Reading v Aston Villa Pre-Match Thread

[Toronto Villa]

He has everything to lose by not setting up with a plan (that would be a start), and specifically a plan to win the game. This conservative sit deep and pump long balls forward to our strikers to chase has to fucking stop. Have Whelan sit in front of the back 4, and have a system in place to get players into the box to get shots on goal. One forward (Hogan) is enough but get 4 other players to support and create.

[JUAN PABLO]

please drop Gabby and Hutton and Lansbury

otherwise Reading 2 0   BAcuna both goals

[Malandro]

please drop Gabby and Hutton and Lansbury

otherwise Reading 2 0   BAcuna both goals

That's good management, when can you start?

[sirlordbaltimore]

                      Johnstone

Bree or Elmo - Chester - Terry - Taylor

Albert - Whelan - Hourihane - Onomah

                       O'Hare
                       Hogan

[Legion]

0-2.

Yeah, right.

[Ads]

I'd go with mobility and tempo.

Johnstone

Taylor
Terry
Chester
Bree

Whelan
Hourihane
Onomah
O'Hare

RHM
Hogan

Diamond midfield with Onomah's change of pace and Bucky's apparent ability to pick a pass, run and keep it moving.

Out Hutton's awfulness, out Lansbury's pedestrian approach, out Adomah's half soaked attempt at width.

Players closer to Hogan with quicker ball into feet. We need 10 points on the board by the time we finish at Bristol; three wins, time to be bould.

Good record down there. Plus it's my birthday.

[LeeB]

We'll make a bright start, Hogan will miss a great chance to put us 1 up.
Our bright start will soon be forgotten as we retreat and let Reading control the game.
They go 1-0 up after about half an hour, game over.
We huff and puff a bit second half but never look like scoring.
They score a second goal after 75 minutes.
We have to listen to Reading fans take the piss and ole for the last 15 minutes.
They play Don't Look Back In Anger at full time to rub salt in the wounds.

The Song Remains The Same.

[paul_e]

I'd go with mobility and tempo.

Johnstone

Taylor
Terry
Chester
Bree

Whelan
Hourihane
Onomah
O'Hare

RHM
Hogan

Diamond midfield with Onomah's change of pace and Bucky's apparent ability to pick a pass, run and keep it moving.

Out Hutton's awfulness, out Lansbury's pedestrian approach, out Adomah's half soaked attempt at width.

Players closer to Hogan with quicker ball into feet. We need 10 points on the board by the time we finish at Bristol; three wins, time to be bould.

Good record down there. Plus it's my birthday.

I'd love us to do exactly that but Bruce won't do it, it will be pretty much the same 11 as yesterday (with Adomah in for Elmo obviously) but with Lansbury and Onomah playing deeper to pack the midfield and cramp up all the space in there.  The only alternative I can see is him bringing Samba in for Adomah and pushing Gabby up front in a 532. I'd be amazed if it's not one of those.

How he's reacted to truly awful performances every time is to bring everyone deeper and play for the clean sheet.

[aj2k77]

He won't play 2 up front again, he said himself in his pant browning interview afterwards that we aren't ready to play two up front yet...whatever that means.

[Tayls_7]

I'm going to bide my time waiting for a team with less pace, less organisation, less belief, less competitiveness and more feckless bastards then I'll stick us down for a draw.

[gpbarr]

Nothing from this game but another harrowing surrender. We have insipid forwards, no creative middle, and Bruce will set us up to try avoid defeat. Not even going to watch - a waste of time   

[Boz]

I'd go with mobility and tempo.

Johnstone

Taylor
Terry
Chester
Bree

Whelan
Hourihane
Onomah
O'Hare

RHM
Hogan

Diamond midfield with Onomah's change of pace and Bucky's apparent ability to pick a pass, run and keep it moving.

Out Hutton's awfulness, out Lansbury's pedestrian approach, out Adomah's half soaked attempt at width.

Players closer to Hogan with quicker ball into feet. We need 10 points on the board by the time we finish at Bristol; three wins, time to be bould.

Good record down there. Plus it's my birthday.

Mobility and Tempo, Bruce's key ingredients to Villa's current style of football 
 

[curlytailavfc]

1-9-1 potatoe head new approach  2-0 them

[brontebilly]

I'd go with mobility and tempo.

Johnstone

Taylor
Terry
Chester
Bree

Whelan
Hourihane
Onomah
O'Hare

RHM
Hogan

Diamond midfield with Onomah's change of pace and Bucky's apparent ability to pick a pass, run and keep it moving.

Out Hutton's awfulness, out Lansbury's pedestrian approach, out Adomah's half soaked attempt at width.

Players closer to Hogan with quicker ball into feet. We need 10 points on the board by the time we finish at Bristol; three wins, time to be bould.

Good record down there. Plus it's my birthday.

Would go with Davis over RHM but looks a solid side to me with a lot more pace in it

[avfcpg]

He won't play 2 up front again, he said himself in his pant browning interview afterwards that we aren't ready to play two up front yet...whatever that means.

It means he has no idea how to set up for two up front...sadly.