Yes, unlucky.
That’s the opinion I came away with after watching this one.
The first half was very average stuff and frankly, it bored me to tears. We created nothing bar a weak Ayew header and I don’t think we even got a corner.
Wednesday were by far the better side and they created what seemed a lot more chances, but in reality they hardly had a decent effort, a shot hitting the crossbar apart.
Which was all quite worrying really, as I thought the midfield looked particularly weak. I know the line-up was supposed to be a 4-4-2, but if you look at the actual players who started, it doesn’t seem like that to me.
The second half was much better though and we were easily the better side, putting Wednesday under serious pressure for long periods.
I’m not really an analyser of games as such and I much prefer to just watch things generally, but today I’m going to try and break things down a bit more specifically and rate each player.
I don’t really like pinning myself down and it’s only an opinion, remember;
Gollini; 5
I thought he was poor today, simple as. He made one decent stop, but went for a ball when he had no chance, which left the goal wide open. His decision-making looked terrible and of course, he was at fault for the goal after an awful attempt at a clearance. He quite clearly cost us the game, but I’ll put it down to nerves. Looks massively inexperienced and needs to seriously improve quickly.
Hutton; 6
Didn’t get going at all in the first half and while he was better in the second, he was still ineffective going forward and worse in defence. Got embarrassingly turned all over the place by Forrestier at one stage.
Elphick; 8
As soon as I saw him geeing up the players during the pre-match huddle, I was impressed. To then see him with a bandage on his head encouraging the fans and still heading the ball with gusto told me exactly why RDM signed him. We have our leader and he was also reasonably solid in a defence that didn’t look particularly happy.
Baker; 7
Didn’t really do anything wrong and was mostly pretty solid overall.
Cissokho; 6
I’ve liked this player up to now, but thought he was poor today. His crossing was poor, although in fairness he looked a bit better defence-wise. Doesn’t look confident at all, to me.
Westwood; 5
A five because he’s purely average. Perhaps I’m biased as I’ve never rated him, but I just don’t see it at all. Had a shot which he should have buried and that’s all I remember. How some rated him as a Premier league player is just beyond me, as he just does nothing, in my book.
Gardner; 5
Another player I’ve always liked, but just poor again and looked like he was at risk of getting sent off. Incredibly disappointing, because he’s highly rated at other clubs, but we never see it for the Villa. Trying too hard, maybe?
Bacuna; 5
Was he actually playing in the first half?
Got more involved in the second half, but didn’t do much.
Ayew; 8
Looks a class apart compared to the rest of the side, but he’s wasted on the left. He seemed to go more inside in the second half, where he seems more effective, but looked too greedy at times. Should have done better when he created a chance at close range on the left, but looked our most threatening player.
McCormack; 7
Didn’t seem quite on top of his game and was subbed. I suspect he has a niggle, but I saw enough to convince me he looks like he’ll produce.
Gestede; 6
I have high hopes for him, as this is his level. But we’re not giving him the right service, so it’s hard to condemn him completely. He won one ball and headed it down perfectly for McCormack to run onto, which is exactly what I’d want from him.
Subs;
Tshibola 7, can’t say I saw much either way, but he was definitely a better option than Gardner today.
Grealish 7, caused problems, but often went too deep in helping out on the defensive side. What’s the point of that?
If you’re going to reinforce the defence, get a defender or defensive mid on.
Green, 7, again hard to mark, as he was just helping out at the back too. If you’re going to give him minutes, get him doing what he does best!
I don’t know, you can probably mark all the players up or down a point or so, but hopefully I’m not too far off.
The main thing is I don’t believe losing today was a major worry.
Wednesday got to the play-offs last season remember and they’re much more geared for this league than we are currently. We’ll add a couple more players at least and today was interesting because of the players who didn’t start, in my opinion.
Regardless of what the official reasons are, I suspect the likes of Gabby, Richards and Lescott will not be getting a look in.
I see the press are saying that we’re just up to our usual standard, but I didn’t see it like that at all.
We were unlucky to lose and overall might have actually have done enough to have won it, which would have been a great result.
Another important thing is that we were still trying, even after we conceded.
From what I saw today, I’m encouraged.
We’ll be up there come the end of the season and Holloway will be eating his words.
Luv the optimism guys but we are shite ,cant believe wastewood still gets a game there must be better out there ffs.
My honest assesment of the match is this:
We were poor first half, not really n the game at all. Only Ayew showed any sign of life. Baker and Elphick did well at the back, but otherwise poor.
Second half, we were much better. By far the most likely winners. McCormack got more into the game, and we actually looked good going forward. More so when Grealish and then Green came on. The winning goal was just unfortunate. Bad back pass, sliced by the keeper under a bit of pressure. Although in general his kicking is good.
However….our full backs are almost comical. Hutton and Cissokho are not good enough even at this level. We need Amavi and a new RB. Our centre midfield was too easily over ran. I’m not a huge fan of Westwood, and Gardner was a bit disappointing. Tshibola looks promising, but we need someone else in there. Gestede was next to useless, couldnt hold the ball up and didnt even win that many headers. I would much rather see McCormack and Ayew up front.
Happy with the players we have bought in though, and players like Chester, Hernandez, De Laet…etc would all be good additions to our squad. Plus we are slowly getting rid of the overpaid dross….and our chairman comes to games….things can only get better!! 🙂
Agree Benno, pretty well summed up
Some news to cheer us all up after the defeat. Flabby’s officially on his way out –
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-latest-future-gabby-11717794
RDM has told Flabby that he’s not part of his future plans.
Come on Oohaah and Stubbs that’s one decision by RDM you have to agree with!
Wouldn’t bet on it Pat. They will find some aspect of it to whinge about
Agreed H60, we have a new keeper, immense new captain, new proven goalscorer, a couple of very promising youngsters, more signings to come, a new CEO, new manager, new coaching staff and a committed, hungry new owner who turns up and wants to win….. But i read, its as negative as last season and nothing has changed !!
Some people are only happy wallowing in the Slough of Despond!
The only positive is Elphnick so far he will definitely keep us up if nothing else. The rest of the team except amarvi and possibly McCormack are the same dross as last year
We don’t need to praise RDM for doing the bleeding obvious. Any villa fan with a quarter of a brain (including me) knows Gabby has to go. We don’t need an overpriced poseur to tell us that
Anyway the match against Luton is live on Sky tomorrow. I’m looking forward to a somewhat different team and a Villa win.
I’ve heard some on this blog hope that we get knocked out of the EFL Cup but I think that a decent cup run can only bolster our team’s confidence.
A win tomorrow and another on Saturday might make us supporters feel a little more confident too. Here’s hoping…
UTV
We don’t need a cup run in rubbish competitions. League and FA cup aren’t worth risking promotion for imo
I want us to win tomorrow night. How are we risking promotion chances when our squad by you reckoning will be mid table at best. If you are right (and you could be by the way) a cup run is as good as it gets for us this season while we build a squad to push for promotion in the next 2 – 3 years. Likewise if we do manage to buy 3 or 4 top class championship players to push us on towards potential promotion candidates surely this completion can be good for the fringe players. I don’t buy into the idea that cup competitions are a distraction. That’s just an excuse. Winning competing games is something we ain’t good at at the minute and haven’t been for a while. The more games we get to change this the better.
We should treat tonight like a friendly try out different formations etc. If we lose we lose no big deal either way. Yet again we play every game like a friendly anyway so shouldn’t be any different tonight
Confirmed transfer and a rumour – Carlos Sanchez has joined Fiorentina in a loan deal – not clear whether there is an option to buy. It’s being reported that Hernadez has said he would have no hesitation in joining Villa if the opportunity arose. This from a Uruagyan radio station so maybe something lost in translation!
Sad that Sanchez is going as he really dies have ability although never quite showed it last season – in a better team? Hernandez – it’s rumoured we have offered Gestede plus cash – hope it’s true and Hull agree, although why they would want Gestede is beyond me!
Is Hernandez any good never heard of him till recently
Was quality at Palermo, decent-ish in the Premier League at Hull his first season, he became more of a revelation last season for them. He’s more than a goal scorer, definite talent.
Fair enough. Thanks
Well if we beat Luton there’ll be zero chance of us getting the noses –
Noses 0 – 1 Oxford AET
COYL
Hope we lose last thing we need is cup run in a pointless competition
Rumours are Yedinak and Ledley. I’d take both of these especially Ledley for me. We need some fire and committment in midfield and I think he’d supply both.
Bennett is off to Sheffield Wednesday, after RDM told him free to leave. More rubbish gone, imo.
OohAhPaulMcGrath lmao you are a funny guy, ever thought of being a stand up. your worth the visit to this site alone. every player we have been linked too or signed are gonna be shite in ur opinion. losing to luton you say you want no cup run. but after the game, if we lose you will slaughter the players manager and the grass. its always a win win situation for you. keep it up ur priceless
Lol Ooha you certainly brighten my days up.
Yep – you can always rely on Oohah!
😄😄
That’s good Giddy we need some humour watching that dross every week 😄
😀 😀 😀
I’m box office gold like mourinho lol. I did say Elphnick was good by the way and I think McCormack could be good for us 😄
Hah, nice one Nath.
I genuinely don’t know why Oohah posts as he does, but it makes for debate, which can only be good.
I really don’t know if he does it to be provocative (as did Ian, the previous site owner, at times) or really thinks as he posts.
Bloody sad if that’s how he does think, but good to have co-owners who have totally differing views, imo.
I miss him terribly, I again cannot see or hear the results till back in Debrovnic tomorrow then on my way home, I bet my tomatoes are like pumpkin, cucumbers like marrow, and the Villa still as bad. Lads as they say keep the Faith, and I will.