OxfordVillan

We’ve got to get closer to Davis and compete or we’ll lose. A matter of time before we concede if we continue as is.

For me you don’t get our CBs engaging with Giroud outside of our box. He will get the better of them and create space to the side and behind when he wins the ball, and Mount will be flying around looking for those spaces. Maintain a solid back 4 line. Douglas Luiz should be tasked with sticking around Giroud, and breaking from there. If we leave space in our final 3rd it will be exploited by Chelseas quality. I’m looking for a solid display that builds on the deserved clean sheet against Sheffield Utd. Keeping goals out has to be the priority.

...........................Nyland......................... Konsa.......Hause.......Mings.......Targett .........................Luiz................................ ElGhazi.....McGinn.....Hourihane....Grealish ......................Davis................................ Thats what i think should be the starting lineup, because I’d start the same 11 who now have that little bit more match sharpness and fitness than anyone else. However, if ElGhazi isn’t doing it again, then I would hope that Dean is brave enough to change it early, and I’d bring on Samatta to play off of Davis, if Davis is having as much of an effect on the game as he had against Sheffield Utd. But more important than anything is that we put in another display which is defensively much tighter again. It’s looking ever likely that goal difference could come into play and it’s fanciful to think we’ll score plenty, so we must remain tighter.

Theoretically we should have a little edge with our match sharpness and fitness, and so for me I’d probably go with the same starting 11. I think if teams like us are going to win games against the big clubs then it’s likelier you do it within 60-70mins. We simply don’t have the depth in the squad to bring on players to swing a game in our favour, certainly not now 5 subs are allowed. It’s grabbing at thin air but we could really do with a wildcard in the pack, a little known youth player who comes in and shocks the opposition.

I’m concerned only with Villa’s performances and results, because if we get those right then we needn’t concern ourselves about anyone else’s fixtures or results. Seeing other clubs in and around us lose is simply a bonus.

We didn’t get dismantled by Bournemouth, we contrived to lose both games. Dismantled is what ManCity done to us at Villa Park.

He had a really good game. Deserved a goal, only an outstanding save denied him a goal. We notably conceded more of the game when he went off, we were poorer for his absence. I do think we can tweak our set up to get even more benefit from him. I’d prefer to see Grealish more central in a 4-14-1, whereby our midfield could get closer to Davis, or a 4-1-3-2 with Samatta in and around Davis.

No goal was conceded, so no fault is attributable. Had fault been attributable then, at worst, it’d be shared between Nyland and Davis. You could argue that Nyland was slightly hesitant in collecting, but he got pushed back over the line by Davis. Anyway, a goal wasn’t conceded and so there’s nothing to wet yourselves about. Get behind ALL the Villa players, rather than constantly picking someone out for “fault”. We could and should have won last night, being only the third home team to beat Sheffield Utd this season. They literally didn’t have a sniff of our goal, didn’t create a single opening from open play. We locked out the much vaunted visitors. We should have had one penalty award, arguably two. Their goalkeeper was awarded MOTM. This was an improved Villa from what we’ve seen previously, and Nyland was a part of that TEAM. Just get behind them and hope for good results. Heaton won’t be playing, Reina has proven a much bigger liability and isn’t even invested into AVFC.

Let’s be honest, it’s highly likely he was pissed up, at best. At his age now he should know better, much better. I think he’ll always be like he is, never too far away from the next drama. His days at Villa are coming to an end, and I think it’ll benefit both parties. Let’s just hope he can find 9 more good performances that keep Villa up. It’s time.

He played well last night. Seemed busier and much more alert, looks to be up to pace going on that performance. Well done Douglas

In a word, Yes. IF we stay up and Grealish moves on for £80m+ then we should be able to add 3-4 good players that would be 1st team players. I’m assuming that the club would add a further £50-70m on top of the fee received for grealish, so an overall transfer budget of £130-150m. If we stay up our owners might even sanction sums higher than that.

Thought Targett was defensively good last night. Looked more determined to get stuck in and win some battles.

Absolutely this. I’ve seen so many comments saying we missed an opportunity to beat an under par, poor Sheffield Utd. Odd, isn’t it, that they’ve been great all season against everyone else but we play them the one time they’re apparently rubbish. It couldn’t possibly be that we got it nearly spot on, tactically?! Had it not been for their GK and poor officiating we could have won that game 3-1, maybe 4-1. Nyland had one header from a corner to save, apart from that Sheffield Utd didn’t have a pop at goal.

I thought Luiz was good last night, pushing for MoTM. Probably the best we’ve seen of him for a full 90mins. Perhaps the warmer weather will bring out the best of him, combined with his improved understanding of the language. Our really weak point has proven to be the front 3, and especially the two wider players of that front 3. ElGhazi unfortunately continues to under deliver on what I thought he could, and so I have to say I have been wrong about him and he simply isn’t going to be good enough at Premier League level. Shame. The wide areas are the reason why I think we should look at going narrower in a 4-1-3-2, or 4-4-2. We just don’t have the personnel for 4-3-3. ElGhazi and Trezeguet just not delivering what’s required.

His absence might simply be Dean Smith excluding him because he’s not allowed any involvement in the Chelsea game, and so the manager went with players who can play a part in both the opening two fixtures? I’m just not sure we have the depth of squad required to send CMs away, an injury to any of Grealish, McGinn, or Luiz and we’re calling on Lansbury...........and that should worry all Villa fans. Injuries are going to happen.

Were Sheffield Utd woeful, or was it because we were made them look that way? I say we made them look woeful, we were tactically spot on in shutting them out, and with a little more fortune would/should have had a couple of goals. Defensively we were a good bit improved, though still improvement to be gained. We just need to instruct Hause to stop with the attempts at ball playing. Sheffield Utd created very little going forward, Villa had the lions share of possession and chances. Compared to the last two games against them, this was improvement.

Posted 20 hours ago That line I have highlighted is a weak argument and miserably dismissive to Chris Wilder. Its what he has done with that time, is the significant thing and moreover, its the path he has paved thats the key.....its what he has set out to do that is crucial.....He has a 52% win ratio with his team which is a very powerful statement....winning plenty of games in all 3 divisions.....his overall is 44.7% in nearly 900 games, the man is a winner......and it shows. Look, he may hit the rocks along the way, they might stumble, but IMO he has gone about it in the right way......Sheff Utd have been an "also ran" club for years. The reason Chris Wilder has developed a team that is hard to beat, first and foremost and built on it, because that is what he set out to do, He has applied the right format for success and I hope he does it, because he deserves it......The others before him have failed, because they didn't do the important things right. many managers have spent time at clubs and done jack ****......and if you doubled that time, it would still be jack ****......time on its own gives you nothing, its what you do with that time, that counts. Now then, TRO, the above are posts you have written/commented on. When it comes to Wilder, you champion his 44.7% win rate as evidence of a winner. When it comes to Dean Smith you say that his win ratio with Villa (42%) is, “hardly stuff to write home about”. So my question to you, TRO, is does Dean Smith need that extra 2% to become a winner?

Fair enough, I did read to the bottom of your post afterwards.........

Bore off and post this type of thing somewhere else. This is a football forum, an Aston Villa forum. I can’t speak for others but I pop up here for a bit of light relief, to talk football. It’s a bit of an escape from the incessant everyday arguing that seems to surround us all every single day. We get it, you’re very virtuous. Now leave your politics somewhere else and just talk football

The bit I have highlighted is, essentially, you agreeing that time helps. Which is what I said. Wilder has BUILT since 2016 with no major player turnovers to contend with. He’s been able to add the players that HE wanted, over time. With no big expectations. Dean Smith is in a very different position, in a much more demanding club. And thus far he’s doing alright, not outstanding and not dire. We’ve had our struggles but our destiny remains in our own hands. If we don’t see an improvement in the next 10 games then questions can rightfully be asked of the management/coaching.

Chris Wilder has been at Sheffield Utd since 2016, that team and their style of play has been built over 4 seasons, out of the spotlight. They won promotion from the championship at the 2nd attempt in Wilders 3rd season. Dean Smith has been at Villa since October 2018. He arrived at a club in turmoil, both on & off the pitch. A big club with big expectation in the country’s 2nd City. The team was underperforming and sat in 12th position in the league after what looked a favourable opening 11 fixtures. The teams star player, Jack Grealish, hadn’t performed well in the opening games and the team then lost him to injury for 3months. Many of the rest of the team were ageing, entering the final year of contracts, or on loan. That team went on to set a club record of successive wins, and win promotion via a playoff final. A huge summer rebuild of the squad had to take place, huge player turnover. And of those players very few had any Premier League experience at all, that was a policy left with Suso. That was the criteria. We currently sit in 19th position with a game in hand, 3pts from 16th position, been to a league cup final. 10 games left to play. And that’s having lost our No.1 Goalkeeper, our record signing player, and the fans player of the season from midfield. But you keep telling yourself how much better it should be, how we shouldn’t be struggling having signed no established Premier League outfield players, being the 5th best championship league team last season, and not having last seasons leading scorer to call upon. Or one half of the CB pairing that won promotion. You’re actually so dense that it beggars belief, you’re a clown.

Let’s see who looks happier at 8pm Wednesday evening. And that’s all that matters.

If you got odds of 28-1 that’s pretty incredible, very generous from the bookies! I’ll be diving in at those odds

Bang on the money. Our FBs primary task against Sheffield Utd must be to protect their half. If we stay defensively disciplined across the back 4 I’m certain we’ll limit Sheffield Utd to very few opportunities. Play two more defensive CMs and I’d fancy our better forward thinking players to nick a goal out of nothing than I would Sheffield Utds. In Grealish, McGinn, and Samatta I’m certain we have more likely match winners that Sheffield Utd. We simply must play more defensively disciplined, and by that i don’t mean sitting on the edge of our own box.

That would be a mistake from the manager, imo.