Ratings & Reactions: Sheff Utd v Villa

[imavillan]

Very poor allround.

From the team. We lacked pace and lacked midfield leadership. Far too many times we played it slow. Played fancy flicks which did not come off. Played passes short putting the receiving player in trouble. Crosses into the box went straight to the keeper. We gave the ball away to the opposition far too easy.

From the manager. Poor team selection and poor substitutions. For everything he got right against Leeds he got it wrong against a dogged Sheffield United.

He should have seen it was not working in the first half and made changes at half time. As he didn't he should have then made changes when they went down to 10 men.

We just did not need the 4 at the back. Elmo should have been subbed and we should have changed the formation and shape. 

Bitterly disappointed and a wasted opportunity. Continuing like this i think we will be doing well to finish in the top 10.

Maybe us fans think they are better than they actually are!!!!!!

We desperately need Jack back.

 

 

Edited March 4, 2021 by imavillan

[Stevo985]

34 minutes ago, bobzy said:

I think there’s worse teams than them this season to be honest. 

I disagree, but even so my point still stands. 

[Demitri_C]

3 hours ago, Stevo985 said:

Missing two players is no excuse for losing to one of the worst teams the premier league has ever seen. There's no excuse

Completely agree. We should not have to rely on one player mainly (grealish) 

 

[villalad21]

We needed a penalty save from Emi and barely beat them at VP against 10 men.

I don't know why people were going into this game thinking it was gonna be an easy game.

20th doesn't equal a bad team. It's a tight league. Sheffield United have not had the rub of the green this season. Just look at the game at VP. That penalty goes in they win the game probably and they could have a completely different season.

It's fine margins at this level.

[villalad21]

1 hour ago, Demitri_C said:

Completely agree. We should not have to rely on one player mainly (grealish) 

 

A better system is what seperates a good manager and a top manager.

Man City barely  feels the effect of De Bruyne's absence. Compare that to Man Utd without Bruno. Spurs without Kane. They suddenly look like completely different teams.

Man City stays the same. Even without Aguero and De Bruyne. All about the system.

[PaulC]

6 hours ago, bobzy said:

I think there’s worse teams than them this season to be honest. 

There really isn't. 

[thunderball]

1 hour ago, PaulC said:

There really isn't. 

We’ll see, we’ve got Newcastle next.

[mottaloo]

12 hours ago, AVFCDAN said:

Unfortunately that is how we’ve handled 10 men for years now, there can’t be a worse side at taking advantage of the extra man than Villa.

 

[barry'sboots]

On 03/03/2021 at 20:04, CVByrne said:

We're a 10th or 11th placed side. We need to accept that. We need signings this summer if we're to really compete for Europe

I think we are a comfortable top half side - on the basis of our starting XI.  Its squad depth that lets us down.  Lose Cash and Grealish - two players which we struggle to cover at the minute - and we look half the side.  That is why it is important to stay in this league for a couple of years so that you can keep developing your squad.  Bring in young back up full backs, another CM to replace Barkley (Berge) and three up top (two quality wide players to replace Trez and AEG and another "9") and we can have a real go next season knowing that a couple of injuries will not de-rail us.  Evolution is the order of the day if we want consistent improvement.

[barry'sboots]

14 hours ago, villalad21 said:

A better system is what seperates a good manager and a top manager.

Man City barely  feels the effect of De Bruyne's absence. Compare that to Man Utd without Bruno. Spurs without Kane. They suddenly look like completely different teams.

Man City stays the same. Even without Aguero and De Bruyne. All about the system.

Disagree.  I think its all about the squad!

The reason Citeh don't miss de Bruyne is because they have got a fantastic squad and can bring in Foden, Silva, Gundogan, etc. to replace him.  They just have 20-25 very good players that are, to an extent, interchangeable.  Others are playing catch up with this.  

We should be aspiring to replicate this - on a lesser budget - and I think this is what we will do in the summer, bringing in upgrades to compete with Cash and Targett, another CM'er so that we have 6 for 3 positions and can rotate/flex/rest and, hopefully, bringing in three attackers to compete/rotate/fill in with Jack, Ollie and BT.  On top of this, over the next few years, we should start to see the benefit of our youth recruitment as Carney, Jadon (not going near surnames with those first two), Barry, Chrisene, Kessler, Revan, Ramseys etc. look to integrate/compete with the first team and provide more depth (or, at worst, exit fees!).