Aston Villa v West Ham post-match thread

[Jon Crofts]

Give the ball away like that at the Emirates and we’ll get hammered.

[themossman]

Sadly, we look increasingly cowed by PL opposition. West Ham at home with 10 men and they outplayed us.

[Bad English]

We need to get to January May and not be in the shit.

FTFY.

[Steve67]

We have conceded one goal in 348 minutes of football.  Defensively, we are strong.  Going forward is the problem.  Despite Dean telling us what they are working on in training, I don't see a pattern of play when we move forward.  Overhit crosses, or dilly dally with it outside the box.  We have to be more ruthless.  Wesley had 3 efforts on goal, one of them was offside to be fair.  He gets into the positions but, like the rest of our forward play, needs to be more ruthless.  I'd have taken a point before the game but am now a little disappointed that we didn't look like winning.  We had the best of the chances though.

[FatSam]

I can't wait for Kodjia to be fit I really think he could make a difference up front as daft as that sounds.

At least he's something different - he gives defenders something to think about if he comes on for the last half hour. I think Wesley and Davis both have a lot of potential, but they are very similar in terms of approach and goal threat.

[Steve67]

Sadly, we look increasingly cowed by PL opposition. West Ham at home with 10 men and they outplayed us.

Sorry mate but I think this is way over the top.  They had more possession but failed to register a shot on target.

[TheMalandro]

I was hoping he would bring Hourihane on for the last thirty minutes.

My Mrs said that and she doesn't know anything about football. I think you were both spot on.

[themossman]

Wesley’s header in the first half. I like him, but most strikers score those 9 times out of 10. We can’t afford the luxury of of missing chances like that if we’re going to create bugger all and try and edge games.

[Sexual Ealing]

The subs were very defensive, which has been unlike DS till now.

[Toronto Villa]

Arsenal next. They're average at best, shit at the back and yet I am genuinely scared we might take an almighty kicking.

[TonyD]

We were good in defence, played well in patches, played poor in patches but ultimately Dean plays the wrong formation and I think there lies the problem.

You can pick apart the individual performances but again I don’t think we know what we’re doing going forward and that’s down to Dean. 
 
BUT my biggest observation for many many many matches is:

WHY doesn’t our best two players - Jack and McGinn never  seem to link up and carve teams apart? 

They rarely pass to each other? 

Answers on a postcard please!!!!!!

[old man villa fan]

We are learning at this level with few players that have played in the PL before.  As others have said, we need to stop giving the ball away so much and play the easier pass.  There is a lot of naivety in the team.  We still need to up the tempo and maintain it throughout the game.  My impression was it was not as bad as some are making out.

[themossman]

Sadly, we look increasingly cowed by PL opposition. West Ham at home with 10 men and they outplayed us.

Sorry mate but I think this is way over the top.  They had more possession but failed to register a shot on target.

You might be right mate it’s just a feeling, but looking at the body language of Grealish and McGinn, the swagger has gone. That’s the bit that worries me the most. 0-0 against a decent PL side where we probably edged them isn’t a bad result. But the momentum just seems to be flowing the wrong way and the players seem to be aware of it.

[nick harper]

4-2-3-1 and a place in the side for Hourihane.

[Legion]

In the hole?