness we scored after a period of pressure and then failed to capitalise on a further 10 minutes of pressure up to the box area then we were woeful.

Gollini - 1st half nothing of note bar one save - 2nd half his piss poor command of area I just knew would bite us - catch the fucking thing you tart not punch it!

Bacuna - apart from a few wayward passes thought he was pretty good TBH - his tracking back and tackling in my eyes makes him the best RB we have

Elphick - Garbage. Insists on taking ball off keeper then does fuck all with it other than bring pressure on our defence. Does not dominate in air for big guy and considering h is a vocal leader his line management of defence is shambolic - I would drop at present and play Baker

Chester - Though he was decent and certainly the stand out CH of the 2. Would be better suited on right - see above

Cissoku - defensively ok'ish - anywhere over the half way line and as soon as ball goes to him its end of move - never seen such a less confident footballer

Adomah - great at times and decent in the air - final ball and decision making was poor

Grealish - at times really looks and acts the part, at other times a liability - was clearly shagged after 65 mins and needed to be changed - poor management

Jedinak - ponderous, slow keeping up with play, gets lost in no mans land and passing poor at times - have not seen a single reason why so many thought he was the answer

Tshibola - Thought he was pretty good at times although gave ball away cheaply at others - ran out of gas and changed at correct time.

Ayew - usual. Disinterested for most of it, not in game in 1st half had a burst and terrified them 2nd half, poor decision making as always but took goal well.

Kodja - Looks the part at times and makes decent runs - trying to hard to "smash" the ball in at times - most worrying thing was his runs into the box was either missed by delivery or his run was the wrong way - did become isolated at times as there was not support in final 3rd

Subs:

Gestede - until we learn how to use and support him he is a complete waste of time to bring on

Westwood - Meh

Manager / Coaching

Clearly this team / squad is geared up for 433 so is it arrogance or ineptitude that is insisting on everything but. Clearly the change last night other than Tshibola was McCormack for Grealish - how he did not see that was beyond me. And as for Clarke and coaching - I mentioned at the start the amateurish levels of control, passing and general play makes me wonder what the fuck do they do on the training ground. Also - does Clarke actually attend the games as they may as well have a cardboard cut out for all the interaction he has

Don't want a sacking this early but this is simply not good enough. I am not sure Dr Tony is so patient.

[trevor fisher]

the comments about players and the manager and such don't get the problem. Villa have learned to lose. Its cultural and psychological. The whole of football now knows that if Villa are leading 1-0 with ten minutes to go they will lose a goal. Panic is
now standard. The players are dominated by fear and the result is inevitable.

Changing the manager, the players, even the owner has made no difference. Bad appointments can't be an excuse, it goes on and on so the problem is psychological

Bring in a sports psychologist and accept that no other change will do.

You could put Guardiola, Messi and Ronaldo in at the Villa and they would all be destroyed, this club has learnt how to lose football matches

[Des Little]

He's gorra go Tom.

Can i have a Bronx 'at?