Brentford vs Aston Villa Match Thread

Well, another day, and another tough game. Brentford are on a roll right now and in all three of our previous games against them they've given us problems. Brentford are a club I really admire tbh. They've mastered the art of analytics which allows them to play the style they play and also do well in the transfer market. That's why it's no coincidence that they've cashed in on the likes of Hogan, Jota, Dean etc and still managed to keep their team competitive. And that's why IF Xia feels inclined to make changes to our system next season then he'd be wise to look at Brentford's set-up for a few key individuals over there.

Anyway, once again we play after all of our rivals so we're gonna have added pressure. And In all honesty I'm not confident about this game at all. It's gonna be interesting to see if Bruce is dumb enough to continue that stupid experiment of playing Jedi at the back. If he does, bet your house that Brentford get at least two goals minimum.

In midfield I guess Onomah might come back in, but after that I don't really see much changing. Gonna be a tough game, will need a performance like the one at QPR if we wish to come out with anything imo.

COME ON VILLA!!!

We’ll lose, 3-1.

I was very surprised we didnt go in for Vibe from Brentford in the summer he makes Hogan tick, & he has an eye for a goal himself, apparently hes out of contract soon too, well worth a punt IMO. As to the game its going to be very tough, last year at their place we started off like a train & then switched off & got battered, don't want a repeat, draw??

Hoping Vibe is out as he's doubtful.
Would like revenge for the 3-0 defeat at Griffin Park last season.
I think 1-1 but tbh anything that puts us closer to a Bruce sacking is alright by me. Yep, that's how much I want the useless twat gone.
Just reading Jurgen Klopp's biography and he is obsessed with stability first and foremost by playing the same players in the same positions as often as possible. Only then does he look at building the flair stuff on top. He's obsessed with high tempo high pressing " Gegenpressen" as it's called. Every page I turn I think "opposite of Bruce".
Appreciate this should be in the SB thread but I'm happy to hate Bruce on any part of TBAR.

De Kuip wrote:Hoping Vibe is out as he's doubtful.
Would like revenge for the 3-0 defeat at Griffin Park last season.
I think 1-1 but tbh anything that puts us closer to a Bruce sacking is alright by me. Yep, that's how much I want the useless twat gone.
Just reading Jurgen Klopp's biography and he is obsessed with stability first and foremost by playing the same players in the same positions as often as possible. Only then does he look at building the flair stuff on top. He's obsessed with high tempo high pressing " Gegenpressen" as it's called. Every page I turn I think "opposite of Bruce".
Appreciate this should be in the SB thread but I'm happy to hate Bruce on any part of TBAR.

Ha the last line is priceless and exactly how I feel

Struggling to see us getting a result today

Villa_Dan wrote:Struggling to see us getting a result today

Same here, at least it will be nice to watch some decent football for a change as Brentford play some good stuff!

Think it will be a draw that we won't deserve. Also think Brentford will show us how to pass and move and we will show same clueless hoofball bullshit.

Another shit game wonder how many defenders we are taking, mr parking the bus expert, and hoofing master tactician, good luck.see wolves have just gone ahead.UTV.

Literally the only happiness I seem to get nowadays is the consistent shite-ness of the noses. 0-1 down at home haha.

De Kuip wrote:Literally the only happiness I seem to get nowadays is the consistent shite-ness of the noses. 0-1 down at home haha.

Don't know about you, but seeing Burnley 2-0 up at Old Trafford makes me grin like a moron.

Are they??

Haha fecking great I despise that outfit and their plastic London fans. Love that Man City are rubbing their noses in it as well.

Well Bruce has changed things up for tonights game....



I admit that I'm Ok with this. I think he's gone with Hogan because he's returning to his old stomping ground and may feel inspired to put in a performance. Jedi and Whelan in the middle of the park is probably an effort to contain Woods who has ran all three games that we've played Brentford since we dropped down. Some fans are moaning about Snodgrass playing, WTF? The guy wasn't great last week, but he HAS THE MOST ASSISTS IN THE ENTIRE SQUAD (Six) so dropping him would have been beyond stupid.

Lastly having Elphick at the back is a relief. Jedi cost us a win last week and though Tommy has been crap since he came here, he's an experienced head back there and hopefully he's fired up to perform aswell. All in all we're gonna need big games from Adomah, Grealish and Snoddy. IF they can feed Hogan then I think we can get a positive result tonight.

Awful line-up tonight. That's the slowest midfield in the history of football.

Would have preferred Hutton at left back,De Laet at right back, Elmo right wing (as he crosses more than Snodgrass).
Agree with Elphick, best of a bad bunch, although De Laet has played at centre half before.
That midfield is awful! Who is going to actually play the balls through to Hogan, it won't be Grealish as he will drop deeper trying to pick up the ball. It might stop Brentford and that is what we have become now, lets stop the opposition and hope to nick it!

achilles wrote:Would have preferred Hutton at left back,De Laet at right back, Elmo right wing (as he crosses more than Snodgrass).
Agree with Elphick, best of a bad bunch, although De Laet has played at centre half before.
That midfield is awful! Who is going to actually play the balls through to Hogan, it won't be Grealish as he will drop deeper trying to pick up the ball. It might stop Brentford and that is what we have become now, lets stop the opposition and hope to nick it!

I disagree. Playing Hutton left-back, De-leat right-back and Elmo on the wing would have just been a panic move. Taylor is a better left-back than Hutton, De-laet hasn't started many games and Elmo may cross the ball more but only has two assists and no goals to his name. Snoddy has six assists and two goals this season, so if anyone is gonna provide service to Hogan, it's him.

I maintain that he's played Jedi and Whelan simply to stifle Woods. Brentford also like to play balls through the middle so having extra protection there could force them to go out wide which they don't like to do. If Jedi and Whelan don't work out then Hourihan and Onomah are on the bench, so it's no big deal to me.

The fact that we are playing Whelan and Jedi over a youth like Hayes, that's criminal.

Wonder what it's like having a modern manager who knows to utilize youths. Must be grand.

AstonThriller wrote:

achilles wrote:Would have preferred Hutton at left back,De Laet at right back, Elmo right wing (as he crosses more than Snodgrass).
Agree with Elphick, best of a bad bunch, although De Laet has played at centre half before.
That midfield is awful! Who is going to actually play the balls through to Hogan, it won't be Grealish as he will drop deeper trying to pick up the ball. It might stop Brentford and that is what we have become now, lets stop the opposition and hope to nick it!

I disagree. Playing Hutton left-back, De-leat right-back and Elmo on the wing would have just been a panic move. Taylor is a better left-back than Hutton, De-laet hasn't started many games and Elmo may cross the ball more but only has two assists and no goals to his name. Snoddy has six assists and two goals this season, so if anyone is gonna provide service to Hogan, it's him.

I maintain that he's played Jedi and Whelan simply to stifle Woods. Brentford also like to play balls through the middle so having extra protection there could force them to go out wide which they don't like to do. If Jedi and Whelan don't work out then Hourihan and Onomah are on the bench, so it's no big deal to me.

Well I certainly disagree with Taylor as I am fed up of justifying his inclusion because of his defensive qualities, which have gone downhill, as he gets a nose bleed when he gets over the half way line!
Snodgrass in the last couple of games has been very poor, losing the ball and just sulking and looking at other players.
However we shall see how it all pans out!

Bruce said December is a season defining month.


Well so far it's been fucking shite! He put the pressure on himself this season and hasn't gotten the results needed

Love how I'm proven right every match thread. Xia should just pay me a million and I'll sort it out

Once again we can't create anything except hoofball. Amazing. Fucking hate Steve Bruce

Decent run and header

What was Alberts injury - was it serious?

Feck me but we've had some injuries to key players this year.

De Kuip wrote:What was Alberts injury - was it serious?

Feck me but we've had some injuries to key players this year.

 I missed it but from what I'm told he took a boot to the plums

He came in blind side on the player, who swung to clear the ball and got him in the groin I think, its been very much of a nothing game, we need to up our game Grealish needs to play further up the pitch in that "pocket" everyone talks about, we need to impose ourselves now.