JamesBCFC Posted February 25, 2017 Visiting Supporter Share Posted February 25, 2017 Enjoy your win on Tuesday. Failing that you are guaranteed a point as we cannot defend a lead if our lives depended on it. Points thrown away against Wolves, Reading, Cardiff, Derby and Newcastle in the last 11 games and 4 wins in 5 months. Performances against Derby and Newcastle have been decent, but against Fulham was absolutely dire. Our win against Rotherham looked like 2 lower League 1 sides. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post HolteExile Posted February 25, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted February 25, 2017 We're normally ace at helping sides who need a bit of a leg up. The entirely resistible force meets the movable object. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NottingVilla Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 This on TV? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HanoiVillan Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 2 hours ago, JamesBCFC said: Enjoy your win on Tuesday. Failing that you are guaranteed a point as we cannot defend a lead if our lives depended on it. Points thrown away against Wolves, Reading, Cardiff, Derby and Newcastle in the last 11 games and 4 wins in 5 months. Performances against Derby and Newcastle have been decent, but against Fulham was absolutely dire. Our win against Rotherham looked like 2 lower League 1 sides. I saw your loss to Wolves. You just look really open defensively. Unfortunately we can't score so we might not be able to exploit it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesBCFC Posted February 25, 2017 Author Visiting Supporter Share Posted February 25, 2017 2 minutes ago, HanoiVillan said: I saw your loss to Wolves. You just look really open defensively. Unfortunately we can't score so we might not be able to exploit it. That is pretty much our problem. We are good going forward, but terrible at the back. Haven't double checked to verify, but I read earlier than under Lee Johnson we have had only one game that ended 0-0. You can guarantee someone scoring in midweek. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HanoiVillan Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 1 minute ago, JamesBCFC said: That is pretty much our problem. We are good going forward, but terrible at the back. Haven't double checked to verify, but I read earlier than under Lee Johnson we have had only one game that ended 0-0. You can guarantee someone scoring in midweek. Is it a personnel issue (ie, players not good enough) or is it down to the manager not setting them up well enough, or a bit of both? I can't say I recognised the names of any of your defenders at that game, but then I don't know much really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesBCFC Posted February 25, 2017 Author Visiting Supporter Share Posted February 25, 2017 5 minutes ago, HanoiVillan said: Is it a personnel issue (ie, players not good enough) or is it down to the manager not setting them up well enough, or a bit of both? I can't say I recognised the names of any of your defenders at that game, but then I don't know much really. An element of both, Johnson is a bit of a tinkerer and we haven't had a settled side. We've used 4 different goalkeepers this season and now our best CB (IMO) is only making the bench. At the same time our RB position is absolutely woeful. We got Adam Matthews on loan who is great for this division when fit, but he hasn't been fit all season and seems to have an attitude issue, then there is Mark Little who is a mid-table League 1 quality RB, after that we're looking to our development squad. At left back we got Golbourne who is a lower end LB, Joe Bryan who is a Midfielder being converted to a full back or Magnusson who is normally a CB for us. I'd like Johnson to focus on our strengths, rather than setting up to counter our opposition, but also realise we don't have the quality to focus only on our strengths. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HanoiVillan Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 1 minute ago, JamesBCFC said: An element of both, Johnson is a bit of a tinkerer and we haven't had a settled side. We've used 4 different goalkeepers this season and now our best CB (IMO) is only making the bench. At the same time our RB position is absolutely woeful. We got Adam Matthews on loan who is great for this division when fit, but he hasn't been fit all season and seems to have an attitude issue, then there is Mark Little who is a mid-table League 1 quality RB, after that we're looking to our development squad. At left back we got Golbourne who is a lower end LB, Joe Bryan who is a Midfielder being converted to a full back or Magnusson who is normally a CB for us. I'd like Johnson to focus on our strengths, rather than setting up to counter our opposition, but also realise we don't have the quality to focus only on our strengths. Thanks for the insight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wedge Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 Will we be typically Villa and go on to lose or disappointingly draw this? Or can we turn a corner of sorts and go on to get another much-needed three points? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Posted February 25, 2017 VT Supporter Share Posted February 25, 2017 From the above comments i dont think this is going to be a game for the purists! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KJT123 Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 Bunn Hutton Chester Baker Taylor Green Hourihane Jedinak Lansbury Amavi Kodjia 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutByEaster? Posted February 26, 2017 Moderator Share Posted February 26, 2017 I think this much picks itself: ------------------------Johnstone--------------------- Hutton--------Chester---------Baker------xxxxxxxx ------------------------Jedinak------------------------ ---------------Lansbury------------------------------- -------------------------Kodjia------------------------ At left back, I prefer Amavi - I rather think Bruce will go with Taylor. Which leave us with three positions to fill and a shape to find. I think with Kodjia the only fit centre forward at the club, it's a choice between the 4-3-3 we played against Derby, or a more solid 4-1-4-1. Our lack of a natural left sided midfielder makes that 4-1-4-1 difficult - Grealish isn't naturally disciplined enough for it, Green is too much a winger to be a natural solution and Bjarnason is capable rather than desirable in that role. Here's the players that are fit, available and don't play in defence: Hourihane Green Bjarnason Gardner Adomah Grealish Three of those need to be fitted in. Easiest is Hourihane - if he's fit, then he plays imo - if not, it's a choice between Gardner and Bjarnason to complete the middle of the team. I think there's a bit of fatigue in the squad and I'm not sure if Bruce will want to play an 18 year old in two games in four days - otherwise, I think it'd be a pretty straight forward 4-3-3 with Adomah and Green on the flanks. As it is, I suspect we'll see Grealish out wide, where I don't think he's as effective and Adomah down the right - like this: ------------------------Johnstone--------------------- Hutton--------Chester---------Baker----------Taylor ------------------------Jedinak------------------------ ---------------Lansbury-------Hourihane------------ Adomah--------------------------------------Grealish -------------------------Kodjia------------------------ With a bench of: Bunn, Bree, Elphick, Amavi, Bjarnason, Gardner and Green Not the most attacking bench, but I think that's just about every fit and available player we've currently got. I hope that Hourihane is fit, Adomah and Kodjia have the legs for it and no one gets injured this week - we're pretty much down to bare bones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Posted February 26, 2017 Share Posted February 26, 2017 22 hours ago, JamesBCFC said: Enjoy your win on Tuesday. Failing that you are guaranteed a point as we cannot defend a lead if our lives depended on it. Points thrown away against Wolves, Reading, Cardiff, Derby and Newcastle in the last 11 games and 4 wins in 5 months. Performances against Derby and Newcastle have been decent, but against Fulham was absolutely dire. Our win against Rotherham looked like 2 lower League 1 sides. Thanks James will do! We owe Bristol City one for our 3-1 defeat there in August when we still hoped we would have something other than a relegation 6-pointer in mind come this stage of the season. Our visitors last beat us at Villa Park (2-0) in 1979 but to be fair this is their first visit to Villa Park since then. We are past masters of throwing points away late in games and average less than a goal a game this season. Will we come back down to earth following our first home win of 2017 or make it two home wins on the bounce? I am happy to go along with the forecast made by James on this one namely a point at the very worst and I thank him for his confidence in us. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo985 Posted February 27, 2017 VT Supporter Share Posted February 27, 2017 I'd feel a lot more comfortable about things if we followed up the Derby game with another win here, preferably a more convincing one. With Rotherham to follow, which we should also be winning, it should put to bed any talk of relegation and take the pressure off for the rest of the season. Hopefully we'll then settle into a shape and the players will continue to gel. If not then Bruce has to be looked at in the summer. Anyway, I'd go for the same lineup as Saturday, with Hourihane in for Bacuna and possibly one of the wide players switched out as I don't think either were great on Saturday. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Designer1 Posted February 27, 2017 VT Supporter Popular Post Share Posted February 27, 2017 **For the cineliterate among you. Yes, it is that car. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PieFacE Posted February 27, 2017 VT Supporter Share Posted February 27, 2017 (edited) Same again for me but swap Bree for Hutton and Hourihane for Bacuna. # 3-0 loss Edited February 27, 2017 by PieFacE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMightyVillans Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 (edited) As much as it hurts to say, hutton deserves to keep his place. Edited February 27, 2017 by TheMightyVillans 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted February 27, 2017 Moderator Share Posted February 27, 2017 I think he'll keep his winning team tbqh. Other than maybe Gardner for Bacuna. That's my guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilko154 Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 Can't drop Hutton after Saturday's performance and our first clean sheet in god know's how long. Johnstone Hutton Chester Baker Taylor Jedinak Hourihane Lansbury Adomah Kodjia Green The only player worth dropping after Saturday would be Adomah, but we are pretty limited on RM's. For me Green needs to keep his place if fully fit, a run of games until the end of the season could see him becoming an important player for us next season. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOF Posted February 27, 2017 Moderator Share Posted February 27, 2017 1 hour ago, wilko154 said: Can't drop Hutton after Saturday's performance and our first clean sheet in god know's how long. 18th of December Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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