Villa 0 – 2 Arsenal; another game of two halves

I’ve been awake for about 24 hours straight now after a grueller night shift, having been too scared to go to bed, else I wouldn’t have got up to watch the game.
Hence at half time, I’d practically made the decision to not even bother writing a review about this one.
Fortunately the second half retrieved things somewhat and I changed my mind.

So what happened here?
I’m not going to even try and analyse the game, but it’s more about why we were so poor in that first half?

You can see it’s about confidence and the side simply has none, which explains the first half, I suppose.
Every pass goes astray and even many decisions, although the penalty was absolutely correct, to my mind.
You can’t put your arms around a player in the box, when you’re talking two players in that much space.
It happens all the time in set pieces, but…..

The fact is, we were awful: As bad as it gets. Again.

But then, we came out a totally different side in the second half.
Why?
What was said that should have been said in the pre-match speech?
This is the part I don’t understand.
The players must have been told to play all that totally backwards and sidewards passing rubbish, even when we’d gone a goal down early on, by the coaches or the manager.

To my mind, the manager at half time must have said forget all that and just play, which is why we were immediately miles better and actually tried attacking.

If that’s true, I find it worrying. Being overly cautious, now in our current position, is entirely the wrong approach and we need to try and actually win games.

Of course, there’s an argument where you might think Arsenal backed off in the second half. I don’t think so and I’d say we edged the second half.
Which means if we’d set out from the off playing the same way, we might have actually got something from the game.

No doubt some of you might think I’m deluded.
But I’m beginning to wonder that if the players are low in confidence, is telling them to play not to lose, a good approach?

Losing to the team that are currently top of the league is no disgrace, but the way we played in the first half was.
Yet if we could play like we did in the second half, we might have a chance, as bleak as things seem.

Yes, I’m clutching at straws, but we do have some (theoretically) winnable games coming up.

59 Comments

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  1. jvillan
    jvillan December 14, 2015 at 9:55 am . Reply

    ratings for yesterday
    guzan 5 nothing could do with goals but every time ball goes near him you put your hands over eyes, plus his kicking is awful cannot make centre circle with kick outs
    hutton 1 defending is his job first goal, second goal he was ahead of our strikers even with bacuna involved on other side, his crossing is woeful yes he got 2 in but how many go wide,he leaves a gap you could turn titanic in,
    bacuna 6 playing on wrong side as a fullback ,why is hutton not switched as more seasoned pro, had good effort
    okore 6 question is who partners him
    lescott 6 much better last 2 games
    sanchez 5 is gradually getting worse ,to slow to release ball
    gana 6 gave up to easy on 2 goal but improving, couldn t understand sub
    vertout 6 first half poor ,2nd goal showed poor but improved
    Sinclair 5 started well but faded ,
    ayew 5 not as showy as last couple matches
    rudi 3 missed good chance,doesn t close down enough at the minute should only be impact sub
    subs
    gil 5 tried
    grealish not on long enough, and didn t shine
    traore not on long enough ,WHY in 4 mins done more than most in 3 matches
    MANAGER
    remi 3
    a lot of answers needed ,why poor start, why no ilor,kozak. why no left back from reserves,why is hutton still playing, same for guzan ,rudi

    FOX
    how did meeting go, why was ilor signed if he was injured for 5months nearly as bad as jenas, why are reilly almstad not explaining why we are bottom with worst squad players ever, why when Sherwood dropped guzan was he not replaced ,and not by bunn who could not get contract with Bristol city, who thought rudi could replace benteke

    1. DO YOU WANT TO BET AGAINST US?
      DO YOU WANT TO BET AGAINST US? December 14, 2015 at 1:23 pm . Reply

      Guzan is the worse keeper I’ve seen at VP since Mervyn Day, who was f**king shocking (And Peter Enckelman takes some beating!)
      Sorry JV but your 5 & 6 player performance marks, are they out of a hundred? It they are out of 10 you flatter the lot of them.

  2. Andrew
    Andrew December 14, 2015 at 5:04 pm . Reply

    http://villatrust.org.uk/?p=1544

    Think a lot of people should read this.

    1. GIDDYVILLAN
      GIDDYVILLAN December 14, 2015 at 5:21 pm . Reply

      Interesting personally all the talking should be done on the field,basically all the backroom staff are fucking the club up big style.whatever Fox explained it ain’t working & that ain’t rocket science.

    2. Bum Bum
      Bum Bum December 14, 2015 at 5:59 pm . Reply

      So who do you believe Andrew? Considering the track record of Lerner’s appointments, I wouldn’t trust a word that comes out of their mouths. It all seems to revolve around damage (and financial) limitation for the owner. Frankly, I don’t swallow it. Sherwood’s media mates are quite unequivocal regarding how little say he had in the transfers otherwise would be faving slander/libel claims. Alternatively, there is a dog awful communication problem at the club that once again is centred around Lerner. Just my opinion you understand…Funny how the meeting was scheduled just before kick off, therefore limiting the opportunity for any in depth probing..

      1. Bum Bum
        Bum Bum December 14, 2015 at 6:03 pm . Reply

        …would be facing…sigh…

      2. Andrew
        Andrew December 14, 2015 at 6:21 pm . Reply

        Really think it’d be after the game? I mean they would’ve probably destroyed Fox after the loss, and especially the first half.

        I would tend to believe Fox myself. Sherwood was clearly disgruntled thinking he was all amazing and whatnot as a manager, he badmouthed the players and wanted a new job, so he’d take no blame. I don’t think the players we got were his first choice, I do think the shit he wanted from Spurs (Townsend, Lennon, etc) were and when told they weren’t good enough for Spurs usual overpricing, he just wanted players in.

        1. Bum Bum
          Bum Bum December 14, 2015 at 6:56 pm . Reply

          Agree about his ex-Spuds players but there’s too much coming out about the transfer committee. Fox et al are businessmen, politicians, and know how to spin the game even when the shit hits the fan. How many times will we swallow the excuses of Lerner and friends? Don’t fall for it Andrew…

          1. Andrew
            Andrew December 14, 2015 at 7:18 pm . Reply

            It’s not that I’m “falling for it” persay, but it’s either Fox or Sherwood to believe. And sorry but I don’t believe Sherwood at all. He manipulates the Media to believe everything he says, he’s clueless as hell and wants to save face. Maybe so does Fox, but I don’t think Fox has actually lied to us. Neither has Lerner really if we really are getting a new Chairman.

          2. Bum Bum
            Bum Bum December 14, 2015 at 7:34 pm . Reply

            The new Chairman bit is intriguing…it’s probably Doug!!!

          3. Hitchens 60
            Hitchens 60 December 14, 2015 at 8:35 pm . Reply

            Tbh it doesn’t really matter what anyone says at the club it’s unlikely to be believed by the fans. The fans have to blame someone or something at the club for the position we find ourselves in and after so many managers in such a short space of time it has to be something else and the press are very good at manipulating opinion and moving blame to where it makes the most money for them!

            Of course Lerner has made too many errors of judgement, of course he has underinvested after getting his fingers burnt financially, of course Sherwood was a massive gamble which kept us up but then massively backfired, of course the players aren’t good enough (although there still seem to be a lot of fans who think otherwise which reinforces the ‘it’s all management’s fault’).

            In reality it’s not one persons fault or not the result of one poor decision that’s why I don’t really buy the argument that the problem is all the result of moneyball tactics or transfer committee decisions. It’s the culmination of too many mistakes by too many people and too little investment at the wrong time over too many years – it’s what ultimately brings down any business.

            Diatribe over.

          4. Andrew
            Andrew December 14, 2015 at 9:33 pm . Reply

            I agree Hitchens. Clearly there’s been a lot of mistakes but the claim that some of our fans have that our board’s a bunch of liars is an odd one, and one I don’t see how they make the claim. Yet to really see any false promises, obviously they really thought we wouldn’t be in this mess, and being honest the players we have we shouldn’t be, truly shouldn’t be, in this mess. But there’s really nothing to prove our board is a bunch of liars who will say anything to get people off their back.

            Sherwood claimed he’d have us never be in a relegation fight again, claimed Lambert didn’t have the players fit and he’d make them match fit, and he did neither. And then had gull to blame his shitty tactics on the players. So I’m gonna go out on a limb and say he’s majorly at fault for this. Not claiming Lerner’s not to blame, or Fox, Lerner’s proven to be footballing naive, but I can’t see Fox lying to us seeing he’s yet too.

          5. Colonius81
            Colonius81 December 14, 2015 at 10:35 pm . Reply

            “…In reality it’s not one persons fault or not the result of one poor decision that’s why I don’t really buy the argument that the problem is all the result of moneyball tactics or transfer committee decisions. It’s the culmination of too many mistakes by too many people and too little investment at the wrong time over too many years – it’s what ultimately brings down any business.”

            couldn’t agree more with this

  3. Tom
    Tom December 14, 2015 at 5:33 pm . Reply

    I understand the reservations with traore but do teams not play to players strengths?
    I think played as a striker he could be leathel and is certainly worth a shout. Bacuna should start at right back, ok ore should be team captain, Guzman needs dropping, There is just so much a regular bloke like me sees to improve along with others on here. What is so difficult to get right our place? It’s like we want to make it hard for ourselves. I genuinely believe I could do a better job in charge than the last 2 managers. The days of Paul Lambert are starting to look like good ones.

    1. Bill Pearson
      Bill Pearson December 14, 2015 at 6:04 pm . Reply

      Think the wrong questions was asked there, all well and good covering up accusation on what the backroom picking players was about, why are they unfit? We have the best sports grounds in the country,why so many injuries? , why some players are frozen out?them are more important to a fan, Fox was upset over media reports? So he should, Villa are a laughing stock on being a whipping team to the premiership, He came from a top club to put Villa back as a top club? He’s failed.

      1. Bill Pearson
        Bill Pearson December 14, 2015 at 6:44 pm . Reply

        All your doing is suggesting one crap player for another, let’s face the facts we don’t have one good player in Aston Villas team, from Mon reign walking away we have bought crap players, don’t say well he played for Roma, Barcelona, or who ever, we have picked up Shiite players , players that have no stamina, no guts, no respect for the club, what we have is disgustingly obvious inept to our football club.

    2. Andrew
      Andrew December 14, 2015 at 6:24 pm . Reply

      Guzan* doesn’t need dropping. Okore shouldn’t be captain, but should partner Clark who should be captain. Traore isn’t a bad shout up front, but I’d still reserve him till around the 60th/70th and let him have a go. His run showed ability but where he placed his shot showed he needs a lot of work.

  4. GIDDYVILLAN
    GIDDYVILLAN December 14, 2015 at 5:57 pm . Reply

    I don’t want to start pointing the finger at garde just yet but I’m still waiting for this inspiration normally associated with a new manager.have things actually improved ???? Yesterday 18 shots but just the 2 on target pretty pathetic maybe I’m also wide of the mark.

    1. Bum Bum
      Bum Bum December 14, 2015 at 6:05 pm . Reply

      Yr not wide of the mark, our players were though!

    2. Andrew
      Andrew December 14, 2015 at 6:22 pm . Reply

      Usually when managers come in, there is the honeymoon phase, but when that happens, you have players who can score. We don’t. Our players often seem scared getting the ball into Ayew for some reason.

      1. GIDDYVILLAN
        GIDDYVILLAN December 14, 2015 at 6:48 pm . Reply

        Honeymoon period??we’ve by passed that & straight into the divorce courts.

        1. Andrew
          Andrew December 14, 2015 at 7:21 pm . Reply

          Haha its true we really didn’t get one of those. I guess City’s game could’ve probably been “it”.

  5. saddened
    saddened December 14, 2015 at 5:59 pm . Reply

    1st half awful (as usual)
    second half was an improvement because Arsenal took their foot off the gas and were looking forward to their Xmas party….. We are truly woeful !

  6. Dave67
    Dave67 December 14, 2015 at 6:23 pm . Reply

    Turned of the game after the second goal went in. We were shot in the back again by our defending ,the game not long on and Mutten gives a peno away . Fox seems to be covering his ass and the boards ass.

  7. Morgan Villa
    Morgan Villa December 14, 2015 at 6:42 pm . Reply

    I like Veretout and some of things about our squad. What i have noticed is Guzan is not a Premier League GK, he is a good shot stopper but he cannot distribute or command his area. Sanchez drops a clanger every game up until that clanger he is a half decent player he seems to get tired around the 70 minute mark. Gestede is a pile of shite quite possibly the worst player i have ever watched his movement is woeful as his touch as are his headers.

    On the Villa trust thing i belive Tom Fox Sherwood is a media darling, we need a new GK and an experienced Premier league goalscorer as priorities. We probably then need another CB and a short term LB.

  8. jvillan
    jvillan December 14, 2015 at 7:34 pm . Reply

    what I don t get from all this bull from fox, why no keeper ,right back experienced midfielder and goal scorer in summer, whose fault was that Sherwood oreilly . the 5 bigish signings look ok but where never enough, fox blaming media for bad press on villa,look at the table man shameful disgrace and all on his watch ,what does he have to do to get his payoff, and remember Sherwood was his mate he had him at game before sacked lambert

    1. bencey83
      bencey83 December 14, 2015 at 9:18 pm . Reply

      We’ve needed a new keeper, a decent centre half and decent right and left backs for a while now. We’ve got Amavi, but nobody good enough as back up. Hutton and Bacuna not up to scratch defensively. Guzan makes a few good saves, but otherwise very poor decision making and puts everyone else on edge – will he come out or won’t he?! Clark not good enough, Lescott and Richardson passed it. Richards and Okore our only decent centre halves but both injury prone and no decent back up. We never really replaced Delph or Benteke, didn’t spent the money we made in the right areas and didn’t actually dip into our pockets at all! Shame on the Villa heirarchy – relegation is what they deserve.

  9. bencey83
    bencey83 December 14, 2015 at 9:13 pm . Reply

    Just want to give a shout out to Marc Albrighton! Never thought we should have got rid of him when we did – he looked our brightest player whenever we brought him on during that spell and then we shipped him out! Look at him now! Another assist tonight – well done son. Very wise move getting out when you did and now topping the Premier League table with a progressive Leiceister City squad. Just goes to show the difference between good and bad management.

  10. VillaAwayInDiv3
    VillaAwayInDiv3 December 14, 2015 at 10:12 pm . Reply

    Well done Leicester …keeping Chelsea with 3 wins for us………….

  11. VillaAwayInDiv3
    VillaAwayInDiv3 December 14, 2015 at 10:13 pm . Reply

    Within 3 wins.

  12. Fastjet81
    Fastjet81 December 15, 2015 at 12:22 am . Reply

    Let’s bring on the great escape! I must be mad. Totally agree on comments about dire squad and shot confidence, but surely our luck will change soon. With my rough Maths I make it that we need 1.5 points per game to hit the 40 mark. Just need to pick up some points between now and new year to keep us in striking distance. Then who knows what might happen during transfer window…

    Enjoyed the banter between Leicester and Chelsea fans, “You’re going down with the Villa” retaliated with “They’ve won more than you!”

    1. badger123
      badger123 December 15, 2015 at 4:06 am . Reply

      Yeah, good banter, but as John Gregory has said, how embarrassing to hear Leicester sing that about us 🙁

      1. pat57
        pat57 December 15, 2015 at 6:22 am . Reply

        I’ve got the feeling that we’d better get used to it

      2. GIDDYVILLAN
        GIDDYVILLAN December 15, 2015 at 7:58 am . Reply

        Even our fans were singing ‘were going down’ at spuds this season so the Leicester fans are only echoing what we feel big deal.

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