All conquering Aston Villa 1-0 QPR

[tomd2103]

I went along for the first time in a while last night.  The first 5-10 minutes were great, an excellent goal, hit the woodwork and some other promising play and good football.  It had me wondering if the long awaited hiding we've supposedly been due to give someone would finally materialise.  Unfortunately it was gradually and then rapidly downhill after that. 

The second half must rate as one of the poorest displays I've witnessed even in these straitened times.  We couldn't seem to control, pass or hold on to the ball at all for long periods of it, and the decision making for passes was abject.  The worst area was down our left where from about the 60th minute onwards Bacuna, Amavi and Taylor contrived to screw up just about every touch.  Yet we still managed to make more clear cut chances than QPR, who had zero cutting edge - luckily for us.  On the plus side the two centre backs played well and looked solid, and Johnstone looked untroubled except  for a couple of dodgy back passes from Taylor and a couple of occasions when he weirdly chose to punch easily catchable balls.  But I was most impressed with Jedinak who seemed to put in one tackle and interception after another.  OK he got caught out once or twice but generally thought he was excellent, even made a few good passes forward.   Most disappointing was Lansbury who takes a decent corner but didn't really contribute a great deal else - but at least he's not Westwood or Gardner.   Bruce waited too long to change things when it was obvious we were struggling and I thought it was a bit desperate looking bringing on Elphick to try and hold on for the added time. 

Finally a quick mention for Hutton.  I'm one his biggest critics and usually think of him as a waste of space.   I thought he looked ok last night, not great, but just about competent at this level.  He does still look as though he's only just able to cope, and often reminds me of a drowning man just about keeping his head above water.     

Overall it's nor easy to see how that team has won all but one of the last 7 or 8 games and only conceded once.  The amount of possession we give away cheaply would see any decent side bury us I think.

the second half was the poorest I've seen us play for some time.  That fact that we are not conceding goes to show the benefits of having a settled defence (I would include Jedinak and Johnstone as part of that) and that there is very little real quality in the final third in the Championship.  For all the pressure QPR had last night, I don't really remember Johnstone being too stretched. 

I said after the game on Saturday that I felt Bruce had been a bit negative after we scored and I felt it was a bit the samje last night.  Adomah and Amavi spent most of the second half a few yards in front of Hutton and Taylor respectively.  Kodjia became isolated and there was literally nowhere to go when we broke.   

[timeoutbigbar]

I'd rather be playing like this and winning than attempting to replicate Barcelona with mediocre players, losing the ball in our own half and giving away sloppy goals again.   There is a style of football to get you out of the championship.  It's not pretty but at this moment in time its effective.  Just a shame it;s been found a bit too late.

[paul_e]

I'd rather be playing like this and winning than attempting to replicate Barcelona with mediocre players, losing the ball in our own half and giving away sloppy goals again.   There is a style of football to get you out of the championship.  It's not pretty but at this moment in time its effective.  Just a shame it;s been found a bit too late.

This is the sort of reductive argument that gets bandied about all too often when people dare to say anything about how we're playing.  What we're doing now (which is pretty much a defensive 541) and Barcelona aren't the only 2 options, there's a whole array of play styles between those that we could look at.

My concern with games like yesterday and Saturday is that 1 moment of Kodjia like brilliance from the opposition at any point and we're level with them attacking and us hanging on.  It's been effective for the last 8 games but wasn't at all for the 10-12 before that.  I'm not saying I expect us to go on a shocking run again but I'd like to see a genuinely comfortable win at some point, we should have the players to deliver that, or at least to have phases in games where we just take the sting out of things and hold on to the ball.

What really frightens me is the prospect of an injury to Kodjia, I just don't see how we win more than 1 in 4/5 without him.

[Brend'Watkins]

I went along for the first time in a while last night.  The first 5-10 minutes were great, an excellent goal, hit the woodwork and some other promising play and good football.  It had me wondering if the long awaited hiding we've supposedly been due to give someone would finally materialise.  Unfortunately it was gradually and then rapidly downhill after that. 

The second half must rate as one of the poorest displays I've witnessed even in these straitened times.  We couldn't seem to control, pass or hold on to the ball at all for long periods of it, and the decision making for passes was abject.  The worst area was down our left where from about the 60th minute onwards Bacuna, Amavi and Taylor contrived to screw up just about every touch.  Yet we still managed to make more clear cut chances than QPR, who had zero cutting edge - luckily for us.  On the plus side the two centre backs played well and looked solid, and Johnstone looked untroubled except  for a couple of dodgy back passes from Taylor and a couple of occasions when he weirdly chose to punch easily catchable balls.  But I was most impressed with Jedinak who seemed to put in one tackle and interception after another.  OK he got caught out once or twice but generally thought he was excellent, even made a few good passes forward.   Most disappointing was Lansbury who takes a decent corner but didn't really contribute a great deal else - but at least he's not Westwood or Gardner.   Bruce waited too long to change things when it was obvious we were struggling and I thought it was a bit desperate looking bringing on Elphick to try and hold on for the added time. 

Finally a quick mention for Hutton.  I'm one his biggest critics and usually think of him as a waste of space.   I thought he looked ok last night, not great, but just about competent at this level.  He does still look as though he's only just able to cope, and often reminds me of a drowning man just about keeping his head above water.     

Overall it's nor easy to see how that team has won all but one of the last 7 or 8 games and only conceded once.  The amount of possession we give away cheaply would see any decent side bury us I think.

the second half was the poorest I've seen us play for some time.  That fact that we are not conceding goes to show the benefits of having a settled defence (I would include Jedinak and Johnstone as part of that) and that there is very little real quality in the final third in the Championship.  For all the pressure QPR had last night, I don't really remember Johnstone being too stretched. 

I said after the game on Saturday that I felt Bruce had been a bit negative after we scored and I felt it was a bit the samje last night.  Adomah and Amavi spent most of the second half a few yards in front of Hutton and Taylor respectively.  Kodjia became isolated and there was literally nowhere to go when we broke.   

It was poor but not the poorest. If it was the latter we'd have let one or two in. The defence played well overall as a unit even though Taylor was unusually sloppy going forward.

[paul richard]

Some reflections on last night's game:
 
Great start.  Decent first half, with team shape rigidly maintained, and QPR causing us no trouble whatsoever.  Poor second half, sloppy in possession and time spent mostly on the back foot.  Notwithstanding all of the above, we have a settled and increasingly confident looking back 6, including goalkeeper and Jedinak holding in midfield.  In the end QPR lacked quality to break us down.
We have the best striker in the League.
We have a yawning gap of four places in the team, consisting of the wide players and the two central midfield positions.  This is where the creativity and drive within the team should lie, but instead there is a void, in which the ball is treated as a hot potato, passing is hurried and possession is quickly lost.  No one has either the ability or the confidence to get on the ball, direct traffic and make things happen.
Lansbury was invisible on Saturday v Norwich and was only slightly better v QPR.
Bacuna is always abysmal.  How on earth does he get a game?  No composure, and spends all his time chasing shadows.
Why did Hourihane not start?  Does Bruce judge Bacuna more worthy of a place in the team?  Seriously?
What does Jack have to do to get a game?

[PaulWinch again]

I'd rather be playing like this and winning than attempting to replicate Barcelona with mediocre players, losing the ball in our own half and giving away sloppy goals again.   There is a style of football to get you out of the championship.  It's not pretty but at this moment in time its effective.  Just a shame it;s been found a bit too late.

This is the sort of reductive argument that gets bandied about all too often when people dare to say anything about how we're playing.  What we're doing now (which is pretty much a defensive 541) and Barcelona aren't the only 2 options, there's a whole array of play styles between those that we could look at.

My concern with games like yesterday and Saturday is that 1 moment of Kodjia like brilliance from the opposition at any point and we're level with them attacking and us hanging on.  It's been effective for the last 8 games but wasn't at all for the 10-12 before that.  I'm not saying I expect us to go on a shocking run again but I'd like to see a genuinely comfortable win at some point, we should have the players to deliver that, or at least to have phases in games where we just take the sting out of things and hold on to the ball.

What really frightens me is the prospect of an injury to Kodjia, I just don't see how we win more than 1 in 4/5 without him.

Yep I'd agreed. Clearly I'm happy we're winning, but with this new found confidence we should now be looking to build control and dominance onto our solid foundation.

[The Edge]

Some reflections on last night's game:
 
Great start.  Decent first half, with team shape rigidly maintained, and QPR causing us no trouble whatsoever.  Poor second half, sloppy in possession and time spent mostly on the back foot.  Notwithstanding all of the above, we have a settled and increasingly confident looking back 6, including goalkeeper and Jedinak holding in midfield.  In the end QPR lacked quality to break us down.
We have the best striker in the League.
We have a yawning gap of four places in the team, consisting of the wide players and the two central midfield positions.  This is where the creativity and drive within the team should lie, but instead there is a void, in which the ball is treated as a hot potato, passing is hurried and possession is quickly lost.  No one has either the ability or the confidence to get on the ball, direct traffic and make things happen.
Lansbury was invisible on Saturday v Norwich and was only slightly better v QPR.
Bacuna is always abysmal.  How on earth does he get a game?  No composure, and spends all his time chasing shadows.
Why did Hourihane not start?  Does Bruce judge Bacuna more worthy of a place in the team?  Seriously?
What does Jack have to do to get a game?

Earn the managers trust. Being dropped by England U21''s for turning up late for a meeting is hardly helping his cause is it?

[UK Redsox]

Some reflections on last night's game:
 

Bacuna is always abysmal.  How on earth does he get a game?  No composure, and spends all his time chasing shadows.

Yes, damn that Bacuna and his one-two with Kodjia to set up the goal. Terrible play

http://www.skysports.com/football/a-villa-vs-qpr/report/358578

[olaftab]

chasing shadows.
Why did Hourihane not start?  Does Bruce judge Bacuna more worthy of a place in the team?  Seriously?

Yes seriously he is based on Hourihane's contribution so far.

[LeeB]

Some reflections on last night's game:
 

Bacuna is always abysmal.  How on earth does he get a game?  No composure, and spends all his time chasing shadows.

Yes, damn that Bacuna and his one-two with Kodjia to set up the goal. Terrible play

http://www.skysports.com/football/a-villa-vs-qpr/report/358578

The through ball did look a bit like a bad touch and stumble that falls nicely for Kodjia.

[tomd2103]

I'd rather be playing like this and winning than attempting to replicate Barcelona with mediocre players, losing the ball in our own half and giving away sloppy goals again.   There is a style of football to get you out of the championship.  It's not pretty but at this moment in time its effective.  Just a shame it;s been found a bit too late.

Fair point, but like others have said I don't see it is an either or situation really.  I heard Bruce talking on WM on the way home and fair play, he did make the point that we need to be better in possession than we were last night.  Steve Bruce should take a lot of credit for the run we are on, as he has found a formation that works with the players we have and has got us organised and strong at the back.  I do think, however, there has been a pretty cautious approach at times when we could be a little more adventurous.

[tomd2103]

Some reflections on last night's game:
 

Bacuna is always abysmal.  How on earth does he get a game?  No composure, and spends all his time chasing shadows.

Yes, damn that Bacuna and his one-two with Kodjia to set up the goal. Terrible play

http://www.skysports.com/football/a-villa-vs-qpr/report/358578

Bacuna's performance, like that of a number of others, was a mixed bag last night.  Some decent stuff along with some garbage.  Not sure if he should be a starter for us, but he is fine as a utility option at this level. 

[Matt Collins]

I think tiredness could have impacted

But overall I agree about the midfield. You play that midfield in the premier league and it's going to be embarrassing

[pauliewalnuts]

I think tiredness could have impacted

But overall I agree about the midfield. You play that midfield in the premier league and it's going to be embarrassing

I agree, but stating the obvious, we aren't in the premier league, so there's no point worrying about that.

On a similar note, as was discussed earlier yes, in circumstances like this match a really decent side gets one back and then we are hanging on.

Fortunately there are not many, if any, decent sides in this league. In fact, till this run the most frustrating thing was losing or drawing with really shit sides.

Newcastle worked this league out and got the balance right way before we did, and that's why they are going up.

They're not a good side, they're a side with a top class manager who worked out what to do to get out of this league in one season.

Paul_e is right, the football is grim to watch at times, but really, if - if - it is getting results like this and helps is return to the top flight ASAP, then i think most people will put up with it.

[old man villa fan]

[quote author=pauliewalnuts

Paul_e is right, the football is grim to watch at times, but really, if - if - it is getting results like this and helps is return to the top flight ASAP, then i think most people will put up with it.
[/quote]

Yes, I agree but what we do now will have a big influence on how we will do in the future. We have to start to form a solid base that is fit for purpose for the future.