[BaggyBomber]

The truth is, despite our negative style, we only lost because of Foster's error.

At 1-1 we had by far the best chance to win when Saido put Mozza through and he
decided to cross. Of course, that's not even going to go on the statistics because he
didn't shoot - but the guy was put clean through and was just not positive enough
to drive on and get a shot away.

Also Dawson had a chance which he'd usually gobble up.

Villa didn't create anything.

No doubt that we were poor, but it's tough to critisise the manager and setup when
we've come away with a loss only because of a ridiculous individual error. Saturday
will be interesting, but I'd be surprised if we can have as many players performing
as poorly as tonight.

Good level-headed assessment, Slick.  Pity there aren't more on this thread.

[Lets-talk-about-Teix]

That feels even worse than last season when we went gung-ho there and it cost us. We were at least the better team that day. This year we done the polar opposite and got what we deserved. Villa could have been out of sight in the first half, Gabby's one-on-ones, Foster's f. up, Delph off the post. Our approach away from home is painful to watch. Everton, Burnley, Sunderland, Villa. For the most part these are poor teams. We haven't scored a goal from open play in those games which is pretty damning.

The most frustrating aspect is Pulis found or stumbled on the right formula against West Ham of Berahino/Ideye/Sess together interchanging while the rest do the groundwork. No idea why we have changed from that.

It's been pretty well documented that our transfer business has been poor for the last 18 months. But the squad is no-where is near as poor  as the way we set-out to contain and rely on a corner somewhere down the line before we retreat back into our own penalty box.

[valpayne]

I still don't think it's easy to blame TP for tonight after all it's the same team that beat Southampton and who gave us a cats chance in that game?
We can't win every game at this level but the fact is we're getting better results under Pulis than we were with Irvine. We were nailed on favourite to go down at the start of the season We'd been written off by all the pundits up until TP came on board. We weren't doing well home or away. Pulis has made us much harder to beat that's a certainty. I believe we will survive and I think we need a couple more wins and a few draws to be certain and whats likely is we will lose the matches we expect to win and probably get a win where we've been written off before we've tied our boot laces. I'm talking about the liverpool's man u man city chelsea and arsenal games. They will all be fighting for a top four spot and pressure will be on by the time we meet them and we may already have enough points to be certain of safety and playing without pressure. That's not to say I'm not utterly p****d off about losing to villa tonight again. I'm sick of it tbh pig sick of it. But thats kinda typical isn't it. Most of all I'm gutted that motormouth sherwood has spouted off this past few days and now he will be full of his own barrow boy c**p having done what he threatened to do. It burns me inside to think that smug wide boy has undone us tonight and I'm really worried he could well do it again saturday

[Kookiebags]

Morning All,
                Well, the morning after, and I still cannot believe we did not go out to pick this poor Vile side to pieces.
I hope Callum Mc Manaman is fit for the weekend, and he plays, as , if he had been on the bench last night, and Pulis had been brave enough to take off Fletcher, and also got Sess on as well, we may have won the game, although after the first half, we were lucky to go in at half time just 1 down.
We cannot afford to set up negatively on Saturday, and I would give Boaz a run out, and leave Fozzie on the bench to ponder.
Come on you Baggies, nothing to lose on this one, lets go and get em.
Cheers,
           Kookiebags.    

[Baggie_One]

Its TP mindset I don't understand ? the first half against Southampton was (in my opinion) one of the best for a while, as was the west ham cup game, so why be so negative away from home ? Like others have said, Villa are piss poor, yet last night with the negativity in the attack we made them look like Barcelona. Hopefully it will be different on Saturday, as its winner takes all ! Plus if (and we should) stay up, the aging defence will need to be addressed......and as for Brunt ? and Foster ? my son who is 14 months old can kick better, was there any need to come off his line like that in the 94 minute, its not like we had 10 players in the 6 yard box

[talkSAFT]

Just a theory:
Tony & Tim did a deal.
Tony gifts Tim a much-needed draw and Tim keeps his job, in return for a place in the Semis.

Foster didn't worry about giving a penalty away, because Benteke was only going to "pass" the ball to him - but Foster slipped.

So, we get to Wembley on Saturday - that'll do for me! Villa fans' "Can we play you every week" dies a death on Saturday, and they realise that their team is not too good to go down after all.

Just a theory.

[drewks]

Some good posts on here re last night.

I agree that TP needs to be more adventurous away from home when playing teams nearer the bottom; to try and absorb pressure at Chelsea, Man City, etc is understandable, but Burnley? Sunderland? Villa? It's easy for the opposition to pick an attacking formation, being certain they won't be under pressure themselves. MIX IT UP, TONY!!
Hugely dissappointed - in a way it's a shame that TP's current tactics have got us this many points because he's obviously going to stick with the present team set up now. I can understand that to a point but we need to be less predictable.

Foster??!! What can you say? I'm not suggesting that it WAS, but if a GK in another league had done that in the 94th minute, wouldn't we all think it was part of a betting scam? It was THAT bloody idiotic! Pretty bad performance all round from him IMO, even not withstanding that stupid flap.

Alan Hutton. He is a thug. How anyone can defend the pillock, as Sherwood is trying to do, beggars belief. I'm just sorry he was booked last night as the FA could then have thrown the book at him - it's blindingly obvious that the 'rake' of his studs into SB was another action to the tackle, and 100% deliberate. The laws need to change so that retrospective action CAN be taken on acts of violence, even if 'dealt with' at the time.

[Foxman_WBA]

So, after coming away from that match and actually feeling physically sick for me the blame has to lie with TP.

I’m not sure about the rest of the crowd but at 65/70mins I was (literally) screaming for at least one sub to be made. The team were knackered, villa were on the attack and both forwards could barely run meaning the second we made a clearance villa took the ball and were once again on the attack. We were never going to hold out.

Bera for Sess should have been made at 65mins
Whilst Mulumbu should have been on the pitch around 75. It was obvious!

Don’t get me wrong, BF had the worst came of his career for me, not sure what happened to him, but the fact of the matter is that if the ball isn’t in our box, we cant concede a penalty!

[Luke_East_Baggie]

Haven't read the last page or so of comments, read the majority though.

Here's my two pennith.

First half poor, second half, slightly better than poor. Foster poor all night.

Think most people had a poor game. Ideye - Poor but the service was shocking. Actually thought Morrison and Fletcher were okay (ISH)

Brunt first half. Goodness knows. WE HAVE 5 MIDFIELDERS (Pretty Much) how can he not have a pass on - I would say out of 8 passes 9 were long / hoofed. The thing is no1 was close to him to give him an easy ball, so most the time it was forced upon us. Agree with Foxy R.E. Subs, should of bought a striker off and Sess on, just to give us more legs, and / or Mulumbu on for someone, to keep fresh legs in the middle, think a lot of them were tired after chasing shadows for 115mins without 1 substitute.

Also I don't know why for their goal Brunt is 1 on 1 with Benteke in the air, and then our Slowest CB is left 1 on 1 with the fastest player on the pitch. That's poor.

Hoping for more spirit on Saturday.

[JH Baggie]

Only way to get over this. Do 'em on Saturday.

Don't let us down baggies!