Brentford 2 v Aston Villa 1 Post Match Thread

[Luffbralion]

Not only have we reverted to some sloppy defending but for all our possession we barely troubled their keeper. We need better concentration at the back and more penetration going forward. The first few games under SG demonstrated both features and he's capable of restoring these qualities. I just hope we see immediate improvement in the games against Newton Heath.

[Risso]

Typical of Villa to start the New Year off with a shambolic performance like that, i'm still fuming and worried Gerrard thought the first half performance was a positive one. BOTH Teams were absolutely dreadful , it was painful to watch and as I mentioned before like a Pre-Season friendly between two lower end Championship Teams.

Shocking and Disgraceful dive from Trezeguet and he should face a Fine from the Football Club.

Let's hope the Burnley fixture is arranged very soon so we can put the terrible festive period behind us and sign some proper players who are going to put a shift in

Should you laugh at a post?

I think you’d be forgiven in this instance.

[Nunkin1965]

Typical of Villa to start the New Year off with a shambolic performance like that, i'm still fuming and worried Gerrard thought the first half performance was a positive one. BOTH Teams were absolutely dreadful , it was painful to watch and as I mentioned before like a Pre-Season friendly between two lower end Championship Teams.

Shocking and Disgraceful dive from Trezeguet and he should face a Fine from the Football Club.

Let's hope the Burnley fixture is arranged very soon so we can put the terrible festive period behind us and sign some proper players who are going to put a shift in

Should you laugh at a post?

I think you’d be forgiven in this instance.

Oh god Mr positive is in the building.

[PhilVill]

It's very rare a result affects my mood for many a year but am livid about today. Three points were on grasp today and, six hours on, we never deserved them, such a dreadful performance. Pissed off isn't the phrase. Gerrard really needs to delete these as Aston villa seems to produce these far too often. We should have won that game at a canter, problem being the players obviously felt that too without putting the effort in to make it happen.

[nick harper]

What was clear to me today was there aren’t enough winners in our team, yet again our killer instinct was absent. I’d fully expect this to change pronto once SG rips them a new one tomorrow. I also think we’ll see a very different team line up at Everton in a few weeks.

It still seems to be in our DNA, the soft underbelly that is Aston Villa. Not enough leadership or players driving the team. Sloppy passages of play, giving the ball away and inevitably an avoidable goal.

At worst we take a point and move on.  Feels like a very important few weeks for Gerrard - with new faces hopefully and start shaping a team he can call his own.

[LeonW]

After watching this and reading the comments, I took off my Claret and Blue Glasses.
I can not think who on that performance would get into a top 4 starting 11
Watching Chelsea vs L/pool even Martinez would struggle

You’d rather have (* checks name) Kelleher than Martinez?

[Ads]

I dont think the performance was dreadful at all.

I think we dominated the ball, territory and chances in a way we seldom do away from home. There are clear signs of an emerging style, with full backs pushed high and a desire to use the ball neatly in a midfield that works as a collective in and out of possession.

There was lots of good interplay, out of possession we pressed well and forced a recycle of the ball quickly and cheaply.

Where I think we struggled was that final ball. There seemed a reluctance for the full backs to cross it. Traore was infuriating in his decision making and seemed to pick the wrong ball or timing throughout the game. Lots of good positions and when that moment of quality was required his execution wasn't there. That was only his 2nd appearance since Chelsea in the cup, which didn't last long.

Ramsey seemed to run out of steam 2nd half, but showed 1st how he has a good turn of pace and desire to punch through gaps with his runs. I wonder if he picked a knock up when he was down 1st half?

I felt that Targett in particular is guilty of not being adventurous enough in his runs and that is likely why we're after a left back who can get up and down. We work the ball well to create pockets of space, he needs to be braver to find to use them.

Hause distribution is too slow. We transition via centre half a lot and he just isn't up to the level needed. Felt Dougie slowed us down a little at times when attacking down the left, but was quicker in transition through the right. A Targett problem.

Sanson didn't have his usual impact when he came on either. The dive from Trez was atrocious and he was largely ineffectual. I think a further inside forward coming in will also be on the agenda with him and El Ghazi likely being off. We probably won't see the best of Bailey till he's had a pre-seaaon. His repeated muscle injuries smack of a lack of fitness, that given he's Bolt levels of quick, isn't something he can remedy on the fly.

Buendia played well again, and managed to buy a couple of free kicks! He also managed to be dispossessed for a rare Berentford attack.

It's frustrating that our mistakes get punished with impunity. If Mings plays today, neither goal happens. Yes Targett fails to win the ball, but aggressive full back play will be a percentage game at times and you have to trust the centre halves. 3 or 4 minutes before half time and Hause having nothing to do (beyond hoofing a lob at Emi that went for a corner) and he just switches off and gives the Brentford player room he should never have.

Hause should clear the ball for the 2nd, but failed.

That little pocket in midfield will almost certainly be remedied in January, giving us 4 8s in Ramsey, McGinn, Sanson and Dougie. Brentford for when Emi saved and when they scored found space that shouldn't have been there.

Buttoning up that pocket will make a huge difference from a midtable side to one capable of knocking on the top 7 or 6.

I cannot fathom the reactions on here, at all. There are plenty of things that require working on, I've highlighted what I see as a few and clearly recruitment is part of the solution. But people saying they're depressed, diabolical performance (and I'm not taking in that twat of a trolls comments) is way overboard.

As an aside I was in a white seat. The ground is compact and tinpot, but uses the space well. No real dramas on the upper concourse beyond the fact the lads serving beers (OUT OF A CAN!!11!! WILMA!) put a head on it the size of Frank Sidebottom. You can park for free within a mile of the ground up Ealing Way. Its the closest and easiest to get to London ground for the Midland and Northern sets. There was also a fight by us. And it rained. It always rains when we go down to Brentford it seems.

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

Well said Ads.

[Steve67]

We don't have enough leaders on the pitch and I wonder whether Gerrard is a bit coy about Mings being longer term captain because he wants to sign a couple of players who might be in the running for the armband?  We don't have a nasty enough side to us as yet either.  Too many passive players.  Despite dominating for large parts of the game we still were a bit indecisive around their box, too often choosing to go backwards with the ball than sticking it the middle.  We also need a player who can join in much more from midfield and score goals when joining in with the striker.  We haven't had one of those for a while, other that that chap we recently sold to that boring lot.  Someone earlier hit the nail on the head, we are better to watch now, but will get to a point where the players will demonstrate that they are unable to do what Gerrard wants them to do.  He needs to bring in a couple of his own players in this window and steadily alter the squad over the next three or four windows.  Several to get rid of.

[PaulTheVillan]

I agree we don’t have enough leaders. When you look at those decent seasons under O’Neill we had Friedel, Dunne, Barry, Petrov & Reo Coker to a certain extent. Whilst Mings is captain and You g shouts and points on the pitch I don’t really see anyone else being a leader.

[Villan82]

Ramsey had a yellow card. I think that's why he was subbed.

[Damo70]

I was disappointed with both the performance and the result. I thought we looked worse the longer the game went on.

[PaulTheVillan]

I was disappointed with both the performance and the result. I thought we looked worse the longer the game went on.

As soon as they scored I just felt we wouldn’t score again and they most likely would.

[ChicagoLion]

We don't have enough leaders on the pitch and I wonder whether Gerrard is a bit coy about Mings being longer term captain because he wants to sign a couple of players who might be in the running for the armband?  We don't have a nasty enough side to us as yet either.  Too many passive players.  Despite dominating for large parts of the game we still were a bit indecisive around their box, too often choosing to go backwards with the ball than sticking it the middle.  We also need a player who can join in much more from midfield and score goals when joining in with the striker.  We haven't had one of those for a while, other that that chap we recently sold to that boring lot.  Someone earlier hit the nail on the head, we are better to watch now, but will get to a point where the players will demonstrate that they are unable to do what Gerrard wants them to do.  He needs to bring in a couple of his own players in this window and steadily alter the squad over the next three or four windows.  Several to get rid of.

Agree, it’s well and good driving at the opposition but if there is no end product then it’s pointless.

[tomd2103]

I dont think the performance was dreadful at all.

I think we dominated the ball, territory and chances in a way we seldom do away from home. There are clear signs of an emerging style, with full backs pushed high and a desire to use the ball neatly in a midfield that works as a collective in and out of possession.

There was lots of good interplay, out of possession we pressed well and forced a recycle of the ball quickly and cheaply.

Where I think we struggled was that final ball. There seemed a reluctance for the full backs to cross it. Traore was infuriating in his decision making and seemed to pick the wrong ball or timing throughout the game. Lots of good positions and when that moment of quality was required his execution wasn't there. That was only his 2nd appearance since Chelsea in the cup, which didn't last long.

Ramsey seemed to run out of steam 2nd half, but showed 1st how he has a good turn of pace and desire to punch through gaps with his runs. I wonder if he picked a knock up when he was down 1st half?

I felt that Targett in particular is guilty of not being adventurous enough in his runs and that is likely why we're after a left back who can get up and down. We work the ball well to create pockets of space, he needs to be braver to find to use them.

Hause distribution is too slow. We transition via centre half a lot and he just isn't up to the level needed. Felt Dougie slowed us down a little at times when attacking down the left, but was quicker in transition through the right. A Targett problem.

Sanson didn't have his usual impact when he came on either. The dive from Trez was atrocious and he was largely ineffectual. I think a further inside forward coming in will also be on the agenda with him and El Ghazi likely being off. We probably won't see the best of Bailey till he's had a pre-seaaon. His repeated muscle injuries smack of a lack of fitness, that given he's Bolt levels of quick, isn't something he can remedy on the fly.

Buendia played well again, and managed to buy a couple of free kicks! He also managed to be dispossessed for a rare Berentford attack.

It's frustrating that our mistakes get punished with impunity. If Mings plays today, neither goal happens. Yes Targett fails to win the ball, but aggressive full back play will be a percentage game at times and you have to trust the centre halves. 3 or 4 minutes before half time and Hause having nothing to do (beyond hoofing a lob at Emi that went for a corner) and he just switches off and gives the Brentford player room he should never have.

Hause should clear the ball for the 2nd, but failed.

That little pocket in midfield will almost certainly be remedied in January, giving us 4 8s in Ramsey, McGinn, Sanson and Dougie. Brentford for when Emi saved and when they scored found space that shouldn't have been there.

Buttoning up that pocket will make a huge difference from a midtable side to one capable of knocking on the top 7 or 6.

I cannot fathom the reactions on here, at all. There are plenty of things that require working on, I've highlighted what I see as a few and clearly recruitment is part of the solution. But people saying they're depressed, diabolical performance (and I'm not taking in that twat of a trolls comments) is way overboard.

As an aside I was in a white seat. The ground is compact and tinpot, but uses the space well. No real dramas on the upper concourse beyond the fact the lads serving beers (OUT OF A CAN!!11!! WILMA!) put a head on it the size of Frank Sidebottom. You can park for free within a mile of the ground up Ealing Way. Its the closest and easiest to get to London ground for the Midland and Northern sets. There was also a fight by us. And it rained. It always rains when we go down to Brentford it seems.

Totally agree with this Ads.  We're not Manchester City - we're a mid-table side at the moment and days like today will happen until we improve.

We conceded two goals, but I don't think there was too much wrong with what happened in the first two thirds of the pitch.  The final third is another matter though and it is improving the quality in that area of the pitch which will see us make progress and win more of the games like today.