WTF happened 2nd half?

[Agreasychipbutty]

First half we seemed to be all over them. I didn't have a great view from the kop but we seemed to be playing fast and taking shots when we could, realy working their keeper and even an over-head kick (fancy).

I'm not saying just shoot from 35 yards but there's a limit of how many passes are needed before we just play it into the box or have a crack.

I liked Evans all game, puzzled as to why he came off and lunny came on (I see Evans a a straight upgrade from lundstram). He seemed to play forward nicely, after our 3 subs we just hoofed it down the line and hoped Donaldson could win the ball and run through 3 men, which just ain't happening.

It seemed late on we went back to the way we have been playing recently, scared to challenge or cross. On the wings we endlessly pass back which eventually results in us loosing the ball. Defensively we can have 3 on 1 and be scared to lunge in for a challenge.

Overall another frustrating game where I feel we could have won or drawn, definitely didn't deserve to loose

 

[Harry's Game]

Villa also were better second half than first half. Have to give them credit as well as being critical of us.

 

[sheffielder]

We came out sloppy and ended up making subs because of that. We then struggled to get going but still deserved the win

 

[Rodley]

We came out sloppy and ended up making subs because of that. We then struggled to get going but still deserved the win

Agree we started that second half poorly.

 

[LJBlade]

I lost count of the number of times in the second half where we could have crossed ball but instead decided to turn back, thereby completely killing the momentum of the attack. Baldock and Stevens are particularly bad for this

 

[5tannington Blade]

Did feel a bit like Wednesday match, ran out of ideas in the last twenty minutes

 

[Blade56]

Second half they dropped 10 behind when we attacked and played long balls over our midfield on the break and closed our defenders down quickly. Put us off our game.

How did we end up with two yellows after their high boots, dives etc?

 

[Dkc]

Surprised Wilson went off, he looked sharper than Leon. On a soft yellow, but didn't look in danger of being sent off. Wilson was a big positive for me.

 

[Antonb]

villa played better second half, simple as. Yes a draw would have been fair, but if you let Snodgrass onto his left boot in the box your asking for trouble. Thanks Stevens you dumb ass.

 

[yorkshirecoast]

Surprised Wilson went off, he looked sharper than Leon. On a soft yellow, but didn't look in danger of being sent off. Wilson was a big positive for me.

I thought Wilson was poor. Constantly gave the ball away and contributed little. He committed numerous silly fouls too so was running the risk of a red card.

 

[Agreasychipbutty]

Surprised Wilson went off, he looked sharper than Leon. On a soft yellow, but didn't look in danger of being sent off. Wilson was a big positive for me.

You could tell he needed to come off, he was playing well but was clearly tired, jogging after the ball instead of chasing it down full sprint, starting to make sloppy touches. I think the yellow didn't have a lot to do with it.

 

[Rufus Smalls]

They closed us down in midfield and didn’t let us bring the ball out from defence. When teams do that to us we stop looking comfortable on the ball and start panicking a bit. Invariably the ball then ends up being knocked backwards and eventually back to Moore and so we loose our momentum.

 

[Adiroy]

I knew what was coming when villa were out waiting about 5 mins early for the 2nd half!

We created enough chances.. just didnt take them!

 

[Agreasychipbutty]

We created enough chances.. just didnt take them!

First half we did and we had a few short spells of looking good in the second but it was mostly hoofing and playing it up and down the wing to no avail. Their keeper won it for them IMO, made a few nice saves first half and one or 2 right at

 

[PaulHalfway]

Villa are a good side with highly expensive players and a wage bill probably 5 times more than ours. They upped their game in the second half and we ultimately ran out of ideas how to open them up. I would have brought Duffy on to try an retain possession further up the field and more creativity.Always a killer when you concede in the last minute like the Bristol game. But I think you always have to consider the budgets and quality if some of these team, Wolves are the same, we are in a different league financially, so are we punching above our weight ultimately

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

That's a good away performance from them. I was also nervous every time they got a set piece and we gave far too many away, they have quality on the deliveries and a load of big buggers to put in the box - unnecessary pressure to place on ourselves!

I think the midfield subs shafted us, we were too unbalanced as a result after. I wouldn't have brought Lundstram or Holmes on.

 

[Trueblade]

I mentioned it on another thread, that second half we were pretty poor. But I was baffled that we removed Evans. He was the only one who seemed able to keep hold of the ball and break there play up. When he went off Villa seemed to find holes between the midfield and defence and we couldn’t keep hold of the ball.

We then brought Holmes on, and I thought we seemed to do that just because he hadn’t played yet, rather than because he was what we needed.

 

[metalblade]

Too much hoofball in the second half especially after Donaldson came on, made it easy for Terry and Co.

 

[Steve Mackan]

I would have brought Duffy on to try an retain possession further up the field

Duffy is far and away are the most important player in this formation. I don't see any point in playing with a flat-ish three in midfield, Duffy is needed hold the ball up and allow wing-back and centre-backs to get into position.

We're starting to see the floor in the back three/five now insofar as we always look like we could concede.

 

[Kenilworth]

I said to Ken Jnr that Evans, Wilson and Leonard were running out of steam second half. So Wilder was right to make the changes. Agree Evans was very impressive but each one of them was getting sloppy in possession as their energy levels subsided. Wilson was in danger of getting a second yellow as his fatigue may have resulted in a late challenge.

Thought the front two were chasing shadows and Leon seemed to be less sharp e.g. He was on his heels for that superb cross Bash (yes Bash) put in second half when Elmahamody read it and he didn't.
Not convinced Wilson provided any more than Sharp would have - or Don, if he started. Overhead kick aside I didn't see enough quality from him and his first touch was awful - we remarked on that several times.

Still get frustrated at the lack of quality crossing from Baldock and Stevens. They get in great positions but don't seem to be capable of whipping a ball in at pace to give the keeper a nightmare choice.

A real positive was the quality delivery from Evans on his corners. He was doing what Snodgrass does, whipping it in with pace making it really difficult to defend.

One moment of quality won that game.
Johnstone made some outstanding saves. At least 4.
Baldock had a really good game again but while Johnstone made two great saves from him the shots were more pace than placed- but that's being really picky.

Villa knew they had been in a game against a very good side.

We'll just have to turn it on again at the Molineux on Satdi.

 

[AWetFlannel]

First half we seemed to be all over them. I didn't have a great view from the kop but we seemed to be playing fast and taking shots when we could, realy working their keeper and even an over-head kick (fancy).

I'm not saying just shoot from 35 yards but there's a limit of how many passes are needed before we just play it into the box or have a crack.

I liked Evans all game, puzzled as to why he came off and lunny came on (I see Evans a a straight upgrade from lundstram). He seemed to play forward nicely, after our 3 subs we just hoofed it down the line and hoped Donaldson could win the ball and run through 3 men, which just ain't happening.

It seemed late on we went back to the way we have been playing recently, scared to challenge or cross. On the wings we endlessly pass back which eventually results in us loosing the ball. Defensively we can have 3 on 1 and be scared to lunge in for a challenge.

Overall another frustrating game where I feel we could have won or drawn, definitely didn't deserve to loose

When we had 3 on Grealish, you should be scared to lunge in. We could have 10 on him, he waits for a player to lunge, moves the ball and goes down.
If only it were as easy as the criticisms you raise.

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

Give credit to Steve Bruce. He made adjustments at Half time which changed the game completely.

That's what happens at the Sharp end of the league. Teams have plans, make adjustments, shift tactics.

This is where Tufty has to learn (remember it's his first season at this level too). He'll get it right.

In Tufty we Trust!

 

[Dnblade]

Yeah,2nd half was more even after being the better side in the first,but didn't take our chances..Villa had the Grealish shot and that was about it until the goal.
We never really got behind them,it was difficult,they were deep no space...the only time we caught them on the break,Wilson lost the ball....I would have loved to see us get one on one with Terry or Hutton,but it never happened...Another day,we put our chances away and win the game.
Villa are a good side to be fair,but fortunate to go away with 3 points.