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31 Dec 2017 19:57:06
Happy New Year for later fellas, silly season is upon us (January) let's hope we get our on loan goal machine early on and go for that automatic spot. Above all, let's get behind the lads at home, moan on here about them, not during a match, oh, and World Peace ✌🏻
UTV.
31 Dec 2017 19:21:49
Happy New Year to everyone and may all your dreams come true for next year thanks to the Eds for all there hard work and which leaves me finally to say rubbish ON THE BLUES and may all their dreams not come to fruition.
31 Dec 2017 13:19:58
🎉🎈🍺🍺🍻 Happy New Year 🍻🍺🍺🎈🎉 To all you posters . May the Rumours and Banter continue and flourish in 2018
Onwards&Upwards Villaforever.
31 Dec 2017 14:04:04
I agree Dave.
Happy good Boxing Friday, everyone.
31 Dec 2017 14:46:25
What do people think about johnstone being recalled to united and sold to the baggies for 4 million?
31 Dec 2017 15:29:08
I wulod like to wsih erveynoe and the eidtros a hpapy new yaer.
Paly wtih the girt and deritmetnioan taht we sohwed ysteready and we mghit jsut mkae the palofyfs
Now 4 the wikshey.
31 Dec 2017 13:19:42
The thing is boys, we can sit here until we are blue in the face and say how come we aren't as good as wolves with the money we have spent. But in reality the players wolves have got this season would cost a bucket load, it's an anomaly this year, they are only there because of a super agent. That won't happen again in the championship. They are champions league players. Getting a move to England so they can put their name about and get big money moves which make the agent money. Let's concentrate on us, the squad we have and back a manager that I think will get us out the league. I agree the football isn't brilliant, let's have a manger give us that once we are back in the prem, but atm I'm happy with 1-0 wins. UTV.
31 dec 2017 14:00:50
amen to that rich!
31 Dec 2017 19:19:04
Bang on the money Rich bang on fella.
31 Dec 2017 11:09:19
Every1 remembers juan pablo don't they i was just thinking, it took him a while to get his scoring boots on at villa, he went months without out scoring then once we got him settled he banged the goals in . do people think hogan could have same problems like angel an b4 every1 says i know angel was from columbia.
31 Dec 2017 11:47:48
No!
As for what ever reason angle didn’t score. he still was I the right place to shoot, or at least try to hit target.
I agree we don’t play to hogans strengths. he is a professional player, and should also be able to adapt, or mix up his play, however, when he does get the ball, it’s released again from him either side ways, or backwards.
Confidence is massive, I get that, how ever. to be a pro, at the highest level, (where he said before signing he believes he should be playing) his belief in his own ability is paramount. He should when given his chance grab it by the scruff of the neck. Yet he doesn’t.
Comparing him to angel is crazy, so much was against him when he came, language, illness, let alone a whole different country, a new continent. hogan has moved 136 miles. To the same league!
I’m not saying hogan is poor, and I do think he ‘could’ be quality. He needs time, which we can’t give him. But, he doesn’t help him self, and his inability to adapt his game to the style we are trying to play, (whether you think it’s the way we should play or not) is poor.
Don’t forget these guys train every day on this formation, style of play. Yet he either can’t, or refuses to adapt.
Ask your self, if you where him, and you either wanted to play, or move. would you let kids, unproven kids, come in to the side and show you up, out play you, and do what is asked of them?
One more thing, his body language is so negative, like the world is on his shoulders. in contrast to Adomah, or Kodjia, the ball comes to them, they are positive, and make things happen, so when they make their run it’s seen. hogan hides in games, makes obvious movements in front of goal, and looks like he doesn’t want the ball. so if when he does get it, he has to pass backwards, negative.
Everything he does is mechanical and because he has to. not instinctive. It might be his confidents, it might be his lack of interest. What ever it is, we don’t want it to breed in the team.
31 Dec 2017 12:28:38
Excellent point flackie. People forget that they train everyday in this tactic. It's not like in training they do the opposite to match day.
I just think he step up to quick. Had good run of form with Brentford and we snapped him up. He might move on and bang goals in for someone else but it won't be a bigger club than us. He belongs at teams like Brentford being there star player.
31 Dec 2017 17:29:49
Although Angel did come good eventually (he was also a nice bloke by the way), I seem to remember we got rid of a certain Peter Crouch to accommodate him and Phillips. Oh to turn back the clock. Happy New Year everyone.
31 Dec 2017 10:24:13
Did I hear right that Bruce would have played Whelan if he did not have a bug?
Really after him being the main reason for us conceding in last 2 games,
Got to say elfick has played well last 2 games and should keep his place in team,
Anomah should be left out very disappointing for me,
Grealish deserves his chance now,
Next game is a real hard one,
Bristol c have the 2nd best away record and have only lost 1 game,
31 Dec 2017 02:38:22
Happy newyear to all the villafans on hear.
31 Dec 2017 10:16:28
Happy New year to everybody on this blog and may you all have your dreams come true this coming year,
31 Dec 2017 11:13:57
Happy new year to you all for later and if any one is going to london for the celebrations can you do us a favour drop off josh please i will chip in with some petrol money.
30 Dec 2017 20:52:14
Over the many years of watching Villa, the best football iv seen Villa play, is when we move the ball fast . For this type of football you have to have young legs . To play this way you have to have players that move . Player that play the ball and move into space to receive it again . Not players, like we now have, who are static. with a young energetic team and the right coaching, we could create this again . I know it's all pie in the sky, but surely this is what we should be aiming for . Onwards&Upwards Villaforever.
30 Dec 2017 21:54:10
Hi Dd, so many have said the same thing for sometime.
No one runs off the ball to create space, they just use and stop.
Bruce is answerable for the present malaise, he looks for perfect football with imperfect players.
My gripe is that when someone runs through the other sides defence he looks a pratt because the quick through ball is now with our GK as the ball holder has failed to see the run.
At least we got the win today and JT may be back v soon so a bright spot may be round the corner
We cannot afford any more slip ups, neither can Bruce!
30 Dec 2017 22:01:51
Disagree, players are always on the move and looking for it in space, saw it today, however normally the player on the ball is normally too scared to play the quick ball. They need to play more risky passes, stop being so worried about losing the ball and show a little more adventure.
30 Dec 2017 23:21:59
Chris this all part of what I mean, good coaching . Allthe players have to be on the same wavelength, they all have to looking to move the ball forwards as quickly as possible. As you say at the moment, players are looking backwards with passes, because they can't see nothing moving . You watch all the top sides, they will play into a space knowing, a player will be there . But as I say all this has to come from the training ground. At the moment our play is to slow, as you say players receive the ball and play slows because they can't see a pas on . You also have to change the players mentality, as you say it's also a lot of it down to the fear of loosing, They don't want to be the next one to make a mistake .
31 Dec 2017 09:57:15
Yea I agree with that Dave, just didn’t agree with the static bit you wrote, I think the players themselves are on the move but it’s always the one on the ball who let's us down, doesn’t play the early dangerous ball.
30 Dec 2017 19:28:00
What a side this wolves team now are.
That’s the bench mark. jealous? hell yeah.
Happy new year one and all. (even wtw! )
30 Dec 2017 21:48:25
There playing footie like man city, wish we could play that way the way, the game should be played.
31 Dec 2017 10:14:48
Yes wolves look a very decent side and with the money behind them they will do ok in the premiership
Nune not afraid to play the young players which is great to see.
31 Dec 2017 11:00:16
I work in the Black and gold country that I am sure will be its name soon. I remember back in pre-season July a wolves fan who went to all preseason games saying he was in awe then of how they played, were set up and how they could attract such gifted and talented players! I am soooo jealous that with all of our financial clout over the last 2 years I think the best we can hope for is play offs? Can't think of another Championship team over recent years who have so much promise as current WWFC set up. Enough now of wolves love in lol. Massive tomorrow VTID.
30 Dec 2017 17:45:09
Brilliant result today, very unaventful first half, with both sides cancelling eachother out . made a big difference with a more mobile midfield . Glad to see Albert over his knock, didn't think he would be playing . Hepburn Murphy certainly looked the part when he came on, held the ball up well . Perhaps a future of him and Davis up front, &OHare for Snoddy . Onwards&Upwards Villaforever.
30 Dec 2017 18:37:26
I'm so pleased we beat tony pulis today. All he did last season was talk about us. And today we shut him up. Good result very needed. And a few results went our way today. Even Blues done us a favour and beat Leeds UTV VTID.
30 Dec 2017 16:41:35
Well you wanted youth and he's got that in abundance on the bench let's see what happens.
30 Dec 2017 17:13:41
Youth prevailed then 😂.
30 Dec 2017 15:06:55
Past history shows we should win this game.
Its not fool proof but trading stats show Villa as winners, at very least a draw.
We will see, fingers and legs all crossed.
30 Dec 2017 15:52:42
What are you smoking?
30 Dec 2017 16:24:32
Its called Dope, Oh sorry I mean Hope.
30 Dec 2017 16:56:04
Lol 😂
What ever it is it was bang on!
30 Dec 2017 18:55:24
Good 💩maaan. 🇯🇲
UTV.
30 Dec 2017 14:50:53
My prediction for the match today, 1-1.
30 Dec 2017 14:44:57
Bruce must be listening, about time . Certainly would love to see them get a part game today .
30 Dec 2017 14:11:36
Murphy, Doyle Hayes and O'Hare in the squad, Mainbob your wish has been granted.
30 Dec 2017 14:35:48
Come on son! ( that's for chris)
Why is Davis out of squad?
Why is our best player last 2 matches grealish dropped?
Why is anomah still in team after very poor performances?
30 Dec 2017 14:45:02
One thing for certain keep the ball on the deck,
Pulis playing with 4 6ft + giants in defence,
Waste of time humping balls up to Hogan would you agree,
30 Dec 2017 14:57:27
It has be written in contract with omouha to play when fit. No other reason.
30 Dec 2017 14:00:08
Bruce needs to stay, it was only a few weeks ago Villa was in very good form every team goes through a bit of bad form but Bruce knows how to get prometed and he has been unlucky with injuries, I can’t think of a better manager for us who is available right now.
30 Dec 2017 11:19:51
Predictions time,
I would love a win but I can see a 1-1 draw.
This is ok as long as we win against Bristol city,
2 wins would be fantastic
If pulis was not in charge I would fancy us more.
30 Dec 2017 13:57:41
With our injuries and pulis in the mix hoping for the draw . uncle albert should be back so you never know. we could do with the win. Heres hoping itt is not a loss. COME ON THE VILLA.
29 Dec 2017 23:32:21
I wonder if the Cardiff fans are calling for Warnocks head? Just saying like 😚😚.
30 Dec 2017 10:39:40
I’ll be honest. if I was a Cardiff fan, and we managed to be 20 points clear, I’d be calling for that argumentative picrks head.
Just saying like.
30 Dec 2017 12:41:37
Lol Flacks he's got one of those faces that you would wanna wipe your arris with.
30 Dec 2017 13:58:32
I often wonder if he is a member of this forum, but keeps changing his name.
30 Dec 2017 16:43:18
My lips are sealed Flacks.
30 Dec 2017 17:42:57
Present company was excluded! Lol.
29 Dec 2017 23:18:43
Middlesbrough seem to be a lot like us, beat the teams below them but lose to the teams around them, they've lost to;
Wolves, Cardiff, Norwich, Leeds, Derby, Bristol - along with a few teams int he bottom half. Tomorrow we have to get at them, forget the new manager, forget that we're away and their above us, we need to go for the win, get on the front foot, ask them every question we've got and go for it all or nothing. Forget Draws away from home are a good result or these points here and there add up, we need a win. We have the squad, we have the options, let's go and get it for once. Time to turn this around, starting with a win, hope the players turn up with some self respect and some self confidence, stop moping around looking at the floor feeling sorry for themselves, your here for a reason, stand up and be counted, have a bit of confidence, better yet a tiny bit of arrogance. I'd take any win but one that shows quality and dominance will really turn this run around. Come on you villa boys!
30 Dec 2017 09:46:05
Perfectly put Chris.
There players going be nervous aswell playing under a new manager and not wanting make a mistake. Let's get inot them. Big challenges and have a shot from distance. Worse thing being a keeper is having a long range shot in first 10 mins.
29 Dec 2017 20:40:16
Listen I get what everyone is saying about Bruce and the style of play after all we do pay our hard earned cash on watching them some more than most WTW no offence intended to anyone on that statement but do you honestly think hand on heart that changing a let's say lesser experienced manager who's win ratio is below 40% with Bruce who has the know how on how to get teams promoted?
Again I will say he has made mistakes but if you don't try you don't know do you? Mainbob bangs on about Ohare yes I would give him a chance but come on does anyone on here go to BH day in day out and train with the squad to find out what's going on I doubt it very very much it's not just Bruce that makes these decisions but also his training team. Injuries have been our downfall and we are still in the hunt for automatic promotion come January when we get a much needed striker Centre half right midfielder I think we will be OK.
We all know what we have been like for 5 years but too try and turn it around in just 2 is not only hard but almost impossible just look at leeds Blackburn Forest just to name a few they have chopped and changed and they are no better off are they? All at the club have said we need stability and by God that is what they are trying to do we all want success but success comes at a price and if that means playing dire football then so be it I would take dire football so we can get out of this league then hopefully we can build on that and then I would get rid of Bruce he's done his job I've said it before I'm not a Bruce fan but I will back him.
Before all these injuries we was going quite nicely even WTW was turning not one person here was moaning until we lose a couple of games then the stone gets unturned and most turn again it's like being at work if 2 and 3 of your workmates phone in sick does that make your job that little bit harder? So yes I will back Bruce to turn this around when our workers come back watch the benefits that come with this #INBRUCEITRUSTALMOST.
29 Dec 2017 21:19:03
Careful Mainbob has seen the u23’s play more times than you’ve had hot dinners. I’m starting to think he’s the surrogate father of half the youth team the way he rates them.
30 Dec 2017 08:23:23
Chris
Hold your horses matey,
I said 5 players in the under we 23s need to be looked at,
So what's your beef!
Is it so wrong to see a team playing good footie with the kids than to suffer garbage with the first team,
I have grandkids who are playing with the baggies and wolves both 9 yrs old,
So yes I do take real notice of how our kids are progressing but you seem to take it as a joke!
30 Dec 2017 09:42:50
Just banter mate, calm down I don’t really think your the surrogate father to them all. Maybe just O’Hares legitimate father, he seems to be your pride and joy.
30 Dec 2017 10:35:09
O'hare is My wonder child!
29 Dec 2017 15:04:48
Last 5 games villa are third bottom on form
Only Barnsley and blue noses are below us,
29 Dec 2017 16:00:30
Mainbob, sadly I don't think change will immediately be forthcoming, I can see our season following similar patterns in terms of lack of quality and ideas similar to the last five years. The consequence, we will drop down the league. We don't appear to have any choice other than grin and bare it or give up, something that is not in Villa fans culture, so grin and bare it it is, happy days!
29 Dec 2017 14:12:30
If Bruce does get the tin tac and we go down the foreign route then 2 names jump out.
Marcelo Gallardo
Michael Laudrup
Checked both managerial careers on Wikipedia, very impressive with both liking to play attacking free flowing football.
29 Dec 2017 15:02:18
Said Gallardo when everyone was talking about the sack after our poor start, he looks the business.
29 Dec 2017 15:27:57
Those 2 names would suit me as well,
Most of the successful manager's are foreign,
At least with these 2 you would see good football,
My preference is gallardo,
29 Dec 2017 15:37:59
Both would be great. But be honest I be delighted with any.
Next 2 games to save his job or he gone.
29 Dec 2017 06:14:53
Two great examples of long ball that ended up in the net. Not by a lower league side but MCFC and Gunners.
We fall down by not providing Hogan with balls he can run onto. If we just occasionally hit a long ball we could do something different.
Before posters point out that Sterling and Sanchez are world class players, we are not playing against world class defenders.
Bruce has to have a plan b, c, d, etc but we never see it.
29 Dec 2017 00:16:34
Who ever else comes in, surly we need another left back . Taylor is up and down like a yo yo, decent game two bad ones . Hutton has looked good, when needed, but a proper LB is needed . Not at the moment a Brucie out fan, but he certainly has to come up with something different . As iv said before, he has to take a chance and start looking beyond his golden oldies . He has to get all the mistakes cut out, most of which seem to come from players being over stretched . Weelen you can't disagree, works hard, he just hasent got the legs when a bit of pace is needed. said before the kids a energy, plus they want to impress . With the stupid prices now being paid for players, even Prem sides have started giving youth a chance, Before I get shot down that these kids are Div 2, none of them have ever let us down, the odd chance they have had . If Brucie tried and it didn't work . the fans have no complaints . There again we are talking about Villa fans, Onwards&Upwards Villaforever.
28 Dec 2017 13:55:10
Forget the manager for a minute, with Green and Terry coming back and everyone bar Kodjia near full fitness, who would you sign in January (Realistic) and who would be making your starting 11 to drag us back into the play offs?
I'd get Ulloa, start games with:
Johnstone
Hutton Chester Terry Taylor
Adomah Jedinak Hourihane Green
Hogan Ulloa
Strict instructions for the wide men to hug the touchline and get crosses in non stop, Jedinak to play directly in front of the back four challenge everything in the air and screen the defense, Hourihane to get us moving forward always looking for an out ball and possible balls over the back line, Hogan to play off Ulloa always playing for knock downs/ ons and balls between the lines and any scraps in the box.
If the other team are playing to stop hogans movement in behind and playing deep, get him off and put on Grealish in a number 10 and get him to unlock their defence on the edge of their box.
If they are playing to battle Ulloa and getting physical then bring on Davis and let them deal with two physical centre forwards and isolate each centre half's let them try and defend two big men from crosses.
With a bench of Davis, Snodgrass, Grealish, Lansbury, Elphic and Elmo we should be able to adjust to any challenge, if they are answering our plan A then give them Plan B and C and see if they can cope with all that.
The season isn't over, even with Bruce in charge, if repeat the first half of the season then we will finish on 76 points, that would of got play offs in 3 of the last 5 seasons. So if Bruce goes or stays, we are still in the mix at this minute, hopefully something changes, manager or results, I don't mind, before it's too late!
28 Dec 2017 14:45:12
Chris I Agree about ulloa but what's all this plan a plan b plan c?
Bruce only does one plan and if that fails we lose,
Have not got a problem with your team,
But the issue is who will the manager play?
Whelan will be in there I am sure,
Does not matter how many mistakes he makes he plays
It's true we have many games left but the next 2 are both must wins to get us back in play off places.
Lose these 2 and 11th - 13th could be our place position at end of day,
I don't go with this injury crisis being our problem,
Whoever plays needs to step up and show the desire needed to get results,
I don't see this with villa at all,
Bruce sticks to the same players who are not performing week to week,
Some players in the under 23s need to be used from the bench.
28 Dec 2017 14:48:32
I agree with Ulloa for me he a must. Would like Ings aswell but only if hogan goes.
Me personally i send snoddy back hasn't offered anything and walks around thinking he to big for club.
Also send omunu back don't rate him and we have enough midfielders and youngsters who can come in.
I think we need 2 forwards to come in and maybe a cb if there is one of quality who will play each week.
28 Dec 2017 14:49:27
Chris
I would play o'hare up top with ulloa,
Otherwise I would keep the side you picked,
28 Dec 2017 14:53:21
Mainbob the first line literally said “forget the manager” so I don’t know why your going on about he doesn’t have a plan b and Whelan will definitely play, I said who will you play. I didn’t get much further than that because you clearly missed the point but I’m guessing you want half the world beating youth team we’ve got in the first 11 before Barcelona or Madrid snap them up.
28 Dec 2017 16:00:25
Ok I got your post wrong,
As for the youth are they any worse than the rubbish on show,
Look at the championship teams and see how many play young vibrant players then look at villa,
And when I big up the young players in our under 23s I'm not talking about everybody should get a look into the first team,
Hayes, o'hare, sulaman, Clark, Murphy, are my 5 players who need to be looked at,
28 Dec 2017 17:01:53
chris the defence is al that's good about your team. the rest are useless.
28 Dec 2017 17:16:53
*Suliman. How many times have you actually seen them play? And against who? That fills you with so much confidence.
28 Dec 2017 18:52:59
Chris I agree with your team but if you are playing 2 in midfield u can't ask one to just sit and protect the back 4. Hourihane would be over ran. And to be fair I think grealish has been decent since coming back.
28 Dec 2017 19:07:42
“The rest of your team is useless” who would you pick then villajk, their our main players, shall we just give up then if their useless? Season over then. Not like most of them players don’t have us 3 points off the play offs without playing to their strengths. And you can easily have a midfielder screen the back four in a two and not get over run, he wouldn’t be glued to the spot rich, look at Leicester with Drinkwater and Kante (albeit kante has the legs), Watford did it for a while last season, Burnley do it regular, we’ve done it in the past under MON. I’d like to get jack in the team but then you either have to sacrifice the wide men or play one up top, which personally I don’t think either would work. Going 3 at the back would fit wide men, 2 up top and grealish in a 10, but I don’t think we have the overall squad to do that.
28 Dec 2017 21:38:14
He is glued to the spot tho. We havnt got a kante.
29 Dec 2017 08:57:00
Chris,
I have seen the under23s play many times this season
, so how many times have you seen them to disregard sullaman as a decent player?
I prefer watching them to our first team,
So that's your answer!
29 Dec 2017 09:29:28
You can’t even spell his name that’s how many times you’ve watched them.
29 Dec 2017 12:05:47
Picking faults mate!
29 Dec 2017 12:09:08
Chris
I have trouble spelling encyclopaedia but don't stop me from reading the book!
28 Dec 2017 11:38:44
Villa are 4 points better of this stage last year,
Not a lot of progress!
28 Dec 2017 14:40:41
4 points can get you promoted or relegated so I'd say any plus points is a big difference.
28 Dec 2017 14:50:53
Not with the money spent.
29 Dec 2017 20:55:06
4 points better off as you say bob.
27 Dec 2017 23:21:49
Well there is split on if Bruce should be sacked or not. Me personally i want him sacked.
I hold my hands up and say I was delighted with his appointment and the signings he made it was aswell. But it hasn't worked out for him or something players. Our chairman has backed him massive with money. Yes we have injuries that's unlucky but we never have looked like challenging wolves at top. Yes they spent money but we spent bloody load last yr. so we can't complain about that.
People say that another upheaval will harm us maybe so but staying in this league will aswell.
I like a fresh up and coming manager who plays attacking footy. We all know names bouncing round so won't go thru all that.
A question to people who still stand by Bruce, if we lose our next to like we did against Brentford will you change your mind?
Because even if we win I still want Bruce out I don't like his style of footy his tactics and playing people out position.
27 Dec 2017 21:50:20
just out of interest. does sacking managers and releasing players effect our FFP rules?
i know its more a theoretical question but if not i really hope we ditch least 3 or 4 players and free up some wages at least.
28 Dec 2017 10:33:31
To release a player/ manager you have to pay up their contract or at least agree a settlement. If their contract is due to run past the end of the season then you'd probably be spending more than just paying their wages.
28 Dec 2017 11:31:22
Strikes the way I was told You have a budget if you go over that your in trouble this can be by spending money on players wages or managers it will all come out that budget. Take next season, gabby won't be here so that's 50k saved out the budget, Jt who's only signed a 1 year deal so far his 70k a week will also be saved, but don't worry about Bruce if we wanted to sack him it would cost us hardly anything as its a rolling contract which means its a month to month deal.
I was told this at a meeting with Wyness when we 1st had Bruce, 1 of the deal breakers was whatever manager we had, he signed a rolling deal its a club policy.
There will be limited funds if high earners leave if you remember when JT signed for us an turned Blues down Harry said I can get 2 or 3 players for the wages JT wants even tho there was no fee wages come out your budget.
You would be surprised the wage bill at Villa Park mate Wyness has said that some players eg Gabby an Richards are on big bucks still as they didn't have relegation clauses this was a mistake by the Lerner and co. Hope this makes sense. UTV keep the faith!
28 Dec 2017 12:31:26
yeah its players like richards i was wondering about. never makes bench half the time and surely he's not injured that much so why even keep him.
28 Dec 2017 20:45:44
He is contracted nobody wants him and we don't play him and he don't want to go so only 1 who wins is richards.
27 Dec 2017 18:02:54
Cheers Daz for the back-up, good points made yourself there fella! seems more on here have their back-up! One more quick point about you lot stamping your feet about brucey, his record at other clubs speaks for itself, but as of this week, we now have the final piece of the backroom puzzle, don't underestimate what steve agnew brings and does as a coach, ask any player who has played in a team with bruce and agnew coaching in unison, show some steel boys and girls, we're not that far away, and none of us knows what brucey can do in the january market yet, let's not go lilly-livered now, keep the faith!
INBRUCEITRUST!
27 Dec 2017 21:25:47
We're having our wobble now, get some players back and fit, get an on loan decent striker, with a bit of luck, ship some of the crap out or on loan at least, get behind the team especially at home and we'll go up, THEN, if Dr Tony agrees with some that Bruce ain't got the chops to be a proper Prem manager, replace him then, not now.
On paper we have the strongest squad in the division, but I can't remember a game where our strongest team has played all at the same time? My only criticism of Bruce is that we should stick to 4-4-2 with 2 proper strikers, let the opposition worry about us and not us about them, home and away
UTV.
28 Dec 2017 11:33:03
On the money Allyp, its like you were channelling churchill fella, just remember to finish the post off next time with'oh yes'! - i don't suppose you've been doing up any houses round our area where a certain Argentinian who is somewhat short in nature and plays in Spain, is going to rent a house till the summertime as he's coming over on loan for about £100 a week do you guvnor? lol!
28 Dec 2017 12:01:34
Lol 82 😂 ain't heard a sniff of anything, only that Snodgrass has completely fell out with West Ham and won't be going back, so might have to do a feature wall or 2 or remote controlled entrance gates that even a Sweaty can open if he joins us permanently.? It's unusually quiet on the rumours front
UTV.
27 Dec 2017 18:01:02
Just heard that mitrovic wants to leave Newcastle.
Worth a cheeky loan deal till the end of season with option to buy dependant on his performances.
27 Dec 2017 18:14:26
i think reason he wants to leave is because bigger teams than us are interested and Newcastle have said no to him leaving. so can't see it happening, plus he can't get in a crap newcastle team he ain't that good.
27 Dec 2017 17:31:00
I would love to think that Dr T has read the posts on this site since the start of the season. He would have read extremist views like mine, whilst consistent would probably be in the minority. He would have read the balanced and positive comments of ChrisAVFC and Flackie and many others who would have agreed that managers should be given time. If he reads all of today's posts he will see that these optimistic contributers have lost patience and hope for change sooner rather than later. Tony if you read this realise that now is the time for change, most of your loyal following are telling you so.
27 Dec 2017 20:01:38
Give him Middlesbrough, win or bust.
27 Dec 2017 20:15:50
Decisive enough for me agreed.
27 Dec 2017 14:58:09
Just noticed that Paddy power have got Nigel Pearson as 11/ 2 favourite to be next villa manager!
John Terry next bet 7/ 1,
27 Dec 2017 15:29:25
Don't want Terry, oh no.
No experience at all, and pretty sure he wants some sort of position at Chelsea.
27 Dec 2017 15:50:16
Don't want either if I'm honest.
27 Dec 2017 16:08:53
Take Dean Smith or lee Johnson over them pair.
27 Dec 2017 16:31:18
but will smith or johnson want to come to us at minute?
27 Dec 2017 16:32:27
If he goes and we get someone like Pearson it would be so pointless and probably a backward step. They are almost exactly the same except one has 4 promotions on his record the other has 1. If he goes we need something fresh like a Dean Smith (I think he’d come), Lee Johnson (wouldn’t come this season with Bristol flying), Gallardo (River Plate manager) someone exciting who will bring something different, not the same as what a Mick McCarthy, Steve Bruce, Nigel Pearson, Tony Pulis would bring.
27 Dec 2017 17:00:18
M8 gallardo is a class manager i think we both mentioned him earlier in the year . he's going to be a special manager if we got him it would be a coup he plays fast flowing footie.
27 Dec 2017 17:52:31
Strikes
Money talks my man.
27 Dec 2017 20:00:39
If money talks then we are mute because we can’t spend jack.
27 Dec 2017 20:15:13
Not on players, but surely we can offer higher wages to what smith or Johnson are currently on?
28 Dec 2017 09:55:40
Gallardo would be a great signing,
He has already said he wants to be a manager in England Plus he speaks good English,
But can you see villa getting him?
More than likey it will be a usual candidates curblisley, Pearson, megson God help us all if any of these turn up,
27 Dec 2017 14:23:49
Got my crash helmet on and body armour on so I'm ready for war for this post. Last night was not a good performance by any stretch of the imagination in fact the last 3 have been woeful the fact of the matter is we have injuries that no other team have in this league I think you can all say hand on heart that before all of these we was going along rather nicely for the majority of you to call for his head after these games is not only embarrassing but stupid aswell we have all made mistakes in life those who live by the sword shall die by the sword you get the sketch we have had 5 years of embarrassment and now because we are having a bad run you want heads well be it on your own heads if the dr swings his sword because I will tell you something for nothing another whole new management team will unsettle everything that has been done over this last year we are a average team now but in my humble opinion we will go up this season #INBRUCEITRUST.
27 Dec 2017 14:56:57
Good post villadaz as you rightly say a full management reshuffle would be so bad, for the players and the club and then in return the fans. Icouldnt agree more the fans should be careful what they wish for. Last night was pretty woeful but this team will bounce back. We desperately need a striker but where from and how, with no funds. Got my armour on as well mate.
27 Dec 2017 15:53:21
can fully see what your saying as said exact same thing on facebook last night. we have had some of the worst luck going at the minute with injury's, i reckon we could almost put out a decent starting 11 with the ones we had, but think if we don't win both the next games he won't be in charge coming the peterborough game.
27 Dec 2017 16:29:24
We have a striker that has to search for the ball.
Hogan was ok before we bought him, what has changed?
He seldom gets a ball to chase, he plays a different role from when he was a Brentford.
Why do managers buy a player who plays a specific role then play him differently? It's like buying a pair of brown shoes when you wanted black shoes. You can wear them but they look stupid.
I have questioned Bruce's ability to change styles in the past but he is set in his ways. If he stays as is then we may struggle some more. Other teams have worked him out and are willing to contain and then break.
Was Hourihane injured, Lansbury injured?
Very few people will want an alternative manager but someone has to give the players a kick up the ar. e.
OK JT is out but a good manager would have got repplacements waiting. We have Samba and Elphick, WOW.
WE Can't buy anyone but we can loan players, please no more pensioners for f. sake.
If Bruce cannot find out what we need then he must go.
Bright spot?
If we fail to get promoted then we sAve £2m from JT bonus.
Now that I don't think JT is willing to give up his bonus. Do you?
27 Dec 2017 16:39:40
I can see what your saying completely and I agree to a certain extent, if we had Kodjia fit we wouldn’t be in this position, same with terry. However:
1) Bruce consistently plays Whelan no matter how many awful games he has or goals he costs us.
2) Bruce chose to play Jedinak at the back against derby despite having Elphic fit.
3) After watching Jedinak struggle against Derby he continued to play him against Sheffield which ultimately cost us the two goals.
4) Rather than have someone like O’hare (who I don’t think is the saviour like some) on the bench he will have Ritchie de Laet and Hutton, both right backs?
5) We consistently hoof it (to no one 90% of the time) when the keeper has the ball even when there is no pressure, that has to be something Johnstone is told to do! It happens too regularly not to be.
6) He seems to pick his favourites, Snodgrass has had woeful games where he looks uninterested and bored yet he still got picked the following game.
There are so many baffling things he is doing, and the facts are we struggle against anyone in and around us. Injuries haven’t helped and had Terry been playing vs Sheffield United we win that game, however we can’t blame injuries for some of the decisions he is making.
27 Dec 2017 13:55:26
Ladies and gentlemen, i can see some of you are calling for brucey to get the chop, and when a team is having a mare its understandable, but if some of you are suffering squeeky bum syndrome i suggest you go to your local off licence, buy a spare cork or 2 and position appropriately!, this isn't our first rodeo, every team goes through it, we've got ongoing injuries, i guarantee we've got players still carrying injuries, and then we've got players with us, bought before bruce arrived, on big sheckles, who won't move on, meaning the choice he can make is diminished, we bought whelan to play probably once a week, and alternate with the jedi, but due to injury this hasn't happened, jedinak had a mare against sheffield united, but was playing out of position, the question should be how come elphick or richards didn't step up for 1 GAME to show at least some professionalism? that's the level of disgrace their at, so you put that together with other things we don't see, players problems on a personal level, the younger players sometimes thinking their 'bigger'than they are, agents in players ears after clubs make illegal contact through back channels, (at least 5 of our first teamers are wanted this january already), and for me, here's the biggie, US FANS-we can be so fickle its untrue, for example, ask any ex-villa player what got to them while with us, and they say that sometimes the fans were great, but more often than not, (especially when playing at home) the atmosphere was toxic, to the level they didn't feel comfortable and would avoid anything other than the simple passes and basics, now some on here say play the youth, absolutely we should, but i think brucey balances that with the long-term welfare of the young players and exposing them to certain situations only when he thinks they won't be hammered by the fans left, right and centre! -just my opinion and i know lots on here disagree, but if we pull the pin now, we could spend weeks bringing in a manager while sorting out compensation, then there would be next to no time to assess the squad, try to bring in new players and sell the dead wood, so no use will come of it if we're trying to gain promotion this season, so how about, we all put on our BIG BOY TROUSERS, stop spitting the dummy, insert that cork (for those of a delicate nature), let bruce wheel and deal in the market, and start backing the lads no matter what, i'd rather we have a big fat wobble now, and move on, we wanted a manager with experience, we've got one, you all should have realised by now that it only starts to get serious at the end of january, any manager worth his salt would love to be top of the table, but in reality, in or around the top five is what they aim for, and trying to keep the squad healthy is just as important, our injury list should start to lessen hopefully, we're not miles behind on points, and we have a manager who'se done this once or twice before, so there is light at the end of the tunnel, we're not out of the race, and we've got walk the walk as our lucky mascot, what's not to be cheerful about!
VTMLDB-BELIEVE IN STEVE!
27 Dec 2017 14:21:22
Did you sit up all night to write that post?
27 Dec 2017 14:32:20
I know We have had injurys to our best players but we still have a much better squad than most in championship
Also does not stop the players we have available to Put in a shift when called upon,
What does our coaches do at bodymoor?
Do we see set pieces worked on the pitch,
I have now had enough of Bruce after giving him over 65 games in charge and improvement very mininum on last year,
Seen very poor football under Billy McNeil and this is on a par with that era,
When you see bruces experienced players making schoolboy errors on a regular basis then turning to the young players needs to happen
We are 3 points off 6th place which I can't believe to be honest,
But there are so many teams around us now that another 2 defeats could see us drop to 11th?
Pulis up next who always has a dig at villa at some point and this will be a harder fixture now he is there.
27 Dec 2017 14:42:08
Spot on young Classof82 thee best post I've seen in a while fella keep up your good work and hopefully we can have a Brucie Bonus at the end of the season.
27 Dec 2017 07:44:16
We were awful yesterday and have been against 90% of teams anywhere near the top 6, however some of the claims being made (on here aswell) are just silly. Say what you see, point out the flaws, don't just make things up for something to say, there's already enough wrong with them.
27 Dec 2017 10:08:17
I say what I see and I can see the flaws in our team,
Shame that Bruce thinks otherwise!
Most fans can see what's needed hut nothing changes which depresses me more
Well pulis is waiting for us on Saturday and we all know how he sets teams up and Bruce needs to work out how to combat him,
Forgot Bruce don't do tactics?
27 Dec 2017 10:58:38
What’s being made up chrisavfc?
27 Dec 2017 11:06:38
I also say it as I see it, not through claret and blue eyes, I did that when I was in my early teens.
I honestly feel we can kiss promotion goodbye again, never at anytime did we look like winning the game against Bradford.
We have seen all the opposition now and every team with the exception of Burton do the simple things and the important things better than we do.
We have no Passing ability, no vision, lack of quality, poor movement, void of direction, and shooting ability is shocking.
There will be the fans saying I am moaning amongst other things, but I am stating facts and saying it as it is, we are nothing more than a very mediocre championship side, and at the moment I hate to say we appear to be going nowhere.
I will say it again, we have several young players available for selection who would improve our capabilities considerably, they would also be more pleasing to the eye and just maybe surprise a few sides with their vibrancy and enthusiasm.
Where is plan B Mr Bruce, the pedestrian plan A is not failing, “it has failed”.
I await the excuses for our current trend.
27 Dec 2017 11:31:21
Bradford?!
27 Dec 2017 11:42:11
Well done Dave, they are facts and everything you’ve wrote can be seen week in week out. Like you said “no movement” yet people are writing about how they feel sorry for the strikers because they never get the ball played through to them, to get that sort of pass you have to make a run, you have to make some space for yourself. I’ve watched hogan for 120 minutes over the last two games and he is shocking, he might have made good runs when he first came but he does the square root of nothing anymore, so how can you feel sorry for him?! Read stuff about how Snodgrass is always at a decent level, the guy don’t even run, barely breaks a sweat, hit every free kick he’s taken for us at the wall, walks around like the top man when really he’s another one holding us back. Bruce did well to get us play offs losing key men for extended periods but now we’ve gone 5 without a win is it? And it seems like we have these periods far to regular and it will cost us. He needs a win against Middlesbrough and then he needs us back in the top six by middle of January or it could and should be game over for him.
27 Dec 2017 11:44:25
Sadly, and it goes against every bone in my body to say this. but I agree.
Last two/ three performances have been second class. It’s not the result, although they should be better, it’s the manner of the results. No urgency, no real killer threat, our football is obvious, and easily worked out.
We have passengers in a team that can’t carry anyone.
We have players playing, because our manager likes them, rather than them being the best in that position.
We players off form, still getting in the team.
We make like for like substitutes, rather than making a change to change the game.
The formation we play, is antiquated, and painful to watch.
We don’t play to our players strengths, and then play these players out of position.
Worse of all, we are now conceding goals that are from our own making. This says that the small belief the players had has now gone.
This needs addressing sooner rather than later, if acting on now, we could still salvage something.
If we don’t, and sadly let the dinosaur continue we will continue to sink. next year we will be fighting for top half, if not relegation.
27 Dec 2017 11:51:11
Ok well spotted Flackie, a silly mistake, Brentford.
The remarks and observations are still the same mate.
27 Dec 2017 11:55:55
I agree, post above was meant to follow!
27 Dec 2017 12:23:02
Chris, he got in amongst their backfour once last night and put the ball in the net, yes it was not allowed but with ammunition he will score, in most decent footballing sides he would score goals.
He also got behind the defence and supplied the cross for our goal.
He needs a target man up front with him and better service from midfield.
27 Dec 2017 12:39:57
Worth pointing out if we played Bradford they would probably beat us aswell.
27 Dec 2017 12:42:38
Lol 😂.
27 Dec 2017 12:46:10
Bruce likes his experienced players he has brought in but these are the players who are making all the big game changing mistakes!
Whelan keeps on making errors with piss poor passing,
Snodgrass is vastly overaged,
Jedi who I like as a footballer legs are gone like Whelan,
So I ask once again why o'hare or sulaman or Hayes can't get a look in from bench,
We have no pace in team and the build up play is snail like,
How many games has Bruce had to improve us?
I don't like seeing managers get the sack but enough is enough now he needs replacing,
Next question who?
27 Dec 2017 12:47:23
Ha ha ha. love it.
27 Dec 2017 13:02:35
What hurts me more to say is that aston villa are the worse footballing team in the championship
Have we really put any team to the sword over 90mins?
10mins here 10 mins there if we are lucky to witness.
27 Dec 2017 13:51:13
How can people still defend Hogan. We had a large spell on top and whenever somebody tried to play that killer pass he had moved from that great position to hiding behind 3 defenders. 75%+ of balls that didn't reach him were due to his positioning or being stuck on his heels. He tries hard but doesn't provide much else. There wasn't a lack of service from what I saw and hasn't been in other games I've seen either.
27 Dec 2017 14:39:16
When he first came I’d have agreed with you Dave, he was making runs all the time and was so positive and active, but watching him not it just seems like all those runs not being found and constantly being used as a target man has just destroy his confidence, against Sheff United, he would go to make a run, then it looked like he quickly realised “these idiots aren’t going to pass it” so then he’d try move back to get it into feet and end up in no mans land and we’d lose the ball. I would like to see him up top for a good 4/ 5 games with Davis but Bruce is so scared of losing he won’t sacrifice 3rd man in the middle, and if we go two up top grealish won’t be played, not in a number 10 anyway and it seems like he’s the only one who attempts to play to hogans strengths. I for one can see why Bruce hasn’t used the youth players because at times like these when your under pressure it’s just not the done thing throughout football, you use younger players when your cruising, however now it’s getting to serious panic stations and we should see a situation like Davis starting the Norwich game, with O’hare. We are desperate for energy and some positivity going forward! And I hope Whelan isn’t anywhere near the team, working it out we’ve conceded 5 in our last 3 that we’re from individual mistakes, Whelan last night and derby is responsible for 2, he is shocking. Jedinak cost us 2 against Sheff United but he was out of position. Get Jedinak in where Whelan is, Hourihane back in there, 2 up top Davis and Hogan, O’hare on either wing and Adomah if not grealish the other. Playing Elphic last night highlighted just how stupid it was to play Jedinak at centre back, Bruce has to take the blame for stupid decisions like that! It really is time to roll the dice now, I’ll still back him to do a job if we get a win at Middlesbrough, if we don’t, and it’s the same old then you really can’t defend him anymore.
27 Dec 2017 14:43:09
Sorry rknewell have to disagree mate.
He did not get a decent service at all, 75% of what.
He made one and put one in the net, players must look for him, if he moves he will be followed, we need the brains in the side to see and read this.
27 Dec 2017 17:44:49
There were a couple of times he was unmarked in the channel before going missing for no reason. One specifically where jack and josh were knocking it back and forth to create space for the pass. By the time the pass was played by Jack, Hogan had started running into the middle of the 3 central defenders. You could say they took too long for the pass but if he stayed he would still have been in a good position against 1 defender rather than 3 and by moving as late as he did the pass had been played before they could change tact and ball was given away. There were at least another 2-3 times that the ball was played down the side of the defence for him to run onto and he was flat footed or just seriously outpaced. He's not the only player struggling to read the game at the moment but when that's supposed to be his primary strength he loses any credibility as there's nothing to fall back on. I still think we'll make playoffs but at the moment we're relying on a striker who's forgotten how to play and jedi who just looks lost at the moment (position changing doesn't help but he was reading everything far better before his injuries this season)
27 Dec 2017 17:51:24
Agree 100% villadave
Hogan must be pissed off making runs for the fun of it. We just end up hoofing it up to him saying “ there you go Scott make something of it”
We have no one in the middle of the park who can pick a pass or see the run.
When he was at Brentford he had woods and The ex Chelsea lad supplying him every game. Now he has Jedinak and Whelan who can’t pass wind.
27 Dec 2017 19:59:51
This is what I mean by making up faults, there’s enough to highlight we don’t have to fabricate them, we all watched the game he wasn’t “making runs for fun”.
26 Dec 2017 23:02:58
Ok, let's have the excuses.
Old men against young boys.
It was so wet that they went out in divers boots. Made them static, no pattern, no desire.
I don't think that I have seen a more dismal performance for many games gone.
Feel sorry for the strikers. They never get a ball that they can run onto. Come to think we hardly get any shots on target.
No imagination, no do or die.
My old Mom could do better.
If Bruce can't do the job he should be replaced but who would want this poison chalice?
Play off contenders, don't make me laugh.
The super computer at start of season had Wolves top, Bcfc bottom,
AVFC 13th. Think I would settle for that now.
26 Dec 2017 22:45:27
We must be the worst team in the league, for giving the ball away . Just to many mistakes, time and again . I know Brucie like his experience throughout the team, but people have now sussed us out . Any ball played beyond our midfield is a winner, they don't have the legs to recover . Hutton was at his best again. He did more down that RH side than Snoddy ever does . Snoddy spends more time complaining and jesturing at the Ref . Felt sorry for Hogan, service to him was crap . his work ethic is great, he never stopped working . He showed in a couple of exchanges with Jack, that he has the ability if played in the right way . I know we still have important players missing, but things have to improve rapidly . Brucie everything I ever read, the fans are calling for a shot of youth . Give it a try, at least it will add energy . Davis came in, on a stroke of luck and you can't say he's done bad . Get some of the others on the bench and at least give them 20-30 mins, they will thrive on the experience . Kids play with no fear and enegy, if given the chance . They certainly couldent do any worse, than what we've watched tonight . The U21 games iv seen, they can at least pass the ball . Onwrds&Upwards Villaforever.
26 Dec 2017 21:44:31
Sick of this 💩week in week out. Two individual errors tonight ( 3 points dropped)
Two last game vs Sheff Utd (2 points dropped)
Whelan s backpass vs Derby (possible 2 points dropped) these are experienced pros making these.
Style of football 💩.
If we were dominating games and not having the luck then fair enough but teams are pissing all over us.
Get bruce out now, his had long enough with 2 transfer windows.
Take Dean Smith every day of the week, at least the style of football would be entertaining and attacking.
26 Dec 2017 21:41:40
1 more point, snodgrass hasn't done anything at villa why does he start over o hare, or doyle hayes . plus harry mckirdy bangs in the goals for our reserves so why not give him ago, wots the point in having 1 of the best accadamys an reserves if we don't use them.
26 Dec 2017 22:12:53
One of the best academies, you do know their in the second division?
26 Dec 2017 23:11:26
With all due respect Chris, Zaha and Benteke play for palace in the bottom 5 of the prem, would you say no to them because of the teams position?
26 Dec 2017 21:30:13
Another shocking performance hogan a bag of 💩 bruce is not the person too take us up . he has had 1year an a half at villa an we are only a play off side not good enough we don't play good football . i'd get rid now an get monk or ryan giggs in . we will be lucky to make play offs under bruce.
26 Dec 2017 21:43:49
That's 5 games no wins?
We are sliding into nowhere land again,
Can't wait to hear what Bruce says again,
Just play the tape from previous poor displays.
Not a good Christmas for us fans,
26 Dec 2017 22:37:40
I hate to say this but I think Brucie should go .
Don’t get me wrong in days gone by Bruce would of got us up . However this was when Football in the championship was hit and hope boring Football .
The two top performing teams presently are Wolves, Bristol City with Brentford not far behind .
The championship has changed whereby the teams are playing more expansive passing Football .
In my opinion someone like Dean Smith would be a great asset .
A villa fan, plays football the right way and would bring the best out of the team and get them playing the right way.
26 Dec 2017 22:48:40
Absolutely sick to death of watching opposition with so much more energy and able to break with some haste and fluidity. All season have remained optimistic that we will get a run of destroying opposition but just ain't happening. I know we have injuries but too many key player passing with regularity to the opposition. Real dilemma in that best we can hope for is play offs and SB has a good record. What should we do in January window is a mystery of FFP v need for a striker, sadly Davis doesn't bury the ball in the net and can't just rely on his hold up play VTID.
26 Dec 2017 23:28:17
Forgot Bruce was on the pitch with his individual errors we would have won that game Whelen piss poor Average Grealish was his usual 5-6 Davies piss poor when he came on Hutton lost in position so many times Hogan less said the better Snodgrass again poor all Bruce's fault now IMO all of these is not Bruce's fault.
27 Dec 2017 00:09:42
Villadaz
The style of play. Brucies fault
Lack of possession. brucies fault
Shots at goal and on target. brucies fault
Whealan, Snodgrass . brucies signings
Can you see the pattern yet?
Just not good enough
We’ve given him time to turn it around and nothing’s changed.
Sure we can go on a run and win games against teams mid table and below.
Bruce even said himself to judge him after decembers games. enough said.
27 Dec 2017 08:39:17
I did say I was prepared to give Bruce the chance to get us up and now for me he should go,
We are looking just a average team now going nowhere,
Bruce stays loyal to certain players however poor they are playing,
The sooner green, o'hare, hayes, sulaman. lydon are in the fold the better,
Snodgrass 8 million?
Are we really prepared to pay that for him?
Anomao send him back to spurs,
Hogan I feel sorry for,
He looked a good player with Brentford but they're a footballing side and they played to his streths,
Whelan just not good enough,
We look in a sorry state and some think needs to happen now.
27 Dec 2017 10:04:00
Never seen a villa team pass the ball so badly,
And the amount of times defenders getting caught in possession!
Heard some pundits on radio last night mocking our great club with how bad we look and thinking how bad they would survive in premiership,
We were shocking last night and it's happening all to often,
Lots of fans want Bruce out me included but who would you have villa fans,
Think it matters not because he is going nowhere any way fast in my opinion
We will just have to hope he turns it around,
But please Mr Bruce give Some of the young kids a chance from the bench at least,
26 Dec 2017 17:15:25
Now we see who has the balls to turn this sh. run round
Will Bruce get his selection right or are we going with a point and keeping it.
One fit striker Hogan, or will SB send out his faithful plodder Gabby.
Hogan must start and we must get the ball forward anyway we can. Style is forgotten, goals will be essential.
Hogan has only become a poor player since arriving.
Fall tonight and we will go from playoff favourites to laughing stock. Bruce has the players to do the job but is he willing to make the pick.
Davis is not a striker his record shows this, so forget him.
Whatever, the players are there and they know what is needed, times for total commitment bodies on the line.
3 pts essential.
26 Dec 2017 13:46:31
Had a christmas day to forget,
My missus was very ill so I'm a carer for a day and today could well be the same,
But on to tonight's game,
The best footballing side in the championship is wolves but my second best for attractive on the floor football goes to Brentford,
We have struggled against them every game we have played them and woods has run the games every time
Dean Smith has done a great job at Walsall and Brentford and deserves a lot of credit to how they play the game,
As for the score tonight I'm sorry to say I can't see us winning the game and another defeat could be on the cards,
I hope I'm wrong but a draw is our best bet if possible
So I hope every fan had a great Christmas day and not to many hangovers!
{Ed001's Note - sorry to hear that mate, my best wishes to your missus.}
26 Dec 2017 15:51:54
Thanks mate.
26 Dec 2017 16:33:30
Sorry to read this bob. Hope she turns the corner mate.
Sadly I can’t even see a draw today!
26 Dec 2017 16:59:41
Thanks for your concern very much appreciated,
I like you can't see a point tonight,
Plus the results have gone against us,
This is a must win.
26 Dec 2017 13:33:28
i know i'm going to get laughed at for this but i honestly don't think we was as bad as people are making out vs utd. 2 silly mistakes and yes they scored,
and if we had a decent striker in the starting lineup we could have won the game no problem, i seem to remember being on my feet more hoping for a goal than i was panicking they was going to score.
26 Dec 2017 12:57:18
Hi all been away at our Daughters for Christmas so sorry I am late with this.
Happy Christmas to each and everyone of you, also all the Ed`s for your time and wit.
Here`s to a fabulous new year for all of us and our great club AV.
{Ed001's Note - cheers Dave I hope you had a great Xmas mate.}
26 Dec 2017 13:30:37
Sure did ED, thank you.
{Ed001's Note - great mate, glad to hear it.}
26 Dec 2017 01:50:02
Happy Boxing Day to you all.
Regarding FFP, Fosun have just bought the second largest brewery in China and this brewery will sponsor the Wolves.
It looks like Sky are sponsoring Villa as they show every Villa match home and away.
You need pull your socks up or you could be stuck in this division with the Albion for years to come. Historically, either Wolves or Villa have been top dogs in Midlands and it's our turn. See you up there in a couple of years when you've sorted yourselves out.
26 Dec 2017 14:51:31
Thought you lot just drank Banks's slop?
UTV.
26 Dec 2017 17:19:20
How sad a wolves fan has to come on here.
24 Dec 2017 23:04:37
Can I be the first to wish ed01 a happy birthday!
{Ed001's Note - hahaha thank you Flacks. Merry Crimbo mate have a great day and all your family plus everyone else on here too.}
25 Dec 2017 14:50:23
Happy birthday to rd01.
You deserve it how you put up with us rabble!
Many Christmas as well to you and all the bloggers on here.
25 Dec 2017 14:51:43
cheers mate - I just realised you meant me! I was wondering which poster rd01 was as I haven't noticed the name before. doh
Merry Xmas Mb!
25 Dec 2017 15:00:47
My mistake buddie.
26 Dec 2017 13:02:52
Happy Birthday ed01, wasn't sure whether to send you a pair of roller skates or a zimma frame, so I hope best wishes will do.
{Ed001's Note - both would be perfect. Cheers mate.}
24 Dec 2017 20:19:48
Merry christmas to every poster on here you are all Legends in your own right I have enjoyed our debates and hope for many more in the future. Big shout out to the Edds let's all eat drink and be merry. I know things get tough on here but we are all Villa an even if things don't go the way we want we will all still be here because we are all Villa till we die! UTV.
24 Dec 2017 22:24:35
WTW nicely said, I'll second that . A merry Chritmas to all posters and all the Eds who do the work behind the scenes . let's hope we can get back to winning ways, Tuesday . Onwards and Upwards Villaforever.
24 Dec 2017 23:04:03
This is werid are we getting along now days?
25 Dec 2017 01:28:46
All we need now is Flackle and Chris wishing you happy Christmas and everything's right with the world HaHa Jingle bells.
25 Dec 2017 08:35:46
Merry Christmas! 😳😂.
25 Dec 2017 12:20:55
Merry Xmas my fellow fickle feckers 😉
UTV.
24 Dec 2017 15:44:50
Interesting stat,
Last 21 games villa have played away on boxing day,
Drawn--7
Lost--13
Won -- 1
Think we need a win come Tuesday don't you think.
24 Dec 2017 17:07:18
Exciting life there Bob.
Can you name the crowd?
Only teasing.
Have a great Christmas, hope AVFC does.
24 Dec 2017 13:14:19
To all the villa fans on this blog
I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy New year
And let's all hope the players really turn it on in second half of season to get us back to where we belong,
24 Dec 2017 14:46:56
You too bob. Best wishes to you and your own.
24 Dec 2017 12:34:54
Word on the grapevine pulis Could be the Middlesbrough manager!
And who do Middlesbrough play next Saturday?
Interesting to see if rummor is true or not.
24 Dec 2017 13:09:24
Pulis now 1/ 5 for the Middlesbrough job with 3 betting firms.
24 Dec 2017 09:31:22
Yesterday just shows we need JT back as soon as possible, 2-0 and cruising after 10 minutes then Chester gifts them a goal, 5 minutes later Jedinak does the same, 2 individual errors cost us there. We are meant to have signed leaders, Jedinak ex captain of palace got them promoted, Chester been promoted with Hull, Snodgrass, Whelan - yet when we've just handed them 2 goals they all turn to little boys wandering about to scared to shout their mouth off and ask what's going on, they had a corner just after Jedinaks howler and you really could see just how timid he had become, it's embarrassing, pull yourselves together and go again! Snodgrass was awful, Bruce did the right thing getting him off, looked like Elmo got injured so had no choice with him and we did need to try something different last 20 to get a winner so can't complain about going 442 but would have preferred to see Davis stay on with Hogan, probably trying to keep him fresh for Tuesday tho. Following the subs tho we had no chance, Hogan offers literally nothing, he doesn't run in behind and he doesn't stay for the ball into feet, he does half and half and confuses the life out of everyone, when he does receive the ball his second touch is a tackle because the first is always abysmal, giving up hope on him now. Gabby, is gabby, hopefully RHM can stay fit for longer than 5 minutes an get on the bench. Grealish, Adomah and Davis has good games, grealish especially dragged us forward, didn't just run down blind alleys, if there was too many bodies he switched it to the other side. Seriously need to get back to winning ways now tho, if we get back to winning 7/ 8 and drawing or losing the other then I can take this little patch as our "off form" point, derby are showing that Cardiff are human and they are catchable, we need to do our nuts to go for second because Play Offs is a lottery and we struggle enough as it is to beat the teams around us.
24 Dec 2017 09:37:49
Spot on Chris.
24 Dec 2017 10:23:29
Sorry meant to criticise Jedinak for the first goal not Chester, really don’t see why Elphic isn’t starting.
24 Dec 2017 10:47:14
I’m going to get pelters for this, but I think Davis needs to do more. yes he holds the ball up well, and yes his touch is great, but he doesn’t look for the ball, his movement is slow and obvious.
He sadly is never a number 9, more a 9 1/ 2 or a 10.
That isn’t his fault, but it does begger belief to understand how we expect him to play up top on his own.
This on its own creates problems, other than the obvious lack of goals, it kills your own midfield, as we have no number 9 our attacking players are all out of shape, as there is no goal scoring option ahead of them, so they are in two kinds of where to go, and what to do. This meaning at times two even three are doing the same move, or run, and at others no one goes.
This also means our midfield can be bypassed by the opposition, like yesterday, and we get over ran.
I’m not blaming Davis for this, this is poor team selection, or formation, But I am saying he needs to be more active, great when the ball finds him, but how often does he find the ball?
24 Dec 2017 12:00:02
I know We have had injuries to key players but why are not some of the young players being used from the bench,
We had 2 right backs a useless gabby and Thor on bench last night,
We are playing at home with a good crowd and a win was needed against a out of form team.
Yet once again we throw it all away,
We have no pace in forward area's and the build up play is so slow,
Hayes or o'hare or both should be on the bench at least,
I just don't know why Bruce will not give these lads a real go.
If it was not for injurys to all our strikers at the time would we have seen Davis in team?
No chance,
Bruce does like his experienced pensioners to fall back on.
This has and always been my gripe with Bruce.
He praises these kids with there performances in the under 23s but it's always the same words of "He will get his chance"
How long mr Bruce?
24 Dec 2017 13:35:33
So boring every week hearing about how u23 players are the answer to all our problems, the second coming and going to get us promoted on their own. I see what your saying about Davis aswell Flackie, doesn’t score anywhere near enough, as the weeks have gone on tho players seem reluctant to get near him, and often when we’re in crossing positions it’s only him in the box, hourihanes overall game has come on loads but it has come at the cost of his attacking threat, rarely gets forward anymore other than set pieces, should be bombing forward every oppertunity, get at teams more. However yesterday I think the main problem was the senior players, mostly Jedinak, out of position and looked out of his depth, from the 60th minute they had everyone behind the ball and kept killing the game because we let them slow it down at every oppertunity, poor game management, senior players giving away silly fouls when there was no need giving them time to waste and get out.
24 Dec 2017 09:21:55
Not for the first time we are in the winter doldrums!
How many times hAve we hit the buffers when in good places?
Bruce must arrest the present decline or we could slide down the table.
Why do we get periods of dismal results, they are not the end of our hopes? Time is with us but Bruce must loo at his styLe and selections if we are to stay in the race.
Observers comment that Bruce has the best record of getting promoted but he also features in the releg at ion table.
Come on SB, forget our injuries, there is no compassion from other clubs. Indeed they use our problems as an incentive to win, we use them as an excuse for poor recults.
Bring in the kids, let's see what they can do, they can't do much worse 2 pts from 4 games!
24 Dec 2017 09:38:38
Again I agree sir.
24 Dec 2017 12:31:02
You have to look at our record against the teams around us,
Cardiff well beaten
Wolves very well beaten
Bristol c a good point
Sheff utd should have won but alas same old story
Derby played ok but made mistakes at back for there goals,
Leeds ok performance but still not a win
3 points from 18!
Villa"s new year resolution must do better to get us back where we belong,
24 Dec 2017 09:15:25
Steve angnew comes to us from Middlesbrough now monk gets sack last night?
Yet they are only 3 points behind us,
Strange game this football.
24 Dec 2017 09:39:05
Agnew been in gardening leave all season mate.
24 Dec 2017 12:32:21
Could have needed him to do my garden!
24 Dec 2017 09:12:15
Well well another 2 points dropped!
And you look at sides below us all closing the gap on us,
The more I see it the the less chance I see us making the play offs,
We started well for 10mins last night got 2 goals up then the usual thing happens with villa we let the opposition keep the ball and gain the upper hand and we then start to pass sidewards and backwards,
No tempo and hardly any real threat on there goal,
Huff and puff comes the mind,
Not to worry Brentford next who like to play with ball at feet and with plenty of movement up top,
Every time we play them woods is the man of match and could well happen again,
We badly need 2 away wins to make up for our previous 2 poor performances,
I have to admit now my faith in Steve Bruce is getting weaker by each game now,
But I can only hope he proves me wrong on Tuesday night,
23 Dec 2017 20:07:33
Dear Santa
Iv been a good lad all season, this my Xmas list
1 JT back as soon as possible
2. Davis to get a goal
3 Brucie to see the light and give O Hare a chance
4Brucie to be a bit more adventurous when it comes to the bench
5 For Villa to get back to winning ways
6 For the promotion we all crave
7 For peace and Harmony among all the posters, even WTW and just about everybody else
Thanks Santa .
Onwards&Upwards Villaforever.
23 Dec 2017 20:48:52
You need fantasy island not santa.
23 Dec 2017 21:25:07
Hopeful, sounds like the Grinch got you and not a lot of Xmas spirit.
23 Dec 2017 17:04:39
Bruce praises o hare saying his time will come yet once again thor and gabby make the bench?
Just don't understand this manager any more,
Let's hope we win tonight because we sure need to more than ever,
Pleased that grealish and Davis are back,
Come on villa give us some Christmas cheer,
22 Dec 2017 09:16:37
I'm just putting this out for villa fans reaction,
If Bruce does not get the wins over Christmas to keep us in the play off zone and stoke sack Hughes would fans like to see Hughes replace Bruce?
Interesting debate!
22 Dec 2017 09:46:58
I'm just putting out this Hughes debate because of my grandson who is a stoke supporter and asked me this question last night,
I'm not a Hughes fan myself but just some think else to debate on.
22 Dec 2017 10:24:16
No - debate over.
22 Dec 2017 13:09:49
Fair enough!
22 Dec 2017 14:15:15
Yes, but not likely
UTV.
22 Dec 2017 17:10:08
So you are the only one in this debate then Chris?
Mainbob, good question from your grandson, but tell him not for me mate, if it had been Sean Dyche the answer would be yes.
22 Dec 2017 18:27:17
Villadave
I wanted dyche years ago,
22 Dec 2017 18:49:12
If Bruce was to get sacked. (if! )
Hughes is the sort of guy we would need, tough, no nonsense, and connected.
But, no championship experience, either as a player or manager. To me that’s crucial.
So yes would love him, if we got promoted, but if we don’t, Sean Dyche would be my dream guy. although we have more chance of gabby finishing top scorer, and European player of the season.
22 Dec 2017 22:26:35
If we are not promoted at the end of this season, for me Brucie will be sacked by the good Dr
Question is who would you replace him with, Mark Hughes would not be the man I would go for
I said this before Bruce was approved appointed, but If it was down to me I would be looking at lee Johnson of Bristol City (subject to Bristol not gaining promotion)
22 Dec 2017 23:21:36
Yes Dave, everything comes down to my decision, call me trump if you want.
22 Dec 2017 23:30:04
Joking aside, why would you replace a failing manager with another failing manager? What has Hughes done to make you think yes he’s the man to take us up, other than getting stoke to pass the ball rather than hoof it his record is non existent. If it were Dyche or Howe then you could see the point, but their clubs won’t let go of them to someone below them. Would you replace Bruce with Pulis, would you replace Bruce with Steve clement, I really don’t see how the thought could cross your mind. Bruce has one of if not the most (I haven’t checked) promotions from the championship and has us in the play offs with the worst injuries in the league, Hughes has never even managed in the championship let alone been promoted, he’s never really achieved anything decent as a manager despite be in control of very decent teams (Blackburn and Man City) and he’s ok the verge of being sacked, so on that basis not in a million years would I take him as manager to replace Bruce at this very moment. I can’t find one positive.
23 Dec 2017 06:47:36
If we don't get promoted this year then we're in the last year of parachute payments, so, not because of his style or cutting edge football management, but just because he knows the league and can put together a top defence, functional, no- nonsence team, you got to go tony pulis all day long, only big sam would do a better job.
23 Dec 2017 09:18:40
Just so I understand. Your saying you want Pulis? 😳.
23 Dec 2017 12:17:38
I had to read that twice as well Flackie, he’s got to be on the wind up, seriously.
23 Dec 2017 15:07:38
Why does the banter on here always ends up with a discusion on the bruce being sacked. Crippled with injuries but still fifth. one loss in the last few. Closet bruce haters. he, s the best out there for this league, his cv proves it. So what if we don't go up its not a given. He would still be our best option.
24 Dec 2017 19:11:16
Spot on Claret.
19 Dec 2017 12:10:42
im struggling to google the answer but how easy is it to get from Birmingham city centre on a match day and back up again?
im taking kids to the game saturday and don't fancy trying to get 4 kids to walk all that way.
20 Dec 2017 12:04:06
Strikes, how about, train from News st to Witton . You might get a family ticket, not Sue I think you can get a bus and train one . Worth enquiring . Best of luck.
20 Dec 2017 22:20:37
ideally want cheapest and easiest, does anyone recommend the car parks that are near the ground?
{Ed007's Note - I don't know if this helps mate but I found this, £6 doesn't sound bad to me for parking:
www.keaston.bham.sch.uk/parents/aston-villa-match-day-secure-site-parking/
22 Dec 2017 01:05:16
Strikes we park on the King Edward school, back of the park . Its run by the parents £5, very safe . We have parked there for about 6 years now, we have the season pass. , between 5of us it works out cheap . Best of luck.
19 Dec 2017 09:39:54
See the under 23s doing the business again 4-1
See my favourite young player o'hare scored again and was good again,
Murphy had A good game and also scored,
So I ask again why does Bruce ignore these young players and sticks with gabby/ thor/ who have done nothing to get A place on bench,
Hopefully this angnew will have a word in Bruce's ear and give Some of these players a look in,
18 Dec 2017 17:59:19
Steve agnew, nice to see ya, nice to see ya, NICE! -if this happens, a pure stroke of genius!
18 Dec 2017 19:53:10
What are you talking about?!
18 Dec 2017 20:44:49
Agnew said to be joining the coaching staff.
18 Dec 2017 21:47:02
Had a senior moment! Thought that was your shout as our new goal scorer!
Great move! And looks a done deal!
19 Dec 2017 20:24:53
What have Borough achieved in the past few years?
If Agnew is so good why are Boro still below our loved AVFC?
20 Dec 2017 08:42:06
Promotion and perhaps maybe just maybe he's had enough their and wants to come to a bigger vlub.
18 Dec 2017 07:48:53
When Bruce starts saying he wants to build a system around Grealish again, it scares the stuffing out of me. Grealish is a good player. But what if he gets injured.
That's exactly what he said pre-season, Grealish got injured and it took us a while to get going because he had no plan B.
The system has to be built around the strengths of the team as a whole.
17 Dec 2017 17:41:56
More ball than Derby, more shots than Derby.
2 on target from 18?
Simply not good enough.
If we got 50% on target we could expect a couple of goals.
Chances were there!
17 Dec 2017 18:28:42
Chances were there with a striker who doesn’t score and another who’s about 32 and hasn’t had a good season in 7 years.
19 Dec 2017 12:33:14
I agree, we need one or two strikers. Gabby should be released when his contract expires.
16 Dec 2017 23:07:56
You could do worse than getting Andy Weimann back on loan. Would keep you within FFP rules.
17 Dec 2017 08:20:11
Anyone know if this guy ever posts on the wolves rumours page? Genuine question, the way he writes reminds me of someone on here.
17 Dec 2017 10:21:38
Just ignore him is my advice!
17 Dec 2017 17:53:42
Chris, I often wondered, but surely the Ed would know.
17 Dec 2017 23:42:46
Does it matter?! He will have his old name on in jan, giving us some more great info. and eventually he will forget to log out like last time!
What goes around comes around!
Not 1 post in the wolves site from him though. very strange.
16 Dec 2017 19:22:52
In Bruce we trust is a mantra from the misguided loyals, until we all realise that he is not going to take us any further we are going nowhere.
16 Dec 2017 20:42:04
3 losses in 19 suggests otherwise, in the overall picture today’s loss isn’t that bad, in isolation the result today is awful, look at the stats, more possession by a huge margin, more shots on goal but we lose 2-0, the system doesn’t work against good teams, we don’t have a plan b and some players aren’t that good. The sooner we see Jedinak taking Whelan’s place we will stand a chance against the better teams, Onomah has had 2 good games from what I can remember yet he starts every week. Bruce messed up today, and with 2 points from 9 in the last 3, just when we’re starting to play decent teams it looks like we’ve been found out as bottom feeders, however we are 6th with what must be the worst injury record in the league, not just length of time and amount of injuries but the significance of the players getting injured, so give the boss credit for that, he’s been promoted enough times to see something needs to change against these better teams so don’t jump the gun, let him do his job.
16 Dec 2017 21:41:59
Taxi for josh 1 good game about 8 games where he looks lost and goes missing and he is idle if we send him back wonder if we can have half our loan fee back.
17 Dec 2017 00:13:56
Chris, I agree with what you say, how many of the top six could of coped with the injury list we of had . I think Brucie missed the fact that after 20 mins, his plan a wasent working . i can understand his reluctance, to put Hogan or Flabby in, but if that's all you've got . Our bench today was a strange on, Hutton injured, Thor not getting any game time and Hogan &Flabby coming back from injury . When are some of the kids getting a chance? Today would of been ideal time for a couple of them on the bench, at least they are fit . I agree that we are still in a good position and Brucie with a couple of good signing will get us back on track . Onwards&Upwards Villaforever.
17 Dec 2017 08:19:04
Your right Dave, with a fully fit side I honestly think we’d be finishing second, because our first 11 and bench would give us so many options. However I don’t think we’ve had or will have a fully fit side at any point this season. I think now Bruce is only playing Onomah so spurs see his getting games and don’t recall him in January because he’s seen as the only cover we have that number 10. I’m not 100% on FFP but if wolves have spent the amount they have an they was in league 1 two years ago then I’m guessing punishments don’t come until the following season so if it was up to me I’d go for it, get a striker on loan even if we have to pay the bulk of the wages and a loan fee, someone like Ulloa who will score goals regular because we’ve got to sixth without a regular goal scoring striker! Then I’d get a midfielder, Lansbury is always injured, Jedinak can’t seem to get fit and Onomah is crap. We recruit well in January and we can get play offs, but we need to act fast, no good getting them on deadline day, we need them ASAP.
17 Dec 2017 08:50:05
Josh needs to be dropped or better still return to spurs if possible,
Not seen many standout games he has played well in,
Grealish was best on the pitch a country mile,
See we are now linked to Walters from Burnley?
Another pensioner to get in side!
Let's hope just paper talk,
16 Dec 2017 17:07:56
Well it proves we are a play off side not automatic sheff utd will beat us we are good against teams that are out of play off positions we need to beat teams in our postion to get autonatic promotion, an we need a topclass striker on loan to partner davis.
16 Dec 2017 16:56:14
To start a game with out a striker, you get what you deserve.
I’m a Bruce supporter, but you can’t defend that. Hogan on bench, desperate for confidence, we need goals, and you play no striker?! In what world is that positive?
Another ‘I made a mistake. ’ press conference coming. Not good enough.
16 Dec 2017 17:13:13
No striker in startin line up?
Hogan must be fit
He was on the bench last week
Rowett must have been delighted seeing our line up,
Very disappointed today,
Derby are nothing special
So on to sheff utd!
16 Dec 2017 17:19:30
Unfortunately I can’t see us going up this year. We got into the play offs playing no marks, they say there’s no easy games in the league but there is, if we turn up and play at 90% then we beat the teams in the bottom half. When we play teams around us we get found out and it’s easy for them, the team isn’t actually that strong. Hogan missing sitters when we’re 1-0 down doesn’t help, if by some miracle we scrape the play offs we will just get embarrassed, Sheffield United next at home so we might scrape a draw. We have no hope at the minute, we seriously need a striker who can score goals in January, or we’ll be finishing top half and nothing else.
17 Dec 2017 08:53:34
Agree Chris,
I hope I'm wrong but I can see us missing out on play offs as well if we don't get a striker in and hit the ground running,
But if we do miss out it will only get harder next year to get up,
Big Christmas coming up I feel.
16 Dec 2017 16:00:40
With a tight game like this, where you have to play through them, ideal game for OHare . Brucie, with the depleted squad we have, how come he can't get a game . This first half has shown he would have been ideal on the bench . Hoping for a better Second half .
16 Dec 2017 13:17:19
Will take a draw for Derby v Villa to keep a bit of a gap. Our Portugese are starting to struggle a bit in this cold weather. Re-inforcements please, uncle Mendes. Don't worry about FFP, we'll pay on the never never.
16 Dec 2017 14:42:30
Got a feeling Bruce was tuned into wm when fans were calling for a false number 9!
With that line up We need to pass to feet more than ever,
But I get a feeling a draw is on the cards,
16 Dec 2017 14:56:33
Would take a draw all day long for this one with the injuries we have. Derby are flying under rowett, this could be our first loss for a while. Hutton is a major blow and a late one. Here, s hoping the lads can pull something special out the bag. Villa forever!
16 Dec 2017 14:57:07
Still do not get o'hare not in 18 but gabby Is?
That's only my opinion of course but o'hare for me is not being given a fair crack even on the bench.
16 Dec 2017 15:05:04
Do you rate o’hare? I’d never of guessed.
16 Dec 2017 17:04:01
Well it was always going to be a tough ask this game. Here, s hoping we can turn it around in the next game. hogan and gabby are obviously nott fit enough to play the full ninety. so brucie couldn, t do any more than he did.
16 Dec 2017 17:16:20
Yes flackie I do rate o'hare
It's criminal he has not being given a real run,
Thor is on the bench?
What has he done to deserve a seat on bench,?
But it's all about opinions.
16 Dec 2017 19:02:57
Mate I agree! Was joking as it’s always said, yet he’s. let there.
17 Dec 2017 08:54:29
Fair play.
18 Dec 2017 15:33:04
Regarding OHare - surly a fit O Hare has to be e better bet than an unfit Hogan or flabby Gabby! if not why are we keeping him or any one else that is not being given a look in. People have said we should not have stated the game with out a striker, I agree if we had a striker - however we do not, Hogan and gabby in my eyes do not qualify as strikers both at present could not hit a cows arse with a banjo. so what choice did we have?
in my opinion uncle albert should have started down the middle - at least he has a goal in him and would have occupied the defenders, Grealish should have been the number 10. Ohare in for Onomoha. worried about maintaining our playoff position.
15 Dec 2017 08:57:18
my wife has just told me i need to get a life. got bored yesterday and spent a good hour going through all the premiership teams and looking to see which players are getting no game time this season and wondering who we could get in on loan or buy in January,
i think she may have a point.
15 Dec 2017 18:09:05
More important is what names you came up with as possibly available.
Next you can tell her your studying the geography of the world while looking for someone who can score. This way she will think (know it's dangerous but), about a special holiday.
Hope this helps. I tried it and am allowed back in the house at lighting up time?
This is 2 hours earlier than usual!
15 Dec 2017 21:44:37
not saying they will happen but and most them are good enough to stay in prem but stranger things have happened (knowing my luck half are injured) .
ARS-holding, wilshere, coquelin, niles, walcott
BRI-mings, afobe.
CHE-drinkwater, batshuayi,
EVE- holgate, mirallas, besic, lookman
LEI-king, james, iheanacho, slimani, ulloa
LIV-grujic, solanke, ings
M CITY-mangala,
M UTD-shaw,
SOUTH-hojbjerg, long,
STOKE-afellay, bojan, adams, berahino,
SWANS-bartley, rangel, dyer, britton, narsingh, routledge,
SPURS-walker peters, lamela,
WATF-watson,
knowing my luck I've wrote 40 names there and 30 of them are crook or already out on loan somewhere.
15 Dec 2017 22:12:15
Mate there are some really good shouts on there, but we no chance of getting batshuayi, Shaw, Mangala, Ihenachio or Slimani.
15 Dec 2017 22:21:04
Are you suggesting that we should be ars-holding.
Not sure this would be a good thing.
16 Dec 2017 05:27:40
From that list Afobe, Shaw, Adam and Long, wish all of them but Christmas is a time for miracles
UTV.
{Ed001's Note - Walcott is injured, Mings has a long term back problem that keeps afflicting him, Drinkwater was struggling with injury and only just getting fit now, Holgate is first choice for Allardyce, James is injured, Grujic is injured and has a work permit that requires him to play first team football for Liverpool when fit, Ings is still returning to fitness from an ACL injury, Mangala is unlikely to go anywhere with Stones and Kompany being injury prone, Long lost his place due to injury though he is back fit now, Afellay is injured a lot, Bojan is on loan, I assume you mean Adam rather than Adams he is available, Lamela has been out injured for over a year and just returned to fitness. That is just off the top of my head so I could have missed a few injuries or loans.}
16 Dec 2017 09:30:42
Afobe or Ulloa would do.
16 Dec 2017 11:24:33
Ulloa is my choice for the loan striker.
16 Dec 2017 12:39:07
as i say i was just going by the game time they have had. i know a few have been injured and have come back but then when you look at what's in team ahead of them they will struggle to get back in team,
hopefully we get a few good players in even if it is just a loan.
{Ed001's Note - I wasn't having a dig mate, just trying to narrow it down a bit for you.}
16 Dec 2017 13:49:28
no that's fine, i knew what you was saying and by adams i meant charlie adam.
{Ed001's Note - I thought you must do, but there could have been an Adams there so I was just making sure. I didn't know of one, but you never know.}
14 Dec 2017 00:29:58
Well done the U18 s in the cup, two cracking goals by Adutayo, absolute beauties .
13 Dec 2017 08:42:59
When Bruce managed Wigan they got players in from almost unheard of countries, mainly Honduras.
My question is simple.
If Wigan found players from around the globe then why can't AVFC?
Valencia, Palacious and a few others, some made it.
Spread the net wider, bring us a magician.
The effect on the gates will be incredible.
The effect on league position will be what we want.
Get started, get signing.
13 Dec 2017 17:19:21
You can’t sign players in december.
13 Dec 2017 17:52:24
Totally aware!
January starts right after 31st December midnight in my world and I already know what I have to do from January 1st.
Unless there is a time warp of course.
I would sincerely hope that AVFC have plans in place and targets with pens in their hands just waiting to sign.
Before someone says "not that simple" I know.
Any good business will be working towards 2018 for several weeks, it's called preparation.
Old phrase in business, "fail to prepare, prepare to fail" and it seems that our AVFC don't advocate this adage often enough.
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO POSTERS EVEN THOUGH I don't AGREE WITH EVERY THING WRITTEN and MERRY CHRISTMAS TO THE EDS.
{Ed007's Note - Merry Christmas to you too mate.}
13 Dec 2017 18:06:08
Can't sign no one till January and I would sign Dynamo he's a magician?
13 Dec 2017 19:47:01
Great post OldVillan
UTV.
13 Dec 2017 00:55:34
I agree we need a top experienced striker, but also we need a quality LB . With none of the younger players, appearing to be in Brucies thoughts . We need proper cover, I know Hutton has filled in when needed and done the job well . We still need an experienced LB Not that worried about them flying forwards, as long as they can defend . Other than an out and out goal scorer, if Brucie eventually uses them we have lots of young, eager players we can fit in . But defensively we are quite lacking, what happens, if Chester, Taylor or even Terry get injured . So we have other areas that need looking at . Onwards&Upwards Villaforever.
11 Dec 2017 09:05:48
So we are 5th, with 37 points, 6 at the time of writing off 2nd and 11 off 1st. We've got a 4 point cushion from anyone outside the top 6 but we've got teams from 8th and above in our next 4 out of 5 games. We've got to this point really without 2 of our best players from last year Kodjia and Jedinak, and our other injuries along the way speak for themselves so Bruce needs major credit for where we are, had we had no injuries would be up there with possibly Cardiff? I'd say so. But looking at the squad now and who's coming back, I hope to god that their working round the clock for a goal scorer on the first of Jan. Every team needs a regular goal scorer, at the moment we've got Adomah but he's a winger and we can't rely on him, if we added someone who will score at least one every 2 games I seriously think we can still charge up to second. The sooner we find one the better; Ulloa, Ings, Nahki Wells, James Wilson, Barnes, Vokes, Long, Wickham - have all either scored goals at this level, or you'd bank on them scoring regular. You add that to our team and we're getting 3/ 4 every week, and in the big games against the better teams we've got a threat upfront. Davis has been a revelation this season and the way he holds the ball up and battles has been paramount to our success, but if he could score aswell we'd be pushing second, and until he finds his scoring form we won't be reaching higher than play offs.
11 Dec 2017 14:18:16
Chris I agree with your post 100%
My choice of striker is alloa.
If Bruce gets the right one in we will be there abouts come end of season,
But play like we did on Saturday you can forget it
Very disappointed with that display and if millwall had won they deserved it,
I wish Bruce would get o'hare more involved,
With gabby nearly back into squad o'hares chances of every being involved with get less and less,
But next 4 games will tell us where we could end up at end of season,
11 Dec 2017 15:49:58
Add Lewis grabban as another striker I would take,
11 Dec 2017 19:32:18
Out of the names mentioned I'd go for Wickham
UTV.
12 Dec 2017 08:30:24
We should be looking further away to find a goal scorer. Other clubs find quality players to take on loan so why can't AVFC?
Sometimes I wonder if we still suffer from Lerneritus and are reluctant to ask about certain players.
When did we last get a player that was a valued first team player?
We lost a team of players to predators and ok they wanted to go, but we should be expecting our management to be doing better.
Bruce has bought in many players that there clubs were reluctant to release, Kodjia, Lansbury etc .
However none are starlight players.
Other championship clubs are grabbing younger players on loan and we should be in there.
I would like to say "we are AVFC" but at present it means nothing, it's almost a curse. It also means we will pay inflated fees.
Do we have a list of targets? I hope so.
We have in our ranks players that could carry us up to the prem, and I want that well before I take my last breath.
So come on Bruce and other decision makers, remove your digit and get us a headliner to find the net on a re gulag basis.
Ffp will hold us back so get rid of the no hopes and get our younger players into play and an "Andy Gray" to lead us.
12 Dec 2017 15:30:18
Good post Oldvillan, I agree totally.
One point I feel needs addressing just as much is our midfield, we desperately need a ball player/ playmaker too feed our front men.
If we don`t sort these area`s we will fall short come the seasons end.
12 Dec 2017 16:25:47
Hourihane was signed for that but he’s always too deep, when he gets forward he unlocks doors. Same with Lansbury. When we play 2 midfielders with a number 10 the two mids end up sitting back, should look to play Jedinak/ Whelan and then Hourihane and Lansbury and give one of them the number 10 role.
10 Dec 2017 12:16:13
Injuries and ffp is going to halt villas push for playoffs this is the time in jan when we need to spend but we can't because of stupid ffp that doesn't make sense at all, to make things worst wolves are going to spend 20mil so, hoq come they haven't been hit by ffp because surely they don't earn what they have spent over the last 2 transfer windows, i just think this rule sucks, then you have prem teams spending 300mil an over teams round euro leagues spending 220mil on 1 player. i think if there is a rule it should be in every league to make it fair not relax the rule in certain leagues because fifa scared of manu, city, barca, an realmadrid . sorry to go on but don't get ffp.
10 Dec 2017 16:39:21
I have mentioned this topic so many times mate it's a disgrace but there's nothing we can do on ther other hand we shouldn't of wasted money on Ross mcormack and hogan wolves have loaned a lot mate they don't buy much.
09 Dec 2017 19:53:02
Mike where lucky today, to only have one shot on target, was unbelievable . Since he came back rom suspension, Taylor has gone backwards . He looks lacking in confidence and so indecisive, he never plays a quick ball Snoddy is another one, who had a bad game today . He couldent pass warter today . Landsbury and Weelen played well and kept our midfield going . I never thought I'd be saying it, but I hope Samba isn't to bad . He was great today, never missed anything in the air . If needs be, next game I'd put Hutton in there, he was getting tackles in and covering all across the back again today . We certainly need something sorting for next game, we need an injection of energy . Why not give OHare a shot, he would certainly add energy and passion . Onomah looks like he could do with a rest, I was surprised when he wasent replaced by Jack today . Another game that at least we didn't loose Pluss another clean sheet . Next game Derby, we will need to up our game . Onwards&Upwards Villaforever.
09 Dec 2017 18:05:56
I would like to know the thoughts of others on the team performance today.
Millwall took the game to us and kept Johnson hands warm for sure.
How can we only get one shot on target in the whole game?
Let us not trot out our injuries, there are ten players on the pitch, surely one of them could have hit the targeT.
09 Dec 2017 22:08:12
Looked very stale all over the team today. Sam J kept us at least the one point with another excellent performance. I suppose when grinding out results as we have of late we will get days like today! Massive next 3 with Rams, Bakers new crew and blunted blades of late! going to be a month to push on or fall behind! Trust Bruce to examine today and adjust accordingly UTV.
10 Dec 2017 15:34:17
Millwall are the sort of team we always struggle against over the years,
Let's be honest they deserved to win the game,
I said in earlier post I fancied a 1-0 win but a bore draw would not supprise me,
Next 4 games are a very strong test for us and could be a pivotal part of the season,
09 Dec 2017 09:48:46
Is Bruce really considering giving gabby another contract?
He he mad or what,
Gabby is not the player he was when he first come in the team,
He seems to have injurys on a regular basis and they are long injurys
He should be released when contract is up in my opinion
We already have Richards on big wages and not doing a think to help the squad,
Villa do have a bad record of having players on payroll which has been wasted money for the club,
Anyway enough of gabby and co,
1-0 win is my prediction for today.
09 Dec 2017 10:43:36
I think the words were, “gabby could still earn a contract” if he scored 30 goals an won us the league I’d give him a contract. From what Bruce said at the minute he isn’t getting a new deal.
09 Dec 2017 14:34:06
Chris for Bruce to even think of giving him another contract
Is stupid,
He has done nothing for us for years the very odd goal is not what We need in my opinion
Bruce should be giving the likes of o'hare and Hayes more game time,
See o'hare not in squad again?
09 Dec 2017 17:37:40
As I said if he scored 30 goals between now and the end of the season it would be stupid to not give him a contract. Bruce is just stating facts, he hasn’t said he’s considering giving him a contract, he said he can still earn one, which he could, in a similar situation to the one I’ve mentioned.
10 Dec 2017 13:08:05
Just let gabby leave along with Richards
Only trouble with that is nobody wants them!
07 Dec 2017 13:21:17
Right people We heard a few ideas who people want the club to sign, so who in January do you want out of the club to raise funds? Also what's everybodys view on HS2 Going straight through Bodymore Heath its a serious problem for the club.
07 Dec 2017 19:09:21
WTW sometimes I do wonder where you get your info from mate, HS2 is going to destroy the academy training pitches that’s it. It isn’t going “right through bodymoore Heath” by any stretch of the imagination. Training pitches can be relocated, their not first team and they can moved to other parts of the same site, all it would mean is youth players maybe having a longer walk. The main issue is the noise level, And how it may effect training sessions for the first team. When it was redone it was state of the art, and it’s still one of the best in the country now after all this time, however it is bricks and mortar, HS2 have to pay for the parts they plan to destroy (youth pitches) and should the noise level be proven to be of a certain level that would significantly disrupt sessions they would have to pay compensation to the club. In that case we take the opportunity to move and rebuild and give ourselves a state of the art complex once again. Training machines etc can be reused, then we find a new site and with the money from HS2 the new project would come at a lesser cost to us. Not a huge problem at the minute in my book. As for players, main position is striker, we need a tall strong striker who will take the weight of Davis’ shoulders whilst everyone seems to be crocked. I only say tall strong as the way we play that’s when we get the most out of the rest of the players in the team, we have seen Hogan types don’t work.
07 Dec 2017 20:57:17
Murray, Benteke, Gayle, Long, Austin.
Murray and Austin and Gayle are instinctive strikers and this is what we lack.
Are they available?
In the crazy world we live in who knows.
We could lose Elphick, Richards, deLaet, Gabby Bunn, Elmohamady, McCormack, Tishbola.
Are Gollini and Gil still on loan?
So much dead wood.
Cant sell Hogan, injured.
07 Dec 2017 22:42:59
I like your ambition Oldvillain but the only one of them 5 that would even be close to available would be Long, and even then your looking at possible transfer fee that we can’t afford and there would be plenty of struggling prem sides wanting him. Think we’ll be looking at loaning a youngster, be good if we can find a Tammy Abraham the way Bristol did last year.
08 Dec 2017 15:42:50
Question, how do some "lesser" clubs get good quality youngster from the big 6 to join them on loan?
We shoold be the biggest draw in the championship but who do we get?
Somewhere along the way as a club we fail but who is to blame for this failure?
Our loans are around 30 years of age, almost past it. Someone has to pull their finger out.
08 Dec 2017 18:08:56
We've got onomah (England u21), Snodgrass who cost 10m and a decent keeper on loan. I would say they have pulled their fingers out.
08 Dec 2017 19:04:05
Not going to throw names in here, but there's got to be a market for players who represent a 'lesser' country in next years World Cup, that are warming the bench at their clubs, without a sniff of a regular run. I'm thinking someone who's a superstar in Africa or wherever but plays for Milan or Sevilla etc, Scandinavian players even?
UTV.
08 Dec 2017 22:27:14
Lesser clubs garuantee playing time, unless we’re getting someone who walks into our first team we can’t garuantee a youngster is going to get minutes so it’s pointless clubs letting them out to us.
06 Dec 2017 15:09:19
reasonably happy with where we are and how we are progressing. Just a little concerned at how O Hare is being treated The lad is full of energy, creativity and has a goal threat, and would be good to help Davis, but he cannot get any game time. Onomoha gets the game time but has looked tired lately. For me it is time to give him a rest and put in O'Hare with Lansbury instead of Hurihane as he looks shattered as well.
team for me Saturday
Johnstone
Hutton
Chester
Samba
Taylor
Wheelen
uncle Albert
Snoddy
Lansbury
O Hare
Davis
Bench
Grealish
Hurihane
Elohamody
Bunn
Onomoha
DeLeat
Suliman.
06 Dec 2017 16:48:29
Don’t think you can bench Onomah and not plays grealish there after Leeds, would be a very strange decision. I think the team should stay largely the same, definitely keeper and back 4. After that the two in the middle is tricky because although he hasn’t done as much going forward Hourihane has been reading the game brilliantly lately, getting backward aswell as forward, Whelan at the minute is our only defensive midfielder option with Jedinak injured, and Lansbury was immense when he came on against Leeds and given license to get forward he can win games on his own. So really has to be Whelan and one of the other two, the widemen pick themselves really and Davis is the only option up top. That only leaves the number 10, is go for Grealish, he was a breath of fresh air against Leeds, I’d forgotten how good technically he was. Onomah needs dropping he was awful against Leeds. O’hare Should definitely be making the bench, his energy in the last 30 can change a game.
06 Dec 2017 22:12:40
Agree chris. I think grealish in for onomah. definitely put ohare on the bench for thor. What more has ohare got to do to get game time? He nets for fun in the u23s and we are crying out for attacking players atm. Watch Bruce put agbonlahor on the bench as he's had a weeks training under his belt!
07 Dec 2017 07:35:26
To be fair, I don’t like him but I’d have abonglahor on the bench because at the moment we don’t have a striker to swap Davis with, so whether he’s playing good or bad (Leeds) he has to stay on, also without a striker on the bench we can’t really change the system, the way we start games the 451 is easily swapped to a 442 if you’ve got a second striker. My bench would be
Steer
Elmo
Elphic
Lansbury/ Hourihane (whoever isn’t starting)
Onomah/ Grealish (whoever isn’t starting)
O’hare
Gabby (swap him with Kodjia or hogan when one of them is fit)
08 Dec 2017 08:36:19
I think anomah should be dropped and grealish in his place,
I agree with Chris about o'hare he should be more involved but Bruce seems to leave him out the squad altogether which I think is wrong,
Gabby who I am not a fan at all would have to come on the bench only because we have not a forward to come on for Davis,
Leave the team as it is at moment except for that grealish in
For anomah.
As for the game against millwall we should win but again another banana skin game which we foul up many times,
1-0 for me to villa.
But would not suppriss if it was a bore draw.
Come on you lions!
05 Dec 2017 18:16:12
I think Bruce has had a decent season thus far, but I would like to see him rotating the team a bit better.
About 5 or 6 games into the season he really got the structure and balance right. If you have the balance right and a number of 'like for like' players. I really think you can rotate more.
For example Mourinio plays the same tean week in and week out just like Bruce. He ends up with a lot of injuries, and his players are buggered at the end of the season.
Furguson was the master of rotation, and it is different to tinkering. Rotation, you are keeping your spine, and what works, and roatating 1 or 2 players that are like for like every week.
These players can be rotated.
Grealish for Onamah
Hourihane for Lansbury
Taylor for Hutton
O'hare for Snodgrass
Jed for Samba for Terry
Lyden for Whelan
And a few more i'm sure.
Just 1 or 2 changes a week. You can keep players fresh, increase competition, develop youth and keep squad players happy. whilst keeping the spine and stucture and increase performance.
He has to rotate his squad based on injuries and it ends up being retroactive.
Thats what makes sense to me anyway.
05 Dec 2017 19:25:43
I agree in principle, and on paper, and on places like this it makes sense, but you need the right sort of player, and the right quality with to replace.
Ferguson did this, you are right, and his squad players became legends, look at the little Norwegian! But his whole squad oozed quality, and world beaters, ours doesn’t, and in my opinion is fragile, I feel with this team, momentum is everything, not just with the results, but with the formation, and who’s in the team.
For me, we have a starting 11, that is a mid table prem side, we then have 11 more players trying to break in, that are a bottom 3 prem side.
If we mix them, the lesser players ‘could’ raise their games, but the opposite could also happen. And we can’t risk this.
We have to have a side that only the best play in, so if you make the team, you know you are there because you are the best on the day. We can’t have average players thinking they are playing because somebody else is resting. They know they won’t play the next week, so could be distracted, and cost us.
For me rotation works only with the very best.
Injuries happen through three things,
1) accident, bad tackle, trip etc
2) poor philosophy, warming up and down poorly, food and life style
3) poor mentality, anger, frustration etc
These guys are elite, two three matches a week, (180-270 minutes! ) will not kill them.
Pmsl at comparing Brucie with Ferguson and the chosen one!
05 Dec 2017 19:47:44
Last line sounds condescending, wasn’t meant like that at all, so I apologise! Just made me laugh that he mentionyin the same breath, I’m one of Brucies biggest allies on here, and I have to admit he is fit to lace their boots!
Sorry VillaSA wasn’t meant to patronise. Just a different opinion.
05 Dec 2017 20:06:31
Alright let's retract compare and say rather a facet of a broader strategy that I am comparing to greater managers that everyone can identify with.
Yes I do agree with your reasons for injury, however muscle fatigue can hit a player at anytime regardless how fit and elite they are, that's when long term injuries happen.
In terms of our starting team, I think its the most cohesion we have had in years. a lot of our fringe youth haven't been able to develop in our previous teams as our team and tactics changed like the weather.
Our team is pretty stable. I really think how can it be disastorous. Eg swap Whelan for Lyden one week and keep the core team. He can only improve in that enviroment.
05 Dec 2017 20:08:34
No stress Flackie, never took it that way.
05 Dec 2017 21:19:30
Thanks mate. glad you took it as it was meant!
05 Dec 2017 21:57:46
Lyden can’t replace anyone, he’s just had a serious operation yesterday.
05 Dec 2017 22:25:42
Well isn't that great news.
06 Dec 2017 12:50:55
Great thread and replies. I tend to agree with Flacks on this one momentum is the key I can't remember the last time we had a decent and stable side although VILLASA I can see where your coming from but it's all about getting out of this horrid league it's easier said than done so for me keep the same 11 each week until injuries or suspensions dictate what happens but great posts fellas.
05 Dec 2017 17:23:39
Is this site still the Villa site or what.
05 Dec 2017 05:48:11
At least the City fans are well organised in their fancy dress. They've all come dressed as seats.
05 Dec 2017 11:24:58
Funniest post for a long time!
05 Dec 2017 16:02:02
You can sit on the back of the bus with the cool kids for this thread TOTL, don't get comfortable though.
UTV.
04 Dec 2017 17:51:11
A chance to improve the goal difference tonight and widen the gap in time for the January strengthening.
04 Dec 2017 18:50:01
When u lost to Sheffield utd we didn't see you for weeks. Imagine if u lost to blues. How embarrassing would that be.
04 Dec 2017 21:57:26
Looked ropey against a bottom 3 team with 10 men, is it getting too cold and wet for the palasticos.
05 Dec 2017 05:49:30
Top of the league Can I ask what are you trying to prove coming on a Villa page? We are not bothard about you we hate Birmingham and Albion your not even a rival are you going to every clubs page or is it just us you are Obsessed with? Look at your history and come back and give it the big 1 when your team have won europe and the league and fa cups and league cups. You are nothing mate nothing at all. And don't get me started on that custard bowl you call a ground even our pies are better. Talk to somebody who cares about your tin pot club and leave us proper clubs alone because hate to tell you mate but doesn't matter how you go up as long as you do if you win the league and we go up in the playoffs end of the day we are still in the same league next year. Get them jogging boots on mate and jog on we are going up aswel!
05 Dec 2017 09:30:12
Bloody hell WTW that's a Winston Churchill speach there kidda.
05 Dec 2017 15:59:12
Shots fired 🔫
UTV.
05 Dec 2017 18:33:38
Keep your heads down, WTW on the war path.
01 Dec 2017 22:10:58
Good result in the end, snatched their hand off, for that before game . On the first half performance, didn't think we would get anything . They where stronger, faster and wanted it more . Their work rate, closing us down was impressive. What ever Brucie said at half time certainly worked . Much more energy& effort, compleatly different . Poor old Albert never got a kick, Leeds had two on him every opportunity . As has been said Onomah just wasent at the races tonight . Weelen had a great game again and big Samba lasted well . Nice to see Landsbry get his goal . when he was at Forrest his best games where at No 10, perhaps worth a try . At least we showed the fight needed, in the end we deserved it . At least we have over a week to recover, before the next one . Onwards&Upwards Villaforever.
01 Dec 2017 22:23:35
Cant improve on what you already have said davedean in the end we deserved that point second half it was like a different team.
02 Dec 2017 08:06:11
We are showing more bottle than in previous years and 1 point at Leeds is a good point,
Just wish Cardiff would stop winning?
But 20 games in and 36 points is better than I expected so now for millwall,
01 Dec 2017 21:54:00
Excellent second half but couldn't cope with their pressure or intensity in the first. Onomah was absolutely awful, Grealish was a breath of fresh air when he came on, hadn't seen him properly in so long forget how good technically and running at people he was. Davis also probably had his worst game, half expected him to struggle against Jansennn because he's a decent centre half (although he is an arrogant, cheating wet wipe) but he struggled against anyone he came up against tonight, even their tiny centre mides were bullying him at one point, but I suppose that's to be expected with a young lad, highlights the need for reinforcements asap! Taylor and Whelan stood out. After a shocking first half we ended up with more shots on target so really turned it round second half. A draw is a good result at Elland road and better than a loss, big month, need that second half performance for ninety minutes in the next few games.
02 Dec 2017 08:10:42
Totally agree about onomah who was very poor,
For me he is a player who
lacks consistent performances
Grealish was outstanding
Whelan was also very good,
He reminds me of des bremmer who does not stand out but does the dirty work,
01 Dec 2017 20:41:45
Onomah just had one of the worst first halves I think I've ever seen a player have, did he complete a pass?
01 Dec 2017 22:11:58
Maybe Lansbury or Grealish will replace him?
02 Dec 2017 09:59:46
Delighted for Lansbury and he looked pretty chuffed too! Agree about how poor JO was and just had one of those bad days at the office. With all our injuries it is great to have options of Supr Jack and Henry! Thought Whelan again silenced the doubters with another solid performance and as already said 1:1 draw is a sound result in the cauldron of Ellen Rd! UTV.
01 Dec 2017 16:21:50
Sorry Mainbob and Claret, not picking but Leeds had 4 points last year not 6.
We lost 2-0 away and drew 1-1 at Villa park, Kodjia with a late penalty.
01 Dec 2017 16:45:46
I stand corrected!
01 Dec 2017 16:52:01
Leeds have a better record over villa last few years and hopefully it goes in our favour tonight
A win for us and defeats or lost points for Cardiff and sheff utd would be a big turning point but a loss tonight and Cardiff and sheff getting wins would be a big step backwards,
Still hoping for a 1- 0 win,
Come on you lions!
01 Dec 2017 17:40:34
I hope your right bob, COME ON YOU LIONS.
01 Dec 2017 15:22:00
Stop fretting, Mainbob. Leeds ain't that tough.
01 Dec 2017 16:30:02
Not saying the Leeds team at present is tough but the fixture itself,
01 Dec 2017 11:16:50
Right prediction time is here to tonight,
Mine is a hard 1-0 win for villa,
Leeds is a very tough fixture anytime with there passionate fans,
But they took 6 points of us last season and now it's payback time,
01 Dec 2017 13:07:15
Think your bang on mainbob its going to be quite a tough one as you said six points they took of us last year. Think its a one nil score line but don't know which way that's going to go. would love it to be us mate.
01 Dec 2017 15:20:58
Can't see nothing but a defeat tonight I'm afraid with our injuries piling up its going to be a tough winter bring on January and if we are still in touching distance of promotion I would bet my life on it that we go up I'd love to see Charlie Austin, Danny Ings and Crouch on loan for rest of season and 1 Centre Half #DREAMER.
01 Dec 2017 18:56:52
Why keep Bjarnason on the bench at O'Hare's expence
He's not going to play him!