Aston Villa v Chelsea Post Match Thread

[Drummond]

we all predicted that at half time

predicted the subs
Predicted the result
Predicted the performance

We are the most predictable team with the most predictable manager in this league

(I’m all predictabled out now )

Predictable post match thread too.

We were awful bar a few minutes. We haven't got the personnel for the system we seem to attempt.

[Drummond]

Anyone expecting a result against Newcastle are in for disappointment after the way they put Sheff Utd away.

Especially when it got harder for them with Egan being sent off.

[ASHTONVILLA]

We were awful bar a few minutes. We haven't got the personnel for the system we seem to attempt.

No and it sometimes feels like Smith selects the formation knowing the players do not fit it just to make the point. I agree Suso has left him with a set of players that do not suit his system, but he needs to get on with it and find a system that suits the players he has at his disposal.

[SoccerHQ]

Please don't put words in my mouth Soccer HQ.  Read what I said.  It was nothing about MY choice of Smith, it was about THE choice of Smith.  I made an objective observation about how he came to be chosen not whether he should have been chosen.   You picked up on Clampy's claim that revisionists are at work judging Dean Smith.  There may well be but there is a vast difference between revisionism which by definition means reinterpretation of a decision and the ongoing reassessment of the success of a decision.  Nowhere in any walk of life are performances not subject to ongoing scrutiny.  That is not revisionism, it is the duty of any holder of authority.

You don't think he was worthy of being on the shortlist though if we were shortlisting 6 realistic candidates at the time? He'd done steady worked at Brentford and IIRC they'd started that season pretty well and think if he'd stayed the full season they'd have been in the top 6 just like they are now. They actually went on a terrible winless run after he left which put them out of contention.

He was a worthy candidate at the time and did what he was asked six months later in getting us promoted. Ultimately all this season has shown is he's too wet behind the ears to manage yet in the premier league.

I don't think it's too much different to Graham Potter at brighton who before their shock win were only 3 points clear and Brighton are a more established team at premier level.

Probably shows how much we messed up in the summer that guys like Shane Duffy (who can't even get in the Brighton team now) and Aaron Mooy would've probably kept us up.

[SoccerHQ]

Mings has been a massive, massive disappointment this year.

I actually don't think it's a given that we lose Mings if we go down - not sure anyone in the Prem would come in for him.

Given what we paid for him we'd need to get 25-40m for him and I don't think anyone will bid that. We shouldn't need the money if Jack goes so may be a question of whether Mings digs his heels in to get a transfer.

On this seasons form I won't be that bothered to see him leave. Grealish is the one that we would miss, no other player is a big loss on this seasons showing.

Keeping Mings and McGinn would make bouncing straight back so much easier though. We know both are top class in the championship.

Mings would want to keep his England place ahead of euros and probably a Leicester or Everton would take a punt on him as a squad player.

This does remind of 2016 a bit. People laughing when clubs come in for Adama, Veretout etc and then 2-3 years later these guys are key players for clubs in the CL/europa along with Gana and Amavi. Just like then some that leave will go on to do very well in their careers, Douglas Luiz I suspect for one.

Edit: We also don't know which players who signed last summer have release clauses in them. Within weeks of our last relegation we quickly discovered Gana had one and left for a very low fee considering his ability which he's certainly shown since leaving us.

[Toronto Villa]

Mings has been a massive, massive disappointment this year.

Isn't it just a case of Mings not being as great as we all thought he is or would be at this level? In the Championship he's incredible. It's a massive step up to be a top PL defender. And I am sure a number of our other current players would look brilliant at a lower level too.

[brontebilly]

We might so long as Suso isn't buying the players.

Given a decent squad Smith can set up a competivie team.  He just seems to struggle with any plan B or C when handed an inadequate squad.

I don't believe he was "handed" an inadequate squad.  I agree it's inadequate but there are several very good players there (plus another couple who are improving well).  I don't think his involvement in transfers is nil.  Nor do I think his tactical inflexibility, inability to change a game in progress, his desperately unimaginative use of subs, his defensive organisation, and meek approach are down to the squad.  It's just too simplistic to say it's Suso's fault and Dean's hands are tied.

I didn't say that.  I said he struggles with a Plan B & C and so yes I think he's culpable.

But my suspicion is he has very little involvement in transfers and I do think if you just swapped the Wesley, Trez & Nakamba signings for 3 decent UK based players we'd have had far more chance off survival.

Smith had to have been key to both the Jota and Konsa signings for starters. He also had tried to sign Engels at Brentford and he would have known all about Targett from his time at Southampton/Fulham. None of these have been a success either. Plus Smith said at the start of the season that he has final say on them all so unfortunately he can't hide from that now.

Like Fulham, we got the balance badly wrong in our recruitment last summer. Especially with so much change with experienced pros leaving, we should have supplemented the young guns with experienced pros at this level with still something to offer. Luiz and Guilbert are the two with the most potential I think, many of the others look duds I'm afraid.

[RichardBatchelor]

Mings has been a massive, massive disappointment this year.

Isn't it just a case of Mings not being as great as we all thought he is or would be at this level? In the Championship he's incredible. It's a massive step up to be a top PL defender. And I am sure a number of our other current players would look brilliant at a lower level too.

I think Mings (and Hause) have played well post-lockdown. Won everything in the air against Chelsea. The problem has been the TOTAL absence of coherence and creativity going forward. For sure, that pair's distribution doesn't help with that but defensively they've been fine.
The first Chelski goal was a brilliant ball in - unplayable - the problem is continually letting crosses come in. Sooner or later a team of Chelsea's quality will whip in a corker. Whether this is down to poor full backs or poor tactics I don't know, but it's been a problem all season and needs to be addressed.

[ClarrieBlue]

I can tell you now he’s going to blame the fact that the league allowed five subs and ‘you only have to look at their bench to see the difference.’  Or words to that effect.  Overlooking our £140m bric a brac purchases.

Apart from Tammy who obviously left, Jack, SJM and Mings were our best players last year and they still are despite the 140 million spent whatever it is. Jack has been pretty good all year, SJM was good up to his injury and despite Tyrone being a bit casual at times, he is still the best defender in our ranks and a good leader too. That says alot about our summer signings. Then considering we were already struggling going into the January window, the team we started with yesterday could have played in December (barring injury) so that would seem another wasted opportunity. The 3 we did sign were on the bench.

[David_Nab]

I don't think the cbs did alot wrong but you simply can not allow teams to constantly attack you with no respite. The MF just sat as an extra layer of defenders yesterday no one could hold the ball for any time for us to just settle down on the ball.

This is why in a game like this you should be moving Grealish central and trying to get him on ball to drive forward or to play balls forward to attackers. There is no point having him out on the wing if the players can't get the ball to him.

[brontebilly]

Mings has been a massive, massive disappointment this year.

Isn't it just a case of Mings not being as great as we all thought he is or would be at this level? In the Championship he's incredible. It's a massive step up to be a top PL defender. And I am sure a number of our other current players would look brilliant at a lower level too.

Well he struggled to get into the Bournemouth team who are down there with us. Also think the international callup appeared to go to his head a bit, made a series of unforced errors after it that cost us. Fancies himself too much as a footballing centre half for my liking, Paul McGrath he aint.

Like Hourihane he has a horrible lack of balance on his right side, not just with passing or clearing the ball he doesn't even like turning onto it. Still he has been solid enough first two games back, granted against very limited forwards like Giroud yesterday.

McGrath at his peak would struggle behind our porous defence though. Teams have walked through our midfield all season and that's not Mings fault.

[curiousorange]

Ironically I can see a team like Arsenal going for Mings. Let's face it, John Stones is stealing a living at Man City. I'm not sure I think he's had his head turned or whatever, but he's far from irreplaceable and if we get back what we paid or a little bit more that's more than enough to cover a Championship replacement.

[chrisw1]

I disagree on Mings.  You've only got to look at what Bristol wanted for Webster.  When we come calling with a Grealish sized wedge in our pockets clubs will try to fleece us for what they can.  I haven't got much confidence that we're going to find a better Championship centre half for £20-£25m.

I think he genuinely loves it at the Villa.  If we go down and can persuade him to stay, I think as Captain he could be vital in leading us back.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

The only positive was Luiz.

Targett impressed me for the second game running, something this season I never thought I'd say.
Other than him, the only other positive was the state of the pitch (again).

[hilts_coolerking]

Targett impressed me for the second game running, something this season I never thought I'd say.

Really?  Chelsea fucked us ragged down his side all day.  He couldn't cope with it.