Well, it wasn’t particularly good, was it?
Perhaps I should re-phrase that. Apart from about the last twenty minutes it was pretty poor.
We’d taken the lead , with a good striker’s finish on the turn from Danny Ings, but it was only after Everton had had one disallowed for offside. If we’d have gone one down, I’m not sure what the reaction of the crowd would have been, but the goal seemed to ease the nerves somewhat and the players seemed a little more relaxed.
It still wasn’t good though, with the side looking to go long all the time and not being very successful with it. And it was all pretty tedious, with only our shocking defending against set pieces being noteworthy.
It’s fascinating realy, because on paper, we have decent defenders, but it seems not one of them can get their head to the ball. I made the comment at the time that I don’t ever recall such consistently poor defending from a Villa side and that still holds.
Why this suddenly seems to have come about, I don’t have a clue.
Did Mings improve things? I have to say he certainly didn’t hurt, although he certainly missed what should have been a pretty straightforward header away though. He was more good than bad, so I won’t hold that against him.
I’ve seen it said that many blame MacPhee, our setpiece coach, but I don’t think that’s the case at all. It’s almost as if our defenders can’t read the flight of an incoming ball and they’re rarely in the right position, meaning they sort of have to stretch to get the head on it.
It all looks incredibly gangly and disjointed and I don’t see how it can be anything to do with coaching.
It’s very rare these days that you see a Villa defender physically and convincingly insist that he’s going to get the ball first.
This has to be reversed, else you can see quality sides scoring boatloads of goals against us.
And then Phillipe Coutinho went off with what seemed a groin problem, after being frankly awful for all the time he was on the pitch. I mean he offered absolutely nothing. He’s either way out of form or simply doesn’t want to know.
Anyway, he was replaced by Emi Buendia and it was instantly like watching a different side, like switching a switch.
What I found particularly noticeable was the instant increase in energy and effort.
Now it’s probably the conspiracist in me, but it looked even more proof that many of our ills probably revolve around Coutinho. I suspect a lot of our players don’t think he deserves to play in place of Buendia.
And they’d be right, to my mind.
Buendia looked creative and his effort in five minutes outdid anything Countinho had done in all the time he was on the pitch.
This can’t be allowed to continue and if Gerrard starts Coutinho over Buendia next game, I’ll be calling for his head. It quite simply couldn’t be excused as a footballing decision if you want the team to have a chance of winning.
Other positives?
Well, the game wasn’t overflowing with them, but they were there.
I thought Ramsey was very good at times. He seems to think about his runs more now, so much that you can see exactly where he’s trying to get too. What I thought was always there is now beginning to really come out, I think and it’s not like watching a very young kid making blind runs anymore.
Matt cash looked solid, which is no surprise, as I think he’s very consistent.
Boubacar Kamara looks promising and stopped a few attacks dead today. If he keeps that up, we may not need to worry about Luiz staing or going and he might wish he’d signed the contract earlier.
Watkins too had a very decent game, with his usual workrate and desire.
Yes, I get that his first touch can be really poor, but there’s more to his game than that, in my opinion. He played off Emi really well for the second goal and I’ve seen loads of strikers who wouldn’t have laid it off as he did.
Ings got a nice strike.
And we got the win, which is the biggest positive of all. Which is just as well, because even though I’m being positive, I don’t fancy us getting much in the next few games.
In fact, I’m a bit worried.
But for now, I’ll take the win.
Oh, one last thing.
Fat Frank thought Everton did enough to get a point. I found it hard to disagree, as on a better day, they would have.
I’ll take it.
Off topic – apologies Badger – but I couldn’t resist recording that Philogene-Bodace scored winner for Cardiff against Blues 🙂
I’ve literally just come back on here because I was going to write that myself.
Rounds off what could by far have been a worse day 🙂
The introduction of Onana made a difference for Everton with his run and cross forcing the own goal and he would have scored except for Chambers brilliant last ditch tackle.
Up until that I thought we were comfortable in open play and in disarray when defending a set piece. I do blame McPhee because he is the set piece coach (as far as I know) and as mentioned, we do have decent defenders. Maybe there isn’t enough height in the team?
As for the Buendia / Coutinho debate, it should be instant dismissal for SG if he starts PC ahead of EB.
Being totally honest I enjoyed the game, the last 15 minutes was edge of the seat stuff.
Ok we ain’t no Man City but in my books no bad thing because their technical play bores me shitless, I’d rather watch paint dry.
Coutinho -no way on present form should he be starting ahead of Buendia.
Not brilliant but not a bad day at the office, I’ll take that.
On the bright side…
Could be worse.
Could be a united fan 😁😂🤣
Only martinez could get in any top 6 team we are poor but a win is a win
Man u omg
Imo Buendia would mate.
I’d put Cash in that Bracket too. McGinn on a good day too although I’d like to see him in the role he plays for Sturgeon’s mob.
Role on MOTD!!!
Spot on with Cash mate but bore of the day with Wokey Lineker.
No thanks.
Bring back Chinny Hill 😁
The worst one recently was Clinton Morrison last season “There are grown PEOPLE crying on the pitch”. Can’t offend the non-binary mob!!!
Don’t find that 0-1, 1-0 always upset non- binary?
Doesn’t matter what the truth is, it’s what you ‘feel’. Can we all start ‘feeling’ we win the Premier League this season???
“you ‘
Ten Hag must be wishing he took the Birmingham City job!!! Lol!!!!
The downside of Saturday’s win is that it seems Carlos is going to be out for an extended period. With Kautney Hause still injured, suddenly we’re down to three CB’s.
If Carlos’ injury is bad then I can see us trying to find a loan CB.
I still say letting Targett go so quickly was a mistake. Imagine that injury happened to Digne yesterday? We’d be screwed.
It was typical page one management. Come in and show the workforce who’s boss.
see What your saying Bum Bum but they must be thinking Ashley Young ? I wasn’t happy to see him go, still what do i know. Shit Nottingham Forest are 1 up
I’m watching the Chelsea game to see if I can learn anything.
And I have learnt one thing.
The difference in pace is frightening.
Chelsea play like a bunch of 18 year olds.
Whereas we play like a bunch of 118 year olds.
It fascinates me that when you watch our awful play, you soon forget how quick the game can be played by decent sides.
We’ll never do any good with the snail’s pace we play at.
Gerrard living in his era – not the modern game?
After all he’s transplanted the Scottish game to Villa!
I’m not sure Hitch.
But the pace I’m seeing here nails the lie that you can’t play at pace in the heat.
It’s frightening and worlds apart from us.
Speed of thought, energy, desire, quality, everything.
So much so that I can almost understand why some want our kids to play, even if the only instruction is to try and outrun the opposition.
Unbelievable pace, what a game but my monies on Antonio Conte🥊
Carlos – confirmed ruptured Achilles – so that’s him sidelined for at least four months, maybe longer. I suppose the World Cup break helps a bit although that’s poor compensation.
I suspect Villa will try and secure a loan deal but can they find someone of his pedigree?
Not the luckiest of sides!
All the best Diego. I think we are genuinely cursed by injuries. Fully agree also that we play far far to slow. We sometimes need to be a bit braver and throw people forward in counter attacks. We like to build slowly which can be good if you mix it up, but we dont. Just an example of one possible tactic tweak. Maybe leave 2 people like Bailey and Watkins on the half way line whilst defending corners etc for quick breakaways. It also means less crowdedness in the box (which I think would actually help us because we are all at sea as soon as the ball comes in) as the opposition would have to leave players marking ours on the halfway line. The other thing we could look at is finding a left winger with genuine frightening pace.
I fear we’ll never see him in a Villa shirt again now. Think back to all the players at VP who have suffered similar injuries. They were never the same player. I think the only player who made a short return was Martin Laursen – who still eventually succumbed to those injuries. I think we’re going to have to sign someone permanently now. It really does feel like a curse – and how many of those are almost new players, not long-term established? Wesley, Martin Laursen, Lovre Kalinic
Luc Nillis.
Was lucky enough to see Nillis’ wonder goal vs Chelsea from the Holte End. Still looks magnificent 20+ years later.
Wilfred Bouma’s another one who didn’t make it back after injury
Following Carlos injury will Josh Feeney be given an opportunity?
Can’t see a 17 year-old playing as a centre-back in the PL, no matter how promising he may be.
Villa will have to decide whether they can afford to wait for Hause to get back to full fitness, or whether they go for someone like Victor Nelsson as a stop-gap for this season.
I’d say I’m neutral on Tyrone Mings. But I can categorically say that Graeme Souness if an absolute (insert expletive insult of your choice.) Some very intelligent and FACTUAL comments on TalkShite from Laura Woods to defend Mings. Meanwhile, the embarrassing failure of a manager that is Souness stoops to playground levels of “bring it on son…phone TalkSport – we’ll have a chat”. What an absolute TWAT. Would love to see Mings knock him out, regardless of how hard he thinks he is. Totally unprofessional in contrast to the professional way Mings has dealt with being scapegoated.
Mings did the right thing and did his talking on the pitch. Souness’s ‘man’s game’ comments were spot on though. Football has become a non contact sport.
Absolutely Bum Bum. Of course, the men’s game is ‘a man’s game’. If he’s saying football is ‘a man’s game’ then he’s totally deluded after the events of the last month. But perhaps what Souness fails to realise most is that today’s ‘men’ aren’t the men he played football with. Or the man he thinks he still is today. Times have changed. So have men, whether he likes it or not. Heck, some even change into women! Souness needs a reality check.
It seems that Dinosaurs are alive and well 🙂
Does anyone have any interest in what Souness has to say? One of the dullest guests that Sky have on. He was a great footballer (fair enough), a failed manager and an annoying Sky pundit.
Looking ahead to the Palace game it will be interesting to see if Villa go 2 up top. Palace against Arsenal played a flat back 4 but against Pool they went with 3 CB’s. I think it makes sense to have Watkins and Ings if they have 3 CB’s but if they go back to a flat back 4, then I would play Watkins as a lone striker with Buendia and Luiz or McGinn tucked in behind as two number 10’s. That will allow 3 midfielders such as Ramsey, Kamara and either Luiz or McGinn. As for our CB’s it has to be Mings and Chambers. Konsa is out of form and needs time out. What about Coutinho or Bailey I hear you ask? Well for me it’s about players who are in form and they might prove better as impact substitutes.
I think it was the most regular of comments that got the media in a frenzy.
That’s the modern world for you…I’m laughing at the idea of a T Rex wearing a big tache and perm!!!!
Personally I’d like to see 1 upfront tried again, Id have Buendia and Bailey just behind Archer (or Ollie for the work rate), Ramsey, Kamara and Mcginn, then Digne, Mings, Chambers, Cash and Martinez. If you take Zaha and Eze out of that palace team, they’re not to be feared imo. On that note I’d actually take both Eze and Zaha in a heartbeat. Both strong and have pace and can both run with the ball and create things out of nothing. It’s probably a realistic option in terms of being able to convince them to join too. Wont happen but just a thought. I’m expecting a well ground out win this weekend personally.
Zaha is one of those who always seems to cause our defenders problems! (& not only our’s…).
He’s a bit of an oddity IMO, since he seems to have been linked with so much supposed interest from the (so-called) “Big” clubs over the last half-a-dozen transfer windows but for some reason is still at Palace.
I’d like to see us try and get him too – if only to ensure that he didn’t score against us!
Totally agree on Zaha. Would he be an upgrade on Watkins? Well, put it this way: I don’t think many PL defences fear Ollie, but I think most are terrified of Zaha.
I fear we will have our arses handed to us this weekend. Hoping to be pleasantly surprised. Buendia MUST start or Gerrard’s credibility continues to drain…
I watched L’pool v Palace this week. Palace are a big, physical team. No pushovers, especially at home.
We don’t do well against those sorts of teams – so unless SG’s got our lot really pumped-up for the fight, I fear you’re going to be proven right…
Zaha – Watkins?
Imo totally different types of player -Watkins a target man, holding the ball up making runs.
Zaha – an out and out winger.
Wouldn’t go for either – or but maybe together?
Zaha is a damned good player but trouble in the dressing room. That seems to be the reason ManU/Fergie sent him back to Palace. A wrong ‘un if u ask me.
Allegedly.
Don’t see Wilf being an SG type of player, couldn’t picture that move ever transpiring BB.
Christian Pulisic available on loan, apparently. Villa should be all over that – the kind of major upgrade that will move the team up the league.
So it looks like Carlos injury won’t keep him out for too long hopefully. Gerrard said he will play a part this season which is a relief.
The signs are that Sanson and Traore will be gone soon. Fact is they are unlikely to be involved in the first team plus they will free space in the squad for new signings.