PH’s Sheffield Wednesday 1-3 Deano’s Aston Villa

[Risso]

I'm looking forward to going to work today!

The last two results against Sheffield teams must have been fun for you the day after!

[darren woolley]

Another three points in the bag not at our best but the fact we scored two late goals shows we don't give in roll on Rotherham.

[garyellis]

According to the locals its the best they have played for ages

[Hookeysmith]

According to the locals its the best they have played for ages

Well what does that say about us then.

Going into the final games in such form and with everything to play for - you could not wish for more

[KRS]

Watching the extended highlights it's a little concerning how we lost control of midfield and there were far too many misplaced passes. We do seem to struggle against teams that play with a midfielder in the pocket spreading play as we don't seem to close down or pressure at all in that area (Reed for Blackburn and Bannan for Sheff Weds as examples in last 2 games). Obviously it shows great character and resilience to grind out a win when not playing well, but was it more of a case that we just have several players having a bad day at the office or were they that much better than us?

[Drummond]

I'm looking forward to going to work today!

The last two results against Sheffield teams must have been fun for you the day after!

The 3-3 was great, I was pissed off we'd been so bad but they were more pissed off they'd let a 3 goal lead slip. I could play the really annoyed card and really, really annoy them. Today though has been really fun, especially as I could rub it in about Bruceball, in a 'I told you so' way....

[Risso]

Watching the extended highlights it's a little concerning how we lost control of midfield and there were far too many misplaced passes. We do seem to struggle against teams that play with a midfielder in the pocket spreading play as we don't seem to close down or pressure at all in that area (Reed for Blackburn and Bannan for Sheff Weds as examples in last 2 games). Obviously it shows great character and resilience to grind out a win when not playing well, but was it more of a case that we just have several players having a bad day at the office or were they that much better than us?

The slight worry for me is that the first half of both games showed that at our best, we have a much better team than most in the Championship, but when things start to take a turn for the worse as they did in both second halves, Smith doesn't seem to have much of an answer.  Grealish was quite effectively shackled, and it was a little concerning how a midfield of Grealish, McGinn and Jack was given the run a round by one containing Barry Bannan.

Happy with the win of course, but wouldn't fancy us winning at Wembley against the likes of Leeds if we put in one of our recent second half performances.

[Mister E]

Watching the extended highlights it's a little concerning how we lost control of midfield and there were far too many misplaced passes. We do seem to struggle against teams that play with a midfielder in the pocket spreading play as we don't seem to close down or pressure at all in that area (Reed for Blackburn and Bannan for Sheff Weds as examples in last 2 games). Obviously it shows great character and resilience to grind out a win when not playing well, but was it more of a case that we just have several players having a bad day at the office or were they that much better than us?

The slight worry for me is that the first half of both games showed that at our best, we have a much better team than most in the Championship, but when things start to take a turn for the worse as they did in both second halves, Smith doesn't seem to have much of an answer.  Grealish was quite effectively shackled, and it was a little concerning how a midfield of Grealish, McGinn and Jack was given the run a round by one containing Barry Bannan.

Happy with the win of course, but wouldn't fancy us winning at Wembley against the likes of Leeds if we put in one of our recent second half performances.

Agreed. I'd like to see Smith try out a 4 man midfield - dropping one of the wingers - to see whether we can play more compact, and giving Grealish the opportunity to play a slightly deeper role.
BTW, I don't think we should denigrate Bannan: he is a very accomplished Championship player who made a bit of a mug out of each of our midfielders during the course of the first 60 minutes on Saturday.

[KRS]

I think Jack needs to be pushed more forward than dropping back...it's when he drops deeper that we carry less threat and teams come more onto us.

[paul_e]

Watching the extended highlights it's a little concerning how we lost control of midfield and there were far too many misplaced passes. We do seem to struggle against teams that play with a midfielder in the pocket spreading play as we don't seem to close down or pressure at all in that area (Reed for Blackburn and Bannan for Sheff Weds as examples in last 2 games). Obviously it shows great character and resilience to grind out a win when not playing well, but was it more of a case that we just have several players having a bad day at the office or were they that much better than us?

The slight worry for me is that the first half of both games showed that at our best, we have a much better team than most in the Championship, but when things start to take a turn for the worse as they did in both second halves, Smith doesn't seem to have much of an answer.  Grealish was quite effectively shackled, and it was a little concerning how a midfield of Grealish, McGinn and Jack was given the run a round by one containing Barry Bannan.

Happy with the win of course, but wouldn't fancy us winning at Wembley against the likes of Leeds if we put in one of our recent second half performances.

If Jack has to split himself in 2 I can understand why he struggles!

[Risso]

A team with two Jacks should be romping this league! Ahem, should say Whelan of course.

[Lastfootstamper]

We're "attack vs defence" in our set up now, and I think a lot of us being able to play so effectively in this way has been down to the defence massively upping their game, albeit through wholesale personnel changes. I've felt they've dipped in the last couple of games from the standards they'd set themselves of late. Nothing major, just not quite as imposing as they have been, and I think it's making us less compact than we need to be if we're looking to keep both Grealish and McGinn up and around Abraham.

Still, not like we're leaking like a sieve, is it? Even Saturday, we created more "should've scored there" moments than the home side.

[paul_e]

A team with two Jacks should be romping this league! Ahem, should say Whelan of course.

As a more serious response I think the balance of the midfield just isn't quite right. JG and SJM are fantastic going forward and both put the yard in defensively but neither has much defensive discipline so they end up getting pulled about a bit too easily and Whelan isn't mobile enough to make up for it or vocal enough to bring them back into position. Add to that us having fairly weak fullbacks (currently) and 2 wingers that stay fairly high up the pitch and it's always a risk that teams can get on top a little in there. It's one worth taking though because when we get hold of the ball we carry far more threat than anyone else in the league.

[XXVilla]

Watching the extended highlights it's a little concerning how we lost control of midfield and there were far too many misplaced passes. We do seem to struggle against teams that play with a midfielder in the pocket spreading play as we don't seem to close down or pressure at all in that area (Reed for Blackburn and Bannan for Sheff Weds as examples in last 2 games). Obviously it shows great character and resilience to grind out a win when not playing well, but was it more of a case that we just have several players having a bad day at the office or were they that much better than us?

The slight worry for me is that the first half of both games showed that at our best, we have a much better team than most in the Championship, but when things start to take a turn for the worse as they did in both second halves, Smith doesn't seem to have much of an answer.  Grealish was quite effectively shackled, and it was a little concerning how a midfield of Grealish, McGinn and Jack was given the run a round by one containing Barry Bannan.

Happy with the win of course, but wouldn't fancy us winning at Wembley against the likes of Leeds if we put in one of our recent second half performances.

Winning both games was a pretty good answer

[PeterWithesShin]

https://twitter.com/kylewilliamswfc/status/1114979016937811975