Aston Villa v Reading Post-Match Thread

[QuintonVilla]

Have we got a fitness coach? We were flagging at Ipswich despite plying against 10 and created nothing. We were out on our feet after 70 minutes against Brentford, despite the late goal. Today there was no urgency or tempo in the last 20 minutes either. We look knackered.

[andyh]

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.

100% agree.
As I said elsewhere he is the Jamiest luckiest manager around.
2 months ago we were doomed and now he is awash with cash again, so he is making fucking sure he spends it.

[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.

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.   

Maybe, but I can't see it happening. Reference how Bruce reacted to the suggestion that he needed help with scouting/recruitment when evidently it could be better.

Not only are we hit and miss on who we bring in, but look how poorly balanced the squad is. We stockpile RBs and keepers and do nothing about LB and CB.

Re coaching, Bruce bought in Agnew with no discernible change. With Bruce, Calderwood, Agnew, and Clemence seemingly happy with the present approach no new coaching appointment is going to be able to change things.

We have arguably the best squad in the league, yet the selections are random, there is no plan and he is too defensively minded.

[steamer]

I know it is painful, I have voted out every time the poll has been reset, but I think the new owners are not going to rush into doing anything.
For them this is year zero.
Get a structure in place, appoint a CEO, consider your options, think about what you want going forward and who potentially could follow this through.
Then sack Bruce
This year could be another frustrating time, but hopefully with light at the end.

[CJ]

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

On the left. Looks real quality

[joe_c]

You get the impression that if we had a one goal lead in injury time and the opposition had everyone in our penalty for a corner, if we broke away, Bruce would direct the players to run the ball slowly into the corner.

Had enough of him now.

[robleflaneur]

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.

Sums up very well the game,the opposition and Bruce's approach.Why didn't we just pass and move for the last 15 against such a poor team ?Why not bring on Rushian to run ragged a weak defence ?

[Lastfootstamper]

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

On the left. Looks real quality

He does. Why did he get taken off? Looked fine to me, wasn't off the pace or anything like that.

[SoccerHQ]

As energetic and enterprising as we were on Wednesday, today was back to labourous Bruceball I'm afraid.

Aside from a bright first 15 minutes, far too slow in moving the ball and counter attacking.

Reading are a poor team yet defeat would've probably been harsh on them which says it all.

Even a 1-0 wouldn't have convinced me much but given our flattering start to the season the results are now really balancing out now.

[danno]

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

Agreed, it looked like he thought about letting it run out of play then changed his mind.

Ive not seen a replay but the challenge did look clumsy because the foot hes not tackled with, has come across as well in a scissor like motion. Even if you get the ball the ref is tempted to give them.

Our build up play was so slow today.

[CJ]

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

On the left. Looks real quality

He does. Why did he get taken off? Looked fine to me, wasn't off the pace or anything like that.

Same here - couldn't believe he was being subbed - didn't look like he was tiring at all. Not as weird as subbing Kodjia with Taylor mind, but still a bit of a mystery

[Richard]

Very frustrating as so many times in the second half we got into good positions but shot tamely at the keeper or wide - half chances admittedly and I don't remember their keeper having to pull off anything other than routine saves.

They should have scored about 5 mins before they did and can't judge if it was a pen as opposite end to me - no one seemed to protest though.

We miss Terry I think.

[PeterWithesShin]

Not seen a replay from a different angle so it's hard to tell if it was or not, but I can see how the ref thought it was, Chester was fecking stupid for making the challenge and giving the ref a decision to make.

[CT]

Just got back, so fucking frustrated.

Thought we were decent for the first twenty minutes and had several chances to have been comfortably ahead. Warning signs were there before half time as we got sloppy and nearly conceded.

The new boy did really well, looking a real speedy threat (I guess we'll coach that out of him) as did McGinn, as did Axel.

Where we really fell down, for me, was Kodjia. When he could actually be arsed to make the effort, his selfishness cost us massively. I thought he was appalling.

The negativity is just mind blowing. We're just so slow, and then when we have a chance to attack the space, we stop and go backwards. Safety first. Several times in that second half, we did it again and again - and it cost us.

The Penalty was just the icing on the cake. I haven't seen a replay, but it looked a really stupid challenge from the one player we have that never normally does things like that.

Huge two points dropped.

[TonyDaleysHair]

I counted 5/6 pathetic daisy cutter type shots from what I’d rate as a decent attacking position, in the first hour of the game. Whilst finishing may well be an issue, if 2 of them had been put to bed then the game was over.

Whilst I’m far his biggest fan, I fail to see how the ineptitude of our strike force today is Bruce’s fault.