I didn’t post yesterday, because I worked a gruelling shift and was shattered when I got in, apologies.
But the reward was I managed to get back in time to watch the game today.
I’m pretty sanguine about that result, as let’s face it, any hope of getting anything out of this game was just that; hope and not expectation.
At least we didn’t get thrashed 9-0, as Southampton did.
The fact is we just got beat by a better team and while I can point fingers at Mings and Engels for a couple of the goals, I think it’s a percentages thing and if you’re going to face that many efforts against you, you’re going to make the odd mistake.
The third goal looked like offside by Silva to me and I don’t care if he touched it or not, he’s still interfering with play to my mind, as he’s interfering with Heaton’s view.
Unless they’ve changed the rules again and I’ve missed something (which is always possible).
And then there’s Wesley.
I saw criticism of his contribution and to be honest, just thought that he hadn’t had enough of the ball.
Until Davis came on and the commentators talked about how Davis is more mobile than Wesley after just a couple of minutes.
That immediately gives the impression that Wesley just doesn’t do enough. Indeed, I mentioned a couple of weeks back that I thought that Wesley needs to put himself about a bit more.
I’m not going to comment, as I wasn’t really concentrating on Wesley and was more concerned with what was going on in the middle and at the back.
Certainly on the telly it seemed that Davis got more involved in a couple of minutes than Wesley did for the whole of his game, but watching on the telly doesn’t tell the whole story.
I can understand any clamour for Davis to get a run of games, but my concern with that would be that Davis just isn’t prolific.
Fair enough, we’ll never know if he’s improved without giving him a run of games, but that means dropping Wesley under our current system. What would that do to Wesley’s confidence?
It seems to me that the solution is to go 4-4-2 and play both of them up top, where Davis can hold up the ball to bring Wesley into play.
I don’t expect it to happen though and my guess is Smith will go with Wesley as long as he can.
That £20 million war chest, that we’re supposed to have for the winter window?
I’d expect us to double that just on one or more strikers, before we even look at anything else.
Man City were simply the better side and losing today was no disgrace. They are probably one of the best sides in the world, even when weakened at the back, after all. The thought of Aguero coming on as a sub must really dishearten any opposition player.
All that said, if I had posted yesterday, I’d have said that I have a sneaky feeling that we will pick up a point against either City or Pool.
It looks like it’ll have to be against Pool then.
We go again, one game at a time.
Davis or Wesley
Davis has got a decent game outside the box and he links up really well with his support. but badger is right he is not prolific and he probably never will be. that is not to say he won’t score goals i think he will. he needs to work on the finishing part.
Wesley seems to be struggling badly and his lack of movement and work-rate is getting noticed more. he has ability and when he settles he will be asset. Smith will probably drop him for Davis and the time spent on bench to watch how Davis goes about leading the line, how he roughs up the defenders legally.how he unselfishly works hard to regain or keep possession. will do Wesley a world of good.
trouble is if Davis doesn’t score then your asking the midfielders to crash in with a good amount. which luckily or by good judgement most of our midfielders will chip in a fair good few goals this season.
Just said that Silva was awarded goal which means VAR should of ruled out goal with Sterling offside and interfering with play. So VAR screws up for us again!
As for Davis, I would imagine he will start against Wolves and needs to take his opportunity. I also hope Lansbury gets a start and proves his worth.
Not many comments on this VAR business. I know we most probably would’ve lost. However, what happened with the second goal is totally unacceptable. I said it before and I’ll say it again. Take the PL to court. Sue them. Points = money. Lost points = lost money. VAR has cost us points. Simple as. In the past, you couldn’t do this, because everyone accepted that referees are human and humans make errors. Now they’re using machines and still getting in wrong, usually against our club. I was listening to this on 5 Live and all the pundits said it was an obvious, clear error. At that point, it was 1-0 and we’re in the game. No surprise that the 3rd went in so soon after the second. The players probably thought what’s the point when the officials are biased. There is no excuse. The line trotted out by the VAR officials was even more incomprehensible than a politician being asked a simple ‘yes’, ‘no’ question. I can’t imaging how the players and staff feel about this. I’m a random, fair-weather fan and it thoroughly pissed me off and spoiled my afternoon when I heard it. It’s unacceptable. Sue them. Give them something to think about. If they want to use the shower of shit that is VAR, they simply have to get it 100% right 100% of the time, and don’t have a leg to stand on if they don’t. Rant over. Pissed off Villa fan.
The other concern is, if you play Davis and he doesn’t score, many will get on his back, because, well if you’re playing striker you should get goals.
Just had a quick look around and it seems many are slating Wesley terribly for his lack of movement.
I’m still inclined to think we didn’t involve him enough and he’s not used to it, but Smith won’t put up with it for long. Seems the manager was moaning at him too, halfway through the first half.
Fortunately, the mids are contributing with goals, so it’s buying Wesley some time. But again, it can’t last long.
I don’t know if you noticed that Smilh and J T had a what I call a bit of a differences over what was and what wasn’t on the pitch. I know on the last mat I vented my dislike of lack of effort from Wesley. I was shot down saying you got to give him time. That not my take on the game, what attitude he has will spill onto others, now two games later its showing on other sites what I’ve been saying. He will improve but not till he realized that wanting and team effort is what the games about. Davis is learning quicker than Wesley because he’s benched more often. Sorry but its what I see.
It’s a reasonable opinion Bill.
But still doesn’t get away from the fact that Davis doesn’t score goals.
I’ve said it before, but I think Kodjia is possibly a better bet in the Prem, as he has that something different about him.
But I’m not convinced his heart is in it, as I’ve suggested previously.
if Kodjia is gonna be sold January we maybe less interested him playing and picking up another injury which might put a move in jeopardy
I think Kodjia is gone, because he doesn’t want to be at the Villa anymore.
Probably because he’s thinking of his last big payday.
The truth is, I can’t fault him for that.
We should have offered him a short term contract extension, on good money if Smith saw him as part of the squad, imo, to keep him onside.
Why we just didn’t let him go earlier when that supposed offer came in, seems strange with hindsight, given that it seems we’re going to let him go in the winter window.
If he doesn’t play, we’re just running his value down, imo.
I’d expect him to go for £5 mill max.
The Colombian from Rangers looks a proper goalscorer. I hope he arrives in January. He looks exactly what we need.
Yes Badger that’s it no heart. Davis will get goals given time and he will contribute in getting goals Wesley must stands still not wanting. Kodja hit and miss with football no team work.
another point for those wanting Smith to drop Wesley. if you drop him and it seems like Smith may just do this. then your asking a player like Davis who has only scored 2 goals in 39 games and this includes over his whole 3 or 4 years at villa.compared to Wesley many more games under his young years and more goals all at higher grade.
understand fans getting upset with Wesley, but Smith had to show him more respect than drop him for a complete novice. even playing badly he has 4 in 9 sofar. he needs to settle in to new country and new team playing in another style. Davis will start against wolves and if he scores and has a good game. he may get in for the pool game. then its down to him to keep his starting position
Just not must……
Kodjia isn’t a Smith type player imo . Smith likes team players and i think we can all agree Kodjia is not one of those. so if this is correct leaves us two players until Jan.
both Wesley and Davis are young and still learning their trades. Davis needs plenty games and ideally could do with a loan away at championship or div 1 lvl. his build up is imo premiership pity his finishing is what he will be judged on being a striker
Agreed, Kodjia isn’t a Smith type player.
So it’s Wesley, with 4 goals in 10 games or Davis with …..
Logic and stats, says Wesley plays and we stick with him for now, even if it seems he doesn’t contribute enough at times.
If Davis can bag a goal or two against Wolves midweek, (where he’ll definitely start imo) things might change.
Come on, them 4 goal was on a plate, you need a player to play, Wesley just don’t do that. This is my take on the player and excuses won’t change my mind, he needs to be benched and understand on a football pitch you play football and not just Stoll along like a sunny afternoon. We shout have gone for a older forward and not a child.
Wesley v Davis
Depending how old you are, ask yourself what you would have expected if you played Jimmy Greaves, Michael Owen or Eden Hazard up front on their own away from home in a game where you expected to have a minority of possession? If you realise the answer is – they would not have got much joy trying to win and retain the ball long enough for support to join them, then you can see why you would not expect anything from Wesley in similar circumstances e.g. today. Forget his size, and even colour, he is not a target man, he is a goal poacher. He just does not look like the little guys I named. Therefore the answer is for games like today play Davis.
When would Wesley be better? At home or any away game where the opposition are sitting back inviting you to score against 8 men behind the ball, and you can attack down both wings but need someone to get his foot to the ball in a flash. Most good teams in the prem in recent seasons have had two different types of main striker and rotated them as required.
As I’m still in Southern Africa didn’t see the game (although I did manage to see the second half of the rugby!) I continue to be an advocate of Davis and think we should be prepared to play him ahead of Wesley in games we’re he would be better suited (like today). That’s not meant as a criticism of Wesley more an honest appreciation of his strengths and weaknesses.
Having said that I would still like to see Davis and Wesley paired together.
Yeah, I’m just not convinced by Wesley at all. He played well for the first 20 mins or so today, put himself about well, but then was pretty ineffective. He just doesnt really threaten the opposition. He doesnt run at players, take shots or even get on the end of balls into the box. Maybe he does need time, but once again when Davis came on, he caused way more problems, and was unlucky not to score.
Whilst I’m not suggesting it would have changed the result we seem to have been on the wrong end of more poor VAR decisions – yet again. So far it would seem that every VAR decision has gone against us.
Whilst I’m not anti VAR the football authorities have to address the fact that it’s not working and is not trusted by the fans. They have to look at how other sports – rugby, cricket and tennis for instance – have embraced technology and made it work by being prepared to learn from its shortcomings – thus enhancing game experience for the fans and not destroying it!
hardly surprising VAR has been against us, its being operated by the same referees that are doing us on the pitch. its just the ones running VAR don’t need to show their faces while they rob us.
the 2nd goal yesterday took ages to come to the wrong conclusion. so i ask myself what is the point of VAR, before VAR referees came to the wrong answer instantly, so saved us time.
joking aside i think its just referees that benefit from VAR introduction. a fat blind referee can now be employed longer sitting his comfy chair getting the decisions wrong.
VAR is just as bad for football. as players having to go off after being treated on the pitch and then being allowed to re-enter the moment they reach the sidelines.
and another thing to get of my chest. i reckon VAR just be run by former players. they only need to make a honest decision. you might get issues with favouring old teams,so just don’t allow them games which they might have some alliances with clubs. in fact anybody could do a better job than the current VAR operators. it really is that bad needs addressing before it ruins the game
Nice idea Nath. But you’ll get more issues with the amount of ex players who are likely to have a penchent for gambling.
Ok, so like I said on the last post this game would have been better for Davis to have a crack. Not only to give him some game time but to protect Wesley from frustrated fans. There are 11 players on that’s pitch and whilst not all are perfect, 10 look like they do their little bit for the team and serve a purpose but Wesley just doesn’t fit this team as it stands, I can see why Smith wanted him but it’s just not jelling quick enough. Wesley is tough, a character and obviously has a good finish on him but he keeps getting drawn in the holding up play and trying to latch onto balls in the air or anything above the knee for that matter which just don’t suit him. To be fair to everyone involved with brining in players at villa, just what they he’ll are they supposed to get at a reasonable price for a striker? The good news is we have goal scorers from midfield and that’s certainly the premier mould now. The fix, a new striker in January? No! Unless we sit top half of the table and look comfortable then surely yes we look good for survival and build for next season. If relegation battle by Christmas is firmly on the cards then all we can hope for is a long line of Wesley’s to choose from. Midfields quality in Grealish and McGinn and our reasonably decent defence with Heaton should be enough to get our 40 points and then the summer is when we sort out a quality striker
I’ll give you that Tom, its practicality what I’m trying to get at, he’s the talk of the forum’s, but some are finding excuses for him. Ok he’s young and played great for his old club but he’s not getting how we play, to see him strolling back or watching others close players and he don’t bugs me. I Know he will learn in time but we cannot mess around waiting for him to wake up. I think the coaching staff are find that out and he won’t start next game. Wait and see.
Fans on Villa Twitter not very complimentary about Wesley. I think myself included, that he would be similar in style to Benteke because of his physique. Actually he is more of a goal poacher as suggested by the goals he has scored. Today’s game was better suited for Davis who copes well with an isolated role. Maybe going forward, Smith will need to pick the right striker to suit the opponents we come up against. I expect Davis to start against Wolves, although after giving things some thought, Wesley probably would be a better choice for Wolves and Davis against Liverpool, where we will probably be struggling to get into the final third.
You are right Holte 66. It is you and I against the rest of Villa fans – even Smith seems to think he bought a Lukaku or Drogba style target-man or he would not leave him isolated up front. The penny must drop sometime that he didn’t.
However Davis has improved his physique massively and I think he could make a target-man. He does not have to score the goals himself if he sets them up for others, but I am impressed by his improved ball skills in the penalty box.
I think there are quite a few posters on here saying pretty much the same thing OLL. He’s not a target man and his hold up play isn’t great – that doesn’t make him a bad striker but playing him as a lone striker isn’t going to work.
Davis has always been good at holding the ball and has improved in most aspects of his game imho and deserves a chance particularly in games against teams like Man City where we are going to play with one up front and McGinn / Grealish sitting deeper.
Not sure about Liverpool at home – I think Smith will be more adventurous – so why not play Davis and Wesley together as a front two? I know I’m beginning to sound like a broken record 🙂
Nath, I have to say two minds think alike, how do we know if people doing VAR are not what I’d say are honest people. Up till now it’s caused numerous problems , I for one think it has to be looked at for being honest on certain rules.
Where ever I look teams are questioning the var, yesterday’s game on var did again say it didn’t touch the studs if it did Sterling was off side, what did it come up with? De Bryner goal if so he was off side full stop.two weeks ago a line call on goal gave it cm of a decision on a goal. What’s going on, VAR ruined our game of football. And having said that what about our penalty call , shown a pen did we get it No. We are not Safe with these officials.
Bill, I’ve seen enough of VAR to consider it a waste of time. Goal line technology has improved the game but this is technology killing the moment. Hourihane scored against Brighton and celebrations were spoilt after what seemed like an eternity. When Grealish actually did equalise, my mate who was at the game said all the fans didn’t know whether to celebrate because a VAR decision was going to happen. I hope they scrap VAR with immediate effect but I think we will be stuck with it. Let’s go back to the old system where we can get human error and then discuss it at the end of the game but keeping the flow of the game.
Holte66, true to many calls are wrong,I get what your mates on about it’s killing the game as we know it.the FA has to look at it as its spioling the game.