Aston Villa 2 Brighton 0 post match thread

[SamTheMouse]

I think there's a good player there. But he seems to be putting too much pressure on himself. Probably needs to relax and just try to enjoy his football.

[The_ads]

A few big performances today. Mings excellent, Targett very good especially having Lamptey run at him but thought he dealt with him very well indeed. Cash continues to impress. Buendia workrate first 20 mins impressive but a few misplaced passes and the head dropped - I remain unconvinced but hope he comes good.  Brighton we’re pretty but toothless - always thought a goal would spark us into life as it proved.  Gerrard has been class all week, even those that haven’t been keen must have been impressed by the interviews he’s given plus at the end of the game I thought he was first class, asking the players to go and thank the fans and standing there taking no adulation - happy for the players to have it. I thought that was class. UTFV

[LeeB]

Today was a good example of what I was getting at on the 'possession-based team' thing. They had loads of the ball but created fuck all whereas we looked dangerous even though we weren't particularly fluent in the final 3rd and, in the end, they were using the possession as a defensive tactic to slow the game down to a level they could cope with.

Mings as man of the match by a long way for me, that's 2 proper captains performances in a row from him, if Gerrard can keep him at this level there's no debate about who should be the captain.

They spent an hour trying to get us to chase out wide, so they could play through the space in the middle, and as we flat out refused to they had nothing else, and we cut them to ribbons in the last quarter.

Our team were coached to do that in just this week. That's tactical awareness for you

[Legion]

Aston Villa 2-0 Brighton: 'If anyone doubts me watch me after those goals', says Steven Gerrard - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59362296

[brian green]

Not really like that Paddy.  Up to the 75th minute it was dire stuff. Gerrard's substitutions were right on the money.  Bringing on direct running Ash and El Ghazi and letting Ollie be the point of the spear improved the last quarter of an hour out of all recognition.  The traffic home was gridlocked all the way past Coventry.  A big five car shunt mostly responsible.  Two of the cars jnvolved were the same make and model that Mr Rissbrook drives so I hope you are alright Martin.

[LeeB]

Special mention as well for a brilliant cameo from Young for the last quarter, exactly what was required.

[SoccerHQ]

It’s been said several times already in this thread, but can we just ask Brighton to name their price for Bissouma? What a player. Exactly the player that would take us to the next level.

Yes thought he was good today and that's exactly the type we need sitting infront of our defence.

Think he has something to resolve off the pitch though in coming months so might be best to wait until then.

[flybo]

Poor game but a win is a win onwards and upwards i hope 

[brontebilly]

I remain unconvinced by Buendia, just doesn’t look like a Premier League player.

Doesn't protect the ball well enough for me. His predecessor in the number 10 jersey was a master at that. At very worst he was drawing a foul. Buendia just keeps giving the ball away under contact.

[olaftab]

Much improved.  I like the aggresion, intensity and one touch football we are trying to play. Never really had that under smith.

I am pleased we won but that's just rubbish. We were very ordinary, cumbersome and outplayed by Brighton for about 80 mins. We had some fantastic football under Dean Smith.

[MalcolmP]

All very satisfactory. We looked more organised.

Watkins needs to play centrally. Ings needs to be benched.

That's it for me too. Ings and Watkins simply cannot play together, Watkins was woeful on left wing. Thought we were very average in truth and indebted to a couple of big saves from Martinez. Brighton had no cutting edge up top but did have the two best players by a distance on the pitch (Bissouma and Lamptey).

Give Gerrard credit, his subs changed the game. Particularly the much maligned Ashley Young in his midfield general role! Massive 3 points but only more evidence that Ings and Buendia look expensive mistakes.

Martinez 7, Cash 7, Konsa 7, Mings 8, Targett 7, Nakamba 6, McGinn 7, Ramsey 5 (AEG 7), Buendia 4 (Young , Ings 4 (Bailey 6), Watkins 6.

  Ramsey 5 wow - he was our best player 1st half had a very decent game

[Smithy]

Brighton are very much in the “all fart and no shit” category when it comes to possession based football. It must be very frustrating to watch - imagine having over 60% of the ball and only 2 shots on target. Having your midfield and defence knock it around amongst themselves playing one-touch looks nice, but it’s not very effective unless it moves the opposition out of position, and our positional discipline was generally very good today.

Great to see Ollie back firing, but the clean sheet was most important thing today I think. Back four were great, but helped by a much better team shape ahead of them. Sure, it can look a bit defensive at times, but it works, clearly.

Bailey looks like he’ll be nightmare to play against, and when our team can read him a little better I think we’ll see him really lighting up this league.

Brilliant first day of the SG reign, even if the performance itself wasn’t brilliant. I’m excited to see what comes next!

[Astnor]

Me thinks we looked well organised and with belief.  We didnt lack belief under Dean either though, xcept for the Soton game perhaps. The system with "narrow wingers " seems effective. That interview with Gerrard at the bbc link here - impressive i have to say. Watkins at his best with his play for his goal - pure joy to watch. Defence was good, the full backs will have å lot to do and be very important in Gerrards system it seems. Nakamba didnt play himself into our midfield for the future with that performance either. McGinn - impressive. I hope Buendia will find his role and come good - I like his type of player. Thanx.

[ChicagoLion]

The thing is Buendia has done it in the Premier League before, with a weaker side. I wouldn’t write him off.

Buendia looks knackered. Thought he tried but hes tired. Thought we looked more organised and Ollie is better when Ings isn't on.

You keep seeing flashes of a really good player but the rest of the time he was no where near good enough.

[BC Villain]

Interesting comments from Watkins.

“It has been intense & the standards have gone up. That’s no disrespect to Dean Smith but he’s (Gerrard) brought in some new rules & everybody was on it. I’d be here all day if I was to say them all, there’s quite a few."