The games are coming thick and fast aren’t they?
Which is exactly what we could have done without at the moment as Steve Bruce is hardly going to get any time to go through tactics, let alone get some proper fitness training in.
If lack of fitness is the issue, that is.
I saw an argument yesterday that basically said the lack of fitness argument was a poor one that’s often been used by managers at the Villa. Now that may well be true, but Bruce said it’s “blatantly obvious” and didn’t beat about the bush when he directly pointed the finger at RDM.
Hence I think lack of fitness is to blame, at least partly, in my opinion.
I also think there’s a mental problem too, but that’s not all, because I think there’s some other intangible issues too.
We’ve changed the owner for a better one and we’ve spent loads of money on new players. But managers who get sacked for us don’t tend to get decent jobs afterwards and after that performance against Wolves we seem to ruin players.
I said in the replies it’s almost like we’re cursed.
Whatever can go wrong invariably does.
Which all in all is why I have no faith whatsoever that we’re going to get a point tonight. In fact I think we’re going to be doing well if we can keep the difference down to two goals.
The sadder part is while I think Bruce is the man to sort us out, I think it’s going to take a good while longer than I thought.
Which for me means we’ve no chance of automatic promotion or even a playoff place.
A good few of you will probably say you’ve thought that for a while, but I always at least try to stay positive and hopeful, which is why it’s taken so long to dawn on me.
So there you go then, a comfortable win for the home team and another poor showing for the over four thousand Villa fans who will be making the trip.
How they keep turning out for such little reward is beyond me.
Reading to win 2-0
Oh, by the way, I strongly recommend you have a read of this article. It’s unrelated to the game but is a brilliant indictment of the Premier league, in my opinion;
http://www.football365.com/news/how-long-can-sht-be-sold-as-sugar
I really don’t have anything positive to say I’m afraid, except that linked article is very good.
I’ll read that article when I’ve got a spare hour,I really believe another draw on the cards a 0-0 or 1-1 if we’re lucky
I think it’s entirely possible that fitness really is the driving issue underneath our performances. If you look at it, we’re fading late on in games and conceding when our attention drops. Fitness isn’t just down to what is done in the gym or on the training ground, but also what is done behind closed doors once they get home. It’s clear that footballers have a lot of money and as young Jack regularly demonstrates, an appetite to enjoy it.
For me, fitness, attention, desire are all things that come into it and there just seems no fight in a lot of modern players. Put them in a rut with no confidence and that’s a hard dell to climb out of.
Forget fitness, we have just not played as a team for a full 90 mins…. Things will change, but we will be mid table at the end of the season…. I think we may just scrape a win tonight !!
So used to not winning, winning seems an unlikely event; wonder if the players feel the same?
Nope, can’t see it so I will have to go with Badger on this one.
We are the draw specialists in the league so its a draw for me.
I love the heading in that article, it so true.
Bloody hell, it’s
Draw at best for me too but I’m still hoping that one day they’ll surprise me and win.
I’m not holding my breath though.
Bruce (imo) will set them up not to lose so I’m going for a 0-0.
Grealish out for 3 – suspended for kicking out at Coady.
Really helped us out there Jack.
Chester should of walked aswell
Not defending Grealish but the problem with ‘trial by TV’ is the lack of consistency. Was it a red card incident – don’t know – it was petulant, brainless and unsporting but hardly dangerous or violent. One match ban would be more appropriate.
Yellow cards have been handed out in matches for far worse misdemeanours that can’t be retrospectively reviewed (as I understand it) because the referee ‘dealt with the incident at the time of the game’. In this case the referee dealt with the incident but I assume – in his report – claimed he didn’t see Grealish’s actions.
Either all incidents should be reviewed if warranted or none should be and on that basis then perhaps we should introduce instant replays for a third official to review as they do in Rugby – and seeing TV is starting to rule sport perhaps they should introduce game time outs so TV can run adverts as they do in the NFL!
Rant over!
If it was Diego Costa it wouldn’t even have been reviewed. It’s because everyone loves to kick Aston villa when we’re down and Jack being in the papers for the wrong reasons lately, this is just another attempt at using him as a scapegoat. I think anyone and everyone will do their best to keep us as low down the leagues as possible!
Any lineup news???
1 Pierluigi Gollini
21 Alan Hutton
12 James Chester
28 Aly Cissokho
2 Nathan Baker
25 Mile Jedinak
7 Leandro Bacuna
22 Gary Gardner
37 Albert Adomah
14 Rudy Gestede
26 Jonathan Kodjia
Bruce playing for a draw by packing defence and mid field. McCormack and Ayew on bench. Gestede, Gardener, Bacuna all start in what looks like 4-3-3 or 4-3-2 -1 or any combination thereof!
Cissoko over amavi???he must be doing something right on the training ground
Amavi and Andre Green on bench. Hope Green has an opportunity to show what he can do particularly with Grealish 3 match ban
Or a 4-1-3-2?
Either way, that looks a weak midfield.
The plus is it seems Bruce might have the measure of Westwood.
Who’ll probably come on for Jedinak again.
Or how about 5-1-3-1 Can’t say I understand any of these so called formations. How about 2 full backs, 2 half backs and a centre half, 2 wingers who run like shit up and down the touch line and 2 inside forwards who have to track back (the engine room) and a centre forward. Now that I understand.
Hitch, they never seen the leg lock on Grealish? anyone putting pressure on your leg would make you retaliate, no excuses both should have had a card. Your right trial by tv and its not so long ago the FA didn’t want to know. Tonight’s game 1-0 Villa.
And where is the referee protection – Grealish most fouled player in the Championship. We should start a Grumpy Old Villa Men club 🙂
Can i be chairman Hitch.
Sure can Bill – you have my vote
Like your optimism Bill – hope you’re right I’d have an excuse to celebrate with a large single malt!
Get it down yer mate 😀
There’s not much creativity in that team is there?
I reckon this is more about looking at the players.
I’m even more downbeat now, result -wise.
If Ayew is ok for the bench, I don’t understand why he isn’t starting.
Badger – 2-0 defeat was pretty downbeat- can’t imagine where you are now 🙂
I can’t see how we’re going to create anything Hitch.
And if Jedinak is as poor as the other day, I can see us being totally over-run again.
Nothing new then 🙂
Reading;
26 Ali Al Habsi
24 Tyler Blackett
16 Liam Moore
4 Joey van den Berg
2 Chris Gunter
6 George Evans
12 Garath McCleary
8 John Swift
23 Danny Williams
7 Roy Beerens
18 Yann Kermorgant
I can honestly say that apart from Al Habsi, I’ve never heard of any of them.
Yann Kermogant played for Bournemouth’s promotion winning team but was considered too slow a forward for the Prem. Useful at this level though.
interesting comments on my last comments. for 1 i never said wolves wasnt a good side. i clearly said before the game they was. but in this game wolves themselves were poor compared to how they beat newcastle in the cup and lost by the same score in the league. had wolves had the rub of the green with the refereeing they would have gotten what they deserved. that off my chest lmao
reading at home, well they drawn with brighton , huddersfield and blue noses at home. so i think its got a 1 nil win for them.
top top top team reading 🙂
Jedinak holding and Gestede up top on his own according to the coms.