Aston Villa vs QPR Post-Match Thread

[Small Rodent]

I really hope our players don't base their attitudes around the presumption that other teams around us are bound to lose points.

[Keeno]

Not sure it's all over just yet. We've got to play Cardiff at our place, and Wolves have to go to them too, almost certainly needing a win there to guarantee the title (if they don't, it'll have meant that Cardiff will have dropped points in the meantime so that's good for us as well). That's a potential six point swing that is not only possible but (if we can replicate the Wolves atmosphere and performance) definitely plausible. We're running out of games and margin for error, but it can still happen.

[David_Nab]

Not sure it's all over just yet. We've got to play Cardiff at our place, and Wolves have to go to them too, almost certainly needing a win there to guarantee the title (if they don't, it'll have meant that Cardiff will have dropped points in the meantime so that's good for us as well). That's a potential six point swing that is not only possible but (if we can replicate the Wolves atmosphere and performance) definitely plausible. We're running out of games and margin for error, but it can still happen.

That is true but  we have our selves no margin for error , cardiff can afford to draw both those games.With just 9 games to go it going to take us being spectacular and Cardiff someone falling apart drastically and I just can't see it

[Three Spires Villa]

Seven points to make up in nine games, is to much I think. Yes Cardiff have got to come to us, and we may win, but that still leaves 4 points. Its the playoffs for me 

[Keeno]

Bruce's reluctance to have any kind of confidence in his full squad has cost us dear all season.  IF we go up and it is a big if, we need a better goalkeeper.

Brian totally agree that we need a more competent, agile and domineering keeper and one who can kick a ball properly however I think it's not about Bruce having more confidence in his squad it's more about being more confident in himself and doing something extra-ordinary. I don't think he is capable of that. He is football manger version of painting by numbers and not an artist.

I'm glad other people are seeing the weaknesses in Johnstone now, a few weeks back i felt like I was swimming against the tide saying that I don't think we should be desperate to keep him if we go up.  I've not seen all of the game (I was out for most of the first half) but for what I caught we looked really nervy at the back, given our record in 2018 how can that happen?

I agree on Johnstone's poor performance last night, and to be fair I don't think the general support round here for signing him is at the same time totally disregarding the weaknesses in his game which last night were laid bare.

I just think that signing him permanently (even perhaps as well as an experienced GK to learn from) makes sense because despite those problems, he's clearly got a lot of talent, is very young for a keeper, and for relatively cheaply we could secure a long-term excellent number 1 if he develops and learns from the errors. It's not the same level obviously, but look at the De Gea United signed 5-6 years ago compared to the De Gea they have now. He's definitely got room to develop.

But last night was poor, no mistake - his distribution while good at times can be woeful at others and right now is simply too inconsistent. Although I don't think last night it was helped by the unwillingness of a lot of the players to show early for the ball. He often had the ball in hand, ready to start an attack quickly, and simply had no option.. Not necessarily his fault

[brontebilly]

Bruce's reluctance to have any kind of confidence in his full squad has cost us dear all season.  IF we go up and it is a big if, we need a better goalkeeper.

Brian totally agree that we need a more competent, agile and domineering keeper and one who can kick a ball properly however I think it's not about Bruce having more confidence in his squad it's more about being more confident in himself and doing something extra-ordinary. I don't think he is capable of that. He is football manger version of painting by numbers and not an artist.

I'm glad other people are seeing the weaknesses in Johnstone now, a few weeks back i felt like I was swimming against the tide saying that I don't think we should be desperate to keep him if we go up.  I've not seen all of the game (I was out for most of the first half) but for what I caught we looked really nervy at the back, given our record in 2018 how can that happen?

Little or no protection from midfield hardly helped matters. We couldn't cope with QPRs movement all night, Terry for the first, Grealish failed to track the scorer of the third. We aren't exactly the most mobile side, QPR ruthlessly exposed that.

Harsh enough to blame Johnstone for last night, first maybe a bit central. No chance with other two. He has got pinned to his line a few times this season from set pieces, that's the main flaw I've seen.

[Clampy]

I think overall Johnstone has had a good solid season. He's kept us in games which I think some people tend to forget. He's still quite young for a keeper so his flaws may be a bit more noticeable. I think he's got the potential to go on and be a very good keeper.

[Richard E]

Not that fussed either way whether we keep Johnstone or not. He is largely a decent keeper but goalkeeper is not an area where it is that difficult to pick up an adequate player.

[remy]

I got carried away on Saturday and I bet loads of others did too. I thought we'd score within 10 minutes (based on previous games) and see the game out.

It was 50/50 that Bruce would shake up the team after Saturdays excursions. He chose to stick but after the 1st goal went in and they were bypassing our midfield at will, why didn't he make the positive changes then? We have the squad!!

Crushing disappointment that autos is now "probably" gone and we have the lotto of the play offs.

I am not looking forward to Saturdays match now (but will still watch it) knowing we will have 2 weeks to stew should we knacker this one up aswell. Urggghhh feel terrible.

Thanks boys.

[kippaxvilla2]

didn't Hull have a crap run in March a couple of seasons ago before eventually scraping into the play offs.  Seem to remember them losing at Blues when they could have gone 2nd.

[Hookeysmith]

Team selection wrong - how can you play a 33 year old and a 38 year old twice in 72 hours? And it showed with Terry painfully slow to get anywhere near to the first and Jedinak running in concrete to close down the shot for the 2nd.

Tactics all wrong - Jedninak I assume was in there due to the threat by the brick shithouse that is Matt Smith. What really happened is that Jedinak went further and further backwards and was directly in front of Terry to double up meaning there was a gaping hole in the centre of the park which they quite rightly exposed at will. And for him then to go to LB was almost comical.

Subs all wrong - wrong players at the wrong times

Goalkeeper - have said it for a while now will cost us more than he saves us. Positioning piss poor for 1st and 3rd goals and his kicking is abysmal.

I have had to (quite rightly) eat a shit load of humble pie with Bruce over recent weeks but last night was an epitome of all his worst tactical traits.

But its not just him I am so disappointed in the players - they could easily be tired after the game on Saturday but how the hell do an entire team collectively forget the basics - crossing / passing / moving / 2nd &3rd balls was just completely lacking - unforgivable

To end on a positive (If there is on) we all assumed QPR would be easy but earlier in the season they turned over both Wolves and Sheff utd in a week when both were 1st and 2nd in the league. It goes to show take your eye off the ball and any team can beat you (apart from the Blues of course)

It is not over and I am sure there will be further shocks along the way but f*ck me we do make life difficult for ourselves at times

[sirlordbaltimore]

Team selection wrong - how can you play a 33 year old and a 38 year old twice in 72 hours? And it showed with Terry painfully slow to get anywhere near to the first and Jedinak running in concrete to close down the shot for the 2nd.

Who would you have played instead of Terry out of interest ?

[mr underhill]

Jedi could possibly have done a job with Thor taking his place

[sirlordbaltimore]

Jedi could possibly have done a job with Thor taking his place

Not ideal, plus he already said playing him twice in so few days was a bad idea

[Hookeysmith]

Team selection wrong - how can you play a 33 year old and a 38 year old twice in 72 hours? And it showed with Terry painfully slow to get anywhere near to the first and Jedinak running in concrete to close down the shot for the 2nd.

Who would you have played instead of Terry out of interest ?

Bree?
Suliman?

Not sure where the hell Samba is