Aston Villa vs Preston North End Post-Match Thread

[brontebilly]

Whelan should have been on 10/15 mins before, our midfield 4 were all fucked and they were running behind us every single attack.

Arguably Whelan should have been the one brought on first, that would have caused a meltdown at Villa Park mind. The alarm bells were already ringing 5 mins into the secomd half as we hadn't touched the ball. Exact same happened v Rotherham.

Our midfield four were an utter disgrace in that second half. Think about the wages they are getting compared to the Preston lads. Johnson was made look the next coming of Pirlo when he came on.

[sickbeggar]

I'd be here all fucking night if I tried to set out what all the issues were with the performance tonight.

I'm having the snip on Friday and I reckon I'll still have more spunk in my shots than a Bruce team.

Don't trust myself to discuss the game on here to be honest, but fairplay, getting castrated in protest - i'm just an amateur in comparison.

[robleflaneur]

Whelan should have been on 10/15 mins before, our midfield 4 were all fucked and they were running behind us every single attack.

I agree at 2-1.It was the defensive mindset that wrecked the midfield.No Villa player got within 5 yards of Johnson and he was able to pick out players as he pleased.At 2-2 I thought we needed to change the attitude and attack Preston who were incredibly poor in defence.

[PeterWithe]

Hourihan tires rapidly with XI, he really struggled second half, look at the passage where they hit post, he was miles away from Johnson who had an age to pick out a shot that Bunn saved well.

A cowardly, timid second half display from all of them.

[PeterWithe]

Whelan should have been on 10/15 mins before, our midfield 4 were all fucked and they were running behind us every single attack.

I agree at 2-1.It was the defensive mindset that wrecked the midfield.No Villa player got within 5 yards of Johnson and he was able to pick out players as he pleased.At 2-2 I thought we needed to change the attitude and attack Preston who were incredibly poor in defence.

Yup, also they were getting their left back forward at will with no one to stop him, pushing a winger forward might have given us the initiative again but no, let’s hope for the best and just belt the ball aimlessly  forward.

On a lighter note, Axels best game for us I thought. Crap on set pieces mind.

[sickbeggar]

Sadly this side isn't going up even with a half competent manager. he's fucked up the defence, unbalanced the midfield and stuffed us full of loans. time to rebuild.

[brontebilly]

Sadly this side isn't going up even with a half competent manager. he's fucked up the defence, unbalanced the midfield and stuffed us full of loans. time to rebuild.

I agree 100%, the only saving grace is that there isn't a decent side in the division this year so any kind of decent run would take us into contention.

I don't agree with the narrative that we have a group of players that should smash this division. We have a hopelessly unbalanced squad with no keeper, defence or functioning midfield. We had a much better squad last season.

[itmustbe_it is!]

Tonight I abandoned my trusty new Villa polo shirt, labelled as my "lucky shirt" after the win at Hull but clinging onto that position harder than SB, and went to the match for the first time in 18 years in my 1999/2000 LDV vans classic away top.
So do I wear it again for Millwall? Not sure I can judge it on tonight's game.

[itmustbe_it is!]

Sadly this side isn't going up even with a half competent manager. he's fucked up the defence, unbalanced the midfield and stuffed us full of loans. time to rebuild.

I agree 100%, the only saving grace is that there isn't a decent side in the division this year so any kind of decent run would take us into contention.

I don't agree with the narrative that we have a group of players that should smash this division. We have a hopelessly unbalanced squad with no keeper, defence or functioning midfield. We had a much better squad last season.

Maybe, but this squad isn't being used to its potential.
I think Nyland could be ok , he looks a good shot stopper and was improving otherwise, but his confidence will be fucked being thrown under the bus by SB tonight.
Back 4 before Chester red card was ok, the more Elmo,Chester,Tuanzebe and Hutton play together the less they'll fuck up
In games we should win, and at home - McGinn,Grealish,Bjarnasson midfield, Boliase,Abraham and kodjia
In away games /tougher games - McGinn,Grealish, Whelan or Jedi, Bolasie,Abraham and Kodjia as before

Bench : Goalie (either), Taylor, Jedi or Whelan, Hourihane,El Ghazi,Hogan, Davies/RHM/DoyleHayes/Adomah

Just need someone to set them up properly, and a bit of confidence that someone has a f***ing plan

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Must be time for a caption competition

Colcannon (one for our Irish lads), Bubble and Squeak in the dug out tonight.

[Jockey Randall]

Whelan should have been on 10/15 mins before, our midfield 4 were all fucked and they were running behind us every single attack.

I agree at 2-1.It was the defensive mindset that wrecked the midfield.No Villa player got within 5 yards of Johnson and he was able to pick out players as he pleased.At 2-2 I thought we needed to change the attitude and attack Preston who were incredibly poor in defence.

I still can't fathom out why he stuck McGinn wide left and left Bjarnason in the centre at 2-1. At least he knows that position ffs.

They mullered us down that side after the sending off and then to top it all off he finally does switch McGinn and Bjarnason after Whelan came on! It's almost as if he's doing shit like this on purpose to wind us up.

[sickbeggar]

Sadly this side isn't going up even with a half competent manager. he's fucked up the defence, unbalanced the midfield and stuffed us full of loans. time to rebuild.

I agree 100%, the only saving grace is that there isn't a decent side in the division this year so any kind of decent run would take us into contention.

I don't agree with the narrative that we have a group of players that should smash this division. We have a hopelessly unbalanced squad with no keeper, defence or functioning midfield. We had a much better squad last season.

yep. it's looking more and more likely he stumbled on a winning formula last season through luck rather than design. When he took over i wasn't expecting much more than "hard to beat, workmanlike, solid at the back , shit football etc" Fine, that was the bargain for getting up - I didn't agree with those wanting him but i could see the logic - we put up with the equivalent of bleach thrown in our eyes for 90 minutes for getting up. 3rd season in and it's basically players out of position and personnel/formation changed every game so we  just look a fucking horror show, because that tends to happen y'know, when you don't know your fucking best first XI and you just loan in or buy players on a whim because another fucking winger is more important than having 2 centre halves and a defensive midfielder who can last 90 minutes. He's lost it, he needs to go and  hopefully the next guy will be able to repair the damage in January so we at least have a squad fit for purpose

[pooligan]

By all accounts the referee tonight does not know the rules of the game changed at the start of the season and Chester should have received just a yellow card. No great surprise as this is the same referee who gave Reading that harsh penalty against Reading earlier in the season

[David_Nab]

Sadly this side isn't going up even with a half competent manager. he's fucked up the defence, unbalanced the midfield and stuffed us full of loans. time to rebuild.

WBA are pretty crap at the back too but they have decided to just go for the we will score more than your approach ..attack is the best form of defence and thats how we need to play now ..untill Jan at least when we will have to sort out CB and possibly another keeper ...

[sickbeggar]

Sadly this side isn't going up even with a half competent manager. he's fucked up the defence, unbalanced the midfield and stuffed us full of loans. time to rebuild.

WBA are pretty crap at the back too but they have decided to just go for the we will score more than your approach ..attack is the best form of defence and thats how we need to play now ..untill Jan at least when we will have to sort out CB and possibly another keeper ...

while WBA may be below average defensively, they still have more than 1 and a half centre halves!. stats speak for themselves - we've let in 18. only preston have let in more