Sheffield United v Aston Villa Match Thread

[paul_e]

I agree with usav, I'm not sure what people expect from Wesley here. He's been working back defensively and almost everything that's gone to him has been a hoof when he's alone with 2-3 defenders. Jack is too deep to offer any meaningful support and AEG has been dreadful whenever the ball has gone near to him. Lansbury and McGinn have barely been involved and the little bits where they've got on the ball they've not given us any control.

[BoVillan esq]

Tight game, thought we did okay, better organised at the back, Sheff Utd playing to there strengths which is based on a strong team spirit and knowing each others game, we have to knock them out of that which we can do by raising the tempo and forcing them into errors, see how well they stand up to that when under pressure, think we can win this maybe, need Jack to have more impact on the game, the only really creative player out there today, this game will open up in the second half, can't see it being a draw.

[pauliewalnuts]

Get El Ghazi off and Trezeguet on.

[usav]

I don’t want to hear anything negative about Wesley.

Probably best to avoid the match thread then.

I usually do to be honest.  Watching today though, I’m flabbergasted people think this is on him.  Yes, there are things that he could do better, but tactically, there is nothing there for him.  He has two big bastards marking him, he’s totally isolated and even if he does get to the ball first, so there is nothing on.   

We should switch to 4-4-2, get Trez on.

[dubaivillain]

Hause and Engels have looked really solid first half

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Defence has done well but my one fear is when balls come into the box we head it to the penalty spot/ the D on the edge of the box. So far we've got away with it but it's crying out for a Sheff Utd player to take advantage.

Going forward we're toothless. Even when Wesley manages to hold the ball up, we manage to lose it in seconds. AEG is no winger, I'm not even sure he's a footballer. He either needs to move further inside or replace him with Trez. Jack may as well not be on the pitch, isolated on the left as we're focusing our attack down the right.

[CT Villan]

Engels is the only one to play well in the first half. Heaton, Hause and Nakamba got better as the half wore on, the rest were rubbish for the entirety.

How about replacing Wesley with Trez and putting him and AEG on wings with Jack through the middle ?

[Sexual Ealing]

I don’t want to hear anything negative about Wesley.

Probably best to avoid the match thread then.

I usually do to be honest.  Watching today though, I’m flabbergasted people think this is on him.  Yes, there are things that he could do better, but tactically, there is nothing there for him.  He has two big bastards marking him, he’s totally isolated and even if he does get to the ball first, so there is nothing on.   

We should switch to 4-4-2, get Trez on.

If he does get to the balm first, I hope he shares it with the rest of us.

[Ads]

Defending, very good. Kept our shape in midfield and forced them wide, where they've slowed it down rather than risk a ball in, as Hause and Engles are defending well against the high ball.

The issue has been in transition. McGinn has given up cheap ball, El Ghazi isn't with it and Wesley doesn't occupy the centre halves. Jack isolated wide.

But having given up 50 chances in the last two games, we've not given them anything.

We need a forward with pace to play off the shoulder, which won't happen at half time, but we do need to fund a way of getting Jack involved.

Cold and dull so far. I'll take the latter. First goal wins this.

[hilts_coolerking]

I usually do to be honest.  Watching today though, I’m flabbergasted people think this is on him.  Yes, there are things that he could do better, but tactically, there is nothing there for him.  He has two big bastards marking him, he’s totally isolated even if he does get to the balm first, so there is nothing on.   

I'm not blaming our performance on Wesley.  He doesn't get decent service, that's true.  But it's also true that he's not much cop.  What he is is a poor player who doesn't get decent service.  He's not the only poor player though, far from it.  We didn't spend our money too well.

[themossman]

I don’t want to hear anything negative about Wesley.

Probably best to avoid the match thread then.

I usually do to be honest.  Watching today though, I’m flabbergasted people think this is on him.  Yes, there are things that he could do better, but tactically, there is nothing there for him.  He has two big bastards marking him, he’s totally isolated and even if he does get to the ball first, so there is nothing on.   

We should switch to 4-4-2, get Trez on.

If he does get to the balm first, I hope he shares it with the rest of us.

As an aside why doesn’t QuickPath let you type ball?

[ChicagoLion]

At least Wes has managed to pass to a Villa player a few time.
AEG has been fucking useles.

[brontebilly]

We have absolutely nothing going forward.

AEG is having a stinker, Wesley is basically immobile and we don't look like we'll score if we play till midnight.

However, for all that, he won't change anything at half time.

Smith is a 60min man normally but I do think he does need to make tactical changes at the break. Sheff Utd are very average, first goal wins this game and we haven't a hope of getting it with the same set up.

I'd bring Luiz in for AEG and shift both McGinn and Grealish a lot further up the pitch behind their wing backs. Could also bring in Kodjia for Wes, I've no faith in JK but he couldn't be any worse.

We have three players playing well (Engels, Hause, Nakamba), everyone else average to anonymous.

[john e]

El Ghazi has been atrocious

Grealish playing in the wrong position

has either team had one attempt at goal in that half ?

[GarTomas]

The midfield 3 need to do more for me in helping us get the ball up the pitch. The long ball to Wesley isn’t great as even when he managed to hold it up he’s got nowhere near him.

Hause has looked solid.