Victorious Villa v Drizzle Brizzle post-match thread

[MattW]

He's a good man, Bruce. Cares about his players, takes responsibility, talks straight. In that regard, he's the best we've had for some time. Case in point: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1466688040041927&id=101566839887394&refsrc=http%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2F87l0HrcGni&_rdr.

[paul_e]

Wasn't there last night so how we played I don't know but a welcome 3 points. Hopefully another 3 on Saturday will give the team confidence to go on and have a decent finish to the end of the season.

Ponderous and predictable in the first half, quick and inventive in the second. An encouraging sign of what this squad is capable of. I think Bruce must have had a word with Kodjia during the break because he went from looking like he was trying to do it all on his own against his old club to a player who remembered he was part of a team.

Albert drifted in and Hourihane played a lot further forward. Subtle changes but we looked a different side and you could see the tempo and confidence increase after our first.

Could have had more but we effectively blew them away in a 20 minutes spell and then buttoned down to see it out with ease in the end.

That's the impression I got, we suddenly realised that getting players near our lone forward was worth a go and the whole thing clicked.  This is why it's been so frustrating for the last few weeks because that was so obviously not happening.  If Bruce can get an hour or more of that out of the team for the rest of the season then it'll be the sign that he can actually fix the problems and get us in the mix next year.  He's seen how to do it now so he just needs to show the courage to commit to making it happen regularly.

[mr underhill]

I'd like to see Abraham with us next season - 16 goals in 30 games for Bristol City, only 19, light years away from the first team at the Chavs; even on loan it would be a useful addition, particularly given Hogan's injury record.

[Bad English]

People need to maintain the toilet trip, pancake eating, twitter viewing and match avoiding. It works, but only in combination.

I shall refrain from having a Donald Trump until Rotherham, in the hope that the prolonged bake combined with the other person tossing his hardened batter will create a tsunami butterfly effect leading to a 6-goal victory.

[Ads]

 

Wasn't there last night so how we played I don't know but a welcome 3 points. Hopefully another 3 on Saturday will give the team confidence to go on and have a decent finish to the end of the season.

Ponderous and predictable in the first half, quick and inventive in the second. An encouraging sign of what this squad is capable of. I think Bruce must have had a word with Kodjia during the break because he went from looking like he was trying to do it all on his own against his old club to a player who remembered he was part of a team.

Albert drifted in and Hourihane played a lot further forward. Subtle changes but we looked a different side and you could see the tempo and confidence increase after our first.

Could have had more but we effectively blew them away in a 20 minutes spell and then buttoned down to see it out with ease in the end.

That's the impression I got, we suddenly realised that getting players near our lone forward was worth a go and the whole thing clicked.  This is why it's been so frustrating for the last few weeks because that was so obviously not happening.  If Bruce can get an hour or more of that out of the team for the rest of the season then it'll be the sign that he can actually fix the problems and get us in the mix next year.  He's seen how to do it now so he just needs to show the courage to commit to making it happen regularly.

The second goal was something of a novelty, to have a central midfielder that far forward that he can poach one in from less than ten yards. Hourihane found acres of space and by his presence, made space for Green too as he took a Bristol player deeper or inside with him. We looked a lot more capable and had an idea about how we were going to break them down.

I'd like to see Abraham with us next season - 16 goals in 30 games for Bristol City, only 19, light years away from the first team at the Chavs; even on loan it would be a useful addition, particularly given Hogan's injury record.

I'd rather give RHM a go. I think his pace could cause a lot of problems. Just look at Green last night and the trouble he caused.

[papa lazarou]

I doubt if that referee will progress any further up the ladder of officialdom.
Some very strange decisions and non-decisions.

[Brend'Watkins]

We played with confidence in the 2nd half and showed what we're capable of so more of that please. Two assists by Adomah would suggest he had a big say in the game, my eyes tell me different.

[aj2k77]

MOM Hutton.

You know this is good to see. Everyone wants our players to come good. Its extra nice when someone who has made mistakes in the past has a good game. Hope it continues!

Be interesting to see if the club offer him another year, playing well of late.

Happy for the boys, two wins and clean sheets. Roll on Saturday let's keep this run going.

With De Laet and Bree waiting in the wings we need to trim the squad, you can't really have 3 senior right backs.

[paul_e]

We played with confidence in the 2nd half and showed what we're capable of so more of that please. Two assists by Adomah would suggest he had a big say in the game, my eyes tell me different.

Calling the 2nd an assist is a stretch, he tried to shoot and made such a mess of it that the ball bobbled 5 yards to his left to a completely unmarked Hourihane for what was pretty much a tap in.  Even the first is pretty generous because that goal came purely from a moment of brilliance from Kodjia, to loop a header in from that position was an incredible finish.

[paul_e]

The second goal was something of a novelty, to have a central midfielder that far forward that he can poach one in from less than ten yards. Hourihane found acres of space and by his presence, made space for Green too as he took a Bristol player deeper or inside with him. We looked a lot more capable and had an idea about how we were going to break them down.

I'd like to see Abraham with us next season - 16 goals in 30 games for Bristol City, only 19, light years away from the first team at the Chavs; even on loan it would be a useful addition, particularly given Hogan's injury record.

I'd rather give RHM a go. I think his pace could cause a lot of problems. Just look at Green last night and the trouble he caused.

I agree that it's a novelty, my issue really is that, even with the midfield we started the season with, it shouldn't be.  midfielders and the wingers breaking into the box like that is a fundamental requirement for this setup and it's taken us 3/4s of the season to see it.  Loads of people on here have been saying that we need to close the gap between midfield and attack for months but this is the first time I've seen any evidence that the club had identified that problem.  My concern is that it was Hourihane that did something about it rather than management because we weren't doing it before he came on.

I agree on giving RHM a chance, my concern with going for someone like Abraham is that it's a decision made on the same basis as Gestede, RM, Kodjia and Hogan (i.e. they have a good scoring record at this level) rather than any concept of how we can help them replicate the same form.

[damon loves JT]

Like everyone, I wish this was the win that sent us six points clear at the top of the table. But we have to eat what's on our plate.

If, by the end of the season, we have eleven players who can function as a team, if Green in particular has become a first team regular, if Lansbury and Hourihane and Jedinak develop a proper understanding, if Hogan comes back hungry and fully fit and we've found a way to use Grealish, I would have to be satisfied with that.

But looking at that wish list it's quite a lot to ask. Would be surprised if half of it comes true.

[OzVilla]

I dont think any ofthat is wishful thinking but it pains me to say this but I think finding a use for Grealish could be the one wish too far.
 
Hope I'm wrong.

[chrisw1]

Good to see Hutton being suggested as MOTM for the last two games.  For all the stick he gets he is wholehearted and never gives less than 100%.  Whilst at times he is limited, he is a pretty effective defender and always willing going forward - albeit with hit and miss end product.  He never hides and is always happy to receive the ball.  I suspect he would get in quite a few teams sitting above us in this league and we'd look on and say something like 'he's doing a decent job for them, we could do with him back really.'

[SheffieldVillain]

Like everyone, I wish this was the win that sent us six points clear at the top of the table. But we have to eat what's on our plate.

If, by the end of the season, we have eleven players who can function as a team, if Green in particular has become a first team regular, if Lansbury and Hourihane and Jedinak develop a proper understanding, if Hogan comes back hungry and fully fit and we've found a way to use Grealish, I would have to be satisfied with that.

But looking at that wish list it's quite a lot to ask. Would be surprised if half of it comes true.

Good wish list though. I would add to that RHM getting enough time for us to see whether he can play a big part next season. If he and Green can establish themselves, that's potentially two players we don't need to buy in from elsewhere, on reasonable wages, hopefully with the best part of their careers to come rather than having already reached the pinnacle.

[chrisw1]

Like everyone, I wish this was the win that sent us six points clear at the top of the table. But we have to eat what's on our plate.

If, by the end of the season, we have eleven players who can function as a team, if Green in particular has become a first team regular, if Lansbury and Hourihane and Jedinak develop a proper understanding, if Hogan comes back hungry and fully fit and we've found a way to use Grealish, I would have to be satisfied with that.

But looking at that wish list it's quite a lot to ask. Would be surprised if half of it comes true.

Good wish list though. I would add to that RHM getting enough time for us to see whether he can play a big part next season. If he and Green can establish themselves, that's potentially two players we don't need to buy in from elsewhere, on reasonable wages, hopefully with the best part of their careers to come rather than having already reached the pinnacle.

I think 1, 2 & 3 are realistic and hopeful all will be sorted.  I'm less confident we will get much out of Hogan & Grealish but would love it if we could as I like them both.  Agreed on getting RHM back i the fold, anyone know much about the status of his injury?