Brighton 0-0 Aston Villa post match thread

[Lastfootstamper]

Who's JJ?

[brontebilly]

Its a mystery where the free flowing, fluid  football in that first  half at Burnley has gone. Covid maybe having a bigger influence than we thought. It was like a training game last night. Poor from the kick-off to final whistle. Shape needed changing. It is amazing that 4 experienced coaches couldn't see that. Just another body with more energy in the middle could have won us the game.

Burnley stood off us a mile in that first half and we destroyed them (everywhere bar the score sheet). We haven't been great since then really, midfield particularly but Watkins and Grealish still have carried a threat going forward. Neither of them did last night unfortunately. I think we are struggling against three centre backs like West Ham and Brighton did. It gets Grealish involved in a game of cat and mouse with the opposition wing back and has Watkins up against three CBs.

We definitely need something different against Leicester . Despite the scoreline, Leicester were very average yesterday. Both full backs can definitely be got at. Very dangerous on the counter obviously.

[john2710]

We've struggled against teams that don't give us time on the ball. In addition last night everyone forward of the back 5 struggled to do even the basics.

When it's not working & we make changes, it's never a change to the shape. Additionally those on the bench don't actually offer any improvement.

Last night I thought Davies up front, with Watkins on the left & Grealish as the No10 would have meant we got the ball forward & it may have stuck. Meaning we could get into their final third.

[Brazilian Villain]

Who's JJ?

Maybe he was thinking of Abrahams forgetting he's back at Chelski.

[Gerrin]

Who's JJ?

Jacob Ramsey.

[Legion]

Who's JJ?

Julian Joachim.

[Lastfootstamper]

It really doesn't help me in my dotage. Whenever anyone uses 'JG' for Grealish, my first fleeting thought is normally, 'What's John Gregory got to do with this?'

[The Edge]

What's clear now is there's work to do on the training ground. What was working so well was epitomised in the first half against Burnley. Basically I think we've been sussed. West Ham showed how to wreck our attacking game plan and the rest will now follow suit. I've been a fan of Barkley but he definitely needs benching now. Could be Sanson's chance as he looked a lot more mobile than Ross and I'd like to see him start against Leicester. Make no mistake if we approach the Leicester game the same as last night they will beat us and Vardy would be the difference. The coaching staff need to show their worth now to preserve what we have achieved so far. The team needs a boost and a fresh impetus with a bit of squad rotation. Last night was lethargic and we had to dig deep to get a point. I was shocked by how many of our players seemed to struggle with the basics like controlling the ball and that includes Jack. Overall though it's still been a surprisingly good season with some top class performances and we're definitely heading in the right direction.

[Toronto Villa]

Who's JJ?

JJ Watt of the Houston Texans. He’s available and the defensive midfielder we’ve all been craving.

[darren woolley]

Great display by Emi but this was a bore draw.

[garyellis]

Don’t usually like to comment on tactics because usually so much hinges on player performance and then things slip into place.
It’s an interesting point about when we come up against 5 at the back and it’s effect on nullifying Jacks influence. I would like to see a plan B when this happens. Should that include giving Jack a free role but ensuring Targett still gets support down that side of the pitch?

[PaulTheVillan]

Who's JJ?

Jeff Jarrett

[Risso]

What's clear now is there's work to do on the training ground. What was working so well was epitomised in the first half against Burnley. Basically I think we've been sussed. West Ham showed how to wreck our attacking game plan and the rest will now follow suit. I've been a fan of Barkley but he definitely needs benching now. Could be Sanson's chance as he looked a lot more mobile than Ross and I'd like to see him start against Leicester. Make no mistake if we approach the Leicester game the same as last night they will beat us and Vardy would be the difference. The coaching staff need to show their worth now to preserve what we have achieved so far. The team needs a boost and a fresh impetus with a bit of squad rotation. Last night was lethargic and we had to dig deep to get a point. I was shocked by how many of our players seemed to struggle with the basics like controlling the ball and that includes Jack. Overall though it's still been a surprisingly good season with some top class performances and we're definitely heading in the right direction.

I think you're right. Our 'Plan A' is very good when it works, but right now it isn't, and we don't seem to have a Plan B when Grealish gets marked out of a game. Smith also doesn't appear to have the tactical nouse to make changes that alter the course of game when things are going badly. Barkley isn't playing well, and the McGinn/Luiz partnership isn't working. We could either move Jack more centrally and start with Traore and Trez out wide, or play Sanson next to Luiz and move McGinn further forward. or even vice versa. Need to do something though.

[villa `cross the mersey]

It was ever thus .......a "should win game "  that takes us to the " next level" and we fail to take the opportunity ....extremely frustrating

[The Edge]

What's clear now is there's work to do on the training ground. What was working so well was epitomised in the first half against Burnley. Basically I think we've been sussed. West Ham showed how to wreck our attacking game plan and the rest will now follow suit. I've been a fan of Barkley but he definitely needs benching now. Could be Sanson's chance as he looked a lot more mobile than Ross and I'd like to see him start against Leicester. Make no mistake if we approach the Leicester game the same as last night they will beat us and Vardy would be the difference. The coaching staff need to show their worth now to preserve what we have achieved so far. The team needs a boost and a fresh impetus with a bit of squad rotation. Last night was lethargic and we had to dig deep to get a point. I was shocked by how many of our players seemed to struggle with the basics like controlling the ball and that includes Jack. Overall though it's still been a surprisingly good season with some top class performances and we're definitely heading in the right direction.

I think you're right. Our 'Plan A' is very good when it works, but right now it isn't, and we don't seem to have a Plan B when Grealish gets marked out of a game. Smith also doesn't appear to have the tactical nouse to make changes that alter the course of game when things are going badly. Barkley isn't playing well, and the McGinn/Luiz partnership isn't working. We could either move Jack more centrally and start with Traore and Trez out wide, or play Sanson next to Luiz and move McGinn further forward. or even vice versa. Need to do something though.

Brendan Roger's interview after the Leicester v Liverpool game was interesting. He said "we had a plan to change our shape during the second half and it worked" Not knocking Dean and his team but it strikes me that's something we don't seem to have. We have a game plan at the start of the match but when that's not working we don't seem able to alter it. All we do is like for like substitutions and hope for an improvement. In game management is something that needs improvement for sure.