Aston Villa 1-0 Wigan Post Match Thread

[tomd2103]

Started off brightly and nearly scored a great goal but after 15 minutes we were dragged down to their level. They'd clearly come for a draw,  setting up with 4-5-1 or even 4-6 for most of the game and we just couldn't break them down. The next hour was just drab, with lack of imagination (especially from free kicks) and lots of mistakes. But we picked it up again in the last 15 minutes and Jack scored a superb goal to seal the points. Positives - Jedinak (maybe MOTM again for me), Hutton always looking to drive forward, and I thought Amavi had a decent game. Negatives - Gardner was poor - really not sure he's got it; Gollini remains surgically attached to his goal line even when the ball is 3 yards away and his hesitation creates panic clearances;and as far as I'm concerned the sooner Ayew fucks off to the ACN the better - looking more and more like a selfish show pony.  Poor game, dreadful weather on the way back, but that goal from Jack made the day.

Would agree with most of that, including the weather and the soaking on the way back to the car.  I would add though that even Jedinak gave the ball away sloppily on a few occasions.  I share your concerns about Gardner - he's featured quite a bit now and continues to give the ball away regularly.  Desperately need at least one new midfielder in January.

I did think it was noticeable, however, that we looked a lot fitter than them in the closing stages, which wasn't the case in earlier games.  We really picked it up in the last 20 minutes, though we were still pretty poor for the majority of the game before that. 

[Witton Warrior]

First 15 minutes we ran at them, moved the ball quickly and could have scored.

Then we let them back into the game and played at their level for the rest of the match.
It was an abysmal game. Jedinak is OK as a destroyer but when he comes away with the ball his passing seems to be utter crap (mostly) with the odd really decent ball. We didn't pass accurately and we don't move into space. If we had played the basics well we would have smashed Wigan. Gardner is stronger than Westwood, there was a contested ball in the first half that Gary won and brought away smartly. Westwood would have lost the tussle.

A Manure "follower" of my acquaintance texted me that he wished Villa luck today but thought "you need more than luck". I have had great delight replying that we relied on individual brilliance. Cheeky bastard.

[Nev]

Lay on my bed two and a half hours ago. Just woke up to see final score

Did I miss much?

AA Gill died. But you're still alive, so there's that.

Always found him sneering and unpleasant, but never nice when someone goes relatively young.

My favourite Gillfact was that his mom was Madame Peignoir in that episode of Fawlty Towers.

You naughty man.

I never knew that.

[Mister E]

Started off brightly and nearly scored a great goal but after 15 minutes we were dragged down to their level. They'd clearly come for a draw,  setting up with 4-5-1 or even 4-6 for most of the game and we just couldn't break them down. The next hour was just drab, with lack of imagination (especially from free kicks) and lots of mistakes. But we picked it up again in the last 15 minutes and Jack scored a superb goal to seal the points. Positives - Jedinak (maybe MOTM again for me), Hutton always looking to drive forward, and I thought Amavi had a decent game. Negatives - Gardner was poor - really not sure he's got it; Gollini remains surgically attached to his goal line even when the ball is 3 yards away and his hesitation creates panic clearances;and as far as I'm concerned the sooner Ayew fucks off to the ACN the better - looking more and more like a selfish show pony.  Poor game, dreadful weather on the way back, but that goal from Jack made the day.

Would agree with most of that, including the weather and the soaking on the way back to the car.  I would add though that even Jedinak gave the ball away sloppily on a few occasions.  I share your concerns about Gardner - he's featured quite a bit now and continues to give the ball away regularly.  Desperately need at least one new midfielder in January.

I did think it was noticeable, however, that we looked a lot fitter than them in the closing stages, which wasn't the case in earlier games.  We really picked it up in the last 20 minutes, though we were still pretty poor for the majority of the game before that. 

it was a poor game, generally. Jack's goal was good, but he was too peripheral for too long.
Jedinak was pretty good: he gave the ball away a couple of times, but he was always looking to move the ball quickly - which is what we need to do to break down the packed defences - and always seemed to be in the right place at the right time.
Ayew flatters to deceive; Kodjia needs to stop listening to the hype; Adomah is not as good I thought he might be.
Amavi is really good; Hutton is a trier, albeit limited; Gardner has found his level; Gestede should not play for us ever again.

[Brend'Watkins]

Jedinak is really playing well now, if we can get a playmaker next to him we'll dominate teams.

He still loses the ball too much for me though.

I do wonder if he had someone capable next to him he'd be able to just lay off simple passes and his error rate would drop.

I think so too. I think Jedinak can be class at times but sometimes he tries to do too much and he makes mistakes. One thing's for certain though and that's the fact he's miles better than both Gardner and Westwood. The former was absolutely useless today. We just have to finally fix the midfield in January if we're to have any chance of promotion this season.

Jedinak as good as he does the stuff he's meant to do still makes some horrendous passing mistakes. Twice today he made passes into no mans land when not under any pressure. In all honesty this is his level as it is for most of our lot, Gralish excepted, who was head and shoulders the best player on the park by a mile. He should shoot more, he has it in him.

I'm a big fan of Ayew but he really does need a size 12 boot up the arse. Just think about what you're doing and you really would be something.

[PeterWithe]

They were very well organised if lacking in any ambition whatsoever, it was always going to take either a mistake or a moment of brilliance to open them up. A wonderful goal.

Fucking horrendous weather mind.

[l_mckay]

What a poor game that was couldn't see a goal coming. Though Gardener and Ayew were very poor,Amavi was our best player by far. What a goal to win it,made the terrible journey home more enjoyable. UTV!!!!

[brontebilly]

18 points from 9 games would suggest significant improvement under Bruce but performances seem as poor as ever on the games I've seen. For those going to the games what are your thoughts?

Amavi is in, Jedinak settled as the defensive blocker in midfield but are we still an unbalanced rabble apart from that? There seems to be no real shape at the top of the pitch particularly and no idea why Gardner is starting ahead of the three midfielders on our bench today.

[PeterWithe]

We are far more solid and organised at the back and there is a solidity in midfield without it being particularly dynamic, it's up front where we haven't really gelled, with the players we have we should be creating lots of chances but it's not really happening, yes we've seen some great individual goals but the fluidity is still to come.

[UK Redsox]

15 minutes of domination, 73 minutes of the dullest rubbish going and then one moment of brilliance.

[TonyD]

Have all winnable games before January.  Then we sign a Bremner and Barry duo type midfielders with Jack able to play in free role without any fear of losing the ball on his runs and we will truly run riot.

[peter w]

I think that given the unbalanced, and it certain areas, rank average players that we have in some important positions, Bruce's job is just getting us to January with us in or sniffing around the play-offs. Then we can sell the club a lot easier to Premier League players to come in as we can pay Premier League wages and offer a good chance of being back in the top flight next season. Also I expect better performances and seeing starting to put more teams away a lot earlier and a lot more convincingly.

[olaftab]

18 points from 9 games would suggest significant improvement under Bruce but performances seem as poor as ever on the games I've seen. For those going to the games what are your thoughts?

Football is not great and we are bits and pieces outfit but hey I don't expect anything more from a Bruce team.

[enigma]

SB needs to give Tshibola a run in the midfield.

Bruce really doesn't seem to rate him much though does he?

[Tony Erdington]

Wigan are gash, we weren't much better, but thinks we used our get out of jail card today.

my motm  Jedi