Well, I’ve called another one correctly for once and while I’m happy with that point, I’m also disappointed as I think we should have won that.
We had the best of the play overall, created the best chances and the proof of the pudding is that Gollini had very little to do overall.
When we play poorly, it’s easy to point fingers, but I’m seriously struggling to criticise anyone after that.
Westwood even played well and actually tried to move the ball forward quickly.
What a refreshing change is to say that, as although I’ve been one of his biggest detractors, so I’ve never wanted him to actually fail for us.
I’m still not convinced he’s good enough, but tonight he tried to move us forward, which is what any Villa Mid should do.
And then it’s hard to slate anyone, as although the first half was tight, I thought we edged it.
The second half, we ruled even more.
The belief is there now and my opinion says it’s now because we quite simply have a decent manager, who knows this level like the back of his hand.
The fact that I’m somewhat disappointed that we’ve lost this one says it all.
We have no reason to fear ANYBODY in this league and I now fully expect us to make a serious charge for automatic promotion.
Consider Bruce hasn’t got a player in yet and that’s not such a daft statement.
Keep scratching and let Bruce upgrade and we’ll be there, imo.
Our level will truly show.
I’m convinced we will go up if we continue to perform like we did tonight.
Proud of the lads and proud of the supporters who again traveled in their droves.
Just announced that Calderwood is coming to us as Brucie’s number 2.
UTV
Calderwood confirmed by BHA as free to deal with Villa
Yep, automatic is not beyond us.
We were better than BHA on their own patch, simple, imo
Not according to Helenius Badger!
Well, what to say? Apart from he’s wrong, imo.
Bruce quote;
Gabby has lost 6.5 kg over 5 weeks.
Disgraceful, imo..
We won’t get automatic Badger because of all the stupid points we dropped before Bruce. Even under Bruce we struggle to hold a lead. Newcastle are up end off and Brighton are still miles ahead of us in league they need to collapse and can’t see that happening.
No, Oohah.
You talk bollocks.
It’s a long game and our squad is way better than Brighton’s.
Ok, Newcastle might be up, but they have yet to hit a bad patch and they all do, at some time.
Bloody hell, you can’t see a positive in anything and I feel sorry for you.
The fact is we outplayed the second best side in the league on their own turf and they said it was their toughest game.
If we keep it up, we won’t lose many games.
Have some bloody faith for once!
Or do you think we’ve found our level too, along with Helenius?
What u talking about I said we played well and deserved 3 points! IV also said we can finish top 6. But I can’t see us finishing top 2 simply because if the bad start we had. If the season started today I’d bk us for top 2 but we have to win circa 25 games to get automatic promotion we’ve won 4 all season. We will need to win 21 out of 28 or so games left that ain’t going to happen. Get real
Couldn’t find the game here but most postscsuggest we played well and werecunlucky not to win. Why does the BBC report focus on Brighton? Reading it would suggest Villa were lucky to come away with a point!
H60 – I believe that BHA always get a big media love-in. Probably because many of the TV-crowd actually live in the area, and it’s been ‘trendy’ for years…
Yep. lots of “loveys” live in Brighton.
And that’s as close as I’m going to come to saying what I really mean.
As much as I like the Beeb.
Can probably live with that. Personally love ‘The Lanes’ in Brighton. Hoping we can keep this going!
We outplayed the team in the 2nd automatic promotion spot away from home. We just need to keep playing like we did 2nd half.
Let Grealish play number 10. Give him a free role. Can make things happen.
We have a ton of attacking talent just have to get them playing together with some confidence. Today should be a good start.
Cardiff at home next, we should be all over them from the first minute.
Unlucky not to get the 3pts tonight good preformance overall I was on the edge of my seat in the second half. Utv.
Good performance, think we would have won had Gabby not have started. Awful decision bringing the waster back and surprise, surprise we looked far better without him on the pitch.
Not sure I’d put the ‘lost’ 2 points down to Shabby himself – I think it’s just that Grealish actually showed what he’s capable of tonight [for a change] and was a class above most of the other 21 on the pitch. If he’d been on a bit longer we might have gotten that 2nd goal.
Still think that Ayew needs to recognise his own limitations and play alongside his team-mates a bit more.
Overall, it was a great game in the second half, and should make most of this division nervous!
Gents, there’s a app you can download on to your phone or tablet called universal sports.
You can watch all sky sports and BT sport without a drama!
I’ve been using it the last couple of weeks and it brilliant. All in HD too!
Regarding the game, best we’ve played in two years for me, hope it continues!
Do u still have to subscribe to BT and sky though
Really enjoyable game tonight. Had to get the dinner on so couldn’t focus on the impression Grealish made. I sincerely hope Bruce can get the lad sorted otherwise it’ll be more wasted talent.
I can’t fault anyone tonight, apart from the ref perhaps. With the duff start under RDM, who I thought from day one was on borrowed time, I think automatic promotion might be tough but I’d be amazed if we fail to make the play off. Trips to Wembley anyone???
Finally our keeper looks to be settling in nicely now. A notable performance tonight. Maybe he’ll be RDM’s legacy…
P.s. OhAhh, keep taking the prozac mate. Helanius, stop taking so many!! 🙂
According to badger cull I’m being negative again 😄
Actually the best game IMHO since MON was in charge. Yes it was really that good!
Even Chris Hughton admitted that they were lucky to get a draw and that coming form the 2nd best team in the league!
We were awesome in patches we just need to start putting something together on a more regular basis. Honestly think that if we keep playing to this standard and get a few more recruits in January then I’m beginning to think that we could actually try for the top two.
Honestly think that it might be within this team’s grasp.
UTV
Agree last 25 mins was as good as IV seen from us for years
Well done lads to say we should’ve come away with all 3 points against a team like Brighton that can’t be bad, certainly onwards & upwards. Deffo a top six finish.nice one brucey VTID
lets not forget brighton are no mugs and especially at home. so how pleasing was it when we dominated the second half. i think future is bright with sir bruce. we should never forget the pain of the years we spent spiraling downwards. trust this manager and cut him lots of slack.
newcastle and brighton are both not certs for the automatic’s. i mean if they think that, they will both fall away. we villa fans need to be calm and just continue to support the club. villa continue to improve like they have each day and week since bruced walked in. we will be there ready to swoop on any mistakes by those two.
scary thing is bruce is basically working with the same squad, none are his players. he will like to add one or two of his own players. when he does this and his own backroom staff implementing his game on the team. we will be much stronger than we are currently.
I said it in the last post, we now have the fitness, lastnights game and with out a doubt was Villa coming home, every game from now will be cup games for us and even I can see a massive change, Gabby is trying but he’s still not fit imo, if you look at that game we lost them points with the ball down the middle even though our defence has greatly improved, i can’t agree on Badgers thinking that Westwood played well, yes moved the ball more forwards but lost it a few times and gave it away. We will now be a team that even the bookies will shorten odds on us being in the play off 9 -2 at the minute, just watch us lads we will be there.
Maybe my comment was a bit ott bill.
Perhaps I should have said played better.
The thing for me was he was looking to make things happen as opposed to slowing our game down.
It’s something we’ve moaned about for years and it’s interesting that it’s only come about since we’ve had Bruce.
I suspect that says a lot about our previous managers, myself.
That’s how I see it Badger, yes he changed his approach by moving the ball forwards, may be Bruce can teach him to open up the defence now and again and hit the target. still I enjoyed the game.
Westwood has played in a rubbish midfield for most of his time at Villa and statistically (at least) was better than most. I really don’t understand why he’s so often held up as being the reason for our troubles over the last few seasons. Manager after manager has picked him so I assume he efficiently performed the role that was asked of him.
If anyone can get more from him then it’s Steve Bruce. I only care about Villa being successful so, like Gabby, if Westwood can up his game through playing a more natural role in his best position then it’s OK by me.
Finally, it’s not as if we paid a fortune – £2m from Crewe – what does he owe us compared to some of the other, more expensive, dross we have bought?
Should have added that he may well improve with better players around him like the Jedi
Hitch,
Yes statistically he looks good, but my contention has always been that he’s a nothing player and doesn’t really contribute enough in any area.
Doesn’t score, can’t tackle, rarely makes an incisive pass and generally all round just makes up the numbers.
I don’t care if he owes us £20 or £20 mill, he’s just crap, imo.
And if he was any good surely he’d look better in a rubbish midfield, not worse?
That said, I thought he was better than normal yesterday and did make a point in saying it, as contrary to him normally ruining the pace of our play, he tried to keep it moving forward quickly.
If he keeps doing that (more effectively, as Bill rightly pointed out), my view is open to change.
He does and has scored goals – better ratio for Crewe than us which suggests he didn’t play as deep. The fact is – when did we last have a mid field player that regularly contributed goals.
He scored the opener against Hull after about 1 minute in the game at Villa Park that kept us up!
Don’t get me wrong – I don’t overly rate him but I just think he gets a disproportionate amount of stick. Moving on……
Westwood had one of his best games for us tbf but still not good enough
Now feel even better about our performance last night. Stevie said it was the best second half yet under him and he was right, also the best second half for years.
Kudos to Chris Hughton who I really admire as a manager, he was honest and admitted that a draw was all BHA deserved.
Can’t say that even the defence did much wrong, they pushed Murray to the side and kept him 30 yards from goal just a really wonderful strike that was about an inch inside the post.
Everyone played well and happy that Gollini is now looking the part. Have to admit that Jack was fantastic when he came on, it was suddenly like he had a ball magnet in his boots. MOTM was Adomah for me but I loved the work ethic of the whole team.
Also have to admit that I felt a bit sorry for Hughton when he was asked about Calderwood, honestly thought he was going to cry. Looks like we might be getting a good one there and an ex-Villa player to boot.
It’s looking good!
Nathan baker has finally realised his potential let’s just hope he can stay fit now as I think he could be a top ch under Bruce
Can’t argue with that Pat.
What’s dawned on me is the fact for the first time in ages, I actually really enjoyed that game!
I think I’d forgot what that felt like.
Must admit I was a bit worried after they scored late in the first half.
But the way Villa came out all guns firing and nearly scored twice in a matter of minutes really put a smile on my face.
Used to dread Villa being on TV but now I wish we were on more 🙂
Blimey Badger, you’ve said the same and I never read this comment.
Have to say whilst watching the game at the Amex last night jedinak was a different class in midfield.
I know Adomah got the motm and he did play bloody well, it just seemed that Jedi was winning everything and dominating the middle. And when jack come on that was it, he was different class and we then went on to dominate!! Really pleased with that performance last night, bit gutted that we didn’t win and even the Brighton fans I was on the coach with were saying they were lucky for the point but overall you can see a really well organised quality villa team here. After seeing that I am now confident we will get promoted.
UTV
Agree mate.
It seems to me if Jedinak plays well, the whole midfield does too, which is why I made a big point of it in the preview.
He’s a massive player for us, imo and the team revolves around how he plays.
Bruce needs to find another anchor type midfielder for back-up and to take over the mantle though and I suspect he will.
Also interesting to see that Brighton fans thought they were lucky and Hughton felt they were somewhat lucky too.
Galls me a bit more that we never got the win. Could those two points (dropped?) cost us at the end of the season?
It’s just infuriating how we’ve taken the lead in so many games this season and not got the win.
That’s my big gripe still hasn’t changed even under Bruce. But at least tonight they scored a decent goal where normally we make a defensive cock up
That’s a fair point, Adam.
Even under Bruce’s tenure we’ve still drawn half our games.
But if you factor in that two of those were derbies and one was against second in the league away, that’s actually not too shabby imo.
Hence I’d expect this to improve.
It’s now a game of catch up.
But we’ve got the manager to achieve it.
Don’t forget how low down the table the scum were when he took over there.
And we’ve a vastly better squad which will seriously come into play around January, even before Bruce tweaks it.
It’s going to be a roller coaster and for the first time in a good while, I’m actually looking forward to it.
UTV!
And yes, I’m talking about the overall squad, before ooahh quite rightly mentions the Africas 🙂