Brentford vs Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[Demitri_C]

There is no need to panic.  It’s pretty clear that the lesser teams now know how to beat us by playing a low block and hurting us on the break - Emery has to figure this out.  I’m more worried about the better teams who press us as I’m not sure we  have the quality to beat the press

Teams do not set up with a ‘low block’ against us.
We allow teams to get back into their reset positions because we are pathetically slow at progressing the ball up the pitch.
Even when we do break from the goalie, we invariably get to the half way line and turn / pass back or sideways, giving the opposition time to jog back into position.
Thats not just a throwaway comment, it happens consistently.

And, is there anything more infuriating than seeing Mings and Torres stand on the ball or pass 3 yards to each other on the half way line in the 4th minute of injury time when we are 1-0 down ?

Agree andy. The big issue is we are so slow and predictable. No width or pace its a big problem that the club has fucked up on. Sold all our pacy players like diaby bailey  and even JJ would drive the ball quicker than what we currently have

[Nunkin1965]

As usual great reading within these pages and the written landscape is filled with everything from football armageddon, chill out, and pretty much everything in between.
I think the low block seems to be our kryptonite, and the past masters of it are rocking up at VP next week!
At times the team looks like they're playing in an elevator as there is no space to play.

[tomd2103]

I've just watched the couple of mins Sky highlights. I thought their goal was lucky the way it rebounded to him. I suppose the bigger issue is our lack of threat up the other end.

Torres got burnt for pace in the lead up to it as well though.  That said, it was an early goal and we had ample time to reply and to go on and win the game, but couldn't do it.

[Luffbralion]

Haven't read the whole thread.....but, given the players' reactions to the sale of JJ and Unai's programme notes last week, are our financial constrictions being used as an excuse for poor performances?

[VillaTim]

It isn’t just PSR though is it.
We have not used the transfer funds we have had particularly well and we are not deploying the resources we have effectively.
It’s not PSR that is stopping players winning their individual duals, or the tactical confusion that seems to have taken hold.
Yes it’s a problem, but we just got done by a Brentford team which has had all of its quality ripped out led by a rookie manager.

PSR/FFP aside you have to question how we have spent our transfer funds - Onana, Maatsen, Marlen over £115M there that could have been better deployed

[Clampy]

Just watched the very brief highlights. Had a few more chances than it sounded like we did and the goal was unlucky. The general consensus from those that were unlucky enough to have sat through it was that it was poor overall though.

[Villafirst]

Teams are countering UE's tactics by adopting a mid and low block formation. We simply rarely get through their defensive lines. It's different when teams attack us which affords a lot more space especially on the counter attack. More pace needed in the Villa team is a must though.

[ChicagoLion]

Teams are countering UE's tactics by adopting a mid and low block formation. We simply rarely get through their defensive lines. It's different when teams attack us which affords a lot more space especially on the counter attack. More pace needed in the Villa team is a must though.

and this is made worse if we let teams score first, which sadly we are prone to doing.

[Ads]

We added width too late. There's something to be said for concentration levels when it's in front of you and you have 11 men behind the ball condensed space between defence and midfield and you're blocking passing lanes. It's quite another thing to see how that concentration lasts when you have 22% of the ball AND you're being asked to turn and face your own goal and run into a wide channel to defend.

How we ended, with Malen and Evann drifting wide ought to be how we started, for me. Same with Maatsen. There was scant defending to do all game, so unleash that pace a little earlier. We don't have that out ball we had in the run in, where we were absolutely excellent, by overloading the midfield as we are.

[Monty]

We added width too late. There's something to be said for concentration levels when it's in front of you and you have 11 men behind the ball condensed space between defence and midfield and you're blocking passing lanes. It's quite another thing to see how that concentration lasts when you have 22% of the ball AND you're being asked to turn and face your own goal and run into a wide channel to defend.

How we ended, with Malen and Evann drifting wide ought to be how we started, for me. Same with Maatsen. There was scant defending to do all game, so unleash that pace a little earlier. We don't have that out ball we had in the run in, where we were absolutely excellent, by overloading the midfield as we are.

I agree. You can see that's what Guardiola's tried to adapt the possession thing this way (much more and earlier switching of play), and I keep noticing that all the really successful teams against lowblock bus-parkers seem to do it as well. If nothing else, constantly swivelling about is a ballache and must get to you on some level.

[The Edge]

Teams are countering UE's tactics by adopting a mid and low block formation. We simply rarely get through their defensive lines. It's different when teams attack us which affords a lot more space especially on the counter attack. More pace needed in the Villa team is a must though.

This. We really lack dynamic powerful athletic players. Someone like Semenyo at Bournemouth would be ideal. We always struggle against Palace because they're packed with those types of players. Yesterday's stats highlight the point point perfectly. We had 74% possession and made about 480 passes compared to Brentfords 180 odd. The team is crying out for a cutting edge but PSR restraints are making it very difficult for us to achieve that.

[andyh]

When Mings or Torres is standing on the ball on the halfway line for an eternity before playing sideways, I’m not sure they are performing PSR calculations.
Then again, it would explain a lot.

[Ads]

When Mings or Torres is standing on the ball on the halfway line for an eternity before playing sideways, I’m not sure they are performing PSR calculations.
Then again, it would explain a lot.

I would imagine its because we'd prefer to keep the ball rather than risk recycling it, because Emery values control.

[ChicagoLion]

When Mings or Torres is standing on the ball on the halfway line for an eternity before playing sideways, I’m not sure they are performing PSR calculations.
Then again, it would explain a lot.

Obviously the lack of PSR concerns because they only spent a fraction of the money received for selling their best players helped Brentford a lot.

[SoccerHQ]

When Mings or Torres is standing on the ball on the halfway line for an eternity before playing sideways, I’m not sure they are performing PSR calculations.
Then again, it would explain a lot.

I would imagine its because we'd prefer to keep the ball rather than risk recycling it, because Emery values control.

We need some chaos aswell. Duran wasn't Emery's ideal type for CF, we all know that. He didn't half win us some points first half of last season with great goals when games were in the balance.

Guessand at least looked like he can beat a couple of players in tight spaces so perhaps once he gets fully up to speed he can add something different in final third.

I'd like to see him start v Palace at least if his fitness is up to it. It won't take long for groans and the odd boo next weekend if it's just McGinn out wide again.