I’m shocked.
I can’t believe we lost that game, but we did, somehow.
We started so well and the main talking point about the first half is that we looked very comfortable and dominated overall, in my opinion.
We controlled the midfield, with Sanchez who was already marked as my man of the match, pulling all the strings and looking the real class that I believe he is.
And Grealish and Gil were linking well, particularly down the left, where even Gabby got involved with some nice play early on.
It was all looking good and ultimately, Jack Grealish went on to score a nice left-footed curler, his first for Villa. He’d had another chance earlier, where he should have scored.
We could easily have been two up at half time, although Leicester did have the odd chance.
Half time, we were one up then, only for Leicester to come out looking a totally different side.
Something that seems is becoming a regular theme in my reviews, I must add.
Either we got worse, or Leicester got much better and I suspect it’s more the former, given that I’ve noticed it as what seems a trait.
Whatever, Leicester proceeded to batter us and the game turned totally on it’s head.
Whereas we were so dominant in the middle (and even the defence looked really good) in the first half, so the midfield just disappeared, which left the defence with way too much to do.
When it’s looking like “shots in” you know you’re going to concede, but to my amazement and delight, we hit Leicester with a good counter, where (I think it was Gabby) pulled the ball back for Gil to hit a lovely right-footed
curler, even better than young Jack’s.
2-0 it was.
It was in the bag then, but Leicester’s heads didn’t drop and they continued what was basically an onslaught.
I’m still not quite sure what happened, but the long and short is they got three goals.
The first two, I can’t really moan about, but the third, I really have to question what Guzan was doing.
If you’re going to come out, you simply have to get the ball, don’t you?
That said, Guzan didn’t cost us this game; It was the midfield.
It was so obvious, it was practically poking my eyes out.
Something needed changing and my opinion says ideally we’d have taken Westwood off and maybe put Gana in his place.
although the latter would probably have started if he was fit.
Instead, Sherwood chose to take Gil off and put Ayew on.
I totally failed to see the point in that, as we weren’t getting the ball up there enough, for my money.
Hutton replaced Bacuna, who was poor, but it was way too late.
Even though we lost this one, I thought there were a few plus points.
The biggest was that the defence actually looked very solid in the first half, when they were playing with a midfield in front of them.
Sanchez is beginning to look real class, as he really did anchor the team in the first half.
And we look like the Grealish, Gil, Sinclair axis might be beginning to work, as they played some cracking stuff at times.
There are serious doubts about their stamina, after having watched that game though.
But at least it was a very decent game to watch, even if we didn’t get the result.
Think back to the tripe we were watching a year ago.
I still can’t believe we lost that.
Totally shell-shocked.
Me too gutted how to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory ffs!!
The midfield didn’t cost us that game. Deadwoods sub and tactics after we went 2 up cost us that game.
I’m more than comfortable with him taking a tired Gil off immediately after we went 2-0 up…….just not for an arguably more attacking player.
That was my point Kent. We needed shoring up, not to look to attack more, when we were being battered at the back.
Attack is a very good form of defence, imo, but when there’s none at all…
well, for once I do question Sherwood, as I thought that was a daft one.
That said, ok B6, what would you have done differently?
Apart from call for “Deadwood out”?
I certainly wouldn’t of replaced Gill with a striker!! I would of replaced him, if he was inured, with Richardson to give Bacuna more defensive support. But hey what do I know. Clearly replacing a right attacking midfielder with a striker is the way to go in the 2015-2016 season, clearly.
Especially when you’re 2 up and in total control of the game!
DEADWOOD OUT!
What the FUCK was Tim’s halftime motivation speech??? Because they came out totally different from the off besides our second half goal which by the way was totally against the run of play at that point we simply didn’t threaten.taking Gil off who possibly was our main bright light very questionable imo,conceding goals in the minutes of the game is criminal & seems to always get us.can’t speak for everyone but a point at least would of eased the pain as we both had good halves but to concede 3 in 18 mins makes me WORRY big style.baggies next hmmmmmm
DIEING minutes*
I beg your pardon Badger, Sanchez looked class? he lost the ball to many times for my liking, we completely got over ran second half, and taking off Gill wasn’t a brilliant idea and was noted by Dwight Yorke as a big mistake, Sherwood was saying he was struggling, the only person to be doing that was Abonglahor, one good pass he did for Gil to score apart from that sod all else, Bacuna let’s just get rid, he’s useless as a left back, and to put Hutton on when he did makes me wonder does he know what he’s doing. Sorry Badger as for Sanchez I’m lost for words and have to say he’s not good enough as a defender or other wise.
Let’s get Guzan to hoof it up the pitch when he can’t kick so Leicester can continuously come back at us, that and Sherwoods god awful substitutions cost is the game.
But he tried to play short the other week and Amavi dwelt, lost it and we conceded….. And everyone blamed Guzan for not hoofing it!!!!!
Sanchez was woeful esp second half mistake after flipping mistake. Same shit different players. I said all along that Sherwood is no better than Lamberk. I like Sherwoid more because at least he’s got a bit of charisma but we need a new manager sooner than later
Oohah, you talk utter bollocks, imho, simple as.
Go and watch Sanchez’s performance in the first half again.
I said the same to Bill, but at least he has a reasonable opinion and doesn’t just pick on particular players/the manager all the time, as you do.
Come to think of it, do we actually have any decent players in the Villa squad, in your opinion?
I mean, you slag the lot of them all of the time time, don’t you?
Boring.
You never give any credit and expect them all to be totally world class, every game, it seems.
I give credit where it’s due Badger. There’s too many players making too many mistakes. I agree he was ok in first half but second half he fell to pieces where you actually watching the game! Yes we do have some decent players but not enough of them! I didnt slag them in last few games Badger so your talking bollox! Go have a lie down until you’ve got something constructive to say!!
Pot. Kettle. Black.
Yep, Bill, total class to me in the first half.
He ran the show imo and if you don’t believe me, try and get another look at that half (not highlights).
The second half is a different story, but the whole mid was rubbish.
I did badger I have a smart TV, bought it on Now TV, he may have a good first half so did 9 others, its when the pressures on the defence and they cannot give it back, our team didn’t compete in that second part of the game, to me our problem started with their sub’s coming on, the we get silly things like Bacuna, Abonglahor, and Sanchez contributing with losing balls and bad passing, and as for Cuzan what a Wally. Sherwood knows he’s to blame but won’t admit he dropped a bollock in putting a forward player on for Gil, Hutton should have had his chance earlier that 5 minutes to the end.
Then we did silly things,……… ????
Sherwood cost us the game today.
2-0 up and it was all Leicester. He takes Gil off an puts Ayew on??
EIther another central mid needed to come on and shore things up, or bring Hutton on and put Bacuna right to stop Schlupp.
He fucked up at Palace and it cost us the game and same here. I like Sherwood. He is obviously great with the players, but his tactical knowledge seems very worrying.
What rubbish defensive errors cost us in both games
Defensive errors come when we are under sustained pressure. This happened against Palace when we took Sanchez off and against Leicester when they put more attacking players on and we did nothing to counter it!!
Hind sight is wonderful, stew is still miles of the pace … Dithering in the ball stroll on up to defenders bit realist girl he is about be double teamed or prem teams defend en mass at speed. When he came on Leicester didn’t look like they had 3 goals in them – at that exact time ayew could come into a game that should of been won and had more game time to acclimatize. But where Westwood and Sanchez dominates first half – they collapsed in the second- how does a manager see that? They had a job and executed it first half – how do you account die players just switching off in the middle of a game?
Very harsh on Sherwood, players have to take most of the criticism here. Sherwood not blameless – but not the deliberate sabotage exercise everyone is making it out to be
Sorry right back. Prat I am, I’m right footed.
It makes me wonder if traore will make a difference when fit,that’s if he’s picked of course.
I think he will but he needs to be in a winning team or it will destroy his confidence
Badger, you’re getting your left and rights mixed up, Grealish scored with a right foot shot and Gil with a left. Praise where it’s due for Gabby, his incredible pace and perfectly weighted ball back to Gil set up the second, he also put in a lovely cross for Sinclair in the first half which he couldn’t quite convert. I would’ve kept him on, he’s got many limitations but his pace was at least providing an outlet from the constant Leicester attacks.
More worrying for me is Tim’s substitution failures, taking off Sinclair v ManU, Sanchez v Palace and bringing on Ayew today, a player who is so far off Premier league pace at the moment it’s frightening.
Spot on Dave C. including Badger’s feet.
What concerns me about TS subs is not the thought behind it, which may in itself be flawed. For example I couldn’t see why Gil, buzzing from his goal, needed to be subbed like for like. The baffling thing is how bad a performance the subs have given since Traore at Palace. Ayew and Gestede – their displays have been shocking and would have been if they had been starters and played that way. Contrast that with Leicester’s subs who turned a bewildered side into winners.
Then we come to the keeper. It is not just us, when a good side changes a keeper they are comfortable with for one they don’t trust, the outfield defence can go to pieces – look at Chelsea. Guzan is a keeper our defence does not really trust. At least Lescott stuck out a leg and deflected an on-target shot wide, the reverse of Clark’s efforts. But better teams’ defenders might have let the ball pass confident the keeper would get it.
I can’t blame Guzan for the second, and will need to look again at his positioning for the 1st but the winner was 100% him. If you run and jump with two fists outstretched then do the same with a sideways twist and one fist outstretched you will reach over 2 feet further with the one fist. Guzan went 2 fisted and missed the ball by less than 2 feet. For God’s sake Tim bring that teenage keeper you bought in.
What the f##k, gave it away. Tim is brave but also naive, was time to bring on a player of prem experience to shaw things up not make us more open, needs to hold back sometimes particularly when we are 2 up against a side that will come at us all day long. May have played better but a waste of time if your manager dies not know when it’s time to reduce the space and close things up. Keep pace on and at on the break, pissed off ain’t the word!!!!
I’ve always supported Guzan OLL, but you’re spot on about his faults for the third goal. He makes some wonderful reaction saves but overall I find my patience is wearing thin with him.
On Sherwood’s subs, I’m sure I heard somewhere, maybe on radio 5, that Sherwood has the worst record of any manager in the Prem when it comes to substitutions having a positive effect on the game, think it probably extends to his time at the Spuds as well. What concerns me even more is does he learns from his mistakes, a lot of people say he’s arrogant, and we all know that pride comes before a fall!
I get slated for having a pop at Guzan Dave.C, but it isn’t blind dislike, I try to point out what his gaffes are. I looked again at the 1st Foxes goal and Guzan is not at fault. The shot was a fluke, sliced across the flight of the ball and volleyed off the ground it looped over Guzan. The 2nd goal is Richards fault: letting a ball he could reach in the 6 yard box go past him, and Vardy pounced.
I am sure I read we had signed an 18 year old keeper from Anderlecht, but he is not on any squads, what happened?
I fear you are correct about TS subs. 2-0 up and needing midfielders who can tackle, Gil and Grealish are chocolate teapots. Richardson, Hutton and Clark in that order are the best choices to replace them, but frankly you could swap Sinclair and Gabby into midfield and push the G men up front. Providing a more solid midfield without using a sub and still having a goal threat.
I wonder where Wilkins is in all this. Isn’t he supposed to be guiding Sherwood
you have to wonder what the story is with Wilkins for sure OOHAH would have thought he would have advised Sherwood in some capacity that taking off a creative midfielder and putting on an attacker was not the thing to do. they steam rolled us after that or maybe hes just going round tangoing every fucker. i am sorely pissed today
Agree Muzzvill. All seems quiet on Wilkins front when he arrived I thought that he would help Sherwoid from a tactical PoV. Now either he is not as good as we thought and maybe still has personnal issues or he advises Sherwood but Sherwood is a stubborn bugger and probably takes no notice. If it’s the latter then no point in having Wilkins in first place!
Thought we had that won for sure. The substitutions were a little too aggressive (would Veretout not have been better than Ayew?) and we missed Gana, considerably.
That being said the first half attacking possession was as good as we’ve seen since the fa cup semi final. Richards was almost entirely immense, Lescott looked very calm and organised, Amavi had his best game, even Bacuna looked comfortable.
Second half Westwood disappeared, Grealish looked a little overwhelmed (but that goal was massive for him, a real seminal moment) and Sanchez struggled to fill all the gaps, but in his defence, there was an awful lot of them.
Overall though there were enough quality moments, from Gil and Grealish in particular, to take some positives from a disappointing defeat.
Big positive for me was Gil after Benteke the best thing Lamberk ever did imo
I’ve calmed down enough now to see some positives from yesterday.
Gil was class as we all knew he would be. Him and Grealish in the team for the first time together and we looked composed on the ball (well for 70 mins anyway). Both goals were class and so happy for Jack to get his first goal. Richards looked good again too. Think he will form a nice partnership with Lescott back there.
First half was our best football this season. Big game against the Albion next week now.
We all knew Gil would be class except for Sherwood. He only backed down because of fan pressure and he still took him off yesterday ffs. I get the impression that Sherwood isn’t keen on him maybe it’s a personality thing I don’t know.
A pub league keeper would of dealt with that third goal better than Guzan,woke up in one FUCKING SHITE mood today throwing a sicky & getting totalled today.I’m one fucked off villan
I feel as if I’ve lost something worth thousands, daft isn’t it, I don’t know the answer to all this ? Not with fans seeing different aspects of what I seen. I still Blame Sherwood ,Bacuna, Abonglahor, and Cuzan. We won’t beat anyone playing like we did in the second half, teams will know this on the day.Oh and Sanchez,
Don’t criticise Sanchez he’s Badgers love child 🙂
You’ll get your legs slap young man if Badger hears you.????????
I know you’re joking Ooah, but it’s not true.
If you look around, you’ll see I wasn’t the only one who thought Sanchez was excellent in the first half.
And I did say that the second half was a different story.
Sanchez was poor in the second half, but all the mids were, as they’d been weakened, where they needed reinforcements.
The difference is that you actually commented during the first half, that Sanchez was shit, but he frankly wasn’t, imo.
It’s all about opinions, I guess.
Fair enough Badger 🙂
There were positives, we need goals from midfield and we scored two that would beat any keeper. Sinclair can keep up with Gabby, which has enthused Gabby (did I say dream partnership with Gestede? I must have been asleep) more than anyone in recent years.
Dropping 11 points out of 15 = relegation with 32/33 points if we keep it up – so who let the points go?
1.5 Richards (left ball for Foxes 2nd)
2 Forwards blank (United)
3.5 Clark (1.5 Palace header, 1 United OG. 1.5 Sunderland tackle)
4 Guzan (1.5 Palace roll out, 1 Sunderland FK position, 1.5 Foxes 3rd)
11 total
Only one goal, Foxes 1st, had no Villa error.
Sherwood points gained after subs 2, points lost 4.
Should read 1 not 1.5 Clark Sunderland tackle.
I’d argue Gabby not tracking his man led to Leicester’s first
Thank Jaymo83, in my other post, I said that, other centre-forwards help the defence not stand and wait.
You might be right Jaymo and Bill – I didn’t notice that.
Different players same old shite .So pissed off.
“ideally we would have taken Westwood off and put Gana on”……..genius, except Gana wasn’t on the bench, he was crocked, and again the anti Sherwood mob jump on the bandwagon, half of you won’t be happy until he’s gone, clowns.
Sasa,
The line you quote was followed by this;
“although the latter would probably have started if he was fit.”
Which you conveniently ignored, it would seem.
In fairness, it was probably poorly worded, but my thinking was if that if Sherwood had rested Gana and he was on the bench, that’s what I’d have done.
I knew he was out.
In my defence, I like to get my opinion out there asap, so people can respond/debate quickly.
Hence stuff might occasionally be poorly worded.
Whatever, it’s an immediate, heartfelt Villa fan reaction, where I don’t get time to analyse the game or what I’m writing.
A sort of comment you’d make as you’re walking away from the ground if you like 🙂
Erm and I’m not anti-Sherwood fwiw if you’re suggesting that about me.
I’m very much a supporter of what he’s doing, as you should know if you actually read my posts.
But there’s no doubt he got it wrong in this game, something that is universally agreed on any site you care to read.
Badger, not having a dig at you mate, like you say, you have to write a lot & quick, my point was that Gana wasn’t an option at all for the game, so no point discussing him as one. I know you don’t have a go at Sherwood, but for me, too many on here seem to want him to fall flat, and I don’t get it.
The big thing for me is that Bacuna is a weak link as a defender, and had Traore been fit, I am sure he would have started with Hutton to enforce behind him….and if you had suggested Veretout come on for Gil, I would have agreed 100%.
All the best, UTV.
I agree, it seems some Villa fans generally seem to want Sherwood to fail.
I don’t, even if only because he’s been a breath of fresh air after the last few years.
We now have at least some hope of being better than near relegation strugglers again.
I definitely think Sherwood has some faults, but it’s a case of he’ll hopefully learn and improve in his weaker areas for me.
I’m giving him every chance to succeed.
But I will also criticise if I think he’s done something wrong.
As for Hutton and Traore in front, yep, that seems the best solution for me.
Cheers mate 🙂
Iv never wanted Sherwood or any manager to fail but lets face it its obvious he isn’t a long term solution for us. I like Sherwood a lot more than Lamberk at least he’s got a bit of charisma but he simply isn’t good enough. The problem is we keep picking novices who learn on the job at our expense then surprise surprise end up paying millions to sack them. Why not pay extra and go for a proven manager and save millions in sacking fees. Lerner is penny wise pound foolish!
Leicester dominated for the first 15 minutes or so, then we took the game by the scruff of the neck and bossed it for the rest of the first half. We were pretty much cruising up until Gil was taken off, after which we lost our most creative outlet and our shape.
Tim said it himself, he thought the game was won at 2-0. Big mistake! 2-0 is the most dangerous scoreline, as once the other team get a goal back they start to believe they can win it. Leicester had the momentum once they scored and were the only team that looked like winning. In the end we were clinging on for a point!
Taking off your most influencial player after he’s just scored a wondergoal is a bad move, in my opinion. Should have left him on for at least another 10 minutes.
Personally, I think Sanchez looks a different class and controls the game very well. Sadly, the players around him are not quite on the same level.
Also thought we looked much more solid with Lescott instead of Clark – for the first hour at least!
The weak links as far as I see it are Bacuna, Guzan and Gabby. Bacuna frequently gets the wrong side of his man and Guzan is just a clown! The play broke down with Gabby 90% of the time. However, his pass for the goal was great and he almost set up Sinclair, so you’d have to say he was more effective than both our subs, who were dire! Ayew looks totally off the pace and Gestede is a carthorse. Hutton is probably worse than Bacuna.
I was pleasantly surprised by our starting lineup, as the team has a lot of pace and creativity with Gil, Grealish, Sinclair. There are encouraging signs. And we have Traore to come back.
In my opinion, stick Kozak up top and we have the makings of a good side.
Just need to get a new keeper and right back.
And Tim needs to stop taking our best player off!!!
And we need to inject our players with some of Leicester’s belief!
don’t know what game you watched Leicester took control of second half, gil’s goal was against run of play, he had lost control off midfield and plan B was lump it up to gestede and ayew,as badger commented at about 50 minutes “we need to change something”
I stand corrected – Leicester did come out of the blocks quicker than us, just as they did in the first half. We were still very much on top until the substitution though.
Easily similar to the United v Leicester game last season. Not like they haven’t done it before, last 2 games they came back to draw, so they have the belief most teams don’t. We certainly don’t have the belief they do. Wasn’t so much individual errors as awful subs. Ayew on for Gil, Grealish went out to the right and Ayew was stuck out on the left with nothing to do. Grealish was tired trying to help Amavi a bit in the first half, leaving Sanchez all alone and when you’re completely knackered, he’s going to give the ball away more, and he did. First half did he even make a poor pass? I can’t think of one. Gestede for Gabby was never going to work either because Leicester were going to keep the ball and Gestede needs someone off him, as he can’t bring the ball down, he simply wins headers and Sinclair was useless all game. Hutton for Bacuna was pointless as well. Veretout or Clark should’ve come on, Veretout for Grealish to shore up the midfield or Clark for Lescott who just wasn’t up for it yesterday. I do like the fact Ilori looked good for the U21’s in the midfield role as we need another midfielder who can shore it up with Gana out. Veretout’s attack minded and when you need a 3rd midfielder, Ilori can be that.
Difference being that we are the worse team on the planet for holding onto a lead nothing has changed under Sherwood. Seriously we all knew if Leic got one they would get at least a draw it was no surprise.