WakefieldVillan

Probably for "The Games Gone" thread but wow football is really sh*t at the moment with all the ridiculous decisions, VAR, handballs, offsides (drawing lines), play-acting (Mitrovic) ETC ETC.. We were absolutely dire last night and I am not sure we were ever coming away from that with any points but no way is that a sending off or a penalty. Absolutely no way. My non supporting Villa mate text me after the red card and said he couldn't believe what he was seeing. Said it was laughable. Yes, Luiz was stupid, but it's a yellow for both, nothing more. Not having that been handball either. Where on earth is Cash supposed to put his arms when sliding in to block the shot. Oliver (word removed) doesn't give himself any thinking time whatsoever and points to the spot. Have we had previous with him? Because I feel like he's "done us" before. That said, we were crap before all that, crap after that and the best thing to obviously come from that is that he's gone. These players need to pull their fingers out of their a*ses and start digging in because if they don't we will be back in the Championship whoever is in charge. Virtually impossible to pick a MOTM - voted Young, because I don't remember him making a f*** up, only him, Martinez and Mings came out of that with an ounce of dignity (but Emi probably should save the pen and Tyrone doesn't need to get himself on the scoresheet ) Luiz was also "ok" prior to his brain fart moment. As for some of the others, Cash needs real competition, his performances are well below what is required, Chambers should be playing instead of Konsa, Ramsey was totally anonymous, McGinn had his worst game in a Villa shirt and there's been a lot of bad ones this season. Watkins headless. Bailey OMG, don't know where to start, so I wont. Ings leggy. I am going to with positives - There was two (SG being sacked) and more importantly - The travelling fans were absolutely fantastic from start to finish, supporting the players / club whilst aiming a few digs at SG which they were / are fully entitled to do. The fans deserve better than what was served up last night (and this season)! Aaaand breathe - Bring on Brentford... Football eh

Does this mean I can now go back to hating the scouse word removed? Seriously though, last night was an absolute shambles, one of the most spineless performances I have ever witnessed from us and there's been a few. Many, many supporters on here saw this coming for a long time, many called it when he was appointed - I hold my hands up and say I was excited/intrigued by his appointment - A big name as a player that would get the footballing world talking about us. I thought he talked the talk, but that's basically all it has been, a load of hot air. The captaincy of McGinn being his biggest downfall, playing players out of form, alienating other players, tactics - what tactics? He's been unfortunate with injuries but still, despite being "unlucky losers" against the "big boys" we have gone backwards, no one in our squad is improving. I thought at the very least he would have us competing in every match but how wrong was I. I'm a patient man when it comes to giving managers time, I was hoping he would turn it around but it does feel like a huge relief that he's gone - I just hope we get someone of real pedigree to replace him.

Martinez Cash Chambers Mings © Young Sanson Dendoncker Ramsey Buendia Coutinho Watkins 2 - 1 Villa (Poch in the stands)

We will win this 3- 2

I think this is where the game ultimately will be won or lost. Mitrovic will do his best to get under Ty's skin - So he needs to stay calm, focused and hopefully commanding. A similar type of performance as to when he faced Haaland would be nice (minus the conceded goal - which to be fair, he wasn't at fault for).

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

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 )

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!

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 .

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!

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 !

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.

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

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.

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.