The standard of the Prem v Champ

[RVclaret]

Wider than it’s ever been?

I find it incredible Villa are ‘technically’ just 13-15 league places above the likes of Coventry and Sunderland last season, who finished top 6… let alone some of the mid table dross like PNE. Villa look levels above where they were last time we played them at home (1-3 too).

[Claretnick]

In our eyes we have spent big this summer, but in reality it is a drop in the ocean. Shame that we have had to make major changes to that exciting team we had last season, just hope we can get the gelling to start a bit sooner this time around...

[jdrobbo]

Physically miles ahead.
Pace miles ahead.
Speed of thought miles ahead.
Ability miles ahead.

[BurnleyFC]

The gulf is huge. Our centre midfield just cannot cope with the pace and power and our defence looks all over the shop.

[Vegas Claret]

This is why some mentioned our lack of experience could hurt us, we looked a young team today.

[Pickles]

We looked smaller and slower all over the pitch today. We were bullied, even more so than against Man City.

[Claretnick]

Physically miles ahead.
Pace miles ahead.
Speed of thought miles ahead.
Ability miles ahead.

Let's hope VK and his team can get the players nearer to these levels. I think VK said he has already seen improvements, hopefully with a lot more to come.
Think there's going to be some real hard work done at Gawthorpe over the next few months...

[TsarBomba]

The gulf is huge. Our centre midfield just cannot cope with the pace and power and our defence looks all over the shop.

We’ve played the best team in Europe, and a team that will be pushing for Top 6/8.

There have been enough glimpses in both games to evidence that we’ll be ok.

We have a lot of young players that need patience, and time to gel and get up to speed.

Let’s not be too critical, shall we?

Our season, and our progress, isn’t defined by Man City and Aston Villa.

[RVclaret]

I’ll add to my OP that so far we’ve played the treble winners and a Villa side who look, to me, nailed on for top 8 again (if not top 6).

I guess its just a very tough start that the fixture gods have given us. The game at Forest looks a big one.

[Jakubclaret]

It's no big surprise to the people that are knowledgeable about football that things would be far off a straightforward formality, the ease & walk in the park of the championship created a false sense of over confidence with some people & now what's unfolding is slowly opening some people's eyes to the difference in quality, that said the 2 opponents so far are very well equipped & accomplished PL sides, will be easier days ahead when the fixtures fall more favourable.

[FCBurnley]

Naive to think we can play inexperienced players and do well. Villa are a good team but McGinn must be on drugs

[Belgianclaret]

This is why some mentioned our lack of experience could hurt us, we looked a young team today.

Hence my question ref. Brownhill

[claretspice]

It's substantial, but the way we set up today made it appear bigger than it is.

[warksclaret]

Its a sad reality. The PL gets stronger every year, as does the number of teams who can regularly cause upsets, ie Brighton, Villa, Brentford. You only have to look how poor Saints and Leicester were last year, yet this season they are both gaining points consistently, even with both teams having sold key players

[Spijed]

Sheff United gave Man City a better game than we did. That's worrying

[Spijed]

Its a sad reality. The PL gets stronger every year, as does the number of teams who can regularly cause upsets, ie Brighton, Villa, Brentford. You only have to look how poor Saints and Leicester were last year, yet this season they are both gaining points consistently, even with both teams having sold key players

Will every team that gets promoted automatically go down from here on in though?

[warksclaret]

It's substantial, but the way we set up today made it appear bigger than it is.

And that surprises me, as you constantly hear our players say how much VK studies the opposiion in depth and sets us up accordingly. Sounds like Emery today got his tactics spot on

[Vegas Claret]

Sheff United gave Man City a better game than we did. That's worrying

Heckingbottom is a good manager and we know Bramhall lane makes a big difference. I think the only certainty for relegation is Luton

[DCWat]

For the amount that we have spent (maybe not a lot in PL terms but still a massive sum for us) I don’t see, so far, that we’ve addressed the areas most in need, or significantly improved the first XI.

This isn’t a write off by any means, we will improve. I just hope that we can add to the squad in key areas:

Left back
Strong, athletic holding midfield player who can spread the play
Striker
Potentially another winger (as crazy as that might sound).

[Vegas Claret]

And that surprises me, as you constantly hear our players say how much VK studies the opposiion in depth and sets us up accordingly. Sounds like Emery today got his tactics spot on

Emery is a world class experienced manager with some really really good players at his disposal. We are learning

[warksclaret]

Will every team that gets promoted automatically go down from here on in though?

Not necessarily but they will be favorites to go down before a ball is kicked

[RVclaret]

Sheff United gave Man City a better game than we did. That's worrying

They didn’t have a shot until the 80th minute and had 14% possession. And still lost.

[pauliopaulio]

This board is bipolar at times. Absolute despair after losing to a very good team.

Villa will be top 6 easily. Their tactics were something we haven’t faced before. They sat so deep - 11 behind the centre circle - but then broke so quickly. We haven’t faced that before and will learn.

There are a lot of positives to take from the second half. We more than competed. Also very glad Foster scored - I was a doubter last year but he has looked very good so far in the PL.

[Pickles]

Absolute despair after losing to a very good team.

How is it despair? Yes Villa are a very good team. But we played poorly. It's okay to say so.

[tarkys_ears]

2 points -


It took us a fair few games to get going last season, then never looked back

Villa should be pushing for a top 6 if not 4 finish this season

[Goalposts]

Effort - 10
Decision making - 5 slow at times , al dakhil over committed twice got turned and we were exposed.
Speed of thought - 6 need to be quicker but as we adapt we will get better, got much better second half
Vulnerability to counter attack. - 5 we got continually exposed with this ,
Physicality - 6 against a very strong side , we got bullied at times like at Sheff utd last year.
Threat - 6 showed promise at times will get better
Pace - 7 good going forward , exposed a little at the back.

On the whole you can see the work in progress and the players on show all have some ability , the question is how quickly can we get them there.

Breyer is a big miss, tactically emery won the battle today.

[Swizzlestick]

Will every team that gets promoted automatically go down from here on in though?

Edit - wrong post

[GodIsADeeJay81]

Emery is a world class experienced manager with some really really good players at his disposal. We are learning

This is something that is being overlooked
They’ve got a very experienced manager and it showed

[Swizzlestick]

Sheff United gave Man City a better game than we did. That's worrying

And still lost. After losing two games where they would have thought they could get something.

[pauliopaulio]

How is it despair? Yes Villa are a very good team. But we played poorly. It's okay to say so.

It was a generalisation - was just my feeling after reading a few comments.

I thought we didn’t play great in the first half and struggled to create. Second half I thought we held our own and showed we will compete.

[getbennyon]

Worth remembering that we are fielding a poorer team than our Championship team.

£100+ million spent and for the second game in a row I left the ground wondering what we've spent the money on

[Spijed]

As we play a high line at times it can bring problems at this level and even "weaker" sides such as Forest have pace to burn up front.

Perhaps we might need a bit more protection for the defence if we are going to stick to this way of playing.

[Vegas Claret]

Worth remembering that we are fielding a poorer team than our Championship team.

£100+ million spent and for the second game in a row I left the ground wondering what we've spent the money on

just wonder if you were one that said Foster was crap and a waste of money ? I think there's a few too many 'lads with potential' in the starting 11 and it's hurting us a little but most will come good given time.

[Vegas Claret]

As we play a high line at times it can bring problems at this level and even "weaker" sides such as Forest have pace to burn up front.

Perhaps we might need a bit more protection for the defence if we are going to stick to this way of playing.

Kompany needs to tweak it, we are far too open at this level. People praised Silva at Fulham for making that change after they walked the Championship - but they could go out and get Pauliniha (spell) for 30 million

[CoolClaret]

Sheff United gave Man City a better game than we did. That's worrying

Two clever signings in Hamer and Souza in the midfield has made them hard to play against at least.

[Carwin261]

We looked smaller and slower all over the pitch today. We were bullied, even more so than against Man City.

Berge’s a big unit ,but turns slower than Weeghorst.

[ksrclaret]

Two clever signings in Hamer and Souza in the midfield has made them hard to play against at least.

I know who I think got the better deal there. Not even close.

[CoolClaret]

Kompany needs to tweak it, we are far too open at this level. People praised Silva at Fulham for making that change after they walked the Championship - but they could go out and get Pauliniha (spell) for 30 million

We could tbf we just preferred to spaff 10+ mill on wingers that didn’t even make the match day squad

[Stan Tastic]

Worth remembering that we are fielding a poorer team than our Championship team.

£100+ million spent and for the second game in a row I left the ground wondering what we've spent the money on

Maybe you should have wondered why you weren't wondering about the gulf in class between the Premier League and the division below being a factor.

[Croydon Claret]

The gap has become so wide that it really needs another division inserting between the Championship and the Prem

[agreenwood]

It struck me yesterday that so many PL sides are going through strong spells. Teams like West Ham, Brighton, Villa etc all as good as they have been in years.

Its going to be as tough a PL as we’ve been in.

[getbennyon]

If the gap has become so wide why did the 3 promoted teams last season all avoid relegation?

[IanMcL]

Prem














Championship


Men against young boy Virgins.

We had too many out there today. Our experience is needed, even if they get subbed later. Jay Rodriguez looked like he knew his way around. So did Gudmundsson.

[CoolClaret]

I know who I think got the better deal there. Not even close.

I think Berge has got a bit to him but he is not a number 6 at all. He needs less defensive responsibility

- if we continue to play him as a two then yeah sadly agree, Hamer and Souza looking better

[Vegas Claret]

We could tbf we just preferred to spaff 10+ mill on wingers that didn’t even make the match day squad

no we couldn't - 30 million quid players demand 30 million quid players wages

[MrTopTier]

Physically miles ahead.
Pace miles ahead.
Speed of thought miles ahead.
Ability miles ahead.

Absolutely this. Men against boys today.

[CoolClaret]

no we couldn't - 30 million quid players demand 30 million quid players wages

They do - but they aren’t necessarily more than two / three times that of 10-15 million pound players.

[Nonayforever]

Yes, the standard in the PL is stronger across all teams than in the Championship.
From what I've seen in the first two games is that other teams have players that can hurt you, we haven't got that yet.
As a team , it wasn't a 3-1 loss today. We had our chances to take points off Villa.
We will get better and more organised as the season progresses.
Going off the two performances, I don't think we are out of our depth.

[Vegas Claret]

They do - but they aren’t necessarily more than two / three times that of 10-15 million pound players.

yeah but if we sign someone on 80K a week then the rest want more

[CoolClaret]

yeah but if we sign someone on 80K a week then the rest want more

Not if they’re top class and clearly worth their wage!