I don’t know which manager will be more annoyed today, Zenga or Bruce.
Zenga will probably come away from Villa park wondering how his team failed to collect the three points.
Whereas Bruce will be fuming that we just looked awful.
Pre-match, it was all good, as Bruce selected a side with players playing in position and went with a 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 maybe. It was a sensible choice on paper.
And that’s about as good as it got.
We actually looked okay in the first few minutes and you could see the players had upped the pace and were passing the ball quickly. But Wolves came into it more and more as the game went on, so much so that they completely dominated the game.
We got the early penalty then, after Grealish was judged to have been clipped and Kodjia duly put it away.
A good shot from Kodjia apart, that was it though and I hardly remember another chance being created. Oh, sorry there was one chance where Kodjia feebly went for goal instead of passing to McCormack who was in a much better position.
Wolves got a penalty when Cissokho handballed and it all went downhill from there.
Again we instantly lost all our shape and composure, which allowed Wolves to get in the game even more and create more chances. Fotunately they didn’t convert any and we came away lucky to get a point.
Which is what makes it all so frustrating.
We have a very decent team on paper and it’s not just us fans that say it.
Why then, can’t we seem to do even the basic things right? Grealish is the only player we have that looks remotely comfortable with the ball at his feet. The rest? well the ball just seems to always bounce awkwardly or it’s poorly controlled. Our passing at times is abysmal and there are far too many wayward passes.
A plus for me is that McCormack didn’t take any corners, which left Adomah taking them. But they were mostly poor.
You really have to wonder what the players actually do in training.
For what it’s worth I’d have taken McCormack off and replaced him with Gestede and gone with a more direct style.
I’d have pulled Grealish off too, as while he looked okay, he just didn’t produce anything really.
I thought Richards did reasonably well considering he hasn’t played for a while and Chester did well.
There were too many players that weren’t good enough though and it’s hard to know why when they’re well rated.
I’ll be interested to read Bruce’s after-match comments, but I’ll bet he’ll be more than a little concerned, as Wolves don’t look a paticularly good side to me, yet they dominated massively. At home too.
It’s difficult to know what Bruce is going to be able to do about it, but watching that game today, I’ll bet he can’t wait for the transfer window.
It’s all totally disappointing. Again.
I’m getting fed up of writing about how poor we are 🙁
It was so obvious when our balls keep coming back at us that Gestede was needed,if you noticed Grealish moved into the middle towards the end trying to help McCormack he scored all his goals with decent midfield players we don’t have that privilege in our side, really to ask a negative player like Westwood is asking is it not.
Grealish or Costa Bill?
Which would you pick given the choice?
Watching the under 21s in the week Grealish. To be truthful BWS I like him I see someone getting better in time.Costa is someone we will never have at Villa.
I feel for him Bill, there’s no point giving him the ball with three on him. They have to expose the full backs and get him one on one for him to be effective.
Bill I’m on about the Costa at a Wolves mate.
Shit BWS, too many Costa about we have one in the next town, hang on that’s Costco. they had to sub him didn’t they.
That’s the fella Bill the one that terrorised us, power, pace, direct and good feet, the lad impressed me mate, he really is going places.
Just googled him he’s on a season loan from Benfica.
Richards played well?
Are you for real mate? He’s a f**king liability, loses the ball in midfield thinks he’s Zidane when he’s more like Diana and always good for a major gaffe and we used to moan Dunne?
Yes, I’ve seen a few comments saying Richards was rubbish, in fairness.
But at least he was better than Hutton, imo.
Did he come off with cramp?
That’s shocking, if so.
I’ll have agree to differ mate thought Chester had good game but Richards (imo) makes bad decisions at bad times, caught in possession, timed tackles, out of position, he really is woeful.
I hope SB just sits everyone down, watch this match, and speaks his mind pass by pass. Regardless of where everyone came from or how much their transfer fee was, respect comes from hard work; and at the moment this group of players are all Championship players and all underperforming as a group – not even a team.
Transfer window – an experienced GK, box to box MF, LB, possibly RB
I have to agree BWS , he does show instability in defence not my choice to use as a right sided defender, if fact we don’t have a decent back in Villa Park.
The number of times he was caught in possession, I’m hoarse from shouting at the telly! (Something along the lines of pass it you useless person who’s parents weren’t married).
A very fortunate and totally underserved point, the only surprise was that we didnt concede another late goal.
The midfield is the biggest problem area, it provides no cover for the back 4 and there is no forward runner to help create space and movement going forward. Jedinak looks finished even at this level which is a huge disappointment It’s an unbalanced squad with no mental strength and our league position reflects that perfectly.
As for Bruce picking Richards, a worrying sign if he has to bring back one of the worst defenders ever to pull on a Villa shirt.
“Well Steve, I know you have just arrived in the manager’s office, but have you had the chance to make any changes already?
Yes I have had door changed!
What was wrong with the old one?
It revolved.”
The team did not suddenly play better for the new boss – it was just as bad as usual. When the opposition scored we folded.
Our corners were unbelievable – the attackers all making runs to where the ball was not going. We were also light-weight even without Westwood, almost every shoulder to shoulder or 50/50 tussle was lost. Westwood passed sideways or backwards when he did come on, not a single incisive forward pass.
As for the defence, well Cissoko was clumsy as per. Richards – what a joke, he ball-watches constantly and contrives to the the wrong side of the man he is marking who has moved inside while Richards is not looking.
We did seem to have a right winger (hooray) but his work was error strewn.
LOL, you definitely seen the same game as me. I think if they put rubber doors in Villa Park we might bounce back.
Bruce has instantly spotted the the players just aren’t fit.
Why on earth didn’t RDM and all the coaches see it?
With all this science, surely it should be obvious?
At least we know Bruce will change that.
I often wonder wtf all these coaches and sport-science people actually do at Bodymoor?
Bruce is quoted in the B’ham Mail tonight:
“I think that’s an easy one and I wouldn’t like to say that against any other manager, but it’s fair to say that some can be in better condition and I think that’s only right.
“That’s the difficulty when you have to make two substitutions through injury.
“But somebody’s just told me there’s been a lot of that and the previous manager has had a lot of that to deal with. It obviously causes you a problem.”
How are these so-callled ‘professional athletes’ so out of condition just 2 months into a new season, and as you say, why wasn’t RDM’s backroom staff on top of the problem?
Cause he was a shite manager?
In all honesty we can’t knock the Doc he’s put his money were his mouth is but we need to be patient, Bruce has the pedigree he needs time to weave his magic.
That may be true – but it’s also far too easy an answer; RDM wasn’t there on his own – his backroom staff were all supposed to be experienced ‘coaches’ [etc.].
Just what does it take for these people to get their own basic jobs done?
Another don’t give a flying f**k manager on AVFC professional manager’s pension plan.
Ardent there’s more to this than fitness it’s basics.
At one point in the game four Wolves players tried to crowd Grealish out, he flicked the ball inside and took them all out the game with one pass.
Did we exploit it?
Did we f**k?
Basics.
Injuries are still alarming and I’m not sure what Bruce can do about that.
McCormack just got back, Jedinak constantly flies around the world, and Richards hasn’t seen a game in ages. SB was relying on experience today and it is obviously most can’t put in 90 mins even once a week, let alone 2-3 times.
Lack of fitness stops them from passing the ball to someone in a claret and blue shirt?
More than a fitness issue.
People working at their physical limit are more likely to make mistakes -like over-tired drivers.
Until they’re conditioned to function at the required level for 90-100 minutes, they’re going to be more prone to errors [ and potentially personal injury] the longer each game goes on.
I appreciate what you’re saying mate but if that’s their physical limits then God help us.
This has been going on for years. Since Mcleish we have only been a one half team. Can you seriously remember the last time we played well for a whole 90 mins I can’t. Wolves were a yard quicker than us all over the field today. Especially second half
Only watched first half as doing presentation – think I was the lucky one!
Same old, same old and I’m not blaming Bruce except I don’t get playing Grealish wide left. Should be playing in the hole behind the attack that’s where he’s most effective and can find the space. Too easily isolated on the wing putting three players on him – far more difficult to do that in centre mid without defence leaving spaces elsewhere.
Too many poor passes and clearances and too much poor decision making.
With injuries can’t see anything but another defeat Tuesday. Without new faces we are fighting a relegation battle not looking at the play off places.
What was the presentation mate?
‘Global warming and the potential effect on Rum production in the Caribbean?’
😁
🙂 why didn’t I think of that!
Can’t criticise Bruce he has little idea about players and their positions. Will take him a good 6 games to get a grip. Even Dr X has hinted we will go up in next two years so realistically this season is about Bruce keeping us up and rebuilding for a promotion push for next year
Agree Ardent.
BWS, we all know the players aren’t sharp enough and that’s what leads to the poor passing and not looking like we’re trying hard enough, imo.
It would explain why we’re so bloody injury-prone too.
Badger for seasons now we’ve looked a team incapable of putting a performance in, now whether that be down to fitness or just a symptom of a poor run club in step decline I don’t know.
I just hope Bruce can stop the rot.
Well, without wanting to sound over-dramatic, I think he’s our last hope mate.
If he can’t sort us, I don’t know who can.
It’s almost like we’re cursed or something.
It does seem like last chance saloon but you have to wonder if the players have been taking the piss for years using the military analogy an “easy posting”.
Put your feet up, enjoy the view (and the Merc).
Agee. But what can he do until Jan. The midfiekd is a joke we are top heavy with strikers who have no service. There is no balance in the team. The defence are still a shambles and let’s face it 4.1 would not have flattered Wolves today. Imagine if we were playing a team like Liverpool today it would be 10.0 at least
It’s only my impression but I think that the last time we had a ‘real’ coaching and any sort of really ‘scientific’ training-regime at Villa was probably under Houllier – and that was brief, and er..now getting on for six years ago.
All the managers/coaches since then were more concerned with working to Lerner’s asset-sweating/make-do-and-mend instructions, or just basic ‘survival’, than with any real work on the players.
I had hoped that RDM and his experienced back-up staff would have taken a more scientific approach – but either they weren’t up to it, or simply hadn’t realised how long it would take to get the squad fighting-fit.
Funilly-enough I’m old enough to remember that when Sir Ron came to VP in the mid 70’s he found much the same problem: I can still remember reading ‘leaked’ stories in the Evening Mail/Sports Argus from some of the players who were complaining that he was apparently getting them to go on the sort of basic fitness courses that the Royal Marines used for their new intake!
Sir Ron was way ahead of his time with his emphasis on ‘core training’ he was way ahead of the game back in the day.
All hail the God that is SIR RON!
Absolutely.
But then he worked in an era when he was given a bit of time to sort things out…
Ain’t that the truth. What’s the average employment expectancy of a Championship manager? Around twelve months I believe. Hardly time to build a legacy.
One of the few that seem to shall we say old school that want to build something that has longevity and not just a quick fix for the now is Rowett down at the stye, the guy really impresses me.
He’ll go onto big things.
That’s why he was successful it was well known at the time that we were one of the fittest teams in Europe if not the firtest
Which is exactly how it should be ardent!
There’s absolutely no excuse for a professional footballer to not be as fit as possible.
Agree a player should always be as fit as possible and always give a 100%. That’s a min requirement. What the hell was rdm and co doing in Pre season. If you don’t get fit preseason then you’ve no chance of getting properly match fit until next preseason. This season is a write off already. Dreading what Small Heath will do to us in a couple of weeks going to be embarrassing as all their players give a 100% and are fit!
It was a blogged a few weeks back, but Dave Brailsford of British Cycling talked about the stamina gene. He said he was sure it existed and athletes who did not have it were wasting their time competing in endurance events.
If he is right that perhaps explains why from Lambert onwards managers have complained about the lack of fitness in Villa players – and several different physios have tried to improve ‘fitness’ to no avail. In reality they mean stamina – players fading after 60-70 minutes and if Brailsford is right that cannot be improved in players lacking the gene. We might just have a lot of them.
We were lucky to get a draw today and we all know it. Decent first half, but we got battered in the 2nd. Our midfield is way too weak. We almost need to be putting three players in there…except we dont have 3 decent centre mids. In fact, do we have one decent centre mid?
I thought Gollini and Chester were excellent…the rest faded away…and some never really got going. McCormack had a bit of a nightmare today, but in fairness, we just dont get the ball to him in the right areas. He is a very clever player. Kodjia is good, but tries to take players on too often and how he didnt pass to McCormack first half is beyond me!
I would rather see us drop the idea of wingers and go 4-2-3-1. Let Bacuna and Amavi play full backs and get crosses in from there. Grealish can play as a number 10.
I think the only way around this is to pack the midfield so we don’t get overrun and have less forwards. I think Gestede should start regularly too we put some decent crosses in first half and he would surely have done better than the other strikers.
We might well have players not fit enough to play 90 minutes but this was another one half performance – what has that got to do with fitness? For how long now have we been complaining about our failure to compete and play consistent good football over two halves let alone the last 20 minutes.
True. If that’s the case then the players are simply not good enough even for the championship.
Morning Hitch, i think there’s more to this about fitness and having the gene in the game , I’ve been running the game back on video and the attitudes and willingness from players seem lacking to me.the wanting to win not there, if you can take a look at the Grealish incidents, the player had his legs between his and trying to injure Grealish and that’s why he lashes out.that was a leg lock and could have snapped his leg.anyway not happy with our effort to win the game.
Hi Bill. What worries me is that this’lack of fitness’ is actually code for slackers who are not good enough!
January will be an interesting watershed for Villa and will define whether we end up ‘comfortably mid table’ or fighting relegation. Forget promotion – like him of hate him it’s beginning to look as if Holloway was right.
I watched MOTD for the first time this season and the difference in pace and drive is frightening.
Worryingly, I’d say it’s two leagues apart.
The way balls are whipped into the box was eye-opening and it’s something we lack massively, imo.
Hence the reason we are no longer in the prem. Nowhere near good enough.
I think our players are not only physically fucked but mentally aswell,Bruce should really have a heart to heart discussion with the team & get some feedback I do believe a sports psychologist should be added to the team last resort???? Maybe