the_eristic

Didn't we recall Sarkic from what was a looking like a very successful loan due to our goalkeeping crisis (which we're still in, frankly), but now we're letting him go? Thought he was supposed to be our best keeper prospect in quite a while. Maybe he has first team football on offer somewhere?

I've been critical of Hourihane plenty, but this was the type of game he should start. Also Konsa at right back has to stop. Multiple attacks broke down because he got dizzy after setting foot in the attacking half. Also, why are we still bothering with "wingers"?

Too little, too late.

We bossed Newcastle at VP with much the same side, Smith should be reminding the boys of it. If we don't set out to attack them today, I'll know we're done.

Assuming we don't have to replace Jack or SJM, one experienced, physical holding mid and at least one consistently quality winger or attacking mid would go a long way for us. Afterwards, I'd be looking for upgrades on Taylor/Elmo at a minimum if not on Guilbert/Targett, then, if anything's left, look for an older head for the center of defense and let Hause or Konsa go out on loan.

Found the club (or the club found me?) shortly before Lerner bought it. A mix of favorites and "bests" in the years I've been watching, though one player I loved to watch ruined himself in my mind to the point I couldn't include him. Friedel Mellberg - Laursen - Bouma Milner - Petrov - Barry Albrighton - Grealish - Young Benteke

I would be somewhat surprised if Douglas and Engels didn't go off to the continent somewhere, maybe on loan. Get the feeling Targett would likely be off to a bottom half or promoted side, too.

Think he might be useful as a sort of forward pivot in the 10 spot where he wouldn't have to beat wingers/fullbacks for pace. Of course, the trouble lately is actually getting the ball to anyone in an attacking position in the first place.

Not enough skill/experience/tactical nous/whatever from manager and players combined, and topped off with not enough luck. We've looked bad plenty of times, but we looked done and dusted as a team after the VAR call, just nothing left. Getting the feeling we have to make a change just to make a change at this point.

This is the case with every player in our team at all times. We have a fundamental inability to offer the player in possession a safe forward passing option anywhere on the pitch, especially transitioning out of defense into attack. Teams have clearly picked up in and press us in packs from our box to the center circle so at best it goes back to a defender or keeper and gets hoofed.

I can't fathom how he got into this game. You just cannot have him in a match where you're not going to dominate possession, which is most of them for us. I guess Smith thought we'd get more free kick opportunities, but I'd have practically anyone else in a tough away game, even if they have to be shoehorned in. **** it, didn't Konsa play defensive mid a few times for Charlton? At least he'd be a physical presence.

Biggest failing was playing the long ball constantly to players who aren't really equipped to win it, though some of that has to do with the frequent absence of close support for the player with the ball. Need a big physical presence in midfield to contest knockdowns and second balls if we're going to keep hoofing, but we don't have one at all.

This must be just about the most fickle thread in VT history.

Quoting myself from the last thread, depressingly, what the **** is wrong with this team? No mental strength at all.

Sick of betting sponsors, never liked the idea of them in the first place and this sounds like a particularly nasty one, really hope we don't go through with it.

Loved that he went to head the own goal on the chance it made it to him, that's real striker's instinct.

Was probably just desperate to try to do *something*. Totally not the time to bring him on given Samatta was still going strong and causing problems, though.

What the **** is wrong with this team? Must've been a half dozen times our defenders just let balls go through their feet or slip by easily, finally bit us in the end.

If ever he must needs go anywhere, let it be Real Madrid. We'd get the biggest fee possible and I could just about stomach him going to a club that big in a different country so I don't have to watch our best player line up for ******* Manchester City every week yet again. Not resigned to losing him yet, though, absolutely have to stay up and invest!

Me too!

Technically, Sturridge was ours once! Can only hope Keinan gets anywhere close to Sturridge at his peak, think he has a much better mentality tbf, if only he can stay fit!

We've been awful at it since Laursen retired, really.

Engels was getting forward and passing better than Fred by the end, will be pleased to see him back in the lineup. (Also makes me wonder if Fred was carrying a knock from the Leicester game.)

This is a major thing. It's like the side expects whichever individual is closest to hustle to win the ball back alone, then can't react quickly enough to cover if he doesn't. Also means he has no simple passing options when he does come away with it, so it either goes back to the defense to hoof or it winds up being turned over again because the opposition invariably *do* close down in numbers. It's a big problem for someone like Nakamba, but it's been an issue with better passers like McGinn and Jota, too: first Bournemouth game, Jota got the ball, beat two or three guys in a row with clever dribbling, but the closest Villa player was probably 30 yards away standing next to his marker offering nothing and no other teammates were approaching from any angle, so the players he'd beaten just clamped down on him together and got it back. Happens practically every match, really troublesome.

Couldn't stop hoofing, thought he was trying the Hollywood ball but it turned out to be pretty aimless and played straight into Bournemouth's hands.