I’ve decided to try and keep this post a little bit calmer (it’s still early over here, so I haven’t drunk too much yet, lol).
The first obvious thing to think about is how we lined up from the off.
I think Bree being injured caused a problem, in that his loss would have left a proper 3-5-2 somewhat unbalanced.
Well, that’s my thinking anyway, as it’s the only reason I can think of us starting with five defenders.
Regardless, I called for a threatening, aggressive line-up and it’s quite simply not what we got.
Why we pay so much respect to the likes of Ipswich is beyond me and I’ve spoken before about going down trying as opposed to being canny and still losing.
But then, if you look at the stats, I believe Ipswich only had one shot on target and scored.
So maybe Steve Bruce is totally correct in not being able to trust the defence?
In Bruce’s defence, he did eventually realise that we needed to be more ambitious and he put Adomah and Green on, yet still retained the same setup.
While you can’t say that’s negative, maybe it would have been a better setup from the off?
But then, the commentator’s comments intrigued me.
We were comfortable in the first half and should have gone in a goal or two to the good.
Yet we began the second half poorly. Again.
What the hell gets said to the players at half time? I’d love to know, because it clearly isn’t working.
And what are the opposition managers saying?
I suspect it’s along the lines of “don’t worry lads, you’ve got these; they’re going to bottle it”. And it would seem correct.
Tony Morley said he can’t work it out and asked if it’s the pressure from the fans, the club or whatever. I suspect it’s all of them myself.
Either way, we came out rubbish, not being able to hold the ball or pass. The usual.
And when we did start to play, we couldn’t get telling balls into the box.
Ultimately, it’s only the result that matters and we didn’t get it.
To lose our unbeaten home record, especially with what Morley called a “whimper” to Ipswich is frankly not good enough.
And when you consider we haven’t won in eight games, it’s beginning to get very worrying.
Because the question is if you can’t get a result at home to Ipswich, who are you going to get one against?
Morley said he feels sorry for Bruce and I partly agree with it.
But he’s done himself no favours whatsoever lately and it would be totally understandable if the fans turn on him, which they’re going too.
Me, I side with Morley, in that the side needs to gel.
But I know many of you won’t see it like that and comments on Villa threads everywhere are going to be interesting this weekend.
I just don’t see how changing the manager again is going to achieve anything.
But Bruce needs to start getting results.
Fast.
5 at the back AT HOME.
This current run we are on is awful, just as our run before it was great.. hopefully something like that will happen again when things click. Hopefully. I’ve said it last few games now but this season purely is a write off. We won’t be going up, and while I understand the panic I can’t see us going down either. The next time to assess whether we stick with Bruce or cut our losses is the summer, I think.
As for my dad thoughts yesterday, well I think one of the few positives was Hourihane. His best game in the shirt so far, ran himself into the ground trying to make something happen. Hogan on the flip side didn’t seem to build on his promising debut. What annoys me is as a result people blame Kodjia and his lack of “team play”, quickly forgetting where we’d be if it wasn’t for his goals this season. But I think the fact remains, we just buy players that look good on paper rather than actually planning what system we want going forward and buying the players to fit into that. If Bruce really wanted to play a formation that needs a dm with Jedinak out injured surely Gardner has to play there. I know he has struggled this season but he would surely be better off in that position than Lansbury, who we could really use up more forward with Hourihane.
Either way, let’s hope something clicks soon we finally find this formula we desperately need eh? Don’t know a team that could attempt to ruin a good Saturday as much as the Villa!!
“Buying players that fit into the system rather than buying players because they look good on paper.”
THIS.
Case in point. Sean Dyche, Burnley (currently playing very well VS the runaway team in Prem – Chelsea. And drawing at half time). Who should be in that team?
One Ashley Westwood.
One Matt Lowton.
Players bought to play in a system.
Both playing extremely well. And yes, Westwood is making bloody forward passes and looks terrific in the middle with Joey Barton.
Yet deemed not good enough for us.
Makes my blood boil.
@ifiruledtheworld…..What annoys me is as a result people blame Kodjia and his lack of “team play”, quickly forgetting where we’d be if it wasn’t for his goals this season………
Yes think where we could be if the greedy wanker would pass more. Hogan made some fantastic runs for him last week at Forest but Kodjia decided to keep hold of it and waste it. In at least 12 games this season others have been in much better positions yet he has tried to grab all the glory and messed it up.
Can’t remember who we were playing but I remember in the last minute or so all he had to do was square it to McCormack and we win the game but no, again he wants all the glory.
The only reason Kodjia has the goals he has is because he doesn’t involve other team mates enough. Reminds me so much of Ayew, thought he could do it all but he couldn’t. Best thing we done this season was sell Ayew.
Quicker Kodjia realizes it’s a team game the quicker the team may gel.
Just my opinion.
Think I may of exaggerated saying in at least 12 games ha ha……It is certainly a few though where he has chosen to go for glory rather than pass it.
I don’t care what you all think, Bruce was in his playing days was a defender, ,he thinks defending, what’s the old saying? Attack is a form of defence, your right no Good sacking Him that won’t solve the problem, kick his advisers up the arse I’d say. Calderwood has not been helpful one bit. Bruce stop this approach to limitations of opposition attacking by defending, give us a reason to think one day we will be back. Hell I’m so pissed off being a Villa supporter, give me the job I’d make it work because all I see is con merchants getting paid for fuck all.
Westwood….bossing the midfield against Chelsea
Lowton………great game, almost scored
Players to play a system and NOT buying numerous players just because they are available……how many more times do I have to say this?
Get a system (NOT 5-3-2) for Tuesday….FFS look at them in training at see what system suits them (its NOT 5-3-2), its worrying that the manager cant see this! Jedinak/Gardner need to be the DM.
Here is my preferred line up for the rest of the season:
Home….4-3-1-2
Johnstone
Bree
Baker
Chester
Amavi
Adomah
Jedinak
Grealish
Hourihane
Hogan
Kodjia
Away 4-1-3-2
Johnstone
Hutton/Bree
Chester
Baker
Taylor
Jedinak
Hourihane
Lansbury
Bjarnason
Hogan
Kodjia
2 full backs at home (attacking when they can)…..Jedinak covering
2 full backs away (more defensive, but still able to go forward at times)….again covered by Jedinak.
Using this system all we need to buy IMO is 1. Experienced keeper, with a strong emphasis on experience! 2. A back up for Jedinak so he can be rested when needed!
Keep Bruce for the first 15 games next season, and then look at the situation again. I have no doubt that the Dr Tone will fire him if significant improvements are not made.
UTV
Westwood I never liked him at Villa, but he had a great game against a good Chelsea side, Makes me wonder what is wrong with the villa.
We where never going up this season , I am looking for a strong finish and make a charge next season.
Am with you Langfordvilla 4 across the back none of this bullshit playing defenders as midfielder or the opposite way round.
I am pissed off now with the villa, but we need to stick with Bruce, next season WE WILL BE TOP DOGS I hope
tinkerman might become on the market soon…… premiership league champion2016. would only take a few weeks at villa to ruin that memory.
its like 4 at the back is brand new, have we not played that system in last 5 years??? beats me why we bother playing other stupid systems 4 at the back for me. last i saw we only played 3 at back last game
There might be something in buying players to suit a system, but it seems to me to be more than that.
RM scoring is exactly typical of what I mean.
I still think there’s a losing mentality at the club and regardless of who we sign it’s going to prove difficult to shake off.
Badger….what do you mean ‘there may be someting in buying a player to suit’ a system’ Isnt that the most relevant and rational way to build a team?
People slag off Pulis (I am not keen on his way if playing) but it does prove that you can do well within a clear, well drilled system. Are they not 8th or 9th in the PL? Ask yourself why. I wouldnt expect them to be that high with their players, would you? They are only there because of the system they play consistently. Pulis buys the players to suit that system….its frigging easy with the right players and right scouting team in place. We just seem to continually buy players not knowing what system suits them……its a fucking nonsense!!
Maybe when jedi’s fit he’ll revert to 4-4-2 with him playing a defensive midfielder role
Agreed Giddy.
Langford, of course it makes sense .
I’m not arguing against it.
But the vast majority were pleased with the players we got in and decent players ought to be able to adapt.
Don’t get me wrong, Bruce’s setups bamboozle me and it seems we’re playing some players purely to accommodate them. Bjarnason is a good example.
No, the point was more that regardless of what we do, we’re going to struggle.
Oh, Taylor too. Never a WB, as long as he’s got a hole in his proverbial, imo.
Well I’m not ‘pleased’ with the players brought in if they are not SUITED to the system we are going to adopt…..what sort of logic is that?
Tbf, Langford, we don’t know what the system will be yet. I think the 5 was to make up for the loss of Jedinak. But that might be an indictment of the manager in itself.
Well….its all arse about face. Surely to goodness, we know what system we are going to play BEFORE buying players….I cant believe anyone can be that naive. Its like not measuring your floor before buying a carpet FFS…..surprise, surprise….the fucking carpet doesnt fit!!
To me Langford, not getting backup for Jedinak is looking like an omission.
We seem to be too reliant on him and I’ve hinted at his fitness before.
Agreed Badger – posted on this point – however I would like to see Gardner given an opportunity to play the holding mid role if Jedinak is unfit. A central defensive mid now becomes a summer priority.
Think we should try a 4-3-3 myself. Kodjia isn’t going to work with someone else. It’s not his game. Something like
Bunn/Johnstone
Bree-Baker-Chester-Amavi
Lansbury/Gardner-Hourihane-Jedinak
Adomah – Kodjia/Hogan – Green
Subs: Bunn/Johnstone, Taylor, Elphick, Lansbury/Gardner, Bjarnason, Grealish, Hogan/Kodjia.
Two up top won’t work with what we have. 2 in the middle won’t work with what we have and playing Adomah and Grealish in a midfield three won’t work with what we have. Could arguably drop Gardner/Lansbury with Grealish or Bjarnason at home. But I just can’t see two up front working.
I think 2 up top can work fine.
The problem is we don’t get enough good balls into the box, Imo.
There have been comments that we didn’t take the few chances we had.
But we should be getting 15-20 good balls in the box against the lesser teams.
Were nowhere near adventurous enough.
That’s true but with no out and out defensive midfielder, we have no chance going two up top and playing two in midfield. Our three midfielders get overrun already, 2 up top with the two we have won’t work. They don’t compliment each other near enough. Now if you say take Kodjia off and bring on Hempburn/Davis or dare say it, Gabby, then maybe. Kodjia worked well alone because he’s stronger, more physical. Hogan loves making runs, and while you’d think they would pair well enough up, Kodjia’s all around game is nothing compared to what Carew and Benteke’s were, so partnering him up with someone would only make the other striker obsolete. Especially because we’d have to play 2 wingers, meaning our team gets even more over run.
i think 2 up wont work lmao hang on we used to play one up, not to long ago and what where ppl saying play two up now we tried two up for 2 games its rubbish wont work more fool you bruce. try three up we had 5 up front under rdm i think we should have 11 players and let them do what they want
🙂
Regardless it should not be a 5 at the back. Not in this league.
And not even if you try and present it as a 3-5-2!
i hope they play 10 defenders next game lmao i need more bait.
unless somebody on here has skills in football management, possesses skills on motivating millionaires. a degree on tactics and systems but you can only play 442 or else we will sack you
352 didnt lose the game yesterday ipswich beat villa and would again if they replayed it and we used 442 4231 424 433 etc
Westwood started for Burney vs. Chelsea and played full 90 min in their 1-1 draw. Mirror rated him 6/10 and said he largely played well.
westy was targeted as a scapegoat just like the formation or tactics. we lost and somebody is to blame
players only join villa for the money. then when they leave they thrive, robinson bent weiman westy ayew sanchez albrighton won a champ medal at villa he couldnt play in his position.
probably that is the cause of our problems, players are on brilliant long contracts on massive long contracts even the prospects earn more than a group of punters. thats the problem at all big clubs. leicester players all have massive increases in pay packets and they earned it. but now they have not given the same application or desire as last season thats the difference. but who will be the fall guy tinkerman will take the bullet in the back
Nath….alot of truth in what you say mate. Footballers in the top 2 divisions are not hungry because they get too much too soon….Leicester are a really good example. As soon as they get fat contracts for being champions the desire goes. Its what football and the world in general is like now!
If that’s the case then why do the top always stay in the top four. They are on huge contracts as well but top 4 teams still won the majority of their games.
Nail on the head Nath. They come for the money nothing more, when kick out they laugh at Villa. Bruce’s tactics are wrong he’s playing defensive games.
I disagree teams have just figured out how to play v Leicester and players like Huth are just past their best now. Also losing Kante was a huge loss. A team like Leicester can’t win the league then go out the season after and buy a couple of world class players to sustain it. Having said that they have done very well in the CL mainly as foreign teams are taken by surprise by them. It wouldn’t surprise me if they actually won it as they will be under estimated by the big teams and have an element of surprise against them. Also there is no pressure so they can play without nerves. If you look at when we won EC it’s a similar situation. We were very average in league that season but in EC we had a counter attacking game that foreign teams couldn’t cope with. The goal we scored Bayern Munich though was a world class build if you look at goal from start to finish.
Yep, they just play deeper so they (Leicester) can’t counter.
Talking about yesteryear did you see Swansea’s second goal yesterday? Loved it, a very Villa under Sir Ron type goal.
Yep great goal 😄
i have racked my brain on reasons we have failed, not just this season over years now we have struggled. its not all down to dud managers. these are easy scapegoats, its runs much deeper than that. you can get a handful of decent players where money doesn’t change them. but the rest are nothing but mercenaries and with the amounts of managers we have hired in such a short period we have assembled more than our fair share of leaches.
we need to pick a manager and keep with them, this is the only way we stop this trend of hiring players like hired guns in the wild west.
Saw the highlights of Villa Ipswich and all of the Burnley-Chelsea game.
Quality in front of goal was my impression of the difference and by that I mean in front of a player’s own goal as well in front of the oppos. Villa ‘battered Ipswich – reckoned on goal scoring chances – but in all cases lashed the ball against the goal frame or defenders rather than placing it in the gaps, and not forgetting two great saves by their keeper. In front of our goal however Elphick slipped, and Hourihane tracked but could not catch the scorer. Our keeper never got close to saving the shot.
Burnley battled for a point, giving up any thoughts of pressuring Chelsea up field at the start of the second half. They dropped 9 men behind the ball. The lone front man (both the starter and sub) worked their socks off to stop Chelsea’s back four playing the ball in their own time. Howton had a good game – as did all the Burnley defence who blocked and tackled like their lives depended on it and without any errors. Westwood did not boss the midfield – he was one of the nine behind the ball all second half, got booked for hacking down a player who took the ball off him and very nearly gifted all 3 points to Chelsea with a sideways pass straight to an attacker.
‘Lowton’ didnt play too bad either! 🙂
I still remember that goal he scored against Stoke should of been goal of the season but they gave it to RVP because he played fir Utd pathetic. Wasn’t even that good of goal
Burnley hardly parked the bus/put 9 men behind the ball. Once Chelsea hit their half Burnley were on them like a hawk and countered quite well. Westwood didn’t boss it but he worked his socks off and looked very good doing it. One stray pass is pretty much all you seem to actually remember of that game. Which you’re right, was poor. But it didn’t lead to a goal.
That’s a good point all I remembered was his stray pass didn’t notice him the rest of the game. That really showed the difference between a team like Burnley and us. If Westwood made that mistake with us it almost certainly have led to a goal with Burnley as soon as he made a mistake the whole back four as a unit covered him and snuffed out the threat. Something we arnt capable of doing.