I’m stunned.
The first half sounded superb and Tony Morley suggested that the first half was the best we’d played for around two years. Indeed, it sounded like even Westwood, Gabby and Hutton were playing really well and Johnstone hardly touched the ball.
At one stage, it wouldn’t have been a surprise if we were 4-0 up; we were that impressive.
So what happened?
We went in two up at half time and things should have been very comfortable.
Nothing changed when the teams came back on and we retained the same 4-1-4-1 that seemed the best balanced we’ve been in a long time.
Yet we still managed to let them back into it and this surely has to be a mental thing?
Steve Bruce, who I don’t see got it wrong today, even though I feared for us from the off when I saw the line-up, must quite simply be pulling his hair out.
I predicted a 0-0 today and I’d have taken that.
But to have played so well in the first half and still end up drawing?
That’s a massive 2 points dropped, whichever way you look at it.
There are plus points in that we showed that we can do it.
But we have to show more resilience if we’re going to get to the play-offs.
Lansbury looked ok and that’s another plus.
Along with us retaining our home record.
Oh, we got two goals too.
But I’m still massively disappointed.
Comments
974 responses to “Villa 2 – 2 Preston; We threw that away”
Swine.
Bill that they are and probably swine with noses of a particularly blue colour too.
Read about Jack’s ‘plan’ and its exactly what’s needed. If he’s finally knuckling down and doing the work then there’s hope for him yet. Working with some decent mid-fielders might hopefully rub off on him too and change his work ethic.
I’ve criticised Jack but only because he really does have talent and it’s frustrating that he isn’t doing more with it.
Agree Pat,
some decent posts 🙂 love reading views on my favorite topics (villa)
i think grealish just needs to man up alittle. i don’t mean stick his foot in and that stuff. i mean hes a marked man,opposition are fouling him because he has ability. he should stop complaining to the referee. allow his team or manager to do that. get up dust yourself down and get on with hurting the opposition by scoring and creating. i believe the new additions will help him. i also don’t see him as a midfielder. hes more cross breed attacker / attacking midfielder. if you play one upfront. then hes the guy playing just behind him. playing this role he needs to stamp his game. so often the game passes him by.
Exactly how I think and said Nath, i see talent in him Where the hell is Oohah?
I’ve a good mind to ring him up a give him a bollocking leaving his post when its improved.
Over 600 comments on this one post and hardly any from Oohaah and JV.
Is that a record?
And Pat you’ve took the time to count them all??
No offence mate but you seriously need to consider getting yourself some sort of hobby.
@BWS No I have got better things than to count them all like scanning the papers for our next transfer coup.
It gives the total just below the post
Whoops, so it is. I stand corrected Pat with the @.
BWS, I’m like a 78 year old kid with a mobile phone in my hands, this tablet never gets cold, and I have two allotments, sick wife, two grandchildren to get to school, think I need a job to get a break.
Fair play to you Bill, it keeps you young mate 🙂
Ghana are through to the semis of AFCON, with both Ayew brothers scoring.
That’s another £2m on his value then 🙂
I never thought of that 🙂
I was more thinking that if he doesn’t leave, he won’t be available for selection.
Not that I think he’d be getting a game.
Tshibola confirmed off to Forest on loan.
Surprised that Forest managed to arrange anything at all [read Daniel Taylor’s column in this morning’s Observer – and we thought that we were in a shambles under Lerner…]
I suspect it might have been already arranged.
Does them a favour and keeps Tshibola playing.
Although I don’t think Bruce fancies him at all.
Well, he wont be playing next Sat, thats for sure!
***** uodate*****
Rhodes deal gaining momentum! Ayew will be moving, more than likely in this window now!
Bruce wants Rhodes, big time.
I’ve felt it for a while, even though I’m not convinced he’s that good.
Happy to be proved wrong though.
Re Ayew, I’ve seen it suggested that he won’t be moving because he’s away.
But we all know it doesn’t work like that.
On paper, Rhodes should be a good buy.
But then that’s what I thought about McCormack, at the time.
As I have said previously….Ayew already has an agreement in place to move on according to my contact. Not definite in this window though….but more likely now.
****Just to reiterate, I am only the messenger…I know bugger all ****
There was a report that Ayew had a medical before leaving for AFCON – assuming that can be done of course – whatever it sounds like Villa had agreed to let him go – subject to getting a replacement ?
most of the summer recruits have been shown the door with this tish loan . RDM stay has been a costly one. this proves one thing nothing will be achieved sacking managers after managers. we have to stop this trend. steve bruce needs to be given time and money to mold a decent squad, seems like he has been backed in the markets. so now fans need to back him with the time needed.
we will regain our status back in the big pond this season / or definitely next
20/1 to gain promotion this year. how big were leicester in odds to win premiership
ayew leaving ??? i think would be good thing. he has never performed at villa. will norwich gamble on RM i hope so another flop. can’t believe RDM for the little time he was here its sure was a costly one.
I’m happy to what’s been done in the January window, after all its normally Summer sales, yes said that Bruce needs time to stamp his methods on Villa players and feel confident of taking a shot at promotion this season, also great to see that fake news from the media is being looked at its been going on for years, football is a classic example of that.
Where’s Steve Bruce?
I am asking this because I feel that there is something odd and unusual that has happened in the last week. We signed 3 players last week and I have yet to see SB comment on ANY of them! That is most unusual!
Any true in this? .
The Championship club have agreed the basics of a swap deal with forward Jordan Ayew going in the opposite direction, according to Bleacher Report journalist Dean Jones.
Taylor, 27, and Ayew, 25, are set to complete their respective moves if both players agree contracts and pass medicals.
Jones tweeted: “Neil Taylor to Villa and Jordan Ayew to Swansea.
Well it’s been widely rumoured Bill so there is probably some mileage in it.
On the SB front, I think he might do an overview of the window as a whole rather each player given the amount of transfer activity? What do you reckon?
Hitch….not sure what I think about SB. What I will say is that in my experience ANY player, from ANY club at ANY time usually gets at least a brief write up! And yes I’m a little woried!
SB giving a presser at BMH this morning. Really interested in what he’s got to say.
Langford – just read it’s rumoured SB going back in with a higher bid for Rhodes – presumably there will be cash plus Taylor on the Ayew swop to fund the Rhodes deal?
Yep…my man has said that the Rhodes deal was still on the cards. Taylor + cash for Ayew = Rhodes (thats MY guess)!
Well that sounds feasible Hitch, Langford did get me wondering, but what a wipe out of a team that didn’t click.I’m well pleased with it all.
Wow, get onto BBC2 Victoria Derbyshire, its about Aston Villa and abuse.coming on now .
Ah….so he is still alive then! Can I stop worrying now?
Dead now, your safe.
Lol Bill 🙂
I wrote when SB came that I expected wholesale changes when the transfer window opened. I based that not only on the need for strengthening in midfield, but also because the style of some of our ‘adequate’ players did not fit SB’s typical teams.
I am not sure everyone sidelined can be levelled as evidence RDM was a waste of space, just that RDM’s idea and SB’s idea of what they wanted from a team was different. It would be a surprise if one of SB’s buys does not flop at Villa, one out of five usually does even for the top managers. If Rhodes comes and were I able to bet on it, he would carry my money in the flop stakes.
(PS still on cloud 9, Sutton beat Leeds!)
SB says close to making another signing which hasn’t been mentioned – Langford get on the phone mate 🙂
Hitch….this is what I relayed last week
****Rhodes deal still on the cards. Also looking for LB and CH****
LB = Taylor?
CH = Bedau?
No one else mentioned….Watkins from Exeter?
Exeter ain’t that your neck of the woods? What’s the score on this Watkins kid?
BWS….no idea mate, never heard of him.
According to their local rag we want him as a replacement for Grealish (read into that what you will) so he must be a number 10 type player.
Lol….really?
http://www.exeterexpressandecho.co.uk/exeter-s-ollie-watkins-linked-to-aston-villa-as-jack-grealish-set-for-middlesbrough-move/story-30093608-detail/story.html
Thanks for link. Super Jack is not leaving though. I like him in certain ways, but I’m not convinced yet! Could be sold in the summer if he doesnt improve
Jordan Ayew for Neil Taylor paving the way for SB to cash in on Amavi?
Not till summer BWS would be my call but I suspect, unless we get promotion, he will be off then. Would still like to see SB move Amavi to play attacking left side mid / wing. He can cross a great ball on the run and at pace
He’s a good player Hitchy but £25M (if the China stories are true) is an awful lot ackers mate.
Agreed mate but I think that was sloppy journalism. French were interested but Amavi has said he wants to get in a full season at Villa and will decide in summer – reckon that’s because he would rather play in the prem
*****update****
Hitch….my man confirms that Ayew had medical before AFCON so your source was correct……my source also said that Ayew also had an agreement to leave last week. He also backed it up in the message I relayed last night ‘ Ayew now more likely to move in this window’.
****update****
BIG deal incoming…no name yet! 2 more tomorrow.
I think the two tomorrow will be Taylor, Bedau! No idea who the BIG signing is….Rhodes?
Supposed to be someone not yet mentioned according to SB press conference this morning.
Sorry Langford – should have thanked you for the updates – very remiss of me