I love the Villa. I really do. It’s my favorite soap opera, and I tune in each and every week. Never a dull moment, never a romance that doesn’t seem destined to be upended.
The last episode saw us knocked out of the League Cup (sorry, done with the silly sponsor names) midweek, and I’m not really bothered. As we’d progressed, the expectation would’ve risen to field more of a first team to stay in against presumably more difficult opponents.
There’s always an argument to made about any playing time being good playing time. I’d generally agree, but for now I think a league focus is appropriate given the grind of the Championship. We don’t need injuries in a competition we’re most likely not going to win, nor players getting overworked.
Bigger picture, as I mentioned last night, is fans sticking behind the club, which I think by far the vast majority do. I know I wouldn’t be doing this for nothing if it weren’t for love of the club. And I don’t think debating Bruce’s merits equals a lack of love for the club anymore than debating any single player’s performance. I mean, match ratings in the paper single players out very publicly, and criticizing their play seems fair game and not anti-Villa. It’s an accepted tradition. Same logic should apply to the manager.
I will say, though, that I’ve never thought booing was helpful. Might be deserved, but it doesn’t help. Players know what they’ve done, and I’ve yet to see any in this bunch that don’t seem to care. Which means I really would prefer to see Villa Park be a cauldron that lifts the side, rather than one that weighs them down.
And whatever your take, please don’t hesitate to put it out there in the comments. We all know that people have much more to say when things don’t seem to be going well. We start winning and people will have no spleen to vent.
Well, they’ll still have spleens most likely, but they’ll have been vented.
And then, of course, folks who’ve sidelined themselves should hop right back on for the rightful opportunity to say “I told you so.” Which is always fun.
We’ve another home game, with Forest coming to pay us a visit sitting three spots and two points above us in 10th. We’re riding the coattails of a 3-0 away win to Barnsley, and you’d like to think we can and should grab another three points to get us further up, gather a little momentum, and get the side believing in themselves.
As we sit, it’s 10 points off the automatic spots held by Leeds and Cardiff, but just half that behind the playoff spots. A little run now would be just what the Dr. ordered.
With six results versus two losses, you can fairly say we’re not far off. We just need to keep adding to that win column, and as usual, goal differential just about says it all. We sit at +1, Leeds at +12. However, below that, the largest margin is Cardiff’s +6.
Our 10 goals aren’t that far off the pace, and we know that just two more spread over two games would have had us sitting fifth going into tonight’s contest. And that’s without arguably the league’s most dangerous frontman.
With Jonny Danger back and Davis, Hourihane, Snodgrass, and Adomah presumably all in, we should feel encouraged about the goals in the side. Assuming Kodjia shakes off the rust and regains at least some of last season’s form, there’s now enough around him to set him free, never mind goals coming from other players.
We all remember the effect Benteke had on the side, and Kodjia’s presence, when he’s on song, really should free up the other players.
In short, as long as we’re playing on the front foot and don’t do anything silly at the back, I like our chances of finding the net, and more than once.
As was said during the week, the side picks itself right now and we know who we expect to see. The official team sheet hasn’t been released as yet, but I doubt there’ll be any real surprises, barring any knocks we haven’t heard about.
3-1 Villa just popped into my head, upgraded from an initially conservative 2-1 that was lurking in the background. Forest are -2 in the differential department, so they’ve hardly been stingy, allowing 13 to our nine.
But of course, I’ll take any scoreline that has us with one more than they do.
So, onward, upward, and COYVB.
Over to you.
The Author
John Clark
John is co-owner of AVL, and has followed the Villa since the '70s. A journalist by trade, he is, by most accounts, a very nice person. You can follow me on Twitter @JClarkKohoutek. It's an astonishing experience. Or a complete waste of time.Comments 85
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Thanks for your contributions JC.
I agree 3 -1 today.
Very pleased with the line up,perhaps a little unhappy to see the Spurs lad not starting today.Spurs won’t be happy with that neither am I,but to state the flippin obvious we can only play 11 and who would make way for him?
However this is insignificant if we keep winning.
COYVB.
UTV.
Cheers, B6…It’s fun stuff.
Wondering if Onomah will come on for Whelan…But like you say, doesn’t matter as long as it gets results.
JC – previous thread: “To your point, we probably all agree we desperately need stability. Again, when it comes to Bruce, does he represent the kind of stability that will move us forward, or is he just stability for stability’s sake?”
But why are we digging so deep to even think about asking that question?
It implies that Bruce has a negative aura surrounding him, and while some “fans” think that automatically, by re-stating it we’re only adding kindle to the fire. I say this as I really do not think that Bruce has so far been given a fair crack of the wip givenm all that has taken place before.
Lots of tie games and a chance for Villa to gain two points on teams close to them
jl
would like to see bruce at training with a whip get them fit
James,
Mmmmmm… I’ve gotta say that Whelan looks like a 45 minutes man. If that!
Hey, we’re only 3 points off 4th place folks! 🙂
we must have been as close last december before bruce started meddling
Yeah, Whelan is just an overall liability, JL.
Shame, knows where to be, works hard, etc., but between miscues, not winning tackles, getting bundled off the ball, and being a step too slow…He just doesn’t help us at all, really.
But indeed, a welcome, if not thoroughly convincing three points.
No this performance was certainly not one to remember.
But, thinking on it, I think I’m seeing Bruce’s strategy.
He believes he has enough players of quality and believes they will get him the points without pulling out any stops. Proof?
Firstly Villa’s first goal … the making and finish. Sublime.
Secondly Hourihane’s so-well placed free-kick.
Thirdly Johnstone to do what was needed at the back if all else failed (bar their goal).
Fourthly, Terry and Chester’s mostly imperious defence.
Marred by Whelan’s slowness. Gosh he is slow. Nice touches at times, but slow and had a direct hand in their goal.
So, Bruce said to himself, if I’ve got the quality, there’s no need to bust a gut by possession football and chasing everything’s that’s going. Especially in a week of 3 matches with a few out inhured and two (Kodjia and Snodgrass) needing to come up to speed.
So … he applies careful management of resources.
Clearly we’re not going to get entertained in getting promotion … except for just the odd exquisite moment like that first Villa goal…
Pleased of course.Not pretty but effective,’llI take that.
It was a gutsy performance,an attribute that we will need right up to May.
COYVB.
Oh forgot to add,other news our, u18s won 1 nil away at Spurs,had a pen saved too.
Can’t say I disagree with that on the whole, JL.
From the players’ part, what I’d like to see is better ball winning, and some less headless play. I get conserving resources, but that was a game that could easily have gotten away from us.
Like I say, will take the result, and it doesn’t have to be beautiful, though we do produce some nice passages. You can see there’s talent. I’d just like to not get caught on the ball, make smarter outlet passes, and slow things down somewhat to take the air out of the game when the other side is getting its spell. We tend to gift it right back far too often.
A little harsh on Whelan gents,we seem to allow Bruce time,John Terry time,why not give Whelan time to settle?Gabby has had 6 years to contribute and…nuff said.
I acknowledge your overall assesment of him,but I think he can make a good contribution this season.
B6,
Not going to argue too much with you … he showed in that pre-season against Watford what he can really do.
But in the second half he was almost a handicap. Perhaps he was carrying a knock?
JL,2 in the middle results in him being a bit exposed at times when we lose the ball especially.His greatest asset IMO ,used to be nick it, and give it.Sadly as he gets older he can’t nick the ball as often as he used to.
I wish him well anyway.
Yeah, don’t wish Whelan ill at all. He’s giving it his best, all you can ask for.
But that’s a position where we should look at trying to bring along Lyden, or just finding a younger terrier elsewhere. We’d be much tougher.
And to spread the love, Onomah did not have a good cameo at all.
Evening all,
Whelan had a very good 1st half, good interceptions, passing and vision ……. 2nd half not so good and a few mistakes. But that could also apply to others in the team.
What we seem to have now is a few match winners and a varying selection of goalscorers. Kodger and Snodgrass will improve as their fitness improves and they get up to speed which will strengthen our goal scoring/making ……….
Defence still looks solid and the keeper very good ……. not sure that age is a problem at the moment unless the deluge of games catches up with them …….
Hourihane is becoming a must for our midfield but would like to see him further up the pitch more often. Davis took a lot of grief from the Forest defence but did well as he continues to learn his trade ….. he could be very very good.
So a hard fought and welcome 3 points with 6 more to grab this coming week. Careful husbandry of resources will be needed as we head deeper into the season with more youngsters being blooded in order for them to step up when required.
Long long way to go yet but ………………… who knows eh?
oldvilla
is it so wrong to want to see a bit of football,some possession not just giving up the ball,getting it out wide and crossing to back post and our centre forward heading it into net,some one like daley burst speed leaving defenders for dead,a cowans passing it round the pitch,
Good balanced comments today. I only saw the second half, day light saving started at midnight in NZ so the body clock is a bit off.
Like you have all said, it wasn’t pretty because of mistakes and lack of speed, but it’s a step up the ladder. Thank the Lord Hourihane is bringing his scoring boots to the team. Good to see Adomah looking happy and Kodjia bringing his maverick talents to the side. The right result. This team still needs to gel better but it’s getting there.
Iana…
As JL said, it’s good to have enough quality to eke out some tough wins. It’s defo good for confidence to know you have players that can produce goals out of the ether sometimes.
JG,
I don’t think it’s wrong to want it…Just may be a while coming yet. If we keep on finding ways to win, we may well see the team blossom a bit. There was that little bit of swagger when we had Barnsley in the bag.
I guess my basic takeaway is that Bruce is playing the right players in the right formation. So, he’s doing his bit. However it came about ultimately won’t matter as long as he can keep the fire going. What I’d like is for us to be able to worry about his overall abilities when we get promoted.
2 in a row and you’ve got us promoted. That would be nice.
I do think a corner has been turned. Plenty of talent and youth. JL, I’ll have to eat my words if this keeps up.
Hey Ian
Your avatar looks like an older version of one of the Tracey brothers from Thunderbirds, you ever work for International Rescue?
I was impressed with Kodjia’s through ball to Adomah and Adomah’s cool finishing for the first goal.
Lots to improve on but a good result in the right direction.
Here’s my ratings
Goalie, I want Jed as our starter…so 6
Elmo 7
Terry 4.. useless, 100% at fault for the goal
Chester 8 …as he did the job of two
Taylor 5 .. commits too many fouls
Snodgrass 8 ..not fully fit but wish every player would run that hard
Whelan 6
Hourihane 9..goal aside, he’s getting better and better. He even now hammers into players
Adomah 8
A
Davis 9 ..what a quality player. He will never be a 20 goal
Kodjia 9 .. his runs…imense
Subs
Hutton 8 ..looked a yard sharper, one superd interception
Hogan 6 …still cant see why he’s any good
Onomuuh -10 …yes negative ten. He was totally crap when he came on. Gave away the free kick for them to equalize. My advise to Mr Bruce …put this sorry lad on the next train to London. We do not need him
Pete- Terry 4 and Elmo 7 ? I would have swapped them round. Thought Elmo was awful.
Whelan needs to retire. Legs have gone
2 wins in a row is nice but it’s not pretty to watch is it. We hoof it a lot and cant string 3 passes together. We only have 2 fit wingers as well which is worrying now we are playing 442. Shame Green is out for so long, and Jack.
Davis is so good at holding the ball up. Him and Kodjia could be an awesome paring.
We need to beat Bolton and Burton.
Good to win
Good luck to McCormack at Melbourne. Maybe he can get back to form there and return in January.
After the first ten minutes, we bossed the first half. I don’t care that Forest had more possession, we looked like scoring time and again.
Things I’d like to see change:
1) Please stop putting sedatives in the half time tea.
2) Find a back up for Whelan. He was good in the first half but maybe he had ‘two’ cups of tea at half time
3) Give OHare a chance. I know we need to show that we’re giving talented loan players some game time, but I’d like to see one of our own get a chance.
4) Practice winning possession from headers. Other teams seem to do it, why do we just head and hope?
5) Please stop waiting for the ball to arrive at your feet when there is time for a defender to run round you and take it instead ( yes Mr Hogan)( otherwise I like Hogan and think he can still come good for us)
I was a bit ????? when I saw comments on Terry! 4????
There have been so many good interceptions he’s made. Very often he’s been just in the right place. Not perfect, agreed, but solid enough i.m.o.
Yes, Hutton came on looking like a revived spirit didn’t he?
Davis … well, he can get better too. Enormous ability.
JL – “Yes, Hutton came on looking like a revived spirit didn’t he?”
He certainly did JL – and he was absolutely and totally focused on doing his job and doing it well.
And we still have Jedi to come back (again) ……. Grealish, if his head is in the right place, Green a few months away unfortunately, plus a number of what appear to be decent kids waiting in the wings ……
As I said in my earlier post, careful husbandry of resources is needed as we continue to meet the deluge of games in the Chumpionship ……….
And I too thought Terry had a good game, reading situations well and making anumber of important tackles/blocks ……… their goal was no ONE players fault but could have been avoided by more robust defending ……..
oldvilla
Well, I have to say that now we’ve just had back-to-back wins, if we can’t beat the likes of Burton and Bolton then summat would be wrong, although you’d expect the opposition to fight for their lives.
So long as we keep clear of further injuries…
And OV’s good husbandry of the cows! 😀 (Just thinking of you in Switzerland, OV!)
r0bb0: “Please stop putting sedatives in the half time tea.”
Brilliant. Yes, for the first 10 minutes after the break Villa seemed mesmerised.
Nothing wrong with looking after the cows JL ….. with their annoying big bells on them. Even some flocks of sheep over here have bells on them, drives you mad when you are out for a nice peaceful walk up the mountains 🙁
But back to Villa – still a very long way to go but hopefully the progress in results will continue and we can make a challenge for promotion.
I don’t think anyone thinks SB is the messiah but maybe he can get us up. And thats as far as we should look at the moment, however he does it.
oldvilla
Wow, 2 wins on the trot, we are on a roll.
Two great strikes, one sublime (Adomah) and one exceptional (Hourihane). Take a bow those involved. Great save from our keeper too, that free kick was going right in the top corner.
On the other side of the coin there was a lack of pace and tempo from the defence and midfield. Thought Whelan was running on vapour for the entire 2nd half and Elmo was unable to stop the crosses raining in from the Forest left flank. The goal we shipped was unfortunate but that sort of thing can happen so 2 goals should be the aim each game.
It was a narrow win but I’ll take it. The Brewers next up, I’m expecting a tough one.
Morning Folks- some good comments all of them have merit. I pretty much saw what I thought I would, Us sitting back and feeding the ball to Adomah and Kodjia or hitting Davis when we are cornered. This is Bruce on the front foot, its basically what we saw with Kodjia on form last season just with more cohesion.
I am cautious to say we are seeing anything miraculous, its just reliance on two free spirits to create and score on the whole, no real plan of attack which I suppose is difficult to predict. You could man mark them though and that would piss on our chips. Its the same approach that has failed to get anything out of Hogan and as OV said Hourihane is playing to deep to do what he’s good at, Davis is basically a Punchbag but thats Bruces way, it was last season it is this.
If we lose Either Kodjia or Adomah it could be fatal to the teams scoring ability, Ohare I think could
do a decent enough Job paired with either one but we will struggle to replace their unique skills and athletic ability lets hope we don’t have to.
Defence is fairly sturdy but still prone to the odd mad 10 mins but it is definitely parked with the handbrake on. Terry just reads the game and cuts out passes into the box but we really don’t venture far from that box anyway, if I was the away manager I would do the same at VP and take a point maybe even at home.
Where the defence falls apart is if a player runs at it and plays direct, we flap big time and only Johnston’s saves have kept us in games, it was nice to see him bollock them yesterday as the defence melted in front of him a few times, If Wheelan continues to be so ineffective teams will have a straight run at them more times than not. Hutton did look sharp but if he plays teams will be in behind his runs up field, he does need to be disciplined at RB if picked.
To put things in context when alls said and done this is the easiest run of games we will have this season, the next 2 should be a shoe in, Bolton are on 2 points and -15 goal difference Burton are a gutsy little team only 4 points behind us though and can play, we know how that went with Brentford. Forest also leak like a sieve they lost to Wigan in the cup too so a welcome win but no big deal and surely expected.
Bruce will survive September I think and then we will see what we have, away to wolves should suit us if wolves are profligate with their chances and we hit them on the break, Fulham will test us then the derby. I hope we can evolve into something more as I see so much potential in the players we have to play a better style of Football and dominate games rather than just soak up pressure but I don’t think that will happen any time soon with Bruce and whether we go up or not might be a bit of a lottery just as the games appear to be.
More good comments there although I too thought that Terry had a good game. So much of what he did appeared unexceptional because he predicts the play well. He also put in one certain goal saving header.
I think Hutton was brought in for his extra pace, to stop the opposition runs down our left flank, and as others have said, he did that very well.
Just seen a stat that we’ve conceded 6 out of 10 of our goals just after the half time break.
That is not a coincidence as anyone who watches us can see.
It needs to be fixed.
Mark, I agree that we struggle with players running at us. It’s a tactic that we ought to use more too. . . . see whatvhappen d when Kodjia did it in the second half.
Kodjia and Adomah are our main creative outlets, but I think you overstate it when you infer that we just hit it to them every time. Let’s not forget Hourihans goals and Green and Davies will score too.
I thought I was seeing much more of a team performance yesterday although it does all still feel slightly fragile. Having said that, yesterday I really did feel that we looked the more dangerous team when we were fired up and when we went behind the team fought back well. . . . the crowd were great too. They are lifting the team when we concede rather than getting on thevplayers backs this season.
All in all it does all just start to ‘feel’ a little different this season, both on the pitch and off it.
Burton have won 2 and drawn 1 of their 4 home games this season so expect a tight game. It’s a very compact little ground with the crowd almost able to touch the players. I was there when they drew at home with Man Utd and if we are complacent on Tuesday night we’ll lose.
Robbo- yes I agree Burton are no easy touch at home but have been turned over away by the top teams and conceded plenty, we can’t be complacent they beat Fulham who dominated the possession so I don’t expect them to come at us and leave the barn door open as others have.
On Kodjia and Adomah other than Davis putting Adomah in there was little created by anyone bar those two and its now been 6 games since Hourihane scored 3 against a pretty hapless Norwich on the day.
That was the last time we played on the front foot (apart from 10 man Borough) and Hourihane is now chained to wheelan protecting the bloke that is supposed to be protecting the defence.
I can’t remember him making a run into the box for weeks. If we do lose A and K then I think its a big stretch to say Hourihane and Green will replicate that day enough times to compensate. And when A and K actually get the ball then the rest of the team almost become spectators so I cannot see others slotting in will produce the same.
This is Bruces style I am afraid and all the struggles we have seen with the occasional triumph have been him trying to find a way without a self sufficient striker while all the time wanting to do is what we have seen in the last two games.
Adomah couldn’t get a look in over Snodders or Elmo even when he played brilliantly against Wigan so I cannot see Bruce figuring much else out. What Bruce really needs is a Hernandez and I believe he thought Gabby could do that, as it is Davis and Kodjia although separate players fill that Hernandez role between them.
I am resigned to the fact we won’t see football this season worth watching and although we have glimpsed it a few times I think Bruce either doesn’t see it or refuses to change his ideas.
OV,
How many cows does Federer have now? 😀
Well, when I went on walks up the Swiss mountains decades ago I thought the cows and their bells were cute! Mind you that was just a holiday, so if you go on regular walks it might get a bit jarring I suppose.
Mark,
All we want for Christmas is signs of promotion and a few glimpses of skill that were exhibited yesterday.
Codger was tremendous in engineering both our goal opportunties, but with Albert, Davis and the Houri we have the basis of good football there.
JL- went on Holiday to kefalonia once and a herd of Goats always came by at about 5AM with bells on, Cute? I could of strangled them
On the Football I hope you are right but I feel the answer lies with adding something else Bruce isn’t able to see, when he brought Hogan on I thought its an ideal time to try O’hare but on comes Onamah who also fitted in that system like a right hand in a left handed Glove.
He now has a first 11 that does what he wants or close to it but a squad that doesn’t fit that plan. There is a decent team there I feel and a manager with better nous for want of a better word would see it, Bruce see’s his Plan A.
Sheff utd looking a threat, 100 points and 96 goals last season to win league 1 4-2 up at Wednesday as it stands and 4th in the table.
“Chris Wilder has insisted Sheffield United will not abandon their attacking principles at Hillsborough tomorrow despite admitting five centre-forwards, including leading goalscorer Billy Sharp, are in danger of missing the game through injury.”
http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/sheffield-united-we-won-t-take-a-backward-step-vows-chris-wilder-as-his-team-gears-up-for-tomorrow-s-showdown-with-sheffield-wednesday-1-8768627
Oh forgot they have Enda stevens and Samir carruthers too 🙂
I see lowton is doing very well at Burnley these days too
I’m sure that many teams will be a threat to us over the course of the season but maybe best not to worry about them too much.
Carruthers didn’t play today btw.
JL – imagine walking in a beautiful green valley high up in the mountains and all in peaceful in the world. Then in the distance you hear a faint tinkling of bells, then a louder tinkling as you walk on …….. then you turn the corner and there are about 100 sheep all with bells on and it gets louder and louder until as you walk past them it drives you mad. Dunno how the sheep cope with the noise ………
Oldvilla
Old Villa
I put a bell on my dogs collar when we go for a walk. It’s to warn bears that we are around. Hopefully they will leave the area when they hear it as they don’t want a confrontation. My son calls it a dinner bell.
Anyway it’s beyond me how you can hear bells with all the chafing going on wearing leather shorts.
The Tracey brothers? Thanks a lot. 🙂
OV- I was just surprised that carruthers was there mate thought he was at the dons, just shows you how many of our cast offs end up in useful sides though, you could make a pretty handy team out of them. As for the opposition wish they worried about us but we have to take it one at a time.
Chris wilder seems to be one of those rare Gems thats gone unnoticed by even the champs clubs forgot how he saved Northampton and promoted them 99 point and 82 goals
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/04/16/how-chris-wilder-took-northampton-town-from-blink-of-oblivion-to/
“Sheffield United, who had been gently drifting for nearly a decade, are just finding that out. Wilder is an expert at getting to the heart of a club and deducing exactly what needs to be done, and after arriving in the summer he soon realised the problem: United’s squad needed a purge. Almost two dozen players were shipped out.”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/03/24/chris-wilder-right-home-steels-sheffield-united-league-one-promotion/
Ian – sounds like an interesting life you have over there mate. I like the dinner bell comment 🙂 We dont have many bears over here except in Berne …….
Leiderhosen chafing – I find that rubber pants and lots of talc seem to do the job lol …. hope I havent put you off your Sunday dinner with that vision ……
Your yodelling oldvilla
r0bb0,
“4) Practice winning possession from headers. Other teams seem to do it, why do we just head and hope?
5) Please stop waiting for the ball to arrive at your feet when there is time for a defender to run round you and take it instead”
Yes, indeed.
John,
Do you have any coaching suggestions would help us retain possession from headed balls?
When I watch some teams I just sense that they have practised it because players seem to be in positions to receive the headed ball and the header seems to know where to find his team mate
I always expect us to lose possession
RObbO
The Vancouver Whitecaps, the team I support in the MLS put a lot of emphasis on set pieces and are very successful at it. So successful they are the best in the league. They have and are developing set pieces on the fly so yes practicing heading and player placement can happen.
r0bb0, Ian
Yep, certainly can/should be worked on for set pieces. In open play, really seems to be a case of keeping your head, no pun intended.
Players still seem to panic a bit. They don’t seem to be thinking beyond, “Get a head on it and get it upfield.” Sometimes that’s the only play.
But further up the pitch, you have to be thinking calmly and with purpose, looking to actually direct it well enough to be a pass, getting your neck with the right tension, cushioning with your body, etc.
All basic stuff, so it just seems like being too wound up and just looking to make some kind of contact.
Also my complaint with Johnstone. His saves have shown he’s a good, strong shot-stopper. His distribution needs work, though. Would much rather see more throws out from the back, as he doesn’t often seem to give upfield players much chance when he punts it. Stuff off the deck from back passes, those are going to be hit or miss more often, but he ends up giving the ball straight back a lot when he has the ability to handle.
A little too much reaction instead of a bit more planning on the field?
I watched the 11min highlights on avfc. I’m still going to stick with my rating for Terry for these reasons….he was totally at fault for the goal. He should have put his boot thru the ball. Murphy had 2 clear headers with 5 or 6 Villa players in the box. Murphy was the only Forest player and won both, the 2nd going inches over. In my view JT needed to win those balls.
Snodgrass is a very clever player. I think him and Kodjia are at 80% fitness…what quality. Davis looked great during the full game and even better during the highlights.
I could make another smart comment on Onomuuh, but I won’t. The lad is young so you have to expect some mistakes. Except for yesterday he has been very good.
As for our competitors I’m only afraid of Leeds, Boro, and Wolves. The other teams do not have the squad.
Also I’m Angel_8….but was unable to reset my password
MK, thanks for Sheff Utd info. I had no idea Stevens was with them. You have to respect team from div 1 that come up, keep the same squad and just want to play football.
Anyone know why GG is not in Barnsley squad? Injured?
I think it took Hourihane a little time to settle, but now we’re seeing why he was captain of Barnsley and brought them up from div 1. What a snip at 3m or whatever he cost.
I think he’s a better player by having Whelan alongside him…..as he knows he needs to give 200% energy.
I hope Lansbury can come good. I would love to see his alongside Hourihane as 1st choice.
Hopefully Hepbum-Murphy will be back soon. How good would it be to have him, Hogan, o’Hare, Doyle-Hayes, and Jack ready to come on for the last 20mins when teams are tired. I hope Doyle-Hayes gets a shot
OV: “We dont have many bears over here except in Berne …….”
They still have the bear pit?
I’d have thought it would have gone by now, but I suppose the Swiss are very conservative.
Pete Faherty – sheff utd actually changed the entire squad and made £4m and won the league, some going, you’ve got to admire that. I don’t think they have spent much this season either.
Robbo/ian /JC the quality of heading is quite poor these days I think, as long as you have good directive ability with your head its about seeing both your team mate and the ball until the last second, so keeping your eyes opens a must until contact. I have seen so many shut there eyes early.
If you look at the headed chances we have had this season nobody seems truly able to guide the ball where they want. Maybe the new balls are harder to direct? either way like the slide tackle its a dying art.
Pete,
No doubt about it, D-H is a good player. I feel tempted to agree with Mark that players like him should get more of a chance, but I simply think Bruce’s strategy is right for this moment.
Jack has a lot to prove to me, sorry to say.
JL, yea, Jack has a lot to prove for all fans…but the romance is you want to see your own local lads make it. He’s quality if he can keep his head. Also needs to UP his work-rate as he’s super lazy in my view….he should watch Snodgrass.
I believe the seasoned pros Bruce has brought in will have a huge influence on the U23 squad.
MK, JT may have scored from a corner yesterday but had his yersey almost ripped off. Cannot understand how defenders get away with it.
I vote for a new rule….pull a player by his jersey…straight red card
That will get rid of all the pushing and crap
JL – “They still have the bear pit?”
Yep they do John and the bears are very well looked after. And still quite a tourist attraction.
Pete F – agree that the seasoned pros should/could have a huge/good influence on the youngsters both on and off the pitch. Good point and one that will help the squad grow together ……
Is it confirmed that Ross Mc is off to Melbourne?
oldvilla
PF- yep its crap isn’t it, you can’t tell me the ref doesn’t see it either. As for the seniors and the kids they could hardly have had worse role models than the relegation team, still for all that they seem to be a pretty dedicated bunch that don’t mind hard work.
OV – yes its fact
Villa Till I Die @VillaTill
Seems Like McCormack is off @Gatty54 is reporting he’s on his way to Melbourne #avfc #GatesFinallyOpen
Dr. Tony Xia ✔ @Dr_TonyXia
It’s not rumor. Hope RM can work out and win him back this time.
2:38 PM – Sep 23, 2017
Melbourne is a nice spot. With a contract til 2020 I’d be trying to stay.
Ian – “Melbourne is a nice spot. With a contract til 2020 I’d be trying to stay.”
Definitely one of my favourite places in Oz! Just talking about it today as we plan the next Oz trip. Love the Botanical Gardens, The cafe society culture, the river and the wonderful art gallery …… weather can be a bit hit and miss though!
Lucky Ross!
oldvilla
OV -The bells on the sheep in the Larzac in the Lanuadoc are melodious & not intrusive, quite calming really when you get used to them.
Could only pick up part of the commentary & a little bit of a bad stream, but most of the comments appear accurate, especially about whelan, who needs a good game or a change is needed, or possibly a tactical switch, but Bruce hasn’t proved too bright there.
Happy to see a win, let’s see if the players can keep it going without being sabotaged by clumsy management.
They really have to win the next 2 matches.
Also need to use their head while those around are losing their!
Heading seems to have suffered since they got demoted, & panic comes from either fear or laziness.
Or maybe they’re worried about turning out like Bruce. Too many blows to the head.
Apologies in advance Steve.
Yep, Ross is a lucky boy. Melbourne is a great city. Lived there for a couple of years and even met my wife on a blind date in a Mexican restaurant there!
Fond memories 🙂
Failed to make the 160 mile round trip again, as I did not feel in a good place yesterday, but enjoyed the game on Sky Go, while having a couple of tinnies.
Thought the goals were exceptional, and was pleased to get the 3 points in the end, but agree with the previous comments about the failings once again, with Johnstone pulling off a great save once more.
All in all, Bruce is making some progress, and needs to win the next two, to stay on course, with more difficult opposition to follow.
Hopefully will make it to VP next Saturday and see a good game.
We’ve all got bells these days. They’re called mobile or cell phones. Mine’s ringing all the time. And the ring tone can be set to Baa Baa Black Sheep:) Women often buy them for their men so they don’t lose them.
There’s lots of sheep in South Australia too, so McCormack is indeed a lucky man. Just has to make sure nobody pulls the wool over his eyes:)
I’m going to focus on the positives from the games, Kodija, looking up and playing a perfect pass to Adomah for his goal was a beauty to behold. I think he reverted back to selfish type for periods of the game too much though as well, but it was good to see team play from him.
I think the Chester/Terry partnership is starting to work better with Chester learning what Terry wants to do, my gripe about Terry being giving the captaincy out of nothing is starting to wane. I don’t expect Terry to win every ball at 36 but I’m seeing a lot of interceptions and great positional play.
Both myself and JG were very quick to dismiss Whelan and unfortunately there is nothing but retirement on the horizon, the game is took quick for Whelan now, he’s served his former clubs well and his country so-so in all honesty but I won’t lambast him.
Johnstone is a fine shot stopper (reminds me of Given but with more potential to command his area) and as mentioned above, he’s found his voice in terms of berating his defence, there is a lot more confidence throughout this side and perhaps this run of games against lesser opposition is the perfect tonic for a more difficult October, certainly October will allow a more realistic assessment of progression or not under Bruce.
Onomah didn’t make a good sub but getting up to speed in the game was his issue as opposed to any quality issue. The weak link is Whelan right now but he was the wrong buy to supplement Jedinak, should have pushed the boat out and got someone in their mid to late 20s with lots of energy in that position and it probably would have led to Jedinak being sidelined as he’s injury prone and appears to play more for Australia than us.
This Tuesday we can hit the top Six need Middlesbrough to lose to Norwich though, some big games this tues
Cardiff v Leeds Hull v PNE Borough v Norwich Sheff utd V Wolves
https://7500toholte.sbnation.com/2017/9/25/16359184/expected-villa-aston-villa-nottingham-forest-hourihane-johnstone
U23s live
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUe1qi53jBQ
Watched the whole thing via my sons Xbox of all things. Thought we looked very good first half but as many have said, had a good 20 minute period after half time where we were terrible, too many cookies with their tea? The one thing I would like to give credit for, they were a team above us before the game, and now are below us, last few seasons has seen the reverse happen. I doubt we’ll be a position for that to happen against Wolves, but you never know if we win the Burton and Bolton games and Wolves drop some points, they are away at Sheffield United, and then at Burton who hopefully could be smarting from a whipping by us. I guess the wife will wake me up in a minute and I’ll realize I’m day dreaming again.
Darren – I have to agree about Whelan. He’s the right type of player to play alongside Hourihane but we can’t afford to have a defensive midfielder whose legs have gone, which certainly appears to be the case. We need an athlete with a supreme engine, which is something we don’t currently have. I wonder if Lyden or Doyle-Hayes would do a better job?
With 2 games in 4 days, it worries me that Whelan will line up tonight with tired legs. Remember Saturdays performance was after he had been rested for our midweek game.
Droyd- Lyden definitely has the legs and a goal threat to boot, three this season so far, his partnership with Doyle hayes is pretty good with DH getting up and down making all kinds of passes with Lyden running beyond him at times. Both have the legs to get back.
Lyden unfortunately is looking to go out on loan to the 1st div as he is not getting a shout, several clubs came to the match last night including Blackburn.
We are supposed to be looking at Gordan Strachans son who’s at Peterborough he’s 18
hi all
being picked up in 30mins for Burton , its about 40 mins from here , last time we done this , Steamer came as well , we hit the pubs then hit the ground , IN THEIR end somehow , even though our tickets were for the away end , and Perksy somehow was in the dugout , it was a friendly mind you !!
l cant imagine we will see much of the game ,
Saturday my Daughter done a bit of a concert at Shirley Royal British Legion and being l was pressganged into being the roadie , after l set up her P.A. system , she tried it out , and then she wanted me to go on the Microphone so she could hear what it was like at the back of the room, she shouted “sing something Dad !!” and l obliged with a loud rendition of ” SHIT ON THE CITY” well Shirley is a bit of a nose area and a few of their knuckleDraggers came down to see what was going on , but it was quite funny as whilst they were standing by the door , Big H and a few other Steamers had turned up from the game to support Jessie ,
she did bring a lump to my throat when she dedicated one of her songs to Gary (Steamer) it was one of his favourites from the open mics she used to do , great night all round ,
Todays game !!! well l will check in tomorrow to see how we got on , John Britton is a bad influence on me ,
bit of news from Barnsley , it would seem the club we used before the game , Ward Green working mens club , gave our coach load a big thumbs up , it seems we drank them out of cider , carling (for the Girly blokes) , Prosseco ( we had 7 women with us and was £9 a bottle ) and all the jaegger and sambuccas , and said this day will tide the club over till xmas , did wonder why l only had £12 left out of £250 on sunday .
all the best ,………… score tonight , l think 3-2 villa…………..yeah lv already had a brandy
Jenny xxxxxxx
Old Villa
Steve Hickman rang me sunday he’s coming on our coach today , l will let him know you asked after him ,
ST75- Have good day mate, if you manage to spend only £230 can I have my £20?
ST75-Let us know what you thought of the game if you can.
Have a good night, mate.
I will go with 1-2 Villa.
Apologies for the recent absence…missus has been sick.
Not much of a preview, but a new post is up for the match tonight.