Villa’s torrid run of results finally ended with a 1-0 win against visiting Derby, but if the product on offer left you cold, you wouldn’t be alone. It was as ugly a win as it was vital, an unconvincing victory that didn’t even begin to paper over the cracks.

Having finally had a chance to actually see a game for the first time in a while, all that I’ve been hearing on the radio made sense and then some. I now know what the post-January window version of Villa ugly looks like.

What’s puzzling is that it’s such a familiar sight. Slow to close, late to 50-50s, timid clearances, long balls missing the target man (who, to be fair, doesn’t really try very hard and isn’t really suited to them). Players closed down quickly and having no clear options—no pattern of play they can rely on instinctively. Too many individual efforts with no link-up going forward—no continued focus of attack. Which you could also label a lack of cohesion in transition. And always dropping back further and further as the game wears on.

I could’ve written that at almost any time in the last five years. Except after Villa cut Liverpool apart in the Cup and actually looked like a team.

Steve Bruce seems an honest man. And he’s being backed. But supporters have been up in arms, and they can’t be blamed.

For me, the errors in formation and substitution, the chopping and changing, throwing too many new players in…Well, they seem as obvious to me as everyone else. But Bruce has largely owned up to them.

Has the game passed him by? Perhaps it has. But if Villa had only looked like this under Bruce it would be one thing. Fact is, this what Villa have looked like for years no matter who’s been in charge.

Why? I have no answer other than a growing sense that this deep malaise we all sense and see manifesting itself is simply what desperation looks like. Desperation born of aspiration. The weight of expectation, nothing more, nothing less. The belief that Villa should be not only doing better but running with the top teams. It seems to be the one constant from the heady days of Martin O’Neill to the arrival of Dr. Tony.

Looking back at Derby, what I saw was an opponent where each player knew his role in an overall system and was freed up to play. Nothing spectacular…get the ball to Bent in the box. Win the ball back, get it wide, or push it up the middle if Villa were willing to conceded the ground, and then get it into Bent. Don’t let the opponent get comfortable. Pressurize, win it back, and get it in. Villa accommodated Derby by yielding the time and space to let them work their plan. I didn’t see Derby willing to give us that in return. It’s been much the same week after week. Almost as though Villa, even with an influx of seasoned Championship players, have been gobsmacked by a succession of smaller, but tougher, smarter brawlers.

This basically implies Villa have been displaying either arrogance or naiveté went it comes to the Championship. As we’ve found, it’s a tough league. And the teams, while generally not blessed with rosters of world-class players, are solid units, playing to their individual strengths and committed to overachieving. They’ve all got chips on their shoulders. It has to be insulting to the other clubs that we think we have a god-given right to bounce right back up when they’re been at this for years and we were so poor on our way down. It’s the height of arrogance to think we’re that much better that we don’t have to at least work as hard to win. If we’re pulling a Championship-level Man City, then no one is going to have anything but a desire to turn us over. Not because we’re the mighty Aston Villa they all envy, but because we think we can just buy up players and put together a winning side on the fly.

So, I’ve been wondering whether missing out on the playoffs is, perhaps, not such a bad thing in the end. Maybe if the weight of immediate achievement is lifted (or at least forestalled)—in combination with a commitment to some degree of stability—Villa can actually integrate all these new pieces into a hard-working, strong-minded team. A side that knows who it is—based on what the players actually show they can do—so that Villa, too, know who they are and what they should be about.

Naturally, this doesn’t really answer the question of whether Steve Bruce is the man to make it happen. We’re back to all the pros and cons of keeping a manager or starting over again, along with the players he brought in. For now, Bruce seems to still have the confidence of the Doctor. But we all know how that goes. Finish strong, and he’ll likely stay. Continue on as Villa have been playing and narrowly avoid relegation, then maybe Bruce does get the shove.

Staying down another year certainly raises the specter of the spending catching up with us. Obviously there’s no guarantee taking more time is going to get us up. If anything, it will only raise the weight of expectation next season. One can only hope that Villa by that time are enough of a side to handle it.

Me, I never give up hope until the math says it’s time. However, yesterday’s win gave me no reason to believe there will be a late-season renaissance that sees us climb the table and reach the playoffs. And even then, there’s no reason to believe we’d be able to win through against the other sides currently above us.

So for me, it’s time to relax, let it be, and look for week-on-week improvement. The installation of a system. The development of a team. If I can see that sort of incremental progress, then I’ll take it for what it is and hope that this time is different.

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John Clark
John is co-owner of AVL, and has followed the Villa since the '70s. A journalist by trade, he is, by most accounts, a very nice person. You can follow me on Twitter @JClarkKohoutek. It's an astonishing experience. Or a complete waste of time.

Comments 399

  1. Mark King

    Hi John nice to see you on here thanks for the post,

    It pretty much aligns with what I am seeing. where I differ is I have looked around at other clubs in this league and particularly at the managers. There does seem to be a correlation between the intelligence of the manager and results. Managers know routinely describe what went on in the game in terms that don’t involve the words luck. They seem able to analyse and therefore know what needs changing, usually these changes can be made in game to get results too.

    That leads to our recruitment, its been rushed that much is obvious we had no time, we also had team full of disgruntled players to ditch. Now we are told Bruce is here until next season and he has brought in 8 players in Jan and I think the most puzzling being another duff keeper. As I think at that point his remit was promotion he’s made a pigs ear of it. His remit now is showing us he’s worth keeping and so far he is showing anything but that. I think Bruce is baffled that his buys have done zero to halt things, I am not as they are just a collection of half decent players with good stats. First off he had no base to build from in his own style ( whatever that is does he know?) and secondly he seems to of added very little that is. If he can change this without more upheaval in the summer I’ll be amazed.

    Newcastle are just as big a target as us difference is Rafa and a little more time. I think Garde would be like a pig in shit with this squad we have plus the U23’s which makes it all the more difficult to take. I think we are just wasting time a better manager could use but its over to Bruce, coach your players.

  2. John Lerwill

    John,

    I’m so sad to read such doom and gloom. That’s not that I think that all is hunky-dory – I most certainly don’t think it is – but as people like Andrew and r0bb0 have intimated, there’s enough quality in the squad that we *should* be seeing a “late-season renaissance”. Provided, that is, we move away from the drop zone.

    Two wins over the next week should sort that out. Even 4 points should do.

    You know, following the many comments I’ve also read from Lifers like Mark, Runtings and PP (and James G of course!), I am so unhappy for you guys that you seem to fear the worst. As I’ve said many times, I have known worst times than this at Villa. In fact I was brought up thinking that relegation might happen every year for the first 23 years of my life (the 1950s/60s). So having been through that I find that what has been happening of late rather tame!

    And, John, despite all what you say, the fact is that Derby only had one attempt on target in the second half. And we won! 🙂

    I was further reminded about the situation amongst Villa supporters and particularly AVL today, when I watched again a film I first saw in 1972 – the 1957 film ‘Twelve Angry Men’ – with Henry Fonda being the only one of 12 jury men to initialy find reasonable doubt in a murder case, but gradually influencing others to his way of thinking so that in the end all 12 voted his way. A marvellous study into human pyschology.

    It’s a bit like that on here sometimes. I do see ‘reasonable doubt’ that Bruce is guilty – to me it’s the club that has to be sorted, not he. Not that he is the best equipped manager, but he has character and he has plenty of experience. We should not, I think, belittle those qualities too much.

    Furthermore, as some like OldVilla have said, there was evidence of ‘togetherness’ showing yesterday – more than has been seen for some time. And that crunching tackle by Gardner near the end seemed to underline the new-found determination.

    Once we have the determination and together ness sorted then – and only then – can the quality improve.

  4. James Gill

    john l
    i cant see past bruce ever been good enough to lead us forward ,even if he takes us up next year which i dont see happening.footballs changed and likes of moyes big sam and bruce have not changed with times
    ,fergie was master at it for all my dislike of him he knew when players had to be shipped out either done or as in keane case disrupting dressing room[gabby richards]
    some one remarked about possession stats and wba only had same, but theirs was in pl, not v derby with no wins in 5,taking all attackers off yesterday was normal style for bruce,and it was lucky we scored scrappy goal and then had greens effort plus huttons golden chance yet they had stone wall pen turned down,plus last half hour we were camped in our half, like nearly all bruce wins against bottom 6 sides nail biting agony

  5. Mark King

    Oh that keeper Garde wanted and the FA refused his transfer?

    “The Sun adds that a work permit may no longer be an issue with Kalinic cementing his place in the Croatian national team over the last 12 months and starring as current club Gent surprisingly knocked Tottenham Hotspur out of the Europa League on Thursday.”

    Garde had said he was prepared to stay if we dropped, I could cry when I think of what could of been but here we are.

  6. OldVilla

    JC – “So for me, it’s time to relax, let it be, and look for week-on-week improvement. The installation of a system. The development of a team. If I can see that sort of incremental progress, then I’ll take it for what it is and hope that this time is different.”

    The above says it all for me JC. Let’s just sit back and let this season be what it is, avoiding relegation of course – and then take stock at the end of the season. We would appear to have some decent players in our squad. We may have some decent youngsters, but up until we are safe then maybe it isn’t the best time to blood them. We are looking for a system of play which perhaps we can settle on over the next few months – and then tinker with it in the summer before we have a proper go at promotion.

    As JL said, that “crunching tackle” by Gary Gardner at the end of the game plus the Bacuna caring/wanting/upset when he got sent off perhaps show a new mindset in some of the players. Which should stand us in good stead for next season.

    Lets help the team develop, or not, for the rest of this season and then, if necessary, we can all shout at SB, Round, et al when we have seen some real proof of what SB can do with a ‘settled’ team and squad. If he fails then lets look elsewhere and hope that the new turmoil won’t destroy the club and its fanbase even more ……………………..
    oldvilla

  7. IanG

    JL
    Who’s this Rob Bishop posting past information on the AV site?
    He never gives much information & never a list of who’s on the photos he posts.
    In the trade they’re called ‘Teasers’, or is he just an idiot?

  10. James Gill

    just after reading an article with mick mc carthy[loved him in charge of eireand per usual media hammered him out], and wondering if he was in charge would some on here give him as much rope as spud, mick took 2 woefull sides to promotion with no money,yet all you hear is spud is the expert

  11. IanG

    JG
    Spud was more fashionable because his playing career was higher profile & the media championed him, & McCarthy was much maligned in the Eire job, especially by Keane who tried to character assassinate him [RK being higher profile & MM being brought up in England] in a series of egotistical power games.
    Whether he’s better, who knows as he hasn’t had much of a chance to prove it one way or the other.

  12. John Clark

    Cheers, Mark. Always good to be here, will be making a much more concerted effort to be so regularly.

    Would have been nice to stick with Garde. Given money and support, I think he’d have done a good job. And like you, I remain puzzled by a number of Bruce’s decisions. I guess what I don’t know is the difference, if any, between what the players are being told to do and what’s happening on the pitch.

    It’s not a terribly complicated game, as we know. I keep thinking back to Delph. No world-beater, but he was all over the place, taking responsibility at both ends, driving the team forward and looking to pass, then sprinting back to cover. That alone would make a difference right now.

  13. IanG

    JC
    thanks for the article.
    I basically agree with you on most of it & your comment about Garde [also wish he was here now], then we wouldn’t have to be talking about spud [who no one seems to have wanted] as it has created too much strife for such a non-entity, but as many have said we will find out in the near future how it’s going to roll out.
    I’m beginning to feel as bored with it as when O’Leary was here.

  14. Paul Pears

    Excellent article JC, and just about sums it up for me.

    I do not see any great progress happening under Bruce this season, and continue to wonder about him after his statement about Bacuna, and not being surprised at his behaviour, as he is difficult in training. The difficulty being, that if training starts at 9,30am or 1.00pm, then Bacuna will turn up at 9.29am, or 12.59pm…….that does not mean he is late…!! If Bruce is not happy with that, surely he can make it clear to him that he has to be there 15 miutes before training begins….That is the very bottom of basic man management, getting players to respect you and your wishes…..does not say a lot for Bruce and his managemenr skills…

    I would love to see Bruce succeed, but nothing so far has given me much hope. I support him AND the team when I am at Villa Park, but I have every right to say what I see when writing here, and I will not indulge in wishy-washy hope. The man himself admits that he has got it wrong over the last six weeks……HE IS NOT PAID AS A MANAGER TO GET IT WRONG……he is payd to use his experience and ability to get it right…..Would you pay a barrister or solicitor for getting it wrong, AND CONTINUE to employ him….??????

    Bruce is fortunate to have the backing, been given the finances, and like many on here, would have loved to see Remi Garde given the same opportunity.!!

    At the end of the day, we are all Villa fans and will give the manager and the team support, but it does not mean that we have to be sheep.

  15. IanG

    PP
    I don’t know about his man management skills, it doesn’t say much about his intelligence either.
    Don’t disagree with you, but find it very difficult to pronounce BAAA.

  16. John Clark

    JL,

    I’m generally quite the optimist, Goebbels and all that. And I don’t think it’s all doom and gloom. It’s more that it seems so repetitive. Like some sort of mold in Villa Park saps the life out of players.

    That said, I did see some thundering challenges. Think what you like about Hutton, but he is committed and gives his all. Gardner was very much saying he wants to be involved. And Chester gave everything he had. I really do hope some sort of togetherness is forming. Listening to Gary on the radio bemoan the lack of teammates coming to check on Hogan, it’s clear that we need it.

    But while Derby didn’t register much in the shots-on-goal department, they were bossing proceedings for the last 30 minutes. Ultimately, they were a bit toothless, though it wasn’t down to us. Before the usual hunkering down and nervous finish, they also largely stopped us from doing much of anything.

    I never say never, in my heart, and you never know what a win or two will do. We just seem incapable of getting over the hump in a match, and never look like comfortably hanging onto and seeing out a 1-0 game.

    Green came oh so close, of course, and maybe that second would’ve seen a different finish. We’ve been crying out all year to take advantage of the good spells we do have in matches, never seeming to find the second or third to really give the side some swagger.

    My hope is that if they can get a couple wins under their belts and the unthinkable back-to-back relegations are put in the rearview mirror, they might start playing with less fear.

    Then again, how many times have we said that? I really did think we’d start climbing the table up until the new year. And we might yet. The new signings have been thrown right into it, and we’ve been unlucky again with Hogan. If we can scrape a couple wins to help them find their feet, I’d be the happiest man in the world eating a hat.

  17. Mark King

    Do we really think we have employed footballers that don’t know how to play football? how mad is that at several million a pop and £30k a week, give them some time though and they might remember what the ball shaped objects for, give me strength, and right now I’m imagining the group hug seasons tomorrow at BMH 🙁

  18. John Clark

    Thanks, Paul.

    We all have to call it like we see it. What I like about this community of Villans is that we agree to disagree amiably.

    I would never want anyone to stuff their opinions. It would be pointless to have a place to talk if you can’t say what’s on your mind.

    Steamer, RIP, always said what was on his, and I miss putting up an article and then reading the first comment, which was almost invariably from Gary, and went something like this:

    “Nice article, John. Couldn’t disagree more.”

    Villa through and through, fierce in his opinions, and a gentleman I was proud would take the time to spell out his disagreements.

  19. John Clark

    Mark,

    I think that’s it for me. Whatever the “system”, it’s just not that hard to bust a gut and put it all on the line. The one thing I ask for is commitment, a refusal to lose. And these players all know what they’re doing by now. For the love of god, I know what to do. I was just never good enough to actually do it at their level. But if I were out there (and 30 years younger), I’d give you a very poor man’s James Milner every week.

    I’d been trying to put together my thoughts on the players, and it was simply coming down to that. Derby were hunting in packs and anticipating the loose balls, Villa were mostly shadowing their opposites, giving them time and space, and coming in second to anything up for grabs. There were a couple of tough challenges, and that was good to see. But we have to challenge every ball all over the park and give the man who ends up with it some options.

    Work as hard as your opponent if you want a draw. Work harder if you want to win.

  20. John Clark

    I mean, it’s really as simple as saying, “Kodjia will make the run. How does he like it? Ask him and then put it on a plate for him. Lose the ball? Get it back, and lay it out there for him again. And again. Let your opposite know you’ll be right up on him every time he gets the ball. Make yourself available and play the ball quickly. One touch to control, one to pass. You can’t do that, then we’ll find someone who can.”

  21. IanG

    JC
    ‘We all have to call it like we see it. What I like about this community of Villans is that we agree to disagree amiably.
    I would never want anyone to stuff their opinions. It would be pointless to have a place to talk if you can’t say what’s on your mind.’

    In your scheme of things are we allowed a sense of humour, or are there rules from somewhere that are mirrored here that I’m not aware of?’
    I’m genuinely not having a go at you, just asking as I wonder sometimes what people actually mean in relationship to others, as some comments can seem to be pretty restricting, or vague, or a projection, or is this my lack of being a gentleman coming from the ghettos of the great unwashed?

    Apart from that I sort of agree with you but get bored easily.

  23. Trinity

    Hello, John.
    Thanks for writing an apt leader for us. Hope is a word we use a lot being Villa fans. That’s all we’ve got for now. Surely, the wheel will eventually turn in favour of Villa. Hard work with effective leadership must eventually reap rewards.
    Have many of Villa’s players been suffering from stage fright? They’ll overcome that.

  24. John Lerwill

    JC: “Green came oh so close, of course, and maybe that second would’ve seen a different finish. “

    Well, that about sums up why (like IanG, I’m afraid) I’m made to feel so demoralised in the main part of your leader, yet you can then come up and state a glass-half-full statement like that! 😉

    The game is *all* about ifs and buts … and there was also Hutton’s chance after Green’s that should have been put away. After that, Villa sat back and frightened us a bit, though they kept Derby out very well by some very good defending. Derby just didn’t have it to get through.

    It will be interesting to see what happens in these next 2 games and what Lifers will be saying next week! 🙂

  26. John Lerwill

    IanG (Rob Bishop),

    Rob is the editor of the Villa programme, Ian. Been doing it for about 15 years though I think he’s part retired now. He used to be a reporter with the Birmingham Mail.

    I’ve seen that bit on the 1971 League Cup Final – in Latin!

    Can’t say what that’s all about! I know Rob is ‘into’ the French way of life, but I didn’t think that extended to speaking in Latin!

  28. Paul Pears

    Totally agree Rob Hunt, as Charlie Aitken was one of my great heroes, and agree that he always gave his all, and was a great pro.

    Like JL, I was lucky enough to see so many great players over the years, but also many players who also did a job of work each game.

    Will be good to see the whole of this team put in a good shift, and pull together, and on Saturday there were tiny shoots beginning to sprout, with good leadership coming from Chester, and good to see him saying that he appreciated Jedinak being back in the team, as he supports him in encouraging the team, which is very much needed. Something which we lost, when we did not have Ron Vlaar, who carried out his duties as captain very well. His periods of injury I feel affected Villa far more than many appreciate. Losing him was probably one of the biggest factors in Villa being relegated.

  29. DarrenO

    Have the seeds of result change been sown, is that very ugly win going to be the catalyst to a brighter future. Such is the dilemma that I’m in the camp that says Villa will only truly progress when the right manager is in charge vs. the hope that Villa start winning games if only to make walking into work that bit easier than the constant questions from the prem sheep what’s going wrong at Villa and trying to justify not only our relegation but our current predicament.

    An unexpected 3 points given my previous posts, so very much welcome in the battle for mid-table supremacy, don’t expect relegation but neither does the table make good reading.

  30. Mark King

    JC- I agree our biggest failing is movement as a team in both attack and defence. Someone who was at the game commented that he saw Bruce waiving Green back when he tried to close down further up the pitch. One man aimlessly running between players is not closing down for me and is very tiring for the individual, Teams like derby and Huddersfield do it in 2’s and 3’s and regain the ball quickly especially against our players that like to hold onto the ball (kodjiah,adomah,) yet they are deemed our only way of attacking.Pep has 15 second rule on pressing where they go all out to regain the ball if not regroup, rest, try again.

    We don’t move together either mainly as Bruce seems to like the long ball making it nearly impossible to support from midfield. At least with 433 the front three can make an attempt at closing further up the pitch, the minute they were subbed it collapsed backwards presumably on orders.

    Derby should of had a pen and we were blocking their shots on the whole with one save made all match, that kind of play can very much backfire if one does go in as we have seen. If your default is defend then its hard to go on the front foot without conceding again, we are like a boxer down on points trying to attack while guarding a broken rib.

  31. Paul Pears

    Very well put MK.

    DOR,

    Hopefully there is a little hope, coming in the main from Chester, who is much happier having Baker back alongside him and Jedinak in front of him, and also the relationship they all have, which Bruce perhaps, did not fully appreciate. Hutton and Taylor will also continue to do the same, after Taylor gave a good account of himself. Bruce really needs to let this side settle with Gardner and Lansbury now that Bacuna has ruled himself out. Green and Kodjia should be yjere too, as Green improves with every game. Adomah is the only questionable player.

  32. Mark King

    I think Derby are now the team we have taken the most points off of this season 4. As our pattern has been mostly a draw or win at home 6W 7D 2L usually accompanied by a loss away 2W 5D 10 L 7 under Bruce mind although he has got 2 wins. I think the Bristol game will likely be a draw, having gone to Newcastle and being 2-0 up then drawing Bristol may have started there own revival after a promising start just in time to play us 😉

  33. Mark King

    PP- RDM get a bit of stick for his rebuild but when you look at the players most important to Bruce during his time its been Jedinak, Chester, Kodjia and Adomah. Green gets creditable mention but presumably hasn’t cost enough to get a regular game, even Grealish who’s much maligned has won several matches for Bruce with a goal and pens bought. Not one of his players yet has done that yet and the keeper has made us worse.

  35. Heroes-and-Villans

    Well like they say in the dragons den…heres where im at.

    Bruce has bought well. I like bree, hourihane, Lansbury, Hogan. they ARE good players and they are Bruces players. Now what Bruce has to do is stick to 433 and let the players gel and form partnerships/understand each other.

    What bruce also has to do is back up his words. Both old man said and howard hogson have met bruce and he has told them he wants his team to play on the front foot, attacking footy.

    Given that he spends all his time on the touchline shouting, don’t panic, get it down and play I hope we will see some composed play.

    So between now and end of season bruce has to make us better, play the same formation/players and give confidence going into next season.

    No doubt though that if we are saying the same things next season the dr will axe him.

  36. Clive Evans

    Good post JC; I think we are looking at attempting promotion/play-offs next season now provided we can get enough stability to remain in the Championship.

    Paul – you are right about the slender gleam of light coming from the defence – I mentioned in the previous post by JL that Warnock puts Cardiff’s turn around down to his picking the same team more or less each week so they gel together.
    The final piece in the jigsaw must be an experienced keeper – is Burridge still playing?

    JL – you are right Rob Bishop is working part-time now. When I first met him on holiday in Greece I’m sure he supported either Wolves or Albion (can’t remember which but he reported on Villa For Birmingham Post. We keep in touch and I hope to have lunch with him when I am in UK in September.

  38. Heroes-and-Villans

    Mark

    bruce players has barely been here a month! bree, Hogan long term injured too! bit harsh.

    Lansbury, hourihan, bree, Hogan ARE going to be very good players for us. Too good not to be.

    Just need a bit of patience, let them settle….and get fit!

  39. Heroes-and-Villans

    Reading up on wagner too

    Clever thing he did was get his signings in early. wanted to get them settled asap, signed them and took them off to that island to bond!

    Its a luxury not offerded to bruce in middle of season but they are doing bonding exercises apparently. Wanted to go out for beers but said not aloud in this day and age! haha…old school bruce!

  42. John Clark

    JL,

    Been a lotta “coulda, woulda, shoulda” the last few years. And of course it can always turn. But in the “call it like you see it” vein, we’ve been waiting a while for the second or third goal that always seems like it’s there for the taking yet never goes in. That and almost inevitably conceding whenever the opposition gets one good look in on goal.

    I do think the squad is better than when the season began. I’ve simply lowered my expectations, given the seemingly endless false dawns. So like I say, I’ll sit back, look for improvement and whatever else good as we go down the stretch.

    Bruce seems a decent and honest man. He’s got some things wrong, owned up to them. You’d like to think he could put together a decent side, has enough experience. I don’t know when this side comes together. Relegation doesn’t seem a likely proposition for me, so I think we can relax and see whether Bruce can get 90 minutes out of the side consistently and whether we can find ourselves strolling to a couple of comfortable wins.

    If Villa do go on a real run, you can thank me for becoming more skeptical. Nothing like taking a stance to set oneself up for being wrong! 😉

  43. Mark King

    Andrew- harsh on Bruce? RDM played at least 4 games without jedinak five when he got injured, lost tish in his third game , de late in his second game for us. Kodjia only played 6 of 11 adomah less than that and he was injured. RMC injured just as he had got going, Could mention jedinaks long haul flights too. Bruce’s players are all champs players from this season bar Taylor a prem player and he doesn’t seem to be bothered?

    The keeper truly has been a huge flop so you will have to forgive me if I have little sympathy for this settling in rubbish because from where I am looking we are playing the same dire football but losing more. Can’t remember RDM losing game after game with his new players, granted they drew from winning positions obviously worse than losing horrendously then 🙂

    Hate to sound like a broken record but when Bruce has had 3 month pre-season before he bought players in, yet when they arrived he appeared to not know what formation to play. Compare that to Wagner who brought in 12 in the summer, they all play he rotates regularly because his style is demanding, 7 changes against Man City to their 9 and still they perform. That’s buying players to suit your plan not buy who’s scored the most and cross your fingers.

  44. John Clark

    Paul, Clive-

    “Paul – you are right about the slender gleam of light coming from the defence – I mentioned in the previous post by JL that Warnock puts Cardiff’s turn around down to his picking the same team more or less each week so they gel together.”

    If Bruce can settle on an 11 (barring injuries) I agree that has to be the best route to getting the team to gel. The main thing I think Bruce got wrong was being too quick to try and progress from the side and tactics he installed after coming in. Those were largely shaky, narrow nervous wins, too, but there was forward momentum.

    I can understand the temptation to throw all the new buys into the mix straight away, and if he persists with them (as I’m sure he will), they’ll get a chance to show what quality they have.

  45. Mark King

    Oh just read that we made running losses of £80+mil last season oh dear. I have not been able to varyfy that yet but was this why we hastily bought in so many players? We are so over ffp it’s unreal so when we get our imago on transfers maybe they hope we have no need to buy?

  46. John Lerwill

    Clive (Rob Bishop)

    Oh, Rob was brought up on the Albion, Clive!

    And that also goes for the website editor, Paul Brown, son of the famed Tony Brown of Albion.

    To be honest though they claim to be Villa men now, I’ve never been really convinced of that!

  47. John Lerwill

    Paul: “Bruce really needs to let this side settle with Gardner and Lansbury “

    Bacuna was in because Hourihan was injured, so if Hourihan is fit he will surely come back, not Gardner. Which is a pity, but I suspect Hourihan will prove to be the better player.

  48. Mark King

    Jc – I think that after we played PNE our supposed best performance he moved on those players like Westwood who played, dropped green etc, made no sense. His comment of going back to 433 because it worked makes me wonder what he is aiming for with the side? Also begs the question has he bought the players to suit his plan if indeed he has one?

  49. John Lerwill

    John,

    I feel certain that the last 6 or 7 years lack of performance is all due to the top-down misdirection of Villa by Lerner, and that we simply trying to extricate ourselves from the fall-out from that.

    I would have been amazed if we had got onto a good roll straight away, and the mid-season squad changeover has simply not helped in the short term.

  51. Mark King

    Right I can now see maybe why we are still with Bruce, unless xia bails us out we are up the river without a paddle, we gambled on an immediate return hence Bruce and the spending. In hindsight a more savvy manager should of been sought and spending roped in. If Wagner can achieve what he has with £2.5 mil net then maybe others could to. The only light may be Tony has the money to throw in and ffp starts again even though are income is about to drop yet again

  52. Paul Pears

    JL,

    I would agree that Hourihane should be there, but for the moment, I would certainly play Gardner, who is desperate to show his commitment, and is more willing to get stuck in.

    Apparently Bacuna deadlegged Hourihane in training, to ensure his place.

    Team for Tuesday:
    Johnstone, Hutton Chester Baker Taylor. Lansbury Jedinak Gardner, Hourihane Kodjia Green

    Bench: Bunn, Elphick, Grealish, Adomah, Davies, Bjarnason.

    This should give a soid team performance with the opportunity of using Grealish and Adomah as impact in the second half if necessary.

  53. Heroes-and-Villans

    Mark

    Meant the bit on jedi, chester etc being important to bruce…they would be cause that’s what he has had to work with since being in charge.

    Hopefully the dr will sought out the finanaces…must of known when took over.

    Recon could be about to sponsor everything villa related I reckon!

  55. Mark King

    Andrew- Maybe you haven’t noticed he hasn’t been able to win without Jedinak despite talking up how the players he has brought in would improve the midfield, well Lansbury looked better with westwood playing too and the team cannot function without Jedinak on the evidence so far, RDM never really saw the best of Jedinak and he has been the key along with Kodjiah to Bruces wins. Both were only available for 5-6 games under RDM, just saying like 😉

  56. Paul Pears

    MK,

    He had also not discovered that Baker and Chester were a more natural pairing.

    Andrew,
    Maybe , if he wants to rest the Jedi, I would replace him with Elphick, who should be more than capable in the role in front of the back four.

  58. James Gill

    andrew
    if you look at mom howard hodgson and think its vv they all back bruce they all get invited to questions and answer because they all like to think they are in the know,won t say anything bad in case they don t get patted on the head and said well done

  59. Mark King

    PP- If I remember right Baker got injured early doors for RDM and he had bought two CH’s one his captain,he was bound to play them. Also worth remembering the Wolves game where Elphick played OK I think he was MOM for us but he and Richards got injured and Bruce had to play chester and Baker he had no choice. Listening to his call for Richards to come and rescue us and his recent splitting up of the chester baker partnership I wonder what Bruce thinks sometimes. That said their partnership and Chester’s form has only been afforded by the cover Jedinak brings look at the games without that cover for reference. I don’t think Elphick has played as many times as they have with a fit Jedinak.

  61. DarrenO

    Well thank you Tom Fox and Randy Lerner for leaving us in the sh.. But a bigger thank you to Dr.T for continuing to buy the club as you would have seen the accounts before they were filed.

    Absolutely atrocious mis-mgmt of the financial side of the club, it accounts for the lay-offs and the scaling back of non-core business like catering outsourced and the city centre shop closed.

    Looking forward to next season with a bigger kit sponsorship deal from China despite being in the champs and other commercial tie-ins that negate the drop in parachute payments.

    I’d say football wise we are now left with tweaking which may not be a bad thing, given the wholesale changes in the last few windows

  63. James Gill

    bruce gave gg a new contract and has only started 1/2 league games since
    and if jedi was out on his feet surely a smart manager would said about 70 mins come off,not all the forwards that could still run give an outlet,
    it was like watching rugby yesterday watching bruce villa retreating back to 6 yard line in any match either leading or drawing

  65. DarrenO

    Comment so far refers to devaluation of tangible and intangible assets, tangible being brick and mortar but also the market value of the players which has gone down given the moneyball exercise

    We may have spent peanuts because we didn’t maximise revenue, create new revenue sources and sold our kit deal and kit sponsorship for below market value

  66. James Gill

    dor
    the moneyball exercise was only last season, and truth be told ayew made profit,traorerudi broke even,would expect vertout and amavi to clear loss on gana
    lerner robbed us blind

  67. Mark King

    JG no idea yet

    Aston Villa recorded a loss of over £81million for the last financial year, according to the club’s latest accounts.
    The figures for the 2015/16 period show that with an operating loss of £81.3million the deficit more than trebled, up from £26.6million, before Villa were relegated from the Premier League.
    The club’s statement states losses of £79.6million due to ‘exceptional items’ but provides little explanation as to what these are, other than to say ‘for the impairment of tangible fixed assets and intangible assets’.

  69. Mark King

    Andrew- he was available from the Bristol game onwards but got injured for Australia, in my opinion he did not look fit to start by the time Bruce got here he had done most his flying and looked fitter. we went 5 straight draws after the initial loss at Bristol in which we also led giving the game away in the last 20.

    “When we’re in camp we understand things even happen on game day where we need to change the line up. That’s happened in the past and no one’s even known about it.

    “We’re hoping he’ll be OK but if he’s not then we’ll be able to bring in somebody else to do the job.”

    Villa boss Roberto Di Matteo will be sweating on his midfielder’s fitness ahead of Sunday’s visit of Nottingham Forest.

  70. James Gill

    andrew
    went on moms face book page recently and bruce can do no wrong a few other sites the same anyone says anything different is beaten back
    all bruce wins have come by scraping 1 goal wins allright for first few not after 20 plus games 8 players signed and goalmachine gabby was reinstated

  72. John Lerwill

    JG: “went on moms face book page recently and bruce can do no wrong a few other sites the same anyone says anything different is beaten back”

    Yes, we will repel those infidels come what may! 😉

  75. Mark King

    I would say that Jedinak is the only organiser we have, Bruce sets up defensively so he is very important. Under RDM we attacked a lot more (not hard) so his job in a two man midfield was a struggle, with a 3 he can do his job. RDM chose to keep attacking in hope that we would click and put more than one away instead of bolstering the midfield. Bruce has gone completely the opposite with full on bus parking, a knee jerk reaction for me to something that needed tweaking.

  76. John Lerwill

    Mark: “Bruce has gone completely the opposite with full on bus parking, a knee jerk reaction for me to something that needed tweaking.”

    Yes, Mark, but Bruce has also indicated that he does not want things to stay that way.

    Perhaps we should see what pans out? 😉

  77. Mark King

    JL- We all don’t want things to stay the same but when each game looks very similar with us getting the microscope out for signs of improvement John I cannot see it changing much just because Bruce wants it to, he has to effect it, so far he hasn’t to any positive degree I can see. When he does I tell you 😉

    Andrew W8 D8 L6 with Jedinak W9 D12 L12 overall so W1 D4 L6 without him, I’d say thats quite conclusive

    with Kodjia L8 D10 W7 L4 D2 W1 without him.

  78. John Lerwill

    Mark,

    To be honest, I think there are two points of view that have been flogged to death here, and I don’t see how they can be reconciled.

    I see a situation where (by Bruce’s own admission) he’s probably tried to change things too quickly, and that clearly had a destabilising effect on what was not a stabilised situation before … all done under the pressure to get that play-off place I suppose. But from a situation of insufficient foundation.

    Now that play-off place is virtually unobtainable, and assuming we pull far enough clear of the relegation zone these next 2 games, then we should start – just start – to see a general improvement as things settle down.

    That’s why I say “perhaps we should see what pans out” – then we can see a much better picture. Otherwise it’s looking into crystal balls as I see it … or some other kind of balls! 🙂

  79. Mark King

    Totally agree John, well that pretty much puts the mockers on any football chat for the next few months then 😉

    Fortunately I don’t need a Crystal ball to see that if Bruce was going for promotion he should of got a Keeper worth having and persevered with the squad he had with a couple of editions. I think something smells down at VP and it might well smell of FFP restrictions when we give them our projections for this season and receive our punishment if the doc doesn’t cough up. That may well be the reason behind the rush to get players in before April and may go some way to explaining the moral not being great when they discovered they have been sold a pup and the insistence Bruce is here next year. Time will tell if I’m right on this.

  80. John Lerwill

    Mark,

    Yep … maybe Bruce has made a mistake regarding the keeper as well: he’s certainly admitted to changing too much.

    As to anything else, I’m just going to leave it in the Doc’s hands! I’ve too much else to worry about, really. I don’t know about any ‘pups’ being sold … have there been any – really?

  82. Mark King

    There are a few exceptional costs in there jl and I would not put it past Lerner to claw back what he can, over 500 were laid off, how much did they cost and were they working for lerner elsewhere? plus managers and staff last season and players written off again.

  84. Mark King

    Those accounts will make some very interesting reading, did they devalue BMH because of the railway? £81m seems crazy to me beings the net spend on players was negligible. They would be put into the books over 5 years anyhow, did lerner pay himself those loans back?

    Whatever has gone on if you were a player coming in to a big club and suddenly they are in money troubles who Knows?

  85. Mark King

    The bright point might be the compo for the railway? maybe Lerner and Xia cooked the books together to lower the asking price but still get his full price in other ways? its like a mystery thriller 🙂

  86. Paul Pears

    I am sure Lerner was never very bright, but it probably was Fox doing the creative accounting to get his money back to pay of a substantial part of the loans…

    One thing that has not been mentioned, is that Xia will save £50 million on repayments to Randy if we miss promotion, and do not go up. Xia has now used that money to bolster Bruce’s squad, and may be happy that he then may not have to spend untill the 2018/19 season.

    Wonder also what influence Fatty Faulkner had at FA headquarters, in stopping us getting our goalie last year…

    Congrats to Vardy…great goal against the Bindippers…!!!

  87. Mark King

    I have just read this elsewhere

    “Looking at the latest accounts, they show that there as been an exceptional impairment of fixed and intangible assets. It looks like the book value of Villa Park and or Bodymoor Heath was way above the realisable value of said assets I.e the amount that would reasonably expected to receive if the assets were sold. With regards to the impairment of Intangible assets it would appear that the value of Goodwill was also overvalued or the valuation of the squad of players. The impairments were probably brought to light by the due diligence carried out by the Good Doctor.”

  88. Mark King

    From AVFC official site

    Aston Villa’s accounts for the year ended May 31, 2016 show turnover of £108.8m, a fall of £6.9m compared to the year ended May 31, 2015.

    The fall can be primarily attributed to a reduction in the Club’s share of revenue from the FA Premier League’s broadcasting agreements as a result of the final league standings.

    The accounts show an operating loss before exceptional items of £1.6m.

    Exceptional items amounted to £79.6m, consisting of charges for the impairment of tangible fixed assets and intangible assets of £44.8m and £34.8m respectively.

    The impairment charges increased the operating loss before interest and tax to £81.3m.

    The takeover of the club by Dr Tony Xia was completed on June 14, 2016.

  92. James Gill

    mark k
    the doc didnt take over to after tax year, so how does 80m write down happen, fair enough you buy a car after 10 years worth nothing ,but lerner didnt pay that much for villa to start with, or did he mortgage villa

  93. IanG

    JG
    This is just the press release to muddy the waters before the actual accounts come out in a few days.
    By then it won’t be as much of a shock & much of any reaction will be muted.
    Standard dishonest business practice.
    That’s gentlemen for you.

  94. Paul Pears

    JG,

    Fox was brought in because he was a money man. These accounts will also be writing off the big money wages of Bent, Nzogbia,Lescott and a few more. Lerner spent most of his money on Bodymoor Heath, which cost an enormous amount.

  96. Paul Pears

    Premiership wages would be a large chunk, buying out contracts, and the Bodymoor Heath headquarters were not cheap, or the facilities.

    Reduction in players values soon mount up too.

  97. IanG

    PP I was talking about BH, of which the estimate was nowhere near the amount stated.
    Also how far back does this claw back via accounts go as BH has been ongoing since just after lerner took over?
    As I said, standard dishonest business practice.
    ‘When in Rome etc’ doesn’t make one a Roman.

  99. IanG

    JL
    Thanks for the reply.
    If this Rob Bishop is known to people maybe they can put a word in to include who’s on the photos he posts [clive if you’re meeting him for lunch?] as not many of us have brilliant memories at 100 yard[or at all in my case], although I’d recognise Charlie Aitken’s mug anywhere.
    Loved him, villa through & through

  100. John Clark

    IanG-

    “This is just the press release to muddy the waters before the actual accounts come out in a few days. By then it won’t be as much of a shock & much of any reaction will be muted.”

    As you say, standard practice.

  101. John Clark

    r0bb0-

    Leicester have been a perfect example of what commitment and passion can do. I thought all last season why can’t we at least try that hard? Burnley as well the season they went down. They couldn’t score to save their lives, but gave it all they had every time out.

    A fall-off at Leicester was inevitable. But if I were in charge at Villa, I’d be saying, “You saw Leicester last year. If you want to be in the top flight and you’re not giving that much, then you don’t want it enough.”

  102. r0bb0

    Lansbury’s interview gives a few insights into why we’ve been struggling of late. It highlights that the management team did TOO well by managing to bring in just about everyone that Bruce was after. Bruce has felt obliged to try and play all the new boys, “he brought them in for a reason”. Trying to incorporate all of them has been disruptive to the team on the pitch and must surely have also been disruptive in the dressing room.
    It’s hard to get the balance right. Martin O’Neill was well supported by the board, with many new (expensive players) and half of them disappearing into the bowels of the club never to be seen on the pitch, but dragging our finances deep into the red.
    Let’s hope that Lansbury is right and the team spirit is now starting to grow and performances and results will now start to improve.
    Putting the most positive spin on it, buying the players in January may have been disruptive this season but does give Bruce the best possible chance of building for a serious title bid next season.
    Lansbury is at least, one of the players who ‘does’ seem to give it all he’s got on the pitch. . . . oh, and the boy can sing too!
    http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-midfielder-henri-lansbury-12663608

  104. DarrenO

    Don’t worry about Dr.T, those losses can be written off against profits earned in the wider Recon group so will save him on tax liabilities.

    The good news ship that is Villa just keeps on giving, mis-mgmt on and off the pitch under Lerner and Fox. Thankfully this will draw a line in this period of our club as we move forward with Dr.T and whoever the next manager is 🙂

  110. Mark King

    Just read the Lansbury article and to me justs says Bruce is not being clear in what he wants them to do. He says people are running into the wrong spaces? the likes of Silva and Wagner sit the player down and go through hours of video and tactics to make them aware of exactly what is expected, why have Silvas and wagners players hit the ground running? and as for getting to know each other as a group I have been on stag do’s and come away with a whole bunch of people I got to know and all you have is that experience in common. What would really piss me off as one of the remaining players is he has basically said we have been brought in for a reason, your not good enough 🙂 thanks Henri mate. Maybe they should have sleepover or something?

  111. Mark King

    Heres your Brucey bonus, the Ground staff At VP need to step their game up and remove those trees blocking our passing. And, apparently there’s a pile of wood somewhere (probably between Bruces ears ) but you can’t see it when you are in those pesky trees. We don’t need a Sports psychologist we need the forestry commission and a log burner. But there’s always hope lots and lots of hope, who needs professionalism when you have hope, oh and a disclaimer or two.

    “It wasn’t pretty against Derby but we got the result we craved in the end.
    “It was never going to be easy because we’ve had it tough of late and when that happens you lose a bit of confidence – you can’t see the wood from the trees and you sometimes can’t find the simple pass.

    “Also everybody has been edgy. We needed a result and we got it. It meant something to them and now it’s about building that confidence.

    “Bristol City have had a tough time. It won’t be easy. We have to approach it right. We have to be right. Let’s hope the encouragement and confidence they picked up from the weekend takes into tonight’s game.”

    Bruce, discussing the Robins, knows from experience that our opponents will relish playing at the renowned Villa Park.

    He added: “They will be dangerous. But I believe that every opponent is dangerous here.

    “They come to Villa Park and think ‘this is very, very nice – what a wonderful place to play’.

    “You can’t underestimate them. No game in this league is ever easy.”

  112. IanG

    JL
    Thanks for that.
    CliveE
    Good of you, one can only try, never did like teasers like this as it’s a bit like wallpaper for the younger ones in this case.

  115. Mark King

    Ian mate they need every penny, probably why they have started growing a forest, think they are going to build a drive through MacDonalds at BMH for the train and the players will all do shifts.

  118. John Lerwill

    Ah, it reminds you of the muddy pitches, balls sticking in that mud on the penalty spot and the filthy dirty shorts to boot!

    There was a time when players got so filthy they would have to change strip at half-time…

    … and when the white lines of the goal area disappeared.

    Apart from having to head a soggy football.

    Yep, they used to have earn their dough in them there days!

  134. James Gill

    mark k
    just looked wasnt on bench weekend either
    what the fuck does bruce do in training we cannot defend or attack set pieces, our shooting is crap 1 from 8 on target

  147. Heroes-and-Villans

    Just coming out match

    Jedi great
    Second half alot lot better….playing through the middle more. Physically see the confidence starting to flow. Lans and conor good.

    Please need more luck with injuries, getting murdeerd with em. Not helping

  148. Mark King

    Andrew what was the first half like? sounded awful on the radio second much better.

    On to Rotherham three struggling sides on the trot 6 points so far should make it 9 on Saturday then a bit of a test at Huddersfield, we win there I might start believing, might.

  149. Heroes-and-Villans

    First half was poor, bristil started brightly and became scrappy. Looking at it live, confidence is issue. Got booed of half time, mental. Reckon if vp was in full cry for 90 we would fly. Two way thing though tbf. Green is very good, had a great shot his woodwork. Better for team new signings on bench i reckon, make em earn the shirt.

    Hutton played well hahaha

  150. James Gill

    none of older players have earned their shirt
    if booed off at half time, much the same then just one half off football again
    subs why take adoamh off and replace with defender

  153. Clive Evans

    IanG – Rob Bishop has replied

    I was asked to provide an “On this Day” item for every day of the year, and those items have been appearing since the site was re-launched last summer.
    But I never know what photo will be used until it appears. Sometimes, for older events where no specific images are available, they have to use a photo of Villa Park or a team photo from the era.
    I suppose the guy has a point, but there’s not much I can do about it!

  155. Trinity

    I enjoyed listening to the game on AVTV, which is better than nothing. Sounds like Green just about scored a world beater, not to be his day, though, especially with the injury. Hopefully it’s only a minor tear. Gardener seemed to play pretty well until he was injured and subbed.
    Did Kodija lay on for Adomah, who skewed his shot, but Hourihan scored the goal? Sounded like good team work. Maybe Kodija is learning, and he made up for the missed penalty with his own goal.
    Don’t like the booing thing. It just makes VP stink, best way to protest is not to go.
    Thanks Andrew, good to hear comments from someone who was at the game.
    It’s early days winning wise and people are talking Rotheram down. Worse thing Villa can do is underestimate them. Glad for the 2-0 win.

  156. John Lerwill

    Thank you Andrew!

    Iana’s right …. we shouldn’t knock Rotherham too much although they’re not doing at all well.

    But 3 wins on the trot would be a faith-restorer.

  160. Archie

    VL
    You beat me to it with the BBC article. Which really does sum up the last six years events.
    I think Matt Lynch and Pat Murphy were spot on in their observations, particularly PM’s reference to the turnaround in playing staff recently sighting the difficulty in developing a cohesive unit with so many new players coming in. Also Matt Lynch’s observation that the state the club was in the end of last season, the new owner coming in and on reflection an unsuitable managerial appointment in RDM, the summer (2016) was too shorter period to effectively reorganise.
    Interesting comments from Dean Saunders also regarding each game in the Championship being a battle ground…..only the strong survive…….The journey continues.
    Oh an well done the boys last night

  161. Villalore

    This is the most damning stat – “In fact, of every club to have competed in the Premier League and Football League/EFL since the start of 2010-11, only Stockport – now in National League North – have won less regularly.” We thought we wont have this ignominy at the end of this season but doesnt look like it going away for a while.

  162. Mark King

    Morning folks not going to get carried away after beating two of the teams who cannot buy a win, smacks to much of the games before we played Leeds, relatively easy. Rotherham beat Norwich I think in Jan at home and put up a fight against Huddersfield 2-3 so no pushovers at home. We then have Huddersfield at their place, we have two wins away from home this season.

    That brings up the confidence line of thinking? well to me it seems we have hit a timely easier patch of games at this point, Bristol 1 win in 15 against Rotherham, Derby lost to Blackburn last night, all the other teams we have faced lately have gone on or are on quite decent runs. If that pattern happens again it says to me there is less a problem with confidence and more a problem with approach.

  163. Mark King

    A lot of good stuff in that article but I really do not believe that turnover of players and managers is the problem. I just went back through Huddersfield’s transfers over the last 4 seasons and it is massive including 15 in this season and 20 out! an awful lot are loans yet there they are third whys that? could it be our managers are not of the right quality along with our recruitment?

  168. DarrenO

    Breathing room in the battle to avoid the drop, more points in the battle for mid-table supremacy. a point behind Small Heath for all those who work with inbreds or care about them in any way.

    Lots of chances, missed penalty, so positives in terms of performance and didn’t allow Bristol to get to the same situation as they did against Newcastle, still a long way to go, not yet applying for membership of the happy clap club.

  169. Heroes-and-Villans

    there is no chance whatsoever bruce wants us to play long ball. that im 100% sure. watching it on tele last few games and last night he goes mad at em telling them to stop panicking and calm down. Pretty sure the answer to that is confidence/playing the same players in a settled side. the second half belive it or not we looked like a TEAM! Attacked as a unit and defended like dogs. Just read bruces comments on the game, pretty much spot on.

  171. Heroes-and-Villans

    bruce at massive fault for changing his line up/formation after starting so well. its killed us.

    Players also should earn the right to play, not just walk into the team..another mistake.

    No troubles with bree, horihan, Viking on bench, make them realise they have to take there chance and earn it.

    Id even keep hutton over bree at the moment…which it mental!! hahha

  172. Mark King

    Nice to hear from Green, at least he cares, lets hope others get the chance too

    André Green ✔ @AndreGreen_
    Been at this fantastic club for 10 years & hearing you all sing my name is very special to me so Thankyou❤ 3 points!!!!!!
    11:03 PM – 28 Feb 2017
    599 599 Retweets 2,859 2,859 likes
    Follow
    André Green ✔ @AndreGreen_
    Dream come true hearing the Holte end sing my name tonight❤ 2 wins on the bounce also p.s whens the woodwork going to let me score #avfc
    11:00 PM – 28 Feb 2017

  173. Heroes-and-Villans

    Also the partnership over kodjer/adomah should not be broken…they are a big threat together and like playing with each other.

    No chance of taking Rotherham lightyly, with how we have been playing and our away record. BIG BIG game to get our heads right on our travels.

  174. Mark King

    Andrew- yes I was surprised by Lansburys admission Bruce felt obliged to play the new players that doesn’t seem like good management at all to me. still win all our games and you never know 😉

  176. Mark King

    Andrew- 1 league win in 15 and that was Rotherham? oh and they beat Fleetwood over 2 legs 1-0, Bristol have been in freefall and derby 2 points in 2017? mmm think you are looking at that with those Villa tints on 🙂

  177. Heroes-and-Villans

    yeah green has it all. any full back will be scared to death of him. tall, quick, will get stronger. works hard getting back too.

    great to see.

    gutted he is injured though…guess it will be jack or the Viking for him.

    Baker back to being solid last night. defense was very good. like the look of taylor a lot. good player.

  179. Heroes-and-Villans

    tell you another team in free fall though….wolves. they have been terrible and have tough games coming up.

    derby have surprised me falling away like that. were flying under steve.

  180. Mark King

    Andrew- we have beaten teams in poor form all season, have you not been watching? the only exceptions have been Fulham and Reading which we scraped by in. If we give Huddersfield a hard game for 90 I’ll break out a bottle of corona, I’ll save the champagne for when I see some real progress, thats 9 wins with jedinak 1 without now 😉

  184. John Lerwill

    Mark: “Morning folks not going to get carried away after beating two of the teams who cannot buy a win, smacks to much of the games before we played Leeds, relatively easy. “

    Mark, you’re being cheeky! 😉 You know full well that Bristol went to Newcastle in their previous match and went 2-up before finally settling for a draw away.

    No, this Villa lot have got the bit between their teeth now … just a bit more togetherness and – who knows! – we might win the remaining 12 matches – which would give us 78 points.

    Well, nothing like being opti! 🙂

  185. Heroes-and-Villans

    Mark

    yes im aware of who we have beaten. And im aware derby & city in poor form. My point is we were also in poor form and didn’t think we had a divine right to beat them, and didn’t think they were ‘easy games’ for us.

    credit where credits due

  186. Heroes-and-Villans

    no ones breaking out the champagne, and no ones getting carried away…well im not. Still worried about relegation.

    Blackburn have a game in hand. Need to beat Rotherham and get a nice double figure lead over the bottom 3.

  187. Heroes-and-Villans

    Need to start playing for 90 mins too. only got 1 good half in us at the mo.

    But maybe just maybe with bruce sticking to a set formation, players settling in more each day that passes we will get better!

    And stop getting players injured too.

    Wonder what bruce will do when hogans back fit!

  188. Villalore

    Confidence may be slowly coming back but is very fragile. I’d like to see what happens when we are two nil down, do we have the self belief to come back. That’ll be the day we have a team.

  189. John Clark

    Naturally, we go and score TWO when I couldn’t even listen to the match on the radio. So, no idea. Will have to try and catch the highlights to get some sense.

    But if Villa are going to finish on the up, they have to start somewhere.

  190. James Gill

    another pen last night we got away with,but why when we went 2 up did bruce not go for more ,i thought bree was a full back so why not take hutton off,we ended up with just 1 attacker on the field at end

    andrew
    you saying hutton playing well, who against, did he actually put in a decent cross or just normal, funny his contract is up in few weeks and suddenly he starts playing like a full back bit likewhen lambert gave him new contract bit same with flabby

    come summer please get shot off hutton richards kozak gabby,sort out gil vetout sanchez should free some wages for keeper centre half and company for jedi who it seems after spending a fortune we can t buy a win when jedi doesnt play

  192. John Lerwill

    Villalore: “I’d like to see what happens when we are two nil down”

    What do you mean “when”?!!! More like “if” – well v Rotherham at least! 😉

  193. Heroes-and-Villans

    james

    when I say hutton played well its more like a 5/6 out of 10 than the normal 3 out of 10! haha

    he is toast don’t worry….de laet and bree our rb’s now.

    Yeah will defo be more outs than ins in the summer.

  195. James Gill

    andrew
    was on face book and christ i thought hutton had scored 2 goals made superman efforts to save them,the contract bit read that somewhere over weekend

  197. Mark King

    Well if we are not expected to beat two teams on poor form at villa park who are we supposed to beat? Bristol were unlucky to go in not winning at half time, yes we rallied but we were the home team.

    Bruce has masterminded a recovery yay, let’s not forget he also masterminded a complete cock up in Dec/Jan and most of Feb. Apparently confidence only lasts as long as we win, where do we look for players on the samiritans phone lines? They are singing and dancing in the dressing room nowaccording to hourihane, if we ever do something of note they will be on crack cocaine and shipping the prostitutes in. Why is it we have excepted such rubbish standards? That is a serious question by the way 😉

  198. Heroes-and-Villans

    Mark

    The rubbish standards.

    Watching the club we love be ripped apart. By learner, fox, Faulkner and co.
    Watching us slowly circle relegation for 5 years before finnaly going down.
    watching several managers come and go in months
    Being the second to worst team ever in prem history
    seeing all the best players sold and not replaced.
    seeing goal of the month comps stopped as we never even scored.
    watching villa make history…longest losing runs etc.
    generally being terrible and a laughing stock.
    Being relegated
    watching lescott and guzan play spit the gum on the subs bench as we crash out the cup.
    theres prob more that my brain has blanked out over the last 5 years but that list would generally lower standards.

  200. Heroes-and-Villans

    james
    hutton was his usualy self tbh. runs in straight lines etc but just did ok, has been putting in a shift…id waite until the standard howler before dropping him for bree though. only a matter of time. Give bree a bit more time and make him keen to hang onto the shirt when in.

  201. James Gill

    andrew
    the time he took adoamh last night was perfect timing
    but to another point how many of our players are capable of playing in pl for us remember it will be 18months at earliest , me not many

  202. James Gill

    back to earlier point andrew
    gabby richards smoking pipe in dubai
    grealish lying on road
    danish lad getting his shorts pulled down
    chelsea 8 0,spurs 4 0, wigan 3 0 over xmas
    bradford semi final, aresnal cup final
    signing of cole sendross and ponytail richardson

  203. Paul Pears

    Well, catching up at last, after another horrific journey to Bristol, after the game.

    I felt a bit like the team at one time, as I totally lost direction, with all the diversions on the motorway, which only happens at night, but hey-ho, eventually got onto the A38 and rejoined the M5 near Worcester and started to sail home, just like Villa did in the second half.

    Andrew’s account of the match is pretty accurate, Green was very unfortunate in not getting a penalty when the keeper attacked him for blocking him off, and it should have been touch and go, as to whether the keeper got a yellow or red card for it, and then a few minutes later, he was badly fouled, and took a kick to the groin, and again there should have been a card, but this of course is the Championship, where the standard of official is atrocious.

    Yes itwas only the scuffed shot that presented Hourihane with the chance that he put away well.

    I am sure Bruce’s thinking on bringing on Bree was to give him a feel for the game and let him settle a little, rather trhan it being a strategic substitution. Would have preferred to see Jack for Bjarnason, but maybe Bruce feels he will get stuck in more.

    Not a great performance, but an encouraging one in the end. Those little green shoots are still forming, and it is good to see a little more togertherness.

    Still not happy with Adomah, but perhaps he and Kodjia will improve together, but as Andrew said, Green had an outstanding game, both in his defensive duties and attack, with a couple of superb shots. Can’t wait to see him score his first goal, and it was also great to see his plaesure and Hourihane’s at the Holte singing their names…!!!

  205. Trinity

    Mark
    “highlights above, that team goal? Kodjia scuffed his shot it looks to me?”
    I just watched the highlights on You Tube. Had to watch it 5 or 6 times, but you’re right, he scuffed it:)

  207. Heroes-and-Villans

    the clubs been in so much turmoil its just not an instant overnight fix.

    question marks over bruce but im delighted with the doc, wyness, round,little in the back ground.

    im certain the actual club is progressing/actually becoming a club again! and it will filter down to the pitch sometime!

  208. Trinity

    Paul Pears
    I’m glad a positive result made your going to the game all the more worthwhile. Green looks like the real deal, doesn’t he? He’s better grounded than Jack. Has come through the ranks without the hype.

  209. Canadian Villan

    Nice to see a corner turned, not pretty but wins are wins.
    Mark, as i see it, teams like Huddy with so many loans are going to have to go through a pretty large re-build again in the summer whether they go up or not. Any successes will get re-called by the mother clubs, those that were only OK, maybe available for purchase, but if they get promoted will Huddy want them? I know we have signed a huge amount of players but they will still be ours next year for sure and if they really gel might even be good squad players if we do get promoted in 2018. For the new guys now to have sampled a couple of home wins, they are going to want to repeat that feeling every game, and i believe we will see huge improvements over the coming weeks. Too late for this season I admit, but would be nice to get a squad gelling ready for a cracking season come August. And yes, I only ever drink half a glass so it stays half full!!
    Seriously though, i did crack a couple of cans of Boddington’s last night, the first time in a long time I’ve fancied a pint after a Villa match.
    PS, Thanks for the link to the high lights, that Green shot was amazing, kid really deserves to get off the mark.

  210. Paul Pears

    Green really does look the real deal, and no impetiousness, just seems a really nice lad that loves his football.

    Will be very interested to see what happens with Kevin Macdonald, and how much he has affected our young lads coming through. It is not looking very good for him. The club also very much needs to address its systems and safeguards for young players.

    Iana, it certainly was worth the effort of getting there, and had an interesting time inthe Aston Tavern, talking to Michelle, the landlord Paul’s wife, and seeing the photo album she had had made of the renovations and rebuilding, including the re-use of the old bars from the King Edward, which was their old pub. Remembered the days back inthe eighties, when it was Vibarts, and we would all drink there before the match.

    I certainly feel that as these new players bed in, there will be improvement. Taylor is already starting to shape up, as well as Lansbury and Hourihane.

    Rotherham wil be a test on Saturday, but Huddersfield will be a much bigger one.

  211. Mark King

    Andrew- I think we have got so used to rubbish we have lost site of what we should be seeing, any win is greeted like a miracle and excuses like we expect to win to much etc are bandied about but I have come to the conclusion that for any player it should be about pride and for the manager competence.

    Lana- I saw a tweet from Kodjia claiming the pass although I think he was joking

  212. Mark King

    CV- I wish I could share your drink must be good if you think we are going to see massive improvements 😉

    So far I would say the players that have worked out for Bruce and Villa were here when he turned up, Kodjiah and Jedinak are the ones that have got him his victories with Chester, Baker,Green, Grealish, hutton chipping in even GG scored to win a game. Taylor is the only one I have seen so far who has made a difference. Without Jedinak the midfield looks bereft of ideas as a unit apart from the PNE game that Westwood anchored the midfield in.

  213. John Lerwill

    PP,

    Thanks for your rendition on the game. Very useful.

    I’ve been thinking that Green is pretty useful for a while now, and in the last two matches he’s hit the woodwork twice with very good efforts. He has been unlucky not to be on the scoresheet, no doubt.

    As for Adomah – well, you know he’s pretty high on the ‘assists’ list now. I think he was the main provider for the two last night, as well as goals earlier in the season, like Codger’s mid-air volley from Adomah’s accurate cross.

    BTW, I note that crosses – when they come – are going in much better. Even Bacuna’s centres have some threat about them now.

  215. Mark King

    Right here the fixtures, how many do you think we will win? I reckon 4

    Rotherham United v Aston Villa Sat 4 Mar 15:00
    Huddersfield Town v Aston Villa Tue 7 Mar 19:45
    Aston Villa v Sheffield Wednesday Sat 11 Mar 15:00
    Wigan Athletic v Aston Villa Sat 18 Mar 15:00
    Aston Villa v Norwich City Sat 1 Apr 15:00
    Aston Villa v Queens Park Rangers Tue 4 Apr 19:45
    Burton Albion v Aston Villa Sat 8 Apr 15:00
    Aston Villa v Reading Sat 15 Apr 15:00
    Fulham v Aston Villa Mon 17 Apr 15:00
    Aston Villa v Birmingham City Sun 23 Apr 12:00
    Blackburn Rovers v Aston Villa Sat 29 Apr 15:00
    Aston Villa v Brighton & Hove Albion Sun 7 May 12:00

  217. John Lerwill

    Mark,

    WE think that Villa is the greatest and those with deep knowledge of the history will be happy to explain it all! 😉

    I believe the issue is linked with Villa’s past, like the most recent big glory issue, winning the European Cup, and also the fact that Villa are the biggest club in the West Midlands, arguably the whole of the Midlands, and have been since 1880.

    In fact, Villa’s achievements have gone on longer than any other club. Preston, for example, were once regarded as the country’s best but have done little since the 1880s and early ’90s to meet that standing. Man U didn’t start doing much until after WW2. So too Liverpool. Only Everton share as great a long-term history as Aston Villa’s – and in fact are possibly marginally ahead as they’ve not seen the second tier since the early 1950s. Arsenal didn’t start getting anywhere until about 1930.

    Other clubs – like those often touted by you – have little history to speak of. Cardiff had a very bright spell in the late 1920s – but what since? Huddersfield also were simply a 1920s club.

    Villa’s long-long history creates a sense of expectation, but it has proved over and again that it is very difficult to redeem that expectation. But what I will say is that Everton (our most twin-like club) have managed to keep up with the big boys very consistently. Perhaps we should conduct a study into how they have gone about it, but I think Villa’s problem is more to do with the issue of the club being so big in this area of the country. Maybe it creates a sense of illusion as to who we are?

  218. John Lerwill

    Mark, we will at least half of those and draw a few as well.

    I won’t say how many we will lose as at the beginning of January I said I expected us to lose only 2 more … then look what happened! 😉 But I think we now have a better squad. Not perfect, but of a better mindset and playing ability.

  220. Mark King

    JL- I very much know and understand our history so why are we excepting such rubbish and claiming we need time when other clubs just get on with it etc? Its not expectation we have done little for 30 years while those lesser clubs go sailing by.

    so you are saying half, and archies finally flipped, both very brave considering we have won twice away and most of our home games are against promotion chasers, good luck gentlemen 😉

  221. John Lerwill

    Mark,

    We’ve done very little in 15 to 20 years, Mark. The Brian Little era was quite bright, and John Gregory had us leading the Premiership a few times. And in 2007-08 it looked very bright indeed, but I think MON got carried away by summat.

    As to “lesser clubs”, well they say that every dog has its day! They always have – nothing new there.

  222. Mark King

    JL- quite bright doesn’t quite cut it does it? yes one of those dogs won the prem by being run well, I want us to be run well so we can be a pit bull 😉

  223. James Gill

    john l
    think if Little had got right chairman at that, time not the ego hunting deadly,when deadly signed collymore it ruined the dressing room spirit, and Little for that matter,met them in dublin after leeds cup win, deadly think little was there johson taylor and ugo great times

    big rons time was great too, first time seen them live

  228. Heroes-and-Villans

    Lovely to see keith wyness, little, ian taylor, round all sat together. Always at home games. Was on villa cam. Great scenes when we score.

    Mark, taylor at the mo as been very good at lb. like him alot. Always talking, pointing and directing.

    Lansbury good too.

    Have no doubts hogan, bree, hourihan going to be class for us.

  230. Mark King

    Andrew- Wagner said its nice to play in the cup as they can play open and have some fun, 9 changes as the league is the priority and wagners sat in the stands so yes they are playing open football but I would rather that than park the bus with a full side out against spurs reserves, they are a pleasure to watch 😉

  232. Archie

    Mark, I really couldn’t say how many of our remaining games we’ll win,lose, draw. But I do forecast a mid table finish.
    And I do recognise and acknowledge the point your making re; Cardiff, Huddersfield, et al.
    I will say its in the character and make up of this club of ours to be a top flight club and win the occasional trophy. And I’m sure you realise there’s no such think as a done deal in the football world, its all risk. Bruce has it all on his CV to get us out this league, thats as far as you can go, I happen to think he will….next season. But what do I know.
    I also don’t think the Burnleys, the Watfords, the Bourmouths will not stay the course. They look okay now, but its not long term, in my opinion.
    I think our clubs set up right now, from the top down and a continuous improvement of the quality on the pitch will take us to Premier League top six…seven maybe, Its alway going to be difficult to compete with the big money boys but at least I see us dining at the same table in a couple of years
    The journey continues.
    Archie

  233. Mark King

    Maybe so Archie but in these days of big money and rich owners you never know, plus they have to be clever unlike us. What could a switched on club of our rep do? Thats why it saddens me we are going down the same old route. A lot of these teams are only a bigger stadium and worldwide audience away form getting bigger and who knows what the next century will bring? our home gates are worth about £13m puts things into perspective.

  234. Paul Pears

    Surprised that no-one has had more to say about the Kevin macdonald situation, and its implications, especially the bullying aspects.

    I thought we were supposed to have had a complete clear out at Villa Park, and that we now have the right people in place. Does this imply that there is still part of the old regime remaining, which still has an effect on players.

    I do hope that the club is taking the situation as seriously as it appears to be from the report.

    Great start by Huddersfield reserves, and at the end of the day, they still gave good account of themselves. Going to be a tough game for us. Impressed with Billings, the German mid fielder.

  235. Clive Evans

    Mark _ I had already pencilled in wins at Rotherham, Wigan, QPR, Burton and Blackburn with possible draws v Birmingham and Brighton – who might have nothing to play for having got promoted!
    From their current league positions I have no points from the rest but, as we know, the Championship is a temperamental league!!
    Iana – guess you’ll be watching your team on Friday evening – the big Super Rugby game is Saturday!!

  237. John Lerwill

    Archie: “I will say its in the character and make up of this club of ours to be a top flight club and win the occasional trophy.”

    Exactly – well said.

    Villa’s time *will* come round again – and Dr. Tonix has said so!

  238. Mark King

    jL- Y-e-e-e-e-s-s-s-! … But please tell what happened next!

    A thoroughly entertaining game of football? Played not by Huddersfield 1st team but by a team with 9 changes some having seen only 4 starts this season and including youth team players who acquitted themselves very well against £500m of man citys finest.

    Did I mention their manager was in the stands unable to take part. They have other things on their mind like promotion and possibly automatic and progressed further than us with their reserves, I don’t think the fa cup was a priority although the fans didn’t seem to mind because those reserves gave everything and the manager was brave enough to play them. The pundits talked about Wagner working one on one with even the youth players on their weaknesses, absolutely no lack of confidence on play and no parking the bus. Maybe you preferred our 2-0 capitulation to Spurs reserves with a full side out and 6 at at the back?

    To summarise a valiant effort that did not stop when they went behind indeed they could really of had 2-3 more if they had played their main strikers they probably would.

  239. Mark King

    Yet over at Vila Towers the excuse machine rolls on, we only have one centre forward, yes we know Steve, you sold them all and went for Gabby. Even when you had two centre forwards you could not make it work. At least Huddersfield reserves tried to play football.

    “We forgot how to play the game – we got caught up in the long ball. We got sucked into playing that way. In the second half, I was pleased with the way we defended and also the way we went forward.

    “Every time we went forward we looked like we might score a goal. It’s not easy at the moment – we only have one centre-forward.”

  241. Mark King

    From above

    ““The current coach was picked because he has experience,” said Xia. “But what we have seen shows it doesn’t work if you rely on past experience entirely. What makes a coach great is his ability to constantly learn and adjust.”

    In the narrow world of English football where loyalties are fierce and traditions passed down through folklore, Xia has also challenged what he calls soccer’s cultural “rigidness.” “Of all the industries I’ve operated in, soccer is the one most resistant to change,” he said.”

    Oh my word 🙂

  242. Mark King

    wish he would instruct Bruce then 😉

    Typically chairman and owners of English teams steer clear of getting involved in on-field matters. Not Xia. He’s a regular on Twitter, sometimes sending multiple messages a day to share his thoughts on player trading and the team’s performances. The plan is to one day help support President Xi’s dream of building a winning team.

    “Now I probably know much better than most when it comes to being a coach of a club, how to arrange training and match tactics,” he said. “I’d like to figure out one day how to help Chinese soccer.”

  243. Mark King

    I’ll leave you with this question and you can all come out from hiding,

    When was the last time you saw a villa player come down with cramp in the 90 minutes?

  245. Trinity

    Clive
    Yep, hope the Blues get one over the Chiefs there. I’d say it’s a 50-50. Game is at 7:30 here. I’ll be going to Wellington to watch the Lions vs Hurricanes. I don’t think the Lions will beat the Super teams. I think they’ll win their first match and a test. I wouldn’t mind the Lions winning the series.
    Mark
    Gabby seems to get cramp everytime he plays:).
    We should expect winning ways. Why not? Villa has the record for the most expensive squad in Championship history and is historically one of England’s bigger clubs. That said, it is a club that has been poorly run and obviously won’t turn around immediately. Smaller clubs that have done better were better managed. This time Villa need to get it right. I’m pretty sure the players are good enough. Improvement needs to happen now with a view to promotion next year.
    Shame to hear about Kevin MacDonald’s bullying. Wouldn’t have guessed.

  248. Mark King

    Wagner after the game.

    Town head coach David Wagner, who watched the game from the stands due to a touchline ban, felt his side did not do themselves justice.

    He said: “Of course the start was positive because we went in front but we were not at our best, performance-wise.

    “We have shown too much respect, unfortunately, against a very strong Manchester City side.

    “Congratulations to Pep -the result was fair. We made too many easy mistakes when we had the ball and when we defended we were not aggressive enough.

    “When you play against Manchester City you have to be very aggressive.”

    and before, I can’t help but feel Jealous of their manager.

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/02/28/david-wagner-admits-touchline-ban-has-tarnished-huddersfields/

  249. DarrenO

    Does Lescott in the first 5 minutes of any game count, Mark 🙂 well it looked like cramp may have been checking his phone for delivery of his new car

  251. Heroes-and-Villans

    yeah last night was entertaining if you were a man city fan…

    Mark has certainly been seduced by wagners ways….but a bit like klopp at pool will be worked out soon enough. beat the press and your in.

    Would be willing to bet huddy wont appear to be so sexy this time next season.

    Fair do’s though, having a good moment now.

    Any how this aint at Huddersfield blog so….

  252. Heroes-and-Villans

    the kevin mac story is a strange one…..we have produced lots of young players who are still in the game and they all speak very highly of him.

    Has been in the game a long long time too so would hear more complaints?!

    Could be one kid complaining of a bit of swearing? You know what its like nowdays. pc gone mad.

    Hope its nothing serious anyhow.

    Article did say since new management in place things have been improved anyhow.

  253. Mark King

    Andrew- it’s not apparently a football blog either 😉
    Pep uses the high press to are Man City going to get worked out? I find it amazing that apparently the likes of Bruce won’t get found out? Maybe the fact there appears no plan means he won’t 🙂

  254. Heroes-and-Villans

    haha mark, it will be a football blog when villa start playing some footy!

    Man city did get worked out! have only just turned the corner, did drop out the top 4 for some while. Man city play a lot more out from the back than pool. I watch pool and see just 4 narrow number 10 types running all over the shop. klopp very over rated to me. has been allowed to get away with it from the media because of his grin and glasses. they fawn over him.

    Pep has shown his genius by getting out the slump and playing silva and de bruyne in the middle. sane and sterling out wide, shame jesus got injured. There going to be devastating next season, that front 5 is awesome.

  255. Heroes-and-Villans

    my fav is pochitino at spurs. I think there incredible.

    You watch spurs and they can do the lot. High press. Counter. keep ball or defend. had the best def record last year and think they do so far this year. Well balanced too with lots of left footers. extremely jealous of them. Bloody young players too.

  257. Mark King

    Andrew- subtle difference with Wagner to klopp he does occasionally change thinks when needed. When they played a lower league physical side they went direct using the tall German lad up top (reminds me of a quicker Carew) won 4-0 so he will adapt if needs be. I cannot imagine he will throw the play offs away by being hung ho. We will find out next Tuesday I expect. If we play our usual non passing we will not get over the halfway. Huddys keeper played out from the back even under intense pressure by the way.

  259. Mark King

    Andrew thats what puzzles me about Bruce’s comments, that 433 4141 seems to suit our personal so why is he bemoaning the lack of Centre forwards? one he’s partially caused it and b he only needs one. Then you get into how he wants to play with Two up top, now I may be wrong but I don’t think Kodjia is ever going to suit playing with Hogan, he is a good player but very much a free spirit on the pitch. So Bruces plan is two up top but the players he has and has brought in don’t lend to that so either he’s cocked up and needs to adjust or we will be buying again come summer.

    I think we might well sell Kodjia in the summer or nothing he is doing makes much sense

  261. Mark King

    Mind you we are skipping Rotherham who have only lost one game at home by 2 goals once against PNE, have beat Norwich in Jan at home only lost by 1 to Newcastle and 2-3 to Huddersfield, its no forgone conclusion.

  262. DarrenO

    I’ve given up trying to understand Bruce’s methods and lack of methods. What will happen is players becoming accustomed to each other over the next few weeks that will negate the lack of tactics employed by Bruce.

    The fruits of having what are good players having a better understanding will no doubt be lauded as the ‘Bruce impact’ but I think this is further from the truth. Constant tinkering with formation and player selection doesn’t smack of trying to outdo the opposition, they’re attempts at trying to find something that works for Villa.

    The happy clappers will be happy but the underlying lack of footballing methods/tactics, what could be described as a ‘Villa way’ will mean we will constantly be the bridesmaid and never the bride unless we employ a forward thinking manager such as Pochettino and the backroom staff he built at Southampton, the detailed work Wagner has done at unfashionable Hudders, the intelligence of approach by Marco Silva at Hull. Clement who studied everywhere will benefit Swansea, now he’s come out from the shadows of being a no.2

    These managers and a few others have the following in common, minute analysis of the opposition, minute analysis of their own players strengths and weaknesses, the incorporation of a system and the acquisition of players for the system, not the other way round, flexibility of approach within games, confidence in their own ability and positive approach to football as opposed to parking the bus.

    So how many days did I last without complaining about Bruce, lucky I didn’t give it up for lent.

  267. John Lerwill


    I think we should all be agreed that footie is a game of uncertainties. There are very few absolutes. Coaching tries to make things into a standard system, and it is only the very best coaches that can make the game an evolutionary, watchable, commodity. One or two of the erudite of us have named a couple.

    If anything, I think that Bruce knows his limitations and plays it by ear, his “tactics” being simply to pull players together that have the right mindset and skillset to suit the situation and him. He then – logically i.m.o. – leaves it to them (the players) to do the job.

    Now in the absence of a top-notch coach that’s not a bad base to work from to get out of the Championship.

    The second thing we should all be agreed on that it probably will take a top-notch coach to get Villa where it should be. Well, that’s then … when Brucie has accomplished the club’s first phase.

  268. Mark King

    Yes it will take another rebuild, oh hang on those are not good to much upheaval, then we have to reinvent the clubs way of doing things change all the staff again, try and become a prem team under incredible pressure in the prem. We have been there done that for the last 6 years, I was hoping for something a little different

  269. IanG

    MK
    Hope & fear is what kills mate.
    I hope DOR has something to be happy about sooner rather than later [& the rest of us].

  270. John Lerwill

    Mark,

    I disagree … it doesn’t necessarily mean a re-build if the core of Villa’s squad is of good enough quality. So long as there’s a core there, then it can be an evolutionary thing … just as Ron Saunders built the squad: he had a good core and built on it and built until he got where he wanted.

    I think there are several Villa players who will be able to form that core from which to take Villa onto the next step … including some of Brucie’s signings. A good coach will then make silk purses out of them.

  271. Mark King

    JL- I can see where you are coming from John but I feel its all unnecessary work that could be sorted now. As for championship manager? there is a reason he has never been at a big club harsh as that seems and its not his nationality. There seems to be a ground swell happening in the Championship of teams pre-prepared for the prem and we are not in it.

    As for players that another manager will mould? doesn’t appear they can get what Bruce wants, we can only hope thats Bruce’s failing and they don’t end up like the players that have come to villa and stagnated.

  272. IanG

    JL
    I think the powers that be at VP have that idea also, & if the next year is done right there will be no need for one.
    But as you say there are no certainties, & we currently have Bruce, which cements the idea that he is here mainly to get us back up & re established.
    Whether he manages to do so time will tell as whatever we would like as an alternative is not likely to happen until at least christmas, depending on results, as you, archie & others have said.
    I am not pro bruce, but we have to put up with him & hope he does better than he normally does.

  273. IanG

    MK
    I’m not sure that Bruce has actually picked the incoming players as such.
    I’m sure he has agreed them, but I don’t think it’s his role anymore.
    He can recommend, but it is not totally up to him as we have a back room team to locate & source players for the club, regardless of who the manager is.

  274. Archie

    I would think where player purchase is concerned, a wish list is generated with a contingency list, we dont acctually know if the players brought during the January window were all first choice. I think all clubs have an idea who they want but get offered something different .
    I dont think Steve Staunton was BFR preferred choice but was offered him….well, the rest is history as they say.
    JL do you recall a winger by the name of Viv Busby I think it was Tommy Docherty was desperate to sign him in the late sixties. Well Viv knocked us back and joined the free scoring Luton Town who were top of the old 3rd div in those days, I wonder if Viv ever regretted that decision.

  275. Mark King

    IanG- I think that is the aim of the club but in this instance Bruce was definitely brought in for a play off place, his words when he arrived were all about that especially when things looked like they were working out. When the players came in he reeled off how he had looked at them for hull etc when he was at XYZ for pretty much all of them. When you bring in a so called specialist you don’t tie his hands and give him more players he can’t use (see RCM, Grealish, Ayew ) Thor is defo his, Hogan too.

    Where I think they have been smart is going for players in the early to mid 20’s on the whole but performing well in the champs and on pretty low fees due to contracts running down with some. Are they prem quality? well at such low prices why were they not snapped up by prem teams?

  277. Mark King

    On Hourihane
    Bruce worked with the 25-year-old Tykes ace during his days as a youngster at Sunderland and has been impressed with his rise.

    He also admitted that Lansbury had been on his radar since his days as a teenager at Arsenal, so wrapping up his signing from Nottingham Forest was pleasing.

  278. Mark King

    Hogan from the mail

    “Steve Bruce revealed his delight at landing Scott Hogan after stressing: “I was not going to miss out on him again.”

  279. Mark King

    thor

    Bruce is expected to hand the 28-year-old his debut at Brentford tomorrow night and has likened Bjarnason to the man who worked wonders for him at former club Birmingham City.

    “He is typical of what supporters want to see in England – he’s a Robbie Savage but a better footballer. I’ll throw that out there!” Bruce said.

  280. Mark King

    more thor

    “I heard he likes runners and well, I run a lot!” replied midfielder Bjarnason when asked what he might bring to Villa’s team. “Both forward and backwards. It’s one of my big qualities.

    “I’ve always been like that. I think the more you run the better you play. At least that’s how I think.”

    One can imagine Bruce’s eyes lighting up at the sound of such words. The Villa boss likes nothing more than players who are prepared to put in a shift and instilling energy into a previously one-paced midfield has been the chief focus this month.

  282. Mark King

    Bree and the young Centre half they brought in thats disappeared are more Rounds doing for me Taylors a toss up when we sold Ayew he probably got offered or visa versa

  283. John Lerwill

    Mark: “I can see where you are coming from John but I feel its all unnecessary work that could be sorted now. “

    But it’s a bit pointless, surely. There is a fait accompli: we’re going with Bruce and nothing’s going to change that … bar something serious happening next season.

  284. Mark King

    JL- you sound very sure there, if we start losing again I cannot see him being here, lets see what happens away from home and against some better teams.

  286. John Lerwill

    Mark,

    Well, OK, it might happen … but I don’t think we should count on it! 😉

    Besides which I’d actually like to see Bruce get another promotion on his c.v. He’s a decent feller and now he’s here we should give him chance i.m.o.

  287. Mark King

    JL- Give him a chance? he has been given that chance its up to him not us now, Decent feller he may be but he has left plenty of teams for pastures new, I for one am not getting sentimental over the silver tongued Geordie, he either does the job or leaves.

  291. Trinity

    Yes, Villa are making hard work of it. Like wise man says, many hands make light work. Of course, he was talking about contribution and cooperation. The newer players are still finding their feet in this regard, but they do have something to give and are willing to cooperate. A decent team should soon blossom to bear fruit. If not, we cut the head off the snake.
    Andrew
    Villa will score lots of goals now that Sky isn’t showing them.
    Hope Green is recovering well. I tweaked a hammy rolling over in bed the other night. Mr AV should be fit soon. I think man who rolls over and tweaks hammy pull muscle to hard.

  293. Heroes-and-Villans

    Haha mark, nice one mate.

    Villa had there agm tonight. Sounds positive from people who been there but no proper report yet.

    One man said last season he came out the agm hating villa but this time he doesnt!

    They say big thing keith is a footy man….knows his stuff.

    Better than fox and faulkner! Not hard!

  295. IanG

    MK
    The problem I’ve got with all those quotes is that I automatically don’t believe a word Bruce says.
    I’m more with Trinity Confusedcious with his snake quotes

  296. IanG

    Andrew
    Are you sure the guy coming out of the agm wasn’t just in a daze, as you don’t mention whether he said anything positive?

  297. DarrenO

    Given we all recognise the turmoil the club has been in since Lerner pulled the plug on MON’s spending, the suggestion by JL that Bruce is the stop gap manager to get us promotion is a very unnerving proposition for me.

    All the calls for stability and stick with Bruce and then get rid for another manager who has to contend against playing better, longer established sides as well as assess his own squad and determine where the gaps are for the system he wants to employ and getting buy in / understanding for that system will only lead to one thing more turmoil and what if Dr.T panics if things don’t work out as quickly as wanted, we’ll be in the same circle that we all want to avoid.

    I’ve suffered from Mark Draperism for many years and that is looking at every player we sign as looking good in a crap team and actually not that great when they join us. Even in those heady MON days, we weren’t buying from the top table. We got a few good players Young, Petrov, Carew but look where even they came from.

    We are still searching the bargain basement bin and with a manager that has no tactical reputation such is our current predicament but I don’t see things changing drastically unless we get revolutionary in our approach but as there is so much money at stake, there is no chance of ever fixing Villa for good, we’ll continue to put plasters over everything. If Bruce is the plaster for promotion and screw playing good football and developing a Villa or modern way of playing then so be it, I can’t change it but I sure am entitled to complain about it.

  299. Trinity

    DOR
    You certainly are entitled to complain about it. In the meantime, Brucey needs to win enough to keep his job. Maybe with Hourihan, Lansbury et al, there’s enough player talent, experience and pride to create their own Villa style. That can only happen with player stability in their proper positions. If Bruce doesn’t allow that to develop, he should go.

  300. Trinity

    Clive
    Sad the wrong team won the Super Rugby derby tonight, but the Blues showed a lot of character to score three tries in the 2nd half with only 14 players. If Villa could show that level of character in the face of adversity, the fans would be satisfied win or lose.

  301. Clive Evans

    matt maher
    Bruce meanwhile revealed Alan Hutton has triggered an appearance-based clause to earn a one-year contract extension. #avfc
    Clive Evans‏ @clifric
    @mjmarr_star @ExpressandStar no steve bruce triggered it; he picked him

  302. IanG

    DOR
    The situation is so fluid & uncertain that it is difficult for anyone to find a stable place to craft a convincing argument, other than what they hope or fear, where everything has been up in the air all year & may well continue in that vein.
    Basing complex arguments on this almost seems pointless to me [unless it’s entertaining].
    It is in a make or break period it seems to me, so all will be revealed sooner rather than later I hope including the manager/coaching scenario.
    What would be a nause is if this just about stumbled on until next season without any better direction & with the current incumbent still spouting his pseudo english.
    But we could win the next few matches & then all this would be neither here nor there – until the next collapse.
    I hope it all gets clearer with either Bruce getting it right, which still stretches it a bit for me, or our next move coming about with the board on top of it all.
    Basically also as lana said it if he doesn’t get it together by the middle of April I don’t see how he can survive beyond this season, as there has to be some signs of substance to base his survival on or events will take over.
    It would be nice to think that the doc has this in his sights.
    We will see
    It is possible but like most of us I am turning into a right pessimist [more than normal, which comes of having no sleep.

  307. Heroes-and-Villans

    6 game ban is blood harsh.

    don’t panic, bree will be our rb for the foreseeable future.

    In the summer we need another jedi type player, defender and goalie.

    maybe a right winger type.

    Gill and vertout could have a future though.

  308. Heroes-and-Villans

    team for next season

    GK
    Bree chester cb Taylor
    Jedi
    Lansbury Hourihan
    Kodgia Hogan Green

    Grealish
    adomah
    rushden
    baker
    bench

    Pressure on bruce cause that team must be challenging.

    Think that was the gist of the agm….if we aint then bruce is toast.

  309. John Lerwill

    Darren: “… the suggestion by JL that Bruce is the stop gap manager to get us promotion is a very unnerving proposition for me.”

    Yes, it may have read as though I was saying that, but in reality I was trying to ease the pain in Mark’s head by trying to take a friendly line with him! 😉

    What I am really saying is that I (like most of you – or all?) haven’t previously seen in Bruce a manager that is likely to take us back to the upper echelons. However, he may well lay a considerable piece of the groundwork as I like the players he sees as being the kind of character to do a good job. Or at least that they show they’re able and willing.

    Ideally, it would be good to see one manager stay with it all the way through – and Bruce *might* do it – but it’s likely that he’ll fall short. We can only wait to see, but I am reasonably confident that Bruce is capable of doing a good job to a certain level of achievement.

    If he doesn’t – and therefore doesn’t achieve the Doctor’s targets – then he will be replaced. Simples.

  310. DarrenO

    But that assumes we’ll continue with the hire and fire approach, it has to stop but it has to stop with the right man who isn’t under pressure for promotion or in prem terms avoiding relegation, the pressure should be to produce a good footballing side. I’d absolutely let a Wagner/Pochettino/Silva type lose if the football was good and progress was evident.

    Relegation gave us an opportunity to go back to basics on the football side instead we looked at the money/prestige lost by relegation and threw good football out the window to hire a manager who ‘knows what it takes’.

    I get it, I’m banging my head against a brick wall but there is a release for me in providing my opinion as I’m really frustrated by the money in the game that is preventing a revolution by evolution at Villa.

  311. Heroes-and-Villans

    I have no problems with using bruce to steady the ship if that what he can do.

    Saint done it with with nigel adams…he was flying with them safe in mid table and they axed him for pochitino amidst uproar. Hammers did it with big sam, got nice and steady in the prem then got bilic in to try and push on.

    The thing villa are doing is keeping everything steady at the club with round in the back ground….ala saints. If we loose bruce not much will change at the club re staff changes. Southampton loose managers every other season but tick over because behind the scenenes not much changes.

  313. James Gill

    andrew
    bruce signed 8 players in jan, and you have said we need 4 more to go into team, yet how many of players we have bought will be good enough in pl or young enough seen as its going to be another18 months before we get there

  315. James Gill

    clive
    i hope some one is sacked for allowing bruce to keep picking hutton when a new contract was at stake ,another couple million wasted on hutton ,8 fucking years of contracts, 2 extension is it never going to end,
    steamer might come back and haunt him

  316. John Lerwill

    Darren: “But that assumes we’ll continue with the hire and fire approach, …”

    True, but that is the nature of footie isn’t it? One thing the Doctor has put in place – and unprecedented in Villa’s history at least – is a structure at VP where if the manager goes nothing else changes. That’s ensuring some kind of continued stability.

    Aside from which, if Bruce accomplishes 75% of the Doctor’s targets then I’d see Bruce i.c. until the Summer of 2019 at least – which is not bad for a “stop gap” manager. That’s not to say he *will* last that long – it’s just a punt at how long he *could* stay.

  318. Heroes-and-Villans

    Saying to my mate this morning look at the state of the prem sat 3 o clock kick offs tomorrow. Id fancy villas chances with them if we went up.

    In the prem I see it as the top 7 out on there own. Man city, man u, pool, arsenal, Chelsea, spurs, everton.

    Then you have the teams that have made mid table safety over the years. West brom, Southampton, wet ham. The rest are in a relegation battle.

    If villa went up id aim for 11th or 12th straight away. The impossiblely hard part is breaking into the top 6

  319. Mark King

    Andrew- The impossibly hard part is breaking into the top 6? or beating Ipswich, Brentford, Huddersfield, Forest………… we played spurs reserves mate and hid, I’m glad you see the prem as easy we will be playing 3 of them next season.

  320. James Gill

    andrew
    add 18 months to every player see what you get plus keeper is only 22 so not so young now, as for beating pl sides you are having a laugh we cannot beat top 6 sides in this league. we parked bus v spurs reserves and were shocking
    name our players that can step up,even all the players we sold are in bottom 6pl sides that actually play
    and bruce idea of a good player is hutton bit like lambert saying holt was a mans man

  321. Heroes-and-Villans

    away to spurs is one of the impossible games! they still had 80 mill of talent on show. it was what it was..a cup game away to spurs. Hiding to nothing.

    yep sunderland/hull/boro? easy. they will be in a state of transition too.

    James

    of course baby steps…lets see what next season holds. Bree has been brought as rb mate. hutton wont play next season.

    And don’t worry the dr and keith has said we will build 3 teams. 1 to go up, 1 to stay up and 1 to push on the top 6. A plan!

  323. Heroes-and-Villans

    And tbf I watched that spurs game….I didn’t think we did too badly. Contained them until ali was brought on? thought the tactics was spot on.

    just didn’t have enough quality to hurt them on the counter, fair enough.

  324. James Gill

    wcyombe werent scared as hudderfield v city
    bruce signed players like hutton at every club he was at and played them alec bruce joshea wes brown titus bramble
    ,there is good piece on why hutton should get no contract on 7500 to holte

  326. Heroes-and-Villans

    james

    bruce has also signed brady, Snodgrass, Valencia, cleverly, hernandez, Livermore etc. BUT the main thing is signings for villa.

    Im more than delighted with lanasbury, hourihane, Hogan, taylor, bree, Viking. Great ages, experience in division. Jesus man we got to smash it next season, that sides too good. If bruce don’t do it then the dr will find someone who does.

  328. DarrenO

    Hi Andrew

    And with that in mind, you can be sure with Chinese government backing, Dr.T would have a field day buying players of the quality required to compete at that level if/when he gets the chance.

  329. James Gill

    what change the habit of buying bad,even january signings only hogan and bree will be good enogh for pl 1 in 4
    codja wii be turn 29 if we get promoted next season,if tish and gollina had been kept and played maybe they would worked out as well,

  330. Mark King

    Andrew- I don’t buy that, spurs made a lot of changes and we had a full side and parked the bus, we were more embarrassed trying to limit the goals they scored than if we had had a go. Hudders reserves drew with Man city at there place then went there to have a go against an even stronger city side, thats the spirit you want, what had we actually got to lose? I think Newcastle will get spanked next year let alone us

  331. James Gill

    yes he likes to go and get utd rejects very few of them make it[brady been one of them]cleverly can t now even get a game at watford one of teams fighting relegation,as for snodgrass some of the experts couldn t believe that hull got so much money for such an average player like livermore ,hernandez hasnt scored many apart from this league and even ross managed that

  333. James Gill

    bruce was appointed to get promotion HE FAILED
    now good doc move on to manager that can build a team that can go up and stay up
    bruce idea of team building is hutton richards and gabby even 10 years ago under mon that only went so far , so lets get some new men on block[silva at hull] and buy good players

  334. Mark King

    Just watched the presser and you easily get sucked into Bruces layed back style, then your ears start picking up things he says and the mind starts whirring. Apparently the team are trying to hard 🙂 and then we had the when I came here I analysed the squad and played 433 because it suits the players we have. He likes to play 442 in this league apparently ( cant remember us playing that formation) so come jan he brings in 7-8 players, 5 losses on the bounce later he has the brilliant idea to go back to 433 because we won like that???? so what were the players he brought in bought for? 442? 4231? 352? holy crap all those players brought in to play his way and we can’t WTF?

  338. Mark King

    JL- Have you heard the presser? why are we playing 433 to suit the players he bought?? I find it hard to take someone seriously when they seem to bumble along in an experiment with no guide lines to start with? it really is jumpers for goal posts stuff

  340. Paul Pears

    Many may think it crazy for Hutton to get a further extension, but to me, it makes common sense, as he is a very good squad player with bags of experience. Next season, he will not be playing in the first team, but will be a good man to have on the bench, as he is more versatile than just a rb. He also deserves it for his loyalty to the club.

    Tomorrow, I feel, will be a turning point for Bruce, come home with a good win, and he will gain even more support from the fans, fail and he will be sweating on the Huddersfield game. There is no room for error. He has to make the right selections and use the right tactics. These last two wins have laid a marker, and the team bonding and continued improvement, has to gain pace, or this season really is dead in the water.

  343. Paul Pears

    JG,

    There is no mention of wage, and like many clubs, these contract extensions, often mean lower wages. SAF used to give players extensions, but each time they got an extension, he reduced their pay.

    Villa of course may be different, but I would hope that we are now much wiser in that department.

  344. Paul Pears

    JG,

    Only Bree is Bruce’s player. We have no knowledge on his feelings with de Laet, but we do know that he has little time for Bacuna, because of his attitude problem, which is why Bruce only uses him when he has to. Lyden is a more versatile player, and may be useful on return, but is still an unknown quantity, as far as Bruce is concerned.

  346. Trinity

    PP
    Good comments, mate. I agree that Hutton is a good squad member. And they better beat Rotheram.
    Mark
    Yes, surely Bruce has settled on a 1st XI by now. He talks about team stability, now he needs to stop the experimenting and give his best team a chance to gel and develop their own style. Injuries can’t be helped.
    Villa by 3.

  347. James Gill

    pp
    we are just after giving lansby 42 grand a week, houirrane nearly 30 , 2 players that have never played pl football,
    we accept players like hutton we accept rubbish,

  348. IanG

    Oi’ll not give it five!
    At least it’s the 6 nations still, & if all is doom & gloom there is always the cricket to snooze with.
    Yawn…

  349. John Lerwill

    Barnsley

    We have a good omen, methinks…

    So far as I can see, we have only ever signed 3 players from Barnsley…

    Hourihane is one, the other 2 being Frank Barson and Danny Blanchflower. Now those previous 2 signings were tremendous acquisitions.

    As I say … perhaps a good omen.

  350. John Lerwill

    Barnsley. continued.

    Ah, there were two other players that came from Barnsley.

    Firstly, George Reeves, an inside-forward of over 100 years ago and by all reports a clever player – but lacked height according to the Villa board.

    The second was Stuart Gray who most of us probably remember. Not a bad player.

    So, 5 players from Barnsley, all reasonable or excellent signings.

  351. John Lerwill

    vs Rotherham

    Well, we play a team we don’t meet very often.

    And the most outstanding clash between the two was back in 1961 – the first year of the League Cup, when we played them in the 2-leg final.

    We lost the first at their ground 0-2, but won the return at VP by 3-0. Phew … we scraped home.

    It was the year when so many matches had been played that we had to play the final at the start of the 1961-62 season! And by that time Gerry Hitchens (our key striker) had already gone to Italy.

  352. John Lerwill

    Johnstone, Hutton, Baker, Chester, Taylor, Jedinak, Lansbury, Hourihane, Bjarnason, Kodjia, Adomah.

    Subs: Bunn, Richards, Elphick, Bree, Amavi, Grealish, Davis.

  353. James Gill

    that pl is easy bournmouth with 10 are giving utd some game ,imagine bruce doing that bournmouth are attacking going into injury time

    as for todays team sheet green injured so in comes bruces buy icelander ,we are playing a team with 7 defeats out of 8, and to top it all richards back on bench

  354. IanG

    3 full backs on the bench including Richards + Elphik a centre back???
    Davis back though along with Grealish, who should make it on today you would think.

  368. John Lerwill

    Villalore,

    And for Jack to get knocked in 10 minutes after coming on means that Bruce had very little by way of sub tactics to work with. But, thankfully, Villa were playing the bottom club.

    Just seen the highlights …

    http://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/10790372/rotherham-0-2-aston-villa

    … Rotherham didn’t play so badly but clearly Villa had chances they should have put away. A score of 4 or 5 nil could have been the outcome from what we see.

    Anyway, all the never-to-be-satisfied contingent have already started raising their doots about the next couple of games! But I tell you this – if Villa’s injury list wasn’t so bad I’d be thinking that Villa could put more wins under their belt. It could be though that with the Jedi around we might keep out all boarders and maybe get a couple of goal-less draws. … We might even do better than that!

  369. Mark King

    JL- ” if Villa’s injury list wasn’t so bad” well as you are so fond of telling me thats a lot of “if” or at least one huge leapt of faith by you and has little basis other than a rush of blood to the head from lack of wins. One half against Bristol, bottom of the table Rotherham and out of sorts Derby who in truth bossed the game?

    can you blame people for thinking we may lose to better teams when we have truly only played 3 down on their luck sides? The type of football Newcastle and Huddersfield offered up in this evenings game is beyond anything seen by this villa side, we might get a result in the next few games but will it be deserved? I Doubt it.

  371. OldVilla

    Ok, I’m now going to take the easy route and join the “never-to-be-satisfied contingent” (copyright JL) – as all I have to do is be very depressing when we win and even more depressing when we lose. And run down every player who puts on the shirt. Plus the manager. And any of the executive team. And if your second name is Hutton and first name starts with ‘A’ then god help you. Even if three wins on the trot occur with three clean sheets – which is more than Newcastle have achieved – then we are doooooomed I tell you, doooooooooomed. And we won’t last in the PL even if we go up which we won’t. Players are all too old. Or maybe too young.
    Have I covered everything?
    Yours in total depression and competely unsatisfied mode, oldvilla 😉

  372. John Lerwill

    Mark,

    But an ‘if’ related to fact, not a mere personal view! 😉

    The real point is that 3 wins on the trot has been achieved after losing 5 in a row. Confidence is gradually increasing.

    And it looks as though Huddersfield’s wheels are loose on their axles after two rather heavy defeats on the trot.

    No, I’m not saying that I expect Villa to win at Hudders, but I now expect Villa to put up a good performance … despite all the injuries!

  373. John Lerwill

    Oldvilla,

    😀

    I agree that in reality a fan can never be totally satisfied, but when it comes to points-of-view that one week state “where’s the next win going to come from” or “relegation is nigh” and then 2 or 3 weeks later – after wins have been obtained – to then claim that the opposition was not up to much is (to say the least) churlish!

  374. Trinity

    I really don’t see any point in criticising fans for not being confident about the next couple of games. Myself and JG have expressed satisfaction in winning, but a lack of confidence in Villa’s ability to beat teams 10 places higher in the standings and aren’t -3 in the GFGA stats isn’t unsurprising. If Villa had scored another 2-3 goals, I’d be more confident. They didn’t. I watched the Huddersfield vs Newcastle game. Villa will need to lift their game against these sides which are simply better teams at the momemt. That’s the reality.
    As for Alan Hutton, I support him being a squad member and have never criticised the man on AVL because some of the criticism has been over the top and he tries.
    And who’s talking about doom? Most of us are trying to keep a realistic balanced perspective. Three weeks ago we were looking over our shoulders to be fair.
    If Villa can get a win or a draw against Newcastle or Huddersfield I’d be happy. If Villa lose, but go down fighting, I’d be satisfied.
    Good for the clean sheets too. Only a -3 goal difference now. Still a lot of work to do.

  375. John Lerwill

    Iana: “I really don’t see any point in criticising fans for not being confident about the next couple of games. “

    If that is *your* issue then I would share some of your concern. But I am referring to those commenters who won’t give any kind of credit for what has happened these last 3 games after the run we had before!

  376. r0bb0

    Mark
    To be honest, I don’t expect us to get results in our next two games, but if we do, we will have almost certainly deserved it.
    The word ‘churlish’ was used by someone earlier and it is perfectly appropriate.
    As far as I am concerned the jury is still ‘out’ on whether Bruce and Villa are a good match. If you come from the viewpoint (as i do) that his remit is promotion to the premiership in 2 years then it is points, not performances, that matter right now.
    Villa have sunk so low, for so long that the downward spiral needs to be broken and I sincerely hope that Bruce is the man to do it.
    I don’t expect you to agree, but I firmly believe that we deserved to win against Derby. They did not boss the game. . . . they bossed the possession, but were totally inept in their use of that possession.
    They weren’t able to use the possession because of the discipline of our players in defence. It wasn’t easy to watch but it was ultimately effective.
    I’ll be happy if we can consistently show more grit like that at the back and steadily improve our coherence going forward.
    If that happens, then Bruce may still achieve promotion next year and I’ll be grateful for that.

  377. Heroes-and-Villans

    Feck me roherhams a long way from home….i wanna go home, i wanna go home…..

    Thank the lord the villa faihfull aint like half this blog. Superb support today…in fact world class. Ian taylor in the thick of he shouting! Game by game looking lots lots better, hourihan gonna be class. Such a classy player. Got the best mid 3 in the champ.

    3 wins on trot no goals concededd. Brilliant! Big shout out to johnson, 3 clean sheets.

    And for the love of god stop us getting injured. Not funny now

    Up the villa

    Shit on he city

  379. Heroes-and-Villans

    One thing standing out….the longer this team are togeher the more passionate they are getting. You can see it a mile off. Funny thats happening with more time together, who would of hought!!

  381. Heroes-and-Villans

    John l

    Stick with it buddy, because im convinced it will happen, seen villa live a bit lately now and can see the togetherness happening with my own eyes.. Sure theres a saying about how easy it easy to criticese when things are bad and not support or have faith when going gets tough. Good times are going to taste sweeter when they happen

    Keep the faith

  383. OldVilla

    Iana, no-one is getting carried away, just looking at the facts which are points on the board, clean sheets and maybe the hint of a coming together of a team. I’m sure everyone can recognize what a long way we still have to go but maybe we are seeing the shoots of recovery. See Andrews comments after he went to today’s game.
    I have to admit I don’t come on here as much as I would like to – I do actually suffer from depression, so the doctor tells me, and take my happy pills daily (that’s what comes of supporting the villa for 52 years lol!) ……… and I really do find some comments quite depressing and they keep me from writing too much …….
    Anyway tomorrow beckons which means that Huddersfield gets a bit closer ……..
    Oldvilla

  384. Mark King

    well churlish? depressing? not supporting Villa? that me done for a while, I’ll let you lot pick the bones out of it, I call it as I see it not how I want it to be. The truth is we have played three teams that are struggling make of that what you will as time will tell, Bruce has had over twice the games RDM was given and still only really beaten the poorer teams and none in any convincing way.

    Old Villa keep your chin up mate

  387. IanG

    MK
    ‘I call it as I see it not how I want it to be’
    It’s a moot point whether the one is not the same as the other, as what we see we label then act on the label, which comes from our understanding [or the opposite], & our wants & conditioning.
    The what we want is what colours the whole process more in the moment which keeps changing.
    When we train ourselves to follow the convenience of the label deciding which is what & where, then rigidly projecting what we experience onto that, I see it more as a limitation than a truth.
    Fortunately we are all full of sh*t. so just as well we’ve got a sense of humour isn’t it, to go with it.
    See you all later

  388. IanG

    PS: Andrew, yes Rotherham is a long way, the other end of nowhere & neither here nor there.
    Well done mate for making it, all power to your elbow.

  390. John Lerwill

    Mark,

    I think it would simply be good if we can see some occasional +ve statement on here from one or two quarters. 😉

    Though nothing is perfect down at t’ Villa, after 6 or 7 years of nonsense management from the top, I always thought it would be difficult to turn around.

    I am no means of the ‘happy clappy’ crowd … but the fact that I see some green shoots is enough for me to think that we’re on the way … s-l-o-w-l-y.

    Have faith, Mark! Without it you *will* get depressed!

  392. Trinity

    I look forward to the Huddersfield match, don’t think we will win it, but who knows? A competitive effort against this good side is what is wanted. Our forward and midfield got plenty of chances against Rotherham, and will hopefully take them next time. It’ll be interesting to see how Huddersfield play after a tough outing against NUFC. This is a tough test. Looks like Hourihane, Lansbury. Kodija et are enjoying their football again. That is important. Three clean sheets, albeit against struggling sides. It bodes well though. A win against Huddersfield would put a smile on fans’ faces, even MK and IanG.
    2-2

  393. Trinity

    Wonder if Churchy (remember him?) is still up in the Lake District living off funghi, berries and animal poo. Funny thing to think about, I know. Amazing what following Villa does to people.

  394. r0bb0

    Mark, you say that Bruce only gets results against rubbish sides and then compare him once again with RDM.
    It’s perhaps fair then to point out that under RDM, we gained 4 points against the same 3 sides against which Bruce has just gained us 9.
    It’s a meaningless stat really, but I only mention it to say that the continuing comparisons with RDM are not helpful. He had diminished as a man and a manager and I believe would have seen us relegated.
    If what really matters to you is playing style ahead of results however, I think we all know where you’re coming from.
    It then comes down to our individual judgements about whether style or results are the primary requirement.
    I want us back in the premiership and I don’t mind admitting that when I’m walking away from Villa Park, that feeling in my chest and guts tells me that it’s the result that matters most to me rather than ‘how’ we played.
    Like you, I look forward to the day when we have both substance AND style. Wagner is showing that it IS possible to do that. It’s not just about finding a manager who has the skills to do that though. That manager also needs to ‘fit’ with the particular club and his style needs to work within that specific league.
    We can all name managers who’ve thrived at one club and then failed dismally at others.
    Like you, I look forward to the day when we stumble on that manager who ticks ALL the boxes but until then I’ll vote for the one who brings results whereas you’ll vote for the one who plays nice football. . . . both are valid choices.

  397. James Gill

    it was only couple months ago bruce s villa beat qpr burton and wigan in similar fashion to last 3 matches, andwe all no what happened next
    watched some of huddersfield and newcastle and amazing none of them play bruce way, 10 men in own half or just like derby match kick ball over halfway line and start again, each team had a plan and all players knew what to do amazing what a bit of coaching can do
    then watched MOTD and not one of our players could play in even poor sides boro pal and hull

    oldvilla
    yes give hutton a new contract, did you read the 7500m to holte article, the heat map charts on villa players showed hutton played very little in right back position, and when he played over 20 percent of goals came from our right every left winger has field day

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