Well, the always heated derby with they who shall not be named was reprised Sunday, and to no-one’s great satisfaction ended in a scoreless draw. Although it nearly became much more interesting than that, it didn’t in the end.
Takeaways? Well, let’s see.
The Good
A point gained in a truly hostile environment that, one hopes, helps galvanize the players’ identities as Villans. A somewhat fortunate clean sheet. Mile Jedinak’s return. A bright cameo from Davis toward the end.
The Bad
Villa never really got going. But this seemed as much to do with small heath’s insistence on a certain kind of game as it did Villa’s own failings. I know a number of supporters are disappointed with Steve Bruce’s approach to the match, but apart from instructions he may have given, the usual suspects of an attacking Villa side were out there, the only difference being Onomah in for Keinan Davis.
Kodjia rolling his ankle. One hopes that’s not a major setback.
Given the way the match played out, you could understand that with the opponent’s lack of goal-scoring prowess it might well have made sense to weather the storm, deal with the physical stuff, take the crowd out (which may very well be naive), and look for a winner later on.
Conversely, one could say that we could’ve done a better job of taking it to them, and, given their lack of goal-scoring prowess, an early lead would’ve likely secured three points.
The Ugly
I don’t suppose anything’ really surprising in this fixture, but the missiles and paper throwing were distinctly undignified. But then…Who expects dignity from our hosts?
Final Verdict
Banana skin avoided, point gained, two points lost. Really a matter of perspective, this one. Whether Villa were cowed or cautious was hard for me to tell. Villa were unlucky at the end not to nick a late winner, but of course, we were also lucky not to have gone down 1-0 from either Jota’s remarkable miss following a Hourihane error, or Ndoye’s point-blank header straight to Johnstone.
And we have to remember that it’s as close to a cup final as small heath are going to get all year until the relegation six-pointers arrive.
Individually, Onomah didn’t have a great game. Doesn’t mean he isn’t a good player, but he does run hot and cold. Then again, a number of more experienced others didn’t have their finest outings, either.
The subs…I really thought I’d have taken Onomah off for Davis and left Hourihane in. Great game or no, his set-piece deliveries are excellent, and in such a scrappy game, your points are as likely to come from those situations as any other. However, with three matches in a week, maybe it was enough of an outing for him.
Beginning to worry a bit about Snodgrass. Initially, one assumed he was going to take time to get back to full sharpness, but he just hasn’t been good with the ball at his feet. He does work extremely hard, and tries to be in the right places at both ends, but too often fails to beat a man in a critical area, which isn’t the hallmark of an indispensable winger. He’s injected energy and doggedness, but not necessarily opportunities, and a dearth of goals.
Whereas I once thought Grealish might have a hard time making his way back into the side, if he can put himself about a bit more, he offers much more creativity and threat than Snodgrass. With Hourihane, Davis, Kodjia, and Adomah, you’d also like to think he’d have plenty of opportunities to shine. So, it’s all down to him, really.
Whelan spent a lot of time on the ground, and looked liked he’d gone a few rounds in the ring. Character and toughness are never in question with him. But Jedinak’s presence was much more reassuring. Kodjia…well, still trying to do too much on his own. I’m sure he’s pressing to make an impact and get his game back, but he does need to involve others more often instead of trying to dribble his way through dead-ends.
Basically, it’s a game to simply file away. Preston is tomorrow, and while they were stingy early on, they’ve begun to leak goals. So, as many are saying, perhaps the right time to play them. It’s a big set of points, and three would do very nicely. But it could be a bit of a stalemate if they try to buckle down at the back.
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 119
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Just picked up a stat off MOMS (one I hadn’t thought of)…
“Having picked up 23 points from the opening 14 matches, Villa have made their best start to a league season since 2008/09 (24 points). “
So at the current pace, 1.6 pts/game. Equals 76 (rounding up) over 46 matches.
Accurate article JC and a good summary. Snoddy did have a quiet game. For me, the 2 danger men at SHA are Vassell and Adams. Vassell left the pitch early and Adams was no threat. Was that due to Snoddy doing a marking job on him?
From the previous thread, I agree with IanG, PP and Ian in believing we should be achieving more than we are. JG has mentioned this too. JL and OV seem happy with the situation so far. Six wins out of 14 is very average. Too many draws will cost us come the end of season.
Moving on to PNE, I would have preferred a start for O’Hare. But that can’t now happen because he played last night for the U-23’s. Would have liked to see him start against SHA but that was poo pooed. Reading SB like a book, he will keep the same back 4 unless he hooks Hutton in favour of Taylor. Most unfair as Hutton has done his job. With Codger injured it will be 1 up front (Davis) and a midfield of Hourihane, Adomah, Snoddy, Whelan and Jedi. Looks like we’ll see cameos from Onomah, Hogan and maybe O’Hare after 60 minutes if we’re lucky.
Bottom line will be to escape with a draw. What I would give to see an attacking line up that assaults the opposition away from home. The squad is there to do it.
the keeper for benfica18 bruce would never play the likeof him
thanks JL
At 1.6 pts per match we may make the playoffs, but may not.
As Ian said it’s a crap shoot unless we get some momentum.
We need a lower runs per over rate, mate.
Grealish is getting towards being match fit but not for tomorrow me thinks.
I wish Bruce would be more attacking thinking with his substitutions.
With codger not up to speed & now injured, it’s a chance for another forward or no 10, but the team was more creative before codger came back, which dropped off a bit when he came back, as he is difficult to link up with as everyone has to follow him. & I also hope o’hare is on the bench.
I think that is an excellent summary of the match and current situation at Villa, JC.
We need a win from PNE. Agree with IanG. We need to get a winning momentum going. Villa has the players.
We’ve got most of the best players in the league and the biggest and best squad in the league but somehow we don’t have the best team in the league. There are at least 2 or 3 better teams. I foresee a long hard slog to scrape into the playoffs with many ground out draws and the occasional win to raise morale. Suspect SB sees this and is setting up the team to play within themselves and try to keep everyone fit to come through the slog with a full squad to go into the playoffs. Hopefully the other 3 teams will have depleted squads by then. I’m afraid that stinking affair we witnessed on Sunday was a symptom of this thinking. Roll on the big sky advertising money next year. Must find a self help group to ditch this ingrained 50 year old addiction.
Just looked at the table and I think this game against PNE is a must win. No so much as for 3 points although that would be nice but for confidence. Bruce sets them up to defend and nick a win. It’s hard to build confidence on scoring a lone goal.
Hello jbd656
jbd656,
Yeah, for what we’ve spent, you’d think we’d look more of a sure thing. Depth may well be the difference, but that’s sort of damning with faint praise.
As I always say, I’m all about results, so we’ll see.
Ian,
Don’t disagree. Which Villa do we get? We’ve got to chase, win the ball, take the initiative. But since we’re away…I doubt we will. But I’d love to be wrong.
JC
Sat was a pivotal game as I said before, but it’s all more on this one & Saturday now, cos if we lose we’re mid table & the wrong kind of pressure is back.
I also doubt that we will & instead turn into a pumpkin, but there is still a possibility to pull the iron out of the fire.
We will see
BAck down to 8th. Pathetic
I don’t fancy our chances tonight either . 8 points off the top to
Bruce ain’t doing well
IanG
Well said. I like the images your use of words convey. I just hope it doesn’t happen to Villa.
Frem-We shall soon see. I agree with the majority that we need to go on the offensive more often.
I expect a win. The brain whispers, it’ll be a draw. A draw is just a job half done in the context of what’s required.
JC: “So at the current pace, 1.6 pts/game. Equals 76 (rounding up) over 46 matches.”
Yes, but that includes the first 3 matches when we clearly didn’t start to get any kind of act together.
One point from the first 3 games.
As has been stated before, we’ve attained 22 points in the last 11 (2 points per match), which, if we can continue will bring in far more than 76 points.
Plug: “JL and OV seem happy with the situation so far. Six wins out of 14 is very average.”
6 wins out of 14 would seem average, but it’s really 6 out of the last 11!
It seems there’s an on-going effort on AVL to play down any progress at Villa just because we have doubts about Bruce. It doesn’t make sense.
JL and OV are happy because we have made progress in the last 11 matches!. But not so happy that we can’t see that there are issues that could have been handled better.
I can only speak for myself and say that Bruce has done the major job of getting the club turned round from a very sad position, and rather than denigrate him and not recognise that he’s making progress *of some kind*, we should offer our support, despite shortcomings that he may have.
We’re all imperfect, and so is Bruce.
The News, and Opinion
I’ve come to the conclusion that the majority of posters on AVL are so inured to the idea that “only good news is bad news” that good news is being tweeked to seem to be bad news! 😀
e.g. the myth that we’re a long way behind the rate needed to finish in the top 2. It’s the major form that needs to be looked at in my opinion: in the first 3 games this season we clearly didn’t start playing, but if we include them in the stats then of course we seem not be doing that well. But such stats are doing what they always do – that’s to mislead.
I do agree that the Blews match was disappointing, but I vividly recall Darren having a ‘major moment’ after the Fulham match in declaring that it was a good Villa performance and he hoped to see more of that. One match against Blews – a derby – shouldn’t alter Villa’s overall progress.
But today’s match at PNE is therefore pivotal in determining that kind of opinion that will be written on AVL for the remainder of the week. A defeat or a sadly-played draw will illicit derision from the anti-Bruce brigade. But if Villa win then that same group will probably say little. :-;
I hope that Villa will win tonight. Not just to keep Villa’s improvement going but also to keep a good reason for some optimism amongst Lifers!
JL – If Villa win tonight I will be highly delighted. As all Villa fans will be. Why? Because we need a win to keep up with others who got good results last night. Sure, a draw will put us back in the top 6. If that is what you are happy with, who am I to complain and I won’t.
Top 6 by seasons end will be a lottery. A 1 in 4 shot. We should be aiming for P2 minimum. That requires 2 points per game over the whole 46 matches including the first 3 which you discount. We are currently 5 points down on that and it will be more if tonight we only gain a draw. So I would set up in attack mode and go for it. We may still only make a draw but a winning intent needs to be displayed. I don’t fancy our chances tonight.
JL,
It is good for you to stay positive and encourage the backing of Bruce, but it will not change the mindset here, which has existed since the beginning of AVL.
We all accept that Bruce is trying to do his best. If only he would show the determination of the man who made him a great player, then we would all be 100% behind him, but his lack of positivity, shows through in far too many areas….
Tonight really is more than a must win. After last night’s results, if we come away with less than 3 points, we will surely have been cut adrift.
The references to Sunday’s game being a one off, is farcical. The Wolves game was also a one off, as were Middlesboro’, Brentford and Bristol City, where we managed one measly goal in 3 matches.
No matter what anyone says, Bruce and Villa have to up their game and get the right results, which is all about wins….Three draws are only equivalent to ONE win….Two wins and a loss would DOUPLE the points tally….!!!
Simples my dear Watson….
I will be watching the game and be giving my 110% support tonight, like everyone else, but fear it may not be enough……Please prove us all wrong Mr Bruce…..
Just watched Bruce’s post match interview on the OS, and really fear for him. He did not show any real confidence, about the coming games, and worries all the time about the physicality of teams like Blues, PNE and Wednesday.
He did not say that after watching the Blues v Cardiff game that he had a plan, but it didn’t come off, it was all about, we could have nicked it. Is Aston Villa a team of petty thieves, just looking to nick results, or a cohesive well drilled unit capable of winning matches??????
Plug,
I’d have to watch again. It’s possible with Snodgrass, does work hard, but I’m more concerned about his inability to beat a man. Had hoped he’d kick on by now.
jl
4 points from 9 last 3 matches that return no where near good enough
2 goals scored
john clark
snodgrass looked too much like gabby ross and richards at the weekend his ass just squeezed into shorts what are our fitness coaches at, on his showing so far looks like another 2m in wages wasted
JL,
Sadly, the first three games do count…However, you are correct there are plenty of points to play for. I’d have to go back and look at what was written before, but we’re all pretty familiar with the math. We talked about the need for a quick start, didn’t get it.
Obviously now playing some catch-up, and we just have to win games in front of us. Wolves have gone 10-2-3, Villa 6-5-4: 32 pts vs. 23. Three games back.
So, yes, our form after the opening stretch has been better, and everyone wants it to continue. Whether it’s from previous experience or simply seeing what we’ve looked like so far, many are far from convinced. It’s up to Bruce and the players to convince. Maybe attrition over the season gives us an edge. Maybe we lose key players like Kodjia and no one fills the void. Story yet to be written.
Saturday, I’m not terribly worried about…as we know, very much a cup-final type game for SHA. Good performance tonight will ease a number of minds. You want to win something, you have to perform in pressure games. I think tonight is one of those pressure games.
Can we recover if we don’t win? The math says yes. But we obviously do need to keep pace, and we’ll be looking to see if the side are capable of keeping up when others hold serve.
For example, when I watch American football, you have alternating possessions, alternating chances to score (though you can score when on defense). In games where the other team keeps scoring each time they have the ball, you have to answer on your next possession to keep up. You falter, and the gap becomes insurmountable, even if you rally and make it really close…There’s just too much needed to go right, and there are always setbacks.
This ends up being similar…when the teams above us win, we have to answer to stay in the hunt. Some teams play better and looser in that situation. Others get tight.
JG,
Like I was saying, been okay with Snodgrass’s effort, disappointed with his inability to get past defenders. Jury’s still out for me, but…
I vaguely remember Snodgrass doing quite well when he first joined. Freed from WHU he was energized. My thoughts on his slump of late is that Bruce’s ideas have gummed him up some. Look at all the scoring talent that has come in and for all intense and purposes have failed to live up to expectations. One went to Melbourne I think and started scoring again.
I’ve worked with officers that have choked me up and I’ve also worked with superiors who have given me a freer rein. That freed rein gave me more confidence and less concern about making a mistake at an incident. The same happens in the dressing room. I don’t think the players feel able to go out and play like they are capable. The back four are working exactly like Bruce wants them to, it’s in their DNA.
I don’t want everyone to be a lone wolf like Kodjia but surely a style of play can evolve where everyone is playing freely and confident and working as a more cohesive unit.
Ian
Agree, but how do you arrive at a style of play can evolve where everyone is playing freely and confident and working as a more cohesive unit?
Is it the coaching? If so where is our coaching at?
Is it the lack of quality in the players? I really don’t think so as they manage it in other championship & league 1 teams.
Is it confidence? If so why?
Again you would have to question the coaching.
Bruce is on record as saying that he deliberately restricted the way they played for months to a more defensive focused game, so as not to leak goals until the team & the club went through changes, so how far along this has he got?
It also partly explains the strange lethargicness that regularly happens, along with the uncertainty & lack of flow, which results all too often in a negative result on the pitch.
It is hard to get confidence in the team getting results with this & too often a defensive approach to players picked & tactics in some matches, even though I support the team whatever.
All these things naturally point to criticism of the man in charge rather than the players, who are doing what they love & should have a natural freedom & flair that has often been cultured out of them.
For tonight I agree with others that it is a pivotal match & a result is necessary, so it will be interesting to see Bruce’s team picked & the approach.
JC: “Sadly, the first three games do count”
Sadly, they don’t when working out what potential number of points is involved, John.
Those three games count in the final points total, of course, but if the last 11 games are averaging 2 points per game, *that*’s the form that needs to be worked with i.m.o.
The first three games were played with quite a different team.
Can we get a sense of perspective here guys?
Firstly, tonight’s game is not a key one, it’s not pivotal and we don’t ‘have’ to win it.
If we lose it will be really disappointing and it’ll be depressing to see us back in mid table, but when it comes down to it, it’s just one more game.
Next, it’s undeniable that we’re doing better than last season and we should be pleased about that. It was not a given at the start of the season and I very clearly remember that last year there were many on here predicting relegation. I don’t remember many (any?) predicting automatic promotion this time round and yet now, because we’ve had good results over recent weeks (which we undeniably have) so many On here are now ready to shoot the manager if we’re not winning every game and nailed on champions.
Am I ‘delighted’ with this season? No I’m not. Do I think that it’s possible that another manager might do better with this set of players, yes I do (note the word ‘possible’)
Do I think that we’ll get automatic promotion? No I don’t but I do think that there’s a decent chance that we’ll get into the play offs and I would have taken that at the start of the season (as would most of you) and I’d still take it now.
Paul: “The references to Sunday’s game being a one off, is farcical. The Wolves game was also a one off, as were Middlesboro’, Brentford and Bristol City, where we managed one measly goal in 3 matches.”
Mmmm… The point I was making is that derby matches provide a notoriously poor barometer of form. Therefore the Blews match was a one-off, as was indeed the Wolves match: the Wolves were clearly pumped up for it more than we. why> Local reputation at stake.
I don’t regard the other matches you state as being “one-offs”.
r0bb0: “tonight’s game is … not pivotal “
Sorry, again, a misunderstanding! 😉
I was referring to the fact that it is pivotal to keeping a sense of perspective on AVL – which is what you ask for. The game itself is *not* pivotal to the season, I agree.
If we lose tonight then I’m pretty sure of the sort of stuff that will appear on AVL!
Sorry to disagree with you but tonight & Saturday are pivotal in the sense that if we lose them we will be well in mid table or slightly lower, instead of consolidating our gains in the table, they are important to the progression of the season.
If you think that is extreme maybe you’re taking it all too seriously
one striker on pitch , one on bench
yet 3 defenders ,2 devensive midfielders on bench ,no ohare after his 3 goals
Johnstone, Elmohamady, Terry, Chester, Hutton, Snodgrass, Whelan, Hourihane, Adomah, Onomah, Davis.
Subs: Steer, Samba, De Laet, Taylor, Jedinak, Bjarnason, Hogan.
Obviously set up to draw rather than go for a win JG.
But you never know your luck
IanG,
Are! That’s two matches you quote! I’m just interested in today as a starters! That’s more than enough for my pea-brain! 😀
r0bb0 ………… absolutely spot on! You have put into other words what I, and JL , have been saying. Tonights game is NOT pivotal but it is important as they all are. Why put more pressure on the team and ourselves by bigging up every game?
Except that when we lose (which we havent for a while) all hell will break lose on here.
Myself, JL, robb0 and others are not saying that all is great in the world of AVFC, but what we are saying is that we are improving in league position – and isnt that what we want?
I get the feeling that if we won 10-1 there would still be issues on here about …. we should have scored more ……. Hutton let that goal in he’s a joke ……… Whelan should have headed that ball harder ……… Terry’s boots are a crap colour …….
C’mon and look for one or two things that you can be happy about today …… we’ve had many years of REAL rubbish and now that is being corrected. Isnt it?
oldvilla
OV
As long as it makes you happy mate.
JL
It’s still 5 min to kick off, are you planning to expand?
ere we go
1-0 chester
Wow!!!
Bruce must read this blog, and starts on the offensive, taking the first ten minutes, and guess what, we score! Great goal from a corner thanks to Chester and goal line technology..!!
2-0 snodgrass
Still on the front foot…!!
Onomah playing out of his skin, making great judgements…..Snodgrass scores…
Let’s have some more..!!
IanG – “As long as it makes you happy mate.”
As long as what makes me happy?! You talk in riddles ……
oldvilla
Villa’s best first half display away from home this season..!!
Ok, thats the first half done now …………………………. can anyone say that they are happy with that? I know we will probably fall apart and lose 3-2 following our normal second half display BUT – is anyone at all moderately happy with our first half?
oldvilla
OV
you appear to prove the point mate
Sorry PP – our messages crossed – I can see you are happy …
oldvilla
PP
Great committed performance, lets hope the tea lady’s been changed & they come out for the second half the same.
Just me and you on here now JL …….. thats weird isn’t it?
oldvilla
As PP said, I think Bruce read the blog.
You can only beat whats in front of you, & we did.
Preston will play a lot better when they have their defenders fit, but Davis was rocket fueled.
very happy it was him not codger leading the line as it gives the midfield so much more space & opportunity.
I reckon Taylor may have a problem getting his place back.
From the Holte Enders In The Sky site:
“Excellent win tonight.
Best performance over the last few seasons in my opinion.
Every player was superb. Even though Davis didn’t score he was brilliant, put the fear into Preston.
Clean sheet again.
Alan Hutton again – tremendous!
Got to keep this going! Looking like a promotion side tonight.
This is what we’ve been waiting for. Love it! ”
oldvilla
you sure you were’t a premature baby OV
great performance all round from everyone tonight, especially Terry, Johnstone, Hutton, Davis, Chester and a workmanlike performance from Whelan. No slouchers tonight, and everyone playing a part.
Well done Steve. Now let’s have the same on Saturday.
Maybe now Steve and his team may have a little more confidence going into big games.
Poor old Blue Noses easily beaten by Brentford 2-0. Who said Wednesday nights are boring..!!
OV,
Yes, at long last we are now looking like a promotion side. Nothing would give me greater pleasure than Steve Bruce to succeed.
Wish I could have watched it, sounds as if it was a good game. . . . sigh
Did we have our usual second half lethargy?
Really pleased to hear that Hutton has done well again.
I can’t help admiring his temperament. Despite all the criticism he’s taken he seems to be able to maintain his self confidence. That shows real character and I’m delighted for him.
It was interesting to read how well Bacuna has been doing at Reading. He came in for similar (probably worse) criticism to Hutton but he isn’t made of the same stuff (he’s younger too of course). He wasn’t able to cope with the constant criticism he came in for and his performances suffered. Removed from the hostile Aston Villa environment he seems to be showing the form that he is capable of.
Robbo,
Bacuna could have been a very good player, but was often played out of position. When he first came he was good playing on the right of midfield, but in the end I do not feel he really knew what was expected of him, which was the same with many of the foreign buys.
Joe Bennett was another player the fans destroyed, who is doing ok.
Paul
That’s s good call on Joe Bennet. You could tell there was a decent player in there but he wasn’t given a real chance.
We may be critical of Bruce’s approach but our defensive record over the past 10 games has been pretty exceptional, with only 4 goals conceded. John Terry’s signing is looking more astute by the game.
Robbo,
Agreed, the JT signing was pivotal on making the defence a solid unit, as was getting Sam Johnstone back in goal, as he grows with every game, and now we have Davis up front.
I am just so glad that my belief that Terry would sign for Villa was on the money. He also improves with every game, as he puts his stamp on the team, which in turn must inspire Whelan and Hutton to reach the levels that they do.
r0bb0
No we didn’t have a lethargic start to the second half, they must have changed the tea lady.
Preston started the half strongly & we just carried on & got past it, it was good to see.
They had lost their entire back 4 to injury & suspension, but I can see Preston being in the playoffs, so it’s a good 3 points.
As PP said terry was exceptionally good & also Chester, which takes the pressure off the full backs, & I’m not sure Taylor will get back in on Saturday.
Davis played a blinder but had to be taken off before he got a second yellow.
I think he should be the one for the lone striker role rather than codger as he can keep the ball, creates space for others & usually manages to take the ball forward & passes it, without going down a cul de sac.
Just needs to sort his shooting out as he should be the leading scorer by now.
Couldn’t see the match at work. Glad for the win. Yay!
You talk a lot of sense. The defence has been consistently strong. They have provided a springboard for Villa to score more.
Speaking of Kodjia, it id good to see AVL’s old codgers happy.
The kind of game that will go a lot further than just 3 points. Well played, no real let up, players leading by example, shut down a team on their home turf.
That’s what breeds confidence. 3,000 away fans to stand behind them. Perfect.
Oh and by the way, when you look at all of Villa’s 7 wins that’s 100% of all the points that could be taken. An average of 3 points a game! Also a positive goal difference!!
Robbo-Hutton has been a victim of many vitriolic outbursts. He has his off days, like all of us.
He is stout hearted.
Trinity, you calling me a codger?
Yes, Sir.
Codger:
(noun)
used affectionately to refer to an eccentric but amusing older man
whippersnappers!
Well that wasn’t to bad last night was it, which surprised me. It’s took 13 months for us to play a solid 90 mins off football
John Terry and Chester- what a paring. Proper defendders. Hope they can stay fit because we have no cover
Fell for Adomah and Snodgrass though, they have no freedom to get forward really. The are shafted by the hour mark because they have had to do so much defensive work.
Just wish Ohare and Grealish were involved last night. That bench we had was awful
About The Match
Psssssssttt……. Listen up … It seems that Preston had 7 (seven) defenders out by half-time last night, with injuries and one suspension (their captain).
For me it takes a bit of gloss off the game knowing we were playing a second-choice defence.
All I can say is 3 points is 3 points … let’s move on…
Fabulous result last night. In my book it was a vital and must win result. We might have scored 4. Some accurate comments already posted by our Lifers.
My thoughts on what we learnt. If we play 1 up front, Codger is not that man (spot on IanG). Davis is so much more effective. Codger is better when we play 2 up front. The back 4 looked solid all evening and their main threat Hugill left was sniffing scraps. Hutton gave another excellent performance and had 1 run that released Adomah into acres. Davis hit the keeper from the cross.
Hourihane looks better when he plays further up the pitch. Snoddy made the first goal and scored the second so I musn’t complain but I don’t think he did much else all game. His goal was down to Onomah who won the ball and supplied the perfect pass.
Over the game I estimated that we won about 20% of the headers. Despite this poor return players kept kicking the ball up in the air. Whelan seemed especially prone to doing it. Think Preston won most of the second balls too.
I still see a lack of pace in the team. Would have loved to see O’Hare on the break towards the end as Preston pushed forward and left a field of space vacant. Instead the breaks didn’t look that sharp and there were a couple of occasions when the man on the break didn’t look to see who was breaking with him.
These are some of my observations. PNE were playing a scratch team ravaged by suspensions and injuries so I won’t get too excited. But we are moving up the table.
Well done Plug.
A very good assessment of the match, and yes at long last we seem to be moving forward, with plenty to play for over the rest of this month.
what a fantastic run we have put together.
19 points from a possible 24 I think….against some tough teams.
we look fitter, more organised. were showing passion and commitment.
last season when preston did us and we were playing 4-1-5 shows we have come a long way.
not too excited because play off is the least where we should be but ive got pride back in supporting villa again.
Great win for all the reasons mentioned above. Looking at the Nov fixtures, we have:
Owls at home
QPR away
Sunderland at home
Ipswich at home
Should be targeting double digit points here, though worried about the international break affecting momentum. Maybe watching games won’t be as nerve racking as the last 5 years (wishful thinking?)
it kills me to say it but we might as well get rid of Hogan in jan and get another target man in.
We are so much better as a team with a davis type of striker.
And im totally in love with terry now. him and chester at the back are class.
Hutton……god damn it deserves his place too 🙁
Good to see you Andrew! 🙂
And some positive comments on an improvement that in my view has been going on for weeks!
villalore
Yes hopefully we can start to trust villa again!
Last night for the first time in ages I thought nope…we aint going to do something stupid and collapse. we were in control, professional and worked hard.
3 home games out of the next 4 is exciting stuff…and kodjers ok.
tis a mental league though and anything could happen….think struggling qpr just beat sheff utd and wolves recently!
one game at a time…….
Hello John
Hope your good mate 🙂
Lovely day out there today….shame im working!
Yep john its been going on a while now, slowly grinding it out!
Lansbury and grealish back too which is good for the bust time coming up.
busy!
hope we can sign Johnson up…he is a very good solid keeper. no dramas with him.
Hi Andrew, good to see you back.
Great result wasn’t it. We only need to win our home matches this month & the force will be with us again.
I think everyone would like to see the young players put in a few minutes, definitely me but the team is solid right now and won’t be changed too much. Injury and suspension are the way in for them. And Taylor knows how risky that can be with Hutton taking his spot for now.
Andrew mentioned hogan could be sold in January in his opinion. Recouping some cash would be nice. With Davis being a more all round player than Kodjia what do you think of Kodjia going and O’Hare moving up? Too many youngsters?
Ian,
Surely that line of thinking is not in Bruce’s manual! 😉
When he says that Kidjia has plenty of goals in him, I’m sure he’s right – 19 goals in each of the last two seasons is a testimony to that. Also he’s a very experienced player. Relying so much on youngsters for any one position is not a good thing i.m.o., which is what you’re suggesting I think.
I’d not like to see him go and see little point in him going.
Well, he really hasn’t played much in 14 games and to be honest I don’t think the squad missed him
Ian/JL
I don’t think selling Kodjia is in SB’s thinking, either. I do see the logic in Ian’s idea, though. And I think Kodjia not playing for a while meant other players have had to score the goals, which they have, so one could perhaps see his absence as a blessing from the big picture perspective. I’d like to see O’Hare come through quicker.
Iana, my thoughts exactly. I just don’t want the best of the academy to leave through lack of playing time. Maybe loan them out? Who knows? I do think they would be fine in the first team in the right circumstance. They do need a shot at it.
Ian,
No, I wouldn’t want to see talented youth lost either, but because they’re not all first choice yet doesn’t mean in my view that they will be lost.
I think we’ll see them come more into the picture as time passes.
As for Kodjia, the point is surely that he has scored 19 goals and was our main lifeline last season. He’s done well for his country as well. I think he’ll come back and his play does keep opposing defenders busy. As Iana says, defenders attending to Kodjia can lose sight of what other Villa players are doing.
Woops, no, Iana didn’t say that! 🙁
Never mind, that’s my view f.w.i.w.
Its a sign of how much we have improved as a team that we are contemplating leaving kodjer out!! last season we relied too much on him.
For me if he is fit he starts….can win a match on his own and the opposition are scared of him.
play him alongside davis though.
andrew
do you want bruce to have heart attack telling him to play 2 up top
me i would go 433
with kodja out left davies in middle adoamh on right
or can change to a 442 with davies and hogan up top interchanging green,grealish , albert and snodgrass
james
I like that. that’s what id do.
Bruce does like 442 though.
sounds like kodjer, oanmoah and snoddy out though!
cor I forgot about green!
damn we have such a good squad when all fit
Apologies for absence, am traveling this week and into next.
Great result, with the caveats everyone has mentioned regarding PNE.
Slag Snodgrass, and he scores. Excellent. I’m moving on to Kodjia next, when he’s back.
With those three out here’s a chance for some youth.
That could be fun to watch. They would definitely be flying. Davis surprised in his debut why not O’Hare too.
bruce saying today o hare could feature along with jack.
I expect jack to be behind davis tomoz
wheres mark too…is he still about…ok?
It’s been a few weeks since we’ve heard from Mark. Hope he’s OK.
Tomorrow is a must win game to consolidate our midweek win and our place in the top 6. We simply have to beat Sheff Weds. As always, it will depend on how SB sets the team up.
I think he just might go for it and put two up top. If youth are in tomorrow they will run SW ragged
Ian,
I don’t disagree with your thoughts on youth except in the sense that changes of that ilk can upset the rhythm of an unchanged side.
However, with Ononah out it could provide the opportunity for O’Hare.
Plug: “Tomorrow is a must win game”
Why? Every game is important, sure, but so long as the right number of points are collected overall, that’s the v.i. thing.
Good result against PNE, but I still face every game with some doubt and in-trepidation, just can’t feel that confidence I had in the days of Saunders, Big Ron, Brian Little and John Gregory. Still at least I can go into a game hoping and believing we might just pull something out of the bag.
I think Mark may have been arrested for cruelty to pigeons. Seriously though, I hope he’s ok, but you know I read the site most day’s but life tends to get in the way and I don’t alway’s have time to reply.
Mark may have picked up a good job with some time demands we can hope its something like that any way.
Point of fact, I have been trying to comment all week to Ian about his Whitecaps, seems your coach has a plan “B” for the away leg, if it comes off maybe he can pass it on to the Villa, we only have a plan “A”. It looks like TFC will be in the Eastern final, so win that and you never know we might have a Canadian MLS Final.
Well that won’t happen. Whitecaps lost 2-0. Their 3 best couldn’t play due to injuries.
I wonder how long it will be before the teams in Europe will be giving MLS players a good look.
I understand re rhythm but if three are out with injury why not to some degree?
Ian,
That’s what I was intimating (in agreement)! 🙂
From sounds being made at VP you may well get at least some of what you’re hoping for!
The only way tomorrow is a ‘must win’ game is if you really believe that we need 119 points for automatic qualification.
Even last year when there were two stand out teams we’d have needed 25 points fewer than that.
r0bb0
I was never a mathematical genius, but are you sure about your adding up there?
R0bb0,
If tomorrow is not a must win game then where are we going to get approx 65 points from the remaining 30 games? How do you decide which ones are must win? I accept that playing teams around us in the table are 6 pointers and therefore maybe must not lose, but at home to teams in the bottom half?
Unless you are settling for top 6 of course then I agree tomorrow’s game is not must win.
IanG, so my assumptions were:
46 games in a season
31 still to play
Win them all gives 93 points
Add our current 26
Gives 119 in total
Brighton were automatically promoted on 93 last year
So. . . . We can afford to drop 26 points and still match their points total
We can therefore afford to lose 8 games if we win all th others
So. . . . . tomorrow is not a ‘must’ win game any more than any other is a ‘must’ win game, until we’ve already lost 7 games that is . . . . then we get into ‘must win’ territory if we want automatic promotion.
For play offs, we could probably afford to lose 3 or 4 more on top of that.
Not saying that we want to, just that we don’t need to go into meltdown next time we lose a game.
However. . . . the earlier in the season we can rack up the wins the better. AND it’ll take the pressure off in case of injuries, national competitions etc.
One last thought. It’s doesn’t actually matter if we lose games to the top team, the bottom team or the teams immediately around us. . . . we just ideally don’t want to drop
more than 24 or so points in total from now till the end of the season.
ian where did that great lambert signing dawkins ply his trade
r0bb0
You seem to have missed an important part of the conversation about ‘must win pivotal games’ & seem to contradict yourself saying opposite meaning statements.
It was concerned the momentum in a particular part of the flow of the season, & was not a statistical exercise.
And also it was related to where the other teams were in the league & an indicator of the standard of the opposition.
As we won that game it has taken the pressure off that after the draw at Blues, but we really need to win the match on Saturday so as at least not to fall too far behind the points target of 2 points per game as you say the earlier the better.
If we do that & win this month’s home game we will have put pressure on the top 3.
JG
After Derby in California at San Jose, I think he may still be there, Gibbo should know.
IanG. I agree with you about momentum and confidence. You can feel it growing in the team and that does improve our chances of winning games.
Heck, you can even feel it in the fans as evidenced by the fact that this season we are talking about promotion or even automatic promotion instead of relegation!
(Thanks Mr Bruce I guess?)
However, I don’t agree with you about there being any particular significance in who you win or lose against.
Fact is, we probably need just over 90 points to gain automatic promotion and it doesn’t much matter where we get them from
That’s why I say that when the end of the season comes around we’ll all realise that no one game is any more important than any other game. . . . . it’s just the total points tally that matters.
Mathematically, not a must-win on Saturday…
But, as with PNE, Wolves, etc., the only way you make up ground AND feel good about yourselves is beating the teams you’re supposed to be as good as, if not better than.
You want the games you lose to be down to you not playing your best, versus being up against a side that simply plays better football than you do at your best.
The latter is what undermines confidence. The former is a sign of an excess of confidence (i.e., complacency).
So, want to feel good about yourselves? Beat the teams around you, get the six points, and put your doubts to rest.
And put the doubt in their heads instead (keep getting interrupted!).
r0bb0
Thats at the end of the season, we’re nowhere near that & dealing with the slings & arrows of the more immediate.
Lets give Suliman and O’Hare a start
In my view, based on interviews and lack of 1/2 time talks, Bruce is a complete Donkey. Fire him tomorrow.
With Bruce, if we keep getting results, don’t really care…even if things seem to be down to the players more than any managing going on.
But, as we keep saying, if he gets us up, or the players just get us up, does he have, or does the squad have, what it takes to stay up.
Looking too far down the road? Don’t think so. You have to have the end game in mind.
New page up for the game (typed on my phone, so forgive the lack of quality). COYVB