May-Z

I dislike Gerrard's football more than Bruce's. Under Bruce, we kept tight and he just let the attackers try and conjure something up on their own....but at least he put players in positions where they could try to do that. Stevie has a shit style AND plays a formation where it castrates any individual ability, with players actually regressing.

And I wouldn't begrudge him in the slightest. Same if Luiz had gone.

And I wouldn't begrudge him in the slightest. Same if Luiz had gone.

Guy's got great guile. Should've been on as soon as they went to 10

It's a shame. Before the international break, he was looking a little more like first-season Ollie and getting a bit of his groove back. Today was a summary of all the things that we get frustrated at: poor one-on-one conversion, poor touches and hold up play, and slow decisions. He has been that way for the majority of the time he's played in a two or in Gerrard's one up front. He needs to be the middle man using two wingers.

Did enough to win. Had enough good positions to get a shot off and get a goal. We always seem to delay the key pass/shot though and Leeds get back to block. Konsa had an open goal to head at, but Watkins has to do better with his array of chances. Hit the keeper each time.

This is the worry when Gerrard comes out with his 'pretty football can wait' comments. Strangely, it's not even a choice of pretty or ugly. It appears he's abandoned any sort of passing when what he really means be tighter defensively.

Was looking at some villa memorabilia and found a 2006 yearbook. Is this an old dressing room door? That's a fairly sleek, scaled back circle variation. Swap Prepared for 1874?

Now, clearly Brighton have been working on this style for a while, but if you watch 0.11s - 0.30s of this clip before their third goal yesterday, I think it highlights how important two central midfielders are to being able to play quickly and sharply from the back. Every player can move the ball quickly because there is someone in support, 5-10 yards away. The passes are relatively 'safe' but work well at moving the opposition and create a chance to move forward. In contrast, in that situation, you see our CBs trying to find only Kamara who has to do a lot of work to progress the ball, or can just knock it back. Alternatively, we'd go side-to-side then eventually out to a full back, or hit it long. Brighton, being able to create that 'square' of four players to pass around, are much better at keeping the ball than when we use our 'triangle' with only Mings, Konsa, and Kamara. I imagine their players feel much more confident because of knowing where a pass can go, rather than our's who take two clicks to work it out.

What's wrong with exaggerating a bit

What's the difference between a kidney bean and a chick pea? I wouldn't pay to have a kidney bean on my face...

Basically, everyone who was doing well to make it into their national teams have regressed so much they've largely been dumped. Watkins, Mings, Cash, Coutinho, Luiz, Digne, Kamara, Buendia...and now Martinez. You can chuck Archer in as well. Shows how poor we've been.

Tbf, it helps when you have de Bruyne as the player putting the cross in instead of Cash. You are correct though.

That was the game my other half completely gave up on Villa and said 'enough, no more, never ask me to come along to a game again'

Simply has to start every game for us. Madness that he doesn't. Even I am beginning to think he should've gone to Arsenal just so he isn't being dicked around by SG.

Tries to fit 90 mins of impact into 20 mins. Against Everton, it was the boost we needed. In other games, it looks a bit headless and frantic.

Who would you be confident in giving it to in our team

Please control a football without making it look difficult. We need Countinho and the other CMs to be brought into play.

I really, really want Leon to come good. But put Traore in the positions he got the ball tonight, and he probably scores a goal or makes a goal. Bailey never looked like doing either. Part of me wonders if it's the slow build up that doesn't suit him....but then there's part of me that thinks he's just an N'Zogbia re-gen.

Cannot see what he is bringing to the role or what he is learning. No tactics or strategy to combat different teams. No in game changes that impact matches. But most of all today...his substitutions are just bizarre. Just seems to chuck whoever on for whoever in any position. Tonight Buendia and Dendonker came on for Ramsey and Bailey...so that's either a shape change or players out of position. Then he puts Ings on for Countinho...another shape change or another player put out of position. The bloke's got nothing.

Did he even touch it?

Scoopy McShit-Scoop with a billion chipped balls to their CB or out for a goal kick. Great passion. Poor passing.

Granted ...but I'm not sure a foul following an advantage is explicitly mentioned in the FA rules. It's referee's discretion. Advantage could be getting a shot off, making a pass, or in this case getting into the box. Then there was a separate incident. We're also talking about how referring is so poor in general and what improvements should be made. What incentive is there for a player to stay on their feet if a team just chops away at them repeatedly if they do and then it's taken back to the first pull/trip? Anyway, it's not a hill I'm willing to die on, I just feel that attackers should have the benefit in these situations. And also, it's happened to Leeds, so **** em

I'd say you're being too textbook here. The 'advantage' from the first potential review would be that the player was able to get in the box and be fouled again. I haven't even seen the incident, but as an attacking team being given and advantage, I would say you absolutely should pick the offence that suits if they were both against you.