Norwich v Villa Post-Match Thread

[AlloLion]

It's had to find anything positive, from last night. Absolute garbage, clueless, it just sucks the life out of you supporting this club.
Its hard to make a case for any player to wear the claret and blue again.Hope the love affair with Gabby is over now, shouldn't ever play for Villa again. They looked like a broken team, last night.
 

The only positive was last night, was getting my paper copy of H & V, I did have a chuckle at couple of the articles.

[Clark W Griswold]

The worrying thing is that some believe that our midfield would be improved by the addition of Bacuna and Tishbola. Dear god.

Have you heard of clutching at straws. ....

It would improve it, but just not nearly enough. We need to purchase 2 players that will be real quality at this level and ok for the premier league.

[brontebilly]

When Elphick plays we seem to defend so, so deep, not even leaving our own half.

With Jedinak sitting just in front the gap between attack and centre midfield is huge, which i think is the reason the ball just keeps on coming back at us.

particularly in the first half yesterday, there was times that the 20 outfield players were within a 20 yard radius

hoof, header, tackle, hoof, lucky ricohet, poor pass, go on a run, pass back, hoof....repeat for 45 mins

the game got a little stretched after they scored but the goal was really from Chester being turned not far from the half way line

Elphick is afraid to be caught ahead of the ball with his lack of pace, primary reason for him not pushing out for the goal I expect

[ChicagoLion]

I continue to say the squad is unbalanced.The problem is 2 years of random player acquisitions.
Most of the players are either not good enough or don't fit.
an abundance of players who want to play off a striker yet only one central midfielder.
Only one ok centre half and centre midfielder.No orthodox centre forward of ability.
Hutton at right back.

[in exile]

Amavi was the best player in a Villa shirt by a mile. Got caught out twice; once in the first half because he won three successive challenges but no Villa player closed the space so they dinked it in behind him and the other in the second where he jumped.

Continually caught out of position, which he recovers from with his pace but then conceeds a corner or free kick.

Continually hoofs the ball and loses possession, form which the opposition launches another attack.

Exactly, but some here are too blind to see it

[martyn ellis]

It was all about the passing last night, simplistic though it is to say it. A lot of 'hoof' passes from the back, so the ball kept coming back; but at the front, in Grealish, Ayew and Kodjia (not his best game) we had three players who constantly wanted to run with the ball and beat players whilst making no ground and refused to look for a pass to free up someone in a better position. Result, no penetration at all for 90 minutes.

[Ads]

Or some people disagree and think Amavi is a decent player. Those that don't recognise that have small balls.

[adrenachrome]

Or some people disagree and think Amavi is a decent player. Those that don't recognise that have small balls.

Beauty's in the eye of the beholder
None so blind as those that will not see
You must have a pair of shrivelled testes
If you put the blame on Amavi

[KevinGage]

Cliff's 2016 Christmas offering.

It's nice. And I'll probably buy it.

But it doesn't make me feel a whole pile better.

[ChicagoLion]

Or some people disagree and think Amavi is a decent player. Those that don't recognise that have small balls.

Beauty's in the eye of the beholder
None so blind as those that will not see
You must have a pair of shrivelled testes
If you put the blame on Amavi

tra la la la , la. La la, la la.

[cheltenhamlion]

I was watching Stourbridge so haven't seen the game. To suggest I was underwhelmed by the team selection whilst standing in the pie queue though would be an understatement.

I don't ever want to see Flabby anywhere near the first team squad again.

[Rudy65]

We looked streets ahead of Brighton four games ago. He needs to go back to what was working, three men in there, until a time he can buy in January.

I thougt the performance at Brighton was ok but seems to have been exagerrated. Im not sure we have played well at all under Bruce but have ground out the wins.

[CT]

Apart from being not up to Championship level, how long does this fitness regime that Gabby is on actually take to show results?

He STILL doesn't look fit for football IMO.

[aj2k77]

Apart from being not up to Championship level, how long does this fitness regime that Gabby is on actually take to show results?

He STILL doesn't look fit for football IMO.

He may have been given a regime to follow but by the looks of him he's as half hearted as ever.

To be honest, we should have learned by now that players who haven't really played much football for a few years very rarely get it back together. He's a has been, he's finished, totally.

[supertom]

Awful last night. Some key differences for me mark out why I think Norwich are more well equipped to go up (despite their blip in form). The major one is midfield. The balance is just right for the Championship. For me, you simple cannot play Ayew and Grealish together. Never mind the fact we also have Kodjia filling in on the left at times. But the point is mercurial players. Occasionally able to produce the unexpected moment of brilliance, but in midfield you can only carry one of those. If you're lucky you have a striker to give you the second option on the pitch.

At this level you have to have dynamic, industrious midfielders. That's not to say you just put any old plodder in who has no quality whatsoever, but you need hard workers and good athletes. You pack those fuckers in your midfield. We had no one. Jedinak is good at what he does. He's a godsend in this division for us, but at his age, and given he's never had pace, you have to have legs near him. Norwich, whilst looking a bit like a West Brom reject factory, had Dorrans, Malumbu and Brady in midfield. That's a good mix. And whilst they lack a really exciting player, you've got Oliveira and Howson who work hard. We had Gabby up top on his own and he was utterly infectual. He simply has to go. He's 110% finished as a professional footballer. Regardless of whether you think he's a waster or a cretin, it doesn't matter, it's almost tragically obvious that putting aside the attitude factor, the body is no longer willing. Pension him the fuck out of our club immediately. But for me, that mix of the ex Baggies and Brady was very effective. Brady in particularly is excellent in this league, he combines industry, stamina and quality.

Westwood and Gardner are useless. Get rid ASAP. Westwood was anonymous last night and that's par for the course. I've never known a player who has had as many games as he, to have ghosted through so many. Tish has all the attributes to be an ideal option in there, but if he's too young and not ready, then we need to buy someone who is.

Elphick weakens us significantly at the back, and it's no exaggeration to say that he seems to chip away at Gollini's confidence in turn. We miss Baker and our goalkeeper misses Baker.

McCormack's conditioning is a complete and utter joke. So much focus has been on Gabby's fitness and to be fair he's worked on it, but it's too little too late and the injuries have also done him in. When your main attribute is a physical one which has disappeared, and you have shit all technical ability you are done for. But McCormacks fitness needs to be bought into question as does his professionalism. If the issue with Gabby is made public, then surely we have to call out Ross too because he's as bad as Gabby's ever been.

The following need to be immediately dropped from the matchday squads:
Elphick
Hutton
Westwood
Gardner
Ayew (he's been piss for months. Doesn't seem interested any more and despite being one of the most talented in this division, is far too inconsistent to carry).
McCormack.
Gabby.

Tishbola and RHM need to be given a chance now, and for want of better options, Bacuna should come into the side, either in midfield or at Right back. Some are being carried by on their reputation. It's an error we've persistently made over the years and they shouldn't get away with it. These shitters need to earn their place. As things stand it's an impossibility to go up. We need 3-4 additions in January.