Fan reactions to the game…
And the highlights can be seen here if you`ve not seen them:
The game has SO changed. Our pen wouldn’t have even been a free kick 15 years ago! Davis/Grabban made a difference when they came on, lovely skill from Davis 10 min 20 s in,such a shame he wasn’t able to bury it #AVFC Not sure why Johnson punched ball?https://t.co/WPYK0Qli33
Vital Villa (@VitalVilla) February 21, 2018
There are a few who need a long hard look at themselves. Hourihane and Onomah were pretty woeful (apart from the odd good run or moment) and they should be chomping at the bit to impress with Adomah and Grealish out. I’d drop both until they are ready to impose themselves more.
The Fear
Quite a few people keep saying the forums how we have the best squad in the division. I’m still not seeing that – how can the loss to injury of two players have such a negative impact on performances? If the squad is so good, replacing them shouldn’t cause such problems imho.
JuanPabloAngel
Problem is that SB hasn’t given the some of the younger players enough time, if he’d integrated some of them more we would be in a better state now, some of our benches recently have consisted of players who all cover the same positions. We are also suffering from players being played when not contributing as much as they should and then getting picked week in and week out.
Eddy1
See my last tweet. Even IF O’Hare isn’t quite there, at the very least I’d be shocked if he doesn’t stretch the play somewhat. And you’re right that again from what I’ve seen he won’t be bullied or hide. Same for RHM. We already know Onomah isn’t good enough.
Big D ⛏️✊ (@Hot_Diggity_D) February 21, 2018
Not sure what we were trying to achieve in the first half. Defend our way to victory; was that the plan? Very few runs from full back; Onomah playing very deep; long high balls that Hogan had no chance of winning. Much more positive in the second half. Both full backs pushed forward; Onomah on the left seemed much happier; Grabban was a breath of fresh air and Davis put himself about enough to win a penalty. We really really need to be more focused on attack for the rest of the season. Otherwise it will be the second division again for us next season.
chocolate teapot
We were awful first half, Preston were pressing us as soon as we tried to play it out from the back forcing us to hit long balls to no one and our midfield seemed completely lost. Grealish and Adomah are massive losses for us though, they are our 2 best dribblers and will often take 2 defenders to cover them freeing up space for others. Grabban was my MOM too, him and Davis linked up really well and changed the game when they came on. Not sure why their manager feels they outplayed us for 90 minutes, they spent the entire 2nd half trying to waste time and were struggling to cope with our forwards physicality late in the 2nd half. I know it wouldnt be popular on here, but I’d be tempted to drop Hogan and start with Keinan & Grabban on Saturday. Despite everyone saying Hogan works better in a 2, whenever I’ve seen him play with Davis he stands about 20 yards away from him and never looks to link up or run off him. Would be good to see O’Hare get a run out too, we’ll never know if he’s good enough if we don’t use him.
garygaryshaw
The Villa View post match opinions. As the first fan interview says, with that performance, it was a point gained.
Lucky point, but 2 points dropped. We have our 3 best players out. Grealish, Kodja and Adomah. Difficult for Bruce. But clear to see that Grabban has to start next game.
Ali Arab
Very laboured and without the quality balls going into the box that our absent stars provide we looked poor. Grabban looked enterprising but we were over run in midfield and gave the ball away too much. Saturday is now a must win !!!!!!
Eddy1
Didn’t deserve the draw never mind a win very worrying snoddy went off injured and with grealish and Albert out no goal threat at all .If not for a very dodgey pen we would have Los tonight
cradley villa
O’Hare MUST start on Saturday. That was rubbish let’s face it. Lucky to get a point. Another apology off Mr Bruce in the offing?
Pride of Lions
Said over the last few days with playmakers out 442 was needed. Took til 2nd half to realise. Onomah anon. Connor anon. They need to get some fire in their bellies. 1 loss in 9. Beat Sheff Wed and we’ll still be on a good run. Gulp. Looked bad miss by Davis at end?
Vital Villa (@VitalVilla) February 20, 2018
Thought a draw was a fair result in the end. Preston outplayed us first half – our midfield was woeful, no movement whatsoever giving the defence no options to pass to. Grabban and Davis completely changed the game when they came on. I’d be tempted to start with the pair of them on Saturday, they seemed to link up well together
garygaryshaw
We seem to have gone from Win Ugly to draw ugly. Need to sit down and look to Cardiff City to drop points, its no longer in our hands and the euphoric atmosphere of a local derby is a distant memory.
col8
Calling #avfc and #pnefc fans – what did you think of the atmosphere at Villa Park last night?
Aston Villa News (@AVFC_News) February 21, 2018
Geeze Grealish makes a difference, we need him back on the pitch asap. Don’t know why when we have Adomah and Grealish out we only start with 1 striker at home? We don’t need Jedinak and Thor out there together. I would have gone with Thor and started Grabban with Hogan. Davis was lively but lacked the composure that comes with experience.
AdzVilla11
was a little baffled last night, especially first half, but on reflection, when you play that poorly (and a lot of players, even John Terry at times) had off performances, it’s good that we came out with a point at least. Years gone by we’d have got nothing from that sort of match.
The Fear
Some went missing, some impressed when they came on… agree or disagree with JPA? #AVFC https://t.co/XLYxNhfmgW
Vital Villa (@VitalVilla) February 21, 2018
