Credit – Data courtesy of the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, the Official Player Rating Index of the Barclays Premier League

Leicester are one of only three remaining unbeaten sides in the league this season, alongside Swansea and Manchester City. Their two victories and two draws sees them occupy third place and they will be hoping that a third victory in five can help further consolidate their early season assault on the summit of the table.

This weekend’s visitors to the King Power stadium come in the shape of Aston Villa, currently lying in 12th position in the league standings. The Villans are going in search of their first win since taking all three points away to newly promoted Bournemouth on the opening day of the season. A second victory of the season could push Villa as high as fifth in the league, as they look to kick start their season this weekend.

This game will see two in-form wingers going head to head, in the form of Riyad Mahrez and Scott Sinclair. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index reveals that Mahrez has hit the target with 63.6% of his 11 attempts on goal, turning four opportunities in to goals. A large part of his success come from dribbling, having completed 68.4% of his 19 dribbles. Sinclair has scored twice with his only two shots of the season, and will need to be on top form to keep up with the in-form Mahrez. Mahrez is 27/11 to score anytime with 888sport.com. Sinclair is 16/5 to score with 888sport.com.

Another interesting battle in the middle of the park sees Danny Drinkwater take on Ashley Westwood, and the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows how both are getting on this season. Drinkwater has won 10 tackles this season, 66.7% of his overall attempts, also racking up six interceptions, but Westwood has actually won 71.4% of his seven challenges with four clearances and four interceptions to his name. Westwood has also completed 88.6% of his 201 passes in comparison to Drinkwater’s 82.3% completion from his 164 passes. These two will be crucial to the outcome of the match, and who gains the upper hand in the middle of the park.

Up top, two England capped strikers will be pitted against each other, in the form of Jamie Vardy and Gabriel Agbonlahor. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index can reveal that Agbonlahor has hit the target with 100% of his three attempts on goal this season, and will hope that attempt number four finds the net. Jamie Vardy will be a handful, as the fastest player in the Premier League this season, hitting a top speed of 35.44km/h. His pace has helped him to two goals this season, having also hit the target with 80% of his five attempts on goal. He also has an assist to his name, and Agbonlahor will have to be in top form to match Vardy if he continues in the same vein.

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Matt Turvey
Matt is the owner of, and chief writer for, Aston Villa Life. He is also a columnist for the Wolverhampton Express & Star, appearing in the Kick Off pullout on Saturdays and the Final Whistle pullout the Monday after Aston Villa play, as well as every Thursday as a blogger on their website. He has previously been featured as a writer on Football365 and Life's A Pitch, and was a regular pundit for Sports Tonight TV on Sky.

Comments 122

  1. Mark King

    Hi Matt

    would like to say we have Leicester sussed after last season but they are always close games. really hard to call this one with the squad available. If Gueye was available I could see a shut out, his injury means we will automatically be less solid but possibly more attacking.If we have to field a team Minus Grealish, Gueye, Adama this will be tough.

    Can’t see Lescott being dumped in but this is Tim so could happen I’m going

    Guzan

    Hutton richards clarke/lescott Amavi

    Sanchez

    Gil westwood Vertoute/grealish

    Rudy/Ayew/Kosak/Gabby Sinclair

    Centre forward is the big mystery Pace or height. Leicester have 3 centre half’s so I’d go pace.

    COYVB

  2. Clive Evans

    Mark – I agree we need pace against the height of the Foxes centre-back trio so perhaps Gabby might turn up today after his lay-off.
    I would be a bit worried about Hutton v Mahrez as AH does get caught out of position quite a bit; then again that requires someone to cover from midfield when he goes up the wing.
    I would like Lescott to get a run in preparation for the forthcoming local derby matches; maybe a cameo role at a later stage of the game.
    I’m now entering into a stage where my wife becomes a sports widow as the Rugby WC creeps in to the EPL schedules; good job the NRL has finished – what do you reckon Trinity?

  3. Mark King

    Clive- I was thinking Hutton becomes the less adventurous full back with Gil in front of him with Sanchez sweeping up, bit of a back 3 .

    Austin on a free next summer, probably why no-one would pay £15m or he wouldn’t go.

  4. Trinity

    Yeah, it’s definitely usually close. Leicester would be the favourites.
    Clive-not long to go until RWC 2015 starts. Sorry for Wales losing two of their better players to injury. I think there’ll be an unexpected twist this time, something like Quade Cooper kicking the winning penalty after a Richie McCaw infringement in the final and being named player of the tournament:)

  6. Frem

    No way should Gabby start. Hasn’t done anything to deserve it. He’s a lazy fucker who doesn’t run the channels and can’t play football. Ayew or Rudy it has to be .

    I think Lescott will start as well. Our defending so far this season has been a joke so why not

  7. John Lerwill

    Mark: “would like to say we have Leicester sussed after last season but they are always close games”

    Well, um, I sorta remember that match around 10 or 12 years ago when Villa went there and won 5-0 – and that was in the days of O’Leary!

    Peter Crouch scored two and not long after was sold for a pittance, yet other clubs made a big profit on his travels since.

  9. Mark King

    JL – I wasn’t counting further back than their recent promotion mate and the 3 games last season, even Lambert beat them 😉

    Trinity- bit presumptuous of you on the rugby final 🙂 I was a bit worried with Wales upsurge but the injuries should see us through. Really excited to see, May joseph and watson don’t think I’ve seen more exciting players in an England shirt, If the pack can do their bit those three can be hugely dangerous.

    Chelski 1 down 🙂

  11. Jackvilla

    Afternoon lifers,Ilori is a good signing,watched him severally while he was at Bordeaux and he was imperious..i doubt that he will play tomorrow..Good players that Tim has brought to the team..i have my doubbts if he has the tactical nous to make Villa a better team than he found it.Good luck to the lads tomorrow..i am tipping a 1-1 draw

  12. Trinity

    Clive-Richie never does that 🙂
    Mark-no presumption, there’s bit of history between Cooper & McCaw. It’d be kind of amusing if their teams got to the final and Cooper won the game for Australia from a McCaw infrigement because Cooper (NZ born) takes an incredible amount of stick from the Kiwi public, usually puts him off his game. Richie wouldn’t deserve that outcome, though.

    As for the final, it’s anyone’s guess. England have a good chance. They’ve got the players to win it on the day, so have a few other teams. The Aussies when at full strength will be hard to beat. Don’t underestimate them.

  13. B62 Villa

    Honestly in answer to the question the title poses, No we won’t out fox the foxes. They have looked pretty decent and are at home, we have key injuries and so far this season we have looked bang average and that’s being kind. I still don’t see where the goals are going to come from and are still leaking at the back. I fully expect us to be in the relegation mix once again, and tomorrow is the start of three games we really need to win, more so the Albion and blues games. Coming onto our impending local derbies I have this horrible sick feeling we are going to lose both, as Blues are on a roll and playing very well and Albion have a manager that will be desperate for revenge.

  14. Mark King

    who’d think we would be above Chelsea with 5 games gone? they are in dire form.

    Trinity- I’m not discounting anyone yet mate, I’m praying for rain though 😉 we will see soon enough although playing at Twickenham should count for something I hope.

  15. Mark King

    B62- I don’t think being at home helps them much as they play on the break anyhow, how we approach it will be the crucial thing, if we go for it like nutters we will probably get done, if we keep the ball and draw them on we could do the same to them.

  18. Mark King

    how come frem? a win puts us in 11th a loss we hardly move if spurs win and same Newcastle, a draw we go up one. For me it shows how close we came to a point and could of won at palace they only just lost to city and we gave them the draw. keep your powder dry mate this team hasn’t played any of the teams in the prem before so hard to predict and now we have a defence.

    shame evans went of injured 🙂

    Bakers got a hiding at the blooes

  19. Mark King

    Watched Gazza talking to Merse this morning , made me realise what a good team we had at Italia 90. hope jack declares for England and brings back those days.

    Gazza said he met with Ellis to discuss a move to villa, after Ellis talked about himself for ten minutes he opted to pass, called him a tool 🙂

    needs some match sticks to keep me awake for this Manure v Liverpoo feel sorry for Tekkers. Has the quality really gone up in the Prem this Year? from what I’ve seen Southampton, manure and Liverpoo are worse or have gone backwards, the rest apart from City its a toss up who wins.

  21. Mark King

    tekkers just scored a quality over head kick, but then marshall gazumps him with his first goal. Liverpoo are not all that surely the big guns must be looking at Tekkers who stands out and thinking he was a snip at £34m

    B62 part of me wants them up so at least we will have 4 other midland sides to play, the other half wants them in the conference.

  23. Jenny Truman

    What a goal Benteke scored . Goal of the season contender. He’s wasted at Liverpool . Save for his brilliant goal, no one passed to him. He’d get more service at Aston Villa.
    Liverpool were so poor.

    We should be beating the foxes. A team who were in the bottom three for most of the season even if they did pull off a greater escape than Ronnie Biggs (where are you these days Ronnie) So a villa win 1-3 for me .

  25. Frem

    He wasted at Pool isn’t he Jenny. They play this bull shit tippy tappy football which is crap to watch. Worst Liverpool side I’ve ever seen.

    I’m going today with my brother. Will be his first ever away game and should be a good atmosphere

    There is a lot of talk of 5 at the back for us today. Why would any manager play it? With the goalkeeper and the 3 centre backs that’s 4 players straight away that are going to do nothing from open play for us. Gabby will play so make it 5. Then there a huge demand on the wing backs to defend and attack so the poor sods will be shattered by the time they get in the final 3rd. That’s 7 players who won’t do anything going forwards. Then plus the DM. 8

    So, if you play 5 at the back, it leaves you with 3 players who might create something from open play

    Just go 4231. Play Gil Grealish and Adama

  26. Mark King

    Jen- have you read Tims talk on Ade? keeps saying he wants to play football and money isn’t the problem when it quite obviously is? he’s choosing to not play to get his pay off from spurs strange comments regardless of how TS rates him. Thats without the reported I want to stay in London stuff.

  27. Frem

    About to head off with my brother to get on the coach.

    We have to win. No parking the bus for the first 45 mins either

    Attack. And don’t play 5 at the back

  28. John Lerwill

    Mark: “Gazza said he met with Ellis to discuss a move to villa”

    There’s an account of that in “Stride Inside The Villa” … Steve Stride’s biopic on his life at VP.

    A good read.

  29. Mark King

    JL I will add it to my ever growing list of things to read mate 😉

    nobody bothered about the footy today then except Frem?
    We have been given no chance by anyone I have seen or heard, good. I think we are about to give them a nasty shock. have watched a fair bit of other teams this weekend and can’t say I’m impressed by many.

    lescott in grealish and gil start so does gabby pace it is then 🙂

  32. Jenny Truman

    I have read what Tim said Mark , maybe he’s trying to pave the way but Ade has now been paid off by spurs according to Talk Sport – but can’t go to a club until Jan . I’m not sure why . He may be hot property then when clubs are struggling in the relegation zone .
    Gabby starting , and looks like Rudy for the impact sub. Be good to see what Gil and Grealish can do and also ex man city Richards and Lescott will be good to see.

  33. Mark King

    Should be good game Jen and we know Leicester better than they know us. been looking forward to seeing Jack and Gil go up the hill 🙂

    On Ade won’t it depend on what god tells him?

  35. Jenny Truman

    Hope so mark- it looks a balanced team , solid at the back with Lescott and Richards and some flair and pace . With Sinclairs goal scoring form we are more than capable of beating the foxes.

  49. Paul Pears

    Time for a refill…..

    Let’s hope the team will really gel now and start becoming more clinical, using more of the opportunities they are creating….Sanchez is looking outstanding and Lescott settling in ok.

    Gil l”oking impressive too, while Amavi again an outstanding player..

  50. Mark King

    Lots of positives PP but Bacuna has been poor again at RB and the midfield is wide open which suits Grealish and Gil but its hard work for the brilliant Sanchez and westy who’s working very hard

  62. Paul Pears

    Why oh why when we are winning a game and in control do players instead of making a simple move or pass, turn in trouble and lose it …..Sanchez goes from good to bad in moments….

  63. Mark King

    This one has to go down to Timbo, poor subs, weak down the right with Gil tiring and Bakuna playing like a headless chicken so weakens it further??? surely at 2-0 we shore the mid with vertoute bring on mutton and go 1 up top with Ayew , un-fecking believable but for me Tims balls-up.

  64. @RonnieBiggs

    Oh dear! I’ve liked a lot of what Sherwood has done but the thing I despised about Lambert was his dire subs and the new man seems just as clueless at making changes quickly and well. Who didn’t know we’d be lightweight without Gana and that there ‘d be a point where we had to shore things up in the middle. Problem is without Gueye we don’t have many other options in the centre of the park. This one hurts and could have ignited our season. Get bloody Adebayor in. Don’t like the man but we need a proper centre forward. Does anyone know why we didn’t sign Austin, seems like a no brainer, really hope we tried. Gana better be back soon or we’re in trouble. Aaaaaaaahhh

  65. Paul Pears

    Great goal from Gil….who maybe should have stayed on…..or been replaced by Gana……Bacuna becomes a liability again and the defense falls apart with a bit of pressure!!!!

    Still a long way to Tim……

  66. Mark King

    Paul P- I agree, to many trying to be flash and making half hearted passes including Jack who second half put people in trouble half a dozen times. He put Sanchez and westy under pressure who then did the wrong thing to compound it Totally pissed off!!!!

  67. RichardS

    WTF was that

    Why did TS take off Gill? Another bizarre substitution

    Bacuna is not a right back

    Ayew and Gestede are not good enough at this level

    Gabby is Gabby – a couple of decent runs and that’s it.

    Why do we always blow the lead?

    We need to learn how to defend a lead and see out the game.

  68. Paul Pears

    Let’s hope Tim will learn from all this, when it is still the early part of the season….now he needs to sort the men from the boys….and agree once again with you MK…

  69. B62 Villa

    WTF was that Sherwood, another game slung down the toilet and another game we easily out fought and out thought. We looked to have given ourselves a great chance at 2-0 with a great breakaway strike. Then they changed it and threw the kitchen sink at us exposing Bacuna as the useless shite he is, we were second to everything and as soon as they scored there was only going to be one winner, we always look like conceding at every foxes attack. 2 positions we said we needed addressing window, RB and Keeper and guess what both were exposed as dogs hit yet again. I’m fucking raging at the sheer stupidity in our team diving in giving away constant free kicks, this is going to be yet another long survival scrap and playing like that Albion and blues will run riot. Verdict 4/10 and relegation fodder

  70. Mark King

    Ronnie- Austin goes for free in the summer that’s why I’m thinking teams won’t pay £15m

    Gabbys assist glosses over another poor game for him and Vertoute can play DM no problem so I don’t understand why we opened ourselves up even more!!!!

  71. RichardS

    Why did Tim take off Carlos Gill – what is Sherwoods problem with him? He look great – scored a world class goal and then was substituted – Sherwood you absolute tool – time to grow up Tim – stop trying to be son of Harry media darling and make some sensible decisions you numpty

  73. B62 Villa

    Too many bang average players we have over paid for that aren’t good enough for this level, again tactically naive and bizarre substitutions as the man in the opposite dugout shows Sherwood how to manage the game that is in front of you. Guzan is terrible, Bacuna woeful, Ayew looks to be the new Gabby clueless and touch of a rapist, a real £10m down the toilet, Gestede a squad player at best these two are supposed to replace Tekkers , I will bet now they don’t hit 10 goals all season BETWEEN them, Gabby is a waste of a shirt. I’d rather have Austin even for £15m than our front three. Wasted the window and we look like losing every fucking week and are averaging under a point a game which = relegation the bunch of spineless wankers

  74. Mark King

    RichardS- I think Gil had run up and down all game and was tiring but as I said why not settle for 2-0
    and bolster the midfield and leave one up. They are actually praising ranneari like he’s god but Timbo gave him the game.

  75. Mark King

    B62- Ayew isn’t a winger or midfielder why play him there??? Gestede we know needs crosses I didn’t see more than 2 .
    Timbo blaming errors which is right but failing to take the blame for not reacting to Ranneari’s changes so we could actually keep the ball. Gil had injury apparently

  76. RichardS

    Mark – he had just scored a goal – the adrenalin from that would have given him another 15 minutes – however TS has just said that was injured so fair enough , but after he departed it was a totally different game

  77. B62 Villa

    Across the sites they are already saying Sherwood is now fighting for his job and if we lose the two derbies he has to go. It’s hard to disagree when we capitulate like that, and so the cycle of it all continues, we will soon hound another manager out and we are still a shit football team that’s rightful place is now the bottom 6 praying we creep over the line and there are 3 teams worse than us, unfortunately I’ve only seen Sunderland ( who we couldn’t beat at home)that look worse than us and Bournemouth maybe lacking in real quality in key areas.

  78. Heroes-and-Villans

    Gill injured thats why taken off. We was like little boys in that second half. Weak, scared and lost. Not good things in a relegation battle which make no mistake we are in.

    I sadly shook my head when in the replay of the third goal all you could see was the usual faces of hutton and guzan looking bewildered sprawling on the floor.

    Same old same old. Id rather have less signings and the important areas covrered. Boring saying it again but gk and striker are vital positions and we are shit. My goldfish knew we needed a new rb in the summer.

    Superb goals from gill and grealish and gill playerd very well, jack went missing all second half. We aint going to score goals like that every week sadly

  79. Mark King

    Richard S – yes it did mate but more because of the Leicester over loading the midfield with 2 subs and tim not reacting , he was actually going for another goal?? how when we had lost all grip on the middle???

  80. Mark King

    Andrew- I think the new lad Tiago Ilori as JL has said will be RB very soon and I agree. we failed to control the game after doing so for most the match but apart from slack passing I put that at Tims door with his subs. I think Gana would of made all the difference today as would Adama.

    If Guzan had stood on the line I think he would of saved the 3rd easily

  81. B62 Villa

    Sherwood actually hasn’t got a clue what he is doing, he only looked good due to the twats that went before him. He cannot read a game, set a team up, or organise the defence. It’s the same shit every week, every man and his dog can see the areas we needed to improve yet he never addressed them. We are a fucking shambles, no striker, no right back, shite keeper, utter wank like Bacuna given a new deal, I could go on, it’s like de ja vu, every year we look like going down and this is no exception we don’t ever look like winning a football match, and if you can’t close it out at 2-0 with less than half an hour on the clock what hope have we, even at 2-2 we looked like we were never gonna hold on. We were completely over run for the last 35 and could have lost by more.

  82. Texas Villan

    I have said so many times — so many of us have said so many times — that our two highest signing priorities should have been a striker and … A FREAKING RIGHT BACK!! Hutton is useless going forward, but he can play at least somewhat better defense than Bacuna. Dear heaven, we need a new RB!!

    Up two goals, logic dictates to see out the win by parking the bus with bringing on Hutton and Clark IMMEDIATELY.

  83. RichardS

    Absolutely gutted about the result

    Our first 11 is good enough to finish in the top half of this league – we have thrown away 4 points in the last two games

    We missed Gana and Traore today – we are struggling to get our first 11 on the field together

    We have problems with the strikers that TS has purchased – Ayew is a concern and Gestede is one dimensional

    Gabby doesn’t score enough – he made a coupe of decent runs today and made the second goal – he should be viewed as a left winger not a centre forward

    We have problems at right back – Bacuna is not a natural defender

    And Guzan bothers me. The third goal today was a joke

    TS needs to grow up. He performed a miracle last year but he needs to stop thinking he is the greatest manager and start proving it.

  84. Mark King

    Thing is people why play Bakuna? we had no-one to cross to? we went out to get behind there back 3 and did it ok. Amavi had his hands full and did as well as he could whereas Bakuna just got worse and slower as the game went on, should of been Mutton considering our tactics and Gil played on the wing.
    As the game wore on we sat deeper and the midfield got strung out, Leicester are a quick side and we gave them space and superior numbers in the middle after our second goal. That coupled with our awful passing.

  86. John Lerwill

    Well, swipe me…

    I was at Leicester in 1963 and saw Villa take a 3-1 lead against the mighty Gordon Banks … In the end it was 3-3 and another 10 minutes would have seen them score the winner – just as they did today.

    When it came to a fight today, we had too much of what militarily be called “a soft underbelly”. Too many of the midfielders are lightweight.

    It was the midfield that needed to keep control, but they didn’t really try under their pressure. After Grealish scored his goal he seemed to me to be in lah-lah land!

    Gana was missed.

    Oh, Gil had been badly knocked in the first half – I think he was called off to save him.

  88. B62 Villa

    I think we have bought poorly overall this summer, I said there were too many gambles, Ayew is terrible, Gestede no better than Kozak , where is Vertout?? He has looked average but now isn’t even playing, Crespo a waste of more money, Lescott is past his best, Bunn??? Amavi, Gana have looked ok and trader looked great against Notts co. But we still didn’t address our major problems I’d have gone for Austin and Heaton combined fee £21m instead of Ayew , Gestede and Crespo. Cheaper on wages too. Got rid of crap like steer, baker( instead of giving him a new deal) Gabby etc. we are no further forward than when he took over from Lambert, we are still a poor side that is easy to beat, with a manager that is clueless only this one has a hung ho attitude rather than a park the bus, however both are stupid.

  89. Mark King

    JL- the thing I noticed most was the lack of leadership. when the pressure is on you get in formation and deny them easy space and options, we were still going for the next goal, not clever enough by far, no on-field decision maker or manager input from what I saw. thought Amavi did well considering he was against a quicker version of Grealish, no-one will get an easy game against Mahrez this season in any team.

    By the way Keegan is raving about Grealish, said he has the vision of a 26 year old on the field at 20. Second half he should of gone to spec savers 😉

  90. John Lerwill

    No, Mark, Amavi’s “tackling” was awful … there were several situations where I could have done better! No ideas of how to close out a player … instead giving away free-kicks.

    He certainly didn’t have chance to show the one thing he is pretty good at – his wing play.

    Never mind, we have Gana and Traore to return … they should make a difference. But it’s alarming that we have to rely on one or two to get there.

    I agree with some of the comments in that TS does seem a bit green round the gills, but I still feel hugely more opti over what we saw the previous 4 years.

  91. B62 Villa

    I think we all feared the worst without Benteke, and it’s coming true. We are dismal with too many players who are good enough for the PL, ligue1 is a poor league and it’s showing . I’m already getting loads of texts from bluenoses, they are loving it and are even offering to give us a goal or 2 head start. That today was embarassing, but it’s not the first time under TS, Saints, Arsenal, Burnley, Swansea and even Stoke have looked like Barcelona against us with TS in charge. We have had far more shit performances under TS than good ones

  92. Mark King

    Fare enough JL but Mahrez is exceptional and at least Amavi isn’t constantly out of position.

    B62- I was amazed Vertout wasn’t brought on. TS sat him down and bought on Gestede with no supply??? for me he should of come on for Gil and left ayew or Gabby as the lone forward.

  94. Frankfurt Villan

    The criticism of TS is justified, he is the boss after all. But what about Wilkins role and the contribution he should be making. He is the AM and was specifically brought in for his “experience”. We were out-thought by Pardew and Ranieri, and you could argue, even by Van Gaal. Wilkins should be providing important input to Sherwood’s thinking in terms of tactics and substitutions, and he doesn’t seem to be doing it.

    Agree with JL – too many players simply didn’t have the stomach for the fight. We need steel to go with the dainty stuff.

  95. Godfrey

    I know that I am stuck in a time-warp, but I can only dream of defenders of the calibre of Shaun Teale (Man of Steel), Alan Little and Gary Charles, not to mention that slow Irish centre-back who could not train.
    The current fullbacks Amavi and Bacuna are disasters happening, not waiting to happen.

    The midfield is lightweight apart from Sanchez who is expected to do the work of 2 men. Heaven help Villa when he is out injured or suspended.
    Whatever happened to the art of fair tackling?

    I have always been a fan of Guzan up until this afternoon. Being beaten to the ball by the smallest player on the pitch is a disgrace, full stop.

    I agree with most of what has been posted earlier. Sherwood’s substitutions were awful as were Gestede and Ayew.

    Heaton and Austin are badly needed, amongst others.

    Villa have chucked away points against Palace, Sunderland and Leicester. There is no way that they can survive if they carry on like this.
    Today Villa scored 2 superb goals and then defend like amateurs to throw away 3 points..

    Barring a miracle, Villa will find their true level next year in the Championship.

  96. Mark King

    B-62 maybe so mate but I don’t agree that the players are bad we just don’t have a shape that I can see. We have options but for me TS hasn’t figured out how to play them and we are neither one nor the other, The games we have thrown away so far would have seen us with 6 more points, there’s something wrong but I don’t think its down to poor players.

  97. Godfrey

    Mark,

    Sorry to disagree with you but the 2 fullbacks along with Guzan and Clarke (in the match against Palace) are not good enough, plain and simple.
    They have chucked away points needlessly.

  98. Paul Pears

    Why did he not bring on Richardson for Bacuna and switch Amavi to the right and Grealish should have been subbed for Veretout if not Gil….. As the pundits said Gil should have stayed onn for at least another 5 or 10 minutes, before being subbed.

  99. Paul Whiting

    That was a shambles; Bacuna, Amavi and Sanchez continually conceded possession under no pressure…Bacuna is shocking. The first goal was Lescott blunder for failing to clear the ball before the corner. 2-0 flattered Villa; there was no sustained pressure or threat at any time, just the usual ‘going nowhere possession’

    More worrying is that Gestede, Amavi and Veretout are not good enough to start and yet they cost nearly 30 million; this is a repeat of the Lambert Shambles but done a lot more expensively

    This is finally the relegation season.

  100. Mark King

    Godfrey- your entitled to disagree mate and I think tackling today in general is a lost art but modern day fullbacks are jack of all trades and Bakuna isn’t even a full back. When you have grealish and Gil on the pitch in front of the fullbacks there going to be under pressure more often and in the case of Leicester they were up against 3 of the fastest players out there. Watch when Adama comes back see how many he embarrasses, what we failed to do is double up effectively and steer the player where we want him. one on one those players had no chance and Amavi is not that slow.

  101. Godfrey

    “The first goal was Lescott blunder for failing to clear the ball before the corner”.

    “This is a repeat of the Lambert Shambles but done a lot more expensively”.

    “This is finally the relegation season”.

    Paul,

    You are absolutely spot-on.

  102. Frem

    We are still a sick joke. We never learn

    Guzan Bacuna Westy ans Gabby aren’t good enough.

    Two lovely finishes but it’s not looking good. We will go at the rate of out defending

  103. Mark King

    hang on folks bit early for doom mongering. Chelsea and stoke below us its hardly a true reflection, Leicester are playing well to and we should of won easily, this can be fixed. Last season we were on 12 points by now then what happened? its very early days .

  104. Paul Whiting

    “The players are all good enough it’s just the poor shape”… Let’s check:

    Guzan…can’t catch or punch a simple cross…lost 3-2

    Bacuna….do I really need to comment; can’t pass, except sideways leading to chaos in defence. Can’t track back and is often the marker failing to make a tackle as the ball goes in…2nd goal today.

    Amavi…ripped to pieces in 2nd half.
    Westwood; slow, one-paced crab football, no strength in tackle; a deadly passer on the edge of his own area.
    Sanchez ; same as Westwood
    Summer signings…so shit they’re on the bench.
    Gabby, Sinclair…no comment needed.
    You can have as many Grealish and Adama as you like…this inept team will ship 2 to 3 goals every time.

    Ciao!

  105. Paul Whiting

    Lol…I knew you’d use Chelsea are below us…do you really think Chelsea will finish below Villa?

    Every team has a poor game or wobble but there simply is no spine of a good team in the Villa squad and there are too many inept footballers.

    Amavi and Gestede…might as well have bought from League 2…

  106. B62 Villa

    I can’t disagree with the comments above, especially this team is a repeat of the Lambert shambles only done more expensively. I really fear the way we ship goals we will get relegated. I lost count of how many fouls Bacuna, Amavi and Sanchez needlessly gave away in key areas when under no pressure. Mark you are right we lack shape, an identity and a clear game plan Who’s fault is that?? The players chosen/bought for decent money aren’t good enough and are easily over run, who’s fault is that?? The serious defencies from last season like fullback , GK and striker( one Tekkers was off) haven’t been addressed, and in the case of strikers we have paid £16m for two very poor players, with bang average goal scoring records at a level far inferior to the English top flight, who’s fault is that.
    It’s more than a lack of shape we are a fucking joke in many areas. Yes it’s early days, but can you really see Chelsea and Stoke finishing below us, besides Sunderland I can’t see anyone nailed on to finish below us, and from what I’ve seen we don’t have enough to do this ourselves.

  107. B62 Villa

    Guzan being beaten to the ball in the air by Nathan dyer sums up how crap he is, dyer is 5″5 and 2 stone wringing wet!! How can we go from trying for Begovic to sticking with this prick and Mark Bunn on a free as back up. Beggars belief

  108. Paul Whiting

    Meant Ayew and Gestede…but do you know what, Amavi will struggle against any team with quick, skilful forwards.

    The overall point is that this is now Sherwood’s team but it is not any better equipped to go out and collect points than Lambert’s… I can never remember a time where every team would view Villa as a banker to beat, but now we’re here through Lerners handiwork

  109. Heroes-and-Villans

    Went for a run, hot shower and food. Calmed down a tad.

    Thinking of the second half. Was a complete shambles which tim should of done something about even before our against the run of play 2nd.

    It is early days but there is no doubt in my mind we are going to struggle. Im just praying again there are 3 worse teams.

    Reasons for relegation battle are the gk. guzan gives off an air of panic and you can see the back 4 have no confidence in him. ANd that spreads throughout the team, which is why gk is a vital position.
    Westwood is another massive problem. In a 4231 he simply cant be playing. Tim seems to think he is a big player for us and he also takes the corners which are pretty bad. If we played 433 id might bring him on for the last 20 mins if we was 2 or 3 nil up to keep the ball. Other than passing it simply sideways he does nothing.

    And last is we have no striker who we can rely on to nick the odd goal.

    The positives are adama, grealish and gill. Who could be exciting to watch. But when your relying on adama 19 years of age new to the prem and jack 20 who has played a handfull of games you know we are in trouble.

    So to summarise i think we are in he shit but hopefully survive though it may betight due to a competetive league this year.

    And if the next two games dont go well then a lot of fans will not be seeng ts in such a positive light.

    We have beaten bornemouth but including last season i think thats the only win in like 9 or 10 games! Alarm bells

  111. James Gill

    don t know what to make of today best team for over an hour then fell apart,where are the men in our team who wants to win the ball make a fair challenge,
    this set up of 4 2 3 1 doesnt work no protection for full backs at all .can t play gil grealish sinclair gabby in one team
    sherwood has signed 13 players yes gana traore and pool player not fit BUT not to have signed keeper right back decent striker is SHOCKING
    5 games won against bournmouth everything ok
    lost to utd poor goal gave away poor ref stonewall pen not given GABBY free header from6/8 poor
    cpal lost good enough to get point maybe all 3 GABBY clean through MISS,next time fell over
    palaces goals CLARK school boy error defending corner ,last min GUZAN has ball in hands throws short to amavi who loses to dann a centre half up for corner GOAL i blame GUZAN for that
    sunderland at home missed chances WESTWOODS effort was like himself not good enough at this level .sunderlands goals GUZAN beaten from freekick from 30 yards stood behind wall,SANCHEZ knocked of ball far to easy CLARKS none tackle shocking 2 goals in 2 matches for both clark and guzan each
    today leicster first goal should been pen think thats why lescott just kicked it but what was GABBY BACUNA doing for corner .second goal nobody made tackle why,3 GUZAN MADE IT A HATRICK beaten in air by dyer my god he is crap
    so by my watching after 5 games guzan has cost us 4points miniumby mistakes
    clark mistakes 3
    gabby with his misses and ball watching today
    westwood hits all deadballs he is about as much use at it as an ashtray on a motorbike
    manager SHERWOOD needs to get grip fast but transfer windows closed what is he going to do
    revert to a 442
    bunn /newboy signed deadline day
    hutton /bacuna both poor fullbacks
    lescot
    richards one bright spot
    gana
    sanchez toughen up man
    traore /gil out wide
    grealish out wide
    sinclair
    rudi/kozak
    subs
    clark vertout ayew gabby

  112. Paul Pears

    Time to go for another drink…..

    Maybe Sherwood will have considered Big Sam’s words, and realise that today was his fault, and he needs to have a much better game plan. Why didn’t we get Dyer on loan????

    Gestede is not up to the mark, and does not fit in yet. Why was Kozak not available. He at least is a proven goal scorer.

    Two more important games coming up. Let’s hope that Tim has learned from today. We must win . We cannot afford to lose.

  113. Mark King

    Bloody hell either I need to write better or some of you need to read better. Of course Chelsea will finish above us and possibly Stoke! the point being that 5 games in and they are below us. the table is telling feck all yet!!! last season we were in Leicester’s place and they were in Sunderland’s at this point, it meant sweet FA!!!!

    If Timbo doesn’t realise his mistakes we could well be in the shit but if he hadn’t rocked up last season we would be there now. Its apparent he pretty much had money from sales to spend and had to replace a fucking lot, didn’t quite stretch to a RB, keeper and marquee striker get over it FFS, We are a club up for sale don’t ever forget that.

    There’s a program on of a Sunday night were civilians are trying to get through special services training its fucking hard, if they gave up as quickly as some of you do there’d be no program by this evening and its only 3 programs in Get a grip.

    Ask yourself at 2-0 did you think Christ we are crap? or were you dancing around enjoying Leicester’s humiliation? I accept all the negatives I saw today and acknowledge them but there was plenty to say will get better. feel free to tell me how clever you are when we are relegated.

  115. @RonnieBiggs

    Lifers, must admit I don’t have the benefit of seeing most of the matches on TV(Internet and radio) but will give u my take anyway. I pride myself on being an optimist but also try to stay objective but the doom and gloomers (steamer mate u out there somewhere?) are hard to disagree with on some pints:
    1) guzan no longer installs confidence in the defence and may have to go
    2) tim’s game day mgmt has been dire
    3) the striker position is a disaster and local cannot get a sniff
    4) the right back position is a complete mess… Still
    5) we are relying on Gana far too much and when he’s gone there is no plan b
    6) Sherwood is no better at using his subs and making adjustments than his predecessor and that right there is downright alarming!
    7) it’s very early days but we seem to have done a Spurs, pool, lambert Ii and gone for quantity over quality again with the same results. We are crying out for Austin and it would have been 15m so well spent!

    It just feels like the more things change the more they stay the same. I see now why lambert didn’t play bacuna he is the biggest Jekyll and Hyde player I’ve ever seen and even his free kicks have gone!

    Oh lord
    UTV

  116. @RonnieBiggs

    Damn autocorrect should say kozak can’t get a sniff and he’s a proven goal scorer! Richardson is my starting r back by virtue of default we have none else. Could be alone on this but feel baker played well when not injured alas he’s injured a lot!
    UTV

  117. Trinity

    Disappointing for us, thought we had it(like the players evidently did). Never mind this time. Like Mark said, it’s early days. Also, the players are generally better than last year. This team will gel when there’s a bit more stability in the playing 11. A better striker would help, though. And the players are putting themselves under a little more pressure every time they lose.

  118. Frem

    I didn’t want Austin but God I wish we signed him now.

    But he wouldn’t solve our goalkeeping problems or right back issues.

    Sherwood will be good for us but I wish it would hurry up

  119. John Lerwill

    Whhhoooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!! 🙂

    What’s all this natter about doom and gloom?

    Yes, TS did get it all wrong with the subs (but I believe Gil had to go off ) – bringing on attackers when 2-0 up is a bit daft unless you’re confident that the opposition are there for the mopping up – which the Foxes were clearly not ready for.

    But for most of the previous 60 minutes Villa were in control. And the team TS put out performed well for that period. And against a side that is currently 2nd in the table.

    It’s something that TS (with his attacking bent (Bent?!!)) will surely learn from.

    But at least we’re scoring… even without strong strikers. I’d say it’s the midfield that was the problem area – yes, even though we’re not strong at f-b. With Gana back it should be better, but it does worry me that we have to rely on one player.

    Grealish *has* to learn some responsibility – he’s far too casual at the mo.

  120. Trinity

    Frem
    You’re right about those positions. It’s also good to see that you see objectively through your disappointment at Villa’s loss to realise that things will get better.
    JL-Good comments. Jack is quite the lad, isn’t he? I think having Wilkins around is good for JG. We do need a strong striker. A John Hartson bulldozer type would do if he scores regularly.

  121. Trinity

    Hey Cive!
    It’s nearly kick off time, can’t wait for the England vs Fiji match. Guess the English lads will keep it tight, cause if it opens up anything could happen.

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