Aston Villa 1-4 West Ham Post match debacle.

[Clive W]

This isn’t just a reflection on today’s game, but the one thing that strikes me as relevant over the last (10?) years has been our lack of leadership on the pitch.

When things go wrong, as they always will do even in the good times, you need a captain with the ability to know which players need some TLC and which ones need a kick up the arse, and also someone that can change things tactically on the pitch

Showing my age, when did we last have an Ian Ross, or Kevin Richardson, Andy Townsend, Sir Denis, Martin Laursen or Stan?

Not all of them necessarily top class players in their own right, but all had good man management skills and commanded respect.

I’m sure that with a respected and inspirational captain some of the debacles (Micah Richards panto video?) would have been avoided and also maybe some of the collapses during matches

[Villatillidie1982]

This is terribly similar to 2015/16 season. Not good I think we are in trouble.

At least in the last few matches we have played for about 20 minutes in each. The 2015-16 didn't play at all in most matches. If we had had a bit of luck at 2-1 down and playing with 10 men, we could have won that. But the lack of confidence running through the team is worrying.

[SamTheMouse]

Was Sanson injured?

[paul_e]

I also think he deserves more time. We’ve been consistently heading upwards in his time here, and I’m still off the opinion that injuries, disrupted pre-season and Copa America absences have made it much more difficult to get anything going.

It also looks like he wanted a centre mid in the summer and was told no, so I have sympathy there as we are weak in midfield.

There was very little wrong with the team selection today; he made the changes that most people were asking for.

That said, there’s something strange about the coaching changes, and the tactics do seem to consist of a) lump it forward from left centre back, and b) get Cash to do a long throw.

So he’s starting to skate on thin ice, but I’d like to see him turn it round over the next three.

Is the bold bit true? I've seen nothing to suggest the money wasn't available to buy someone.

[AV82EC]

Well on the train back up north and it’s all a bit shit really. Not sure what the board will make of it all, if it could have gone wrong today it did, we gave them two soft goals which were both right in the corner so no issues with Martinez for me. If I’ve one criticism of Smith today it’s the Young substitution, utterly bizarre. You aren’t going to win a game with a midfield three of Nakamba, Young and McGinn. If people were wondering what Mings brings to the team then a first half without him will hopefully prove that Hause just isn’t good enough and the aimless hoofing increased tenfold. So many frustrations….I’m still Smith in but he needs to sort this out .

On we go…..

[VILLA MOLE]

I also think he deserves more time. We’ve been consistently heading upwards in his time here, and I’m still off the opinion that injuries, disrupted pre-season and Copa America absences have made it much more difficult to get anything going.

It also looks like he wanted a centre mid in the summer and was told no, so I have sympathy there as we are weak in midfield.

There was very little wrong with the team selection today; he made the changes that most people were asking for.

That said, there’s something strange about the coaching changes, and the tactics do seem to consist of a) lump it forward from left centre back, and b) get Cash to do a long throw.

So he’s starting to skate on thin ice, but I’d like to see him turn it round over the next three.

Is the bold bit true? I've seen nothing to suggest the money wasn't available to buy someone.

then surely dont buy ings if obviously money was an issue  ?

[Beard82]

This isn’t just a reflection on today’s game, but the one thing that strikes me as relevant over the last (10?) years has been our lack of leadership on the pitch.

When things go wrong, as they always will do even in the good times, you need a captain with the ability to know which players need some TLC and which ones need a kick up the arse, and also someone that can change things tactically on the pitch

Showing my age, when did we last have an Ian Ross, or Kevin Richardson, Andy Townsend, Sir Denis, Martin Laursen or Stan?

Not all of them necessarily top class players in their own right, but all had good man management skills and commanded respect.

I’m sure that with a respected and inspirational captain some of the debacles (Micah Richards panto video?) would have been avoided and also maybe some of the collapses during matches

I think this is true - TBF when Joe was captain - I thought he did well in a lead by example kind of way.   

[UK Redsox]

Was Sanson injured?

Ill and/or on the naughty step

[paul_e]

I also think he deserves more time. We’ve been consistently heading upwards in his time here, and I’m still off the opinion that injuries, disrupted pre-season and Copa America absences have made it much more difficult to get anything going.

It also looks like he wanted a centre mid in the summer and was told no, so I have sympathy there as we are weak in midfield.

There was very little wrong with the team selection today; he made the changes that most people were asking for.

That said, there’s something strange about the coaching changes, and the tactics do seem to consist of a) lump it forward from left centre back, and b) get Cash to do a long throw.

So he’s starting to skate on thin ice, but I’d like to see him turn it round over the next three.

Is the bold bit true? I've seen nothing to suggest the money wasn't available to buy someone.

then surely dont buy ings if obviously money was an issue  ?

well yeah, exactly, there's plenty of things we've done i the last year or so that suggest the money was there. Aside from anything else Smith gave the impression that he saw Sanson as the midfield signing the fans were calling for.

[artvandelay]

What on earth was Declan Rice’s problem? He seemed to take particular joy in trying to goad us (whilst ignoring the West Ham fans) after he scored. Have we got some kind of history with him?

[Beard82]

I also think he deserves more time. We’ve been consistently heading upwards in his time here, and I’m still off the opinion that injuries, disrupted pre-season and Copa America absences have made it much more difficult to get anything going.

It also looks like he wanted a centre mid in the summer and was told no, so I have sympathy there as we are weak in midfield.

There was very little wrong with the team selection today; he made the changes that most people were asking for.

That said, there’s something strange about the coaching changes, and the tactics do seem to consist of a) lump it forward from left centre back, and b) get Cash to do a long throw.

So he’s starting to skate on thin ice, but I’d like to see him turn it round over the next three.

Is the bold bit true? I've seen nothing to suggest the money wasn't available to buy someone.

then surely dont buy ings if obviously money was an issue  ?

Something was strange with the recruitment - I don’t think it was lack of money but with JWP particularly it was there for us we just didn’t think he was worth it - not sure who makes the calls

[KRS]

Any one else notice Mings, Rice and Antonio chatting on the pitch with their mouths covered up at the end of the match? I’m sure that would have been an interesting conversation.

[Nev]

The only possible reason for the Young substitution, given the undue influence that is being excerted over the team by McPhee, is his ability to deliver a set piece. Otherwise I'm baffled.
I'm also baffled by the long throws, the enormous punt out of play when we kicked off, the collapse in cohesion, team spirit, balance and the fact that the style, approach and attitude of the kids in midweek is light years ahead of today, and reminiscent of how we used to play.

[Chico Hamilton III]

Another load of fucking rubbish today. It’s becoming a habit

[VILLA MOLE]

The Goal kicks when the defenders are on the edge of the box??

we hoof it long in the end  anyway so just get on with it

we might as well play Davis up there at least it might stick for a bit