Aston Villa v Reading Post-Match Thread

[Chris87]

I thought we might have seen the last of Bacuna with a six game ban but oh no he's straight back into what was a winning team.  Result we've started regressing again.

yep


dont get it and Bruce bigging up agbonlahor in the week - christ almighty

I know, surely he's already big enough!?

[brian green]

Just home.  It was obvious from the first ten minutes that Reading were going to run at Amavi and Bacuna.  Both of them are mentally weak and prone to panic.  That and failure to take our chances made the result inevitable.  The midfield is hardly any better than RDM's.  Reading realised that the ref was going to allow a rough house, especially with Kodjia.  They played him like a fiddle, including running the clock down.  By me we seem as one mind to accept that we have found our level and promotion next season is very uncertain.

[Abbeyfealeavfc]

Game gifted to Reading by our mistakes. Amavi was terrible.
Why is bacuna anywhere near our first team? His challenge for the penalty was so blatant, he may as well have kicked the ball into our own net. He along with Richards and Gabby are the deadwood in our club that still needs moving on. Richards warming up along the touchline (during the match) and at half time on the pitch was a complete joke. 40k+ p/w for a total lack of professionalism by Richards is disgusting. Bruce needs to wise up that involving these deadbeats in our match day squads will continue to hold Aston Villa back.

[UK Redsox]

Bacuna wasn't great today but he's been fine recently. However, Amavi at LB was terrible

The ones that really disappoint me are Lansbury and Hourihane.

Arrived at Villa with the reputation as two of the best midfielders in the division but they're high on my list for replacing in the summer

[old man villa fan]

We have some very good players for this level. It is the manager's job to find the supporting players and a way of playing to get the best out of them and make us into a very good team.

[CJ]

If Gabby comes back then that would put the tin hat on the season

Apparently he was nearly fit and could have been up for consideration, but then he came down with yet another injury - a groin strain. Can't imagine how he would have got that.

[papa lazarou]

Bacuna wasn't great today but he's been fine recently. However, Amavi at LB was terrible
The ones that really disappoint me are Lansbury and Hourihane.
Arrived at Villa with the reputation as two of the best midfielders in the division but they're high on my list for replacing in the summer

I can't agree with this UKR. I find him extremely ordinary and he lacks concentration. I agree about Lansbury and Hourihane. Our midfield has been overrun for five years and it is still happening whichever configuration is chosen. Jedinak is slightly different due to his defensive attributes but there remains a lack of creativity, control and possession.

[Villafirst]

Why no Andre Green?

[Gareth]

Very lack lustre today, against a side that were no great shakes we never really built a head of steam, the odd 30 seconds of attacking but that was it.

Bacuna & Amavi, as Smithy said to David James in his Comic Relief sketch 'stop dicking about with your hair and play football'.  Both are dreadfully limited players normally but today were calamity waiting to happen.

Hutton for all his cult status for trying hard showed how average he is again, poor in defensive third, awful in attacking 3rd, good in the central third - for me that is Alan Hutton.

Adomah, anonymous

Kodjia, poorly served by a referee who I will come onto in a minute but I hope his performance was down to the after effects of his knock last week as against a team playing silly beggars at the back he was frequently ambling around not putting pressure on the ball.

Bruce, why did we have 3 defenders on the bench and not RHM or Green?

The referee was a disgrace-he clearly came into the game with the impression Kodjia was a diver as invariably he had to be assaulted to get a decision & can only think he was glad for the breather every time they time wasted as he did nothing to clamp down.

If they go up Stam will be sacked by Christmas because some of the football they play is frankly stupid, all that fannying around at the back playing 'total football' will get punished time and again at the higher level.

[rougegorge]

Bacuna wasn't great today but he's been fine recently. However, Amavi at LB was terrible
The ones that really disappoint me are Lansbury and Hourihane.
Arrived at Villa with the reputation as two of the best midfielders in the division but they're high on my list for replacing in the summer

I can't agree with this UKR. I find him extremely ordinary and he lacks concentration. I agree about Lansbury and Hourihane. Our midfield has been overrun for five years and it is still happening whichever configuration is chosen. Jedinak is slightly different due to his defensive attributes but there remains a lack of creativity, control and possession.

Agree..
I've not rated Amavi from day one. Today was the epitome of his performances: a lack of concentration, positional nous and awareness combined with misplaced passes - likewise Bacuna.

I don't anticipate much from them, but I'm still waiting for Lansbury to really influence a game. I was hoping he'd be our 'string puller' but he's largely disappointed.  Hourihane can deliver a good set piece but we need more.

Maybe we should've signed Vibe instead of Hogan, as unfortunately apart from the header at Wigan he doesn't look like scoring and that was a really good chance to equalise today.

However we seem to make players who shone for their previous teams look like players to whom we'd never give a second glance if we were recruiting now.

[villan from luton]

I have read that we are on the beach etc, what a load of nonsense. These players should be showing that they want to play for our great club and now is the time to get things in shape for next season. I said last night that Bree should be starting as he is the future. If Taylor isn't fit for Monday, maybe Hutton could switch over. The nabbers fascination with Bacuna is beyond me. Reading like to play out from the back, very dangerously at times. Why not give Hogan 90 mins with Kodjia and go 4-4-2 with Green or Grealish in the equation. These players bought are decent, Houriane was arguably the player of the season before he joined us. We should be bossing teams, but the set up doesn't allow this. We should be going at teams and imposing ourselves. I like Bruce, but he is being too negative IMHO.

[Skerra]

People have been saying what a great run we were on. However, I would say that whilst we have had a couple of poor runs and a couple of good ones, I personally haven't seen much difference in our overall performances. I'm begining to have serious doubts about SB. Says all the right things in post match interviews but does sod all about it in the next match. First thing he needs to do is play two up front. Also, get Amavi, Bacuna and Adomah out of the team as they seem to contribute very little.
In all, I would be surprised if we win any of our remaining matches and, without a more positive attacking attitude can see us being mid table again next season.

[villan from luton]

We really need to be more positive, we have scraped a lot of these wins, the players need to be allowed to play with freedom in the correct areas

[Louzie0]

I'd like to thank Danny and his lovely daughter K for finding me by the Ticket office today and making it possible for me to see the Villa from the North Stand   

Thanks very much!

[olaftab]

Disapointing today. We did look at times like we knew the season was over in terms of a play of place. I didnt think we were too bad going forward but the defending was woeful. Amavi going off for Bacuna was a strange one as a few have mentioned. All in all, a poor day.

It was Hogan who replaced Amavi - Bacuna was on from the start.

Yes it was. My bad (as the yoof say).

No no you were right. Whilst Hogan did come on Bacuna replaced Amavi at LB.