Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: kippaxvilla2 on February 25, 2017, 05:00:51 PM
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Won ugly. Well played. Unbeaten runs are started by such results.
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Sometimes you just need to grind out a win, so am delighted it's finally come and we can start to forget about relegation and have a good end to the season.
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A victory in all but name.Flaccid and inept.Felt like a loss.
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Desperately needed that win. Hopefully we can kick on now.
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Hopefully they will grow in confidence. Main issue is lack of movement (the villa way) and lack of numbers when getting forward.
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A victory in all but name.Flaccid and inept.Felt like a loss.
Exactly how I feel.
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The perfect away performance.
Don't let a little matter like the fact we were at home get in the way.
But Christ, a win is a win is a win. Play like that, I'm not sure another one will be coming around anytime soon.
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A victory in all but name.Flaccid and inept.Felt like a loss.
Odd, I thought only a loss feels like loss.
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Breathing space
13 Brentford 33 2 43
14 Birmingham 34 -13 43
15 Ipswich 33 -7 41
16 QPR 34 -11 40
17 Aston Villa 33 -7 39
18 Nottm Forest 34 -12 37
19 Burton 34 -13 36
20 Wolves 32 -5 35
21 Bristol City 33 -6 33
22 Wigan 34 -10 31
23 Blackburn 32 -13 30
24 Rotherham 34 -45 17
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29% possession at home is not the way to succeed long term, but the win was all that was required today.
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(http://thumb.ibb.co/iSnnAa/ugly.jpg) (http://ibb.co/iSnnAa)
A picture of our win.
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A victory in all but name.Flaccid and inept.Felt like a loss.
A win in name only, more like.
I'm not normally a miserablist but that was a fucking shocker. If it's the start of an upswing then all well and good, but we can't be spending the money we have and play like that with any regularity.
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A solid, determined win slightly dampened by Bacuna's stupidity.
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Sounds like Tone is choked
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Excellent, not the best in terms of quality but they worked hard, battled well and ground out the result. Well done, happy with that.
As an aside Bacuna didn't deserve a red, the fucking linesman did.
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Dreadful game. Don't care for now.
Bacuna is an idiot. Absolute dick.
Same again Tuesday.
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The linesman deserved to be dropkicked all the way up Witton Lane.
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As ridiculous as it sounds we will miss Bacuna. That was stupid.
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Bruce the football genius. Good three points and that will do
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Great to get a win, but numbed by that performance. A bit like having a root canal - necessary but extremely uncomfortable.
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Clean sheet too, rarer than even a win.
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Wasn't there, but what exactly did Bacuna do to get a straight red?
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A win is a win and all that....
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No cohesion, dreadful performance lucky that Derby had no finishers. Yes happy to get the three points but wouldn't pay to see that rubbish.
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Wasn't there, but what exactly did Bacuna do to get a straight red?
Gobbed off to the twat linesman, he shouldn't of but he was pissed off. He gives a fuck, fair play to Bacuna. Good attitude today from the team.
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29% possession at home is not the way to succeed long term, but the win was all that was required today.
No chance if getting away with that again. Am sure though that Bruce will want to show us otherwise on Tuesday.
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We needed the result.
As much as I would love to see flowing football, it aint going to happen with Bruce.
And our current situation decrees we need a result.
But at 1-0 and 30% possession at home you are on the seat of your pants.
Onwards and Upwards
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Didn't sound great but an important win. Hopefully get some confidence from that and finish the season well.
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Maybe an omen, but didn't our run in 89/90 start with a win against Derby? Hopefully that will give us a big lift for Tuesday.
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Wasn't there, but what exactly did Bacuna do to get a straight red?
From the highlights, a Derby player slides and puts the ball *clearly* into touch from under Bacuna's feet, right under the linesman's nose. Bacuna, clearly fired up, gives him a mouthful and the lino bleats to the ref.
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A victory in all but name.Flaccid and inept.Felt like a loss.
Exactly how I feel.
same here. Left the ground depressed. Not looking forward to Tuesday
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10 straight home league wins against Derby. If we only ever played them at home and Wigan away we'd piss the league every year.
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A solid, determined win slightly dampened by Bacuna's stupidity.
It soured a good performance from Bacuna.
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We've caught up three points on Wednesday in 6th. Win Tuesday and the gap is down to 16 points.
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God God, it's the 'W' word!
I'm not sure how I'll cope with an evening out after a 'W', but it makes a change to refreshments. UTV.
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A solid, determined win slightly dampened by Bacuna's stupidity.
It soured a good performance from Bacuna.
It wasn't professional but it was a stupid call from the linesman. Bacuna done well today and battled well. He was charged up and it was good to see from one of ours.
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A victory in all but name.Flaccid and inept.Felt like a loss.
Exactly how I feel.
same here. Left the ground depressed. Not looking forward to Tuesday
Would you rather we had played the best we've played all season but lost in unfortunate circumstances? After the run we've had, I'm just happy for the win and to get a little further away from the relegation zone. Hopefully they'll be a bit more confident and can build on that.
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No cohesion, dreadful performance lucky that Derby had no finishers. Yes happy to get the three points but wouldn't pay to see that rubbish.
They needed to actually create a few chances first. I swear Keogh only went off because he was sick of getting the ball passed back.
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just back - a very useful win and I don't care that Derby passed the ball much better than we did, and always seemed to have players to spare. Hughes was the best player on the pitch bar none but three much needed point. UTV.
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Happy with the three points well needed win I'm cold and wet and on the train but we have won get in there.
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Still in lower end less than 40pts. It's a start. Who got us into this shinola? I will hold back on detail when I report to brother in deepest china. We are on our way. 'The long march starts with first step' as Mao said somewhere before Joe Mercer was born
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Player ratings today?
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Unfortunately,he did a little more than threw a few underhand compliments at the linesman.
He put his head in a manner that suggested he was going to drop him..And I think he made slight contact.
Shame..he'd played with energy and drive today.Funnily enough I saw the same at Reading Away and home to Burton..Then he's hardly featured since.
As for the performance...We dug in ..Good.Lansbury and Jedinak were important in that..But they both appeared shot after 65..Hence the failure to keep the pressure on.I thought bar the odd lack of concentration Taylor handled their one reallly dangerous player,Ince,well.
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I'll take two more fugly wins next week then we can forget about relegation and concentrate on getting some sort of formation and style of play until the end of the season.
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Player ratings today?
Chester or the Ref get my vote for MOTM.
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A victory in all but name.Flaccid and inept.Felt like a loss.
Exactly how I feel.
same here. Left the ground depressed. Not looking forward to Tuesday
Would you rather we had played the best we've played all season but lost in unfortunate circumstances? After the run we've had, I'm just happy for the win and to get a little further away from the relegation zone. Hopefully they'll be a bit more confident and can build on that.
Indeed the only way we'll see better performances is if confidence grows and the only way we'll get confidence is winning.
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Good first half performance today. I actually thought our start was similar to Barnsley but if ever a team needs a first goal in a game it's us.
Second half Green and the surprisingly excellent Hutton both had good chances and after that we sat back and let Derby back into it.Today we got away with that tactic, many other times this season we simply haven't.
Still it's a much needed 3 points and given the games ahead I'd like to think we can string a few more wins and move well away from the bottom 6.
I left right on 90 minutes so what did Bacuna do to get sent off? I thought he had a really good game in the middle today.
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Player ratings today?
Hutton and Chester both played very well, Bacuna a close third.
Ratings, 3-4 on quality, but 10 out of 10 for commitment. It's a start!
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Theres a saying in football that sometimes when you in desperate need of a goal then it doesn’t matter if it goes in off someones arse then its all very grateful. Add to that a desperately needed clean sheet for the defence, team and Goal Keeper.
This win isn’t going to solve all the confidence and mentality issues within the team we have all witnessed over the past 5 years but its better than going into next match on the back of another late conceded goal or a defeat.
Just put loads of pictures up around the dressing room before next game saying “just don’t fuck it up again"
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Is Hourihane injured?
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Yes Chester was outstanding today, cleared everything in the second half.
I actually thought the ref was pretty good for us today, was fully expecting a penalty first half when Baker lunged in on Bent.
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A victory in all but name.Flaccid and inept.Felt like a loss.
Exactly how I feel.
same here. Left the ground depressed. Not looking forward to Tuesday
Don't get this mentality. We've been shit and losing for wwwks. Today we won ugly. I prefer the latter.
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Player ratings today?
Hutton and Chester both played very well, Bacuna a close third.
Ratings, 3-4 on quality, but 10 out of 10 for commitment. It's a start!
Adomah I'd give a 3 rating. He was awful, gave the the ball away so often. Surprised he stayed on so long. Bruce should've put Jack on instead. Terrible possession stats at 29%.
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Awful game but we ground out a much needed win. Important to win again on Tuesday to pull away and hopefully build a bit of momentum.
Atmosphere was dreadful again. Our home support is piss poor.
Derby are crap, one of the worst teams I've seen this season.
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Have to say I really don't rate Johnstone...was flapping at everything today.
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A victory in all but name.Flaccid and inept.Felt like a loss.
Exactly how I feel.
same here. Left the ground depressed. Not looking forward to Tuesday
Would you rather we had played the best we've played all season but lost in unfortunate circumstances? After the run we've had, I'm just happy for the win and to get a little further away from the relegation zone. Hopefully they'll be a bit more confident and can build on that.
Indeed the only way we'll see better performances is if confidence grows and the only way we'll get confidence is winning.
WE WON, and a refuse to accept any negative shit, and i'll go further my motm ALAN HUTTON might not be cultured but the MAN has got Balls and fo that I love him, and nice touch from Gardner at the end giving his shirt to some one in the Holte End, Green is going to be a Great as well, he tired but he has a Brain and speed, Now I'm going to Celebrate. UTV
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Is Hourihane injured?
Dead leg which Bacuna gave him. It's one way of getting in the side!
Was Bacuna a straight red and 3 game ban today?
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Highlights (http://www.skysports.com/football/a-villa-vs-derby/358506)
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For the first time in weeks, I'll be going to the pub in a good mood. Would someone be kind enough to post a copy of the goal please if it's possible?
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A victory in all but name.Flaccid and inept.Felt like a loss.
Odd, I thought only a loss feels like loss.
Felt like a win to me.
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Well a win is all that matters for where we are. Very nervy second half and for 45+4 minutes I was convinced Derby would (at least) equalise. Some real battling performances - special mentions for Hutton, Chester and Baker, and Lansbury also made a couple of well timed tackles deep in our box in the first half. The rest was a bit of a curate's egg but three points and a clean sheet is what it says on the tin. Not sure that Green is strong enough, and he looked to be running through treacle at one point. Gardner did well for the short time he was on - his harrying of Carson could and should have got us a second if Bacuna had kept his head. btw - what did he get sent off for - lippy to the lineo?
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29% possession at home is not the way to succeed long term, but the win was all that was required today.
The possession stat means fuck all, only one stat counts and that is the 1-0 stat.
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29% possession at home is not the way to succeed long term, but the win was all that was required today.
The possession stat means fuck all, only one stat counts and that is the 1-0 stat.
Obviously in a one off game that's true, but as I thought I made pretty clear long term if we're having less than 30% of the the possession we'll probably struggle.
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bacuna made contact with the lino bumping him with his shoulder. I imagine the FA will ban him for more than the usual 3 games.
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29% possession at home is not the way to succeed long term, but the win was all that was required today.
The possession stat means fuck all, only one stat counts and that is the 1-0 stat.
Obviously in a one off game that's true, but as I thought I made pretty clear long term if we're having less than 30% of the the possession we'll probably struggle.
All depends if you are set up to play on the break, MON won plenty of games with the team set up to play on the break, then people were constantly moaning about possession stats every time even when we won.
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A victory in all but name.Flaccid and inept.Felt like a loss.
Odd, I thought only a loss feels like loss.
Felt like a win to me.
Well it certainly felt like a win to me. Happy days.
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I don't care how we won the important thing is that for the first time in two months we won a game.
I thought Hutton was great today. He has his limitations but he cares and plays for the shirt. Bacuna was excellent until his late moment of madness and Johnson made a couple of strong saves.
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A win is a win...I think a large amount of credit needs to go to Bruce today, he was on the sidelines barking at the players for what seemed like the entire 90 mins. He was all over anybody that wasn't working hard enough and it was good to see them respond. Special mentions for Hutton's and Gardner's crunching tackles.
A few more observations...Amavi looked like a lost sheep, Kodjia still needs to pass better and Johnstone needs to come and collect the ball sometimes to relieve the pressure on the back 4. Was watching on tv so was difficult to see, but did Lansbury celebrate the goal ?
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Just seen the Bacuna incident. Silly boy. As Stinkin_Thinkin says above, likely to get at least one extra game ban for that
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Yes, a win is win but it was fucking tedious.
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29% possession at home is not the way to succeed long term, but the win was all that was required today.
The possession stat means fuck all, only one stat counts and that is the 1-0 stat.
Obviously in a one off game that's true, but as I thought I made pretty clear long term if we're having less than 30% of the the possession we'll probably struggle.
All depends if you are set up to play on the break, MON won plenty of games with the team set up to play on the break, then people were constantly moaning about possession stats every time even when we won.
Maybe I'm forgetting, but I thought our home form under O'Neill was one of our biggest problems.
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29% possession at home is not the way to succeed long term, but the win was all that was required today.
The possession stat means fuck all, only one stat counts and that is the 1-0 stat.
Obviously in a one off game that's true, but as I thought I made pretty clear long term if we're having less than 30% of the the possession we'll probably struggle.
All depends if you are set up to play on the break, MON won plenty of games with the team set up to play on the break, then people were constantly moaning about possession stats every time even when we won.
Maybe I'm forgetting, but I thought our home form under O'Neill was one of our biggest problems.
Yeah it was that bad we only kept finishing sixth.
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Yay! A win!
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Stayin' up
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Derby is more proof that just splashing cash around in this division rarely gets you anywhere...
Their squad probably isn't that far off what our players earn....Bent's probably on 30-40k, same for Nugent, Will Hughes would be on a fair whack and Vydra didn't even make their 18 today and he cost them 8m.
They were really poor until we just sat back in the last 20 minutes and gave them more space.
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29% possession at home is not the way to succeed long term, but the win was all that was required today.
The possession stat means fuck all, only one stat counts and that is the 1-0 stat.
Obviously in a one off game that's true, but as I thought I made pretty clear long term if we're having less than 30% of the the possession we'll probably struggle.
Yep it was the same when we won that game at Southampton a few seasons back at Southampton under Lambert with 20% or something ridiculous low.
It's just not sustainable to win every week if we can't learn to control games.
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The confidence the win will give them is important. We never make it easy though.
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Surely a lot of this possession is also frame of mind. We sat very deep and dug in for the last 20-25 minutes mainly due to the run we're on. That's a lot of possession to give away. We need to take control early and take our chances and build confidence. We need to get away from this panic near the end of each half.
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Pretty dire at times but a much needed win and watching Bruce jump up and down going crazy at times at least shows he gives a monkeys. Positives from today are Bacuna (up until his sending off), Green when he got the ball looked our biggest threat, Hutton had another good game and Chester was superb.
We still don't play as a team but the building blocks are there.
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I thought the second half was mostly quite decent. What possession there was consisted of some nice crisp passing between the midfield. Not one of our most terrible performances by a long way.
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29% possession at home is not the way to succeed long term, but the win was all that was required today.
The possession stat means fuck all, only one stat counts and that is the 1-0 stat.
Obviously in a one off game that's true, but as I thought I made pretty clear long term if we're having less than 30% of the the possession we'll probably struggle.
All depends if you are set up to play on the break, MON won plenty of games with the team set up to play on the break, then people were constantly moaning about possession stats every time even when we won.
Maybe I'm forgetting, but I thought our home form under O'Neill was one of our biggest problems.
First-world problems.
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A very welcome three points.
Unfortunately the performance addressed few of the questions about our ability to compete at the top end of the table in the future. The last 20 mins were truly inept and I fear a team in better form than Derby would have run up a cricket score. Still you have to start somewhere.
I admire the defensive performance today but I am beginning to question if Bruce will ever be the man to unlock the creative forward talent we have paid big money for. A disjointed and lethargic midfield and attack that rarely looked like opening up Derby.
Still, better than last time out but more questions than answers for me.
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For all it was a poor match and there's the all important possession stat that people bang on about, we could have been four up before Derby dominated the final 20 minutes. I thought the defence were great, Hutton had the best game i've seen him have and can Lansbury take all the corners and free kicks please?
Bacuna deserved the red, he appeared to barge the linesman. Kodjia really irritates me, so many attacks broke down thanks to him and get sick of him pretending to be injured.
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It's just not sustainable to win every week if we can't learn to control games.
i thought we looked fine first half, the best we've looked for some time. What worries me is once again we look like a completely different team second half. As soon as the opposition manager switches it around we have no idea what to do. It was so predictable, we got deeper and deeper and were grateful to see out the game with all points. It felt like watching some lower league club in the cup hang on for their lives and manage the giant kill.
All this against a Derby side that had one shot on target all game though admittedly Bent just needed a touch on a few occasions to have knocked one in. Both our full backs did well to prevent more crosses coming into the box but what was really disappointing was how we looked like we had no ideas of our own. The subs were strange yet again and how Bruce can finish a game playing 4-6-0 at Villa Park is beyond me. It was like the ghost of Alec McLeish on a bad day had returned to haunt Villa Park. Horrible.
There were positives to take from the game but I more and more get the feeling we're our own worst enemy.
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I thought one of our weaknesses today was the amount of crosses we let them get in.
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I thought the second half was mostly quite decent. What possession there was consisted of some nice crisp passing between the midfield. Not one of our most terrible performances by a long way.
Offering a bag of Smokey Bacon around is about all they must be doing in training as well.
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I floated a theory in the pub afterward that maybe one of our problems is that Kodja can undoubtedly hold the ball up but the midfield don't trust him to lay it off quickly enough or at all so don't advance to support him as quickly as they might. That makes us look ponderous.
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I thought one of our weaknesses today was the amount of crosses we let them get in.
True but it could have been far worse. Almost everything they did came from the flanks from two of their best players.
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The three points were absolutely key today but it was another poor performance. An equaliser seemed inevitable from around 75 mins but thankfully never came. Onwards.
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I floated a theory in the pub afterward that maybe one of our problems is that Kodja can undoubtedly hold the ball up but the midfield don't trust him to lay it off quickly enough or at all so don't advance to support him as quickly as they might. That makes us look ponderous.
Don't get me started on Kodja. Let's just say he might no be available for the Bristol game due to jet lag following his nomination as Best Male Actor at tomorrow nights Oscars.
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There was a moment in the first half when I turned the air blue when he had the chance to pass into Adomahs run but again turned into traffic and lost the ball, that said he's pretty much the only goal threat we have so.....
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Let me start by saying that I'm delighted we got all three points and another 3 on tuesday would virtually make us safe from relegation. However, let's be realistic, the tactics we use are a nightmare. What is all this with bringing everyone back to defend corners and free kicks. If we clear the ball, it comes straight back as we have no one up the pitch. Plus, we just don't get enough players into the opponents penalty area when we attack which is obviously the reason we score so few goals.We need to push up as a unit for our attacks and midfielders should be in or around the box especially as we are only playing 1 up front. Finally, we just play far too deep for long periods in a match and need to close down much quicker than we do.
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Went down today, first time in a while.
Most important thing was three points. However, it was a truly inept showing
We barely saw the ball and spent the whole second half trying to concede. We were lucky Derby are so blunt up front.
The last ten minutes were incredibly nail biting and tense. So glad to have the three points but Christ, it was grim to watch
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Didn't go today but thank fuck for the win. 4 points minimum against bristol city and rotherham and we can start to look towards getting ready for next season.
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Horrible to watch, but who cares, we won and that's what matters. Let's just get safe, beat Small Heath, finish above them then give Bruce a pre-season to actually build a team rather than just the 11 individual players we see in every match. Then maybe next season will see us fighting for promotion rather than seeing us bottom half in this season. Let's face it the club was a complete joke last summer and it's gonna take time. Hard to take but that's the reality of it, in my opinion.
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We won - I love it! Glad to read Bacuna played well up to his sending off.
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Cracking cross from Bacuna for Green's chance. He has missed three very similar chances for us, all headers at the back post.
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Horrible to watch, but who cares, we won and that's what matters. Let's just get safe, beat Small Heath, finish above them then give Bruce a pre-season to actually build a team rather than just the 11 individual players we see in every match. Then maybe next season will see us fighting for promotion rather than seeing us bottom half in this season. Let's face it the club was a complete joke last summer and it's gonna take time. Hard to take but that's the reality of it, in my opinion.
I expected him to get the defensive durability and organisation right eventually but I'm beginning to doubt he's the man to get us scoring the goals needed.
Hope I'm wrong
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We won - I love it! Glad to read Bacuna played well up to his sending off.
Yes he showed the midfield energy we have been sorely missing but silly, deserved, sending off and we won't see him for a long while I'd guess.
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Cracking cross from Bacuna for Green's chance. He has missed three very similar chances for us, all headers at the back post.
I'm a glass half full kind of person - helped by going to the windies for on Tuesday for the cricket - so I see it that he's getting closer and will bury the next one.
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Garbage, this bloke will kill the Villa if he allowed to carry on
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We are virtually in March and this team looks absolutely knackered after 50 minutes.
Is fitness STILL a problem?
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The Boss: Bruce on Derby win, Chester, Bacuna, Johnstone and Hourihane
Manager Steve Bruce spoke to the press following the 1-0 win over Derby County.
His views in full are below.
On the win…
It’s relief for everyone concerned.
It was always going to be something like that to get us up and running again. It’s been a long time.
Some of the stuff we have had to take has been fair but some has been a bit unjust.
But we have got a result – that’s all that matters in times like these.
Thankfully, the lads showed a bit of something to get the result.
Derby had some decent possession but didn’t have a shot on goal until late on.
We defended well, worked hard and had one or two opportunities to make it 2-0.
On the penalty appeal by Darren Bent…
I think it could have been.
From where I was, I was thinking it could have been given – but I haven’t seen the replay.
Sometimes you get the breaks. We haven’t had many of them over the past few weeks.
On luck…
We needed something to change.
I was having a bite to eat with my daughter last night and the waiter dropped a pint of blackcurrant and lemonade all over her.
She was head to toe in it and I thought ‘the luck is still not going our way’.
But I will pour a pint of blackcurrant and lemonade over her next time!
I will tip it right over her head – whatever it takes, it’s changed the luck!
ChesterGoalCelebMainOn James Chester’s performance…
He was terrific – that was more like James Chester.
I have had the privilege of managing him before.
He’s had it tough these past few weeks but he was brilliant today and put in a real captain’s performance.
He scored a goal too – that’s a rarity in itself.
On Sam Johnstone’s clean sheet…
It will do the goalkeeper the world of good.
I think he’s an exceptionally good young goalkeeper.
He’s come in at a difficult time. I was pleased for him too.
He works tirelessly – he works and works and works.
It was good to see him make the save – it was their only real effort.
BacunaDerbyMainOn Leandro Bacuna…
I thought he was excellent in the match – but he’s overstepped the mark and done something stupid.
He has made a mistake. The linesman got the decision horribly wrong. There’s a huge frustration but he overstepped the mark and he knows that.
He now misses some games which is sad – and a big hefty fine from me. So he will be a miserable lad for the next couple of weeks.
Overall, he was brilliant on the pitch. He reminded me what a good player he is.
I thought he was arguably our best player so it was a shame he spoiled it in the heat of the moment.
On having something to build on…
This is where we are at the moment.
I am really privileged to have the job. I have waited 20 years for it.
I will, given time, get it right. I have done it at every club I have been at and I will do it here. We are nowhere near it at the moment.
But we will keep working hard and keep improving.
The backing I have received off the chairman and chief executive has been terrific.
On Conor Hourihane’s absence…
Conor got a deadleg off Leandro on Friday.
Both went for a header and Leandro smashed into his thigh.
He smashed Conor so he got into the team.
Conor could be available for Tuesday, though.
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Went down today, first time in a while.
Most important thing was three points. However, it was a truly inept showing
We barely saw the ball and spent the whole second half trying to concede. We were lucky Derby are so blunt up front.
The last ten minutes were incredibly nail biting and tense. So glad to have the three points but Christ, it was grim to watch
Even though I only watched it on a stream here in Japan, that's exactly how I'd summarise the match.
It's just nice to win a game at the end of the day.
Hughes was man of the match for me.
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Pretty much agree with all SB is saying although he does seem to have gone into survival mode now constantly repeating he'll get it right. Let's hope he's right.
Interesting he thinks the Bent incident was probably a penalty....I have to say I was aswell. Probably balances out the Barnsley penalty that.
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Adomah is clearly bothered about what happens during a match and especially, about dodgy decisions.
I'd just say, well done, son.
Sorry we have to be without him for the next match.
Well done to the team and especially to SB, after such a horrible start to the year.
Three points, go forth and prosper!
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Not been down since September. Good three points but how poor were we. Hutton was my MotM by a long way. Great effort, convinction and will to win. Superb, credit to out 2 CH's today as well immense
But we were poor overall. Derby much the better side but no goal threat. Three points Tuesday will remove the relegation threat and hopefully we can build from there
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Hutton is on for our player of the year. He's shit, but he's our shit. He gives 100% every game and he actually cares.
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Cracking cross from Bacuna for Green's chance. He has missed three very similar chances for us, all headers at the back post.
I'm a glass half full kind of person - helped by going to the windies for on Tuesday for the cricket - so I see it that he's getting closer and will bury the next one.
I thought Green did very well to get something on it and send it in the right direction.
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Well done lads. So happy for a win. Onward and upward.
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Adomah is clearly bothered about what happens during a match and especially, about dodgy decisions.
I'd just say, well done, son.
Sorry we have to be without him for the next match.
Well done to the team and especially to SB, after such a horrible start to the year.
Three points, go forth and prosper!
Don't you mean Bacuna?
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Hutton is on for our player of the year. He's shit, but he's our shit. He gives 100% every game and he actually cares.
Agreed. He was immense today. Shame he didnt score
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Hutton is on for our player of the year. He's shit, but he's our shit. He gives 100% every game and he actually cares.
...and he's not that shit any more
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Just a relief to finally win a game. Those last fifteen minutes were horrific mind.
We got lucky with the penalty appeal. Bacuna had a good game up to his idiotic red card. Kodjia needs to be told to start getting his head up - the opportunity during the first half where he failed to put Albert Adomah through was maddening.
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Kodja looks a tired player he lacks the spark he had earlier in the season which makes the fact that he doesn't bring other players into the game very irritating. We have no-one else.
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Kodja overrated Full Stop.
He seems to care only about himself. How Bruce is going to get a partnership going with Hogan lord knows.
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Kodja looks a tired player he lacks the spark he had earlier in the season which makes the fact that he doesn't bring other players into the game very irritating. We have no-one else.
I think he looks exactly like anyone we put up there on their own, they don't get support from the two wide attackers or any of the mid three, there's a massive gap between them every game. Hogan has been isolated in all the games he's played and this will continue until we can actually control a game.
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I am still of the opinion that they are just having to play twice a week, week-in week-out, so they don't have time to do the assessments that is bound to be the cornerstone of a full pre-season. They need to add what they have learned from watching this lot play, to the needs of the push for top-two promotion.....and then make it happen by beating them around the head if need be, with wet celery sticks ! It was great to read that SB was giving it laldy from the sidelines today. They obviously need to be kept at it. Maybe they're a lazy bunch ?
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Kodja overrated Full Stop.
He seems to care only about himself. How Bruce is going to get a partnership going with Hogan lord knows.
Overrated no, he's a good player but it's very difficult to not get frustrated when the quality behind you fails. It's similar to Benteke, you make the runs and show at the beginning but when it never comes you start to think what's the point.
I do think though Hogan and Kodjia will never work as a two up top, that's obvious. The pair, especially Hogan needs to have a Merson type next to him to get the best out of him.
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I know he's scored goals but there's just something about Kodijia I just don't like. He's greedy, selfish and just not a team player. He did zero today, and that break away when he should have fed it out wide right to Adomah but kept his head down and dithered on the ball was just typical of him. McGrath was right about him.
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I se Kodjia as a player with a mission .......a move to a Top 6 Prem League side.
I don't think he's got enough to warrant that, but HE does.
Hogan will definitely need someone on his wavelength to play alongside and do some clever inter-passing with. But who passes to a team-mate regularly in this current Villa side ?
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3 points was the main thing & to that end it was a job well done with no calamitous errors costing soft goals :-)
Let's start with Bacuna, thought he had a decent enough game showing a bit more urgency than his team mates to go forwards BUT that red card was utterly stupid, he let down his team mates for petulance, he realised that he had fecked up by not clearing the ball & then the linessheep getting the decision wrong and he saw red. I really do not understand that ovation he got going off, pathetic!
Chester was superb, Baker very good, Johnstones best performance. Full backs were both better and Hutton played well in patches but they both leave too much space for opponents to cross unchallenged into the danger area.
Jedinak, Lansbury & Bacuna were ok even though the ball was still a grenade.
Green was up against a good opponent in Christie but he showed well enough & was very unfortunate with the header onto the post.
Adomah, was absolutely awful, needs a rocket up him, he is so far on his heels when ball is played into him, half a dozen times they took it off him so easily.
Kodjia, 0% outlet, poor work rate, just didn't help relieve pressure 2nd half
Gardner contributed more in 2 mins than Amavi / Bjarni managed.
Team are so pedestrian with the ball, if we don't sort that out we'll never progress.
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I know he's scored goals but there's just something about Kodijia I just don't like. He's greedy, selfish and just not a team player.
He infuriates me. I hope opposition sides get wise to him and stop kicking the ball out when he's 'injured', twice in the first 12 minutes he went down as if he'd been shot and amazingly once the ball went out he recovered.
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For all his faults he's provided pretty much all the moments of quality upfront this season bar the odd Grealish goal. If he manages 15 goals this season it's hardly the worst debut year from a Villa frontman, there are more pressing worries.
Highlights confirm what I thought at the time from 100 yards away....stonewall penalty.
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Just reading through the posts on this thread I seem to be out of step with most re Bacuna. Even apart from the crazy sending-off he was awful. He looks like a ghost of a player; a non-player occupying a shirt in the centre of midfield, chasing for the ball but rarely getting possession, allowing the game to pass him by and making no serious discernible contribution on the rare occasions he found himself with the ball at his feet. One decent contribution in 90mins (the cross for Green) isn't enough. We simply cannot move forward with players of his calibre in the team.
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I think kodjia is naff to be honest, his awareness is appauling, he is like the selfish kid in the playground, he will score a few goals but it will always come to the detriment of the team.As i've said before, there is a reason why he is 28 and has never played above midtable in the French League/Championship.
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I thought before the game that we had a great opportunity this week against sides low on confidence. I didn't think we'd lose but it's normally the Villa way to grind a draw out after a run of defeats. If we were to win, it was never going to be by 2 or 3 goals.
So it proved but Green and Hutton should have buried their chances. Even Bacuna at the death should have scored.
It wasn't fluid, but we worked very hard and when we did press, we made them.look desperately ordinary. The quality of their delivery was awful. They were completely toothless in attack and had one chance all game. Didn't make it any less nerve wracking at the death, but we showed some much needed mettle.
Midfield dropped far too deep, but then what did we expect would happen after 7 defeats in 8?
The good opportunity continues on Tuesday. Let's make the most of it.
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Just reading through the posts on this thread I seem to be out of step with most re Bacuna. Even apart from the crazy sending-off he was awful. He looks like a ghost of a player; a non-player occupying a shirt in the centre of midfield, chasing for the ball but rarely getting possession, allowing the game to pass him by and making no serious discernible contribution on the rare occasions he found himself with the ball at his feet. One decent contribution in 90mins (the cross for Green) isn't enough. We simply cannot move forward with players of his calibre in the team.
I thought that Bacuna had a decent game until the sending off. He harrasses opposition players and forces them into mistakes. If Jedinak is playing, you need a player like Bacuna to do the pressing to make up for Jedinak's lack of mobility.
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Bacuna worked very hard and pressed well. He had a good game.
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I think kodjia is naff to be honest, his awareness is appauling, he is like the selfish kid in the playground, he will score a few goals but it will always come to the detriment of the team.As i've said before, there is a reason why he is 28 and has never played above midtable in the French League/Championship.
Something is appalling.
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A very welcome three points.
Unfortunately the performance addressed few of the questions about our ability to compete at the top end of the table in the future. The last 20 mins were truly inept and I fear a team in better form than Derby would have run up a cricket score. Still you have to start somewhere.
I admire the defensive performance today but I am beginning to question if Bruce will ever be the man to unlock the creative forward talent we have paid big money for. A disjointed and lethargic midfield and attack that rarely looked like opening up Derby.
Still, better than last time out but more questions than answers for me.
Agree with all of that, i will take an ugly win over a pretty draw any day of the week but fuck me at times in the second half it was as pleasurable as nailing your balls to a table
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Bacuna on social media. Fair enough comments at least he cares.
My passion for the game took over today wanted to win thats al i had in my head happy with the win and the 3 points disappointed with my red card almost let the team down ⚽️ fans were fantastic 😱😱🙌🏾🙌🏾
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Just reading through the posts on this thread I seem to be out of step with most re Bacuna. Even apart from the crazy sending-off he was awful. He looks like a ghost of a player; a non-player occupying a shirt in the centre of midfield, chasing for the ball but rarely getting possession, allowing the game to pass him by and making no serious discernible contribution on the rare occasions he found himself with the ball at his feet. One decent contribution in 90mins (the cross for Green) isn't enough. We simply cannot move forward with players of his calibre in the team.
I agree that for the first 20 minutes he was all at sea. Not bale to get in the game and wondering aimlessly all over the pitch however I think he was the main reason for our improvement in the last 25 minutes of the first half and he stayed involved in the second. Very close to MotM for me.
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I know he's scored goals but there's just something about Kodijia I just don't like. He's greedy, selfish and just not a team player. He did zero today, and that break away when he should have fed it out wide right to Adomah but kept his head down and dithered on the ball was just typical of him. McGrath was right about him.
If I was Kodja I'd have done exactly the same as Adomah is an awful footballer, no I'm wrong, he's not awful, he's really fucking shit. How he is what ever million we paid for him is beyond me.
I felt sorry for Kodja, stuck up front to win a ball to flick on hopefully to no one.
We won thankfully but we really are a poor outfit.
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I think kodjia is naff to be honest, his awareness is appauling, he is like the selfish kid in the playground, he will score a few goals but it will always come to the detriment of the team.As i've said before, there is a reason why he is 28 and has never played above midtable in the French League/Championship.
Something is appalling.
Care to offer a counter argument to my points instead of trying to be clever?
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29% possession at home is not the way to succeed long term, but the win was all that was required today.
We are the new West Brazil.
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Derby had a lot of the ball and did absolutely fuck all with it.
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Bacuna is an idiot. Absolute dick.
Don't agree. About time our players showed some passion when stupid decisions are dished out by a idiot officials.
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Derby - the 10th team we've played twice this season but the first we haven't lost to or conceded against.
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29% possession at home is not the way to succeed long term, but the win was all that was required today.
We are the new West Brazil.
No.
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yeah I agree, weirdly i liked him going mad at the decision (the slight barge was daft) and to be honest it was a fucking rediculous decision.
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Derby had a lot of the ball and did absolutely fuck all with it.
That's true, but it was their poor form that won us the game rather than anything we did. Give a team in form the sheer number of chances to get the ball in the box that they had today and we'd have been smashed.
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In weird way, it might have helped him connect with the crowd.
There were a few brain donors still booing him earlier in the campaign - when he had actually turned things around.
There are a couple of players last season who I didn't think we're good enough for the top flight, but might be far more effective one rung down.
Sadly, Westwood and Hutton maintained their general shitness, but Bacuna looked OK when called upon. He probably should have featured far more this season.
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I wouldn't have minded a yellow for dissent but that's probably a 4 or 5 game ban so i'm going to call it a stupid thing to do
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Derby had a lot of the ball and did absolutely fuck all with it.
That's true, but it was their poor form that won us the game rather than anything we did. Give a team in form the sheer number of chances to get the ball in the box that they had today and we'd have been smashed.
I'm fairly sure it was us creating the only chances of the game and denying them anything but a solitary floating header what won us the game. Good job we were on a poor run or it would have been a lot more.
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yeah I agree, weirdly i liked him going mad at the decision (the slight barge was daft) and to be honest it was a fucking rediculous decision.
Hold on a flipping second. Yes it was right in front of him and yes it was one of the most basic decisions you'd expect from a none visually impaired human but what can you do?
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Just reading through the posts on this thread I seem to be out of step with most re Bacuna. Even apart from the crazy sending-off he was awful. He looks like a ghost of a player; a non-player occupying a shirt in the centre of midfield, chasing for the ball but rarely getting possession, allowing the game to pass him by and making no serious discernible contribution on the rare occasions he found himself with the ball at his feet. One decent contribution in 90mins (the cross for Green) isn't enough. We simply cannot move forward with players of his calibre in the team.
You are not alone. I appreciate that he put himself about a lot more than usual today but he didn't, as usual, affect the game enough. He is not the only one. Adomah was almost a passenger but he probably won't look good in a team that is so slow in building play. I don't know what they do in training, our ball retention is appalling.
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Very welcome 3 points even if we did have to grind it out.
Johnstone - 5 - all in all didn't have much to do despite Derbys possession but he seems to have a Shay Given style reluctance to dominate his area, several times he could have claimed and created uncertainty for defenders.
Hutton - 5 - appalling first half where he was caught out of position on numerous occasions and got roasted by Russell too often for my liking. Better second half.
Chester - 7 - back to his best and our MOTM a goal and an assured display.
Baker - 6 - solid and managed to not give the ball away all the time.
Taylor - 6 - got done a few times but stuck at it and they moved Ince inside eventually.
Jedinak - 5 - defensively solid and we look more secure with him in the team
Lansbury - 6 - did well, worked hard though not creative in any sense today.
Bacuna - 6 - was with Chester our best player today until his red mist lost him a mark.
Adomah - 4 - woefully out of form and appears to have lost all confidence, risible
Kodjia - 5 - worked hard but playing an isolated, unsupported role with no service
Green - 6 - got up and down, showed his inexperience at times as he and Taylor got in a muddle, didn't look like he had the belief against his full back but stuck at it, so unlucky with his header from a v tight angle.
Subs - 5 - all ran around a lot to help see the game out.
Bruce - 5 - we can't control a game or dominate possession at the moment but to his credit he's got a shape, a very deep lying one, which makes us look solid but really boring.
Overall I'm happy we've stopped the rot but we need to play a lot lot better to improve our league position from here.
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We are virtually in March and this team looks absolutely knackered after 50 minutes.
Is fitness STILL a problem?
They need a few more games to get fully match fit.
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We are virtually in March and this team looks absolutely knackered after 50 minutes.
Is fitness STILL a problem?
They need a few more games to get fully match fit.
Ha!
Any team, in fairness, will run out of puff if they never have the ball. I wonder whether we should ever think about trying to have some possession?
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Adomah is clearly bothered about what happens during a match and especially, about dodgy decisions.
I'd just say, well done, son.
Sorry we have to be without him for the next match.
Oh come on now Adomah is at least a foot taller than Bacuna.
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Only just got back - Derby passed it around much better but we created the better chances and nice to see Chester get off the mark, especially after he had a header saveds about 10 mins early. Second half though was like The Alamo, backs to the wall and far too uncomfortable, we had no outlet to hold the ball up, it just kept coming back at us and we defended far too deep. Baker and Chester did well, Kodjia had an off day, Green was weak physically first half but much better second and we still don't look like having a cutting edge. Bacuna shouldnt have gobbed off at the ref but the decision he was protesting was terrible. As far as afternoons go I cant say I enjoyed it too much but it was nice to shut the Derby fans up who were pretty gobby and vocal for a lot of the match while the home fans were fairly subdued. We need to improve and quick though, we only won today because we played a side who had less cutting edge than us for a change. I thought we played better against Ipswich - and we lost that one.
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I wonder whether we should ever think about trying to have some possession?
You mean win the ball keep hold of it and try to do something with it? No that will never catch on!
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Adomah is clearly bothered about what happens during a match and especially, about dodgy decisions.
I'd just say, well done, son.
Sorry we have to be without him for the next match.
Oh come on now Adomah is at least a foot taller than Bacuna.
You're the first person to notice! :)
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A win is a win. Three points towards safety guys.
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Derby had a lot of the ball and did absolutely fuck all with it.
At one stage they kept the ball for ages and ended up several yards back in their own half having got absolutely nowhere. My son asked what the point was as they were one down at the time. If Sky had put the possession stats up for a 10 minute period at one stage, they probably had at least 80% possession but as Ads says, did absolutely fuck all.
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Their right winger kept Taylor and Amavi very busy in the last 20 mins or so but luckily Bent couldn't get on the end of any of them and we put in some good blocks. I will say this - Derby kept playing for the penalty, especially in the first half where they thought they could have had 2-3. McClaren had clearly told them to go down at any opportunity.
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Bacuna is an idiot. Absolute dick.
Don't agree. About time our players showed some passion when stupid decisions are dished out by a idiot officials.
Could have cost us the game. It didnt, but next time it could. Poor discipline from an exoerienced player.
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29% possession at home is not the way to succeed long term, but the win was all that was required today.
We are the new West Brazil.
We can't compete or be expected to with the likes of Derby at home.
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Derby had a lot of the ball and did absolutely fuck all with it.
That's true, but it was their poor form that won us the game rather than anything we did. Give a team in form the sheer number of chances to get the ball in the box that they had today and we'd have been smashed.
Given how much they've spent Derby should be right up there...surprised how poor they looked today.
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Only convincing wins I've seen this season were Rotherham and Cardiff, all the others have been hard fought or ugly. You could say that a lot of the teams who've beaten us recently are saying the same thing. Overall I think the quality of teams in this division is fairly poor, you just need to know how to win ugly and a lot of the time you'll be ok.
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29% possession at home is not the way to succeed long term, but the win was all that was required today.
We are the new West Brazil.
We can't compete or be expected to with the likes of Derby at home.
Its all relative. We needed to grind out a win and we did. If stats won games then we would have had 6 from Ipswich and Barnsley
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We won. I've got over it.
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Much needed win and we need to follow it up on Tuesday. Looks like Bruce is beginning to settle on a formation and the pieces are coming together.
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Settled formation? 4-4-2, 4-5-1 or 4-6-0 today.
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Brucey says we have the players up top to play this that or the the other formation, but he has fucked off McGatio and Longshortio, aan brought back McFlabbio, who by many accounts was directly responsible for McGatio's strop, and it is now clear that Kodija is largely empirically incapable of combining with anybody but himself.
I am old school and still have no problem with dirktfutbol with decent wingers and forwards who are fearless, but I am resigned to thinking about BFR's comment that we are going to "bash the ball" up to someone who has not a fucking clue what to do with it.
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I didn't see it but from what I have read it sounds like the Derby game in 89/90 when we also beat them 1-0 and SGT was almost sacked by Ellis... we kicked on then so I hope we do now.
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Could not get a stream, audio or visual , so no comment on the way we did it, (sounds dire) but at the moment a win is a win and much required.
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you didn't miss a thing, other than us winning
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Much needed win and we need to follow it up on Tuesday. Looks like Bruce is beginning to settle on a formation and the pieces are coming together.
Is he. Are they. No on the strength of yesterday but 3 points is more important
Kodija is too isolated when the ball comes to him and isnt your typical a la Carww target man who can hold the ball up. Albert and Green are too far away from him to offer him any support and potential attacks break down readily and regularly. I think Green needs to get closer and come in more from a wide left position. His positional play yesterday was poor and at one point SB was screaming at him to get closer to where the ball was. He was unlucky with the header though and I would perceiver with him for a few matches. Not that we have many options anyway
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I don't think Bruce is anywhere near coming to grips with this squad or a settled game plan. We were fortunate that Derby were miserably poor or we would have lost again. How many times did our players pass to the opposition when under no pressure?
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Sorry but what were you expecting? We've lost 7 in 8. If Green's header goes in or Hutton's chance isn't cleared off the line to make it 2 or 3 nil then we'd have been comfortable, but at 1 nil and on a run like that, they're going to look rattled.
As much as they shouldn't have retreated so deep, it was always likely to happen.
There's a strange implied view that our wins under Bruce don't count because we scored late goals, didn't play well enough, didn't dominate or the opposition were rubbish. It's odd. There was an element of it under O'Neill too.
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Derby we're pretty awful even though they looked more of a team than we did.
Adomah has become a liability: he can't beat a man, barely gets into space and gets in the way defensively (if he is actually back in a defensive position). I'd have had him off at half-time, stuck Bacuna wider and brought Gardner on to tighten the central midfield.
That all said, I appreciated seeing a win, and seeing Jedinak in the side to give Lansbury more scope was good.
Once again, I have concerns over Bruce's game management, and I just don't get that a coaching team of Bruce and Calderwood cannot organise the GK and defence better than this team currently is. Bizarre.
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Sorry but what were you expecting? We've lost 7 in 8. If Green's header goes in or Hutton's chance isn't cleared off the line to make it 2 or 3 nil then we'd have been comfortable, but at 1 nil and on a run like that, they're going to look rattled.
As much as they shouldn't have retreated so deep, it was always likely to happen.
There's a strange implied view that our wins under Bruce don't count because we scored late goals, didn't play well enough, didn't dominate or the opposition were rubbish. It's odd. There was an element of it under O'Neill too.
I think it's confidence. Grind out a couple more like that then you'll start to believe hey this seems to work and maybe maybe we can start passing to one another as well. I'm hoping we'll have developed enough in the next week to play smash and grab at Huddersfield. And yes it's horrible to watch but pragmatically we need to do this.
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Thought Lansbury looked like a proper midfielder yesterday.
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Given the shit we've seen over the last five years one would think we'd be doing cartwheels after any win. Derby look more of a team because they are. We are a bunch of individuals still getting to know each other. We are a lot better than we are currently showing, I truly believe that, but I am not going to moan about winning. Solid, if uninspiring. A clean sheet, three points. A game closer to what I hope is the end of this horrible nightmare period for this football club.
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A much needed 3 points and hopefully something to build on for the rest of the season. I can't say I was too impressed with the tactic of taking off both wingers though. He did the same against Forest and it cost us and it could easily have done again yesterday.
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Looks like a 4 game suspension for Bacuna, just as he is starting to impress me a little.
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Bacuna is an idiot. Absolute dick.
Don't agree. About time our players showed some passion when stupid decisions are dished out by a idiot officials.
I'd like to see him show passion by tackling opponents, non stop running, dying for the cause etc.
Not squaring up to a match official. That isn't passion. It's idiocy.
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We won. I've got over it.
But you do need to be careful here rather than just getting over it. For example we didn't concede and that's not trivial and Bruce needs to sort it out. We scored a goal and that can be habit forming so needs to be stepped on. We managed to hold out a lead and that's confidence building something that should not be allowed. I could carry on all day....
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Derby we're pretty awful even though they looked more of a team than we did.
Adomah has become a liability: he can't beat a man, barely gets into space and gets in the way defensively (if he is actually back in a defensive position). I'd have had him off at half-time, stuck Bacuna wider and brought Gardner on to tighten the central midfield.
That all said, I appreciated seeing a win, and seeing Jedinak in the side to give Lansbury more scope was good.
Once again, I have concerns over Bruce's game management, and I just don't get that a coaching team of Bruce and Calderwood cannot organise the GK and defence better than this team currently is. Bizarre.
People are acting like Derby are Rotherham or something which is bemusing me....have a look at their squad. Their wage bill isn't probably that far off ours.
They have underachieved this season given the very good and highly paid squad they have. When you analyse it they've had a very similar season to us.
So like Ads I'm a little surprised people seem to be taking offence that a good team at this level like them can dominate a portion of the game (last 20 minutes).
I'm much more worried when bottom half teams like Ipswich and Forest beat us or Brentford stick 3 goals past us. Those results have far more embarrassing than nervously winning a game against a top half team.
If anything it should be a good confidence booster to take into next season as I'm sure Derby will again be in the mix for top 6.
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I'd like to see him show passion by tackling opponents, non stop running, dying for the cause etc.
Not squaring up to a match official. That isn't passion. It's idiocy.
And that's exactly what he did from about 20th minutes till the end of the game. Squaring up was good it shows he cares and builds up team spirit. I am not sure where you were in the ground but it was a basic error by the assistant at a crucial time in the match and he needed to be told.
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Bacuna just lost his head. He'll be fined, banned and probably struggle to get back into the team when available again so that will be punishment enough.
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Hopefully they will grow in confidence. Main issue is lack of movement (the villa way) and lack of numbers when getting forward.
The best teams get forward in numbers and overwhelm the opposition (see man yanited under fergie) and defend in numbers. Its a simple sounding idea which all the best teams manage to perfect.
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Yes agree TE but that's all built on great coaching but above all on supreme confidence.
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Glad of the win, as ugly as it was. I saw a Derby team that just stiffled us, however, if I had a quid this season every time a commentator said 'plenty of space on the left' or 'so and so played a major part on the left' I'd have a couple of hundred quid. If they can see it, if we can see it, if the opposing team managers can see it...why can't Bruce FFS.
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Yes agree TE but that's all built on great coaching but above all on supreme confidence.
Absolutely.
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I know that we shouldn't be awarded the 3 points for a win because we didn't play how people expect us to or something like that but I was watching Bruce yesterday and he was going ballistic throughout the match. I'm sure his decision to go for hanging on to the 1-0 came as a result of players either not listening or not being capable of doing what was asked of them.
Bet Lansbury enjoyed celebrating in front of the Derby support though.
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As other people have alluded to the win feels similar to the 1-0 in the first SGT era that got us going that season. Only difference being I don't think Derby had numerous chances to put us away yesterday like they did on that day. We have been simply awful since Christmas surely a win however it is gained is exactly what needed to happen yesterday. Anything else was almost unthinkable so if it was painful to watch then so be it. Maybe we should award Derby the game 71-29.
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I've just watched the red card again. I appreciate Bacuna's desire but he can't do that even when it was a shocking decision by the assistant considering it was right in front of him.
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I wasn't overly impressed but the three points were the main thing yesterday. Saying it felt like a loss is just bizarre really.
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A win, not how bad we were is what counts. It was ugly but so what? I`l take the 3 points any day
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Bacuna worked very hard and pressed well. He had a good game.
If chasing shadows is a criterion for having a good game I would agree.
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Bacuna worked very hard and pressed well. He had a good game.
If chasing shadows is a criterion for having a good game I would agree.
He didn't though did he? I can think of half a dozen occasions where his pressure and tackles on Derbys back 4 led to errors and turning over possession. The fact we couldn't do anything with it is a worry but Jesus Christ does everything have to be so negative. Most of us praising the 3 points recognise it was a really ugly win but some seeming want to revel in just how disgusted they were.
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Derby we're pretty awful even though they looked more of a team than we did.
Adomah has become a liability: he can't beat a man, barely gets into space and gets in the way defensively (if he is actually back in a defensive position). I'd have had him off at half-time, stuck Bacuna wider and brought Gardner on to tighten the central midfield.
That all said, I appreciated seeing a win, and seeing Jedinak in the side to give Lansbury more scope was good.
Once again, I have concerns over Bruce's game management, and I just don't get that a coaching team of Bruce and Calderwood cannot organise the GK and defence better than this team currently is. Bizarre.
People are acting like Derby are Rotherham or something which is bemusing me....have a look at their squad. Their wage bill isn't probably that far off ours.
They have underachieved this season given the very good and highly paid squad they have. When you analyse it they've had a very similar season to us.
So like Ads I'm a little surprised people seem to be taking offence that a good team at this level like them can dominate a portion of the game (last 20 minutes).
I'm much more worried when bottom half teams like Ipswich and Forest beat us or Brentford stick 3 goals past us. Those results have far more embarrassing than nervously winning a game against a top half team.
If anything it should be a good confidence booster to take into next season as I'm sure Derby will again be in the mix for top 6.
Im not sure why you made your comments on the back of my post.
I agree with what you've said, actually.
My comments really relate to concerns about Bruce's game management and the seemingly poor coaching.
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Some further reflections on yesterdays game:
For the first time in a while we got a break. Baker on Bent in the first half was a nailed on pen. We got away with it.
Bacuna is a ghostly non-player occupying a shirt in the middle of the park, contributing almost nothing constructive and mostly chasing shadows as the game proceeds around him. We were effectively a man light for much of the game.
For the first time since (I think) QPR away in mid-Dec, we kept a clean sheet. Congrats to the defence for that. Chester and Baker were an effective pairing at the back (so why did Elphick play ahead of Baker at Newcastle??) and I'm pleased to say that Hutton had an excellent game at right back.
Taylor currently looks a better bet than Amavi at left back. Amavi, in his brief appearance towards the end, still looks short of confidence.
What happened to Green yesterday? Ineffective and under-used in the first half, he missed a difficult chance at the start of the second and seemed to lose confidence and heart thereafter. He had one opportunity to escape down the left shortly after and looked clueless, and looked knackered after around 60 mins. No surprise to see him hauled off a few mins later. Odd for a teenager to look so exhausted so soon. Not fully fit? Along with Adomah, I thought both our wide players were below par yesterday
I suppose by the law of averages we were going to get away with one of those backs to the wall rearguard actions eventually, and yesterday was the day. A hugely welcome 3 pts but how can we look so desperate against such moderate looking sides like Derby (and Ipswich, Forest, Wolves etc etc)? We were in retreat for the majority of the 2nd half, not just the last 20 mins as has been suggested by others on here.
We are less than the sum of our parts but there is a team in there somewhere. It's Bruce's job in the remaining games this season to pull it together.
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It's not about revelling in being disgusted it's that we need to be a lot better than that if we want to be anything more than a mid-table championship team. We had a run of good results when Bruce arrived, people said the performances would come with confidence but that never happened and we actually went the other way because there are 3 parts of creating a good team: Good players, Confidence and Good Coaching. We have the former and have had all season compared to most sides in this league. The other 2 are harder but focusing on 1 and ignoring the other won't bring us success.
One of the common lines on here is that we don't know what goes on at BMH and that sums the problem up. There's nothing in our play to suggest we've worked on anything in training. We're not fit, we're not solid in defence, we're not great at set pieces (at either end), we don't move the ball around well and show for each other. We look like a 'team' made of people who've trained on their own all week and who only seen each other for the journey and changing room. That's why people are still concerned because a very welcome 3 points does nothing to solve those problems when it comes in such a shitty way.
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imo we were what we have been for years Gash, yesterday. But sometimes it takes a bit of luck, to kick start something. the biggest problem now is confidence, I know (us that go) go to VP to be entertained, and as paying customers I suppose have a right to moan, but that is a big part of the problem, as the game went on the anxiety from the terraces imo got to the players, and for most of the second half we had most of our players in the our final third,
Adomah did little yesterday, Bacuna less.
Hutton is my first name on the team sheet, and yes Green keep him involved I like him, Jedi had a good game. I swear the united goalkeeper would have thrown one in the net had they had a shot, Chester and Baker goodish.
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We won. Mid-table struggle from here on until we sort a positive formulae at least we beat the last from be minutes bogie. Which is a start.
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Some further reflections on yesterdays game:
For the first time in a while we got a break. Baker on Bent in the first half was a nailed on pen. We got away with it.
Bacuna is a ghostly non-player occupying a shirt in the middle of the park, contributing almost nothing constructive and mostly chasing shadows as the game proceeds around him. We were effectively a man light for much of the game.
For the first time since (I think) QPR away in mid-Dec, we kept a clean sheet. Congrats to the defence for that. Chester and Baker were an effective pairing at the back (so why did Elphick play ahead of Baker at Newcastle??) and I'm pleased to say that Hutton had an excellent game at right back.
Taylor currently looks a better bet than Amavi at left back. Amavi, in his brief appearance towards the end, still looks short of confidence.
What happened to Green yesterday? Ineffective and under-used in the first half, he missed a difficult chance at the start of the second and seemed to lose confidence and heart thereafter. He had one opportunity to escape down the left shortly after and looked clueless, and looked knackered after around 60 mins. No surprise to see him hauled off a few mins later. Odd for a teenager to look so exhausted so soon. Not fully fit? Along with Adomah, I thought both our wide players were below par yesterday
I suppose by the law of averages we were going to get away with one of those backs to the wall rearguard actions eventually, and yesterday was the day. A hugely welcome 3 pts but how can we look so desperate against such moderate looking sides like Derby (and Ipswich, Forest, Wolves etc etc)? We were in retreat for the majority of the 2nd half, not just the last 20 mins as has been suggested by others on here.
We are less than the sum of our parts but there is a team in there somewhere. It's Bruce's job in the remaining games this season to pull it together.
A very good summation and I pretty much agree with all of it.
Playing with 2 left backs for the last 20 minutes was very strange, especially when Jack could have replaced Green.
I'm sure Amavi was supposed to be playing infront of Taylor but his natural reaction was to keep dropping back into the positions that he would normally occupy so he offered no relief in bringing the ball out or helping to relieve the pressure.
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We didn't play with two left backs, Amavi was left midfield.
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As well as lacking in confidence, a much greater concern for me is a distinct lack (almost nonexistence) of team spirit.
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As well as lacking in confidence, a much greater concern for me is a distinct lack (almost nonexistence) of team spirit.
I'm not sure where you get that from bearing in mind they battled to keep a clean sheet yesterday. Hardly 'non existence' really.
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Sorry if it's been mentioned, but why was Hourihane missing?
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As well as lacking in confidence, a much greater concern for me is a distinct lack (almost nonexistence) of team spirit.
I'm not sure where you get that from bearing in mind they battled to keep a clean sheet yesterday. Hardly 'non existence' really.
Not really as whole though.
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Unconvincing but there's been many a game we've deserved to win and haven't. We were very very lucky with the pen decision, difficult to imagine a clearer foul. With that and the late decision by the linesman one does wonder about the eyesight and competence of some of the officials. The lino could not have had a better view of the throw in and yet managed to be the only person in the ground to think Bacuna put it out. Mind boggling.
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Sorry if it's been mentioned, but why was Hourihane missing?
Which match in particular?
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Sorry if it's been mentioned, but why was Hourihane missing?
Which match in particular?
Very, very good!
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Sorry if it's been mentioned, but why was Hourihane missing?
Dead leg after colliding with Bacuna in training.
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Sorry if it's been mentioned, but why was Hourihane missing?
Dead leg after colliding with Bacuna in training.
Bloody Bacuna!!!
Thanks Richard
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I thought Derby were so flat and cumbersome at the back that Bruce might have been tempted to throw Grealish on in the 2nd half.
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I thought Derby were so flat and cumbersome at the back that Bruce might have been tempted to throw Grealish on in the 2nd half.
Yes, I'd like to have seen both Grealish and GG on early in the second half.
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When I got in last night and told the Mrs we'd won, she said "Really?" in exactly the same surprised tone of voice she'd have used if I'd told her I'd just seen a moonwalking hamster playing the guitar.
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When I got in last night and told the Mrs we'd won, she said "Really?" in exactly the same surprised tone of voice she'd have used if I'd told her I'd just seen a moonwalking hamster playing the guitar.
My wife came into the lounge during the Newcastle game looked at the score and said " do you ever win "? I had no answer I don't even get upset anymore
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Sorry if it's been mentioned, but why was Hourihane missing?
Which match in particular?
Against Barnsley.
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We didn't play with two left backs, Amavi was left midfield.
Amavi was SUPPOSED to play left midfield.
He came in the play left mid and ended up playing virtually alongside Taylor because his natural instinct took over.
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When I got in last night and told the Mrs we'd won, she said "Really?" in exactly the same surprised tone of voice she'd have used if I'd told her I'd just seen a moonwalking hamster playing the guitar.
My wife came into the lounge during the Newcastle game looked at the score and said " do you ever win "? I had no answer I don't even get upset anymore
My other half saw thn newcastle goals on central news and said "that lot are just a mickey mouse firm"
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I got to meet Peter Mcparland before the game it was a pleasure really nice man.
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Yes, he is isn't he Darren. He helped my son and me search for our lost car keys in the North Stand carpark.
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A victory in all but name.Flaccid and inept.Felt like a loss.
Exactly how I feel.
same here. Left the ground depressed. Not looking forward to Tuesday
Would you rather we had played the best we've played all season but lost in unfortunate circumstances? After the run we've had, I'm just happy for the win and to get a little further away from the relegation zone. Hopefully they'll be a bit more confident and can build on that.
No mate. I'd rather we play the football we are capable of and putting teams like Derby to the fucking sword. I'm paying a lot of good money every year to watch this shit and i'm not getting any kind of value for that money. I'm remembering my first and last trip to the Britannia - Tiny Penis in his pomp, Rory Delap wanging in corner-like throw-ins on a piss-takingly narrow pitch, turning to my dad after a turgid nil-nil draw and saying "I wouldn't want a season ticket down here having to watch that shit every week!" Well, guess what! We are now worse than Stoke - at least they were effective! Our bumbling ineptitude on the pitch is Sunday League-esque! Not at all helped by the fact that some blokes around me giving dogs abuse to Alan Hutton and Leandro Bacuna who were IMO by far our best two players yesterday. I'm not even disposed towards having a go at Bacuna as the incident happened right below us and I was on my feet directing a royal round of fucks towards the idiot lino myself. At least Bacuna cares!
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I thought Derby were so flat and cumbersome at the back that Bruce might have been tempted to throw Grealish on in the 2nd half.
Derby were the ones in the white shirts.
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I have had time to reflect on the game yesterday.
I have been watching kadoja recently and he is a f*cking liability. Never since Baros (without a bit of his ability) been such a poor selfish individual. The second half we were penned in by his abysmal effort. If you watch him closely he actually ducks to avoid heading the ball if challenged by a centre back. If he doesn't get the ball to his feet it's arms the air and a little skip to state 'I tried'. Get there first hold the ball and wait for support it's the least I expect.
Adohma. I am afraid he suffers from 'Danny Alves disease' i.e; what the f*uck is Alan 'Danny Alves' Hutton doing whilst he goes on his rambles? I know I will cover his arse. (see next)
Alan Hutton. All over the park some said, man of the match some said. Continually out of position I say. His job is to stop crosses. F*ck sake Ince could have run riot on the left.
Baccuna. Getting a bad press, but he was expected to make the runs our prima-donna Kadoja wouldn't do. He hasn't played much football and after 75 mins was blowing out of his arse. But he lasted until he was sent off.
Until we start with 11 committed players we will continue as we are.
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I have had time to reflect on the game yesterday.
I have been watching kadoja recently and he is a f*cking liability. Never since Baros (without a bit of his ability) been such a poor selfish individual. The second half we were penned in by his abysmal effort. If you watch him closely he actually ducks to avoid heading the ball if challenged by a centre back. If he doesn't get the ball to his feet it's arms the air and a little skip to state 'I tried'. Get there first hold the ball and wait for support it's the least I expect.
Adohma. I am afraid he suffers from 'Danny Alves disease' i.e; what the f*uck is Alan 'Danny Alves' Hutton doing whilst he goes on his rambles? I know I will cover his arse. (see next)
Alan Hutton. All over the park some said, man of the match some said. Continually out of position I say. His job is to stop crosses. F*ck sake Ince could have run riot on the left.
Baccuna. Getting a bad press, but he was expected to make the runs our prima-donna Kadoja wouldn't do. He hasn't played much football and after 75 mins was blowing out of his arse. But he lasted until he was sent off.
Until we start with 11 committed players we will continue as we are.
Maybe spelling our players names correctly would add some credibility to your points.
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I have had time to reflect on the game yesterday.
I have been watching kadoja recently and he is a f*cking liability. Never since Baros (without a bit of his ability) been such a poor selfish individual. The second half we were penned in by his abysmal effort. If you watch him closely he actually ducks to avoid heading the ball if challenged by a centre back. If he doesn't get the ball to his feet it's arms the air and a little skip to state 'I tried'. Get there first hold the ball and wait for support it's the least I expect.
Adohma. I am afraid he suffers from 'Danny Alves disease' i.e; what the f*uck is Alan 'Danny Alves' Hutton doing whilst he goes on his rambles? I know I will cover his arse. (see next)
Alan Hutton. All over the park some said, man of the match some said. Continually out of position I say. His job is to stop crosses. F*ck sake Ince could have run riot on the left.
Baccuna. Getting a bad press, but he was expected to make the runs our prima-donna Kadoja wouldn't do. He hasn't played much football and after 75 mins was blowing out of his arse. But he lasted until he was sent off.
Until we start with 11 committed players we will continue as we are.
Maybe spelling our players names correctly would add some credibility to your points.
Shallow
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I have had time to reflect on the game yesterday.
I have been watching kadoja recently and he is a f*cking liability. Never since Baros (without a bit of his ability) been such a poor selfish individual. The second half we were penned in by his abysmal effort. If you watch him closely he actually ducks to avoid heading the ball if challenged by a centre back. If he doesn't get the ball to his feet it's arms the air and a little skip to state 'I tried'. Get there first hold the ball and wait for support it's the least I expect.
Adohma. I am afraid he suffers from 'Danny Alves disease' i.e; what the f*uck is Alan 'Danny Alves' Hutton doing whilst he goes on his rambles? I know I will cover his arse. (see next)
Alan Hutton. All over the park some said, man of the match some said. Continually out of position I say. His job is to stop crosses. F*ck sake Ince could have run riot on the left.
Baccuna. Getting a bad press, but he was expected to make the runs our prima-donna Kadoja wouldn't do. He hasn't played much football and after 75 mins was blowing out of his arse. But he lasted until he was sent off.
Until we start with 11 committed players we will continue as we are.
Maybe spelling our players names correctly would add some credibility to your points.
His points are bang on however he spells the names.
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I have had time to reflect on the game yesterday.
I have been watching kadoja recently and he is a f*cking liability. Never since Baros (without a bit of his ability) been such a poor selfish individual. The second half we were penned in by his abysmal effort. If you watch him closely he actually ducks to avoid heading the ball if challenged by a centre back. If he doesn't get the ball to his feet it's arms the air and a little skip to state 'I tried'. Get there first hold the ball and wait for support it's the least I expect.
Absolutely! This is what I have been saying for weeks, we can not become more of a unit while he is in the team.
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so are you suggesting replaces our only real goal threat and score ? FFS.
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that should be so who are you suggesting should replace our only threat goal threat and score goals with Hogan etc injured. Thank you.
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I have had time to reflect on the game yesterday.
I have been watching kadoja recently and he is a f*cking liability. Never since Baros (without a bit of his ability) been such a poor selfish individual. The second half we were penned in by his abysmal effort. If you watch him closely he actually ducks to avoid heading the ball if challenged by a centre back. If he doesn't get the ball to his feet it's arms the air and a little skip to state 'I tried'. Get there first hold the ball and wait for support it's the least I expect.
Absolutely! This is what I have been saying for weeks, we can not become more of a unit while he is in the team.
The problem is not entirely of Kodjia's making, though. He is not going to win high balls when confronted by the big, lumpy CB that dominate this division. Playing to his strengths - and those of Hogan - by playing the ball on the ground and having good support from the MF will see a far better return from our proven scorers at this level.
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Just thinking about Kodjia's performances. Yes he's selfish yet very skilful with it. He's saved us a few times this season but has he cost us points?
Would you rather have Kodjia our a partnership of McCormack and Gestede? I say this because at the start of the season they looked like an ideal partnership.
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It's the Holte End way to moan like billio about our leading goal scorer.
Somebody was vociferously calling Green, 18 year old local Villa fan, played collectively maybe four senior games, a fucking twat on the weekend.
Some it's just frustration, some of it an absence of joined up thinking.
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Some of the criticism Kodjia gets is justified. He can seem to try and do too much and looks a bit too casual (if that's the right word) at times but I'm glad we've got him. I think he's been pretty good for us and a 11 goal return considering he wasn't here for a month is not too shabby.
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Hutton, Bacuna, Jedinak, Baker, Chester - that's half the outfield team - all had ok games. It was just a poor game to watch. I'd have taken that beforehand as would most people I think. Hopefully another win in a couple of days will see the corner turned. Sounds like a cliche, I know. But we just had one cliche with a scrappy, somewhat lucky 1-0 win to stop the rot.
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It's the Holte End way to moan like billio about our leading goal scorer.
Somebody was vociferously calling Green, 18 year old local Villa fan, played collectively maybe four senior games, a fucking twat on the weekend.
Some it's just frustration, some of it an absence of joined up thinking.
The way I see is that it's boring to take a shit on the same players every week when the team as a whole is doing poorly, unless you fit in the category of horrible professional (Gabby, Richards, etc.) or serial scapegoat, so eventually a player like Kodjia was going to be in the firing line.
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Kodjia-11 goals in 25 appearances, directly contributing to 18 of our points total. Our next highest goalscorers currently playing for Villa are Grealish and Adomah with 3 each. It's true Kodjia's impact has lessened since the close of the January transfer window, but that is down to Bruce and his team formations and tactics. After Villa scored against Derby, Adomah dropped back as a wing back with Hutton pushing inside for large periods in the 1st half. With this tactical change, Villa at home were playing with 6 defenders if you include Jedinak. In the second half things got even worse with Lansbury and bacuna playing deeper and deeper. What chance does that give Kodjia of being effective? It's true Kodjia is not the finished article as a player, but which players are who play in the championship or even outside the sky 6 in the premier league? We need to support our leading goalscorer and hope Bruce settles on a formation and tactics that bring the best out of him.
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Hutton, Bacuna, Jedinak, Baker, Chester - that's half the outfield team - all had ok games. It was just a poor game to watch. I'd have taken that beforehand as would most people I think. Hopefully another win in a couple of days will see the corner turned. Sounds like a cliche, I know. But we just had one cliche with a scrappy, somewhat lucky 1-0 win to stop the rot.
They all put in good defensive performances (and Chester got the goal obviously) but it's very clear that none of the attacking players played well, Bacuna as the box-to-box midfielder was the only player who got near their box in open play who actually did anything. I don't blame the players for that I think Green and Lansbury in particular both tried to make things happen but they were doing it 20 yards to deep and with far too many defenders between them and the goal. If you refuse to commit men forward that's what happens. Yes it meant that Derby struggled to get in behind us but it's not a tactic that will work every week because if you give up the amount of ground that we do you give teams the option to gamble by taking long shots or hitting hopeful balls into the box and hoping for a rebound. If we want to get to the last 20 minutes without having everyone on the edge of their seats we need to make teams scared of over-committing against us right now they can flood our box and know that if they keep Kodjia marked we will just keep giving the ball back to them.
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Just thinking about Kodjia's performances. Yes he's selfish yet very skilful with it. He's saved us a few times this season but has he cost us points?
Wolves and Leeds at home off the top of my head, simple balls for McCormack to tap into an empty net.
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I have had time to reflect on the game yesterday.
I have been watching kadoja recently and he is a f*cking liability. Never since Baros (without a bit of his ability) been such a poor selfish individual. The second half we were penned in by his abysmal effort. If you watch him closely he actually ducks to avoid heading the ball if challenged by a centre back. If he doesn't get the ball to his feet it's arms the air and a little skip to state 'I tried'. Get there first hold the ball and wait for support it's the least I expect.
Absolutely! This is what I have been saying for weeks, we can not become more of a unit while he is in the team.
The problem is not entirely of Kodjia's making, though. He is not going to win high balls when confronted by the big, lumpy CB that dominate this division. Playing to his strengths - and those of Hogan - by playing the ball on the ground and having good support from the MF will see a far better return from our proven scorers at this level.
The simple answer is to work the ball closer to the forwards before passing to them. Long balls give the defenders time to react and, if it is in the air, you are just giving the ball back to them.
Our football needs a 6 foot something lump up front. Our forward players need different tactics.
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Some of the criticism Kodjia gets is justified. He can seem to try and do too much and looks a bit too casual (if that's the right word) at times but I'm glad we've got him. I think he's been pretty good for us and a 11 goal return considering he wasn't here for a month is not too shabby.
I agree. While he frustrates the hell out of me, he's been the only attacking player to show any kind of form under Bruce. It can't be easy for any of them to play with any freedom under his tactics, so I don't really know what we expect from him. He gets the ball so infrequently, and he has so few options when he does, that every mistake is highlighted. In a normal team, I'm sure we wouldn't notice his (undeniable) selfishness half as much. Hopefully over the next few matches we'll start to have a bit more of the ball, which will make it easy for him. If not, he'll continue to struggle, as will Adomah, Green and Jack if he plays.
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Re LukeJames
Would they be like the tap-in that Gates McCormack blazed over the bar at wolves away after an excellent cross by Amavi? Simple passes, if made, still need to be converted.
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So we should stop passing to him because he missed a sitter in the future?
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The comparison with Baros is very astute. He was a talented goalscorer but never a team player, and that's why he got shunted around so much. Kodija has scored goals and won us points, but he's also cost us points by wasting chances through selfishness or lack of awareness. We need to play as a team.
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Kodjia is the least of our problems at the moment.
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Kodjia is the least of our problems at the moment.
Couldn't agree more, my pre game Bovril was tepid at best
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Kodjia is the least of our problems at the moment.
He scores a few goals so people will automatically look past the bigger picture.
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It has taken me the best part of 48 hours, but I finally understand the defensive tactics on Saturday - I could not understand why both full backs had been told to patrol about 10-15 yards from the penalty box, allowing the Derby wingers plenty of space for crosses. Not entirely, Hutton got in an excellent sliding tackle near the Doug Ellis corner flag which got applause, but on the whole they were near the box.
it is now clear the defenders had been told 'Do not let the ball get to Darren Bent' - and they did not. Or to any other Derby attackers. Johnstone did not have much to do, so a clean sheet was the result. Well done those men.
Oh, and that penalty call. Let me explain to Steve McLaren and the pundits what counts as a penalty. the offender has to make contact with the other player deliberately. But Nathan Baker put in a sliding tackle and got the ball, steering it away from Darren Bent. Bent then fell over his outstretched leg. Bent made contact with Baker, not the other way round. Baker got it right. The Referee got it right. No Penalty. I hope this is clear to those complaining.
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Oh, and that penalty call. Let me explain to Steve McLaren and the pundits what counts as a penalty. the offender has to make contact with the other player deliberately.
This is absolute nonsense.