Aston Villa v Reading Post-Match Thread

[martyn ellis]

I wonder what we would all be saying if Chester hadn't gone to ground, if the ref hadn't awarded what looked like a very dubious penalty, if McGinn hadn't been a bit greedy after 30 seconds and passed the ball to Kodjia for a tap in, if Chester' header had gone under the bar instead of against it. Whilst I thought we were woeful and agree with lots of the comments on here, we have really been mugged twice in a week at home (notwithstanding the late equaliser on Wednesday when we should have been out of sight).

[Steve67]

Tuanzebe should have won that header in the middle of the pitch that ended up with the penalty.  Chester, what the fuck were you doing? We have some great individual players, it's the coaches job to get them playing as a team,. sadly, they are lacking as much as Bruce.  Most other Manager's would have throw on another forward when Kodjia went off, are Reading that good that we have to send on a terrible left back to shore up the defence, because, as I say, Reading are that good?  Utter tripe from individual's, including Bruce.

[villan from luton]

We have regressed to two seasons ago. Kodja wants to play on his own and we look edgy and liable to concede at the back.

With the squad we have we should be doing much better.

I have been the first to slag Kodjia off for being too greedy, but he needs someone near to him when he is battling for a ball. I thought he battled well and was gobsmacked when he was taken off for a fecking defender. Bikar was my man of the match, but my one wish following this game is that we get a left back from somewhere that can cross a ball instead of having to cut inside and then go on his right foot.

[PeterWithesShin]

I wonder what we would all be saying if Chester hadn't gone to ground, if the ref hadn't awarded what looked like a very dubious penalty, if McGinn hadn't been a bit greedy after 30 seconds and passed the ball to Kodjia for a tap in, if Chester' header had gone under the bar instead of against it. Whilst I thought we were woeful and agree with lots of the comments on here, we have really been mugged twice in a week at home (notwithstanding the late equaliser on Wednesday when we should have been out of sight).

We'll never know because if any one of those things had happened then everything from that moment onwards in the game would have been different.

[SoccerHQ]

I wonder what we would all be saying if Chester hadn't gone to ground, if the ref hadn't awarded what looked like a very dubious penalty, if McGinn hadn't been a bit greedy after 30 seconds and passed the ball to Kodjia for a tap in, if Chester' header had gone under the bar instead of against it. Whilst I thought we were woeful and agree with lots of the comments on here, we have really been mugged twice in a week at home (notwithstanding the late equaliser on Wednesday when we should have been out of sight).

It balances out though. We weren't great at all first two games (certainly the Wigan game they'l have felt should've been a draw for them).

With last minute goals we've lost two today but won three in the other four games.

Even if it was 1-0 our build up play was slow and quite frankly boring. Of course I don't expect us to play free flowing every game but teams develop styles over seasons (Leeds) and pretty worrying to see us lurch from a positive front foot display on Wednesday to slower style in 60 hours.

We need much more to even finish in the top 6.

[SoccerHQ]

Tuanzebe should have won that header in the middle of the pitch that ended up with the penalty.  Chester, what the fuck were you doing? We have some great individual players, it's the coaches job to get them playing as a team,. sadly, they are lacking as much as Bruce.  Most other Manager's would have throw on another forward when Kodjia went off, are Reading that good that we have to send on a terrible left back to shore up the defence, because, as I say, Reading are that good?  Utter tripe from individual's, including Bruce.

I think SB got spooked from that sitter Reading missed. I'm not sure Taylor would've come on but straight after he did a warm up for five minutes.

You'd think we'd have had enough defenders on the pitch regardless so maybe Whelan to press for a few minutes would've been a better choice.

[Drummond]

Well that's the Championship for you.

We didn't lose.

[mike]

That's it for me I'm afraid.  I am breaking the resolve of a lifetime and getting Sky next Thursday.  I am not doing the hard miles any more to watch a Bruce game.

Brian, it's one thing stopping going to Villa matches, there's probably no-one on here with more dues paid or miles on the clock (both personal and vehicular) than you. I'm with you on Bruce, too. But giving Sky your hard earned income/pension is beyond the pail.

[TonyD]

That's it for me I'm afraid.  I am breaking the resolve of a lifetime and getting Sky next Thursday.  I am not doing the hard miles any more to watch a Bruce game.

Brian.  Fair play mate.   

[robleflaneur]

I wonder what we would all be saying if Chester hadn't gone to ground, if the ref hadn't awarded what looked like a very dubious penalty, if McGinn hadn't been a bit greedy after 30 seconds and passed the ball to Kodjia for a tap in, if Chester' header had gone under the bar instead of against it. Whilst I thought we were woeful and agree with lots of the comments on here, we have really been mugged twice in a week at home (notwithstanding the late equaliser on Wednesday when we should have been out of sight).

Easy to blame the individuals but look at 2 of your examples,McGinn's miss and Chester's header were signs that Reading were a desperately poor side ready for the taking.However,with a overly negative team selection and approach we failed to push on after these early openings.Finally we score and then proceed to boss Reading .Do we go for the jugular ? No,take off El Ghazi who was beginning to cause mayhem.Then surely but slowly ,players like Hutton stop supporting attacks.On the other flank,Tuanzebe and Elmo become less adventurous.Now McGinn and Adomah are becoming isolated in midfield and Kodjia is left to fend for himself upfront.We are longer a team willing to attack.
Then the final white flag,taking Kodjia off,leaving no midfield but a motley group of defensive minded players and an invitation card for Reading to do as they please.
Not a mugging ,more a suicide.Looked on by a manager who was too cowardly to press home an advantage against an abysmal Reading.
The best form of defense would have been to keep possession and that would have been keep attacking Reading ,as they were constantly giving the ball away when under pressure.RHM would have been an ideal substitute.

[West Derby Villan]

For the third time at home this season we have dominated 75% of the play and yet not come out easy winners. In fact we've only won one! Thought we were far superior today but once SJM didn't square it to Moody Kodj we we on a downward spiral. We all know it wasn't a pen but it should of been sewn up before by at least a couple of goals. New boy looks promising and SJM is wonderful. Interesting to see how we coped without our Jack in the second half., imho thought we coped ok but ultimately the opposition enjoyed his absence more than we did. We really need to put the opposition to the sword early on and not waste 3 point opportunities like we did today against truly poor opponents

[mr underhill]

we did dominate but they could easily have scored twice - a better side would have done so. We look really weak defensively and it makes me realize how much we miss Terry and his influence on the team.

[themossman]

If you try and win games against shit teams by one goal then you leave yourself open to getting mugged.

[in exile]

One goal was never enough.
Once again I've been left frustrated by Steve Bruce - Tactical Genius 

[Clampy]

If you try and win games against shit teams by one goal then you leave yourself open to getting mugged.

I think we did try and get another goal though, we just made too bloody hard work of it and it came back to bite us.