Ratings & Reactions: Villa v Bristol City

[jim]

Pretty pissed off to be honest.

 I had Villa to win and both teams to score.

[rodders0223]

43 minutes ago, TheAuthority said:

Special mention for Tommy Elphick. Came here, looked dreadful and hasn't really been involved for many months. Last two games he hasn't put a foot wrong.

Very vocal today, still looks to be carrying a bit of timber but very impressed with him. Always talking, shouting, telling people he is available behind them and he was seriously pumped at FT. Fair play.

[Harry]

52 minutes ago, Don_Simon said:

Question... Was it a 5-0 performance as well as a 5-0 result?

Yes it was; to be honest it could have been more.

[Lichfield Dean]

Was worried for the first twenty minutes or so but once we settled down after the first goal we played like nothing I've seen us play in the last two seasons. We were genuinely excellent and Grealish was outstanding.

Please please please show us more of this Villa - we know you are capable of this so why do we so rarely see it?

2018 is off to a great start. Let's keep it going.

[NASTY_LEE]

36 minutes ago, Spoony said:

Saw the highlights. Great result but kinda surprised we got a clean sheet. Also a bit annoyed that Bjikir didn’t lay it off to Hogan for his goal - he could have easily had his shot saved whereas Hogan would have had an open goal.

But hey, happy days.

Are you for effing real? It was a cracking, composed finish that the keeper got nowhere near to. 

[Jareth]

32 minutes ago, Ikantcpell said:

The last time we got promoted we won 5-0 on new year's day

Nice stat. 

[Spoony]

1 minute ago, NASTY_LEE said:

Are you for effing real? It was a cracking, composed finish that the keeper got nowhere near to. 

No not kidding. It’s easier to fluff a one on one (which we have seen a lot) than to lay it off for a completely open goal. Not saying it wasn’t a good finish, I just think it was the wrong choice. But hey, he scored so whatever.

[OutByEaster?]

8 minutes ago, Spoony said:

No not kidding. It’s easier to fluff a one on one (which we have seen a lot) than to lay it off for a completely open goal. Not saying it wasn’t a good finish, I just think it was the wrong choice. But hey, he scored so whatever.

Live, I thought the opportunity to lay it off to Hogan was there - I was happy enough either way, I don't think either decision was wrong from the position I thought he was in - looking at it on the highlights though, the pass would have been a lot more difficult to make than it initially appeared, Hogan was 50-50 for onside and if he'd played the ball early the chance for Hogan wouldn't have been much better than the one he had - for me he made the right choice and then finished it very well. Good on him.

 

[rubberman]

Typical Villa. One day into the year and it's all going to go downhill for the next 364. 

[Lichfield Dean]

Oh also we had a load of flame throwers and fireworks on the pitch before the game.

Presumably a New Year thing but now I think we should have them before every game...

[Stratvillan]

Thought Grealish was outstanding. Snoddy played for a whole game. Thought Hourihane was everywhere. Jedi proved why we don't need Whelan. A very happy journey back to sunny Stratford. 

[sidcow]

I have given some players some stick recently on these hallowed pages. 

However today they and indeed everyone were really truly excellent. There is absolutely no criticism which can be given, a perfect game of football from us. 

I have a few theories on why we were so good. 

1) Gresford is now getting into his stride and looking like a colossus in this league. He was simply miles ahead of any other player on the pitch today

2) Playing Hutton instead of Taylor. He gives the ball away far less generally and tends to cut inside and try something different instead of just hoofing it forward. It helps start our attacks and makes them react and have to cover instead of the ball comming straight back at us. He's a truly excellent player at this level. 

3) Jedi instead of Whelan in midfield.   Intercepts the ball better than Whelan, heads it better than Whelan and gives the ball away substantially less then Whelan.  In short Whelan should only ever play when Jedi can't. 

4) Elphick instead of Jedi in defence.  Horses for courses and our specialist Central Defender has played there very competently.  Sadly if Bruce had played him in defence instead of Jedi against Sheffield United we would be 2 points closer to 2nd.

In short we are not constantly losing the ball which helps us attack more and stops the opposition attacking us, and Jack is orchestrating things with balls through the middle, spraying it wide, runs on the ball and winning countless free kicks. 

All of which makes Hogan look like a striker. 

I hope Bruce sees this and keeps things more or less the same now. 

Edited January 1, 2018 by sidcow

[striker]

On 29/12/2017 at 10:20, striker said:

Still feel O’Hare should be given more of a chance. Grealish so far, with few exceptions has too little end product and flatters to deceive. Got to get those through balls going to get the best out of Hogan.

I’d also look at playing Lansbury there who has a goal in him as well if current rumours aren’t true?

Been out all day and just returned to see the result. Couldn’t believe it!! Fantastic result and Grealish shoved my above criticism right down the back of my throat.

I also stated in the pre match thread depending on team selection it might be a long night for Villa. No Whelan but Jedi played so wrong again and very glad to admit it.

That performance has set the benchmark now and please Brucey no more negativity cause see what happens when you show teams less respect in this league.

Always knew Villa had the players to destroy this league so maybe Bruce will know it now too?

[NurembergVillan]

[Kiwivillan]

It's like we're ag new team

[srsmithusa]

your argument / excuse for 15 months of dross.... is non-sensical because:

1: players all over the pitch looked good, not just those that have been previously injured

2. Hogan and grealish both played before their injuries and looked relatively ineffective 

3.  Terry was in the team until December and we did not play like this before today   

Either this was simply a fortuitous aberration, or Agnew is making a difference, or, Bruce (finally) set us up more offensively rather than the defend, hoof, and chase he has used throughout his career,   I hope it’s some of both 2 & 3

so, in reality the only part of your post that is right and logical is the “happy new year”  which I genuinely wish to you as well  

Also, note to SB, if you want to silence critical fans, this method will work much more quickly than sniping at us.  

Great win today, great performance.  UTV

[NurembergVillan]

31 minutes ago, rodders0223 said:

Very vocal today, still looks to be carrying a bit of timber but very impressed with him. Always talking, shouting, telling people he is available behind them and he was seriously pumped at FT. Fair play.

Looks fairly handy to me -

[Fazilla]

Great to see Villa play such flowing football.  That's the best I've seen Jack play since the semi final against Liverpool..  We look so much better with Jedinak in midfield instead of the lumbering Whelan.  I wonder if Bruce would have dropped him if he wasn't ill.  Sometimes managers just can't see what the fans think is obvious. Special mention for Hutton.  He looks so much better at left back. Considering we are only 5 points behind Derby we still have a great chance of automatic promotion.

[flashingqwerty]

great to have bruce shove one in the faces of the brouters (of which i am one).

fingers crossed he can go on to get the team doing this on a consistent basis now as we all had hoped would be the case at the start of the season.

happy new year everyone!!!

[Newry_Villan]