Aston Villa v Sheffield Wednesday Post-Match Thread

[Nunkin1965]

Looking back, after about 20 mins he received a well hit cross field ball with his chest and was really struggling. It happened right by us in the Doug Ellis. I thought he’d got the ball where it hurst most but it was clearly right at the area that he’s got the injury. Bruce must have seen it and made the decision.

Playing Hogan was a huge mistake for me. Single guy up front and and pick someone to play in place of Odomah and we’d have been much better.

For me, Taylor comes back into the side also. Play Hutton or De Laat on the right.

[ktvillan]

Hogan has never played with or benefitted from playing off a big man, play him on the shoulder of the last man with the advanced midfielders getting balls through to him otherwise he is pretty much redundant.

Absolutely.  And as Bruce never seems to play that way, something of an idiotic purchase.  Not Hogan's fault.

[rim gk]

Why was manor road chippy closed,  disgrace.

Because the 'fat bold(sic) bloke' who watched all the game with his top off got there just before you and bought and ate all their stock!

I was disappointed more than the result. I was looking forward to the villa special, mini fish and chips sausage and curry sauce.

[Madferret62]

Ahem....coughs politely.

[Richard E]

Ahem....coughs politely.

Anyone know how Preston got on yesterday? <winky thing>

[Clampy]

Ahem....coughs politely.

Anyone know how Preston got on yesterday? <winky thing>

Conceded 5 goals in the past two games and lost again. Coughs politely.

[Nunkin1965]

Hogan has never played with or benefitted from playing off a big man, play him on the shoulder of the last man with the advanced midfielders getting balls through to him otherwise he is pretty much redundant.

Absolutely.  And as Bruce never seems to play that way, something of an idiotic purchase.  Not Hogan's fault.

Absolutely begs the question why the hell spend all that money?
He looked seriously pissed when he was shoved out to the right when Snodgrass went off!

[Chris Smith]

I think we can count ourselves unlucky to a certain degree; already missing a couple of key players we then a brilliant one in hundred goal in the first few seconds followed by an injury to our most important defender and another goal almost immediately afterwards before we had reorganised. Results elsewhere show that we are not alone in finding it difficult and that predictions for Maybare a little futile in October and November.

The disappointing thing was the failure to impose ourselves consistently after that. We had a go for 10 minutes after half time but couldn’t sustain it. The international break has come at just the right time.

I think it is probably time to accept that Hogan is not going to make it here, use him to raise some money for a January replacement. The explanations being put forward for his lack of contributions are looking less convincing with each appearance and we just do not have the time to persevere.

[ktvillan]

I tend to agree that there is not much point in persevering with Hogan, but not because of Hogan's "lack of contribution".  The explanations for that seem to me not only convincing but blindingly obvious    He got goals for Brentford by being played in a certain system that played to his strengths, a system that Bruce never seems to employ and apparently never intends to.   So why should it be any surprise he can't reproduce his Brentford form?   We may as well put Johnstone or Hutton up front if we are going to insist on putting square pegs in round holes and expect them to perform like round pegs.    It seems apparent that Bruce and/or the scouts had no idea what kind of system would suit Hogan and that they signed him purely on his goalscoring record. Which is rank bad management.

[oldhill_avfc]

Clueless absolutely clueless, from the Manager to the players. Why oh why oh why change a winning formation. Handed the freedom of Villa Park to the Wednesday midfield by playing 4-4-2. Oh and that right back had Adomah in his pocket, I’d imagine Albert has only just got out! Dear oh dear.

We’ve been moaning at him to stop playing one up front at home.  When he doesn’t he gets criticised.  We missed Josh’s energy today and I doubt he would’ve changed it if it hadn’t been for his injury.  Fcukin injuries piss me off.

Playing two up front leaves us far too weak in central midfield, a weakness that the better sides in the division will exploit and have done so already.

Its not playing with 2 wide players who both hug the touchline that leaves us weak in the middle.

Bruce eventually spotted it yesterday but totally undermined the decision by the way he then messed around with Hogan and O'Hare.   Arguably (the appalling)  adomah should have the been the one to go off as well.

The timing wasn't great either.  He should have done it 10 minutes earlier or left out until half time.

I'm sorry mate, but I'm not sure about that one.  Playing two 'touchline hugging' wingers will surely only leave us more exposed in the middle?

apologies - typo
agreed - it is playing 2 wide that's the problem

[Madferret62]

I disagree. Villa wingers looked terrific on Wed against PNE. It should have been a rout, but the supply dried up and the goals with it.

My “polite cough” wasn’t a comment on Villa’s result, rather it was a nod to say let’s not get carried away with one result which is what I felt happened on Wednesday after a 2-0 win against a side in very poor form Villa should be walking away with this league given the resources available. Recruitment policy needs to be looked at. Who is making the decision to recruit. There is no doubt, for example, tbat John Terry is a very comeptant  player, but £60K a week? His signing was a marquee signing that had little to do with improving results. It seems to me that this side comprises a group of talented individuals, but a team they are not.

By the way, why am I on this forum? Well firstly I’ve been watching Villa for around 15 years now and attend, via the kind offices of various Villa friends, fairly regularly (It’s a lot nearer than Deepdale!). Secondly, it’s a football forum for the discussion of football related issues and sharing of opinions. It’s always interesting to hear from other fans. Would be nice for members to be a little more open minded and welcoming.  Thanks

Coyw and utv.

[David_Nab]

I tend to agree that there is not much point in persevering with Hogan, but not because of Hogan's "lack of contribution".  The explanations for that seem to me not only convincing but blindingly obvious    He got goals for Brentford by being played in a certain system that played to his strengths, a system that Bruce never seems to employ and apparently never intends to.   So why should it be any surprise he can't reproduce his Brentford form?   We may as well put Johnstone or Hutton up front if we are going to insist on putting square pegs in round holes and expect them to perform like round pegs.    It seems apparent that Bruce and/or the scouts had no idea what kind of system would suit Hogan and that they signed him purely on his goalscoring record. Which is rank bad management.

So then whats easier to fix sell Hogan make a loss and try and replace or replace Bruce ..

Going further we where left shopping at poundland this window ( Terry's wages aside ) in large part due to the squandering of money in Jan.Hogan is not alone in being a Bruce signing in January  struggling to make an impression now ..Bree for example seems an utter waste of time given the RB cover we had at the time

[Clark W Griswold]

Read a report this morning saying he's looking to offload Hogan, Bree, Lansbury and Grealish.

[tomd2103]

Clueless absolutely clueless, from the Manager to the players. Why oh why oh why change a winning formation. Handed the freedom of Villa Park to the Wednesday midfield by playing 4-4-2. Oh and that right back had Adomah in his pocket, I’d imagine Albert has only just got out! Dear oh dear.

We’ve been moaning at him to stop playing one up front at home.  When he doesn’t he gets criticised.  We missed Josh’s energy today and I doubt he would’ve changed it if it hadn’t been for his injury.  Fcukin injuries piss me off.

Playing two up front leaves us far too weak in central midfield, a weakness that the better sides in the division will exploit and have done so already.

Its not playing with 2 wide players who both hug the touchline that leaves us weak in the middle.

Bruce eventually spotted it yesterday but totally undermined the decision by the way he then messed around with Hogan and O'Hare.   Arguably (the appalling)  adomah should have the been the one to go off as well.

The timing wasn't great either.  He should have done it 10 minutes earlier or left out until half time.

I'm sorry mate, but I'm not sure about that one.  Playing two 'touchline hugging' wingers will surely only leave us more exposed in the middle?

apologies - typo
agreed - it is playing 2 wide that's the problem

No probs mate, I was wondering!  Playing two wide and two up front is going to leave us exposed a bit in central midfield.  I suppose it is less of an issue if you have two players in there who can cover the ground, but Hourihane and Whelan can’t really.

[XXVilla]

Read a report this morning saying he's looking to offload Hogan, Bree, Lansbury and Grealish.

3 of which he bought himself less than a year ago. His record of buying olayers at VP has been poor.