Match Threads Aston Villa vs Spurs

[hughy]

We need to be doing more with all the possession. Too often everything breaks down in the final third.

Surprised Villa's is even that high.

 

[Mr Pink]

Expect us to be better second half. Still fancy us

 

[Pochemon94]

Really not sure what has happened to us. Gone from some fairly kamikaze football to slow and ponderous.

every team we play against now switches to a back 5 and keeps 9 behind the ball because they know we can get hit on the counter and pretty much every team barring city has a hard time breaking down a low block

 

[Daredevil]

At some point VDV being MOM every game will be a worry.

 

[Joe Bjorn Hotspur]

How have we played?

Very positive first 20 mins then Villa reverted to a low block balls over the top etc. Not all bad just very boring.

 

[muppetman]

Johnson showing some aggression and commitment is lovely to see.

 

[Sp3akerboxxx]

Think we'll be happier than Villa

Villa actually had chances

 

[only1waddle]

Feels like we're trying to score the perfect goal, still a bit shy pulling the trigger from distance or creating a bit of chaos.
Does look like we've been conserving energy in the first half of games, fully expect us to come out firing.
Not conceding away is always good, and the fact Villa have changed formation and sat a bit deeper is probably a complement to how good we are in behind, but also how bad we are at breaking a block down.

 

[FrankSpencer]

70% of the ball, 1 shot on goal. We have to do much more with the amount of ball we have.

 

[GutBucket]

Expecting another strong start to second half.

 

[Oh Teddy Teddy]

How have we played?

Defended well, build up has been good, but lacking that final pass.

Course, listen to some of the others and we may as well be 3/4-0 down

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

Kulusevski is having a poor game, would bring Werner on

NBC commentators mentioned Werner carrying a slight knock - so, I won't expect him until 70+ minutes.

 

[Dannyspur]

A bit annoyed with Romero, has missed numerous chances to play through balls to runners or find players in space. He is dithering on the ball and had got us in trouble a couple of times.

 

[ItsBoris]

that's like saying walker bails out city, it's how we play.

Sure but with City it’s usually coupled with relentless possession and attacking. Our front players being sloppy is forcing the defense into these last ditch situations.

we’ll get better ofc but just saying it’s been pretty bad from the front players

 

[DenverSpur]

Well we’ve dominated possession but without troubling their goal. Villa set up determined not to lose the game. Disappointed that we’ve not tried more balks over the top- Villa have been doing that and therefore have been that more of a goal theat. Romero, especially, has spurned the chance to put an early ball over the top when forwards have made runs in behind.
As has been the case for a while now our midfield is not really firing on all cylinders like it did at the start of the season. Maddison and Bissouma not dominating like they did.

 

[Pochemon94]

Dragusin coming in? they just showed him not in the locker room

 

[Johnny J]

For me Kulu is a big blank spot on the wing. Without an overlapping FB he just doesn’t look comfortable. I know he’s a hard work and not even criticising him as a player I just don’t like him on the wing in this system.

Exactly this. IMO Ange's system needs fast dangerous players as wing forwards who can take on their man. Kulu is a talented player but I don't think he's a natural fit here. Just slows everything down more often than not.

 

[Tonio]

Bissouma had the ball in space 20 yards from the goal and had know intention of attacking, Lol !
these modern day midfielders make me sick to the stomach

I completely agree. The amount of times ive seen our players wimp out of 50/50 challenges is mind boggling. Im not saying we should clatter through them like Romero has on occasions, but fuck me sideways lets show a bit of determination in the challenge at least. Son, Bissouma and Udogie all guilty of it this match.

 

[rossdapep]

We need to be doing more with all the possession. Too often everything breaks down in the final third.

Arsenal were like this under Arteta for quite a while.

Football is always moving so you can get the attack right but then the opposition work it out and counter it. So you have to build on it and add another dimension - we are at that stage.

Whether it is new wingers who can beat their men or players clicking faster in the final third.

We just need to keep plugging away

 

[Ghost Hardware]

Maddison is definitely working in tighter spaces compared to earlier in the season.

That's when the other midfielders need to step up cause they can take players out of the game.

Bidsouna isn't really taking that second line out like he was earlier in the season. Whether that's cause he isn't playing as effectively or cause the opposition have adapted.

Also need our wingers to beat their full backs and create space for underlaps/cut backs

I would really like to see Gio alongside Maddison as I think that could open up more attacking options for us but I get that it would probably be too risky from a defensive perspective.

Ether way you’re spot on. It isn’t surprising tho, I think it’s fairly easy to see we over rely on him to create opportunities. The obvious move is to shut him down and suffocate him which they are and it’s working, plus he isn’t in the best form at the moment which isn’t helping.