Quote from: brontebilly on November 01, 2020, 04:25:46 PMQuote from: TonyD on November 01, 2020, 04:01:37 PMHe needs to be able to set the midfield in different formations and styles. Unfortunately apart from CH there is nobody decent on the bench. We need to sign at least two midfielders in January and one of them need to be a real hard ass. We also need another a striker and left and right back. Only 5 more signings......Hourihane got a goal and assist against Fulham and hadn't played a single minute since. That's despite McGinn and particularly Barkley being absolutely useless in the last two games.Why “particularly Barkley” McGinn has been equally as bad if not worse. A few others too. Hourihane isn’t as good a player as either of them.
Quote from: TonyD on November 01, 2020, 04:01:37 PMHe needs to be able to set the midfield in different formations and styles. Unfortunately apart from CH there is nobody decent on the bench. We need to sign at least two midfielders in January and one of them need to be a real hard ass. We also need another a striker and left and right back. Only 5 more signings......Hourihane got a goal and assist against Fulham and hadn't played a single minute since. That's despite McGinn and particularly Barkley being absolutely useless in the last two games.
He needs to be able to set the midfield in different formations and styles. Unfortunately apart from CH there is nobody decent on the bench. We need to sign at least two midfielders in January and one of them need to be a real hard ass. We also need another a striker and left and right back. Only 5 more signings......
Barkley was great against Liverpool, was OK against Leicester (but got extra marks for scoring the late winner), but has been dire against Leeds and Southampton. We can't afford 1 good game in 4 from him.
"Chronically bad performances other than Liverpool..."You mean beating Sheffield United, declaring after an hour at Fulham and deservedly beating Leicester, who are tipped for top four? Those chronically bad performances?
Interesting from DS's post-game press conference that at half-time players thought that they were being done tactically by Southampton which DS disagreed with.Maybe some indication that players are concerned by our tactics. Doesn't excuse their lack of tempo or general lethargy recently though even if they might have a point.
The header was definitely a tactical issue by playing zonal marking and not moving the personnel around to counter it. The question is whether or not the players have more freedom in the system to change things when there appears to be a mismatch.It was stupid to give two free-kicks away in the 'D' with Ward-Prowse on the pitch. Ings' finish was top drawer and is one of those goals that happens.
I’m a bit disheartened by the last two results but have no doubts we are a lot better than last year and really don’t think we will be scrapping around the relegation spots againmid table will be an improvement and that’s where I think we will bethe question then will be is Dean Smith the man to take us any further ie into the top 8/6 which will be a decision for the owners for another time because if we do finish mid table he will have improved year on yearmy opinion on the defence is not a popular one on hereas I’ve mentioned a few times before so it’s not because of the two latest reverses and I have absolutely no problem with Mings, Konsa or Cash I think they have much ability and are good for the future of Aston VillaHowever i still believe that Engels is the best centre half we have at the club and Guilbert the best right back
Quote from: john e on November 02, 2020, 02:11:53 PMI’m a bit disheartened by the last two results but have no doubts we are a lot better than last year and really don’t think we will be scrapping around the relegation spots againmid table will be an improvement and that’s where I think we will bethe question then will be is Dean Smith the man to take us any further ie into the top 8/6 which will be a decision for the owners for another time because if we do finish mid table he will have improved year on yearmy opinion on the defence is not a popular one on hereas I’ve mentioned a few times before so it’s not because of the two latest reverses and I have absolutely no problem with Mings, Konsa or Cash I think they have much ability and are good for the future of Aston VillaHowever i still believe that Engels is the best centre half we have at the club and Guilbert the best right backEngels is error prone and slow. Guilbert is error prone and gets out of position too easily.Not the ideal attributes for defenders ...
I am becoming concerned with Mings. Not sure where his head is.