Wh-oops.
Well, I always felt that David Moyes had the elements of a good manager (at a certain level) and perhaps he demonstrated last night exactly what he is about. The Hammers hammered; they were well organised, offering Villa little opportunity to breach their defence, and yet were equally organised and threatening in attack.
I sat through the first half wondering just how Villa could be so sloppy in their own half. "Why had El Ghazi been selected over Traore?" was my thought, as he did virtually nothing to help his side and gave the ball away. My thought must have got through to Dean at half-time. Perhaps. But, equally, I felt that Barkley should have come off earlier.
I seemed to be watching a Villa team that was virtually devoid of ideas in the first half, and continually putting the ball back to the keeper - and sloppily, too, on occasions, presenting the Hammers with more opportunities than they should have had.
In contrast to the swiftness of the Hammers' raids, Villa looked stolid. The suggestion was quickly raised on at least one blog last night that the Villa were "fatigued", yet every team has had a fixture congestion. Or is it something to do with the COVID scare at Villa Park? Yet no Villa player was actually infected as I understand it.
Since the COVID episode, Villa have been giving me more concern. The win over Newcastle was achieved without much conviction in the second half; the defeat at Burnley was down to Villa facing a determined opposition that refused to lie down, plus a lack of killer instinct in the Villa ranks. The win at Southampton was fortunate against another determined side. And now West Ham, who were the most determined of all.
It seems that whenever Villa have faced determination and organisation in an opposing side, they've shown an inability to cope. Whether it's been Leeds, Southampton, Burnley or West Ham (all non-glamorous sides), flair alone has failed to win at Villa Park.
Are we expecting too much from players who indulge in so much clever flicking of the ball - often straight to a defender? Where is a driving force that beats an opposition defence by swift passing? Last night any idea of urgency seemed to be lost on the Villa players. Until the 80th minute.
I was hoping that 'the Warrior' would be called upon last night, and he was, but too late in my view. I am sorry, but against stiff opposition, Luiz is not yet good enough i.m.o., so if - if - we have signed a more solid player in Sanson, I am relieved. The Villa certainly seemed to be a bit more energised as soon as he came on and scored a good goal. But then - for perhaps the second time - Martinez conceded a goal.
It's hard to criticise the keeper since it was the outfielders that were primarily the cause of Villa's problem, but he did seem to have an off-night by comparison to his recent exploits - even in his kicking.
Well, following the Hammers we now face the Gunners at VP. The Gunners seem to have found themselves of late, despite their defeat at Wolves, when they had two players sent off. However, if Villa are to win then they need to take some of Dr. Zoom's quick-action pills.
Still, we are doing a lot better than last season but, unless a sense of urgency (or determination) is found, it could all become undone.
UTV!
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