Aston Villa Silhouettes vs Manchester City Post-Match Thrashing

[DB]

I left after the 5th went in. As mentioned, our midfield was absent, no movement or pace and gave the ball away when we did actually have it. No striker is cost us. The transfer policy from the summer has really been shown up over Christmas and now this. Smith has a lot to do to turn them around for next 3 matches. I thought we would a t least have a go, but when I saw our teamsheet, shudder.

[SheffieldVillain]

In what universe, do you play a midfield containing Horahane and an even slower player in Drinkwatee against Man City, even allowing for the fact we have no forwards?

When the other options are Nakamba who is woefully out of form, and Lansbury who has never been in form?

[BoVillan esq]

Horrendous, the transfer window is collapsing around us by the day, we simply haven't gone into the window in a planned way to improve the team, Drinkwater isn't going to do anything to improve squad, there simply isn't a plan to get us out of this very deep hole, in short Smith should go, either by his own determination or the board should step in and say, this is as far as we can go, the terrible thing here is nobody seems to give a flying hoot, seem quite happy to watch the club slide under, do nothing, no question, Aston Villa will be back in the Championship in a few short months. 

[richrunner]

In what universe, do you play a midfield containing Horahane and an even slower player in Drinkwatee against Man City, even allowing for the fact we have no forwards?

Exactly - the decision to have a player who has played less than 4 matches in the last year, in poor form, dreadfully unfit and low in confidence, man mark probably the most skillful and in-form ballplaying midfielder in the league right now, was bordering on the insane. Dean Smith truly owns this defeat.

[PeterWithe]

Drinkwater played as a man-marker?

[SW9-VILLA]

Saw Luiz give the ball away so many times in our own half again today. Infuriating.

[Bobby Boy]

Freddie is a very good player and I'd have started him, but when you have nobody upfront and it's not out of choice, you struggle.

A few of those there today were struggling 365 days ago at Wigan. You play poorly against that lot, while they play well, the outcome isn't particularly surprising.

We could have pressed better, maybe could have played this player. Reality is, there's no combination of players I'd could pick over the last 25 years that would make me, a positive and optimistic guy, think we could beat that lot. It seems everybody else, including the players felt the same.

Norwich beat them. Newcastle drew. A starting point is to compete and not perform as if you have no right to be on the same pitch as them.

[richrunner]

Drinkwater played as a man-marker?

He man marked his own shadow (and passed to it a few times) by the looks of things!

[Drummond]

Freddie is a very good player and I'd have started him, but when you have nobody upfront and it's not out of choice, you struggle.

A few of those there today were struggling 365 days ago at Wigan. You play poorly against that lot, while they play well, the outcome isn't particularly surprising.

We could have pressed better, maybe could have played this player. Reality is, there's no combination of players I'd could pick over the last 25 years that would make me, a positive and optimistic guy, think we could beat that lot. It seems everybody else, including the players felt the same.

Norwich beat them. Newcastle drew. A starting point is to compete and not perform as if you have no right to be on the same pitch as them.

It's done Norwich a lot of good.

[Steve67]

Dean was very honest with his post match interview but seems to be holding Pitarch responsible, solely, for the signing of players, almost, in my opinion, to be distancing himself from the transfer activity?

Blaming someone else you say?  That's a startling development.

Shows a lack of togetherness, the cracks are starting to open.

[UK Redsox]

just about what i suspected. Surprised that Villa got a goal. I was already back at the car by the time it went in

[JJ-AV]

Unacceptable but easily forgotton if we can get 7 from the next 3 league games. Two wins as an absolute minimum, any less than that and I can't see us staying up with our remaining fixtures and lack of quality.

[UK Redsox]

Drinkwater played as a man-marker?

Drinkwater’s passing was Westy-esque in its sidewaysness

[LukeJames]

Villa Park is what Ewood Park is when Blackburn were in the Prem. A ground away fans enjoy coming too with the likelyhoodof getting a result.

Also as a side note, what a piss poor plastic club Man City have become. Used to bring proper fans that would explode after each goal. Just polite applause after each goal today, their success over the past decade must make them immune to the pleasures of scoring and winning. Atleast Liverpool, even with the odious media wankathon over them, are a proper fucking club.

[saint13]

We have taken 1 point off the top 6 , we are also poor against the teams near the top in the championship under Smith.The problem is then the games against the lower league teams we cant afford to drop any points.

It is much worse than that we have taken 1 point out of 33 against teams who are currently in the top half...that is a worrying statistic by anyone's standards.