Villarocker

They have fielded a team to lose and get out of the cup. We've picked a team to win. I'll be very disappointed if we lose tonight.

We are all disappointed but have to be realistic and realise that this league is new to almost all that team. Also, Wesley, Trezeguet, Nakamba, Luiz, Guilbert, Engels are all settling into the area and have only been here for several games. Whether we can accept it or not, we are work in progress. In terms of today's market, for the Premier League, we shopped at Aldi. We spent a big amount collectively but on a whole team. Other clubs spend more than that on one player. We all need to keep calm and accept it for what it is. No point getting on the players backs because, if the worst does happen and we go down, we will be replying on most of this group to get us back up. Burnley have been there and done it. Gone down, kept the faith then, gone back up again. I know that Saturday seems a must win game but it won't be easy. Burnley beat Norwich and who would have thought that after they beat Man City a week earlier? Dean Smith and his team need time. That time may come too late but we have to keep patient with them and support them all the way. This team is trying and trying bloody hard. The likes of McGinn and Grealish were out on their feet against Arsenal because they'd done so much work. There is absolutely no comparison between this Villa team and the one that took us down a few years ago. We had every right to criticise them for lack of everything but this team shows quality and effort. We just need to find those extra couple of ingredients to see us through.

Great Post this ^^ McGinn was shattered and needed replacing but it didn't happen and as a result we were overrun. For Deano to then complain about how deep we sat worries me as he should be seeing why that's happening as its happening and making changes accordingly.

He's the least effective of our wide men.

Very much so. I understand Hourihane being on the bench because he can play any central midfield position but Lansbury has offered very little since joining the club and I'd much rather see Luiz come off the bench than Lansbury.

In his post-match interview he said he only wanted two midfielders on the bench and felt Marvellous Nakamba had done enough last week to keep his place.

The decision to leave Luiz out in favour of Lansbury seems mighty strange for me. A guy that Guardiola seems keen to be able to get hold off cast aside in favour of a player unable to get near the starting lineup of a Championship team for the best part of two years is concerning. I think Luiz on the bench could have seen him come on for McGinn after 65-70 minutes today and would probably have helped to close that out.

Another spot on analysis. I mentioned subbing Grealish, McGinn or both recently in a game and was laughed at lambasted by a few on here. I'm not saying they aren't good enough - they are! - but, after 65-70 minutes when they look knackered, Deano needs to show some character and make at least one change there.

Exactly!

He should have been subbed today. Also, despite what people might think, his height is a clear disadvantage in the last third of the games when the physicality of the game kicks in. I love that he wears our shirt but when he's given his all there's no doubt he should be subbed.

Well said! Even if we went down, I'd still keep him as he would be the man to take us back up. We need some continuity that has a plan. Yes Deano has made mistakes and some strange subs but he's not Engels making a stupid challenge or Mings heading it down in his own box instead of behind for a corner. Let's hope everyone learns quickly.

For a man of such stature he is just so damn weak. I'm a midget in comparison but I reckon I could defend against him. He's so easily knocked off the ball and gets so angry all the time. You cannot be as big as him and stroll around like a big girl's blouse. Someone at the club needs to toughen him up because we need battlers not bottlers if we're going to stay up.

Can't criticise him at all - he was superb! McGinn and Grealish gave the ball away a bit today and left him counter-attacked on a few times. Second half, he stuck a boot out to deflect a goal bound shot wide and then defended the corner too and got it clear when under threat. We need to play him as DM every game.

Mings should have out the ball behind but only because it was Taylor. If there was a colleague with a good footballing brain there instead he would have read what Mings was doing and hoofed it clear. Taylor plays far too narrow for my liking and leaves the space out wide for the opposition to attack us. He needs to be wider when the opposition attack.

His passing was astray in the first half. He did great for Wesley's goal and did a lot of good things but, when he's knackered, he needs replacing.

I like him and he works bloody hard, unlike El Ghazi who hides for a lot of the game. His fitness is crucial to our season for sure.

I agree he shouldn't have done what he did but he did it because otherwise he would have been giving away a cheap-looking corner. His error was not heading it where he did, it was heading it where he did because he thought the player had enough nous to read it. His error was not realising it was Taylor he was asking to be intelligent!

Be fair, he did come around for a while when the results were good!

Absolutely spot on mate. I really like Deano and want him to do well but he has to have courage himself to take Grealish, McGinn or both off when they're clearly being overrun and put a couple of fresh players in there. Like you said, Luiz would have been ideal. However, he was out so it simply had to be Hourihane and Lansbury into the middle. Having said all that, Engels and Mings both made costly errors today that led to goals. For me, it was the same two players that cost us the goals against Spurs too. But, I guess when the ball is constantly coming your way, there is more chance of making mistakes. Deano, learn your lessons quick mate. We need you to!

Why is anybody surprised at this? We have been totally wasteful in attack today. We've tired. Ideally, you'd want to take Grealish or McGinn off because they are knackered but who does he replace them with? Nakamba has been brilliant today I feel sorry for him to be on a losing side.

Mings should not have headed that back to Taylor - it was a criminal thing to do but, wow, how slow was Taylor to react? He is absolutely devoid of a footballing brain.

Would you think we have the extra man?

We need to up the tempo of our attacks.

How did Sokratis not get booked for conning the ref? El Ghazi and Wesley are hugely disappointing for us. El Ghazi led a 5-man counter there and held on to it instead of playing it out wide. Terrible play from him.

That shot from Wes was terrible. He looks knackered and yet has hardly done anything. Trezeguet and McGinn have been the best two of our forward players. Engels at the back has been phenomenal so far.