Post-Match Thread - Aston Villa 1 - 3 Abominable Kit Stealers

[Risso]

We were terrible and outclassed though.

I feel the same way, but I can see how any neutral fans wouldn't think that way - beyond us deserving to lose (which you can obviously do without being outclassed).

By this seasons standards, we were absolutely dire.  But I would also say West Ham actually played worse during our loss at their place than we did today (even though they won that day too) - we hammered them and lost that day.  I don't feel like they 'hammered' us today, just that we were shit.

They had 10 shots on target out of 20 shots in total, that's back to last season's sort of performances where we routinely gave that many chances away, and routinely got battered. 

[algy]

We've played 5 games in the space of a couple of weeks,  off the back of a number of players having had covid. We looked every bit like it.

It's an unusual set of circumstances and I don't think anyone should be judged too harshly.

Maybe Smith should have started some of the players that have barely played then, just an idea?

Maybe without covid they'd have been fine, it's just that it's ended up on the last couple of games that it's caught up with them.

I dunno.  I do agree with you there, but to me it seems like the sort of thing that would've been fine under normal circumstances.

[tomd2103]

Some credit needs to go to West Ham as well. They didn't give us any time on the ball and they obviously did their homework on us.

Their game plan consisted of containing Jack Grealish down their right hand side.  I'm puzzled as to why we couldn't work that out and move him into a different position.

It was an off night for us tonight.  Even then, I thought we picked up a bit when Traore and Trezeguet came on and I did fancy us to maybe get a late equaliser after Watkins scored, but the third killed us off. 

[SoccerHQ]

That was a dreadful performance. We looked tired and flat.

Yep. Had our warning first half where they cut through us too easily. Did actually make a change for once at half time but overall our shape didn't change and we paid the price even if all three goals were preventable.

Would've still been an interesting finish if Emi didn't chuck one in right after we scored though.

It was certainly flat and we need to freshen it up for Saturday even if that means we drop a big hitter or two.

West Ham didn't start Fornals or Bowen who've been first choice players all season so Moyes knows when to take out a key player if they need a rest so to improve further Dean needs to learn that skill aswell.

Would be starting Sanson and Trez on Saturday.

[Risso]

Someone mentioned McGinn not being a defensive midfielder and I have to agree. You can argue it's worked for us because we've looked a very good side and are having a decent season but I do miss him buzzing round the pitch making a nuciance of himself and chipping in with goals.

I agree Clampy, if anything we'd be better off with him in Barkley's role, and Nakamba or Ramsey next to Luiz/Sanson.  He's not been very good, but he's not in his preferred position, unlike Barkley who has no excuses.

[Baldy]

Credit where credit is due. West Ham did their homework and worked harder than us. Soucek and Coufal were magnificent. They deserved victory.

We have tonnes of smooth but we also need a bit of rough.

A reality check for all of us. We are a club heading in the right direction but still have a lot of room for improvement.

[Monty]

I wouldn't be unhappy to see us sign two central midfielders in the summer, three if Doug goes. They're all good players, but if it's not going for them they have no answers.

[PeterWithe]

i am not sure Luiz is either, neither player did what Rice did for them
Moyes spotted that and had Lingard run off the back of them.
We were carrying Barkley and AEG so no wonder we were being over run, Smith did nothing to stop the gaping hole in midfield.

 I think it was pretty simple, the first touch was just poor all through the team, we played the ball, moved into position as we normally do but the recieving player lost it and we looked out of shape in a way we haven't often this year.

I agree about Rice, every time I see him he looks fantastic but so many dont see it.

[Abbeyfealeavfc]

A poor performance and result, but we've seen how good this team can be. The enforced covid break and so many games since has not helped. I think midfield lost that game for us tonight and perhaps some rotation would have been useful in the starting line-up. Barkley's goal aside vs Soton he's been poor. I think Sanson needs to start instead of him. Luiz too has lost form so Nakamba ahould be in. El Ghazi starting was a strange one for me. We had no drive in midfield. Ollie worked tirelessly and scored a great goal. Mings played well too. Emi had a night to forget. When diving for the ball I'd rather he catch it than parry it. Jack too had an off-night  He needs to work on his dead ball deliveries. He was much better on the right, so this should have happened sooner.  32 points after 20 games bearing in mind we only finished with 35 points in total last season is evidence of progress, which shouldn't be ignored after tonight's game. UTV! F-ck the spammers!

[Legion]

I wouldn't be unhappy to see us sign two central midfielders in the summer, three if Doug goes. They're all good players, but if it's not going for them they have no answers.

I'd prefer more options up front.

[Toronto Villa]

I realize it’s shit that we lost tonight but I am refusing to get worked up about this. Look how far we have come. What we have accomplished and I know there is a lot more to come. I’m still confident we will finish around 8th and to do that we will have ups and downs between now and the end of the season. But that’s some improvement from last year and just two years again when we were fucking around in the Championship. Defeats will always be shit. I’m not going to just suggest we just brush this feeling off. But in the grand scheme of things I’m still looking forward to the balance of the season. We will still have more good games than bad.

[ktvillan]

I think if they hadn't got the third we might have sneaked a draw as the momentum was momentarily with us. Problem is they would probably have reverted to sitting deep where they had contained us quite easily - it was as soon as they moved up a bit we ripped them open with our one decent move of the game.

[robleflaneur]

Two years ago we needed a 10 match winning run to get into the Championship play offs.Last year an escape from an impossible situation.On this forum the consensus was a mid table finish would be good.
We are 9th with games in hand,having lost unluckily to the top 2,Citeh and Utd,having beaten the 3rd ,Leicester.I think we did ok against Liverpool who are in 4th.It's a good first team.
We have changed the recruitment system ,upgraded the academy in staff and players.
We are in a good place and better times to come.

[PeterWithe]

Their game plan consisted of containing Jack Grealish down their right hand side.  I'm puzzled as to why we couldn't work that out and move him into a different position.

We did, he went wide right for the latter stages of first half, swapped sides a bit in second then had a free role when Trez came on.

[RamboandBruno]

Nice to see everyone turning on the whole team after one bad performance.

One bad performance? We've won twice in 7 league matches.

We are out of form and on the decline because we don't rotate. Smith is constantly starting out of form players and we have no plan b. If we concede first, we lose.

Being out of form and on the decline are two different things. On the decline is what we had been from the moment O’Neil walked out min 2010 (and perhaps a bit before), to the period Smith took over and got us up.
Yes we’re on an average run of form at best at the moment, but that is in the context of us playing some of the best football I’ve seen us play since BFRs second season at the club.
I’m gutted we lost tonight as it was a real opportunity to cement us in the race for the top 6, but I’m more gutted by the performance. There was a collective bad first touch going out throughout the team, including Grealish. It’s a race to the bottom picking who was worse, but Dougie was missing in action, at least McGinn ran around. Nothing Barcklay did came off, Even Targett whose been brilliant this season, had a shocking 1st half. El Ghazi simply had to come off at half time, I felt sorry for him he was that bad. Generally, they all looked like they’d been on a stag doo.
I do think whilst this team had done great this season, freshening it up a bit wouldn’t hurt. Traore for all his lack of tracking back, is much more of a threat going forward that El Ghazi, might be worth playing him on the left and putting Trez back on the right and Grealish in the centre, leaving Barclay on the bench. If Sanson comes in, it would be for Dougie rather than McGinn for me.
Terrible mistake from Martinez, but for me he has a load of brownie points built up already.