That was as poor a Villa – Man Utd game as I can recall, and I’ve seen a few.
So what went wrong?
I’d suggest not a lot really.
Both teams were fairly poor and obviously not quite up to speed, but Utd generally looked the better side, purely because of their better standard of player.
Yes, it galls me to say that, but that’s how it is, plain and simple.
Memphis threatened and looked a class apart, from an attacking point of view, for example.
The first half was ok overall, but we basically created nothing.
Utd were similar, but slightly better and they opened us up, for Junuzaj to get a deflection that left Guzan with no chance.
The goal was lucky, but the defence yet again didn’t look to be set up correctly.
Micah Richards seemed to be at fault for the actual goal, but he looked ok overall in the game, so I’m loathe to point him out.
Come the second half, we looked livelier, but I still had the feeling that we had little to offer.
Gabby and Ayew weren’t getting in the game and I found myself wishing that we had a Grealish or Gil in there to link the Midfield and attack.
In fairness, Ayew did put himself about, but I didn’t think he was particularly effective.
As opposed to Gabby, who did little at all yet again.
That’s the difference between those two, in my opinion; Ayew at least tries to help out, but what does Gabby do?
I don’t see it.
Gestede came on and we tried more long ball; a tactic that hadn’t worked in the first half.
Why we even tried that with Gabby and Ayew, I’m not sure and it should have been changed way earlier, although in fairness, we had no Gil or Grealish to bring on and they’re both a decent option lost.
Man of the match?
Armavi again.
He looks like a proper player and will probably prove to be the next Benteke type saga.
