Aston Villa (A) | PL | Post Match Thread

[Palerider]

it's almost like watching some kind of psychotic sprint race as their attackers and our defenders jostle to get into a sprint race, with the whole of our half to run in to....it really is kamikaze football, it worked when we dominated the ball with purpose but now we are just inviting it on

It really is very frustrating when we can all see a reasonable possible solution. Playing slightly more defensively would draw the other team onto us and give Haaland and co a chance to break on the opposition.

 

[City Man]

I've mentioned it before, and I hate repeating myself, but has nobody seriously considered they know the outcome of the charges? Surely it can't be shit form, injuries and a lack of drive at the moment?

If they knew the outcome then so would the media. The only relevance of the 115 to the current situation is that dealing with the defence of those charges has taken the managerial eye off on-pitch responsibilities, especially player succession planning, even more so than has evidently already happened.

 

[paulandrewjames]

Roger Palmer was alright for us and Oldham.

Ooh Roger Palmer
Ooh Roger Palmer
One key down
Ooh Roger Palmer
Ooh Roger Palmer

 

[flb]

Being played out of position. The one time he was played in the correct position (Forest), he looked half decent.

ring Pep and tell him , he’s a bag of shite and has been since he signed - what is it ? 8 goals in over 100 appearances? Dogshite signing.

 

[flb]

I have serious doubts about some of those "unfit" players.

You got Grealish wrong for a start - shit is more like it

 

[GaudinoMotors]

Their first goal was just a simple through ball for a pre rehearsed routine. High line, time the run correctly and they are through. Even worse the second runner (the scorer) was 4 to 5 yards in front of our 'chasing' defenders. The high line with a slow defence is suicidal and is absolutely killing us. When we played Liverpool they just hit the ball over our defence towards the corner flags and beat us to it time after time.

Our midfield of Gundo, Kovacic, Foden and sometimes an overworked Lewis was also slow and lacked height and power. We need some muscle.

Grealish played well I thought and Bernardo ideally needs a real rest to recharge.

Haaland: He doesn't make his own goals, he is not great at link up play and he is not the hardest of workers. However he is a great goalscorer given the chances. The way we play is just not compatible with his strengths and it is a wonder he has done so well. We need to either change our style or change our striker.

Pep: I think he needs to accept that his tika taka tactics have been rumbled by teams just sitting back and waiting to break very, very fast when given the opportunity. Villa today had deliberately targeted our slow high line defence and so will/does everyone else. In some games, just high energy attacks for 10 minutes overwhelms us. It's a tough, tough ask to change heartfelt tactics at the end of your career but he will need to innovate and come up with tactics that do not end up with us passing the ball around a packed penalty area whilst Haaland is marked by two huge centre backs.

The "tika taka", as you derridingly put it, is the guaranteed and proven way to completely nullify , tire and dominate the opposition, but it can only be done with elite and committed players - which we don't have at the moment. Pep still trying to play it, is probably his only option, given the player's indoctrination though, you can't just flick a switch and revert to 1990s united or Klopp Liverpool.
Unfortunately I agree with sticking with the blueprint - and not long ago we were wallowing and celebrating it being played by the other teams thoughout the club.
When Pep has the tools at his disposal there is nobody better, right now he's created a rod for his own back.

 

[BlueMonkey79]

Giant ego lol, i have read some bollocks today but really . Pep has earned an ego and to decide who to keep and who to sel!

And the ones he's kept and the ones he's sold really are chalk and cheese right now.

Palmer > Gundo
Lavia > Stones
Porro > Walker

And Rogers today bossed us all over the park.

 

[kaz7]

Pep out!!!

The posters on here saying that everything is shit are the same posters that have always warned that things will go to shit.

It's like Christmas come early for them.

Some without question are not blues , some have watched and waited for their moment *cough pep thread

 

[Dodge]

Should never have got rid of Jesus.
Fuck off Txixi.
Pep out.

 

[citytill1die84]

Should never have got rid of Jesus.
Fuck off Txixi.
Pep out.

Put your fishing rod away.

Lol

 

[Stiff Little Wingers]

Very harsh to say Ferguson had a shelf-life as a manager.

The other is Ancelotti who has remained competetive and relevant for nigh on 25 years.

Anyway, saying perhaps the most revolutionary manager football has seen has come to to the end of his shelf-life after his first streak of adversity is a bit premature I think.

If I had to put money on any coach on the planet to reinvent the wheel I'd put them on Pep to do it yet again, and I'd like it to be for us and not giving him away prematurely for some other teams benefit.

I'm talking about at a club, not over their whole career. Ancelotti has had several clubs and I don't think has stayed as long as Pep at City at any of them? End of his shelf life doesn't just mean coaching ability - there can be a whole load of interconnected things happening which is exactly the case at City.
Perhaps you're right (and I hope you are) - get this season out of the way and then a big rebuild with Pep. But we have a new DoF - and the controlled style Pep craves might be falling out of fashion.

 

[ancoats]

Nothing wrong with questioning him just reminder to play nice : )

Pep will defend his ideas and his players in the media, But come on. Pep is not a happy man and it's starting to show more and more on the touchline, Playing Mr Nice Guy for the media but once that dressing room door closes he must be ripping them apart, Ghosting is not acceptable and this has been going on too long now

Something has to Give, Pep need to sort it out and do what's best for the club, if that means playing some of the EDS or Youth players then do it, what have you got to lose, i am 100% watching a youth lad given a chance and running around chasing everything that moves, its has to be better than watching so-called world class players walk and ghost

 

[Alan ogleys ball bag]

dog shit end of

 

[GaudinoMotors]

Yeah we're all loving this. We dreamt it.
Nobody previously highlighted issues so that it may have been averted. Obviously not real fans like what you are, you wonder fans.

 

[BlueMonkey79]

The "tika taka", as you derridingly put it, is the guaranteed and proven way to completely nullify , tire and dominate the opposition, but it can only be done either elite and committed players - which we don't have at the moment. Pep still trying to play it, is probably his only option,given the players indoctrination though, you can't just flick a switch and revert to 1990s united or Klopp Liverpool.
Unfortunately I agree with sticking with the blueprint - and not long ago we were wallowing and celebrating it being played by the other teams thoughouthe club.
When Pep has the tools at his disposal there is nobody better, right now he's created a rod for his own back.

I can't remember which player said it. But recently when interviewed they said "when City have the ball we rest".

Which is bang on. Yes we have 60 odd per cent possession but the opposition aren't really running their bollocks off.

Today was another example. Villa were in third gear. We were the ones running round like headless chickens.

These players are cooked. In seasons gone by they are so used to winning games that the odd loss or draw got shrugged off. They knew they would win the next 5!

Now the going has got tough every single one of them have gone hiding.

We need 5 or 6 replacement minimum.

Our season can't be saved in January. The damage has been done.

The first wounds were inflicted in the last 4 or 5 transfer windows. The club has strained every sinew from the 4 in a row and treble squads, in order to save a few quid and secure the net spend trophy.

Top 4 looks bleak now. And it could be a few years until we are challenging on all fronts again!!

 

[simon23]

Keep blaming the injuries all you want (and it is an issue) but the bigger issue is the players that ARE available

Gundo and Lewis - neither are good enough -Gundo once was but he is FINISHED - done ...his career anywhere near the top is over. Lewis will never be good enough....said it last year - he aint a fullback and he aint a midfielder....not good enough in either position - Id drive both of them out the exit door gladly

Grealish - said when we bought him he is overrated....people reckoned he could be the next KDB - HAHAHAHAHAHAHHA!!!!!!! This team have carried him every year he has been here bar one....he is one of the symptoms of our demise - over paying for average English talent - (Phillips anyone!!!) - I would sell him in a heartbeat even for 15m or less

Stones - couldnt last more than half a game again - needs to be sold - along with AKE - both good servents but they are now the past. ...but realistically no one is going to buy them with their injury records and wages so we are going to have to let them go on free's

Walker - like Gundo - finished!! - not his fault but time to say good bye - his career is done at the top level...let him go to sheffield utd or somewhere on the continent

Bernardo - overplayed

KDB - cant play enough and when he does he is so slow, dispossessed easily and nowhere near the force he once was...and never will be again - there will be the odd spark from him once in a while but that is it...hopefulyl gone in the summer so we can rebuild - let him go to Saudi or the States.....do NOT give him a new contract or give him another season - biggest mistake we could make

And there are people in here actually blaming Haaland - have you not wathced him for the past few seasons - he is never a player who can run around, drop deep and get invovled in play - he is the best goal scorer in the world but he needs service....he is getting nothing from the midfield. - there is no point in him running around like a headless chicken - it achieves nothing.

Nothing changes this season - and PLEASE dont say Bruno G from Newcastle will solve it.....he is Newcastle level at BEST

Get used to this till next season - this season is all about survival

 

[GaudinoMotors]

I can't remember which player said it. But recently when interviewed they said "when City have the ball we rest".

Which is bang on. Yes we have 60 odd per cent possession but the opposition aren't really running their bollocks off.

Today was another example. Villa were in third gear. We were the ones running round like headless chickens.

These players are cooked. In seasons gone by they are so used to winning games that the odd loss or draw got shrugged off. They knew they would win the next 5!

Now the going has got tough every single one of them have gone hiding.

We need 5 or 6 replacement minium.

Oir season can't be saved in January. The damage has been done.

The first wounds were inflicted in the last 4 or 5 transfer windows. The club has strained every sinew from the 4 in a row and treble squads, in order to save a few quid and secure the net spend trophy.

Top 4 looks bleak now. And it could be a few years until we are challenging on all fronts again!!

Yep - with this current side they probably can rest. Nobody can play the killer short pass through the lines. Kev may, on his day, play the 30 yarder crowd pleaser through/over 2 lines, but the D Silva, Nasri, even Mahrez pass has gone.

 

[Fordyboy46]

Respect to all constructive criticism of the squad, I’d also include peps tactics. This inverted vanity project of Rico moving inside from the full back position is killing us, I’ve never seen a player so out of position as Rico. I really think it’s flawed, stepping stones in 2 seasons ago worked most of the time. Rodri had to adjust. However we’re crowding our own space and teams won’t be sucked in, they’ve got their shape and system and stick to their game plan.
We have almost zero penetration and create very few opportunities to score from early crosses.
When do we see our fullbacks go beyond our wingers and cross the ball. Something has to change unfortunately I think pep is to stubborn.
Recruitment and selling of Alvarez and Cole palmer have turned out absolutely horrendous decisions, putting everything into Haaland who has desires to play in Spain has been shortsighted. Today was probably as bad a team as I’ve seen for 12 years or more.Bernardo continues to disappoint we show no pace in attack, slow build up play . Teams get back into shape and we offer zero pressure on the opponents goal, no wonder Tixi is leaving. What a rebuild is required..

Spot on bud

 

[ScottSinclair]

I'm talking about at a club, not over their whole career. Ancelotti has had several clubs and I don't think has stayed as long as Pep at City at any of them? End of his shelf life doesn't just mean coaching ability - there can be a whole load of interconnected things happening which is exactly the case at City.
Perhaps you're right (and I hope you are) - get this season out of the way and then a big rebuild with Pep. But we have a new DoF - and the controlled style Pep craves might be falling out of fashion.

Yeah, I get you. It is hard to say anything for sure, but it still is a bit premature to think along those lines for now. In my opinion the "shelf life" at a club has more to do with the cycles of the group of players in relation with the coach. This groups cycle is obviously done, so we can afford to not worry about the manager at this point. But as I said if the cycle ends when the team should be in their prime, as we somewhat saw under Mancini (which were a more controlled decline, but as we know a lot of inner conflict) a decision needs to be made on the manager to preserve the valuable assets in the squad

 

[bert38]

Keep blaming the injuries all you want (and it is an issue) but the bigger issue is the players that ARE available

Gundo and Lewis - neither are good enough -Gundo once was but he is FINISHED - done ...his career anywhere near the top is over. Lewis will never be good enough....said it last year - he aint a fullback and he aint a midfielder....not good enough in either position - Id drive both of them out the exit door gladly

Grealish - said when we bought him he is overrated....people reckoned he could be the next KDB - HAHAHAHAHAHAHHA!!!!!!! This team have carried him every year he has been here bar one....he is one of the symptoms of our demise - over paying for average English talent - (Phillips anyone!!!) - I would sell him in a heartbeat even for 15m or less

Stones - couldnt last more than half a game again - needs to be sold - along with AKE - both good servents but they are now the past. ...but realistically no one is going to buy them with their injury records and wages so we are going to have to let them go on free's

Walker - like Gundo - finished!! - not his fault but time to say good bye - his career is done at the top level...let him go to sheffield utd or somewhere on the continent

Bernardo - overplayed

KDB - cant play enough and when he does he is so slow, dispossessed easily and nowhere near the force he once was...and never will be again - there will be the odd spark from him once in a while but that is it...hopefulyl gone in the summer so we can rebuild - let him go to Saudi or the States.....do NOT give him a new contract or give him another season - biggest mistake we could make

And there are people in here actually blaming Haaland - have you not wathced him for the past few seasons - he is never a player who can run around, drop deep and get invovled in play - he is the best goal scorer in the world but he needs service....he is getting nothing from the midfield. - there is no point in him running around like a headless chicken - it achieves nothing.

Nothing changes this season - and PLEASE dont say Bruno G from Newcastle will solve it.....he is Newcastle level at BEST

Get used to this till next season - this season is all about survival

Agree with pretty much all of that-but somebody has to bear responsibility for it…the club have been incredibly complacent. The whole thing has fallen around their ears.

The Jan transfer window is not easy but the club must act-we will soon get an indication as to how they plan to react.