MarkLillis

I thought Wolves got their tactics spot on.The first Half performance from them would of made it difficult for even the best sides to play against.

Their set up stopped us passing through and also restricted us out wide and their players to a man were “at it”

However second half we reacted and reshuffled with Coutinho coming on and I think they slowed down a bit.

Chance creation was about equal 

All in all a very fair result for an even game.

Do players even notice if it’s a “Derby” ie V Wolves or Leicester?

I mean of course they would up it v Blues but Wolves?

I just thought Wolves played well and stopped us playing tbh.

42 minutes ago, Brumstopdogs said:

Would be pleased with finishing in the top 10 (for the first time in ages) and finishing as the top placed midlands side. Would love top 7 but can't see it this season...

Top ten would be great.Top 7 would be better…..however top midlands side?

Since when have been interested in “pride of the midlands” trophy? It was invented for the likes of Wolves Stoke and the Baggies

I spoke to Palace fans about Zaha on the train back to New St last year.

We both agreed….

Zaha is a player you can only actually like if he is playing for you.

My opinion as of now is that he’s a tw@t that may change depending on wether he ever plays for us or not.

1 hour ago, bobzy said:

My gut feeling is that the majority of people who watch football will watch the World Cup.

 

 

(I won't be, because I'm an uppity left snowflake too!)

This is true.

I will be watching I won’t be able to ignore it.

However it feels like a “stolen” tournament taken from its usual environment and relieved of its status as the number one sporting event in the World.

Its been reduced to a rich man’s plaything…

Sad.

6 minutes ago, duke313 said:

We haven't faced a low block yet under UE.  Be interesting to see how we cope with balls over the top, as we were constantly getting undone in the United Cup game by them.  Most were caught offside, but it only takes one not to be off-side,

Yes high line is very risky one way to protect against getting caught out is Emi playing as a sweeper…

The other way is to have very fast defenders who can recover….Kyle Walker style.

12 minutes ago, DJBOB said:
 

I agree that I’m interested in seeing how we attack the Forests of the prem. Buendia will be key but I think he struggles too unlocking low blocks. He’s great in transition and when he can play through balls into space, which will suit him into Emery’s system well, but seems short of ideas or not on the same wavelength as others. I think that is part system but part that we are not built to break down low blocks. We have lots of utility midfielders and athletic forwards but few that can execute the quick one touches besides the Buendia-Ramsay-Ings combo.  

I think the key to breaking down low blocks is patient consistent probing and passing into dangerous areas.

The block will constantly defend this and we have to win it high and fast and put the pressure immediately back on to the defence.

Its not down to one specific player although I agree the more technically gifted our players are the better.

23 hours ago, Pinebro said:

Grealish has not been good since Villa

I was talking about Almiron

1 hour ago, Pinebro said:

He is a laughing stock right now after all the Almiron memes.

Form is temporary 

Just reminiscing about the bad old days…..they feel so long ago now.

Cant believe it was only this time last week he was still here!

Seems like months but it is only one game.

Ive not known a manager create such an atmosphere of hopelessness around Villa before.

Not even Big Alex!

Players understand they have to deliver to get the fans onside.

Managers understand this fact all to well.

This “toxic” nonsense….It’s one big wind up either by  the media to sell newspapers,get clicks or telephone calls or by fans of other teams on social media.

All fans are the same….at every club.

We are no better or worse than any other team.

1 minute ago, viivvaa66 said:

The match against Fulham was no surprise to anybody that have seen our matches this season. We had been that bad all season, why suddenly storm off before full time, unless the performance came as a surprise. I guess you could say that they watched the our matches this season, but had no idea what they were seeing, and only realised the state of things when our away fans began to go after Gerrard, but then you are saying our owners are clueless about football. Since our owners is now in charge to find the new manager, I really hope it isn’t so, that would be depressing.

We have NOT been that bad all season.Fulham was the worst performance of the season.With the possible exception of Bournemouth away which I did not see.

4 minutes ago, Jas10 said:

 

My point was that that’s where we should be setting our sights first…. start high and work our way down from there

Not so sure on the “ship has sailed”…

As others have explained, we don’t know for sure if Poch has rejected us - that could just be more speculation. But I admit it seems unlikely… 

Haven’t seen anything on Emery (nothing on him rejecting us or us even having made an approach for him) and I’d like to think that we could make a shock/surprise/statement managerial signing in the way we have done so on the player side…  manage to bring in someone that no one had anticipated… and shut a few people up while we’re at it (many do like to look down their noses at us).

Regardless, we should aiming our sights high… at least to start off with…

It’s about time this club truly showed it’s ambition on this side of things rather than continually spouting hollow words or making unrealistic statements on goals or aspirations… less talk, more action please. We need a proper manager… we can’t expect to progress and achieve anything until we do… the last appointment was a complete disaster but it’s not too late to fix this mess and start making some actual strides…

Again, it’s been covered by others, but there is so much appeal about the club and we are arguably, that old cliche, a “sleeping giant”. We are such an attractive proposition away from the pitch , our resources (and prestige) exceed the majority of clubs in the division… we just need someone to make it work out there in games and get some proper coaching into these players… that’s an exciting proposition… it’s just about making the right decisions and making it work… we do have quality players that need elevating (through quality coaching and instruction) and need to add the “right pieces” to become a more balanced and creative team. 
There are so many players we have yet to see the best of and so much to bring out of them in terms of performances and visible talent…

Many won’t agree, but I feel that there is so much more to come from this squad/team… and once we start “clicking” or progressing it’s going to be really exciting and enjoyable… then it won’t be at all difficult for the right man to “win over” the fans… we just need to start playing some entertaining and effective football… just making us better in possession (learning how to pass and retain the ball better) will improve us significantly…

I hope we get this right… after a long while, I’m starting to feel some hope and excitement again…

This is such a great post!

All of our players have value and can perform at this level.

For so long at Villa we haven’t had a coach worthy of the name.

I too really hope we can get one this time.

This is all part of it.

Football fans feel both the highs and lows deeply,but the game (nor the club) owes us nothing.

Don't take it personally.

UTV

2 minutes ago, Tayls said:

We have a lot of bad players… 

They just look bad.

The situation they are in is making them seem worse than they are…

Just like we made a 34 year Willian look like the next big thing tonight.

I can see and hear all of the points.

I find myself agreeing with everyone!

What I can’t shake is the feeling that this bad run could be fixed by the players.

We beat Leeds Forest and very possibly Chelsea if chances are taken and errors not made.

Then where do we stand? Well….we are sitting pretty in the top half (in my dream world) can a manager stop Mings soft header to Mount?

Can a manager make McGinn volley instead of header against Forest?

Don't get me wrong here I’m still thinking SG isn’t the man.

I just think the new guy will be like the bloke who walked away with the jackpot after SG has been putting his wages into the machine for the past couple hours.

3 minutes ago, Pinebro said:

Mainstream media should be hammering him but they don't 

True Roy Keane and Caragher both layed into the players last night.

Dean Saunders also on Talk Sport.

Whilst it’s quite clear they are not performing and should take some responsibility the narrative is generally “Stevie is doing everything he can but is being let down the players”

3 hours ago, parisvilla said:

Thought this Carragher quote was very interesting/worrying...

"He looks like a 5 a side player. The pitch is too big for him. The game is too quick, the other players too powerful."

It’s is what it looks like though

I’ve being trying to ignore it but I can’t yet again the Villa have bought a great player at the wrong stage of their career.

We were on the right track…..signing Ollie, Matty Cash etc.

We we’re developing an identity.

We have now decided that our identity should be aligned with Steven Gerard's.

This will be the inevitable reason for our success or downfall.

On 04/10/2022 at 16:05, TRO said:

I am not trying to paint a picture, because no one is in the mood for it.....but this is Deans team right now, still Deans team, after 11 months in.....that could be a debate on its own.

Now the injuries are having a say in that, and that is no ones fault, but that is the facts of the matter as they stand.

If folk are saying SG should be making something of them players, that Dean couldn't.....I might tend to say, that has surprised me too, but maybe, nobody can, in terms of manager, maybe only other players can.

Ollie IMO relied on Jack putting chances on a plate, Phil is more likely to score his own goals and Emi finds it difficult to create in the same way Jack did....Bailey finds it difficult to wriggle free, to cause any chaos, and gets caught too often.

I think Ollie misses the creative force of Jack....hence his declining standards.

I think confidence needs to be restored and clean sheets, helps with that, so its a case of building that confidence, back.....and with a more clinical edge in front of goal, and sustaining the defensive prowesss, that is not beyond us.

 

Reading this it’s sounds more like Jacks team than Deans!

God knows I wish Jack had been a Villa fan…..he might have stayed and fought with us

On 02/10/2022 at 23:36, joshharris12 said:

I didn’t renew and couldn’t be happier at the decision not to

Why does it make you happy?

3 hours ago, Vive_La_Villa said:

But most think it’s all a bit shit. 

Most are right

3 hours ago, S-Platt said:

 

14 hours ago, StewieGriffin said:

Hope they crash and burn.

As a club they aren't terribly unlikeable, but their fans are absolute morons. Had the pleasure of working just outside Wolverhampton for 12 months and the entire experience made me want to see their city and football team be erased from existence.

Expand  

Haha I have said if before never knew a Wolves fan when I lived in Brum but since moving over to Shropshire there are loads.

 

Same here…..they are a rarity in Brum/Smethwick where I grew up.Now I’m near Stourbridge and to be fair to them they are everywhere.

Also nearly are deluded….they remind me of Small Heath fans.

6 hours ago, HKP90 said:

Not being ruthless? The sacking of Dean Smith sure seemed ruthless.

Yes it was.

I'm sure if there is a genuine need to sack SG they will continue to be ruthless too...

To qualify that statement....yes i don't think there is a genuine need to pull the trigger....

Yet!

Preston at home (cabbage gate)

Bolton at home

Preston away

Forest away 

All games that come to mind when I think about when I knew the end was near for the current manager.

What is it about Preston