Aston Villa v Ipswich Town Post-Match Thread

[oswald funkletrumpet]

To have a transfer window to bring in your own players then playing virtually 6 2 2 at home against the might of ipswich at home is quite frankly the actions of a lunatic

[in exile]

I'm disappointed in myself because it doesn't hurt me as much as it used to

[brian green]

Just home thanks to overhead cables on the Euston line being brought down.  If I had to summarise our plight in the fewest words I would say "badly managed rabble".  The Bruce honeymoon is over.  Happy Birthday Sexual.  You share it with Mel Brooks.  "Where do you plan to go?" "Nowhere special" " Nowhere Special? That's somewhere I have always dreamed of going."

[JUAN PABLO]

One slight ray of hope is that by playing Jedinak we can release Lansbury to play closer to the forwards and his eye for a pass can create chances for them. He was really excellent yesterday, everything we hoped he would be.

we need Jedinak back . He will make a difference with the new midfield

[Tayls_7]

One slight ray of hope is that by playing Jedinak we can release Lansbury to play closer to the forwards and his eye for a pass can create chances for them. He was really excellent yesterday, everything we hoped he would be.

we need Jedinak back . He will make a difference with the new midfield

If after the money we have spent one player I so crucial then things are badly awry. I think playing Hutton and Taylor over Bacuna and Amavi demonstrated his Intention to play five at the back. Against Ipswich at home is outrageous. That's a big concern.

[Mister E]

Jediank will definitely make a difference for both Ange and Houri. The fact that SB does not see the need for another holding DMF player in the side is worrying.

[Marton]

One slight ray of hope is that by playing Jedinak we can release Lansbury to play closer to the forwards and his eye for a pass can create chances for them. He was really excellent yesterday, everything we hoped he would be.

we need Jedinak back . He will make a difference with the new midfield

You only NEED Jedinak if you going to play Elphick or facing a better team that dominating the middle. So the other obvious solution is just not playing Elphick, then you can focus on playing the best productive midfield to support strikers. Jedinak is excellent at winning the ball but he cant pass and build play. Sacrificing 2 spots in the pick to shore up a defensive line against a team we should be attacking most of the time is bonkers. A back 4 without Elphick and Hutton will be good enough now that we have the tools to go forward through the middle and pose a threat. Bruce is fucking up fixing a problem that isn't there anymore and creating an even bigger mess in the process IMHO.

[aj2k77]

I don't get how Bruce said he wanted to play 442 and was looking to make a couple of signings to enable that shape, explained exactly how those players would fit the bill, and then plays some weird 531 game against Ipswich at home? It makes no sense at all - I can't think where his head has gone in such a short time, or what problem he can see that is stopping us from doing that.

He had the stuffing knocked out of him with the Brentford debacle and lost his nerve. You can lose 3-0 away as a rags manager or Wigan manager and not much is said, lose 3-0 away as the big spending Aston Villa and you are under the microscope and the pressure is on. Bruce is struggling to handle the pressure at the moment and by default went in to an even more safety mode. I think he will come good, but this isn't a good sign at the moment.

[pauliewalnuts]

I don't get how Bruce said he wanted to play 442 and was looking to make a couple of signings to enable that shape, explained exactly how those players would fit the bill, and then plays some weird 531 game against Ipswich at home? It makes no sense at all - I can't think where his head has gone in such a short time, or what problem he can see that is stopping us from doing that.

He had the stuffing knocked out of him with the Brentford debacle and lost his nerve. You can lose 3-0 away as a rags manager or Wigan manager and not much is said, lose 3-0 away as the big spending Aston Villa and you are under the microscope and the pressure is on. Bruce is struggling to handle the pressure at the moment and by default went in to an even more safety mode. I think he will come good, but this isn't a good sign at the moment.

The most sensible comment I've read on this subject in a while.

[Dribbler]

Didn't see the game yesterday, and only just reading about it today. It's interesting reading through the thread though and seeing how the initial knee jerk anger and frustration gradually becomes more reflective as the thread goes on.

First off, were we really that bad yesterday? From the sounds of the stats and various reports, we weren't brilliant, but weren't as terrible as some people make out, with good possession and attempts, It sounds as though we should have scored a few, and they scored with their only shot on target because of a mistake. So we lost  1 - 0. Should we really be looking to rip the team, system or manager up yet again? If we'd have slotted one of our chances in yesterday and not made the mistake for their goal, would we now be looking at that game with a much different perspective and see a team that is starting to work together and have potential?

What we're trying to achieve at the moment is somewhat akin to trying to change the wheels on a car... whilst still driving... on a very busy road. It can be done, but it's bloody difficult. All of the changes in the summer, and then the 9 out/9 in, in January have been massively disruptive, and alas it is going to take time.

Someone at the start of the thread said that some seem to value stability over everything else, performances, results etc, yet to me that completely misses the point, the point being that stability is required to bring performances and results in a consistent manner. Stability doesn't guarantee consistent performances and results, but you're unlikely to achieve them without it.

I think someone else mentioned that under RDM we were generally playing better football, which i agree with in the main, but then went on to say that if we're going to keep Bruce we might as well have kept RDM. I'm not sure that's a valid reason for getting rid of Bruce yet, but i do think that we'd be near the top of the table now had RDM still been here and had the time to iron out the flaws in the team. I think we've got to give Bruce that time.

It is pretty hard though when we keep seeing defeats and have moved from being in sight of potential play off places, to now being closer to the relegation zone.

[KevinGage]

Can we just fast forward to May now? The rest of this season is going to be depressing, starting Tuesday night. After that today the crowd on Tuesday will be very very low against lesser opposition and being on Valentines Day.

Alternatively, for a relationship on its last legs, a trip to Villa Park on a grim Tuesday night might just convince her to sling her hook.

Free one for the marketing department there.

[ChicagoLion]

Can we just fast forward to May now? The rest of this season is going to be depressing, starting Tuesday night. After that today the crowd on Tuesday will be very very low against lesser opposition and being on Valentines Day.

Alternatively, for a relationship on its last legs, a trip to Villa Park on a grim Tuesday night might just convince her to sling her hook.

Free one for the marketing department there.

Get dumped by the Tykes and your partner might take a hike.

[sirlordbaltimore]

Didn't think we deserved to lose, same as against Forest but we did.

I'll save my rage for games where I think we did deserve to lose.

[KevinGage]

Can we just fast forward to May now? The rest of this season is going to be depressing, starting Tuesday night. After that today the crowd on Tuesday will be very very low against lesser opposition and being on Valentines Day.

Alternatively, for a relationship on its last legs, a trip to Villa Park on a grim Tuesday night might just convince her to sling her hook.

Free one for the marketing department there.

Get dumped by the Tykes and your partner might take a hike.

Tyke your things and go.

[West Derby Villan]

Didn't see the game yesterday, and only just reading about it today. It's interesting reading through the thread though and seeing how the initial knee jerk anger and frustration gradually becomes more reflective as the thread goes on.

First off, were we really that bad yesterday? From the sounds of the stats and various reports, we weren't brilliant, but weren't as terrible as some people make out, with good possession and attempts, It sounds as though we should have scored a few, and they scored with their only shot on target because of a mistake. So we lost  1 - 0. Should we really be looking to rip the team, system or manager up yet again? If we'd have slotted one of our chances in yesterday and not made the mistake for their goal, would we now be looking at that game with a much different perspective and see a team that is starting to work together and have potential?

What we're trying to achieve at the moment is somewhat akin to trying to change the wheels on a car... whilst still driving... on a very busy road. It can be done, but it's bloody difficult. All of the changes in the summer, and then the 9 out/9 in, in January have been massively disruptive, and alas it is going to take time.

Someone at the start of the thread said that some seem to value stability over everything else, performances, results etc, yet to me that completely misses the point, the point being that stability is required to bring performances and results in a consistent manner. Stability doesn't guarantee consistent performances and results, but you're unlikely to achieve them without it.

I think someone else mentioned that under RDM we were generally playing better football, which i agree with in the main, but then went on to say that if we're going to keep Bruce we might as well have kept RDM. I'm not sure that's a valid reason for getting rid of Bruce yet, but i do think that we'd be near the top of the table now had RDM still been here and had the time to iron out the flaws in the team. I think we've got to give Bruce that time.

It is pretty hard though when we keep seeing defeats and have moved from being in sight of potential play off places, to now being closer to the relegation zone.

I'm with you Dribbler