Essexvillian

Just thinking…..

Mings as a temporary dcm!?

I know it sounds a bit outlandish but he can read the game, play a ball and as all pro footballers has the fitness. He looks best when driving forward. Maybe less costly “mistakes” and a great leader.

hause/chambers to fill the void? 

35 minutes ago, allani said:

I agree with almost all of the rest of your post.

I don't think that it was a rash challenge / penalty.  If you look at the lines that Kane and Cash are running they are never coming together in a month of Sundays.  Cash has slid in to block the cross - his "line of attack" is nowhere near where Kane is going.  Kane has lost control of his feet and "fallen" into the line that Cash has taken.  He has no control over the ball at the point that contact is made and if the ball wasn't out when contact was made - there is no way he gets to the ball before it does cross the line if there is no contact.  It is an appalling (but typical) Mike Dean decision.

I think the trouble is that the guys in front of Doug aren't on the same wavelength a lot of the time so they aren't making the space for the early ball.  He looks better when Jack is about because Jack spots the right movement to open space either for him or one of the other players ahead of Doug.  He does seem to lose confidence in the quick ball if a couple go awry and then, as you rightly say, does tend to try and play it a bit safer by dwelling on the ball and then kind of getting himself into a bit of a hole.  I don't think it helps that he is carrying McGinn so much at the moment either (both defensively and offensively).  Oh and he needs to just have a crack at goal more often.  We know he can hit an absolute screamer.

Watkins is so isolated at times - much like all our strikers have tended to be in recent times.  I'm beginning to think that we need a striker and to then either (a) play Ollie down the left, pushing Jack into the No 10 role or (b) keep Jack on the left and get Ollie to play in the hole.  A front 4 of Ollie, Jack, Bertie and Tammy / Eduardo looks pretty tasty.  If Wesley gets back to fitness then I think he could be a great option coming on to either make it closer to a 4-4-2 (by replacing the No 10 role) or just changing the angle of attack in the same formation.  Still need to bring in a new winger who can slot into that 4 should anyone get injured or to put real pressure on Bertie.  Maybe Bertie off the bench (if we can keep him motivated) would be a real super-sub type option?

Sorry but we are - at least in terms of an attacking force.  Almost all the forward players play better when Jack is on fire.  No-one else seems able to grab the game by the scruff of the neck when Jack is out or not playing well.  First few matches I thought that maybe Ross was the answer but he's so far off form at the moment it is untrue.  I think that is why I think a proper No 9 and allowing Ollie to run around like he does at the moment but still having someone in the box threatening the goal area gives us more options than just the "pass the ball to Jack" option.

I more meant that cash gave Kane the chance to make the pen happen, it was no way a pen, and if cash had slid to block the cross another foot away from Kane, then there would of not been an opportunity for the ref to mess it up! 

Emi at fault for the 1st goal, normally knows when to put his foot through it, but he has made this mistake before

Cash another rash bought penalty, not the 1st time

Konsa solid as always

Mings solid today

Targett I thought was our best player tonight, and has been a few times this season

Doug, I think he takes too many touches quite often instead of playing it early, same again tonight

SGM just doesn’t look at his best, or maybe he’s reached his ceiling?

Traore has got talent and vision, but very frustrating, a luxury player that I’m not sure we can afford to have in the team at the moment

Samson, not convinced 

Trez/ghazi I’m just not sure they are good enough

Watkins, love his work rate, but a lot of it is running along the line, and when he does win it back in wide areas we have no one in the middle, maybe 2 up front would suit him? I’m thinking 4-4-2 and try Wes there when he’s back fit, or Tammy as not looking in favour at Chelsea or Eduardo possibly?

Barkley, can’t really see a role for him

Grealish, we are not a 1 man team, but we lack soooo much without him. IF he was to leave, we need mega money and to spend it on already established quality (albeit at a lower level of quality, as money dictates)

Just watched the game after avoiding my phone whilst at work. We can not play Barkley and Bert in the same team as they are both luxury players. I think Barkley will maybe be replaced by sansom, Bert has some quality about him, but I’m not sure we are at the stage where we can afford to have that sort of player starting every game. I think I would be more tempted to play el ghazi or trez instead, even for just work rate and simple play and supporting matty cash.

Cheeky bid for victor moses, as I understand we can’t loan 2 players from the same premier team (drinkwater) Bit of a risk, currently out on loan at fenerbahce with inter sniffing around him.....not sure there’s any truth in it or that he’s inter standard, but could maybe do a job for us?

Don’t shoot me down, been a villa supporter for over 20 years, been registered on here for about 10 years, but never post.....Glenn Murray until the end of the season? Not many minutes at Brighton