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”
Hmm, Pat Murphy says no medicals yet and still negotiating for Hourihane;
http://www.footballinsider247.com/reliable-journalist-reveals-stumbling-block-aston-villa-double-deal/
I don’t know if this is good or bad Dr Tony tweeted 99.5%+95%+51% obviously referring to signing 3 players. Are Barnsley dragging this out on purpose they don’t have a ceo I understand but surely someone has the capacity to make decisions
The James Bree signing signals the end of the line for Hutton (no bad thing imo).
😁 wiki have bree & hourihane as Aston villa players, I know badger means nothing
Correction, Wiki’s pretty good, but cannot be 100% trusted.
Fancy Pochettino as our next manager?
I can sort it 🙂
That said and being serious, we know they’re coming.
But we’re just seeing slightly conflicting versions.
My understanding is that you have the medical (which by the looks of it happened last night) and then all that’s left is to sign on the dotted line.
So why hasn’t it happened yet?
Fairly sure we’ll have one, if not both in today.
Who do you believe – Pat Murphy or Villa’s CMO and what are the relative timelines as some reports through newsnow are somewhat out of date?
Not only do Barnsley lack a CEO but I understand their owner is unwell so the problem could be about who has the authority to sign the paperwork at their end.
Pat Murphy’s tweet was around 8.40 this morning.
It does make you wonder why we carried out a medical last night, yet there was no-one so sign off?
What was the rush?
It’s all academic.
Like Xia said, 99.9% + 95%.
Agent fees holding Hourihane move!
Now that makes sense.
Phew, these agents what are they like?
Thought 5% or near was agent fees?
Bree move = done
Hourihane move close to completion (minor probs with agents fee)
Double signing announcement expected tomorrow
Bree is pictured in his Villa kit on the official Aston Villa ‘snapchat’ account
Welcome Bree, Now ok makes Hutton redundant, you know what, I’d play Hutton up front, yes right side half back or wing , he can tackle, he can cross a ball , he also better than 5 or 6 others thats still in the team.worth a go me thinks.
Sorry Bill but you’re having a giraffe mate, no he can’t tackle, his positional sense is woeful and he couldn’t cross a bun, the blokes a liability (imo).
I still like them to find out if he can fit in before we let him go, he has the want and the will for me, don’t get me wrong I’m no fan of him as a full back, its his eagerness makes me think.
Of course he can fit in Bill. !f he can: drive; squeeze a can of oil; and mend a fuse he could get RM to training on time!
How much is this fucking agent asking for?? The fee for hourihane ain’t huge imo surely he’s not going for more than the player??? I don’t get these greedy bastards one bit
Bloody hell, read this;
http://www.footballinsider247.com/championship-rivals-drop-interest-aston-villa-ace-player-feedback-report/
Who did the bloody due diligence on the transfer?
If he’s still here, he needs sacking, imo.
I’ve just read that and you’re spot on, he must be a right wrong un.
Another reason to question RDM’s transfer activities – frighteningly similar to what happened when MON wasted Lerners money. The legacy of poor decisions being taken at Villa is going to be with t’s for longer than we hoped.
Trust Dr. T is a quick learner (sorry no pun intended) who doesn’t lose his enthusiasm for the job to be done – methinks he needs to revisit his time frames though.
* with us
The worrying thing is I can see us being stuck with him now, sat on a massive wage.
Collymore’s right, there’s something not right with the system.
While all for protecting players, it just seems they can do anything they like and pretty much get away with it.
Giddy…lol. I think its more a question of the fee being authorised by the board at Barnsley.
Latest on Houlihane is that Barnsley may be trying to stall the deal to keep him until the summer but may now have found a loan replacement. To my mind that rings truest of all the ‘excuses’ being trotted out.
Oh, welcome Mr bree, btw.
Seems another very decent signing.
Why was he relatively easy to prise away from Barnsley but hourihane becoming a difficult one.
Probably as said, the agent, Giddy.
Then what does Langford mean Barnsley need to authorise it???
Bree’s not officially signed yet has he
Not officially….expected tomorrow
Well, if you class a player as signed when he pulls on the shirt, yes, he has.
It’s just probably going to be announced as a double deal.
Does anyone think the hourihane deal will go through??? I’m starting to have my doubts now
I’d be very surprised if it didn’t.
Too late in the day to fail.
But that probably means we’ve been bent over again, no doubt.
Let me get this right the fee with Barnsley agreed personal terms agreed medical successful exception now being what the poxy agent gets out of it???
Maybe, yes.
Or as I said earlier Barnsley are stalling on getting in a replacement for Houlihane who is by all accounts key to the teams success.
If I read this right earlier today he’s out of contract in the summer, Wednesday offered about £1m at the beginning of the season and we’ve now trebled that so seeing as he can walk for nought come the summer I should imagine Barnsley would be pretty keen to do the deal.
You would think so BWS but nothing surprises me in football
Fingers crossed Hitchy, he looks a very good player.
Giddy, according to the Mail both Bree and Houlihane stayed over in the Midlands last night and both are expected at BMH today – keep the faith mate.
Nah got a bad feeling about this one unfortunately the idiots I work with (baggies fans) aren’t helping matters
Bloody hell Giddy no wonder your oubting this, talking to an Albion fan like talking to a lamp post mate,
The difference being that from time to time the light goes on in a lamppost
What s the difference between a lamp post and an Albion fan?
One’s an inanimate object that shows no sign of life and dogs piss up and the other one’s a lamp post!
Lmao 😀 I’ll relay that nice one
Think I’ll stick to my day job – nice one BWS 🙂
He he, ! It’s when the lights go out I took a shine too.
Still kinda wish the club would have held on to Gil, regardless of his size he was still one of our most creative players. According to his loan stats he’s played 8 games, 3 assists. Now compare that to Grealish who has played 20, scored 3 and 0 assists. I can’t help but feel RDM got rid of some rough gems this summer.
I agree Marvin it was a shame we let Gil go, great little player and Grealish was raised on the WM phone in last night, how the pace of the game in the first half against PNE was just too much for him and the game passed him by.
How he has a habit of slowing the games down and taking the the impetuous out of attacks.
Maybe we let the wrong player go?
I think Gil was a loan deal and I don’t think there was an option to buy. Reported he was unhappy with new club and is now injured (I believe). If we’ve reinforced the mid field would be a good idea to get him back – loved his skill and vision but needs to play alongside a driving forward midfielder (in the Lampard mould)
Vacancy at Villa: Mid Weight Designer.
If only I weren’t such a fat b*****d.
Just been reading that vacancy, does the salary match the shopping list of job requiments.
BWS, never take a goal kick then, you know what they sing..
3rd sugning getting close!
Birkir Bjarnson….Left Midfielder from FC Basel…..no medical booked YET
Wiki says he plays for us 😁
Liked Bjarnson in the Euros, he played with a lot of energy and a lot of heart.
We could do with both at VP
And Xia hinting at 2 certs and 2 other players now possible (Chumba Akpom?).
What I can see the 51% in brackets has now become 99.9% with now an additional 50% for a fourth player am I correct??