Aston Villa v Burton Albion Post-Match Thread

[SoccerHQ]

Don't think it had enough pace to cross the line, think one of the defenders would've cleared it.

They couldn't get near Grealish though, bemused he didn't start.

Bruce maybe thinks he doesn't have the concentration to stay in the game for ninety minutes. He certainly looked a class apart today, his control of the ball is incredible. And the way he can open up space with a short simple pass

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think he's started most of our home games since SB came in and he's been benched for most of the aways like Ayew.

I just think at home to Burton playing 4-3-3 and those 3 in the middle not being great going forward showed Burton too much respect and probably gave them confidence to push forward and give us a proper game.

Once we got Grealish and Ayew on they couldn't get in our half.

[damon loves JT]

Don't think it had enough pace to cross the line, think one of the defenders would've cleared it.

They couldn't get near Grealish though, bemused he didn't start.

Bruce maybe thinks he doesn't have the concentration to stay in the game for ninety minutes. He certainly looked a class apart today, his control of the ball is incredible. And the way he can open up space with a short simple pass

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think he's started most of our home games since SB came in and he's been benched for most of the aways like Ayew.

I just think at home to Burton playing 4-3-3 and those 3 in the middle not being great going forward showed Burton too much respect and probably gave them confidence to push forward and give us a proper game.

Once we got Grealish and Ayew on they couldn't get in our half.

You're absolutely right of course.

[LeeB]

He sounds clueless to me.

He sounds honest but it also sounds like he hasn't got the formula right. He probably wants to play a certain way and doesn't have the midfield for it. We seem to play a game that bypasses the midfield because it is in many ways a liability. So in a way it was good to at least see a midfield get forward and score. But he's missing certain types of players in my opinion for what he wants to achieve.

I honestly think they've decided we're more of a danger to ourselves with the ball than without it.
It's uber pragmatism and I'm on board. At the moment we remind me a lot of the team that last got promoted.

no where near as good when you consider the players we had then, Spinks Gage Mcinally Birch Gray Keown Thompson + Daley Platt Walters coming through.
I would swap that team for this one any day.

We were not fluid and barely won at home. The point I'm making is we were organised and ground out results.

[PeterWithesShin]

no where near as good when you consider the players we had then, Spinks Gage Mcinally Birch Gray Keown Thompson + Daley Platt Walters coming through.
I would swap that team for this one any day.

Worth remembering that McInally was shit that season, Platt wasn't signed until the last couple of months, Walters was gone after less than half the season, Gray and Thompson were signed halfway through the season and Daley only started about 10 games. It's not like we had all those you listed firing on all cylinders for the whole season.

[Brend'Watkins]

We were pretty much rubbish throughout but we won. Grealish changed it, the one player who can take the game to the opposition.  Special mention for Kodja, really poor today.

[Witton Warrior]

When we get a midfield after 5 years of waiting we will be dangerous.
The difference at home seems to be we can score from chances when opponents can't - if we had found our players with passes like Burton were we would have destroyed them but they couldn't finish.
Agree it was flat today but it always is when we get a lot of big-day fans in - it upsets the careful balance we have built up in the Holte after years of disappointment and dissipates the focus

[London Villan]

We were poor at home in 87/88.

[adrenachrome]

I love it when a team that's trying to waste time after sixty minutes concedes a late goal and starts getting arsey because the other team runs down the clock.

Though there was something utterly tragic about Gabby picking up the ball just outside his own box and not even getting as far as the halfway line.

The spirit was willing but the flesh was fat.

[J]

Not a great performance but a win is a win. Looked so much better when Grealish and Ayew came on.

[LeeB]

Not a great performance but a win is a win. Looked so much better when Grealish and Ayew came on.

And we and they have been poor often when starting. I think it's been a deliberate strategy in parts to stay tight for an hour and then let the big guns run free for half an hour in the space now available.

It's worked extremely well as an antidote to the early season form.

[rougegorge]

When we get a midfield after 5 years of waiting we will be dangerous.
The difference at home seems to be we can score from chances when opponents can't - if we had found our players with passes like Burton were we would have destroyed them but they couldn't finish.
Agree it was flat today but it always is when we get a lot of big-day fans in - it upsets the careful balance we have built up in the Holte after years of disappointment and dissipates the focus

Yes the midfield is always a problem. In January we need a 'string puller' who gathers and sets things going forwards quickly. I couldn't understand Grealish not starting given we were at home and the level of opposition. When he came on it had them on the back foot and I thought McCormack improved as a result. Kodjia didn't have a good day,  but bringing Gabby on?...

[KRS]

Shite performance but still managing to scrape results whilst playing badly is all that matters.

Watched the highlights and thought Kodjia was level for the disallowed goal.

[Pat McMahon]

Chuffed with the win but I tight the performance was very average.

Highlights were Chester and Baker, and Bunn did very well too. Grealish played well in parts, and Ayew had a decent cameo. I thought Hutton was not as poor as many on here, whereas the more skilful Amavi was below par.

I paid more attention to McCormack than usual as I have never worked out his best position. He and Kodjia seem to have no understanding at all, but he combined well with Grealish in the second half. That made me think of my observation against Wigan that Kodjia, Adomah, Ayew all have a tendency to dribble and keep possession for a few seconds rather than playing quick ball and creating quick passing moves. I think McCormack ( and others) often find it hard to anticipate when the ball will be released and thus their timing and movement is askew. It was notable that Bacuna's goal came from Adomah taking one touch and then putting a quality cross in immediately.

Oh and Kodjia has many qualities but staying onside isn't one of them.

[b23]

Burton didn't deserve to lose. They came to play football, and did.

Bunn, saved a certain goal in both halves.

Jedinak was great again. Shame he got the hook.

Grealish. Fantastic.

Come on you Lions !!  Beat Leeds and Cardiff.

[villabear]

I think sometimes we're too 'nice' a team in this league. Said a lot for me after their goal the team all stood about looking sorry for themselves with no one trying to rally the others. Definitely need a character who as well as leading by example doesn't give a sh*t about upsetting anyone when they're playing below par and telling it like it is. Hopefully Steve's got some idea of who come January.