we were always second best today even though we scored so early on. If they had been 3 - 1 up at half time we couldn't have complained they were so much quicker to the ball and their passing was immaculate. However our 2 centre backs looked as tho they had never played together before and they punished us down the wings.
The sending off changed the game but I felt that Hill threw in the towel- we gave them all the posession and they were bound to score which they duly did. After they scored their second why didn't he throw an attacking player on. KH needs to find a plan B

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Poor game, poor performance, but could prove a valuable point come the end of the season.

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dire performance against a totally defensive set up Villa. Goal conceded was very poor.

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Shocking match, no atmosphere at the game. Looked like none of our players were up for it at all. I thought our tempo was too slow and we never really got in behind Villa apart from the goal.

Was surprised to see Schneiderlin take so many corners. With all the corners we had, we never threatened from any of them except a soft header from Fonte straight at the keeper. I think it is a part of our game we need to improve on. We have the height. Look at Chelsea and how many goals they get from corners.

Villa never really looked like scoring to be honest. Mistakes will happen from time to time and at least we clawed our way back. A point is better than none but this is a game we needed to win and to show some intent.

Not so much of a "marching" on after this performance, more of a "stumble"on...

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Sadio Mané is not all that....

He set the tone five minutes in when our first neat build-up—what at the time promised to be the first of many—fell to him on the left of the box and he casually sliced it across the by-line. Oh dear. From there on in everything he touched turned to shyte. All that running, all that speed, and not a single shot on target or decent pass into the box. Dreadful.

There was a massive loss of creativity playing both Mané & Long which could have been corrected by playing Cork from half time at least. We sorely missed Davis, and Forster's error was Borucian in magnitude - he'd better not do that again.

MOM was Clyne, of course, the on-form guy had a fantastic game. He read Bertrand's pass brilliantly, and Bertrand showed real genius spotting the space and placing the ball as he did. Wish the rest of the team had played at the same level as our full backs.

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Tadic has been going off the ball since Mane burst on the scene. Now they are both having poor games.
Pelle is not getting any service and is therefore just making up the numbers.
Wrong starting lineup and system and subs too late so not a good match for Koeman either. (Didn't like saying that!)

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Meant going off the boil!

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We were as bad as the Villans. Draw a fair rsult.

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Meant going off the boil!

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It was a OK game. We had the ball the whole time. Our formation was a 4-2-3-1 and it was good but bad at the same time. With that formation and Shane as a CAM, we dominated possession forcing them back. We were susceptible to the counter attack therefore. After a huge error we let up due to a counter attack. The game wasn't as free flowing. I don't think 4-2-3-1 should be our system right out of the gate. I think it should be the system when we want to be more direct and offensive. We should stick with the freedom 4-3-3 comes with. Since we were so offensive, we didn't bring out their defense. By bringing out their defense, we give Pelle more space and he can control it easier layoff and we can score. The only way to have done that is to have gotten rid of the CAM position and brought on another central midfielder aka Jack Cork or we should have played direct soccer but I know that is not Koemans style. Jack Cork should have started and we should have played 4-3-3.Tadic kept switching from the right to the left because he knew that the right side wasn't on. again Mane neglected to switch to the right side. I don't think Mane gets it but it will only come with playing together more often. Regardless....I think Graziano is due a goal at the moment. MOTM Clyne....got us the point. Bertrand was amazing all game....either of them deserved it. Fraser has to step it up. The defense can't be perfect every time so that's when you come in. In the end it was his fault but I think Toby could have handled it better.

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