Colchester vs Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

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i honestly think the weather was a proper leveller tonight though

the conditions meant we could bring them right down to our normal level of performance

Why do you bother when everything we do at present appears to make you miserable.

[ASHTONVILLA]

If we had rested as many players last season then we would have had the likes of Richards in central defence, Bun in goal and Westwood in the middle of the park, plus the kids would have been a year younger and we would almost certainly have lost.

OK so we stuttered to a win against Colchester, and the Villa should be beating them easily, but it is still improvement over last season.

Positives

Hogan for all his faults does work hard, and it was nice to see him score. With better service he will improve.
Steer looks a lot better than Bun, and on that form better than Johnstone as well.
Onomah looks like he offers something different to a very samey set of midfield options.

Negatives
Bit disappointed with Green and Samba (though he did improve as the game wore on).

I thought Bree did OK, Adomah made chances and Chester was good as usual.

Not convinced with Bjorn or Hourihane as yet.

[Hookeysmith]

My twopennies worth - from the warmth and comfort of watching on TV in a pub


Weather was of biblical proportions and not surprised the football was not free flowing from either side

I see it is now a closer battle between Johnstone and Steer for the shirt and I am pleased to think if one is injured we are comfortable in that position

Hourihanne - Really hopeful he will come good but all the opportunity and evidence seems to the contrary

Good to see DeLaat back after a horrible injury - 3 mins in and I thought he had broke his leg after a very poor tackle

Green - I really do not see the adulation he gets is justified - I know he is young and home grown but I fail to see his key attributes - Speed / power / crossing / beating a man / vision - certainly not heading as we know    so why he gets plaudits I don't know.

It is so difficult for promising kids to go on and have a career - again we seem to have some decent ones but time will tell if they actually make it - only game time will aloow that to happen

We were still "industrial" to watch but we are through - and that is all that matters

[brontebilly]

Most players should get a pass for last night given the conditions and that most players were either coming back from injury and/or inexperienced. Ideal test all things considered and got the win. It highlighted above all else that Samba cannot be our third choice centre half. I'd be thinking of letting RHM go on loan for a bit. If we cull the likes of McCormack we will surely be getting an experienced physical striker in as an option.

Green changed the Hull game when he came on last weekend so I wouldn't get too down on him for failing to make an impact last night. Young players will always be inconsistent and left wing is hardly his natural position. Onomoah and O'Hare pushed themselves into the midfield reckoning last night. No harm as Lansbury and Hourihane need to buck their ideas up quickly.

[Ads]

The ball held up out wide with the water.

Hard to read too much into it given the weather. Thought we passed it ok and counter attacked well. Should have finished it off at the start of the 2nd half. Good save from Steer who did well.

Last time it rained like that must have been Portsmouth away in the FA Cup where we drew 2-2. At least that was January.

[AV5nobs]

The ball held up out wide with the water.

Hard to read too much into it given the weather. Thought we passed it ok and counter attacked well. Should have finished it off at the start of the 2nd half. Good save from Steer who did well.

Last time it rained like that must have been Portsmouth away in the FA Cup where we drew 2-2. At least that was January.

Was there Ads, easily the wettest ive been at a game.

Pikeys throwing bricks at the away end from the houses.

Larry equaliser.

Great days.

[Toronto Villa]

Agree with Hookey on the observation on Green. I don't see what the fuss is but I'll concede he is young and needs games to develop. But for me he's in the Grealish class of "I know there is more there but..."

[Brend'Watkins]

Agree with Hookey on the observation on Green. I don't see what the fuss is but I'll concede he is young and needs games to develop. But for me he's in the Grealish class of "I know there is more there but..."

Green disappointed me. He did have a hand in the first goal so he gets some plus marks for that. But really, if he is to make a starting place he has to be able to take on and destroy 4 division defenders with either pace or trickery.  He didn't.  And, I see now why he missed that sitter to win us the Hull match, he can't head the ball with any accuracy or purpose.

[mr underhill]

not for the first time. He's a rabbit in the headlights.

[Des Little]

Last night was a chance for Hourihane to show what he can do, but he didn't. Very poor.  If there was a chance of selling him and getting Snodgrass in, I'd do it like a shot.

[manic-road]

If our teens can't shine against a shocking division 4 side then god help us.

Doing alright won't wash it.

Yes how dare SB blood some of our youngsters and give them some vital experience for the future and to get a small assessment of their ability in shocking conditions when we have seasoned Pros like Micah Richards at the club.

[AV5nobs]

If our teens can't shine against a shocking division 4 side then god help us.

Doing alright won't wash it.

Yes how dare SB blood some of our youngsters and give them some vital experience for the future and to get a small assessment of their ability in shocking conditions when we have seasoned Pros like Micah Richards at the club.

Read the SB out thread and anything general about SB on here.

[manic-road]

If our teens can't shine against a shocking division 4 side then god help us.

Doing alright won't wash it.

Yes how dare SB blood some of our youngsters and give them some vital experience for the future and to get a small assessment of their ability in shocking conditions when we have seasoned Pros like Micah Richards at the club.

Read the SB out thread and anything general about SB on here.

I'm commenting on the match thread because that is what my post relates to.

[AV5nobs]

If our teens can't shine against a shocking division 4 side then god help us.

Doing alright won't wash it.

Yes how dare SB blood some of our youngsters and give them some vital experience for the future and to get a small assessment of their ability in shocking conditions when we have seasoned Pros like Micah Richards at the club.

Read the SB out thread and anything general about SB on here.

I'm commenting on the match thread because that is what my post relates to.

OK I was being ironic if that helps, in my original post that you responded to.

[Damo70]

The ball held up out wide with the water.

Hard to read too much into it given the weather. Thought we passed it ok and counter attacked well. Should have finished it off at the start of the 2nd half. Good save from Steer who did well.

Last time it rained like that must have been Portsmouth away in the FA Cup where we drew 2-2. At least that was January.

Was there Ads, easily the wettest ive been at a game.

Pikeys throwing bricks at the away end from the houses.

Larry equaliser.

Great days.

The wettest I've ever been at a game was Leeds Road 1987. I was sixteen and there with Nev. I have never before or since that day had the fear that I may actually die of 'wetness'. Got to the coach and my programme was just a lump of paper mache and my beefburger was... well basically that was just a meat based version of paper mache. Nev was as sympathetic as you would expect a mate to be and pissed himself laughing. He might have actually have pissed himself literally, he was as wet as me so you wouldn't have been able to tell.

Aah, the good old days!