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”
Can’t wait for the Brentford game – no tickets but it’s on TV. Kodjia will have had enough time to recover from jet lag, Lansbury 1 game fitter, a few days for the team to gel, loads of competition for midfield. Grealish should watch and learn from the new midfield – jogging around the field won’t cut it. He needs to learn to pressurise and put in a full shift – his undoubted skill is no enough these days without the hard yards and tackles on the pitch even as a no. 10.
If that’s our lot for transfer window pretty happy but striker would make it a great window – on paper but proof will start come Tuesday
Hourihane with Lansbury should be a force. The former oozes quality with that left peg!!!! Hope they’re played properly, something lacking at Villa for a while.
Well happy we have another right back too, and one who appears to pass forwards!!!
Brilliant business with very little net spend.
Hourihane is a brilliant signing one of the best midfielders in the championship. These new signings need to hit the ground running. Good business so far from the club.
With Hourihane in we’ve got we need this window. Anything else will just be the icing on the cake.
Being a greedy b****** I’m still hoping though 🙂
With 57 points up for grabs we can still win this league! (or am I getting a little carried away?)
Now we actually appear to have some quality, as long as Brucie manages well i see no problem with your optimism (although play-offs is probably more like it) 😉
That’s a more realistic probability, someone usually comes up on the rails with a late run but then again automatic could mathematically be done (it’s bit of a long shot admittedly).
Your getting carried away. Circa 95 points needed for automatic promotion we’ll be lucky to finish top 6
Quite looking forward to the rest of the season. The team as it stood must have been like trying to run a three legged racehorse. Let’s see what we can do with a mid-field.
Still think that making up 9 points on sixth place is a tall order. We’ve got some decent players now but they’ll still need time to become a team. However this has proved to me that SB knows what he’s doing and if we have to have another season in the Championship then so be it.
If we do I think we’ll storm it next season.
How’s this look?
http://lineupbuilder.com/?sk=dy9qy6
Not bad except I’d have Bjarnason in ML. He’s fast and strong and could score a few goals coming in from the left.
What no Gabby???
Well I know it’ll be controversial, but……
🙂
That was my instinct Pat, but I feel it’d be a bit harsh dropping Green after a pretty good show on Saturday.
You’re right, putting Bjarnason in makes sense though and means we’ll be able to introduce Green more gradually.
For some reason I think that Bjarnason going to have quite an impact. Might not all be on the pitch though. He just seems to be a player who really enjoys playing, something I hope rubs on on the rest of the team.
Anyway here’s hoping.
Had to go to work today and missed all the excitement. Connor Hourihane great signing – how long have we yearned for a cultured left foot in midfield.
Dr T. and KW both tweeted – ‘still working on deals both in and out to improve squad – will be busy over next 5 days’ (paraphrased).
This is the best January window since we signed Young and Carew (2007).
Looking forward to seeing them play against Brentford UTV (not Young and Carew 🙂 )
http://www.skysports.com/iframe/widget/video/NqNW42OTE6XEuuz8bxERNCa8U3KfwmYK#ooid=NqNW42OTE6XEuuz8bxERNCa8U3KfwmYK
Best bits Houlihane – I hope!
Apologies for the adverts that run first in the video!
Cracking left footed player, also hits with his right foot. Nice video Hitch.
Looks like he times tackles well.
Do you think he’ll threaten Westwood’s place? 🙂
LOL
Fuck me explain Dr Tonys latest algebra (+50%+50 %+50%)*(1/3)+(-50%-50%)+50% Chinese to me (pardon the pun)
Giddy – 3 possibles running to come in at 50% each but only expects 1 to be achieved (probably all for same position – striker?); two possible outs at 50% each and one further in at 50%.
Amazing what a few glasses of wine can achieve
I’ll have to try that how many glasses /bottles??
Lost count mate 🙂
Are you (100%)??
No – still going 🙂
Bloody hell Hitch, that’s a good call.
It never dawned on me what the -50s were about.
Seems we want our money back for RM.
Not a hope in hell.
Dr T will have to take it ‘on the chin’ same as Boro aren’t going to get the money they want for Rhodes. Can’t look back but looking forward I think we have seen the end of overpriced poor deals.
Not worth the risk of keeping a disruptive player – get rid and move on.
i have been impressed with bruce first window. he has quietly gone about building the weakest links, midfield and fullback areas. i believe if he had been hired summer instead RDM we would have been in a far stronger position today.
i can see 2 players leaving and one more incoming in my misty crystal ball. but if no more deals are completed i am more than happy with our business
Good business this January. The new setup of the recruitment seen to have acquired the players we need for the here and now. A lot better than the January we got Simon Dawkins on loan !
I’m ecstatic with the out come of what Dr Xia and Bruce have pulled off, do I think happy days are here? You bet I do. The only down side is that my old mucker Oohah has failed to show. Has he got a sickness over the out come,.? Oohah what you think now mate.
Bill you missed someone else if I said 2 initials mate?
🙂
And him Giddy, that’s Hitching long lost friend, he’s disappeared as well. We might have spies in our mist and not realised.
Actually that thought had crossed my mind too, Bill
No evidence though.
I know hourihane takes a good free kick does he also take corner kicks?? Frigging hope so
Can’t possibly be worse than those who have been taking them, Giddy.
Grealish to Boro?
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-transfer-rumour-jack-12514499
I don’t believe this for one minute, but anyone care to venture how much they’d let him go for?
£10 mill for me, but we won’t get that sort of offer.
If I’m honest it wouldn’t break my heart to see him go. He has bucket loads of potential but I’ve never seen a game where he’s played consistently well throughout. I’m beginning to doubt if he has it mentally to be as good as he can be.
If Boro offered silly money then I’d probably say okay.
JG does have ability but the one thing he’s seriously deficient in is pace (imo), apart form the semi against the Pool when has he had major impact on a game? Too much looking for the foul and all this rolling round beck business.
Now look at young Tom Davies on his full debut for Everton against Man C, what an impact and not just the goal, his running movement, passing all brilliant and no silly hair do or stupid socks.
Me thinks young Mr G is a case of style over substance.
*deck*
How about a Grealish/Rhodes swap?
No way for me.
Rhodes plus £4 million perhaps?
I think it’s down to SB and how well he thinks Jack will fit in with the players he’s bought and the way he wants to set the team up.
If I’m honest I don’t think he’s worth £10 million anyway and I’d be willing to bet all that this talk of a move to Boro is just more fluff from the press.
A proven championship goal scorer against a fringe player? Yea i’d do that deal if I was was in Brucey Babies shoes.
Been speaking to a Leeds fan today. He said to me that on paper he recons we have now the strongest squad in the league as it stands with the possible exception of Newcastle. As much as I want to get back to the top table as soon as possible, it’s nice to be the big fish in the small pond ! Pity the league table didn’t reflect it though.
@T48
I think our league position will start improving shortly whether it will be enough for promotion though I don’t know.
What I do know is we’ve still got until midnight next Tuesday before the window shuts.Still hoping we can get rid of RM and get another striker in.
Basically just being greedy 🙂
Maybe they’re thinking of doing a loan swap for Rhodes & Grealish so that wages are in line with FFP.
Why would Bruce want to do the opposite to the strategy of improving the squad he has so carefully espoused so a Rhodes / Grealish swap would be a daft idea. If we have FFP problems the player to sell is Ayew not Grealish.
But then this is Villa we’re talking about!
Hitch….if you look over the last 2 days this is what I relayed from my source:
1. Deal to sell Ayew already agreed….I posted that on here on Wed (not sure when or who to though)….swap with Rhodes maybe?
2. Rhodes deal still on the cards which I posted yesterday
3. Also looking at LB and CH
Apologies LV – was out at a Board meeting (yawn) yesterday so missed your posts – not sure what happened Wednesday 🙂 actually would make more sense both ways for an Ayew / Rhodes swap.
Good news that your excellent inside info has no news re a Grealish deal.
Hitch are you Alan Sugar in disguise??? Board meetings & caribbean holidays I know he/you holiday there hmmm
Giddy Hitch is using a board on his allotment, the grounds wet….
Caribbean island(s)? Board meetings? Business magnate? Investor? Philanthropist?
Sir R B perhaps???
BWS that thought did cross my mind mate, Bill lol 😁 that also crossed my mind
Ho Ho guys – I wish – and it’s too cold to go to the allotment Bill but it’s bl**dy wet as well!
I work for a tiny non registered Housing Association in Brum – not very exotic!
And Hitchy this is how we had you tagged…
Poppin’ bottles in the ice, like a blizzard
When we drink, we do it right gettin’ slizzard
Sippin’ sizzurp in my ride (in my ride) like three six
Now I’m feelin’ so fly like a G 6
You’ve gone shattered the illusion now mate 🙁
There was a time BWS – there was a time!
Lol quality mate.
Hitch….Grealish has never been mentioned. Personally, I doubt that a. Boro could afford him, and b. He would almost certainly go to a better club if he was put up for sale.
I see that Wyness has confirmed what I relayed yesterday in that we are still looking to buy in this window.
I missed that “deal agreed for Ayew” comment too.
It’s good that we’re looking for a LB, as having no cover has been a concern.
Oh, I’ve changed my mind about Grealish.
It wouldn’t be worth letting him go for £10 mill unless we need the money.
Best to see how he pans out, but the clock’s ticking. He’s not a kid anymore.
I’ve seen that we value him at £20 mill, which is ridiculous to me.
Hasn’t done anything like enough to justify that price tag, imo.
If we were offered 10 mil for grealish I’d snap there hands off, I really think people overate him I’m certainly not his biggest fan
I like Grealish lads, he’s only a 75 minute player at this moment in time, but I see tallent that can be tapped, I blamed him for one of the goals against Preston, i say hold on to him for now.
You said it bill he’s lacking staying power someone of his age should be able to run around for the full 90.a mate of mine went to see villa away forgot where & he said he looked like a kid playing in a man’s game he was so easily bullied off the ball be honest he is very lightweight imo
Spot on Giddy, he’s 21 going on 22 not 16 and still developing, he should breeze 90 minutes.
It’s not like his role in the team demands he covers every blade of grass is it???
He reminds me of Lee Jenkins of yesteryear, very gifted but too slow.
He probably do the same to, drift down the league and score a wonder goal in some cup competition.