Aston Villa v Ipswich Town Post-Match Thread

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The football under RDM was woeful at the end.

[paul_e]

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

The bold bit is just silly.  bouncing around between managers isn't ideal but neither is sticking with a manager who is making a pigs ear of things.  I also think people have a habit of saying stability when they should be saying consistency.  Once you change that word it becomes fairly clear that being consistently poor doesn't help anyone.  Part of the reason for the lack of stability at the club is that the managers haven't been able to settle on a consistent style or shape to the side.  The inconsistency between who we signed and how we're now playing is why people are so confused by the 532.  People keep saying the team needs to gel because there's no consistency to selection or style so the players look lost.  Even the way we appoint managers has been painfully inconsistent.  The stability you all value so highly needs to come from the board and needs to be based on the idea that 'the villa way' isn't down to who the manager is or who our best players are, it's something we do all through the club and it defines what type of staff and players we appoint.

[Risso]

Exactly Paul, it's why Lerner made such a mess of things. From Houllier to Lambert, then Sherwood and Garde, it was crazily inconsistent.

[paul_e]

Exactly Paul, it's why Lerner made such a mess of things. From Houllier to Lambert, then Sherwood and Garde, it was crazily inconsistent.

Yep, all the talk of him withdrawing funds, etc takes away from the real mistake he made which was to have no knowledge of the game himself and to fail to add someone to bring and knowledge and create a 'vision' for him.  If the board don't know what they want or have any idea how to get there then you're never going to have any stability at the club.  We have Wyness and Round now, between them they need to work out the short, mid and long term goals and start straightening Bruce out in line with those.

[ironmaidenmania]

Thought we played reasonably well first half with a number of chances and half chances. 352 works well in this league but you need to play attacking wingbacks. Amavi & Adomah should have started. If you play full backs you end up defending as 5 with no support for midfield. Would like to see this on Tuesday but with those two starting instead of Taylor (woeful debut) and Hutton (who tries). But away from home revert to a flat back 4 and play on the counter.

Stick with Bruce because we need stability now more than ever and another change of manager will make things worse.

[mr underhill]

Well you can't say that with total conviction, it could result in things getting better . What strikes me though is the consistency of the top six- by and large it hasn't really changed since the first few games and as far as I am aware none of them have changed managers other than our neighbours who started well, appointed Zola and morphed into shite

[castlefields_villan]

I can't see us winning the league this season.

Thank you Legion for bringing a smile to my face on this Monday afternoon.   

Us Villans always have had the ability to face up to reality !

[castlefields_villan]

I can't see us winning the league this season.

Thank you Legion for bringing a smile to my face on this Monday afternoon.   

Us Villans always have had the ability to face up to reality !

it is still mathematically possible though !!

[West Derby Villan]

I can't see us winning the league this season.

Thank you Legion for bringing a smile to my face on this Monday afternoon.   

Us Villans always have had the ability to face up to reality !

it is still mathematically possible though !!

Unfortunately our team isn't very good at maths

[Malandro]

I can't see us winning the league this season.

Thank you Legion for bringing a smile to my face on this Monday afternoon.   

Us Villans always have had the ability to face up to reality !

it is still mathematically possible though !!

Unfortunately our team isn't very good at maths

That's unfair, Gabby is at one with Pi. Richards is good at creating divisions too.

[castlefields_villan]

After Steve Bruce's decent start, the new year's performances don't "add up" to me.

[SoccerHQ]

After Steve Bruce's decent start, the new year's performances don't "add up" to me.

I think the good pre xmas run lulled SB into thinking he had enough to cope once Kodjia went to AFNC. It wasn't and we've lost a lot of momentum since.

Bad managerial error from someone so experienced.

[CJ]

After Steve Bruce's decent start, the new year's performances don't "add up" to me.

Bad times indeed

[BOB MANSFIELD]

After Steve Bruce's decent start, the new year's performances don't "add up" to me.

I think the good pre xmas run lulled SB into thinking he had enough to cope once Kodjia went to AFNC. It wasn't and we've lost a lot of momentum since.

Bad managerial error from someone so experienced.

I personally think he knew precisely what he had pre- AFCON......almost zilch and a transfer window coming along.
But as the manager, he had to keep his thoughts to himself and pronounce big that he had faith in Agbonlahor et al even though he only had Davis to turn to. He knew by then that McCormack was a lost case.

I think it was all a matter of having to play through and hope for a little miracle or two - which didn't come along.
He's not daft, he's been there before. He knows which players are a waste of space, but they were all he had.
And the Ipswich match hasn't changed his thoughts that this squad is the one he will work hard with.

[PeterWithe]

I just remembered that during the second half we one a free kick near the Holte and Bjarni had a look at it, a handful in the Holte started to do that Icelandic clap thing, it's one thing being at the arse end of the Championship but quite another to start this nonsense. Thankfully it didn't catch on. Zero tolerance please.