Well, it wasn’t the drubbing many of us expected score-wise, but it certainly was in terms of performance.
It all started poorly when Nathan Baker suffered a hamstring problem during the warm up, which amazes me in itself.
Surely the players should be well versed in this? Or is it just that the legs have been over-exercised?
Anyway it concerned me, as he’s been a consistently decent performer this season. It turned out to be a valid concern, as Elphick looked intermittent in sometimes being very good and at others decidedly iffy.
Not that I’m singling out Elphick as our worst player.
We had plenty of those.
Let’s go through the team.
Johnstone, who I thought was great last week, parried the ball when I thought he could have done better and it cost us the goal. That apart, I don’t recall him having much else to do.
Hutton. Yesterday evening I thought he was man of the match.
I still think that, because of his running and effort in at least trying to do something.
I’ve generally been supportive of him in his time at the club, but as much as he tried to take us forward, so I’ve had to realise that he simply isn’t good enough. He gets into the right sort of positions, but his delivery is mostly horrendous.
Amavi. I thought he was awful, as simple as that. But then, I don’t think he was being helped much as Wolves concentrated on our left side. One great run and cross apart, it was another night to forget.
Chester. He’s one of the only ones who come out with any credit. He’s assured and I feel at least slightly confident when he gets involved.
Bacuna. Another poor game where he was pretty well invisible. It seemed to me that he was under specific instruction to punt the ball forward, but it was pointless as he was hardly ever accurate.
Tsibola. Not one of his better games, but probably the best in the middle last night. He’s athletic and definitely better than Westwood and Gardner. Why he was hooked, I don’t quite understand.
Jedinak. I don’t think he’s fit at all. He’s a clever enough player, but he seems laboured and his distribution leaves a bit to be desired.
Adomah. Just a poor game again and didn’t get involved enough.
Gabby is simply a busted flush. His ball control is horrendous. I’m talking 10-year-old kid level here and it’s shocking that Bruce sees something in him. Him starting simply has to stop, as it’s obvious it’s going to achieve nothing. I don’t see any of the options being any better in a struggling side, but I now think we might as well try them, as at least they’ll be learning. Gabby will never learn anything, that much is certain.
McCormack. The return we’ve had off him for a player that cost £12 million is a joke. Ok, he was leaning back when he headed that chance, but it was a brilliant cross from Amavi and he simply should have buried it.
He has a history of getting better in the second half of the season, but I’m not seeing much sign of it coming.
But then, even as it’s very easy to just blame the strikers, we just don’t create anything, meaning they just don’t get enough service.
And this is what’s puzzling me.
If I was asked to name a side for that game, it’s probably not far from that which started. I’d possibly have put Green in for Gabby, but apart from that I think it’s simply our best overall side.
Okay, we can argue about the odd player, but mostly, it’s our best side, as I’m sure the majority would agree.
But on that performance and that of quite a few games now, it frankly isn’t good enough, as Bruce said himself.
It’s shocking that when we spent £50 million in the summer we still can’t do simple things such as passing or controlling the ball. We have no desire or running and the times a Villa player had the ball, only to have no-one else near him, well I just can’t understand it. Why are our set pieces generally awful and rarely find a Villa player?
Pretty much all of the signings in the summer were lauded as decent players. So why do they seem so poor?
And where do we go from here?
Tony Xia must be thinking “I paid how much for that rubbish?” and I wouldn’t blame him in the slightest.
We should remember that this is the Championship and not the Premier league.
It can hardly inspire our owner to stick his hands in his pockets again, as he must be thinking he’s been robbed.
But that’s what he’s going to have to do and quick. I really struggle to see where any points are going to come from while Kodjia is away and we simply cannot expect anything with the team as it stands.
We’ve mostly been talking 3-4 players, but it’s becoming even more obvious that a total clearout, a small few apart is what’s required.
Having said that, it seems to me that there’s still something very wrong at club.
We sign decent enough players, but when they come to the Villa, they just don’t perform. Gueye is the classic example of this and how often has it been said that if x player were in a better side, they’d look a lot better?
We seem to have a knack of making decent players look poor and it’s concerning.
Where will we be left if Bruce, not everyone’s cup of tea, but definitely experienced and proven splashes the cash and we still don’t improve?
if Bruce can’t get it right, I really fear for us in the future.
Comments
284 responses to “Wolves 1 – 0 Villa: What to do?”
Terrible performance, but I actually thought it was a decent game to watch.
Am I being strange in saying that?
To a wolves fan or a neutral maybe
Yes you are 😄
JV – I was half right – Lyden is injured and has been since October.
Strong rumours on twitter that Michel Dusseyer has kicked Kodjia out of the Ivory Coast squad….no reason why yet!….the news will break in the media shortly!
Good probably someone has put in a bid for him. Either that or he’s sick of him bottling it
very fair summary badger. i think also you should be appraised for your hutton rating. he isn’t the best right back, but he gives his all, which isn’t enough in most fans opinions. but he was up and down that right side all game and in defense and attacking adding to what little we did. he never hides. just a shame he isn’t as gifted as we want.
i agreed with the other player ratings and contributions. i just like to add what we all know and said. midfield and defense need to get much closer to the attackers. we are all slating them gabby mccormack, but they were feeding of scraps all game. except the mccormack miss. wolves did a number on villa, they harried / harassed us all game. thats no excuse, we should have had enough ability and know how to combat this. was a typical lambert game plan. wolves countered us with ease
Badger, Nath – agree with both. I would suggest that Hutton, for all his shortcomings as a footballer, is not the most pressing problem to resolve. Other than his run and cross Amavi was a liability – as he was against Leeds and Cardiff – if someone has offered £25m for him I would bite their hand off. Then their is the midfield or more precisely lack of midfield!
We come back to RDM again – Jedinak and Tshibola are both defensive mids – why buy two similar players when we needed attacking mid fielders?
Hutton has always had a bad wrap with villa fans since day one mainly because he was signed by mckeish. But he’s not that bad and arguably our best RB in recent times. I’m sick of supporters getting on his back all the time at least Hutton gives everything for the team unlike most of the other players
do you actually watch him try to pass the ball, cross mark an attacker or do just watch hutton running about a lot always behind play,i don t care who signed him but when lambert was trying to give him away for free no one wanted him?
He was bought to defend not put in world class crosses. He is a decent defender with a good engine that gets fwd. His crosses are no worse than adomah yet you give him a free pass. Why?
adoamh has played about 20 matches never heard of him before he signed,but in some of the matches when he is not covering for your great defender he does get forward and scored once and a couple assists,how many goals have been conceded from hutton mistakes side of field,as for getting forward when has one of his crosses been scored from,when he takes a throw in and its knocked back to hutton its funny watching him try to control the ball
How many assists has Armavi made this season. What’s your point
I’m not saying Hutton is perfect but he’s not as bad as a lot of people make out and they are players a lot worse than him that seem to get away with it
you never answered why when lambert was giving hutton away no one wanted him
Probably because his wages were too high or maybe he didn’t agree to the move. Players will only leave if it suits him. Teams will only come in for players if they know in advance he is interested that’s how it’s always worked
teams usually only sign players if they are any good thats why we cant shift over half of our squad,as amavi not his fault ross missed sitter,other matches seem to remember amavi having decent cross not a great full back by any means,but i would play wide left of a 442 but we have no other option at left back
Armavi as left midfield what do you think?
JV why do you have this obsession with subjectively dissing selected players over and over again? We all accept Hutton is not the greatest RB in the world so I don’t really see the point of your repetitive posts.
He may have limited ability but he always tries 100% and has never disrespected the club despite the way Lambert treated him.
Bruce will get it right providing he is given the time. that being at least this and another season.
There’s been a lot of crap gone on at VP over the last however many years and by constantly changing managers ain’t going to achieve anything, the past 7 years proves that.
Bruce has openly admitted we are not good enough. Fair play to the bloke for going public with such a comment because that is either going to make the players throw in the towel or, hopefully, raise there game and prove Bruce wrong.
Not many will agree but rest assured it won’t effect my sleep, this club will go nowhere until a manager is given at least 2 years to get it right.
Bruce is that man.
IN BRUCE I TRUST.
🙂 good post
If McCormack went back to Fulham he’d be banging them in, you see they create more than 1 chance per game, and it wouldn’t be to what his worst at, heading!!
Someone, or even 2 players with an eye for quick passing and skill in final 3rd is what we’ve needed for what seems forever now yet we still don’t have it. Grealish is supposed to be that player but as he’s only right side dominant he’s easy to play against.
Thought Green was our best player and he only played a fraction.
Many on here slated Guaye last season and were happy to see him leave, now look at him, hate to say told you so but……..
Same with Amavi, rarely gets help. Teams know this so double up that side week in week out and he looks poor. He needs to leave for his own sake.
Helenius – have no argument about Guaye’s ability but he, like many others, gave up about half way through the season. Disagree over Amavi thought – his defending recently has been shocking – has he had his head turned?
sensible post helenius
3 games 2shots on target
6 games on telly leedsx2 norwich qpr spurs and wolves2 goals one of them a penalty, cannot remember many shots in any of them why we set up at our 18 yard line,hutton our only outlet yet every time he gets the ball it either goes out for a throw or straight to opposition, at least amavi can cross the ball and doesnt have the luxury of adoamh playing in front of him
Adomah is another waste of space he’s been very poor
Oops, I meant Gueye, not Veretout.
Corrected.
Guaye hasn’t been that great for Everton tbf. I still don’t rate him
Bruce will be given time, but I also refuse to believe there is not a good Championship squad already at the club (either on the bench or through the academy). Half of the teams we have played against this season have one or more players from the Villa academy and they all look solid at their new clubs.
Regardless of this window’s transfer policy, sell-to-buy or restricted through FFP, Round and Bruce should be using this time to pushing those members of the squad who have no future or not pulling their weight. January is the time to do it. One, for a better premium and two, to stop the rot in the dressing room. If the club is willing to sell the likes of Gestede and more or less sell the likes of Gollini there should be no question about offloading our damaged players like Gabby, Kozak, Richards at any cost. Getting them off the wage bill alone will free us up to make more moves on and off the pitch.
I have faith in Bruce , but he is starting to piss me off over Agbon what does he see in hm.
This team will not progress unless there is a complete clear out of players from last year ,with the exception of Amavi, keep Grealish as a sub. This season is finished in my opinion no chance of a top six finish all we can hope for is a steady finish and make a charge next season . Which I believe will happen when Bruce gets his team in.
The Doc needs to take the share of the blame he hired RDM.
Keep the faith Bruce will get us up.
Bruce seems to be getting found out at the moment. Don’t get why he plays gabby. Better playing without a striker than put him in. He won’t score again for us he dosnt even look like he will. A player like gabby in theory should be slaughtering defences in this division but he’s woeful
Amavi catches the eye when he goes forward. Now you can call me a traditionalist but i prefer defenders to be able to defend first and he can’t. If someone want to fork out decent money for him i hope we sell.
Re gabby (had his day) and bacuna (useless) i really can’t understand how either are in the squad never mind the starting eleven.
As play off hopes are now gone, we have to start planning for next season. We have to use the rest of this campaign and the summer to plan properly so we can hit the ground running next August
In order to do this we have to weed out the wasters. Bruce needs to stop living in the past and kick the likes of Gabby out of the squad, but he won’t. And this is my concern, we have seen previous academy players like Robinson perform well at this level so why not give players like Green and Davis a chance to start. Its not as if the likes of Bacuna and of course Flabby contribute anything anyway so if they do nothing it will be like for like at worst.
3 members of my ‘bomb squad’ started. That is enough to sink Villa against reasonable opposition. I don’t know what Bruce is doing playing Gabby, it is the fastest way to piss off the Villa faithful as he will find out. If Hutton is your MOM you know you have lost, I agree with other bloggers he puts in a shift but his passing and crossing is woeful, Not only is it inaccurate, or badly weighted – what he is trying to do is wrong.
I will close my rant with another dig about BMH. What the hell goes on there? Bruce is yet another manager who hasn’t produced a single move of which you could say, ‘that was a training ground routine’. Our set pieces are awful so there is plenty to work on. There are better dead-ball kickers in the National League.
Dead ball set piece thing is spot on and why is McCormack our fox in the box type player always taking them (badly) instead of doing his sniffer bit in the six yard box doing what that type of player should do best?
That was my point on Sat why is our main striker taking set pieces he’s crap at that as well anyway
Yet our so called winger adomah can’t cross to save his life but you don’t mention that.
Looks like Cissokho is set to be loaned to Greek champions Olympiakos
http://www.supersport.com/football/premier-league/news/170115/Villa_set_to_loan_Cissokho_to_Olympiakos
We need to shed quite a lot of players but when are we going to see some come in? Getting a bit nervous about this window. I’d guess we’d need at least two new players just to stay where we are never mind going for promotion.
Just have to be patient I suppose.
Do we really need to sign anyone this window. We’ve no chance of top 6 now and we won’t go down either. So why not just get rid of deadwood give the youngsters a go then make signings in summer. It’s pointless signing anyone this window
with the latest setback still fresh. this is only strengthen bruce’s position for the needs to strengthen and fast. its clear we are not a team that can lump it forward anymore. now there’s no gestede plan b doesn’t work. we need more quality players in midfield. we have jed and tish both can do the covering of defense. but we have nobody that includes grealish that can play the midfield and create all game not just one decent pass aweek or two. all the decent teams have one or two players that their team look too, for opening tough defenses, or to start the moves off. switches play.
Morning all – even the rumours of the rumours have dried up on the transfer front.
Morning Hitch.
All you ever get from web is Villa could, may, might it’s all click bait on Newsnow etc and all just guesswork. Until it’s announced on the os it’s a waste of space clicking elsewhere
Nath, short of sacking the Stewards what else can we do?,we got rid of owner downwards, I had to think on Badgers title post, what to do, we all know where our problems lie , its been there for 6-7 years and nothing’s altered, been money minded in got to play them to save £ s pence. They have to get midfielders in that play to win. We are skipping around that problem in the club by sitting back and doing nothing, I’m angry over getting loan players and arguments on players that do want to come but we cannot solve club problems, Xia said he would spend on players , where are they..?
Bill – good points. Is it us that can’t solve the club problems or with players like Lansbury his club creating difficulties. Having said that we do seem to pick the trickiest transfers to pull off – and then we wonder why we did!
I’m not sure Lansbury will make much difference anyway.
See Callum Robinson scored for PNE the weekend which begs the question why did we sell him and keep over the hill has beens?
With regards to midfield creativity why did we sell Daniel Johnson? Imo he’d be a better attacking midfield option than what we have at the moment.
Spot on BWS – both playing well for PNE and look where they are in the table. If he had been available Grayson would have been a good option as manager
He was nicked of us by Arsenal had no choice
I think you’re getting them confused with Crowley.
Ah yes your right my mistake
Mail saying that Forest may have to sell Lansbury sharpish as they’re running out of cash.
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-transfers-nottingham-forest-12459908
Just made me feel sorry for the Forest fans,really wish that clubs could be owned by the fans like in Germany.
Anyway I suppose Forest’s dark cloud might be our silver lining.
It seems Cissokho to Olympiakos is a cert.
I hope we’ve got another LB coming in.
Confirmed gone but I think on a loan deal?
Up till now we’ve saved money, when are we going to buy someone? Don’t know Nottingham needs the money more like Villa needs it.Xia get your finger out and put your money where your mouth is.
@Bill
Apparently Forest had to borrow £2 million from the prospective owners to pay December’s wage bill. Don’t think we’re quite that badly off.
@Pat,
The way we act in the transfer market makes me wonder, I know we’re not broke..? Yet, won’t be long before they will be closing top stands again, we got the biggest away support and that will wilt if Villa don’t show commitment ,had enough of rags raisin fans hopes then dashed, Xia made a statement 6 player coming in , two midfielders will do me for now.
Chaps – amongst all the angst of defeat at Wolves and excitement over the transfer window the fact that the real Oohah is back has been sadly overlooked.
Welcome back mate – you’ve been missed 🙂
Very funny Hutchins. It was always there bubbling under the surface but IV tried really hard to be positive. I need to go back to my positive meetings Iv fallen back of the wagon 😄
You speak for yourself Hitch.
I always thought being a fan or supporter doesn’t involve being negative 90% of the time.
How you profess to “support” a club, yet constantly moan and complain is beyond me.
But yes, it’s always healthy to have contrary opinions 🙂
I have to say that, as he has as much right as me to be on here!
And in fairness, it’d be dead boring if we all agreed.
I don’t know Badger – he brings this sort of ‘twilight zone’ aura with him 🙂
I quite like his Hancockesque approach. Can imagine Oohah as the blood donor Hancock style!
The blood donor.
I see what you mean.
“A whole pint? That’s an armful. To support this shit?
You can’t be serious.”
Exactly 🙂
Positive or negative Badger we all want the same thing i.e. a successful Villa team. I would love a Villa team I could be proud off. IV just seen the writing in the wall for years now and it depresses me to see the club in this mess. I never thought 10 years ago we would be relegated. Was watching some old you tube off us in the old third the other day when we hit over 60k just for a home friendly with Santos featuring Pele. Where has all that early 70s support gone. We seemed to have our best crowds in the 70s even better then when we won league.
Never doubted it Oohah and for the Pele game we had to hire a generator because of the miner’s strike – if memory serves correct.
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-transfers-jordan-rhodes-12464163
Pointless signing more strikers when we have no midfield to create.
We’ve had more Jordans than the Middle East ffs!
Omg!
He is so not the solution.
I don’t believe this will happen in the slightest.
And if it does, I’ll be complaining.
Over-priced, mediocre crap, imo.
Ah, that’s it.
Another Carlton Cole.
I was struggling to remember his name.
However according to the Mail –
‘Rhodes’ record of 91 goals in 179 Championship matches is incomparable to any other forward to have graced the division in the last five years’
So who knows? Another Kodjia maybe, let’s hope that’s the case.
UTV and still keeping my fingers crossed
Similar to McCormack and Gestede, Pat.
Trust me, this will prove a waste of time and money.
He isn’t down the pecking order at Boro for no reason.
And anyway, we need to provide service first.
If we can do that, you might as well stick with McCormack.
Agree with you Badger for once. We could put Messi in that team and without service he would t be much use either.
Once he puts a Villa shirt on he will be another Heskey 😄
Just reading how abysmal our stats are in terms of shots on goal this season – almost the worst in the division, Other alarming facts are that 20% of our goals came from penalties and although Grealish is the most fouled player in the Championship we are 20th in conversion of set pieces – 3 in total against 13 by Newcastle and Brighton.
In fact our attacking stats make us relegation not promotion candidates.
Not new – it’s been like this ever since Lambert took over as manager. Why can’t Villa see that our major problem is in midfield – we just do not create chances. We moan at Ayew and Kodjia for holding onto the ball too long but maybe they’ve realised it’s a waste of time passing it to anyone else.
We don’t need Rhodes we need quality attacking midfielders.
Bl**dy Hell, I’m beginning to sound like JV 🙂
Yes I think that the mid-fielders have to be the priority but getting another striker is only sense. Relying on Kodjia in a league where so many games are played would be silly as he’s bound to get injured at some point and what do we do then, stick in Ayew (who plays nicely sometimes but is prone to to running around in circles) or Flabby?
I’m sure that SB isn’t getting a striker instead of mid-fielders but you get what you can when it’s available.
Still think that we’re in with a good shout for Hourihane and Lansbury who together with a reasonable RB would turn the window into a very good one for Villa.
We’ll just have to wait and see although personally I wish they’d bloody well hurry up.
Hitch, the stats back up what we all know.
And Bruce has to address it, which I’m sure he will, as best he can.
He sees what we see, I’m convinced of it.
There’s a reason for him playing Gabby; I’m convinced of that too.
I just now begin to doubt we’re going to make the play-offs.
It’s too much to ask.
What really puzzles me is that under Bruce I thought we’d score a lot more goals on set pieces esp corners. Also I can’t believe how crap our possession stats are in this division it’s appalling.
@Oohaah
I’m not so surprised when you think about the squad we have.SB has definitely sharpened up our defence, which was absolutely abysmal last season, and he’s also improved our attack.
The only problem is that sometimes they’re playing like two separate units as there’s no one who can consistently get the ball from defence and feed it to our strikers or hold up the opposition’s attacks. I’m convinced that two decent mid-fielders would solve this problem and we’d start looking like a decent side for once.It would even help the defence as I get the feeling that Jedinak is trying to fill the vacuum in the middle when he should be concentrating on shielding the defence.
Just goes to show how crap RDM was that he couldn’t see this when he spraying money around the place. I’m sure that SB can solve this given some time.
You’ve said before that it would take two seasons and that it might not be a bad thing as we might have a more solid team who would have a better chance of staying up in the Prem. I absolutely agreed but, like many fans, I’m afraid that a few wins went to my head and I started thinking that we might just do it this year.
Now just happy to see some progress and wait until next season which I’m hoping will be a truly exciting one.
Good post Pat57. Your spot on about the attack and defence playing like 2 separate units. How we could do with a Barry type player that could link our defence and attack up.
hitch
maybe jv can see the truth,we have failed players at least 6/7 of them that bruce keeps playing ,a manager who has failed again[great squad of players his quote] we need to move forward with a new manager with a plan style and system none [which include playing 6 men in defence] lerner left a mess so clear decks
badger
where are the reason bruce has to play gabby,
@JV
Please be sensible. If we followed your advice we’d be hiring managers on 8 week contracts.
Villa has been a losing side for many seasons now. In footballing terms it’s an oil tanker that has be turned 180 degrees and that takes time. As for tactics and who he plays we have no idea what’s going on behind the scenes so there just might be reasons for what SB has done.
where has bruce achieved any success ,and don t say promotion 4 times he relaged both clubs spending a fortune,
why is everton playing all youth players why are none coming through or getting chance, especially when gabby has played over 10 matches without a shot or an assist,
It’s different with Everton as they have a decent squad and are in no danger of falling outside the top 8. When they are winning games comfortably at home like in sun they have the luxury of bringing these youngsters into a winning team where the player gets experience and confidence playing in a winning team. They also have great pros at the club like Barry that will talk them through it. We just throw our youngsters into a struggling team that loses most weeks and playing without confidence. See the difference
JV – we are in the Championship not the Prem so in terms of our current circumstances he is very successful. I suggest we worry more about the here and now rather than the maybe in the future.
And in regard to your criticism about Bruce continually playing 6/7 failed players – as I posted before – he has to put out 11 players on the pitch. The only one I take great exception to being ‘continually’ played is Gabby which I suspect might end were we to sign Rhodes.
Don;t forget that while Davies is home grown Lookman, the other young player who scored,could cost Everton up to £11 million so he’s not exactly ‘come through’.
As for selecting young players I honestly don’t know how good they are or if they’re capable of playing as the manager wants. He, and not forgetting his background team including Calderwood, will have to make an assessment about that.I’d also guess that even if the young players might be good enough playing them in a struggling team won’t really help their confidence.
I’d guess that in his opinion he’s putting out the team that stands the best chance of getting some sort of result. We’re all aware that there are holes that he cannot fill with the players he’s got so we shouldn’t be surprised if we lose some games.
As to success I’d call promotion from the Championship four times successful enough and I’m sure we’d all be grateful if he could make it five either this season or the next. I’m also not sure that he’s ever been at a club that was exactly overflowing with cash either.
I just find that moaning about the manager after just 14 games when he’s averaged 0.6 points a game more than the previous manager with the same unbalanced squad is a bit strange.
I see Norwich have joined the race for lansbury, it’ll be funny to see how this one pans out.
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-transfer-news-hope-12464420
Does Nigel Spink know something we don’t or is just filling column inches?