Aston Villa 1-0 Norwich City Post Match Thread

[Proposition Joe]

We've played well and lost enough times this season, I'm happy for us to pay badly and win for change. Long may it continue and hopefully when confidence returns it'll morph into playing well and winning.

[Lastfootstamper]

At midnight, when the replay becomes available on Prime, I'm going to get meself a big bumper A4 refill pad and a pack of biros, and keep a tally of each and every time we failed to do that most basic of tasks; complete a <10 yard pass to a player in the same colour shirt. The sort of thing that has to be bread and butter for any side in this division. It was fucking farcical, we were doing it that often.

Heaton, Konsa, Hause, Grealish, all very good. Targett is rubbish (although no inference should be taken of this as vindication for Taylor's future inclusion, cos he's fucking rubbish as well).

[Steve67]

Player ratings today, gents ?

Heaton 9
Elmo 4
Targett 4
Konsa 7
Hause 8
Targett 4
Douglas 6.5
Nakamba 6
Grealish 8
Trezeguet 2
El Ghazi 3
Wesley 6
Hourihane 6

Wesley 😂

I don't know how you gave Nakamba a 6? He was terrible, constantly giving the ball away. Somehow Douglas Luiz made an amazing goal line clearance from Nakamba's poor touch in the area. I'd give him a 3 at best. Rubbish!

Fair enough!  He was poor. 

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Jack is the best. The absolute best.

Absolutely fucking reliable in any situation.*

*Except taking corners and free kicks.

[danno]

At midnight, when the replay becomes available on Prime, I'm going to get meself a big bumper A4 refill pad and a pack of biros, and keep a tally of each and every time we failed to do that most basic of tasks; complete a <10 yard pass to a player in the same colour shirt. The sort of thing that has to be bread and butter for any side in this division. It was fucking farcical, we were doing it that often.

JT is that you!?  I can't believe somebody would consider watching through that again unless its their job.

[CT]

Delighted with the three points, very fortunate in my opinion.

On the plus side, Hause and Konsa were excellent and I assume Jack will have a serious back issue seeing as he literally carried that team all day.

On the negative, AEG and Trez were absolutely pathetic. Offered fuck all going forward and must be our defenders worst nightmare. If either of them can be bothered to come back, they invariably lose their man or fail to stop anything from happening.

AEG must have been guilty if this over five times in the first half. We were just lucky whatever Norwich tried didn't come off.

Great the points, still massively worried.

[Toronto Villa]

Were Hause and Konsa excellent? I think individually they both played well and Hause especially seemed to really play his position well. But together there were still gaps in the middle and too many of their players got into very good positions to get away shots which required Heaton to save us. It’s not all on them of course but I’m yet to be convinced they are a long lasting partnership. For me the best back four is still Freddie, Engels, Mings and Hause

[Smithy]

A pretty poor performance, but as others have said a massive three points.  The team just looks devoid of confidence at the moment (Jack excepted).  If I think back the positive performances earlier in the season - even when we didn't win - across the park the players WANTED the ball. We were happy knocking it into feet even when players were under pressure - TRYING to play.  Now, everyone looks scared to take some responsibility and demand the ball.  I've got no problem with players trying to do things and it not coming off, but it frustrates me when the entire side looks frightened of playing. I don't know if that's something you can fix on the training ground, or if you need to grind out results to get there.

Jack is simply a marvel. He's absolutely priceless. Can you imagine trying buy someone like him? I've just watched the second-half of the Man U game, and if he was playing with a front-three that moves as well as Rashford, Greenwood and Martial, I think he'd average three assists a game!  It's nothing short of a miracle that his goals and assists are so high given what he's working with in front of him.

If he gets injured, we are fucked.

Here's hoping we strengthen the front three in January.

[MalcolmP]

3 points but unconvincing. Trez, El Ghazi, Luiz and Wesley all poor.

Wesley  put in one hell of a shift get your eyes tested like all of the other Wesley haters. Was you actually at the game you noob?

[Keeno]

Were Hause and Konsa excellent? I think individually they both played well and Hause especially seemed to really play his position well. But together there were still gaps in the middle and too many of their players got into very good positions to get away shots which required Heaton to save us. It’s not all on them of course but I’m yet to be convinced they are a long lasting partnership. For me the best back four is still Freddie, Engels, Mings and Hause

I think in fairness all of our CBs have proven they are really capable at times this season. In fact it's the position in which we're arguably strongest.

They and and Heaton are simply given far too much to do as our midfield is useless at stopping teams play through the lines - they are constantly faced with midfielders running free at them having bypassed our DMs. Lack of a good DM also means our fullbacks are frequently exposed.

I'm convinced this is the reason we look so fragile at the back - the stats back this up as we force ourselves into making far too many blocks and rely on keeper to make many saves. I like Luiz - but he does not think about covering space and blocking passing lanes like a natural DM should do. Ditto Nakamba, but he can't even pick a pass like Luiz can. It should be our number one target in Jan - we'd look more free going forward too.

[brian green]

Sorry wrong thread.

[SoccerHQ]

The more I see of this team, the more I think what a load of shit we've bought in the summer with 1 exception.

Wes?

I'd be thinking Heaton.

I do think there's potential in some of our summer signings but last few weeks hasn't half shown they get lost when the going gets tough. Look at how bad the defence has been since Mings did his hamstring. I know we kept a clean sheet today but it wasn't like we limited them to half chances, they should've scored three like Southampton did.

As much as I hate using the phrase we need some "oven ready" players from the top level. Tom Heaton has been a regular keeper in this league since 2014, he knows how to stay up at this level. Most of our players don't.

The gaunlet has been laid down for the board and manager, sign 2-3 more of his type either on permanent or loan and we should survive just.

[Rudy65]

First live game for me this season

Thank God for Jack.  Great display. Imagine what he would be like with decent players around him. Lots of pressure on him to perform and more often that not, he does.

The two wingers were awful as they have been for most of the season. With one of them, you might get away with it, with both, not a chance. Oh for a Morley, Young or Graydon

Lots of money wasted in the summer unfortunately

Finally, Heaton was excellent

[Risso]

Hause was great today, a very good footballer. When Mings is fit I’d stick Kortney at left back and sell Targett to Alfreton Town or somebody of that stature. £14m, fuck my old boots.

[DB]

Tell me then, what has Welsh done to impress you, today or any of the matches he has played? Ran his socks off, hahaha. Wondering around barely breaking into a sprint, get a grip.