Aston Villa (A) | PL | Post Match Thread

[bluemoon32]

All players have form issues, it happens, the worrying aspect for me is we are not working as hard as we have in the past. Thats not just form, its attitude.
We used to be the hardest working side in football, were not anymore

 

[Roachy]

Anything we get from KDB will be a bonus, huge injury to get over at 33 and for a man with a catalogue of major injuries.

Personally I think he will be gone in the summer.

The other thing is that KDB's absence shouldn't make the rest of the team play absolutely shite like last night. His absence didn't contribute to the recent run of draws either. You're right as well about how he returns from that injury.

 

[MadchesterCity]

Brilliant from Villa. Fucking astonishingly inept from us. I hope we've got a long shopping list ready for January.

I keep getting told we don’t need to do business in January, no good players are available and we have to make do with squad fillers Nunes, Kovacic and Phillips. I’d sell the three of them to Saudi (or anyone who’d take them) and get a proper midfielder or two, we need to spend some of that cash on young hungry world class central midfielders. Douglas Luiz for example would be brilliant alongside Rodri in our midfield. It’s time to shit or get of the pot, no point bragging about record profits and sales, major surgery required and a kick in the balls for the current players.

 

[Blu3m00n91]

Pep will relish the fact he knows he’s going to have to come up with different ideas and plans. Best in the world for a reason. On the other hand I think I’m still living inside the treble bubble of last summer, these recent results/performance just haven’t bothered me. Although the summer transfers are looking bizarre atm (except Doku)

 

[shemnel]

Tough. Had my customary 'sleep on it', and the positives have failed to trickle through.

Go on, let's find one.... I think the fit first XI is still the best around, last night's team was a mess. I think Nunes will come good but it'll take a season.

We got battered. I'm worried about Lewis, that'll be very very tough on him, coming back strong will prove he has amazing resilience, but he isn't the man for the role he played, the inverted full back is better.

Otherwise we just gave it back to Villa over and over and over again. In fact, losing it in our own half has been a bit of a theme this season

I don't know what I would have done differently, but for the last twenty I would have put Nunes (left) and Foden (right) in wide positions and tried Silva, Kova and Phillips centrally. Low point. Onwards.

 

[ArniArason]

Radio 5 Live - Listen Live - BBC Sounds

Listen live to Radio 5 Live on BBC Sounds

www.bbc.co.uk

From 628 ….this girl sounds like she knows what she’s talking about

Wow, she is the sort of pundit we need. Also, it seemed to weird to hear two people talking on a national radio station that were actually behind city and talking without any agenda

 

[MadchesterCity]

I'm not even sure they were that good. They just did the basics well and won by a deflection.

If they weren’t that good it’s even more alarming

 

[Keeper!]

The other thing is that KDB's absence shouldn't make the rest of the team play absolutely shite like last night. His absence didn't contribute to the recent run of draws either. You're right as well about how he returns from that injury.

The performance has nothing to do with KDB, simply a squad that is leggy and fatigued and short on numbers, quality and goals.

We messed up in the summer transfer window, we needed a couple of top, top players, we failed to do that and bought a potential worldie (Gvaridol) and a couple of make do's.

 

[splinter]

This will build character and strength in our younger fans...can't win all the time mcfcok

 

[Churchlawtonblue]

Is this our weakest squad we've had for years?. We can't cope with a few injuries to key players now, we could've managed quite comfortably even a few seasons ago when our bench was full of quality. Last night's bench was awful, eight on it with two keepers present, how has it got so threadbare?. Three players on it who do virtually the same job ie Nunes, Phillip's, and Kovacic and all three haven't got a goal in them, absolute rubbish.
Nunes for 53m could be even worse business than Phillip's, why we paid that for someone who had a shit season at Wolves is beyond me. Still early for him though, do hopefully he can produce something.
I think we see big changes again next summer

Nunes has been really disappointing for the money we paid for him.

 

[give it to gordon]

didnt read the matchday thread ! I treat that like I do the press/media lol.

I have said a few times the players look mentality and physically shot. They have played so many games at a very high and demanding intensity our the last 3 season. Hardly anytime off due to stupid internationals.

Last season we reached the very top, the treble.

Are the players holding back unconsciously for the world club matches ?

We lost two good players in Gundogan and Marhez both had great ability in keeping the ball. Add KDB injury and that's most of our midfield gone.

This season Pep has changed things with playing two strikers, which means less in midfield, a weaken midfield to, which leaves Rodri having to cover to much, which exposes the defence.

I'm not throwing the baby out with the water we have had 3 amazing seasons, I dont mind a slight dip. Personally I'm surprised we havent had a dip before. But than again I'm a FOC

People saying things will change when KDB gets back, I think we wont see the real KDB until next season. It take Kev about 7 or 8 games to get back up to speed plus his age now as well.

 

[GaudinoMotors]

Well I'll go to the foot of our stairs.
After that window and that selection?

 

[willipp]

If they weren’t that good it’s even more alarming

I think it’s a bit naive to say Villa weren’t that good last night, they were excellent. That doesn’t excuse our performance in any way, but Villa deserve credit for how they played and the result was as much to do with their performance than it was ours.

 

[ArniArason]

If they weren’t that good it’s even more alarming

The performance WAS very very alarming. If I was a fan of most other teams and we'd put out a performance like that I'd be panicking. However, this is city and this is Pep, he'll find a way to adapt and once he does, others will run scared again

 

[ShaunMCFC]

Get the ball, get to the byline, don’t cross it, recycle it back to the centre halves and repeat.

Drop Alvarez and Akanji, bring Ake back in and get Rodri back in.

 

[Blue Maverick]

So just the Champions league this year and we will call it a shit season! Oh how far we have come, I’ve woken up miserable as fuck, Pep needs to rethink what he’s doing with the group he has, Haaland might as well not be on the pitch at the moment, no fucker can see the big bastard making runs, I know it’s different on the pitch but just cross the bugger in.

 

[Eric Hitchmough]

didnt read the matchday thread ! I treat that like I do the press/media lol.

I have said a few times the players look mentality and physically shot. They have played so many games at a very high and demanding intensity our the last 3 season. Hardly anytime off due to stupid internationals.

Last season we reached the very top, the treble.

Are the players holding back unconsciously for the world club matches ?

We lost two good players in Gundogan and Marhez both had great ability in keeping the ball. Add KDB injury and that's most of our midfield gone.

This season Pep has changed things with playing two strikers, which means less in midfield, a weaken midfield to, which leaves Rodri having to cover to much, which exposes the defence.

I'm not throwing the baby out with the water we have had 3 amazing seasons, I dont mind a slight dip. Personally I'm surprised we havent had a dip before. But than again I'm a FOC

People saying things will change when KDB gets back, I think we wont see the real KDB until next season. It take Kev about 7 or 8 games to get back up to speed plus his age now as well.

If we’re waiting for next season to see the real KDB he’ll be 34 with an awful lot of miles (and injuries) on the clock.

 

[SK14BLUE]

didnt read the matchday thread ! I treat that like I do the press/media lol.

I have said a few times the players look mentality and physically shot. They have played so many games at a very high and demanding intensity our the last 3 season. Hardly anytime off due to stupid internationals.

Last season we reached the very top, the treble.

Are the players holding back unconsciously for the world club matches ?

We lost two good players in Gundogan and Marhez both had great ability in keeping the ball. Add KDB injury and that's most of our midfield gone.

This season Pep has changed things with playing two strikers, which means less in midfield, a weaken midfield to, which leaves Rodri having to cover to much, which exposes the defence.

I'm not throwing the baby out with the water we have had 3 amazing seasons, I dont mind a slight dip. Personally I'm surprised we havent had a dip before. But than again I'm a FOC

People saying things will change when KDB gets back, I think we wont see the real KDB until next season. It take Kev about 7 or 8 games to get back up to speed plus his age now as well.

My sentiments entirely. Great post and well reasoned

 

[SK14BLUE]

If we’re waiting for next season to see the real KDB he’ll be 34 with an awful lot of miles (and injuries) on the clock.

Maybe but I’ll take that! Still be the best midfielder in the league.

 

[eastmanc]

I am concerned we are not getting any positive news about him.

KDB said himself that he will be back after the new year . Isn't he in light training?