WakefieldVillan

Fulham have had one 0-0 all season (Wolves), aside from that, both teams have scored in each of their other 9 league fixtures - So I think there will be goals in this one.

Both teams should fancy their chances and that might actually work in our favour as we know how clueless we have looked trying to break down opponents with a 'low block'.

I think it's a given Mitrovic will score, but I think we can win IF we cut out the stupid mistakes (probably stating the obvious). 

Stick with the same side but if it ain't working get Emi or Phil on (sharpish).

1-2 or 1-3  Villa 

13 minutes ago, TRO said:

Now that is funny......"Hark at the pot calling the kettle ,black"

I must confess, I am beside myself, with the results.....I am just not as sure as some of where the whole blame lies.

I don't know any Villa Fan, having a good time of it, unless you have a sadistic nature and just want a young manager gone, for what 11 experienced (International) players are dishing up.....or a recruitment team, that struggle to find players with an effective nature.

I will support a new manager, with the same vigour as I support them all......but I, like any other fan, cannot preside over the number of losses and lost points, that we are accruing.

 

I like much of what you have posted on this topic in the last few pages @TRO - Clearly you are not happy, as none of us are with the current situation with results / performances ETC but you are giving a very reasonable account of how you see things and I personally agree with lots of things you have spoken about. I don't think it is as black and white as Gerrard is to blame for everything. I think the players have to take a lot of responsibility too. I think we have been incredibly unlucky to lose Carlos, Digne and Kamara all in a short space of time - Probably the last 3 of our squad I would have wanted to be injured.  We are essentially playing with last seasons squad which isn't ideal. Unfortunately results (& performances) though haven't been good enough so I accept that something needs to be done sooner rather than later - we need to get the good feeling back at the club. I'll also admit I am usually one of the last to turn on managers - even with Gerrard (who I hated as a player) I actually don't mind him and was hoping he would be a success. 

On the Chilwell tackle - I think a few years ago this would be a yellow card all day long (an orange one if ever there was one) BUT I think in today's game it could have definitely been given as a red as it was a pretty naughty challenge, reckless, studs up, could have caused a bit of damage to Ramsey. I think VAR should have been involved (and no doubt would have if roles were reversed )

49 minutes ago, Keener window-cleaner said:

We were good for 30 mins, had many corners and cause some real havoc on a couple of occations with good chances. But that changes nothing for me, the same faults are still there. This formations does not work, McGinn and Ramsey can not play in a three man midfield. Good that Coutinho was dropped, meant it wasn't like we played with one man less this game. Whereas Potters substitutions changed the game in their favour, our fully predictable changes just made us worse.

I am a big fan of Potter like most on here but I don't think the substitutions he made were the game changer. It was conceding such a poor second goal that killed us. The half time subs he made were pretty obvious given both Cucurella and Havertz were playing poorly. We were well in the game at 1-0. Our subs obviously didn't improve us though. 

Not sure why Gerrard is getting stick for today. Well I do. It's because people want him out and whatever happens with our performances/results from now on this aint going to change (for many VT'ers).

Unfortunately, we do a typical Villa against the better sides, play well but make stupid mistakes and ultimately lose - so with that said, I suppose it falls on Gerrard like it does all managers BUT on balance of play today I think we deserved at least a point. And those saying Chelsea were poor / only in first gear etc hows about giving our lads credit for maybe not allowing them to play? Also the subs, I get it didn't work out but if he leaves it as it is then people would have been baying for his blood for not using Buendia or Coutinho so he couldn't really win. The timing and manner of the second goal killed us as much as anything and that was on Martinez not Gerrard. 

Unfortunately, the results in other games are clearly affecting views on this one IMO.

End of day Gerrard has to take responsibility because he's the manager but we have been unfortunate today and two stupid errors have cost us anything from a game no one expected us to get anything out of. The second goal killed us. The problem is we play "better" against the top sides but show nothing against teams around us and that cant continue. **** hate Chelsea. UTV 

I think we will see: (Dependant on the fitness of Digne / Bailey)

                      Martinez 

Cash       Konsa      Mings       Young

      Luiz     Dendoncker   McGinn

    Buendia     Watkins      Ramsey

Wouldn't be my team, but I don't think it matters which eleven we put out, I can't see anything other than a Chelsea victory though I don't expect us to get battered.

All a bit meh at the moment but UTV!

1 hour ago, TheMightyVillans said:

Think he will actually start buendia.

                             Martinez

Cash          Konsa            Mings            Young

                               Luiz

                  Ramsey         Mcginn

      Buendia                            Coutinho

                            Watkins

 

Failure to win surely means the end of gerrard 

 

I think this is what we will see - with a pic of Buendia on the front of the "tonight's team media page" - He will be MOTM, score and we will win 2-3. You heard it here first . 

22 minutes ago, Mark Albrighton said:

Win. 

I guess the closest I’ve ever felt like wanting us to lose was that game against Blackburn (I think?) when a defeat would mean trouble for small heath. 

Even then it’s more of an ambivalent “Oh well never mind” shrug. Silver lining kinda thing.

Ultimately if Gerrard is to be shown the door (and while I am in that group, I’m not vehemently in it), a win at bottom place Forest is only going to bring him so much credit. It’s likely to delay the inevitable.

This is where I'm at. If we were mid table and the game "didn't matter" but if we lost it meant a team I didn't like went down (Blues or Leeds ) then I would be "ok" with a defeat.

This tonight though. No way I want us to lose. Plus I have a couple of Forest supporting mates so the decision is even easier!

36 minutes ago, ferguson1 said:

Genuinely, the Sty.  I was 12 years of age and it was 1987 when I went with my dad to that horrid place.

Unwisely we went without a ticket and couldn’t get in the away end. We therefore had to go in their end and even though we won 2-1 (brace from Garry Thompson), I absolutely hated every minute. It was scary.

The ground, surrounding area and their supporters. Truly awful back then and probably not much better now. 

My experience was pretty much the same as yours for this game. My dad took me too, but I was 10 and although we had tickets for the away end the stewards weren't opening up a section of the stands up as we had arrived, because of this and given my age, think my dad thought we'd be safer in the home end. Eventually got in (missed our first goal) but was more worried by the crowd trouble in the ground than the game itself. To be fair the Villa fans were giving as good as they got ! Never been back !

On 07/10/2022 at 13:07, bobzy said:

You spent ACTUAL MONEY on WANTING Blues to score?!

 

 

**** hell.

I would have been delighted with a 10-1 loss Judging by todays result I need to add them to all my acca's

Words removed cost me a chance of winning £250 quid last night. 5 team btts. 9/10. And Hogan missed 3 good chances by all accounts. PLEASE GO DOWN! 

I think the first minute goal at Wolves has lifted his confidence massively and to be fair he needed it badly because his performances this season have been mediocre at best.

He was more like the Jack of old (Villa) against Man Utd and by all accounts had a very good game last night against Copenhagen (I didn't watch) where he got MOTM, so maybe he's finally turning a corner.

One goal and zero assists in this Man City team though is terrible but I can look past that if he's playing to the levels he was with us, IE assisting the assist (so to speak), dribbling, taking players on, basically getting people off their seats..

He hasn't done that at City yet and although not really his fault - the £100M fee is laughable. Although no one is really laughing. We're much poorer without him and a lot of City fans will expect much, much more for a "£100 mil" player.

Still hoping he fails miserably and can honestly say I wouldn't want him back. Ever. (Not that I can see that happening anyway). Call me bitter. But I hate the thought of City (& JG) lifting the Champions League. .

I will "just about" support him when he wears white of England - but even that's a chore given we have the word removed Southgate in charge .

Defo won't happen - but with fitness concerns (?) to Cash and Digne, I'd go..

                              Martinez

Young         Konsa         Chambers          Mings        (or more likely - Konsa, Chambers, Mings, Young) 

                             Dendoncker  (See if he can touch the ball this time )

                        Luiz              McGinn (Scotland form please) 

      Buendia             Watkins              Ramsey 

I think Coutinho will probably start, and to be fair he's done ok against this lot in previous games. I just don't want us to revert to being a soft touch again - though obviously we want to see better football... 

Perhaps Bednarek might come in? Played well midweek..

We have options even with our injuries...Keep a clean sheet, I think we win.        

1 hour ago, dubbs said:

Wanted an S20 or S21 but couldn't get the deal I wanted. Ended up going back into the store and the sales guy showed me a few phones I hadn't thought of.  Ended up getting a Xiaomi T11 pro for £30 a month with 30gb of data which is more than I need but lesser packages didn't make much sense.  Does all I want, can charge from 0 to 100 in 20 mins, battery lasts over 2 days.  Camera is pretty decent too.  

Ah I didn't realise your previous post was back in July  I will look at the Xiaomi T11 as an alternative, just had a quick read and it seems decent enough (for what I require from a phone). Cheers 

On 10/07/2022 at 11:30, dubbs said:

Looking for a new phone. Currently using a S9 but it's showing its age a bit now.  Only use it for calls, messaging, and maps. Oh and occasional LinkedIn.  Budget of £30 month,  currently paying £22. Been to the Three shop(current provider) and EE. Tbf neither had any standout deals.  Both were just interested in maxing my budget and selling me extras. Of course I get this is their job but sometimes listening to customers gets you the deal!

I will keep an eye out on any advice you get on this as I'm pretty much in the same boat  - Got an S9, pretty damaged phone so doubt I could trade it, currently with Vodafone, contract has run out, currently paying £22 a month.

Back in the day I would just get the latest phone and pay whatever, but I am more sensible (tight) now so doesn't have to be all singing, all dancing..

That said, was looking at the Galaxy Z fold which I like the look off - but I don't want to be paying more than err, say £40 a month.. which more than likely discounts this .

Might end up with an S10, S20 or S21 ? But no nothing about these to be honest and if they are/were any good 

Looking on their forum they really can't see anything other than a Villa win, they want Rogers out, the players have downed tools and basically they sound more depressed than us!

This is Villa though, and if there's one team you want to face....

Usually I would consider a point at Leicester a decent result and to be honest I would probably take it now as long as we took 7/9 points from our following 3 (Soton, Leeds & Forest).

I see some are looking at the league table and seeing Leicester rock bottom automatically think we should win 0-4! But it doesn't happen like that. And offensively they have some real dangerous players (Maddison, Barnes, Vardy, Iheanacho...).

But, defensively they are shipping in goals, Schmeichel is a huge loss, they can definitely be got at. I'm hoping Watkins can build on his last performance, it can make such a difference when he can get hold of the ball more and bring others in, he should be licking his lips for Saturday.

I think it will be a high scoring game (so get on 0-0 ).

I hope we play the same starting eleven as Saturday but Young in for Cash whether the latter is fit or not. Dendoncker on the bench - and if McGinn isn't at it, get the new man on. Obviously Buendia, Coutinho & Ings give us plenty of options if required. 

Just now, JAMAICAN-VILLAN said:

I've seen everything from " He's really good " to " He's solid enough " to " He's pure shite "

As always, i'm tending to believe the middle ground of both extremes is probably accurate.

I'm firmly in the middle camp. Not seen huge amounts of him, but always been impressed when he plays against us (small sample size I know).

Hope he can bring some physicality/aggression/aerial strength to our (at times) powder puff team.

                                      Martinez

                  Cash  Chambers  Mings  Digne

   Buendia   Luiz  Kamara   Dendoncker  Ramsey  Bailey

4-6-0 - Try keep it down to single figures 

Let's face it, whatever team we put out will struggle to beat these, but I probably would genuinely play the above but as a 4-2-3-1 with Buendia, Luiz and Ramsey as the 3 behind Bailey, tight compact 4-5-1 out of possession (which will be A LOT!).

We're gonna need a lot of energy, be MUCH better on the ball, and need MASSIVE amounts of luck to have a sniff of a chance - I predict 0-4, the longer we can keep it at 0-0 will be key to what kind of hiding we suffer. Depressing.

He was the best of a bad bunch in our back 5 (including Martinez) but I don't think that says much to be honest. The two goals we conceded were absolutely dreadful goals with several culprits to blame in the build ups.

On last night's performance I'd rate Martinez 5 Cash 3 Digne 5 Mings 6 Konsa 4 - You need to be hitting 8's and 9's if you've any chance of coming back with 3 points.

I'd still easily have him captain over McGinn though 

The selections on paper aren't that bad. 

The worst thing he has done is make McGinn captain, he's way out of form and Luiz played well on Sunday hence should be starting tonight but because of the ridiculous decision to make him captain, he's made a rod for his own back.

It's how he sets us up that's the main issue. 

Just want to see some real fight. UTV 

---------------------------Martinez-------------------------

Cash------Chambers-------Mings---------Digne

-----Iroegbunam----Kamara------Luiz-----------

Buendia-------------Watkins-------------Bailey

4-5-1 out of possession, sit in, nice and compact, hit them on the break

4-0 Arsenal 

Well, I like it!

Speechless 

1 hour ago, CarryOnVilla said:

The first paragraph, only works in hindsight. Yes the team we played were awful in the fist half, but going in to the match, everyone would expect that 11 would of made mince meat out of Bolton. Even the players I mentioned would of done a good job… at least expected to do so.

he’s a situation where’s always going to get critics. More so with how poorly he’s been setting up villa. Yeah he’s going get it with any team he picks, and I’m criticising him on him going full tilt on a game when he could of had a free pass to experiment with new ideas and players 

as of the not wanted players, how we going to sell them when they’re not in the shop window. As I said, this is the kind of match you can play the fringe players. Give them a chance to shine, for the club or for the sale.

 

That's the point I am trying to make though and you've answered it yourself - Basically he was on a hiding to nothing last night with some fans whatever the outcome. As far as I am concerned he picked a side to win the game, we did, he took a few players off after 60 mins,  got some minutes into others, we had no injuries and we got a bit of confidence back going into Sunday. 

There are things to knock him with IE, formations, making McGinn captain, not playing Buendia, continued squad absence of Sanson etc but I will cut him some slack for last night - none of us are privy to what goes on behind closed doors.

FWIW I am no Gerrard fan boy - hated him as a player, but was hopeful he could become a great manager for us, which is looking very unlikely at the moment. I just want our team to have some of the traits he had as a player and I really thought we would see that, but we're a long way off at the moment.

But anyway, we can agree to disagree buddy. We all want one thing and that's a successful Villa