Aston Villa v Fulham Post-Match Thread

[brontebilly]

Not one of our best, but a vital 3 points and a very welcome clean sheet, Fulham never really troubled us. Tielemans was outstanding as was SJM, no idea, why he was subbed.

More than likely the stat people advise he is approaching the red zone- it is foolish to ignore

Perhaps but he has been taken off early quite a bit recently. Ramsey played well when he came on but McGinn was on fire.

[Nii Lamptey]

3pts is all that matters today.

Few notes from me

- Why is Unai constantly hooking McGinn early. Head and shoulders the best player on the pitch today?!
- First to comment when Matty Cash fucks up, but thought he was excellent today.
- Maatsen slowly looking like the long term Digne replacement we'd hoped we were getting
- Kamara looks totally off it. Passes not reaching their man, getting caught on the ball constantly.... Were it not for Barkley coming on, Bouba would have won the prize for worst midfielder today.
- On that subject - Ross Barkley. I think it best we part ways in the summer. Absolutely horrendous display when he came on today. Terrible.
- Thought Asensio was a little better than recent games, but still not the player from January. Jury still out on whether we risk another Coutinho style signing with him in the summer.
- Unai - STOP TELLING THE PLAYERS TO SLOW THE FUCK DOWN! We have 3 games left with a week's rest between each game. We are a much better side both on the pitch AND in the stands when we're attacking at pace. Take those bloody shackles off, PLEASE!

On to Bournemouth..... and COME ON LIVERPOOL AND PALACE!

[andyh]

We’d be 5th now had we not conceded that fucking late goal at Man City last week.

[Mister E]

Picking Rogers (running on empty at the moment) and Asensio (a better impact sub) for this game was a surprise, to say the least. This was a perfect opportunity to pick Malen and Ramsey to support Watkins. Whilst we should have been further ahead at halftime today, had the starting team been more ambitious we certainly have been.
Kamara was surprisingly awful.
Maatsen and Tielemans were excellent.
Not sure what Malen has to do to get a starting role.

[SaddVillan]

Post match quote from Marco Silva:

"They were wasting time every single time and that showed how difficult it was for them."

Seems to have overlooked Iwobi running 10 or 20yds to stand on the ball everytime we got a free kick to prevent us taking  a quick one.

[SaddVillan]

Re Tielemans being subbed.

He seemed to be limping as he came off. Moments beforehand he was 50/50 for a through ball, but didn't seem to have his usual pace.

Got a great ovation from the Lower Doug Ellis as he stepped off the pitch.

One comment - when Onana came on and Tielemans was pushed forward, his passing opportunities seemed to diminish. Is that because when playing more as an 8 he's got more  places into which he can place a pass: vertical balls into the box, diagonals out wide, or link-up passes with other midfielders?

When he's further forward, he's got less of the pitch in front of him - reducing his forward options.

[RamboandBruno]

Picking Rogers (running on empty at the moment) and Asensio (a better impact sub) for this game was a surprise, to say the least. This was a perfect opportunity to pick Malen and Ramsey to support Watkins. Whilst we should have been further ahead at halftime today, had the starting team been more ambitious we certainly have been.
Kamara was surprisingly awful.
Maatsen and Tielemans were excellent.
Not sure what Malen has to do to get a starting role.

Rogers was excellent, second half in particular.

[Nev]

I know it goes against the grain but much of the dip in our form is down to Kamara, who has gone from a world beater to a dead beat in the thinking of an eye.

[Nev]

Twinkling.

[ChicagoLion]

Twinkling.

Agree he has looked very ordinary.

[brontebilly]

Re Tielemans being subbed.

He seemed to be limping as he came off. Moments beforehand he was 50/50 for a through ball, but didn't seem to have his usual pace.

Got a great ovation from the Lower Doug Ellis as he stepped off the pitch.

One comment - when Onana came on and Tielemans was pushed forward, his passing opportunities seemed to diminish. Is that because when playing more as an 8 he's got more  places into which he can place a pass: vertical balls into the box, diagonals out wide, or link-up passes with other midfielders?

When he's further forward, he's got less of the pitch in front of him - reducing his forward options.

It's funny as Tielemans best football for us last seasons was as a 10. Space obviously a lot tighter in that part of the pitch. Maatsen had gone off by then so he didn't really have many options out wide.

There were some cracking passes put through by our players today. Cash played in Watkins, Rogers for Malen and I think it was his ball again for Watkins. Can't remember who put Malen through. Really should have been 4 or 5 today.

[Mister E]

Picking Rogers (running on empty at the moment) and Asensio (a better impact sub) for this game was a surprise, to say the least. This was a perfect opportunity to pick Malen and Ramsey to support Watkins. Whilst we should have been further ahead at halftime today, had the starting team been more ambitious we certainly have been.
Kamara was surprisingly awful.
Maatsen and Tielemans were excellent.
Not sure what Malen has to do to get a starting role.

Rogers was excellent, second half in particular.

He got better but surely he needs to be given some respite. We have the strongest squad for a while and yet Rogers seems to be a must-pick. Both he and Asensio would have been better as bring-on subs today.

[RamboandBruno]

Picking Rogers (running on empty at the moment) and Asensio (a better impact sub) for this game was a surprise, to say the least. This was a perfect opportunity to pick Malen and Ramsey to support Watkins. Whilst we should have been further ahead at halftime today, had the starting team been more ambitious we certainly have been.
Kamara was surprisingly awful.
Maatsen and Tielemans were excellent.
Not sure what Malen has to do to get a starting role.

Rogers was excellent, second half in particular.

He got better but surely he needs to be given some respite. We have the strongest squad for a while and yet Rogers seems to be a must-pick. Both he and Asensio would have been better as bring-on subs today.

Rogers was awful against Man City and Palace but he justified his selection today, don’t think there is any point in resting him at this point in the season. Agree on Asensio, I’d like to see the energy of McGinn and Ramsey from the start for the last three games.

[brontebilly]

That was the best Cash and Rogers as a combination on right have played I reckon. Rogers was flat in the first half but thought he bullied Robinson in the second.

On Asensio - not really sure what the point is anymore. Definitely should be on bench v Bournemouth anyway.

[Dave]

Well, that was much harder work than it needed to be.

Tielemans and Maatsen excellent. Cash and McGinn very good. Malen, Kamara and Barkley a bit off it. Everyone else fine.