Brighton 0-0 Aston Villa post match thread

[The_ads]

We should all stop, breath, take stock and remember that 12 months ago Bournemouth had just done the double over us, we then lost to Spurs and we we were 17th in the league.


We’re 7th and have been, in the main, excellent


Let’s stop the over reactionary nonsense about a point away from home

8th.

Noted

[Legion]

They are the form team (other than ManCity) and we nullified each other. They were better but rarely threatened.

It's another point.

Rarely threatened  ? They had 26 shots with 9 on target. I'd hate to see us play a team that did threaten.

We've got Leicester next.

[Olof's Beard]

The big concern is that three out of the last four games, we have conceded more than 20 shots. We were out-creating the opposition consistently pre Covid but now there are concerning signs at both ends. There is no reason to panic, we have come a long way and I am sure we can regroup and improve again but we may have to lower our expectations for this season a smidge.

[Ads]

Apart from the MacAllister header, they never looked like scoring, regardless of possession or territory. We defended solidly. Everything else...mind blowingly poor.

[Legion]

The big concern is that three out of the last four games, we have conceded more than 20 shots. We were out-creating the opposition consistently pre Covid but now there are concerning signs at both ends. There is no reason to panic, we have come a long way and I am sure we can regroup and improve again but we may have to lower our expectations for this season a smidge.

My expectation was not being involved in a relegation battle. I think we've exceeded that.

[The_ads]

They are the form team (other than ManCity) and we nullified each other. They were better but rarely threatened.

It's another point.

Rarely threatened  ? They had 26 shots with 9 on target. I'd hate to see us play a team that did threaten.

We've got Leicester next.

Who travel to Prague midweek, we win that, mark my words

[TonyD]

We had absolutely nothing in the centre of the park tonight to stem or break up Brighton.

Once Brighton had the ball from their defence they pushed on and split us down the middle or on the flanks.

Anybody on here know why recently our midfield has gone to ratshit ?

Or why we have started to pull back and defend deep?

Certainly Doug is not the player he was 7 game ago. 

[Abbeyfealeavfc]

Glad of the point and clean sheet in the end. Emi amazing and whole back 4 did their jobs (Mings the pick of the defenders). I think Luiz and McGinn worked hard in front of them, but had no outlet in front of them except Ollie. Barkley and Traore were poor with Jack just marginally better (he seemed to have trouble even trapping the ball to-night).
Ref poor in the 1st half. Dunk needed to be carded after his assault on Ollie. Jack got booked for touching the defender's arm, yet the same defender got no booking for coming through the back of Jack not long after.
In games like this Jack needs to take a free role and as captain needs to be pro-active in encouraging this.
Onto the next game in what is a good season. UTV!

[TonyD]

Apart from the MacAllister header, they never looked like scoring, regardless of possession or territory. We defended solidly. Everything else...mind blowingly poor.

Have to disagree.  If we had been Brighton tonight we would have said we should have won that hands down.

[PaulWinch again]

The 20 shots point is true - and I think it stems from the midfield. We need to compete much better - we’ve got slack and sloppy in the midfield of late.

The defence and Emi are brill though.

[Toronto Villa]

I’m glad Dean said it like we saw it. He has the ability now to change it up for Leicester. Sanson did more in a cameo than Barkey did all game. Time to make that change. I worry now though at RB we will have Elmo for a decent period of time. That’s a big step down from Matty Cash.

[Olof's Beard]

The big concern is that three out of the last four games, we have conceded more than 20 shots. We were out-creating the opposition consistently pre Covid but now there are concerning signs at both ends. There is no reason to panic, we have come a long way and I am sure we can regroup and improve again but we may have to lower our expectations for this season a smidge.

My expectation was not being involved in a relegation battle. I think we've exceeded that.

So was mine but like most, Europe has started to look like a realistic possibility and I have been happy to believe. It is a strong league though with no mugs outside the bottom 3.  When performance levels dip, it gets very tricky. Luckily, we have a proper backbone now with a back five who collectively take offence at the prospect of conceding.

[RamboandBruno]

Some of our problems tonight, especially in the first half, came from Brighton pressing us all over the pitch, but a lot of our players just failed to react and that includes Grealish who was strolling around at times not looking particularly up for it. Brighton were the much better side 1st half.
In the 2nd half I thought they were better than us, whilst not being that good themselves to be honest, just a poor half of football.
If a team are harassing you all over the pitch, players need to react. The defence all did their job, I thought luiz worked hard actually, Ollie ran around a lot, but everyone else, no energy or willingness to grab the game by the scruff of the neck. We’re also hitting and hoping far to much.
I said last week that Barclay probably needs to be judged after a few weeks training in between games, but was poor tonight and I would start Sanson against Leicester, he looked lively. Traore is a much better player than Trez. But may need Trezs mad headless energy to support Elmo next week, if Cash is out. Two changes are probably enough, but the coaches need to work on maximising the space when teams double up on jack.

[Footy-Vill]

Martinez 8.5 Man of The match
Cash 7
Konsa 5 5
Mings 7.5
Targett 6
Luiz 5
McGinn 5.5
Barkley 5.5
Grealish 5.5
Traore 5
Watkins 7

Subs
Elmore 6
Trezeguet 6
Sanson 6

6.5/10.Anyway put that behind us and bring on Leicester next week
 Can play and perform better
 As it was a weaker showing. One of those performances from last season though half mark extra for getting a point in a dull attacking effort

Haven't bothered to pen observations for marks on players today after having to suffer that match but Mings, excellent covering blocks and leading the defence to clean sheet. Cash solid till injury and mighty Emi wonderful keeping.  Won us the points.  Those 3 were our only decent performers tonight as was Watkins who was staved of service
Targett and Konsa showed last season form and thw other 3 had to help them out.
Any of the rest could have been subbed today without complaints including Jack who miscontrolled the ball several times ,and was booked. We had Barkley doing same. And the midfield loose on the ball but Traroe was the worst of the offenders.
Douglas Luiz could have had 2 yellows for repeated fouls and thus sent off.

Up the Villa

[brontebilly]

We had absolutely nothing in the centre of the park tonight to stem or break up Brighton.

Once Brighton had the ball from their defence they pushed on and split us down the middle or on the flanks.

Anybody on here know why recently our midfield has gone to ratshit ?

Or why we have started to pull back and defend deep?

Certainly Doug is not the player he was 7 game ago.

Is our defensive line a bit deeper since the Burnley game I wonder? Our midfield has been poor since the second half of that game.