Aston Villa 1 Jorge Mendes clients 1 post match thread.

[Clampy]

Like Toronto said, we're going to get games like that, it's just the way it is. It'll hopefully make us a better side in the long run.

[Toronto Villa]

Mings and Konsa interchange the ball so much because neither are particularly good at playing it out.

True but I do think they're improving. There was a time (up to a couple of weeks ago) when Konsa wouldn't dream of playing it forward, it was always to Ming, much like watching England with Stones giving the ball to Slabhead every single time. Both terrified of making a mistake.

Absolutely. They are being asked to do something that they are not entirely comfortable with and it will lead to mistakes. But they are improving as you say. This isn’t going to resolve itself overnight. The tail end of Dean’s time and most of the other bloke was an utter disaster.

[astonvilla82]

Like Toronto said, we're going to get games like that, it's just the way it is. It'll hopefully make us a better side in the long run.

yes

[RamboandBruno]

As bad as we were first half, leggy and sloppy, Wolves were very good, i thought Neves in particular controlled everything from just in front of the defence. They have far too many good players to go down.
Second half much better, more urgency, crisper passing and Emery made the right changes again. Digne had his worst game for us.
Emery likes to play with his right sided player further forward that his left sided player, but unfortunately Bailey is far less effective on the right.
If Ings is going there must be a replacement coming in.
On the whole despite Baileys miss and a not great performance , we go on with one defeat in 5, things still look up for me.

[eamonn]

Couldn't they round it up to all 40?

Yes please, that's what I guessed in my first "Guess The Crowd" entry in yonks!

[Nev]

The Manager quoted as saying that he has spoken to some players about leaving including Archer's loan but Ings isn't one of them. Phew.

[eamonn]

First half was very poor. Tactically Emery got it all wrong with the positioning of Cash and we were fortunate to only be one down at the break. Second half we dominated the ball without creating all that much. Focusing on launching crosses on top of their tall centre backs was a waste of time. Thankfully Podence went off. I wasn't happy seeing Luiz particularly or Digne coming off but their replacements did ok. Coutinho blew a big chance I thought, great impact from Ings. That ball at end would have been one of the assists of the season. Maybe those tears will make Bailey...

Martinez 7 - solid saves but all ones I'd expect him to make
Young 5 - Podence caused huge problems down that side but not the only one at fault
Konsa 7 - solid display again, much better passing, granted Costa is stealing a living at this level
Mings 8 - like Konsa but also an assist for Ings
Digne 7 - thought was doing well so a surprise sub
Cash 5 - terrible first half out of position, much better second but that slip at end could have killed us. Crossing is gone to pot.
Kamara 6 - hardly got a kick first half but solid second half
Luiz 6 - beaten during their goal but had started second very well so surprisingly subbed
Buendia 4 - really poor, amount of times he loses the ball with poor decisions is far too many, histrionics starting to grate
Bailey 5 - plugged away without much joy on right flank but had to score at end
Watkins 4 - pocketed by Collins, could have been hooked a bit earlier

Ings 7, Dendocker 7, Augustinson 6, Coutinho 4. Emery 5.

Think these are about right - probably give Emery more for switching it up and getting a point - pretty much every other manager would have just kept with plan a.  Also I thought Coutinho looked ok when he came on.

Coutinho deserves a 6 at least. Kept it ticking and never gave it away. Worked hard too. Much better than Buendia and Bailey who were woeful.

Digne rating strange - he was abject tonight. I’d probably give him a 4.

As above, Emery deserves a 6 or 7. First half wrong but corrected his mistakes. Refreshing to have that in a manager.

Agreed on Digne. Bronte is usually harsh but fair-ish with his rating so can't see what he though in our left full back tonight. Was muscled off the ball more than once and that shank on the volley straight into the crowd was clearly the last straw for Emery as he was subbed soon after.

Can't remember the last time we subbed-off both full backs in tactical moves.

[levico]

Little sense of urgency. Looked like some old codgers like me enjoying a game of walking football.

[Gareth]

We were so out of it I would have taken a point; but I'm seething at a relatively simple chance to win it.Still,at least I can say I told you so to our postie, Robbie Dennison, as I called a draw this morning.He thought we'd wipe the floor with them

He was a good player back in the day

[tomd2103]

Overall not too disappointed about tonight IF it's a wake up call for the Leeds game. I'd rather beat them than Wolves whose fans and rightly so must still be pinching themselves to finally see their team play against PL opposition.

Would have taken 4 points from Spurs away and Wolves at home to be honest.  I'm sure a few will be rested in the FA Cup game at the weekend, so we should be firing for Leeds next Friday.

[itmustbe_it is!]

Buendia - I like him. Constantly trying things. Always works hard. Shows some fight and passion. Yes he gives the ball away more than some. but easiest way not to do that is to just pass it back to Mings every time. Struggled first half like every else but part of the recovery second half.

Coutinho - better. We know there's a player in there, we need to nurture him.

Bailey -  nothing he tried came off today. He'll have days like that. Jury out.

Watkins - struggled today and wouldn't have scored the chance that fell to Ings. +1 for Emery

Digne - poor today. Good sub,

Cash - I like him but his delivery is shocking and , I think , we need better in his position.

Kamara - first name on the sheet. He'll have better games .

Martinez - kept us in it 3 times. Actually, he's the first on the sheet. Kamara second.

Dendoncker - steady. Run, Forrest, Run !

[john2710]

Didn't match Wolves for effort & very one paced for the best part of 70 mins. Would have been an ideal game for Ramsey picking up the ball & running at their defence.

Nobody really performed well, but Buendia continues to frustrate & I'm not sure he'll get too many more chances.

We didn't deserve to win, but a bizarre reaction to the miss from Bailey.

[pauliewalnuts]

I like Dendoncker and thought he did well tonight but he has such a weird run.

[dave.woodhall]

I like Dendoncker and thought he did well tonight but he has such a weird run.

I said he looks like Gordon McQueen.

[Risso]

I thought our worst performers today were Digne, Bailey, Buendia and Watkins

Agree with that. Buendia was the worst player on the pitch tonight, and should have been hooked at half time. He was hopeless out left, and even worse up front.  Cash was poor first half, presumably due to playing out of position, but was miles better after the break. To be fair to Emery the subs all helped to improve things, but he got it badly wrong first half. Ings looked very good when he came on, and Dedoncker was better than the annoyingly inconsistent Luiz, whose standards dipped again. I suppose the saying if you can't win, don't lose, but that first half was dreadful, even worse than the Southampton game. At least it's a reminder though that we need 2-3 players fairly urgently.