A week after losing a game Villa shouldn’t have, Jack Grealish scored a cracker in the 88th minute to salvage a frustrating afternoon against relegation-zone Wigan and get Villa back to winning ways, 1-0.

Wigan apparently had no intention of trying to do anything but scrape a draw, which nearly succeeded. Packing men behind the ball and registering no shots on goal, they found themselves level up until the very end.

But a moment of real quality from Grealish saw Villa get the points, even though it was a hardly a vintage display. The late strike ended up being a rather important goal, keeping Villa’s solid record at home and showing the side once again that there is enough quality up front to find a winner in the dying minutes, regardless of how the game had gone up till that point. Equally important was that it was someone other than Kodjia who came up with the goods, and momentum was regained following the first loss under Steve Bruce.

Ayew, reintroduced to the squad along with Grealish, failed to produce anything. However, Gestede and Westwood were dropped to the bench, so there’s a bit of balance to how supporters will likely have viewed the lineup.

The lack of creativity on the day shows that Bruce has not yet found a formula to effectively break down teams coming to Villa Park to play for a draw or a smash-and-grab. We can likely expect to see this more and more. I don’t really care whether it’s 1-0 or 5-0 as long as Villa find a way through. But they do have to find a way through.

An earlier goal would certainly have opened up the game, and perhaps seen Villa taking advantage to more accurately reflect the difference between the sides. But when that goal didn’t come, Villa had to stay within themselves, not give away anything silly, and take advantage of the attacking threat they possess. They ultimately did.

It’s clear that Bruce understands the need for points, and he hasn’t been conservative in his substitutions. Searching for a winner, Gardner and Adomah were sacrificed for Gestede and McCormack. It was a kitchen-sink approach, but Bruce obviously wasn’t impressed with Wigan’s chances of scoring, so, as in the Leeds game, he threw it all out there to see what stuck. The difference today was that Villa weren’t chasing an equalizer.

Following Grealish’s fantastic finish, Bacuna, rather than Westwood, was brought on to give Villa another midfielder to see out the game.

Questions will persist about Ayew and perhaps Tshibola. Having stabilized the squad by pairing Bacuna and Gardner with Jedinak, one wonders what Bruce is seeing if he feels Villa can now go with two centrally in midfield and leaves what seemed a threatening, if raw player, on the bench. I say this because if Villa seem a bit top heavy, more attacking impetus from the midfield might well be what they need to help pull teams out of shape. One hopes he’s getting drilled well in training and that he can offer an answer to Villa’s lack of midfield dynamism.

In the same category of will-he-or-won’t-he, McCormack once again failed to do anything, though he wasn’t on long. Tony Morley remarked about his generous midsection and one wonders whether the player is going to come good for Villa. Bruce has spoken about him having an opportunity during the African Cup, but depending on who the transfer targets are that we’ve been hearing about, I’m just not at all sure that it’s going to work out for him at Villa, even as an impact sub. I think I’d much rather have what Hernandez has to offer out on the pitch, if that’s indeed what Bruce is working on.

So, there’s plenty to talk about, but Villa are still picking up points and continuing to tap into a resilience that has eluded them for years. Next up is Norwich Tuesday night, and Villa really will want to find a way to notch an important win on the road, push on and get themselves into the playoff spots.

Over to you.

Comments 141

  1. Mate texting on way back from game. Amavi, kodger, jack and Jedi good. Wigan crepe and parked the bus. Need to find goals from our attacking players, get the right balance. Ayew doing my head in! I’d play jack alongside Jedi at vp

  2. Hmmm….check the size of fatboy McCormack in the headline picture…and people had the cheek to call Gabby overweight.

    Winning ugly is good, and all successful teams need to do that from time to time. Problem for Villa is that they have a poor goal return for their possession because they don’t have a consistently good finisher, and the record against most of the teams in the top half illustrates why Villa are mid-table.

    Most of the games I have seen reflect a teams that toil away without much fluency or quality, thanks to a woeful summer of recruitment. In most games I’ve seen, they rarely show-up for more than 15 to 20 mins….the rest is like water torture.

  3. Thanks for the write up, John. Sounds like Villa deserved to win what was by every report a dire game.
    Grealish scored the all important goal, but I hope it doesn’t go to his head.
    The clean sheet is great, but Villa still needs to lift its game.
    Villa should beat Norwich. Is McCormack really fatter than before?The coaches etc would know if he were. He struck me as the stocky type, but if his form is bad, his fitness will be scrutinized. He played well when he first arrived from Fulham.
    Jedinak seems to be coming good. Good to hear Hutton played well. Will Tshibola get a look in?

  4. Robbo summed up the much of the game in his posting earlier.

    First twenty minutes Villa payed really well, and should have got something from it, but just lacked that cutting edge, and for the first time for a long time, played towards the Holte. As the game wore on, Wigan came more into it and the first half ended up fairly even, with neither side being real threat.

    The second half became more frustrating with the ball, as usual being played to the wing, and although Hutton was upto the game, Adomah is not really cutting the mustard, and is no where near quick enough as a winger. I am sure if he had been replaced by Bacuna or Tishbola, we would have done a lot better.
    Jack was ok, but should have done better, as should Ayew. Jedinak and Hutton were outstanding, and Elphick put in a better shift with Chester. Kodja just needed a lot better support, while Amavi put in a reasonably good shift, and had some really good moments.

    We just need to keep building, and start scoring more goals, but in order to do it, Bruce needs them to be going forward, and to be much more direct, relying a little less on wing play.

    Every ball to Adomah and there would be two Wigan players looking to stop him.

    Super Jack’s brilliant goal saved the day…First real shot on target…..we need those sort of shots from the beginning.

  5. McCormack is a big lad, little stocky type. As he gets older prob struggle to keep weight off. Villa going for Robinson gk on loan and Jenkinson rb loan. Love Bruce’s comments. Need to punish teams and pass better and quicker. Can’t Waite to sign another mid

  6. Good to see our former youngsters, Robinson and Johnson showing their skills and doing the business for PNE and scoring some great goals. Pity they not considered good enough for Villa.

  7. The Match

    I wasn’t able to see the match, but from what I’ve gleaned it seems to be the on-going story of Villa not having the proverbial ‘cutting edge’ that’s the main problem.

    Players like Ayew and Codger show great elements of individual play at times but fall down when it comes to team considerations – except that Codger seems more successful at finding the net.

    At this (second tier) level I would have thought both Ayew and Jack would be outstanding, but though they sometimes strut their stuff they seem to deceive – and too much so. At least Jack made up for it by his last huff party piece yesterday. But will he make it as a great player? I wonder.

    Yes, until we get a really incisive player, we’re probably not going to see Villa win games by much …. but so long as the points continue to be collected at least we’re part of the way there.

    A win at Norwich would go down well.

  8. JL. You’re right that we’d clearly benefit from having a creative midfielder but for the first 15 minutes yesterday we did manage to unlock the Wigan defence several times and looked certain to score. We then lost confidence and intensity and the game settled into a boring 60 minutes lacking in passion or belief.
    There were plenty of individual runs but ‘individual’ is the operative word. They rarely had support so ended up running into blind alleys and the attacks fizzled out.
    I actually thought we missed (wait for it) Ashley Westwood. At least he tries to make himself available all over the pitch and recycles the ball to other players. There are signs that he’s starting to do that in more forward positions too.
    Ayew, Kodjia, Adomah and Grealish are all capable of taking on players and making things happen, and it was one such moment of brilliance that finally won us the match, but football is a team game and we need more players making selfless runs to create space for team mates or running into space to provide an outlet.
    We’re now on our best home run of form for 8 years which is great, but that means more teams will park the number 64 at Villa Park and we’re going to have to work harder as a team to break them down

  9. Thanks JC

    We do lack a player that moves the ball around from wing to wing to pull defences about and I wonder if given a chance Gil or vertout could of done that Job? as robbo said Westwood at least moves the ball quickly often mistaken for not wanting the ball. The key to breaking down defences is either overload with two forwards in the box with plenty off crosses and pick up the scraps or a mixture of that and moving the ball quickly around the edge of the box and line breaking runs from midfield. I’m sure Bruce will figure this out but I think 442 at home would work better.

    jedinaks rise and form has enabled Bruce to go with two and even one in midfield, a luxury RDM did not have as jedi was poor to start with.

    I did see the goals from our former players at PNE, we could easily use both of them in this team and I’m wondering how many more will be waisted ( green, murphy, lyden) before the penny drops, they have to play to be sure, Green for me is a winger Ayew is not, Murphy is a striker gabby is no longer that.

  10. Robbo very similar to my view of yesterday, but we also lack directness at important moments, when we should be taking advantage of the breakway, and we end up , once over the halfway line, of playing to wings, in order to put in high crosses, giving defences time to drop back, and then there is not enough threat in the box to make things happen. The only time we score goals, is when we do something different, and go direct, or like Jack yesterday, actually try shooting once we are close to the 18yard line. we do not seem to have players who have the confidence to shoot.

    Yes, as MK says, could do with involving our youngsters before we lose them. Johnson and Robinson look really exciting prospects at PNE.

    A nice touch yesterday was the team bringing Steve Warnock over to the Holte End at the end for the fans to acknowledge him.

  11. A point I meant to make, was that Adomah, had a much harder task yesterday, as Wigan had done their homework, and every time he received the ball from Hutton, there were 2 players marking him, and so many times, the work between Adomah and Hutton was snuffed out. Really looking at us in previous matches, it was not difficult to work out.

    Murphy and Green, should at least be on the bench soon, or it will be a waste of their talents.

  12. The first couple of games after SB came in he gave significant gametime to Bacuna in midfield, and it seemed to give us a bit of a lift — I’d be interested in seeing that experiment repeated.

    If we’re going to go in for another first-line striker in January then we need to unload Gabby, Kozak, and Ayew for certain, and perhaps McCormack as well. Then, as I think we’d all agree, we need to dramatically strengthen our midfield.

  13. Id happily off load a striker to bring in a quality mid. Would love johnson in mid right now!

    Bruce has had to hit the ground running and get instant results. Would be a brave man to rely on un tried youth. Going forward id like to think they were given a chance but 5 wins 3 draws and 1 defeat says bruce is getting it right. Do love a youth product coming through and think bruce will manage grealish just right. If there good enough they will get a chance,

  14. Green fearured a bit under rdm, didnt pull up any trees? Against luton was dissapointing. Certainly not keen on starting the lad yet. Rusden apparently wants out and wanted it for a while. Winding his contract down. Would have him on bench over gabby though. Sounds like a bit of a prat

  15. Fair play to derby and steve McLaren, won 6 on the trot! Think it suits McLaren to be in the championship under the radar.

    Never known a league to be as tight as the championship. For villa to get playoffs we really need to go on a winning streak. Going to be tough, think we will just miss out.

    Toon and brighton automatic.

    Play offs leeds, derby, Norwich, and one of sheff wed, reading, blues.

    Our early season draws and chucking away wins in the last min has been critical. cheers rdm

  16. Still 78 points to play for Andrew and 4 points off a play off spot, wouldn’t write us off yet, clearly all those draws may come back to haunt us but Wednesday, Huddersfield and Leeds are only winning by the old goal and being defeated by the odd goal as well, so completely inconsistent.

    It’s Newcastle and Brighton’s to lose the auto spots, fancy Reading and Derby to be in the playoffs plus ourselves plus one of the inconsistent three above if they put a run together.

    It really is too tight to call, great show of character to bounce back from the Leeds defeat and small tweaks of experimentation from Bruce to see what he needs in January, can’t see McCormack and Ayew surviving another season and if we are close to FFP may become the catalysts for us to spend more in January.

  17. Darren
    Still hoping for the playoffs mate, personnaly think we will just miss out but will know a lot more after the Christmas period. Think it’s a critical time.

    Unbeaten runs don’t seem to be enough in this league, you just stand still! Need 4 or 5 wins on the spin to get up there.

    2 tricky away games now both on tele. No idea how they will go!

    Wonder if bruce will play his away formation, bring in an extra mid for ayew and kodger left side

  18. Spot on DOR,

    Norwich struggling at the moment, and a great opportunity for us, and QPR are the same, so if we have 6 points extra by Sunday, we will be well in the mix, and SB needs to realise nothing less will do. We need to be on the front foot at the start of both of these games, withy JG putting the fear of god into them, and getting an early goal, then continue to turn the screw.#
    I hope that we stop being obvious with Hutton and Adomah, which nearly cost us the game on Saturday… It was so simple for Wigan to snuff out their threat, by putting two on Adomah all the time. Must have made Warnock’s day..!!

  19. Norwich are not quite “struggling”! 😉

    They beat Brentford 5-0 in their last home match …

    OK that’s their one bright spot amidst (otherwise) 6 defeats, but any side that can win 5-0 must have something about them, especially as they opened the season fairly brightly.

    As fans, we should approach this match with a tad more caution i.m.o.! 😉

  20. Adomah needs to be more clever by releasing the ball quicker and midfield needs to support him more to give him options, if he can drag two players onto him, we should be using that to our advantage.

    JL, Brentford aren’t exactly setting the championship alight with their form so don’t read too much into winning 5 nil either 🙂

  21. defo with you john. at vp fair enough…but under the flood lights at carrow road wont be easy. Like you say won 5-0 last time at home! been around the play offs all season.

    think there will be goals though..if I had to bet id go 2-2.

  22. adomah is doing fine especially when you consider that idiot hutton is behind him.

    Adomah will be a lot better when we have a rb who can be a threat going forward. distract the defenders and free up space.

  23. Goalini
    Jenkinson Chester Baker Amavi
    Jedi New cm
    Adomah Grealish Kodjer
    Rhodes

    My 2 negatives with bruce is rushden not on bench over gabby and not gicen tisch a chance. Looks like we will get the utd keeper. Will he be back up or number 1?

  24. john l
    all peace this week we won and no ######### playing
    as for norwich we have to start putting winning runs together ,derby in play offs now below us when mclaren took over

  25. As Bruce said after the game, we will have to get use to teams coming to VP and parking the bus. wigan were a very poor side, they had no threat what so ever anywhere in there side.

    Trouble with us, we don’t have the type of players apart from Jack to create things against teams that put 11 men behind the ball. Adomah is a bit like lennon and other quick wingers, they can run into space but that’s about it. When they have to slow down and think, it comes a struggle. We should call Gil back from loan, or sign a couple of wingers like that in jAN OR we will fall short at home. Ayew on the other flank is the same really, not creative enough. Maybe sell in Jan ? talk is we want Brady tonight.

    On the display, this league is to easy for jedinak 99% of the time. Such a good player.

    We want a keeper, right back, centre mid and striker in Jan by all accounts. Good. I’d sell Rudy, and one of Ross or Ayew maybe ? As I said above to, we need creative wingers, not fast headless chickens.

    Norwich tomorrow. Another big test. we are normally the helping hand side, better change now. we need to go and win 4 or 5 in a row to get above everyone else who wants play offs

  26. we need a keeper but not any of mcgregor johnson or todays link mannone unless its a real upgrade stick with gollina fill the gaps in front of him
    don t like loans but where we are i would rather take some one on loan now rather than panic buy
    a right back, center half ,partner for jedi ,and an out and out winger for me

  27. If we got say a Hernadez I’d sell Gestede and Ayew, that would allow Murphy a chance with kodjia and RMC as the other two. Brady would be decent and Mcarthy.

    We have to be thinking 3 points tomorrow, would send a message and would overhaul Norwich, considering where they have been all season no mean feat and lets face it if we had lost 6 out of the last 7 we would not be saying we are still decent

  28. Hi all

    i have been checking to comments daily – some goods posts a top match report

    Its a big ask to get promoted without some first team additions imo
    I think we should sell Ayew ,,kozac and Rudy if there is a possibility of buying or loaning better fits — I would add gabby to that list but now bruce has been bigging him up i think we are stuck and i doubt any progressive clubs would be even slightly interested

    50 mil spent so far and still no creativity – lets see if Bruce can get that right in the window – there is no excuse to get it wrong as the owner is fantastic and the backroom we have now should also mean the correct decisions are made in recruitment

    big up to our missing troupes ,steamers , jen, brazil and good to see you post frem

  29. Frem,

    Can’t agree on Gil – unfortunately. He was too easily brushed off the ball last season, so if that was the case in the PL I’d think he’s be trodden on in the Championship! 🙁

    But I get your drift about a player needed to cut through the ropes.

  30. mark k
    i like gollina ,think he has been very unlucky in any mistake he has made has been a goal conceded ,he is only young for a keeper as first choice with steer and sarkic as back up ,bunn doesn t seem to fit in
    but think other position are more needy especially with africa cup starting

  31. interesting views on Gil – i read that we may have the option to recall him

    know one hits the deck more than Jack and he is our only fairly effective creator and i think Gil would help to open up the play – i think he would worry the league more than the league him

    i would love to see him back

  32. Runtings,

    I’d like to think that your view is what’s out there, but the fact is that Jack appears to have been anonymous last match … apart from his goal. As for creating things, he does get penalty decisions go his way, for sure, but I can’t remember him provide an assist in open play.

    And Gill definitely got eased off the ball a lot last season. Not that sure he’d any better in the Championship … but he does have neat touches. And that Traore/Gil goal at Sunderland must have been our peak of last season!

  33. Peasure to watch Bolton tonight and see a really in form team witha good blend of young players.

    Would be happy with a Gary Madine up front and a Sammi Ameobe on the wing…!! Young Zach Clough looks good too, and Wheeter was outstanding in defence.

    Just hope we are not going to sign more players that have done there best with others, and are just stop gaps for us. We need some good solid bright young players to go forward with and make a future at Villa.

    Times we failed to land players who went onto other clubs for just a little more money and have become succesful…

  34. Gil could be very useful over the coming months giving us another option, and did well in his brief time when given a full game.

    Iamsure Gollini will stay, if he is given the right reassurances, but does Bruce want him as first choice? If he doesn’t then he may want out.

    Brady would be a good buy, and maybe we could swap Gardner for Hoolihan…

  35. Paul,

    If it were possible, have a look through videos of Gil last season (when “given a full game”).

    Time and again he was shrugged off the ball … He’s a neat player, no doubt, but seems to show little relish for the physical side of the game. And that i.m.o. is what prevented him making progress.

  36. Personally I don’t think Gill was given a proper chance and run of games. No doubt he has a wand of a left peg, think he wont be back though.

    Silly season now, linked to schlupp, McCarthy, Rhodes, Johnson, brady!

  37. Andrew,

    Well my view is that Gil was not physically able enough – or quite tricky enough – to justify his being selected.

    I see Shakiri of Stoke being a player in a similar mould, but Shakiri for me has that bit extra.

  38. yeah I know what you mean john. Thing is for me if your that small and a beat weak you need to be proper bloody good like juninho, zola, kinkladza.

    Shakiri is a beast, massive legs!!

    Foreign footy prob suits gill best.

  39. Looks like Gollini is nailed on to leave — Ayew could also go by the sounds coming out of the press

    about 6 players linked and it seems like we are trying to do the business early

    still cant agree with the general line on here that Gil cant handle this league – as far as i am concerned he would do better than most of the player we have – and is technically head and shoulders above most of our current lot

    its going to be a very interesting window

  40. runtings

    yeah I think bruce will want to bring in a fair few of his own men.

    The one that’s got me excited is brady from Norwich, very good player and only 24.

    Spinks aint far off when he has said we need 5, 2 cm, rb, st and gk.

    The dr is getting asked about goalini on twitter, might clear it up soon!

  41. On the Gil debate, I understand where JL is coming from, I got the same impression of him but this lightness was far outweighed by his ability on the ball and suitably curtailed in a team at the time struggling for confidence, lacking numbers that would allow for a ‘luxury’ player like Gil. We couldn’t carry him in our desperate efforts not to lose.

    But I’d bring him back and give him a run in the team purely for his ability to unlock defences given he has faster players upfront like Kodija and Adomah to bring into the game.

    I’d hope that the fleeting glimpses don’t end up being his Villa epitaph. Let’s hope in the way that Steve Round is organising Villa that regular reports are being received and/or requested on all our loanees.

    Can’t wait for tonight, we face a very nervous Norwich side, trying to stop the rot vs a team building it’s way to promotion spots.

    UTV

  42. Hi folks,

    Understand your comments on Gil JL, but what I saw of him at VP did impress, and like some of the lads are saying, his skills are worth giving him a try, especially his vision.

    Seems, we all agree that Villa should go all out for an early goal and unnerve the Canaries, which will cause the home support to be unhappy. We really need this one tonight, and it will give us cofidence for the QPR game.

  43. just read something on twitter. If steamer is out there might find it interesting.

    Sadly a chap called melv mullen passed away, one of the original steamers?

    Had a memorial service on thurdsay and his son could not go in straight away as he was upset. The son wondered to vp where he came across the dr and his assistant. Got chatting and the dr invited him to a personal tour of vp and watch the wigan game in his box!

    Also a story about how mack the sock, melv and foxy hitch hiked to Norwich game and deadly doug gave them a lift!

    Just thought it was a nice touch from the dr. Wondered if steamer knew the chaps?

  44. Andrew yes we knew and l was at the memorial friday . Sad times but we all had some laffs about things we got up to . And the taxi l had to get there .the driver told me a few things about that fat fuck gabby . You think he loves the villa ??? Think a fucking again . The fat bastard is still trying to rip the villa off. He has three slags on the go and the taxi driver told me he was trying to get the taxis to bill villa for these slags to go down london to meet him and for the taxis to take one of the slags to Essex . And tried to get one flown out to jersey and the taxi firm to say it was his mrs so he could claim it back off the villa . Only one driver will pick him up now. And people want us to give him a chance. Id kick the fucking shit oyt of him if l could get him . Hes a cunt .full stop .

  45. I think Gill would fare better in this league , players can’t get near Grealish without fouling him and Gil is probably more capable of keeping the ball. Although we have several strikers no one bar RMC makes telling runs to play in anyhow, very individual players. That where gayle at Newcastle wins his movement. Funny enough we have a player called murphy………

    ST75- I’d help you mate

  46. James,

    Poor first half with Jack forgetting how to pass the ball to players in good positions on two occasions early on.

    Only Jedinak and the defence keeping Villa together really. Forwards and midfielders ineffective.

  47. Norwich will be getting a bollocking in the dressing room. Villa should go for it, and I think that is exactly what SB will be telling them to do.

  48. Crepe so far, and only one shot between the sides, with almost another error from Gollini…What is it about Villa, not finding the cutting p-ass to players…and Jack the lad failing to cut on into the area and put the pressure on….grrrrrrrrrr…!!

  49. the problems mount up
    hutton a complete joke of a footballer hoofs the ball every time,giving away cheap throws ,corners and to top it all one time had a good chance to cross it he dives
    elphik caught couple times
    westwood is he on
    gabby same but with him playing codja out on the wing wasted
    ayew awful deliveries doing nothing again
    bruce make changes

  50. spink was only half right saying we need 5 players
    too think we have spent over 100 m last 2 summers
    only gollina amavi chester and jedi tonight should keep their places

  51. Bruce may have improved home form, but away form no better, maybe worse…..sh***e performance….

    All hopes and dreams dashed again….thanks Steve ….and the boys….no effort at all..!!

  52. JG,

    Not sure about Jedinak…..much preferred Sanchez…..Veretout would also be better than these…and can we have Robinson and Johnson back,…..before I burn all my shirts..

    tonight was a disgrace…but maybe last Saturday was a warning when we only just managed to scrape home against Wigan…..

    could be back to the ambert days…

  53. Utterly shameful shambles. Why keep playing that useless kock Amavi at full-back…just like Leeds, he was torn to pieces.

    Jedinak -shit; Ayew-shit; never seen that cunt have a good game. Kodjia on left wing again. Grealish anonymous again. Elphick, Hutton – Shit;

    Apart from Chester and Adomah, the whole team is phukking sub-standard.

  54. No shots on target…Bruce is worrying. Even though he has some shit players, his away selections make no sense.

    The team is not progressing at all. No attacking flair, can’t keep possession. Defence is cut to pieces by any of the half-decent teams in the division, and Phuk-me most of them are barely decent.

    Xia…imagine what he must think when he looks at that…Lerner mark 2 is just around the corner.

  55. Disappointing for the traveling fans, long trip.
    I am not sure Villa will get promotion. They cab, but don’t waste time on Gabby. He is taking too long to adapt. OK as sub. I am losing faith in Westy. When we need to win, he is missing, as is Gabby. Play McCormack and Tshibola. Elphick has gone backwards.

  56. There is no way that Villa will get promotion. The table shows there are significantly better and more consistent teams than Villa.

    Be honest and think about how many good performances you’ve seen this season…

  57. At least we are all in agreement here, that it was utter sh**e….and the worst performance in a long time….thought they all must be traindrivers working for RMT…fu** the passengers we are just doing safety…

    At least, as Andrew hasalready said, Bruce was honest, and there should be some sort of shake-up coming….maybe give some youth a chance…and Bacuna could not have been worse than Ayew or Wastewood…

    Elphick for me has never shown he is capable…urgently needs replacing…Only Chester and Hutton have shown any effort in Defence, with Amavi almost there, but needing may be more support.

  58. just seen the goal again gabby finally got an assist his non first touch gave the ball away
    calderwood looks to be a lucky charm not at brighton when we should have won

  59. I think the biggest worry is that so-called talent – Ayew and Jack – just do not contribute anything in the opponents’ half. The amount of danger they presented can be expressed ibn one word – zilch.

  60. “We did not do enough with the ball or without it and we got exactly what we deserved from the game – nothing. I can’t remember a chance, I can’t remember a cross going into their box, and the number of times we gave the ball away was totally unacceptable.

    OK so Bruce knows were we are going wrong and will have the next window to put it right, he complains about lack of crosses into their box while having Adomah sat on the bench the only true wide player we have.
    Hutton, Westwood, Ayew and Agbonlahor should all go and never play again they are not good enough, the keeper is not happy here so let him go home, Elphick is showing why Bournemouth allowed him to leave, this team is nowhere near good enough to mount a challenge this season.

    SWV

  61. Elphick

    It’s noticeable that since Baker has been out, we have slipped defensively.

    <Adomah

    I think Bruce was just trying to use his squad and judged (wrongly?) that Norwich would be the weaker of the two away opponents – Norwich and QPR.

    In fact Norwich looked nervous from the outset and a decent team would have beaten them.

  62. Gollini – not much to do – saved well and recovered well on his parry, no protection for the goal, be gone and enjoy your football behind a more solid defence as we get another kid in from Man U reserves who also knows nothing about championship football

    Hutton – how do you rate him against a very poor Norwich side, easy enough in defence but no composure on the ball and any forward runs were down blind alleys, too many hoof clearances

    Elphuck – what’s happening here, quite accomplished with Bournemouth and their captain, we’ve been sold a dud if a club is prepared to give up their captain, we should have been buying whoever they were going to replace him with

    Chester – carrying Elphuck but did everything required of him

    Amavi – the one bright spark of the match, kept a lively Murphy at bay and if we can dream to hold onto him and actually get promotion that would be success in itself, doubt the vultures won’t be swooping in January

    Kodija – not a winger but if SB insists on Flabby i’d prefer him on the pitch than on the bench, wasted on the wing, unable to influence the game from that position and starting position too far back in attacks

    Westwood – sorry the writing is on the wall for someone who has carried himself with dignity despite home crowds turning on him but just not good enough, not creative enough if Jedinak is the stopper and not making forward runs from midfield if that’s his role

    Jedinak – carries the midfield but again i don’t see a huge amount of composure on the ball when in possession, needs better support

    Grealish – wayward passing, ran at defences and then played balls in front of their defence because we had so little movement upfront which made him look bad but equally not a central midfielder of a three as the job requires more defensive work, play him as a 10 or on the wing

    Flabby – biggest waste of space, shame on SB to think he can rehabilitate this f..kwit, offered no intelligence upfront, balls bounced off him, won very few headers, going to send a message to Dr.T on Twitter really angry that this player is allowed near the club

    Steve Bruce – stop experimenting, stop trying to prove to Dr.T you need reinforcements in January, stop playing Flabby and Westwood, bring back Bacuna into midfield who will offer more energy and stop making substitutions too late in the game to be a positive influence

    We lack so much in midfield it’s making our expensive forwards look so average, more creativity, supply and Kodija upfront would cause rubbish like Norwich more problems. Shameful performance and it was Bruce’s fault

  63. Agree in that Elfick is a shot player
    We will pay the price for playing gabby
    we could have got 5mil for westy and turned it down – why why why
    Dont get the Amavi criticism as he was great defending his side of the pitch and was left with a heck of a lot of solo defending – even though he should closed the player down before there goal – he is clearly heading towards being a top player without any doubt

    Agree Kodjia is a very good sticker and a very poor winger – why is bruce doing that to him

    Dr X will need to spend some more cash but really we could sell 5 or +6 players ,so maybe he wont have to spend too much

    one thing is clear we are not good enough to go up as things stand

  64. dor
    agree on your assesment it really wasnt hard to forget ayew
    it was shocking from both players and management calderwood seems to do like every other coach come to villa and go backwards
    still think the doc will go for it in jan with
    rb ch
    cm winger and a goalscorer

  65. Are we not close to FFP that either limits us to loans or having to try and find buyers for Ayew/Flabby/Westwood on the basis that Steve Bruce actually recgonises they are doing nothing for Villa.

  66. Bruce takes over goes straight to 433…we do well. Last few weeks 4231 has been poor. Don’t play it again! Get Bacuna back in mid with tish. Least they are physical and have legs! Back to basics please bruce.

    Best post match statement from a manager I have heard in years. Lambert would of said we go again. Timmy would of cracked a joke and rdm would of said nothing!

    Ayew has been a disgrace. Trouble with ayew adomah and kodjer is they seem all a bit fancy. slows the game down. especially kodger last night. your not henry mate, back to basics.

  67. Everyone seems to be in agreement about players and their performance…even SB…..

    It really seems crazy that we have given away players that we now need…Clark in defence, Traore on the wing, and Robinson and Johnson in Midfield. How much better was Sanchez than Jedinak.

    We now have to try and buy our way out once again, without having any real confidence in young players coming through, but how do managers like Rowett and Monk do it on shoe string budgets.

  68. I have mentioned Scunthorpe United before, and a few years ago, they were at least 4 divisions below us, and now top of league one, they are ready to join us, and like Bolton, will fair well in this league, as they both play good and attractive football, at the same time as getting the right results..

  69. Paul

    I believe we will be ok long term. I belive and hope the good I see from the top will filter down to the pitch eventually. I belive bruce is the right man in the championship to build a side. Its just going to take a few windows to do so! Of course I could be wrong and it will all go to shit!!

    This season is a right off though, squad no where near good enough. I guess it was always going to take time to sort out the worst team the prem has seen!

  70. mates a wed fan, reckons the loan system is crucial in the champ. Hope bruce has some gems up his sleeves! must have good contacts.

    Looks like jenkinson and Johnson are done. Talk of loftus cheek being made available. would love him!

  71. Im going to try not to be to negative as it was our 2nd defeat in ten! And we have moved away from the bottom 3 and nearer play offs with lots to play for. Could be good timing having a dip in form now before window?

    The honeymoon is over though for sure. Very interested in sundays game now, the reaction and team selection will be interesting.

  72. my gunner mate reckons we are taking Jenkinson Akpon and a 20yrs old keeper on loan – sounds good to me

    The Brucey bonus is over…..time for a new manager…..Quality PP

  73. Well for the first time in ages we all agree, we were rubbish, like i posted at half time was Westy on the pitch? Even in the 2nd half up until i turned off the TV and my lap top and went home in disgust the commentator still hadn’t used the guys name once. Kodji made Jack look a fool at least twice by not running on to receive the return pass, it was so bleeding obvious to me that Jack was going to put the ball into the natural path of the follow through, talking of follow through that game left me with that all evening after. Most of these players should donate this weeks pay packets to Acorns, because with a couple of exceptions they didn’t earn it last night or in the lucky win against Wigan

  74. Perhaps Dr Tony has bought Rowett ready for the January window, but I think the report of him leaving the Noses is a scam on one of the fan sites…

    Team against QPR will be interesting…….

  75. Jan window will prove eye opening, first proper window for Round and his new backroom staff and his non-moneyball approach, summer he didn’t have the backroom staff in place so a different window for him, first window for SB, first opportunity to see if they can see what we see in terms of players not performing and gaps positionally that need strengthening.

    It will show if we are borderline FFP, need to sell to buy or if Dr.T wants to open the cheque book for another stint at promotion this season.

    Small Heath self destruct button hit in December while they’re what 7/8th, something’s up but who cares

  76. Found it now… Daily Mail online….Rowett is sacked with Zola lined up as his replacement….Birmingham to spend in the January window…..Looks like all the Midland clubs with new owners are determined to be top dogs….

    THe very astute Chinese see the fanbases in the biggest city in the country worth building their businesses on. The Midland scene, and the arrival of HS2 is going to be big business.

  77. Conte says that Chelsea’s success isdown to letting the players have a beer after the game….does this mean that the good old days of football may return….Look forward to sharing a beer with a winning Villa side in the Aston Tavern anytime….!!!!

  78. We played horribly last night, but surely — 5 wins and 3 draws in 10 matches and some are calling for Bruce’s head? C’mon now, you’ve gotta be having a go at our expense!

    I disagree with his lineup, and almost no one put in a professional shift against Norwich, but you can’t let Bruce go right now and still have any expectation that any decent manager would be willing to come in just to be relieved a mere 10 matches later, even if they garner 21 points in that stretch.

  79. To the tune of ‘my old man’s a dustman’

    Gary Rowett is a Villan
    He wears a Villa hat
    He used to manage Small Heath
    but he said I don’t fancy that

    They think their team is special
    We think their team is muck
    But Gary Rowett’s left them
    And we don’t give a fuck

    Spent 10 minutes thinking up that 🙂

  80. Well I’m not calling for his head but thats three poor selections in a row now, and for gods sake stop playing Kodjia out wide on the left, if he has to play out wide then make it on the right, trouble is we have Adomah, ayew who also play on the right, Mr Bruce is dabbling at the clubs cost, Adomaha and Kodjia play well together, keep them closer, want a winger pick green, or play Jack out there. I see Bruce is saying no more mr nice guy?? sorry Brucie you are causing the problem we have stopped trying to be direct.

  81. mark k
    bruce saying no more mr nice guy thats a laugh, he never was especially since that day fergie time was brought in
    all joking aside he was very lucky in first few matches, his luck has run out ,and his team selections are making me think first impressions where right he is not a very good manager

  82. Wow!! I was only joking the other day…..but have this feeling that Rowett could be the Villa manager this time next week…..Dr Tony is not happy…and Villa are not where he wants them to be…..

    If Bruce does not win at QPR he is gone………………

  83. Mark: so Bruce is saying “no more Mr. Nice Guy.”

    Did he not learn anything from RDM’s reign. Mr Nicey-nice doesn’t work with our lads … gotta break out the whips and chains!

  84. andrew- I’m not advocating change but I didn’t want either manager we have had under Xia particularly. We really shouldn’t be going backwards if Bruce is this master man manager/ match tactician surely? I thought we were getting a stick to what works manager but it appears to me he’s accessing players now for jan rather than concentrating on the results. To much fiddling with formations and players and I wonder hpw much the inclusion of Gabby is playing out, we have seen it to many times this inexplicable lack of professionalism that sets in. If you watched Newcastle last night you’ would of seen a team and not a bunch of individuals, they all knew there roles, we appear not to, Kodjia in particular who is our main threat.

  85. I agree MK, watching teams like Newcastle, Leeds, Bolton and Derby, they are playing as a team, and for a while, it seemed as if Villa were doing the same under Bruce, but since the Baker injury, they seem to have lost it, and Bruce has tinkered more with the team.

  86. Bruce has lost twice won 5 and drawn 4 I think! Not bad! But yes I think bruce should go back to 433 and stop mucking about with playing gabby away.

    Hopefully he has given gabby enough rope to hang himself and wont see him again! Far too early to judge bruce. Let him build a side.

    Best bet for promotion next season when we have a settled team and brighton and toon have gone up!

  87. its funny that the two managers that seen through gabby where houillier and garde and wanted him out yet the brittish ones want to build round him mcleish lambert sherwood and now bruce
    andrew
    wanted that team for weeks westwood showed v orwich what i thought of him for ages,hutton never been a footballer

  88. James

    I wouldn’t say bruce wants to build a team around him….just seems to think he is a good fit away from home…hopefully not any more!

    Ashley is what he is, we have all seen it for years now. Not my type of midfielder at all. Just hang tight till jan…will be out the team soon!

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