Blimey, I actually predicted a game correctly. It makes a change, as I haven’t even been able to pick my nose, let alone a result, for ages.
I can’t say it was a convincing performance, as in truth Blues looked the better side for most of the game, to me.
But this game was never about the performance and the result was always way more important in not setting us back.
Was it a deserved point?
I have to hold my hands up and say if you look at the game overall, you might well say we didn’t deserve the point.
But then I’m not convinced Blues really did enough to warrant all three points either.
So it’s a tough call and I’d accept opinions of whatever stance.
The thing is we got a point in one of the toughest away games we’ll face all season and that can’t be bad.
It was a typical tough game, with some very strong tackles being dished out from both sides. Just as it should be.
Both managers obviously managed to fire their players up.
The only sad point for me was Bruce bringing Gabby on.
While I can’t criticise the player for anything he did today, I just feel that was a massive mistake.
To my mind, he’s been one of the biggest factors as to why we’re not in the Prem anymore and should just be hoofed, whatever the cost.
The only single redeeming thing is that none of our other strikers were left on the bench either.
If he’d have got a start while McCormack and Gestede didn’t, I’d have been fuming now.
THe only reason Bruce must have included him in the squad was because of his begging to be included because it was the blues game.
Where’s his desire been for god knows how long? Just get rid Steve, trust me.
That said, what’s wrong with McCormack?
He looks nothing like the 20 goal a season striker I’ve read about.
Mind you, I’m probably being unfair, as playing so deep doesn’t really offer any striker much, does it?
Likewise Gestede and why Gardner got the goal.
Still, it’s more about not getting beaten at the moment, so I can’t moan.
It was a nice header from Gardner and a decent goal from them, albeit deflected, so I’m reasonably happy.
The main thing is we didn’t lose and face Blackburn at home on Saturday; a game we should do ok in.
And which will keep us moving forward nicely.
Now I’m going to sit back and reflect with a few Stellas.
Oh, MOTM had to be Jedinak, as much as I’ve criticised him lately.
He looked very solid, along with Chester.
I guess Baker could be included there too, but I never really noticed him too much, which I suppose is a good thing.
Westwood?
Ermm…..
I’m very content after that.
Although the win would obviously have been better.
I hope we give the scum a SHITE allocation of tickets when they come to a decent ground,a poxy 1,988 allocated to us with an attendance of 29,655 tight bastards.
I saw quite a few empty seats in their end as well
I understood that WM Police had advised City not to make this an all-capacity match.
That might be understandable from WMP’s point of view, but it suggests that they’ll ask Villa to restrict attendance as well…
What a joke is reducing capacity going to stop violence. The thugs will gonna matter how many are allowed in.
Badger, I think all the defence played well, even Hutton who got back after his mistake to prevent a shot on goal. Jedinak was outstanding but Baker and Chester were also excellent.
We ground out a point – that has to be a positive given our recent history.
We need to follow this up with a good attacking and winning display against Blackburn – and please play McCormack centrally in behind the strikers.
@H60
‘Ground out a point’ God when was the last time you heard those words coupled with Aston Villa?
We played with some passion and commitment which is all we can ask. We’re definitely deficient in mid-field but if we can keep on getting 2 out of 3 points until January we’ll be well placed for when SB can bring in some new players.
4 games and no defeats so far, couldn’t have dreamed of this pre-SB.
Can’t argue with any of that Hitch.
I must say baker has improved. Elphnick will struggle getting back in. Just wonder how long baker will stay fit for though he’s very injury prone
Surely that’s a good thing?
Elphick isn’t the worst backup we could have, is he?
And yes, Baker will get injured.
Because he puts his balls on the block.
True but gets injured a lot
Didn’t deserve anything out of that! Some very poor defending at times. Created next to nothing. Happy with the point.
That’s the thing though Bencey.
When was the last time we said that?
We’ve had some rotten luck, even if much of it has been down to our own making, for a very long time.
If we’re beginning to get some luck, I’ll take it mate.
Westwood’s best game this season, according to the Mail.
Probably says it all.
westwoods best games for us are when he doesnt play,for a central midfield player he is dogshite,cannot tackle ,shoot, beat a man , pass the ball forward to a teammate after blues near one he had a fairly simple shot at goal as philips said at half time put your laces threw it, 10/15 yards harmless wide,two simple straight forward passes to mccormack made dogs bollocks of them both
Totally agree, Jvillan.
He’s dogshit and has no redeeming feature about him, apart from the fact that he obviously impresses on the training ground, somehow.
The ultimate “nothing” player who I can’t help but be unimpressed by.
My head drops when I see he’s starting, it’s as simple as that.
Just stop playing him and I’ll shut up.
The thing is, I don’t remember having such a low opinion of a Villa player, ever.
That takes some doing.
Westwood has become the symbol of our failures over the last few seasons. He is clearly a limited player but to blame him for all our past ills – sorry don’t get it. In many ways he suffers more from the Villa fans than Gabby does but who has been the worst culprit?
Agree H60.
I’m not a ‘fan’ of Westwood’s but I just don’t get why he receives so much stick on here. Not our worst player in recent seasons by any stretch.
Yet some papers saying he was one of our best players. Totally deluded
It seems that won’t be just a one off with shabby we’ll be seeing alot more of him unfortunately Bruce has given him a clean slate & is trying to get him fitter over to you Dr x
Giddy – two points that impress me about Dr Tony.
1. He’s decisive, knows his own mind and communicates his views openly
2. He never ever completely closes the door. He was disappointed by Gabby’s attitude in the summer but make no mistake if the guy makes an effort and can contribute to the cause then Dr. Tony will be the first to welcome him back.
OLL – you have knowledge of the inscrutable Chinese – no doubt you can provide the appropriate proverb to describe the triumphant return of the fallen!
I will have to pass that to the missus, who was watching the game in Thailand, The single word she Skyped after the game wasn’t ladylike, Chinese or proverbial.
Bottom line is despite all these strikers we have we are barely scoring a goal a game so nothing to lose giving him a go. Plus in new year we will need him due to African word cup
Hitch, for you mate. 堕落的回归
Duòluò de huíguī
What a multi-talented lot bloggers on here are.
Bl**dy hell Bill, the only Latin I know is plant names! 🙂
Thought we were rubbish today, that was as bad as the Wolves game, hot potato football, no fluency, no guile, no idea.
Kodija is really starting to annoy me, he’s as greedy as they come and he and McCormack clearly do not like each other, it appears it may have to be one or the other and not both in the same team.
Not sure why Westwood gets picked over Tshibola, or Gardner for that matter, goal aside he was quite woeful today.
If we play like that every game we’ll be lucky to pick up many more wins this season.
I’ve yet to see us really outplay anybody this season.
We outplayed Forrest and got a draw! For now I don’t care whether we play beautiful football, I only care about results.
Complain all you like but at least we are securing points or perhaps you would prefer us to be like last season or even the first 11 games of this season.
And Kodjia played for much of the game on his own up front with no support and two or three men marking him – what else was he supposed to do – and did he annoy you with his goal against Fulham?
When Sir Ron first came he concentrated on grounding out results buying players like Des Bremner – he made sure we didn’t lose so SB’s job at the moment is the same – let’s give the guy some time before passing judgement or perhaps you think we should look for another manager!
Finally I think losing Adomah so early in the game unbalanced the side but this seems to have gone largely unnoticed!
We must have watched a different game Hitchens as i think the game against Forrest was pretty even.
My point about Kodjia is completely valid, i couldn’t give a fiddlers fuck if he has scored 3 in the last 3 games, he is selfish and needs to learn to be a better team player.
At what point did i blame Bruce for any of this? all i said was we were awful today, and we where, just as we where against Wolves, infact we have been lucky in both games to pick up a point, we didn’t grind out a result, we got lucky, pure and simple, yes we are due some luck, but that won’t last, i personally would rather we tried to improve our game.
Wind your neck in you silly old sod, i am more than entitled to an opinion, sorry it doesn’t fit with your rose tinted version of events but hey, that’s the point of this forum isn’t it?
Guest – never said you weren’t (entitled to an opinion) but your point about being entitled to an opinion is as valid for me – so we’ll agree to differ!
Having said that my response was a bit over the top for which I apologise – too much of the amber nectar!
hitchens
about your point on adoamh injury if bruce had not put flabby on bench he could have used green or heburn murphy on bench
Fair point JV – we didn’t have anyone (fit enough) to do a similar job.
Kodjia spent so much time rolling around pretending to be injured. He was a right wimp he’s got no bottle and scared to put a challenge in. He was embarrassing imo
You obviously didn’t see the game Oohah, you have a knee in you thigh and laugh it off, plus a knee in the back and think its funny, he was a marked man and they tried to slow him down, that game got physical just look at fat Gabbys face with either stud or nail marks. That team played its game for a local coming together. Well done the lads, and by the way, some on here are pretentious in remarks made to others.
Spot on Bill
I did see the game he hardly touched him seriously.
Is that supposed to be a jibe at me Bill?
I thought we outplayed Huddersfield & only for a keeper error we would of won
True, apart from them.
Not even a keeper error. Just a bloody 1 in a million fluke!!! Pleased today. Kodjia gave the effort but got hoofed off the ball by the scums bouncers. Lots of effort and some nice touches, but best of all we didn’t cave in. Some tired legs but we kept going. Amavi was great both at the back and going forward. Ayew looked angry asbhe always does, the Jedi was awesome, Baker and Chester were solid as can be! Gabby…the less said the better. Roll on Blackburn!!!!
While I share Badger’s overall view of Shabby, I must admit that that when Bruce put him on in the 80th minute it did seem to rattle Blues. I actually thought that if it wasn’t for the prolonged injury in stoppage time, we actually looked more likely to pinch a late winner.
I still don’t expect Agbonlahor to get more than a bit-part in future games.
As for the game overall – a fair result IMO, they threw the kitchen sink at us in the 2nd half and a few weeks ago we’d have crumbled under that assault. Never looked likely to me today, and I like the fact that we seem to be re-discovering how to defend- and score from- set pieces again.
happy with a point, keeps the momentum rolling along. thought our players all gave their whole, villa teams of the past5 years or even longer. would have crumbled under the pressure and anti football from the noses. i thought they were playing union rugby code,with their up and under balls, i saw um kicking for touch. they rough up the villa players, goalie committed a Schumacher like foul, i thought these tactics and successfully injuring players, helped them to a share of the spoils. i think mccormack is struggling with the system we play. when he was introduced this stopped our game plan of countering with speed.
but i dont think either team did enough to win the game = share of the points will do, by the time we meet again, we will have improved loads. promotion is our aim while theirs is just to win that game.
See U23’s won 4-0 with outstanding display from Hepburn-Murphy (2) and a cracking goal from Tshibola (Green got the 4th). Jack Grealish and Agbonlahor also featured.
How long before Bruce starts to include some of these up and coming youngsters in the first team. Would like to see Tshibola get a run.
I’ve mentioned Tshibola and wonder why he isn’t starting, especially over Westwood.
He obviously isn’t injured.
And thanks for not calling him “Tish”. That surely has to be the name for people who can’t read?
He should be called “Shib” if we want to shorten it, surely?
Heh, just one of those moods, I guess 🙂
Tish is alot easier to type when you’ve been on the sauce & people know who I’m referring to & will keep on referring to him as tish.
Why didn’t Tish start Sunday anyone know?
Tish is an anagram of Shit ! We could therefor have called all of last year’s team tish !