15 Jan 2022 21:04:33
My observations on the game were as everyone has said, for the first 30 minutes we just weren't at the races but picked up after that. On the negative side again we saw that the Watkins/Ings partnership just doesn't work with the system we play, and at the risk of being a little controversial maybe we should consider selling Ings or perhaps both Ings and Watkins and sign a real top quality out and out striker whose goals to games ratio is better, like Patrick Schick at Bayer Leverkusen leading scorer in the Bundesliga and proven at international level that maybe the only way we are to get the best out of the creativity we are trying to create as a team. I think we saw the best of Digne going forward and he does get quality balls into the box, but defensively he looked suspect every time Greenwood ran at him and let's be honest Greenwood isn't an out and out winger so that's an area we probably need to watch. I thought Buendia grew into the game and had his best performance in a Villa shirt it will be interesting to see if Gerrard can accommodate Coutinho and Buendia in the same starting XI. Chukwuemeka had a decent cameo and I thought Hause was decent when he came on but he does make me nervous when he dwells on the ball, overall it was a decent performance and something to build on, and much as I liked Dean Smith I don't think we would have managed this type of comeback we're he still in charge.

1.) 15 Jan 2022
15 Jan 2022 21:40:57
Loti, good summary, i was talking to my son and we both agreed, Ings and Ollie were not at the races and i agree if we could get good money from Arsenal for Ollie let him go, obviously providing we get a suitable replacement. Ings is a bench warmer at best, i thought Buendia was absolute class and gets better every game. Its such a pity that we get punished for every mistake and yet we never seem to do the same to the opposition Martinez could go the rest of his career and not make another ricket like their opening goal. Dougie had yet another indifferent display and is far to inconsistent for my liking. Good comeback in the second half and another ten minutes there was only going to be one winner. Just a final word on Hause, great cover for Konsa and hope he stays as defensive cover.

2.) 15 Jan 2022
15 Jan 2022 22:34:09
Lord, in response to your Smith comment, he was the one that beat United with the high press.
Gerrard said we were passive but for me it's his focus on being compact that has led to us playing defensively against them and allowing them chances.
We should have won Monday and did well to get a point today so there are positives but I don't think you can use it as a dig against Smith when we beat them with him in charge.

3.) 15 Jan 2022
15 Jan 2022 22:51:57
On a separate note, Smith must love playing Everton, he's got a great record against them since coming to Premier league, I hope he keeps Norwich up and sink Newcastle at the same time.

4.) 15 Jan 2022
15 Jan 2022 22:56:57
Rk if you read any of my posts prior to Smith’s dismissal you will see I was one of his biggest advocates on this site, my comment was not intended as a dig at Smith but merely reflective of the positive nature of the substitutions Gerrard made, and a willingness to remain positive and try to create chances rather than sitting back and trying to hit teams on the counter.

5.) 16 Jan 2022
16 Jan 2022 07:28:44
Fair enough lord but you can surely see why it seems a strange time to mention it?
The same with 'sit back and counter'. At Old Trafford earlier in the season we were playing with 7 or 8 players in their half for most of the game.
There may have been games where it was the tactic but on the whole it was the players dropping deeper every match and not backing themselves.

6.) 16 Jan 2022
16 Jan 2022 08:46:41
Fair enough rk but the tactic of sitting back as an approach comes from the coach, and I think under Gerrard we won’t be adopting the what we have we hold we will be more offensive in our outlook throughout games

7.) 16 Jan 2022
16 Jan 2022 09:53:17
It might be that he's only just become comfortable letting the team off the leash in the last couple of games but on the whole I feel that Gerrard has taken more of a sit deep and soak up pressure approach so far.