Aston Villa v Liverpool Post Match Thread

[SoccerHQ]

You expect to lose to the top two.  But neither have them have beaten us with world class performances.  We’ve lost on aggregate 5-1 and ever single Fcukin goal was pretty much given to them by our errors.

That's what they do though, they wear you out mentally and when you're fatigured you make basic errors. It's what Man. United under Fergie used to do and Arsenal in their good spells under Wenger also did.

More I think about it more really Konsa should've come on, think the sub was made at 1-1 so once the first goes in you have to concede 1-1 is the best that can be done and make sure you have as many defensive minded players on the pitch as possible but it's only a small criticism compared to other games.

Ultimately if you look at the last two home games we're still a point up compared to if both had just fizzled out to 1-1s.

[TonyD]

I actually thought we would hold on and win. 

That was until Conor came on.    Dreadful substitution.   

I then thought we would hold on for point.    Then on comes Kodja  instead of a defender.

Smith is hopeless at game management.  Needs to learn fast.

[steamer]

My day started on a massive high with the Boks winning. Axel you have gone to bed !!!!!!!
I was dreaming of the Double
Lets be honest, most of us thought we would lose, we did and we were out on our feet at the end.
Not the scoreline it could have been, everyone put in a shift.
Wesley and Trez have had some stick from me this season but I thought both ran their hearts out.
Ghazi lost Robinson for their equalizer but also played well. Mane was a cheating bastard who could have seen red.
Of course we do not have their depth, but Hey Ho they are European Champions, We will strengthen and improve, No disgrace
Off to join the Green Party

[Luke8]

Fair enough. Did we not stick Kodj at the near post then? Seems a very cheap goal to concede a header at that area, most teams just stick a big striker to head them away as we used to with likes of Heskey and Carew and with less success with Benteke.

Kodj was in the general area and possibly could have done better (as could I think Hourihane who seemed to be picking Mane up) but it was quite a low whipped delivery to the edge of the six yard box and if Mane meant to do it it was a pretty impressive header.

[SoccerHQ]

Just watching the highlights, what a great cross from McGinn. Get him on free kicks all the time, perfect cross.

[garyfouroaks]

Oh dear

[CT Villan]

Positives from that were Nakamba's performance, he was outstanding.

Also praise for Targett, Mings, Engels and Heaton.

Trez and El G looked decent for periods too.

Wesley did better than expected.

[SoccerHQ]

Fair enough. Did we not stick Kodj at the near post then? Seems a very cheap goal to concede a header at that area, most teams just stick a big striker to head them away as we used to with likes of Heskey and Carew and with less success with Benteke.

Kodj was in the general area and possibly could have done better (as could I think Hourihane who seemed to be picking Mane up) but it was quite a low whipped delivery to the edge of the six yard box and if Mane meant to do it it was a pretty impressive header.

Just seen it....think Kodj should've cut that out. Can't work out if he was actually marking someone or just stood there but it was his area to head/kick away.

Also why on earth do we have I think Targett outside the box? It's 30 seconds left, did he honestly think Liverpool were going to take a short corner?! Get all bodies in the box for that situation, you're less than a minute away from getting an excellent point and an extra player in the box could just have got to that before Mane.

It's nit picking but these very small margins I'm afraid cost you points against the very best at this level.

[Goldie.7]

Good performance by villa though. Credit where credit is due

A good performance is out scoring your opponent or keeping your concentration for the entirety of the match. "Switching off" and conceding two goals in 7 minutes at the most important time of the game, resulting in you ending up with zero points isn't what I'd describe as a "good performance".

It was a good effort and nothing more.

[Luke8]

You expect to lose to the top two.  But neither have them have beaten us with world class performances.  We’ve lost on aggregate 5-1 and ever single Fcukin goal was pretty much given to them by our errors.

That's what they do though, they wear you out mentally and when you're fatigured you make basic errors. It's what Man. United under Fergie used to do and Arsenal in their good spells under Wenger also did.

More I think about it more really Konsa should've come on, think the sub was made at 1-1 so once the first goes in you have to concede 1-1 is the best that can be done and make sure you have as many defensive minded players on the pitch as possible but it's only a small criticism compared to other games.

Ultimately if you look at the last two home games we're still a point up compared to if both had just fizzled out to 1-1s.

Exactly if you look at the goals isolation they definitely could have been defended better but they huge physical and mental pressure the top team a put you under does clearly sometimes take it toll.

With Konsa (I don’t personally completely disagree) but has Dean ever made such a defensive substitution ie striker for defender? I just don’t think he believes in doing it.

[Toronto Villa]

Spurs away HT W FT L
Arsenal away HT W FT L
Man City away HT D FT L
Liverpool home HT W FT L

The positive is we're giving these sides a game, but fuck me, 11 second half goals conceded in those games.

Toss in Burnley at home for good measure, and that’s 13 points thrown away. Even if we get half that, 6 or 7 points we are sitting in the top 6.

[Villafirst]

Gutted. Smith really needs to learn how to make subs that alter tactics rather then just like for like replacements. We never learn.

So who should we have replaced our injured RB with apart from another RB? Who should we have replaced our clearly knackered striker with apart from with a striker?

Did we need to bring another striker on? 86 minutes gone, bring on another defender and stick 5 across the back. It's just not Smith's way and it will cost us points. There's nothing wrong in parking the bus sometimes.

Hause would've been a perfect choice to shore it up. But no, Taylor is the option from the bench! I don't get it - Hause is big and strong and can play left back or CB.

[eamonn]

What's Deano had to say?  Bristled at the old chestnut about conceding late goals? The WM Audioboom page is slow to update for once.

[villa `cross the mersey]

The manner in which the game panned out summarises why Liverpool will  battling against Man City for the title whist we (unfortunately) will be struggling to survive the drop
Successful teams play to the death  - losers give up leads in the dying embers of the game
It's happened too many times already -  we need to take our chances and cut out the woeful defending
Yes Liverpool are a good team but we need to be a bit more savvy else we will be doing a Fulham
Disappointed of Merseyside

[Steve67]

It's really disappointing that we don't have more points on the board and that we can't hold out against some of these sides, but we are still not yet quite strong enough in certain areas.  Dean Smith is never going to take the defensive option, although he has to a degree by putting both Nakamba and Luis in the same side, but he will go toe to toe with anyone and won't do boring.  We have to live with it.  Up the Villa.