Aston Villa vs Preston North End Post-Match Thread.

[Toronto Villa]

Maybe someone has answered this already and I didn’t notice in the game, but why didn’t Terry have his number 26 on his back?

He had it ripped from his back in the first few minutes

ah ok cheers. Seems odd that it couldn't have been fixed or another shirt brought out to him.

[oldtimernow]

I thought it was a penalty, admittedly a soft one, but nevertheless still a penalty.

The defenders were silly boys.

[rougegorge]

Preston have taken on the personality of Alex Neil.

He whinges more than Elise Christie

Other thoughts...,

Hourihane looked like he’d completely forgotten how to play football
Jedi still can’t pass or direct a header
Why is Yoko anywhere near the match day squad?
Disappointed with Axel. First time I’ve seen him play and based on reports, I was expecting a lot more pace

Alan, Chester, Scotty, Grabban, Bjarney all did ok

Terry poor in first half (especially passing) but better in second

Johnstone’s kicking isn’t great but he’s Lionel Messi compared to Guzan

This sums up a lot of my thoughts.
The midfield was so pedestrian and poor in the first half but picked up a bit with the changes at half time.

Someone near us suggested JT was listening in to Chelsea in the CL as his concentration seemed lacking, and he did make  some very poor errors; also we looked vulnerable again at corners.

I thought Axel did well on Saturday, but he was well off the pace in the second half and gave away far too much space.

I'd probably have taken a draw at half time, but on reflection, we did create the much better chances and they weren't ones presented to us, unlike most of theirs.

Neil slated the Wolves players on Saturday for going down easily, but they were at it much of the time, especially Darnell Fisher, who flung himself to the floor or fouled at every opportunity.

However, Neil did have a rant at Barkhuizen for staying down at the end. Was it the Villa fitness coach who laid into Barkhuizen at the final whistle?

[oldtimernow]

Maybe someone has answered this already and I didn’t notice in the game, but why didn’t Terry have his number 26 on his back?

He had it ripped from his back in the first few minutes

ah ok cheers. Seems odd that it couldn't have been fixed or another shirt brought out to him.

Seems odder that it was ripped in the penalty area without having someone holding onto it.

Unless of course it's as a result of spontaneous ripping

[Gareth]

How comically bad was that referee :-) he didn’t even give the pen until lino flagged.  Then he booked one of them for dissent and ran off while number 3 kept up the protest to said lino instead of dealing with him in same way.

Booked Bjarnasson for a cynical foul 30 seconds after not booking one of theirs for the same offence.

[taylorsworkrate]

How comically bad was that referee :-) he didn’t even give the pen until lino flagged.  Then he booked one of them for dissent and ran off while number 3 kept up the protest to said lino instead of dealing with him in same way.

Booked Bjarnasson for a cynical foul 30 seconds after not booking one of theirs for the same offence.

We should be grateful to the officials tonight. Very poor decision for the penalty earned us a completely undeserved point. No way we would have scored a goal otherwise,

[exiled on the wirral!]

Just back in after a lovely drive home. After we got the penalty which looked generous from the North Stand I thought we might snatch it at the death but I stated at half time I'd take a point the way we were playing. As others have stated I'm really not impressed with Onamah..a passenger who offered little. I was surprised he kept him on instead of Hourihane at Half Time. I thought Grabban looked lively and id start him at the weekend.

For Alex Neil to moan about cheating foreigners at the weekend is laughable after watching his team tonight. PNE were constantly whining the whole game especially the little t××ser wearing NO 4 trying to get players booked at every opportunity. Horrible side.

[Axl Rose]

Just back in after a lovely drive home. After we got the penalty which looked generous from the North Stand I thought we might snatch it at the death but I stated at half time I'd take a point the way we were playing. As others have stated I'm really not impressed with Onamah..a passenger who offered little. I was surprised he kept him on instead of Hourihane at Half Time. I thought Grabban looked lively and id start him at the weekend.

For Alex Neil to moan about cheating foreigners at the weekend is laughable after watching his team tonight. PNE were constantly whining the whole game especially the little t××ser wearing NO 4 trying to get players booked at every opportunity. Horrible side.

Yes, the number 4 is Ben Pearson. He was a little fucker when we lost up there last season, and scored their first I believe. Came from Man Utd, so no surprise that he's a bit of a cu next Tuesday.

[Mortimer's Bear]

Having played as poorly as we did that's a decent point, must improve for Saturday.

[Bad English]

Maybe someone has answered this already and I didn’t notice in the game, but why didn’t Terry have his number 26 on his back?

He had it ripped from his back in the first few minutes

ah ok cheers. Seems odd that it couldn't have been fixed or another shirt brought out to him.

Have you seen how much they charge for 'flocking'?

[Clampy]

Having played as poorly as we did that's a decent point, must improve for Saturday.

That is one way of looking at it. We had our top scorer and in form midfielder out, lost Snodgrass at half time so ended up with no wingers, didnt play that well and we still managed to pick up a point. It's a point we might look back on at the end of the season and be glad we got.

[Ads]

Seems Snodgrass was sick yesterday so could be fit for Saturday.

Dread to think how tedious it could get on the weekend if we have Onomah, BB and Jedinak all stinking out the midfield.

[Chris Smith]

We were poor in the first first half, too slow and predictable against a very physical side that flooded the midfield. On top of that a bizarre refereeing display allowed them to waste time at will and he fell for the play acting throughout the game. After 55 minutes I said to my son I would take the point but we did rouse ourselves with a more direct approach unsettling them and with a little composure could have won it although a draw was probably fair overall.

Grabban has probably earned a start for his second half, Davis showed willing but lacked the technique when it mattered and Hutton at lest tried to take the game to them but apart from that forgettable performances all round.

 

[Ads]

Think it has to be 442 with Grabben and Hogan, Elmo as one wide option then BB as the only defensive midfielder. Who the other two are depends on fitness.

I'd prefer O'Hare and Lansbury to the others at the moment.

[mr underhill]

That was one of the worst home performances I have seen for some time - probably since Sheffield Wednesday. It is not losing to Fulham that will cost us, it's he timid home draws. We have to be bolder now in our team selections until our best players are able to return. Onomah is a shockingly bad player in a C & B shirt and Tuanzebe isn't a right back. Bree would have been better last night. Hourihane needs hooking for a while as he's been anonymous (apart from the odd goal) for a while and whilst there probably is no immediate alternative, Johnstone is average at best. Cost us a goal again last night and his kicking, whilst not Guzan-esque  awful is awful. I had a great view of the penalty from the lower Holte and it was night time robbery. PNE were a bunch of conniving shits but deserved the spoils. A point won rather than three lost but it's the draws that will kill us. Here's hoping for better things from Saturday.