Brighton vs Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

Played well and want to praise all...

...except Gabby, who was poor as usual.

The last player we need to get rid of to remove any of the losing matches and accepting it attitude (though I don't like Hutton and Ally, I don't think you can deny they serve a purpose for the team. Plus they haven't acted in a twattish manner like Gabby has).

[Villatillidie1982]

That was the most entertaining game I have seen involving Villa in a long time. Their goal was a cracker but they didn't offer much else. Jack and Ayew must start. Gabby looks interested and fitter and is an option. Things looking good. Onwards and upwards.

[purpletrousers]

Thanks for all the comments, for various reasons I ended up not going tonight and clearly missed a fine perfornance, it's so good to catch up and read people feeling they've got their club back.
Could we have dared dream for a better Brucie bounce?
The singer who organised & invited me to the Leonard Cohen tribute I went to instead said she hoped it was worth missing the football for (there were moments of sheer beauty), having been in a signal-less basement my comment was I'd have to check the result! It's been a dark period for Villa, and especially in the current political climate it's great they are bringing some hope! Up the villa (finally)!

[KevinGage]

Another positive to take from tonight (not necessarily the biggest, but it does contribute to our overall fortitude and recovery) is another game without the late goal against.

A couple of weeks ago that shot from their winger cutting in from the left late on goes in.

It will take us a while to get the monkey off of our back completely. But it feels like a late goal against is possible now, rather than inevitable.

[Percy McCarthy]

Thanks for all the comments, for various reasons I ended up not going tonight and clearly missed a fine perfornance, it's so good to catch up and read people feeling they've got their club back.
Could we have dared dream for a better Brucie bounce?
The singer who organised & invited me to the Leonard Cohen tribute I went to instead said she hoped it was worth missing the football for (there were moments of sheer beauty), having been in a signal-less basement my comment was I'd have to check the result! It's been a dark period for Villa, and especially in the current political climate it's great they are bringing some hope! Up the villa (finally)!

Yes, nice reading all the positive comments even though it makes me jel having not seen it.

I was at work 1-9. Earlier in the week I said I had an eye test at 7.30. The gaffer didn't fall for that. Then I found out about a health and safety meeting at 11.30 which I blagged my way into and so engineered myself an early dart. When I got home my wifi was down so couldn't watch on my father-in-law's Sky Go, which is linked to my iPad. At the end of the game, which I followed on here, I said to the missus 'I can't believe I ran round like a twat all day getting all my work done early to watch the game and then I come home and the wifi's not working'. 'It only needs rebooting' she said.

True enough, it worked. 'What a shame you never thought of that earlier' I said sarcastically.

Modern football eh?

[old man villa fan]

In addition, when the attack comes from the other wing, he is a more than capable ad-hoc central defender

I think that this is the weakest part of his game.  The number of times he lets players get in front of him.  Is this due to misreading of the situation or lack of concentration, I don't know.

I didn't see the match as I am in Thailand and at 3am trying to find it on the hotel TV, I gave up and went to bed. Normally I would follow the match on here but being first night after the flight and a few beers, bed seemed the better option. Sounds as though it was a good game and we played well. Once again pleased for the travelling fans, who I have a great deal of respect for.

Somebody commented that they felt that we didn't look losing at any time. I felt like that during the Blues match. I don't know what it is but you just have this sense.

[Villan For Life]

I'm enjoying watching the Villa again. It's a while since I used the words "enjoyment" and "Villa" in the same sentence.

[Tony Erdington]

And Westwood put in a very good performance, hassling and chasing at every opportunity

He was a man possessed today. I thought that he was going to get himself sent off

I had to do a double take when I saw him tackle someone.

if he gets near the team after January, I for one will be disappointed. he's lightweight I agree he tried against brighton, but he is not good enough.

[Villafirst]

Westwood is a decent passers-by but simply weak in the tackle and gets easily out-muscled in 50-50 situation. Bacuna next time please.

[berneboy]

In my opinion we need:

One new right back.

One defence splitting midfielder.

Maybe another striker on loan to cover the African cup players.

The 'new right back' was supposed to be and hopefully will be De Laet.
Gabby can only be playing to get some cover for January as I can't see he will ever be good enough now.
But we do need a top central midfielder as Gardner and Westwood work hard but ...

[Matt Collins]

My ratings

Gollini 7

Hutton 6 - going forwards 3
Chester 7
Baker 7
Amavi 7

Westwood 7
Jedinak 8
Gardner 6

Adomah 8
Gabby 5 (worked hard but can't think of 1 good thing?)
Kodjia 6

Ayew 6
Grealish 8

[SteveN]

Stuck in hospital limited wifi didn't realise we were playing on Friday

Great to read the positive comments, even BBC referred to our second half onslaught.  More please.

[Chris Smith]

To go away to the form team in the division and be the better team and have their manager happy with a point shows what a good performance it was. Bruce has us better organised, plays players in their best positions, uses the squad well and appears to have improved the overall fitness of the players.

After a team performance like that I don't think it is fair for individuals to be singled out for criticism because they all played a part in the win and over the course of a season we are going to need contributions from more than just a core dozen players.

[Ian.]

I will be most interested to see if this position is high on SB's priority list of replacements in January.

The trouble is, there can't be many right backs who would be good enough to get into the team in January but then be happy as a reserve once de Laet is back.

Loan maybe Dave?  That said, not really sure we need one if Bacuna is going to be played there.

There's also Bacuna who has been very good this season.

[Legion]

Highlights