Ratings & Reactions: Villa v Middlesbrough

[Junxs]

I never understand why they dont make cup games cheaper to encourage a bigger attendance, 11k is terrible. Why didnt they reduce ticket prices to £5 and kids for £1. 

Would have doubled the gate and brought in about the same money.

However it might have put off some younger fans for life watching that dross.

[The Fun Factory]

19 minutes ago, Junxs said:

I never understand why they dont make cup games cheaper to encourage a bigger attendance, 11k is terrible. Why didnt they reduce ticket prices to £5 and kids for £1. 

Would have doubled the gate and brought in about the same money.

However it might have put off some younger fans for life watching that dross.

Last round it was free for season ticket holders and we got less than 20,000 in.  People are just not bothered to watch early round EFL cup games, esp when its the same side as last week and all the traffic problems around Brum. £15 is a cheap ticket in England- you would do well to watch a league two or conference match for that. Insert joke about Villa here. 

[theboyangel]

Actually made this game as I happen to be back in the midlands with work. 

Both teams were appallingly bad, outdone only by the match officials who were terrible. 

Prior to the game changing moment, we were OK but nothing more. I thought o'hare and onomah tried to make something happen and were generally OK.

The ref immediately booked elphick for a late but not nasty challenge but then kept his cards in his pocket for every boro foul, despite repeat offenders. 

The penalty was correct, but to send off elphick with another yellow was a poor decision. It didn't warrant further punishment.

Bearing in mind we were only one down and almost got one back straight away, good old Steve threw the towel in and replaced a striker with a DM.....

What a load of negative crap - why not try and get back in the game?

The second goal was totally Thor's fault and that was that. 

Terrible game, featuring two terrible teams and terrible officiating. 

 

 

[OutByEaster?]

So, the lowest crowd since the 1985-86 season - what did we get?

We got a first half hour or so that we edged, we were slightly disjointed and treated to the somewhat unnerving sight of Alan Hutton at left back, but we were all in the game and sort of doing okay. Then Lansbury tweaked something and couldn't run it off - when that happened, we bought on a centre forward to play in an already weakened midfield and didn't quite cope with that - from there on out it was a mess of players in all sorts of positions doing things they didn't look comfortable with.

Steer (6) - a decent save in the first half, soft for their second goal when he wasn't sure whether to come or not - he's a reasonable keeper - if he was a reasonable, big keeper, that might be enough - sadly he's a little too small to make the most of what he has.

DeLaet (7) - one lovely late run that would have been a goal for 11,000 people to bang on about for years and a more or less solid display - he got to play at right back all the way through - one of four players that played one position for the whole game.

Samba (5) - he's a CB who played at CB - he sometimes looks like a talented but raw talent who's definitely worth persevering with. He's thirty three.

Elphick (5) - didn't see the first booking clearly and from my angle the second one didn't look like a foul - however, no one seemed to protest too much, so I'm fairly certain I'm wrong. It's a pity in a way, he looked fairly solid for the most part. 

Hutton (6) - he's a right back who played left back for an hour, then centre back for the remainder - to his credit, he grafted away in both positions in the way in which he does - he's earned a lot of respect at Villa Park through his attitude and his willingness to give his all - he hasn't earned any of that respect with his left foot - but y'know, fair play for giving it a go Al.

Lansbury (6) - an adult in midfield and a calm head - we started to go to bits the minute he left the pitch.

Doyle-Hayes (6) - a youngster in midfield and a calm head - he's a defensive central midfielder who played mostly as a defensive midfielder - although he also put in stints as a right sided midfielder toward the end and an attacking midfielder in the middle of the second half - he did well without ever really dominating. I've been confused a bit with the boy from Ballyjamesduff - he doesn't shine for the reserves particularly, but he looks just as comfortable in the first team as he does at Bescot - I've come to the conclusion that he's a player who will give you exactly this steady perfomance whether it's against the Hen & Chickens under 18's or in an El Classico. Anyway - he did himself no harm today.

Onomah (5) - looked a bit overwhelmed when he realised that the responsibility for pretty much our entire game fell on his shoulders on Lansbury's departure - he retained some of that composure although couldn't quite rise to the task - a tough day for him, but one that'll be good for him in days to come.

O'Hare (5) - all the graft and endeavour he brings to a game, but no real joy today - he got knocked off it a couple of times and he was in general steered into areas where he's less effective - most tellingly from the start, when he was picked to play right midfield.

Bjarnason (5) - a natural left midfielder who appears to be right footed and not keen on the left hand corner of the pitch - it was what we've become used to - he's quite brave, he's keen and he's not worried about work - he's just not quite got enough to his game to make an impact. He did get to have a half hour play at being a left back at least.

Hogan (4) - looked like he was well up for the game in the opening twenty minutes - by the time Lansbury went off injured, he looked jealous of him. Not enough today.

subs

McCormack (4) - came on in central midfield, played a little in the left hand channel, then in the right hand channel, off the front man and finally upfront - he looks fit enough, but he didn't add much to the game.

Lyden (5) - he wasn't on long, but he did at least spend the time he was on the field playing in his natural position - when the manager puts on a player he doesn't like and who doesn't play in your position instead of you, it probably says something about your future.

Blackett-Taylor (5) - a left winger, hooray! He played in central midfield mostly where he showed that he can occasionally burst past someone and can occasionally fall on his bum - there may be more opportunities yet for him to surprise. 

There's been quite a lot in recent months of people talking about the strength of our squad - it's not strong, I think we proved that tonight, we've depth in some places and a dearth in others, we have lots of players who aren't top class in some positions but lots and strong aren't the same thing and in others, we're threadbare. Our squad has one left back - Hutton ain't gonna do it. Our squad has a left winger, he's out for four months, so far we've got lucky with Adomah - having lots of good right backs isn't a eep squad, it's lots of good right backs - if Taylor gets injured, our season ends.

For them, Bamford was annoying and finished his chances well, their crowd remained very pleased with themselves and we've once again sent a team from a tiny tip of a town that closed down in the early nineties home with a smile on their faces - sigh. This one didn't make me quite as annoyed as the last one so I'm prepared to say well done to them, the best team won on the night. I say best team, I mean group that most resembled a team. Anyway's good luck to you.

 

 

 

 

 

[maqroll]

MON style cup flameout?

[Hornso]

Disappointed to be out but the focus is rightly on the league. Couple of things, all for getting minutes into Lyden but why bring him on 1-0 down in a cup match? I know we'd been reduced to 10 men but we might as well have a crack at getting back into it, not limiting the damage.

Also, anyone know what's wrong with Lansbury and how bad it is?

[OutByEaster?]

8 minutes ago, Hornso said:

Also, anyone know what's wrong with Lansbury and how bad it is?

Jarred his knee. Also, I'm probably being a bit harsh on Hogan who the official site says came off with a problem with his ankle/foot.

 

[Eastie]

Listened on wm and they reckoned that hogan was furious at being taken off and was mouthing off at Bruce as he came off - anyone confirm this .

[CosmicVillan]

10 hours ago, briny_ear said:

"quell the surprise of no-one"?

What does that mean please.

Etymology[edit]

From quelle (what) and surprise (surprise), the meaning in the French is virtually identical to the English, although the English use of it carries a more sarcastic connotation.

Phrase[edit]

quelle surprise

1. What a surprise. "Quelle surprise.".

[sidcow]

Shame, it was probably level pegging till the pen and red card, then there was only one result. 

I understand their team was probably closer to a first team than ours. 

Would have preferred a stronger team to keep momentum up. 

Remember how MON messed up the Euefa Cup which then started a catastrophic lull on league form? 

They are separate competitions but link the club 

[sidcow]

10 hours ago, Phumfeinz said:

Alright lads, time for MASS HYSTERIA

Sounds like a Peter Andrei song. 

[grayslickuk]

10 hours ago, Rugeley Villa said:

Probably have to go back to the 80s. Not many from boro either, but yes you can't blame them much. Still very low for us though. 

I remember going to a Simod Cup game in 1987, there was only 4000 at that game and we lost 5-0 to Bradford!

[Stevo985]

49 minutes ago, CosmicVillan said:

Etymology[edit]

From quelle (what) and surprise (surprise), the meaning in the French is virtually identical to the English, although the English use of it carries a more sarcastic connotation.

Phrase[edit]

quelle surprise

1. What a surprise. "Quelle surprise.".

So it means "what the surprise of no-one"?

[rodders0223]

1 hour ago, Eastie said:

Listened on wm and they reckoned that hogan was furious at being taken off and was mouthing off at Bruce as he came off - anyone confirm this .

They had words but it was not heated. Bruce had a look of resignation and acceptance on his face.

[Raver50032]

When the football club you support enthrals you with a third 'nil' in little over a week, it is a little worrying and frustrating. You can also then rely on the Highways Agency for rubbing your nose in the dog dirt with road closures and diversionary tactics to make you suffer even more. An early closure of the A38 at Spaghetti to M6, then M6 closed from 2 to 1 resulting in an ironically named M69 diversion to Hinckley before joining the extras of 'Convoy' hauling ass (slowly) southbound on the A5. Proper pissed off when I got home, finally.

Highlights from the Upper Holte included cheering on the paper plane attempts to reach the pitch.

All I can say is, the first team had better turn up against Forest this Saturday... He won't be able to hide behind 'that'll shut a few people up.'

Absolutely bobbins Villa. Bobbins.

[striker]

Poor result (didn't see game) from players that would probably find themselves in the first team of most other Championship sides.

Still can't understand why Bruce doesn't give Lyden more of a chance? Perfect opportunity last night to give him a full 90 minutes. My worry is that he is absolutely destroying the young player's confidence.

My only hope is that Bruce leaves the club before Lyden is sold.

Edited September 20, 2017 by striker

[AVFCDAN]

One thing that becomes clearer by the game is that Bjarnason really isnt very good. Bruce though he'd gotten a gem there as well.

[BOF]

15 hours ago, TRO said:

what sort of team did they put out?

10 changes from the side who beat QPR

League apps this season :

0 Konstantopoulos
5 Friend
1 Ayala
8 Gibson
7 Howson
5 Forshaw
0 Roberts
0 Tavernier
0 Wing
6 Bamford
7 Fletcher
 -
7 Fry
4 Downing
0 Miller
---
50 in total

0 Steer
4 Hutton
3 Samba
1 De Laet
0 Elphick
4 Bjarnason
4 Lansbury
0 Doyle-Hayes
7 Hogan
7 Onomah
1 O'Hare
 -
0 McCormack
0 Lyden
0 Blackett-Taylor
---
31 in total

[delboy54]

well there goes this seasons chance of doing the treble....

[Stevo985]

2 hours ago, AVFCDAN said:

One thing that becomes clearer by the game is that Bjarnason really isnt very good.

He is absolute garbage