I very much doubt that City will particularly change the way they set out in order to beat us, unlike someone like Villa, they'll play the way they play and feel that the talent in that team is enough. Which is often their undoing against smaller clubs.
I didn't think we did too badly really! Villa luckily got a goal, yeah Forster was at fault, but it was just a hoof that caught us off guard. I think we need to start working the ball around the box a bit more against the teams who park the bus.. The crossing wasn't great, but with 6-8 men in their box at all times defending, it would have to be a sublime ball to reach one of our players. Davis was definitely missed in terms of that final through ball but otherwise not a bad point for me! Onwards and upwards, it's going to be a tough week but I'm confident we can get 3 points at least!
Hmm, but how will they do against 2nd in the league..? I actually feel we've got the quality to get the better of any side in the league.
Have been remembering a RK quote "It may be tougher to play against Aston Villa on Monday than Manchester City next Sunday" Lets hope he is right as we were nowhere near our best last night
It's been said here, but I'll say it again - if anyone thinks Steven Davis can easily be replaced just look at last night's performance. We missed his drive and energy in midfield and Villa just overran us on the break - which is all they ever wanted to do. I am getting very frustrated by Mane - so I think Ronald should have started with Cork (bringing him on in the 88th minute was a bit of a joke) and put Mane on the bench. I agree that Long deserved his starting place and he looked just as dangerous as any of our other attacking options, but we were woefully poor to be honest - but, we got a point away from home against a team scrapping for their place. That's not to be sniffed at! Hoping the City game we'll be back on song - I think I need to take Tadic and Pelle out of my fantasy team! Since I put them in, neither of them have played well!
You can tell from the BBC report that they can't wait for us to play the so called big shots and for us to be put in our place. Made a big thing about us struggling and only four shots on target. Fact is the home team sat back all game and there were only 5 on target all game and we had 4 of them. Yeah not greatest performance but if Laugherpool got that point and Ballotelli had got the equaliser they woud have been singing their praises - Tossers.
If Mane had taken that early chance could have been very different. We are still 2nd. Onwards and upwards.
I don't know how you can say this. A team near the bottom of the league plays a team near the top and actually restrict us to two decent shots. Lets not forget that they had a couple of scrambles near the end that could have caught us out. One, another breakaway, they really should have scored. Villa's defending was magnificent and we were a bit naive. Firstly in changing our formation, picking more forwards is not the way to score more goals; and secondly, in our defending. The breakaway goal was always on the cards and we didn't seem to learn from it. It wasn't disastrous from us, we had the possession and we got a point away from home. We need to be smarter against this sort of defending though.
Mustn't read too much into this game...other than the positive that we are never down and out . These things happen...we haven't slaughtered all teams...we could have dropped points before. Mourinho said that winning every game is difficult and he is right, firstly, you have to be a good side (ok, tick), but then you have to have everything go your way at all times (i.e. be lucky). Good sides tip 'luck' in their favour (by having better players, training harder etc), but there will always be moments of uncertainty. Let's be glad we got a point...the team finished the match in a positive mood, unlike if they lost. Onwards and upwards.
Maybe, I was just making the point that we had one too many forwards playing. Obviously, I'd have dropped Pelle
Frustrated with Mane?! Give the boy a chance. He's started how many ~ 3 games so far? He has never played in a league of this standard before, gonna take him a little while. He won us two points against Stoke. He shouldnt be starting every game, perhaps just those at St Marys, and he may mis-hit the odd pass, but he is definitely a match winner.
I think of Mane as a stirrer (entirely different player but like Emil Heskey)...he causes uncertainty in the opposition which can result in chances for others. He is also prone to wayward shots, but hopefully that will improve.
Not our best performance of the season so far, but a point away from home in a largely lifeless stadium on a chilly Nov night will do for me. Despite what some posters are saying i thought that Villa's make-shift defence performed really well and snuffed us out for long periods - they may have been the home side but they have not been having a great time of it and were up against 2nd placed side so can understand their defensive set up. Saints really missed Steve Davis last night. Forster had a pretty bad game, Tadic and Pelle were well below form - Pelle reminded me of his performance in our home game v WBA. Thought Long played pretty well and at least put some real effort in. Never seen Morgan taking lots of set pieces before but choices prob limited. Good goal from Clyney though, with good assist from Bertrand. Mane didnt play at all well like most of the team, but they will have off days for certain - this was a real football match football after all, not a computer game. Crap drive back in the fog but hey ho - looking forwards to Sunday and hopefully Davis is back.
Just listened to Ron's interview...pleased to hear that Davis is expected to be available for the City game. Even if not, it shows it isn't a major injury (which would have been a concern). Hope training goes well.
I don't actually recall anyone saying Davis could be easily replaced. Thought we looked OK in midfield last night but it was the final third where we were lacking. Villa focussed on that area and virtually neutralised Pelle and Long. With hindsight I agree it would maybe have been better to start with Cork and bring Long on against tired legs as we did against Leicester. Credit where it is due, Villa did well defensively and Mane's limited impact was largely down to Hutton's MOTM performance. They hit us well on the break for their goal which was an unfortunate hesitation from Forster rather than a cock up. Other than that, we handled the breaks with ease. d Coming back from that goal almost felt like a victory so I'm not unhappy at all (easily pleased )
The great thing about Davis is that he's always available which comes a result of his intelligence. Crucial player for us and his timing of pass is generally exquisite
I'm not basing this on last night's match alone. I have had the opportunity to watch Aston Villa many times under Lambert, and every game has the same set up. Villa are negative, very negative. They sit back, even at home, and hope that the opposition make an error and don't score. If the opposition playing Villa play well, Villa lose. They were once a very good club, and played some good, exciting stuff, but now they will be lucky to have 1 shot on target each match. Of course, we failed to beat them last night, and that is frustrating, but we know that we were nowhere near our best, and if Forster hadn't made his mistake, we wouldn't have conceded. Personally, I just don't like watching Villa, and by the looks and sounds of it, neither do most Villa fans.
I believe their problem is that the owner wants to sell and isn't willing to spend the kind of money you need to increase the quality of players. In this game, if you don't move forward, you go backwards. Their attendances have fallen by an average of 5K since last season, so the fans are losing faith.
A player you really notice only when he is absent. Sometimes he has been appreciated more by the other players and the manager than by the fans. I'm sure I remember fans suggesting preseason that he would be the player who lost his place when new players were bought in.
I'm not disputing that he has talent, but he doesn't seem to be willing to drive into the area - like he did against Arsenal and won the penalty - and is either easily knocked off the ball or he doesn't get a cross in. I know he's young and am willing to give him time, but I think Ron was wrong to start him - clearly he does something in training which impresses, but I'd rather he was used as a sub for the moment. I'm a big Cork fan, I admit, but I think he's likely to leave now as he doesn't appear to be required. Personally, I'd have started with him in the Davis role and allowed us to play the way we have done before. Still - we march on!! A point is better than none at all and a win on Saturday with a Mane goal and I'll be singing his praises - such are fickle fans!!
