Ratings & Reactions: Crystal Palace v Villa

[Johnnyp]

2 minutes ago, OutByEaster? said:

I think I'm on my own here, but I didn't think the ref was that bad.

I mean he wasn't outstanding in any way and he should have booked Schlupp, but overall I thought he was y'know, pretty much okay.

 

You aren't. He wasn't. Certainly not the reason we lost. Not seen Smith's post match interview yet but he does have form for highlighting how much we were wronged by external factors rather than not been good enough. If you don't look inwardly and are not honest enough with your own teams performance, you'll have more results like this. That's the worry.

[OutByEaster?]

Just now, TheMightyVillans said:

joke that nakamba didnt come on. Generally mcginn looks good in the first half then tires around the 65th min and ends up mainly being a passenger for remainder of game. Ramsay usually looks decent when he comes on but when he starts he looks pretty average.

I'm not sure why this didn't occur to me before, but the two of them are actually perfect for each other - McGinn to play 65 or 70 minutes then be replaced by Ramsey is a good move for both. 

What that exposes of course is that we're still short one body - Luiz and McGinn/Ramsey fill two positions - but the third is our weakness, we have two specialists, Barkley, who lacks the energy to do a proper midfield job and Nakamba who is very much a screening defensive midfielder - but neither are really right for that third spot. 

Maybe we miss Sanson, but it's hard to say that with any confidence because we didn't see enough of him for that to ring true. Anyways, we're a man light of what we need in there.

 

[Jas10]

25 minutes ago, Sulberto21 said:

We should have changed the formation maybe because palace cut out McGinn and Luiz maybe Nakamba could have come on because we were poor in midfield in the second half.

Watkins was clearly fouled in the build for their second. Cahill climbed all over him and they scored from it. Mitchell the jammy git shouldered it in. No one played well in the second half. We needed fresh legs as McGinn was huffing and puffing after 50 minutes as usual.

Nakamba is never the answer. We have to strengthen midfield in the transfer window, both from an attacking and defensive point of view. Too weak.

[Jas10]

26 minutes ago, ROTTERDAM1982 said:

Zaha and Eze run the show. Lost too many physical battles, too weak and slow in central midfield. On that performance you would question whether Oli is stong enough to play as a central striker. McGinn was ok Ramsey is too young and weak, Luiz is not and never will be a CDM. We missed Cash today, thought ElHamody should have done better for the last 2 goals. Their attack looked better than ours.

Hause , apart from his passing, defended well, as did Targett, Konsa was ok.

Just finish above Wolves

Think it’s unfair to criticise Watkins when the players behind him and those meant to create for him are playing like shit. 

If they all put in the same shift as him we’d be in a great place.

[The_Steve]

1 minute ago, Jas10 said:

Think it’s unfair to criticise Watkins when the players behind him and those meant to create for him are playing like shit. 

If they all put in the same shift as him we’d be in a great place.

Ollie had lumps kicked out of him. Ref allowed Cahill and others to climb over. He was always going to struggle. We don't get enough protection.

[Five Ken McNaughts]

Whenever we take the lead we act like the underdog fighter who has landed a lucky blow and is now terrified he’s going to get KO’d for making the other guy angry. Back pedal, hide, hope the bell saves us... eventually the self-fulfilling prophecy comes true. Every time.

[Stratvillan]

 

"Game management" - he didn't make the subs I wanted.

"This one's on Smith" this is my chance to repeat my last 400 posts.

"Anyone could see" after the game I could see.

"He's spent x million" - ill use any reason to blame him.

I love you all, even if some of you are bluenoses. 

[Jas10]

28 minutes ago, One For The Road said:

His record speaks for itself. We don't currently have the personell to go from 17th to the top half when Grealish is missing.

We are likely to finish 5 or 6 places higher than last season and that's without Jack for a third of the season. 

He gets things wrong at times but his record as Villa manager is astounding. How he has managed to improve us significantly each season is unreal. 

Looking forward next season and the next phase of our rebuild. 

[pacbuddies]

8 of the top 11 teams are managed by non British Managers. 8 of the bottom 11 teams are managed by British Managers. You don't have to be a genious to work out that it is unlikely that Smith will push us on to where the owners want us to be.

[One For The Road]

28 minutes ago, AVFCDAN said:

I’m not sure what part of the 20 mins where he wasn’t involved in the game allowed you to deduce that.

Just his movement and decision making. And the fact he hasn't played for yonks means he clearly isn't fit. Which was what I said..

[Robtaylor200]

I'm fed up of being a Villa fan, thank god its only for life.

In saying that can you imagine if we were resurrected supporting anyone else 

[Jas10]

We do lose a lot when Mings isn’t playing, his leadership and organisation is underrated.

Yes, he can drop the odd clanger but he is a very important player for us. 

[sheepyvillian]

33 minutes ago, pacbuddies said:

The same people that had blind faith for McNeil, Lambert & Bruce. How did that turn out for them!

And who said Bruce was a brilliant appointment ? I'll give you a clue, you did.

[Louis]

I can’t believe how bloody livid I am. I was tempted to throw my laptop (device I was watching it on) out of the window.

[Stratvillan]

2 minutes ago, pacbuddies said:

8 of the top 11 teams are managed by non British Managers. 8 of the bottom 11 teams are managed by British Managers. You don't have to be a genious to work out that it is unlikely that Smith will push us on to where the owners want us to be.

So we sack Smith because of his birthplace.....OK......

[pacbuddies]

1 minute ago, sheepyvillian said:

And who said Bruce was a brilliant appointment ? I'll give you a clue, you did.

I don't think I did.

[tom_avfc]

46 minutes ago, tezzaleed said:

well anyone could see changes were required earlier.  smiths lack of action despite decent options on the bench was unforgivable today.  if he can't react in a game with something meaningful then I genuinely don't see in the job at Christmas.  sorry should have said easily the worst refereeing performance I've seen this year.  bordering on corrupt

[pacbuddies]

Just now, Stratvillan said:

So we sack Smith because of his birthplace.....OK......

Because he isn't good enough.

[Sulberto21]

10 minutes ago, Jas10 said:

Nakamba is never the answer. We have to strengthen midfield in the transfer window, both from an attacking and defensive point of view. Too weak.

Yet he has been solid everytime he has played this season. He wouldn't have been so easily bypassed. Plus Luiz would have had another body in their to help him out.

[sheepyvillian]

1 minute ago, Robtaylor200 said:

I'm fed up of being a Villa fan, thank god its only for life.

In saying that can you imagine if we were resurrected supporting anyone else 

Spare a thought for them Holte - Enders in the sky.