LISTEN: Tim Sherwood “It’s a game we should’ve won”
First let me say that I don’t think anyone can fault the effort today.
Sherwood said he’d be picking what he thought was his best side and there’s no doubt whatsoever to my mind that they ran their hearts out for the manager.
Indeed, we looked by far the better side in the first half, although we lacked what was required in the final third, which was only the same as per usual.
We even came out the stronger side in the second half and my thoughts were turning to how long it would last before Sherwood had to change players purely because they were burnt out, having given everything.
And then on the hour, after some really nice play, Jordan Ayew provided a careful, neat header to give us the lead.
1-0 it was and the crowd were absolutely buzzing and the atmosphere fantastic.
But as much as the players tried, it ultimately wasn’t good enough was it?
The lead only lasted a few minutes and Richards, who I thought had had a pretty decent game until then gave away a needless freekick just outside the area, pretty much right in front of the goal.
Guzan positioned himself and I’m sure I’m not the only one who was filled with trepidation.
How often has Guzan just looked like he’s totally in the wrong place from a free?
I’m know nothing about goalkeeping, but even I can see it and it’s been worrying for a long time.
And there was the reply for the equaliser.
Sigurdsson curled one over the wall and Richards, who jumped well, couldn’t stop it.
I’m sure we all knew where it was going and so it proved.
Don’t get me wrong, it was a great free kick, but a better goalie would have saved it and it’s simply a mistake that Guzan has made too many times. I really worry about him now.
After he’d done so well up to that point too.
The game opened up and Grealish came off for Gil.
Gabby had a chance or two, as did Lescott in the dying minutes, but in the 86th minute, Naughton crossed and there were three Swansea players ready to receive, all pretty much unmarked.
Andre Ayew got there first for a fairly easy close range shot to make it 1-2.
And then, that was it.
All over.
So Sherwood played his best side and said that this was a cup final and that we’d win it.
He’s been proved totally wrong on both counts and now I really don’t see where he has left to turn.
We needed the win today and simply didn’t get it.
He has to go, as although I still like him and think he’s been somewhat unlucky, he’s committed Hara-Kari with his statements.
It’s just a matter of if he walks or will the board act now.
I’ll put a poll up to see what you think, but I suspect I already know the answer.
[polldaddy poll=9143652]
Gutted, as I don’t know where we go from here 🙁
Agreed. Desperate times
Sherwood should go down a couple of leagues imo & apply his trade there most decent managers start there.I think his expectations are far too borderline deluded when he’s interviewed.for what I’ve seen & heard enough Tim move to pastures new.
Seen Tim’s interview on setanta TV, it was short and sweet. He looks a broken man. I wanted Sherwood to succeed, I think he has taken us as far as he can.
Even though I knew straight away he’d fail ( it was obvious) I did want him to succeed and prove me wrong. But he really is useless and the big problem we’ve had for years is our defence. Stop conceding stupid goals easier said than done for lour shite defenders
Was it derby county who got the lowest amount of points in prem history????don’t know how many but I can’t see us reaching double figures
Might have Swindon not sure
whether tim stays or goes there are issues that need addressing first Richards is not captain material. not to sure he’s got the mentality for centre half either everybody in the ground knew he was going to tackle there instead of jockeying these errors are not being picked up on the training ground, don’t think Wilkins brings anything to the party, if guzan is being told to play the way he does then i think parkes has to go as well. whoever comes /goes must get settled front line instead of strangers to each other all the players we have are of a similar standard so pick your team and work with it
Billy Boots I agree, the thing is will it have been his ideas on how we played? OK assume it was, anyone that comes in has his own ideas, Sherwood was lost from the start you could see it 7 games ago.its now why I didn’t agree with Badger on if he goes now what would it do,who do we have, to me he didn’t have a clue what to do, and too many excuses kept being made for from him. He had to move on in my mind and if we go down due to how far we are with points with him so be it, at least we went down fighting, Sherwood had friends to give him a leg up on us ,he’s got a lot to learn in the game. I hope he’s gone in the week.
Sherwood has shown he’s out of his depth as a manager; agree with Giddyvillan that he’d be better-off learning his trade down in the lower divisions [& NOT with us down there].
Like many other ex-prem players who think that they can make an immediate success of managing at the same level at which they played, without serving their time lower down, he’s proven it doesn’t quite work that way.
I’ve no idea who Lerner/Fox will find to rep;lace him, but Tim, your time is up mate…
Yes ardent too much too soon.
I believe the writing was on the wall after the Southampton result last year. Spurs fans did call him “tactics Tim” and this has come to fruition. The one outstanding tactical match was the FA Cup semi final against Liverpool. Unfortunately, the way TS lost the game at Leicester showed the naivety is his tactics.
The lack of team selection and playing the right player in the right position is gob smacking! This has been made worse in recent days with attributed TS comments implying he did not want certain players. It is the right thing to do and relieve him of his duties at our once proud club. This is not a time for Randy to show misplaced loyalty. He must be ruthless and show TS the door, with his multi million £ pay off.
Whose next? I really don’t know. I do believe that the squad contains players who can succeed in the Premiership and ensure our survival. Whoever comes through the door needs to galvanise the underutilised / not fancied players, such as Sanchez, Okore, Senderos (not let Villa down to date) and Kozak.
Finally, I wish TS well. The job at Villa is too big for him at the moment.
The big issue is defence it has been for years though and it’s getting worse
Like him or hate him, the job is just to big for him and the club just needs to cut ties. After hearing his post match comments he might as well just said he doesn’t have the answers. Sherwood played his best team, which was made out of mainly a very experienced players, and it just wasn’t enough. Time and time again he has commented that he has told the team to go out there and treat the game like a must cup final, although outside of that I really don’t know if he is actually managing the team during the game and/or before the games. Being a motivational speaker is fine but gone are the days of when a manager can sit back and expect his experienced players to get the job done.
But how come Fox and Lerner employed him in the first place shows how clueless they are. Bring bk faulkner!
I think we had a conversation when he first came in – at the time he was brought in we both hated the appointment but kinda agreed as a short term solution he could probably keep us up through motivation and playing players in position. He was able to keep us up last season, barely, but he was never a long term solution which leads me to wonder if the club always saw him as a stop gap manager?*
There is an interesting Op Ed from the Mirror talking about what Sherwood is and is not to blame for and it kinda brings up the same question…
“But what has happened at Villa Park is the people commissioned with the acquisition of new talent have lost sight of – or never had sight of – the person they are buying for. Unless, of course, they know he is on borrowed time. Raw, international, potential talent was not what Sherwood wanted. It’s not what he felt this football team needed. If the club felt he was wrong, they should have shown him the door before a ball was kicked this season.”
* I know some will ask about his 3 year contract but no manager in the world would agree to a 4-6 month contract and then revisit things in the summer.
Birmingham Mail claims Sherwood will learn his fate in 48 hours.
And did Sherwood really say he lacks quality at Villa? How about playing our actual quality players and not the garbage you are…
Defence is the problem always has been
Stop playing Lescott, Richardson and Hutton. Pretty simple really.
Andrew, I thought Hutton was probably our best player today.
Not defensively, but our biggest threat and his crosses were decent.
Gestede should have been hooked at half time, as it just wasn’t working. But for who?
And if you’re going to leave Gestede on, we should have put Amavi on to supply the ammo, as Grealish wasn’t working either.
Gabby was also poor, although he did try today.
I can pick lots of faults, but blaming the defence isn’t highest on my list today, Guzan apart.
We could and should have scored more goals.
I’m not one for saying “told you so”, but Benteke has proved a massive loss and it’s blindingly obvious, which is one of the reasons I feel Sherwood has been a bit unlucky.
Trying to replace a £30 mill plus striker with a £9 mill one was always going to be difficult.
I know who I blame for that and it’s why I’m so loathe to want Sherwood out.
I agree we simply haven’t replaced benteke,my god it shows.
Disagree with that he would of been out injured for at least the last 4 games already. He’s hardly done a great deal at Liverpool. Problem is the defence we did the hard work went one up then as per typical villa could’ve see it out defence us to babe it’s crap
Problem with the team he puts out is the 3 AM’s we have in Grealish, Gil and Traore aren’t your usual crossing players, so they’re not going to get Gestede goals. Our fullbacks can but Amavi was awful coming on against Chelsea defensively and Hutton can’t defend despite what anyone tries telling me.
Gestede has to be off for Ayew up front alone, he makes great runs, he brings players into the game, he can take players on and doesn’t rely on crosses to score, although a nice one from Gabby.
In fairness Benteke was only an 8m striker when we bought him. Gestede was never going to replace him. He’s a decent 2nd option like against Bournemouth but that’s it. Of course we haven’t replaced Benteke, but Sherwood also isn’t playing players that work together. Grealish is never going to get on with Gestede, it’s never going to work. Benteke had fantastic talent with the ball at his feet, Gestede has none. So we’re wasting away our AM’s with Gestede on, meaning the only attacking player we have that works is Hutton, and he’s so awful defensively that he rarely will track back. Then there’s Richardson who can’t defend and is halfway dead after 60 minutes from being absolutely tired.
Guzan wasn’t really at fault for the first goal. He wasn’t positioned badly, at least according to half a dozen keeper friends I know. But then you’ll get long posts on here from people who’ve never played keeper bashing Guzan like they do on a daily basis.
If Hutton has hair he might have just deflected that free kick with his head
Sherwood’s audio comments added to the headline post.
Sounds like a man with a noose tightening around his neck.
That is definitely not his best team. 4 of his best were benched, he’s a Muppet.
But I really don’t want Moyes in, would rather keep Dim. Prefer RDM
I heard something at the game today, Micah Richards was spotted at the train station in London after the Chelsea game. He was heard saying ‘I am off to Manchester had enough’
I Dont know if this is true.
I did note today when we scored he did not congratulate the goal scorer. As captain this is mandatory. I like Richards been our best player so far but this shows the squad has no cohesion.
No direction in the team or any clear tactics. Our players bunch together and don’t make any space. Sherwood has to go.
Bunn must be shit if Guzan is keeping him out of the team
Well he is going no where soon, so he better sort himself out. After losing his cool during the Chelsea game and today against Swansea Richards proved he still has a lot to learn to be a club Captain.
Agreed.
While I admire his willingness to fight and show passion, he has to rise above that stuff.
Maybe he was so shocked we actually scored and took the lead it took him ten mins for it to sink in!
Hello again Morgan Villa – not seen you on here in ages. Hope you’re keeping well.
Welcome back [to another nightmare…]!
Richards is shit, he shouldn’t be in the squad let alone captaining the squad at centre back. Mind you Lescott next to him has to be pretty much the worst player in the division right now. Absolute pair of muppets at centre back and its costing us goals every game
Disagree re Richards I think he’s a decent player who will get better as long as that useless twat Lescott is dropped
I’ve just watched a Beeb clip, which showed a bit of Argy-bargy in the tunnel after the game.
I couldn’t see who was involved, but it looked like Gestede was amongst it.
And then Sherwood was asked if he felt like he was in a bit of a hole.
His answer was “No, I don’t…. but I think the club’s in a bit of a hole”
I don’t think I like that answer.
It’s almost as if he sees himself and the club as seperate entities already.
saw that clip live badger it looked like gestede was pulling Richards away referee and assistants were stood watching
Badger it was Richards in the tunnel having a go at someone. Gestede was trying to take away. Never seen who Richards was having a go at. Seen the game on Setanta sports showed the tunnel incident .
It’s only a matter of time before TS is pushed Badger. The big question is who replaces him and does anyone rust Lerner to get it right. I certainly don’t
Fully agree, very poor leadership statement. Combine that with all this complaining about not having complete control over the signings, the only fight he shows is in defending himself in the media and the fact that he had a whole preseason to create a team, with shape and cohesion. Personally I can’t see a way forward with him.
I really try to support our managers, I thought he deserved until Christmas, but he’s made his position untenable with numerous recent statements. Time for a change, I just haven’t a clue who.
From what I’ve read, it seems to be between Richards and Fernandez, but no clue if that’s right.
Just spoke to my mate who’s a UEFA B goalkeeping coach (means nowt to me but knows what he’s talking about) said nothing wrong with Guzans position for the fk. Wall setup covering nearside and Guzan towards left of centre so he sees the ball.
I didn’t think he much chance with that goal tbh sometimes you have to say too good
The free kick was world class. Why was Gana in the wall. He is smaller than a leprechaun
I did not see the game only the goals, so will comment further after MOTD. However I have voted for Tim to go, The same players making the same mistakes, and he can’t see it.
Keeper’s choice for free kicks. Have the wall cover the side furthest away from the kicker because you have fractionally more time to get there, and if you are better left handed than right (like Guzan) stand slightly nearer the right post. The opposite occurred.
Watch Richards positioning for the 2nd goal. he is marking one of the two possible scorers as they enter the area, then leaves him to run to cover the track of the ball. Result two players unmarked and onside can toss up before scoring.
Why did I vote for Tim to go? He has done nothing about the inadequate keeper and perhaps more importantly he has given the armband to a man with none of the qualities required of a captain. And as the winning goal proves yet again Richards thinks like a full back and is a liability at centre half.
Thing is OLL is you look at Mourinho with all those world class players at his disposal and they are almost as bad as us and he is decent tactically. If Sherwood goes and hypothetically we took in mourinho after his imminent Cheksea sacking how do you think he would fare with a team that is low on confidence and quality. Defensively Chelsea struggle. Why? Because Terry is finished at that level and ivanovich is not playing for JM because of his treatment of Eva who he is alleged to be having an affair with. Also he sulked as he couldn’t get Stones. It proves a point no matter how good a manager you are its all about the quality of player you have and whether they want to play for you. Mourinho of course has the luxury of top quality players who will come good eventually we havnt.
I really thought today we could get something out of the game. To be fair on show were 2 very poor teams, but over 90 mins I think we edged it, but performances do not put points in the bag, and if that was our strongest side then god help us. Grealish is too light weight and does not carry the ball on into dangerous areas, he holds the play up and looks to play the perfect pass all the time. Gestede is like a giraffe on roller skates brings nothing to the attack and cannot hold a ball up long enough to let support arrive. Kozak should be given a chance on Wed and see what he can do. I feel Tim’s time is up, but like so many I wanted him to succeed. Whether changing it now will be the right move I do not know, but to get 1 point from our home games is a shocking return, we should have had 3 wins at least. Behind the scenes something is defiantly wrong and needs sorting quick or we will be gone.
Should have been sacked after the Stoke game as I said. We’re just wasting time. Why at nearly 9pm after todays latest shambles has he still not been sacked yet. Tom Fox is clueless and gutless, just like Faulkner before him and Lerner. No wonder they all got on.
Nobody in that club has an ounce of pride or balls to stand up and be counted.
Honestly though, the one thing I’m sure every single Villa fan can agree on is that Randy Lerner, Tom Fox and our once great club deserve to go down now. Its beyond a farce and an embarrassment now
I can actually see us looking at div 1 this time next year I’m afraid. It’s going to be at 10 years after Letner has gone before we become decent agsin he had totally destroyed the club. He us a muppet surrounded by more clueless yes men muppets
if the club was going to sack tim i think he would be gone by now so don’t think there was any plans
It’s rare any manager is sacked after the game. I don’t remember the last time it did happen.
The Charlton manager yesterday.
Dicanio was even sacked in the baggies boardroom