I’ve been awake for about 24 hours straight now after a grueller night shift, having been too scared to go to bed, else I wouldn’t have got up to watch the game.
Hence at half time, I’d practically made the decision to not even bother writing a review about this one.
Fortunately the second half retrieved things somewhat and I changed my mind.
So what happened here?
I’m not going to even try and analyse the game, but it’s more about why we were so poor in that first half?
You can see it’s about confidence and the side simply has none, which explains the first half, I suppose.
Every pass goes astray and even many decisions, although the penalty was absolutely correct, to my mind.
You can’t put your arms around a player in the box, when you’re talking two players in that much space.
It happens all the time in set pieces, but…..
The fact is, we were awful: As bad as it gets. Again.
But then, we came out a totally different side in the second half.
Why?
What was said that should have been said in the pre-match speech?
This is the part I don’t understand.
The players must have been told to play all that totally backwards and sidewards passing rubbish, even when we’d gone a goal down early on, by the coaches or the manager.
To my mind, the manager at half time must have said forget all that and just play, which is why we were immediately miles better and actually tried attacking.
If that’s true, I find it worrying. Being overly cautious, now in our current position, is entirely the wrong approach and we need to try and actually win games.
Of course, there’s an argument where you might think Arsenal backed off in the second half. I don’t think so and I’d say we edged the second half.
Which means if we’d set out from the off playing the same way, we might have actually got something from the game.
No doubt some of you might think I’m deluded.
But I’m beginning to wonder that if the players are low in confidence, is telling them to play not to lose, a good approach?
Losing to the team that are currently top of the league is no disgrace, but the way we played in the first half was.
Yet if we could play like we did in the second half, we might have a chance, as bleak as things seem.
Yes, I’m clutching at straws, but we do have some (theoretically) winnable games coming up.
With that, I’m off to bed.
I’m shot,
And throughly dejected, again.
Lost interest! At least we won’t have the stress of a relegation battle at the end of the season, as we’ll be long gone by then!
I’ve got to be honest Bencey, I was close to giving up at half time too and nearly went to bed.
When we play poorly, we’re as bad as any side I can ever remember in the top flight.
sorry badger
its easy to look better when 2 0 down first half was as bad as it gets ,and that’s players playing for new manager only 5 games in ,and in all honesty we look no better now than we did month ago and main reason is players Sherwood said he was going to replace are still starting and still crap, guzan hutton sanchez Sinclair lamberts players,rudi not good enough
You can say anything you like to players but when they get in the field…? They are now so scared of losing the game us lost before it starts and its unsurprising that we play better in the second half when it doesn’t matter anymore.
We lack quality, we lack confidence but it’s also a truism that when you at the bottom if it’s going to go wrong then it will and Villa are only proving that immutable rule.
Perhaps we might win a few games in the Championship – I’ve actually forgotten what a win feels like.
UTV – will never abandon the club whatever happens VTID
Here is my assessment and ratings (out of 10) for each Villa player today. Remember, it’s only an opinion.
Guzan – 6. Had relatively little to do except pick the ball out of the net twice
Hutton – 6. Is far too clumsy in challenges, the penalty being a fine example. He did assist in offering some attacking threat in the second half but the game was already lost.
Bacuna – 5. Quite obviously not a left-back. Could have scored when he used his trusted right foot.
Lescott – 6. Showed that he still has something to offer, although very little, but clearly past his best.
Okore. – 6. Played okay.
Veretout. – 6. Steadily improving with each game.
Sanchez – 5. Graeme Souness highlighted the Colombian’s lack of desire when he failed to track back for the second goal.
Gueye – 4. I presume he was on the pitch because he was named by the public service announcer.
Sinclair – 6. Would definitely benefit from playing in a winning team. Should have got a header on target.
Ayew – 6. Another who is settling in more.
Gestede -5. Let’s face it, the only reason he is in the side is because of his height and when he had a golden opportunity to head Villa back in to the game he should at least get it on target but that missed chance was typical of a team at rock bottom.
Both Gil and Traore would have scored 7 for me had they continued to play longer than they did.
After each game there are always questions that need answering.
1 Where is Illori ?
2 Why not try Kozak ?
3 Why not try Kinsella at left-back instead of players who are out of position there ?
Hutton and Sinclair’s 6’s are too high, they both should get about 4’s. Gana was a fair bit better than a 4, was our best midfielder in the 2nd half. Sanchez should also get a 6. He wasn’t the only one who didn’t track back for the 2nd, why no one mentions Veretout for that too is baffling.
spud 1 newcastle 2
Cud see it coming. Every team in pl looks capable except us. They will turn us over no problem next week.
because they show some fight we dont
It was interesting listening to Brian Little during the game; he basically described Villa as a team of ‘boys’ without the experience and mental toughness to survive either a relegation battle or life in the more-physical lower divisions.
Barring something amazing happening in the next few weeks, we’re down and out – possibly for a long, longt itime.
We played better 2nd half, but still not good enough. Still giving the ball away in poor areas and wasting it in good areas.
Gestede is a waste of time. Not sure why he started him today, esp given the players on the bench.
Sanchez is the type of player that we need protecting the back 4, but he is just so slow…on the ball, tracking back…but I would still play him over Westwood.
I think we all expected defeat today and the players dellivered!
If we cant pick up points in the next few games, we will be down before March.
Traore has to start!!! As does Gil. Our most creative players give them the time ffs.
The Baggies get a draw at Anfield. Newcastle win at an in form WHL????!!!!
Why are we not starting with Traore, Gill and the defender illori. I’m not a Hutton fan although he tries lacks pace and struggles to cross the ball. Kozak has to be given a chance. Gestede just has not got it, I think for a big guy he’s very lightweight.
I know we played a little better in the second half but the game was already won.
Arsenal could of stepped it up if they needed to.
The gaps getting bigger and we lack confidence. Newcastle will be tough following their win at Spurs. I’m looking at the fixtures up to Sunderland and feel we are doomed should we be in the bottom three after that game.
It’s very frustrating going to every home game to see us lose. All I hope to see is more passion and the will to get a win. I don’t see any of that, in fact I don’t see any improvement
With Garde replacing Sherwood. Too many mistakes have cost us, no drive going forward,
team selections, it’s just one big joke. The only positive about Villa is the support although it was a litltle on the quiet side today.
I would love us to pick up some points and end the season just scraping relegation but at the moment I just can’t see it happening.
I gave my season ticket away today as my lad was supposed to be playing, so watched the game on sky. I couldn’t see any positives at all. The bare minimum we should be offering is endeavour. We never pressed arsenal or pressured them in the first half. Their centre halves looked like they had the whole pitch to run into. Our number 8 can change his name every week for all I care, he’s garbage. Surely the worst and weakest midfield we’ve ever put out in our proud history? Gestede is a championship footballer and Kozak has been ignored by three managers now so doubt he’ll ever get picked. I think we’ll struggle to get to derby’s total never mind survival. The quicker we get the ‘R’ by our name the better and I can get on with planning for next season’s away days. What we’re going through now is the death of a thousand cuts and it’s driving me bonkers!!
We are a terribly poor team – but there’s little about the team in terms of passion or tactics. What are our tactics? Not Garde’s fault particularly, he’s inherited a poor squad, but we are trying to pass a ball around which we are not good at whilst we have very few players with an ability to score.
Personally, i would go for broke now and play a unattractive style. When fit i’d play Illori at LB richards at RB Lescott and Okores as CB’s. I’d then stick Clark in a holding role to give bite to us and physicality which we have zero of in midfield. What we would become is bloody dangerous from set pieces, an area where a team can accumulate a good number of goals. Otherwise i cant see how we’ll score with the lineup we have. We have a lack of full backs bombing forward – don’t care as they’re crap anyway and not helped.
Then i’d have pace in traore Ayew and sinclair as we’d have to counter attack but those guys would win free kicks and corners required. Hopefully we’d get something until January when if still in with a chance we can sign a few players we need.
To be honest its not the last two managers fault, seeing Sanchez, Hutton, and if you like most of the team’s attitude you blame them, well I do, how lethargic they look in the game not even sweating , Traore looked as if given more time would have been some inspiration to the game, no its curtains I’m afraid Brian Little summed it up boys not men.
And a withering assessment by my namesake on MOTD of Villa failing to track the Arsenal counter attack. It isn’t as if we have no idea who we are playing, Arsenal do the same to us every game, And this time it was not being outsprinted from a level start. when the move began Ramsey the scorer is on the ground having put in the tackle, and two defenders on their feet 20 yards behind him.
Even our shooting is bad with everything aimed for he corners and missing the goal. Just hit it hard down the middle when you are out of form and make the goalie work.
A job lot of French boys who are not quite up to the physical demands of EPL and do not seem to care, and the remnants of Lamberts losers. They have less chance of avoiding the drop with a Leicester miracle than of finding a buried king under the car park.
You know what? Why are we even debating the performance? We are a crap side with little quality, little experience and f**k all know how. The real debate is how the f**k are we going to survive the next 20 games as fans having to put up with a sh**e side and the laughing stock of English football.
At least I’m 4000 miles away with sunshine and rum to soften the pain but come next weekend I’ll be back in Blighty – can’t wait — NOT.
I’ve no idea Hitch. The only thing worth debating is the non-future of the club. It’s apparent we’re going down for several weeks now but people are still talking about a great escape???!!! I’d stick my house on the fact we won’t be playing Premiership football next year. We should be protesting outside the ground of emptying the stadium at half time to make some sort of point. Another two shameful records broken under Lerner this weekend. Awful mistake selling the club to that bloke.
Bum Bum, we did but unfortunately they don’t today, I’ve given up 4 seats that’s my start, even now I’m getting phone calls from Villa from young staff asking me as to why. I’ve told them sell to Lerner he might want them.
Did they try and spin you a yarn about massive investment and a ‘bright future ‘? That banner should be torn down.
http://7500toholte.sbnation.com/wasted-corners/2015/12/13/10033602/aston-villa-ramsey-goal-arsenal-gif-highlights this sums it up watch video make your mind up and share these players need to be shown up for what they are idle bastards
As I’ve said unfit cart horse springs to mind.