Villa 2 – 2 Preston; We threw that away

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”

  1. Giddy….thats just Wiki wind up. I got the info from the same guy who got the medicals 100% correct yesterday. The Brum Mail or anyone else never mentioned the medicals until this morning. This guy has get every transfer correct in the last 12 months. If it was bollox I would stop following him. He is well ahead if any other media often by days! I am simply relaying his messages.

    1. Mate I used to swear by wiki until badger put me straight, I now take no notice of it I just like how presumptuous wiki is.sounds like you’ve got a brilliant source there fair play

  2. Giddy….wiki is crap. I could put Messi has signed for us and some people will believe it…..He’d be too good for us when he’s 93 🙂

    1. 😁 you read my mind I was going to use the exact same example as that hmmm weird great minds think alike

  3. badger123 avatar
    badger123

    Giddy, the first 2 will be Breen and Houlihane,
    The one that’s jumped up % wise is probably the Arse lad, already affectionately being called Chumba Wumba.
    And the last one is probably the kid Langford mentioned, who’s a new one on me.
    Although the last two could be the other way round, I suppose.

    1. Why can’t he just tweet simply????

  4. Badger….hope thats not Gary BREEN! 🙂

    1. badger123 avatar
      badger123

      Hah, I don’t know what happened there!
      Freudian slip or something.

  5. Hitchens 60 avatar
    Hitchens 60

    According to the Mail the deal for Bjarnson (sic) is done and he’s due at BMH for a medical. Top marks to Bruce and his team for really concentrating on midfield at very reasonable cost and also getting in a young RB with a fantastic future. This just might be the best Villa January window ever. UTV

    1. Just imagine now the whole of the holte doing that Icelandic clap to welcome him.

    1. Cheers 🍻 hitch (show off 😁)

      1. Hitchens 60 avatar
        Hitchens 60

        🙂

  6. Seems like my guy has come up trumps again then! Well ahead of the media again..
    He hasnt mentioned the young Arsenal guy yet though. Perhaps there is a lot work still to be done on that one….do Arsenal have injuries to their strikers?

  7. badger123 avatar
    badger123

    Talking of Wiki, I corrected the peak Holte end capacity on the Villa park article.
    I’m sure it nudged 28k at one stage, but iirc it said 26k and I thought that was wrong.
    I recieved a warning and got suspended.
    Fwiw, it’s not mentioned at all now.

    Given there’s a few of us on here who remember the 70’s, can anyone clarify the biggest ever capacity?
    Bill, maybe, given your ex position?

    1. All I know it was against Derby County?? 80k??

      1. badger123 avatar
        badger123

        Holte end, Giddy, not the ground mate.

        1. Ha ha….It seemed like 80k in the Holte the night we stuffed Manure in the League Cup Semi Final 🙂

          1. Hitchens 60 avatar
            Hitchens 60

            Was in the Witton Road stand that night with my missus.

          2. Hitch…..what a night mate……took about 3 hours to get a bus back to town.

          3. Hitchens 60 avatar
            Hitchens 60

            Sure was – never forget it and bonus sat in the front row pitch side towards the Holte End -,even got seen on tele!

    2. 28,000 most ever they had in the holte, Now it’s 13-14 thousand , been out lads just got in.

  8. Ha ha…..they forgot the 2000 or so trying to get into the 4 urinals after being on the beer since opening time….I just pissed where I stood!

  9. badger123 avatar
    badger123

    It does seem your contact is ahead of the game, Langford.
    Keep us informed mate.

    Icelandic, eh?
    Cover/replacement for Jedinak?
    I’ll bet he can stick his foot in when it’s needed (thumbs up smiley).

  10. Badger…..yes, he does seem to be well ahead of the media. Dont forget though I am only relaying his messages. I dont know anything myself. I am convinced that he is something to do with the medical side if things ie….i posted about yesterdays medicals on here @2.30pm….many hours before any of the media outlets announced it.

    1. badger123 avatar
      badger123

      No worries mate.
      Even the very best sources can inadvertently get it wrong.
      Shit happens and all that 🙂

  11. TBF ….the transfer window as been open for 24 days and I have never seen this Icelantic player mentioned anywhere.

  12. More good news Ivory Coast eliminated from AFCON meaning Kodjia will be back for next game…..its turning out to be a really good day 🙂

  13. badger123 avatar
    badger123

    Bonus!

  14. Ardent Villain avatar
    Ardent Villain

    Like the sound of this Bjarnason fellow; apparently his nickname is “Thor”…!

  15. Villa on Thor? 🙂

    1. Hitchens 60 avatar
      Hitchens 60

      Lmao 🙂

  16. Anyway Kodjia will be back soon and in one piece so that’s good news.

    We’ve got Lansbury and if we get Hourihane and Bree, as looks likely, then another striker and IMHO it will have been a brilliant window.

    Fingers and toes crossed!

  17. According to the Mail Birkir Bjarnason will be joining us from Basel before long.

    Remember him in the Euros, run his socks off and not a bad footballer either.

    Could be a good addition.

    1. originallondonlion avatar
      originallondonlion

      At least on a cold Wednesday night at VP he won’t be doing a Dwight Yorke wishing he could go back inside.

    2. Seems to be Donkor’s replacement who looks likely to go to Everton, unfortunately. But he’s a talented player, Bjarnason. Could have a real left winger, other than Green.

      1. Nice goal by Bjarnason v Portugal last year

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTK9JgT1Ybs

        If only he can do the same for us!

  18. Sky transfer whispers conor hourihane to crystal Palace that’s news to me

    1. Nah must be a printing error can’t see any Palace link to him

      1. They’ve got Patrick van Aarnholt just above going to Palace so guess that just got that wrong

  19. I know sky are having a wankfest over coutihno signing a new five year deal fucking WOW

  20. I see marley Watkins Barnsley midfielder has handed in a transfer request hmmm I hope this doesn’t have a knock on effect with hourihane

  21. ****uodate**** my guy saying all 3 done

  22. badger123 avatar
    badger123

    Good news Langford.
    Bree official now.

    1. Yes announced on BBC Sport.

      Great now just Hourihane and Bjarnason to go. If we get those it will have been a very good window.

  23. Hitchens 60 avatar
    Hitchens 60

    Sky saying Bjarnason deal all done and just needs paperwork signed – so Villa can do quick deals. This one really did come from left field.

  24. Be glad when hourihanes confirmed I’m still wary about this one