Aston Villa 1-4 West Ham Post match debacle.

[Ad@m]

Yesterday wouldn't have felt so bad given all the circumstances of we hadn't been so dire against Arsenal, in the latter part of Wolves, v Spurs, Watford and the draw with Brentford.

But it all adds up.

Yep, as a one off it was a freak result. We probably didn't deserve to win but we also didn't deserve to concede 4.

The performance was similar to the Wolves one but the fact of the matter is that if you're conceding 3 or 4 in a home game you'll lose a lot more than you'll win.

[Drummond]

Yesterday wouldn't have felt so bad given all the circumstances of we hadn't been so dire against Arsenal, in the latter part of Wolves, v Spurs, Watford and the draw with Brentford.

But it all adds up.

Yep, as a one off it was a freak result. We probably didn't deserve to win but we also didn't deserve to concede 4.

The performance was similar to the Wolves one but the fact of the matter is that if you're conceding 3 or 4 in a home game you'll lose a lot more than you'll win.

Yep, what's different this season is that we haven't got Ratboy. The replacements aren't fit yet and they can't get used to the system of play because we've changed and nobody is used to it.

[Legion]

Wow. What a word!

[Drummond]

Wow. What a word!

Erm.... Corrected! 😁

[brontebilly]

When we try and pass ball the ball out of defence why do we then launch it up field after 2 passes between our defenders

If we are going to launch it we may as well get Emi to do that for us!

Because without Luiz in there there's zero options for the defence to play it short.

It's utterly baffling that with three central midfielders on the pitch none of them can provide an option for a pass. It's difficult to conclude it's down to personnel more than tactics.

McGinn is becoming increasingly uncomfortable facing his own goal receiving the ball. The bum roll trick is becoming a liability in our half. We need him further forward where he does his best work. If Luiz and Sanson are fit on Friday night, they need to come in.

One positive from yesterday was that Watkins was much happier leading the line. Need to get McGinn playing off him.

[Clampy]

We missed Luiz last night I thought. I'd also give Sanson a run on Friday. Agree about Watkins as well, I thought he ran his arse off, he looked much better in that role.

[AV82EC]

When we try and pass ball the ball out of defence why do we then launch it up field after 2 passes between our defenders

If we are going to launch it we may as well get Emi to do that for us!

Because without Luiz in there there's zero options for the defence to play it short.

It's utterly baffling that with three central midfielders on the pitch none of them can provide an option for a pass. It's difficult to conclude it's down to personnel more than tactics.

McGinn is becoming increasingly uncomfortable facing his own goal receiving the ball. The bum roll trick is becoming a liability in our half. We need him further forward where he does his best work. If Luiz and Sanson are fit on Friday night, they need to come in.

One positive from yesterday was that Watkins was much happier leading the line. Need to get McGinn playing off him.

Strong agree on Watkins, thought he looked to be getting back to something like normal and he absolutely ran his balls off second half.

Also agree on Sanson/Luiz, ball players, need to control that ball more in the middle of the pitch.

[john e]

It’s a vicious circle at the back
We complain about the long hoof but the alternative is for them to try and play out, unfortunately all our central defenders everyone of them aren’t good enough to do that
They just play themselves into a load of trouble because technically they aren’t up to it

So they boot the ball long and round and round we go

What made it worse yesterday was because of injuries We ended up with Young McGinn Nakamba
You’re never going to play the ball through midfield with that lot
I thought Nakamba did well in breaking up play but he’s no midfield playmaker Like Luiz or even Ramsey
So we ended up with a defence and midfield that on the whole we’re not comfortable on the ball and technically good enough to retain possession pass and move from defence through midfield

I thought Dean Smith had a massive problem yesterday with injuries
And unfortunately we had too many backup players who aren’t good enough on the pitch

[Drummond]

I tell you what, I'm becoming more convinced on Rice. I didn't think much of him before but he's a top player isn't he?

[sendô WHU]

Well I'll say one thing, it was a bit of a whirlwind of a game. It had a real feel of a derby about it.

Villa started really badly, and after the first went in I wondered if they'd implode and it'd be a thrashing, but all credit your boys dug in and came right back at West Ham. The extra body in midfield seemed to help, and Villa were making good inroads down the flanks. The equaliser was probably deserved on the balance of play.

Then it went from the sublime to the ridiculous as a good equaliser was followed up by allowing Rice acres of space to have a pop. I felt for your keeper who was probably unsighted for both of West Ham's first two goals.

Fouls and cards galore through the second half. I felt for Konsa, it's one of them ones isn't it - is it a clear goalscoring opportunity or not? What way is the ball going, is there a covering defender, did Bowen have time to line up the shot? Letter of the law he was last man and pulled Bowen down. The ref actually gave a yellow, but it was VAR that overturned it. Hause however should have gone straight red for that forearm smash straight into an onrunning Fornals. I don't know how VAR have not given that - bottling out of giving Villa two reds for one passage of play? Most likely.

The Fornals foul on Nakamba looked like two players diving in at a loose ball. I didn't see studs up or two feet so can't see how more than a yellow was warranted.

The third and fourth were harsh on Villa given the overall balance of the game - I thought you lot were the better team with ten men until Moyes hooked Benrahma for Lanzini - but that's what happens when you're chasing the game with ten men, you get picked off.

I honestly thought Villa played well for chunks of the game. It was certainly more even than the score suggests and like I said above, at 2-1 with you down to ten men you looked the more likely to score. I thought Matt Cash played well, McGinn looked decent, and your keeper pulled off a couple of excellent saves including the Bowen shot that Fornals put in for the third. Watkins showed why he is a quality striker who will always get goals, twice getting himself into space in the box, scoring one and forcing an excellent save from Fabianski at the back.

The main issue seemed to be you were far too open at times, and made silly mistakes at the back. There's some good players in the team still. Certainly on paper Villa are better than the current league position.

All the best for the season lads.

[AV82EC]

Yep Rice is a quality player, the bastard. Far too good for West Ham😜

[john e]

I tell you what, I'm becoming more convinced on Rice. I didn't think much of him before but he's a top player isn't he?

I watched him more closely yesterday because of the hype around him, you sometimes get a different perspective in a live performance
 Have to say he is a class player

[john e]

Yep Rice is a quality player, the bastard. Far too good for West Ham😜

I hope they hold onto him all this too good for them is the same as we had with Grealish

[AV82EC]

Yep Rice is a quality player, the bastard. Far too good for West Ham😜

I hope they hold onto him all this too good for them is the same as we had with Grealish

If they don’t get Champs League he’ll be off as he’s out of contract I think this summer coming, I recall he refused to sign a new contract in the summer.

[brontebilly]

I tell you what, I'm becoming more convinced on Rice. I didn't think much of him before but he's a top player isn't he?

I watched him more closely yesterday because of the hype around him, you sometimes get a different perspective in a live performance
 Have to say he is a class player

We gave him a ridiculous amount of space though. Certainly seems to be developing as an athlete, physically very strong now and also gets around the pitch a lot better than he used to. I still think at the very highest level, he will struggle to get turned on the ball in midfield.