Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: Toronto Villa on January 01, 2019, 05:04:06 PM
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Very, very, very frustrating. We are own worst enemies. Wasteful and careless all game. So many issues to fix.
And QPR you cheating, time wasting bastards.
Playoffs let alone promotion places feel a really long way off
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Terrible shit.
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I know I know... mitigating circumstances but last few performances have been no better than the stuff RDR and Bruce served up.
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Piss poor performance all over the pitch. Need to go back to basics as whatever we're trying to do, and your guess is as good as mine, just simply isn't working.
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These draws are killing us.
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The only positive I can take from that is that Tommy is ok, and if I’m honest better than Chester
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Shit again. Not fucking good enough. It’s a good thing we have a clinical striker, because we’re pretty aimless going forward as well as being shit at the back, particularly with Hutton at left back.
2 goals conceded yet again.
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We've been average for weeks. Completely lost momentum. Glad the cup game gives us a break and a chance to regroup and maybe fix the squad. As mad as it is we're not out of anything yet but draws in this league are pretty worthless.
Apparently none of the clubs positioned 3-6 this time last year finished in the play offs.
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Fucking dreadful. If Bruce has served up our last few performances this place would be in meltdown.
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It’s all hit and hope. Their keeper didn’t make a decent save in the second half
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Sloppy again. What's happened to the swagger ?
Elphick did well. Kodjia, Hourihane and McGinn need to improve. BB adds nothing to the midfield, we need someone to carry the ball through the middle.
Not sure if O'Hare is fit again, but would like to see him get some minutes while Jack is out.
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Yannick and Kodja .. both talented but greedy fucks .... could easily have looked up and we would have scored // Id get rid of Kodja ..
Hutton tries but he isnt good enough goes missing and losing his position every time ..
Conor was rubbish .. plays like butter easy to cut through
cant fault Tammy he scores
why the fuck does whelan take set pieces ???
BB was very average . Thought Bree was ok at RB
lots of final balls were dreadful
very disappointing today .. 2 pts dropped , we are running out of ideas , we desperate need Jack , otherwise buy that Freeman of QPR
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That was a proper aimless Bruce style display. Sort it out Dean, this is not good enough.
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I know I know... mitigating circumstances but last few performances have been no better than the stuff RDR and Bruce served up.
Said this in the match thread but Steve Bruce hoof ball DNA is coursing through the veins of this club. When we get desperate the players revert to what they know. And it looks every bit as ugly as when Bruce was here.
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Very, very, very frustrating. We are own worst enemies. Wasteful and careless all game. So many issues to fix.
And QPR you cheating, time wasting bastards.
Playoffs let alone promotion places feel a really long way off
Wasteful is the key, we had plenty of chances but we just didn't force the keeper to make enough saves because too many of our players have no composure in front of goal. The Bolasie effort when he cut inside is, I reckon, the worst shot I've seen since Tonev, appalling technique.
That said, get a proper left back and a proper defensive midfielder and we win that game comfortably even with the missed chances, Hopefully Smith will act early and get a couple more new signings through the door in the next week or so. Then it's fingers crossed that Grealish gets back soon.
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Bolasie and Kodjia square those chances and we might have won. But overall we were really poor and so was the ref. And as for QPR, time wasting buggers. Summed up by their keeper getting booked for time wasting yet still took another minute to take the kick.
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Terrible shit.
Really??? I must have watched a very different game to you. We had nearly 25 shots on goal (to their 10 odd), I thought played some really nice football, and without some of our key players. Great effort in my opinion.
Added to that, another point closer to automatics (because top 3 screwed up again), and we did not lose ground on the top 6. Re-enforcements on their way, a break now till the next league game - I remain very positive we will be back in the PL next year albeit certainly most likely via the play offs
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Fucking dreadful. If Bruce has served up our last few performances this place would be in meltdown.
Did you really expect it to change so quickly? These are all Bruce’s players who for the most part are fucking plodders and the best and most cultured player out injured.
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14 minutes added time. Ref was abysmal again. Bookings should have started around the 65 minute mark. Honestly, draw, draw, draw, we have no chance of automatics. We will do well to get in the top 6 because every week we have to score 2 or 3 to get anything from the game.
We get in decent positions and one of our army of thickos fuck it up by trying to be Pele. We need some time off now get a few replacements in and sort ourselves out because as usual we've been shite over the Christmas new year period and pissed points away all over the shop.
Smith, have a word with Kodjia and Bolasie and Hourihane, track backyou cock. Hutton has to be replaced, funny as the cafu hilarity is he's shit and costs us points.
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We had 60% of the possession, 22 shots to their 11, 9 corners to their 1 and they committed 21 fouls to our 10. Which suggests that we were very much the dominant team. Quite simply, the reason we won't finish in the top two and may not even finish in the top six is that we concede far too many goals for a team hoping to get promoted.
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These draws are killing us.
It's player's that are not good enough that's killing us, coupled with the lack of alternatives who are worse or don't exist.
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We are a mid table second division team.
Hourihane Hutton Bjarnson Awful.
Bolasie the show pony’s show pony.
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We are so predictable and slow paced without Grealish.
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When Smith took over, I fully expected automatic promotion, I now don’t expect play offs. If we can’t beat Preston away and QPR at home, we won’t get promoted. I hoped we had signings lined up to sort our defence as soon as the window opened, but it doesn’t look like it. We can’t expect Jack to be here next year, it looks bleak to me.
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Just so disjointed without Jack knitting it all together. Huge player for us. Got to get fit or replaced fast.
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Terrible shit.
Really??? I must have watched a very different game to you. We had nearly 25 shots on goal (to their 10 odd), I thought played some really nice football, and without some of our key players. Great effort in my opinion.
Added to that, another point closer to automatics (because top 3 screwed up again), and we did not lose ground on the top 6. Re-enforcements on their way, a break now till the next league game - I remain very positive we will be back in the PL next year albeit certainly most likely via the play offs
Like the cut of your jib. Please sit by me in the Lower Holte.
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Apparently none of the clubs positioned 3-6 this time last year finished in the play offs.
Apart from us. We were 5th after the New Year's day games last season.
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Meh.
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To me we are now a hybrid of Bruce and Smith. And the transition is going to look ugly. We should have won that game based on the possession and shot stats. Something we could never achieve with Bruce. But we are let down still by terrible defending and when we get desperate we go back to hit and hope. Smith needs time to change out the players and reinforce what he always wants to do. It just won’t happen in a few months.
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Trouble with our squad is that most of the talent is on paper. A lot of them disappoint too often for a club with our ambitions.
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I didn't see any of the game but 2 goals and 22 shots should win you a home game.
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I was amazed he didn't change the shape, but he replaced like for like - i didn't understand the Whelan substitution at all.
It's clear some of the players are lacking confidence, but we have to get much better than this. We need far more than flash boy Lansbury coming back.
Nick
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Consistency and decision making is the issue here. For every one good thing they do, they balls is up with crap decision making and do two stupid things. Our midfield is really easy to play against.
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Jacks absense exposes the lack of quality of the rest of them (maybe the exceptions bring Mcginn and Tammy)because he is allways open for a pass, the fact he passes to a team mate wins fee kicks and keeps the opposition thinking about our attacking options.
TWithout him and you have a bunch of plodders and a couple of show ponies.
Piss poor again.
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I didn't see any of the game but 2 goals and 22 shots should win you a home game.
It should, but Hutton saw to that.
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I didn't see any of the game but 2 goals and 22 shots should win you a home game.
That’s what makes it so frustrating. Unfortunately most of those shots just weren’t on target. Their keeper had very little to do despite us dominating possession and shots. Add to that their goals came from a screamer and break where Hutton and Chester were exposed.
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We had 60% of the possession, 22 shots to their 11, 9 corners to their 1 and they committed 21 fouls to our 10. Which suggests that we were very much the dominant team. Quite simply, the reason we won't finish in the top two and may not even finish in the top six is that we concede far too many goals for a team hoping to get promoted.
That's about right and fixing the defence isn't easy because we haven't got the players to bring in. Once we make some signings and they have a few weeks to get used to each other I suspect we'll look much more solid and games like today will become far rarer. Once Grealish is back I'd trust this team to score 2-3 (or more) against anyone in this division so even a small improvement in the defence will be huge.
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If there's a team out there willing to take Bjarnason please let him go & bring someone in who's suited to how Smith wants us to play.
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A new year... serving up the same old shit.
DS has got some serious sorting out to do if we are going to make the playoffs.
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We’re not getting to the play-offs unless our level improves a lot.
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Fucking dreadful. If Bruce has served up our last few performances this place would be in meltdown.
Did you really expect it to change so quickly? These are all Bruce’s players who for the most part are fucking plodders and the best and most cultured player out injured.
what you’ve got to remember TV is he defended Bruce right up until the bitter end for the endless dross shit and incompetence that everyone else could see apart from him and a couple of others
so now he’s trying to make a point by saying it’s just as bad under Smith and trying to compare the two at this stage and state of play because he doesn’t understand fuck all
And in any event if he reads the thread it is in meltdown so his point is mute anyway
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Match highlights (https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/competitions/championship/11596307/aston-villa-2-2-qpr)
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On the bright side, I thought Bree and Elphick both did well.
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To me we are now a hybrid of Bruce and Smith. And the transition is going to look ugly. We should have won that game based on the possession and shot stats. Something we could never achieve with Bruce. But we are let down still by terrible defending and when we get desperate we go back to hit and hope. Smith needs time to change out the players and reinforce what he always wants to do. It just won’t happen in a few months.
The most measured, succinct analysis. Bang on. Today is frustrating but it'll take time.
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We're poor in possession and we get done repeatedly from the long ball behind our defence. There are still plenty of games to put this right but we must have pissed away 15 points easily. DS needs to find a balance as it's great scoring 2+ a game but it counts for nothing when we concede the same amount. For all the pressure in the last 20 mins it was all hit and hope and you never really felt we'd get the winner. Poor decisions, poor execution and all in all, it's been a poor festive points haul.
I don't care much for the FA Cup these days so let's rest a few up, get some new bodies in and recharge the batteries.
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Without Grealish, we look far too predicable. We just seem to knock it out wide and that's about it. It's frustrating because we're not a million miles off the play off spots but we should be sitting comfortably just behind the top two.
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On the bright side, I thought Bree and Elphick both did well.
and Hutton 😁
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On the bright side, I thought Bree and Elphick both did well.
Defensively yes but Bree needs to be a bit more accurate with his passing at times.
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On the bright side, I thought Bree and Elphick both did well.
Yes they did.
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sorry to say it but two and a half years on nothing has changed - we are totally average. Oh and Hutton should never play again.
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On the bright side, I thought Bree and Elphick both did well.
Yes they did.
Agreed. According to WhoScored almost half (48% I think) of all of QPR's attacks came down their right v Hutton - if we can strengthen there ASAP we should hopefully start looking more solid.
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Another 2 points dropped not good enough. What's happened to the form we produced against Boro and Albion, been well below that since. Trying to be positive, we're still 5 points behind 6th place. Thought Tommy and Bree did ok. QPR were a disgrace with their time wasting, although he wasn't great, at least the ref added plenty of stoppage time, can't remember there ever been 14 mins in a match.
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With Grealish in that game we would have won it easily.
The amount of free kicks in advanced positions, and therefore scoring chances we get with him is an important part of our game, and also how he draws players to him, so leaving others free is a big loss.
That and Hutton constantly getting skinned and left for dead, means it was another frustrating draw.
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Fucking dreadful. If Bruce has served up our last few performances this place would be in meltdown.
Did you really expect it to change so quickly? These are all Bruce’s players who for the most part are fucking plodders and the best and most cultured player out injured.
what you’ve got to remember TV is he defended Bruce right up until the bitter end for the endless dross shit and incompetence that everyone else could see apart from him and a couple of others
so now he’s trying to make a point by saying it’s just as bad under Smith and trying to compare the two at this stage and state of play because he doesn’t understand fuck all
And in any event if he reads the thread it is in meltdown so his point is mute anyway
There’s no need for that John. And to put you straight I wanted Bruce out after the play off final and was consitant with that view.
The second half was dreadful and I’m not the only person to have pointed that out.
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biggest problem with our defences isn’t the defenders
it’s the midfield who are collectively rubbish no matter who plays apart from SJM
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Can't wait for 2019 to be over.
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we are pretty awful all over the field with the exception of SJM and Tammy - and he isn't ours. We've spent millions on crap, it's as simple as that.
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biggest problem with our defences isn’t the defenders
it’s the midfield who are collectively rubbish no matter who plays apart from SJM
Definitely part of it - we're particularly bad in transition into defence because there's not a natural DM that reads the game and cuts out danger. Their first goal came from that
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Fucking dreadful. If Bruce has served up our last few performances this place would be in meltdown.
Did you really expect it to change so quickly? These are all Bruce’s players who for the most part are fucking plodders and the best and most cultured player out injured.
what you’ve got to remember TV is he defended Bruce right up until the bitter end for the endless dross shit and incompetence that everyone else could see apart from him and a couple of others
so now he’s trying to make a point by saying it’s just as bad under Smith and trying to compare the two at this stage and state of play because he doesn’t understand fuck all
And in any event if he reads the thread it is in meltdown so his point is mute anyway
There’s no need for that John. And to put you straight I wanted Bruce out after the play off final and was consitant with that view.
The second half was dreadful and I’m not the only person to have pointed that out.
Sorry
got carried away
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Steer OK - one good save
Bree quite good - some bad long balls
Elphick good and in control
Chester ok
Hutton absolutely awol all game. Bring back Taylor
Hourihane and bjarnason both poor
Mcginn better but looked tired
Adomah poor
Kodjia frustrated the hell out of me. Think he had to square that chance for abraham
Abraham mixed perfomance but he can't stop scoring.
El ghazi did well
Bolasie almost as frustrating as Kodjia
Overall. Disjointed. Too many long balls. But with a decent defence, 15 mins of intense pressure that we had in each half wins you thah game
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Dean Smith is struggling, no doubt about that.
It looks like he's decided with the defence and support from midfield that he's inherited, all we can do is try and outscore the opposition.
Let's all hope he's savvy enough to sort it out in January.
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Don't know if it's already been mentioned, according to Paul Franks Wolves have accepted a bid from us for Wolves central defender Kortney Hause.
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a good buy if true
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It’s all hit and hope. Their keeper didn’t make a decent save in the second half
Yes he did ..about five minutes after he regained conciousness..from tammys header..great save
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Haven't seen the game today, but watching the highlights we had loads of chances. The second goal we conceded looked poor defensively.
Somebody asked where the swagger has gone. His name is Jack Grealish and without him we are a couple of defenders away from being good enough for autos. We've lost him at the absolute worst time as we were on a great run that I'm sure would've continued had he not been crocked. I really would like to know what the extent of this injury is.
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I know I know... mitigating circumstances but last few performances have been no better than the stuff RDR and Bruce served up.
Honeymoon is certainly over isn't it now?
Another game that we've taken the lead in and failed to win, not good when the top 3 at kick off again failed to win.
That said a draw with all our issues didn't surprise me in the least. We're just not in good shape atm although we need to snap out of it quickly.
I was actually surprised QPR were wasting practically minutes in injury time, they could've easily won if they'd pushed a few more forward as our back 4 was scared stiff of Eze.
Our delivery from free kicks was horrible. We must've had 3-4 around the edge of the box in last 15 years and they were all rubbish.
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A year since we hammered Brizzle 5-0, Scotty, Snoddy and Jackie to the fore. I want it back! It was even a Smith performance, not Bruce. Sounds like today was the reverse.
Were there boos at the end?
Was there booze at the end?
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Headless chickens we need a John terry in the team. Hutton, kodja, bolasie, horihane, Adomah not fit for purpose out of there today
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Just so disjointed without Jack knitting it all together. Huge player for us. Got to get fit or replaced fast.
Yes, yes, yes. Someone above asked where the swagger in our play has gone. He is it quite simply.
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When Smith first come in, our full backs actually declined to hoof the ball up the pitch as if they'd been threatened with a clip round the ear if they did so. In the last bunch of matches they've reverted to type and we're now back to the same old levels of aimless, clueless, punts to nobody.
Hutton (yes him again) saw SO much of the ball today and his complete and utter inability to make any use of it is borderline criminal. Even if we had just a half decent left back who could play football we'd be so much better off. And that's before we start on the blokes defending
The midfield is dead on it's legs. Hourihane is there and really offers very little over 90 minutes, McGinn looks out of puff and Birkir is just a really average dull clogger
We must have some kids that could show more in the U23s
Bolasie is still a show pony for me, nice bits of skill but pretty much 80% just that. Little substance. He'll never play PL football again i'll put £50 on that.
Very very disappointing. As disjointed and shapeless as we supposedly were forever under Bruce
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Don't know if it's already been mentioned, according to Paul Franks Wolves have accepted a bid from us for Wolves central defender Kortney Hause.
Please tell me he has a left foot ?
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Don't know if it's already been mentioned, according to Paul Franks Wolves have accepted a bid from us for Wolves central defender Kortney Hause.
Please tell me he has a left foot ?
I'd be stunned if he had only one foot to be honest.
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Don't know if it's already been mentioned, according to Paul Franks Wolves have accepted a bid from us for Wolves central defender Kortney Hause.
Please tell me he has a left foot ?
I'd be stunned if he had only one foot to be honest.
Pete and Dud Tarzan sketch.
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Just got in and haven’t read the thread.
Well,that was fucking shit.
Abject in quality, desire and application.
We are regressing and regressing very quickly. It’s not quite Bruceball but it aint far off.
I am sick to fucking death of watching Hourihane ponce around the pitch like a ******.
Barney adds mobility but absolutely no fucking quality, and all 4 wide men flatter to deceive.
We are rapidly becoming a one man team, whether that is Tammy or Jack, but we cannot rely on them game after game.
We have problems all over the pitch and a new goalie and DM is not going to fix them.
Very,very disappointed tonight.
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Don't know if it's already been mentioned, according to Paul Franks Wolves have accepted a bid from us for Wolves central defender Kortney Hause.
Would prefer someone more proven at the back.
I remember him and Iorfa were highly rated there not so long ago but both have hardly played for Wolves in recent times.
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Have to say btw if the other 10 players had the heart and ability of McGinn promotion would be a doddle.
97th minute and I'm sure he's out on his feet yet still had enough about him to chase Eze (who said he didn't do off the ball marking?) and tackled a very dangerous counter attack player when we hardly had anyone at the back.
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I'd love to see Eze in our side.
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I'd love to see Eze in our side.
Pissed all over Hourihane today.
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Don't know if it's already been mentioned, according to Paul Franks Wolves have accepted a bid from us for Wolves central defender Kortney Hause.
Would prefer someone more proven at the back.
I remember him and Iorfa were highly rated there not so long ago but both have hardly played for Wolves in recent times.
A doghead fuckoff, how low have we gone.
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Don't know if it's already been mentioned, according to Paul Franks Wolves have accepted a bid from us for Wolves central defender Kortney Hause.
Would prefer someone more proven at the back.
I remember him and Iorfa were highly rated there not so long ago but both have hardly played for Wolves in recent times.
A doghead fuckoff, how low have we gone.
Does it matter where he is from? How childish.
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Just got in and haven’t read the thread.
Well,that was fucking shit.
Abject in quality, desire and application.
We are regressing and regressing very quickly. It’s not quite Bruceball but it aint far off.
I am sick to fucking death of watching Hourihane ponce around the pitch like a c***.
Barney adds mobility but absolutely no fucking quality, and all 4 wide men flatter to deceive.
We are rapidly becoming a one man team, whether that is Tammy or Jack, but we cannot rely on them game after game.
We have problems all over the pitch and a new goalie and DM is not going to fix them.
Very,very disappointed tonight.
Well summed up mate.
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Just got back home and have to say that a draw was all we deserved really. Thought Elphick and Steer did OK on their returns, Bree did OK apart from a couple of loose cross field passes towards the end, Abraham took his goals well and El Ghazi made an impact when he came on.
On the flip side, Hutton was exposed time and time again, and pretty much everything came down their right side. McGinn did OK, but looks a bit jaded and in need of a rest. Hourihane and Bjarnason were second to everything in midfield and I am becoming increasingly convinced that neither are really the answer in midfield.
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Don't know if it's already been mentioned, according to Paul Franks Wolves have accepted a bid from us for Wolves central defender Kortney Hause.
Would prefer someone more proven at the back.
I remember him and Iorfa were highly rated there not so long ago but both have hardly played for Wolves in recent times.
A doghead fuckoff, how low have we gone.
Does it matter where he is from? How childish.
Ner, ner, ner, ner, ner. From what I've seen he's nowt special.
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Fucking dreadful. If Bruce has served up our last few performances this place would be in meltdown.
These are Bruce's players. Time to judge DS is when he gets his own players in....
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Forgot to add that QPR are a very unlikeable outfit. Persistent fouling and time wasting from the off, both of which the referee failed to get a grip of throughout the game. Their fans are a bunch of bell ends as well. Giving it the big one throughout despite bringing a really small following.
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Don't know if it's already been mentioned, according to Paul Franks Wolves have accepted a bid from us for Wolves central defender Kortney Hause.
Would prefer someone more proven at the back.
I remember him and Iorfa were highly rated there not so long ago but both have hardly played for Wolves in recent times.
A doghead fuckoff, how low have we gone.
Does it matter where he is from? How childish.
Your Mum..
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I swapped my season ticket to sit with family in the central upper Trinity. From that perspective the poor positioning of Hutton was even more evident and he and Chester were too often too far apart. Teams can get at us by just launching the diagonal ball to their right wing.
The Grealish factor becomes more evident with each game. He preoccupies opponents and gets the ball to wingers more quickly. If we are to persist with 2 out wide, we have to get the ball to them more quickly.
QPR's time wasting was reprehensible (why do refs always wait until the last few minutes to get the card out?), but even with 13 extra minutes we rarely threatened. The shot count was high but the relative threat from them was low.
Hourihane was poor but if he's being subbed when we need to win, why bring on Whelan? The previous manager would've been pilloried for that.
Too many players underperformed but the same has been true for the last 5 matches.
The cup will give some players a rest, but then it's the form team next.
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Flat atmosphere in spite of the pre kick-off pyrotechnics. We played OK in patches but everything predictably goes down the wings without Jack to work something through the middle. Thought our midfield was pretty weak - Hourihane and Bjarnason were just poor and SJM looked knackered. They obviously knew our weak point was Alan Hutton at LB - nearly every attack and kick by their goalie was targeted at him.
Special mention for their time wasting tactics which were nothing short of embarrassing. I don't know how Schteve McClaren can look himself in the mirror relying on that level of gamesmanship. There again, I don't know how he can look himself in the mirror anyway
Crumb of comfort listening to Dean Smith's post-match comments on the way home - sounds like he's hopeful Tammy will stay, and also that Jack may be back by the end of January.
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I absolutely loathe games like that against pissant opposition who have clearly arrived with no plan in mind but to nick a point. I can even hear McLaren lauding the performance as "cracking" and the result as "thoroughly deserved". We need to be burying teams like this.
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Smith was always going to do well to keep us in touch, given the unbalanced badly-coached and technically sub-par squad he inherited. Injuries to our best midfielder, our only left back, both centre backs, and a few youth players who might have stepped in, are very unlucky and have made that task even harder. We are still in touch and, Leeds apart, we aren't losing. I think Smith deserves to be cut a bit of slack for that. With a new keeper, a left back, a CB or two and a DM I think we'll improve a lot defensively.
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I think were knackered at the moment. Smith has only 5 fit central midfielders to fill 3 spots. And 3 of them are DM's
So Connor and SJM have to play every week, he cant even bring kids in as they're crocked as well.
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Thought Bree was good and needs to stay in the team at right back. Elphick had a good game as well. I thought Hutton and Kodjia were shite. For the last 20 there was an opportunity to get Keinan Davis on with his physicality, shifting Abraham slightly left. Important week or so coming up.
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I know this shouldn't matter, but I think even if we get promoted out of this bag of shit league, whenever it may be, we won't be a team that steamrollers the rest. It'll be a long, arduous struggle.
A bit of joy wouldn't go amiss one of these decades.
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Flat atmosphere in spite of the pre kick-off pyrotechnics. We played OK in patches but everything predictably goes down the wings without Jack to work something through the middle. Thought our midfield was pretty weak - Hourihane and Bjarnason were just poor and SJM looked knackered. They obviously knew our weak point was Alan Hutton at LB - nearly every attack and kick by their goalie was targeted at him.
Special mention for their time wasting tactics which were nothing short of embarrassing. I don't know how Schteve McClaren can look himself in the mirror relying on that level of gamesmanship. There again, I don't know how he can look himself in the mirror anyway
Crumb of comfort listening to Dean Smith's post-match comments on the way home - sounds like he's hopeful Tammy will stay, and also that Jack may be back by the end of January.
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Totally agree with your assessment ,especially of Hutton and our midfield.Gone is the tendency to play through the lines.
Also agree about Schteve,yes very well organised but also coached his players well in falling down to get treatment and disrupt the play.
As for the ref,quite eagle eyed to spot a Villa free kick taken centimetres from the wrong position or allowing a quick free kick but somehow blind to QPR players throwing the ball forward to a more advanced position or stealing yards for throw ins.
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I don’t think Hutton was shite did a lot of ball carrying and put a shift in. But he was caught out of position so often and he looks slower every game which is an issue when you’re having to cover a third of the pitch to get the right side of play.
Being generous I think he is more likely to drop a bollock when we have the likes of BB, Hourihane, Whelan jogging around providing zero penetration and he has to try and carry the ball past players.
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This is going to take a lot longer than we all thought.
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Steer 7
Hutton 5
Elphick 6
Chester 6
Bree 6
Bjarnason 6
McGinn 7
Hourihane 4
Adomah 6
Kodjia 5
Abraham 8 (MOTM)
Whelan 6
El Ghazi 6
Bolasie 6
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This is going to take a lot longer than we all thought.
Not if Smith gets his act togther.
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This is going to take a lot longer than we all thought.
Not if Smith gets his act togther.
I think we will see by the end of January.
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This is going to take a lot longer than we all thought.
Not if Smith gets his act togther.
I think we will see by the end of January.
Hope so
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I've learned something today.
I didn't realise QPR were such cynical, dirty cheating fuckers as that. Tony Pulis would have proud of it. Players fallen over pretending to be hurt, taking an age on throw ins etc.....and don't get me started on that keeper.
The referee was an absolute joke and not fit for purpose. We missed a leader out there who could have been in that referees face and stopped all their pathetic histrionics. Steve McLaren must be so proud of that.
So frustrating not to beat such a rank ordinary side. But we didn't, and despite what was going on, our quality was sadly lacking.
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On the bright side, I thought Bree and Elphick both did well.
and Steer?
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Very disappointing result given another opportunity with other results going in our favour again and not being able to capitalise.
Even more disappointed by yet another piss poor frustrating performance. The last 4 games have been crap, so what has happened to the Dean Smith Villa that we were all enjoying watching? We were playing some excellent football yet we seem to have reverted to painful Bruceball. Is it just the injuries to Jack and others or is there something else?
We are bang average team without Jack and can't afford to carry passengers...Hourihane, Hutton, BB, Kodjia, Bolasie...load of shite.
QPR and the ref. Disgraceful wankers.
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We missed Nyland today - he would have struggled with both their goals as Steer did - but his kicking and distribution have been good. Steer ended up hoofing it high in the air hoping it would come down near a Villa player.
Thought Adomah did OK - Elphick made a good return, he played a part in there first goal, pressing them back in a brief period of pressure that end with the goal. He was directing the defence and things could have been a lot worse if he had not been there.
Midfield not functioning - which puts pressure on the defence - QPR packed the midfield and made it hard for our 3. Wide players did not work well enough together. Need to keep partnerships that work. e.g Hutton and Adomah, Elmo and Snoddy (when he was here)
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Steer 7
Hutton 5
Elphick 6
Chester 6
Bree 6
Bjarnason 6
McGinn 7
Hourihane 4
Adomah 6
Kodjia 5
Abraham 8 (MOTM)
Whelan 6
El Ghazi 6
Bolasie 6
What did Hourihane do to get a four? Awful performance.
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Hourihane and Bjarnasson miles of it today. Don’t move the ball quick enough at all.
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Hutton has the ball far too much. I am sure opposing teams allow this to happen as he is so wasteful. Birkir wasn't much better either and his three attempted crosses that hit the same player sort of summed him up.
I am sure McGinn could play the holding position, his tackling, workrate and passing are more than good enough. We need Grealish fit ASAP for this to happen and then we can pick one from Lansbury, BB or Whelan for the other role. Unless we sign someone.
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Hutton has the ball far too much. I am sure opposing teams allow this to happen as he is so wasteful. Birkir wasn't much better either and his three attempted crosses that hit the same player sort of summed him up.
I am sure McGinn could play the holding position, his tackling, workrate and passing are more than good enough. We need Grealish fit ASAP for this to happen and then we can pick one from Lansbury, BB or Whelan for the other role. Unless we sign someone.
McGinn isnt mobile enough for a holding midfield role nor senses danger in a defensive sense. We saw that under Bruce when he played in a midfield two with the likes of Hourihane, Whelan, BB or Jedinak, and no matter which one we paired McGinn with, they were routinely bypassed in midfield.
We have a huge problem in midfield, balance is all wrong, in the centre and out wide.
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This is going to take a lot longer than we all thought.
Nahhh. First day of the window, and our team sheet already included two recalled players. There'll be no sentiment, they'll churn this squad as much and as quick as they can.
I bet Smith's as fucked off as we are that Whelan's the best available midfield go-to option when you're trying to chase a game.
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This is going to take a lot longer than we all thought.
Nahhh. First day of the window, and our team sheet already included two recalled players. There'll be no sentiment, they'll churn this squad as much and as quick as they can.
I bet Smith's as fucked off as we are that Whelan's the best available midfield go-to option when you're trying to chase a game.
Well said, totally agree.
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We go again....
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We need two defenders and two midfielders pronto. But you have to ask what JT does at BMH?
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Shite, again. We're going nowhere.
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We need two defenders and two midfielders pronto. But you have to ask what JT does at BMH?
Miscellaneous bravery.
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We need two defenders and two midfielders pronto. But you have to ask what JT does at BMH?
At least. Good point. There is no real discernible difference in our defence pre- and post- Bruce.
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Apart from more clean sheets :P
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We need two defenders and two midfielders pronto. But you have to ask what JT does at BMH?
Work experience
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Apart from more clean sheets :P
Yes ok but what else?
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Smith being far too rigid.
Playing one central striker all 90 mins
Sub of Whelan for Hourihane in final mins when we have Hogan and Davis.
It's so frustrating today as the subs made were predictable exchanging these wide forward / wingers.
Midfield is a real problem
But I think mcginn or Hourihane should have come off and a support striker for Tammy be on in shape of Hogan and Davis
I get Smith has a system and sticks to it but a subtle change for 2 striker even if it's the last 10 mins as we pushed for a goal
(All the tactically were switching El ghazi and Bolasie flanks every 5 mins either or pushing Hourihane forward and Dm bjarnasson)
Also Smith says mcginn and Hourihane we're tired so he could have altered that taking both off at some point with whelan And Davis or Elmo
Exchanging wide forwards in double sub not really so necessary as Albert and Kodjia both as capable
Very frustrating again especially as took lead then sat off then went behind
Fair play to Tammy and did at one time look we win comfortably but yet again we threw away.
I saw this pattern with Brentford and Dean Smith now seems to be doing same here
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We need to be calm and a bit patient. The guy has been in charge 3 months. 60 points to play for, still more than confident that 6th is achievable.
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We have every right to debate why he can't have Whelan Bjarnasson in middle and Davis or Hogan or Kodija up alongside Abrahams in today match.
Even for a short time which would have made sense in looking for the extra goal
Stated that Mcginn and Hourihane were tired - well bring them off on 75 or something and get a striker up there !!
I also give El ghazi a Grealish role whilst he's out as he can keep ball and drive dribble and shoot so would be effective as a player off Abrahams.
There were things Smith could have tried he didn't
Just stuck to same way
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Agree about el Ghazi. He was good today I thought, gave us a lot more creativity and quality when he came on, and I think he has the ability to play the grealish role.
Maybe as a short term solution, McGinn deeper again and el Ghazi roaming free could work.
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We miss JG clearly but AT and NT loss is also the reason for our issues
AT is good at bringing the ball out of defence this attracted an opposition player to him which created space. NT simply has a left foot and and being left sided naturally his positioning is better .I watched the game with my 12 year old nephew and noticed Hutton all over the place as he kept asking me why is Hutton running inside so much ..
Beyond that I think midfield has no balance and certainly no defensive stability .I'll have to see the first goal again but from what I recall the ball fell into MF the nearest MF was Houriane who failed to get anywhere near in running back , the cbs backed off and the QPR player stuck it into the top corner.Both BB and CH where unable to really effect the game in any way today and that's what cost us as well as poor positioning from Hutton again
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I took my boy down today.
Alan Hutton is mostly responsible for me now owing the swear jar 40 quid.
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I took my boy down today.
Alan Hutton is mostly responsible for me now owing the swear jar 40 quid.
Post of the day.
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I shouted bloody time wasters at the telly today and my three year old repeated it. Whoops.
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We miss JG clearly but AT and NT loss is also the reason for our issues
AT is good at bringing the ball out of defence this attracted an opposition player to him which created space. NT simply has a left foot and and being left sided naturally his positioning is better .I watched the game with my 12 year old nephew and noticed Hutton all over the place as he kept asking me why is Hutton running inside so much ..
Beyond that I think midfield has no balance and certainly no defensive stability .I'll have to see the first goal again but from what I recall the ball fell into MF the nearest MF was Houriane who failed to get anywhere near in running back , the cbs backed off and the QPR player stuck it into the top corner.Both BB and CH where unable to really effect the game in any way today and that's what cost us as well as poor positioning from Hutton again
You’re not allowed to make abbreviations when identifying players.
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The haphazard standard of refs in championship is really irritating.
The ref should have been on it from get go .
Never seen such nonsense all match by QPR deliberate tactic to slow our momentum
I had hoped football would be winner with a late one for us to teach them but the ref contributed with limp authorization .
That wouldnt happen premier league amount of time taking players need to be told to get on with it.
Shocking
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What got me was he booked the keeper for time wasting who then took another minute to take the kick. So frustrating.
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What got me was he booked the keeper for time wasting who then took another minute to take the kick. So frustrating.
Telling me ! Was token all round
If that went on first half and stamped it out then never would have occurred .
Steve Mc and Qpr knew this tactic and I'm so pleased Dean Smith would never do this !
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Also their 23who jumped into the crowd. Second booking if the ref is consistent.
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Also their 23who jumped into the crowd. Second booking if the ref is consistent.
Which goal was that?
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Bree did well I thought. Midfield 3 were weak. Didn't understand why Conor played dm with Barny further forwards for most of the match. Conor with his goals and assists needs to play further forwards. Barny offered nothing today and McGinn besides his assist for the 1st goal had his poorest game yet for us in my opinion.
Unfortunately saw game sitting behind a complete bellend in upper holte. He ranted, raved, sulked and spat his dummy on a number of occasions. Its ok following the Villa but supporting the team and its players was way beyond this infantile pr-ck.
As a team we may need the enforced break from the league, which the fa cup offers us to re-energise ourselves for a sustained push at least towards the playoffs. We definitely need a winning run of 6-7 games to get us back on track. UTV
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I took my boy down today.
Alan Hutton is mostly responsible for me now owing the swear jar 40 quid.
Post of the day.
Hardly.
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Bit poo.
Improvement needed.
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We miss JG clearly but AT and NT loss is also the reason for our issues
AT is good at bringing the ball out of defence this attracted an opposition player to him which created space. NT simply has a left foot and and being left sided naturally his positioning is better .I watched the game with my 12 year old nephew and noticed Hutton all over the place as he kept asking me why is Hutton running inside so much ..
Beyond that I think midfield has no balance and certainly no defensive stability .I'll have to see the first goal again but from what I recall the ball fell into MF the nearest MF was Houriane who failed to get anywhere near in running back , the cbs backed off and the QPR player stuck it into the top corner.Both BB and CH where unable to really effect the game in any way today and that's what cost us as well as poor positioning from Hutton again
Agree with a lot of that. It is noticeable that we struggle in both attack and defence down our left side when Hutton and Kodjia play together. Bjarnason was drifting out there in the first half and it was crying out for a naturally left footed player, as the three of them were continually having to cut back.
Agree about the midfield as well. Not mobile enough to compete when two out of Whelan, Bjarnason or Hourihane are in there. What I've noticed since we've been in the Championship is that better midfielders seem to be the more diminutive ones who get about well and are constantly in the game. We really need another couple like a McGinn who can get about and don't give sides a rest.
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QPR's shameless time-wasting tactics throughout the game reminded me not so much of Pulis or Warnock, but of Sir Gareth Southgate's Smog Monsters at Villa Park many moons since.
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Hutton should be told that his job is to defend his wing that's what a full back is there for, amazed not just in this game at the distance there is between him and the player he is supposed to be marking, why doesn't the manager rip his head off for not doing his job.
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Midfield is the problem.
That 2nd goal, you have the right back who has just been attacking having to come in and do the defensive tracking, thus leaving him out of position for the goal.
A new defensive midfielder of mobility will improve us. Hourihane is dire off the ball.
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I thought we were average and unable to dominate play decisively.
However, my main gripe is our kit: watching on the telly there is simply not enough blue on the sleeves. I thought I was watching FC Metz.
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Hutton should be confined to history by signing a new left back and giving Bree a run at right back - and I'd also recall RDL from down under.
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FC Metz?! Yuck! At least the New York Mets have a bit of style.
Is it possible to win an indirect free-kick off a time-wasting goalkeeper/opponent? The ref should have double yellowed their keeper instead of giving him carte blanche to waste a fair bit of time more when he was finally cautioned towards the end. That would have softened his cough.
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Our defence is piss poor but I agree that the problems start with the midfield. Hourihane and McGinn are 'lovely' footballers but we're soft as shit and so easy to play against. The opposition walk through them time after time and are in on our defence.
Bjarnason isn't good enough and nobody will convince me otherwise.
In defence we haven't got a commanding presence either. Chester is about 5 foot 6 and as scary as a labrador.
It's good that we're trying to play better football, although I'd say that we haven't since the Albion game and we've been poor since then. However, you still need that bit of grit and steel and a bit of a nasty streak. We're too nice and playing at Villa Park is too nice for the opposition. Big ground, big but virtually silent crowd, big pitch.
The frustrating thing is this league is poor and there is no standout team this season. Norwich let in loads of goals and are relying on late goals. Leeds aren't all that and always capitulate. Albion are bang average and concede goals for fun aswell and may be losing Harvey Barnes. Sounds simple but if we get a couple of players in to shore up that defence and midfield then we will be right up there.
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The linesman on the Doug Ellis stand side stood and watched QPR players jump into the crowd when they scored the 2nd goal yet chose not to draw the referees attention to it - think one of the 2 that did it had already been booked - shocking ineptness. Referee himself had a poor game though it does make me laugh when you see said 40yr old fatman making free kicks be retaken 2yds away because he is so obv in need of a breather.
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I'm sure that Dean Smith sees what we all see, and more. The step up to a big club, with big expectations will now become more tangible to him but I expect him to cope with it and start to redevelop the squad. For some players it just hasn't worked, Hourihane, BB, Angela, Whelan etc it's time to call it a day. All big fishes at previous clubs but have failed to step up with any great consistency.
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For the first time I was a bit mystified with Smith's decisions yesterday.
Playing BB further forward than Hourihane for a start, which clearly wasn't working, then late in the game he changed it, and took off Hourihane instead off BB, playing Whelan further forward when BB was absoloutely knackered and could hardly run.
I think BB is nowhere near good enough at this level, along with Bree, but was impressed with Elphick's performance and attitude, and the goalkeeper coming back is a bonus.
QPR's consistent time wasting, fouling and narky tactics were a disgrace, standing in front of the ball at every free kick and continuously stopping the game, the goalkeeper was lucky to stay on the pitch due to the inept performance of the referee, who failed to put a stop to it from minute one.
It reminded me of every team we played in the old Third Division days.
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Not good enough.
No point griping about their approach or the shit ref, as it was us not being good enough that cost us. Again.
The squad needs an overhaul. Hutton played better on the left when he had Terry shouting at him all game. He's a trier but a headless chicken.
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The linesman on the Doug Ellis stand side stood and watched QPR players jump into the crowd when they scored the 2nd goal yet chose not to draw the referees attention to it - think one of the 2 that did it had already been booked - shocking ineptness. Referee himself had a poor game though it does make me laugh when you see said 40yr old fatman making free kicks be retaken 2yds away because he is so obv in need of a breather.
Ah the second goal. Surprised as initially Eze just stood by our fans celebrating and then the one camera went away from him towards halfway line (was watching in a pub).
So aswell as wasting minutes taking throw ins and goal kicks they also decide to string out a goal celebration over 3 minutes!
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Not good enough.
No point griping about their approach or the shit ref, as it was us not being good enough that cost us. Again.
The squad needs an overhaul. Hutton played better on the left when he had Terry shouting at him all game. He's a trier but a headless chicken.
This. 9 wins out of 26 is both shocking and not promotion winning form.
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The third 2-2 in 4 weeks. They'll be calling us Desmond Villa next.
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Not good enough.
No point griping about their approach or the shit ref, as it was us not being good enough that cost us. Again.
The squad needs an overhaul. Hutton played better on the left when he had Terry shouting at him all game. He's a trier but a headless chicken.
Their tactics and the poor refere were a part of the game so it is only natural that they are going to get a mention on the post match thread. Particularly when you have sat in the cold watching the calculated nature of their time wasting, players taking it in turn to feign injury and with the officials seemingly indifferent to it.
We didn’t win the game because too many players performed poorly. However, their approach to it really pissed me off as it was clearly under instruction from the manager.
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Thought the midfield was terrible yesterday. If hourahane doesn’t score he contributes nothing but sloppy passing and general shitness. McGinn was useless as well.
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On the bright side, I thought Bree and Elphick both did well.
and Hutton 😁
I thought defensively both were half decent but with the ball both were shocking. Aimless passing from both of them. Tommy just hoofs it or looks for the kind of pass Messi would be proud of and invariably gives it to the opposition. Hate to sound alarmist but we need a whole new defence. Hopefully the new keeper will be the starting point. As for Hutton well thanks for the memories but it's time to go.
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The linesman on the Doug Ellis stand side stood and watched QPR players jump into the crowd when they scored the 2nd goal yet chose not to draw the referees attention to it - think one of the 2 that did it had already been booked - shocking ineptness. Referee himself had a poor game though it does make me laugh when you see said 40yr old fatman making free kicks be retaken 2yds away because he is so obv in need of a breather.
Ah the second goal. Surprised as initially Eze just stood by our fans celebrating and then the one camera went away from him towards halfway line (was watching in a pub).
So aswell as wasting minutes taking throw ins and goal kicks they also decide to string out a goal celebration over 3 minutes!
There were 2 celebrations, the majority went to the scorer but those the other side of pitch ran into their fans
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Steer - cannot be blamed for anything - in fact made a crucial save at the end
Bree - Did ok but not effective as Elmo going forward
Chester - Can sometimes look like a headless chicken, especially when faced with a long punt, but he must be a nervous wreck with the amount of space there is between him and Hutton.
Hutton - Lots of heart and grit but very little in the way of ability (dog shit goal aside) I am convinced tactically astute Managers let him come forward as they know the huge space he leaves behind when his long burst down the flank inevitably comes to nothing. The distance he has between himself and the player he is marking is criminal and every cross field ball the winger is allowed to control it completely unchallenged. Cult hero is very much a liability I am afraid and this position is a top priority to fill.
Elphick - great leadership qualities and did not really do anything wrong - easily the better of the 2 CB's
Bjarnasson - Not sure what his best role is - and seemingly neither does DS.
Hourihane - slow on the ball, does not track runners and if he did not score the odd goal you would not notice him on the pitch at times
McGinn - Does some great things, especially with his arse blocking, but looks knackered and gets less effective as the game goes on
Adomah - clearly working back to fitness
Kodjia - Has all the ability and none of the application - lazy at times and his lack of work rate exposes the full backs on either side he is operating
Abrahams - This will sound like heresy, especially as the guy just keeps scoring, but he reminds me very much of Darren Bent in so far as if he is not scoring then his contribution to the game is so low that we end up playing like we have 10 men.
Subs:
Bolasie - meh
El Ghazi - great cross and needs to be involved with the ball more - maybe as some others have suggested maybe an attacking central MF role would suit.
Whelan - Deano - just admit you got that wrong
Deano
Next game - I know us old farts want the FA cup but you need to rest a few and try some of the kids out - especially in MF and forward roles - we need a spark until Jack is back
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Hutton and Bjarnason have got to go
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Bjarnson dreadful on Sat. Hourihane not much better. It’s like we need a whole new team.
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Bjarnson dreadful on Sat. Hourihane not much better. It’s like we need a whole new team.
When you think our defense is shocking, our midfield weak and our attack full of loanees, then you're probably right.
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It’s hard to judge the midfield though when the defence is so poor. We have enough good midfielders in the squad, especially in attack, and I’d like to see how they do in front of a back line they don’t constantly have to bail out including a DCM who can actually run and pass as well as tackle.
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The Prize Twat Who Shall Forever Be Known As Clem got quite excited on the BBC when QPR went 2-1 up.
"If this score stays the same, it will mean that Dean Smith's record as manager will be almost identical to that of Steve Bruce!!"
Ah, but it didn't, Clem.
And to save you some research, SB's last 10 league games saw us win one match, despite the fixtures looking quite favourable. DS's record is one defeat in the last eleven, against some much tougher-looking teams.
Yeah, no difference there then, Clem!!
Where do they get these twats?!