Aston Villa Rumours Archive April 01 2017 to May 01 2017

 

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30 Apr 2017 18:56:21
I think Steve Bruce, is the right man for the job. people calling for his head are crazy. But he does need to find a formation that suits the players. He still doesn't know how he wants to play. he has played 3-5-2, 4-3-3, 4-5-1 surely when your buying players you are buying them to fit your style of play and your plan.

Bruce doesn't seem to have a plan yet. He said Saturday, I need to improve as a manager as well. I ask people about Bruce and they say its not pretty but he gets results, well its going to be a huge summer for the club because so far he is just buying anybody who is in form rather than having a plan. please Bruce get it right can't afford another season like this 1.

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30 Apr 2017 20:08:05
You can't fault Bruce's record however I've never really seen a Bruce team play over a season, is it always this bad, awful football? And at the minute it isn't getting results. Kodjia has won us games making scoring chances out of nothing, did Hernandez do that for Bruce at Hull? I try to be a realist and being that I cannot see us being anywhere near the play offs playing like this next season.

We have signs 3 of the championships most inform players, every one of them has regressed since joining and become not even a quarter of the player they was. We play Hogan up too alone and hoof the ball up to him consistently, the midfield look like they don't know how to attack an that they've never met each other before. The one and only improvement I can see so far is defensively, and it wasn't hard to improve on that really.

I don't care if it's ugly and horrible as long as it's effective. Next season we need a system, whatever it maybe, a system that works and stick with it, signs players for that system. On paper we have one of the best squads in this league, top 3 definitely, and with the attacking options we have there is atleast 7 managers in this league who would get a tune out of our players going forward. Bruce needs to now show his worth, he has the squad does he now have the ability to adapt and develop a successful system.

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30 Apr 2017 20:43:43
I agree chris but because of his record we gota stick by him. Do i like his football no. Would I keep him in the prem if we got there no. Do i think he can get us up no. But his record buys him time and to be honest who else would come to us?

This season i have seen brentford fulham and many others play beuitful attacking football and simply spank us facts are these players aren't as good as you think I really belive other than taylor and connor houriane and johnstone january was a waste of money. I don't want Bruce out but i tell you what if he himself is questioning his own performance that tells you something i belive next season will be a mirror of this 1.

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30 Apr 2017 21:17:45
Brentford and Fulham are prime examples, imagine what their managers would get out of our lot! When we played Brentford it was like a training drill for their lads, they had 3 upfront don't know 100% but pretty sure it was Vibe, Jota and someone else, but they tore us a new one and looked brilliant.

Kodija, Hogan, Adomah and Hourihane should all fit into brilliant attacking system, in positions they are comfortable in and should thrive in. Best way to describe Bruce at the minute is all the gear and no idea, where as in his past it's been the opposite.

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30 Apr 2017 21:54:49
1 guy described Steve Bruces ideas as old and date an borring and said Bruce is past his best i hope that's not true to be honest because we really need to go up next year. Yes the fans are with them this season but if we start losing iam telling you attendances will drop. Why can't we get a manager like fulhams ok nobodys heard of him but there a joy to watch same as brentford was the teams we are losing to are a disgrace mate.

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01 May 2017 10:12:49
Wtw, never heard of fulham's manager, your having a giraffe, he's the man who got watford promoted, and played for some pub team called Chelsea, oh yeah, and he played a few games on the international stage too! -as for all this discussion on Brucey.

if you look at the games since he came in you may notice he dilly-dallys between man to man and zonal, whether that's because our players can't adapt or the message isn't getting through, who knows, but if we keep flip-flopping between the two.

whether its messi or gary gardner in the team, confusion rules, look at marco silva at hull, or big sam at the palace, put your system in place and stick to it, the players eventually click and bingo, more often than not, you get points, you can worry about the 'beautiful game' when your further up the table, so if brucey doesn't put this in place this summer, things could get a bit sticky!

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01 May 2017 16:13:19
Dilly dallys between zonal and man to man? What team are you watching? Have we had a problem conceding on set pieces? Far from it, that's one thing Bruce has done, organised us at the back and on set pieces. What on earth have you been watching? And Fulhams manager, he played for Chelsea 39 times in 2 seasons and Yugoslavia, only teams of note he has ever managed is Watford and Fulham, never managed in the top flight - not many will have heard of him.

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02 May 2017 06:56:08
Chris, i don't just mean in defence, from midfield back we got problems, sometimes we put pressure on the ball, other times there's such a hole between players all the opposition have to do is play triangles and they've bypassed our midfield.

the brentford game made me realise just how open we are, maybe if bruce brings in an enforcer and someone whose like a pitbull barking out instructions and cajoling the rest of them then things will definitely improve, but you take the jeddi out; and we look a less solid, the mark of a good defence is being able to cope when good players are out, you lose the jeddi and chester and we'd be about as good as an ashtray on a motorbike, hence why you need a set system so whoever is missing you can slot someone else in and the system rolls on, we haven't got that yet, and until we do, we'll keep looking up and not down.

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02 May 2017 09:58:56
Everything you've just said I agree with, without Jedinak we are too open and have no protection for the defence. But these problems have nothing to do with zonal or man marking, from corners and set pieces I think we're brilliant, only problem is we don't get out quick enough and sometimes the keeper hangs on to the ball way too long.

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02 May 2017 18:03:51
I get the criticism to an extent about the formation chopping an changing and the midfield just not clicking but don't forget Bruce hasn't had a preseason with his team.
The best things to come out of this season for me have been:
We have a prolific striker
The emergence of Andre green
We won the derby
And we didn't get relegated!

Two players i'd be looking to come in over the summer would be maddison or billy bodin.

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28 Apr 2017 21:06:13
Bruce has come out in the press (not like that i don't think! ) and said he wants 4 quality signings this summer, also, a few people blogging we may try and nab ben stevenson from coventry, young gifted midfielder, can spray the ball about and good temprament, anyone heard about this?

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28 Apr 2017 21:36:49
No but carries no weight either if joe bloggs is blogging about it.

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28 Apr 2017 11:57:54
Bruce just confirmed "Up to 12 could leave and 3/4 quality additions will come in", in my opinion I think that leaves us a bit short when we end up with a lot of fixtures and injuries come. However who do you want / think will be part of that 12? (As he's said up to 12. I'm guessing it will be more around 9/10) and what positions will be the 3/4 quality additions?

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28 Apr 2017 17:44:10
I think we need to strengthen in midfield somebody who can basicially be a young jedinak but proven. Plus we need better left back taylor is ok but not creative and if amavi goes we need somebody who can bomb forward. Tammy abraham wouldn't go a miss either providing we can offload ross mcormack. And we could do with a top cbk somebody who can read the game.

There is so many leaving we actually have 3 right backs at the club aswel when richie de lat is back i would loans bree out. Gk i would loan sam johnstone again you can see his getting better and better. elphick is another player i would let go he is just not good enough. Would anybody take a chance on mitrovic at Newcastle big target man. obv course my dream striker would be defoe but that's just a dream. please bruce no more 1st division players get premier league quality.

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28 Apr 2017 21:11:49
Mate come on, Taylor hasn't put a foot wrong so far.

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28 Apr 2017 21:41:22
Mate taylor has been good but going forward he is the greatest which is fine its not his game. If Amavi goes we will need an attacking full back that way Bruce has the choice if he needs a defensive lbk he has taylor who will do that job very well if he needs a attacking lbk hopfully he would of brought 1.

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29 Apr 2017 09:39:57
I get your point now, Taylor for the big games, new attacking fullback for the weaker teams.

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27 Apr 2017 10:33:57
I sat thinking about the summer and the class that premier league clubs loan out. Chelsea loan about 50 out every season so do Man Utd and arsenal so why not just loan players like hector cbk and striker tammy Abraham Sam johnstone gk aiden mcgeady mid we don't have to spend a fortune just loan fees. A lot of loans are hot young prospects with something to prove.

These players are examples Man City have great youth coming through. You can't lose if they're no good they go back if they are you get promoted and it won't cost us that much money!

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27 Apr 2017 12:13:50
You mean the Hector that's all over every paper being linked with Villa?

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27 Apr 2017 15:15:17
Yeah was just a example mate but there better kids on loan than people think might be a idea.

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27 Apr 2017 15:18:37
Its like a psychic is in our midst!

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27 Apr 2017 15:42:54
Yeh great idea loaning players, like you say we then get promoted, problem with that is when they go back to their parent clubs we get relegated again, Wonderful!

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27 Apr 2017 17:19:01
Great idea. We sign all these great players on loan, get promoted and then they all go back to their parent clubs and we are left high and dry.

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27 Apr 2017 17:41:07
not really because we will have money to spend going up; 1 tony is loaded, 2 you get tv money.

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27 Apr 2017 18:42:37
Huws, Brown, Abraham, Piazon - all loan players doing well this year. But look at Bamford, superstar on loan in this league, can't do anything in the prem.

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25 Apr 2017 00:23:34
Would anybody offer Gabby Agbonlahor a deal? Steve Bruce has said that he will decide if Gabby gets a new deal but his gota work hard for it. I say no but thanx for the games against Birmingham.

I am gutted to say that because on his day his good but he don't do it to much. I mean if we just left hogan up there we wouldn't of beat blues but gabby came on showed desire and killer touch.

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25 Apr 2017 03:34:45
Yes, but only if he takes a massive pay cut.

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25 Apr 2017 09:02:25
Yea but pay should reflect his place in the squad, and he has to remain hard working, not just because his coming back from injury.

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25 Apr 2017 12:00:55
Since the bruce arrived gabby changed and worked hard in training, its just a pity that he did his hamstring.

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25 Apr 2017 13:22:26
Absolutely not - his record has never been prolific. If he was at another club right now and the question was 'would you buy him' I don't think anybody would want him to sign. Even on a minimal salary, I'd rather he didn't take up a squad place and reduce minutes for the likes of RHM.

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25 Apr 2017 21:01:45
No way at all. He's scored one goal in 14 months for chrissake
Plus his unprofessionalism is unforgettable and unforgivable.
Thanks for Sunday. Now on your way.

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25 Apr 2017 23:39:33
can't we pay him per game, play him two games a season, off the bench in each, 60 minutes over a season, 2 goals, both vs the blues.

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26 Apr 2017 16:15:52
Sell Gabby he is not good enough for any league, sorry mybe a pub team.

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24 Apr 2017 18:17:36
A few journo's saying we're in the market for at least 1 if not 2 centre-halves, and brucey wants a vocal leader on the pitch, names mentioned are flint from bristol city and a centre-half from barnsley (can't remember his name), but as usual norwich, derby and sunderland are allegedly taking a gander too!

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25 Apr 2017 00:12:01
You won't go up buying Barnsley players we are ment to be a big club buy players from the premier league look at newcastle tonight richie came from the prem so did a few others we need quality we need to think big! Steve Bruce brought loads of players in january and not one of them players are like wow.

I know people don't like RDM but the players people say are good are kodjia jedinak chester nobodys talking about Steve bruces players because they aren't as good simple as that bruce has to buy better or we are going know where.

Newcastle had a picture because they went up tonight Aston Villa had a picture because we beat a awful Birmingham city side come on I am not talking about 1 game we have got to get a lot better those of you thinking this same team will go up next year are wrong. To go up you almost have to win home and away most weeks that's almost every single week a win i can't see it!

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25 Apr 2017 08:28:19
Wtw - on the face of it, buying quality proven makes sense, but not always, its the system that matters, if the manager can ingrain that on the players then that's half the battle, case in point is reading, tell me how many internationals they've got, how many who are a household name, man alive, i think they're main striker is kermogant (i think that's right), and he's just turned 35.

when jaap stam went there, their first 6 to 8 games were dire, but he persevered with his system and hey presto, plaudits all around, with players who aren't exactly being scouted by barcelona, i like stam, he's my manager of the season, look at allardyce, get a system in place and boom, palace have gone from relegation fodder to 12th on the prem.

i'm not saying allardyce's system is pleasing to the eye, just that palace have one, look at how benteke has flourished, so for me, this summer brucey bonus needs to put a system in place, and stop flip-flopping between zonal and man to man, the players get confused (being a bit thick doesn't help matters though! ), and the results are there for all to see.

so the question remains simple, even the doctor has alluded to it, get a system in place, stick with it and don't pfaff about with it-so in essence, if stam can manage to 'polish a turd' (to coin mendaxs' somewhat delicate expression! ), then with our players, surely it should be a whole lot quicker and easier to indoctrinate?

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25 Apr 2017 11:09:31
RDM brought Kodija, Chester, Jedinak, Adomah, Tshibola, McCormack, De Laet, Gollini and Elphic. So out of 9 players he got 4 right, you can't just state the best 3 players he brought and claim he was quality, 17 million pounds worth of his signings are out on loan and currently giving us little to no resale value, RDM was a chancer, played 5 strikers at times, and then wondered why we couldn't defend and had the mental strength of a riveta.

So far Hogan looks to be more the part than McCormack, take your pick of Lansbury or Hourihane as they both show Tshibola for what he is, an athlete an not a footballer. Johnstone has been brilliant last fees games and had to come in because Yet another of RDM signing proved to be an arrogant little pre madonna. And Taylor has been top draw since coming in.

Bjarnson looked good when playing but is obviously crocked so put him in the same category as De Laet. And Bree as a right back looks like a solution to a long standing problem. Your moaning now for the second time about the Derby, let them take a picture, let them plaster it all over the city, you must not know much about what that game actually means the way you talk about it.

Give Bruce a pre season with these players and get a few more of his own in, then judge! We've picked up 51 points from 33 games over a whole season that's 72 points, putting us in the play offs. However next season there's no AFCON so two of our best players won't disappear, next season Bruce will have a whole preseason with this team an a few others.

Stop constantly looking for the smallest things to moan about (a picture, an ex managers signings) and back the team!

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25 Apr 2017 11:12:04
I hope you are right mate because the money we have wasted this season is stupid. I mean you mentioned system hogan wasnt brought to play in our system he was brought because he was available like ross McCormack was aswell Villa play 4 5 1 some call it 4 3 3 but adoma and grelish aren't strikers so to me its 4 5 1 with kodjia lone striker where does hogan fit in? Must buy better because an iam being serious now to go up automatic you need to win home and away almost everyweek. 90 points is usually the target.

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24 Apr 2017 14:47:53
When Gabriel agbonlahor scored yesterday James Chester went to celebrate with gabby only to be stopped by Paul Robinson who punched and kicked him to the ground. There is a video that has been sent to the FA. The FA of slaughtered Aston Villa this season by suspensions and bans surely Paul Robinson should be banned for the rest of the season please take a look it was disgusting Dr Tony as even commented on it.

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24 Apr 2017 16:12:22
If it was one of their better players I'd love this, but I hope he don't get banned, he's awful an should he keep being selected he'll relegate them. Hopefully as usual the FA don't do the right thing an they don't investigate it.

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23 Apr 2017 23:39:09
Always great to beat the Blues, but if fans and Steve Bruce think they're going up next year with that team there having a laugh we are just not good enough lansbury he hasn't scored or set 1 up his got a pass rate of 44 percent which is not good enough.

hoolahan can't even get in the team hogan needs to play in a two a lot of bruces signing are just not good enough james bree doesn't look a player. Yes great win today welldone to the boys but they are a long way off going up and we spent a fortune. Big summer we need prem quality not championship players!

Oh and for Blackburn i think we should just play the way we usually do away this season and birmingham city will be no more! Sorry to be harsh but I call it how I see it!

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24 Apr 2017 09:29:52
Wtw, you're right mate, that hoolahan hasn't done it for us, oh no wait, he's at norwich! have you been on the baby shams again guvnor!

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24 apr 2017 12:59:06
hahahahaha who cares, they are going down.

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24 Apr 2017 13:20:40
Lol sorry people it was when i was talking to the phone it pronounced it wrong, but i am sure you know i meant hourihane. I just believe we need to buy better and work hard otherwise promotion is out the question.

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23 Apr 2017 19:58:48
SB has stated that there will be a big clear out in the summer.
To keep it short "who will he keep? "
This list will be shorter than "who can go? "
We must find a way of supplying our strikers, Hogan must feel very lonely.
Too many mercenaries taking the money and giving nothing back.
Apparently there's £40m in players on loan and possibly a similar amount in players at VP plus dare I say Kodjia.
He looks good, is good but is he a team player?

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23 Apr 2017 22:19:42
Not sure if you have been reading previous posts! Its all old ground, myself and others have been saying it for weeks about Kodjia, he is a good player and we need him no doubt, but team player No.

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24 Apr 2017 00:03:29
He scores goals.

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24 Apr 2017 13:19:32
So does gabby.

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24 Apr 2017 19:22:44
Yes he does.

But Kodjia scores one every other game

and Gabby scores one every other season!

wiso111.

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24 Apr 2017 20:44:55
Dave, the overall question was who else will be going!

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24 Apr 2017 23:49:00
Most of them I hope Oldvillan, we are carrying a lot of poor quality players who are psychologically out of their depth.

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20 Apr 2017 23:17:39
Just heard Ugo Ehiogu has had suspected heart attack at spuds training ground today.

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21 Apr 2017 09:43:08
RIP big man. Sad news.

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21 Apr 2017 10:35:41
Holte Ender in the sky.

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21 Apr 2017 10:36:35
RIP UGO.

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21 Apr 2017 12:17:16
Was a loyal villain an great defender for us and probably should of represented his country more than 4 times. RIP big man.

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20 Apr 2017 15:59:48
Sunday I think will be tighter than people think due to the fact that we cannot score without Kodjia, but predict Birmingham will not finish with 11 men and Villa to scrape a result 1-0.

looking forward to summer deadwood sale - Bunn, Kozac, Richards, Flabby Gabby, Gardner, Tisbola, Sanchez, McKormac, Vertout, Gil. Amavi. should raise £15 million. who should SB get in? assuming he keeps the rest of the squad including the kids, i think we need a centre half, left back, back up defensive midfielder, Keeper, wide right / winger.

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20 Apr 2017 20:40:09
Apart from gardner every one else on that list is spot on. let's get rid of the lot of them. also agree with what we need coming in. for far to long we have held on to players who don't deserve to wear the shirt.

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20 Apr 2017 22:43:07
You got some figures behind that mate? We signed Veretout for 12 million, and he's had a stormer of a season in the French league, shouldn't be making a loss on him.

Gil in today's market is about 10 mil surely, what with having a decent season for deportivo. Sell 12 players and bring in 5, leaves us ridiculously short when injuries come (look at the injury list from January / Christmas) and then a transfer window like that leaves the team not knowing where they stand with wholesale changes not what we need again. 3 or 4 will do fine, quality additions who Bruce wants early in the window so a full preseason, sell a few who won't be involved at all as Bruce sees fit.

Next season is one of the biggest in the clubs history in my eyes, last season we can flex our muscles in the transfer windows before FFP really starts to play a role in our dealings, should we fail to go up next year I can't see it happening for another 4-5 seasons. We get one chance at it, we can't afford to feck it up in the summer at the first hurdle!

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21 Apr 2017 13:18:40
Agree with what you said about next season chris, ffp and the need to put it all together in our push to go up. As you say we can, t afford to cock it up. Like yourself mate just want the best for our great club, I thought when we went down that it would take us three to four years to get back where we belong. Hoping of course that we would do it in two or three, Its such a tough league to get out of. Next season is so critical .

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19 Apr 2017 19:04:20
Prime example of the state of the media, yesterday came out that McCormack hasn't been training for 3 weeks or left his house for 3 weeks, everyone had a comment on it (me included),

comes out today mccormack's had 5 cysts removed from his mouth in an operation yesterday, along with pictures which look horrific, looks like he's had 20 rounds with mike Tyson. Just shows how they put a spin on anything to make a story out of it.

Along with this he put out a statement of sorts, saying how his dream move to avfc never worked out and he wants to come back refreshed in the summer and make it work.

He was useless and overweight when he was here but if his fit, ready and committed it saves us signing a new striker and he'd definitely be able to play with Hogan IMO.

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19 Apr 2017 20:01:53
Your having a bubble chris, if he can't be arsed when all the club and fans were willing him good vibes, you now think mcshortfarce has changed his ways? lmao he know realises no one wants him and he's on a good thing with us and with all the extras in his contract he can just sit tight and earn at least another 7 million out of us.

i wish you were right chris and he wanted to turn over a new leaf, but he's a potential poor mans' george best (and i don't mean on football terms), he's tainted and needs to be booted out before he stuffs up the changing room dynamic-to me, he's a 'wrongun', bin him lively.

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19 Apr 2017 20:08:12
Heard it wasn't mike tyson, but some fella called jack daniels?

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19 Apr 2017 23:30:13
Brave man drinking jack Daniels with cysts the size of golf balls in his mouth.

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20 Apr 2017 14:27:16
Do we take the chance with mcCormack, he was lazy, unfit, would not train, was a bad influence, would not opologise for his behavour. when he did play he was crap. He now wakes up and smells the coffee, and we are meant to welcome him back with open arms. He is proliffick when on form and fit but with his attitude do we really that. Think we should get rid and cut our losses. Get someone in with the right attitude and the focus for next seasons big push. He had his chance and blew it, We can, t afford to carry people. which is why i hope amavi and some others are shown the exit.

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20 Apr 2017 15:51:06
Amavi is an asset at left mid, never will be a left back.

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20 Apr 2017 22:37:37
I hope your right chris about amavi on the left of midfield, but at the moment all he's good for is keeping the hairdressers busy putting highlights in his hair, obviously it makes him stand out even more, what a numpty-if liverscouse come back in with an offer over 15-20 million, bit their hand off double quick-and we can all say 'coz he's worth it (not) '

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18 Apr 2017 09:39:14
Harry redknapp the new blues manager. Not as confident about beating them now.

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18 Apr 2017 10:04:36
Always gets a reaction when he goes somewhere but only so much of a reaction you can get out of poor players.

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18 Apr 2017 12:45:37
Unfortunately pretty much the same squad what pushin for promotion when the last manager had a reaction from them.

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18 Apr 2017 14:13:56
very true, hopefully 4 months of nothing will stop them remembering how to play.

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18 Apr 2017 20:16:08
We'll win comfortably
You can't polish a turd.

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18 Apr 2017 23:14:17
You talk sense mendax, hope your right about this one. Struggling to see it being comfortable now given no Kodija or Taylor, 1 option at left back and he is an absolute nightmare.

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19 Apr 2017 08:58:21
Its a Derby anything can happen. U think we'll scrape a 1-0win though, As it happens I think harry an blues are a good fit because I dislike both of them.

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17 Apr 2017 16:37:18
No doubt Bruce will be apologising yet again for another inept lacklustre performance, Poor performances lucky wins poor performance usual defeat, come on you optimists don't keep accepting mediocrity, voice your concerns or nothing will change.

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17 Apr 2017 17:18:13
Sometimes Bruce's team selections baffle me

What was Amavi doing on the pitch, he was Readings 12th man on Saturday gifting them free balls and yet he keeps his place today

What about GREEN, where was he?

I'm so glad they're not going up with this squad s a skeleton to rebuild on, we would get slaughtered v& bounced straight back down again

With Bruce's teams and selections, how the hell has he managed to gain promotion on 4 previous occasions?

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17 Apr 2017 17:33:59
To be honest from what I've seen of Championship football even the auto promoted teams will struggle next season and I include Newcastle (if they go up) .

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17 Apr 2017 18:40:24
Nothing like a few defeats to bring out the most fickle of villa fans. Greens injured for one and we played the game for 70 minutes with 10 men, and for 60 of them we was no more than 1-0 down, one of them from a free kick for a foul that anyone on the planet sees isn't a foul.

Bruce rolled the dice and brought on an attacker to try an get something at 2-1 in the 75th minute, it backfired and they scored another. Had he not rolled the dice you same people talking absolute nonsense here would be still talking nonsense about how he didn't make subs and wouldn't risk it.

With 10 men the tactics are simple, sit behind the ball, be organised and break when you can - we did, and we did well for 50 minutes, got ourselves back in to it, went back 1 down from a poor decision from the ref.

If your going to moan don't do it for the sake of it, have a bit of substance and evidence behind what your saying.

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17 Apr 2017 21:13:26
It would been a differnt match 11 v 11 ref had a shocker today. We need 3 class players its not about this season its about next season for us. I think next season we will go up in the playoffs with the right 3 signings.

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17 Apr 2017 22:26:01
Couldn't agree more walk the walk.

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18 Apr 2017 20:34:48
Walk the walk and chris I totally agree with both of you just needs more fans to take the blinkers off.

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19 Apr 2017 19:08:17
Hear, hear chris. Let the bemoaners moan mate. They don't know anything else, they certainly don't know foot ball or how to get behind there team.

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17 Apr 2017 12:25:15
Here is the result for today Fulham 1 vs 2 Aston Villa.

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17 Apr 2017 15:39:29
Well you're half way there.

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15 Apr 2017 21:13:45
Not really surprised by today, we have had our moments, but overall we have not played that well as a team. We have grafted out results, without playing well. when you see teams like Brighton, we are so far behind.

The difference is these top sides, have had 1-2 seasons building their sides . I know we have spent big money, but more needs to be spent. The money we have paid out for a midfield, that can't hold on to the ball. Our passing is hopeless, if you can't pass, you can't get any control.

What was wrong with Amavi today, he just couldent do anything at all . Got to get Taylor back for next game. Brucie has to set his mind on a 4-4-2, has to get Hogan up front, not as a winger but up front. We know that Hogan can score goals, give the kid a chance to do it.

We need Hogan and kodjia to start playing together, to get an understanding, together they could be leathal . We need Landsbry and Hoorihane, to get back to the combative players they where, the reason we bought them.

So going back to where I started, Brucie and the team have lots of hard work, to get us up to the top teams level. Onwards aand Upwards, Villaforever.

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16 Apr 2017 11:33:11
Davedean, I agree 100% mate, I said all this 2 maybe 3 weeks ago about our midfield and Hogan/ Kodjia and got a very mixed response.
It is all about opinions and we all see things differently, but in this case I don’t think we are far off the mark and I would argue the case wholeheartedly.

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16 Apr 2017 14:34:29
We're much a better team than when Bruce first took over, but have the one same problem, not taking chances. Missed a few sitters yesterday, but completely fell apart in the last half hour. But in all fairness reading are 4th and for 6minutes it looked like we was the team in the play offs. Amavi cost us two goals alone, don't understand what's happened to him.

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16 Apr 2017 21:50:47
Id be inclined to give Hepburn murphy a go at this stage in the season.

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17 Apr 2017 09:49:16
Need to drop amavi and bacuna and like u say play 2 up top as strikers which is what they are and green in team too as Jack is rubbish God knows what system but need jedinak hourihane and lansbury too.

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12 Apr 2017 20:45:16
Am hearing that everton like the look of sam johnson, and if barclay ends up going to man utd, they'd like like him included as part of the deal, also hearing the toffees, southampton and stoke are keeping a watching brief on james chester, before i get asked where i read this, i didn't, someone told me.

just as they did about kodjia a few weeks ago, what i want to know is how come steve walsh seems so 'lucky' in identifying players and their buy-out' clauses, its almost as if he has a crystal ball or something?

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13 Apr 2017 11:46:19
Sam johnstone is just a 6 out of 10 gk. chester is decent but to be honest Villa have had a lot better the best player Villa have is Kodjia with out him we are nothing. So far hogan has been a flop due to injuries I know everybody thinks we will walk the league next year but i still see few players letting us down lansbury another 6 out of 10 guy not good enough so far we are to reliant on kodjia. Hopefully Bruce brings in better players to help. Manager score 8 out of 10 chairman score 8 out of 10.

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15 Apr 2017 10:13:56
These stories you come out with are nowhere in the media, papers, Internet forums etc but you seem to state you've been told something then discuss it as fact.

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11 Apr 2017 15:27:16
Thoughts on Hourihane being dropped for Bacuna? Can see why he was brought in against QPR because Hourihane ran his socks off against Norwich 4 days prior, however keeping him out against a poor Burton team where he would have been ideal to get around Hogan was odd.

Bruce kept mentioning in January getting a proper box to box midfielder with a real engine, and at the moment Bacuna's the only one we got - that's the only reason I can come up with why he's kept Hourihane out the side, maybe Bruce likes it when the Holte End shout "hit him" whenever bacuna playing and a lino gets a decision wrong now. Although bacuna hasn't done much wrong since being back, apart from a few tired swipes at shots against QPR.

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11 Apr 2017 20:00:54
I think they're both as good as each other on their day mate. I would say both have to improve if we are to go up midfielders like them should be hitting at least 10 goals a season.

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12 Apr 2017 20:53:49
I think it was last week chris that I said our midfield players are not doing their job as effectively as they had been at their previous clubs, I still think that is the case.
We got Hourihane to score and create, the truth of the matter is he has not done that, I have no doubt it will come in time, he needs help of course, Lansbury is also at fault he has not performed as we know he can.

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12 Apr 2017 22:25:22
True Dave you did, for players who had such high figures at other clubs they haven't brought it to us yet. But from what I've watched I'd back Hourihane to be closer to bringing goals and assists sooner than Lansbury, what you reckon? He just seems to be in and around the box a lot more to me, and he could of really benefitted Hogan saturday, we struggled because we couldn't get anyone near him to support.

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13 Apr 2017 11:41:22
Yeah I go along with that chris, I think it will improve as we gel as a team, the signs are there.
I think out of the two Hourihane offers more by way of a goal threat and will get better in a settled side.
As you say I think Hogan will be better with more creative support and was missing that for sure last week.

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10 Apr 2017 19:11:07
How much is kodjia worth? not that he's for sale, but i say £30 million.

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10 Apr 2017 20:26:05
In today's market 30million is about right, Dr Tony seems like a Daniel Levy type tho and should he go I wouldn't be surprised if it was for 35/ 40million.

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11 Apr 2017 21:46:55
I'm with the Doc.
Start at £40m and play hard ball!

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12 Apr 2017 16:39:56
Would not sell Kodjia for less than 50 million.

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09 Apr 2017 09:08:16
Everton now having a serious look at kodjia and what it might take to take him to goodison park, i hope the good doctor gives them the bird, but its strange his agent seems to have taken a vow of silence all of a sudden, we need to show them its a no go, and they can jog on and stop trying to thieve any more of ours.

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09 Apr 2017 09:26:46
Any evidence of this what so ever?

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08 Apr 2017 21:58:44
First real look at Hogan today, had time to settle in, over his injury and he looks a very decent striker, but will never be a lone striker, or well not a very good one. Him and Kodjia given games together should work very well but Hogan plays off the shoulder wanting the ball into space over the back line and on his own he isn't going to get that.

When Kodjia went off and we were forced to play him alone up front their centre halves had it easy, although he was the only striker we had on the bench so that was the only option left. Hope we see more of him and Kodjia upfront together central not with one as a winger before the end of the season, can only benefit us next year!

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06 Apr 2017 19:28:04
As i said Aston Villa and Watford are having a pre season friendly so everything i said was true, no agenda like people said. Now get ready Portugal pre season as well. well done both clubs!

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06 Apr 2017 20:52:24
No one said you had an agenda when you posted the minutes from the supporters club meeting, that was on a different post.

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05 Apr 2017 01:17:23
Do we dare to dream of the playoffs?

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05 Apr 2017 17:14:13
It would be nice but, are we a team ready to survive in the Prem, as to bounce straight back down would be shattering

Maybe another year in the Championship would prepare them far better, allowing the team to get to know one another and be stronger at the end of next season having gained one of the automatic promotion places?

Just my thoughts.

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05 Apr 2017 18:43:38
Whether we could survive in the premier is a moot point. There's no chance of it happening this year.
For what it's worth I think if we did go up we'd be fine. We have fire power up front and I think Xia would add real quality to the squad.

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05 Apr 2017 22:11:20
9 points away with 6 games left, can't see it at all. Only positive is that Fulham and Sheffield Wednesday have both got to play either Brighton or Huddersfield and then they have to play each other aswell, hopefully they not have lose then draw with each other, then with 4 point gap things might be a bit more realistic. However that would also rely on us winning every game. Don't put your hopes on it, just look forward to being fair more competitive and consistent next season!

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06 apr 2017 11:06:16
Believe in Steve! i'm looking forward to the drive to Wembley for our play-off matches coming up-oh, did i mention we're going to run the table! stevey's lions on the march-its ours if we become the twelfth man. come on, up the villa!

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02 Apr 2017 10:15:51
Jonathan kodija is well and trully a wanted man, everton are taking a keen interest, in case lukaku does the franky bough, our old buddies the bar codes see him as the the man to replace mitrovic, scouts from 5+ prem. clubs have been keeping a beady eye on him, and of course the usual reports of marseilles, fernebache, sevilla and i believe stourbridge celtic have asked to be kept informed.

bottom line is we're going to have a battle on our hands this summer to keep him, so do we stick or twist, as a team player i'm not his biggest fan, but his numbers speak for themselves, and having a striker who can score 20+ goals in the championship is gold dust, so unless the good doctor buys us diego costa or the hulk, maybe we should keep him and push on.

any thoughts boys and girls?

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02 Apr 2017 10:45:23
Where do you get this from?

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02 Apr 2017 15:47:36
The kodgia was always going to attract big interest anyone would who can bang in20goals a season. Would be nice to see a bit of loyalty from him though. Seems loyalty is best coming from home grown players. It would be a big loss if he went. He, s enjoying himself at villa so maybe he will stay. If not, he will command a big fee so a replacement should, nt be a problem.

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02 Apr 2017 18:24:36
Has to be expected. As Premier league mid table club we struggled to keep hold of our best players and beat my in this division won't help. Just a word of caution to any Prem clubs, goal scorers in the second tier don't always step up very well! Fine example was Guy Whittington can any one think of a few others?

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02 Apr 2017 20:24:15
Rudy Gestede.

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02 Apr 2017 20:39:42
Of course the mighty Rudi! His side kick Mr Rhodes hasn't stepped up either!

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04 Apr 2017 13:57:02
Any thoughts on tonight's game lads reckon a 2_1 win will see us right.

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