Jonesy7211

I was at the QPR game and we just didn't turn up as an attacking force. Eze and their left back at the time (I forget his name) ripped us apart. They had carte blanche to come forward as we just sat so deep.

How do people not see it, or is it only the fans of the clubs he manages that do? I've watched Newcastle quite a few times since he began his tenure, and I honestly can't tell you how they've picked up so many points. Going forward his team offers nothing, and it's very similar to when he managed us. Having one of the most expensively assembled championship clubs seriously papered over the cracks for a long time. Goodness knows what would've happened should he have taken over instead of Lambert when we only had the kids and the bomb squad. And I say that as someone who watched in horror at Lambert's regression. I don't wish him any ill will, but he's so out of place in the modern game. From what I can make of it his tactics only consist of sit deep, don't press, and hope he nicks something on the break or on a set piece. It's a waste of some capable players such as Shelvey, Saint Maximin, and Almiron. It was the same when he was here too, there were so many games where we wouldn't attack seriously inferior teams. The game against Bolton when it was snowing sticks in the mind. He doesn't improve players either. Look at the difference in the players still in the squad that he bought in. I'd argue all improved significantly after being coached properly by Deano, which ultimately ended with promotion. He's always had excuse after excuse as well. When we lost, it was the players. When we won it was him. They hated him at Sunderland because he's a Geordie, he wasn't liked at Villa because he managed the noses, he's not liked at Newcastle because he managed Sunderland. It's never him. Not to go all holier than though but I don't think personal growth is possible without recognizing your flaws and working on them. And not to jump in to the earlier argument, but Benitez is hands down a better manager than Bruce. Both incredibly defensive managers, but Bruce is far more negative. I do blame Benitez though for introducing 2 defensive holding midfielders to the Premier League, I don't remember anyone doing that before he did at Liverpool I think you only have to look at their achievements in the game to see who is the better manager. His Valencia tenure is as impressive as it gets.

When they finished above us, and when we went down, I agree they made the most of it, but that's what counts as success for small clubs with a small club mentality. For us it's silverware and going toe to toe with the big boys of Europe. Being annoyed with them is like an elephant being annoyed with an ant because it's on the same road. Same with the other West Midlands clubs (traditionally, looks like Wolves are here for a while longer yet ).

Good result for the baggies today, but Liverpool were nowhere near the level they usually play at. If an in form Liverpool team turn up there simply aren't many teams that can resist them. Not trying to diminish the result, but I highly doubt we see Liverpool play that poorly again at home this season. If they do, they'll lose if they're playing a higher quality oppo. Regarding the baggies staying up though, I think we have to be mindful of two points; 1. The level of investment over the summer, or lack of, meant they were always always going to struggle. They were onto a hiding to nothing any way, they're arguably one of the worst teams to ever come up. The wheels fell off for them in the last third of last season, and Brentford really should have got pipped them to the post. They are a championship squad that is woefully short of quality, form, and confidence. 2. I thought Bilic being sacked was an awful decision, and the quality of football is not going to improve under Allardyce. That being said, he set them up very well today and they took a deserved point at Anfield. Fair play to him. As an aside, all this mind the gap stuff we see from other Villa fans on facebook/twitter is a little small time. We should be head and shoulders above them. Our first XI is so much better than theirs; we've spent millions and millions more, and our club finally feels like everyone is pulling in the same direction. I feel sorry for their fans more than anything. Their owner is sucking the premier league money out of the club. They need to invest massively to even compete with some of the lesser teams in the league. It can be no fun for the fans. I think we can all sympathize with that, especially the years Randy closed his wallet and when we nearly went to the wall under Tony. Talk of them going down to have another go at coming up again is pie in the sky. They're going to need to appoint a new manager when Big Sam leaves at the end of the season, which means they'll need to spend money bringing in players for the new manager. I can't see them coming back up for a good long while under the current ownership. Also, I grew up in an era when the baggies were perpetually in the bottom half of what was division 2. They were never a rival to Villa, and I still don't see them as one now. My views may be completely abhorrent to those that were used to the baggies being in the top flight.

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I'm gutted about Engels. When he first played for us I thought he'd be the one to push on, he looked decent at the start of last season. Now we don't even know when we'll see him again. Really hope his head hasn't gone after the spurs game last season. It wouldn't be the first time this has happened, for example Karius after his Champions League howlers.

Regardless of the first booking, for his second booking we were caught on the break by Palace and Mings was done by Zaha. Done by his movement and skill, and done by his play acting. He's not the first and won't be the last. Yes, Zaha is annoying, but he's also a quality player. Palace are so much worse without him, the stats prove this. Along with Grealish, he's one of the most influential players outside of the top 6. Try and be objective here; Mings is still in my opinion our finest centre half, but today he was out thought and outplayed by a top player. It happens to the best. Watkins gave Van Dijk a torrid time in a little game earlier this season. There's been many games where top defenders have been made to look poor by skillful attackers. Saying this, I don't think he should have had the first booking personally. The ref had lost control and should have gone to var to check both Zaha and Mings for any violent conduct.

In the past 10 years when we've added leadership to the team, it's been in the form of players that I feel were past their best. Whelan, Jedinak, Lescott, Richards, etc off the top of my head. I have no doubt this was a major part in our relative demise as much as some of the chairman and manager issues we so frequently suffered. We had no leadership on the pitch and it showed. Two players that we've brought in that stand out for me and they've been effective as a real team leader are Terry and Mings. The difference in the feel of the club since we've brought these guys in has been immense. I know Jack is our Captain, but Mings is becoming increasingly important to us as a club figurehead. He's obviously level headed, smart, and well spoken. I feel he must have also had a major hand in the improvements of Konsa, and more recently Hause. You can hear him guiding them through games.

Palace have no injuries or suspensions, we'll be getting the best of them. My only doubt is which of them turns up? The one that outplayed manure at Old Trafford and hammered the baggies, or the one that folded against Liverpool? I think we've got the quality to beat them but it will not be an easy game.

West Ham midfield of Rice, Noble, and Soucek. Not particularly dynamic. Moyes aiming for a 0-0 win.

Thought he led the line well today, he competed for a quite a few launched balls that he had no right to win. Also noticed he dropped deep a few times creating space for our other attacking players. Anwar definitely benefitted from this. So unlucky with his disallowed goal. Such a bad decision. I really like him, and to me it looks like the players enjoy playing with him which shouldn't be underestimated.

Deano post match didn't agree with the VAR disallowed goal. Big smile on his face and said it was "marginal". It was a shocking decision in my opinion.

We were much the better team even before the sending off. Baggies dug in and when they opened up we picked them off. Traore MOM, hope we see more of this and it's not a one off performance. His vision and quality delivery for the 1st were as good as anything you'll see. Special nod to Anwar, looked a different player tonight than he has for a good long while. Pleasing performance, onwards and upwards. Thought the ref performance was poor in the first half before the sending off. They were too physical with Jack and he was getting nothing. Baggies are going down. Doesn't matter who the manager is, not enough experience or quality. Expect them to have a poor Christmas with their run of fixtures.

Well well, maybe Bilic wasn't the problem. We've dominated them tonight.

That didn't even look offside on VAR. Get rid of it.

Get in lad!

Anyone finding that since the latest patch on Friday that oppo goalkeepers are getting motm more often? They're keeping so much more out, seems more difficult to score now. Not sure about touch, but this is happening on the full version.

Judging a forward by goals output alone is not an accurate measurement in the way we play. He defends from the front, moves into the channels to create space, and also links play. Very impressed with his start at the Villa, the fee doesn't bother me one ounce. I think he's hampered by the lack of vision we have in any player not named Grealish. When the rest of the team know where to play the ball for him in time, I think we'll start to see even more from him. We can't move him out wide for Davis. I like Davis, but we'd be much weaker going forward in the current system.

Loved it. But how do you top that? Hope they've not peaked because this has been brilliant. Craps all over the prequels and sequel trilogies. Looking forward to the other expanded universe shows. On a side note, my boy and I watch it together and there aren't many TV shows that we both love. He's as excited about the future of this as I am.

We can't just get rid of players though, because of FFP. The players we need will cost more than the ones we'll sell/let go. They'll likely be on higher wages too. FFP stops us from splurging cash and adding too much at once to the wage bill. To build a good squad it will take more than a few transfer windows, and that's if the players we bring in move us forward. Look at the money Utd have spent. It's no guarantee unless you do it wisely. Jack will know this better than outsiders such as us.

I don't think we're at as much risk of losing him as some people fear. With the football economy in Europe being poor, which club can afford him and also guarantee him a starting role? He's got to be worth more than £100mil given the fees paid for other less talented players. Also we must have promised him that we're going to invest in the squad to progress, and because of FFP we can't do that in one season. He'll know this. Regarding tonight's performance, I'm pleased we saw him frustrated we hadn't won. It means the captain wants a higher level of performance from those around him. It doesn't have to be a negative.

I thought he had his best game in a while, and he also marshalled Hause very well. Good performance tonight, and unlucky not to grab the winner. His one moment where there was a slight error in the second half seemed to spur him on, he held his hand up in acknowledgement and kept up a high standard from then on. Top pro.

For me, the performance showed just how far we've come. That was quite a poor line up on paper yet we absolutely dominated an established top flight team. It also shows how far we have to go to in developing a quality squad. We had no-one to come on and make a difference. Given the line up I would have been happy with a point before the game. Given the nature of our performance I'm as frustrated as everyone else that we couldn't stick it in the onion bag.

Their next 3 fixtures are Everton away, City at home, and then Chelsea at home. I can't see Arteta lasting much longer.

I understand your point, and generally speaking I'd agree that it's no way to speak to people. In this case I think he's upset because he cares about the project and the industry. He's also putting considerable effort in to keep the movie filming. He even eases up on them towards the end of his rant and explains to them the potential impact of their behaviour. I'm not excusing him, I just think it's entirely understandable and not something I'd hold against him if I was on the receiving end. I'd be embarrassed that I'd been called out by a peer about my irresponsible behaviour, especially since my actions could be so far reaching and affect so many others.