Aston Villa vs Bolton Wanderers: Post-Match Thread

[eamonn]

I watched it in a pub with the TV on mute - I saw Dean was interviewed at length on the pitch at the end and they showed clips of Nyland including his ball-drop. What did Dean say about him?

[rougegorge]

Bolton were a bit like Rotherham earlier this season, lacking a consistent
threat, although they had a couple of very good chances, so it was difficult to read much into the game and as to whether we are improving yet.

Chester deserved the MOTM; the clearance alone was remarkable and atoned somewhat for some soft penalties he's conceded this season.

Grealish did well and McGinn is getting used to lasting the full 90 now.
Bolasie show-boated once he came on and Hogan had one cross in 15 minutes of playing time but no other touches I think.

People have spoken about missing Johnstone, JT and Snodgrass and rightly so, but I think Grabban is also a significant loss. He'd have had the chance that Abraham missed tonight and the one at QPR.

Elsewhere, Tuanzebe is doing ok on the floor but a centre back needs to win some aerial challenges and he gets beaten nearly every time.

I can only assume that the standard of Norwegian goalkeepers cannot be high if Nyland has played nearly 30 times for the national team.

[achilles]

Comfortable enough win in the end. Really we should've scored more when you look at some of the positions we got into.

Aswell as a new keeper in January we also could do with some new fullbacks as the amount of times Hutton got in a good area and then shanked a cross...

McGinn was superb. Going to be a key player under Smith I think. Our version of Woods.

Once!

Don't bother with all the positive things he did tonight!

[Ads]

Thought it was very comfortable all told. Bolton had one tactic in attack of hitting the long diagonal and we coped pretty well.

Dominated for most of the game, interjected with some sloppy recycling of possession.

How anybody Can have watched the game and thought Bolton were the better side for large parts is beyond me. What utter bollocks.

The negatives:

The keeper. He's so lacking in confidence in commanding the area and dealing with the high ball.

The full backs. They're part of the reason why we recycled it too easily at times. Both aren't up to the standard needed.

Hourihane. Abysmal. The worst Villa player out there. He was no use in covering the back four, lacked physical presence and was so easy to slip by.

Wasted chances. We got into good positions a number of times and spurned some gifts.

The positives

You can see what Smith is trying to do and there are some real moments of clarity where movement meets tempo and we look a good side.

Grealish. Excellent movement and finish for his goal. An assist too and was a big handful as usual.

McGinn. Excellent again. He really adds a lot to the midfield with the way he works so hard off it and has legs to drive us on.

Chester. A game without a mistake, with a superb clearance, a goal and better passing.

Axel. He's the better centre half.

[Percy McCarthy]

I have no idea why they would sing it, maybe they think it’s ok because Poppy Day & remeberance sunday? Which is just ridiculous. But they did and I had to say something. Only young 18 or so, but just really stupid & insulting

I was telling my mate about the mad lurch to the far-right down the Villa and he said it’s exactly the same down the b-lose.

[Steve67]

As we start to take shape under Smith, you can see the players who will hold us back and who will need replacing. I thought we were comfortable without putting them to the sword. Bolton are a niggly bag of shit and Parkinson will be gone on Monday. Axel, Jack, SJM and Chester were very good. Lovely goal from Jack. 

[Villatillidie1982]

Whisper it quietly, but Taylor was really rather good tonight

BURN HIM!!!!!!

Taylor hasn't been the same since that tackle while playing for Wales and isn't good enough for Villa. Smith should give Bree a decent run to prove himself.

[dorsetvillian]

Just in. Another strange game and performance. Much work to be done, but I think we can all see that there is a difference in the way we are set up and expected to play. Doing it well for 90 mins is going to take time. Still a much needed win and a clean sheet. With Nyland in goal I just can't see many of those through the season.

[Villatillidie1982]

Comfortable enough win in the end. Really we should've scored more when you look at some of the positions we got into.

Aswell as a new keeper in January we also could do with some new fullbacks as the amount of times Hutton got in a good area and then shanked a cross...

McGinn was superb. Going to be a key player under Smith I think. Our version of Woods.

Once!

Don't bother with all the positive things he did tonight!

I had given up on Hutton this season but he was possibly our best player tonight.

[wittonwarrior]

Best games so far this season for Axel, Chester,Grealish, Kodja and Bolasie. 

Another poor performance from Nyland.

The one thing I will take out from this game was the fact we dominated both halves. 

[Chinchilla Bathhouse]

Best games so far this season for Axel, Chester,Grealish, Kodja and Bolasie. 

Another poor performance from Nyland.

The one thing I will take out from this game was the fact we dominated both halves.

Kodjia?! He was absolutely bloody terrible. I don't know what was worse, his decision making, his finishing or his general attitude. Missed a couple of great chances (no idea why he went for a stupid volley from Hutton's cross in the first half), his passing was woeful (awful lay off to Abraham at the beginning of the second half), I can't think of anything he did that was good.

[Concrete Tom]

That was probably our worst performance of the past three games, yet we come out with 3 points and a clean sheet.

We are not clinical enough up front, making poor decisions such as holding on to the ball too much or passing when a shot is on.

At the back and midfield, we are starting to create some triangles but we gave Bolton a few chances with wayward first touch passes at times.

Chester had his best game in ages, Tuanzebe is beginning to look good. Grealish is beginning to look dangerous because he is getting the ball in the right areas of the pitch and McGinn continues to look like a great signing.

On the other hand, Kodjia is frustrating and Abraham cannot seem to control the ball or get a first touch shot away. Nyland needs to improve fast.

Still much to do.

[clash city rocker]

I think we can already see that Dean Smith comes from a different universe to Steve Bruce. We seem to have a plan and have introduced tactics and coaching. It's just the start of the journey but I feel it will ultimately be a successful journey.

[Meanwood Villa]

Was half watching on my phone but from what I saw it looked a decent game. Seemed like we could have got more but could easily have conceded as well. An important win given our run of fixtures up to Christmas.

[baddowvillans]

Just listened to Smiths post match interview and the difference between him and Bruce emphasises what a dinosaur Bruce was.  The players were clearly given a plan of what was expected of them collectively and individually and were given feedback and direction on that at half time.  For me that back 5 still needs a lot of attention but I feel even more confident that Smith will get everything in front of that flowing.  Can't expect Terry to polish a turf though and I would expect recruitment in defence come January