NeilS

I think what we lack is leaders with tactical nous out on the pitch. It feels like our players sometimes need a player to dish out a rollicking or two on the pitch if standards start to drop, someone who can carry out the managers instructions. Dare I say it, someone like Roy Keane in his prime or a Jordan Henderson. I hope this is something that UE will look to resolve fairly soon.

Yeah Coutinho being in the team was a major part of the problem. He was one of the main creative forces in the team that did not create a thing. He was one of the players who was always trying to thread intricate passes through a packed centre of the pitch, which bar one instance where Sanson scored was not threatening the Stevenage goalkeeper. He was tidy, but ineffective in my opinion. The less said about his shooting the better, all bar one of his shots sailed high and wide, the one on target was staright down the goalkeepers throat. I am not sure what he offers for us as a team going forward.

Agrees. Neither are good enough for a top team. We won’t get to where we want to with players of this level. Mid to lower league table players, we needed better to replace Grealish. We should have spent big on one decent player, rather than waste the fee we received on inconsistent performers.

Had the opportunity to make it 2-0 just before half time but tried to control with his left foot, then slipped over. Pretty much sums his time at Villa to date. I would look to move him on in the summer, and replace with someone of UE’s choice.

I had this discussion with my Dad on the way back to the car. It’s like arguing which is the worst dog turd. Nyland was at least a decent shot stopper at times, Olsen doesn’t seem to even have that in his locker. I am not sure how he managed international caps.

Unai found out today that most of the fringe players are not good enough. That looked reminiscent of the performance versus Watford last season with us trying to thread the ball through the middle all of the time. The passing was laboured, and didn’t really stretch their defence other than on a couple of occasions. The defence was a shambles, Olsen what can I say, I would play a youth goalkeeper over him. What was that at the end! Shocking! For me, Cash, Coutinho, Bailey and Olsen are not good enough. I am sure there are many others. I am so disappointed, I felt we could have given this year good go as a route to European qualification. I hate that we rested so many first team players, and now we are out again. I think I read that we haven’t won any of our last 8 FA Cup matches, that alone is a disgrace.

Tony Morley was my first Villa hero as a young lad for that exact reason. The rest of my list agrees with you, but with possibly Platt replacing Mellberg. Platt wins out for me because of the goals he scored for us, and the goal for England against Belgium was a proud moment for a young Villa fan at school surrounded by annoying Spurs and Liverpool fans. Yorke played some sublime stuff for us, I remember him making a fool out of Southamptons Ken Moncur and Francis Benali in one game.

Yes! Are we going to return the favour from last season with a late turnaround? Come on you Villa boys!

oh yeas, just noticed the year.

David Gold RIP David Gold West Ham co chairman and ex sha owner has passed away at the age of 86. I hadn't realised he was as old as that.

Loan has now finished according to the OS. I guess we will set up a new loan hoping for more match experience in the next loan.

There is now an article from the Express and Star on News Now which highlights the injustice towards us.

To be fair to Neville, he played for Man Utd so it was seen as perfectly legal tackle when he did it.

Pepe, should have scored. That was the chance.

Should have finished it then!

Blimey, how don’t I remember that game. 4 red cards, and there could have been more.

I have never seen so many cards dished out in one match, and I don’t think I have seen anyone booked during a penalty shootout before. The referee has had a nightmare.

It looks like it was Dumfries according to the bbc.

It looks like it was Dumfries who got the second yellow according to the bbc.

Nicely done.

Never trust someone who starts with a straight run up.

Emi again !

Yes Emi!

Fingers crossed for Emi. Come on!

Yeh that is my gut feeling. The shot against the post at the end sums it up. The Dutch goalkeeper is huge as well, which must could be intimidating.