Aston Villa v Fulham Post Match Thread

[remy]

Oh my days.

For the first time in 20 years I dragged Mrs Remy down the match for our Anniversary (going for a posh meal on Sunday) and she got the sheer joy of a brilliant goal and a home win.

For those not at the game the goal taken was SUPERB.

Baker won most of the headers and Chester made some vital interceptions, they look solid and unpanicky.

Amavi was really good down that left, loads of times he bombed forward which was fantastic.

Midfield of Gardner, Bacuna and Jedinak is ticking along nicely.

Ayew looked dangerous and should have scored.

Gestede looked out of place and was taken off - pleasing to see we had options.

Adomah coming on was another inspired substitution that resulted in a goal.

Kodija - what a player.

Steve Bruce - Frankly his managing the knuckledraggers years ago means SHIT to me. The last 3 games he's got us organised, motivated and WINNING. He seems to have the luck aswell.

Bring on the sty!

[The Left Side]

Link to  the goal:

https://www.facebook.com/myoldmansaid/videos/1295169837194657/

A comments on that link refers to the goal being similar to Tony Daley's against Everton in 1988 which is exactly what I thought at the time. One of my all tine favourite Villa goals.

I was going to write that, very similar to TDs goal.

[UK Redsox]

Zero shots on goal for them, Bruce has got us us tight as a drum already.

The absence of Elphick has helped as well imo

[PaulWinch again]

Zero shots on goal for them, Bruce has got us us tight as a drum already.

The absence of Elphick has helped as well imo

I'm not sure it's a personel thing, I think it's getting appropriate numbers in the midfield to protect the defence.

[Ads]

I quite like the spontaneous adoption of Don't Look Back in Anger.

It's got good ju-ju. I remember it being the last song I heard on the radio before we got to Wembley in 96.

[Clampy]

The first half was one to forget. We didn't play that well in the second half either really but all through the game we looked organised and in the end, it should have been 3-0. Another one to build on.

[Toronto Villa]

I quite like the spontaneous adoption of Don't Look Back in Anger.

It's got good ju-ju. I remember it being the last song I heard on the radio before we got to Wembley in 96.

It will be even sweeter to hear it from the travelling hoardes if we win against that lot next week. They'll be too thick to understand the irony however.

[myf]

Midfield still a worry for me - especially Jedinak- but just glad to get the points. Ayew looked classy but has got to take his chances. Looked very good central defence

[saunders_heroes]

Midfield still a worry for me - especially Jedinak- but just glad to get the points. Ayew looked classy but has got to take his chances. Looked very good central defence

He was frustrating first half but he improved second but then he was taken off. I still think he's a decent player who for some reason hasn't settled yet. Hopefully it's because he still isn't quite fit enough yet.

[Marton]

Bruce has got the team more organised in a week than RDM did in his 10 games, you can see a pattern to wok to and the players are all in their right positions.
The back four (Baker headed everything) look more confident with Jedinak in front and two energetic midfielders in front of him, giving us a solid spine.
Bacuna has never been a bad player and his position suits him well, Gardner looks a different player to the one I saw earlier in the season, Kodija is just a constant menace, whilst Ayew causes problems for any defence.
Adomah did well, Buce's substituions were perfect for the match situation.
It's early days but it's looking good, a solid team with a threat...bring on the Scum!

This sums it up good. Bacuna was bad last season but has been abused by inept managers over a score of seasons. He was quite good for us when he first arrived and he is versatile, he can attack, defend and once he wasn't even bad at crossing, passing and taking sets pieces. Then we started getting wingbacks injured and Lambert turned him into the squad band-aid. Sherwood abused him even further and played him all over the pitch during that period when he changed tactics every game. No wonder he lost heart and turned to the crap player we saw last season.

Now its obvious he is head and shoulders over most players in the Championship though and is growing with every chance he gets. Even in some of the poor games that RDM managed , he and Ayew were the only players that didn't look like stiffs.

Hope Bruce keeps playing with that inner middle triangle...rotating Jedi, Gardner, Bacuna, Ross and Tshibola as needed. I dont like when he uses Westwood at all. Not even as a sub like today...its the only part of Bruce coaching today I didnt like. Even if he got away with it...Fulham just wasnt good enough to benfit on letting them have a punt on us the last 10 min.

Ayew doesnt fade like Grealish do and that another big reason why we have 6 points this week. He remains a threat and often gets even better in the late stages...just from scaring the opposing fullback from venturing on the wrong side of Ayew he releives alot of the pressure on our left defender, who suddenly look useful again (i.e Amavi today). With Jack its the exact opposite...he start good and, runs himself out and everyone has to cover for him. Add Pointy and the effect is accelerated....Villa is all of a sudden showing its soft underbelly. 

Confident we going to win against Blues next game but after that Jack is available again...and judging by the media, Bruce is a big fan. Very afraid the nightmare is going to start all over and the slim chance of promotion this year will vaporize before he figure out the Boy Wonder isnt anywhere near the image that the hype built.

[Nunkin1965]

Well what a difference a week makes.

Steve Bruce has got us organised and I drew comparisons with Brian Little's early reign after John Gregory left. Like Little, he's impressively going about his initial work and we now look a tough unit to break down.
Players are clearly growing in confidence.

Its going to be interesting to see where Bruce takes us.

[Des Little]

Whilst the goal will obviously stand out from the game as the highlight, I have to say that Baker's performance across the 90 gave me almost as much satisfaction. I've been critical of him in the past, but if he keeps that performance level up, Elphick will struggle to get back in. .

[QuintonVilla]

I quite like the spontaneous adoption of Don't Look Back in Anger.

It's got good ju-ju. I remember it being the last song I heard on the radio before we got to Wembley in 96.

It will be even sweeter to hear it from the travelling hoardes if we win against that lot next week. They'll be too thick to understand the irony however.

I too hope everyone at The Sty next week belts it out acapella without the music when we're 3-0 up.

[villan from luton]

Just think Bruce has probably only take training on a few occasions with game midweek, am sure with more time he will sort things out. Good to see Baker and Gardner taking their chances and Amavi more like himself at left back and 90 mins will have done him good.

[villan from luton]

Well what a difference a week makes.

Steve Bruce has got us organised and I drew comparisons with Brian Little's early reign after John Gregory left. Like Little, he's impressively going about his initial work and we now look a tough unit to break down.
Players are clearly growing in confidence.

Its going to be interesting to see where Bruce takes us.

You mean when BFR left?