Brighton vs Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[VillaAlways]

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.

It's great when a draw feels like a win, which is exactly how it felt.

[villan from luton]

Must admit I was surprised when queuing at Brighton station to get train to the game (nightmare) that Gabby was playing and even more surprised when he started up to with Kodjia wide left, but think it may have something to do with the international duties.

Have to say I really enjoyed that performance and not just cos I had a couple of quid on Baker as first scorer with sky bet at 100/1. We look a good team in possession and when we didn't have the ball. Thought Jedinak just edged Albert for man of the match and thought Jack was superb when he came on. Think it is unfair to criticise players after a performance like that and am sure the manager will be aware where he needs to improve in January. It is just nice to see a team putting in a shift and seemingly enjoying playing for the club again.

Nightmare getting away from the ground after back into Brighton, tried train and bus and ended up with me and the lad hitching a cab with a couple. Nice ground but they need to sort out their transport. I was speaking with some Brighton fans on the train back from Brighton and they were very complimentary about Villa, except for one bloke who said we only looked good as we caught them on a bad night and Grealish did nothing when he came on and even then we were lucky to get a draw. Just laughed at his assessment.

Well done to the manager and players, and brilliant support by the fans and this was also noted by the Brighton fans who I was speaking to. 

[eamonn]

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?

Modern marriage?

[eamonn]

I know it probably seems a bit unfair as they worked hard but I think Bacuna playing instead of Hutton or Westwood and we would have won.

[LeeB]

I know it probably seems a bit unfair as they worked hard but I think Bacuna playing instead of Hutton or Westwood and we would have won.

Bacuna instead of both of them and we'd win handsomely.

[oldtimernow]

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

Thought Hutton was very poor in the attacking third with nothing to offer with his forays forward which then left the left flank very exposed to counter-attack  5

Amarvi was a bit of a liability in defence and looked more comfortable when we were in the ascendancy going forward  6

Gardner was anonymous  whilst Jedinak and Westwood had their best games in a long while.

Gabby Huff and puff but no product would prefer to see RHM given a go

Kodjia and Ayew both short of their best but gave glimpses of what they could do.

Adomah and Jedinak were rivals for the MOM

[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?

Modern marriage?

I have no complaints most of the time.

Unlike her.

[Kingthing]

Took almost 4 hours to get back to London, 4 trains 1 buss and 55 quid in 3 taxis.
 Great atmosphere again

[Chico Hamilton III]

Spent more time queuing for trains that watching football. I won't bother going if were unlucky enough to have to play there again. Shame because we had a brilliant afternoon in Brighton.

[damon loves JT]

I don't care who's in the top two. We will hunt them down. Teams are going to have to worry about us for a change.

[dorsetvillian]

About 15 Bournemouth Lions met in a pub not more than 3 miles from the ground that ran its own shuttle bus. Easy enough, although quite a wait to get back to the pub afterwards. Didn't think much of the Amex. The whole build up to the game felt more like going to a concert than to watch football. How lucky we are to have such a wonderful stadium as Villa Park. Walking up to the game is just part of the whole match day experience. Great performance and support.

[Brend'Watkins]

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

Amarvi was a bit of a liability in defence and looked more comfortable when we were in the ascendancy going forward  6

Agree with that.  He did some good things there but his ability to read the flight of the ball is shocking. I've noticed it a few times now where he could easily have let in the player he's supposed to be marking.

[Steve kirk]

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

Amarvi was a bit of a liability in defence and looked more comfortable when we were in the ascendancy going forward  6

Agree with that.  He did some good things there but his ability to read the flight of the ball is shocking. I've noticed it a few times now where he could easily have let in the player he's supposed to be marking.

I'm also unsure about Amavi, he is ok but no more than that, defensively he frightens me and we need someone more solid.

[SoccerHQ]

Surprised with that....Garry Thompson on WM was raving about Amavi....said his positional play was spot on.

What I would like as the season progresses is for our full backs to be given more licence to get forward as Amavi can certainly add quality in the final third with his crossing.

[Matt Collins]

I thought amavi started dodgily but got better both defensively and offensively

Jedinak. All I can say is I now see the player he was supposed to be. It's great to have such an effective screen in front of the defence