Aston Villa v Hull City Post Match Thread

[Legion]

Trucks?

[Legion]

Ducks!

[Villa75]

Manager after manager, year after year......

You'd think, just by accident if nothing else, we'd get it right occasionally.

Out of interest, did the downturn in form coincide with the owners telling all and sundry that they weren't fussed if we went up or not?

[Ads]

No.

[Drummond]

Gut feeling is that even winning every game wouldn't see us trouble an auto promotion spot, however, the play-offs are easily attainable.

Grealish is back in next 2-3 weeks. We'll have a new player or two. We'll be fine.



I hope.

[clash city rocker]

Yes officer I know we have hit something but just send a couple of chaps down below with buckets.

[tomd2103]

Just got round to watching the goals on TV.  Awful from Chester for the first one and it then seemed to go under the keeper's body.  Hutton completely lost his man for the second one and was just jogged back after him. 

[old man villa fan]

I think it goes to show that at this level, a couple of good players in a team can make a massive amount of difference. You can get by with weaknesses at this level as we are seeing with some very average teams in the top half of the division. People should not underestimate the effect of the loss of Grealish and Axel. To make matters worse, we do not have similar players to replace them. We have to have an out ball from the goalkeeper so that we can build possession. Of the four in defence and the defensive midfield player, there is not one of them you have confidence in to do that.

[RichardBatchelor]

This squad is too old, pure and simple - if we had the Adomah 2017, the solid Taylor at Swansea, the Palace version of Bolasie, Chester of a year ago, Whelan at Stoke etc etc, we’d go up comfortably.

[AV82EC]

So after witnessing Wigan last week after the first 8 minutes yesterday we seemed to get a response, what happened for the next 30 minutes was quite plainly awful. Chester playing out of position, a midfield and full backs that didn’t have a clue and two wingers who might as well have been at home. It was grim. The goal against the run of play gave us a lifeline and fair play we got back in it as the second half was much better.

To fix this before we get Jack back to fitness he has to dispense with the two wide attacking players it leaves us too exposed. He needs to make a choice of Chester/Elphick on the right side defender and play Hause at Left side. He needs to give Hutton a kick up the arse to start performing or play Bree. He needs to sign a half way competent athletic left back, an athletic defensive midfielder with a pass who can complement McGinn. He needs to send Bolasie back to Everton, El Ghazi gets a pass for now. Most of all he needs a system that works for these players and not his current 4-3-3. A 4-2-3-1 might be a better option to give us more stability but it will mean a slower pace of play.

The second half stopped the rot yesterday let’s hope we can build on it.

[tomd2103]

I think it goes to show that at this level, a couple of good players in a team can make a massive amount of difference. You can get by with weaknesses at this level as we are seeing with some very average teams in the top half of the division. People should not underestimate the effect of the loss of Grealish and Axel. To make matters worse, we do not have similar players to replace them. We have to have an out ball from the goalkeeper so that we can build possession. Of the four in defence and the defensive midfield player, there is not one of them you have confidence in to do that.

The first half yesterday was simply unacceptable in terms of application and desire, but when that was increased yesterday I agree that the extra bit of quality was just missing.  Also agree that that the options in defence and defensive midfield aren't comfortable enough on the ball to play out from the back.  Some of Chester's passing yesterday was awful.

[in exile]

It's really starting to get to me now

[The Edge]

This just has to be the worst back 4 we've had in the 40 odd years I've been following the club. The midfield is a mish-mash of bang average players with only Grealish and Mcginn worth keeping. An earlier poster described Hourihane as a hologram and Bjarnesson as a pub player. An excellent description of both. It's a mess that has been a long time in the making and it's going to take time. Whatever peoples opinions of the head coach are forums like this are the place to speak. The booing from the Holte yesterday was out of order and does nothing to help the players. Just stop it. 

[Richard E]

We’re lacking a leader/leaders on the pitch. When the Hull goals went in there was nobody going round trying to gee the others up.

[rougegorge]

This squad is too old, pure and simple - if we had the Adomah 2017, the solid Taylor at Swansea, the Palace version of Bolasie, Chester of a year ago, Whelan at Stoke etc etc, we’d go up comfortably.

I get the sentiment,  but I think the age thing is sometimes an easy cop out.

Players don't necessarily lose form as soon as they hit 30+. There are other factors to consider such as injuries.

Check out Sheffield United and Albion. You can get a good balance with older players and they dont need to be superstars either. Sharp , McGoldrick. Clarke , Duffy etc..Wilder is getting a tune out of what many would consider journeymen well into their 30s.

That's where  management comes in.