Aston Villa Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours/Champions League Thread 2024/25

Esse85

The midfield is a disgrace, it's clearly not working, same with Leeds game. McGinn nowhere to be seen again.

Absolutely embarrassing.

Starting to think that Liverpool result was the worst thing that could happen us.

JPA

3 nil from 3 free kicks, horrendous.

remoteboy

Six goals conceded at home in the last 90 minutes. Defensive solidity has gone out the window.

Panrich

Hourihane for McGinn?

TheDenialTwist

Very difficult to watch

rebelomar

Southampton haven't made a chance from open play that I can think of.

Two bad free kicks to give away and punished. Wall poor for the first Ward Prowse goal. Mings past post in the wall. He's our tallest player. Poor really.

Barkley and Grealish only want to pass to each other like u12 players. Both need a kick up the arse.

We've been absolutely dire. Watkins spending more time out wide. Get in the bloody box man.

TheDenialTwist

As it stands currently Saints will go into 3rd and we'll drop to 7th.

I'm already ill enough, this isn't helping

Panrich

JPA wrote: »

3 nil from 3 free kicks, horrendous.

And a 4th chalked off for a very marginal offside

CSF

Panrich wrote: »

Hourihane for McGinn?

Nakamba. Hourihane would be more of the same. I think we’re seeing more from Smith that he is so high ceiling/really low floor. He is capable of so much good stuff but he’s also so f*cking flawed.

AVFC.Stephen

rebelomar wrote: »

Southampton haven't made a chance from open play that I can think of.

Two bad free kicks to give away and punished. Wall poor for the first Ward Prowse goal. Mings past post in the wall. He's our tallest player. Poor really.

Barkley and Grealish only want to pass to each other like u12 players. Both need a kick up the arse.

We've been absolutely dire. Watkins spending more time out wide. Get in the bloody box man.

This^^^^^ +1

Patser

Team is set up to play counter attacking football against open attacking teams, with Watkins speed, Grealish's guile and the athleticism of Barkley, McGinn and Trez.


They have no clue how to patiently break down an organised team also happy to counter, and instead are all getting caught out too far up pitch when our attack peters out, and then our midfield and defence is swamped. Our FBs are getting no protection and Luiz cannot do everything. Drop McGinn or Barkley, or tell 1 to stay back when other goes forward or something- but this plan a isn't working, lets try even more plan a is awful

Corholio

Awful half and the naivety to give two free kicks away playing against Ward-Prowse makes it even worse. I don't know why the team reverted to paniced long balls so often this half, it doesn't give Watkins much of a chance. I think the midfield moves out of position too often, Barkley caught too forward a few times. Still not sure what the right balance and positioning in midfield is at the moment.

Bounty Hunter

Jaysus this season is confusing. Maybe a few other teams can say this but I've no idea are we good or completely sh!te.

If I was Nakamba I would be knocking on Smith's door as the side need to be more solid defensively. Yeah Barkley, Grealish and Co. can be great going forward but not if they have no defensive base to play off. If Nakamba isn't the answer then an answer needs to be found in January. I like Luiz but he isn't a enough defensively and needs help in there.

Brian201888

We haven't been that bad defensively as stupid as that sounds, the "dangerous" freekicks always strikes me as a bit of a fallacy, players rarely score from a freekick. Case in point that's freekick expert Ward Prowse 7th and 8th ever freekick goal.

Toothless going forward is a bigger concern no composure

Patser

Feck it, 2 great saves against us in seconds. Team now suddenly playing with speed

TheDenialTwist

FFS

TheDenialTwist

4-0 down

AVFC.Stephen

Goal of the season contender

Patser

4...



I'm blaming Barkley again, he got a knock down from Watkins, lost it softly and watched them break

Great finish all the same

Corholio

No way should team have been overrun on switch of possession that easy. Great goal but terrible brittleness to allow them get that far so quick.

rebelomar

After 10 games it will make interesting reading. Should now our true status in the league by then.

Unless Smith can improve us tactically again we could be in trouble again.

It's very worrying

JPA

Why no changes at half time?
Pattern of play hasn't changed.

Patser

All defensive structure is gone, Luiz is actually pushing up now to help attack. Even Mings going up more.

Instead of solving the problems we're adding to them. I suppose at 4-0 down it's too late to sort defence

TheDenialTwist

GOAL

Esse85

It's performances like this where the players and management should have a weeks salary paid to charity instead.

This is absolutely spineless, cowardly and totally unacceptable for the second game in a row.

Leeds and Southampton are hardly world beaters.

It's shameful Smith hasn't learned from the mistakes of the Leeds game.

Patser

4-1 Mings


Maybe absolute desperation attack will work

Corholio

I think I'd use the word 'stupid' for how the team plays at times. Ultimately it comes down to the manager how we play but I think players often make just stupid decisions in possession too that causes the team problems.

basillarkin

People on about traroe and his work ethic but Ross is terrible. Ings passed out his full back earlier tracking back and blocked a jack cross. Villa dont seem to have that desire

TheDenialTwist

Elmo on now

Patser

TheDenialTwist wrote: »

Elmo on now

All Egyptian right wing

rebelomar

Watkins is falling into the same trap as Samatta and co last season.

Spending too much bloody time out wide instead of leading the attack and positioning himself between the width of the box.

I understand at times it's frustrating for our striker. Our play is very slow. Grealish while our best player by a mile needs to do things quicker at times...not try be so precise...let the ball in the box...Get a shot away etc. When he speeds things up we play much better.

Esse85

What a block from the Southampton CB, Mings should be taking notes.

You know the squad lacks depth when Trez and Elmo are the first two options from the bench.

Jack getting boxed into the left corner flag too much.

TheDenialTwist

Offside

Esse85

rebelomar wrote: »

Watkins is falling into the same trap as Samatta and co last season.

Spending too much bloody time out wide instead of leading the attack and positioning himself between the width of the box.

I understand at times it's frustrating for our striker. Our play is very slow. Grealish while our best player by a mile needs to do things quicker at times...not try be so precise...let the ball in the box...Get a shot away etc. When he speeds things up we play much better.

In fairness to Watkins, isn't he only playing the role of a striker a year? He's not a natural striker, I feel sorry for him, he gets very few chances and his confidence is starting to erode. Must be very frustrating for him.

AVFC.Stephen

Mc carthy on fire

rebelomar

Watkins taking short comers. WTF

basillarkin

Trez had had 3 shots saved

TheDenialTwist

Corner to Saints

Esse85

Surely Nakamba has to be played as a DM instead of McGinn next game.

Play both him and Luis as DMs

Trez should start again.

TheDenialTwist

Yes!!! Watkins

TheDenialTwist

Too late now anyway

sc86

Everytime grealish gets in box to shot he does exact same thing

TheDenialTwist

Grealish GOAL

Patser

Well we won the 2nd half



So to counter all the negative reactions at ht. We lost to 2 great free kicks and a world class finish, meanwhile poor Trez could have a hattrick with some luck, Mings a 2nd, Grealish also close. So the team did show some heart and step up in the 2nd half

TheDenialTwist

4-3

Patser

4-3....


We couldn't could we......


Edit. No

TheDenialTwist

All over 4-3

TheDenialTwist

Patser wrote: »

4-3....


We couldn't could we......

No

Esse85

At least there's some positives to take towards the end.
It shouldn't take 4-0 down for us to wake up.
Southampton obviously took their foot off the gas.
Glad Watkins got on the scoresheet, didn't think he usually takes penalties.

JPA

Deceptive scoreline if you just checked the result.