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

[Mister 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.

100% - bang on.

[McGraths Dry Cleaning]

I also think that even though we threw this game to "concentrate" on the league we could turn up at Forest on Saturday and look like we've done nothing in training since the last game despite most of our team having a long rest.

[Ads]

Or we could turn up and better them silly. Or even something in between.

As long as we outscored them I'm not arsed.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

First time I've been online in days.

I think it could be our year.

[dl9]

Another “In hindsight I got the team selection wrong” afternoon.

How many times have we heard this line.

Personally the fact that we are out of the cup I’m not bothered about, it’s more the fact that there isn’t a plan. You’d have thought that after throwing in Lansbury, Hourihane and Bjorne straight into the starting line up away at Brentford last year he’d have had enough instances of realising what impact these decisions have when globally you don’t have a plan that the fringe players within the squad can come in and work to.

All eggs in the promotion chasing basket now, better hope we have no more injuries for the reasons mentioned.

[The Edge]

It's the FA Cup, one of the three trophies we can possibly win. Two of them we're already out of contention. I honestly think that he should put out his best team and attempt to win the game. Giving players "game time" by making such wholesale changes is just putting up the white flag. I'm not having it and I want my money back!

[Three Spires Villa]

Main problem for me is that winning games builds confidence and momentum. Our reputation and “brand” have been damaged over the last few years and a decent cup run gets people / pundits talking about us. I would love a cup run, don’t agree that a cup run would be damaging to a push for the playoffs. Players can get injured anytime even in training!

[Clampy]

I didn't have a problem with him resting the likes of Chester and Adomah. Green and Terry needed some playing time so that made sense too. What we had out on the pitch should have been enough to win but they didn't look up for it at all after we got in front and we were painfully slow up front. All in all, very cold and very crap.

[Deano's Mullet]

To those that went, how did Terry play just out of interest?

[JUAN PABLO]

I didn't have a problem with him resting the likes of Chester and Adomah. Green and Terry needed some playing time so that made sense too. What we had out on the pitch should have been enough to win but they didn't look up for it at all after we got in front and we were painfully slow up front. All in all, very cold and very crap.

exactly what I thought , thou I would have played Whelan and Elphick and in their right positions and even Hutton at LB who never seems to get injured and always wants to play but I thought on paper and of course setting the team up properly with players in their ' right ' positions , we should have been good enough.

[Clampy]

I didn't have a problem with him resting the likes of Chester and Adomah. Green and Terry needed some playing time so that made sense too. What we had out on the pitch should have been enough to win but they didn't look up for it at all after we got in front and we were painfully slow up front. All in all, very cold and very crap.

exactly what I thought , thou I would have played Whelan and Elphick and in their right positions and even Hutton at LB who never seems to get injured and always wants to play but I thought on paper and of course setting the team up properly with players in their ' right ' positions , we should have been good enough.

Yes, I'd have played Elphick, Whelan and probably RHM from the start.

[Abbeyfealeavfc]

Yesterday I attended the game with my 20 year old son, who currently resides in London. He is a Villa fan and will always be one. Sadly we couldn't remember when we last attended together and sadly after the game we didn't discuss the next one we'll attend together. I suspect he represents a lapsed generation of match day supporters of which there must be plenty out there and for which the likes of Bruce (in his 14 months) and his predecessors of the last 7-8 years (along with the people behind the scenes) must share some of the responsibility for the tripe on the pitch that is served up with alarming regularity.
Regarding yesterday's costs, as a fan of 47+ years, ex-season ticket, but regular attender of 15+ games a season (when I'm in the country), I paid £15 for the pleasure of my team saving themselves for the league under Bruce. Posh fans on the way to the ground were telling me they'd paid £10! Being stung by my own club (in terms of performance and financially) I personally find very distasteful! Shame on Bruce for his mis-management on the day, shame on players like Taylor and Onomah who couldn't be arsed and shame on the decision makers who set the price of seats for the match!

[Ads]

I paid 10 quid. Peterborough season ticket holders paid a tenner.

[Clampy]

I paid £10 too so the club was not ripping off anybody.

[Ads]

All season ticket holders of both clubs paid a tenner. Those that aren't paid more. I wish the seats behind me would price the day trippers out behind me or that the season ticket holders would turn up to these games.