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

[olaftab]

I can’t believe this. FFS Peterborough???

[Brend'Watkins]

pragmatism is fine if we beat Forest next Saturday.  That’s certainly not a given but, It’s something that we would have more chance of achieving had we started the game with some momentum.

[paul_e]

My concern with games like this isn't losing, as many have said, we weren't likely to be competitive later so we're not missing a big chance, it's the nature of the defeat.  By all accounts we were disjointed and looked like the players didn't know each other, just the same as we were at the start of the season, and at various other points when we've had to make a few changes.  I think something is wrong in training if a squad that has been together for 4 months looks so cobbled together.  What it means is that the depth of the squad is meaningless because the only way we're building any familiarity in the squad is during matches.  When you look at how difficult players have found it to settle in it just backs up the idea that we're not working on tactics or a 'style' in training.

I've said before that I'm not really sure what it is that Bruce does and everytime we have performances like today it just brings me back to it, he's not got the team running through walls, he rarely uses his bench to have a positive effect, he doesn't do anything to change the game tactically if his 'plan' isn't working.  I just don't see the value he adds.

[Gareth]

Steer - top class saves, can only think this kicking goal kicks out wide is what masquerades as a tactic in Bruceworld!  Should have been booked for constant time wasting

De Laet - did fine

Bree - so Elphick, De Laet & Suliman have all played centre back...we choose the right back to play there, bizarre

Terry - very rusty first half, grew into it

Taylor - did the guy have loafers on, couldn’t keep his feet and couldn’t pass water, firmly behind Hutton for left back for me.  Poor, poor, poor

Green - started lively enough, spent next half hour doing step over, lose ball - if he’s still playing like that in 6 weeks after getting minutes we’ve got a problem

O’Hare - another to have a bright start then disappeared, probs unlucky to get the hook though

Hourihane - always offered, lots of inaccurate passing and far too much safety first backwards play

Onomah - did he have somewhere better to be because he was awful, ran Taylor close in the ‘give him a carrot’ stakes

Bjarnasson - was fine first half but he is no winger

Davis - ok he scored and held up a bit of decent ball but unless they get him from playing on his heels he won’t make it at highest level

Subs
Lansbury - some nice passes
Grealish - not overly involved, should have started
RHM - again not overly involved

Why do we insist in playing square pegs in round holes?  What’s the tactic of goalkicks out wide from goalkeepers who can’t kick straight? Any chance that when we have a set piece that someone may get go deep as 80% of balls wings over everyone? Any chance the brains trust in the touch line actually react to what they are watching? 11 men back for defending corners and free kicks is cowardly

This is the FA Cup ffs, one of the worst things about modern football is the shitty attitude that bang average coaches show to the Cup.

Rant over!

[brian green]

I would accept winning the FA cup as equal to winning promotion to the Premiership.  If we had a great team and a great manager who could win automatic promotion then achieve PL security a better case could be made for focussing exclusively on that prospect.  But we do not have a great team and we do not have a great manager.  To win the cup you have to win 7 games.  If we make the play offs that is effectively 3 cup ties.  Between now and the play offs there will be at least half a dozen must win games that will be as important and hard to win as cup ties.  Taking into account the luck of the draw and possible frequent home advantage of the cup, the winning of the cup and the winning of promotion for the current Villa side with the current Villa manager are equally unlikely.

[Taylor]

I would accept winning the FA cup as equal to winning promotion to the Premiership.  If we had a great team and a great manager who could win automatic promotion then achieve PL security a better case could be made for focussing exclusively on that prospect.  But we do not have a great team and we do not have a great manager.  To win the cup you have to win 7 games.  If we make the play offs that is effectively 3 cup ties.  Between now and the play offs there will be at least half a dozen must win games that will be as important and hard to win as cup ties.  Taking into account the luck of the draw and possible frequent home advantage of the cup, the winning of the cup and the winning of promotion for the current Villa side with the current Villa manager are equally unlikely.

So you think Bruce should be sacked now?

[aj2k77]

Bruce is a shit manager. Summary over.

[rob_bridge]

Taylor - did the guy have loafers on, couldn’t keep his feet and couldn’t pass water, firmly behind Hutton for left back for me.  Poor, poor, poor
=========

Gareth I said this when he slipped 2nd time - what studs was he wearing. Jeeps this is basics. Pitch is a bit worn and patchy.

[Percy McCarthy]

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?”

Sounds pretty clued up for a six-year-old to me. Mine just cheers when we score and eats his sandwiches.

[villan from luton]

I still can't understand why Elphick was not centre half and personally would have had Whelan in the middle. As fort the FA Cup, I have seen my team win the third Division, get promoted twice to the top division, win the league cup 3 times, win the league and the european cup. I want to see us win the FA Cup before I depart, does annoy me that the players chosen today did not compete. I am worried Bruce is totally ruining Bree, don't play him for ages and when he does he plays him centre back. Not sure that was good management tbh

[russon]

Losing this game is unacceptable yet apologists feel the need to excuse it. If our players had any degree of professional pride they’d put a shift in whether they played Peterborough in the cup or Derby in the playoff final. It’s their job to commit fully to the club not put the handbrake on because they don’t fancy it.

Perhaps next year fans can just pay what they fancy at the gate rather than full price, if the club don’t want to offer 100% why should we?

[Nunkin1965]

Losing this game is unacceptable yet apologists feel the need to excuse it. If our players had any degree of professional pride they’d put a shift in whether they played Peterborough in the cup or Derby in the playoff final. It’s their job to commit fully to the club not put the handbrake on because they don’t fancy it.

Perhaps next year fans can just pay what they fancy at the gate rather than full price, if the club don’t want to offer 100% why should we?

I'm with you on this. I committed myself to go today to see my team compete against a decent League 1 side and I saw anything but.

That was a complete joke.

[Ads]

Star Wars was good. As was that pint of Moretti we just had. I can read this site and not be bothered, while normally post defeat I am quite the grumpy goose.

It's just not relevant to a 2nd division team and deep down you know it. Magic of the cup? Where's the magic in a literal half full Villa Park?

Dave's right. Our captain got 90 minutes and got out unscathed. The performance was rank and there's a number of reason why, but I lack the interest to care. At home to.lower league opposition in the early rounds, the Cup is shite. Give me a win over Forest all today everyday. I know they don't have to be mutually exclusive, but it demonstrates a point.

[Steve67]

Stupid team selection. Stunting any momentum. Crap ball retention, really poor defending. Onomah can fuck off back to ponce Hotspur. 

[villan from luton]

Onomah seems to think e is better than us, let him go back if that is the case. Newby, tell me what the stupid team selection was for you?