Villa 0-1 West Brom Jack Woodward full time report
That was poor wasn’t it?
I’m struggling to think of a single player who produced anything like a noteworthy performance today, although if I was forced it would probably have been Lescott and Richards.
The goal did take a nasty deflection, after all and I can’t even blame Guzan for that one.
What worried me more than the result though was the way we went about the game.
Where was all the energy and pace we’ve been used to?
We just weren’t at the races at all today were we?
The passing was rubbish, particularly from Grealish and Gil early on and if your two most creative players are struggling, well, you’re in trouble.
We just didn’t click at all today and you can go through most of our outfield players and have complaints.
Hutton had quite a bit of space down the wing and he found himself in the right positions, but his crossing was mostly abysmal.
Amavi was poor by his standards and gave the ball away a few times.
Sinclair was just utterly invisible and even though he’s our most on form striker, just never got involved.
Gil tried, but just couldn’t get himself into it enough to be effective.
And most disappointing for me was Grealish.
Everything he did seemed to take an age and he seemed far too happy to stand over the ball thinking about it, instead of using his instinct, which is to run at the defence as soon as it comes to him. His passing was probably the worst, in my opinion; hence it was a real off day on his part.
One player I would give some credit to is Gabby.
He looked a lot more up for it today, but being better than he has been of late really isn’t saying much.
Even if you don’t think Albion were very good, think about the chances they created.
I remember Guzan having had his hands stung a few times, where he made a couple of decent stops, but also made himself look a mug on a couple of other occasions.
The point is, I can’t remember Boaz Myhill having to make one decent save.
And that’s disappointing.
We created next to nothing and were forced to try playing it longish in the first half, a daft tactic seeing as we were aiming at Gabby, while they have massive defenders.
Hence bringing on Gestede for Gil was probably the right call, seeing as we had little option.
Unless you call upping the pace, getting the ball out wide and trying to actually get behind their defence an option.
Which seemed the best bet for me, but from memory we only achieved it once (Amavi).
It just didn’t happen today, in any area you care to look at and it frankly just wasn’t good enough, an opinion that I think will be shared, seeing as the Villa crowd was very subdued.
The worrying thing is that today’s result really doesn’t bode well for a certain game we’ve got coming up next.
My current stance on Tim Sherwood?
I like most of the players he’s signed and he still gets plenty of time from me.
Calling for him to go already is just daft.
i hoping lerners is sitting pretty watching this.this might be the year we drop,our spending this last 5 years has been shocking low.sherwood moved on about 20 players and only benteke is playing at a good level delph is injured,saying that why is sherwood persisting with guzan hutton westwood gabby4players that have been here for at least last 4 years decline none of them are good enough nearly halve the team
lerner let sherwood spend at most 10 over what he took in and for me i am surprised sherwood signed up for this
sherwoods win ratio must be well down now our last 11 matches only wins over notts co bournmouth his subs shocking bacuna today ,heard match on radio and commentators said you would think wba where at home
Hi guys sorry I havnt been on for a while or written a post recently I’ve been really busy with work and home.I havnt even had a chance even to get down the Villa which is a shit.I watched the Leicester game and I thought we bossed most of that game but capitulated when Leicester moved up a gear.I hear today that we didn’t really threaten personally 4-2-3-1 is not for us IMPO.At the moment I feel a 4-3-3 system with a CDM & 2 CM would suit us better,LW,RW striker.Gestede got 22 goals last season Sherbert has to play him game in game out to find his PL feet.4-3-3 is the system to win games for me.Sherbert needs to undo today by winning on Tuesday & our next 2 prem games.All to familiar though for me young inexperienced players with a point to prove didn’t Lambert have that remit to.Shouldnt we make up the team of mostly experienced players in the 1st team say 6 or 7 & the rest made up of youth.utv
Gestede scored 22 goals in the Championship – he’s not PL quality. Was rubbish for Cardiff.
Poor performance today. Very disappointing after last weeks first half display.
What is worrying is only 3 of Sherwoods signings started today. We spent 13m on Ayew and Gestede and neither of them can get off the bench. Which means as of right now we have replaced Benteke with Agbonlahor??!!
Admittedly, Gana will start when fit and Traore will make his way into the team, but what is happening up front? Sinclair and Gabby is never gonna work and why didn’t we sign a RB?
We better hope a result against the Blues will kick start our season.
Can see them doing us on Tue. Would anyone really be that surprised if they did I wouldn’t
We did sign a right back – his name’s Crespo and he’s injured!
There’s a surprise another defender injured
For 500k I would be shocked if he is any better than what we have already
If we’re looking at available managers, we could break bank for Ancelotti. Would he come, probably not at all, but he is available. I’d kill for Montella, brilliant manager, although had some kind of breakdown at Fiorentina for who knows why, so could have attitude issues. Sérgio Conceição did well at Braga who had an awful team, Schaaf or Markle from Germany are two good manager’s as well. I wonder what Di Canio’s doing right now, maybe we could get his crazy ass back in the Prem.
Not saying I want Sherwood out yet, but there’s a fair few managers available that are free. And not English which seems a plus.
Your post was good until you mentioned Di Canio would t want him for lots of reasons. But your other shouts were good
Haha Di Canio was a joke thrown in.
Not funny lol
there were no positives today. we just look too light weight in midfield and up top with no game changers on the bench.
very depressing.
Disappointing result and performance yesterday. Someone earlier made the point that we are a better team when the opposition comes at us, and we can counter attack while they are out of shape. I also agree about Gil & Grealish being a big risk when played together. In a local derby, and against certain teams you need to be more compact and stronger defensively. Gana looks like he will be a key player and the sooner he is back the better. Similarly, Traore has already shown the difference he can make offensively.
Our midfield should at least chip in a few goals this season, and Sinclair as well (Sherwood needs to work out his best position). However, we have lost a 20+ goals a season player in Benteke, and replaced with Gestede and Ayew, who will hopefully work out but neither have hit the ground running. As for Agbonlahor, I’m with the majority. I would make him 4th choice striker, and play Gestede and Ayew more often to get them up to speed. Kozak is a strange one. I would like to see him get a chance, but Sherwood clearly feels differently.
It’s a poor start but I am still hopeful that enough of the players will start to gel and contribute more. Problem is, losing matches quickly drains the spirit from the team/squad. We need to get some results soon, and maybe Blues will be a catalyst. It’s hard to stay positive, but then its been tough for a long while now.
Benteke has hamstring injury now at Liverpool so will miss his usually 10 games plus a season so would be out for us anyway
We need to go 4-3-3 CDM & Cm Cm so we are a bit stronger in midfield utv
Where is Wilkins? There were a few shots of TS doing Lambert faces on the TV but none of Wilkins. Last time I saw him he was completely bald with several worry lines. Has he grown some hair like Rooney or taken to wearing a syrup? Not that I hold much hope of positive advice if Wilkins advises like he played – it will be a square pass back to TS.
It seems the only team who don’t think they can get a result when they show up at VP are Aston Villa. Surely Sherwood can figure it out without trying it out – if you play 8 of Lambert’s losers you will get the same abject performance he got. The three best performances from the out-field starters were Richards Lescott and Amavi.
Even though Benteke and Delph has gone the “same slot” mentality is still there. Left of Centre 10 to 20 yards into the opposing half. The following players all drift there unless they are thinking not to – Gabby, Grealish, Gil, Sinclair. Whereas the right wing might as well be the Bermuda triangle – passes out there find the opponents or Hutton trotting up from RB.
Agree. I’m disappointed with Wilkins thought he’d do well but has disappeared from the face of the earth.
What has surprised me on here is the lack of comment in respect of Gana being injured. Already it seems to me he’s a key player – and he doesn’t drift left all the time. Is it just me but we missed him big time last two games.