Aston Villa v Reading Post-Match Thread

[PeterWithe]

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.

[mcgrath_85]

With the squad we have at our disposal and the opening fixtures we’ve had, we should be top two at the very fucking least.

We played okay vs Brentford for an hour though and only just didn’t lose, so why are people up in arms. Some people just aren’t happy ay

[brian green]

People are up in arms because this is Aston Villa Football Club we are talking about.  Chill out.  We drew at home to Reading.  Cue pants pissing insults.

[mcgrath_85]

People are up in arms because this is Aston Villa Football Club we are talking about.  Chill out.  We drew at home to Reading.  Cue pants pissing insults.

Most are up in arms because we don’t show any semblance of being a team. The football is dreadful, even with many very good players. It’s been like this since he stepped in. His answer seems to be; moan a lot after dropping points against a side who have nowhere near the resources we have and then he’s charmed enough to be able  sign even more players that he won’t play or don’t necessarily need.

Wake up man. 

[Damo70]

It isn't Bruce's fault that an opposition player who shouldn't have still been on the pitch equalised against us in midweek and it isn't his fault that we had an iffy penalty given against us today....

It is his fault in a way Damo, if we put games beyond the opposition by playing on the front foot with tempo and taking our chances, it wouldn't matter if we dropped a bollock at the back occasionally or get an unfortunate decision.  His approach leaves little or no margin for error, and we, and the refs,  make a lot of errors.  I mean bringing on Taylor for Kodija when 1-0 up at home against fucking Reading FFS.  Also let's not forget Kodija could have walked the other night before he got either of his goals.

Of course it his his fault in a way. You edited out the part of my post where I said that every time I see our starting line up my first thought and immediate concern is where the goals will come from. I also pointed out that I firmly believe that he was kept on by the new owners due to the fact the takeover was so close to the start of the season and that I suspect he is very much on trial in their eyes.

[wittonwarrior]

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.

A man up to my own heart there Brian - I have managed to resist SKY in the house thus far even with two grown up kids who have craved a dish on the roof like all our neighbours
I've not attended a game so far this season and to be honest I'm hardly likely to anytime soon with Bruce as manager - the new owners need to appoint a CEO/DOF pretty smartly otherwise this season will be written off soon after it started

Will see both of you at Villa Park shortly then.  The pull of Villa is so adicitve I am afraid.  Think most regulars have had their moments over the years but you know what.

[brian green]

You won't see me if I am brown bread.

[brian green]

If it is a choice between watching what Bruce serves up and building sandcastles with my granddaughter on a Saturday afternoon it is no contest.

[Damo70]

On the subject of Bruce's style of play I have to say that in my drinking days, despite Bruce beating Villa regularly and giving their fans their best couple of seasons in my memory, the noses I drank with were not impressed by him mainly due to the style of football.

[kippaxvilla2]

No way this side as it currently plays is going to be top 2.

[aj2k77]

Sack of Brucie bollocks again, no chance we will finish top 2 with this man.

[Gareth]

If Reading finish outside the bottom 3 they will have had a brilliant season, they were utterly dire but you always felt there was going to be a sucker punch because our team, pace of play and commitment to attack were weak.

A rigid one up front week in week out is easy for opposition managers to organise against.  Kodjia is very decent with his back to goal where he can do his twists and turns but he spends far too long offside & isn’t clinical enough to burst a gut at all times to be in the box when we get forward.

Jedinak, for me as a centre back attacking the ball is fine but his distribution of the ball is atrocious, does he ever pass a ball in front of a team mate, time & again he sucked any pace out of play by passing either behind or to feet.  Call me old fashioned but I prefer a centre half pship of a bruiser & a passer, Chester / Jedinak is a poor, slow combo imho.

Keeper did very well, El Gharzi did ok & unpicked the lock.  McGinn & Hourihane showed great energy.

Adomah, what on earth was that? Think the guys in the half time competition hit harder shots than he did, think he has railed off hugely since Xmas 17.

[footyskillz]

Brucey wise enough to now know that his days will be numbered if he criticises the supporters but he also wise to know he will be sacked because of results. As yet unbeaten but he's hiding behind masked inadequacy.

I feel he's a shameless opportunist never signed Kodjia, don't think he outright signed El Ghazi it was recommended or imposed.
Grealish and Hutton were already here.

Bruce has a solid as a reputation in the game and that gives him opportunity

He seems likeable and honest but  if we are to progress as well as challenging I think he needs to be brought to task about how he has really failed to deliver an identity .
Or at least a style that is acceptable.

The challenge of the top spots are because of the players including his fantasy football style moves taking great players to perform at lower level vs  the lack of quality of opposition is like some bully boy tactic.

He sometimes gets away with things because way I see it is he's tactically inept and that playing no proper left back, no proper centre half is just ludicrous.

It was a standard Bruce performance with his lacking being found out by the end .

The individual error cost us but over the period Bruce being here and just this season why have there been so many individual errors ?

At the moment he's attributing to amount of matches played in short period of time.

However we seem to struggle in beating  reading when we play them early season

Very frustratingly obvious that the owners gave him opportunity and not a dynamic forward thinking coach.

I'll be interested to see how we go against Sheffield United away next week perhaps our first actual test !

[themossman]

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.

That was my main thought as well. We look a lot more like the villa of 16/17 than 17/18 so far, for the reasons you mention. There’s no guiding philosophy in evidence, no discrernible progress in any area.

[ROBBO]

Steve Bruce is an antique, old and worn.