Fulham 1-0 Aston Villa Play Off Final Post Match Thread

[eddiemunster]

First half summed up our season.....too slow and utter shite, we got what we deserved unfortunately!

[PaulMcGrathsNo5Shirt]

Not really going to add much that hasn't been said. I like Bruce as a man, and he should be applauded for not only steading a sinking ship, but by moving it forwards, however I don't believe he has the forward thinking football in him or his coaching team to move us forward.
 Any chance we had today really against a very decent Fulham side was to score first, but we sat back hoping to play them on the break. Their movement for the first goal killed us as Hutton and Adomah were ball watching. What Hourihan was doing too I don't know. I really don't understand why Grealish was played so deep, especially with Grabban so isolated up front, it needed Bjarnason in with Jedinak holding and pushing Grealish forward, Hourihan did nothing really in the game of note. 

Time to bring in Dean Smith, with a coaching team who will bring on the likes of Davis, Green, O'Hare etc and play front foot football. Bruce, as nice a bloke as he is I'm afraid just isn't the man - especially if we lose some of these 'experienced lads' he has talked up all week.

[ChicagoLion]

You knew it was over when he chucked Hogan on, fitting really I suppose.

[rougegorge]

I guess the ultra cautious first half approach could have worked, but it was far too risky against probably the best team in the Championship and asking attacking players to principally defend didn't work. Adomah was lost at tracking Fredericks and Snodgrass couldn't get into the game. How Fredericks stayed on I will never know (what does the 4th official do?), but in fairness to him, he went round every Villa player at the end before celebrating.

[itbrvilla]

You knew it was over when he chucked Hogan on, fitting really I suppose.

As soon as they scored I knew we didn't stand a chance. I called it learning from experience.

[CT]

Just back. We deserved nothing.

That first half was utterly pathetic. Lewis Grabban was playing 15 yards inside his own half as a centre forward! We couldn't have parked a bigger bus if we'd tried.

Once Fulham were ahead I knew it was curtains. The game management over the last twenty minutes was just awful, as was that referee.

A massively different Villa awaits. Go get Dean Smith.

Steve Bruce, the man I respect, the football manager needs to go, right now.

[London Villan]

When we do play, we play decent football. The hoof, hoof, hoof to snodgrass and grabban doesn’t/didn’t work!

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

Potato played it wrong the first half.

Second half showed we c/should’ve finished higher with a bit more ambition.

Potato successfully got us here, but he successfully saw us lose the final.

[Can Gana Be Bettered!?!?]

Last season Newcastle went out to win every game and expected to win every game. They got promoted. If we had that attitude, we’d be promoted.

[not3bad]

Fucks sake, we shouldn’t have even been in the playoffs in the first place.

Er... what?!

[PeterWithesShin]

Fucks sake, we shouldn’t have even been in the playoffs in the first place.

Er... what?!

I think he means that we should have finished top 2.

[aj2k77]

Really gutted. Not sure where we stand next season. I like this side but think it's come to an end and we will see quite a different Villa next season. I have to admit, I'm not looking forward to it. I don't think Bruce is cut out to lead us any further.

Another bad day at Wembley.

Up the Villa.

[PeterWithesShin]

You knew it was over when he chucked Hogan on, fitting really I suppose.

As soon as they scored I knew we didn't stand a chance. I called it learning from experience.

I can't be arsed to work it out as it would depress me, but I wonder what our record is under Bruce when we go 1 down.

[sickbeggar]

Last season Newcastle went out to win every game and expected to win every game. They got promoted. If we had that attitude, we’d be promoted.

yep, what did it for me was Bruce looking like he didn't give a shit in the post match interviews when we blew automatic promotion in March.. okay, he obviously had other things on his mind, but i expected him to be livid rather than "meh". Must have rubbed off on the players to a point and something you wouldn't get from FSW, or MON, or Houllier or gregory for that matter.

[Nelly]

At the start of the season everyone agreed automatic promotion was the only acceptable goal. Bruce has failed to deliver that. I respect him hugely for his conduct, especially at such a difficult time in his own life but Villa have utterly squandered the advantage that parachute payments gave us. Where does that leave us as a club for the next few seasons?

I have the misfortune of being born in the only era when Villa have been consistently rubbish. Not meaning to sound all doom and gloom but I'm trying to prepare myself for us being down here for a long time.

Gutted tonight. Well done Fulham, through gritted teeth.