USA_Villa

Looks like a Dean Smith Line-Up. Hoping for a similar result to last time.

He always looks like he doesn't want to be there, never seems to smile, and can be a little bit condescending. Cheer up Steve, we have a game tomorrow.

I've watched both Palace games this season. I'm not at all confident we will get anything out of this game. They are a decent team.

We're just a little less crap than Everton, who are terrible.

I think Lord Farquaad (i.e. Purslow) was looking for any excuse to get rid of Dean and bring in Gerrard. Quoting a continuum of poor results from the previous season was garbage as we beat Tottenham and Chelsea the last two games of the season. We had 10 points from 6 games at the start of the season, and then have a minor meltdown when 2-0 up against Wolves. Purslow then pulled the trigger he'd been patiently waiting to pull during the international break. It all happened far too quickly. He had Stevie G waiting in the wings.

The worrying sign last year was that we beat poorer teams because we had better platers. On Saturday we probably lost to worst team in the league with the poorest performance we've seen to date. We have always struggled against better teams with Gerrard. Everton are not a good team, but they gave Chelsea a run the weekend. Firstly, we need a performance, then we need a result. I need to see an improvement sooner rather than later. It's all starting feel a little Steve Bruce ish.

Can we stop giving Gerrard the benefit of the doubt and start to look at what we have in front of us. He has been give everything he has asked for in the transfer market, in which he changed from recruiting young players with sell-on potential, to proven individuals and paying them the highest contract they are ever likely to receive. He replaced Targett, added Coutinho, when we had a similar player in Buendia, and completely sidelined Sanson and Traore. Add to this the messy business of switching the captaincy, the poor way in which the CC business was handled, and senior players training with the U21's. Admittedly, we got 20M from Chelsea, but that was more fortune than planning. Chelsea are throwing money around at the moment. It all seems a little too much about 'Me' with Gerard. That cohesiveness and dynamic that seemed to be there between backroom staff, players, etc. just doesn't seem to be there now. And let's be honest, that link to the fans has just disappeared. It was always going to be different with Smith leaving, but it's now non-existent. I didn't want Smith to go at the time, but I hoped that Gerrard would improve results after being appointed. The problem now is that I'm really starting to dislike the guy. My club seems to be in a worse place now than it was 12 months ago. We may have a few better players, but I'm not confident this is all going to end well.

I think you are correct. He has been charged with getting Villa in to Europe and it was him that made the recommendation to sack Smith and appoint Gerrard. It was a big call and if it proves to be wrong he will be gone.

So we ask ourselves, have things improved since Smith's departure, and are we positive about things moving forward ............................. That's a No and a No then.

The build up is so slow ................ or it's a hoof

My worry is that we're unlikely to see anyone break through from the academy whilst SG is in charge. Even with nine subs being named next season, how many will actually get a game?

We won't play the lad, we put a $20M price tag his head, which no-one is going to pay, and we'll let him leave at the end of season for free. I don't see how this is good business.

Is it only me that thinks this is really bad man management from Gerrard? This is the same player that Purslow said was the best player in the country for his age two years ago. What message does this present to the other youth players? Not convinced this is a good move Stevie.

I'm not quite sure why I'm sitting here feeling a little bit nervous for the upcoming season and beyond. Any why is this, I ask myself? It does seem as though the transfer strategy has changed from Smith to Gerrard. Smith purchased young players, with potential, and with the likelihood that we could sell them on for a profit in the future. With Gerrard's signings, we are purchasing players at the top of their purchase price and paying them, most likely, the top paying contract they are ever likely to receive I understand the need for coverage in all positions, but is this at the expense of our youth being given a chance, and us seeing these talented young players leave? In all honesty, which one of our youth players do you see coming through and playing at least ten full games this year, similar to JJ? It does seem as though we've gone a little 'All-In' on Gerrard. I hope this strategy works, as I'm not sure NSWE will go through another round of spending in the same manner as before. How will Gerrard and the training team cope without Michael Beale around? It will be his first time managing without his number one guy. We performed very badly against the Top 6 under Gerrard last season. Why? I really hope this season is a success, but I'm not sure it's a foregone conclusion. I've seen other teams with good players not gel, or not work out as planned. Don't let me down Stevie. I'm still 50-50 on you, and I'm hoping you put these nagging doubts I have to bed. UTV

I think you saw the respect the current players had for Dean at the end of the game. I don't believe it was a respect thing, it's a profile thing. Purslow wanted a name and Gerrard fitted the profile perfectly, however inexperienced he may have been.

Strange decision to drop Ezri after a clean sheet against Leicester. Surely, the time to do this was after the Spurs game. Nothing against Chambers, who has played well. Just strange timing.

Just got back from the game this weekend. It was a whistle stop trip flying from the US on Thursday night, and coming back on Sunday, but it was important to see Deano at Villa park one last time. My thoughts on the game. It was uninspiring, the atmosphere was flat, and the performance was decidedly average. Ings coming on changed the game. Until that point I didn't see a lot to choose between the two teams. Appointing Gerrard was supposed to be for one main reason, to improve performances and ultimately to move up the league. From everything I've seen to date, this has not happened. We have not improved, and performances are not any better. The differences on Saturday were a Williams slip, and a mistake by the same player not releasing the ball earlier when he's been clipped by Ollie. Other than those two mistakes, there was nothing between the two teams. As I've said previously, we beat poorer teams because we have better players. We are a predictable team, and others have worked out how to play against us. I'm concerned because I see something similar to what happened to Sheffield United last year. Once teams have worked you out, and you pretty much don't have a plan B, there's almost no way back. We don't have a player issue, we have a system issue. I'm not convinced we don't have the right players for his system, and suddenly need to spend Millions in the close season. My concern is that the system is flawed, is easily shut down, and other teams have worked out how to completely nullify it. I'm not convinced this coaching team are good enough after another bang average performance. BTW, the Villa fans did Deano proud on Saturday. Very respectful, and it bought a lump to my throat. Well done.

The 4th goal summed up the second half and Gerrard's tactics. Digne was in their half when the ball hit the back of our net. Center halves pulled all over the place and no holding cover in midfield. We looked good going forward at times, but we are consistently exposed when it breaks down. Conte got in to them at half time, they started to put their foot in and break up our play. Game over.

I've seen an upgrade in personnel with Coutinho and Digne. What I'm not seeing is an upgrade in tactics. Substitutions still seem baffling, and playing one upfront and allowing Arsenal to walk to the half way line for 80 minutes was dumbfounding. We beat poorer teams because we have better players.

Still not seeing an upgrade I'm afraid. I need to see an improvement against the better teams.

Tactically the worst half ever. We can't beat their high press and we allow them to walk up to the half way line. Sort out it out Stevie.

Trying not to be too critical, especially after recent performances, but those were some really strange substitutions. Luiz should have been off earlier. He was absent all second half, not surprisingly after being kicked in the face. When he did come off we bought on Buendia. Who was supposed to be covering the middle, which was evident for the second goal?

Really hoping for a decent performance. First game for a long time due to Covid travel restrictions. Flying in from the US this evening. Don't let me down Stevie.

This all feels a little Steve Bruce'ish. Tactically very poor and an ability to make substitutions which absolutely baffle us. How many attacking players did we have on the field at the end?

Here's my issue, we've just played two teams that were below us in the table and got one point, and only really looked good for 20 mins of the first game. Leeds had a mountain of injuries and Newcastle had to replace both full backs, and had a center half who was playing his first game. It's not just the result, it's the tactics and performances. Today was devoid of ideas. I expect more.