Brighton 0 – 0 Villa; How lucky are we?

Well, that was poor wasn’t it?
At least I thought it was. I seriously struggle to find a single positive from that game, apart from the fact that we somehow got a point out of one of the worst performances of the season.

I’ll start with the attack, or rather the lack of it. Watkins must have been asking himself why he was involved at all, as for all the service he got, he may as well have stayed at home. Same as usual, I couldn’t really fault him.
His effort is second to none, but he had absolutely nothing to work off.
There was one stage where someone hoofed a thirty yard plus ball up to him and I quite frankly just laughed to myself. Enough said.

The midfield.
Good grief, where do I begin?
It was just horrendous. Where you normally get a half decent performance out of at least one midfielder in a rubbish performance, there wasn’t a solitary one last night.
It probably says it all when Jack Grealish has an off day.
Which is okay with me, as he’s been outstanding all season up to now.

But it’s not quite so acceptable for any of the others.
Traore and McGinn were plain poor, but Ross Barkley took things to another level.
I’m not going to harp on about it, but you’d have to be blind to not see that something is seriously not right with him.
Dean Smith can talk all he likes about how the players are not struggling in the slightest, but I’ll say it again, even stronger than I did previously. It’s bullshine.
Granted, Barkley was much better last time out, but he’s been poor since he came back from injury. Which coincidentally pretty much coincides with our run of poor performances.
Now, I’m not saying Barkley is necessarily pivotal to our game, but he is important and if he’s not right, it shows.
The reason being that he’s a good player. He’s skilled, strong and hard working generally. Ie, he has all the attributes.
And I fail to believe he’s suddenly just gone rubbish because of form.
He’s not trained at all, so why is he playing?
It’s not like he’s Paul McGrath, who could rely on his reading of the game to bring out a performance. With an attacking midfielder, you’re needed to make the game, not defend it.
Take Barkley and Grealish out of our game and you’re down to Traore. I’ve said I’m undecided on him and this game did nothing to convince me.
McGinn has just been out of form for a while to my mind, but he does at least work hard. He needs to find some form quickly, as patience is rapidly running out. As much as you can love a player, the love can only last for so long if it’s one-sided.

I give up, as I really can’t understand why we were so bad.

The saving grace is that the defence didn’t concede.
I was expecting some fans to say how good the defence was and looking around, it didn’t take long to find these sort of comments.
I’m sorry, but I massively disagree.
If you can call a defence that gives acres of space to the opposition just on the edge and inside of the box that they can pass it around like it’s a training day, a good defence, well, I obviously know nothing in all the time I’ve been watching the game.
And then there’s the panic, where we’re lashing balls to nowhere.
Don’t believe me?
Watch the game again.
Our defence is just as bad as the rest of the team has been over the last few weeks, but Mings and others have been good at last second shot stopping, I admit.
That is not a good defence. It’s a lucky one, that trust me, will be caught out against a good, incisive side.
Leicester and Leeds coming up soon, isn’t it?

Martinez was the only one who kept us in that game and I think if we’d have lost it three or four nil, none of us would be complaining much, because Brighton would probably have deserved it.

It was a repeat performance of the Arsenal game, where we were equally poor in my opinion.
The difference there though, was we got an early goal that proved to be the winner.
If we’d have done the same here, I wonder how many fans would be saying it was a great win?

I don’t profess to know what the problem is, but it’s obvious we’ve got one.
The big question is, does Dean Smith?
And can he do anything about it?

27 Comments

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  1. Benno
    Benno February 15, 2021 at 3:42 am . Reply

    First game this season that I havent enjoyed watching. West Ham wasnt great, but were hopeless in this one. Thank God we signed a quality keeper!

    Think a few changes will be incoming for the next game. No way can Barkley start again,,,and a couple of the others should be looking over their shoulder nervously too. With the improving quality of our squad, you cant play poorly and expect to keep your place.

  2. Hitchens60
    Hitchens60 February 15, 2021 at 8:24 am . Reply

    Confirmed, Cash out with hamstring injury – usually these are 4 to 6 weeks.

    Going to be a big miss – with Guilbert out on loan, Elmo to step up to the plate.

  3. DSVilla
    DSVilla February 15, 2021 at 10:06 am . Reply

    We will miss Cash. He has been very good, despite getting very little support from Traore.

    Barkley irritates me. He tries back heels and flicks all the time and almost always loses possession. It’s almost as if he is trying to show he is as good as Grealish, which of course he isn’t.

    I would start Sanson next match, but who to leave out for him is tricky. Trezeguet puts in a lot more effort than Traore, particularly defensively but tends to make the wrong decisions in attack, shooting almost every time the ball comes to him. I wouldn’t mind seeing Sanson on the right side of midfield, not as a winger but I feel he would get up and down, is positive and would support Elmo. I can’t see Elmo getting forward too much though.

    i would probably bring Ramsey in too, maybe for Barkley but McGinn’s position must be under threat too.

    We seem to lack cohesion, particularly if pressed by the opposition, which is surprising given the consistent team selection.

    I’m glad we are pretty much safe from relegation, as we look like we could lose against pretty much anyone at the moment.

  4. Holte66
    Holte66 February 15, 2021 at 3:43 pm . Reply

    Our form has taken a bit of a dive recently but thanks to Martinez and last ditch defending, we have results wise done okay.
    Its been a topic of conversation for us all for a while now. Stop Grealish and stop Villa! Until recently we have had a good balance going forward with Grealish on the left, Traore on the right and Watkins backed up by Barkley. Unfortunately apart from Watkins, our attacking players have been hit and miss. West Ham and Brighton especially have nullified Grealish so we look for inspiration from others.
    I’m no football manager but I would like to see Nakamba start against Leicester with Luiz pushed further forward and young Ramsey or Sanson given a run out. I would also start Trezeguet instead of Traore. We know that Cash will be out so Elmo will get his place. Letting Guilbert go out is looking a silly move now if Elmo gets injured too.
    One thing I don’t get is when Barkley was out injured, El Ghazi came in on the left with Grealish playing a more central role with Traore on the right. This worked really well but it seems that now Barkley is fit he plays regardless of his form. This forces Grealish out wide so he is easier to mark.
    No player should feel comfortable that they are guaranteed a starting place. Competition for places is a healthy thing. El Ghazi was dropped for no excuse and that won’t help his morale.

  5. Originallondonlion
    Originallondonlion February 15, 2021 at 4:41 pm . Reply

    {OLL, edited, to take out talk of a repeat}

    It isn’t just 90 minutes v Brighton it is 178 minutes since we scored v Arsenal that Villa’s attack has been worked out by opponents with a plan to stop Grealish. Arsenal put in 2 right backs. Unluckily for them at the start their left back lost the ball and it was netted by a player on the penalty spot. Against which 2 right backs were as much use as a chocolate teapot.

    I could give you a long analysis of the lot, but I will just do Konsa in this post, the others just bullet points.

    Lop-sided, left-sided attack is too predictable.
    No plan B to switch Grealish to right side.
    Traoré cannot trap a ball played as a long pass.
    Konsa cannot kick a long pass accurately.
    Pulling McGinn and Luis back exposes these faults because they were patching them over when playing further forward.

    Give the ball to Mings in the back line, as Konsa usually does, and Mings will launch the ball up the left side, over the midfield of our opponents, up to Watkins or Grealish. Only variety is a ground pass for Targett to run with – again on the left.
    Have you ever seen Konsa do a mirror image on the right side? No you haven’t. Only reasonable conclusion is Konsa cannot hit the ball that far, or with any accuracy. How do we ever launch a right wing attack? Only when we rob opponents on that side or from passes out of the centre by McGinn and Douglas Luis, which they could make when they were further forward, but not since they have dropped deeper.

  6. Sidforever
    Sidforever February 15, 2021 at 8:56 pm . Reply

    There have been times this season when the quality of our football has been outstanding. When held against the last decade, it has been a breath of fresh air.

    When we see performances that are luke warm at best, not forgetting we have picked up 4/6 points, we are disappointed.

    I think the combination of Covid and multiple matches in a short period of time have caught up with the players.

    In terms of the next match I would like to see some changes. I think McGinn needs a rest and Nakamba having a game. With Cash out El Ghazi or Trezeguet to replace Troare. Elmohamady does not have the legs of Cash and will not be able to cope with Traire’s lack of defensive work. I’d also like to see Sanson play instead of Barclay.

    But against this Smith likes consistency in selection, which I don’t have a problem with. Just 4 more points from 16 games and we won’t be relegated.

    1. Hitchens60
      Hitchens60 February 16, 2021 at 6:51 am . Reply

      Think we are OK Sid – can’t see any of the bottom 3 topping 36 points 🙂

      Newcastle might be in a spot of bother though if, say, Fulham were to go on a bit of a run.

  7. VillaAway in div3
    VillaAway in div3 February 18, 2021 at 12:09 pm . Reply

    I said at the time after the Newcastle match that I thought out display was awful. All the things that have multiplied up in the matches after, leaving us in a state of complete disarray.
    Sure it IS to do with the Covid outbreak as Newcastle have been the same.

    1. Hitchens60
      Hitchens60 February 18, 2021 at 4:31 pm . Reply

      Be interesting to see how we play against Leicester.

      OLL has a theory that we don’t like playing in cold weather – which has also been mentioned on other blogs. It’s going to be relatively mild – albeit windy – at the weekend!

      I’m minded to think Covid and a consequent loss of form might be the more logical explanation 🙂

  8. Holte66
    Holte66 February 18, 2021 at 8:21 pm . Reply

    Our next 3 games are really tough. If we take 4 points then I will be happy with that. Smith has a lot of decisions to make this weekend. A case of stick or twist. McGinn, Barkley and Traore are probably most fans choices for being ‘rested’ I’m also concerned about Harvey Barnes up against Elmo. Guilbert would have been a better choice as he could have coped with his pace!

  9. Sidforever
    Sidforever February 19, 2021 at 9:01 am . Reply

    Badger

    It always amazes me how the media like to start a transfer frenzy. The latest target is Konsa. The press are very slow to realise Villa are a new force. Our owners have stopped Villa being a selling club. If a player is to leave it will be because:
    * Villa no longer require the player
    * The player wants to leave.
    * Stupid money is offered – but in this current pandemic there is little surplus money.

    No longer will the vultures swoop and takeaway the likes of Barry, Milner and Young.

    I am confident our new owners will be able to move us to the levels they aspire to. The major banana skin will be UEFA creating a protectionist champions league designed for the few by the few.

    1. badger123
      badger123 February 19, 2021 at 10:56 pm . Reply

      You’re right Sid.
      It really annoys me, but some people love this sort of stuff, even though most of us just think it’s total rubbish.

      In this case, Konsa has never even hinted at wanting to leave and why would he? He’s probably enjoying his football more than he ever has before. Same applies to all the others too.

      And then, there’s not even been a hint that any club has been looking at any of our players.
      Apart from what’s made up in the media, of course.

      They’ll have Martinez moving next and he’s only been here five minutes.
      Ok look, that story is doing the rounds too!

      And after Wolves beating Leeds, Leeds will be stepping up their efforts to sign Heaton, particularly after their goalie dropped a bit of a rick tonight.

      It’s laughable and I just take no notice of it.

      And as you suggest, Lerner had had enough and was willing to get his money back.
      Our current owners are nowhere near that stage.
      They’re still building and piling the money in to prove it.
      They’ll wave away any offers they’re not interested in.

  10. Holte66
    Holte66 February 19, 2021 at 5:18 pm . Reply

    Badger, is it just me who is put into moderation?

  11. Bum Bum
    Bum Bum February 20, 2021 at 11:19 am . Reply

    So, are gonna kick Leicester’s ass tomorrow or what?

  12. Holte66
    Holte66 February 20, 2021 at 2:54 pm . Reply

    Test

  13. Holte66
    Holte66 February 20, 2021 at 3:49 pm . Reply

    Test with different email

  14. Hitchens 60
    Hitchens 60 February 20, 2021 at 7:10 pm . Reply

    I’m hearing that Grealish may be out tomorrow. No definate on this but it seems a couple of Villa players have taken him out of their fantasy football team for tomorrow.

    May be complete bo**ocks of course!

  15. Holte1966
    Holte1966 February 20, 2021 at 8:15 pm . Reply

    Test again using wi-fi.

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