Aston Villa v Middlesbrough League Cup Exit Thread

[Clampy]

I applauded the idea of playing the kids. I liked the opportunity to give de Laet, Hogan and McGate a run-out. I hoped Onomah would be a driving force.
However: the whole set-up and 100% changes from Saturday seemed to be counterproductive and unnecessary.
Last evening proved that we may have a big squad but it is imbalanced (c.f. The CB situation) and contains too much dead weight (Richards, McGate, Flabby). After 11 months, one can argue convincingly that this is down to the manager and to Round.

I kind of understood why he did it. We have got 3 league games in 8 days starting Saturday so that may have been in his thinking but yes, 100% changes was probably too much.

If that's the case then the club should be charging a fiver for adults and free for kids. It does nobody any favours playing to an empty stadium.

I agree. £15 was too much especially when we've got two homes games before the end of the month. I think a tenner for adults and a fiver for the  kiddywinks would have been better.

[chrisw1]

Bjarnasson looks like a competition winner.

I can't believe he's actually paid to play football.

In the early stages Onomah was the only one who looked like he could create something up front.

So Bruce moved him thirty yards deeper and removed any chance of him creating anything.

From that point we were clearly not going to score.

I don't understand him, he's just such a fucking negative manager.

Bruce brings on a striker for an injured midfielder and it's "fucking negative"

People see what they want to see Matt.

It was obviously a poor performance, but without the disallowed goal and red card who knows?

I'm not happy with the performance or Bruce's performance in general since he joined - I'm pretty much in the get rid camp now.  But I'll judge him on the games that matter and given we won well on Saturday, the next league game is all that really matters to me, not what the B team do.

[chrisw1]

I applauded the idea of playing the kids. I liked the opportunity to give de Laet, Hogan and McGate a run-out. I hoped Onomah would be a driving force.
However: the whole set-up and 100% changes from Saturday seemed to be counterproductive and unnecessary.
Last evening proved that we may have a big squad but it is imbalanced (c.f. The CB situation) and contains too much dead weight (Richards, McGate, Flabby). After 11 months, one can argue convincingly that this is down to the manager and to Round.

I kind of understood why he did it. We have got 3 league games in 8 days starting Saturday so that may have been in his thinking but yes, 100% changes was probably too much.

If that's the case then the club should be charging a fiver for adults and free for kids. It does nobody any favours playing to an empty stadium.

Don't you think people pretty much knew what they would get given it's exactly what we did (and got praised for) in the last round?  But yes, I'm all for cheaper prices for these games.

[The Edge]

i feel sorry for the 11k that went....

I went on a free ticket and I still feel mugged off! I feel sorry for those who parted with £15

[The Edge]

I applauded the idea of playing the kids. I liked the opportunity to give de Laet, Hogan and McGate a run-out. I hoped Onomah would be a driving force.
However: the whole set-up and 100% changes from Saturday seemed to be counterproductive and unnecessary.
Last evening proved that we may have a big squad but it is imbalanced (c.f. The CB situation) and contains too much dead weight (Richards, McGate, Flabby). After 11 months, one can argue convincingly that this is down to the manager and to Round.

I kind of understood why he did it. We have got 3 league games in 8 days starting Saturday so that may have been in his thinking but yes, 100% changes was probably too much.

If that's the case then the club should be charging a fiver for adults and free for kids. It does nobody any favours playing to an empty stadium.

Don't you think people pretty much knew what they would get given it's exactly what we did (and got praised for) in the last round?  But yes, I'm all for cheaper prices for these games.

I agree that people pretty much knew what they would get. That's why the ground was empty

[CJ]

When we went down to ten I thought great - after all Bruce said only last week how hard it was to play against ten men so we now must surely go on to win. And how, in Bruce's mind, do you achieve that - you take a striker off and put a midfielder on to protect the 0-1. Having said that he started with a midfielder up front so it's no surprise really. The only plus tonight was there was no traffic after the game and got home in record time in spite of Park Circus being closed. I don't even get angry any more.

There's a difference between playing against 10 men who are on level terms and just shutting up shop and being in a 10 men team who need a goal to get back into the game.  Can't you see that?

It was a tongue in cheek comment more pointed at Bruce's comments last week. Surprised you can't see that

[KRS]

Didn't follow any of the coverage last night and not at all surprised by the result given the team he selected. Bruce made it obvious that he was going to play a weak team, but I thought he may have at least given much needed game time to the likes of Kodjia, Snodgrass and Anomah, and that bit of quality could have made a difference in the performance and result. Shocking attendance, but fairplay to those that could be arsed to go to the game.

He needs a win against Forest without any excuses.

[Villa Lew]

I don't know why so many people were so surprised at the line up, given the fact that there was only 10k odd Villa fans there, it was clear that was the line up the the majority of fans were expecting and why they decided to stay away.

Yes I believe he should have played more of the regulars, but this month we are playing 7 games in 21 days, which is a heavy schedule.

Agree with those , who are saying max £10 to get in and kids for free.

Thought Onomah was class at times, although went off in the 2nd half. Good to see O'Hare and Doyle given some game time and would have liked to have seen more of Blackett Taylor, but what little bit I did see I was impressed.

[Legion]

Maybe next year

[KRS]

Doesn't show from the highlights and a few ppl disagreeing on here, but was Elphicks header definitely offside? Also what was his first booking for? Ridiculous challenge for the sending off even though he claimed he touched the ball in the process of taking out their player.

[chrisw1]

Elphicks goal looked onside to me, although it was tight.

All one way traffic otherwise.

[tomd2103]

Doesn't show from the highlights and a few ppl disagreeing on here, but was Elphicks header definitely offside? Also what was his first booking for? Ridiculous challenge for the sending off even though he claimed he touched the ball in the process of taking out their player.

The first booking was reckless lunge on the touchline when he had no hope of getting the ball.  Definite yellow.  He was a red card waiting to happen after that.

[tomd2103]

When we went down to ten I thought great - after all Bruce said only last week how hard it was to play against ten men so we now must surely go on to win. And how, in Bruce's mind, do you achieve that - you take a striker off and put a midfielder on to protect the 0-1. Having said that he started with a midfielder up front so it's no surprise really. The only plus tonight was there was no traffic after the game and got home in record time in spite of Park Circus being closed. I don't even get angry any more.

I didn't.  As soon as they scored that penalty it was game over.

Tom was being tongue in cheek. He was referring to Bruce's lame excuses after Middlesbrough went down to 10 men after 4 minutes in the league game.

I know mate!!  Was more a comment to say that as soon as the penalty went in, it was game over. 

[olaftab]

I didn't go last night not because I knew he wouldn't bother with playing anything like a decent team but due to other commitments however I do feel sorry for supporters who paid good money to be there. Supporters forking out their hard earned cash deserve better.

[robbo1874]

Sounds like he's just automatically doubled the pressure on the team to win the next few games. That may result in more intensity and us getting 6 more league points. Or it may hasten his departure if we fail to beat Forest. Big gamble and at face value, an uneccesary one to take at this early stage. We'll see. Seems as if he's clinging on now- the players will sense it. If they back him, they'll perform, if they don't they won't and he could be away by early October.