That was as poor a Villa – Man Utd game as I can recall, and I’ve seen a few.
So what went wrong?
I’d suggest not a lot really.
Both teams were fairly poor and obviously not quite up to speed, but Utd generally looked the better side, purely because of their better standard of player.
Yes, it galls me to say that, but that’s how it is, plain and simple.
Memphis threatened and looked a class apart, from an attacking point of view, for example.
The first half was ok overall, but we basically created nothing.
Utd were similar, but slightly better and they opened us up, for Junuzaj to get a deflection that left Guzan with no chance.
The goal was lucky, but the defence yet again didn’t look to be set up correctly.
Micah Richards seemed to be at fault for the actual goal, but he looked ok overall in the game, so I’m loathe to point him out.
Come the second half, we looked livelier, but I still had the feeling that we had little to offer.
Gabby and Ayew weren’t getting in the game and I found myself wishing that we had a Grealish or Gil in there to link the Midfield and attack.
In fairness, Ayew did put himself about, but I didn’t think he was particularly effective.
As opposed to Gabby, who did little at all yet again.
That’s the difference between those two, in my opinion; Ayew at least tries to help out, but what does Gabby do?
I don’t see it.
Gestede came on and we tried more long ball; a tactic that hadn’t worked in the first half.
Why we even tried that with Gabby and Ayew, I’m not sure and it should have been changed way earlier, although in fairness, we had no Gil or Grealish to bring on and they’re both a decent option lost.
Man of the match?
Armavi again.
He looks like a proper player and will probably prove to be the next Benteke type saga.
Fonté for Villa? Not on today’s showing. I watched today’s early game expecting Everton’s decline to be exposed by a Saints side as ruthless as the one which demolished us The match stood that idea on its head. Saints defence with Fonté almost stationary as Everton sped past him. and a poor goalkeeper behind him. Everton were solid in defence and excellent on the counter.
I cant believe some people are suggesting Lambert would have done better had he been given the funds! He spent a fair amount of money when he was in charge and only a handful of the players were any good. Even Benteke was a fluke, he wanted to sign Dempsey!
Lambert never had a £50m window spend though but I agree I’d rather have Sherwood but that’s not saying much
@Benno…….I can’t believe you can’t believe that some have different opinions to yours. However I’m sure you’ll get over it. 😉 Lambert left the club on a sound financial footing. We should thank him for that………………Thanks Paul. 🙂
@B9. A different opinion is one thing…this is just madness!
Memories seem to be short about Paul Lambert. Even at the start of last season when he had a good start, he tried to play like a poor man’s Swansea mark 1. Pass the ball around without threatening and wait for the opponents to fall asleep. Had he been successful we would have scored less than a goal a game. Entertainment was out of the window. Had he been sitting on the kitty for the sales of Benteke and Delph, he would not have spent it on the same players Tim has bought.
Tim has what I think will prove to be a blind spot, like old generals fighting their victories again, he seems to think he can revive the performance of Gabby in the same way he did with Adebayor. It won’t happen – Gabby never had the skill and instinct in the first place so he cannot re-discover it.
Good point re Gabby it’s not like he was Messi and became like Heskey he’s always been crap. He’s not even that quick anymore
After spending some time with Bayern he decided to change our style from Bolton to Barcelona with players completely incapable of doing it – he then compounded it by doggedly refusing to accept he’d made a massive mistake and go back to a more direct style which we all hated but it suited the ‘skills’ of the players he had available – hence his failure last term. TS came in and reverted to counter attacking direct style of lump it to Benteke which worked for long enough to keep us up.
I will be disappointed if Gabby keeps playing ahead of Gil, Grealish or Traore when match fit and like some on here I would like to see him start with Sanchez as the holding midfielder – he really is a class act.
OohAh – can you start taking those positive pills again?
I suspect that Sherwood’s giving Agbonlahor a gentle let-down; reward for all those years of service, and a chance to prove to everyone that he’s completely ineffective.
As soon as the new boys are all up to speed/fitness, Agbonlahor won’t even be seen on the bench, let alone on the pitch.
Cheeky bid for John Terry anyone ?
Probably waiting for Gestede to get fully fit and Ayew to learn Gabby’s position to partner Gestede as the creator/bring players into the game kind of striker he is.
Learn Gabbys position? Are u having a laugh Andrew. Dosnt take much to run round like a headless chicken !!
I meant the support striker role.
Thanks to Turv and JayMo for their travel suggestions, I ended up parking at the university. I sat at the top of Doug Ellis stand, first time for years, strangely though sat right in front of me was a lad in a Man City top, complete with YaYa Toure’s name and number on the back, what was that all about!! A couple of Villa fans gave him some right mouthful!
Glad you got their all OK.
I’ve just been watching the youtube clip of Traore again.
I don’t normally go a bundle on videos, but I can see this kid tearing left backs a new arsehole.
A really exciting signing, imo;
https://youtu.be/MAzWdFg0nd8
Badger, I never normally take notice of pre videotape, well this guy showing quick feet, his body anchored to the ground in balance, plus awareness of team mates ,looked the player we want. cannot wait to see him in action.
On another note did anyone see Curbishley fuming at ref for not sending if Arsenal player Sherwoid needs to man up and stop being a pussy imo
Nah I didn’t see Curbishley fuming at the ref. Did anyone see Pardew fuming at the ref? Come on OohAah, concentrate.
In his post match conference
Curbishley? Definitely Curbishley?
Curbishley hasn’t managed since 2008!
I don’t think OohAah’s noticed
Ah I meant pardew always get them two mixed up lol
Sorry, made me laugh.
I suggested a while ago using Sanchez as a sweeper and I could see him doing a good job between Clark and Richards , that way we could bring the ball out from the back. The full backs Bacuna and Amavi could push on as wing backs. Gana and westy sit in the middle then 2 from Gil grealish sinclair and traore to support rudy. Plenty of flexibility to become more defensive 5-4-1 or attacking 3-4-3.
I’m in agreement with this.
Nice system with options. I’m not certain about Bacuna but I’m prepared to be proved wrong – showed enough last season to get a chance.
It’s amazing that Gabby keeps getting in – no one ever picks him in their suggested lineups.
I know that The Sun is a joke of a newspaper, but they gave man of the match to Wayne Rooney for the Villa game, what match was the reporter watching, even a ManU site I looked at gave him 3 out of 10, saying he was the worse player on the pitch!
It’s called doing what his sponsors that advertise with them wants
Funny that. The Observer Sport section today had a short piece by Daniel Taylor all about the gradual decline of Shrek – and mentioned Friday’s game as evidence – even though he’s still 2 months away from his 30th birthday!
The Sun gave every Villa player 6 out of 10 apart from Westwood who got 7, I doubt whether the reporter even watched the game. Probably lifted his snout from the trough at the end of the game and said, eerrrmm, Star Man…give it to Rooney. They must think we’re thick!
We are thick if we read that rag
boom
Don’t get me started on the glorification of Man Utd and the sky 4. It makes my blood boil.
I recorded the game Friday night as I was out and watched it Saturday morning. Apart from the things most people have already mentioned, I think there is the makings of a good team there.
Only look at it online Oohah to check my dream team, I’d never give money to Murdoch, he’s one of the main reasons I’ve never had Sky TV.
Fair play Dave
Rooney was sh!t..!! So was Depay..
If you actually look at the key moments.. the goal was a deflection and we should have had a penalty..
But obv taking rose tinted glasses off.. we need to sort our attacking play out..
VERTOUT… has done nothing so far.. he came with a big reputation.. some raving about how he would be the best of all the signings.. well he needs to up his game.. because the all round scoring midfielder is what we are def lacking..!
two games give the lad a chance. bigger names than vertout has come to the premier league and took time to settle , a lot longer than two games ffs.
as iv said before you cant judge any of the new players until they have played between 10-20 games .
agree on that front, I agree that he has been largely anonymous and ineffective so far. But Look firstly, I don’t think we know how to play together yet for a start, very different team.
secondly, not just him but ayew, gueye, also look not quite up to it, Gueye, the most settled looking so far, Amavi is duck in water in the prem league,
but those 3 will need time to adjust to the pace and lack of time on the ball, they seem too ponderous and a little exasperated at times at how quickly they are closed down and how quickly the play changes.
One highlight of that overall poor game was Amavi vs Darmian, both came out well overall, Amavi for the sheer amount of times he got himself one on one with him that much forward and Darmian to how he defended and stood up to assault down Villa’s left.
great tussle between both of them, I am impressed with Darmian to be honest. ( just as much as Amavi)
We’ve had one player score… One. We could all claim we need everyone scoring, not just Gestede. Veretout will come good, obvious high praise but once the team gets going and at least 1 of Gil or Grealish is back, we’ll look far more fluid, and Traore.
Before everyone (or some) start panicking, Chelski have only had two shots on target in two games. Chill people!
Can’t believe that sone here are STILL defending Lambert! I will never EVER forget how shit he was, financial constrain or not. He was f****** useless. Talentless, cowardly chancer. If he’d have had any dignity, he’d have walked ages before he was sacked.
Manure beat Spurs thanks to an own goal; had a flukey goal against and we should have been awarded a penalty – yet some within the media are talking up their title prospects – on that basis guys we must be in with a shout as well!
What could be more exciting… Reserve forward line tonight traore Gil grealish sellers,
Or seeing the name cowans as a substitute? If he turns out half as good as his dad I wont complain.
Really? Wish I was watching that one????
Ht. 1-0 traore and Gil set up jack for the goal.
Benteke scored for bin dippers.
Benteke WHO?
I don’t usually get involved in the whole Sky4/5/6 debate but seriously how was Bournemouth’s goal disallowed, how was Liverpool’s goal not flagged offside, and how did we not get a penalty against United.
It’s sad but what chance have these perceived ‘smaller’ clubs got?
Someone on the 7500 to Holte USA Villa site has started a complete list to run all season of all the questionable decisions in EPL games (not just Villa games, the lot). It will be informative to see how that pans out.
But to answer your questions. Bournemouth’s goal was correctly disallowed because Elphick had a hand on each of the defender’s shoulders as he jumped and either pushed him down or levered himself up to the header.
Liverpool’s goal should have been ruled out. Nothing wrong with Benteke’s on-side run – but right in front of the keeper, two yards from the goal a Liverpool forward yards offside jumped and attempted to head the ball as well as obstructing the keeper’s view of Benteke at the far post. Definitely gaining an advantage and interfering. No goal.
Villa at Old Trafford, Headlocks permitted for the home defence only. Local rule 8.
OLL completely disagree that the Bournemouth goal was a foul. Lawro agrees with me too. Ref conned by Lovren who made out he’d been leant on after he’d dropped a bollock by not jumping. Look at it in slow mo.
Bournemouth were robbed and robbed by shite refereeing decisions. Default position seems to be if its a big club give them the benefit of the doubt.
State of refereeing is very worrying I think, especially if you’re not from Liverpool, Manchester or London.
I’ve heard it all on Sky now – Carragher has just pretty much praised Lovren for being a pussy. That should not have been disallowed.
Spot on something needs to be done about it it’s blatant cheating
its not once or twice a season anymore its every game now , don’t know about investigating blatter, think we should look closer to home.
You’ve got a point
Well Bournemouth beat the bin dippers 1-0 but of course the record books will not show that. Disgraceful. I felt sorry for the cherries that they came away from that match with no points. So many decisions went against them it was untrue.
It’s sad in a way that a team like Bournemouth just try to play their game only to find out that the rules they thought they knew no longer matter when they come up against the so called ‘big clubs’ in the EPL. It’s no longer about playing the game, it’s now about the money, the media and the sponsors. And unless you got all three backing your corner you might as well throw the towel in.
UTV