Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: PeterWithesShin on August 13, 2017, 12:54:24 PM
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We go again.
Madejski Stadium, Tuesday 15th August 8pm KO.
Them 2-1 Us
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The fight back starts here. Reading 0 Villa 2
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I reckon he'll approach this in the same way he did last time we went there - pack the midfield, lots of energy players (maybe Bjarnason, onomah etc)
Bree for Hutton surely
A more winnable game than Cardiff but pretty hard to be confident!
Fucking villa
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5 at the back wouldn't surprise me for this one.
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We'll make a bright start, Hogan will miss a great chance to put us 1 up.
Our bright start will soon be forgotten as we retreat and let Reading control the game.
They go 1-0 up after about half an hour, game over.
We huff and puff a bit second half but never look like scoring.
They score a second goal after 75 minutes.
We have to listen to Reading fans take the piss and ole for the last 15 minutes.
They play Don't Look Back In Anger at full time to rub salt in the wounds.
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Do we have to? Reading to win probably.
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1-3
It's a marathon not a sprint.
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Johnstone
Shitton
Taylor
Chester
Terry
Bjarnasson
Adomah
Whelan
Lansbury
Onomah
Hogan
Slow, predictable, isolated. Routine defeat.
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Hopefully they'll be deflated after caving-in against ten men yesterday. A meh 0-0/1-1 as Bruce prioritise the shape of the team defensively.
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Hopefully they'll be deflated after caving-in against ten men yesterday. A meh 0-0/1-1 as Bruce prioritise the shape of the team defensively.
Then we, as usual, are the perfect pick me up.
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2-1 Reading
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0-0
SB to go for a 8-2-0 formation.
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3-0 Reading
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0-0, He's going to be petrified of conceeding.
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Caretaker manager Terry stops the rot.
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He has everything to lose by not setting up with a plan (that would be a start), and specifically a plan to win the game. This conservative sit deep and pump long balls forward to our strikers to chase has to fucking stop. Have Whelan sit in front of the back 4, and have a system in place to get players into the box to get shots on goal. One forward (Hogan) is enough but get 4 other players to support and create.
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please drop Gabby and Hutton and Lansbury
otherwise Reading 2 0 BAcuna both goals
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please drop Gabby and Hutton and Lansbury
otherwise Reading 2 0 BAcuna both goals
That's good management, when can you start?
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Johnstone
Bree or Elmo - Chester - Terry - Taylor
Albert - Whelan - Hourihane - Onomah
O'Hare
Hogan
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0-2.
Yeah, right.
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I'd go with mobility and tempo.
Johnstone
Taylor
Terry
Chester
Bree
Whelan
Hourihane
Onomah
O'Hare
RHM
Hogan
Diamond midfield with Onomah's change of pace and Bucky's apparent ability to pick a pass, run and keep it moving.
Out Hutton's awfulness, out Lansbury's pedestrian approach, out Adomah's half soaked attempt at width.
Players closer to Hogan with quicker ball into feet. We need 10 points on the board by the time we finish at Bristol; three wins, time to be bould.
Good record down there. Plus it's my birthday.
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We'll make a bright start, Hogan will miss a great chance to put us 1 up.
Our bright start will soon be forgotten as we retreat and let Reading control the game.
They go 1-0 up after about half an hour, game over.
We huff and puff a bit second half but never look like scoring.
They score a second goal after 75 minutes.
We have to listen to Reading fans take the piss and ole for the last 15 minutes.
They play Don't Look Back In Anger at full time to rub salt in the wounds.
The Song Remains The Same.
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I'd go with mobility and tempo.
Johnstone
Taylor
Terry
Chester
Bree
Whelan
Hourihane
Onomah
O'Hare
RHM
Hogan
Diamond midfield with Onomah's change of pace and Bucky's apparent ability to pick a pass, run and keep it moving.
Out Hutton's awfulness, out Lansbury's pedestrian approach, out Adomah's half soaked attempt at width.
Players closer to Hogan with quicker ball into feet. We need 10 points on the board by the time we finish at Bristol; three wins, time to be bould.
Good record down there. Plus it's my birthday.
I'd love us to do exactly that but Bruce won't do it, it will be pretty much the same 11 as yesterday (with Adomah in for Elmo obviously) but with Lansbury and Onomah playing deeper to pack the midfield and cramp up all the space in there. The only alternative I can see is him bringing Samba in for Adomah and pushing Gabby up front in a 532. I'd be amazed if it's not one of those.
How he's reacted to truly awful performances every time is to bring everyone deeper and play for the clean sheet.
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He won't play 2 up front again, he said himself in his pant browning interview afterwards that we aren't ready to play two up front yet...whatever that means.
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I'm going to bide my time waiting for a team with less pace, less organisation, less belief, less competitiveness and more feckless bastards then I'll stick us down for a draw.
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Nothing from this game but another harrowing surrender. We have insipid forwards, no creative middle, and Bruce will set us up to try avoid defeat. Not even going to watch - a waste of time
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I'd go with mobility and tempo.
Johnstone
Taylor
Terry
Chester
Bree
Whelan
Hourihane
Onomah
O'Hare
RHM
Hogan
Diamond midfield with Onomah's change of pace and Bucky's apparent ability to pick a pass, run and keep it moving.
Out Hutton's awfulness, out Lansbury's pedestrian approach, out Adomah's half soaked attempt at width.
Players closer to Hogan with quicker ball into feet. We need 10 points on the board by the time we finish at Bristol; three wins, time to be bould.
Good record down there. Plus it's my birthday.
Mobility and Tempo, Bruce's key ingredients to Villa's current style of football ::)
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1-9-1 potatoe head new approach 2-0 them
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I'd go with mobility and tempo.
Johnstone
Taylor
Terry
Chester
Bree
Whelan
Hourihane
Onomah
O'Hare
RHM
Hogan
Diamond midfield with Onomah's change of pace and Bucky's apparent ability to pick a pass, run and keep it moving.
Out Hutton's awfulness, out Lansbury's pedestrian approach, out Adomah's half soaked attempt at width.
Players closer to Hogan with quicker ball into feet. We need 10 points on the board by the time we finish at Bristol; three wins, time to be bould.
Good record down there. Plus it's my birthday.
Would go with Davis over RHM but looks a solid side to me with a lot more pace in it
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He won't play 2 up front again, he said himself in his pant browning interview afterwards that we aren't ready to play two up front yet...whatever that means.
It means he has no idea how to set up for two up front...sadly.
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2-0 Reading.
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He won't play 2 up front again, he said himself in his pant browning interview afterwards that we aren't ready to play two up front yet...whatever that means.
I can see him going to a 4-5-1, which considering how open we were at the weekend might not be a bad move away from home to be honest.
I can see something like (if fit):
Johnstone
Bree Chester Terry Taylor
Whelan
Elmo Lansbury Onomah Agbonlahor
Hogan
I would take Lansbury out and would also look at a different option up front if we are only going to have one up there as we have already seen Hogan is ineffective in that role.
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Johnstone
Bree Chester Terry Taylor
Adomah Whelan Hourihane Onomah
Hogan McCormack**
**Puts tin hat on and runs for cover.
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I predict that Steve Bruce will switch to an utterly hopeless 5-3-2 formation, like he did last time things went wrong and he'd run out of ideas.
Bree Chester Terry Samba Taylor
Elmo Onomah Bjarnason
Hogan Agbonlahor
3-0 Reading
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Bruce will do his normal, throw shit at the wall, see what sticks and go from there, he doesn't do tactics you know!!! 2-0 Reading, jeez
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Bacuna. That's it.
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I reckon Bruce picking his lineups is like the LC draw. Pulls random names out and even if it's obvious it's going wrong try and blag it and hope no one notices.
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A crazy amount of pressure to be on a game this early in the season.
How will Bruce react?
He will revert to form, rely on the old hands / characters to dig him out of jail.
Set up for Bacuna to have his one world beating performance in a Reading shirt.
If they score first calamity wil set in,.
Will a draw be enough to extend his tenure?
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Overwhelmed.
3-0
The meltdown gathers momentum.
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If Reading win I'm predicting the end of Bruce. I'm done with him but never want us to lose. But I can see it happening. I don't see what he's going to suddenly change. I expected a slog to promotion not one to avoid relegation.
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We should bear in mind that this is the club that wanted to take Gabby on loan, and that when The Gabster said "Oi don't fink so, moit", Dr. X was driven to tweet comments about the player's manhood.
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2-0 defeat i'm afraid. It doesn't matter that Reading are not very good.
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I think the big decision is what to have at the pre match stop off. Gammon, burger or mixed grill? Can we have another poll please?
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To paraphrase the great man, would you bet on us?
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I think the big decision is what to have at the pre match stop off. Gammon, burger or mixed grill? Can we have another poll please?
"Will it be chips or jacket spuds, will it be salad or frozen peas?..."
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I think the big decision is what to have at the pre match stop off. Gammon, burger or mixed grill? Can we have another poll please?
"Will it be chips or jacket spuds, will it be salad or frozen peas?..."
Fried onion rings,You'll have to wait and see. Hope its not shit, not shit.
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Hoping I am going to the match.
I haven't received my ticket in the mail yet and the game is tomorrow.
This might be a bad omen.
I'm trying to be positive though, 0-0.
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If Reading win I'm predicting the end of Bruce. I'm done with him but never want us to lose. But I can see it happening. I don't see what he's going to suddenly change. I expected a slog to promotion not one to avoid relegation.
It would have to be a similar defeat to Saturday or worse for it to be even considered I would have thought.
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Another game, another disappointment...best I can hope for is a draw, but can't see anything other than Stam taking all 3pts by out thinking and out playing whatever team Bruce puts out. No faith in SB whatsoever.
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I see only a loss. To think that a few seasons ago I would fancy our chances at Liverpool or Stamford Bridge.
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Lose this and Norwich on Saturday will be teed up as Bruce's Bolton moment. One of my clients has invited me to this so I will be in the Reading end - be interesting to hear what Reading fans have to say about us. Bruce will try and avoid defeat - something will go wrong with his plan early on and he'll be left scratching his head like someone has asked him to lasso the moon rather than compete at a game that hes been involved with all his working life.
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1-1 Draw I hope we win but can't see it.
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If we play well, keep it tight, then 3.1 Reading.
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2-1 Reading I fear.
Norwich then becomes must win for SB.
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I don't know what all the panic is about.
Reading 1 Villa 2
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They played 90 minutes against 10 men the other day and couldn't win.
I was always surprised by how well they did as bar a half an hour spell at our place [trust us to be the ones to make them look good] they always seemed really average. They took some severe hammerings too, 7 at Norwich, 5 at Fulham.
The pressure is definitely on us. I just hope he's bold and realises players let him down on Saturday and has the courage to make the changes.
We're supposed to be challenging for the title. That's the words that came out of the players mouths pre-season, that's the aim. We've dropped two points against Hull and were an abomination for 70 against Cardiff. Two lessons not learnt from last season in our first two games is worrying, although the manner of our first half display against Hull was encouraging.
Must win. As is Norwich, as is Bristol. That's the pressure and it must be coped with.
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0-2 and moans about the style of play
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Another loss and 'we go again'!
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Two games in and the team is already under massive pressure, which in turn will also have an effect on confidence.
Confidence will be low after 2 games, just 2 BLOODY GAMES!
I don't think this team with this manager can cope with pressure of expectation.
We might nick a draw at Reading, but suspect we will lose.
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I fancy us to win. I had a fear about Cardiff, there was something of the "I've seen this coming before" about it that getting turned over badly by some nobody outfit that has haunted us for as long as I've supported the Villa.
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Anyone got the odds for Bacuna to score?
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Two games in and the team is already under massive pressure, which in turn will also have an effect on confidence.
Confidence will be low after 2 games, just 2 BLOODY GAMES!
I don't think this team with this manager can cope with pressure of expectation.
We might nick a draw at Reading, but suspect we will lose.
Exactly. The manager and all the players know that they are favourites for promotion this season, and they have to live up to these expectations. They are expected to perform and get results week in week out, and there can be no excuses when you have to do so on a consistent basis.
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Same again.
Defeat. Destroyed by much better team than Cardiff. 3 or 4 - 0
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Same again.
Defeat. Destroyed by much better team than Cardiff. 3 or 4 - 0
If this one is 3 or 4 then Bruce won't see the weekend
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Bruce was lucky here before and maybe again tomorrow?? Last minute penalty last time I m sure he'll mention this how won first time in ages . I hope sneak some kind of win need at least 4 points next two matches
I can see a system change to a 3-5-2
And a few player changes
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The 3-5-2 being
Johnstone
Hutton samba Terry Chester Taylor
Bjarnasson Whelan Lansbury Hourihane
O hare
Hogan
I fear he'll play agbonlahor though
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3-0 (Bacuna 3)
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Sadly I've gone for a defeat....along with Blues to draw and Wolves to win all at 30/1
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A draw is the best we can hope for tomorrow i think, given how Steve will set us up to try and not lose, and that means a win against Norwich is essential. Lose or draw that one, and golf/football punditry beckons.
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The 3-5-2 being
Johnstone
Hutton samba Terry Chester Taylor
Bjarnasson Whelan Lansbury Hourihane
O hare
Hogan
I fear he'll play agbonlahor though
Shhhhh don't mention that his cunning plan is to play 12 :)
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The 3-5-2 being
Johnstone
Hutton samba Terry Chester Taylor
Bjarnasson Whelan Lansbury Hourihane
O hare
Hogan
I fear he'll play agbonlahor though
Shhhhh don't mention that his cunning plan is to play 12 :)
Brand new season, same old footyskillz
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A draw is the best we can hope for tomorrow i think, given how Steve will set us up to try and not lose, and that means a win against Norwich is essential. Lose or draw that one, and golf/football punditry beckons.
I think he has got to go with a three man midfield seeing how easily we were taken apart at times on Saturday and that after two games it is looking increasingly like Whelan is struggling in a two. Unless he goes to three at the back, that probably means we will only play 1 up front.
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See, with the players we currently have and no more coming in, with everyone fit I'd play:
--------------------Johnstone-----------------
---------Chester----Samba----Terry---------
-Elhommady--------------------------Taylor-
---------------------Jedinak------------------
-------Hourahane-----------Onomah--------
----------Hogan-------------Kodjia----------
Big unit in the middle with 2 ball playing centre backs either side, get the wing backs fit so that they can cover some ground and get the attacking midfielders to join the attacks.
Subs: Steer, Bree, Whelan, Bjarnasson, Lansbury, Grealish, O Hare.
So, for this one put Whelan and O Hare in for Jedinak and Kodjia.
Extra subs, Gabby, Davis and Hutton
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A draw is the best we can hope for tomorrow i think, given how Steve will set us up to try and not lose, and that means a win against Norwich is essential. Lose or draw that one, and golf/football punditry beckons.
I think he has got to go with a three man midfield seeing how easily we were taken apart at times on Saturday and that after two games it is looking increasingly like Whelan is struggling in a two. Unless he goes to three at the back, that probably means we will only play 1 up front.
Which is basically the Jedinak problem too. Only Whelan was playing in a 4231 all last season so surely it can't be as simple as this??
Bruce must feel a sense of deja vu compared to his last visit to reading
He could really do with hourihane finding his shooting / set piece boots, or hogan showing more confidence
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A draw is the best we can hope for tomorrow i think, given how Steve will set us up to try and not lose, and that means a win against Norwich is essential. Lose or draw that one, and golf/football punditry beckons.
I think he has got to go with a three man midfield seeing how easily we were taken apart at times on Saturday and that after two games it is looking increasingly like Whelan is struggling in a two. Unless he goes to three at the back, that probably means we will only play 1 up front.
That is quite possible as SB stated in the post match interviews that we were not ready to play 2 up front.
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Regulation 2-0 loss.
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Unless we score in the first 15 minutes, we'll lose...and then it will get VERY ugly for SB.
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Yes I know they are professionals and all that and they get paid fortunes......but the thought of pulling on a Villa shirt and trying to play for this pressure cooker of a club at the minute must be awful.
Just reading this thread makes you want to jump off a bridge !
anyways...2-0 to Reading
I'm very much looking forward to the better class of Waitrose catering though
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I'm very much looking forward to the better class of Waitrose catering though
Carabao sponsor Reading now so they'll probably have those young lasses with jet-packs full of fizzy pop instead of fizzy lager. I'll probably stay in the pub in Reading
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Being an 8:00 KO is this on the box tomorrow?
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A draw is the best we can hope for tomorrow i think, given how Steve will set us up to try and not lose, and that means a win against Norwich is essential. Lose or draw that one, and golf/football punditry beckons.
I think he has got to go with a three man midfield seeing how easily we were taken apart at times on Saturday and that after two games it is looking increasingly like Whelan is struggling in a two. Unless he goes to three at the back, that probably means we will only play 1 up front.
That is quite possible as SB stated in the post match interviews that we were not ready to play 2 up front.
Will we ever be? What's Bruce and his coaches doing at BMH?
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I'm very much looking forward to the better class of Waitrose catering though
Carabao sponsor Reading now so they'll probably have those young lasses with jet-packs full of fizzy pop instead of fizzy lager. I'll probably stay in the pub in Reading
Will this misery ever end !
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Being an 8:00 KO is this on the box tomorrow?
I hope not.
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Being an 8:00 KO is this on the box tomorrow?
No, for some reason Reading always kick off at 8.00 at home.
(When they are playing in midweek, before some smartar*e points out they often kick off at 3pm on a Saturday.)
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3-0 Reading
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I can only see 0:0
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I can only see 0:0
I wish I could. I can see us not scoring.
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I see Bruce is changing his ways and planning a different side tomorrow night..... Not.
O'Hare is starting tonight for the under 23's as is Davis
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Dead man walking.
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I see Bruce is changing his ways and planning a different side tomorrow night..... Not.
O'Hare is starting tonight for the under 23's as is Davis
O'Hare should at least be on the bench for tomorrow.
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Being an 8:00 KO is this on the box tomorrow?
No, for some reason Reading always kick off at 8.00 at home.
(When they are playing in midweek, before some smartar*e points out they often kick off at 3pm on a Saturday.)
I believe clubs can choose their preferred midweek kick-off time, with the options being 7.45pm or 8pm. Most choose the former but Reading are among a handful of predominately Southern clubs to opt for 8.
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2-0 or 3-1 Reading. Doesn't matter really as a loss is a loss!!
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I see Bruce is changing his ways and planning a different side tomorrow night..... Not.
O'Hare is starting tonight for the under 23's as is Davis
O'Hare should at least be on the bench for tomorrow.
No RHM tonight though so he could be in the frame tomorrow
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Fingers crossed, be worth throwing him in.
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I see Bruce is changing his ways and planning a different side tomorrow night..... Not.
O'Hare is starting tonight for the under 23's as is Davis
O'Hare should at least be on the bench for tomorrow.
No RHM tonight though so he could be in the frame tomorrow
I bet you he won't even be on the bench. Attrition will be the order of the day tomorrow.
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Attack attack attack.
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Surprised O'Hare starting tonight
Would def have RHM in squad
Think pace on break could be important
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were going to hammer reading 2 - 2
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Bagged a ticket. Don't spoil my evening you bastards.
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2-2.
Hogan 10.
Adomah 55
Mendes 85
Bacuna 90 + 6.
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Bagged a ticket. Don't spoil my evening you bastards.
What a ridiculous request. Can't you try and scale down your high hopes?
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Is it appalling that I couldn't care less?
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Is it appalling that I couldn't care less?
No.
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Neither can I.
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Can we not go to next season pre-season and skip everything else?
At least 2-0 to them, possibly more if they run at our pedestrian defence.
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Just watch how Bacuna (if he plays) does some really strange shit during the game that we have never seen before, such as.
Pass the ball to a fellow player in the same colour shirt.
Run generally in the right direction at the right time in keeping with the game.
Show an ounce of interest in helping his team to win a game of football.
Incidentally that will be one ounce more than he has done for Villa over the past few seasons.
Let's see if Reading manage to somehow turn him back into a professional footballer type bloke.
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Is it appalling that I couldn't care less?
No.
I'm slightly in this boat, too.
Though I'll be up at 4am to sit through it anyhow. God only knows why.
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Just for balance, I'll be one of the 4000 taking time off work, doing a 7 hour and 400 mile round trip, because I do care.
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Just for balance, I'll be one of the 4000 taking time off work, doing a 7 hour and 400 mile round trip, because I do care.
I salute you, mate. You guys, the away support, are a huge plus and have been for many years. If I was in the UK, I'd definitely be seeking you out to buy you numerous pints.
It's people like you that I do hope get some kind of reward this evening.
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Just watch how Bacuna (if he plays) does some really strange shit during the game that we have never seen before, such as.
Pass the ball to a fellow player in the same colour shirt.
Run generally in the right direction at the right time in keeping with the game.
Show an ounce of interest in helping his team to win a game of football.
Incidentally that will be one ounce more than he has done for Villa over the past few seasons.
Let's see if Reading manage to somehow turn him back into a professional footballer type bloke.
I hope he has a stinker, the petulant, grinning twat.
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Crikey Ads. You must put your foot down to cover that distance in seven hours. Drive safely, your contributions would be sorely missed.
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I really am struggling to care that much anymore. Actually, that is a lie. I care very deeply but am numb with it all and certainly won't let it upset me like it used to. When it comes to the Villa I am at a very low ebb currently.
"Fancy a ticket for Bristol or Barnsley away" I was asked yesterday. Without a thought I said no. And, whilst I will be there, I don't want to go on Saturday if I am being honest.
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That is the staunchest form of loyalty Stuart. To be there when you don't want to be. It is why great football clubs go on while lesser ones fall by the wayside. There are two sides to us all. I have so hated going to Villa Park in recent years when my wife books a foreign holiday for us, I think secretly great I shall not have to go to the game against Barnstoneworth. Then when I am on some sun kissed beach with a glass of something cold and bubbly in my hand I want to be jumping over the dumped mattresses making my way to the Bartons.
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It's very grim how years of going a goal down followed by a routine defeat has become the norm. Defeats use to cloud my weekends, now they have become a normal part of it, bit like a Sunday roast and country file....Happy Tuesday everyone.
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Just for balance, I'll be one of the 4000 taking time off work, doing a 7 hour and 400 mile round trip, because I do care.
250 mile round trip for me. Like you, I do it because I care. Guys at work just don't understand why I go, but I always tell them it'll be rewarded one day. Roll on Bristol too!
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I had the misfortune to be there on Saturday and the obvious way to play us is to get a physical striker up front with a bit of pace to press Chester and Terry, a half decent winger to press Hutton (he made Junior Hoillet look world class) and close down our midfield who in turn were totally detached from the strikers.
As such and as we all know we need more pace. Bree should be in and certainly for Hutton and if not maybe in for Whelan? Lansbury was abysmal and surely Hourihane gets a game? O'Hare and Onamah were the only shining lights and the former should be starting BUT we risk destroying his confidence. When he was on the pitch we were passing and moving quickly which Cardiff couldn't handle and that will get Hogan in the game and his movement spotted . We have the players to do this but Bruce and the coaches can't see it or won't encourage it.
I wonder if Samba will be on the bench again as the last resort "big man" up front?!? Lambertesque
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Has there ever been such a one sided poll in favour of the other team beating us?
Well, not in favour of, exactly, but one tipping us to be beaten? Nearly 70%.
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I've gone for a draw. I can never go all doom and gloom three games into a new season. You would hope and fully expect Bruce to have read them the riot act after the weekend debacle in Wales. We might not win, but I expect a draw at the very least as some kind of positive response. If we do lose, the pressure is right on top of the manager. Expectations, unrealistic as they may currently seem, are nonetheless high this season. We have to go up this time.
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Just for balance, I'll be one of the 4000 taking time off work, doing a 7 hour and 400 mile round trip, because I do care.
250 mile round trip for me. Like you, I do it because I care. Guys at work just don't understand why I go, but I always tell them it'll be rewarded one day. Roll on Bristol too!
90 mile round trip from London for us. I've no idea why I do it do it, we've been shit for so long.
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You'll be at Bristol though Chico, whatever happens.
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Surprised O'Hare starting tonight
Would def have RHM in squad
Think pace on break could be important
Not sure if he ( RHM ) is 100% fit, yet. I have suspicion McCormack may be included tonight.........Godzvilla!
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For me, the enthusiasm has been drained as one decision after another that I don't think is the right way to go is made and then fails. I'm not one for 'I told you so' but it's made me just shrug my shoulders after a defeat now. I guess it's down to seeing what good is and being honest with myself in saying this is not good.
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Jaap Stam clearly loves us. "Every time Villa come to the Madejski Stadium, their fans are very vocal and fill almost the whole stand behind the goal. Our fans need to be very loud as well to compete against them".
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40858334
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"Every time" ? How long does he think we've been down in the Championship, a decade?! (Yes we've played them in cups and the Preemier but he wouldn't know that)
Happy Birthday Ads, the big 3-0 huh?
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If we lose tonight I expect him fired tomorrow.
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If we lose tonight I expect him fired tomorrow.
Not a chance.
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Bacuna will be bloody great tonight, he's used to passing to anything not in Claret and Blue.
I wish I didn't care as much. I wish I could switch off from it all. I wish I wasn't an optimist who always wants to believe the best will happen and become disappointed when it doesn't. I wish.
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Is it appalling that I couldn't care less?
If you really mean that, then you're not a true Villa fan, which I don't believe.
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Is it appalling that I couldn't care less?
If you really mean that, then you're not a true Villa fan, which I don't believe.
There was a time when family and friends knew how Villa had got on by my mood, it's been a long time since my mood has been affected by any Villa result.
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At least have a go at attacking them...if he knows how. Although I think he's gone, in terms of not knowing how to get a tune out of them.
------------Johnstone----------
Bree ----Chester--- Terry----Taylor
--------------Whelan---------------
---------Lansbury---Onamah-----
Adomah-----------------------Hourihane
------------------Hogan------------------
And I'd really like Onomah and Adomah to pass the ball to each other a lot just to annoy the commentators...
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Hourihane is not a left sided Midfielder. Might as well put a scarecrow out there. We have to stop playing players out of position. He's out of form as it is, he won't find it being pushed out wide.
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Cheers eamonn! I'm actually 31 this time unfortunately.
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Hourihane is not a left sided Midfielder. Might as well put a scarecrow out there. We have to stop playing players out of position. He's out of form as it is, he won't find it being pushed out wide.
And he'll never get form unless he plays about 5+ games on the trot. Anyway, it's left side of centre...I know he's no winger but being as we don't have Green or Elmo would rather him than Gabby in midfield. Or stick him centre and play Onomah wide.
Whatever formation he plays just set them up to attack, get players forward and in the box. It's frightening just how few players we have in the box when the ball actually ventures in there.
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Cheers eamonn! I'm actually 31 this time unfortunately.
Nice one. You deserve a win and a happy forum tonight.
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Bacuna will be bloody great tonight, he's used to passing to anything not in Claret and Blue.
I wish I didn't care as much. I wish I could switch off from it all. I wish I wasn't an optimist who always wants to believe the best will happen and become disappointed when it doesn't. I wish.
I was about to post the same exact thing.
Bacuna is going to put in a shift tonight and doom us. Unfortunately I just don't see us getting a result tonight. It's funny how clubs consider us a scalp when we've been in trash football purgatory for half a decade now. We're bad and there for the taking tonight.
I hope I'm wrong but I'm going for 2-1 to Reading.
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If we lose tonight I expect him fired tomorrow.
Then perhaps the best result for all would be to get turned over tonight. Sadly, we will probably get beat (one half of the equation) but he still wont be fired with the club talking about stability .........
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Reading have lost 1 home game in 2017. We've won something like 4 in 45 away games.
Realistically the only scalp would be Readings. A big surprise if we were to beat these. I'm amazed Villa are favourites for this at the bookies.
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Sorry state of affairs. Reading win. Bruce sacked in the morning?
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Back to back away losses. 2-0 reading
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I'd like a Villa win with Terry picking up an injury that rules him out of the Norwich match on Saturday meaning I don't have to see him in a Villa shirt.
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1-3
Terry, Gabby and Lansbury
Come on you villa boys!
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1-3
Terry, Gabby and Lansbury
Come on you villa boys!
Villa
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I never want us to lose
A draw and a good performance followed by a win v Norwich and things will look brighter
Don't know why but I feel quite optimistic
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Have a great 31st Ads but, oh my goodness, that also means you have so many years in front of you watching the Villa!!!
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Seeing as we're absolutely wank, I'm thinking 2-0 them. Might be a bit tighter than Saturday but they'll finish us off with a late second by Bacuna.
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It will all click tonight, a comfortable 2 none win to herald the start of an unbeaten run. Just the sort of thing I have been waiting for throughout the last 6 years.
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Reading have lost 1 home game in 2017. We've won something like 4 in 45 away games.
Realistically the only scalp would be Readings. A big surprise if we were to beat these. I'm amazed Villa are favourites for this at the bookies.
They'd not lost at all at home until we beat them last season. Their record means fuck all.
They are without key players, they've signed shite like Bacuna, couldn't beat 10 men over 90 minutes and looked dire defensively against QPR.
We need a response and only one result will do. I fancy us tonight.
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I too fancy a shock Villa win. When Bruce was at Hull he seemed to have fluffed their promotion challenge but right at the very last game managed to get a performance out of the team that came from nowhere. Well he's once again under massive pressure tonight, let's see if he has finally that bit of luck he's been missing since he got so lucky getting the Villa job.
Villa 0-2 win.
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Come on lads, be realistic, 1-0 maybe but, where are we going to get 2 goals from?? Unless Bacuna thinks he's still playing for us and scores a couple of OG's!
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I'd like a Villa win with Terry picking up an injury that rules him out of the Norwich match on Saturday meaning I don't have to see him in a Villa shirt.
Really you'd like to see the captain of the Villa team injured? I wouldn't wish injury on any player that wears the shirt.
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Reading have lost 1 home game in 2017. We've won something like 4 in 45 away games.
Realistically the only scalp would be Readings. A big surprise if we were to beat these. I'm amazed Villa are favourites for this at the bookies.
They'd not lost at all at home until we beat them last season. Their record means fuck all.
They are without key players, they've signed shite like Bacuna, couldn't beat 10 men over 90 minutes and looked dire defensively against QPR.
We need a response and only one result will do. I fancy us tonight.
You've got me convinced. Much improved performance, Reading to be poor. 2-0 Reading.
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Come on lads, be realistic, 1-0 maybe but, where are we going to get 2 goals from?? Unless Bacuna thinks he's still playing for us and scores a couple of OG's!
Remember, he's capable of amazing 50 yrd back passes.....
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If we lose tonight I expect him fired tomorrow.
Then perhaps the best result for all would be to get turned over tonight. Sadly, we will probably get beat (one half of the equation) but he still wont be fired with the club talking about stability .........
.
Why would anyone justifiably want this?
Wouldn't you rather we won and Bruce used it as a spring board to turn things around?
I don't think he will, bit that doesn't mean I don't want him to.
I appreciate the shit football and technical mess goes back to his appointment, but this is still only the third league game of the season, it's not like we don't have time to get our shit together.
I would much rather that happened then we launch on yet another fucking manager search.
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I think he'll do the passive-aggressive 'you lot will get me sacked' pre-match team talk. If so, I guess the result depends on whether they want him to be sacked.
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Absolutely spot on.
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I want us to win, I also would like us to start playing well. Sadly I don't think I can ever have both with Bruce in charge but we shall see. He is our manager today and I hope he and the players do well.
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Team is in
Johnstone
De Laet
Taylor
Terry
Chester
Whelan
Hourihane
Onomah
Bjarnason
Green
Hogan
Subs
Steer
Hutton
Bree
Samba
Lansbury
Adomah
Agbonlahor
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Huge game, come on you Lions.
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That's quite an attacking line up....
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Bacuna on the bench.
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I assume that's 4-5-1. I really hoped Bjarnason wouldn't be starting, as he's a terrible, terrible footballer.
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Like it
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is the game on wm?
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Bjarnason on the left. Green on the right. We need Hourihane to find his form tonight and give them something to think about down the middle.
Hogan to bag a goal tonight. Heart over head, a win.
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He really likes that Bajarnason don't he.
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Is that the first time we have had a starting 11 that doesn't feature one of the clowns that got us relegated?
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I like that selection and am a little more optimistic about the result.
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Gorgeous summers evening down here. Fucking step up you wankers and play like you deserve to wear claret and blue.
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He really likes that Bajarnason don't he.
The new Bacuna.
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Surprised Reading have left Mendes on the bench. He had a great match at VP last season and his pace will cause issues for our back 4 if he comes on.
Let's hope this line up can gel a bit more than what we've put out so far.
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Hopefully Topea on the wing and Bjarnason in the middle doing Whelan's running for him.
Wagwan with Jedinak? He dead?