It has been a poor month to say the least, but lets look at the top 5 players who have struggled the past two months or have given little to no impact to the starting 11. Looking at just one month would be considered as unfair, as some players do lose form for a few games. But for two month? It means they need to step it up
1. Gabriel Agbonlahor
Agbonlahor has been so poor this season. Despite Richards, Gestede and Sherwood all praising him earlier in the season and claiming that the forward can score goals for Villa this season, it hasn’t happened. Agbonlahor has played 6 games playing 480 minutes, from that he has only provided an assist so far this season. He does have some pace, but as he ages, he seems to be less and less effective. As he is a long servant of the club he really needs to step it up, but it just doesn’t seem to be happening at the moment nor there is little to suggest it will.
2. Joleon Lescott
Despite recently joining Aston Villa, Lescott has failed to deliver composure and experience to the Aston Villa backline. He has yet to contribute a single clean sheet for the club and hasn’t really put in a good performance. Whoscored has rated Lescott as our worst centre-back so far and with good reason, he seems to be past it. Lescott really needs to put his head down and try to be more of a leader, more composure with the ball. Perhaps being dropped for a game or two for him to understand that he can’t take his starting 11 spot for granted.
3. Jordan Ayew
Ayew is one of the main french imports during the summer transfer window, and it’s safe to say he hasn’t lit up the Premier League as of yet. Ayew is yet to score or assist in a game and has played 290 minutes of football making 5 appearances so far. Ayew has often played down the wing where he hadn’t really made an impact. Many fans often labelled him as invisible. But I think there is a bit of hope in Ayew, recently in the game against Birmingham when he came on as as substitute, he played very well. Created lots of chances, took defenders on and nearly scored himself. Hopefully he’ll be able to do more of that, but as things stand, he leans more towards flop on the scale, rather than a success.
4. Ashley Westwood
One of Sherwood’s favourite players has struggled this season. Westwood hasn’t really offered much the past few games and is often invisible in games. Yes he does the dirty work of distributing the play, but even recently I wouldn’t say he has done that well either. His corners and freekicks have been largely ineffective as of late and he’s really only provided an assist, despite playing 8 games totally 720 minutes. For a player who has played his regularly, he needs to step up.
5. Jordan Veretout
I might be a bit harsh of Veretout, as I think he is still adapting to the Premier League, but I don’t think he has been that great. Veretout does have talent, he showed that when playing in France, but he needs to display that talent in England. He is still very young, and has shown some good glimpses of what he can do. But he doesn’t really drive to ball too much forward in recent weeks. Veretout has come off the bench more recently as of late, but hasn’t really made an impact from those appearances either. I still have hope in Veretout since I see a good player.
Nah
1. Gabby
2. Gabby
3. Gabby
4. Gabby
5. Gabby
Ayew 3rd top flop?
I’d suggest he’s offered way more than Westwood in the Blues game alone than Westwood has all season.
This one could be interesting.
1 Gabby
2Joleon Lescott
3 R Wilkins
4 T Sherwood
5 Westwood. I’m just confused, going to Dot Com. 4 seats and pulling my hair out again.
Lescott, Gabby, Guzan, Westwood, Sherwood
Ayew being a bit harsh as he’s consistently played out of position all season. He’s not a winger, never will be.
1. Gabby
2. Lescott
3. Westwood
4. Sinclair
5. Wilkins (what the hell has he actually done so far? He seems useless).
I do think Wilkins is killing Sherwood’s attacking vibe that he likes.
Good point about Wilkins, what on earth is he getting paid for? Is he even on the bench during games?
A report in Italy claims Kalinic rejected us and West Ham for Fiorentina. Seems like Adebayor wasn’t the only striker we tried signing. Hoping in January it gets fixed.
Fair but very subjective piece given that before the season started most posters were talking about the need to give TS time? Perhaps they should have added ‘as long as we are doing OK’.
My view FWIW – 1. Gabby does not warrant a starting place which probably we can all agree with; 2. What is Wilkins adding? – I really felt this was a good appointment but he needs to be more visible; 3. Westwood has been disappointing thus season and I’m a big fan – question doesn’t TS trust his own signings?; 4. Ayew needs a run playing off Gestede – TS has to find a forward pairing tha works; 5. Lescott has been disappointing and players do suddenly go ‘over the hill’ – he was excellent with a West Brom last season so we should give him time to develop partnership with Richards but if not working either Clark or Okore have to play.
We all wanted to give Sherwoid time me included but that was with his own players who he didn’t seem to trust. Also even though I thought Sherwood struggle I honestly expected him to be matching lamberks point a game average. The problem is we are still in a losing mentality and in danger of being cut adrift. In a few games time we realistically could be 5-6 plus points from safety and once that happens there becomes almost a resignation that we are going down. We have been fortunate the last few years that there have been 3 worse teams than us and not really had to rely on other fixtures. This year is different can you honestly name me 3 worse teams than us. The only one I can think of is Sunderland and we could only draw with them. I think on paper Newcaste have a better team and better manager that will come good. They will be lifted by Cheksea game. WBA are struggling but they are still 4 points ahead of us and beaten us also. Teams like West Ham palace etc are way above us now. I think we are going to have to rely on Sunderland Bournemouth Norwich and Watford as possibly the only teams we can realistically finish higher than. Sad but true.
1. Gabby – should be farther than down the pecking order than Kozak – can’t control, pass, or shoot the ball on current form
2. Lescott – off the pace and often looks out of position – paired with Richards to his right and Clark/Okore to his left he could do well? I doubt he immediately turned crap overnight
3. Ayew – need a run of games up front – looked improved and contributed more than Sinclair in his last game
4. Westwood – hasn’t improved but does look more at the speed of the Prem than Sanchez. In Westwood’s defense the midfield has been out of balance all season – either he is sharing space with two other defensive midfielders or playing alone
5. Veretout – bit harsh – the last few appearances he has looked sharp but I do think he should play more central than out wide due to his lack of pace
Sherwood – needs to go back to what he does best, playing players in correct positions and keeping his tactics simple. I’m not sure if he is trying to do to much or the job is just getting the better of him, but it was ultimately his decision to bring in all these new players and cull the old squad over the summer. So I have no sympathy for the guy – he made his bed so now he needs to lay in it and take responsibility. Ultimately I want him to do well, but he needs to play to his strengths.
Let’s not forget he had nearly £50m to spend. I know that’s not nett Siena but even so it’s a lot more than managers above him in table
I wouldn’t call Ayew and Veretout flops they need game time and should be given the opportunity.
I would say
1. Gabby
2. Sherwood’s tactics
3. Guzan’s distribution
4. Bacuna playing RB
5. Defending in last 20 mins of a game
And the first twenty minutes!
The problem some of the players are having is the tactics. We have two midfielders playing defensive and then three attacking midfielders who huddle together fighting over the same spot. This makes it problematic for players like Westwood, Sanchez and Veretout to distribue the ball into space as the other players are making none.
Gabby should be used in 60-70th minute to run at opposition defenders that pace at that point in the game will give any defence a headache.
If Sherwood gets it wrong again i will be doubting him i believe we now have the players, if we lose to Stoke i think he should change his name to SherFRAUD. Great motivator no tactics
Agree Morgan like mon good motivator but tactically inept