FA Premier League

Aston Villa 2:2 Manchester United

Villa Park

Kick-off
Sat, 15 January 2022 @ 5:30pm GMT
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Discussion Your Lineup Prediction

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    Shark said:
    :wenger:

    Considering our last few performances that half was surely a big positive. We could be two or three to the good also.
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    The standards have dropped considerably if that half is being considered a big positive

    Villa were awful as soon as they go their shit together De Gea was being called into action
     
    The defence, DDG and Elanga have been great. The 4-3-3 suits us so much better and we're really hurting them with the extra width. Dalot and Mason causing Digne problems on the right and Elanga and Telles causing Cash problems on the left. Bruno much more involved too. Villa started to take control back in the last 20 mins or so. I think we need to be careful not to drop our defensive line too deep. I also think Fred has been poor positionally which has exposed our defence a number of times. This is the part that concerned me most as that central part of the pitch just above the back 4 has been a constant danger area for us this season and that side didn't really improve this game imo. Overall very happy with the performance and hope we build on it in the 2nd half.
     
    charlenefan said:
    Ralf Van Gaal

    Just so boring to watch only ahead due to a keeper clanger

    Greenwood though, if he was under Pep imagine how good he'd be. Hope we get a decent manager in so we don't waste his talent
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    I thought it was a pretty entertaining half.

    Maybe because we’ve been so bad lately but we were much better on the ball and we’re certainly threatening. Their defenders and midfielders were making lots of bad challenges because we taking them on and getting into dangerous areas.

    Obviously it would be good to have a couple clearer chances but we weren’t far away it felt like.
     
    yipthatman said:
    Can we just take a moment of appreciation for Sir Dave of Old Trafford and his magic between the sticks. Absolute world class keeper.
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    Back to his peak best, which is a miracle considering how far his level dropped. He could be here another decade easily.
     
    DickDastardly said:
    Our shape is what's improved the most.

    Somehow we look in good defensive shape.

    What gives? Elanga is sharpish in his defensive duties. Cavani helps with the properly shaped press.
    Maybe that's it.

    Can't quite tell
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    Fernandes is in a more disciplined central position. . I think the coaches have had a word in his ear. Often before he would be ahead of the striker.
     
    Bwuk said:
    The 433 is a much better shape and we look much more comfortable.
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    I see it more as a 4141. Fred is really high up at times, and Bruno has licence to pop up anywhere. Plus the wide attackers aren't too high up.

    I like it. It covers our spaces defensively, which means we can decide to sit back and defend with success if we actually ever wanted to, similar to Mourinho teams when he was focused on defending. Players are closer together which makes it easier to press. Bruno is given licence to create. Plus all of Greenwood, Rashford, Sancho, Amad, Elanga fit into this system, so it doesn't isolate or force anyone into a new role. On form, I can easily see Rashford taking Elanga's role. The protection from Matic also means Varane Lindelof and the full backs have that extra assurance, which has allowed Telles shine in this game.

    The major weakpoint though is that Matic is the only DM we have. He's the only one with the positioning to actually be able to play this role and he can't do this on a game to game basis. We really need to invest in that DM, its costing us. Even a short term cheap one would keep us steady in the short term. We literally don't have any proper box to box midfielders or DM's and it hurts us immensely in keeping the ball, recovering the ball in midfield or simply holding in midfield. We need at least 2 in this squad if this is our formation, as Fred, Mctominay, VDB or Pogba can't play this role.
     
    charlenefan said:
    Ralf Van Gaal

    Just so boring to watch only ahead due to a keeper clanger

    Greenwood though, if he was under Pep imagine how good he'd be. Hope we get a decent manager in so we don't waste his talent
    Click to expand...

    What a bonkers post.
     
    Ladron de redcafe said:
    Both Elanga and Cavani are pressing extremely well, as well. The gaps are being closed down really quickly, and Villa aren't being allowed to dictate so far.
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    Funny how the simple things make the most difference.

    You put Ronaldo with zero press and Rashford with zero defensive duties instead of Cavani and Elanga and you get heaps of pressure.
     
    Elanga has been OK this half. Some Conservative passes when unnecessary, one underhirt pass and two very good moments of beating a man.

    He hasnt been bad and he may well go on to be very good, but people are overrating his performances today.

    The player who has surprised me with firm decision making and assurances on the ball was Telles actually. In tight spaces and interchanges he has been better than I would expect. He was more bullish in getting into the final third too.
     
    charlenefan said:
    The standards have dropped considerably if that half is being considered a big positive
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    Yes they have, which is why we're in such a mess.

    This half is a step in the right direction for those standards.
     
    charlenefan said:
    The standards have dropped considerably if that half is being considered a big positive

    Villa were awful as soon as they go their shit together De Gea was being called into action
    Click to expand...
    Oh ffs. If we lise we're shit and if we're winning, we're shit because it's still shitter than it used to be. Rome wasn't built in a day, Charlene.
     
    charlenefan said:
    Ralf Van Gaal

    Just so boring to watch only ahead due to a keeper clanger

    Greenwood though, if he was under Pep imagine how good he'd be. Hope we get a decent manager in so we don't waste his talent
    Click to expand...
    I'll take that if it stops us conceding 4 goals a game like we were under Ole. Playing sensible football is going to win us more points than the stupid 4-2-4 shite. I'm far more entertained when we're not losing, personally.
     
    Good half, that.

    Only frustrating parts were Fred's ball control and the fact that we didn't seem to want to test them hard enough the last 4 minutes with Konsa barely able to stand...
     
    charlenefan said:
    The standards have dropped considerably if that half is being considered a big positive

    Villa were awful as soon as they go their shit together De Gea was being called into action
    Click to expand...

    That's exactly the point, standards have dropped but that half was probably our most complete so far under Ralf and we controlled the majority of it. It's a big positive.
     
    Bruno running the game so far, along with Ma$e.

    Fred less so.
     
    VP89 said:
    Elanga has been OK this half. Some Conservative passes when unnecessary, one underhirt pass and two very good moments of beating a man.

    He hasnt been bad and he may well go on to be very good, but people are overrating his performances today.

    The player who has surprised me with firm decision making and assurances on the ball was Telles actually. In tight spaces and interchanges he has been better than I would expect. He was more bullish in getting into the final third too.
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    3 premier league start ever, given the context and given how awful we have been of late, i think he has been excellent, shown great maturity, been direct. Yes its not perfect but why put such a downer on it?
     
    charlenefan said:
    The standards have dropped considerably if that half is being considered a big positive

    Villa were awful as soon as they go their shit together De Gea was being called into action
    Click to expand...
    Not really , how many chances are we talking about here ?

    Header was from a set piece and Digne's was a direct attempt which any keeper would save. It's not really that Villa getting "their shit" together
     
    Shark said:
    Back to his peak best, which is a miracle considering how far his level dropped. He could be here another decade easily.
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    I think his attitude changed. He wanted a.move and his form dipped. But he realises now he isnt getting that. Nobody was rushing for him..so he was in early preseason and has shown.more commitment. That needs to rub off on others.
     
    Ranchero said:
    Fernandes is in a more disciplined central position. . I think the coaches have had a word in his ear. Often before he would be ahead of the striker.
    Click to expand...

    Ah that.

    Knew i was missing something, couldnt put my finger on.

    You're right. Bruno has been really calm and disciplined.
     
    charlenefan said:
    The standards have dropped considerably if that half is being considered a big positive

    Villa were awful as soon as they go their shit together De Gea was being called into action
    Click to expand...
    Everything is relative. That half was good considering our recent form but it wasn’t great objectively speaking.
     
    Shark said:
    That's exactly the point, standards have dropped but that half was probably our most complete so far under Ralf and we controlled the majority of it. It's a big positive.
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    And no press! Shoes the German is willing to adapt and isn't all about philosophy.
     
    So many comments about Elanga not being as talented as Rashford but working harder. So so many people really overrate how 'talented' Rashford is, he's distinctly average.
     
    Walters_19_MuFc said:
    Teams will always have spells in the game. What impressed me is that we kept the ball pretty well at the end of the half and killed their momentum. Second half, we need to come out the traps and hopefully get that second goal because Villa do look like they have a goal in them.
    Click to expand...

    Yeah been much better with the ball
     
    Biggest difference is not Ronaldo, he didn't play the last game. It's Elanga for Rashford and Bruno sitting deeper.
     
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Post-match discussion

Man of the Match

Bruno Fernandes image Bruno Fernandes 43% of 239 votes

Runners-up

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Player Ratings

5.4 Total Average Rating

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Lowest Rated Player

Compiled from 253 ratings.
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Score Predictions

93,77,38
  • Man Utd win
  • Aston Villa win
  • Draw

Detailed Results

  • 19% Aston Villa 1:2 Man Utd
  • 13% Aston Villa 1:1 Man Utd
  • 12% Aston Villa 2:1 Man Utd
  • 12% Aston Villa 2:0 Man Utd
  • 7% Aston Villa 0:2 Man Utd
  • 6% Aston Villa 0:1 Man Utd
  • 6% Aston Villa 1:3 Man Utd
  • 6% Aston Villa 3:0 Man Utd
  • 5% Aston Villa 3:1 Man Utd
  • 4% Aston Villa 2:2 Man Utd
  • 2% Aston Villa 0:0 Man Utd
  • 2% Aston Villa 0:3 Man Utd
  • 2% Aston Villa 1:0 Man Utd
  • 1% Aston Villa 0:4 Man Utd
  • 1% Aston Villa 0:5 Man Utd
  • 0% Aston Villa 4:0 Man Utd
  • 0% Aston Villa 4:2 Man Utd
  • 0% Aston Villa 2:3 Man Utd
  • 0% Aston Villa 2:4 Man Utd
  • 0% Aston Villa 1:4 Man Utd
  • 0% Aston Villa 2:5 Man Utd
  • 0% Aston Villa 1:5 Man Utd
Compiled from 208 predictions.
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Match Stats

  1. Aston Villa
  2. Man Utd
Possession
55% 45%
Shots
13 13
Shots on Target
9 6
Corners
3 6
Fouls
8 13

Referee

David Coote

Man Utd Lineup

Substitutes

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