StrangelyBrown

Forster was miles better than McCarthy has been for a long time - knew when to put his foot through it and committed himself when he needed to. Much better team performance. Didn't think Redmond was as bad as everyone else seems to think. Salisu looked good albeit with a few iffy moments. Armstrong was a class above tonight.

Completely agree. Europe is a bonus but the fa and League cup are the only things we've got a hope of winning and I'd love for us to win something meaningful in my lifetime.

Having had 24 hours to be a bit more rational about this, I'm surprised Ings isn't getting more grief. He was really poor yesterday - he had 2 chances that he should have put away and his touch was really heavy - if he'd put them away we would have won and we would be having a very different debate on here. He doesn't seem to have recaptured his form and always looks knackered. I'm beginning to think he needed a bit more time before coming back. Otherwise I wonder if it would have been better for bednarek to start at right back from the start - easy to say with hindsight, but he suffered more than anyone against United and it clearly has impacted his confidence and that change helped the problems with having Stephens at right back. From a plan b perspective we haven't had one in 3 years so I don't expect that to change any time soon, but we have picked up a lot of points with a very average squad so I'm less worried about that than the whole team's ability to score goals which is my biggest worry at the moment - I just don't see where it goals are coming from without Ings playing well.

We need a plan to break teams down - it's been our problem for ages. If a team don't come out we don't have a clue what to do. Individual performances side Ralph needs a plan b.

I'm not sure I see the hate for Redmond - he's played ok. Bednarek is an accident waiting to happen - his confidence looks shot. Ings touch is diabolical - it's like he's turned into Theo. McCarthy also looking poor but again confidence is probably shot. In the bright side we've had enough chances to be winning this...

100% poor play from bednarek

There's an interesting point above on why VAR was brought in in the first place. As I remember it was brought in because of the sheer number of mistakes made by the officials.... Good to see it hasn't made any difference. Arguably it has made things worse. The solution was to get rid of the corrupt and inept celebrity referees but unfortunately they remain and continue to spoil football. Football used to be a game that was played in the same manner with the same rules regardless of whether it was a grassroots game or an international. VAR ruined that. Now we have VAR in some FA cup games and not others. Football is now broken IMO

Watching the goals back I think it's time for Forster. I thought I'd never say that... I'm hoping we see a bit of a reaction. Certainly nothing tonight.

Contact after the dive started... Dean's a fucking crook

My god we are shit. United aren't doing anything special. It seems the mental fragility is well and truly back.

Just to provide some balance. I've just been talking to a villa supporting mate who thought we battered them throughout, that we were desperately unlucky and thought we deserved the Romeu and Ings goals.

We've been done by a referee from Portsmouth - who'd have thought that possible. Referees bringing the game into disrepute. What the fuck is the point if nothing happens about this. The club owe it to the fans to lodge a complaint Villa are a horribly cunty team too - so much cheating

Maybe a blessing. I don't like to see our players injured but something needs to force hassenhutl's hand

Another day (with a different ref/var) we get a deserved early penalty and it's a different game. About time refs were answerable for their decisions - he's been appauling throughout. From a team perspective you could argue that Romeu should have tracked Barkley's run, but other than Walcott again being anonymous again I'd keep going as we are.

Positives were stuey, diallo and jwp. Che was ok too. Otherwise was a poor performance. Most disappointing was Ings who is playing at 75% (at most) and looking like his head is somewhere else. Another poor refereeing performance from Mr friend - nothing that really changed the game, but too many frequent basic (deliberate?) mistakes. How he earns a living being so shit is beyond me.

For once we need a 2nd half performance. Too many poor performances - I can forgive Valery and vokins - they simply aren't good enough at the moment, the apathy from Ings speaks volumes and surely Walcott can do a lot better. Time for some nuns???

He should try playing a bit better. If he carries on like this he might as well fuck off to spurs

I thought he was pretty anonymous against Shrewsbury and in a game like that should have stood out. It will be interesting to see whether he plays against the arse - he didn't really push on from a year or so ago when he looked a decent prospect and given he hasn't had many opportunities since he may have fallen out of favour.

I didn't say it was a good idea...

Perhaps we'll see jwp at right back with kwp on the left?

Perhaps the Club are trying to find a way to cash in on a saleable asset while he is still saleable for a decent price so they can replace and repeat. I couldnt blame them if they did to be honest, there is no room for sentimentality in football anymore - money, greedy agents and players destroyed that a long time ago.

Got through that without really getting out of 2nd gear with a bunch of kids playing. No injuries, no bookings. Job well done.

I take it back, that cross was abysmal

I'm surprised at how bad Shane long has been. He looks like he's playing above his level and struggling to cope. I honestly expected him to be decent tonight against weaker opposition. On a positive note valery looks comfortable going forwards, watts looks good, diallo and jwp are bossing midfield without breaking a sweat.

A bit more quality up front and we comfortably win that game irrespective of the goal. We desperately need some better attacking options off the bench... Shane long - Leicester must have been quaking in their boots...