Ratings and Reactions: Bristol City v Villa

[TRO]

9 minutes ago, darrenm said:

Can't say what's wrong as I didn't see or hear the game today. But if you introduce a lot of players together into a new team they will take a while to gel. I think it's one of our main issues ever since MON went, we don't stick with anything long enough. We're far too reactionary with players and managers. Most of the players we bought at the beginning of last season are decent players, but we expected everyone to suddenly play together. We seem to ruin every player or manager who comes here but it's not because they were rubbish before they came or after, it's just we don't have enough patience.

The difference this season though is Dr X is far too tenacious to leave any stone unturned so will not get complacent like Lerner did. We'll start winning pretty soon and won't look back.

I agree too many players being changed at one time brings its own problems.....but if we are to be on the right lines of gelling,little shoots of progress are usually evident as we go. its progressive not a sudden change and that progression should be identified from month to month.

 

 

 

[briny_ear]

52 minutes ago, TRO said:

If it was 45 minutes a game we would be champions

Depends which 45 minutes you are counting! 

[Gompedyret]

*Sigh*.

[The_Rev]

I like my job.  It pays well, it's pretty secure, it's fairly enjoyable.   I do have to work anti-social hours though, comes with the territory when you are in public transport and over the past 18 years I've been doing this for a living the late shift on a Saturday afternoon has been my least favourite because it means I miss the football.  For some reason I don't mind it so much these days.  Funny that. 

[mjmooney]

I said last season that one of the main reasons (if not THE main reason) we went down was that we attempted to bring in too many new players too quickly. The result was that they played like a bunch of strangers - which they were. Being mostly young and unused to a Premier League relegation scrap, when things began to go wrong, their morale collapsed, and the inevitable ensued. Any one or two of them, integrated into a settled side would have looked far better (see what's happening with Gana at Everton). With the Xia takeover, most people on here were saying 'no second chances' - we should scrap the whole squad and buy a new one. I disagreed (look it up), for the reasons given above. I also said that instant promotion was unlikely - it would take time to rebuild effectively. Well, Dr. X and RDM seemed to agree with the VT majority, and changed pretty much everything. And whaddya know? The same thing is happening. Again, they're not bad players - but, boy, are they ever not a team. The only grain of hope I'm clinging onto is that some of the new guys are older and wiser, and won't fold the way last season's squad did. But it's going to be a long hard season, and the last thing the players and manager need is the fans turning on them. Let's just get real and wake up to the size of the job. 

[maqroll]

I also predicted that it's likely we won't go straight back up. A playoff spot is possible, but once in, it's basically a crap shoot. sad if the team were given abuse from villa fans. Sobering start to the season.

[decamoto]

After the shite of last season and trying to bed in 6 new players into the first team today, asking for everything to be fixed after 5 games is a bit much.

Unfortunately the losing from a winning position is part of the club culture after the last few years so it will take a good while (and maybe a different keeper) to get rid of it. My only worry is that I don't think it will be done in time to mount a challenge for auto promotion. 

Prove me wrong RDM. 

[villaglint]

So went to the game today and I'll give my tuppence for what's it's worth. 

Ended up sat in their main singing section by mistake so that was an experience glad I didn't take the littlun.

First half we looked the much better team. We didn't boss it but we looked like we had a cutting board edge in attack and very solid in defence. I remember thinking with Jedinak in there maybe the jeckle and Hyde performances will be behind us. I didn't say it out loud but it still feels stupid in hindsight. All in all went to half time feeling confident and comfortable.

Second half started and they were clearly going for it a bit more which you'd expect. My mate from Bristol was sat next me and said lots of huf and puf but I don't see a goal. A minute later they had a tame shot which went through a set of legs maybe Gollini should have done better and it was a goal. 

Another minute later and that familiar feeling of implosion came again. From a half of being so solid together suddenly an acre of space opened up between Chester and Elphick 2-1 and we've shot ourselves in the foot.

With our new team full of captains I felt maybe we would show that we were still the better team. But alas no. Ayews head noticably dropped, he always looks like a miserable sod but today his head fell and his performance followed he is a big big weak link character wise. Yes he's talented but you need your big players to stand up and frequently he does the opposite. Painful to watch.

Grealish also went missing for ten minutes although overall he was our best player, he got kicked and then spent ten minutes unable to get a touch. During that time they had their peckers up and got the third. Game over we moved into the most bizarre formation I've seen in some time with Grealish and Green playing either side or Jesinak behind Ayew, MCCormack and Kozak who was again a waste of a footballer.

All done. Lapse into memes of telling yourself it's a long season and ladle with lager until the memories fade. 

See you on Monday.

Edited August 27, 2016 by villaglint

[thunderball]

1 hour ago, darrenm said:

Can't say what's wrong as I didn't see or hear the game today. But if you introduce a lot of players together into a new team they will take a while to gel. I think it's one of our main issues ever since MON went, we don't stick with anything long enough. We're far too reactionary with players and managers. Most of the players we bought at the beginning of last season are decent players, but we expected everyone to suddenly play together. We seem to ruin every player or manager who comes here but it's not because they were rubbish before they came or after, it's just we don't have enough patience.

The difference this season though is Dr X is far too tenacious to leave any stone unturned so will not get complacent like Lerner did. We'll start winning pretty soon and won't look back.

We gave Lambert 3 years post-MON? But we need to accept its going to take time. I feel we have the right personnel, and we need to add a few more. Gollini needs to get up to speed though.

[cyrusr]

3 hours ago, villa_shere said:

Problem is, in the standard of league we playing in we haven't created that many chances. Equally in some of those games we have given the opposition chances too.

In sure there was something a week or so ago showing we have created the most chances in the league so far. Given what I've heard about the first half again same thing happened like at Huddersfield. Dominated but only 1-0 up at half time. A lapse in concentration and it's gone. 

The team playing together longer and someone to convert the chances and we will be up there. Don't forget we are only 8 points off the top and we have 41 games to go! A LOT will change.

[The Fun Factory]

Calypso-Collapso. I still can't quite believe just how different the 2 halves were today. We bossed the first half, looked organised and City looked like a bang average championship side. Ayew should have squared the ball and we would have won 2-0, no problem. Then the same old problems even with half a new side. Once the first went it they fell apart. Jedinak didn't look fit, Amavi was struggling and our back four was all over the place.

Justifying every defeat with the new team needs to gell mantra is starting to sound Lambertesque. I am starting to get a tad concerned. This was down as a win for us. City will not finish above mid table. Forest already looks like a big one. Same old shit.

Edited August 27, 2016 by The Fun Factory

[LondonLax]

3 hours ago, Gary Thomas said:

 We all know this is not a shit team

I keep hearing this but honestly how do we actually know this? From all the evidence so far we are struggling in this league. Perhaps, dispite all the money spent, we just have a shit team?

It is still a real possibility. 

Edited August 27, 2016 by LondonLax

[darrenm]

1 hour ago, thunderball said:

We gave Lambert 3 years post-MON? But we need to accept its going to take time. I feel we have the right personnel, and we need to add a few more. Gollini needs to get up to speed though.

Agreed but Lambert is starting to look like a miracle worker at the moment.

[mwj]

Just saw the goals on 5. What **** GK mistakes are people on about?

[romavillan]

1 hour ago, darrenm said:

Agreed but Lambert is starting to look like a miracle worker at the moment.

Ha, yes Dr T coming when Lambert arrived and we would not be in the Championship, 

[brummybloke]

Calm down. We were shit.

 

Ayew needs to be 'rested' for the next 6 games with a proper striker up front.

 

Wasteful finishing and selfish play doesn't go well. Fair enough if he finished half the chances he messed up.

 

Going in 3-0 up and the game is completely different and would have been against Huddersfield.

Blaming the keeper when we would have and should have been clear by 3 goals is a bit rich. 

[Chewie]

If Gollini was spelt Gee.You.Zed.Ay.En then people would be calling for his head, and rightly so.

He spills the ball, results in a goal. Opposition keeper spills the ball, gets rid straight after.

Easy to say? Yes. Easy to judge? Yes. Cost us points on multiple occasions? Oh Yes!

 

[Hanky]

Same old rubbish. Dominate first half, go to pieces in the second half. 6 games played and it's happened in at least 4 of them. Learn lessons you say? Nah. 

[dnmacf]

30 minutes ago, Chewie said:

If Gollini was spelt Gee.You.Zed.Ay.En then people would be calling for his head, and rightly so.

He spills the ball, results in a goal. Opposition keeper spills the ball, gets rid straight after.

Easy to say? Yes. Easy to judge? Yes. Cost us points on multiple occasions? Oh Yes!

 

I guess his only difference to Guzan is that he's only been with us months, where Guzan was years and years. Jury's still out on Gollini for me. Actually don't think he did a lot wrong on the free kick and got a bit unlucky on the first. The Huddersfield clearance he would get right 9/10 times and just needs better understanding with his defence. As such, willing to give him a bit longer before calling in Bunn. Pulling him would be dreadful for his confidence and could ruin a perfectly decent £4m player for us. 

[knoppy1987]

Gutted about today. Got to agree wholeheartedly with MJMooney. 

I just want us to do something and strive for something. Devastating carry on. .