Match thread Villa v Hull, Villa Park 19.01.2019

[Saunders82]

Well looks like I'm having another go, Tomorrows game is a real toughie, they are in a 6 game winning run and we have back to back 3 nil defeats, all signs say a defeat for us BUT this is just the sort of game where we can turn the form book inside out. Sometimes we run away with ourselves (Fans) thinking games are an easy win and we then prove otherwise, but this time looks like everyone thinks we are going to have a new one torn into us, but I'm going to be positive and say a 2 nil win to us, we shall see UTV.

[Dazzle]

No way we’ll keep a clean sheet. Unfortunately I’m going 1-2 Hull.

[Army villain]

We might win this after comments made by DS , training has gone well, thinks the players will be up for it, hope so 2-1 to us, fingers crossed again.UTV.

[VillaBill]

3-2 Villa

[VTID85]

10-0. Got to be right sometime.

[big ming]

Bowen v Taylor (what could possibly go wrong).

[deadbuzzardalive]

If we fail to win tomorrow, it will be two wins in eleven, one win in eight, and no wins at Villa Park in six games, all that together with the fact that we need the win to stay in contention for a top six finish, makes it a must win game, and I don't care about Hull's form, anything other than three points will be a bad result for us.

Time for our so called big players to step up to the plate, and for Smith to get something out of them, we're due a good performance and result.

[big ming]

Taylor keeps his place.
WTF!

[deadbuzzardalive]

Need a win also to just lift the mood, one minute everyone thinks our squad is the best in the league that Bruce was holding back, and a decent manager would get them flying up the table... The next minute we go on a bad run, and suddenly our squad is rubbish apparently, and it's all doom and gloom...

It's worth remembering that after Smith's first ten or so games, aside from Norwich we were the form team in the division, so this squad is capable. If we don't get a reaction today, then you have to wonder what's going on.

[FoxyAV]

Sounds like the goalie is having a disaster. Perhaps we need Steer in for a couple of matches while Kalinic plays a few matches for the U21s?

[deadbuzzardalive]

Losing already, and look just as bad as the last two games. And all this after the talk from Smith of how the players were determind to put things right. We've got the players to be doing better than this, absolutely pathetic.

[big ming]

Taylor again played a big part in the first goal. Kalinic poor effort again. Secong goal just gone in.Taylor ball watching again. No workrate, No press.No pass and move.
Dean Smith has big problems.

[FoxyAV]

Sounds like we need some drastic surgery. Can't get the ball to Abraham, can't keep the ball, can't defend.

[UnclePanda]

Close the promotion thread. Start a relegation one.

[deadbuzzardalive]

Season over. And I hate to say it, but Smith looking out of his depth, it's alright saying he needs his own players, but he should be getting more out of the ones he's got, our form recently is even worse than what we saw under Bruce, it's becoming a question of whether Smith deserves a chance to build his own team now, because what we're seeing is just diabolical.

[Dazzle]

I unfortunately saw this coming. We simply have no attacking penetration, we’ve had nothing from our wide men for a month now. Nothing. No press, no creativity. We’ve become easy to play against, it’s like they’ve chucked in the towel without Grealish in the team, nobody stepping up to the plate. As it stands Bolasie is a very expensive luxury, Taylor is a liability.

[deadbuzzardalive]

I think we need to sacrifice a midfielder, and get Davis on he'll help bring our attacking players into the game, need to find a different way of playing whilst Grealish is out. But does Smith have tactical nous to change things, it's what he had a reputation for before joining, but hasn't really shown it with us, and keeps playing the same system that's not working.

[deadbuzzardalive]

Also get Green on.

[FoxyAV]

Also get Green on.

Green gets back to defend and does it well - he can support Taylor and in turn that helps Chester. He has pace in attack and can score goals or assist Tammy. Most importantly he's going to want to work his arse off to impress Smith and because he's Villa, not just on paid holiday with no real interest if we win or not.

[deadbuzzardalive]

I'm not expecting miracles from him, but I've no doubt he'd show more than Adomah, Bolasie and El ghazi.

Can't remember the last time we came from two goals down to win a game, about time we did.

[big ming]

My preferred starting eleven:

Steer
McGinn McGinn McGinn McGinn
McGinn
McGinn McGinn
McGinn
McGinn McGinn

Subs: All McGinn

[FoxyAV]

Have we been playing Adomah on the right? He was much happier on the left. It kind of seems a bit pointless playing him on the right.

[deadbuzzardalive]

No doubt people will try and talk this up because we came from two goals down to get a drawn, and because Hull are the form team in the league, but make no mistake about it, it's a dreadful result, and our worryingly abysmal form continues, by the time we play next week, it will be two whole months since we've won a game at Villa Park.

[deadbuzzardalive]

I see people are arguing over whether Green should play ahead of Bolasie or Adomah, I never thought I'd say this, but I'd actually play Elmohamady over them, in fact I'd play Elmohamady, Kodjia, Green and El Ghazi before Adomah and Bolasie at the moment.

Also I see Bjarnason is getting a lot of stick, and whilst I agree he's not very good it's worth remembering that he's not actually a DM, that was a case of Bruce playing him out of position and something that Smith seems to persist with... Before he joined us he never played as a DM he was an attacking midfielder/winger, who avereaged a goal every four games for club and country, he might be more mobile than the likes of Whelan and Jedinak, but that doesn't mean to say he should be playing in a deep midfield role.

[VillaBill]

Dreadful once again, no coach in the world is gonna turn run of the mill defenders into ball playing playmakers, Chester’s passing is limited at best.
Although poor this season Chester is still our best defender, play him in his best position, on the right side.
Connor is not a DM, Bananason is not LM, swap positions.
Bolasie is not left footed, I know Albert isn’t either, but swap them over, Albert did well on the left last season,
These inverted wingers do my head in, a defender knows they have to come inside.
I m not looking forward to games anymore, Bruce left this squad so unbalanced, get it sorted Deano. UTV

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