Typical Villa eh?
I was really downhearted at the final whistle and really couldn’t be bothered to write about it.
I haven’t seen a replay of the penalty incident, but I’m pretty sure it shouldn’t have been given.
Chester won the ball cleanly, but having thought about it, I now totally accept that the defender didn’t need to go to ground.
But the ref shouldn’t have called it wrongly either.
Not that it matters much in the scheme of the whole game.
The simple thing for me is that after a decent first fifteen minutes, we were woeful for most of the rest of the game.
Waiting a day to do a write-up has given me a chance to read lots of views and it’s been interesting seeing the different opinions on what caused the draw.
It’s difficult for me to blame Chester, as he’s been so good for us.
I’ve seen quite a few blame Bruce’s negative tactics and while that might be partly true, I’m not at all convinced that’s the reason.
We create plenty of chances, but just don’t score.
We had a few very good chances (Chester’s header, El Ghazi’s net shot etc), but many of our shots on goal were incredibly weak.
Which brings us to Kodjia.
There are accusations that he’s often lazy.
Again, I don’t think so, but I do think he’s a confidence player whose head drops if things aren’t going well.
He was poor yesterday, but I still don’t think it was a lack of trying. I certainly remember him being involved quite a bit, but every time he touched the ball, he seemed to mess it up.
It was a bad day at the office for him and it happens.
And then we come to Bruce playing players out of position, which seems like most Villa fan’s biggest gripe.
While I agree it isn’t ideal, can we really say any of Hutton, Tuanzebe or Jedinak had a particularly poor game?
There’s a valid argument that playing players out of position doesn’t help and playing them in their proper positions maximises your chances.
It’s a good point, but if El Ghazi normally plays on the right, I didn’t see anyone complaining about him playing on the left as an inside-out winger (he’s right-footed).
I agree with the view that decent players should be able to play more than one position.
Where I do think Bruce is wrong, is in playing Jedinak in defence. He’s too slow and there was one instance where we got caught out and his lack of pace in chasing back just shocked me.
It’s not that he’s not good enough mentally to play there. Indeed he was excellent in the air. But his body can’t do what he wants and if he continues to play there, I seriously worry about what pacy, more pressing teams could do to us.
It’s almost like Bruce is shoehorning him into the side just for the sake of giving him a game, similar to what I think often happens with Whelan and to a lesser degree, Bjarnason.
It’s about keeping players happy, maybe at a cost to the team.
It’ll be interesting to see what happens now we’ve signed Bolasie.
The obvious thing for me would be El Ghazi goes right, Bolasie goes left, Elmohamady goes to RB and Tuanzebe goes into the centre.
Add Grealish and McGinn in the middle and that’s the core of a balanced team with FB’s supporting two wingers, exactly as it should be.
Do I think that will happen?
I’ll be surprised, to be honest.
There are too many ageing player, who are probably banging the manager’s door down, complaining that they can’t afford to not play at their age, that Bruce wants to keep happy.
So what do I personally blame then?
I hinted recently that I think we find it hard to motivate ourselves in certain games.
You could even say that I think we’re simply complacent.
Certainly the poor, often underhit passing backs that up.
It’s the lack of urgency and pace that’s our problem.
Quite often it seemed like we were playing a friendly yesterday.
And if it’s true, we need to sort it out.
Which is where Bruce definitely comes into it.
Ok, we can rightly say that we’re undefeated this season.
But given the easy fixtures up to now, I’m totally convinced we really ought to be top of the league.
I’m sure Bruce rants and raves at the players during the half time talk. If he does, I don’t think it’s working.
The simple fact is that if we keep dropping points in games we really should win, we are not going to get promoted. Not even via the playoffs.
It’s early days though and it’s not all doom and gloom.
While the overall performance was turgid, there were plus points in that El Ghazi looks a very decent, direct player,with a turn of pace and flair.
Nyland is starting to look a good shot-stopper.
And McGinn worked his guts out again.
These look to be excellent signings and if Bolasie hits the ground running, things are looking good.
But if Bruce can’t motivate possibly the best squad in the league to get the required results, well….
Just my opinion.
What’s without doubt is that we’ve been poor against poor sides.
I watched the game live on AVTV. At moments we looked excellent, fluid on the ball. There were some stray passes but overall we were well on top. As ever, though, it’s the final ball. I think we had some 21 attempts on goal. One hit the crossbar and the others were weakly hit or off-target. We have to be more clinical.
McGinn is one signing who makes a massive difference and the way he won the ball in the opening minute was brilliant. Shame, thought that he fluffed up the opportunity with a weak shot – even worse given that 2 of our players were available to his left.
Nevertheless, the way we are moving the ball around pleases me a lot and I sense a landslide victory in our favour is not long off.
UTV
I hope you are right Bill. I actually like Bruce and admire how he coped after losing both parents so suddenly, which is why I’m really frustrated that we all saw how we can play against Brentford, then go lacklustre against Reading. Is it a motivational thing? Against Brentford we knew like Wolves and Cardiff last season that we would need to get in their faces to get anything out of the game. Maybe against Reading there was a just need to turn up feeling. I like a lot of fans have questioned players out of position but from all accounts, the defence all had a good game and we can forgive Chester a rare mistake. Perhaps we are finding it harder against teams who don’t go toe to toe against us? If that’s the case we need to cure that issue quickly or we will miss out again. Hopefully Bolasie can offer a cutting edge to our play, that’s unless Bruce plays him at LB. Only joking 🙃
We have to sort out the backline, not just from a defensive point of view, but also for balance going forward. We need to bring in a proper left back who is actually left footed! If we were prepared to spend 6m on Bryan, then why havent we tried to get anyone else?
As hard as Hutton works, every time he gets forward he is either stops and goes back or cuts inside.He is so much better on the right. Tuanzabe is a great player, but is not really a right back and would be way better playing in the middle. Then you have Jedinak playing CB, which I think was worth trying, but he is just not comfortable there.
IMO we should be lining up like this:
Hutton/De Laet Tuanazabe Chester New LB (Targett?)
I agree with your defence selection. Hutton shouldnt be left back. He needs to go back to his favoured side.. we do need a left back but until then Id rather see Taylor at LB for now even though he struggles at times, just for the fact its his natural position. Shame Mitch Clark left on loan as he looked decent during pre season and id have liked to see him get a proper run of a handful of 1st team games.
So you’d rather see an inferior player (which to my mind Taylor is and it’s a fairly popular view) playing at LB, purely because it’s his natural position?
That’s interesting.
I can understand wanting to play players in their proper positions, of course.
But Taylor is utter rubbish, imo.
I’m struggling to think of a game where he didn’t look out of his depth, tbh.
mitch clark is not a natural left back. he needs to play games and he wouldnt play that many at villa. at port vale he was used as right wing back. basically hes played all the defensive positions, just tuanzebe and both i think have said they prefer the middle cb. but they need to play many games before a manager will trust them in the middle.
the main reason i would like tuanzebe play cb is he has plenty pace and strength, he would be a good partner for chester. jedi can play the position but i feel his lack of speed along side of chester who also lacks speed is not ideal.
i believe tuanzebe will be chesters partner for most of the season, bruce is just making sure hes up to the job first. jedi is less of a gamble. also having to break in the new goalkeeper must be a factor. bruce wants experience directly in front of him.
I sat in the Holte and watched, as per normal in disbelief along with other supporters at how bad Bruce is at making decisions tactically.
The spells of great play are down to the fact we have great players and nothing to do with Bruce’s plans – We need a positive manager to come in and let the team play with positive freedom
Bruce has given the stability back but its now time for change or we will be stuck in the championship, dropping stupid points the same as last season !!
Saddened I’ve mentioned that a few times about Bruce and his decisions, Taylor will never fit into his plans as a player for Villa. I think why he has a happy ship is because he doesn’t upset players.I don’t know why he’s not been looking at filling that left back position ,its the most wanted at Villa. As for that CB what was wanted since Terry left bemused me and still does. I’ve lost Faith in Bruce I’ve tried to keep with him but like youve said he making wrong moves in team selections and its breaking my support of him?.
Bill, Im with you I’ve lost faith in him…. He seems like a nice bloke and I hate anyone getting the sack, but for the sake of the club we have to progress.
very good view on the game badger and bill evans.
the squad for me, is looking good and tasty. i understand the gloom and tantrums, because we dropped points. but hold it together and have a little faith and some patience, we are not far away from a really good side. there are players which are behind in fitness some players which are getting used to their surroundings, even the players which had pre seasons at villa are not quite up to speed. but signs are when they do reach their peak fitness and form, we are gonna roll teams over. i don’t get we havent played anybody. we are one of the main teams in this division, only people that don’t see this is ourselves.
the main reason i posted today, was i thought i would watch newcastle browns, watch a genius at work in Benitez. i was amazed even before the game when i saw the formations. 5 across the back must be a mistake, so when the game started, it was correct, but then i noticed they played the whole midfield sitting in front of them so it was basically 54 and they were all in their own penalty box, i am not joking even without chelsea having a dead ball kick. newcastle were so deep and midfield were all behind the ball inside their own box. i think its called parking the bus. not the tactics i was expecting, newcastle for me had made no attempts to win the game. player had tweeted they had trained all week on this system to stop chelsea. oh and newcastle were at home if this makes its easier to sallow.
p/s got to stop using players playing out of position as excuses, we are using this excuse only sometimes when its suits your argument ,ignoring when a player plays well in not his natural position. all clubs seems to do this anyway,its modern football.
And you think that brilliant Nath, I must send Bruce a message , Dear Bruce can you put 11 players on the goal line on the next match please. It supposed to be football showing skills not defending for 90 minutes. For god sake.
i thought it was hilarious, it was sarcasm bill, bruce has been rightfully or wrongfully tagged dinosaur tactics, but it was the attacking genius Benitez who took the art of defending to a new level which pre dated the dinosaurs. ppl come out with stats to back up stuff, but i watched that game and newcastle did nothing in attacking chelsea. they came out and played for a draw, with the managers tactics they almost pulled it off, their fans gave the team and manager their blessing. they enjoyed a grand total of 19% of the ball and most of that was lumped to their lone striker who struggled with no help from midfield and he also went back to help his defence.
i wished they sacked the boss, just so we can move on from the silly tactics or pre dinosaur accusations he gets. but it wouldnt end there.because the same statements bruce gets now, have been posted for every manager we have had since i visited this site and others like it. if i were the owners, i would have not listened to the fans, who voted in a rag poll, to keep bruce. i would have brought in, my own manager. even if that wasThierry Henry. as owners they should please themselves, because it will be impossible to please the fans.
who ever identified the players we recruited, should be commended. because we have recruited some very good players. can we please wait to see how shit develops. new owners are no muppets,if they are responsible for these new players,then they seem to know their shit. i trust their judgement.
I see. Got to stop working so hard on my allottment its befugglling my brain. I didn’t watch that game so couldn’t comment on it. silly idea that 5 across and 9 men in the box. Hope Bruce dont use that method.
its hard to believe bill, i dont blame you for doubting, its worth watching the highlights maybe. if attack versus defence is your thing. but the only thing which encouraged me to watch until the end, was i wanted to hear the reaction from the toon army. they never booed they roundly applauded them off the field.
maybe i am being unfair, apparently they had five injuries, my heart bleeds
Nath I watched that game too and I honestly think that Benitez was just doing what he could to get something out of the game with the players he had available. He could have tried playing an attacking game and they’d have gotten slaughtered. Newcastle did have a load of injuries and having bought no-one during the summer definitely didn’t help.
I’m no fan of playing defence only and I dare say neither is Benitez and that’s why I think he’ll sling his hook sooner or later.
doesn’t matter, what would villa fans say. best form of defence is attack. they were at home. they showed no ambition. should have played two up and at least have a go.
so we are saying its ok to be defensive as long as your not the villa manager. benitez decided to play that way and got what he deserved and he showed a lack of tactical ability. newcastle are premiership club they should be able to replace such injuries. 5 players missing is hardly a crisis end of the day excuses again.
he just realized it was a hopeless situation, he was playing damage imitation,keep the scoreline down to not damage morale. hardly what i would call entertaining
Bruce should have gone before the start of last season. He failed in his one goal (one that he himself admitted to) and that was gaining promotion. It was obvious to me that he would fail. It’s obvious that he will fail again.
I wasn’t surprised by the result against Reading. Poor/failing sides get the odd decent result against supposedly better teams all the time. Usually though, it is the exception for those better teams. With Villa it is all too likely.
Bruce will go, sooner or later. Of more interest to me is that the new owners have the kind of wealth to sustain a proper improvement in our fortunes. This means that if the next manager fails they will replace him until we get success. FFP will be overcome, one way or another. The team needs to be promoted to satisfy the ambition of the owners.
If the next 5 games gives the same or worse in points as the first 5 I think he will be fired if the owners feel there is a suitable replacement available. If not, they may persevere and work behind the scenes to replace him at the end of the season. It wouldn’t even surprise me if Bruce was replaced if we won the Championship (though winning it would definitely surprise me).
Tactics and playing players out of position are just a red herring. Success or failure is the important thing.
I watched the game online on Saturday and a few things stood out to me…
I was watching our defence with eagle eyes waiting for Jedinak to trip up and prove that playing him there was a total mistake. Unfortunately/fortunately, I thought he didn’t do much wrong… but that said, as a unit defensively, we don’t look sound. What Bruce has missed, and this is probably the big point that people are missing when demanding we play players in position is that individually we may have errors, but it’s that unit that has played together and knows a position which I think gives us more strength. I too am totally baffled and bemused as Bruce continues to play players out of position.
On paper we created lots of chances, but to me, many of them weren’t clear cut enough. We lost possession way too easily and were very wasteful, even complacent with the ball. Is that tactics or motivation? I suspect the former.
Our forwards are hindered by a player in Kodja who simply doesn’t do enough to grab messy games by the scruff and I thought JG looked really ineffective. El Ghazi and McGinn looked the only threats to me. Elmo was fortunate to be in the right time and place, but took his goal well.
IMO, we need a CB more then we need a LB – which I think Hutton is less of a liability than other places. We should be putting teams to the sword with our talent and need a target man up front who is going to bully defences. Ironically, Benteke of 4-5 seasons ago would have been perfect for us right now.
Which is exactly what I said a while back.
With our crossing, an old fashioned battering ram would have a field day, but as it is, it’s often too easy for the opposition’s defence.
Just a few weeks ago we were in dire financial straits and thankfully now all we need to worry about is the performance on the field.
I’m feeling optimistic as, either Bruce will start to get them playing and we get promoted, or he’ll get the sack after ten games or so and we get the chance to try someone else in the role. Before Sawiris and Edens we’d have had to take a chance on someone from the lower leagues but now I think that we can set our sights a little higher.
Still saying a little prayer that Rafa is getting so pissed off at Newcastle that he’ll give up on them and join a project that has some real money and intent about it. He certainly looked depressed enough after the game against Chelsea.
Its Bruce thats the issue. The game is leaving him further and further behind.
The issues in the team centre around his decisions and outlook, primarily:
1) players being played out of position. Why this is being done so Jedinak can be shoehorned into a position that he is poor and too slow for is a complete mystery. Likewise Tuanzebe isn’t a right back but is being played there despite 4 senior players being at the club in that position.
2) The Steve Bruce caution at all costs approach. I’ve lost count of how many times a negative mindset and attitude has cost us – already this season 4 points against Ipswich and Reading and counting.
These can be rectified with a new manager, I strongly believe you give Bielsa our squad and we would finish top comfortably. Bruce is losing us 20-30 points a season over a high calibre manager.
The RB situation is a complete joke, I agree.
RDM signed De Laet, but Bruce doesn’t rate him.
Didn’t Bruce sign Bree, yet obviously doesn’t rate him either?
Elmo plays, as does Hutton, who looked finished at the time.
Yet he plays Tuanzebe there.
That’s indeed awkward.
We signed Taylor, as a LB, but Bruce doesn’t rate him either (nor do I, fwiw)
Which all makes me wonder who really signed them???
Again fwiw, McGinn looks to me like the only player Bruce would have signed out of the latest incomers.
And even then he’s too young for Bruce’s style.
I thought I’d explained why I think Jedinak gets a game?
It’s about looking after your most trusted players.
Which I do have sympathy with.
You need influential players on your side, to keep the more unruly ones subdued (for want of a better word).
Marcelo Bielsa is worth the 6 million wages off course. hes managed to win promotion in what 5games. leeds will deserve promotion if their players manage to keep producing them kind of efforts. only 41 more games to go.
they play with such intensity i seriously doubt they will keep that up. they have some decent players roofe being one. cant get excited about a team which is a rival. it was wolves last season now ppl fancy leeds. we are much stronger than last year. i never feared wolves and i wont be fearing leeds.
cant we just concentrate on ourselves,our players and our manager.
You really do talk utter shit Nath.
Steady Guest, I’m sure it’s just sarcasm, which I sometimes also fail to see.
Nath, it was indeed, Wolves last season and what happened?
I’m not sure I see your point?
I do agree, it seems Bielsa whips his teams to near death.
THere is a good point in there though, in that I think our biggest failing is that we approach the game too slowly overall and it gives teams a chance to recoup.
We’re probably too old a squad to do it game in, game out.
so do you guest
Don’t make me bin posts lads.
Debate properly.
guest i have spotted your late posts on mine, with plenty abuse thrown in. i wanted to pull you up a few times. you offer loads of abuse and no opinions. its a fact that Marcelo Bielsa has a reputation as a hard coach to play for. his teams have blown up plenty times. lille is the last one. he starts great and players either get fed up with his bullying or they get burn out. he also has a reputation for walking out leaving the club in a worst state.
{post moderated = Badger}
Guardiola reckoned Bielsa was the best coach in the world. Thankfully your extensive experience means you know better. Guest is right. You talk shit, and often to yourself. As for being thick skinned you aren’t. Otherwise you wouldn’t respond.
Crack on.
the point is support your own club and less worrying about wolves last season and leeds this. last season ppl on here posted all year,how we couldn’t beat the top teams. when in fact it was losing to the QPR’s and Boltons which cost us promotion.
badger no need to moderate my posts. that nice fellow guest says alot worse to me and that is never moderated, i also don’t take offence i hear much worse in my local.
Nath, that particular sentence went a bit too far.
Guest called you, you reciprocated = I asked both of you to play properly.
I really don’t want to go into it too much, tbh, but I’m glad you’re thick-skinned 🙂
Because I give my opinions, I’m on a bit of a pedestal, ready to be shot down too and know how it feels.
Anyway, I think people are worrying about Leeds because they look good.
Me, I think there are too many teams that could end up above us, this season.
well apologise for my conduct lol but that guy has been posting abuse a while at mine, which is fine no harm in that as long as the door is open back to him taking it. all what is getting my goat is, we are 5 games in already we are looking at others more than ourslelves, we are not out of touch. villa fans just need to chill. leeds have started well and good luck to them, if they can continue that sort of effort and form they will deserve to go up. i am more than confident we will be joining them. its way too early to rule anybody out especially us
I once said I thought you were a know-it-all.
I’ve never responded to any of your comments prior to that.
If that’s your definition of abuse then you really must be a sensitive little soul.
no sweetie the abuse, i spoke about was ages ago so, i allowed it. free shot. only reason was it was days / weeks old when spotted, then you disappeared for a while. so this time i thought i will pull your chain.
Wow that’s big of you Nath, what would you have done? Killed me with bad grammar or drowned me in your infinite football knowledge?
Big changes tomorrow in cup game, McGinnis and Grealish are out, I think its on AVTV 19-45 and a chance for our new lads to play, some rumours another signing tomorrow. A striker.
bruce has already said he will field a different team, it will be very similiar to the previous round, tuanzebe will partner elphick at cb. the other goalie will get another chance after a shaky debut. tuanzebe need to shine at cb if hes to get that slot in the league. he made a few mistakes in last round.
Cahill to Villa is the latest rumour.
You have to be kidding me.
Why not Badger?knowing we are weak in defence thought it might be a good call.
Bill, can you really see him wanting to come back to the Villa, when he couldn’t get a game last time?
It’s rare that going back works, imo.
Plus I’m sure he’d have way better offers from the MLS or China or wherever.