ViewFromT2

2 hours ago, Nabby said:

Looked off pace and like he had never played in this league ,was all over the place .His corners were not up to much either 

Never seen enough of him at Barnsley...but what system did he play in? was it a midfield 2 or 3? Will take him time to settle in to the side, but we have to play players in their best positions. Bjarnason is another...he's a wide player...we played him centrally. It's no wonder he looked lost!

9 minutes ago, markavfc40 said:

Keeper had nothing to do with the back line f ups last night. We were all over the place at the back pushing too far up and there were big gaps in between Baker and Chester which were exploited. You may not rate Johnstone but that defensive display last night is in no way on him.

It was a very rare poor performance last night from Chester and Baker as they have looked solid. I don’t know if they are getting pulled out of position at times due to Amavi and Hutton going missing.

Amavi is a good player but has been dire for weeks and full back now looks our weakest area. Luckily we have just gotten two new ones and I expect they will both come in now.

A good keeper organises that line in front of him. A good keeper ensures there are no gapes between his centre backs. a good keeper is a good talker.....the back four have looked poor with him behind them. He's certainly no better than Bunn and Steer.

Chester and Baker have never 'looked solid' in my view, their errors have cost us goals on a regular basis. They are howverm, the best pairing we have available. Positionally they are pretty poor...which enhances the need for a keeper that can organise them.

25 minutes ago, bobzy said:

He made the right decision entirely for th first goal - blame lies solely with Chester for just running out of defence.

It's a great finish from the Brentford striker. 

Yeah Chester got dragged out of position....but in fairness the fella had drifted beyond Hourihane and Lansbury. As a centre back I think he had to come and close there...but Baker obviously wasn't switched on enough to cover.

Our key triangle...Keeper-2 CB's is very poor

11 hours ago, maqroll said:

Elphick in for Chester next game, Chester looks like he needs a break.

Drop Hutton and Amavi for the new boys, go 4-4-2 with Hogan up top. 

If the team looks flat, sharpen the axe

 

Chester + Baker far better than Elphick + Baker. 

Think the main problem is the keeper in all honesty. We've looked a bag of nerves since he came in.

Aside from the obvious lack of fitness of Bjarnason and Lansbury, I don't think the new players can be judged yet. What is far more worrying is the performance of other players and, I have to say, the managers decisions.

Jordan Amavi: Been absolutely dreadful since late December. In fairness, wasn't exactly top drawer before that. He is held is such high regards by fans, but cannot defend for toffee. Look at the second goal last night, he never even attempted to stop the cross coming in. Yes the 2 CB's were marking the same bloke and never saw the runner....but look how Chester slates Amavi straight after they score...it's not even schoolboy defending!

Jonathan Kodija: I may be being harsh, but clearly this bloke is starting to believe his own press. Missed a sitter last night and was then totally uninterested for the rest of the game. He isn't a lone striker. He always looks better coming in from wide areas, pretty sure that's where he'll play now Hogan has come in. He needs a kick up the arse.

Albert Adomah: Hadn't heard of him before we signed him, which is usually a sign that they can't be all that! and sure enough, he has proved to be bang average! Yes he has pace, but christ almighty, how many times does he waste good opportunities? Andre Green has shown more in his couple of appearances.

Chester and Baker: As a pair they are clearly the best we have at the club....and after spending £50-60m on players, that statement is probably the reason we won't get near the play-offs come May. Neither are dominant leaders. Both have positional issues and Chester's commendable wish to play his way out of trouble lands us in deeper trouble on many occasions. Sometimes you just gotta clear your lines from back there. Baker hasn't become Bobby Moore since last season...he makes decent tackles when he has time to see them, but just look at him when faced with a one-on-one runner...third goal last night great example.

Steve Bruce: I still support him as the manager and think he will get it right. However, we cant keep listening to the same rhetoric after every game, it clearly isn't having any affect. Whatever system he has us playing isn't working, were not creating enough chances. Team selection etc lies with him, I get that....but Jack Grealish being on the bench is bewildering to me. 2-0 down at half time and playing woeful last night, couldn't believe he never changed anything....and worse, left it til last 15 mins to make a change when the game was already done at 3-0.

His purchase of Sam Johnstone...another nobody had heard of....has proven so far to be a poor decision. A young keeper like that could fall into a pit if his confidence gets shattered....he needs to put Bunn back in goal.

It's not too late yet...but christ we have to find some form quickly!

Just a quick stat check.....to back up my feelings that our back four, although never at any point this season 'solid', have certainly looked more shaky since Johnstone came in. 

• Gollini: Played 19.5 games - Conceded 17 goals (0.87 pg)
• Bunn: Played 5.5 games - Conceded 7 goals (1.27 pg)
• Johnstone: Played 3 games - Conceded 6 goals (2 pg)

We are scoring an average of 1 goal per game, it's not difficult to see which way our season is going unless a) Johnstone finds some improvement or  we start averaging 3 goals per game.

Ravel Morrison has tweeted a picture of him and his mom on a train (looks like virgin first class carriage).... if he's come in from Lazio to talk to QPR as reported, he wouldn't be on that train would he? Is he the last surprise? 

suppose it could be from Manchester to London as his mom is with him......I'll shut up and get me coat!

Ravel Morrison has tweeted a picture of him and his mom on a train (looks like virgin first class carriage).... if he's come in from Lazio to talk to QPR as reported, he wouldn't be on that train would he? Is he the last surprise? 

suppose it could be from Manchester to London as his mom is with him......I'll shut up and get me coat!

1 minute ago, DaveAV1 said:

Where did you see that???

Some dude called John Reid on twiiter...journo!

someone else just saying Forest want Gardner now aswell

Just now, andyh said:

if you mean Narla....he is so obviously full of shit. 

On another forum (to remain nameless)...the chap with the contact at BMH reckons Rhodes still on.

4 minutes ago, skarroki said:

A small part of my brain agrees with you, the rest is too damaged from being a villa fan to be anything other than sceptical about trusting the people at the top to get financials right

I do understand that...I probably been a bit too flippant there with that statement to be honest.

We have wasted a lot of money on players in recent years, I'm first to admit that...but the set up at the club now behind the scenes is a far cry from Paul Faulkner and Tom Fox running the show!

Can't do anything about price tags...all teams over pay in January anyway, but needs must. All that matters is that we get out of this god damn shitty league asap!

8 minutes ago, VILLAMARV said:

I get it to 4 out and 3 in

Taylor - Ayew nearly done. Tish gone, 3rd out 99.9? 4th out has 3 choices? 2nd in 95% 3rd in 99%

Westwood to Burnley most likely the 99.9% out

Hogan to West Ham "almost complete"

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/2743535/west-ham-transfer-news-scott-hogan-deal-almost-complete-but-brentford-want-1m-if-hammers-win-the-title/

this wouldnt strike me as the 'wow' factor signing we've been discussing all day

Why would a move for Hogan be kept so quiet? Not a showstopper for me .... still think Bruce was on about someone else  

Shaun Teale has just put this argument to bed once and for all on Twitter! 

Takes a player to know a player!

Just now, Eastie said:

I rate ulloa but I am hoping for bigger name - if the medical is booked for today we would hope for a leak to come somewhere .

'rubbish' is harsh probably, but what I mean is that I don't see him to be any better than what we have/had. In fairness why would we Sell Gestede and sign a player like Ulloa? I see them as quite similar types....although I haven't seen all that much of Ulloa.

Does anyone know if they ever found his knee cap in the stand after that tackle from Clarkey a couple of years ago?

1 minute ago, Jareth said:

My realistic money is on Ulloa - he needs a club, wouldn't have to move house, has that promotion winning and prem experience. 

He is rubbish.

I would be so disappointed if it was him. Would rather keep Ayew!

16 minutes ago, bobzy said:

I can't tell if this is a troll or not.

a]  "What he offers the side that Gabby hasn't since he returned?" - goals, assists, tackles, dribbling, shooting, literally everything.  He is better than Gabby in every single way.

b]  "His body language screams "attitude problem"" - I don't know, maybe it's just the way he looks.  I mean, you're talking about a guy who has averaged more tackles than anyone else who has played over 9 games this season, someone who breaks down the opposition more than any other attacking player and who creates more chances per game than anyone other than Ross McCormack.  If working that hard is the sign of an attitude problem then I'd like 11 players with attitude problems please.

c]  "He has been played centrally, and he didn't impress then either" - when?  Genuinely cannot remember this at all.

Then:

1.  "Do we miss him when he doesn't play?" - Yes.  We simply don't create or shoot enough (that's down to missing Kodjia too).

2.  "Would you be worried about facing him in another team?" - Yes.  He's a player that runs at defences and shoots.  We hate facing that sort of player.  See; Hugill's goal for Preston against us.  Dribbling, shooting.

He causes defences nightmares and, I would guess, is our topscorer since he joined the club.  I'm not sure if any of his goals have been penalties either?  Selling for less than we paid for him is, in my eyes, poor business.  But then again, getting rid of him is poor business in my eyes too.

Very well argued, fair play. It's all about opinions.

Me likening him to Gabby was purely in relation to influencing a game. People are very quick to slag Gabby, and at the same time praise Ayew, when the end product is very much the same.

I have based my view on what I have seen with my own eyes. Not statistics. I don't care what the stats say in terms of creating chances, because he really doesn't. In fact, there are more instances of him simply not making that final pass because he either hasn't seen it or simply refuses to. He played up through the middle several times last season IIRC. Anyway, he played wide in France mainly anyway so it's a null and void argument. He is and has been playing in his best position for us.

All I would say is if he was half as good as your stats suggest, why is an experienced manager like Steve Bruce looking to get rid? A manager so disillusioned by our strike force he has put Gabby back in the side! 

He won't do anything for Swansea...except maybe get relegated again. You can take that to the bank!

Just now, Eastie said:

Linked to Hernandez in the summer - haven't seen us linked this month .

hull seem to be sellIng the jewels - snodgrass gone , Robertson going - Hernandez next ?

End of November we were being linked with Hernandez, Brucey denied everything :-)

You're right about Hull though, they appear to be planning for next season already!

Been linked to both Hogan and Hernandez so unlikely if Bruce is taken at his word.

Benteke on loan?

I'm most definitely in the "We won't miss him" camp. 100%

I'm still waiting to see...or hear, what he offers the side that Gabby hasn't since he returned? The way I see it they both huff and puff, make poor decisions most of the time and their final ball, be it shot, pass or or cross is invariably poor.

Ayew has shown flashes of real ability, but really hasn't improved since he has been at the club. Even dropping down a level hasn't brought about any improvement, actually nearer the opposite! To me his body language screams "attitude problem". His selfishness/lack of awareness on the pitch has cost us many times and his goal return is poor.

He has been played centrally, and he didn't impress there either. The reputed £8m deal would be good business for us in my view.

Ask yourself 2 questions when assessing his value to the club.

1. Do we miss him when he doesn't play?

2. Would you be worried about facing him in another team? 

If you answer 'No' to both of those questions (as I'm sure most will, then selling for good money is a good idea.

We know that statistically speaking, 75 points in the Championship gets you a play off place. Only once in the last 12 years has 75 points not been enough. To that end, as we move towards February, we need to find 39 points from our remaining 19 matches to have any chance at all. 

Winning 13 from 19 would do it, it seems unlikely, but we have the bottom 6 still to play! Our remaining fixtures would appear, on the face of it, to give us every opportunity to obtain these points, and making the play offs is still very much in our own hands.

Obviously though, this is a huge ask. Those 2 points thrown away against Preston last week could be catastrophic come the end of the season. I know we have dropped a lot of points this season, but can’t recall letting too many 2 goal second half leads slip?

Anyway, remaining positive, where are the points going to come from?  We will have to continue our unbeaten home form in my opinion, and our away form has to improve remarkably. Of our remaining 10 home games we must be looking at 6 wins minimum.

Away from home the fixture list gives us every chance of securing the points that we will need, assuming we can secure the points at home. 9 away games include trips to 5 of the current bottom 6. We have to win all 5 of those games. Simply have to!

Tomorrow night at Brentford is very winnable now. They’ve gradually slipped down the table and the speculation surrounding Hogan hasn’t helped them at all. We absolutely must then follow that up with a win at Forest on Saturday. On balance, 4pts from these 2 away games is a minimum.

Assuming we pick up maximum points in the next 2 home games against Ipswich and Barnsley, we can go to St James’s Park with a free shot at Newcastle.  Irrespective of that result though, we have to be looking at minimum 4pts again from the following 2 games at home against Derby and Bristol City.

3 matches in 7 days in early March must see us pick up 5/6 pts. Rotherham away is e a must win, and Huddersfield away followed by Sheff Wed at home won’t be easy. 2 draws would be ok, winning one of them would be better!

Wigan, Burton and Blackburn away from home have to be must wins, 9 pts.

Two games at home start of April against Norwich and QPR must again return 4pts minimum.

Our final 3 home games are Reading, Blues and Brighton, and a lot will depend on the situation Reading and Brighton find themselves in. Brighton could well be up by the last game, and if we need a win to make the play offs then I would fancy us to get it. I can see us picking up 7pts from these last 3 games at Villa Park.

This forecast would see us finish on 76 points. 11 wins and 7 draws from our remaining games. As unlikely as that appears, the fixture list is definitely giving us a chance. If the new players hit the ground running, and we can get some momentum behind us then it really isn’t impossible yet.

This is where I have stacked the points, my only forecasted loss is away at Newcastle. There are a lot of games where I have conservatively gone for a draw but we are more than capable of winning!

Just now, Jas10 said:

As well as LW & CF, we also need a LB really, cover for Amavi.

Haven't heard or read any links to such players for quite a while... Galloway loan has not worked out at West Brom and I've read that Everton want to end the loan early, a good option for us? Not sure if he'd get the game time here either though...

Ricardo Calder

Oscar Borg (when fit)

Nathan Baker (as a last resort)