Aston Villa v Bolton Wanderers Post-Match Thread

[saunders_heroes]

We’ve just won 4 on the bounce. When was the last time that happened?
We all know Bruce’s teams aren’t easy in the eye but they’re never as bad as some make out. In fact compared to Pulis’ teams we’re practically Barcelona. We’ve just had probably the most miserable 7 years ever so it’s just great to finally see us winning again. Bruce has at least brought a bit of pride back into the club and I get the feeling a promotion isn’t that far away.
This constant nit-picking of everything Bruce is getting a bit tiresome really. I didn’t want him originally but we’re now looking like a real football club again and a lot of it’s down to him. 

[tomd2103]

We won a lot of game last season despite not playing well

In isolation I'd be a bit concerned but on the back of the run we've had I wouldn't be inclined to read too much into one game

The next two will be much more telling

We need to be much fresher following the international break this time - even if it means resting first choice players

The run of home games in that time have been very similar in terms of performance though.  As I said in an earlier post, it might be playing away from home which suits us more. 

[aj2k77]

We won 4 on the trot the end of last season.

[Leicester_Villian]

Reading this it seems that most who are slagging the team off even state they were not at the game - to them get your backsides down to the ground and show support for the team

It's not always just as easy as that.

Accept its not always as easy but if you haven't been don't slag the team off when you didn't see it first hand

Can we slag them off if we watch it on avtv?

Its those who live in Birmingham who I am making the comments about !

[achilles]

Bolton played a very high line which compressed the play and allowed them to harass us and put pressure on us.
Bruce should have been aware of how they played or at least after 10 minutes realised how they were playing and acted accordingly by instructing the players to get the ball forward much quicker and play down the flanks to make their monster centrehalves turn, in other words play perhaps more direct, not down the middle, but certainly at a much higher tempo.
Then to compound the issues with 20 minutes to go Bruce takes 2 attackers off and brings an attacker on (Hogan who can't hold the ball up) and a midfield player, Onomah (who has no real idea of where he actually is playing and looks lost). So this just invites pressure onto us as we try and hold onto a 1 - 0 victory, even their centrehalves were coming up as with Davis off they had no problems with defending.
Why wasn't O'Hare brought on for Kodjia (who I thought was lazy again) to give support to Davis?

As Bruce openly admits he doesn't do tactics!

Still we won in the end, perhaps this is the bit of luck we are having this season which we didn't last season, time will tell!

[olaftab]

The comments about "we would have not won a game like this last season" are baseless. We won plenty like this it's the others where we got hammered  and didn't make the play-offs and we need to win those games specially away from home.

[aj2k77]

vs top 8
P 16
W 4
D 5
L 7
PTS 17

Vs Bottom 8
P 16
W 10
D 3
L 3
PTS 33

Vs Middle 7
P 14
W 2
D 6
L 6
PTS 12

We didn't have a problem beating the poor sides of the division, we had a real problem beating the run of the mill, experienced, battlers around the midtable. We don't have such a soft underbelly this season I don't think and are a bit better prepared to take them on. We've already picked up 7 points from our three games against ''midtable'' sides. A small sample size but I think it will be expanded over the entire season.

[Toronto Villa]

Yesterday was a game where it became evident that Bruce has to figure out a way to rotate the starting XI. It appears he has settled on a formation and style of play. Or is approaching it. Now it's about giving players time off. We have a number of more senior players now and it can't be xpected of them to play through 46 league games and however long we participate in the cups. So Bruce has to find a way of resting Whelan or Terry or Snodgrass and even the other players and bring in squad players without upsetting the way we play or balance.

[ChicagoLion]

Reading this it seems that most who are slagging the team off even state they were not at the game - to them get your backsides down to the ground and show support for the team

It's not always just as easy as that.

Accept its not always as easy but if you haven't been don't slag the team off when you didn't see it first hand

Can we slag them off if we watch it on avtv?

Its those who live in Birmingham who I am making the comments about !

Do you think that sort of performance is going to get people hurrying to Villa Park?

[Toronto Villa]

What will get people hurrying to Villa Park is having a PL football club playing there every week. We have to get promoted. This is Bruce football. At times it will be just like yesterday. At times it will be just like Burton. It's frustrating but it has proved effective over his career.

[VillaAlways]

Reading this it seems that most who are slagging the team off even state they were not at the game - to them get your backsides down to the ground and show support for the team

It's not always just as easy as that.

Accept its not always as easy but if you haven't been don't slag the team off when you didn't see it first hand

Can we slag them off if we watch it on avtv?

Its those who live in Birmingham who I am making the comments about !

Do you think that sort of performance is going to get people hurrying to Villa Park?

You're assuming that everybody thinks it was a poor performance Winning games gets people hurrying to Villa park.

[Ads]

Bolton played a very high line which compressed the play and allowed them to harass us and put pressure on us.
Bruce should have been aware of how they played or at least after 10 minutes realised how they were playing and acted accordingly by instructing the players to get the ball forward much quicker and play down the flanks to make their monster centrehalves turn, in other words play perhaps more direct, not down the middle, but certainly at a much higher tempo.
Then to compound the issues with 20 minutes to go Bruce takes 2 attackers off and brings an attacker on (Hogan who can't hold the ball up) and a midfield player, Onomah (who has no real idea of where he actually is playing and looks lost). So this just invites pressure onto us as we try and hold onto a 1 - 0 victory, even their centrehalves were coming up as with Davis off they had no problems with defending.
Why wasn't O'Hare brought on for Kodjia (who I thought was lazy again) to give support to Davis?

As Bruce openly admits he doesn't do tactics!

Still we won in the end, perhaps this is the bit of luck we are having this season which we didn't last season, time will tell!

I don't agree with that at all.

Hogan and Onomah saw us increase the tempo and speed at which we moved it and for the first time all game create chances from open play.

It was a realisation that we couldn't hit it into Davis and we adapted. We looked our best following the subs.

We didn't drop deep and we didn't invite any pressure. They slung a high ball into the box which created a bit if panic and we reacted to their centre half going up front by bringing Samba on and solving the percentage ball problem.

The sending off caused some confusion and it was a mistake by us in a mindless recycle of the ball by passing to a Bolton player that allowed the chance to be created at the death.

I don't think your analysis is right at all.

[Chris Smith]

Yesterday was a game where it became evident that Bruce has to figure out a way to rotate the starting XI. It appears he has settled on a formation and style of play. Or is approaching it. Now it's about giving players time off. We have a number of more senior players now and it can't be xpected of them to play through 46 league games and however long we participate in the cups. So Bruce has to find a way of resting Whelan or Terry or Snodgrass and even the other players and bring in squad players without upsetting the way we play or balance.

I agree, TV, and think he might have well have made changes yesterday if it wasn't for the fact that we now have an international break.

[saunders_heroes]

Reading this it seems that most who are slagging the team off even state they were not at the game - to them get your backsides down to the ground and show support for the team

It's not always just as easy as that.

Accept its not always as easy but if you haven't been don't slag the team off when you didn't see it first hand

Can we slag them off if we watch it on avtv?

Its those who live in Birmingham who I am making the comments about !

Do you think that sort of performance is going to get people hurrying to Villa Park?

I disagree. Whenever our results improve and the higher we go up the table the fans flock back to Villa Park. It’s always been like that.

[Ads]

Yesterday was one of our highest gates. Last three were sub 30k. Doesn't help that nobody can bring an away following.