Aston Villa 2 Sheffield United 2 Merry bloody Xmas Post Match thread.

[paulcomben]

Keinan Davis is categorically nowhere near good enough. He cannot trap nor hold nor head nor pass nor shoot a football, unless by fluke.

[PaulWinch again]

I think Jedinak looked like a guy who's not really fit playing out of position in a key position who got targeted for a bit of roughing up.

Quite how it's come to the point where our options at the left side of defence are a 37 year old backed up by a 33 year old and an out of position 33 year old (who's main position is currently held by another 33 year old) I don't know but far too often we look slow and tired.  Terry gets away with it more because he's still a class above this league but Samba and Jedinak aren't and they just look like they're winding down to retirement for me.

Clark, Suliman and Bedeau all have good reputations and have performed well in the U23s for a while so quite why he won't at least put one of them on the bench baffles me.

I think that’s the point. Terry is fair enough, because he’s quality, but not having a better back up option is appalling.

[Clampy]

No I agree, I don't suggest for one minute that Jedinak's awfulness was deliberate.  It was awfulness by omission.  He did not stay focussed.  He ball watched.  He allowed himself to get rattled.  Playing football is his profession.  He is very well paid not to make monumental cock ups on the field of play.

Yes, he may have had a poor game but that's not holding the club or fans in contempt like you suggested. He maybe just had a bad game. Some players do.

[Uknowthescore]

I said very close to contempt and I standby that opinion.  You have your opinions, I have mine.  That performance by Mile Jedinak today disrespected the club and disrespected the fans.  In my opinion.

He didn’t do it on purpose he fucked up end off to say it was disrespectful is a bit ott

[kippaxvilla2]

Clayton fcukin Donaldson enough said.  Fcukin Clayton bastard Donaldson.  Considered not good enough for bottom of the table Small Heath.

[Fasth56]

Gary Monk anyone?

[curiousorange]

Davis has potential, but he's not one of those wonder teenagers you get who are the finished article straight away. Leaving him to lead the line for a team chasing promotion is ludicrous.

[AlexAlexCropley]

We can debate the likes of team selection and shape till we're blue in the face ,but two things to me stand out
1)The complete lack of grit and physicality that makes teams like Sheff Utd come back too easily from what should have been an unassailable position
2)On any given attack, the lack of players in the box or busting a gut to get into it.We will never create enough chances whilst we pursue risk-free football

[sickbeggar]

bottom line is he isn't a centre half. As paule mentioned, the fact we've allowed our squad to get to that position where he's stuck playing  there is the real concern.

[kippaxvilla2]

Davis has potential, but he's not one of those wonder teenagers you get who are the finished article straight away. Leaving him to lead the line for a team chasing promotion is ludicrous.

It’s beyond comprehension that we have spent £40m on strikers and two of the three of them are not good enough to displace a 19 year old Ex Biggleswade trainee.

[curiousorange]

What annoys me is the amount of time the ball spends in the air. Simple defensive clearance? Whack it. Ball above shin height? Chip it further so it's slightly less controllable. Second ball you should trap and play to feet? Use a wild and unnecessary panic volley at your closest teammate.

[paul_e]

What annoys me is the amount of time the ball spends in the air. Simple defensive clearance? Whack it. Ball above shin height? Chip it further so it's slightly less controllable. Second ball you should trap and play to feet? Use a wild and unnecessary panic volley at your closest teammate.

All things which should be corrected in training by focusing on basic skills as a core part of it but we never do it.  Far too many of our players lack basic technical skills, it's been my biggest gripe about the club for years.

[PaulWinch again]

What annoys me is the amount of time the ball spends in the air. Simple defensive clearance? Whack it. Ball above shin height? Chip it further so it's slightly less controllable. Second ball you should trap and play to feet? Use a wild and unnecessary panic volley at your closest teammate.

And probably also answers the question as to why Hogan has failed. I’ve no idea whether he’s good enough, but I know he scored a lot of goals in a team who played it on the deck. I also know if you hoof it up to him he’s never going to have a chance.

[curiousorange]

What annoys me is the amount of time the ball spends in the air. Simple defensive clearance? Whack it. Ball above shin height? Chip it further so it's slightly less controllable. Second ball you should trap and play to feet? Use a wild and unnecessary panic volley at your closest teammate.

All things which should be corrected in training by focusing on basic skills as a core part of it but we never do it.  Far too many of our players lack basic technical skills, it's been my biggest gripe about the club for years.

The biggest indicator of that for me is throw-ins. I have never seen a club as collectively useless at them as Villa.

[ciggiesnbeer]

What annoys me is the amount of time the ball spends in the air. Simple defensive clearance? Whack it. Ball above shin height? Chip it further so it's slightly less controllable. Second ball you should trap and play to feet? Use a wild and unnecessary panic volley at your closest teammate.

All things which should be corrected in training by focusing on basic skills as a core part of it but we never do it.  Far too many of our players lack basic technical skills, it's been my biggest gripe about the club for years.

The biggest indicator of that for me is throw-ins. I have never seen a club as collectively useless at them as Villa.

100% I just dont understand how we can be so awful at them over such a long period of time. Its probably also a "tell" that we have not had a manager for many years who actually drills the into players their positions.