Matchday 26 - Aston Villa Vs Nottingham Forest. Saturday 24th February. Kick off 3pm.

[andyd]

We made a right pigs ear of that today. The set up with Niakhate at left back cost us the game, if Toff had started the balance would have given us a much better chance. I love Felipe but he doesn’t have it anymore against a fluid, quick PL attack. Marking out a one dimensional player like Antonio is these days last week he looked great but Watkins tied him in knots. He’s the kind of player now that we can only afford in the correct match up, even more so when you add Bailey into the mix coming in from wide against a makeshift left back. I feel like I can look at the fixture now and know immediately whether Felipe will look quality or a liability, easy to say with hindsight but today was always going to be the latter.

Now, I expected at 45+4 minutes to feel very worried tonight because we were absolutely horrific, but I actually don’t, I feel like what we’ve seen today stands us in good stead. In the last 18 months we’d have more often than not lost that 5-0, that we didn’t, and in fact got ourselves right back in the game and could very conceivably have won 4-3 with the chances we missed is frankly amazing. Granted, it would have been absolute robbery because Villa were so much better than us, but it’s still true.

We HAVE to cut out the brain fart moments because they are what are killing us but our ability to fight and get back in games is very encouraging and it’s been consistent under Nuno; Newcastle (twice), Villa, Brentford, Bournemouth (both times) even Arsenal to some extent. Seeing that again today gives me confidence for the games ahead. We have to stop coming up short and be more clinical but if we can just stop the mistakes (easier said than done as we’re seeing) and silly goals, today makes me feel still further that we’ll be ok (depending on point deductions). Villa looked fantastic in that first half, they’ve been magnificent most of the season, we were 0-3 down and yet looked like getting something until the 4th goal, when was the last time you said or felt that? All is not lost.

 

[Louth Red]

Really disappointed - like others have said our balance and play was badly affected by playing Niakhate at left back.
We win the toss and make Villa attack the Holte End first half, then gift a goal in three minutes.
We started really slowly and the first half was a complete shambles.
We clawed our way back with two quick goals and pushed Villa back but conceded a poor goal and fell away again.

Two big concerns -
we cannot start games like that against any opponent.
our support was really poor again - we need to get back to unconditional support.

It was always a tough ask but players and supporters must improve.

 

[Alf-engelos Mindminackers]

our support was really poor again - we need to get back to unconditional support.

It was always a tough ask but players and supporters must improve.

It's a noble suggestion, but I think it's largely on the players and manager to inspire now.

Fans believed even through the grimmest times before, because they'd already witnessed the impossible happen, as we went from Champ relegation certs to Promotion winners. Whatever odds we faced people believed they were beatable, as we'd already beaten bigger.

Lots of changes have been made since that time, the connection severed, and the belief doused. Emotion isn't a mathematical thing and some people can't turn it on and off at will. It needs to come naturally, and for that to occur I think this new era needs to at least go on a good run to get the ball rolling.

 

[I'm Red Till Dead]

It was very disappointing to see us go three down in the first half. Encouraging to see us get back withing touching distance and to lose yet another goal to an individual error was beyond disappointing.

What is it about the Villa fans though. They barely seemed to make any noise apart from singing Hi-ho Aston Villa before the game and when they scored. At 3-0 down I thought that they needed us to get back into the game before they would encourage their team from the stands and sure enough they seemed a bit more vocal when we pulled the 2 goals back. Based on their support today I don't think that they deserve a team that are doing so well.

 

[andover red]

It's a noble suggestion, but I think it's largely on the players and manager to inspire now.

Fans believed even through the grimmest times before, because they'd already witnessed the impossible happen, as we went from Champ relegation certs to Promotion winners. Whatever odds we faced people believed they were beatable, as we'd already beaten bigger.

Lots of changes have been made since that time, the connection severed, and the belief doused. Emotion isn't a mathematical thing and some people can't turn it on and off at will. It needs to come naturally, and for that to occur I think this new era needs to at least go on a good run to get the ball rolling.

I hate it when people keep comparing managers, don't you???

Atmosphere has been shite all season.

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk

 

[Alf-engelos Mindminackers]

I hate it when people keep comparing managers, don't you???

Atmosphere has been shite all season.

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk

Where have I mentioned any managers?

Lots of situations have changed. Murphy, Gaz Braz, price hikes, different players etc.

 

[I'm Red Till Dead]

we cannot start games like that against any opponent.

Didn't we start games like that when Pearce was manager and we wouldn't get going till the second half?

 

[RedRobbo]

So 5 subs used today.
Apropos to bugger all - but as a ( meaningless ) comparison:
That equals the total sum of our subs used in the whole of the 79/80 European Cup campaign ( 9 matches ).
And 2.5 times as many as were used in the 78/79 campaign ( yep - just 2 used in 9 matches ).

 

[andover red]

Where have I mentioned any managers?

Lots of situations have changed. Murphy, Gaz Braz, price hikes, different players etc.

"The connections severed".... yeah people really felt connected to the old prices and the DOF. If you're gonna say these things, at least own them. Don't backtrack with that bollocks.

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk

 

[Alf-engelos Mindminackers]

"The connections severed".... yeah people really felt connected to the old prices and the DOF. If you're gonna say these things, at least own them. Don't backtrack with that bollocks.

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk

Folk connect with different things (yes including the manager seeing as you mention him), change them all and folk aren't gonna feel as inspired by newer things which have offered less. It's just human nature.

I know a fair few fans miffed by Gaz Braz's exit, similarly Mangala's etc. It all adds up.

Price hikes definitely don't help either.

Some of you seem determine to argue with yourselves over Cooper now lol.

 

[andover red]

Folk connect with different things (yes including the manager seeing as you mention him), change them all and folk aren't gonna feel as inspired by newer things which have offered less. It's just human nature.

I know a fair few fans miffed by Gaz Braz's exit, similarly Mangala's etc. It all adds up.

Price hikes definitely don't help either.

Some of you seem determine to argue with yourselves over Cooper now lol.

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk

 

[Alf-engelos Mindminackers]

Sent from my SM-G991B using Tapatalk

 

[football post]

It's a noble suggestion, but I think it's largely on the players and manager to inspire now.

Fans believed even through the grimmest times before, because they'd already witnessed the impossible happen, as we went from Champ relegation certs to Promotion winners. Whatever odds we faced people believed they were beatable, as we'd already beaten bigger.

Lots of changes have been made since that time, the connection severed, and the belief doused. Emotion isn't a mathematical thing and some people can't turn it on and off at will. It needs to come naturally, and for that to occur I think this new era needs to at least go on a good run to get the ball rolling.

I've been fortunate enough to get tickets to several away games since promotion and its been absolutely dire most of the time. With two of us going it's usually costing around £100 for a day that usually ends with disappointment. Initially I was annoyed I'd missed out today but a couple of messages late in the first half from friends who were there made me realise I'd had a lucky escape.
It's not just losing its the kamikaze way we do it.
I think the fans are just tired of it now. As soon as the first goal goes in you know it's pretty much game over. I totally understand the reasons for no atmosphere today, the game was pretty much over after 20 minutes. Even when we did get a couple Villa scoring again was highly likely.
Players need to do more for me now. I see so many comments about how great certain individuals are, it's about time they showed it as a team.

 

[jtyorkshirered]

I've been fortunate enough to get tickets to several away games since promotion and its been absolutely dire most of the time. With two of us going it's usually costing around £100 for a day that usually ends with disappointment. Initially I was annoyed I'd missed out today but a couple of messages late in the first half from friends who were there made me realise I'd had a lucky escape.
It's not just losing its the kamikaze way we do it.
I think the fans are just tired of it now. As soon as the first goal goes in you know it's pretty much game over. I totally understand the reasons for no atmosphere today, the game was pretty much over after 20 minutes. Even when we did get a couple Villa scoring again was highly likely.
Players need to do more for me now. I see so many comments about how great certain individuals are, it's about time they showed it as a team.

‘As soon as the first goal goes in you know it’s pretty much game over’ - out of any criticism you could have made, I don’t think this is a great assessment. I think it’s clear to see we’ve always been well in pretty much every game since Nuno took over.

Of course, the amount of goals we’re conceding is concerning. And if we fail to at least limit the individual errors, then we deserve to go down.

But it’s not as depressing as this idea that losing is some foregone conclusion. Villa are 4th on merit, and when they’re at their best they are adept at pulling teams out of shape and exploiting that, as we saw today.

We score in pretty much every game we play in at the moment and are a real threat going forward. For me, it’s the Newcastle and Brentford games that were the most frustrating under Nuno. But broadly speaking, the other ‘poor’ results were against very difficult opponents that showed no mercy in how they put us to the sword. Sometimes that’s the way in football - you get beaten by the better side both on paper and on the day.

Of course, the number of games we have left to play with is getting less and less. But our run in - against several teams around us in the table - will be what determines our fortunes, particularly in terms of putting distance between us and the those teams in anticipation of a points deduction.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bob Fossil]

Very strange decision to play Niakhate at LB. Was a major factor in our defeat today.

We were always making up ground after that.

 

[football post]

‘As soon as the first goal goes in you know it’s pretty much game over’ - out of any criticism you could have made, I don’t think this is a great assessment. I think it’s clear to see we’ve always been well in pretty much every game since Nuno took over.

Of course, the amount of goals we’re conceding is concerning. And if we fail to at least limit the individual errors, then we deserve to go down.

But it’s not as depressing as this idea that losing is some foregone conclusion. Villa are 4th on merit, and when they’re at their best they are adept at pulling teams out of shape and exploiting that, as we saw today.

We score in pretty much every game we play in at the moment and are a real threat going forward. For me, it’s the Newcastle and Brentford games that were the most frustrating under Nuno. But broadly speaking, the other ‘poor’ results were against very difficult opponents that showed no mercy in how they put us to the sword. Sometimes that’s the way in football - you get beaten by the better side both on paper and on the day.

Of course, the number of games we have left to play with is getting less and less. But our run in - against several teams around us in the table - will be what determines our fortunes, particularly in terms of putting distance between us and the those teams in anticipation of a points deduction.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My comments were based on how as a group the away fans are tired having endured so many bad performances since promotion. Admittedly we do look like scoring away from home now but actually winning (Newcastle apart) is still a struggle even at lower league teams in the cup..
I really hope Nuno can get us firing away from home and agree today was always a big ask. But he really needs us ready for when we go to Everton, Luton, Sheff Utd and Burnley. Lose those and we'll be down.

 

[magicwoand]

My comments were based on how as a group the away fans are tired having endured so many bad performances since promotion. Admittedly we do look like scoring away from home now but actually winning (Newcastle apart) is still a struggle even at lower league teams in the cup..
I really hope Nuno can get us firing away from home and agree today was always a big ask. But he really needs us ready for when we go to Everton, Luton, Sheff Utd and Burnley. Lose those and we'll be down.

It’s 3 wins away from home over 1 whole and 2/3s of a season since promotion. I don’t think the away fans can be criticised for enduring such a poor record. At least now though we’re always actually in the game rather than them being write offs. The record has to improve though or we’ll be in big trouble.

 

[Thomas]

Why couldn’t Yates score man, things could’ve been different


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Red Dog in a Forest]

Personally, I never went to an away game thinking we could win. I went for the fun and madness.

 

[MaxiRobriguez]

Personally, I never went to an away game thinking we could win. I went for the fun and madness.

Yeah, don't think I've ever bought away tickets *expecting* to see a win even in the Championship and L1 days.

Away games in the PL are much better because you're in London or Manchester with great drinking options everywhere and the games are typically easier to get to on public transport. Much rather do that regardless of Forest result than a jaunt to Yeovil or Norwich.

 

[Malwood]

Why couldn’t Yates score man, things could’ve been different


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

He's the best midfielder in the land for getting on the end of a cross in the box, but the worst for getting the resulting shot/header on target.

 

[YellowBelly Red]

Wasn't expecting much from yesterday. Didn't help ourselves from the get-go, and we always look poorer having to chase the game.

Villa are a good side, coached well and were well up for it. They want CL football and may well get it.

Usual crap journey home on the train.

 

[JohhnyM]

Re the support yesterday, it’s not that easy to create a rip-roaring atmosphere when you‘re split over two tiers, not behind the goal, your team plays like dogshit, they don’t sell beer in the ground (top tier), and the other side is quiet as a mouse.

Despite all that, from where I was sat I still thought we did rather more singing than Villa. And before Ommabomber pissed it away at 3-2 it had the makings of an afternoon to remember.

Other observations from the game. 1. After Ommabomber’s brainfart players went over and low-fived him. Wtf? Why not punch him, or maybe even console him? 2. When Villa had attacking free kicks Martinez was on the halfway line lining up their players to disrupt us. Not seen it before but seemed smart. 3. Not sure why Dominguez is getting pelters, he might not have been perfect but he covered every blade of grass on that pitch yesterday.

Still think we’ll smash United on Wednesday.

 

[Far have we travelled]

Didn't we start games like that when Pearce was manager and we wouldn't get going till the second half?

Yes, Pearce was, I thought, actually quite a good reactive manager but how we approached the starts of games and indeed the first 45 wins was painfully poor more often than not.
My apologies for going off subject.

 

[MC Plantpot]

Well this weekend last year we’d just lost 4-0 to West Ham. Despite the shit show at times yesterday, I’m still more optimistic of us staying up than as I was leaving the Graveyard 12 months ago. FFP aside of course.