Vieira For Manager!

I'm sorry to have to put such a title to this piece, I really am, but after that performance - hardly an improvement on the Bournemouth match - it really does beg the question as to just what is going on at VP under Gerrard. And to compare Gerrard with Vieira's record seems very relevant to me.

Vieira was appointed manager at Palace four months before Gerrard's appointment at Villa, and Palace did not seem to have progressed too far when Gerrard arrived at Selhurst Park and gained a second successive win since his appointment two weeks before.

What is poignant about that match is that Matt Targett scored Villa's first goal, but his replacement (Digne) scuffed an even better chance yesterday in a performance that was far from impressive. The penalty decision against him, however, can be claimed to be ridiculous, but that's the nature of the penalty laws these days, just like the VAR offside decision against Palace first half - equally ridiculous. Perhaps if that goal had stood it might have caused Gerrard to kick his side in the rear at half-time.

So, in this season's fixture at Palace we saw something that could only be fashioned by the creative skills of Patrick Viera: a side pulsating with drive, understanding between players and passing accuracy. By comparison, we looked like a damp squib, apart from our early opening goal and one or two other incidents. Therefore, nine months on we seem to have gone backwards and Palace has very much gone forwards, with much less financial backing. Well, Gerrard himself said that Villa took a step backwards, but I don't think he was comparing this season's match at Palace with last season's.

The first thing to look at yesterday is Villa's starting lineup. I think a lot of people were expecting Chambers to start yesterday, including sections of the press. And Konsa looked vulnerable through a lot of the match apart from one or two defensive successes. I somehow think that Chambers would have done better against Zaha to prevent that first goal. And Digne seems to get worse match-on-match (re-sign Targett!).

I thought that Buendia did OK first half, but overall did not have as much impact as he should have had, mirroring almost Coutinho's contribution to date. What did Phil do this time around after his entry in the 73rd minute? I struggle to remember any touch he had worth remembering, though he was busy.

The surprising thing to me is that the match stats showed that Villa had as much as 49% possession, but I am certain that was because of Villa's increased possession in the last 20 minutes - when they were already 1-3 down. And the Villa player that showed more ability on his entry (73rd minute) was Douglas Luiz. Further forward he looks a much better player and perhaps he should start in the next match.

Disregarding the possession stat, however, the more realistic stat is Palace's number of shots on goal - 9 as against Villa's 5 (plus Bailey's brilliant attempt hitting the woodwork). And that more indicates the true pattern of the game. It seemed that every time Palace went forward they looked dangerous. Villa's threat was very spasmodic and their players generally too easily muscled off the ball. Neither was Villa's passing particularly impressive; it certainly wasn't decisive enough.

More worrying is that Villa looked half-asleep by comparison with Palace.

So, it's time for Villa to wake up and be reminded that the season has started. But who can help them to do it?

UTV!