Renewed optimism amongst the Villa faithful was emphatically shattered on Tuesday night. The hosts truly annihilated our defence and we were lucky to come away with just the three-goal deficit. It was another bitterly disappointing defeat, which was aggravated by the excitement and expectation prior to the game.
What is evident to me is that, no matter whom we sign, or what changes to the line-up or formation we make, our opponents are sharper, fitter, more determined and a lot more clinical than us.
In the defeat to Brentford, I felt Bruce was tactically naive, epitomisied by him starting Birkir Bjarnason. The Iceland international hadn’t played a minute of football in six weeks yet was thrown into the starting line-up against the Bees. Our midfield trio had never played together before and that was far too evident. In addition, our only left-footed midfielder, Conor Hourihane, was playing right central midfield – something that still bewilders me. We struggled to get him on the ball in the right areas, as Brentford’s midfielders harassed him and Lansbury all night, giving them hardly any time or space to create an opening.
We have the necessary players to get us winning games at this level; it is now up to Bruce to find the winning formula to end our slump. If Mile Jedinak is injured, we need to find someone who is able to sit in front of the defence for the entirety of the game. Perhaps Leandro Bacuna can be that man. Whoever it is, we need someone who will be content with defending and protecting the back four for the whole game.
Another player who has disappointed massively since the turn of the year is Jordan Amavi. Whether the supposed £25 million bid from China has turned his head or he needs a rest, what is evident is that both he and Hutton are becoming liabilities. I think Amavi currently epitomises the majority of the squad – a quality player who has been seriously underperforming.
If anything positive came out of that game, it was the performances of Henri Lansbury and André Green. The youngster played with endeavour, skill and determination. He highlighted the weaknesses in Brentford’s defence, as he continuously tormented their right back when given the ball. I genuinely believe that had we attacked more and committed more men forward, we would eventually have found the back of the net. With regards to Lansbury, I felt he played well. His exquisite through ball to Jonathan Kodjia should have led to the game’s opening goal. Had the Ivorian finished then perhaps the game would not have ended as it did. Lansbury’s passing was crisp and precise and I hope that in his next game he will be allowed to venture forward more.
We now need to build some momentum to take the league by storm next season. Dr Tony Xia has done everything in his power to put us in a position for promotion; it is now up to the manager, the players and the fans to make the Villans into a team capable of winning consecutive matches.
It is not the time to turn our backs on the players. If anything, they need us more than ever. All the new signings need to feel welcomed and then, I strongly believe, they will start to perform.
Yes but look how much upheaval we have had in the last 12 months, forget promotion let’s just relax play football and enjoy it, there’s to much pressure on the players to perform, let’s have a full preseason all together and go again next season, then ask questions at xmas if we’re still stuttering. When was the last time a manager finished one season and started the next with a proper set up behind the scenes like we now have at villa, fans need to back off and except where we are, enjoy it I like the championship no way are we ready for the prem yet on or off the field
“What is evident to me is that, no matter whom we sign, or what changes to the line-up or formation we make, our opponents are sharper, fitter, more determined and a lot more clinical than us.”
I think that sums up my feelings
Been rubbish for years. Whoever we sign soon lapse into the Villa way as in slow, looking less fit than the opposition and of course conceding in the last 3 minutes. It’s called spineless Mr Bruce. Any player going to the Villa ends up with it. Maybe liquidation is the answer, turn Villa Park into a car park.