Villa v Reading - Match / Post-Match Thread

[PeterWithe]

I was doing something on the night and I had to turn off my phone 20 mins into the game, the last twitter feed I saw was, I thought, an update showing Nathan Baker had scored an own goal. I sadly reported this to a few fellow villains.

Did anyone else see this or did I dream it, which would be strange as I was stone cold sober?

[supertom]

Good that Gardner seemed to step up. I'd like him to get a run. I think he's clocked his hours in this league and looked good when he was at Forrest. I actually thought he played well when we played Forrest (letting himself down with one stray pass that lead to one of their girls). More performances like tonight are key. I think he offers more as an attacking threat than Westwood.
Bacuna has been okay this season on the whole.
From what I heard on radio and text (flicking between two) it seemed Kodija had a few chances, and Adomah set him up a few times. That's a good sign for me. A link forming and also just as simple as a wide man supplying a forward who gets on the end of it and tests the keeper.

Bruce found a balanced formation to do a job. We didn't try and cram too many of our attack minded players into the side at the expense of cohesion. I like that Kodija is willing to work and put in a shift out wide. He's probably going to be better on the left if he has to play on a wing.

3 in the middle of the park is the way to go. There's no pace between Jedinak, Westwood and Gardner. If you have 2 of those three, you need a third in there with energy, be it Bacuna or Tish. On recent form though, I'd play Tish, GG and Bacuna as a three against Fulham.

We've a selection headache in the next game. Ayew is probably our best player and should possibly come back in. However, at home I think it may suit us to have Rudy in the middle as a focal point, and then you have to look at dropping Adomah, which would be harsh after yesterday probably. That said, he's still not quite found his feet (better yesterday mind you). I'd bring Jordan back in and play him and Kodija either side of Rudy.

Also, Baker and Chester looks a better partnership than any other combos we have. Baker deserves a run. He's got his chance now but he just has to stay fit (how many times have we said that).

I also do wonder sometimes if you're on a hiding to nothing trying to play a "10" in the championship. Where does that leave McCormack and Grealish? Jack is good out wide going forward but leaves a lot to be desired with discipline going the other way. I would stick with the 4-3-3. Were Jedinak performing you could stick Tish alongside to provide legs, and then play Grealish as the third in the three with a bit of freedom. Not an option until Jedi finds his feet.

[LukeJames]

Gardners through ball to Adomah was very good for the first goal, total scenes at the end!

[tomd2103]

Good that Gardner seemed to step up. I'd like him to get a run. I think he's clocked his hours in this league and looked good when he was at Forrest. I actually thought he played well when we played Forrest (letting himself down with one stray pass that lead to one of their girls). More performances like tonight are key. I think he offers more as an attacking threat than Westwood.
Bacuna has been okay this season on the whole.
From what I heard on radio and text (flicking between two) it seemed Kodija had a few chances, and Adomah set him up a few times. That's a good sign for me. A link forming and also just as simple as a wide man supplying a forward who gets on the end of it and tests the keeper.

Bruce found a balanced formation to do a job. We didn't try and cram too many of our attack minded players into the side at the expense of cohesion. I like that Kodija is willing to work and put in a shift out wide. He's probably going to be better on the left if he has to play on a wing.

3 in the middle of the park is the way to go. There's no pace between Jedinak, Westwood and Gardner. If you have 2 of those three, you need a third in there with energy, be it Bacuna or Tish. On recent form though, I'd play Tish, GG and Bacuna as a three against Fulham.

We've a selection headache in the next game. Ayew is probably our best player and should possibly come back in. However, at home I think it may suit us to have Rudy in the middle as a focal point, and then you have to look at dropping Adomah, which would be harsh after yesterday probably. That said, he's still not quite found his feet (better yesterday mind you). I'd bring Jordan back in and play him and Kodija either side of Rudy.

Also, Baker and Chester looks a better partnership than any other combos we have. Baker deserves a run. He's got his chance now but he just has to stay fit (how many times have we said that).

I also do wonder sometimes if you're on a hiding to nothing trying to play a "10" in the championship. Where does that leave McCormack and Grealish? Jack is good out wide going forward but leaves a lot to be desired with discipline going the other way. I would stick with the 4-3-3. Were Jedinak performing you could stick Tish alongside to provide legs, and then play Grealish as the third in the three with a bit of freedom. Not an option until Jedi finds his feet.

Agree.  Get a solid base of four at the back and three in midfield in place and then we can tinker with the attacking three options.  I didn't go last night (brilliant turn out again) but from the commentary and what I've read the formation sounded better balanced. 

As poor as we've been so far, it's funny to think that if we hadn't conceded late goals to Huddersfield, Brentford and Barnsley, we'd be in the play offs! 

[BC54 VFC]

Only recently back having stopped in London overnight. The one thing that surprised me was just how many Villa fans attempted to suppress any attempt by other Villla fans to sing songs supporting Steve Bruce. Caused a few heated arguments during the game.

Thought Bacuna was MOTM and that it was his best performance since Sunderland away in March of last year.

[kippaxvilla2]

So then we've proved we can beat teams beginning with the letter R.  Can we go one better?

[Louzie0]

S?

[VillaAlways]

I was doing something on the night and I had to turn off my phone 20 mins into the game, the last twitter feed I saw was, I thought, an update showing Nathan Baker had scored an own goal. I sadly reported this to a few fellow villains.

Did anyone else see this or did I dream it, which would be strange as I was stone cold sober?

Nope I saw it There was also one saying Reading had equalised ( before they actually did obvs)

[Ads]

There must be a rule that means Reading are automatically relegated for having both a drum and goal music.

[Witton Warrior]

I honestly did not know how to react when I saw we had won - that's how bad it had become - I just stared at the BBC Results screen and then went and told the lad. We both just stood there.

I feel sick with uncertainty about Saturday now...

[ADVILLAFAN]

I honestly did not know how to react when I saw we had won - that's how bad it had become - I just stared at the BBC Results screen and then went and told the lad. We both just stood there.

I feel sick with uncertainty about Saturday now...

Fulham came from 2 down to draw with Norwich on Tuesday. Makes me feel like we'll go back to being a goal ahead and letting the lead slip late on.

Hope I'm wrong though and we've turned a corner.

[Nunkin1965]

Only recently back having stopped in London overnight. The one thing that surprised me was just how many Villa fans attempted to suppress any attempt by other Villla fans to sing songs supporting Steve Bruce. Caused a few heated arguments during the game.

Thought Bacuna was MOTM and that it was his best performance since Sunderland away in March of last year.

Well some people just won't accept it and move on.

Thats fine. But wasted energy as far as I'm concerned.
Whether people like him or not, he's got us our first bloody away win since 1925.
Enjoy it for christ's sake.

[LeeB]

Only recently back having stopped in London overnight. The one thing that surprised me was just how many Villa fans attempted to suppress any attempt by other Villla fans to sing songs supporting Steve Bruce. Caused a few heated arguments during the game.

Thought Bacuna was MOTM and that it was his best performance since Sunderland away in March of last year.

Well some people just won't accept it and move on.

Thats fine. But wasted energy as far as I'm concerned.
Whether people like him or not, he's got us our first bloody away win since 1925.
Enjoy it for christ's sake.

Tater's gonna tate.

[pauliewalnuts]

The Mrs was watching some mind-numbing horseshit on the telly, so I sloped off to play FIFA for a bit. There were ten mins of the match left, so I opened Fotmob on my phone and left it showing our score, as I was utterly convinced we'd spunk one into our own net or otherwise conspire to let them win.

I'll never forget that moment when I looked at my phone to see we'd only gone and managed to score a last minute goal and win.

The Mrs walked into the room and looked at my pale, shocked face. "They haven't, have they?" she asked of me.

It was a moment which will linger long in my memory.

[robbo1874]

What's the story (morning glory) with the playing of Don't look back in anger?

Was it Reading playing it for their fans because we always beat them, or for the Villa fans?

Heard some good reports of decent admission and beer prices, plus bar staff wearing B6 t-shirts in the away end etc. Fair play to them for that if true.