Aston Villa 2-2 Stoke City Post Match Thread

[Clampy]

A decent point in the end considering how off our game we were. We missed Jack, Bolasie is wasted playing on the left and I don't think Whelan took a decent corner all game. We're going to throw in performances like that every now and again I suppose.

[olaftab]

I went to my first villa game for several years today. I was looking forward to seeing Smith's brand of attacking football but there wasn't much of it going on. Also I  couldn't help noticing how quiet it was for a decent attendance and wondered if this is how it has become while I've been away.

Much of what you are saying is true. Awful weather had a lot to do with it both the crowd and play. I said to fellow ST holders next to me at HT that that half was as bad as anything we saw under Bruce. However we scored a couple of times and could have snatched it in injury time but it wasn’t good yesterday.

[brian green]

Spot on Ad@m.  And it was no accident.  Lambert took it upon himself to serve his master Randy Lerner by forcing down fan expectations.

[Ads]

That was the worse we'd played under Smith.

We deserved no more than a point.

I thought our full backs looked poor; Hutton on the wrong side and Elmo first game starting there in a while didn't help.

The midfield was all wrong. Hourihane has done well of late at the base, but he was poor in a more advanced position. He just lacks movement.

His crossing was dire. He was a free kick and 5 corners.

Whelan did ok defensively, but I was very surprised he stayed on the pitch for as long as he did.

I was convinced it was going to be one of those days, especially when we actually put a good bit of football together and ripped them open,only for Bolasie to miss the target. Then Abraham and El Ghazi not slotting home from a yard.

But we found a moment of quality. Excellent cross for Kodjia. One of the few times we got in behind them.

Stoke had an advantage with the weather. Woods was poor and found our players more than his own, but Allen played well. I thought we stood off him too much and he got his shot off for their first too easy after Hutton's error.

But the filthy weather seemed to affect their 10 behind the ball and dropping into two low blocks routine less than our static and not very expansive game.

Still, we found a way to pick up a point.

Leeds will be a far more open game and Grealish will be back and taking two men out of the game with his movement for others.

[Three Spires Villa]

Disappointed this morning. I would be happy to put this down as “one of those days” but dropped points v WBA & Forrest, makes yesterday seem worse. We need to start winning games very quickly. Lots of points still to play for & hopefully some good additions in January. UTV

[AlexAlexCropley]

I went to my first villa game for several years today. I was looking forward to seeing Smith's brand of attacking football but there wasn't much of it going on. Also I  couldn't help noticing how quiet it was for a decent attendance and wondered if this is how it has become while I've been away.

Afraid so. The Lambert years have really sucked the life out of the crowd.

Hogwash

[Ads]

The weather and Stoke sucked the life out the atmosphere.

[VinnieChase84]

That was the worse we'd played under Smith.

We deserved no more than a point.

I thought our full backs looked poor; Hutton on the wrong side and Elmo first game starting there in a while didn't help.

The midfield was all wrong. Hourihane has done well of late at the base, but he was poor in a more advanced position. He just lacks movement.

His crossing was dire. He was a free kick and 5 corners.

Whelan did ok defensively, but I was very surprised he stayed on the pitch for as long as he did.

I was convinced it was going to be one of those days, especially when we actually put a good bit of football together and ripped them open,only for Bolasie to miss the target. Then Abraham and El Ghazi not slotting home from a yard.

But we found a moment of quality. Excellent cross for Kodjia. One of the few times we got in behind them.

Stoke had an advantage with the weather. Woods was poor and found our players more than his own, but Allen played well. I thought we stood off him too much and he got his shot off for their first too easy after Hutton's error.

But the filthy weather seemed to affect their 10 behind the ball and dropping into two low blocks routine less than our static and not very expansive game.

Still, we found a way to pick up a point.

Leeds will be a far more open game and Grealish will be back and taking two men out of the game with his movement for others.

Jack won’t be back next week

[john e]

We need to win 9 out of the next 10 to get us in there.

I think we are 3 points of play offs mate not grounded on the bottom

[amfy]

I went to my first villa game for several years today. I was looking forward to seeing Smith's brand of attacking football but there wasn't much of it going on. Also I  couldn't help noticing how quiet it was for a decent attendance and wondered if this is how it has become while I've been away.

Afraid so. The Lambert years have really sucked the life out of the crowd.

Hogwash

It was exceptionally quiet yesterday. I think everyone was just frozen solid. It felt a little warmer for the periods of the 2nd half when we stood up, & I think the Stoke fans were maybe a little warmer than us due to away fans standing throughout!

The atmosphere at Villa Park has generally really picked up in recent weeks but yesterday was incredibly flat.

[Chris Smith]

The weather and Stoke sucked the life out the atmosphere.

I agree, filthy day and a disjointed game.

I thought Stoke were organised and their defence was physically strong but we played into their hands with the predictable nature of our game. I take a positive from a point after going behind twice.

[Exeter 77]

You can obviously take Pulis out of Stoke but...

[AlexAlexCropley]

You can obviously take Pulis out of Stoke but...

...there's many a mickle that makes a muckle

[SoccerHQ]

I went to my first villa game for several years today. I was looking forward to seeing Smith's brand of attacking football but there wasn't much of it going on. Also I  couldn't help noticing how quiet it was for a decent attendance and wondered if this is how it has become while I've been away.

Afraid so. The Lambert years have really sucked the life out of the crowd.

Still fine for the big games. The Boro play off semi was best atmosphere in years.

Like all clubs it's a bit more difficult to get a cauldron going when it's a mid table clash in December with awful weather.

[rougegorge]

The defending is consistently costing us. It was Hutton's and Elmo's turn today and ordinarily I prefer them to play than Taylor.
Whatever one's opinions are, I though MacLean was their stand out player with his drive and energy.
Our play was mostly food and drink to a couple of seasoned premier league centre halves.
Clearly we are going to miss Jack as even when he's below par, he usually constrains a couple of the opposing players just from his threat.