sharkyvilla Posted September 16, 2019 Share Posted September 16, 2019 Only thing I'd say tonight is when they were down to 10 he could have brought Hourihane to play left back for Taylor, or even shifted Mings out there. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest av1 Posted September 16, 2019 Share Posted September 16, 2019 Worryingly they all looked unfit tonight. Everyone of them was blowing out their arses after an hour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCJonah Posted September 16, 2019 Share Posted September 16, 2019 All our wingers are poor. Change of formation needed in my opinion. Either Targett and Guilbert as wing backs or a diamond midfield and 2 up top. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Pangloss Posted September 16, 2019 Share Posted September 16, 2019 (edited) Wouldn't really point too many fingers at his tactics although Grealish is doing too much work deep and needs to be further up the pitch more often. Again, not against starting Grealish on the left in a free role and putting Luiz in Grealish's place with Marvelous holding. I'm also dismayed at Taylor continuing to start, he is such a limiting factor going forward and was abysmal at the back today. This has to change. But overall this squad is limited in quality in attacking areas. Clearly given our structure that's not all on Smith. He's doing IMO a decent job so far this season but it could be that a tactical change needs to happen at some point soon... Edited September 16, 2019 by Dr_Pangloss 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djdabush Posted September 16, 2019 Share Posted September 16, 2019 For me, he's earned the right to manager us next season barring an absolute disaster during this one. After saying that, I am a little frustrated with the talk of having an attacking approach that isn't going to change and then seeing us playing on the counter attack in every game bar Bournemouth so far this season. The fact that we are wedded to a 4-3-3 even though our best players don't suit that formation is also irritating. I've seen us trying and hang on to draws for way too many of my years supporting Villa, I'll be very disappointed if that's how we end up playing this season as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foreveryoung Posted September 16, 2019 Share Posted September 16, 2019 Needs to understand how he is going to bring wes into the game more. I'm just hoping the Premier League ain't to much for him. Seemed very nieve to bring on Davis with 5 minutes to go. Looked like he was happy to keep it 1-1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villalad21 Posted September 16, 2019 Share Posted September 16, 2019 (edited) The formation isn't the issue. Put Abraham in this team and we're a mid table team easy. And obviously Dean Smith's in game management doesn't help our chances for survival either. Edited September 16, 2019 by villalad21 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avfc1982am Posted September 16, 2019 Share Posted September 16, 2019 Personally I think the left side is a real problem along with the wide right role. If we don't address these issues quickly we are going to get dragged into trouble. We lack too much forward penetration to create effective space for the midfield to drive into and for CF movement. Everything of quality is far to central and congested to allow us to stretch and hurt teams. Looking at the options I don't know what the answer is. IMO at the moment, after 5 games Freddie is the only wide player in the team who should be a banker to start. The rest have been average at best. Centrally we look very capable throughout the team but our flanks are dreadful. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr_Pangloss Posted September 16, 2019 Share Posted September 16, 2019 Just now, avfc1982am said: Personally I think the left side is a real problem along with the wide right role. If we don't address these issues quickly we are going to get dragged into trouble. We lack too much forward penetration to create effective space for the midfield to drive into and for CF movement. Everything of quality is far to central and congested to allow us to stretch and hurt teams. Looking at the options I don't know what the answer is. IMO at the moment, after 5 games Freddie is the only wide player in the team who should be a banker to start. The rest have been average at best. Centrally we look very capable throughout the team but our flanks are dreadful. Smith not doing himself any favours by persisting with Taylor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zatman Posted September 16, 2019 Share Posted September 16, 2019 Just now, Dr_Pangloss said: Smith not doing himself any favours by persisting with Taylor. Targett is injures and Hause isn't really much better for me 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AshVilla Posted September 16, 2019 Share Posted September 16, 2019 (edited) Time to ditch the midfield three not working. Our wide options are woeful and Wesley can't play up top on his own. Give Grealish and McGinn license to roam forward with Nakamba and Luiz as a solid base. Drop Taylor on his face and go with Targett and Guilbert for the width instead. We actually have the strength in depth to play this way also. Edited September 16, 2019 by AshVilla 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodders0223 Posted September 16, 2019 Share Posted September 16, 2019 We'd be better off going more direct more quicker. We just don't have the players right now to play cute passes or create chances in the quantity required. Not even quality, not enough players willing to take a chance, it is all sideways and in front and too easy. Mowbray continued with this at West Brom when it was clear it wasn't working. Lambert also. When we get a higher calibre of wide players then fair enough but until january we need to get points on the board. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vive_La_Villa Posted September 16, 2019 Share Posted September 16, 2019 (edited) I fear It’s going to be grim reading for the whole season. It seems easy to forget we’re a team that finished 5th in the championship and needed a massive rebuild. I think there’s concerns in terms of goals but we’ve generally held our own in every game. We also should be on 5 points. Maybe it’s time I had a break. Edited September 16, 2019 by Vive_La_Villa 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomav84 Posted September 16, 2019 VT Supporter Share Posted September 16, 2019 21 minutes ago, Dr_Pangloss said: Smith not doing himself any favours by persisting with Taylor. Unfortunately best of a bad pair Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farlz Posted September 16, 2019 Share Posted September 16, 2019 It feels like we've just abandoned our possession game. What's happened to us playing out from the back and the lovely football of last season? We look completely void of any ideas right now. Something needs to change but I don't know what, when Elmo and Davis are subbed on to try and change the game that's a worry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Villarocker Posted September 16, 2019 Share Posted September 16, 2019 We've replaced a 26 goal forward with someone who looks a mile away from being as smart in the penalty box. Our left back has proven to be not quite up to scratch but, hopefully, he will come good. McGinn and Grealish need to adjust to the PL quickly as we really need them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Villarocker Posted September 16, 2019 Share Posted September 16, 2019 1 minute ago, Farlz said: It feels like we've just abandoned our possession game. What's happened to us playing out from the back and the lovely football of last season? We look completely void of any ideas right now. Something needs to change but I don't know what, when Elmo and Davis are subbed on to try and change the game that's a worry. Yes, that last paragraph is a worry! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeyp102 Posted September 16, 2019 Share Posted September 16, 2019 1 hour ago, av1 said: Worryingly they all looked unfit tonight. Everyone of them was blowing out their arses after an hour. The front 3 especially Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davkaus Posted September 16, 2019 Share Posted September 16, 2019 Jack and McGinn especially, they looked dead on their feet by the time they were down to 10. If our centre mids can be gassed, and Lanabury and Hourihane can't even get any time at home to 10 man West ham, when are they ever going to get any minutes? It was crying out for more energy and creativity in the middle of the park. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KentVillan Posted September 16, 2019 Share Posted September 16, 2019 This was a "winnable" game, but not a "must win". I'd still like to see how we get on vs. Newcastle, Sheffield Utd, Brighton, Norwich, Watford, etc. before piling in, because this West Ham team may end up fighting for a Europa League place. The big positive is that defensively we looked solid. We don't look like a team who will roll over for anyone. And based on the personnel available to him, I still think Dean Smith mostly makes the right calls tactically. We have a very young, naive, inexperienced front 6, and f***ing around with the formation isn't going to fix that. My only quibble with DS tonight was that 11 v 10 against tired legs, that was surely the ideal scenario for Conor Hourihane? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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