Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace Post-Match Thread

[PeterWithe]

Thought we lacked zip and energy,  they looked better in possession and sharper, first to most loose balls but we had most of the best chances.
 
About a fair result I reckon. I’m struggling to think of a player I dislike as much as Zaha. What an utter, fuckin fanny.

[ChicagoLion]

The continual dropping of Buendia is inexplicable.

No it’s not. PC and buendia don’t work in the same team. Coutinho has just signed, so was rewarded with a first team spot. It’s unfortunate for Emi but not inexplicable. We aim to be top team, top teams have a strong squad with players missing out.

Ok, you have given an explanation, a pretty piss poor one IMO.

[rob_bridge]

What would be the point of giving SG money to spend.
He can’t use the players he already has.
Not starting Buendia is truly stupid.
And then waiting for 71 minutes to put him on is even more stupid.
I suspect we will have to put up with him until around October when the penny drops for the owners.

I think the penny needs to drop that the current group are not good enough to take us any higher then we are at the moment. If the money isn’t forthcoming then stand by for more of the same next season

My worry is Gerrard gets a lot of money and gets to spend bucketloads on higher wages and incrementally improves us as per MON

[Legion]

The continual dropping of Buendia is inexplicable.

No it’s not. PC and buendia don’t work in the same team. Coutinho has just signed, so was rewarded with a first team spot. It’s unfortunate for Emi but not inexplicable. We aim to be top team, top teams have a strong squad with players missing out.

Ok, you have given an explanation, a pretty piss poor one IMO.

I personally thought it was fair enough. Would still prefer to see Buendia start at the moment. Perhaps Gerrard is saving him for the Burnley game in the week?

[Matt C]

He’ll start in place of Ings for Burnley I would think.

[Clark W Griswold]

Buendia is a good little player but he’s understudy to Phil. Even though Phil hasn’t hit the heights in every game (particularly the last half a dozen or so) he’s a world class player when fully fit and settled and we have to believe he will be that good next season so we need to keep giving him game time now to give him the best chance of showing what he can do.
Personally I like the number 10 in behind 2 strikers so I’m quite happy for him to keep playing that way, again in preparation for next season and not try to shoe horn 2 numbers 10s into the team right now just because form wise it looks like a better idea at the moment.

We have the ‘number 10’ position nailed with those 2. What we need to do in the summer is spend big on 2 more centre forwards to challenge the 2 we have plus get Archer back as the up and coming option.
We need to get 2 new centre mids in to go with Luiz, Nakamba, McGinn and Ramsey plus keep either Tim or Chucky as the youth option and loan the other out, and we need a top class centre back to come in and get Targett back. I think that squad would have a real chance of European qualification.

[Beard82]

I have been critical of SG, but don't think he did too much wrong today

It was pretty dull - another game where our lack of ability to retain possession.

I think we lack physicality and energy - we looked better with emi and JJ on.  Nakamba fine but cant pass for shit

He was always going to start Phil, but he had to come too deep, which I think is due to:
1) our midfield being a bit shit today
b) Our forward line being a bit shit today
iv) Palace coming with a setup aimed at the way we play

Ings should have scored a couple times today - and Watkins had a chance late on which considering we were bang average for most of the game its good to have had the 3 best chances

I think I see signs of us improving.  I think a few signing, a pre-season and some of our players not being hopelessly out of form will help

SG has big challanges ahead, and well see what he is made of - but for me he has done enough for me to be excited about what happens next

I see this last couple of weeks as him learning to make us hard to beat

[RamboandBruno]

What would be the point of giving SG money to spend.
He can’t use the players he already has.
Not starting Buendia is truly stupid.
And then waiting for 71 minutes to put him on is even more stupid.
I suspect we will have to put up with him until around October when the penny drops for the owners.

I think the penny needs to drop that the current group are not good enough to take us any higher then we are at the moment. If the money isn’t forthcoming then stand by for more of the same next season

His team selections, formation and game management are dreadful.   This group of players is underperforming.   We only beat shit teams.  Our home form is disgraceful.    The football has generally regressed under him.   

I disagree with just about everything you’ve said. SG sets the formation. It’s up to the players to carry it out on the pitch. All the other points are down to the majority of players not being good enough. Like I said, if you want more of the same next season and hope that the squad start performing, don’t give him any money

It is always the managers’ fault if the players play poorly due to the manager’s setup and tactics.  So you have lost your own arguement there.  So you must also think that leaving Buendia on the bench is also the right thing to do.  There is nothing much so far to suggest that Gerrard is going to be a success apart from blind faith.

Not really, Gerrard is currently using predominantly Smiths players, the very same players that “underperformed” for Smith. Maybe therefore it’s the players??I’ve no idea why Buendia was left out but we don’t see what happens at BH during the week. I’ve seen enough so far to suggest that SG will take us to the next level but he needs the players to do that

What have you seen on the pitch to form this opinion?

Probably seen stuff in the games we’ve played well in and win, but don’t seem to be on here as much then.

[AlexAlexCropley]

Buendia is a good little player

Damned with faint praise

[Bad English]

Nakamba the pick of the midfield by a country mile

I hardly saw him.

[AlexAlexCropley]

Nakamba the pick of the midfield by a country mile

I hardly saw him.

It.was.a.joke.

[astonvilla82]

Missed the first half because the train was late and when it did turn up it went straight through to four oaks, wasn't very impressed with the second half

[Ads]

Main issue today was the poor ball retention coupled with a noticeable decline in running from Tuesday. You keep giving it away cheap, you're not going to build pressure.

Palace looked equally as ineffectual as us by and large. Zaha more a parody than a footballer.

Distribution from the back long and too central, midfield kept recycling it. Frustrating and lacking quality.

[Big Ming]

Gave the ball away again.

A lot.

[Ads]

A hell of a lot. Fatigue of the body and mind. Cash's completion stats must be woeful.