Aston Villa 0-0 West Ham Utd (16/09/19)

[Roby]

Thought it was a great game last night.

Certainly very entertaining for a 0-0.

[BethnalGreenHammer74]

We had plenty of possession, but didn't seem to get out of 2nd gear. We always seem to slow down in the final third, giving the opposition a chance to get everyone behind the ball. Then we Pass it around the edge of the box slowly waiting for an idea, then we struggle to get back from the other teams counter attack. We still seem to lack self belief in games. Strange game and a bit disappointment we didn't win, but also pleased with the commitment of the players, especially the last 30 mins.
Onwards and upwards.

[thejackhammer]

Despite the clean sheet, I think we're a couple of good full-backs from being a genuine top six side. Ones that can defend aswell as offer attacking options.

On the red card, as soon as Noble and Arthur got booked we were saying which one will get sent off first? My guess was the thick **** Arthur, but in all honesty it could and should of been Noble for that dive. Very poor game management from both of them considering the opportunity to go third was on offer.

Arthur gets sent off because a Villa player dives and Noble's ankle turns and he trips over and that's your response?

[e17]

Fully expected to lose 1-0 last night with it all being about the bounce of a new premiership team getting a result at home in a Monday night game with the cameras on them.

That’s the role we usually play in these early doors “banana skin” matches. Not to mention ones with that **** officiating.

Absolutely fantastic result.

[S-H]

We attacked until the very end, even with ten men, away from home.

Since the opening day mauling by Man City, it feels like we are more street wise, have we finally lost our soft underbelly?

[Crossd_Hammrs]

And, despite everyone's defensive concerns, that's two clean sheets on the bounce.

I think our clean sheet was more a reflection of their inadequacies in front of our goal than our great defending - they missed some real sitters and Ogbonna and Rice might have conceded penalties for pushing and holding on another day.
That said, we have looked a lot better at the back the past couple of games and hopefully the defence will gain confidence from that.

Interestingly Declan Rice seemed to think it was a sending off [well, he certainly hinted that in his interview]

Noble seemed to think so in his interview too. Perhaps they were just being diplomatic, but then neither of them would have seen a replay.
I thought Masuaku's first booking was a bit unlucky, but the second one was ridiculous. The lino had a clear view so very disappointing.
And why on Earth did we turn possession over to them when we were attacking? They decided to play advantage themselves then Anderson just shrugged his shoulders and passed it to them when we got on the counter attack. Did we then throw the resultant throw-in back to them too.

Very inconsistent with cards (for both teams). And I'm not sure how Fredericks didn't get a penalty - Mings looked guilty as sin and looked nervously at both the linesman and ref as he was getting up.
Not sure what the point of VAR is if it doesn't get referred to.

They were discussing if he was good enough to play for a Champions League level club, so clearly Man U and Liverpool are going to be part of the discussion

But Man Utd aren't a Champions League level club, again, for the third time in recent seasons.

And while we may have "traditionally lost this fixture", Aston Villa were traditionally a top-half / UEFA qualifying team, not a newly-promoted / in the bottom three team.

We didn't play well enough to take the three points and the bright side is that we didn't lose or concede- just! But without anyone being truly bad, we didn't play well. We really should have done better.

Our set pieces: goal kicks, throws, corners and free kicks are all terrible - still!

[davids cross]

When you play away in the Premier League, you can never be too critical when a point is secured.

Nothing is easy.

In abstract, a decent point. We looked like we had the extra man ....

[WorcesterWHU]

The more I think about it, the more happy I am about the point and a clean sheet. Playing better when down to 10 feels a bit confusing but it's heartening that we didn't just bunker down on the edge of the box and hope for the best; on another day with better decision-making we make one of those breaks count and take all three points.

But we keep the unbeaten run going and if we're looking at our potential peer group in that spot around 7th place, then it's a better result than Everton managed up there.

Feeling positive

[Crouchend_Hammer]

Arthur gets sent off because a Villa player dives and Noble's ankle turns and he trips over and that's your response?

Come now. Let's call a spade a spade
He went down like a sack of spuds looking for that!
He knew he had done wrong so he jumped back up again but that doesn't excuse the fact he was looking for a touch that never came.
If that was Grealish at the other end people would be going mad he wasn't booked again.

Not Noble''s finest moment in an otherwise decent performance from him.

Having seen the Frederick's incident again, I have seen those given. He got to the ball first for sure. It would have been contentious but certainly had merit

[Clacton-ammer]

Funny game last night, at times we looked a top side that were going to go on to win it, other times it felt same old west ham.

Only real disappointment was that we didn't really create much and test their keeper.

Not a huge fan of Arthur, was never a sending off, guess he will miss Man U which is a blow as he has started the season really well.

Overall a point away from home should never be sniffed at, just feels we missed an opportunity.

Declan - pure class, just needs to add a few more killer balls to his repertoire and he will be the complete midfielder, he is a Rolls Royce at doing what he does. Haller, another great game and perfect for how Pellers wants to play, thought he ran his socks off and held the ball really well, shame we couldn't give him anything to finish.

[21212]

Villa we're so, so poor.
To reach the next level you need to improve the away form and we won't have many better chances than last night.
Anderson had another Anderson game. He will have one good gane in 12 games time, when the opposition sit off and let him, and supporters will say he is world class. Rinse and repeat.
Yarmalenko is awful. Like a racehorse that needs putting down.
Noble done what he does - behind pace of game, on edge of red card - but he plays a captains role. When he us injured/suspended maybe we can bring Billy Bonds back to do his role?
Rice too safe in his passing. Sitting and holding with safe passes isn't enough against poor teams like Villa. Why was Grealish so prominent in the second half?
Diop still getting bullied.
Lanzini was superb the first 25 minutes then disappeared. He is our key player.
Pretty patterns in front of opposition defence but again lack of running behind them. Haller does not work with our style of play unless we get wide players making diagonal runs beyond him.
Fabisnski the best keeper we've had since Parkes. So under rated.
Mings the best defender on the pitch.

[Crouchend_Hammer]

But Man Utd aren't a Champions League level club, again, for the third time in recent seasons.

That is being literal in the extreme. They got to the QF last season and missed out this time by a point or two. They have qualified nearly every year for 25 years and will probably do so for 8 out of next 10 years.
They are a Champions League level club which ever way you look at it

Agree with rest of your post though.

A point is a good result esp given the circumstances but we didn't to play that well and extremely disappointing that Heaton didn't get his gloves dirty at all

[SammyLeeWasOffside]

Must have been watching a different game to some. Thought it was fairly dire, very little quality and two pretty evenly matched teams - which is a concern.

We lacked any sense of urgency or desire to take hold of the game. We have pace going forward but looked slow, we lacked any sense of a plan to create chances. In Anderson, lanzini etc we have talent that should be controlling these games. Thought nobes had a night to forget, nothing he tried worked. Haller is going to get frustrated in a hurry playing games like that.

A performance that says we are more likely to be mid table than top 6. This is potentially the best west ham team in a long time but it can't have too many days when the total is less than the sum of the parts.

[woodford]

Decent result all things considered. Don't get the missed opportunity thing. We're 5 games into a 38 game season. Like being 3rd for 5 days in September really is a benchmark. Maybe Sullivan could do a tasteful "3rd in September" DVD. Of course it would be great to be in 3rd this morning, but it really would mean sod all

Been watching this club long enough to know that this was the sort of game we would ordinarily gift to Villa. It had all the hallmarks, Mings doing his rags to riches story during the international break, dueling banjos McGinn apparently being a Scottish Messi, and the Poundland Peaky Blinder Grealish unable to glide across the park as Alan Smiths lips were welded to his arse.

Another clean sheet and perhaps the best Declan Rice game since last season. Mike Dean had his Judy Garland moment, Masuaku was a nailed on red card from the second he got the 1st booking, he adds a lot but still seems like there's a lot to learn. Anderson wasn't at his best, Ogbonna was excellent

We are better than last season.

[Estuary]

The challenge on Fredricks in the box has as much contact as Arthur’s for the second yellow.
The ref made key errors, if Arthur was justifiably sent off, then we should have had a pen late in the game.
It’s these in consistencies that effect the games and drive me mad.

[hammerman11]

missed opportunity I feel. we didn't get out of second gear until Arthur got sent off and we should have won it then.

Arthur unlucky with the scond yellow but it was coming for either him or noble.
we looked poor up front and didn't give haller much chance.
Anderson lanzini and yarmolenko all had below par games at the same time.

fabianski 8 saved us again. best keeper we have had since parkes.
fredericks 7 did ok and should have got a penalty late on
masuaka 5 rash with the tackles and didn't think .
ogbonna 7 good solid game. keeps his place
diop 8 another good game and kept Wesley quiet.
noble 6 ran a lot but not his usual composed self. didnt dive his leg gave way and stumbled
rice 9 all action game, in front of southgate. needs to be captain next season.
lanzini 6 too slow and too deep
anderson 6 not his usual self. doesnt drive into the box enough
yarmolenko 4 so off the pace and not in the game. looked a pub player
haller 7 feeding on scraps , a few half chances

subs
zabaleta 7 charged forward and looked sprightly for last 20 mins or so
fornals 7 showed some energy in an unusual position for him. could and should have won it at the end.
balbuena 6 not enough time to judge.

a point away is good but we should have more if we want to get to the next level.
onto the mancs and the problem of left back ? cresswell or johnson ????????????????????????

[Croydon]

21212 trying to reel them in :lol:

[Absolutely Hammered!]

I thought villa showed us a lot of respect last night and it seemed like every time we attacked they had 2 banks of 4 which limited our chances. If you asked a neutral who was the home side I doubt they would've said villa so I suppose this shows how far we've come as a club.
Shame Andersons header wasnt in the top corner but cant moan too much as you are told to head the ball down. As long as we keep the scoreboard ticking over like we have been we will be right in the mix this season.

[S-H]

21212 trying to reel them in :lol:

He/she will get plenty of bites.

[westham,eggyandchips]

The ref made key errors, if Arthur was justifiably sent off, then we should have had a pen late in the game.

I wouldnt disagree with that.

But refs have bad games more often than not. How many times a season do we say "ref had a good game today"? a handful at most. You'd think in this day and age the ref would be helped with key decisions..... oh hang on.