Newcastle v Villa Post Match Thread

[SamTheMouse]

It was a massive pile of turd from start to finish, but I'm disinclined to put all the blame on the players. There's something about our shape that just isn't right, and I think the players know it. The midfield three are all in a line, piss easy to mark, and leave gaping holes down the channels. We're not maintaining a compact shape like we did in Gerrard's first few games.

To get us moving forward, one of Coutinho and Buendia should have been dropping back occasionally, but it looks like they've been told to stay high up the pitch.

If your centre half is forced to boot it long every time he gets the ball, then something clearly needs changing, but we continued with the tactic for most of the match.

That's not excusing the players completely though. They were slow and only showed any urgency for a five minute period in the second half. Half of them struggled to control the ball too (Cash in particular was driving me mental).

Just wank.

[RamboandBruno]

If this thread is just about todays game on its own, then im not sure there is any criticism of Mings to be had, he did what he had to do against their really poor forward line (St Maxim apart), relatively comfortably.
Chambers was a bit wobbly, it was a rash challenge which led to their free kick, but it was really poor midfield play again that left him exposed.
I love Cash, but going forwards he was awful. Digne was ok.
The midfield was all wrong, Ramsey tried almost too hard at times and didn’t release the ball quick enough after one of his runs, but at least he tried.
What summed up McGinns performance was the free kick passed straight to them, he was rightly hooked soon after. Luiz really poor as well. The problem is I’m not sure we have enough strength in depth to take both out of the side. But at least one has to come out and  for me it would just, just, be Luiz, but close call. As someone else has said Sanson not even getting on since being taken off vrs man utd, does beg the question of whether he’s trusted, but surely he has to come in for Watford now.
Watkins had a terrible game. Like all forwards he needs a goal and you could see his shoulders lift after he scored and deflate again after it was chalked off. More worryingly for me than all of his bad first touches, is his body language, there were numerous times in the first half where he was flinging his arms in the air moaning at a teammate, think him and Ramsey were having words at one point early on. He needs to come out of the team for next week.
Talking of body language, i have not much of a problem with Gerrard slumped looking very pissed off with a few minutes to go, the players should know he’s completely pissed off with them.
Time to shake the team up for Watford.

[Ads]

I dont think it's shape. The last 6 goals we have conceded have been abysmal and nigh on all individual errors.

[Villa Lew]

Very hard to find any positives after today's display, he was rightly slated for his performance last Wednesday, but thought Mings was our best player today, gave a captain's performance, fully committed and particularly remember 2 superb tackles in the 2nd half, and did not put a foot wrong. I now expect this from him for the rest of the season, as he's gotta a lot of making up to do.

Would not be too critical of Chambers, yes stupid free kick to give away, but this was his first start in the Premier League for 6 months and thought he was ok. Sadly it was another depressing 90 mins watching Villa.

[Ian.]

Look at the league table, it just shows unless you are going to win four or five on the spin, maybe a draw here and there otherwise you will be in the bottom 14 places. We are where we are, a mid table team which has good days and some very bad days.

We are probably a top six centre forward and deep sitting centre midfielder away from some solid consistency to put wins together regularly.

I thought Ollie was this player but not so sure anymore.

[Small Rodent]

VAR rule changes just goes to show you can be a toenail the wrong side of the thick line just as you could of the thin line. I've said it before - if it takes longer than 30 seconds to make a decision surely too close to call. GOAL.

Absolutely

[Tokyo Sexwhale]

I think it's safe to say the Gerrard honeymoon is over.

[Richard E]

I’d imagine so - he got married in 2007.

[JUAN PABLO]

Fooking shite today. 

Cash - useless
McGinn - terrible
Watkins - get rid
Luiz - offers nothing

just said this .sell them  all while  we can get money .

[PaulTheVillan]

Just heard this on a podcast:

When we lose it seems that it’s of our own doing, not because we’ve been beaten by a team outclassing us.

[Small Rodent]

Thought Chambers was very average at the back aswell, would've played him as DM today tbh as Doug seems to have mentally checked out of the club.

He's in love with a bisexual Villan. Understandable if his head is all over the place.

What the fuck has someone’s sexuality to do about anything?

He's on about Luiz's girlfriend who is very attractive and also bisexual.

Again, what the hell does that have to do with the game in any way at all. Childish nonsense

I dont know, ask him. I presume the suggestion is that he's got his sex life on the brain.

I'd like the subs bench to be in contact with his arse for the foreseeable.

Sorry for the long quote.

That clears it up with the “sex on the brain” .

People have to be more obvious with their posts! I’m not as sharp as I used to be.

And yes. Luiz’s arse needs the bench.

Apologies to all for distracting from the post match comments.

[PaulTheVillan]

We lost possession 136 times today. Shocking.

[SamTheMouse]

I dont think it's shape. The last 6 goals we have conceded have been abysmal and nigh on all individual errors.

I think opponents are getting at our backline far too easily. Newcastle are shit but still managed to repeatedly get their midfielders running beyond ours, we're regularly seeing Luiz and McGinn turned and running back towards their own goal. I think they genuinely don't know who has responsibility for tracking which runner.

That's what causes the defenders to make individual errors, in my view. They're having to commit early before we can get more bodies behind the ball. Don't get me wrong, we're not suicidally wide open, but Daniel James tore us a new one the other night, because he was picking the ball up unopposed in the channel between McGinn and Luiz and running straight at Konsa and Mings, who looked visibly harassed all night.

Part of it is because, when you look at how far Cash and Digne go up the pitch, we're essentially playing with wing backs, but not the three central defenders teams usually pick with that formation (not advocating three CBs btw, that's shit).

[Astnor]

Did anybody else not celebrate our goal because you kind of knew what was coming?

Yep, me

[ChicagoLion]

We lost possession 136 times today. Shocking.

That is some going.