Lush Vlad

Also Villa use Trackman technology for their set pieces and how they strike a ball. That would surely also have a bearing on long range shots and the techniques used. It isn't just pot luck that they score so many bangers. There will be games where they come unstuck due to their reliance on it. But it seems like it is something they heavily practice.

Said this after Wolves. It felt the same yesterday and for most of the season. We don't play through the middle or move the ball quickly enough to fashion chances:

I know he played there a lot of his career. But I'm not sure I'd want Wissa out wide, mind. For most of his time here, he's had a first touch worse than Obafemi Martins. Without the strength, pace and mad unpredictability to go with it.

Oh yeah, I don't agree with that point particularly. The Isak stuff was all spot on, though. I do think they can be coached to make different runs and attack different areas. As they have done so at times this season. I'm not expecting them to be Isak'like and it's daft to think they will be. So far the Isak money looks to have been wasted on what we have as replacements IMO. Especially if we are going to keep using them like they are and chucking Woltemade up top in a system that doesn't suit.

The header into an empty net v Fulham and the 'worldy' volley v Forest are the only ones that qualify, no? They were worldy, ruthless finishes. I don't mean he was rifling them in from 25 yards all the while. They were not tap ins from the result of making an aggressive run to get on the end of crosses close in on goal. Which is the original point and then my point about Howe, Shearer and articles on the BBC and The Athletic showing how he had changed this part of his game. Not really difficult to grasp and not sure how it is even a discussion point TBH. I'm sure if you're a masochist, you could trawl the Isak thread and find all this stuff and the chat around it. Anyway, fuck Isak Wissa really should be able to make those runs and no idea why he never does. Woltemade doesn't look like he ever will. The Chelsea game is strange as he did it 3-4 times. Yet barely seen him outside of that busting a gut to get on the end of chances. Yes some players naturally have that goalscoring instinct and almost sniff out chances. But if we really do work on set patterns of play and what runs players are making. It's absolutely baffling that we keep putting the ball in good areas. Only for nobody in black and white to be attacking it.

In the original poster’s defence. I didn’t read it like that at all. It was more about making those runs for the tap in that he was referencing. Not the ability to score worldy finishes out of nothing Which he definitely did improve on. There was even a bit with Shearer about his touches and shots not being close enough to goal and he needs to be attacking the 6 yard box. He then started scoring so many identical goals making that run and getting on the end of a low cross from Murphy or maybe a high ball from the other side. All close in on goal. We seem to still be flashing the ball across the face of goal. But we never have a striker attacking it or the other wide man at the back stick following in. Also known as the Raheem Sterling for City.

I’m a long way from HOWE OUT. But at the same time, I don’t think we’re close to getting it right and it’s becoming more of a concern as the season goes on. Unless teams play into our hands and want an open end to end game. We look toothless and devoid of ideas going forward. It is so predictable and clunky. All very slow and not looking particularly well thought out. If a lot of fans are calling these repetitive issues out. What are analysts at professional clubs doing? We are pretty good defensively, but at the same time, in some of these end to end games. We are dreadfully exposed at the back. Putting too much pressure on them in man to man situations or overloads. Plus the huge space in front of our back 4 is often still there. Even if the defence has often looked solid. The midfield 3 and front 3 have looked disjointed for a lot of the season. On paper, our upcoming fixture list is horrendous. But at the same time, a lot of those games should be played in a way that will suit us. I’m hoping we might start to get a clearer picture of where we’re at after the Man U game. In terms of performance levels and expectations for the remainder of the season. At the moment, I don’t really know what to make of it all. More questions than answers.

Oh it’s you and your mad FM’tastic, totally unrealistic transfer suggestions again

I’m not sure we have the personnel for it to get that balance right or that Howe wants to change it, like you say? Not really looked to change it in style too much since joining. It has worked so well for the most part. But it’s becoming more and more of a problem.

He should get it now with Joelinton likely out for a while. Who knows with Bruno? I’m sure it will just be Trippier at right back until his hamstring goes or has to be taken out of the firing line for poor performances and Miley in the middle. That said. He doesn’t strike me as the sort of player to come into a weakened midfield and team and try to take the game by the scruff of the neck. The same way Bruno always does and Miley tried second half yesterday.

They were poor together at Wolves and all. They’ve not got any better as a partnership. Still annoyed Trippier started TBH.

The chemistry between our full backs and wingers has been off all season. Whether it is just stylistically, not playing enough together, their ability on the ball or just ignorance/arrogance of regularly ignoring a supporting run. Barnes and Trippier has been the worst yet. Followed by Tino and Murphy. Then Gordon and Hall. Barnes usualy links well with Tino and Hall, TBF.

He has a groin problem earlier this season. Missed games where he was on the bench as emergency cover only and I’m sure Howe said he had been playing through it. Which would explain his poor performances early on. Even if it isn’t the same one. Playing him almost non-stop and every game after returning. With his playing style and injury history. Feels pretty negligent to me. Plenty moan about Tino coming back too soon or playing too much. This feels far worse to me.

They used to be such a positive force and source of goals and assists. For various reasons. Including our striker problems, injuries/form, teams sitting off and respecting us a bit more, full backs not being fit often enough to assist in creating space, the time we take to work the ball to them. It’s not good. I don’t remember us creating chance after chance from wide that we should be burying or glaring misses from our wide men every game. They just regularly don’t look dangerous or in much space.

Bumping this for anyone who’s bored or needs to get to sleep. So much of this applies to the game today. So sick of the sideways passing, then running with the ball to carry it 10 yards, to then get it to the spare man, who now isn’t in any space. As you’ve taken too many touches and too long to shift it. Villa had a decent spell in the first half of little triangles and players near each other with decent movement. Where they were actually working openings. We very rarely do that or even attempt it. It is that giant horseshoe setup with players constantly marked and not in much space and big old gaps between our players. It seems as if our passing patterns are the same most weeks and teams know what we’re doing and can easily nullify it when they sit a bit deeper than usual.

They are. They work on it in training all the while and have a whole dataset of ball tracking for set pieces and long shots from free kicks since Emery has been there. I forget what the technology is called, golfers use it? You can’t keep saying they’re flukes if they keep scoring them. Even if it means they may well struggle in a game when they don’t get a low percentage chance go in from 25 yards. It’s clearly a weapon for them and something they work on. We don’t work the ball quickly or incisively enough to set someone for a strike from distance.

100%. You could tell they’re managed by a Spaniard.

“or out of position.” You miss that bit? Yes ‘overpaid’. Signed a contract that supposedly has him just shy of Bruno as our second highest earner. He looks nothing like one of our best and most important players and hasn’t since his breakout season. Which is starting to look like a bit of an outlier. Performance wise more than the numbers, even.

Also the fact that he is one of, if not the most press resistant midfielders in the league. Demands the ball all the while, sets the tone, the tempo, our only creative midfielder, good on corners these days, weighs in with goals. I could go on. Mental that anyone could watch that disjointed shitshow today and suggest Bruno doesn’t change much

Barnes was crap today. Even worse than Gordon and he looks poor for the most part on the right. No better on the left today either, mind. Now do it from last January until now and don’t base it on one game and see how the performances and numbers lineup on minutes played. Leave the 8 penalties or whatever it is in even, if you want. Gordon has been mostly poor and frustrating as fuck for a year or more. He has massive limitations as a player and he is overpaid for what he delivers for this team. All whilst keeping a superior player (numbers wise) out of the side or out of position. If that makes me and the majority of this forum stupid in your eyes. Then so be it.

He is the best in the league at those. Not with this one. As it was through his legs. But I think he gets caught out trying to save with his feet instead of diving for it, at times. I think it was City the other week when he did. The amount of times keepers don’t get down in time or almost dive over the top of the ball and they concede. Whereas Pope will just boot it away like he’s playing in goal at 5 a side

Just looked at our next 8-10 games or so. We might be able to stay in touch with the league being so all over the place. But considering we don’t win away and have just chucked in a performance like that at home. It’s hard to be confident.

There have been NFL players who are built like wardrobes who were vegan or predominantly plant based. You quite clearly can be a vegan/veggie and play elite sport FFS

Worst game for quite some time for him. Even showed some aggression and frustration, which isn’t like him. It was hilarious and frustrating in equal measure when he decided to go and shove Maatsen mid-run