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”
This is just a guess. Did we offer Ayew for Rhodes and Boro said we woukd rather have Grealish….this could be very lazy red top journalism!
I wouldnt mind a loan swap for Grealish/Rhodes for the rest of the season…everyones a winner IMO! Cant see Grealish getting much playing time, particularly away from home with our new midfielders.
I agree with that Langford.
Now we’ve got serious competition in midfield, he’s going to find it tough.
He’ll have to up his game or ship out.
Despite being continually disappointed with what Grealish has actually done in a Villa shirt, I’d be disappointed if we shipped him out permanently just yet.
Have a feeling it would be a bit of a throwback to when MON preferred to let Cahill go and kept Curtis “Pub Player” Davies; let a promising player go too early and then watch him sold on to a CL team in a year or two for mega-money.
Grealish should be given another season competing with the likes of our new midfield to see whether he really can cut it; mind you, it may be that the club believe that he won’t have any value in 12-18 months’ time, so want to cash in before anyone else realises it!
His shin pads get me or are they sanitary towels?? Very slimline
The Doc’s latest tweet
“{(75%-(75%+X))+50%+50%)*1/3}+(-95%-50%)+(+50%-50%)+50%”
Make what you will of that.
That’s taking the piss
OK Giddy – been knocking it back here goes
Two straight deals at 50% and one swop deal at 75% all for the same position – next two outs one at 95% (Ayew?) and one at 50% – next one but subject to one out but not a swop (at 50%) plus one other which appears to be independent of the rest at 50%
What do you think?
* one in but subject to one out
Mate I don’t know about the tweet I don’t even understand your conclusions lol 😁 get it down me
🙂
😁. Just been reading some villa fans have tried tweeting Carol vorderman for help with Dr Tonys tweet can’t beat it
WTF is that? Its Chinese New Years so I guess he’s had one (or two) too many!
hic hic
Hitch you better start getting the vino down yer mate
On it Giddy – going to need a serious effort this!
I think the first part is Rhodes 75% coming in brackets money +X being grealish going??
Giddy….i really need to be completely off my trolley to even attempt to work that out! I better get down the boozer then 🙂
Mate I’ve managed possibly the first part with a little help from my mate we’re in the boozer as I type I’m on my sixth pint & now contemplating going on the top shelf (chasers) to try & decipher the second part I’ll probably be under the table by the time I manage the remainder of the the tweet but I’ll give it a go hic
Lol…good luck 🙂
Mate you’re well ahead of me – looking forward to the answer 🙂
Reading it I’m starting to think it’s a weather prediction over the weekend??
How could any Prem team want Grealish….if he cant run around…track back as thats a minimum requirement…..
I’ve worked it out lads, yes I’ve got it, it a a traffic jam in Hong Kong.
😀
Nice one Bill 🙂
Jack Grealish is never going to fit in as a team player. He is a maverick, and an attention seeker hence the shin-pads. Nothing wrong with that, but you need peculiar fans and a peculiar manager to be cut the slack required. Frank Worthington, George Best, Matt le Tissier, Rodney Marsh. The teams that still like that type of player are firstly QPR. A long way behind them Man City. Not Southampton any more, possibly Bournemouth.
You never know though if he plays with a hard-working trio and they give him the ball only to unlock defences, not to fetch and carry he might be able to justify a place here at Villa, but he isn’t the sort of player Bruce would buy, so may not be the sort SB will keep.
Question is: Does he really have the talent of a Best [does anyone…], or maybe ‘just’ a Le Tissier?
Personally I suspect he’ll be just like the rest of the ‘Next Big Things’ that we produce every few years, and be playing for the likes of Swindon or Blackpool in a couple of seasons – but I’d like to give him another season or so to prove me wrong.
Best and Grealish in the same breath? Really?
No!
Grealish is not fit to lace the boots of the players you list OLL – Add Hoddle and Bowles to that too. He is undoubtedly talented but is just not effective almost all the time. If he was in the headlines for performances on the pitch I’ld be happy. He is brainless and badly advised. Ship him out while he still has some value. If we don’t we will regret it when he leaves for kKidderminster Town after yet another “indiscretion” renders him worthless.
Grealish turns 22 this year, the age that Gary Shaw’s career was over in earnest due to a knee injury (he was never the same afterwards). By that time, Shaw had won the league, the European Cup and the Super Cup. He’d also been crowned the PFA Young Player of the Year to boot. He scored 18 goals in the title-winning season that he started as a teenager.
Imagine the hype now that would surround such achievements!
Back then, Diego Maradona got his agent to ask for Shaw’s shirt after Villa beat Barcelona in the Super Cup. Nowadays, Shaw would probably be playing in a Barcelona shirt alongside Messi.
Not my words but I read thus and thought it really put the Grealish debate into perspective. Even Ashley Young achieved more by the same age.
Don’t get me wrong, on balance I would prefer him to stay but if any team were prepared to pitch £15+m into the equation then I think it would be time to cash in,
I’ve just read that article Hitch,
It puts it all in perpective really, doesn’t it?
Jack should not be classed as a kid anymore, imo.
Darren bent lmao he’s always been lethal in the 6 yard box 😀
****** my guy says forget the current Grealish rumour******
AND
Dr Tone ‘liked’ a tweet asking….Jack Grealish staying 100%?
So I think we can safely put that one to bed!
I truly hope he stays and fulfils his potential but he needs to pull his socks up (literally).
BWS…agreed mate. Would give him this season to come good or ship him out.
What’s this strange game I’m watching on telly?
Balls flying into the box and players actually getting on the end of them.
Is that really allowed?
Frogget said Graham Taylor told him son you put 12 good crosses in and I won’t bother turning up cause we’ll win!
That’s what I’ve said, he’s someone that given the right training could come good, he’s an idiot to himself, if your info sound all he has to do is understand after 25 he’s on a downward slope, its time to be someone.
Too true.
Trouble is that these kids are earning so much money by the time they’re 22/23 that they don’t imagine that the good times will ever stop; then there’s the 2nd career on TV to follow…
H60 mentioned Gary Shaw [above] – I wonder how much Shaw got paid at 22 compared to what Grealish gets today [allowing for inflation, etc.]?
A good living mate but today’s footballers live in another world.
I used to work with Wayne Clarke (championship medal with everton, blues and all that) he said he was born ten years too early.
How right he was.
If Bruce cant sort him out nobody can IMO…he wants to be careful that he doesnt end up in the lower leagues like the Fonz and the Moore brothers. He has had plenty of guidance…its all down to him now!
{(75%-(75%+X))+50%+50%)*1/3}
That first bit, I reckon the X is money in a swap deal.
That is, one coming in with us losing one plus cash.
The way it’s written seems the opposite to a Rhodes plus cash for Grealish?
Interesting.
Ah, hang on, Ayew and cash for Rhodes perhaps?
That’s an interesting angle Badger – you been on the pop too 🙂
Yes, mate 🙂
Think about it though and it all makes sense.
Ayew wants the Prem, Rhodes wants to come and Boro get some money while we haven’t laid out too much.
Hmm.
Wouldn’t hesitate to get rid of Grealish if a decent bid comes in. Over rated and over hyped. He hasn’t dominated a single game all season against championship level defences and we all know the issues surrounding his attitude. I personally would be surprised if he makes it in the PL despite his young age, I dont see the hunger or the desire there like with other young players.
Why Middlesbrough keep wanting to buy players from one of the worst sides in English top flight history I’ll never know but more fool them
A good few of us have said that we’ve thought some players would perform better in a better team, Villain1.
Gueye is a good example of that.
Maybe that’s what it’s about?
Jacob Bedeau is to have a medical, after Bury accepted a third bid, according to this;
http://www.footballinsider247.com/highly-rated-player-undergoing-aston-villa-medical-after-bid-accepted-reliable-journalist/
Strange source, but could be right, I suppose
We have made three bids for Bedeau – Where are you Langford, we need info from your source?
If true this should satisfy those who have encouraged SB to look at talent in League 1 & 2
“Steve Bruce has launched a bid for Swansea’s Neil Taylor and Modou Barrow”
The interesting part here is the article says we’re going to use Ayew as a makeweight;
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/01/27/aston-villa-launch-bid-swansea-duoneil-taylor-modou-barrow/
If true then it just shows how serious SB is in ensuring that we have cover in every position. I think Taylor would be an excellent buy and would really give Amavi something to think about.
Don’t know much about Barrow but I have to say I’ve not been impressed with Ayew’s contribution so far so I don’t think he’ll be missed anyway.
There was an earlier rumour that Swansea were interested in Ayew so could have legs and might just put us ahead of the PL interest in Barrow.