Ratings & Reactions: Villa v Chelsea

[Teale's 'tache]

9 minutes ago, TRO said:

How can we play like we did against Arsenal, and then muster that sad show.

Unai often talks about consistency is his aim......I think the summer recruiting, consistency, will be foremost on his mind.

We some players in the squad, who can negate the threats of opponents, and nullify their enthusiasm and intensity....and regain the initiative, when we lose it.

I think it is a tactical thing I think, Chelsea pose a big threat in behind, more so than most teams and we found that out first-hand in the cup game.

We like to play a high line, but with missing/certain personnel in the middle of the pitch we are less able to press the ball how we'd like to protect that high line, so I think we tried to play a bit deeper to negate the ball over top. It's something we've tried before against certain teams with mixed results, I think it's just the players aren't as well drilled at it, losing Teilemens was a big blow as well, and these things resulted in us being quite disjointed and leaving big spaces where usually we don't.

It was a poor performance, we should have kept the ball better, and we should have pressed them better as a team, I'm not sure the tactics were 'wrong' per se, just poorly executed. Other teams have had success by letting Chelsea have the ball, negating the space over the top and letting them beat themselves (Kenneth), especially with them missing the creativity of Enzo, we just did it poorly.

Overall it's a decent point from a poor showing.

I've no idea what Pochettino's problem is. VAR was put in place to get the right decisions in the big moments of games, he might be frustrated his team didn't win a game they probably should, but blaming VAR for making the correct decision is really not helpful. VAR has plenty of sticks to be beaten with, making the right call where a referee doesn't shouldn't be one of them. Shoulder to shoulder is fine, but shoulder in the back has never been fine, the referee should have blown for it straight away, it was so obvious and blatant, and had he done there would be no controversy.

[Pelle]

I think the most things about the game have been said already, but I still want to come here and give my rare and never asked for tuppence on it.

I think we looked really passive last night. Through the whole game with both Tielemans and Dibu on the pitch. My guess is that the game plan was to save energy, sit back a little and control the game and hit them on the counter. We didn't exactly master that. We got too passive and didn't really press them enough. If at all. Too many players were below par.

I can understand that some fans get really nervous when they see Olsen enter the 2nd half and no Dibu. We are obviously better with Emi in goal. But to blame Olsen for the goals is a bit strong, IMO. Having said that I think their players may feel a little boost from, seeing Olsen between the sticks instead of Martinez. I think they may feel a little extra confidence in finishing when they play against him. Still not his fault, and even though he was partly to blame for Palmer's chance DC does the absolutely worst choice he can make in that situation. 

Anyway, a point is a point and 7 out of 9 from a pretty tough 3 games where I guess most would've thought we'd get about 4 or at best 6 points from is pretty good. Poch claiming that the goal should've stand is just farcical. I screamed for a freekick before the goal came as it was so obvious. That tackla just ain't allowed.

Now I'm off to feel dirty. I will hope for an arsenal win.

UTV!

[PaulC]

1 hour ago, TRO said:

when all you can offer is a 28% possession stat at home.........I would say that's a magnificent point.

At home as well. Why did we stand off them so much and not be able to string a few passes together. We shouid hsve been trying to keep the ball not looking for killer passes and playing flicks

[Pinebro]

2 hours ago, TRO said:

How can we play like we did against Arsenal, and then muster that sad show.

Unai often talks about consistency is his aim......I think the summer recruiting, consistency, will be foremost on his mind.

We some players in the squad, who can negate the threats of opponents, and nullify their enthusiasm and intensity....and regain the initiative, when we lose it.

We barely have players left 

Season been unprecedented in terms of injuries 

[El Segundo]

Chelsea outplayed, outfought and outthought us for the second time at VP this year.  On the way to the game I was hoping Emery had come up with a way to deal with their intensive man to man high press, also utilised effectively by Newcastle against us. Sadly he hadn’t.

We wanted too much time on the ball and they didn’t allow it.  Our pressing was feeble by comparison.

We were at our best when we moved it quickly and first time and played through them but we only did it a few times mainly because we couldn’t get the ball off them for large chunks of the game. 

And when we did they were very effective  at the high turnovers or else we gave up possession far too easily.  We ended up resorting to a kind of hoofball in the second half. 

I have no idea how we were even one up at half time let alone two.  At around 70 minutes, at 2-1, Chelsea were so dominant that loads of people around me were saying they’d take a draw.  We were lucky to get that in the end.

That Chelsea squad has the potential to be a real force next season.  I thought their close control passing, movement and pressing were outstanding.  Very impressed with Madueke in particular.  If they can replace two or three weak links – Mudryk who was awful, and Jackson who seems to specialise in missing sitters, perhaps upgrade their left back options – they will be back in the mix.

As for our lot, Tielemans was out best midfielder and it was a blow when he had to go off.  Rogers was good in patches.

Luiz is frustrating me – seems to want to stroll around at his own pace, doesn’t chase back enough to cover and seems to leave his brain at the door when he enters the pitch.   

Diego – another one who seems to favour brainless challenges in dangerous positions.  He was absolutely dire last night.   

Olsen – how anyone is blaming him is beyond me.  Did nothing wrong as far as I could see and made a brilliant save from Palmer.  Not his fault our defence decided to give Gallagher about ten minutes to pick his spot from the edge of our box or that Luiz decided to lose possession in a dangerous place.

[tinker]

3 hours ago, Talldarkandransome said:

I didn't think it was a foul, but grateful VAR did

If you don't think that's a foul then your a complete lost cause 

[Talldarkandransome]

10 minutes ago, tinker said:

If you don't think that's a foul then your a complete lost cause 

So be it

[sharkyvilla]

4 hours ago, TRO said:

Yes there is.

They run at us....and we don't have enough players, comfortable with that scenario.

bar from a handful, all our players are attack minded, they haven't got the natural nous, for stopping opponents....I mean clean skillful challenges, and turn overs, where we come out with the ball..........how many times do we see half hearted attempts to seize the ball...its passive.

Kamara was a break from tradition..... we have been short of this type of player for years.

We play with one ( with defensive nous) the other one, is more suitable to attacking, but is deployed there......some teams have 2 and a few spares in the squad.

We simply cannot contain games, going in to the lead, without the necessary skill set, to do so......deploying attack minded players in defensive duties, is the main problem IMO.

 

It's a shame Gerrard wasted £13m on Dendoncker, we could have got a half decent one for that price.  I'm sure Unai will rectify it in the summer, just need to squeak by for a few more matches.

[TomC]

11 hours ago, OutByEaster? said:

We've played some good sides off the park this season, but last night, we barely played at all - we got our plan wrong, our shape and balance wrong and our distances wrong and then we passed the ball so badly that we gave Chelsea complete control of the game. 

It wasn't always the passes themselves. Often it was awful first touches. I've seen individual players have games where their first touch is off, but you'd swear that an infectious disease called firsttouchitis was afflicting almost the whole team.

 

[Powehi]

 

The Villa New Zealand get-together for the game, as promised in the pre-match thread. Was a great turnout!

[ben1505]

21 hours ago, delboy54 said:

I understand that, but as we saw when gresford played for us, we should not keep depending on one player...

Jim?

[ben1505]

4 hours ago, Powehi said:

 

The Villa New Zealand get-together for the game, as promised in the pre-match thread. Was a great turnout!

This was an awesome long weekend.... The hardest thing was keeping the score quiet from the rest of the world.. seeing as we're 11 hours ahead

[TRO]

19 hours ago, Teale's 'tache said:

I think it is a tactical thing I think, Chelsea pose a big threat in behind, more so than most teams and we found that out first-hand in the cup game.

We like to play a high line, but with missing/certain personnel in the middle of the pitch we are less able to press the ball how we'd like to protect that high line, so I think we tried to play a bit deeper to negate the ball over top. It's something we've tried before against certain teams with mixed results, I think it's just the players aren't as well drilled at it, losing Teilemens was a big blow as well, and these things resulted in us being quite disjointed and leaving big spaces where usually we don't.

It was a poor performance, we should have kept the ball better, and we should have pressed them better as a team, I'm not sure the tactics were 'wrong' per se, just poorly executed. Other teams have had success by letting Chelsea have the ball, negating the space over the top and letting them beat themselves (Kenneth), especially with them missing the creativity of Enzo, we just did it poorly.

Overall it's a decent point from a poor showing.

I've no idea what Pochettino's problem is. VAR was put in place to get the right decisions in the big moments of games, he might be frustrated his team didn't win a game they probably should, but blaming VAR for making the correct decision is really not helpful. VAR has plenty of sticks to be beaten with, making the right call where a referee doesn't shouldn't be one of them. Shoulder to shoulder is fine, but shoulder in the back has never been fine, the referee should have blown for it straight away, it was so obvious and blatant, and had he done there would be no controversy.

I agree.

For what ever reason, there was some poor individual performances.

I was strange to me that our possession stat was alarmingly low, for a home game.....Gallagher and Caicedo was allowed to dominate us.

Dougie uncharacteristically seems to be struggling to stay on the ball....his dwelling on it, makes him a target for the presser.

The foul on Carlos is a worry, because many think it wasn't......For me, it was blatant, and obvious. If that is not a foul, I don't know where the game is going, and the referee should have called it without VAR.

Chelsea for me, was by far the better side, but in my opinion, we allowed them to be....too many players "off it"

In the cold light of day, in view of the above....it was a good point.....and on the basis of such poor officiating, we was lucky to get away with a cancelled goal......what and indictment, us feeling guilty, for a legitimate call.

Maybe Chelsea should have won on the balance of play.....but not illegally, Poch needs to factor that in to his thinking.

 

[TRO]

18 hours ago, Pinebro said:

We barely have players left 

Season been unprecedented in terms of injuries 

That's not my point......my point is, how do we expect to be ambitious with one recognised holding player in the squad?.....that's not injuries, its forward planning.....when it comes to wingers, we seem to be unlimited as to how many we want?

I agree, Unai has no options, he has to fix that in the summer......but he has to bring in more players in midfield who can hold things together, and contain, in the times of need.....players who can stay on the ball, and resist a challenge.

We have games, like the last one where some players are painfully lightweight, in the challenge.....we need strengthening there.

I think with the profile of our squad, I don't know how we have done what we have....but I don't think, we can keep doing it.

Other teams have had unprecedented injuries too....it's a hard fought, arduous league.....all the more reason, why a few more quality, durable players are needed.

 

 

[TRO]

On 27/04/2024 at 22:15, ChicagoVillan1983 said:

Emi is the conductor of both our defence and attack.

Without him at the back to start the attack we were paralyzed.

I think you are right.....but I think we have to rely on him, a bit too much.....the fact we do, should illuminate other areas to strengthen.

[TRO]

On 27/04/2024 at 22:15, foreveryoung said:

Needed the shithousery, unsettle them.

We need a bit outfield too.

[TRO]

On 27/04/2024 at 22:18, switters said:

Struggled against a heavy press.

Some circumstances made it difficult, losing Youri early forcing a change and Diaby didn't find a way in to the game. Losing Martinez unsettled defence as there just isn't the same understanding. Digne being run into the ground with Moreno injured.

Rogers disappeared 2nd half, Watkins had very little supply but didn't take the chance when it came.

Problem is there was noone on the bench to affect where we needed in the centre of park to win the 2nd balls.

 

If Arsenal do the business tomorrow, and then Chelsea do us a favour midweek, this'll look like a vv good point. 

Spot on.....It needs to be fixed as a priority, in the summer.

[Teale's 'tache]

22 minutes ago, TRO said:

I agree.

For what ever reason, there was some poor individual performances.

I was strange to me that our possession stat was alarmingly low, for a home game.....Gallagher and Caicedo was allowed to dominate us.

Dougie uncharacteristically seems to be struggling to stay on the ball....his dwelling on it, makes him a target for the presser.

The foul on Carlos is a worry, because many think it wasn't......For me, it was blatant, and obvious. If that is not a foul, I don't know where the game is going, and the referee should have called it without VAR.

Chelsea for me, was by far the better side, but in my opinion, we allowed them to be....too many players "off it"

In the cold light of day, in view of the above....it was a good point.....and on the basis of such poor officiating, we was lucky to get away with a cancelled goal......what and indictment, us feeling guilty, for a legitimate call.

Maybe Chelsea should have won on the balance of play.....but not illegally, Poch needs to factor that in to his thinking.

 

As I say, I think letting Chelsea have the ball was a tactic, especially as the two you mention really aren't very creative at all, however, I'm sure we didn't intend to give them that much of it.

With Luiz, I think a combination of things, he's got used to having a little more time on the ball further forward and it is an adjustment for him to go back to sitting a bit deeper. Also up until the recent suspension he's been used in almost every game, I think there's some mental fatigue, playing that much in the engine room, with all the information Emery passes on to his players is a lot to take over a long period. I think once he's back in his favoured position a little further forward and had a decent break to refresh his batteries he'll be back to the old Luiz, class is permanent after all.

Poch, like most PL managers, seems to be able to argue that black is white without any journalist ever questioning it, earlier in the season Thomas Frank argued an over-the-ball studs-up challenge by Ben Mee on Bailey wasn't a red card, rather than criticise his own player the officials are an easier target. I think there's a bit of the same going on here to distract from the fact his team hasn't got the job done.

Chelsea deserved to win, we didn't play well at all, but it's an important point, especially with the context of the Spurs result yesterday.

[TRO]

On 27/04/2024 at 22:16, NorthEastVillan said:

I've just said the same thing. We just cannot play against Newcastle and Chelsea. I just think they're far too physical for us. Only sides who have really shown us up this season.

It happens. Just their style and press isn't something we can cope with.

Sigh! I'm just glad that's over. 5 more minutes and we'd have lost that.

I'll say it again.....we don't have the profile of player in the middle to help us with those teams.....They just run through us.

We have been plugging gaps, with attack minded players , in defensive roles, for yonks.....we need to fix it.

Unai talks about consistency, and his pursuit of it......the type of midfielder, I am referring to, would help with that.

He has worked miracles, with what we have in terms of profile....the next phase, needs strength and power in midfield, adding to it.

[TRO]

On 27/04/2024 at 22:14, bobzy said:

Man Utd just got incredibly lucky.

With Newcastle and Chelsea, it's the high-intensity press in the middle of the park.

it's not just the press. Its runners too.

We struggle to stop opponents running at us, one on one....The defensive IQ is lacking in midfield.