Aston ‘we almost caused a shock’ Villa v Peterborough Post Match Thread.

[CJ]

Another embarrassing cup exit. Think Bruce got that completely wrong from the off with the number of changes he made. We were lucky to get to half time with them still on nil, and maybe if he'd made more changes for the second half then things may have been different. And if Bjork had hit the net instead of the bar at 1-1 it would have been different, but their goals had been coming for a long time and they deserved their win against a disjointed and lacklustre Villa. Also - isn't it weird how quickly you can break from defending a set piece if you leave players up the pitch...? Other than the embarrassment of  going out to a lower league team I can't get really worked up about it, even though it's now 60 years and counting, but given that Bruce put out a second string team and only 17,000 Villa fans turned up even at a tenner a ticket it looks like I'm not alone.

[Risso]

Usual story with Bruce. One step forward, one back. To get battered as badly as we did at home to a League 1 team is very poor.

[BC54 VFC]

Felt sorry for Bjarnason today. He had a very good first-half mopping up in front of a crap back four; first time he's had a chance to play there. He then gets moved to the left side at the start of the second-half to replace Green and then sacrificed instead of Hourihane and Onomah who both had atrocious games. If I were him I'd look for a move at the end of the season.
 

[Abbeyfealeavfc]

Poor game, poor performance, poor team selection, clueless.
After today Onomah (who was useless) should never get a game again ahead of Grealish.
Taylor at left back was awful and was out of his depth. Accepting that we have the Scottish Cafu, we definitely need another left back in the transfer window. Steer did well, as did O Hare (what was that substitution about?)
Never mind, at least weve discovered Bruce has "hindsight" it's just a pity he's never displayed much foresight.

[McGraths Dry Cleaning]

My 6 year old doesn't really understand the nuances of squad rotation and the importance of league vs cup games. "Why can't our players get the ball Dad?" Quite. Whilst nowhere near as important as the league another totally gutless effort by Aston Villa. Its not the defeat its the manner of it and today we bent over and took it without complaint.

[bobcat]

Just thawed out. That's the worst performance I can remember for a long long time. Bruce setting up 4-5-1 at home to Peterborough was just ridiculous.

Steer - Some excellent saves but Bosnich must be his kicking coach

De Laet - Only player that can hold his head up
Bree - Played out of position along side Terry recovering from injury.
Terry - Solid but lacking match sharpness as expected.
Taylor - Woeful, second worst player on the pitch

O'Hare - worked hard but played out of position by Bruce at right midfield.
Hourihane - solid but ineffective
Bjarnason - struggled being played out of position at DM
Onomah - Atrocious performance, not sure what was wrong with him but holy s**t that was bad.
Green - Lacking match fitness as expected but also lacking pace

Davis - Did well but very isolated, needs a strike partner.

Bruce finally played 2 up front in the 80th minute, but only after they had equalized, then switched Bjarnason from DM to left wing?!

[rougegorge]

We were especially poor without the ball and there was not enough tracking back.  Onomah looked disinterested much of the time and we failed to stop their play maker Forrester from dictating the play and they got down the flanks too easily.  I do think that 10 starting changes is too many especially after building up some momentum. Steer did well, which speaks volumes in itself, but nobody else impressed me.

[auntiesledd]

Has Bruce uttered any words of post-shambles wisdom yet?

[PeterWithesShin]

His post-match interview.

https://www.facebook.com/avfcofficial/videos/1794260880617973

[ciggiesnbeer]

Oh dear. Well I guess the question "so how good is our squad depth?" has been answered.

Not that I am really fussed about going out now but still, these embrassing losses tend to be a signal of greater problems coming down the road, or at least they have in the past.

[rougegorge]

Has Bruce uttered any words of post-shambles wisdom yet?

Yes, on WM he said that hindsight is a wonderful thing and that he made too many changes and that some players were pressing high as instructed and others weren't and that letting them have 20 attempts was not great.

[sickbeggar]

On balance have to go with Bruce for throwing the game. We're not gonna win it and we haven't the squad to cope with any more injuries or tiredness from too many matches. Never nice to lose to a lower league team but it wasn't a villa side in all but name. Kids, reserves, and players coming back from injury are always going to struggle against a side that play together regulary. Obviously if we don't win our league games then Bruce will have this thrown in his face, but end of the day the priority is promotion, and he's gone if we don't go up so i don't blame him. Whether he can get us up is another argument obviously.

Still i feel sorry for the fans who put the time, money and effort into supporting such a compromised Villa side today. Not nice but that's football in 2018.

[ciggiesnbeer]

His post-match interview.

https://www.facebook.com/avfcofficial/videos/1794260880617973

Didnt really see much wrong with most of what he said there to be fair. Didnt give himself the out of now focusing on the league, wasnt happy with the performance and very pissed off at the lack of pressing.

[rob_bridge]

Back home - Great Cup Tie
Except for the Dire Result.
Bruce Out Surely Nigh.

[Three Spires Villa]

Disgrace and any one who thinks otherwise, or gives any kind of excuse, Shane on you. The lads v Bristol City who gave it the big fickle Villa fans, where are you (Delia style) tonight. I am embarrassed & fed up with this manager