Well, that was annoying.
Palace hadn’t come from being behind at half time in three years.
Trust us then to change that. Why do we bring an end to so many clubs’ bad records? It’s embarrassing.
We made a very good start to the game, but were second best for about seventy minutes of it.
That’s really not good enough against a team like Palace, who have even less to play for than us, are managed by a manager who it’s rumoured is going to be replaced and have no less than fifteen players out of contract at the end of the season.
What went wrong then?
Well, Traore was awful. Again. And as much as I really don’t want to say it, Ramsay was just anonymous. The only thing that he offers for me is that he is one of our young bright hopes and Barkley probably doesn’t have a future with us.
That makes me wonder why we didn’t play the young lad at right back instead of Elmohamady, but it’s probably a good job we didn’t, as Elmo had a torrid time, with his being doubled up on.
Contrary to other opinions I’ve seen, I don’t think we missed Mings at all. His big mouth maybe, but his almost guaranteed howler, no. Yes, the defence could have done better, but mostly Hause and Konsa did okay.
Ollie worked his socks off as per usual, although he didn’t perform to his usual level and McGinn seems back in form and scored a very good goal.
I don’t feel it was just a poor performance by the team, which sounds daft, but it was more a lack of changing things when everybody could see that something needed changing because the game was running away from us.
Smith took brought Grealish on for Traore with about twenty five minutes to go.
That one was fine. I could totally understand why, as Traore was awful.
But for me, at least he offers something of a threat and has the capability of producing a bit of magic out of nothing. As opposed to Ramsay, who offered nothing and has shown very little in all the minutes he’s had.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not writing Ramsay off and seriously want him to come good. But he didn’t perform in this game and should have gone first.
And then Smith brought Davis and Wesley on in the last few minutes.
Just what is the point in that?
Okay, Palace didn’t score until late on, but everyone could see it coming. You had to be blind to not see it and some had been predicting them to score again for over half an hour.
So why not shore things up, by putting Nakamba alongside Luiz in place of Ramsay?
Or if you don’t fancy sitting back and protecting, go for it with two up front?
With half an hour to go, I mean, instead of a few minutes.
Just change it, when the game is going against you?
It’s a criticism that has been aimed at Dean Smith for months now and I think it’s the thing that will ultimately get him the sack.
Smith seems to be far too loyal to the small group of players he trusts and it sends all the wrong signals, in that those who are trusted become complacent and those on the outside just wonder what they have to do to get into the side.
What sums things up is that we’re either seventeenth or eighteenth on form for this calendar year.
Our owners are not daft and they’ll have noticed that.
I’ve often defended Smith and will continue to do so for a while yet, as he has been good for us.
But you also have to consider how much money has been spent.
Yes, our league position looks pretty good. But our form this year has been anything but.
If we aren’t challenging early next season, I’ve no doubt Smith will be changed out.
Our owners will show him exactly what proactivity is.
Annoyed and massively disappointed 🙁
Palace players had one of those energy drinks at half time, Golden Lion I think it was called on here previously. For 20 minutes up till we scored I thought we were playing some of the best football all season. After that did we sit back or did it wake them up?
I get the impression that Smith is a nice guy who doesn’t give out a rollicking very often but most of his players deserved one at full time.
I was literally thinking the same earlier, Holte. I echo all the the comments on here; massively frustrated which would have resulted in me smashing the dressing room up if I was manager of that lot today! So frustrating. We keep a clean sheet at home, but don’t score. We score two away, but concede three. FFS!
I get the impression too many of the players are ‘nice guys’ too, in that they don’t have the killer instinct; they’re not winners; they think it’s OK to lose.
Fascinating hearing Brendan Rogers yesterday; he and his team talk about winning things – they think about it and talk about it, and guess what, it happened, because they have that built in; it’s not OK for them to lose. We don’t have that and I don’t know if Smith is the man to instill it. Any player who doesn’t have it should be shown the door, in my opinion. Smith talked a lot about having a lot of leaders in his teams when he arrived. I don’t see many leaders there now. Mings takes a lot of stick but he’s not afraid to give people a bollocking, which is ironic because someone needs to give him one a lot of the time – who is that someone?
Anyway, could go on for ever, but the season has fizzled out, despite Smith promising it wouldn’t. Now the danger is that this form continues into next season. UNLESS, a significant number of players leave and at least 4 top class WINNERS arrive. I’m thinking 4 x 30-40 million players. We started with quantity in 2019, as we had no choice. Last year was more on quality but still not top quality. This summer must be 4 top class, dare I say world class players, if we want to compete. Again, I cite Rogers yesterday saying for a club like Leicester, it’s about earning the right to compete on that stage against the so called ‘big 6.’ As a hind-site comment, Rogers was tipped to join us when Bruce left; he was very complimentary about our club. Who knows what might have been if we’d prised him away from Celtc?
This summer is a big moment in the club’s history, make no mistake.
Maybe these players are in the comfort zone because they know they’ll always get picked; there is no fear of being left out, no competition for places, so inevitably, performance levels drop. Top professionals in any domain need some fear to give them an edge. Meanwhile, players who are forever knocking on the door and deserve a chance don’t get it; this is a toxic recipe for disaster. Again, I do recall when Smith joined, he talked about the old-fashioned way of if you play well, you keep the shirt; if not, someone else gets a chance. I seems all of Smith’s excellent ideas and mantras have disappeared. Attacking football, leadership on the pitch, competition for places. Where has it all gone?
I have to throw in, as I haven’t mentioned it for a while, letting Conor go was a massive mistake; he would have taken a lot of the slack left by Jack – no, he’s not as talented, but he could affect games and was always good for a goal involvement in a game. Big mistake, compounded by Sanson being shite then injured.
I was about to post that a half-fit Grealish – if brought on at all – should have replaced Ramsay. See you got there first Badger. Ramsay has had long enough to show some first team talent. He does not appear to have it.
Amongst my mother’s odd sayings was “Don’t walk around pulling that face, you will get stuck like it.” It took me years to twig that you can read a lot into a person’s natural facial expression. Ramsay is a pouting sulker, or so he appears. It does match his whinges when he loses a tackle.
I agree also Smith needs to be relieved of the responsibility of making substitutions – he can’t read a live game. He may be an ace analyst of the videos later, who knows. A couple more thumpings, likely given the opposition, and Purslow will be asking him to bring his car keys to the office.
Smith definitely to late trying to change the game but also what is Terry,Shakespeare,and other coaches doing can’t they see what’s wrong.
It’s so infuriating losing from winning position,as has been said why not bring on nakhama at least it would give mcinn freedom to get forward more we can all see it why can’t the backroom staff!!!
I’m mad after today you just want to get hold of the players and give them the hair dryer or a good shaking 😅😡
…or ten clean slaps across the face!
🙂
That’s exactly what I don’t get.
The likes of Shakespeare must see these things (I totally disregard what Terry might think. To think some fans want him to be given a stint as manager!).
So I can only think Smith is picking players purely through stats throughout the week in training, because he’s been told too.
Otherwise I don’t have a clue.
Ok, Smith doesn’t have lots of options, but he had at least one today.
He’s finished for me sorry to say,, he doesn’t have a clue on tactics in a game of football, far from it. 19 points lost from the time we was on the road for fame, it’s a bloody good job we amass the points to stay in the premier we would have been one to go down. As you say Badger what was that all about with the substitutions with minutes to go, desperation and no ideas it seems. He’s not the manager to take us any further he’s had his time thank him and move him on.
Bringing on a half fit grealish when we were under so much pressure for so long and clinging on to the lead was madness.
Why Nakamba doesn’t get a look in is beyond me, Luiz and Mcginn have been poor for ages and our win ratio is far better with Nakamba in the side is far better.
Why throw an unfit Wesley on with minutes to go?
Why not take Ramsey off sooner and bring Chuka on, who is in the form of his life for the youths?
I’m sorry I have to agree with Bill, I think Smith has taken us as far as he can and he’s a midtable manager at best.
Constantly plays his favourites and has no real plan B.
Another thing what’s the point in putting all the strikers we have on you then have nobody to supply them utter madness and maybe el ghazi might still have had a moment of brilliance. Where the likes of Wes and Davies weren’t up to the speed of the game.so late into it.
This game has made madder than any other this season,it was there to be won.
What has nakhama done wrong???? Louis needs taking out not at his best is the Man city buy back on his mind???
Agreed, Smith strikes me a far too stubborn and doesn’t have a plan B!…I assume we have CS for a reason, but it seems Smith doesn’t listen to him!
We had a few injuries going into this game but that did not call for us to chuck the game away in 9 minutes, Smith has said many times in his interviews that he wants to finish as high as possible which is why I disagree with starting more than two youth players. Ramsey was non-existent sadly apart from a few runs, it’s time to start assessing Ramsey like all the others, he has had loads of Prem and Championship experience now and he hasn’t done great. I disagreed with Smith bringing on a striker that doesn’t score many goals at the moment in attempt to try and get another goal to rescue a point. Palace aren’t that good, but we made them look like Barcelona today and it’s something we do way too much. The fact that we’ve lost this game is worse than the Burnley loss, because I saw it coming at 2-1. I knew they would win when we were winning which calls for huge concern. The only positive of the season now is that I’ve won the ballot for the Villa vs Chelsea game so cannot wait to get back to Villa Park!
Here’s hoping it’s a better result than today Alfie.
And to be fair, the season could have been much, much worse. We might have been relegated!
Another woeful result, Dean Smith’s changes have cost us todays game, we had a few injuries going into the game which was unfortunate but we should not be chucking away a lead like that. Palace are not the greatest side and we made them look like Barcelona today with the amount of time on the ball we were giving them, might be something to do with the colours! Normally, I see McGinn and Luiz making some good interceptions and rescuing the ball for Villa but I barely saw any of it today, which is why I think Nakamba should get a look in for the Spurs game. I hate to say it, but Ramsey was non-existent today, he should be assessed like all the others as he has had many Prem and Champ experience for the club now and he hasn’t done great apart from a couple of good runs and an assist in the cup forming an excellent Traore goal. We’ve chucked away top ten and it annoys us all to say Leeds are finishing above us now, but it’s happening. The only positive I can take from this season now is that I was selected for the ballot for the Villa vs Chelsea game and can’t wait to get back to Villa Park on the 23rd!
I think we need a bit of perspective here, chaps.
Yes, we have faded away in the 2nd half of the season but, let’s be honest, we were much higher in the table than any of us expected until Dec after the flying start we made.
Let’s not underestimate as well the impact the Covid outbreak in Jan may have had, together with the loss of our best player for a third of the season.
I agree it’s massively frustrating to throw away points against the likes of Burnley, West Brom and Palace, but we are a significantly improved outfit compared to last season.
Smith has got us promoted, kept us in the PL, taken us to a League Cup final and now a mid-table PL finish. He deserves to continue in the job and, with some astute signings in the summer includinga strong defensive midfielder, a quality number 10 and a top striker, is capable of overseeing a top half finish next season.
A very rational comment that, in the cold light of day, is true.
Yes, we are significantly improved this season overall. But our form since xmas doesn’t lie and it’s this that worries some of the fans.
I agree. Get the right players in and we will improve again and be fine.
If it doesn’t work for whatever reason though, we won’t have improved and could be in a relegation battle.
Hopefully not.
What about getting the Brentford manager it’s obvious now that it was him that had the tactical knowledge when Smith was at Brentford.
Everyone raved about Smith but is it possible we got the wrong man.
Tonight game showed up Smith’s lack of tactical leadership. Shame I thought he was the man to bring back the good times.
What is wrong with the villa every manager seems to come with great ideas and been good at previous clubs
They start great and then fall into the same trap of mediocrity afraid to lose. Brentford attacked even when leading. Smith did at first but now when they score they just try to defend the lead and give up on the way they got the lead.
Furious tonight 😡
It’s beginning to sound like a re-run of the Bruce debate! 🙂
So Smith will last about 10 games into next season!
Who on earth bought Wesley? Who gave him a medical? I cringe every time I see him walking. I thought it was a typo for 0.3 inches when I read he has one leg 3 inches longer than the other. My Dad had a 1 inch difference, and in order to rest his hip to play tennis at weekends he wore a built up shoe during the week. Is Wesley going to make a 50 game per season centre-forward? Fat chance.
It’s actually 3 centimetres, OLL.
You would think it’s a massive problem, but it needn’t be.
Wesley has been compared to Garrincha, who many older Brasil fans thought was better than Pele(!). He had one leg 6 centimetres smaller than the other.
I still don’t rate him though, from what I’ve seen.