Stratvillan

Can't understand Tshibola, I thought he looked like a dynamic forward running midfielder. Might be that him, RHM, can't be relied upon at the moment when we have to win games. There is a bench though to bring them on when we are 2 up ( I've checked how many  games this would apply to). 

Squad player -Bruce was right when he said we bought too many players who didn't improve the team. 

I sort of agree with Richard re performances, but I don't think this is a reflection on Bruce. 

I think the whole problem with the team is the midfield which Bruce can't really do much about....yet! The squad is consistently average.

Every swap would be like for like. he could swap Gardner for Tish (I would) , but I don't think that Tish could play every week. I think the overall result would still be a limited midfield. this midfield doesn't score but does protect the defence, hence our stats. I'll save any criticism of playing style or selection, untilhe has had the chance to buy a right back, centre mid and a forward who doesn't have the first touch of my garage wall.

Thought we played quite well.

Forwards with a good first touch, a dynamic midfield, and a committed defence. What more could we ask for.

I was glad I spent £10 on 2 pints in stratford.

Just now, villa4europe said:

Times, can't link it, you have to pay for the content, sure some on here can get it though

Worth the money, takes me a week to read it.

10 minutes ago, villa4europe said:

Done an interview with Henry winter in tomorrow's paper about growing up, might be a Bruce thing but a very smart move by the club, hopefully someone's finally trying to protect him

Which paper, may invest a pound.

Thought it was Amavis best game for us. Actually thought Westwood played quite well. Can't wait for jan to get a right back and a proper centre mid. 

Think fate may conspire against us, lots of players returning late, TV games ( we don't do well), against a form team, stolen their coach.

2-0 loss. 

10 hours ago, AntrimBlack said:

Interesting information, SV, but it could be said that that is why he is on loan to a lower league side - to make the mistakes and learn from them.

Hopefully he will mature into a player who will be good enough for the Premier League, but time will tell.

Agree, Think we should loan out more players green etc would improve more playing for Walsall every week than playing for the u23s

7 hours ago, sheepyvillian said:

So does John Stones and look how much he cost . It's called a learning curve .

Wasn't a criticism, it was a shared observation. I'm aware of what a learning curve is.

On 15 September 2016 at 09:34, sir_gary_cahill said:

Has anyone seen him play for Cheltenham? I'm intrigued to see how he's getting on, I think he is a really great talent

Spoke to a kid I teach who is a Cheltenham fan. He said he looks ok but keeps making silly and costly mistakes. 

32 minutes ago, Woodytom said:

Not possible. I'm genuinely not interested in forgiving him.

In the grand scheme of the world, his actions are far from criminal. I just literally have no time for him at all.

Not sure I do, but I don't see the difference between him and loads others. You could argue, at least at some stage in his villa career he made a positive contribution. 

Genuine thought, At the risk of defending Flabby, short of walking through Aston naked while we throw bricks at him, what is he supposed to do now to redeem himself.

you are not allowed to say not be shit over the last 5 years, or he shouldn't have let himself go, that's like saying Westwood should have learnt to tackle, or Hutton learnt how to cross, Guzan learnt how to catch, Gestede to control a ball etc. 

10 hours ago, sne said:

Think Borg might have just failed to get assimilated.

He was too busy playing tennis.

Great thread.

1 hour ago, villa4europe said:

Getting a lot of stick for his performance, it was 2-2 when I started watching, can't make my mind up on the 3rd goal, it's a free header 4 yards out, he can't catch it cos he'll be over the line, he'll struggle to push it away cos it's straight at him, defence absolutely nowhere

The good save he made at the feet of Hughes will be completely ignored 

True, has to push it out. In balance although I like Golini he should gave done more for the second, got his hands the wrong way round.

The Victorians weren't afraid to look to the past, the town hall with its columns etc, but also look to the future in terms of size scale etc. we need to take the spirit of avfc as founding fathers, forward. Brick, glass I'm not bothered -it has to be a football stadium - not a multipurpose event stadium. 

I'd move. It'd be nice to be trendsetters again, by building a really amazing modern stadium. We could really set the standard. Where could it be? Star City, near Curzon Street? stratford - I could walk to games like I did when I grew up in Erdington. 

13 hours ago, sidcow said:

We must be watching different games because I didn't see a single time today where he accelerated away from any opposition player.  Quite often he lost out in 50/50 foot races for the ball. 

If people are repeatedly not where you are crossing you are not crossing into the right areas. 

Or we had a forward rmc who hides in the box and doesn't make the runs he should.

Awful player. After 2 midfielders we need a right back.

4 hours ago, sidcow said:

I still don't see it. He certainly had an awful lot of the ball but doesn't seem to have any pace to get away,  can't seem to really go past players and create space in the same move and can't cross very well. Summed up for me today when he received the ball in the last few minutes and just ran it out whilst trying to get past his man. 

I just don't see it with him at all. 

Totally disagree, he has pace, went past players repeatedly, if anyone ever ran across the near post it'd make his crossing look great.

Can I put it out there that if we keep on doing 20 stupid back passes a game there is a chance that golini will miskick one.

it doesn't make him rubbish!

just getting the defence in early.

Thought set up was wrong but there were some standout performances. 

Baker, Adomah, Jedinak all excellent.

56 minutes ago, wilko154 said:

A normal blue nose... you been drinking?

Nice hotel in stratford, not a pub. Wouldn't take my kids to a pub full of noses!