Aston Villa v Reading Post-Match Thread

[russon]

Chester was wading through treacle before giving that pen away, thought Gabby had ate it all so I’m blaming him.

Inexcusable not to have won today, proper pathetic.

[Russ aka Big Nose]

In a week we have dropped 6 points (4 against two sides in the bottom three presently).

In every game many have been unsure how we will line-up given the names posted in advance. Bizarrely Bruce is clearly happy to have three of the back four playing out of position.

In terms of performances, the application of players seems decent and there are instances of individual quality and of individual cock-ups as there will always be.

The defining features are we have looked disjointed - inevitable when playing people out of position - and we have no discernible pattern of play. Both are entirely down to the manager and coaching staff.

I will always be respectful of other fans, but if people can't see that and don't think a change is merited, then I am absolutely amazed. UTV.

[Legion]

The unbeaten run continues...

[CJ]

Started off brightly and played well for the first 15 minutes, but McGinn favouring a scuffed shot instead of squaring the ball for a tap-in in the first minute became a common theme throughout the game, particularly by Kodjia. El Ghazi looks good and hopefully Bolasie will add threat from the other side.  Losing Jack to injury at half time didn't help but as long as it stayed 1-0 there was always a chance we'd throw the points. Realistically if we can't see off teams as poor as Reading at home we'll be staying in this division for yet another season at least

Oh, and how many players were playing out of position at the end - Axel, Jedi, Hutton, Taylor, Albert - Bruce's square pegs/round holes obsession is just getting ridiculous

[mr underhill]

the only comfort is that it is a much better start than the previous two years.

[itmustbe_it is!]

Like a bad record.There to be won.1-0 up 7 mins to go,we're attacking down the right.Just need a cross into the box or work it on the Reading box.
No, don't commit anyone forward,lose possession,then shortly after Reading get a punt forward and bag a pen
Bruce cost us last season and he's costing us this.We're like the Harlem Globetrotters but with a negative attitude.

This is what did my head in, clearly Bruce's instruction to the players. A second goal there and its game over. Instead of which WE all knew what was going to happen, how come Bruce didnt ffs? And Taylor on for Kodjia made me want to spew.

[cheltenhamlion]

We were shit and they were even worse. This was a team who had 7 men strung across the back with 20 minutes to go to make sure they didn't lose by more. So what do we do?

Concede possession. Drop deeper. Make ever more defensive subs to the point we don't have a striker on the pitch and then mimic their defensive formation.

He is a fucking clown.

[Villafirst]

Jack has a dead leg, Bruce said Mcginn took a knock to his knee...so not a great day at all.

[jwarry]

Where did El Ghazi play on the left or the right?

[Rigadon]

In a week we have dropped 6 points (4 against two sides in the bottom three presently).

In every game many have been unsure how we will line-up given the names posted in advance. Bizarrely Bruce is clearly happy to have three of the back four playing out of position.

In terms of performances, the application of players seems decent and there are instances of individual quality and of individual cock-ups as there will always be.

The defining features are we have looked disjointed - inevitable when playing people out of position - and we have no discernible pattern of play. Both are entirely down to the manager and coaching staff.

I will always be respectful of other fans, but if people can't see that and don't think a change is merited, then I am absolutely amazed. UTV.

I agree about the style of play bit, we don't have one and haven't since Bruce has been here.  At it's worst it's attritional and ugly at its best its... good, sometimes really good (most often when we play teams who don't park the bus).  But I think that is due to the fact that we have very good players for this level rather than good game plan, executed well.  I don't think Bruce is a coach.  He's more of a man manager, and a good one given that the team clearly plays for him.  Getting rid of him now would be a massive risk and our current league placing does not warrant that.  I know that other fans disagree. 

Maybe we need a new head coach instead.   

[PeterWithe]

Lack of aggression did for us, we Fannied about far too much rather that going for the jugular. Still too one paced and whilst Kod is a fantastic talent, the team suffers when he plays as the lone  striker

Defensively sound and good displays by Barney and McGinn

Didn’t create nearly enough going forward

[cheltenhamlion]

We should have had Bielsa in a decade ago. He can shove his war of attrition every week up his fucking fat arse.

[Oscar Arce]

Has he learned nothing from last season?
I can hear him now saying 'we're unbeaten and there are calls for me to be sacked' but I'm afraid this game and the Ipswich performance are a rerun of last season, being too negative costs us points that put us in a position where we can't challenge unless it's for the play-offs...not good enough.
Bringing on a left back for Kodija sums him up...hold on and hit them on the break.
Reading were abysmal, they will surely be relegated, and it was only in the last few minutes when Bruceball's tactics forced them onto us that they created anything, don't forget they missed an open goal before the penalty.
We're already more than one win behind the leaders after a generous run of fixtures to start the season.
Poor.

[cheltenhamlion]

We have had the easiest start in the league and still aren't running at two points again. And the fucker is spending a fortune on wages again. Unacceptable.

[john2710]

Players let themselves down today. Too many playing for themselves and their own glory. Complacency is killing us.

Hutton for all his effort kills things going forward.

Chester hesitated and then dived in when there was no need, was probably a penalty.

Jedinek dropped his customary bollock & Nyland saved him.

With Bruce, Play-off is best we can hope for.