Where Has It All Gone Wrong?

[Risso]

I thought the recruitment strategy in the summer was wrong and said so at the time. Subsequently the scouting  in pursuit of that strategy is questionable.  And once the season started the players haven't been anywhere near consistent enough and our manager turned out be not as effective as we thought. The finger needs to be pointed at several areas.

I agree.  There's also an interesting bit in the interview with both Purslow and Smith after the play off final, where Purslow says something like "and we'll have a team of players that Dean has...[big pause] that fit Dean's style of play."

It's been a disaster.  The intentions were no doubt sound, but the actual implementation just hasn't worked. 

[ROBBO]

We are carrying too many passengers, both wingers have moments but are very inconsistent, Hourihane has scored vital goals for us but disappears too often and of course Wesley, I don't understand the thinking when they bought him because his game hasn't changed he has never been prolific in front of goal and I don't think he ever will he is not a natural. As most I believe what we are missing are seasoned premiership players even if they are older than we prefer.

[KRS]

To kind of pinpoint when it all went wrong...we were putting in decent performances but unfortunately more often than not on the wrong end of results up until 8th December when Leicester came to Villa Park and tore us a new one.

We started that game well, went toe to toe with them and could have been in the lead if AEG didn’t have a brain fart in front of the North Stand...then Tyrone goes down injured but he stays on and we go 1-0 down. The next 23 days will go down as a Prince Andrew of all royal cluster fucks.

So my point...we looked ok until Tyrone got inured and have been shite ever since. Could it be that we are not only reliant on Jack but also the leadership qualities of Tyrone. Throw SJMs injury in to the mix and a fragile team is weakened even more with 2 of its best players out.

Football isn’t complicated and more often than not it comes down to the quality of the players on the pitch, and unfortunately this squad isn’t good enough without 2 of its best players to help carry it successfully through games.

[Ian.]

I’d say that’s very well put KRS. I was really enjoying this season and even though we had lost or drawn games we should have won the football was enjoyable to watch. I think back to earlier in the season and I often saw posts on this board of “I love this team” etc.

[Clampy]

Yes, a well written post and mostly true. You do need a bit of character and leaership in the team and Mings and McGinn give you that. It's why throwing the likes of Lansbury into the midfield away from home was a poor idea.

[brontebilly]

To kind of pinpoint when it all went wrong...we were putting in decent performances but unfortunately more often than not on the wrong end of results up until 8th December when Leicester came to Villa Park and tore us a new one.

We started that game well, went toe to toe with them and could have been in the lead if AEG didn’t have a brain fart in front of the North Stand...then Tyrone goes down injured but he stays on and we go 1-0 down. The next 23 days will go down as a Prince Andrew of all royal cluster fucks.

So my point...we looked ok until Tyrone got inured and have been shite ever since. Could it be that we are not only reliant on Jack but also the leadership qualities of Tyrone. Throw SJMs injury in to the mix and a fragile team is weakened even more with 2 of its best players out.

Football isn’t complicated and more often than not it comes down to the quality of the players on the pitch, and unfortunately this squad isn’t good enough without 2 of its best players to help carry it successfully through games.

What kind of group capitulates after one poor performance ? Look at Southampton, beaten 9-0 but have turned it around since. Our crew have thrown it in.

Wesley is hopeless but it's not even the biggest problem in the team. We have a chronically unbalanced midfield that teams have walked through since the start of the season. With McGinn and Grealish in there I expected that to be our strongest line but it hasn't been.

Think there is an element of other teams and coaches figuring us out too. Our hopeless left back which teams routinely targett, crazy high defensive line, woeful workrate from front three and lack of presence in midfield.

[KRS]

My point was about that our bad run of form has coincided with Tyrone getting injured...and surprise surprise, it’s no coincidence that he comes back in today and we instantly look a much better team.

[Steve67]

My point was about that our bad run of form has coincided with Tyrone getting injured...and surprise surprise, it’s no coincidence that he comes back in today and we instantly look a much better team.

Him and Grealish are classy players.  We need more of that type and a few of the summer signings to step up.