Aston Villa (A) | PL | Post Match Thread

[chris85mcfc]

If we keep buying players that aren't used to winning, it's very difficult and time consuming to get them to change that mentality overnight

Marmoush, Reijnders, Cherki, Nunes, Ait Nouri, Savinho, Gonzalez of late, all coming from clubs that arent regularly winning trophies; and then couple that up with players like Doku, Bobb and Rico Lewis, who have been getting a lot of minutes over the last few seasons, but are way below the required standard

All of this has resulted in a squad now that is devoid of winners, and the desire to win every single game

Donnarummaa, Dias, Bernardo, Rodri, Foden and Haaland all have the right mentality to be at the club, but are being massively outweighed by a large group of players that wouldn't have gotten near the squad 3 or 4 years ago

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

Who would you replace them with mate?

That's not his say or job. We pay people vast sums of money to make those decisions and they've made some shockers. And the man at the top of the coaching and scouting tree isn't exactly covering himself in glory.

I don't care if I get pelters for this, because I'm convinced events are proving me right, but Pep's last contract extension was one too many. Whatever magic he's brought over the eight seasons to 2023/24 has seemingly gone.

 

[simon23]

If we keep buying players that aren't used to winning, it's very difficult and time consuming to get them to change that mentality overnight

Marmoush, Reijnders, Cherki, Nunes, Ait Nouri, Savinho, Gonzalez of late, all coming from clubs that arent regularly winning trophies; and then couple that up with players like Doku, Bobb and Rico Lewis, who have been getting a lot of minutes over the last few seasons, but are way below the required standard

All of this has resulted in a squad now that is devoid of winners, and the desire to win every single game

Donnarummaa, Dias, Bernardo, Rodri, Foden and Haaland all have the right mentality to be at the club, but are being massively outweighed by a large group of players that wouldn't have gotten near the squad 3 or 4 years ago

spot on

 

[bladdered]

I know they used to get crucified on here BITD, but what price would you have for a Sterling and Mahrez back in the team?

 

[bluegaz13]

What can I say that hasn't already been said?

Probably City's worst performance at Villa Park since my previous visit in 23/24 (I'm sure this used to be our lucky ground)

When did a City player last win a 50-50 tackle?

9/38 played so when do we stop using "early days" as mitigation?

Absolutely right about not winning 50-50s…….and now we are no where near as good technically as we used to be, the lack of physicality becomes a big issue.

 

[half & half derby scarf]

Our very mediocre squad is overachieving atm. I genuinely worry where City will finish. Walker looked like he had more running in him than most of our squad for Burnley today and De Bruyne was our only player with any guile.

 

[ancoats]

Absolutely, they are all squad players. If we want the be back at the very top they need upgrading.

That squad of multiple titles and Champions League winners was built from 5 years of hard yards, bedding in players.
Pretty much what is needed by this new rebuild, Moaning about this squad of players after 9 games is silly, also 5 or 6 have not had much game time because of injuries, so how does this team gel together with the lack of game time

We have to get right behind the club and players' and manager because they needs your support, then maybe they will repay your faith in silverware when it counts

 

[simon23]

That's not his say or job. We pay people vast sums of money to make those decisions and they've made some shockers. And the man at the top of the coaching and scouting tree isn't exactly covering himself in glory.

I don't care if I get pelters for this, because I'm convinced events are proving me right, but Pep's last contract extension was one too many. Whatever magic he's brought over the eight seasons to 2023/24 has seemingly gone.

dont the men likes of Txixi/Viana, Khaldoon hold some responsibility in this.....the recruitment hasnt been great when you look at it....
too many project type players, players who a level below the level required....Doku, Sav, Grealish Phillips, Nunes are all hugely questionable purchases and there are others that are yet to be proven one way or another..... and that aint just on Pep.

 

[Blue and still suffering]

Having looked all the results this weekend and at our game from a slightly more objective distance of three hours I will offer the following opinion. There are no great teams in the league as there has been between 2017 and 2023. There are , on paper, two very good squads and three maybe four good squads and probably ten decent squads. This means that most all of the teams can beat each other and it will be the team that can put a run together with the fewest number of dropped points that will win the league. I know that in some ways that is stating the bleeding obvious but I suspect the top four will chop and change all season and unfortunately the team that will be the hardest to beat is going to be the Arse. We don't have that consistency anymore but will good enough to finish in the top three.

 

[Prater70]

shambolic starting 11. So many small weak players v a side we know are strong and direct.

How savinho played 82 mins is baffling.

Team that finished should have been the majority of starters.

But I can see if Nico x2 were just short of fitness than ok but Bobb and savinho were gash.

Agree 100%. We had so many small weak players out there. Even if you are on the small side you should be able to put your foot in. Diaz with his arms behind his back. We used to praise him for putting his body on the line and blocking shots.

 

[simon23]

Absolutely, they are all squad players. If we want the be back at the very top they need upgrading.

agreed
was saying this in the summer but got hounded by the usual suspects

 

[ancoats]

Our very mediocre squad is overachieving atm. I genuinely worry where City will finish. Walker looked like he had more running in him than most of our squad for Burnley today and De Bruyne was our only player with any guile.

The thing is Walker and De Bruyne don't or can't do it every week at the clubs they now play for

 

[pepguardiola'smoustache]

The problem he is so stubborn and will never listen to us

us?

 

[mattyads]

You're right, close the cl

We need to start getting 2 of Rodri, Kova and Nico in the midfield at all times, if we have that solid base in midfield O'Reilly/Ait-Nouri and Nunes can be more adventurous to provide width and Foden, Reijnders and Cherki get freed up to drift about the top of the pitch causing havoc.

It's not been possible really yet due to players picking up injuries and returning from long lay offs but I think it will all start to click once we can do that.

Khusanov returning will give us that raw pace at the back that allows us to bring the line higher and suffocate teams like we used to again.

What I can't work out is if hes fit enough to come on at 55 mins why Nico didn't start!

That midfield three that started is as compact and solid as cheese! Melted cheese.

I think Rodri is the only one that genuinely improves us, the rest, its just rearranging the deck chairs.…

 

[herrock]

It was only when Gonzales came on, did we look to have some fire in our bellies. As for Hinchcliffe on coms!!!

 

[mattyads]

If we keep buying players that aren't used to winning, it's very difficult and time consuming to get them to change that mentality overnight

Marmoush, Reijnders, Cherki, Nunes, Ait Nouri, Savinho, Gonzalez of late, all coming from clubs that arent regularly winning trophies; and then couple that up with players like Doku, Bobb and Rico Lewis, who have been getting a lot of minutes over the last few seasons, but are way below the required standard

All of this has resulted in a squad now that is devoid of winners, and the desire to win every single game

Donnarummaa, Dias, Bernardo, Rodri, Foden and Haaland all have the right mentality to be at the club, but are being massively outweighed by a large group of players that wouldn't have gotten near the squad 3 or 4 years ago

It's not even winning, its just stop signing players that aren't good enough. Simple.

 

[Roachy]

agreed
was saying this in the summer but got hounded by the usual suspects

And you won't hear a peep out of them if you're subsequently proved correct mate.

 

[bluemoon32]

dont the men likes of Txixi/Viana, Khaldoon hold some responsibility in this.....the recruitment hasnt been great when you look at it....
too many project type players, players who a level below the level required....Doku, Sav, Grealish Phillips, Nunes are all hugely questionable purchases and there are others that are yet to be proven one way or another..... and that aint just on Pep.

The powers that be at the club have really fucked up the squad quality, i really don't think that can be argued.
Whether that is because of the charges or just that we took our eyes off the ball , i don't know.

 

[the blue panther]

Check my pre match post - I was saying enthusiastically that City should fly at them and we very definitely didn't do so. I'm very disappointed.

You don't have to be as big as the opponent to be effective - see many City teams in the last 12 years - but today it really seemed like 'men against boys.'

Extremely disappointed that we morphed into ourselves from 12 months or so ago. We made them look half-decent and really they were there for the taking. Too half-hearted and too negative, going sideways and backwards too often. Yes that was due to the personnel available to some extent but ultimately it also comes back to our poor performance in the market over the last 2 years that we look very weak when we don't have a regular, 1st choice eleven available. Our wingers are on form too rarely and never seem to function well on the same day. None of them functioned well today, imho.

Stones, Bobb, Savinho, Reinders and Nunes didn't work out today. When 1 or 2 don't work out we can get away with it. But when they all disfunction and we are out-muscled all over the pitch - predictably - it's fuckin' disappointing.

I don't think Mr Oliver helped us at all, but - as we know - we have to put ourselves above the officials, performance-wise, especially in an away game. Swansea midweek then a tough one against Bournemouth, who are really flying, so let's hope we have a fuller squad/fitter players to pick from next weekend.

 

[burnley blue mcfc]

Why pick an individual out from today’s game? Not a single player played well at all.

No they didn’t, but savinho’s mastered the art of being shit every time he turns up, was gonna say plays but that’s over stating what he does