Aston Villa 2-1 Leicester City post match thread

[Villatillidie25]

Little Emi was awful in his cameo.
Consistently giving the ball away, poor passes, easily tackled and woeful finishing.
His energy is to be admired though.

One man’s poor is another man’s lively 🤣. He looks rusty but I think he can still offer something 

[jon collett]

Our tempo was so slow. Something Unai has said he wants to change.

What did he say? I thought this slow, ponderous play was a hallmark of UE that very intentionally decreases tempo and intensity (and, in my view, excitement, but I'll take it as long as the results are good).

He’s said previously we are at our best when we move the ball around quickly and he wants to encourage confidence to get back to that.

Yesterday he said patience was important. But I don’t think they are mutually exclusive. Both Kamara and Barkley were  pretty static and until Maatsen came on there was no outlet for Ramsay to interact with.

[nick harper]

Little Emi was awful in his cameo.
Consistently giving the ball away, poor passes, easily tackled and woeful finishing.
His energy is to be admired though.

I didn’t think he was awful. He’s a risk taker and it sometimes doesn’t come off, but he adds bags of energy, closes down well and can open teams up in the final third.

He needs more minutes so is still pretty rusty and could well have started at 10 yesterday, and I think it would be a mistake to let him go this month.

[Olof's Beard]

Ramsey did improve massively when Maatsen came on. He always dovetailed with Moreno better than Digne too so it will be interesting to see how that develops over time as Maatsen's profile is clearly closer to Moreno than Digne.

The first half was an atrocious game of football but we did alright second half. Some clear positives to take - Mings mostly comfortable (although should have engaged Ayew before he crossed for their goal), Bailey finally scoring, Buendia far more lively in his cameo. I also thought Cash was good so surprised to see others thought he was shite, I he was the only one with any energy first half.

Ollie's movement was excellent and caused them problems all game but he is miles off it in front of goal.

I was in the Corner Flag hospitality yesterday thanks to a Christmas present from the 'er indoors. Nice to have the chance to stick around after the game and arrive early but expected more than two free drinks, a (tasty) buffet, 10 minutes on the mic from Pat Heard and a free programme for upwards of £200 a ticket!

[eye digress]

Mings mostly comfortable (although should have engaged Ayew before he crossed for their goal)

And if we were to be consistent with criticism over recent weeks, there was a bit of a brain fart for the Mavididi missed chance - looked like he should have intercepted the ball in. (Not aimed at you.)

[RamboandBruno]

I agree re Digne, he was supposed to be our main attacking outlet and he never attacked enough. Tbf, Maatsen looked pretty woeful after his initial positive impact so I don't know what's for the best.

I don’t think Maatsen looked woeful at all?

Amazing initial impact but then didn't seem to want to get forward again. Maybe it was concern for protecting the lead but if it was, it was misplaced. There was one point in injury time where a straightforward pass to Ramsey up the line would have relieved pressure but he dithered and played it back to Mings and put us under more pressure.

That would be cautious then not woeful.

[Villa Lew]

Best performances of the season by a long way from Barkley and Bailey, superb strike from Ross for his goal, also Maasten was very impressive in his involvement for the winner, would like to see all of them start in the cup tie.

[Somniloquism]

Cash is Cash . Receive the ball. Control it . Look backwards . Play it backwards. Repeat .
He's a solid pro , he's done us well . Do we need better to progress . Yes .

His first touch isn't sure enough I think. Hence turns back inside too often as the ball isn't where he expects it to be. But he laid one on a plate for Watkins in the first half, made some good runs that Bailey failed to find him. A lot better going forward today that he has been lately. Defended very well throughout against their most dangerous player. maybe could have got out a bit faster for the goal. He's solid most games defensively these days, less Matty Rash.
Considering the disaster class at RB in the last game it was a huge improvement.

You must have blinked for his nice cushioned header to their player, who then ran into the box and hit the corner flag with his shot. However he did get forward alot and had a nice shot right at the end on target.

[Demitri_C]

Best performances of the season by a long way from Barkley and Bailey, superb strike from Ross for his goal, also Maasten was very impressive in his involvement for the winner, would like to see all of them start in the cup tie.

Im glad bailey scored but man first half especially  bailey was dreadful. I didnt think he he was good. Hopefully  the goal will help being back the baiky pf last season

Barkley i agree with. Was very good

[tomd2103]

Ramsey did improve massively when Maatsen came on. He always dovetailed with Moreno better than Digne too so it will be interesting to see how that develops over time as Maatsen's profile is clearly closer to Moreno than Digne.

I do think the formation we play does need the left back to provide attacking width.  Although I think Digne has been generally good for a while now, Maatsen does offer more of an attacking threat.

[Clampy]

Sometimes with wingers, all it needs is a bit of confidence so hopefully the goal will help that. Shame his second effort didn't go in.

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

Best performances of the season by a long way from Barkley and Bailey, superb strike from Ross for his goal, also Maasten was very impressive in his involvement for the winner, would like to see all of them start in the cup tie.

Im glad bailey scored but man first half especially  bailey was dreadful. I didnt think he he was good. Hopefully  the goal will help being back the baiky pf last season

Barkley i agree with. Was very good

Got to agree and thought Bailey was largely awful, his goal aside. I think he’s showed signs of regaining some form over the last few games he’s played but yesterday was far from that.

Having said that he had the foresight to make a run to the front post and was rewarded with a decent team goal, onwards and upwards hopefully.

[VillaTim]

Ironically the Bailey goal was Vardy-esque. It's a great run in front of the defender and finish.

[HolteL4]

It was a crap goal to concede too, another gift really.

All on Ollie.

Which has been my point all along - the defensive issues are not just about who’s in the defence there is just a lack of aptitude and focus on it across the team.

Sorry but our striker losing the ball in their half of the pitch shouldn't be the reason for them scoring, when Watkins lost the ball we had enough players between the ball and our goal to have been able to deal with it.  I'm not a huge fan of Watkins but to blame him for their goal is ridiculous the blame for their goal was once again our defence.  It really is unbelievable  that some people see our striker losing the ball in their half then watching Leicester run through us and then score and they put the finger at the striker not the defence. 

[Ian.]

Crikey, I’m sure my dog dying last year must have Ollie’s fault too.