New_Jersey_Villa

I'm not sure how a player needs to be "Motivated" to mark his man. We've conceded 5 goals in the last two games and all of them were due to defensive errors as opposed to opposition skill. I can't see blaming the manager for school boy type stuff.

I'd tend to agree with this. Trying to play a nice passing game with our current squad has been proven not to work. Look at Gana for example, has the most tackles in the league, but it's when he has the ball that the problems begin. We don't really have anyone capable of picking out a killer pass and when we try we give the ball away far too often. On a side note you just had to mention fish and chips didn't you. I wonder if Assault and Battery is still in Greenwich Village.......Most places over here that advertise "Traditional English Fish and Chips" on their menu wouldn't know a chip if it smacked them in the face.

A good time for:

While I agree Garde can't be totally blameless for the lack of improvement in results since he took over, you do have to consider what he was up against. The quality of the squad he inherited back in November was considered, even then, by pretty much every football pundit and reporter to be hopelessly ill equipped to stay in the premier league and this has proven to be the case. There is only so much anyone can do with a pile of turd. If he'd been able to sign 3-4 guys in January and we were still in this mess then I'd be more inclined to start pointing fingers at him. The fact that we signed ZERO players (I still can't believe it) means he's still working with a group who he had nothing at all to do with signing. The bottom line is he didn't take over an under achieving squad (Chelsea) he took over a shit squad and only has the same shit to work with.

If all else fails we could all subscribe to the Villa website and enjoy the expert analysis and commentary of Jack Woodward next season.......

I think you can see the pressure he's feeling now. He seems to be getting "Sherwooditis" based on the formation tonight. By that I mean he's trying anything to get a result. Switching to 3 center backs at this point in the season is pointless, with that type of formation the players need a hell of a lot more time than 3 days to get to grips with it. Guzan upfront and Gil in goal next game? Joking aside, I do like Garde, but he simply doesn't have the players to do what he wants to do. He wasn't backed in January and he doesn't have any players to replace the under performers, as he alluded to in a recent interview.

Wasn't a bad performance overall, but the defending for all 3 Everton goals was utterly abysmal. Richards totally lost his man for the corner, WTF Lescott was doing for Lennon's goal is a mystery and I was too busy slamming my laptop lid down in disgust to see exactly who was at fault for the third. It's pretty much Aston "Father Christmas" Villa with the goals we've shipped in the last two games. I can understand Garde trying to change things up, but it was obvious that our 3 center backs didn't have a clue who was supposed to be marking who and it cost us.

I agree, he's a cracking little player, but just doesn't work in this team. If we had Taylor and Townsend in midfield winning the ball instead of the current load of wank we currently have he'd do well. It's unfortunate for him that he get's no support at all when he's on the ball and get's crowded out far too easily. The obvious class of his goals against Leicester and Sunderland show what he can do and will do in a better team. I doubt Carles will be a Villa player after this season. Very dissapointing.

I agree, good post. Sadly, I got the distinct impression after we signed ZERO players in the last transfer window and hearing Remi's comments, that things he was promised on taking the job have not happened. I really hope the board don't screw this up, by pissing him off so much that he quits.

I can't believe there wasn't some money to at least pay the wages for a couple of loan players, this past window???? There must be a truckload of fringe players around Europe who need first team football to have a shot at going to the Euro's, who would have gladly joined us just so they can play.

I'm all for getting the "right" players and not spending money for the sake of it, but yeah massive joke sums it up.

I'm pretty shocked with this window. I find it hard to believe there isn't at least ONE player out there who would improve the squad and want to come to us? Pretty mind blowing really.

Agree with the strange sentiments. I'm surprised a guy who could do a job, should lose his abilities so much that Garde decided to let him go, all because of an injury. One would think he would be better defensive cover than Clark, but I guess not.

Sure, why not?

At least between Doug and Randy we haven't turned into a total financial disaster. People really need to appreciate that fact a little bit more and be thankful we didn't go the way of so many other clubs who borrowed out of their asses and then disappeared without a trace. My 2 cents. (Pence)

I'll have what he's having.

My thoughts exactly. Didn't have enough to do to make any kind of judgement today and I personally thought some of his kicking was a bit dodgy.

Agreed. Having taken the lead you would have expected some nerves and tension, due to us not having won for so long. The lads kept their shape and saw it through. As the captain he also has to take some credit for this.

While it's only one game, I'm very encouraged that Garde was able to get that kind of performance from his players after the shambles of the weekend. We need to build on this.

Showed real character to put in the effort he did today after the absurd abuse he got from some quarters this week. Good stuff!

Just saw this as well. WTF.

You can see if he get's an opportunity to lose some of the rust there's a decent player in there. Part of me really wants to see him succeed, horrific injury and then the forgotten man. Waited a long time for his chance and deserves another start based on today's performance.

Really impressive game today and as others pointed out has that little bit of extra fitness now to last the 90 minutes.

Good to see how pleased he was that we got the win even after not getting the start today.

Great to see him ecstatic about the win even after being dropped. Shows he's a team player at least.