Aston Villa 2-2 Stoke City Post Match Thread

[villa `cross the mersey]

We've got better team spirit and the entertainment that we were all clamouring for but the end result is still too many draws - I'm not sure what we can expect Smith to do this transfer window to shore up the defence ....... Top two is too much of an ask now I feel - still think a play off spot is a reasonable ask but whatever the outcome ,the closed season will be a big one for the club ......

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Disappointing result but we didn't deserve more than a point. Stoke packed the midfield and we had no response. Too reliant on pushing the ball wide with hopeful/pointless crosses into the box even though we actually scored from one, it was a poor tactic to have no alternative through the middle. Credit to Stoke, they did a job on us even if they're a team of journeymen with no real talent, they'll be happy with the point.

I couldn't understand Dean's plan today, even less when you see Whelan playing in an attacking midfield position second half and you've got Jack's obvious replacement, O'Hare, sitting on the bench.

The attack is a mish-mash of genius and ineptness, far too inconsistent to get us in the automatic positions. The less said about the defence the better. Hutton and Chester for the first, brainless Elmo for the penalty. Whilst I appreciate the weather conditions were not perfect today, with the squad we have there's nobody to blame for dropping points today other than ourselves.

[gpbarr]

We won't be going up automatically this season, just too far behind now.  No fault of Smith's, but he separately needs a new defence and keeper in January.

I disagree - automatic still very much in play. If we beat Leeds next up we are 9/10 points off 1st at the halfway stage - 69 points to play for and a very real chance we go on a winning streak through Jan and Feb. And I just don’t see Leeds or Norwich going on like Wolves / Cardiff did last year.

But we must beat Leeds and we must strengthen defense in the window.

Deano is doing a wonderful job and we are on the up. UTV

[hilts_coolerking]

Amid the recent euphoria, today's a useful reminder that we don't (yet) have the players for us to steamroller our way up the table.

[PeterWithesShin]

I'm not sure how scoring at least 2 for the 7th game in a row is an inconsistent attack tbh.

[auntiesledd]

Where’s this bollocks about Grealish being out for 2 months come from? Smith said he hoped he’d be back next week.

I'm pretty sure somebody mentioned it on the match thread, but thankfully it appears to be BS - having checked the facts. I just hope to God he's back for the Dirty Lot next weekend.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I'm not sure how scoring at least 2 for the 7th game in a row is an inconsistent attack tbh.

On paper I agree but today we created very little.

[cdbearsfan]

And scored two.

[Nev]

Rome wasn't built in a day.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Rome wasn't built in a day.

True Nev, we knew we'd drop points under Dean and today was that day. If we have to go up through the play-offs, so be it. I'd rather do that playing progressive football than do it the Cardiff way. Onwards and upwards.

[PeterWithesShin]

The attack is doing fine, what's costing us is the defence. Last 4 games we've scored 5, 3, 2 and 2 and managed 1 win.

[wittonwarrior]

Why was McGinn pushed so deep. Lucky pen for us and a sensible header by Kodja I’m content we live to fight another day

[Damo70]

The attack is doing fine, what's costing us is the defence. Last 4 games we've scored 5, 3, 2 and 2 and managed 1 win.

I think we all knew the defence was going to be a problem area until January at least.

On another note, I see that the smooth running Brentford machine that Dean Smith was apparently only a small part of have lost eight out of ten games since 'the head coach' left.

[Toronto Villa]

With industrial teams like Stoke you need some adventure to break them down and a backbone to keep them out. We all knew losing Jack would be an issue, so playing Whelan made no sense at all. It completely blunted us as an attacking unit. Then the worry was if they scored could we get back into it so in a way it’s encouraging that we were able to.

But our fucking defence, clowns that they are found a way to lose points for us. Today, Albion, Forest, QPR fuck how many games have we conceded from outright stupid mental and technical errors. 4 of our 5 defensive players are very replaceable, so when the manager says in January we need tweaking not major surgery. I strongly and respectfully disagree.

[clash city rocker]

Just back.   A bit deflated if I am honest.