Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: PeterWithesShin on August 15, 2017, 09:53:32 PM
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Bruce out.
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Big Sam.
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Boot, face...
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Fuck him off.
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Excellent. Huge improvement. We scored a goal, and I think that is 3-4 points awarded? Or that's what Bruce thinks
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I sort of wished we hadn't scored that goal at the end, 2-1 flattered us.
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We wasted the end of last season.
We wasted Pre-Season.
We've wasted funds.
We've already wasted 3 games.
One week into the season and we are already 8 points off were we want to be.
There should only be one outcome now. We will probably drag it out, leave it to late and end up writing off this season aswell as last season.
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Out.
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He just needs time, his own players, a pre season, a new hat for his dog
Gone tonight the useless oaf
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No taxi for Bruce just BFH.
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Bruce out
Fat Sam please
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BRUCE OUT!
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Another shit sandwich served with an excess of diarrhea sauce.
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Steve Bruce's away record in the league:
Reading 1-2 Villa
SHA 1-1 Villa
Brighton 1-1 Villa
Leeds 2-0 Villa
Norwich 1-0 Villa
QPR 0-1 Villa
Cardiff 1-0 Villa
Wolves 1-0 Villa
Brentford 3-0 Villa
Forest 2-1 Villa
Newcastle 2-0 Villa
Rotherham 0-2 Villa
Huddersfield 1-0 Villa
Wigan 0-2 Villa
Burton 1-1 Villa
Fulham 3-1 Villa
Blackburn 1-0 Villa
Cardiff 3-0 Villa
Reading 2-1 Villa
P19 W4 D3 L12 Scored 13 goals.
I rest my case m'lud.
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Shame but has to go
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He can come out and say what he wants but it's his team, his tactics and it's shite.
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Always going to be a tough game but what another pathetic performance. Next manager please....
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Two transfer windows and I think 11 players brought in, all of which look terrible.
That's enough for me.
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Not unexpected. 70% predicted a defeat. That is how bad we are. We expect to lose to Reading.
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I sort wish we hadn't scored that goal at the end, 2-1 flattered us.
That goal could keep us up.
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Can't believe we're having to go through this shit again.
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we need 2 points a game to get an automatic spot, after 3 games we're already 5 points short of the pace so we need the next 5 just to catch up to where we want to be. There's absolutely no excuse for us looking this poor so early in the season, Bruce has to go.
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Tough call for Dr Tony
Nobody wants to accept two mistakes in a short time.
Who the fuck is advising him.
Stick or twist, either way could go wrong.
Personally, Good night Stevie.
Decent Guy, but we have been cursed with decent guys who are crap managers.
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Tertiary piles with a side of prolapse
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big improvement tonight
think the corner has been turned
feel much better after the game
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unfortunately, my prediction was correct.
can't believe we're gonna be stuck in this division another year.
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Tough call for Dr Tony
Nobody wants to accept two mistakes in a short time.
Who the fuck is advising him.
Stick or twist, either way could go wrong.
Personally, Good night Stevie.
Decent Guy, but we have been cursed with decent guys who are crap managers.
Not getting rid of him at the end of last season is the biggest mistake of the lot, he was rushed in to push for the playoffs and couldn't even make the top half, he never should've been given the summer to fuck us up more.
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(https://media.giphy.com/media/NMkFy3GJrZ2MM/giphy.gif)
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big improvement tonight
think the corner has been turned
feel much better after the game
You've been watching the Liverpool match, haven't you?
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I feel quite sick
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I like him
he talks a good game
his football is bollocks
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After the Cardiff thrashing it should have been easy to motivate these players many of which are the most expensive players in this league. He couldn't. They couldn't even string together a a few passes because he lost the formation duel and didn't change it the whole game.
All of the above would be terrible if we had just lost in the Premier League , the fact its the bloody Championship against sodding Reading makes it simply a firing offense.
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Has he gone yet ?
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The problem isn't just that is not right, it's the degree to which it isn't right.
It's all very, very wrong.
Get shot now, this clearly isn't going to improve.
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Embarrassing, fucking Reading played us off the park most of the game, Reading.
Our support was fucking marvellous, they don't deserve them.
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It all feels like the last days of RDM. Bad and getting worse. Have to get rid ASAP
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Season over. See ya Bruce. So tired of new managers every 6 months.
Truly a national laughing stock
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Don't go along with sacking managers every few months, but can't persevere with something that clearly isn't working just for the sake of it. You could almost be forgiven for thinking the players are trying to get Bruce the sack after watching that.
That performance smacked of a manager who knows he's running out of time and ran out of ideas well before then. Look at Wolves. A manager and new team in place for a few weeks, yet they have a pattern of play, know their jobs and are confident in what they do. We cobble together an "all-star" Championship line up with a couple of "big name" old heads in and hope it works. It isn't.
There's no plan, no identity, the players don't seem to know what their supposed to be doing.
The jury was still out on Bruce at the end of last season, as I thought he deserved a Summer to add a bit of steel and organise us over a pre-season. However, we look even worse now.
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The players cant be arsed. Maybe we arent paying them enough.....
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Paulie is right, there's zero indication it can or will improve. We still leak goals, we still create little, we rarely score, we get out passed by everyone we play. It's why I was so vociferous at the end of last season and during pre-season. Even when we were winning it pretty much the same 'style'. We have not improved in any department after 40 games (including cup games) under Bruce. I wasn't expecting us to turn into Barcelona when we appointed him but I expected a lot better than this.
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Some "bird", like they know anything, put on facebook..... "Everyone seems to be having a go about the manager but they don't think about how many games we are playing in a few days. The players are knackered don't have time so they can re chager them selves. So all you people blaming the manager have a think about the matches that Villa have."
She is now getting obliterated! :)
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SB sounded quite upbeat at times in that interview!
Amazing what scoring a goal can do for confidence.
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No reaction from Saturday tells me the players don't know the plan or have stopped playing for the manager and his coaches.
I cannot remember a game with Bruce where we have dominated the opposition apart from Brighton away maybe.
Quick decision needed to salvage anything from the season.
Not good enough.
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The problem isn't just that is not right, it's the degree to which it isn't right.
It's all very, very wrong.
Get shot now, this clearly isn't going to improve.
The apathy in every aspect of our play tonight was just upsetting. That was a relegated side going through the motions.
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Bruce out!
Japp Stam in!
Much better manager . Has Dutch courage.
I think he also deserves respect for not throwing on bacuna to rub things in .
I think getting stam in would be a masterstroke it's only chance of promotion.
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every Bruce interview starts now with
of course we are disappointed
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Woeful. Again.
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I like him
he talks a good game
his football is bollocks
Succinct.
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every Bruce interview starts now with
of course we are disappointed
He goes again.
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Their second goal was embarrassing to watch. Aside the last 10 minutes when scored a goal and tried to score another one, it was awful.
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If Bruce goes then Wyness has to go too. I supported Bruce's appointment but I can't believe how poor he has been. His previous promotions were all in very difficult circumstances with a fraction of the budget he has with us. Where are his clever signings ala Valencia or Palacious? Where is the semblance of team building?
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It depresses me to think that right now Fat Sam would feel like a breath of fresh air.
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Their second goal was embarrassing to watch. Aside the last 10 minutes when scored a goal and tried to score another one, it was awful.
It was, Reading were walking into our box without us even making a challenge.
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He's saying the same stuff now after every match. It's all "unfortunate" to him, like we're always unlucky!!!
He's too fucking soft.
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Every other team seems full of young eager hungry players who can do the basics without resorting to hoofball. We are just crap. My ticket for the Norwich game in four days still hasn't turned up yet and right this minute tonight I couldn't give a stuff. I honestly think we've shot ourselves in the foot already this season with the signings we've made and the style of play we seem to persist with and and its going to be a season to forget.
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It depresses me to think that right now Fat Sam would feel like a breath of fresh air.
and the local shop near Villa Park will be happy with chewing gum sales
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The whole club is a fucking shambles. Can't get season tickets to people four months after they paid for them, struggling to get their new ticket site working, a manager who hasn't got a fucking clue what is going on around him as he fails to realise it is not 2000 any more...
Fucking mess.
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He's mentioned Newcastle losing their 2 games on two occasions now....he's really clutching.
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Top video for his interview https://www.facebook.com/avfcofficial/videos
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Aston Villa are getting rolled on in the second division for two years running
Gareth Barry is on his way to west brom
Albrighron has a PL medal
Our club has the value of Neymar's left arm..
Football makes me sick
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Big Sam has retired, he's burnt out - just like Bruce seems to be. If we make a change let's go for someone young and hungry like the Fulham boss.
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every Bruce interview starts now with
of course we are disappointed
Did he mention missing that little bit of quality?
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every Bruce interview starts now with
of course we are disappointed
Did he mention missing that little bit of quality?
Yep, he made sure we all knew that Mile and Kodjia were still out but apparently we created enough chances to get something from tonight.
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It's difficult to comprehend how things just keep getting worse. I really thought Bruce would build a hard to beat and organised team, especially after spending a kings ransom, but we look more disorganised and softer than ever.
Terry appointment looking like another expensive disaster
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We created enough chances to get something tonight Steve? Well in your eyes we may have done but actually we got fuck all..jack shit. .nothing. sweet felicity arkwright. Zilch.
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Like lots of others based on his success at this level I welcomed him. Lots on here at weekend said that good players crumble wen they get a villa shirt on for some reason. Biggest club Bruce been at, maybe he's struggling too with size of it and expectation .
As for players brought in, isn't that more STEVE Rounds territory than Bruce ?
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Top video for his interview https://www.facebook.com/avfcofficial/videos
Jesus, deluded fool.
"We are where we are" is the saying of a charlatan. He really must have been watching a different game, as we were massively second best in all departments. I hope he isn't in charge for Norwich.
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Bruce out.
YES
Big Sam.
NO
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every Bruce interview starts now with
of course we are disappointed
Did he mention missing that little bit of quality?
Yep, he made sure we all knew that Mile and Kodjia were still out but apparently we created enough chances to get something from tonight.
I was an SB believer but it's not just about tonight is it. We seem no better in any way than when he arrived. Just much lighter in the pockets,
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He hasn't had 3 games, he's had 40. This is his squad and his team but we've shown no improvement and we're no better than under RDM. In fact, the last two games are worse than anything I saw under McLeish. Tonight there was just nothing there; unable to keep possession, unable to string two passes together, no pace, no cohesion, no pressing, no intensity, no fitness, clueless, gutless, spineless, cowardly. I wanted him to do well and I wanted to be patient and give him time this season, but by then it will be too late. We're already 8 points behind Wolves ffs. Sorry to say but, Bruce Out.
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We created enough chances to get something tonight Steve? Well in your eyes we may have done but actually we got fuck all..jack shit. .nothing. sweet felicity arkwright. Zilch.
Did he actually say that? Despite being totally outplayed, getting something isint good enough.
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Agent Bruce. You have been rumbled. You are the weakest link. Goodbye.
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According to Bruce our home form last season was "exceptionally decent". So we shouldn't have any worries for Saturday.
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i knew Bruce's football would be dull but a 1-0 winning dull not a one win in nine games dull.
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I honestly couldn't watch to the end of that interview, the bloke is an absolute bullshitter, talking about it being bad luck and babbling about missing 6-7 one-on-ones as if it isn't something that we could work on in fucking training. I know some people think he's a decent bloke but I honestly don't, he's a useless fucker who just tries to say the right things to stop the fans turning on him but does nothing to address any of the problems because he hasn't got a fucking clue how to do it.
I really don't give a shit about his record before he came here, it does nothing to fix the problems and turn us around.
Tonight was a disgrace of a performance that was every bit as bad as Cardiff, being that shit 2 games running isn't bad luck no matter how often he tries to say it is.
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Let's face it Bruce couldn't motivate a bloke to get a hard on if he had half a dozen naked beauties lay on his bed. Fuck of Bruce i'm going to bed as I have to be up at 4 to earn just an average wage..bollocks to you.
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The whole club is a fucking shambles. Can't get season tickets to people four months after they paid for them, struggling to get their new ticket site working, a manager who hasn't got a fucking clue what is going on around him as he fails to realise it is not 2000 any more...
Fucking mess.
At the risk of using a cliché, we are in free fall.
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It's all very well saying we miss Kodjia and Jedinak, but the point is that we shouldn't. Doesn't he see that complaining about one or two absences shows him up to be a piss-poor, one dimensional timewaster? If he was any good those players coming back would be a bonus, not a necessity.
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I honestly couldn't watch to the end of that interview
Same here, I had to turn it off. Fed up of hearing the same bollocks game after game while he looks sorry for himself and then seeing the same shit played out next game.
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Don't get to see many games in the flesh these days but went tonight as I live in Reading. Reading fans I know were wary before tonight but I really don't know what they were worried about. I was really quite shocked how appalling we were. We made Reading look like Barcelona.
I don't claim to be very knowledgable about tactics but it was as plain as the hole in your arse that Reading play it around at the back and we just needed to push up and get at them. We never did until the last 5 mins. I can only assume because Bruce thought they might pick a way through if we pushed up too far, but what was staggering was that we retreated even further and allowed them to play it around at the back in our own half! Undurprisingly they grew in confidence with the inevitable consequences.
I honestly feel numb after watching that. I would like to blame the players and don't get me wrong there were a few dire performances (Chester, Hourihane, Whelan to name few) but it's down to one bloke. Only two possibly three players deserve any credit. Green was excellent and it won't be long before a better club takes him off our hands and De Lait who inexplicably was substituted!
I'm not one for calling for the managers head and I saw good in the likes of Garde and Sherwood who could occasionally muster a tune out of a rabble, but I have seen nothing from Bruce to give even the slightest bit of optimism. He has to go.
I went with my wife who is Reading fan and even she was shocked by how bad we were. Says it all
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Bruce thinks we were unlucky to lose. Yes really. That's why he should go, he thinks that performance was ok and unlucky. We were absolutely horrendous.
Complaining about missing two players when he's spent more than any pretty much any other team in the league. How much have Cardiff and Reading spent in the past 12 months? Yet they both beat us comfortably and looked far, far better than us.
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I haven't posted on here since the fag-end of last season. I didn't know what to say about the forthcoming campaign that wasn't filled with fear of more doom & gloom engulfing this great club, so I decided to keep schtum (apart from the Terry debacle - which had the predictable outcome). But here we are again, with the decline showing no sign of abating; a bunch of overpaid wasters that somehow continue to surprise us with their almost-laughable ineptitude whenever they pull on the once-famous claret & blue; and a manager that was brought in for his expertise in gaining promotion to the Premier League: only to turn this club into the latest incarnation of a big-spending failure that's now in real danger of slipping haplessly into Palookaville. Bruce HAS to go, but who's next for the poisoned chalice? I sincerely hope it'll be 3rd time lucky for our glorious owner. His 5-year-plan for global domination looks about as likely as any of our players being able to control a ball and not give it straight to the opposition. Utter shithouse. And then some.
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De Laet has been out for a long time which is probably why he was subbed towards the end in fairness.
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De Laet has been out for a long time which is probably why he was subbed towards the end in fairness.
That's fair enough, but 2-0 down and bringing on Hutton? He could have stuck Bjarnason at right back, and then pushed Adomah up.
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Just got back to the hotel post match. I am beyond past Bruce now. Absolutely abysmal.
So negative in every sense and a million miles from even being a mid table side.
The management on record as saying we need to be aiming for 80 goals thus season to even stand a chance of being into the correct positions come season end.
What are they watching!? If we stick we Bruce we won't score 80'even if we include last seasons Tally!
He has to go and hopefully before the weekend! This is not going to be turned around anytime soon under his negative helm.
Why even at 2-0 with the need to replace de laet (Match fitnes) did he not put adomah on as a last throw of the dice?
Guy is a dead man walking now,
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New poster here, but long time lurker and poster elsewhere :-X my tuppence on that tonight's it purely reaffirms the garbage we got served up on Saturday, Bruce has (as he's alluded to) found a job too far/big for him, call it what you wish. I hoped standing there in that soulless stadium tonight that Reading would score a couple more to seal the coffin, disgraceful thoughts I know. We've gotta look to save our season right now, we've no clue, no plan, no hope as it stands. Oh and sort Gabby and Hutton out in any severance package please to give a complete fresh start. Sorry for the rant as a first post but hey...timing!
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Every other team seems full of young eager hungry players who can do the basics without resorting to hoofball. We are just crap. My ticket for the Norwich game in four days still hasn't turned up yet and right this minute tonight I couldn't give a stuff. I honestly think we've shot ourselves in the foot already this season with the signings we've made and the style of play we seem to persist with and and its going to be a season to forget.
Style of play? We can only dream of having anything like a style of play under Bruceosaurus.
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every Bruce interview starts now with
of course we are disappointed
Did he mention missing that little bit of quality?
Yep, he made sure we all knew that Mile and Kodjia were still out but apparently we created enough chances to get something from tonight.
Yeah right. Is he forgetting or didn't he notice that mighty Cardiff & Reading created enough chances between them to make our goal difference look like a telephone number?
He's nothing but a not so smooth talkin as he likes to think, gold plated bullshitter.
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The opposition have had more shots than us in every game so far this season, including Colchester.
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Bruce out
Fat Sam please
He gave up the Palace job because he wanted to retire. Why would he change his mind? For the "challenge"? What a challenge!
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The opposition have had more shots than us in every game so far this season, including Colchester.
Please stop! ;)
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The opposition have had more shots than us in every game so far this season, including Colchester.
He's approaching every game as if we are under dogs playing a team two divisons above us.
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Bruce out
Fat Sam please
He gave up the Palace job because he wanted to retire. Why would he change his mind? For the "challenge"? What a challenge!
What a challenge indeed. We are fast approaching becoming the football equivalent of that nightspot that no matter how many name changes and refurbs it has, no one can seem to make work.
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I dont give our recent managers including Bruce any such credit. The Villa job is not a huge challenge, its not a miracle turn around story. We have the most expensive squad in this league and we spent more than enough in the Premier League as well.
Succeeding at getting Aston Villa promoted would not be a massive achievement for anyone. It should be the minimum expected level of competency.
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i'm surprised that Green is getting praised (or at least, not being criticised) by some. Not only did he miss the 1-on-1, some of his crosses were worse than anything Hutton's been slated for in the past.
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Bruce out
Fat Sam please
He gave up the Palace job because he wanted to retire. Why would he change his mind? For the "challenge"? What a challenge!
What a challenge indeed. We are fast approaching becoming the football equivalent if that nightspot that no matter how many name changes and refurbs it has, no one can seem to make work.
Agreed.
But he has a massive ego. He might think it would be a fitting finale to his career to accomplish what many if not most in the game consider an impossible task.
Then there is the dosh, and although he surely doesn't need it, he may well fancy it based on recent history.
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The scary part is he's now entered Paul Lambert territory of thinking we deserved something from the game because we gave it a go for 5 minutes. Whilst conveniently forgetting we were played off the park the other 85.
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i'm surprised that Green is getting praised (or at least, not being criticised) by some. Not only did he miss the 1-on-1, some of his crosses were worse than anything Hutton's been slated for in the past.
Fair point. One cross in the 2nd half was worthy of a stewards enquiry. The first half miss was utter wank.
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Just back from the game.
Was Hogan injured ?
Did their first cross the line ?
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Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce urged the club's fans to stick by the team after they lost 2-1 at Reading and vowed he would be a success if given enough time.
The defeat extended Villa's winless Sky Bet Championship run to three matches at the start of the season.
Jeered throughout by sections of their 4,000 travelling fans, Villa offered little in a poor first-half showing and found themselves 2-0 down when a defence containing former England captain John Terry conceded twice early in the second period.
Midfielder Glenn Whelan was credited with an own goal after unluckily deflecting in a Adrian Popa's cross in the 49th minute. Modou Barrow tapped in his first goal for Reading six minutes later.
Conor Hourihane gave Villa hope, when volleying home in the 87th minute, but Reading held on comfortably.
"I'm the manager of Aston Villa and I expect the fans to boo," Bruce said. "The results aren't what they expect and I can understand their frustration. They've paid their hard-earned money to come and see the team perform and win.
"My message to them is: I've been here many, many times and been successful at every Championship club I've been to. I've been able to get them promoted and, given time, I'll do it again.
"Now, whether I'm given that time, that's not for me to answer. But I sincerely hope so. It's a big job and I'm still in the middle of rebuilding it.
"I've got to get results, we're in a results business, I understand that. I'm under no illusions that we'll get them. But we need them quicker than we're getting them at the moment.
"It was disappointing tonight because I didn't think we deserved to lose. I was pleased with our response (to going behind), we could have gone under, but we still could have got something from the game."
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Highlights in case anyone is interested http://www.skysports.com/football/reading-vs-a-villa/374653
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BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
So the end of last season we have a good defence and we rely on Kod, Bruce has all summer knowing that he'll be without him for a while and to come up with a plan. we end up with Hogan, samba, and Admoah up front, and we replace baker for terry. fuck off mate
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Just back from the game.
Was Hogan injured ?
Did their first cross the line ?
Yes, believe they're saying it's his ankle.
Yes, it was awful.
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Same ankle as last season? If it is he's out for some time.
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Just back, having travelled not too far for my first game in a few years, having sat in the home end with a couple of mates who are Reading fans. I have to say, that performance was utterly shit, devoid of any method, pattern, pace or movement. How Bruce could think we did not deserve to lose that game is beyond me.
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"Now, whether I'm given that time, that's not for me to answer. But I sincerely hope so. It's a big job and I'm still in the middle of rebuilding it.
Sorry, Steve, nice chap that you are but please FUCK OFF. Middle of rebuilding? You are seriously taking the piss.
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We've had some embarrassing stats etc these last 5 years or so, I can't think of one worse though than after about half an hour Reading had 246 successful passes, we had 23.
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"Now, whether I'm given that time, that's not for me to answer. But I sincerely hope so. It's a big job and I'm still in the middle of rebuilding it.
Sorry, Steve, nice chap that you are but please FUCK OFF. Middle of rebuilding? You are seriously taking the piss.
Middle of rebuilding would suggest some signs of improvement, but things are getting worse.
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We've had some embarrassing stats etc these last 5 years or so, I can't think of one worse though than after about half an hour Reading had 246 successful passes, we had 23.
That was true? I saw that in the match thread and didn't think it was even feasible.
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We've had some embarrassing stats etc these last 5 years or so, I can't think of one worse though than after about half an hour Reading had 246 successful passes, we had 23.
That was true? I saw that in the match thread and didn't think it was even feasible.
By half time it was 366-75 and we'd jumped from 13% possession to 23% so I'd say that's probably spot on. I also reckon that half of those were in the first minutes. If we completed 15 passes from the 5th minute to the 30th I'd be surprised, it was practically an exhibition match at that point with us playing with 11 men in our own 3rd and them knocking it about looking for gaps.
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Apparently so. I find it hard to believe as well but seen screenshots of the stats on sites.
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Just back to West Dorset. I'm not sure I've seen two worse back to back away performances in the 40 years I've been watching the Villa. Just where do we go from here?
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I watched it. Seems true from what I saw.
And again not to labour the point but this was against that football powerhouse of...Reading.
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I assume this is legit
(http://thumb.ibb.co/fsWA6a/01.jpg) (http://ibb.co/fsWA6a)
image upload (http://imgbb.com/)
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"Yeah but as long as we win..".
Is this the bottom of our barrel? Can things realistically get any worse?
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Highlights in case anyone is interested http://www.skysports.com/football/reading-vs-a-villa/374653
Well that was both painful and embarrassing to watch how pathetic we have become. The whole of that midfield should be ashamed of themselves with some of the antics going that was going on...is it any wonder the defence are constantly under pressure when the midfield in front of them is so ineffective at doing anything. Also playing Gabby is as good as playing with 10 men as he contributes fuck all, and both himself and Whelan don't look match fit unless they naturally look overweight in a football kit.
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i'm surprised that Green is getting praised (or at least, not being criticised) by some. Not only did he miss the 1-on-1, some of his crosses were worse than anything Hutton's been slated for in the past.
Fair point. One cross in the 2nd half was worthy of a stewards enquiry. The first half miss was utter wank.
Missed a sitter against Hull and should have put the early chance away last night, not impressed with him so far.
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Green and Hogan are following in the Gabby school of finishing a 1on 1. Head down don't look up., make no attempt to go round the keeper with a deft drop of the shoulder. Then when the keeper has totally narrowed the angles kick the ball straight at him and hope for a bit of luck. Honestly it's garbage. Gabbys been getting away with that crap for years.
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Green has the excuse of nerves and we know hogan can finish
Gabby's always been shit at one on ones
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Highlights in case anyone is interested http://www.skysports.com/football/reading-vs-a-villa/374653
Well that was both painful and embarrassing to watch how pathetic we have become. The whole of that midfield should be ashamed of themselves with some of the antics going that was going on...is it any wonder the defence are constantly under pressure when the midfield in front of them is so ineffective at doing anything. Also playing Gabby is as good as playing with 10 men as he contributes fuck all, and both himself and Whelan don't look match fit unless they naturally look overweight in a football kit.
Not a Gabby fan in the slightest but he contributed a fine assist last night. Whelan looked awful in the highlights and seemed scared stiff to get tight to opposition players. We need a midfielder with courage to show for the ball at all times to get us playing. That certainly isn't Glenn Whelan.
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Highlights in case anyone is interested http://www.skysports.com/football/reading-vs-a-villa/374653
Not to single him out, but Whelan yet again looks like he is wading in quicksand in some of those later clips.
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You know it's really bad when 3 of our players are stood around a Reading player in our box just pointing and not making an attempt to make a challenge! Hourihane is also very lucky that he's not very good at tackling otherwise that would have been a straight red card if he connected with their player in the first half.
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Green has the excuse of nerves and we know hogan can finish
Gabby's always been shit at one on ones
Their right full back was terrified of Green all through the match. Sure he's not the finished article and his crossing and finishing needs work, but he was the only positive for me last night and is the last person we should be criticising, although it doesn't seem to stop `Bruce having a go for blaming the result on him missing the early chance
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Highlights in case anyone is interested http://www.skysports.com/football/reading-vs-a-villa/374653
Not to single him out, but Whelan yet again looks like he is wading in quicksand in some of those later clips.
Sadly the game passed him by almost entirely.
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Reports in the Daily and Birmingham Mails today, are we're interested in signing Jack Wilshere, which would be a great signing for us, but unfortunately can't see it happening.
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Just been reading some of the comments on the DM (I know) report of the game and theres a lot accusng Villa supporters of being deluded because of Steve Bruce out sentiments. Ok im biased but anyone reading these pages over the last 5 years or attending games knows how amazingly tolerant we've been. We know we have no right to be promoted but we expect a club with the resources we have to be making a damn sight better attempt at it than this team is doing under Bruce
a
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One other thing - apart from being passed off the park AGAIN - every player back for every corner and Reading players still had free headers , one of which led to their second goal.
Oh - and is Hourihane the only player in the team who can take a free kick ??
I think last night has done for me - he should have gone at the end of last season .
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Highlights in case anyone is interested http://www.skysports.com/football/reading-vs-a-villa/374653
Not to single him out, but Whelan yet again looks like he is wading in quicksand in some of those later clips.
I know, I didn't realise he was playing until he scored. Looks like Chelsea and Stoke can tell when their players are past it.
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You know it's really bad when 3 of our players are stood around a Reading player in our box just pointing and not making an attempt to make a challenge! Hourihane is also very lucky that he's not very good at tackling otherwise that would have been a straight red card if he connected with their player in the first half.
He's a decent tackler. It was a lunge out of frustration at the obvious foul on him that wasn't given.
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When Bruce has them out in training, I wonder if he actually pays attention or trains them. None of them know how to pass, their first touch is abysmal (seriously, trapping the ball isn't hard) and not one of them has any vision or footballing brain to make opportunities. We have one of the most, if not the most expensive squad in the Championship with nothing to show for it. We can't even do the basics and as for keeping possession? I've seen under 7 teams do better!!! Bruce has to go
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Oh - and is Hourihane the only player in the team who can take a free kick ??
No Hourihane isn't the only player who CAN'T take a free kick we have lots of others who are useless deadball kickers.
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What a load of fucking rubbish. We managed to miss all 3 goals as well.....
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Reports in the Daily and Birmingham Mails today, are we're interested in signing Jack Wilshere, which would be a great signing for us, but unfortunately can't see it happening.
Another square peg in a round hole, he'd be injured 3 games in 5, just what we need.
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I didn't receive my ticket in the mail for the game although I paid for it on line two weeks ago.
I had a hell of a time getting in to the stadium last night after finally getting a duplicate ticket from the Reading ticket office.
Got in just in time to see Green miss that one on one with the keeper.
We were flattered by that 2-1 score line it could have been a lot more and Reading were taking the piss with us when it was 2-0, embarrassing.
When Bruce brought on Hutton to save the game, that summed it up for me, clueless he gotta go.
I was proud to be amongst that travelling support though, magnificent but we deserve so much better.
I read that Bruce thought we didn't deserve to lose, he must have been watching a different game to the rest of us.
I too still have not received my ticket for the Norwich game.
I'm probably going to have go through the same crap to see the game on Saturday.
We have become a shambles off the field as on it.
Sort it out Villa.
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Just been reading some of the comments on the DM (I know) report of the game and theres a lot accusng Villa supporters of being deluded because of Steve Bruce out sentiments. Ok im biased but anyone reading these pages over the last 5 years or attending games knows how amazingly tolerant we've been. We know we have no right to be promoted but we expect a club with the resources we have to be making a damn sight better attempt at it than this team is doing under Bruce
I'm pretty sure we'll be criticised by sections of the media if we sack Bruce so early into his tenure, but most of the media and fans of other clubs are ignorant to the facts as they only see a glimpse from the outside and don't know what happens from game to game. No doubt Bruce will play the sympathy card, the former Blose boss connections will rear its head again, and we'll continue to be the most "fickle" fans in the country.
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Took my 8 year old son to his 4th away game last night. All 4 have been defeats, by Bristol City, Preston, Cardiff and Reading.
He doesn't really want to go away any more. Unfortunately I now feel the same. I can't justify the expense and time taken to repeatedly watch such rubbish.
Not heard Bruce's interview but if he really said we were unlucky then he's reaching Lambert levels of delusion.
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Oh - and is Hourihane the only player in the team who can take a free kick ??
No Hourihane isn't the only player who CAN'T take a free kick we have lots of others who are useless deadball kickers.
During warm up Sam Johnstone delivered a genuinely great free kick. When we had that free kick in the last few minutes I hoped Bruce was going to give it to him, it just felt like it could have been his day. I am bummed we didnt get to find out.
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i'm surprised that Green is getting praised (or at least, not being criticised) by some. Not only did he miss the 1-on-1, some of his crosses were worse than anything Hutton's been slated for in the past.
Not read the whole thread but I though Green was absolutely woeful last night. His first half performance was similar to Lansbury on Saturday, i.e. Everytime he touched the ball he made a fuck up. His 2 missed sitters in 2 different games this season have cost us massively.
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Green has the excuse of nerves and we know hogan can finish
Gabby's always been shit at one on ones
Fair enough about Green but from what I've witnessed Hogan is just as poor as Gabby in a one on one situations. Hogan's more of a natural one touch finisher if the ball is played into a dangerous position.
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Took my 8 year old son to his 4th away game last night. All 4 have been defeats, by Bristol City, Preston, Cardiff and Reading.
He doesn't really want to go away any more. Unfortunately I now feel the same. I can't justify the expense and time taken to repeatedly watch such rubbish.
Not heard Bruce's interview but if he really said we were unlucky then he's reaching Lambert levels of delusion.
You'll have the NSPCC after you.
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I assume this is legit
(http://thumb.ibb.co/fsWA6a/01.jpg) (http://ibb.co/fsWA6a)
image upload (http://imgbb.com/)
We actually won a premier league away game with 23% possession once (Southampton 3-2 in December 2013).
As we saw with Lambert though you can't expect to consistently win with that low possession as teams will simply punish you with the ball.
I could understand it at prem level but it's really shameful we've spent all this money and are one if not the biggest club in the division and we play like this.
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I was amazed when the team came out for the 2nd half without any changes, either in personnel or shape. We had absolutely no foot-hold in the game at that point, and I have no idea how Bruce was expecting that to change without actually changing anything himself.
There were a few obvious tweaks too. Onomah moving into into a deeper midfield position would have been one. Whelan was invisible there and gave us no outlet to play out form the back. Swapping Bjarnason for Adomah would have been another. Even if he'd been no better it would have shown some intent, if just to the fans if no-one else.
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I was amazed when the team came out for the 2nd half without any changes, either in personnel or shape. We had absolutely no foot-hold in the game at that point, and I have no idea how Bruce was expecting that to change without actually changing anything himself.
There were a few obvious tweaks too. Onomah moving into into a deeper midfield position would have been one. Whelan was invisible there and gave us no outlet to play out form the back. Swapping Bjarnason for Adomah would have been another. Even if he'd been no better it would have shown some intent, if just to the fans if no-one else.
To be fair to Bruce he'd only been in the job 6 minutes at that point and we'd already missed 6 or 7 game changing one on one's.
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We ought to have really scored with the Green chance and after that, stopped pressing.
Reading have a way of playing, they’re nowhere near good enough to execute it the way Stam would like and that is by and large due to their personnel. Chief weakness is their back 5, none of whom are comfortable on the ball under pressure, as nobody in this league is good enough to beat the press.
Instead of playing three up top we adopted a 4411, which soon became 10 players in our own half and poor old Hogan somewhere doing an impression of Tom Hanks on a desert island. The least we could do is get him a volley ball and some paint so he can draw himself a face and a friend for company.
Green became an auxiliary full back, as did Thor. De Laet and Taylor tucked in, to the point they became very narrow and in fairness, the gap for Reading was none existent. I presume there was a fear of Barrow, but fear gripped the way the side retreated full stop first half.
You must, categorically must, play a three or a two up top and have your front 3 or 4 press their back four, as McShane and co. are not Man bloody City or Barca, they’re jobbing 2nd division muck who will, if under no pressure, be capable of switching a ball side to side. You must have your midfield push onto their deep lying midfielder and make them do what they did not want to last season, which is look for the long diagonal. Make it a percentage ball.
We did not do any of that, we let them have it, get comfortable, build confidence. Yes they only had two chances, one of which was from a blatant foul on Hourihane, but momentum in sport is key. They had it, as ineffectual as they were and we had the wrong kind.
Second half was worse. The first goal De Laet gets caught out, as he presses on his own into the wing position and they’re in behind. The goal was hugely unfortunate, the Reading player is crossing the ball back towards the edge of the box. The second however is criminal.
We’ve adopted a quasi zonal/ man marking system and to have a player unmarked 8 yards out, pass it to a player3 yards out is shocking.
A good goal from us, but you sensed it was that false hope we sometimes like to provide. Green went close mind. But 5 minutes of a game, although enough to win you a European Cup, is not usually enough time to do anything at all.
Hourihane should be in and around the opposition box. He can and will score goals. Its no use being deeper than the Mariana Trench.
It’s a confidence thing with Green, he’s powerful and direct. When picking the ball up somewhere close to the box, where he should, he has an effect. Hacking the ball to nobody 20 yards from our goal and he looks poor.
Whelan looks off since his ill fated dummy at Hull.
Hogan, we may as well not bother if we’re not getting close.
Terry isn’t doing all the snidey parts of the game that I thought he would. There’s nothing wrong defensively, but its not clear whether this is impacting Chester whose form the past two games has been rank. That can happen I suppose.
The biggest worry is that we lack a template or an identity as to how we’re going to go about winning this game. Its hard to see that changing away from home.
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I assume this is legit
(http://thumb.ibb.co/fsWA6a/01.jpg) (http://ibb.co/fsWA6a)
image upload (http://imgbb.com/)
We actually won a premier league away game with 23% possession once (Southampton 3-2 in December 2013).
As we saw with Lambert though you can't expect to consistently win with that low possession as teams will simply punish you with the ball.
I could understand it at prem level but it's really shameful we've spent all this money and are one if not the biggest club in the division and we play like this.
Those sort of stats are incredible they look like the stats of a Sunday league team playing a professional football team it shouldn't be happening to us we seem to be getting worse.
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We ought to have really scored with the Green chance and after that, stopped pressing.
Reading have a way of playing, they’re nowhere near good enough to execute it the way Stam would like and that is by and large due to their personnel. Chief weakness is their back 5, none of whom are comfortable on the ball under pressure, as nobody in this league is good enough to beat the press.
Instead of playing three up top we adopted a 4411, which soon became 10 players in our own half and poor old Hogan somewhere doing an impression of Tom Hanks on a desert island. The least we could do is get him a volley ball and some paint so he can draw himself a face and a friend for company.
Green became an auxiliary full back, as did Thor. De Laet and Taylor tucked in, to the point they became very narrow and in fairness, the gap for Reading was none existent. I presume there was a fear of Barrow, but fear gripped the way the side retreated full stop first half.
You must, categorically must, play a three or a two up top and have your front 3 or 4 press their back four, as McShane and co. are not Man bloody City or Barca, they’re jobbing 2nd division muck who will, if under no pressure, be capable of switching a ball side to side. You must have your midfield push onto their deep lying midfielder and make them do what they did not want to last season, which is look for the long diagonal. Make it a percentage ball.
We did not do any of that, we let them have it, get comfortable, build confidence. Yes they only had two chances, one of which was from a blatant foul on Hourihane, but momentum in sport is key. They had it, as ineffectual as they were and we had the wrong kind.
Second half was worse. The first goal De Laet gets caught out, as he presses on his own into the wing position and they’re in behind. The goal was hugely unfortunate, the Reading player is crossing the ball back towards the edge of the box. The second however is criminal.
We’ve adopted a quasi zonal/ man marking system and to have a player unmarked 8 yards out, pass it to a player3 yards out is shocking.
A good goal from us, but you sensed it was that false hope we sometimes like to provide. Green went close mind. But 5 minutes of a game, although enough to win you a European Cup, is not usually enough time to do anything at all.
Hourihane should be in and around the opposition box. He can and will score goals. Its no use being deeper than the Mariana Trench.
It’s a confidence thing with Green, he’s powerful and direct. When picking the ball up somewhere close to the box, where he should, he has an effect. Hacking the ball to nobody 20 yards from our goal and he looks poor.
Whelan looks off since his ill fated dummy at Hull.
Hogan, we may as well not bother if we’re not getting close.
Terry isn’t doing all the snidey parts of the game that I thought he would. There’s nothing wrong defensively, but its not clear whether this is impacting Chester whose form the past two games has been rank. That can happen I suppose.
The biggest worry is that we lack a template or an identity as to how we’re going to go about winning this game. Its hard to see that changing away from home.
Good post. I don't think we, as a team are fit enough to press any opposition, particularly with Gabby still stinking the place out
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To compound matters, Villa hadn't sent my tickets down to Reading, so I missed the first 30 minutes while the useless muppets in their ticket office strolled around and informed me I couldn't have bought them. Ended up being seperated from my mate as we were given random tickets. Then found it was a duplicate, so three other blokes also had a ticket for my seat. And being treated like a criminal by the police (told to 'shut up' etc.) didn't exactly help.
Villa ticket office has been a fucking joke this season. Whoever the fuck is in charge there needs a P45, they're clearly incompetant.
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To compound matters, Villa hadn't sent my tickets down to Reading, so I missed the first 30 minutes while the useless muppets in their ticket office strolled around and informed me I couldn't have bought them. Ended up being seperated from my mate as we were given random tickets. Then found it was a duplicate, so three other blokes also had a ticket for my seat. And being treated like a criminal by the police (told to 'shut up' etc.) didn't exactly help.
Villa ticket office has been a fucking joke this season. Whoever the fuck is in charge there needs a P45, they're clearly incompetant.
Ahhhhh, good ol' Thames Valley Plod. They love visiting footy supporters down their way, yes siree Bob. :o
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What's the difference between a triangle and Aston Villa?
A triangle has 3 points.
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To compound matters, Villa hadn't sent my tickets down to Reading, so I missed the first 30 minutes while the useless muppets in their ticket office strolled around and informed me I couldn't have bought them. Ended up being seperated from my mate as we were given random tickets. Then found it was a duplicate, so three other blokes also had a ticket for my seat. And being treated like a criminal by the police (told to 'shut up' etc.) didn't exactly help.
Villa ticket office has been a fucking joke this season. Whoever the fuck is in charge there needs a P45, they're clearly incompetant.
Ahhhhh, good ol' Thames Valley Plod. They love visiting footy supporters down their way, yes siree Bob. :o
They were quite lucky it didn't kick off, in all honesty. The guy in front of me was about 6ft8 and he was really having a go, but the copper just turned a blind eye. I guess if you're short then it's inevitable the police will feel free to abuse you.
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To compound matters, Villa hadn't sent my tickets down to Reading, so I missed the first 30 minutes while the useless muppets in their ticket office strolled around and informed me I couldn't have bought them. Ended up being seperated from my mate as we were given random tickets. Then found it was a duplicate, so three other blokes also had a ticket for my seat. And being treated like a criminal by the police (told to 'shut up' etc.) didn't exactly help.
Villa ticket office has been a fucking joke this season. Whoever the fuck is in charge there needs a P45, they're clearly incompetant.
Ahhhhh, good ol' Thames Valley Plod. They love visiting footy supporters down their way, yes siree Bob. :o
They were quite lucky it didn't kick off, in all honesty. The guy in front of me was about 6ft8 and he was really having a go, but the copper just turned a blind eye. I guess if you're short then it's inevitable the police will feel free to abuse you.
Was all this going on inside or outside the ground, TV? Either way, it sounds like it put the rotten proverbial on top of your thoroughly shite 'match day experience'.
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Its bad enough having to sit through the match last night, but to have it compounded by Bruce talking utter tripe. I find it offensive that he then full on lie's about what we have all seen.
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What's the difference between a triangle and Aston Villa?
A triangle has 3 points.
Wahay!!!!
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To compound matters, Villa hadn't sent my tickets down to Reading, so I missed the first 30 minutes while the useless muppets in their ticket office strolled around and informed me I couldn't have bought them. Ended up being seperated from my mate as we were given random tickets. Then found it was a duplicate, so three other blokes also had a ticket for my seat. And being treated like a criminal by the police (told to 'shut up' etc.) didn't exactly help.
Villa ticket office has been a fucking joke this season. Whoever the fuck is in charge there needs a P45, they're clearly incompetant.
Ahhhhh, good ol' Thames Valley Plod. They love visiting footy supporters down their way, yes siree Bob. :o
They were quite lucky it didn't kick off, in all honesty. The guy in front of me was about 6ft8 and he was really having a go, but the copper just turned a blind eye. I guess if you're short then it's inevitable the police will feel free to abuse you.
Was all this going on inside or outside the ground, TV? Either way, it sounds like it put the rotten proverbial on top of your thoroughly shite 'match day experience'.
Outside. Looking at it with different glasses on, it would actually have made a pretty good sitcom - Outnumbered, that kind of thing. Just about everything that could have gone wrong did, but as the nice old bloke behind me said at the end, 'at least Villa played well'.
Apologies for the rant and the language. I wasn't best pleased.
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To compound matters, Villa hadn't sent my tickets down to Reading, so I missed the first 30 minutes while the useless muppets in their ticket office strolled around and informed me I couldn't have bought them. Ended up being seperated from my mate as we were given random tickets. Then found it was a duplicate, so three other blokes also had a ticket for my seat. And being treated like a criminal by the police (told to 'shut up' etc.) didn't exactly help.
Villa ticket office has been a fucking joke this season. Whoever the fuck is in charge there needs a P45, they're clearly incompetant.
Ahhhhh, good ol' Thames Valley Plod. They love visiting footy supporters down their way, yes siree Bob. :o
They were quite lucky it didn't kick off, in all honesty. The guy in front of me was about 6ft8 and he was really having a go, but the copper just turned a blind eye. I guess if you're short then it's inevitable the police will feel free to abuse you.
Was all this going on inside or outside the ground, TV? Either way, it sounds like it put the rotten proverbial on top of your thoroughly shite 'match day experience'.
Outside. Looking at it with different glasses on, it would actually have made a pretty good sitcom - Outnumbered, that kind of thing. Just about everything that could have gone wrong did, but as the nice old bloke behind me said at the end, 'at least Villa played well'.
Apologies for the rant and the language. I wasn't best pleased.
Was Steve Bruce sitting behind you ?
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To compound matters, Villa hadn't sent my tickets down to Reading, so I missed the first 30 minutes while the useless muppets in their ticket office strolled around and informed me I couldn't have bought them. Ended up being seperated from my mate as we were given random tickets. Then found it was a duplicate, so three other blokes also had a ticket for my seat. And being treated like a criminal by the police (told to 'shut up' etc.) didn't exactly help.
Villa ticket office has been a fucking joke this season. Whoever the fuck is in charge there needs a P45, they're clearly incompetant.
Ahhhhh, good ol' Thames Valley Plod. They love visiting footy supporters down their way, yes siree Bob. :o
They were quite lucky it didn't kick off, in all honesty. The guy in front of me was about 6ft8 and he was really having a go, but the copper just turned a blind eye. I guess if you're short then it's inevitable the police will feel free to abuse you.
Was all this going on inside or outside the ground, TV? Either way, it sounds like it put the rotten proverbial on top of your thoroughly shite 'match day experience'.
Outside. Looking at it with different glasses on, it would actually have made a pretty good sitcom - Outnumbered, that kind of thing. Just about everything that could have gone wrong did, but as the nice old bloke behind me said at the end, 'at least Villa played well'.
Apologies for the rant and the language. I wasn't best pleased.
Was Steve Bruce sitting behind you ?
Come to think of it, he did keep talking about a new striker we've bought... some bloke called Samba :D :D
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To compound matters, Villa hadn't sent my tickets down to Reading, so I missed the first 30 minutes while the useless muppets in their ticket office strolled around and informed me I couldn't have bought them. Ended up being seperated from my mate as we were given random tickets. Then found it was a duplicate, so three other blokes also had a ticket for my seat. And being treated like a criminal by the police (told to 'shut up' etc.) didn't exactly help.
Villa ticket office has been a fucking joke this season. Whoever the fuck is in charge there needs a P45, they're clearly incompetant.
Ahhhhh, good ol' Thames Valley Plod. They love visiting footy supporters down their way, yes siree Bob. :o
They were quite lucky it didn't kick off, in all honesty. The guy in front of me was about 6ft8 and he was really having a go, but the copper just turned a blind eye. I guess if you're short then it's inevitable the police will feel free to abuse you.
Was all this going on inside or outside the ground, TV? Either way, it sounds like it put the rotten proverbial on top of your thoroughly shite 'match day experience'.
Outside. Looking at it with different glasses on, it would actually have made a pretty good sitcom - Outnumbered, that kind of thing. Just about everything that could have gone wrong did, but as the nice old bloke behind me said at the end, 'at least Villa played well'.
Apologies for the rant and the language. I wasn't best pleased.
No apologies necessary bab. I just wish your awful evening had ended after witnessing that shower of shite out on the park.
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Just watched the highlights. In real time I thought that Hogan had played a great ball through to Green but it turns out to have been a fluky deflection.
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Thought I'd give it until this morning to give my two pence worth, too angry when I got in last night.
Sorry to go all Swiss Tony but:
The Villa, for me, are akin to a beautiful woman who I love with all my heart and always will. I have done for decades. I spend lots of money on her and go away with her every weekend, where I lavish yet more money and time on her.
My friends think I'm delusional for this.
She makes me sad, mad and angry but I still love her.
She in turn couldn't give two shits about my devotion but only wants me for my money and makes no effort to even look nice anymore.
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Thought I'd give it until this morning to give my two pence worth, too angry when I got in last night.
The Villa, for me, are akin to a beautiful woman who I love with all my heart and always will. I have done for decades. I spend lots of money on her and go away with her every weekend, where I lavish yet more money and time on her.
My friends think I'm delusional for this.
She makes me sad, mad and angry but I still love her.
She in turn couldn't give two shits about my devotion but only wants me for my money and makes no effort to even look nice anymore.
We're a shit club now and the only impressive thing that's left about Villa is the supporters
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Thought I'd give it until this morning to give my two pence worth, too angry when I got in last night.
The Villa, for me, are akin to a beautiful woman who I love with all my heart and always will. I have done for decades. I spend lots of money on her and go away with her every weekend, where I lavish yet more money and time on her.
My friends think I'm delusional for this.
She makes me sad, mad and angry but I still love her.
She in turn couldn't give two shits about my devotion but only wants me for my money and makes no effort to even look nice anymore.
We're a shit club now and the only impressive thing that's left about Villa is the supporters
Couldn't agree more Chico.
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Thought I'd give it until this morning to give my two pence worth, too angry when I got in last night.
The Villa, for me, are akin to a beautiful woman who I love with all my heart and always will. I have done for decades. I spend lots of money on her and go away with her every weekend, where I lavish yet more money and time on her.
My friends think I'm delusional for this.
She makes me sad, mad and angry but I still love her.
She in turn couldn't give two shits about my devotion but only wants me for my money and makes no effort to even look nice anymore.
We're a shit club now and the only impressive thing that's left about Villa is the supporters
Couldn't agree more Chico.
It was pretty hard to take the baiting from Reading fans when they went 2 up. We understandably went very quiet for half an hour probably more in shock than anything else and there was a steady steam of leavers who had clearly had enough. Mind those that were left rocked the place for 5 mins after we scored. Just imagine what we could do with a winning team
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Having the piss ripped out of you at a joyless, soulless, out-of-town identistadium, by music-on-the-tannoy wankers is quite the experience.
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Thought I'd give it until this morning to give my two pence worth, too angry when I got in last night.
Sorry to go all Swiss Tony but:
The Villa, for me, are akin to a beautiful woman who I love with all my heart and always will. I have done for decades. I spend lots of money on her and go away with her every weekend, where I lavish yet more money and time on her.
My friends think I'm delusional for this.
She makes me sad, mad and angry but I still love her.
She in turn couldn't give two shits about my devotion but only wants me for my money and makes no effort to even look nice anymore.
She does have a massive pair of tits (Clemence & Calderwood) and a proper c*nt in the middle though
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We ought to have really scored with the Green chance and after that, stopped pressing.
Reading have a way of playing, they’re nowhere near good enough to execute it the way Stam would like and that is by and large due to their personnel. Chief weakness is their back 5, none of whom are comfortable on the ball under pressure, as nobody in this league is good enough to beat the press.
Instead of playing three up top we adopted a 4411, which soon became 10 players in our own half and poor old Hogan somewhere doing an impression of Tom Hanks on a desert island. The least we could do is get him a volley ball and some paint so he can draw himself a face and a friend for company.
Green became an auxiliary full back, as did Thor. De Laet and Taylor tucked in, to the point they became very narrow and in fairness, the gap for Reading was none existent. I presume there was a fear of Barrow, but fear gripped the way the side retreated full stop first half.
You must, categorically must, play a three or a two up top and have your front 3 or 4 press their back four, as McShane and co. are not Man bloody City or Barca, they’re jobbing 2nd division muck who will, if under no pressure, be capable of switching a ball side to side. You must have your midfield push onto their deep lying midfielder and make them do what they did not want to last season, which is look for the long diagonal. Make it a percentage ball.
We did not do any of that, we let them have it, get comfortable, build confidence. Yes they only had two chances, one of which was from a blatant foul on Hourihane, but momentum in sport is key. They had it, as ineffectual as they were and we had the wrong kind.
Second half was worse. The first goal De Laet gets caught out, as he presses on his own into the wing position and they’re in behind. The goal was hugely unfortunate, the Reading player is crossing the ball back towards the edge of the box. The second however is criminal.
We’ve adopted a quasi zonal/ man marking system and to have a player unmarked 8 yards out, pass it to a player3 yards out is shocking.
A good goal from us, but you sensed it was that false hope we sometimes like to provide. Green went close mind. But 5 minutes of a game, although enough to win you a European Cup, is not usually enough time to do anything at all.
Hourihane should be in and around the opposition box. He can and will score goals. Its no use being deeper than the Mariana Trench.
It’s a confidence thing with Green, he’s powerful and direct. When picking the ball up somewhere close to the box, where he should, he has an effect. Hacking the ball to nobody 20 yards from our goal and he looks poor.
Whelan looks off since his ill fated dummy at Hull.
Hogan, we may as well not bother if we’re not getting close.
Terry isn’t doing all the snidey parts of the game that I thought he would. There’s nothing wrong defensively, but its not clear whether this is impacting Chester whose form the past two games has been rank. That can happen I suppose.
The biggest worry is that we lack a template or an identity as to how we’re going to go about winning this game. Its hard to see that changing away from home.
Can't argue with any of that really and what you say about identity is a key point I think. Although Reading clearly have their limitations they all know their jobs and do their best to execute that style of play to the letter. We just seem to be a mishmash of playing styles that ends up in an almighty shit storm. If we're going to sit back like that we simply have to execute the press as a team and not just leave it down to the lone striker who is 20 yards away from everyone else.
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Turned to my mate when the second goal went in and said the only plus we have is not having goal music at VP.
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Turned to my mate when the second goal went in and said the only plus we have is not having goal music at VP.
I don't think we need it.
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If we did .....may I suggest... Memories
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I really wish we would play that pressing game that forces mistakes and creates momentum. We are the absolute antithesis of that. One paced (slow), lacking movement, passive, poor ball retention. It's the perfect storm that gives the kind of match stats we are seeing.
We are playing a different game to most teams in this division and it's getting worse. This despite having some real talent in the squad. Utterly demoralising.
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Thought I'd give it until this morning to give my two pence worth, too angry when I got in last night.
Sorry to go all Swiss Tony but:
The Villa, for me, are akin to a beautiful woman who I love with all my heart and always will. I have done for decades. I spend lots of money on her and go away with her every weekend, where I lavish yet more money and time on her.
My friends think I'm delusional for this.
She makes me sad, mad and angry but I still love her.
She in turn couldn't give two shits about my devotion but only wants me for my money and makes no effort to even look nice anymore.
She'll give you a dose of the dreaded syph before she's done, 5 Tats, and fuck up your credit rating after squeezing out what is left of your toothpaste.
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If we did .....may I suggest... Memories
Or Once In A Lifetime by Talking Heads.
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If we did .....may I suggest... Memories
Or Once In A Lifetime by Talking Heads.
"Missing" by Everything but the Girl
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I really wish we would play that pressing game that forces mistakes and creates momentum. We are the absolute antithesis of that. One paced (slow), lacking movement, passive, poor ball retention. It's the perfect storm that gives the kind of match stats we are seeing.
We are playing a different game to most teams in this division and it's getting worse. This despite having some real talent in the squad. Utterly demoralising.
We'd last about half an hour playing that way before the majority of them would be out of puff.
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Half a minute more like.
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17 Seconds as Fat Bob used to wail.
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Four minutes and thirty three seconds of silence by John Cage
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If we did .....may I suggest... Memories
Or Once In A Lifetime by Talking Heads.
Too Far Down by Hüsker Dü
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Four minutes and thirty three seconds of silence by John Cage
*Applauds*
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Four minutes and thirty three seconds of silence by John Cage
*Applauds*
Shush! I can't hear it!
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Turned to my mate when the second goal went in and said the only plus we have is not having goal music at VP.
Wasn't it Reading away last season that we all thought we had turned the corner and "Don't look back in anger" was played over the tannoy and became a bit of an anthem.
Even that's turned to shit, we haven't reached our low point yet.