May-Z

Now, THAT is a mistake. As mentioned, people talk about Mings as if he does that two or three times a game. It has absolutely killed us today though. From the first whistle, we started well with intent...but going one nil down against Chelsea takes some coming back from. Especially for our mentally fragile group. People saying that it was his mistake for the second as well. Not a chance. I'm unsure it was even a foul, then Orjan Martinez waves the ball in from the free kick.

Feels like Gerrard will get us to the world cup and we'll be in the red zone. Then we'll get a new manager and it'll be pot luck as to whether we'll string enough together to get out.

Gerrard's subs are just chosen by a wheel of fortune, I think. Four attacking players on the pitch, four players on the bench, spin away and see who ends up playing where. Each one, five minutes after the last, changes formation or puts a player in an unfamiliar position. Doesn't have a clue.

Remember when Nyland let Lolley's strike go in straight down the middle of the goal? Martinez has just recreated it.

A side note, and maybe a little negative, but I think we've looked a bit better because of McGinn not having to be involved in getting forward. He's being tenacious and fighting well, but if you swapped him out for Buendia to fill the gap between CM and the forwards I think we'd look even better.

A better half. Having width is giving us some opportunities to attack without getting crowded out. A bit of a gap between the front three and the CMs, but when we go wide at least there is support for players there. It's clear were looking to go front to back very quickly. We're doing this too often but it does show that we're trying to be flexible and adapt for the opponent. Which is a good step. Watkins needs to be stronger and learn how to control. Clips of Martinez telling him how to shield the ball after Sterling hit the bar tell it all. Ings looking sharp and Bailey providing a threat. Generally, a pretty good half that should've seen us get a goal or two.

What, so boo the players for keeping the ball instead of doing what McGinn does and chip it forward first time? Nope.

Villa Park can be a shite place to play sometimes. We play a ball backwards to keep possession and it's met with jeers. Four passes later we've broken around the back and only a couple of great saves have kept the ball out. It really doesn't help the players.

So this looks like a change of formation with two wider wingers. That middle three looks a worry, though. It'll be that they all sit tight in the middle of the pitch, making huge gaps to the forwards... orrrr... only Dougie left as a single CDM whilst McGinn and Ramsey go forward. Can't see either of those working too well unless we're only going to try and play purely on the counter. Just play a 4231. Just play it!

I didn't realise we missed a penalty! Shame. The good thing is, that compared to last year, we are now making (and taking) chances and look like scoring a couple each game. The players we have brought in seem to be a notch up on what has been there before. And Carla Ward seems to be doing a great job at bringing them all together into a good footballing team.

Eerily similar to Bruce. Came in stating about aiming high and going for gold....**** it up with no idea of how to find a solution and instead plays the 'would've been relegated without me' card. Shithouse.

The 'assist'

Yep, agree with all of this. I personally think Gerrard has ultimately been the wrong decision, I suspect Purslow recognises this as well. I think the 'mistake' will be sticking with him longer than we should. Were at a crucial point now where we'll find out about that. This week could be a big week.

I think this is more to do with not having a second CM sitting deep with him. If you watch Brighton, for example, they can create multiple passing options because they create a box of four players around any opposition press. We have Dougie sitting deep, who has to turn a player then pick an eye-of-the needle pass....or just go back to the CB or FB. Next game, count how many times he has a quick, short pass that he can make first time to get around the press. You won't need many fingers to count them.

I think signing Coutinho was a good move. A high profile name, good value in today's market, and a fairly successful loan spell. What has happened since is so confusing. He looks worse than Carlos Gil. My theory is that he needs to start off the left similar to Grealish, rather than a central No 10, and needs support from having good ball players around him. At the moment, he his trying one-twos about with McGinn, Bailey, and Watkins. That is never going to create him any space to work as they move the ball too slowly, or do not have the skill. Ramsey and Buendia are better fits for him, as is Luiz higher up, and probably Sanson too. I don't understand why we haven't tried to get more out of him instead of just trying the same things over and over....but that could be said for a lot of Gerrard's decisions.

A few posts on here make it seem like he's lurched from one crisis to another. The football atm is so shit it might feel like that, but as a CEO he is doing a decent job. The 'bad' decisions people see probably come down to two areas: Transfers and Managers. Transfers Fans thought the first set of transfers in the Prem were poor...Purslow gets rid of Suso. Recent transfers are old with no re-sale...they enable us to be more attractive. I doubt we would've signed Carlos and Kamara if we hadn't had Coutinho and Digne involved. Targett being sold helps with FFP and Young is good back up for a freebie. Managers Deano going was a shame, but justifiable. He was replaced quickly and with purpose. Same whenever a coach has been culled...another has already been identified to come in. Gerrard coming in was a gamble, but he has been given long enough to try and prove himself without being sacked via knee-jerk. The only way this is a Purslow **** up is if he doesn't get rid of him in the next week or two (if performances stay the same.) Off the pitch, Purslow is probably operating to his exact specification with the new stadium, sponsors, memberships etc. I don't think Purslow is the problem here....unless he blindly backs Gerrard. That will take us down.

Imagine our lion as a badge in the same style as that Corinthians with an embroidered edge

So at Swindon and MK Dons he trained well but suddenly he's Billy big and decided to not try? Nah. Excuses from the manager.

He was incredible when he first came. What the hell has happened?! I don't think he's lazy or downed tools, is it something to do with the players around him/the system?

Only 6 teams have won more than 3 out of 8/9 games. There's a lot of average teams that haven't put any type of run together yet.

He's insanely good at these long-reaching, stretched finishes from crosses. Over the past few games, both De Bryne and Cancelo have been lauded for their "brilliant assists" but in reality, Haaland's ability to sniff out the right spot, and then somehow get get connection at a stretch turns them into goals. I don't think there's another striker that I've ever seen do that.

Quite like that.

Maybe crap was the wrong word...I'm meaning along the lines of too alternative. I think the gas lamp version could be cool, but I imagine it won't garner a lot of votes as it's not traditionally Villa. Turning the lion around seems and odd choice, especially without 'Aston Villa' being included. Why not keep it the same orientation and have Aston Villa above? I would say an alternative circular design has been the target since the start and these choices force it that way a bit.

Sound a bit like the old, "chuck two crap options into a three way choice" trick to give the illusion of valued input.

Sorry, I thought the rule on Villatalk was just to repeat the same thing over and over without actually reading other responses.