Ratings & Reactions: Villa v Bournemouth

[TRO]

I am interested to know who did Dougie think was behind him when he let the ball go through his legs for Harry Wilsons goal?

[maqroll]

I think we will be ok, but another striker must be a top priority for January. The two mistakes were likely nerves. Need to keep improving. Big game Friday.

[VillaChris]

51 minutes ago, OutByEaster? said:

Didn't show our best chance of the game for Trezeguet in the first half either.

 

Or the Grealish curler in second, that made the Sky 3 minutes highlight package.

It's always been like that on MOTD. They have 5-6 minutes of match action yet chose to not show some of the best chances for some reason.

[maqroll]

Just now, TRO said:

I am interested to know who did Dougie think was behind him when he let the ball go through his legs for Harry Wilsons goal?

Espirito Santo

[bannedfromHandV]

I would have liked to see Targett come on in the second half once we took control fully, Taylor is just so reluctant in attack.

 

[Rightdm00]

So, having rewatched the match I didn't see many negatives. Obviously the two mistakes so early is just something that can't happen in the future. Other than those 2 crucial errors I thought we barely put a foot wrong.    One thing I did notice that could be a slight worry going forward was our fitness.  We look absolutely done by the 80th minute. Bournemouth has some of the best running stats in the league but that's 2 games in a row we look dead on our feet when the game was on the line.  

Also, given that Aston Villa has been down in the championship for most of Bournemouth prem existence I had no idea how cynical of a team Bournemouth was.  The diving, play acting and time wasting was really over the top. Hearing about Bournemouth's attacking flair all week I expected better. 

 

[sidcow]

43 minutes ago, VillaChris said:

They should've had a penalty in second half, seems VAR is pretty random in decisions they decide to check given Wesley clash with keeper was reviewed.

OK. 6-3 then

[maqroll]

1 hour ago, bannedfromHandV said:

I would have liked to see Targett come on in the second half once we took control fully, Taylor is just so reluctant in attack.

 

Targett and El Ghazi storming the flank is what we need

[Kiwivillan]

If you show the stats as Team A and Team B to any football follower they'd pick us as winners every time. Everything that could go wrong did to conspire against us

[chappy]

I thought we were good enough to win that game but we were let down by two early errors.

You can’t legislate for your keeper mindlessly wafting a foot out after 43 seconds - Wilson was going nowhere. Then a mistake by Douglas but still unlucky to concede once Wilson got the ball.

I thought Douglas was great today btw, lots of criticism of him around me (more on that later) for ‘slowing the game down’ - surely that’s part of his role?! Would these people be happier if he lumped it 50 yards forward in the general direction of Wes within two seconds of getting the ball every time? Sadly I think some of them would... “FORWARD!” 

The rest of the midfield: SJM was great and I really enjoyed watching Trezeguet (think he is gonna be class for us - just needs a bit more composure in front of goal but I think one goal will bring more). Unfortunately, Jack and El Ghazi weren’t great today and we need more from both (especially Jack) to drive incisive attacks.

Wesley was another one getting a load of stick around me. I thought he showed a big improvement on last week and this was evident right from his first touch. Give him time and again, like Trez, I think one goal will bring many. Or, if you’re impatient, spend the entire game shouting “s**t John Carew” every time he’s near the ball and castigating him for not pressing two central defenders and the keeper all at the same time “LAZY”. Some people!!

Mings and Engels were great again - they do not deserve to have conceded 5 goals! Really impressed with Engels in particular as I had read a couple of unspectacular write ups when we signed him.

The fullbacks. The most controversial aspect of our season so far (other than Billings somehow staying on the pitch). It’s a tricky one because Taylor has put in two decent defensive performances and Elmo could’ve been given MOTM today. His understanding with Trezeguet is really helping Trez settle in the prem and he has been putting in our best crosses. I’d love to see Guilbert come in but at the moment, Elmo is the man in possession and doesn’t deserve to lose his place. Tough call for Smith to make and I imagine we won’t see Guilbert and Targett until Crewe.

Finally, it was great to be back and I’m really happy with my new seat. However, I appear to be surrounded by several ‘characters’ who expect us to be challenging for the title already. Some of the negativity was astounding today. I really hope people can get a sense of perspective and give the players time. We had a lot more depressing games and performances last season than the two we’ve witnessed so far! I’ve seen nothing to suggest we’ll get relegated, do I hope everyone calms down a bit! Unfortunately, for one reason or another, I can’t make the next few home games, hopefully we’ll have picked up some points by the time I’m back and I might be surrounded by a bit more positivity.

Ps. the Purity Pale Ale is possibly our best summer signing!

[blunther]

24 minutes ago, chappy said:

I thought we were good enough to win that game but we were let down by two early errors.

You can’t legislate for your keeper mindlessly wafting a foot out after 43 seconds - Wilson was going nowhere. Then a mistake by Douglas but still unlucky to concede once Wilson got the ball.

I thought Douglas was great today btw, lots of criticism of him around me (more on that later) for ‘slowing the game down’ - surely that’s part of his role?! Would these people be happier if he lumped it 50 yards forward in the general direction of Wes within two seconds of getting the ball every time? Sadly I think some of them would... “FORWARD!” 

The rest of the midfield: SJM was great and I really enjoyed watching Trezeguet (think he is gonna be class for us - just needs a bit more composure in front of goal but I think one goal will bring more). Unfortunately, Jack and El Ghazi weren’t great today and we need more from both (especially Jack) to drive incisive attacks.

Wesley was another one getting a load of stick around me. I thought he showed a big improvement on last week and this was evident right from his first touch. Give him time and again, like Trez, I think one goal will bring many. Or, if you’re impatient, spend the entire game shouting “s**t John Carew” every time he’s near the ball and castigating him for not pressing two central defenders and the keeper all at the same time “LAZY”. Some people!!

Mings and Engels were great again - they do not deserve to have conceded 5 goals! Really impressed with Engels in particular as I had read a couple of unspectacular write ups when we signed him.

The fullbacks. The most controversial aspect of our season so far (other than Billings somehow staying on the pitch). It’s a tricky one because Taylor has put in two decent defensive performances and Elmo could’ve been given MOTM today. His understanding with Trezeguet is really helping Trez settle in the prem and he has been putting in our best crosses. I’d love to see Guilbert come in but at the moment, Elmo is the man in possession and doesn’t deserve to lose his place. Tough call for Smith to make and I imagine we won’t see Guilbert and Targett until Crewe.

Finally, it was great to be back and I’m really happy with my new seat. However, I appear to be surrounded by several ‘characters’ who expect us to be challenging for the title already. Some of the negativity was astounding today. I really hope people can get a sense of perspective and give the players time. We had a lot more depressing games and performances last season than the two we’ve witnessed so far! I’ve seen nothing to suggest we’ll get relegated, do I hope everyone calms down a bit! Unfortunately, for one reason or another, I can’t make the next few home games, hopefully we’ll have picked up some points by the time I’m back and I might be surrounded by a bit more positivity.

Ps. the Purity Pale Ale is possibly our best summer signing!

Where are you sitting? Back of the lower Holte was relatively sane. Looks like the woman who shouts 'FORWARD' every time we have the ball hasn't renewed. The blokes who keep calling Wes 'emile' pissed me off but they've always been bellends. 

[chappy]

14 minutes ago, blunther said:

Where are you sitting? Back of the lower Holte was relatively sane. Looks like the woman who shouts 'FORWARD' every time we have the ball hasn't renewed. The blokes who keep calling Wes 'emile' pissed me off but they've always been bellends. 

L8 toward the back. Never been in the lower before but was impressed by the vantage point.

[blunther]

2 minutes ago, chappy said:

L8 toward the back. Never been in the lower before but was impressed by the vantage point.

Ah right, I'm behind the goal. Shame that people are talking such shit so early into the season but it's sadly to be expected if we lost the first couple. We need to pick up a couple of points from the everton and palace games or it's just gonna get worse. I wish we'd be a little more patient and consider where we were half a season ago. 

[barry'sboots]

9 hours ago, Brumerican said:

This season ? 2 Games ?   Guilbert has shown more in preseason than Elmo has in his entire career . 

Chemistry with Trezeguet ? I lost count of how many times Elmo refused to overlap  or even be within 20ft of him on a counter and he was out of position quite a few times defensively .

Playing with 2 conservative fullbacks who specialise in killing momentum is going to murder us with the the way we set up.

I'm genuinely flabbergasted that anybody would think persisting with this will work out.  If we play Elmo and Taylor against Everton then we will be the same narrow , one dimensional team we have seen the last 2 games Jack will get swamped and Wes will be boxed out again. 

Nip it in the bud now and become the attacking team Smith wants to be or stay with the "safety first coward" option and say hello to 46 games again.

Elmo might be steady (I have never saw anything above that from him) but steady is not going to work unless we alter the formation that we spent all summer working on (successfully with Guilbert and Targett) 

Elmo and Taylor are the last lingering shadows of Steve Bruce IMO and unless we go back to how we set up in the summer then I can't see many points being won or Wesley getting enough chances created for him.  

If we are picking players based on "doing a job very well" then Guilbert should have never lost HIS place based on better performances in the Summer, albeit against lesser opponents bar Leipzig.

Completely agree. Decent back up BUT I can't believe anyone is advocating continuing with them.  They give very little in possession and, as you say, consistently kill momentum. Guilbert and Targett (and even Hause at LB) >>>> Elmo and Taylor!

[Ginko]

I’m just worried that the fact we were so dominant for most of the game was only down to the fact that Bournemouth sat back because they were already two goals to the good.

I hope not, but I think it’d have been a far more even game possession and chances-wise had they not had a two goal lead so early on.

Hope I’m wrong but I think we’re going to struggle this season. Not sure where the goals are going to come from. I think we’ll be signing a striker in January.

[chips'ngravy]

Given our lack of a proven goalscorer in the side I think a re-jig of sorts is required to get Hourihane in, not as DM but further forward. It appears we're going to struggle to get the required amount of goals needed for survival so we can't afford to have someone of his goalscoring and set-piece ability on the bench. 

The obvious candidate to drop out is El Ghazi, who hasn't offered much so far. Maybe play Hourihane just behind Wesley, who has cut quite an isolated figure so far. I dunno....that's for Smith to work out, but a potential 8/10 goals on the bench is too much to pass up when you wonder if our main striker will make it to double figures.

[AlwaysAVFC]

8 hours ago, TRO said:

I am interested to know who did Dougie think was behind him when he let the ball go through his legs for Harry Wilsons goal?

Wasn't it Harry Arter a couple of years ago who shouted leave it for Bournemouth a couple of years ago against Palace. Maybe similar happened. A silly place to leave the ball anyway and we got punished.

[KenjiOgiwara]

8 minutes ago, chips'ngravy said:

Given our lack of a proven goalscorer in the side I think a re-jig of sorts is required to get Hourihane in, not as DM but further forward. It appears we're going to struggle to get the required amount of goals needed for survival so we can't afford to have someone of his goalscoring and set-piece ability on the bench. 

The obvious candidate to drop out is El Ghazi, who hasn't offered much so far. Maybe play Hourihane just behind Wesley, who has cut quite an isolated figure so far. I dunno....that's for Smith to work out, but a potential 8/10 goals on the bench is too much to pass up when you wonder if our main striker will make it to double figures.

We will get goals. The lads are still trying to gel. We could with a bit of luck have had at least 3 if not 4 goals today. A "re-jig" is the last thing we need. 

[AlwaysAVFC]

Like Tottenham, I came away from the game pretty positive. Which obviously can't keep going on like that without us getting points but I liked a lot of how we played.

I thought Douglas Luiz looked like he's got an enormous amount of quality and potential. A bad error bit grew into the game loads.

Wesley again showing potential, without losing to much of a goal threat but had limited supply.

El Ghazi I thought had a poor game, which doesn't worry me too much, as wingers especially can have off games. I also thought a big part of the problem is Taylor behind him offers nothing in assistance offensively compared with Elmo and Trezeguet the other side. I'd personally get Targett in asap. It would be nice to see Guilbert too, but I'm less concerned about Elmo.

I also like Trezeguet and think he could be really good. Lost the ball a few times but asking as it's in the right part of the pitch and not leaving to much space behind. I'd rather a winger that tries things but doesn't always come off, than keep it safe. Which was sometimes an issue with Adomah & Green.

Grealish has seemed to have got a lot of over the top criticism on social media too.

Thought McGinn, Mings and Engels all played well. 

Let's get a couple of wins under our belt and I think we can put on a good show in the league.

[chips'ngravy]

42 minutes ago, KenjiOgiwara said:

We will get goals. The lads are still trying to gel. We could with a bit of luck have had at least 3 if not 4 goals today. A "re-jig" is the last thing we need. 

There seem to be a lot of people attributing our defeat to bad luck. I don't see it that way. We made fundamental errors and got punished, then we failed to convert all but one of our numerous chances (and that was goal of the month contender). Realistically speaking, we probably won't create that many chances on a weekly basis so we need to be more clinical when they do come along. 

McGinn aside you probably wouldn't back anyone else to put the ball in the net given a clear opportunity. I guess it depends on how much you favour the system over ability. Trezeguet has looked a threat so far but El Ghazi hasn't. Perhaps he'll come good next game, I hope so, but Jota doesn't have the pace to play on the wing in the PL. So if El Ghazi continues to look a bit flat I'd rather have Hourihane in and shuffle things around than stick Jota on the wing for the sake of the system.

For what it's worth I have every faith in Smith to make the right decisions. It's a sharp learning curve for everyone, including him.