Man Utd vs Aston Villa post-match thread

[brontebilly]

Playing McGinn that far forward was madness. He was hardly involved at all, and should have been dropped further back to support the midfield when it was clear we were being totally overrun.

Agreed, just required a swap with Bailey.

Both of you were saying McGinn should be further forwards after the Sheffield game.

He went from basically playing as a 6 against Sheff United to a 10 tonight. Swapping with Bailey would have been fine and got that narrow midfield four setup that has served us well.

[kippaxvilla2]

Watkins and Diaby partnership seems to have disappeared a big part of why it’s not clicking up front.

[Martyn Smith]

Surprised that there has been little comment about just how poor McGinn was tonight, at both ends of the pitch. Thought he should have been replaced long before he was.

He's not a number 10, I don't care how many goals he scores for Scotland playing against San Marino or whoever. This season he seems to have played on the left and in the middle more than his actual best position on the right.

I suspect he'll be replaying the chance he had at 2-2 over and over again.

There's something I've noticed about SJM. His first touch isn't always great, but more often than not he reacts quicker to a duff first touch than the nearest opposition player and is able to retain control. Tonight he lost out more often than usual.

Having said that he played a big part in both of our goals and his less then best overall tonight was not what our collapse hinged on

[rougegorge]

As much as we had a decent shape and were compact on the first half, we were the opposite in the second half, and it was made worse with the two bad passes leading to their goals.

Without regulars like Torres and Kamara, we looked vulnerable and losing Digne definitely upset the balance. I like Moreno , but he was really poor when he came on.

11 points from the 6 league games this month and top place in the Conference group is a good return, but the last 2 games have been concerning and our squad depth looks a bit exposed.

[villa for life]

We don’t have as talented players as most top teams. Emery had just got them performing out of their skins. Watching Liverpool b Arsenal the other night, it was so obvious our players aren’t as good as either of their teams. The fact that we are almost on a par , point wise, with them, is down to Emery.

Just imagine what he could achieve if he is allowed to strengthen in January or the summer.

We are a right back and centre forward away from being title contenders.

[Brend'Watkins]

As soon as Carlos put that misplaced pass into the middle I knew that was our defeat there and then. It’s mot the first time he’s done as such. He’s the weak link as good as he is at other aspects of the game. If he doesn’t do that we can frustrate them for most of the 2nd half. We didn’t have the opportunity to do that once they got their tails up.

[andyh]

We are not title contenders. We have massively overachieved this year.
If we can get CL qualification, that will be an incredible achievement and gives us solid building blocks for the next phase.

[Martyn Smith]

We are a right back and centre forward away from being title contenders.

Heart reacticon

[Keeno]

As soon as Carlos put that misplaced pass into the middle I knew that was our defeat there and then. It’s mot the first time he’s done as such. He’s the weak link as good as he is at other aspects of the game. If he doesn’t do that we can frustrate them for most of the 2nd half. We didn’t have the opportunity to do that once they got their tails up.

Hate to say but I had that exact feeling too. Up until that point, while it hadn't been great, it still felt like we had a semblance of (defensive) control. But once that pass went astray and it resulted in a goal it felt like it was done from thereon out

[Rudy Can't Fail]

There's something I've noticed about SJM. His first touch isn't always great, but more often than not he reacts quicker to a duff first touch than the nearest opposition player and is able to retain control. Tonight he lost out more often than usual.

Having said that he played a big part in both of our goals and his less then best overall tonight was not what our collapse hinged on

I think his first touch is due to him playing every bloody minute. He can still run around and do lots of the stuff he normally does but to be at his peak, fine lines etc, we  can't keep relying on him to be 100%. Fixing him a position and sticking with it rather than asking him to be the Jack of all trades doesn't help either. Hopefully we'll deal with this and other problems next month.

[john2710]

I think it's just as simple as most of that team are on empty & Dendonker was on empty by 60 mins.

We didn't have any real options to address that from the bench. What's also becoming clear is that Luiz is half the player without Kamara next to him.

[andyh]

We didn't have any real options to address that from the bench. What's also becoming clear is that Luiz is half the player without Kamara next to him.

That is a very, very good point

[Grande Pablo]

At half time I said it had 3-2 to them written all over it.  We just got deeper & deeper before half-time.

RB is needed desperately.

Onana's save from Bailey at 1-2 was critical.

[Ian.]

Fucking bollocks. Why do we do this at this against this team time and time again.

[Brazilian Villain]

I think it's just as simple as most of that team are on empty & Dendonker was on empty by 60 mins.

We didn't have any real options to address that from the bench. What's also becoming clear is that Luiz is half the player without Kamara next to him.

Watkins and Diaby partnership seems to have disappeared a big part of why it’s not clicking up front.

Both sensible points, after an annoying/emotional defeat.