Villa 2 - 1 Leicester - Post Match Thread

[st albans fox]

Why? Expalin.

Leo is a target man - also good in the air on crosses

He isn't mobile enough to play behind another frontman

He either plays up top on his own (Needs someone just behind if he does - can't be isolated as he cant hold the ball long enough) or in a two.

I cannot believe that we atill haven't worked out that we need a minfield three against a side like villa.

And when they change tactics to go direct to benteke second half, we decide to abandon the back 3. Seriously?

Absolutely no point in bringing a second striker on unless you are going to have enough in the middle to get se possession. They aren't going to get the ball are they? It's astonishing that we are mid feb and still the penny hasn't dropped

[Max Power]

 

He's a giant sack of shit. 

At least he's scored some goals this season. Three times as many as Nugent and Vardy combined.

 

Looks devoid of confidence at the moment though.

[RedSoxUK]

Think that's harsh. He held the ball up well when he came on. He should have started alongside Kramaric but yet again we start with one up front ffs.

 

In fairness, Ulloa has been very effective at times this season - mostly out of the blue, but the last few games he's looked shockingly bad.

Even today after coming on he wasn't switched on, and he didn't offer us anything in attack as an option. Our 'to feet' play vs Arsenal is really the game we have to be playing if we're going to start winning games. Nugent would have been a better option if he had been on the bench, Andy King also, to sure up the midfield and get a hold of the game at a time when we were looking very vulnerable with 5 at the back.

[SpacedX]

Start Ulloa behind krama ? I thought nige was clueless !

Go ahead genius, I'm waiting

[RedSoxUK]

Why? Expalin.

 

Kramaric's a player who likes to drop in, carry the ball, and make something happen for others or most likely for himself.

Ulloa is a player who's first touch has been non-existant, has very little composure, and who's most redeeming feature is poaching, or using a head in the box.

 

Kram behind Ulloa, or Nugent behind Kram.

[st albans fox]

Go ahead genius, I'm waiting

Patience fella!

[SpacedX]

Patience fella!

;-)

[Babylon]

I could live with going 5 at the back, I could live with Morgan staying on when we went to a 4, I can live with Hamer not playing. What just utterly ****ed me off today was what he didn't do. It wasn't working, we could see it not working, it carried on not working... and we did nothing, we kept it just as we were.

 

I appreciate he probably thought his best attacking players were on the pitch, but they were having bad games. Whether it was Cambiasso going off, or a winger going off and adding something different to the mix it seemed as clear as day that something needed to change. To just stick as you were was inexcusable for me.

[Swiss_tony]

The only player to come out of this game with  any credit was james who i thought was the best  player on the pitch, not just  our best  player.

nige plays the same formation as he did against the gooners, you can  understand that even though the villa can't score for toffee.

first half we didn't really look in much  danger, james unlucky  with his fizzer.

but after the break  the villa were fired up and we didn't adjust.

then he takes off was and guess what,  they  score from the right side through a big gap that  was would've been in because simpson is a lightweight.

ulloa was a waste of time, not because he is useless but because he got no  service, nor did kram which is why he kept dropping so deep.

so  why  did the abject  mahrez who looked like he'd rather be at home stay on the pitch  for 90 mins.

albrighton should've come on for him at half time.

schlupp was schlocking too, he traps the ball  further than i can kick it

cambiasso was not accurate with his passes.

thought upson played solid but you can  see he's slow.

schwarzer is costing us a goal  a game. poor hamer.

but really, we looked comfortable and he takes off a defender, and then we're losing and he makes no  further changes???? keeps two ineffective wingers on the whole game???

remember this is a villa side that is the lowest  scoring in prem league history so far.

poor display and poor tactics,  the usual  problem for nige of not being able to  adapt.

they've only scored more than once 4 times this season, and two of those have been  agaisnt us.

they  were there for the taking today and we couldn't do it.

[EGBFitness]

Were you appalled by the team selection? I wasn't. After the performance at Arsenal I think Pearson had very good reason to think that the team he put out was the best eleven to win the game - most people seemed to agree at 12:00

The players should not allow their performance to drop by that amount against a lesser team - they did, and as a result I think you have to hold them most responsible.

Well yeah I don't think it was great.

Those tactics worked well against Arsenal but playing 5-4-1 against a team who has scored 12 goals all season seems a little Bizzare.

We played Kramaric up front alone- Kramaric is lightweight yet Pearson expected him to be physical against a strong Villa defence. The whole first half Kramaric was isolated and forced to come deep to get involved.

The point I'm trying to make is although the players didn't play great (in no stretch of the imagination am I defensing any of their performances) how you can't blame Pearson more is amazing.

It was clear from the start that Pearson set up to play deep and defend, we invited pressure on ourselves the whole game and limited our availability playing in enclosed spaces.

This is clearly Pearsons tactics and game plan, he had a choice to change the game with being more attacking towards the end of the game or making vital subs who could offer more but failed to do so meaning it is clearly Pearson who is to blame for his teams poor performance

[Happy Fox]

NP does himself no f**king favours!

 

We were f**King abysmal I don't know why I f**king bothered going to the game. Yes I do no why because I thought NP would treat the Fa cup with respect but he pissed all over it by playing that formation against a piss poor team in Villa.

 

I hope the owners pull the trigger.

[Master Fox]

Five at the back against the worst scoring team in the world in the pissing FA Cup. That has be some kind of new record. 

[Steven]

Both teams deserved to lose. What an absolute shower of shite.

 

Ulloa needs to find a new job because he's not a football player. What is the point of him? 

Being our current top scorer?

[Harry - LCFC]

Well yeah I don't think it was great.

Those tactics worked well against Arsenal but playing 5-4-1 against a team who has scored 12 goals all season seems a little Bizzare.

We played Kramaric up front alone- Kramaric is lightweight yet Pearson expected him to be physical against a strong Villa defence. The whole first half Kramaric was isolated and forced to come deep to get involved.

The point I'm trying to make is although the players didn't play great (in no stretch of the imagination am I defensing any of their performances) how you can't blame Pearson more is amazing.

It was clear from the start that Pearson set up to play deep and defend, we invited pressure on ourselves the whole game and limited our availability playing in enclosed spaces.

This is clearly Pearsons tactics and game plan, he had a choice to change the game with being more attacking towards the end of the game or making vital subs who could offer more but failed to do so meaning it is clearly Pearson who is to blame for his teams poor performance

 

The reason we didn't attack much is because we weren't able to pass the ball. The one period we did manage to take possession of the ball and use it we looked threatening.

 

I don't agree that we set up to defend. Us giving the ball away so often forced us back. We attacked at Arsenal and I imagine the plan was to do the same today, it's just the players didn't play well enough to execute it.

 

Totally agree regarding subs. That was the difference between losing and drawing. The players' inability to pass was the difference between losing and playing Villa off the park.

[Fox92]

I watched the game on iPlayer. First time I've ever actually fallen asleep watching one of our games. Fast forwarded large patches of the second half too. One of the worst ever performances in our history.

 

Pearson and his team are committing crimes against football on a daily basis. 

 

I came out of the ground today and thought something along those lines. It was an embarrassment today.

[RedSoxUK]

The only player to come out of this game with  any credit was james who i thought was the best  player on the pitch, not just  our best  player.

nige plays the same formation as he did against the gooners, you can  understand that even though the villa can't score for toffee.

first half we didn't really look in much  danger, james unlucky  with his fizzer.

but after the break  the villa were fired up and we didn't adjust.

then he takes off was and guess what,  they  score from the right side through a big gap that  was would've been in because simpson is a lightweight.

ulloa was a waste of time, not because he is useless but because he got no  service, nor did kram which is why he kept dropping so deep.

so  why  did the abject  mahrez who looked like he'd rather be at home stay on the pitch  for 90 mins.

albrighton should've come on for him at half time.

schlupp was schlocking too, he traps the ball  further than i can kick it

cambiasso was not accurate with his passes.

thought upson played solid but you can  see he's slow.

schwarzer is costing us a goal  a game. poor hamer.

but really, we looked comfortable and he takes off a defender, and then we're losing and he makes no  further changes???? keeps two ineffective wingers on the whole game???

remember this is a villa side that is the lowest  scoring in prem league history so far.

poor display and poor tactics,  the usual  problem for nige of not being able to  adapt.

they've only scored more than once 4 times this season, and two of those have been  agaisnt us.

they  were there for the taking today and we couldn't do it.

 

Agree with the all of your points except taking off a defender and changing formation, I think the formation we changed to and player was wrong for that period in the game, but in no way did we look comfortable. It was during a 15 minute spell when we didn't have a shot, was no way near creating a sniff of a chance, and something had to be done as Villa worked out that when a team plays 5 at the back and they don't have possession, you can throw people forward.

 

Unfortunately Ulloa wasn't effective, and Simpson's individual error along with a moment of Villa confidence put them infront. 

[RowlattsFox]

Playing Kramaric alone wasn't the problem, it was the football we played. We proved against arsenal it can work if we keep on the floor.

[cjslcfc]

Right. This is coming from someone who has been "Pearson in" for a long time.

 

Today was absolutely pathetic, inexcusable and indefensible (or any other word along those lines). Sticking with 5 at the back against a Villa side who struggle to score was a massive mistake. I've read some in this thread suggesting we conceded because we went to 4 at the back but I entirely disagree. There are plenty of teams who play 4 at the back who won't concede the type of goals we did today. We have played 4 at the back pretty much most of the season but managed to give away more space to Bacuna than we have to any other player. I'm fed up with Simpson. His positioning for their first goal was awful and he was generally weak and out of position all bloody game! Morgan typically ended up on his arse for their 2nd and struggled all game as well. How he stayed on is beyond me. The only reason is because he's captain. It takes balls to drop the captain but Pearson wasn't brave enough to do that. Despite Wasilewski being our best defender today he was the fall guy yet again! Ridiculous! I actually thought Upson didn't look comfortable at all but I will forgive him for that because of the lack of football he has had this season. Konchesky actually had a decent game but he still isn't up to the standard required. A final point on the defence. We played 3 CBs but when you play that system you need 3 that are pretty comfortable on the ball. The only one who is half decent on the ball is Wasilewski. Upson and Morgan looked like a rabbit in the headlights every time they got the ball, then hooooooooooooof up to Kramaric (may I remind you Clark and Vlaar were their CBs...). I just can't understand the tactics.

 

The midfield were actually OK (when the defence didn't miss them out) but again we basically had a redundant CB position which could have been changed for a CM to give us more control in the middle. Whenever we got the ball there were so few options available going forward. James had a good game. Cambiasso was a complete mixed bag. Mahrez and Schlupp were terribly out of form. It's utterly embarrassing for a Premier League manager to see this and not do anything about it when you have someone like Albrighton on the bench chomping at the bit to prove a point. Schlupp wandered aimlessly around the pitch. Lo and behold one of the few times he decides to attack the full back he crosses and we score a great goal. The rest of the game his touch was abysmal and he was a complete liability. Mahrez was completely out of it but at least came looking for the ball to try and make things happen even if they weren't coming off for him. Someone hit the nail on the head earlier. If Schlupp and Mahrez don't play well we are ****ed. We have no idea what to do then and Villa knew that. They doubly marked Mahrez and didn't even have to properly mark Schlupp today since he was ****ing up of his own accord.

 

I felt so sorry for Kramaric up there on his own. He worked hard, had some nice touches (as well as some poor pieces of play) but was generally up against it due to lack of support and the performances of the wingers. Why on earth did we lump it up to him?! They have Vlaar and Clark as CBs (absolute monsters in the air) and we decide to go direct to a 5'10'' striker against them. Complete nonsense. It's just common sense not to do that. Today the tactics and formation were all wrong. The players have to take a lot of the blame too as there were individual errors all over the place (as usual). Villa were there for the taking. They are a very poor side for the level and barely score yet the majority of their goals have come against us! That is utterly embarrassing. 

 

The one thing saving Pearson in my mind is that the alternatives are poor and it's probably too late to do anything about it now. We have to plan for the Championship and Pearson is certainly one of the better candidates for us to have if (when) we are relegated. The most frustrating thing is we play to the level of our opponents. More often than not this means we will get beat by the good sides anyway and play shite against those around us. That's the story of our season and it's bewildering how nothing seems to have been learnt. Just because a one off formation works pretty well vs. Arsenal doesn't mean it will work again against a side who aren't nearly as dangerous going forward and offer a completely different challenge. They can all take the blame today. The players, the manager, the coaches etc... The only people to come out with any credit are Kramaric, James, Wasilewski and Ulloa (purely 'cos we looked so much brighter going forward when he was on the pitch and he played well). Next game Morgan, Schwarzer, Simpson need to get out of the team and the manager needs to get his act together. Today was not good enough. Not even close.

[Soup]

I know I sound like a broken record but ffs the majority of our fans are pathetic.Whinging and moaning about this and that.How about getting behind the team,that 2nd half was embarrassing considering our numbers today.

[canadaukfox]

I don't want him out but today lies with Pearson. To make one change - ONE CHANGE - when Schlupp and Mahrez were a ****ing embarrassment whilst Albrighton sits on his arse is useless from him.

Schwarzer is ****ing tits, too - Wes and Simpson can bollocks.

Agree!

[st albans fox]

Two in the middle of the midfield generally means the available pass is backwards when you are against a three. then it's hoof. often it's back again to the keeper. (And hoof)

Upson and Huth can play at the back but wes is the weak link as he cannot.

when oh when are we going to play Matty and Danny together ??? Could even do that with cambiasso. James and EC behind DD in a midfield triangle. Should play de laet overlapping on the right and jeff on the left. With a back 3 behind. (Was, upson and Huth)

Then mahrez can have a free role behind krama.

When Riyad gets tired, ulloa can go up top and krama drop. Or play nuge in that role if required. can change to a back five given the state of the game. (Like if we are winning and under pressure)

We just need to get some quality possession in the midfield from where we can provide some decent forward passes.

[EGBFitness]

The reason we didn't attack much is because we weren't able to pass the ball. The one period we did manage to take possession of the ball and use it we looked threatening.

I don't agree that we set up to defend. Us giving the ball away so often forced us back. We attacked at Arsenal and I imagine the plan was to do the same today, it's just the players didn't play well enough to execute it.

Totally agree regarding subs. That was the difference between losing and drawing. The players' inability to pass was the difference between losing and playing Villa off the park.

I think playing 5 at the back shows that we are not really setting up to attack. It's not like our wing backs have the ability & attributes to be sprinting up and down all game supporting the defence and attack.

Whenever we did get out our own half we were forced to turn back, play for a set piece or go alone. All our players are able to keep up with play, clearly told to hold their positions and stay deep.

Even when we pushed Villa back there was no support from either Konch or Simpson, clearly if they hadn't been told to set up defensively they would be supporting a lot more.

Even if it is just every player on the pitch couldn't be arsed to play in the FA Cup today then surely it is the managers job to change things and get them playing better whether it is making subs or not

[stingray]

Right. This is coming from someone who has been "Pearson in" for a long time.

 

Today was absolutely pathetic, inexcusable and indefensible (or any other word along those lines). Sticking with 5 at the back against a Villa side who struggle to score was a massive mistake. I've read some in this thread suggesting we conceded because we went to 4 at the back but I entirely disagree. There are plenty of teams who play 4 at the back who won't concede the type of goals we did today. We have played 4 at the back pretty much most of the season but managed to give away more space to Bacuna than we have to any other player. I'm fed up with Simpson. His positioning for their first goal was awful and he was generally weak and out of position all bloody game! Morgan typically ended up on his arse for their 2nd and struggled all game as well. How he stayed on is beyond me. The only reason is because he's captain. It takes balls to drop the captain but Pearson wasn't brave enough to do that. Despite Wasilewski being our best defender today he was the fall guy yet again! Ridiculous! I actually thought Upson didn't look comfortable at all but I will forgive him for that because of the lack of football he has had this season. Konchesky actually had a decent game but he still isn't up to the standard required. A final point on the defence. We played 3 CBs but when you play that system you need 3 that are pretty comfortable on the ball. The only one who is half decent on the ball is Wasilewski. Upson and Morgan looked like a rabbit in the headlights every time they got the ball, then hooooooooooooof up to Kramaric (may I remind you Clark and Vlaar were their CBs...). I just can't understand the tactics.

 

The midfield were actually OK (when the defence didn't miss them out) but again we basically had a redundant CB position which could have been changed for a CM to give us more control in the middle. Whenever we got the ball there were so few options available going forward. James had a good game. Cambiasso was a complete mixed bag. Mahrez and Schlupp were terribly out of form. It's utterly embarrassing for a Premier League manager to see this and not do anything about it when you have someone like Albrighton on the bench chomping at the bit to prove a point. Schlupp wandered aimlessly around the pitch. Lo and behold one of the few times he decides to attack the full back he crosses and we score a great goal. The rest of the game his touch was abysmal and he was a complete liability. Mahrez was completely out of it but at least came looking for the ball to try and make things happen even if they weren't coming off for him. Someone hit the nail on the head earlier. If Schlupp and Mahrez don't play well we are ****ed. We have no idea what to do then and Villa knew that. They doubly marked Mahrez and didn't even have to properly mark Schlupp today since he was ****ing up of his own accord.

 

I felt so sorry for Kramaric up there on his own. He worked hard, had some nice touches (as well as some poor pieces of play) but was generally up against it due to lack of support and the performances of the wingers. Why on earth did we lump it up to him?! They have Vlaar and Clark as CBs (absolute monsters in the air) and we decide to go direct to a 5'10'' striker against them. Complete nonsense. It's just common sense not to do that. Today the tactics and formation were all wrong. The players have to take a lot of the blame too as there were individual errors all over the place (as usual). Villa were there for the taking. They are a very poor side for the level and barely score yet the majority of their goals have come against us! That is utterly embarrassing. 

 

The one thing saving Pearson in my mind is that the alternatives are poor and it's probably too late to do anything about it now. We have to plan for the Championship and Pearson is certainly one of the better candidates for us to have if (when) we are relegated. The most frustrating thing is we play to the level of our opponents. More often than not this means we will get beat by the good sides anyway and play shite against those around us. That's the story of our season and it's bewildering how nothing seems to have been learnt. Just because a one off formation works pretty well vs. Arsenal doesn't mean it will work again against a side who aren't nearly as dangerous going forward and offer a completely different challenge. They can all take the blame today. The players, the manager, the coaches etc... The only people to come out with any credit are Kramaric, James, Wasilewski and Ulloa (purely 'cos we looked so much brighter going forward when he was on the pitch and he played well). Next game Morgan, Schwarzer, Simpson need to get out of the team and the manager needs to get his act together. Today was not good enough. Not even close.

 

Very eloquent analysis. Agree with all your points except the one about Pearson staying on if/when we go down. I won't tolerate that. He's out of his level in this league and it's time for him to go. Now.  

[tommo1966]

Let's not beat around the bush here, that was horrific to watch.

 

Just when we look like showing signs of improvement at Arsenal we put on a performance like THAT. Honestly, where do you start with assessing it?

 

A televised game against one of your relegation rivals in a game where you're realistically in touching distance of Wembley and you've got the chance to give the fans a much needed boost going into these final games and that is what they have to offer? Flat, slow, hopeless football with no real signs of looking like even wanting to win it or even looking like keeping the ball for more than 3 or 4 passes if we're being generous. 

 

Mahrez, Schlupp, Cambiasso.. non existent. They're the key players to us having any chance of winning games.

 

Was, arguably our only consistent player being subbed over Morgan AGAIN.

 

I found it that unbearable I didn't even flinch when Kram scored. If anything it made me angrier, more frustrated. That's where he should have been from the off, not looking for the ball from deep.

 

As for Simpson with that needless foul at the end when we're chasing the game! The frustration levels peaked to a maximum. I could happily have put my Mum's coffee table through her window and not felt guilty.

 

That was pathetic today, absolutely pathetic. It doesn't do anything to suggest we have any chance of staying up whatsoever. 

 

Credit to those who went, we/they deserve much, much better.

 Good Post,

That sums up just how I felt too

[benpicko]

In a way it's to be expected at this point. Fantastic performance against a big team followed by an abject and tactically similar one against a smaller one. Don't know why I still anticipate something better