I’ve had to think a lot about how to write this review because to be frank, I am very unsure on what to make of our whole performance and come to the conclusion that under Paul Lambert, this would have been classed as a good turnout for Villa but the reality of it is the opposite. We simply wasn’t good enough and everything taken into account, Swansea deserved the win, albeit I wish it wasn’t such a late goal as we may have been spurred on much more had it come sooner.
I’m going to be really critical here and say that this loss was mostly down to Sinclair. I’ve written about it in the comments but I thought his entire performance was a very selfish one which gave him tunnel vision for just the goal and not those around him. Yes we can argue that it’s good to see players actually trying to score, but we can also argue that there was a lot of pressure on his shoulders this game and he came out with the wrong attitude for it. In his mind, it seemed that all he wanted to do is be the one that scored the goal so he could put Swansea in their place, but this is unacceptable. He has ample opportunity to pass the ball, specifically the chance with Benteke that I’m 90% sure would have been a goal had he just knocked it forward into his path, but no, he wanted to score and so that is what he tried to do. Benteke had told him on more than one occasion and you could see he was getting frustrated. In my opinion, this crippled us going forward and I believe it is the main reason we lost this game. We are in a relegation battle and do not have time for selfish play.
The other part to this would be that I thought Sherwood should have taken him off post half time in a like for like swap with Gil. Gil would have offered the same attacking threat but without the motive and tunnel vision Sinclair was carrying.
Looking at the game as a whole, we didn’t do well, the first half was a very weak half for us. The second half was better, but too many scuffed attempts just meant that it wasn’t going to be our day.
The left and right backs where a peculiar set up, but I have to agree with Sherwood here, it was the right decision to play them the way he did; it’s just a shame that Bacuna wasn’t half the player he was last week. Hutton on the other hand looked at home and carried on the way he always does, mostly faultless.
This is still a young squad with a fresh manager and a lot to learn. I have no doubt that we will stay up, but I really hope that Sherwood was disappointed in himself and his lack lusting subs and even more so with the squad for not giving it their all and making the most of the opportunities that presented them. Maturity can be questioned, but we are not at threat, the boys will get it and you can see that we have improved because even a bad game is comparable to a good one for Lambert.
Clark man of the match by far. Without this lad we would have conceded much sooner and by a greater margin. The way he is playing, he really should contend for captain in the future and I hope that his loyalties lie with the club.
I cannot comment on what your saying about Sinclair and his selfish play, but I will say we have a man that paid to see players wrongs and deal with it. To me on seeing motd full blame lies with defence, full backs guilty of Lambert’s ideas of going forwards and being out of position, Okore slow in turn and speed in defending, a bad first 45 minutes and still seeing errors problems into the 80 the minutes its mind boggling to me, we don’t have players that gives a shite about the result we have to suffer, honestly do you think that team will get us out of trouble? I don’t it will be other results that will save us from going down.
Can’t see why your targeting Sinclair gabby missed a shocker aswell can’t hear fuck all about him.
It was more Sinclairs all round play, yes Gabby did miss a shocker. But Sinclair missed everything he touched.
He is a great player, but this wasn’t his game and I thought he should have been taken off in order to get a more fluent and accurate attack. Horses for courses, and this course wasn;t his.
So Sinclair gets made into a scapegoat by missing chances and supposedly being selfish. At least the lad is getting into the positions to get the chances. Personaly think he’s done well since we got him.
I love the player, he is brilliant and a breath of fresh air but I think he played it all wrong against Swansea. Beauty of opinion though ay?
I agree about Sinclair. I don’t know if he was out to prove something to his old club or not, but he had, what, 4 or 5 great chances and messed them up horribly? I don’t put the loss solely on him, but he let some great chances get away.
Always does, most impressive thing about him is the situations he gets himself into, but that’s about it. Finishing needs a lot of work, as does decision making, then there’s passing/crossing etc.
Still nowhere near good enough to be a starter for me.