WakefieldVillan

So much for supporting through thick and thin

Never looked like scoring but could have quite easily got a point. Thought we were ok first half (without creating) but ultimately they were simply too good for us. To be honest not annoyed with Smith for today, we play with that line up against Sheff U and Newcastle and I think we would be 4 points better off. We are where we are, Wolves are where they are, miles ahead of us. Liverpool and Man U next, not looking good. Luiz MOTM.

Will be a tough game regardless, but I am extremely happy with that team and Smith has made the right calls for me, both wingers dropped for not performing and to be fair McGinn has looked goosed. We might lose 0-3 but least he's trying something different. Come on you Villllla boys!

I just tagged my liverpool "supporting" mate in this (he's probably been less than double figures) and typed "SH1THOLE" Immediately got one back from a lovable scouser - "SH!THOUSE" haha I hate their club and I hate their fans.

Always loved Rodriguez

I agree that this is better than what we had out there tonight but the problem for me when we play the 3 and someone like Elmo we more often than not end up with a back 5 (especially against better teams) & not sure the players are totally comfortable with it either. That said it keeps El Ghazi out who regularly under performs and Trez who is just terrible

Another solid game, fair play, looks the most fired up of all our players!

We all know what a massive influence he can be but boy are we carrying him at the moment - the question is "how long do we carry him for?!"

If we stay up I think it will be a case of other teams being 'more sh1t' than us rather than any blistering form on our part. Moving forward for the rest of the season I would line up like this; Nyland Elmo/Fred Konsa/Engels Mings Targett Luiz Grealish Nakamba Conor/McGinn Davis Samatta It's been said all season but our wide players are simply not good enough, I wouldn't start either of them for rest of season, "impact" subs at best. Norwich could have a huge impact on where we finish with still having to play Brighton, Watford and West Ham hopefully they are still in with a 'minute' chance of staying up when playing those games.

I'm guessing you will be wrong

1. The only way that happens is if Trezeguet comes in for El Ghazi, we stick to a 4-3-3 and (probably) Nakamba comes in for McGinn. If Trezeguet comes in it won't be a like for like swap with McGinn. But I can't see either way Trez starting or McGinn being dropped (despite looking lethargic since his return). 2. Possibly, but I don't think it would be the worst decision in the world. Hause as done OK, Elmo usually does OK. If we stick as a back 4 then it's hardly nonsensical to put a natural right back in at right back. But hopefully Guilbert is fit as he is quicker than Elmo and IMO be better suited to this game. He would also, (again IMO), be better suited as a wing back in a 3-5-2 - Which would probably mean Hause retains his place anyway. 3. Not sure if you are insinuating he will play Nakamba and Grealish as a central midfield pair but I am very confident that wont happen. No way Luiz will not play given he has probably been our best player overall since the return. I think most fans are wanting us to play two up top so again this wouldn't scream out to me as a manager who has run out of ideas, I think majority would be happy that he's mixed it up.

Ok maybe hindsight wasn't the correct choice of word to use. I think as a general consensus no one would ever pick Conor against teams that are going to see a lot of the ball against us and I agree with your comment above Only playing devils advocate in suggesting Smith's reasoning to start him was probably due to his performance last time out and maybe he didn't take him off because (as you say) McGinn was also having a bit of a mare. But I am with you totally, we were lucky to be 1-0 up at HT and he should have changed it there and then because it was all to obvious what was going to happen. I get the confidence thing - but then if he plays well against Sheff U (he did) then gets dropped against the bigger sides (Chelsea) then that's also going to dent is confidence too. Bottom line for me is Smith has to take part responsibility for what happened but Conor has to take the majority of the blame - he let the gaffer down with that performance big time. But to be fair he wasn't the only one.

Well back in November when we beat them 2-0 he got the opener (no surprise from a set-piece) and behind Grealish (shock) he was the best player on the park so arguably you could be right. If we're going on his performance against Chelsea though, no way should he keep his shirt. But that's the thing with Conor and most of our midfielders, they have 1 good game in about 7. In hindsight he shouldn't have played against Chelsea (should have been Nakamba) but I think Smith saw a decent performance against the blades and thought he deserved to start next time out - I actually agreed. We were BOTH wrong.

I would go for the following (if Guilbert is fit); Nyland Guilbert Konsa Mings Targett Luiz Nakamba McGinn Grealish Samatta Davis Subs; Reina, Elmo, Taylor, Hause, Hourihane, Jota, Trezeguet, El Ghazi, Vassilev Need every one of them up for it right from kick off, they have had two games under their belt now and should be feeling fitter by each day, no crowd in this one should definitely work in our favour, we need to press high from the front and not give them f*****s an inch. Get the ball down, get it to feet, pass and move, get Jack on the ball and lets dominate possession. We need it much more than they do, let's show it. We need to press as a team and defend as a team and we need Konsa and Mings to be switched on for the full 90 - they have serious pace up front and if we stop that threat we have a great chance. Time for Super John McGinn to find some form too - if he's knackered after 60 bring Jack back and bang Jota in the hole - yes he's a lightweight mother f***** but he can play a bit and to be honest the fact he hasn't played is the only reason why I'd bring him on - because the likes of AEG and Trez are constantly failing to perform. Prediction - Newcastle 1 v 3 Villa UTV

To be fair that was pretty abysmal. No fight, no bottle, no tactics, we made it very easy for them. We defended 'ok' for long periods but the problem we have is that we defend so deep that we just couldn't get out. At all. It was embarrassing at times. And whilst a lot of the play was in front of us, there was only ever really going to be one winner, even when we were 1-0 up. I can take defeats, I mean, we're all used to them by now but the manner of this one was painful to watch. Let's be truthful though, not one of our players gets in their starting eleven. Possibly Jack. But not on days like today. So it was never going to be easy, but I think Dean was hoping off the back of a clean sheet to sit in more and not get cut apart which I can see why, but ultimately when it doesn't go to plan he has to take full responsibility. McGinn looks knackered and we need him big time to get back to something like his best or we will be playing Championship football next season for sure. Only Luiz really came out of that with any real degree of praise. He played well. The problem is we need eleven players on form not one. I think we need to take a look at finishing the season with another formation. Even if it leaves us a little open. Just go out and play and try outscore our opponent. Either 3-5-2 or 4-4-2 diamond. Get Jack central and get him on the ball. Samatta and Davis up top. I'm not even bothered if we just play long balls, it's got to a stage where we just need to win football matches and at the moment we don't look like we even believe we can. UTV

He's in the starting line up

Correct team for me but looking at their side it's going to be tough. All I ask for is 110% effort, desire, fight, bit more quality and no mistakes and what will be, will be - no pressure then! There's an argument for Elmo in at RB but I think that bit of pace with Konsa may help against the likes of Willian and co. As for the argument of Davis starting = no goals is ridiculous. He's obviously in there as a focal point and to bring others into play and give us more possession. Samatta will get his chance and may be the more likelier scorer of the two but I can see totally why Davis would get the nod and we would stick with the one up top (especially against a side like this)

I think very often the above would be a description of a standard Conor performance. But he played pretty well on Wednesday picking up second balls and keeping the ball moving (helped by Davis' hold up play) and his set-pieces were ok too, he looked more hungrier than I've seen before. Starts for me.

Yep. Totally agree

Brighton result a real kick in the teeth, but by no means are they out of it now. I think they will do well to get more than 3 points from their next five games. We could be level with them in a fortnight or so. So still 2 from 5. As for Maupay; Is he a word removed = YES. Do we miss not having a horrible b*stard in our side at times = YES. Would he have improved our squad = YES. Is he the new Brazilian Ronaldo = NO. I know @villalad21 gets some stick on these forums (usually correctly too ) but Benrahma and Maupay in our squad and I think we would be on the beach now.

Same team for me (especially if Engels and Guilbert aren't available for selection). No one had shockers last night, let's keep a settled look to the side and try to build on the Sheff Utd game and let's try get a little more cohesion to our play. I think we mixed it up quite well with the longer balls up to Keinan, more of the same and let's get the midfielders high up the field supporting play and feeding off him. Whilst Davis is occupying their centre halves and we're attacking it obviously lessens our chances of conceding, 'best form of defence..' and all that. Hopefully we can catch them cold and if we cut out the mistakes, who knows... UTV

A point tonight not the end of the world but it would have been such a boost psychologically had we gained the victory and subsequently lifted ourselves out of the relegation places. Absolutely massive weekend coming up, as they all are, but can't help but think this one may set the tone. Saturday sees all the four teams immediately above us playing throughout the day and I wouldn't be too surprised to see all four winning which would leave us 4 points from safety going into the match with Chelsea on Sunday. That would put huge added pressure on the players and I really hope the away sides on Saturday do us a favour. Watford vs Leicester Brighton vs Arsenal West Ham vs Wolves Bournemouth vs Palace Are the matches throughout the day, each one important to us. I am hoping that the game tonight gives us an extra bit of sharpness to our play and gives us an advantage on Chelsea who might be a little lethargic first time out. Fingers crossed for 4 away wins Saturday followed by us doing the business

Not sure what some people were expecting, we'd lost our last 5 games prior this break and were on our knees (and not for BLM) devoid of all confidence and looked destined for the drop. First game back, in strange circumstances we have come away with a point, a little fortuitously, however on balance of play / chances probably could have nicked this one. The clean sheet will be a confidence boost as will the low amount of chances that the blades created. They are a well drilled established side that all know their jobs man for man, we competed well for the whole though we do have a soft underbelly that makes it difficult to watch at times and you get the impression one mistake is coming and it will cost us. We know our players aren't worldbeaters but they seem (in the words of Messrs OLeary) a honest decent bunch of lads. Can't fault any of them for effort today even if the quality was a bit lacking. I saw more positives than negatives today.

Probably a fair result, they obviously had their "goal", we had the better chances in the game. All the talk will be about lucky Villa post-match, but we've deserved a bit of luck after some of the decisions that have gone against us this season. Thought Hourihane was our MOTM and Davis, Luiz and Targett also had decent games. We got worse with the substitutions but they were subs we had to make really. The conundrum seems to be Davis or Samatta, well for me Keinan starts the next game, he's far from a natural finisher and I know goals wins games but you can see his hold up play and bringing our midfielders into the game are vital. He was unlucky with the second half shot, should have buried the header. It will come. I've seen enough to think we can stay up. UTV

Just thinking the exact same thing!