Victorious Villa v Drizzle Brizzle post-match thread

[amfy]

From my perception Steve Bruce has bought the players (including Hourihane) who play in the style that he wants to play, but most of them weren't here til fairly close to the end of last month, some of them hadn't played for a while, some have been injured, the whole lot have taken a few games to get used to each other.

What we 'have been seeing for months' in terms of how we should be playing hasn't been possible because we haven't had players with the pace or vision to play like that. We've had the players to play like that for about A month, since Bruce bought them.

Even if it was Hourihane who could pull the midfield up towards the frontline - that is what Bruce bought him for surely?

[olaftab]

It appeared from what I've read and the little I've seen that in the second half, Bruce for the first time since coming to the club unlocked the shackles of conservatism and let the team play.

I am pleased we won but it was as bad as anything I have seen at VP under Bruce this season and I am not sure if second half was by design or chance however let's hope people at the club learn from that and we keep improving.

[tomd2103]

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.

To praise Hourihane is fine but it was Gardener who got the penalty by getting beyond Kodjia wasn't it? 

If i was going to criticise the set up with what resources we had at our disposal last night it would be that Lansbury is lying far too deep. Shelvey at Newcastle directs play from the centre circle, runners go off him and he plays balls into the channels. We dont do that.

I don't know if its because Lansbury was one card away from a suspension since he's arrived but Bruce has played him far too deep and hes not had the aggressiveness i associated with him at Forrest. As he moved up field last night he played some delightful passes [not always anticipated by his team mates granted] but he really should be doing more of that for me.

Overall my view was it clicked for about twenty minutes in the second half, no more. By that time we were out of sight as Bristol really had no threat at all.

I would like to see Hourihane and Lansbury pushed further up, with Jedinak sweeping up behind. 

[tomd2103]

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.

Not sure it is too much to ask Damon.  If the side below can get a run of games together in the remainder of the season (I accept Green is now injured ) then we might be in a decent place with only a bit of fine tuning required in the summer:


                                            Johnstone

Hutton                       Chester               Baker               Taylor

                                              Jedinak

                        Lansbury                         Hourihane

Adomah                                    Kodjia                         Green

Oh my days!

In that XI - it's bereft (bar one) of all the wankers who relegated us! Yay!

We're a new team!!

According to most that Hutton played well last night. One game does not make up for the previous I am afraid. He is at the end of his contract come summer so goodbye.

Agree on Hutton.  Might be coincidence, but his performances seem to have picked up a bit since he entered the final couple of months of his contract.  Bree looked neat and tidy when he came on. 

[Chris Jameson]

I'm not going to do the quite thing again because, well, it's a bit silly this isn't it?

[eamonn]

I'm not going to do the quite thing again because, well, it's a bit silly this isn't it?

Yep, time to bond over Sandinista or something.

[Chris Jameson]

I'm not going to do the quite thing again because, well, it's a bit silly this isn't it?

Yep, time to bond over Sandinista or something.

Much underrated album, revisit it from time to time. Anybody who thinks Cut the Crap is anything other than crap is clearly deluded though.

[TheTimVilla]

I would be more than happy if Hutton left.

[JD]

I'm not going to do the quite thing again because, well, it's a bit silly this isn't it?

Yep, time to bond over Sandinista or something.

Much underrated album, revisit it from time to time. Anybody who thinks Cut the Crap is anything other than crap is clearly deluded though.

Only one song on Cut the Crap that is listenable, the rest are awful. 

[Deano's Mullet]

Sandanista is a very mixed bag. On the other hand I think Give Em Enough Rope is V underrated second album - much like The Jam's This Is The Modern World which I think is stronger than In The City.

[Chris Smith]

Sandinista gets a bit silly when they get the kids doing cover versions but there really is some great and diverse stuff on there.

[peter w]

I've watched it a few times and I still think the first came off Kodj's shoulder.