Ratings and Reactions: Reading v Villa

[peterms]

Bloody typical.

Yet another goal in the last min-

Oh...

[sharkyvilla]

Just woke up.  It wasn't a dream!  Get in, up the Villa.

[tomaspg]

10 hours ago, rjw63 said:

Only if you change your avatar

took me a year and a half after luna left to remove his face, will probably be around january before i get my thumb out

[Gary Thomas]

9 hours ago, AstonMartyn88 said:

My MOTM was Bacuna - I was ready to pitchfork him and throw him out the club last season but he really put in a shift and was unlucky not to score

100% agree. Him and Hutton had good games, but Bacuna was very good. Appeared to be the one setting the example, working very hard to put their defense under pressure; then others seemed to follow.  Thought Gardner also put a good shift in and Jedinak started shaky, but in the second half i think we saw some good signs from him - fighting. winning balls.  Hutton, Bacuna, Gardner and Jedinak all get plenty of stick from us, but I think they all did well last night. Baker too.

Edited October 19, 2016 by Gary Thomas

[avfc456]

7 minutes ago, Gary Thomas said:

100% agree. Him and Hutton had good games, but Bacuna was very good. Appeared to be the one setting the example, working very hard to put their defense under pressure; then others seemed to follow.  Thought Gardner also put a good shift in and Jedinak started shaky, but in the second half i think we saw some good signs from him - fighting. winning balls.  Hutton, Bacuna, Gardner and Jedinak all get plenty of stick from us, but I think they all did well last night. Baker too.

Agree on Jedinak started badly again but got better as the second half wore on

[Gary Thomas]

Players in this division are not top players and when you put them under pressure they don't like it.   Our mistake is we often sit back and let their defense just play out with no pressure on the ball. I think the key for us in the second half was we started to put them under pressure.  When we did it you could see them panicking and we often won the ball.

[Raver50032]

A lovely evening out in the Madejski... An amazing agglomeration of Villa Fans on tour, and a rousing din made by us all. It did go a little quiet after their equaliser (like being punched in the stomach so to be expected) and amazingly, the deluded Royals to our right sang 'sing when you're winning...' I mean, lol. They didn't even sing at 0-0. It was a morgue from a Reading perspective.

Anyway, a magical way to end the game and win the tie. It was a happy car journey home, hope everyone made it back okay.

My MOM was Bacuna, with an honourable mention for Baker (for England).

I have my concerns about our current starting left back - seemed to leave the runner way outside on the flank several times resulting in the risk of a cross coming in. And to be fair to Reading, they had their chances to put us into a trouble. I don't want to believe that we 'got away with one' there, but maybe the two games we've had under Bruce so far really are the 'new manager bounce.' As I said after the Wolves game - that could yet be the most important point of our season. We earned it, and Wolves threw it away.

4 points in two games - more of that please Steve...

<sigh and warm smile>

[omariqy]

Well well well. Doesn't it feel good to win. Firstly, the Madjeski. Pretty decent stadium and much better then some of the shit PL grounds that I have been too. However, nightmare getting in and out. Followed the advice on here and parked at the retail park but we were told that not to bother as we would end up with a fine. So we ended up parking near the ground which was fine getting in but shocking to get out of.  Their fans were pretty quiet but a nice bunch. Villa fans were brilliant as always.

Right the game...We definitely set up to counter attack with Gestede tasked with holding the ball up and midfield and wide men running off him. It didn't really work until we scored as Gestede wasn't holding the ball up and our midfield was very static. Only Kodjia and Adomah looked doing anything and Hutton was probably our best player first half.  Our goal was great play from Gardner for the through ball and good awareness by Adomah. Very lucky with the deflection though. After we scored we started to play much better and the half time whistle couldn't have come at a worse time. For the first 20 minutes of the second half we were woeful.  Not closing down, losing the ball easily, on the back foot. They didn't create much all game and their goal came from a hopeful ball over the top. Our defence was sleeping Cissokho made an awful challenge when it looked like their player had mis-controlled the ball and taken it too wide for the chance. Great save by Gollini but Hutton was stuck in mud for the rebound. I must say though Hutton along with Bacuna was probably our best player. After their goal, we started to play much better as we stopped giving them time on the ball. Largely driven by Bacuna becoming much more dynamic in midfield and Jedinak breaking up play well. Gardner also drove us forward much more from midfield. The biggest change was of course taking Gestede off and bringing Ayew on but also McCormack who helped us keep the ball much better.  Quite funny in the crowd all I heard was how lazy Ayew was before he had even touched the ball. For the goal it was good interplay from Gardner, McCormack and Ayew. I think Moore stuck a leg out and Ayew went over as you do. I honestly had no doubt he would put it away. So calm and knew exactly what he was doing. Overall a decent performance with a clear game plan.  Not the greatest of performances but they didn’t create much and we had that extra bit of quality to win us the game. I expect a different style of play against Fulham on Saturday.

Gollini – 8 – wasn’t tested a great deal but when he was he did well. Good save for the pen.

Hutton – 7 – definitely one of our better players especially first half. He was everywhere but should have done better on the rebound for their goal.

Chester  6.5 – Did well but wasn’t tested a great deal. Both him and Baker were asleep for their goal

Baker 6.5 – As above

Cissokho – 4 – He was truly woeful. All their good play came from his side. Stupid challenge for their pen.

Adomah – 6.5 – Much better performance from him especially second half. Had a trick or two and looked more confident going forward.

Bacuna – 7 – Brilliant second half and should’ve scored. Also very close with a free kick.

Jedinak – 6.5 – Much better second half but still made some stupid passes. Just let him sit in front and destroy in a 3 man midfield and he will do well.

Gardner – 7 – very much involved in our goals. Was anonymous for 20 minutes of the second half but then drove us forward and worked hard.

Kodjia – 7 – Definitely our biggest threat for the first half.

Gestede – 4 – Statue

Subs:

Ayew – 8 – difference maker

McCormack – 7 – creative and helped us keep hold of the ball when we really needed to

Amavi – 6 – solid and much better going forward then Cissokho

Edited October 19, 2016 by omariqy

[osmark86]

14 goddam months! No màs! Onwards and upwards!

[sidcow]

[villaglint]

I'd agree with most that Omar but for a couple of exceptions. 

Gardener played two decent passes the whole game and worked hard other than that he was very anonymous. He can't press or tackle to save his life. Wish his brother would spend and afternoon in the Garden showing him how to make an opponent uncomfortable.

Gestede - I think your being harsh. In the first half he was very very isolated. He won flicks ons but Adomah and Kodjia were 30 yards away from him. What was he supposed to do? He's not Benteke and very few are. Second half he won more flick ons and was a key part of us being more on top. This was helped by the closer runs of Kodjia etc which was obviously part of Bruce's tactics. For me Rudy did what his manager asked of him.

A word on Bruce. First half we set up to reserve energy and maybe nick a goal. It worked. Second half plan was to push on for the win. It worked but only just. It was by no means a vintage performance but he seems to be aware of our limitations and is creating tactics to find a way to win even with our weaknesses. Weird to see tactics and Villa at the same time. Been a while! 

[AVFCDAN]

43 minutes ago, villaglint said:

A word on Bruce. First half we set up to reserve energy and maybe nick a goal. It worked. Second half plan was to push on for the win. It worked but only just. It was by no means a vintage performance but he seems to be aware of our limitations and is creating tactics to find a way to win even with our weaknesses. Weird to see tactics and Villa at the same time. Been a while! 

Regardless of whether it worked or didn't work it was a game plan at least.

Something the last 3-4 managers just didn't seem to have, this is what will get us results in this league. Players committed to the cause and having a clear idea of what they are doing.

Add in a bit of confidence and we might finally start turning a corner.

[Deisler123]

2 hours ago, sidcow said:

is this you, @dont_do_it_doug.?

[dont_do_it_doug.]

Too handsome. 

[Gary Thomas]

Great photo from last night's celebrations -

 

Edited October 19, 2016 by Gary Thomas

[markavfc40]

12 minutes ago, dont_do_it_doug. said:

Too handsome. 

I concur

[The Fun Factory]

Did anymore else have a silly smirk on all day today? Made my shitty job that more bearable.

[AVTuco]

Think you all owe me one. I didn't realize we had a game, until in the Morning when I opened my lap top.

What a moment it was! Out of nowhere, we'd won. And with a 90th minute goal... wasn't sure I was awake or not.

Now that's how all days should start!

[BigAl]

Huge win and no better way to win it than a injury time winner it's usually been the other way round .Performance wasn't brilliant but they don't need to be in this division it's more about grinding out results .We were much more solid and consistent in the war we played we got a solid 90  minute performance which hasnt happened all season we have either been very good in one half and shocking in the other .We looked like the team was picked with a game plan in mind for Reading everyone knew there job and were playing as a team and not as individuals .I know it's early days but things feel different under Bruce he just seems to be the right man for the job at the right time which hasn't happen since MON .This is the start of us turning a corner and becoming a decent side again I can feel it in my bones .

[Villanun]

Been away for a days. Did I miss anything?