Aston Villa v Fulham Post Match Thread

[tomd2103]

I know I had this debate with Ad@m last week but is Gestede really any good when he starts? I know he scored twice v Rotherham but they have 6 points!

To me the front three has to be Adomah-Kodjia-Ayew certainly at home.

Your absolutely spot on, think he can start in a team that has strong possession and can cross at will from dominated flanks. But thats not us.
As an impact sub when we need to force the issue , sure. But never over Kodjia , thats so much better as the striker than as RW. 

The real brainteaser is how bring in RMC as a starter and still avoid using Grealish and Westwood in any way. Maybe  1-4-1-4 ?

                     Kodjia
Ayew        RMC  Bacuna        Adomah
                       Jedi
Amavi      Baker Chester      Hutton


Wasn't this close to how we played in 2nd half until we scored?
Is it too offensive to start like that?

Not a fan of Hutton though...but when the only other option is Richards.....

I like Kodjia but I'm not sure he is the type who will play as a lone striker and provide a focal point.  He works the channels and drops deep at times.  I think therefore that we need to play a central striker as well and Gestede is probably the best option in that role at the moment. 

[PaulWinch again]

Gestede has always looked like a really good sub to me. You chuck him on with 20 minutes to go against tired teams and he looks a real handful. He's a good option to have on the bench for that reason. He just doesn't have a meaningful impact in most games he starts.

[Marton]

Gestede has always looked like a really good sub to me. You chuck him on with 20 minutes to go against tired teams and he looks a real handful. He's a good option to have on the bench for that reason. He just doesn't have a meaningful impact in most games he starts.

Just a theory, but I suspect Ayew and Gestede doesn't gel well. Ayew rarely drive along the flank to cross (that would suit Gestede) but seems to excel at taking on defenders, going right through them and driving towards the box with ball at his feet. If he gets there he usually finish himself. If there is anything else you wish from Ayew is that he sometimes would set up the other strikers when they do provide the better option (Kodjia I think was wide open in that late chance when RMC got it through to Ayew). They other day it was Kodjia denying RMC as he finished himself. Maybe with so many good strikers on the team they just feel they have to score themselves to get picked. Gestede is the most unlikely to benefit if they do start trying to play each other in more often. He is way to slow and almost always covered on the ground by defenders at those pacy breaks (or even never manages to get himself in the box to provide the option).

[villan from luton]

Gestede has always looked like a really good sub to me. You chuck him on with 20 minutes to go against tired teams and he looks a real handful. He's a good option to have on the bench for that reason. He just doesn't have a meaningful impact in most games he starts.

Did he not score over 20 goals for Blackburn? Thing is we don't play natural wingers, so he won't be as prolific

[KRS]

Very good 3pts today even though a few more goals would have been nice...but you really can't argue with 7pts from the 3 games this week. Great start from Bruce and he seems to have us more organised already.

There is the makings of a good squad here that should see us get into the playoffs at least, and he's now got a full week to work with the squad before the Blose game next weekend. One thing I hope he gets chance to work on is getting our strikers to be more clinical in front of goal...it hampered us in the first few games where we should have been out of sight with the chances created.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I agree. Gestede is much better coming off the bench with 20 minutes to go. He did nothing today.

It should also be noted he had no service today.

[SheffieldVillain]

Gestede has always looked like a really good sub to me. You chuck him on with 20 minutes to go against tired teams and he looks a real handful. He's a good option to have on the bench for that reason. He just doesn't have a meaningful impact in most games he starts.

Did he not score over 20 goals for Blackburn? Thing is we don't play natural wingers, so he won't be as prolific

Other than that one very good season where he scored 20, he's scored 30 goals in total in the other 8 years of his career.

A different option from the bench at best. Adomah-Kodija-Ayew is the way to go I reckon.

[villan from luton]

Gestede has always looked like a really good sub to me. You chuck him on with 20 minutes to go against tired teams and he looks a real handful. He's a good option to have on the bench for that reason. He just doesn't have a meaningful impact in most games he starts.

Did he not score over 20 goals for Blackburn? Thing is we don't play natural wingers, so he won't be as prolific

Other than that one very good season where he scored 20, he's scored 30 goals in total in the other 8 years of his career.

A different option from the bench at best. Adomah-Kodija-Ayew is the way to go I reckon.

I think he is a good option with the right service, he bullied Newcastle when he came on but accept your point. What about Jack?

[SheffieldVillain]

Gestede has always looked like a really good sub to me. You chuck him on with 20 minutes to go against tired teams and he looks a real handful. He's a good option to have on the bench for that reason. He just doesn't have a meaningful impact in most games he starts.

Did he not score over 20 goals for Blackburn? Thing is we don't play natural wingers, so he won't be as prolific

Other than that one very good season where he scored 20, he's scored 30 goals in total in the other 8 years of his career.

A different option from the bench at best. Adomah-Kodija-Ayew is the way to go I reckon.

I think he is a good option with the right service, he bullied Newcastle when he came on but accept your point. What about Jack?

Has to fight his way back in, I guess. It's his own fault he's missing games at the moment. Good to have options though.

I suppose when it comes to the African Nations Cup we'll have to have a rethink for a month or so anyway.

[villan from luton]

Gestede has always looked like a really good sub to me. You chuck him on with 20 minutes to go against tired teams and he looks a real handful. He's a good option to have on the bench for that reason. He just doesn't have a meaningful impact in most games he starts.

Did he not score over 20 goals for Blackburn? Thing is we don't play natural wingers, so he won't be as prolific

Other than that one very good season where he scored 20, he's scored 30 goals in total in the other 8 years of his career.

A different option from the bench at best. Adomah-Kodija-Ayew is the way to go I reckon.

I think he is a good option with the right service, he bullied Newcastle when he came on but accept your point. What about Jack?

Has to fight his way back in, I guess. It's his own fault he's missing games at the moment. Good to have options though.

I suppose when it comes to the African Nations Cup we'll have to have a rethink for a month or so anyway.

I think Jack has to realise he cannot do the idiotic actions he did v Wolves, I agree with Bruce that a lesser known player would not have got 3 games but he has to learn. Gestede is no Peter Withe but decent at this level I think but perhaps not the way we are playing

[robbo1874]

You couldn't get much more clinical than that Kodjia finish. Just seen it on YouTube- what a strike.

I rate it better than Daley's as he had so much more to do to get into position. The ball in was excellent also.

Can't remember the last time I felt this good about Villa.

A win at the sty would be a marvellous start by Bruce. I'd settle for a point there though if I'm honest.

[villan from luton]

Kodjia was the one chasing the keeper down I think. I am feeling positive that a weeks training with Bruce will result in a handsome victory v the noses

[robbo1874]

I hope so mate. I hope so.

[KRS]

You couldn't get much more clinical than that Kodjia finish. Just seen it on YouTube- what a strike.

Yep great strike but how many chances did Kodjia, Ayew and Adomah miss between them today...and how many chances have they fluffed since the start of the season? They need to become consistently more clinical with every game.

[JD]

We won AGAIN (haven't said that for a long time).

Watching the highlights we could/should have won more comfortably but I am happy with 1-0 and its great to see us keep a clean sheet.