Central midfield

[Bwian]

Yes seriously - we should have gone two up, LuaLua laid on two really good chances after the first goal.

The second half was a slog but defending well is also part of the game.

Well done Sami.

I understand there will be those who have totally given up him and I don't have any big argument with those people, he's still on very thin ice. But if you couldn't enjoy the progress we've made tonight, then that's a shame

Frankly there was no progress made whatsoever. We were fortunate that Wigan are as bad as us otherwise they'd have had a field day. I'm all for trying to find positives but there are none with this lot apart from Walton being given some experience which he is handling very well. We are a very poorly coached side in serious danger of remaining in the struggle zone which will see crowds disappear even more.

 

[perseus]

Harsh assessments of Gardner. He actually wasn't too bad tonight. Actually seemed to be TRYING a bit.

I though Gardner looked OK for the first time. In the eagerness to get forward we by-passed the midfield to a certain extent. I thought as we were 1-0 we should have played the defensive possession game a bit more.

 

[London Irish]

Sami did spoil my night by being a clueless manager for the club I've followed for 40 years home and away.

He finally played some in their correct positions but then left such a powder puff midfield in the middle it was laughable.

You're a classic example of a fan who loses objectivity because they hate a manager so much they are utterly blind to when they do some decent things.

Look, hate away if you want, that's your right - but don't insult verbally or the intelligence of the rest of us trying to genuinely watch our football and be more fairminded.

 

[London Irish]

Frankly there was no progress made whatsoever. We were fortunate that Wigan are as bad as us otherwise they'd have had a field day. I'm all for trying to find positives but there are none with this lot apart from Walton being given some experience which he is handling very well. We are a very poorly coached side in serious danger of remaining in the struggle zone which will see crowds disappear even more.

You may well end up being proved right. But not tonight

 

[BensGrandad]

I thought Gardner had his best game for us and the changes in midfield meant Bennett could fill in and cover Calderon. Great improvement that will reap the rewards.

 

[DavePage]

I guess as a club we are Premiership ready, as ready as Leicester, Burnley and QPR were.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

You're a classic example of a fan who loses objectivity because they hate a manager so much they are utterly blind to when they do some decent things.

Look, hate away if you want, that's your right - but don't insult verbally or the intelligence of the rest of us trying to genuinely watch our football and be more fairminded.

Nurse...............nurse.................NURSE He's out of bed again, nurse.








You sir are a condescending "small scratch" as the medical profession call it when giving an injection

 

[Stat Brother]

What are the chances Sami is thinking 'the midfield still isn't quite working'.
Makes a small change or 2 for Blackburn.
Then gets hammered on here for 'squad rotation', by all the Sam people that are saying the midfield was terrible.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

Harsh assessments of Gardner. He actually wasn't too bad tonight. Actually seemed to be TRYING a bit.

There is a decent player in there, and tonight he played a lot better, including making runs into their penalty area. He just needs to work harder, closing down, and finding space.

 

[Rookie]

Frankly there was no progress made whatsoever. We were fortunate that Wigan are as bad as us otherwise they'd have had a field day. I'm all for trying to find positives but there are none with this lot apart from Walton being given some experience which he is handling very well. We are a very poorly coached side in serious danger of remaining in the struggle zone which will see crowds disappear even more.

I disagree about no progress, players were in positions they actually know. It was a start, a small one, but a start.

 

[Marshy]

There is no doubt however that Dale Stephens is a huge miss in our cenrtral midfield.

We are desperate for him to get fit and sharpish.

 

[BUTTERBALL]

Why not give Toko a go, he looked good in the footage i have seen of him.

 

[Peter Grummit]

Had I been compiling the Players scores:

Gardner scored tonight so I gave him a point for that.

Which would give him a total of ............ 1.... total for the last three games

Surely Villa have a deal with the Albion that he has to play while on loan.

Dreadful

I'm no fan of Gardner but that is overly harsh.

His goal won us 2 points which is 1 more than you've given him. And his assist (decent crossfield pass) v Rotherham was worth zero?

What I find frustrating about him is he has potential (passing, shooting, mobility) but his decision making and consistency is not yet good enough.

PG

 

[Napper]

I must be the only one who actually thought Wigan looked a half decent side to a point and think they will not be in the relegation battle at all

 

[Yoda]

Surely Villa have a deal with the Albion that he has to play while on loan.

Dreadful

Out of the last 14 games (since he's been here), he has been an unused sub in two games and played some part (whether starting or coming off the bench)

 

[Marshy]

I must be the only one who actually thought Wigan looked a half decent side to a point and think they will not be in the relegation battle at all

I thought Wigan were as good a side as I have seen this season, just lacked a finisher.

There is absolutely zero chance of them being relegated or struggling in my opinion

 

[Bwian]

I must be the only one who actually thought Wigan looked a half decent side to a point and think they will not be in the relegation battle at all

They will probably be changing their manager soon if results continue as they are. Their biggest problem last night was their shooting. They had a lot of attempts but because their players were leaning back when they shot, the roof was in more danger than the goal most of the time. Other than that part of their game, they looked to have dominated possession and probably deserved at least a point but thankfully didn't get.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

Why not give Toko a go, he looked good in the footage i have seen of him.

From his brief cameo at Burton I would think we have better options. I am not sure Sami is picking them - but I doubt Toko is the answer.

 

[Rich Suvner]

What?...only when he isn't under pressure..... in a congested midfield he doesn't cope well, he is muscled off the ball easily,....

Exactly.

 

[durrington gull]

Needed to play Holla or Ince - we were totally overrun