This.

I don't expect us to beat all the other bottom teams home and away; if we'd fought like we did vs Spurs and still lost 3-2 or something I'd have worn it. It was the no-show in the second half which was particularly gutting. I hate games at Villa Park though - not sure I've ever seen us play well there. The 20 minutes of bossing it in the first half made the switch to Capitulation Mode so much harder to take.

It's so frustrating. We've a good squad and Hoots can and does organise them well and stir them to show fight in games. But when it goes against us, heads drop, legs get heavy, all of that.

We need character, spine, and some proper leadership in the dressing room (I mean from senior players).

I'm not sure we were quite playing 4231 sometimes yesterday, more like 4411 at times, and I don't think that's smart a) in general in the EPL, and b) against a counter-attacking side like Villa. That much I do lay at Hoots door, but the greater failure was a collective one from the players.

Posted By: Old Man, Mar 3, 09:53:57