striker

Sheffield have played as expected. Parked the bus and left it up to Villa to break them down.

So far Villa’s achilles heel has shown itself again with a lack of creativity through the middle while Bailey and Diaby have been poor out wide.

Watkins has also been too static up front and therefore easy to mark.

The manager signalled he was falling asleep so I’d expect a much improved second half performance with more movement and a much better final ball.

Interesting selection with Lenglet.

Previously Villa haven’t coped with expectations too well and this would have been a banana skin waiting to happen.

However, looking forward to see how the new Villa deal with a team sitting in?

A very different performance from Wednesday but both magnificent!

1 hour ago, nick76 said:

No thank you and as you say

So why the hell would we want him when he doesn’t even get any kind of look in when Spurs have a fully fit squad.  

Just not impressed with him and seems to be better suited in other European leagues than ours.

He wouldn’t get any game time with us with Luiz, Kamara, McGinn, Ramsey and Buendia well ahead of him and he isn’t good enough to replace any of them.  

We want players that would compete with first teamers at least and he isn’t that.

 

He would get plenty of game time. You can’t play the same midfield in every game especially when in Europe. 
 

He doesn’t play in the same position as Ramsey or Buendia but he could give the others a rest.

If you don’t think he’s good enough that’s fair enough but he looked plenty good enough against the current 4th team in the Premiership and European Champions scoring in both games!

2 hours ago, Herman22 said:

Talk that United will let Sancho go for 26m. I’d take him at that vale. I think the issue is we are now a genuine threat to them in the too 4 so they won’t want to sell to us. 

Talk he’s going to go to Juve! 

I’m in no doubt if anyone bid that sort of money Manchester Utd would sell whether to a rival or not.

Sancho has been yet another disastrous transfer for Man U.

Wouldn’t touch any of their players with a barge pole.

17 hours ago, Kiwivillan said:

Why would Spurs do a top 6 rival a favour and sell in form player with 2 goals in 2 games back and year and a half left on contract. This is like Luiz to Arsenal nonsense that people get mad about on here

It was rumoured that Emery was interested in him. Secondly Lo Celso is only playing in the first team due to Spurs spat of injuries. 
Lastly, due to previous history there’s very little to suggest that one rival won’t sell to another if the money is right, especially a squad player!
 

Therefore, I don’t feel it unreasonable at all to suggest Spurs selling Lo Celso to Villa!

Been watching Lo Celso closely against Villa and now against City.

Very good tidy player who would be a quality replacement for either McGinn or Luiz to give those players a rest.

I know Villa would have to deal with Levy but he’d be a very good squad signing and much better than Donk!

Didn’t see the game just followed the comments on here.

By all accounts another poor away performance but, but, a point away to an in form Bournemouth is not the worst result.

Gaining points when playing poorly is something Villa didn’t do in previous seasons so that’s a massive improvement in itself!

Konsa needs to play in the centre for next two games while it’s obvious to everyone that more players are needed in January to freshen things up and I feel both will happen.

Much better second half but it’s a three point steal which will be duly accepted against a Spurs second string.

Talk about a smash and grab first half!!

Villa have been awful against a Spurs second string.

From front to back Watkins has being strutting around the game like he’s on a model runway. Diaby has been statuesque and showing petulance whenever he doesn’t get the ball. Cash? The less said about him the better and needs subbed!

Villa’s midfield have been trampled on by a lightweight Spurs team that want it far more.

In defence Carlos is far too slow to play a high line and needs replaced with Pau Torres also suffering from the same ailment. Konsa needs to move into the centre right away to add some pace.

That **** high line . I repeat again any top six team will expose it even Spurs second team. 
 

On a positive note Villa have somehow gone in all square and I can see why Emery wants Celso. Gave Villa’s midfield a lesson in how to play the position alongside Bentancur. 

Not a great performance by any means but Luiz’s pass to Watkins for the goal was sublime as was Watkin’s finish.

Also liked the way Villa controlled the last ten minutes.

Sigh of relief alright. Did just enough and a brilliant pass by Luiz to Watkins for the goal.

1 minute ago, osmark86 said:

absolutely undeserved, but gotta go all in now

It is deserved. Villa have been crap! That bloody high line again!

3 minutes ago, Kiwivillan said:

Imagine what he could've done with same lack of service

Difference is Duran can create something himself.

1 minute ago, R.Bear said:

I'd like to see Duran on at HT.

Should have been on from the start to give Watkins a rest. Duran’s unpredictability may have worked better too?

Apart from the first ten it’s another Forest performance so far.

Very little in the way of creativity with both Bailey and Diaby really poor.

Watkins has had no service at all and was basically a nonentity in first half.

Needs to drastically improve in the second half or Villa may get another smack in the bottom.

Poor game so far.

That’s a definite pen.

Villa could have played another 90 minutes and not scored. Forest much the better team today.

Apart from the Watkins chance which he should have buried Villa created very little going forward. Forest doubled up on Diaby. and Bailey second half which nullified any threat Villa. I also had to check that Watkins was still playing after his miss but he had no service.

After a good performance in Europe Luiz again confirmed to me he’s well short of the accolades on here.

Villa need midfield upgrades in January to challenge for that 5th Champions League place as the midfield is just too similar.

Bad day at the office with no excuses and no Villa MOTM for me.

Villa been poor with no real attacking threat. You can’t use the fatigue excuse as they’ve had decent recovery time from Europe.

Zaniolo has been awful and needs replaced at half time.

Luiz at fault as he made no attempt to close down the goal scorer. Forest actually targeting him in possession.

Only saving grace is that Emery will get into them at half time so I expect a much better second half!

3 hours ago, MWARLEY2 said:

Lenglet Tielemans and Bailey deserve the MOTM. cannot split them..

Youri was **** magnificent though  . He came alive in that number 10 role and then through getting so much confidence from his performance we didnt even miss Luiz when he went off. 

We forget that Maddison had that number 10 sewn up at Leicester. His skillset can be really made the most of further up the pitch. You could see he was loving it . 

This was the night Youri truly became a Villa player. 

I’m Luiz’s fiercest critic on here but can’t agree at all that Villa didn’t miss Luiz when subbed.

It was no coincidence at all that AZ best period of the game coincided with Luiz’s substitution!

Brilliant performance by Villa tonight. Every player 8 out 10 with Tielemans putting in his best performance in a Villa shirt.

Defensively sound while having a cutting edge on the break. Kamara also went about his business quietly but effectively and it was noted by self when Luiz was subbed Villa lost a bit of control in midfield.

Bailey was also effective and you can see how much the players have improved under Emery with most improving their technique on the ball.

Impressive!

Stronger team out tonight and it shows. Tielemans has had his best game so far for Villa while the performance in general has been very professional.

I know going 0-2 away from home the tendency is to sit but I’d like to see Villa come out in the 2nd half and get the third early to kill the game.

Is this on TNT?

Villa have been terrific first half and could have been two up if Watkins had put his chance away.

Special mention for Zaniolo and Luiz who have been excellent.

West Ham dangerous on the break though so Villa will have to score again to win the game!