Victorious Aston Villa v Derby Post Match Thread.

[paul richard]

Some further reflections on yesterdays game:

For the first time in a while we got a break.  Baker on Bent in the first half was a nailed on pen.  We got away with it. 

Bacuna is a ghostly non-player occupying a shirt in the middle of the park, contributing almost nothing constructive and mostly chasing shadows as the game proceeds around him.  We were effectively a man light for much of the game.

For the first time since (I think) QPR away in mid-Dec, we kept a clean sheet.  Congrats to the defence for that.  Chester and Baker were an effective pairing at the back (so why did Elphick play ahead of Baker at Newcastle??) and I'm pleased to say that Hutton had an excellent game at right back. 

Taylor currently looks a better bet than Amavi at left back.  Amavi, in his brief appearance towards the end, still looks short of confidence.

What happened to Green yesterday?  Ineffective and under-used in the first half, he missed a difficult chance at the start of the second and seemed to lose confidence and heart thereafter.  He had one opportunity to escape down the left shortly after and looked clueless, and looked knackered after around 60 mins.  No surprise to see him hauled off a few mins later.  Odd for a teenager to look so exhausted so soon.  Not fully fit?  Along with Adomah, I thought both our wide players were below par yesterday

I suppose by the law of averages we were going to get away with one of those backs to the wall rearguard actions eventually, and yesterday was the day.  A hugely welcome 3 pts but how can we look so desperate against such moderate looking sides like Derby (and Ipswich, Forest, Wolves etc etc)?  We were in retreat for the majority of the 2nd half, not just the last 20 mins as has been suggested by others on here. 

We are less than the sum of our parts but there is a team in there somewhere.  It's Bruce's job in the remaining games this season to pull it together.

[paul_e]

It's not about revelling in being disgusted it's that we need to be a lot better than that if we want to be anything more than a mid-table championship team.  We had a run of good results when Bruce arrived, people said the performances would come with confidence but that never happened and we actually went the other way because there are 3 parts of creating a good team:  Good players, Confidence and Good Coaching.  We have the former and have had all season compared to most sides in this league.  The other 2 are harder but focusing on 1 and ignoring the other won't bring us success.

One of the common lines on here is that we don't know what goes on at BMH and that sums the problem up.  There's nothing in our play to suggest we've worked on anything in training.  We're not fit, we're not solid in defence, we're not great at set pieces (at either end), we don't move the ball around well and show for each other.  We look like a 'team' made of people who've trained on their own all week and who only seen each other for the journey and changing room.  That's why people are still concerned because a very welcome 3 points does nothing to solve those problems when it comes in such a shitty way.

[Tony Erdington]

imo we were what we have been for years Gash, yesterday. But sometimes it takes a bit of luck, to kick start something. the biggest problem now is confidence, I know (us that go) go to VP to be entertained, and as paying customers I suppose have a right to moan, but that is a big part of the problem, as the game went on the anxiety from the terraces imo got to the players, and for most of the second half we had most of our players in the our final third,

Adomah did little yesterday, Bacuna less.

Hutton is my first name on the team sheet, and yes Green keep him involved I like him, Jedi had a good game. I swear the united goalkeeper would have thrown one in the net had they had a shot, Chester and Baker goodish.

[Brian Taylor]

We won. Mid-table struggle from here on until we sort a positive formulae  at least we beat the last from be minutes bogie. Which is a start.

[andyh]

Some further reflections on yesterdays game:

For the first time in a while we got a break.  Baker on Bent in the first half was a nailed on pen.  We got away with it. 

Bacuna is a ghostly non-player occupying a shirt in the middle of the park, contributing almost nothing constructive and mostly chasing shadows as the game proceeds around him.  We were effectively a man light for much of the game.

For the first time since (I think) QPR away in mid-Dec, we kept a clean sheet.  Congrats to the defence for that.  Chester and Baker were an effective pairing at the back (so why did Elphick play ahead of Baker at Newcastle??) and I'm pleased to say that Hutton had an excellent game at right back. 

Taylor currently looks a better bet than Amavi at left back.  Amavi, in his brief appearance towards the end, still looks short of confidence.

What happened to Green yesterday?  Ineffective and under-used in the first half, he missed a difficult chance at the start of the second and seemed to lose confidence and heart thereafter.  He had one opportunity to escape down the left shortly after and looked clueless, and looked knackered after around 60 mins.  No surprise to see him hauled off a few mins later.  Odd for a teenager to look so exhausted so soon.  Not fully fit?  Along with Adomah, I thought both our wide players were below par yesterday

I suppose by the law of averages we were going to get away with one of those backs to the wall rearguard actions eventually, and yesterday was the day.  A hugely welcome 3 pts but how can we look so desperate against such moderate looking sides like Derby (and Ipswich, Forest, Wolves etc etc)?  We were in retreat for the majority of the 2nd half, not just the last 20 mins as has been suggested by others on here. 

We are less than the sum of our parts but there is a team in there somewhere.  It's Bruce's job in the remaining games this season to pull it together.

A very good summation and I pretty much agree with all of it.
Playing with 2 left backs for the last 20 minutes was very strange, especially when Jack could have replaced Green.
I'm sure Amavi was supposed to be playing infront of Taylor but his natural reaction was to keep dropping back into the positions that he would normally occupy so he offered no relief in bringing the ball out or helping to relieve the pressure.

[Ads]

We didn't play with two left backs, Amavi was left midfield.

[four fornicholl]

As well as lacking in confidence, a much greater concern for me is a distinct lack (almost nonexistence) of team spirit.

[Clampy]

As well as lacking in confidence, a much greater concern for me is a distinct lack (almost nonexistence) of team spirit.

I'm not sure where you get that from bearing in mind they battled to keep a clean sheet yesterday. Hardly 'non existence'  really.

[in exile]

Sorry if it's been mentioned, but why was Hourihane missing?

[four fornicholl]

As well as lacking in confidence, a much greater concern for me is a distinct lack (almost nonexistence) of team spirit.

I'm not sure where you get that from bearing in mind they battled to keep a clean sheet yesterday. Hardly 'non existence'  really.

Not really as whole though.

[ktvillan]

Unconvincing but there's been many a game we've deserved to win and haven't.  We were very very lucky with the pen decision, difficult to imagine a clearer foul.  With that and the late decision by the linesman one does wonder about the eyesight and competence of some of the officials.   The lino could not have had a better view of the throw in and yet managed to be the only person in the ground to think Bacuna put it out.  Mind boggling.

[Chris Jameson]

Sorry if it's been mentioned, but why was Hourihane missing?

Which match in particular?

[in exile]

Sorry if it's been mentioned, but why was Hourihane missing?

Which match in particular?

Very, very good!

[Richard E]

Sorry if it's been mentioned, but why was Hourihane missing?

Dead leg after colliding with Bacuna in training.

[in exile]

Sorry if it's been mentioned, but why was Hourihane missing?

Dead leg after colliding with Bacuna in training.

Bloody Bacuna!!!
Thanks Richard