Saturday the Villans took on another promotion contender in Sheffield Wednesday, and bounced back from the 1-0 defeat to Huddersfield Town earlier in the week with a 2-0 win. Four wins in five, and the third game in four with Villa scoring more than one. Villa moved up to 12th in the table, 14 points behind sixth-placed Wednesday.

The Good
Villa won against a decent side despite losing Henri Lansbury in the warm-up and Nathan Baker not soon after during the match. Jonathan Kodjia took two very different goals quite well, and Albert Adomah could have had at least two or three more assists. He really had a good game, particularly in the second half. As many point out, he’s been an underrated player. He won’t score much, but he and Kodjia have good chemistry, he works very hard, and he presents a constant assist threat that opponents have to be lively to.

Moreover, Villa weren’t particularly troubled by Wednesday. This might’ve been partly due to Vincent Sasso’s straight red not long after the break and Carvalhal’s subsequent removal from the touchline. But Villa found the opener with a quality goal in what was otherwise an unremarkable half, and the timing couldn’t have been better. They saw it through to halftime, held on fairly comfortably against a diminished Owls side, then finally put away one of many gilt-edged chances to seal the deal and guarantee the win.

Also on the plus side, Villa likely got away with a pretty good shout for a penalty. A little luck evening out, perhaps.

Oh, and I can’t forget another bit, which is that I thought Steve Bruce had lost his mind moving Mile Jedinak to center half following Baker’s departure. It worked out quite well, though, and upon deeper reflection, you’d have think he would make a good center half. It was also encouraging not only because Jordan Rhodes, the target Villa couldn’t land, was held in check, but because it might indicate a new role for Jedi going forward if one believes his midfield days might be numbered. I like Baker’s commitment, but the poor boy is just injury prone, and another option going forward is always welcome since Elphick does not seem to inspire Bruce. Jedi is just about what you’d draw up as a center half.

The real upside was that as depleted as Villa found themselves, they still found a way to win, and also seem to be finding some sense of identity.

The Bad
Missed chances. I don’t really want to quibble too much, because while the game wasn’t beautiful by any means, and Villa could’ve played better, they followed up a tough loss with a tough win. However, they really could’ve won this one by four or five, and it would do Villa a world of good to convert a few more and start to feel their promise. Hourihane continues to find a way to miss, and I feel for him. He has pretty much been doing everything right, and it seems a certainty he’ll be scoring regularly at some point. But you’d like to see him get going to reward his industry.

Hutton, well, you don’t really expect him to score however well it’s served up on a platter.

The only reason you really complain about not taking all your chances in a comfortable 2-0 win is that you’d like to see someone besides Kodjia carrying the weight and getting in the mood. As we saw during the African Cup of Nations, Villa couldn’t buy a goal without Kodjia in the side, and it’s not a stretch to wonder whether we’d be circling the drain again if he hadn’t been scoring the last few weeks.

And of course, yet another couple of injuries. However, perhaps lack of choice works in Bruce’s favor since he seems more prone to outsmart himself with a full stable.

The Ugly
Sheffield Wednesday’s kit. Fair play, it made it easy for them to pick each other out, but it was a needless assault on the senses.

Final Verdict
So, overall, while not a thing of beauty, it was a good win on Saturday. I think I’ve seen that Lansbury’s injury doesn’t seem to be too serious, though of course we’ll have to wait and see how it responds to treatment. Baker, I have no idea. The team has a full week to sort things out before Wigan, who’ve lost three of their last five, and then the international break, which obviously comes at a good time.

Beyond the usual things Villans will disagree on, my biggest disappointment at this stage of the season is that Bruce doesn’t have the full squad together to work with down the stretch. If we keep playing tough and staying competitive, maybe it doesn’t matter too much. But since this has now become an extended preseason, it would be wonderful if we could truly evaluate all the players, find the right roles, combinations, and system going forward. I’ll agree with those who say the side has started to gel, and it would be nice if everyone could be involved in training, if not on match day.

Then again, this is Villa, so when is the situation ever ideal.

Over to you.

Comments 227

  1. Good morning, John.
    You’ve written a well balanced summary of the Owls’ match. Thank you.
    Most would have to agree it was a good win. I think Wednesday scored five the previous week against Norwich. To keep Wednesday scoreless was no mean feat, even without one of their potent strikers. It showed character to bounce back from a loss.
    I’ve watched Wednesday’s penalty shout involving Amavi a few times. Imo, the ref got it right, though on another day the call could have gone against Villa. I think their player was collapsing a split second before Amavi appeared to handle him.
    Like you said, missed chances are really costing Villa, not only in Brucey’s time but when RDM was the gaffer.
    I don’t know what it is with all the injuries. It can’t be because they like conversing with Gabby lying next to them at the physio’s at BMH.
    As for Wednesday’s strip. I quite liked it, reminds me of licorice allsorts, always had a soft spot for those.
    Hope Lansbury is okay. We’ll need him a bit more now that Hourihane got a call up for international duty. And congratulations to him.

  2. Thanks, John.

    I am just amazed that the game went as it did, Villa having survived two further injuries and a big penalty call.

    For me this is a period of Confirmation that the Villa squad now have the character to ward off all-comers at VP; Confirmation that the feebleness of recent years is being put well and truly behind us; and Confirmation that the preparation for a promotion challenge is gathering pace.

    Now, though I confirm I’m not a huge fan of Bruce, I believe that he’s shown a lot of experience and self-belief in transforming what he has from a timid bunch into a team that now look as though they’re there for a purpose. No, it’s not great football, but it would seem to me that what’s happening is pleasing the fans enough to keep ’em coming. The attendance average at VP is just short of 32,000.

    I also reiterate that to me the results in January and February were inevitable given the Africa Nations Cup interference and the fact that Bruce wanted to overhaul the sheisters and bring in hungry players. The new group are showing their mettle and I can only see it getting better.

    To gain success you sometimes have to endure pain, and I think that January and February was just a necessary pain.

    It is to Bruce’s credit we can still win and concede no goals with so many injuries.

  3. “JL: Confirmation that the feebleness of recent years is being put well and truly behind us;”

    Is it really though? We still are yet to come from behind and win a match, we have not see a clear plan from SB to address this. I understand that we have a full team injured and maybe they are part of that plan, I would say confirmation of our ability to bounce back is yet to be seen.

  4. Hi John thanks for the write up mate,

    You make it sound like a walk in the park although Scrappy game for Villa which puzzles me. We have missed chances all season so no change there but we actually had 44% possession against 10 men (even bruce remarked on that) and took a striker off for a defender in the last 10 as they were coming back at us allowing kodjia and adomah to get the second on the break. Sheff wed had more shots than us too, a goal disallowed and pen turned down but the biggest miss was the player that sank Villa in our first game Fernando Forestieri with 11 goals as a play-maker and Talisman touted by Bruce pre-match as the best player in the division. Him missing is a bit like us losing Kodjia, adomah or Jedinak.

    That said the general mood seems to be better and we seem more solid even if the general team play is still missing, We still rely on individuals to dig us out over team generated efforts IMO and its this aspect of our play that bothers me not possession stats, we could carry on winning and end on 75 points enough last season to gain 6th, Bruce has done this twice to gain the play-offs before.

    What bothers me is we could end up in the prem with this team this season or next and can anyone say that would be a platform to build off? cannot see it myself. We are buying British it seems and spurs are the team now that has the most England players, we are not even close to that standard. When the new manager arrives (if) he will have his work cut out to change us as we are unlikely to go for someone in Bruces style. I feel that if now its a two year build we have wasted one year already and although he may get us Promotion (not guaranteed) we will tread water in terms of progression, its a huge missed opportunity and that is why I am against Bruce, I do not believe he is a good enough coach, he is a man manager no doubt and has past credentials for this league which at this point is being dominated by managers without four promotions.

  5. Villalore,

    I agree that all has not yet been shown to have been overcome – perhaps I overstated my case!

    However, against a team that is supposedly pushing for promotion (SW) and they have scored 5 the previous week, Villa showed great resilience after two further injuries within the first 30 minutes.

    In a way, you could say we *did* come back from behind (the injuries) to win that match. However, with the likes of the Jedi and the new midfielders and full-backs in the team, I think we’ll see a lot more character as time goes on.

    Have faiht! UTV! 🙂

  6. Morning each,
    I think we will definitely finish in the top two next season, no doubt in my mind. There will alway be a season of consolidation when we achieve promotion. Players will come and go and hopefully the academy will produce talent. This club has always brought through good young players. It will be down to the manager who he thinks can hack it in the top flight. I think SB has enough experience to evaluate that. This could be the club for SB. He has said himself this is the biggest club he’s managed. With a workable budget..who knows. I know a lot of you will not agree with my last point, but its all about opinions.
    Interestingly, I heard last Friday night from a Derby employee Steve McClaren would be dismissed over the weekend and before he was appointed Gary Rowett was interviewed but missed out because “the job was too big for him”, well, he’s no more experienced now than he was five months ago, you couldn’t make it up!
    Here’s irony for you, we’re starting to win and build on something but we hate the football, hate the manager, hate the backroom staff, hate the owner, (not me, by the way) but our neighbours across the city are playing smart attacking, entertaining football,(well thats what the fans are saying) but get beat every week……..am I missing something?
    Anyway, things to do, look in later………ta-ra a’ bit… as they say round our way.
    Archie

  7. I agree we look more complete right now in terms of balance if not actual playing style. RDM gambled on Ayew and Grealish with Adomah but only the latter delivered. I think Hourihane and (maybe) Lansbury are more consistent and better team players.

  8. Villalore- grealish and Ayew have won games for us though with goals and assists but I think RDM had to try these players, it was either that or but 15+ players in a hurry, Adomah I think had about 4 games for RDM and was injured anyway.

    weirdly this season we have spent a lot of time playing players out of position, we could of done worse than play adomah and green with Getsede and Kodjia in the middle in a 442

  9. I think we will see what this team is made of when Jedinak is out, if Hourihane and lansbury are the answer then that will be the time when we will see the proof. both of them are attacking players, without jedinak they may struggle to play their game and ditto the defence. Id like to see them both play like taylor used to if they can.

  10. james

    re the ages…think its a good blend.

    Mark

    yeah, the football has to be better, more control and being comftorble on the ball. Think it will be in time with the players we have.

    Rowett an interesting one. Got a bit of stick for being negative at the blues but suited what he had. zolas trying to get them to keep possession more and they are struggling!

    the derby chairman is crazy too. sacked clement whilst in the top 6!

  11. Iana,

    “I don’t know what it is with all the injuries. It can’t be because they like conversing with Gabby lying next to them at the physio’s at BMH.”

    I wonder if Gabby’s decorated it nicely.

  12. Mark,

    That’s why it was a strange game, for me. Scrappy, not much in it, and up until Villa scored, I really didn’t know whether we’d get anything from the match. Then a goal, halftime, the sending off.

    Having only been able to watch the highlights, I can’t say all that much, but it did seem Villa created the better chances and more of them. On their day, Wednesday certainly might’ve converted one or two, but it looked like most of their efforts were more hopeful than anything else, and you’d expect them to have a at least a couple in any game.

    I guess maybe that’s how it goes when the opponent doesn’t convert one or two of the few clear chances.

    I usually go with my gut-meter…How nervous/sick-to-my-stomach am I during the match? This was one where after we scored, I wasn’t nervy. Just seemed like Villa’s day after a bit.

  13. Archie,

    “Here’s irony for you, we’re starting to win and build on something but we hate the football, hate the manager, hate the backroom staff, hate the owner, (not me, by the way) but our neighbours across the city are playing smart attacking, entertaining football,(well thats what the fans are saying) but get beat every week……..am I missing something?”

    That’s being Villa isn’t it?

    I do like Dr. Tony, never a dull moment. Just hope his resolve is firm over the years.

    I’m not particularly happy with our style and overall play, but it is nice to win a few matches after such an abysmal season prior. The biggest thing I’ve criticized over the years has been gutlessness on the part of the players. Not every one of them, but overall, just a team that folds, doesn’t work hard enough, isn’t willing to match the opponent’s intensity.

    If I’m seeing green shoots, that’s where it would start, the team having some backbone. Then you find a way to scrape wins, get some belief in each other, and find a baseline of resilience. After that, I think, with a key addition or two, there’s enough talent to make a good side. Long road between here and there, but maybe they’ve at least started down the right path?

  14. villalore,

    “I agree we look more complete right now in terms of balance if not actual playing style. RDM gambled on Ayew and Grealish with Adomah but only the latter delivered. I think Hourihane and (maybe) Lansbury are more consistent and better team players.”

    I am starting to see some balance. Unless we’re under the cosh for huge spells, I’m sort of indifferent about time of possession as long as we have quality possession. As someone mentioned, Chelsea are a classic counterattacking side. It works and can be exciting if you expect that it will produce goals.

    Course, as Bruce has said, we need to be better on the ball. I guess the question is whether we’re seeing the best of what we’ve got, or if there’s a more complete side in there that’s just needing time.

  15. JL,

    “I am just amazed that the game went as it did, Villa having survived two further injuries and a big penalty call.”

    Me, too. I hope you’re right about the rest…seems to me it could go either way, but what I am liking is seeing Hourihane on the end of a number of chances (signaling the possibility we’ve found one of the pieces we were missing) and the overall level of fight.

  16. Hourihan is the first mid in ages who joins the attack, gets beyond the st. Going to be great for us. Lansbury too now bruce has him playing with more freedom with jedi back.

    Our footy is what it is at the moment. Its the championship. Watched leeds a lot and they have been just as bad. away to the blues they won 3-1 but the blues played well! had all the ball.

    The secret is getting your team playing to there strengths, however style that may be.

    Classic example was rowett at blues. they were defensive, counter attack, football was poor mostly but they got results. zola comes in and trys to make sweeping changes wanting to play tika takk keep ball…the players cant do it.

    as Gregory says…keep it simple stupid.

  17. Andrew- I wish I could share your belief that the play will get better if it was young side I might agree but these are seasoned pros on the whole.

    You have just stated that you should play to your players strengths, well that is true when inheriting a side but not when you are building one imo. From what I have seen SB has bought players in an attempt to play his favoured 442 but had to revert back to 433 to suit instead. A good manager buys players to suit him or ones he feels he can coach in his style as Wagner at Huddersfield has done so well this season. My concern is Bruce has always had a high turnover of players, does this denote a suck it and see approach without the coaching element. I think he has a reasonable eye for a player if not for why he wants them.

    It’s been stated we will only be changing a few in the summer but when you see jedinak at CH with two on the bench you have to wonder how many more will go? And indeed come. It’s pretty nailed on the players on loan will be sold and if he wants to play 442 I don’t think kodjia is the answer either. With sambas recent trial you would say we need at least 2 CH’s Chester is the only dependable one. We need cover for Jedi and amavi will likely leave. I think this summer will see at least 7 new players unless the youth are used.

  18. JC- up until the first goal it was mostly Sheffield with the ball and then the injury delay I don’t know if they lost concentration but we seemed to go straight up the other end and score. To be honest it felt more like a cricket game than football listening to the radio.

  19. Mark: “but these are seasoned pros on the whole.”

    Well, they say that a touch of sage and onion helps to do the stuffing! 😉

    But seriously, there is a sprinkling of ‘seasoned pros’ in the team – Chester (28), Taylor (28), the Jedi (30+), Albert (29) and Codger (27)- but that’s about it. Some others, like Hourihane, Lansbury, Hogan, Baker are in that ‘nice’ age of development (24-26), while Amavi is 23 and Bree and Green are teenagers. I’ve left out Hutton as he’ll slowly leave the room in my view.

    So, it looks to me as though youth is being given the chance, don’t you agree?

  20. Jl- not really looking at those ages John, those are the ages of a team at the top of its game not starting out. Within a couple of years they will be following Hutton. the players producing match winning performances are all pushing or are over thirty lets hope they are golden oldies 😉

  21. Andrew considering this is Bruce’s free shot to experiment it’s turned into a nightmare with injuries. I can’t see kodjia ever playing in a 2 on what I have seen, more chance of roc coming back and that’s zero 🙂

  22. Mark

    hmmm this is what worrys me. Hogan and kodger seem to like the same runs/movement. Think they are good enough to sort it out. Hogan stay on the shoulder and more up top with kodjer drifting about.

    Don’t get me started on injuries, frustrate the hell out of me. no news on Lansbury.

  23. Mark: “Within a couple of years they will be following Hutton.”

    I totally disagree. I think we both know that footballers only start to hit their peak from around age 28, so in 2 years time both Lansbury and Hourihane will be there starting to play their best, and Chester will be the senior at age 30, which is still a comfortable age.

    Hogan and Baker will still only be mid-20s, and Bree and Green barely 21.

    And RHM is still to strut his stuff. Davis should be there. And Grealish?

    Bruce is building a young team, Mark. Not a team of total youngsters (which would be a mistake) but a nice blend of experienced and young.

    You seem to knock everything SB does and really without proper foundation i.m.o.

  24. MK
    Just a point that this team as you put it is not yet complete & is short of cover for jedinack & baker, and Toner is out on loan which is necessary.
    So this team as you put it is necessarily a work in progression, & we all know our current weak points I think.
    This doesn’t change the fact that the team is not an entity but a changing thing, which also doesn’t stop there being progress that we can see.
    IE: both points are relevent & not exclusive.

  25. JL- good job its just our opinions then 😉 Jedinak 32, Adomah 29 and Kodjiah 27 until October,at this point in time they are our defensive lynch pin and our source of goals. take it as a slight against Bruce if you like but its true imo.

    Andrew- I think we might need a few more than four, Baker is injury prone always has been,Hogan out for 566 days with knees, elphick back and achilles, lansbury too has had lengthy time out with back and knee problems, GG we know about, amavi we know about, Taylor has had extensive injury problems, gabby another with lots of injuries, Richards is a medical wonder 🙂 have a look here.

    I cannot see any of the loan players coming back If I’m honest.

    http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/micah-richards/verletzungen/spieler/32617

  26. I don’t see any issue in the age of the squad.

    The other day our starting 11 averaged age 23, one of the youngest in the champ.

    I always think a good side has a lot of 26 or 27 yeard olds. a good solid age with the players at/or coming to his best years.

  27. IanG- point is this is the team being prepared for next season isn’t it? with very few players to come in the summer we are told, I can’t see that happening if Jedinak is our CH option in front of the two on the bench what does that say?

  28. Andrew
    Accomodating Hogan is a dilemma for Brucey. kodija seems to play better as the lone striker up front and as someone has said seems to be gelling with Adomah. I think it would be a big mistake to change a winning formation at this time. Kodijah is obviously the #1 striker, so I’d have Hogan on the bench as a sub option or option if Brucey needs to change formation during a match. It’s not a bad dilemma from this point of view.

  29. MK
    Elphinick might want out if Jedinak goes ahead of him as a central defender. That said, our defenders are often injured, so he’ll still get game time.

  30. GK New gk – steer the other man?!
    rb bree-delaet – hutton
    lb taylor-amavi new lb if amavi leaves
    cb chester
    cb Richards
    cb baker
    cb elphick
    cb samba ?
    mid Lansbury
    mid hourihan
    mid jedi
    mid gg
    mid bacuna
    mid bjanson
    fw green
    fw grealish
    fw adomah
    st Hogan
    st kodjer
    st rhm
    st gabby

    plus youth coming through. would be surprised if any signings over 4

    that’s not a bad squad at all.

  31. lana

    yes mate for this season maybe stick and play Hogan off bench but come next season Hogan will be starting.

    Is a big call.

    with the likes of green, adomah, grealish don’t think we should play 352.
    Has to be 433 or 442.

  32. Mark

    this team is getting ready for next season….this is the thing. Is going back to 433 just a quick fix to get out of relegation trouble. Has all the injuries now hidden what we will do for next season?

    Bruce has some big calls to make when everyone is fit

  33. Andrew- I think we will see a keeper, a DM two CH’s as bruce does not trust his back ups and baker is injury prone, without Jedinaks ariel presence we are iffy . Mason may solve one slot, Toner hasn’t done so well. As I said I don’t think Kodjia and Hogan will work so guessing kodjia could go potentially to fund the rest.

    I’d like to see Lyden given a chance at DM this season, I think he might just be what we need, kids change a lot in a few months so by next aug some might look more like men and get a shout.

  34. P.S. my honest opinion on our youth is unless bruces style of play changes from what we have seen the players we have in the reserves will be overlooked.

  35. In an ideal world we would be seeing now the team all fit, and know what formation/players we will be playing continuing into next season. but now I couldn’t tell you what set up we will be using next season.

    is this a waste of a free hit for rest of this season?

  36. Mark,

    Sorry, you seem to completely over-rule the evidence that others put to you!

    There are *already* young players in the team (Bree and Green, bar his injury) and others on the fringe like RHM (yes, again a current injury).

    Bruce *is* building from young players, mixing with experienced.

    As for Jedi – he will probably last one season more for the promotion push – and we will get a replacement when we hit the PL. What’s the difficulty? 😉

  37. In point of fact, I’m sure I’ve seen the Doctor say somewhere that we will be building from within wherever possible.

    That is the old Villa way, and one that always worked – until they changed it.

    Do you think the Doctor would be so content with Bruce if he were not following that line? No sir!

  38. JL- what evidence? Green was thrust upon him recently, he’s been available since he turned up, he played great against PNE and got dropped, RHM nearly left, you appear to be ignoring what I am saying, the core players at this moment in time are the oldest, take them out as witnessed in recent weeks and it doesn’t or did not work. I don’t think we can just rely on them next season, the rest need to step up and soon.

  39. Mark: “Jedinak 32, Adomah 29 and Kodjiah 27 until October,at this point in time they are our defensive lynch pin and our source of goals. take it as a slight against Bruce if you like but its true imo.”

    Jedi is a key player, but there is nothing to suggest he will not serve us well until we hit the PL.

    As for Codger, then we also have Hogan who is 24 (as I have already said) and would be ideally placed to take over.

    Albert is *not* a main source of goals … but he has been a key provider. But when the time comes he will give way to someone younger … that’s what always happens.

    There is no reason to suggest a slight against Bruce .. he is simply using and developing resources as he goes and I believe a significant number of replacements of older players *will* come from the reserves. As said that I believe is the general policy from now on. Only buy when you have to. As IanG said: it’s a fluid situation.

  40. Mark: “you appear to be ignoring what I am saying, the core players at this moment in time are the oldest, take them out as witnessed in recent weeks and it doesn’t or did not work.”

    No, Mark, I’m not ignoring what you say, but what I read does not make sense to me.

    The core players at present may well be the oldest … but so what? Bree is also making an impact, and he’s a teenager. Johnstone is a youngster and appears to be improving.

    The current key players will in time go and will give way to a new generation. *When* the time is right.

  41. At this point in time the only reason the youth are on the bench is everyone else is injured, I cannot see that as any serious attempt to use them as anything more than a stop gap no matter what Dr xia has said mate, Bruce will use his players first.

  42. JL- well we will just have to hope the poor old buggers don’t get injured then as Jedinak did recently. Take bree/lansbury/green out we still won, take jedinak/kodjia out we didn’t, it does not get much simpler to me 😉

  43. What Bree and Johnstone *are* youngsters, Mark.

    Maybe the other youngsters may not have been brought forward so quickly but for injuries – I agree – but I’d still back Bruce using the experience players as first choice if they were fit.

    For now. But it is a fluid situation but I’m pretty confident that Bruce knows exactly what he’s doing for the purpose he’s been given – to get promotion. And by the summer of 2018 some youngsters should have had quite a lot of playing experience.

  44. Remember? “In Lambert we trust.” Fair play to the guy, he got a minimal budget to work with. I think because of the many managers we’ve had through Villa, few Villans trust anyone, anymore. Unlike previous gaffers, though, Brucey has a strong budget to work with and his aim is to build, not cut.

  45. MK
    So would I be bored with all that buzzing.

    “point is this is the team being prepared for next season isn’t it? with very few players to come in the summer we are told, I can’t see that happening if Jedinak is our CH option in front of the two on the bench what does that say?”

    Probably says stand on the bench
    It says it was an experiment that happily worked, to broaden the choices & permutations available right now in that match, that worked. 2-0 UTV
    Now he knows he has another in match option depending on the situation.
    What’s not to like?
    Richards doesn’t count as he is not a centre back, & the Jedi was up to speed in the match & had their man in his pocket, while Elphik is not really 100% match fit, & it shows he’s thinking.
    As I said in a previous post, we need another quality centre back to cover Baker, as you rightly say he has always been injury prone, & a cquality cover for the jedi.
    I also agree that Lydon might be good as a defensive midfielder when he’s match fit, just not there to try right now.

  46. IanG- are you saying Bruce is wrong then when he says he see’s Richards as CH? thats not very positive, how must those two felt standing on the bench 🙂

  47. As it goes does anyone actually know what went on in that match? Hutton came on for baker and Jednak moved into the CH position? where exactly was Hutton playing? CM? the commentators seemed bemused for a while? did we go 442? did the martians land? feck knows

  48. MK
    Yes I am saying Richard’s not a centre back but a right back.
    He would just like to be one but he hasn’t got the skill.
    How they feel is neither here or there as they are extremely well paid professionals.
    Hutton went right back & Bree right MF, but when bree got lost there very quickly they swapped over & hutton was right midfield.
    Jedi went into CH with Chester.

  49. MK
    it depends what the martians looked like, although I’ve always had my suspicions about some of us on here.
    Apparently they did go to 442, goodnight mate

  50. so I’m assuming Hourihane played CM? where he played for Barnsley, that raises the question is our defence all that? if Jedinaks quality is such he can sure up the defence at CH or DM allowing Houriahane to play freely then maybe we have poor CH’s?

  51. Will Bruce always prefer experience over youth? To be honest, at this stage none of us can do anything but guess.
    My own guess is that his instinct will be to err on the side of experience and many of us will be disappointed at how sparingly academy players are used.
    It shouldn’t have required injuries to others for Green to get a starting slot in the team for example as he was clearly ready for it and deserved it.
    As senior players start to return from injury it will be interesting to see how many academy players get a run out. Bruce will never have a better chance to test them than in this extended pre-season so if he doesn’t use them now it will be a clear indication that he never will.

  52. robbo- even RDM was reluctant as he’d bought in his own and I suspect the manager feels the need to justify the purchase and beholden to the player maybe for signing for him? after all I dare say a fare bit of blarney is used to attract players. warnock has always used youth to good effect though, maybe it depends on the manager. Garde was the the last one we had that I felt would go that way.

  53. Mark, you’re right about managers usually feeling obliged to use the players they’ve bought.
    Martin O’Neill was an exception. He spent big on players that he never used and that’s part of the reason we’re where we are now.
    He wasn’t even keen on using them as substitutes.
    We’ve bought so many players this year that it doesn’t leave a lot of scope for using the youth players IF Bruce feels obliged to use the new players.

  54. r0bb0
    That is a potential hiccup.
    I would think that they will see the best of the young ones as potential prem players, who they would see whether they work out so as not to need to buy as many when we get promoted next year,
    that gives B a whole season & a bit to blood a few more.
    I think Green will now get on the pitch regardless, which is more than you can say about Jack, who needs to buck his ideas up period.

  55. Hi Old Villa, they are baby spud’s covered in batter, you can nuke them, bake them like oven fries or sprinkle them with a little olive oil and lay them on a piece of foil on the BBQ while you spit roast your chicken. Only thing they are too perfect to be real spuds, my guess scooped out of large baking spuds by machines, but i bet those jersey mids we used to get “over home” would be even better.
    DOR, the brain once said i should be in charge as i make all the decisions, the stomach said i should be in charge because i feed the rest of the body, the heart said “yes” but i should be in charge because i am the engine room and i power the body. Well the arsehole said I’ll show you who should be in charge and shut up shop. The stomach soon began to swell and cause the body pain, the heart got weak with out sustenance, and the brain wasn’t getting any oxygenated blood and couldn’t think, so in the end they all agreed, always put the arsehole in charge, so see we are at long last getting it right LOL

  56. So pleased for Marc Albrighton. He’s only gone and scored the goal that takes Leicester into the champion’s league quarter finals!
    Juventus, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Leicester
    Amazing

  57. They only had 29% possession so obviously they lost . . . . errr no. . . . because possession doesn’t win games, goals do.
    It’s one of the biggest myths that possession wins games.
    Usually the teams at the top of the table have higher possession and win most games so it’s assumed that possession delivers results. It’s a classic case of confusing cause and effect.
    The top teams have better players, better players are better at winning the ball and retaining the ball so generally the top teams will have more possession but that’s not what wins the game. Tonight Leicester had 29% possession but more shots than Seville.
    Under MoN we generally had low possession but won most games. Leicester have shown again this season that a committed team of players and a style that they all understand and know how to use and bring success. Of course their luck will run out now because the remaining teams have much better players . . . . . won’t it .

  58. r0bb0:

    “They only had 29% possession so obviously they lost . . . . errr no. . . . because possession doesn’t win games, goals do.”

    Football in a nutshell.

    I think of the brilliant Spain team(s). Unstoppable at one point, then sussed out, tons of lovely play with not much end product. Stymied and frustrated, and, like Arsenal, obsessed with trying to pass it into the net only to play one pass too many among too many defenders. You lose the space to maneuver, the space to run into.

    The whole point of counterattacking football is space. Of course, you have to defend well, and maintain concentration, because you do invite pressure.

    But in space, you get your fastest, silkiest players one-on-one with the opponent’s slowest, least skillful players. Keep your head, make the right pass, finish calmly—like you’ve been there before—and job done. Quick, efficient, deadly.

    Leicester won the league because they took their chances. The odds might be against you converting such a high percentage over the long term, but they did keep it up and win the league last year. Which is a helluva lot more than we can say, and they’re putting on a great show in the CL.

  59. And I should say, there’s nothing more demoralizing than being camped out in the opponent’s half, doing your olés, getting nowhere, then getting smashed on the counter. Arrogance undone in an instant, loads of ‘dominance’ rendered meaningless.

  60. Forgive me, on a bit of a roll…

    In American football, there’s a certain bend-don’t-break defensive philosophy. Which means you’re quite happy to give up meaningless yards until the offense gets within 20-30 yards of the goal line.

    Then, the field shrinks. It’s harder for attacking players to get open and easier for defenders to cover their men because there’s less space to worry about. You won’t get beat deep, and easily, because it’s all in front of you.

    With a disciplined defense, it works very well.

  61. r0bb0: “We’ve bought so many players this year that it doesn’t leave a lot of scope for using the youth players “

    But – as we’ve already noted – several players are getting towards that 28-30 mark and beyond. Notably Hutton, Jedi, Chester, Albert, Taylor and even Codger. Although Bree and Hogan are young enough to last for years if they’re good, plus the other young lb they bought lately.

    It’s not often that you find a manager who swamps his first team with academy players. Joe Mercer was the last Villa manager to try that out to any great degree (mainly because the board wasn’t willing to spend back then) and they basically were overplayed and got burn-out.

    I’d expect to see one or two youngsters hitting the first team each year, and I fully expect Green and RHM to get in and become mainstays over the next year.

    But I still wonder about Grealish…

  62. JL
    I think most of us wonder about Grealish, but your main point of flooding the team with the academy players is common sense.

  63. IanG,

    If it’s “common sense” then why have some intimated they want the “youngsters given a chance”, implying (as I read it) that we should be seeing a lot more of them?

  64. JL
    I think it’s related to the modern mental health situation, [not that our bloggers are mental] where the modern world promotes immediacy over progression, amongst other less savoury aspects.
    We are all brainwashed from birth after all, but I think the important thing is whether we know it rather than reject it & try & replace it with another version, which changes the whole dynamic of immediacy amongst other things, & allows space for a common sense that is part of our heritage.
    It’s all down to which habits we attach ourselves to rather than us & them.

    Why the bloggers here don’t always see this, well we’re not perfect after all.

  65. dor
    do you watch any league of ireland football

    JG
    Used to watch Bray Wanderers when I lived at home, nearest club to me now is Shamrock Rovers I’ve threatened to go but never went, should go though, I’ve no excuses

  66. The next gen players were chance to use the youth for us we should bought quality additions and used them but it was about making money on players not football. Manure had a good bunch once.

    Counter attack is very limited as a tactic if that’s all you do. Good teams have possession because they win it back quick not because they want just to keep it. Counter attack is a tactic and not an ethos imo good teams can do both

  67. Liverpool are a good case in point.

    deadly on the counter. that’s why there record against top teams is so good. The good teams come out and attack leaving space for them. against the lesser sides who sit in they struggle.

  68. A lot of annoying chatter on twitter about albrighton. people have short memorys.

    him and bannan were getting booed at villa and reciving abuse on twitter!

    wanted 45k a week new contract! And he was not pulling up any trees at the time.

    The move done him more than good!

  69. dor
    was at derry v dundalk on monday great to see 2 managers trying to outwit one another,derry keeper held ball to slow match down,dundalk changed things about , would be great to have a manager that can do them things

  70. Andrew: “wanted 45k a week new contract! And he was not pulling up any trees at the time.”

    Don’t you remember that time when Albri was on the bench when West Ham visited? Albri came on and gave them the only dangerous moments in the whole match! *Their* fans wanted to know why he’d not come on sooner! 🙂

  71. JL
    Yes but he wasn’t consistent, but then again he wasn’t played all the time because of that.
    If the wage demand is true, then It’s understandable why he went, especially when you remember the financial bias of the time.
    This is not rhetorical.

  72. john

    albri defo had good moments, under houllier had his best moments.

    Remember a game at Fulham when baannan played a great ball to albri who scored well. thought they would go on and be great. but sadly not!

    Same with delfounso. I really thought he would be special!

  73. Albeit had great energy and could cross but he gave away to many free kicks in bad areas that said the players around him should dealt with that better was always rushing back after a counter and clipping players heels. Obviously he’s had some coaching

  74. IanG … on Albri…

    Yes, you’re right in one way, but the total mismanagement of the club meant that we did lose players of value. And the cause of how we got to the debacle of last year.

    Buy all cheap and you get all cheap.

  75. JL
    No problems mate
    Albi was brilliant one match & not for a few, & as Mark says he was always giving fouls away tackling back, but as you say, to let him go for nothing to save wages & then buy cheap instead was criminal.
    Again this was the ceo & board & owner more than Lambert, as he was doing as was required from above, which looking back was a big mistake for him, but he is still saying how well he did to get other jobs, so good riddance.

  76. green back in training chaps. should be ok for wigan. good news.

    think villa have seen us talking about youth! lots of talk about it in the brum paper.

    apparently we have a 13 year old who is amazing!

  77. andrew is that on a playstation? 🙂

    JG- plenty parked the bus under RDM mate under Bruce they give their players a pair of Binoculars to find us

  78. Was out for dinner with a couple of Germans this evenings.
    They were incredibly knowledgeable about British football. They hadn’t even known I was interested in football before we met and certainly had no idea I was a Villa fan but knew we were mid table and all about our problems. They also had strong views on RDM. . . . . none of them positive.
    They were pleased that clubs in Germany can’t be bought outright by companies or individuals but believed that the premiership is the most exciting league in Europe.
    . . . . Just thought it was interesting!

  79. Good to see Green back training. Hope it is not too soon. He has recovered fast for a hammy.
    I was sad to see Albright on leave Villa. I noticed he was inconsistent at the time and seemed a bit slow. Nevertheless he scored some cracking goals, still remember the one from the Bannan cross. Yeah, he wasn’t replaced with better and seems to have developed into a better player.
    Robbo
    May as well let the Germans run the PL, do a better job.

  80. r0bb0,

    Yes, interesting that about your chat with Germany. Particularly to get a view from the outside looking in.

    And I’m in alignment with Trinity when he says: “May as well let the Germans run the PL, do a better job.”!

    In fact, I think the Dutch or German personality would suit Villa better if we can’t get an appropriate British manager. Assuming Brucie doesn’t last of course! 😉

  81. Get better sausages at the matches if the Germans took over.

    Looking forward to the Wigan match. Hope they don’t have any nasty surprises for Villa. Villa mustn’t be complacent. Wigan do well for a rugby league town. They’ve also won an FA Cup in recent years. Not to be sneered at.

  82. well going on the game at Villa park it could be a tough encounter, they sat back and defended well and had their moments until Grealish sealed the points late on.Question is will we set up to counter?

    “It looked like the hosts were heading for their 11th draw in 20 games against a dogged Latics outfit, who have often caused them problems at Villa Park.

    But an otherwise miserable game on a wet afternoon was finally lit up by England Under-21 international Grealish’s late piece of brilliance.

    “The winner came just two minutes after his mounting frustration had caused him to become the last of the day’s six bookings, for a foul on Jordi Gomez.

    Undaunted, Grealish collected a loose ball at the other end before hammering a rising shot into the top-left corner of the net at the North Stand End – his first winning goal for the club.”

  83. A nice insight into the impact Green has had on the other Academy players (from the OS):

    Corey Blackett-Taylor says that Andre Green’s rise to prominence has offered extra encouragement to the club’s next wave of young lions.

    Green has been the youthful success story this term, making 15 appearances in the first team as well as earning big praise from boss Steve Bruce.

    Blackett-Taylor says the whole U23 squad have nothing but admiration for their peer and are looking to follow his example.

    He said: “Andre is a similar player to me and I’ve looked at how he’s taken his opportunity.

    “All of us in the changing room look up to him. He’s had the opportunity and taken it.

    “We want to follow in his footsteps.

    “It’s reassuring to know that someone coming from the youth development system has managed to make that step up to the first team.

    “It’s inspirational for us.”

    Green appears to have taken over the limelight from Grealish, and an article in one of the newspapers has highlighted Grealish’s tendency to slow down the play, while Green is the reverse.

  84. Mark
    Monsanto also genetically modifys seeds, which has its own problems. I hope they get taken to task. Money and greed will be the end of humans.
    JL
    Hope Green can pick up where he left off, but he’s just returning from injury.

  85. Iana- jury is still out on gmo as it is only done to stop roundup killing the crop, the weeds have adapted and keep adapting it’s just a way of controlling the seed supplies, nice scam.

  86. Mark,
    Yes Bruce was mentioned too. The conversation went like this:
    “Remind me, who is the manger now”
    “Steve Bruce”
    “Oh yes that’s right!”
    The last sentence was accompanied by him extending his elbows out from his sides to indicate a gentlman of large girth.
    Of course I told them that he has lost a lot of weight since they last saw him!

  87. Did anyone know Steve Bruce wrote several footballing murder mysterys? One was called sweeper where a groundsman gets murdered, imaginative eh 😉

  88. Albrighton’s a tough one…if we hadn’t been in a desperate produce-now scenario, I think he likely would’ve been given more time, and less asked of him. We wanted him to be a seasoned pro in a mid- to bottom-level team. Just wasn’t his time, then.

    On the flipside, that experience might’ve been the making of him. If the purported salary demands are correct, then either he or his agent were being a bit greedy…at the time. Or they were just angling to force a move. Or actually convinced of his worth and willing to make a stand on it.

    Anyway, he’s proven he’s mentally tough, and one that perhaps we’d have liked to hold on to.

    But however it went down, I wish him all the best. Kid always did his best, and the circumstances were certainly less than optimal. He needed more time, a different set of expectations. He got it and has made the most of it. Well done, Mark.

  89. Mark,

    “well going on the game at Villa park it could be a tough encounter, they sat back and defended well and had their moments until Grealish sealed the points late on.Question is will we set up to counter?”

    Could be a bit of a stalemate. Not sure who’s going to be playing for us, but I doubt Grealish will be grabbing the headlines.

    Given we’re away and Wigan need a result, I’m sure we’ll set up to counter. If Wigan don’t pose much threat…perhaps we come out more. I do think Bruce will want to see another win, obviously, but will be cagey about it. I’d go 1-0 Villa. It’ll either be a goal somewhere between 20 and 30 minutes, or 70-90.

    Wigan obviously would like more than a draw. So I think they’ll be cagey too, try to keep it scoreless and force the issue more as the game goes on.

    Which means they’ll come out guns blazing, score in the first 10 minutes, then it’s anyone’s guess.

  90. At least we don’t expect Villa to lose all the time anymore. Even Wigan humiliated us at VP about 3 years back.
    It should be an interesting match up.
    I look forward to evidence of further development in our own players and hope to see a good match.

  91. Hey guys

    Off to Wigan tomorrow, 5 thousand going. Should be fun

    Would like to think bruce will let us play a bit more exciting football. Its not fun watching us at the moment. Hogan, go 442. don’t stick Kodjia out wide

  92. have a good one frem. yes they reckon there will be more villa fans than wigan!

    Jedi defo playing cb.

    442?

    would not be happy to see hutton start on the wing instead of a youngster….or anyone!

  93. Trinity,

    Ha…Yes. It kind of sneaks up on you, finding yourself expecting Villa to win.

    This is that kind of game where you show something, facing a struggling team after a beating a better one.

  94. seems like it may be 442 going forward. and jedi as a cb.

    Johnson
    bree chester jedi taylor
    adomah Lansbury hourihan green
    Kodjer Hogan

    that’s a lovely side. would be happy to go into next season like that.

    prob be a new gk/cb cover/rw cover and done.

    amavi, grealish, baker, bjanson bench!

  95. andrew
    you are going to be disappointed bruce will play hutton
    as for playing jedi at centre back ,if elphik and richards are not good enough to start v WIGAN its 2 more for new bomb squad which is filling quickly under bruce gollina tisc ross

  96. Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you all, even if you’re not fortunate enough to be Irish, you can always drown the shamrock with a few pints of Guinness or kill a snake (no reference is being made to Delph), it’s a celebration that everyone is welcome to.

    Of course I’m in work making sure the country keeps ticking along while my fellow countrymen spend money in Cheltenham or any Irish bar across the world.

    Wigan will be destroyed tomorrow!!!

  97. is it a bit mental to switch back to 2 up top and no jedi holding in mid.

    did that not cause the bad run we had…only to revert to 433 and get some results again?

    We have all said having jedi in mid is a must…now he will be cb!

  98. JL- I hope he comes through I’d really like to see him play, he could be our new DM with his passing range and he is not adverse to getting into the box late and scores a fair few. Last season he was used as a full back in the prem so that shows his versatility and potential.

    Andrew- maybe Bruce see’s Wigan as a game to experiment with the chance to fix it if it goes belly up?

    Happy st pats day dor

  99. One biggy I heard in Bruces Presser was its unlikely but we are still going for the play offs, so that means we will continue to try to win and unlikely we will experiment to much, do we are kind of not getting ready for nest season? 😉

  100. Mark,

    Well, Brucie said weeks ago that until it’s mathematically impossible to get there, he wasn’t going to give up. So I’m not surprised … and if we get that win tomorrow it’ll be 4 wins out of 5 and getting onto a kinda roll. Whether it’s a sticky toffee roll we’ll soon find out! 😉

  101. James,

    I wouldn’t say there’s anything wrong in at least trying is there?

    I’m sure if we don’t make it he will accept that fact (he’s said so) but while there’s hope why give it up?

  102. john l
    what way does saying go
    no point shutting stable door after horse has gone
    we should have been trying in jan and feb, not now when its pointless,akin to playing jedi at centre half,replacing one inexperienced keeper with another one who doesnt even belong to us, utter nonesense from a dinosaur of a manager, bruce don t half speak utter crap

  103. Well im keeping quiet..see how tomoz goes!! He defo wants 2 up top so i guess if your going to do it do it now? But can we cope with no jedi in mid, is hutton really our right winger now!!! Feels up in the air again.

    Been watching huddy the last month since mark mentioned them….think he has cursed them! Been poor when ive seen them. We should of beat them and they are 2 down to brizzle at ht.

  104. Think most there team are on loan too!

    My sheff wed mate was right when he said in the summer youll be lucky to play really really well 10 times in his league, the other games are battles

  105. James G – just out of interest …….. do you ever smile? Is life completely unbearable for you? Would you like me to send you some depression pills?
    Cheer up mate please! See a bit of progress and even just think about smiling …… just a bit, please?
    Yours, still smiling oldvilla

  106. Andrew – and both the teams who won tonight had the lower percentage possession. Exactly what I think you were saying earlier. Or someone was anyway lol …….
    Oldvilla

  107. Getting To The Play-offs Is Suddenly Not Such A Daft Idea!

    With Wednesday’s home defeat last night (following Villa’s 6-pointer win against them last week), the 6th position in the league is suddenly reachable!

    If Villa win today, there’ll be just an 11-point gap between us and them. OK, Fulham are trying hard as well, but the possibility is ‘on’.

    But do we want it?!

  108. John

    Theres optimistic and theres optimistic! Im more concerned of relegation than promotion! 9 points from safety!!

    Reality is we are safe in mid table, not going up not going down.

    I wish i was going game today. Bugger travelling to wigan from devon though!

    Intrigiung match though….need to get our away form truly up and going. Only beat rotherham in about 4 months of playing away and scoring goals a problem.
    Wigan new manager so god knows what there going to be like. And then theres us! How many back from injury will we play, going 2 up top. Jedi in cb!

  109. Oldvilla, those midweek results are just two more examples showing that possession is not the stat that matters. To win with low possession though you have to have an outlet and the ability to use it quickly and clinically.
    Under Mcleish and latterly Lambert we had low possession but when we did have the ball we weren’t able to quickly transition from defence to attack.
    Watching Villa at that time was truly painful, with no prospect of excitement or success. . . . . far worse than what we’ve seen this year.
    Raineri (or was it Shakespeare) showed how low possession football can win if you have a potent striker and know how to get the ball quickly to him in the right way.
    Under Martin O’Neil we rarely dominated possession but Luke Young and Warnock would run forward quickly and overlap with Ashley Young and Downing and get quick ball into the box for Carew.
    It was a simple plan but it was effective, and every year under MON the points gap to 4th and 1st places got smaller until the money ran out and the shutters came down.
    Until recently we have not had the midfielders who could support low possession football. Westwood was good at recycling the ball and (contrary to popular belief) did pass forwards 80% of the time, but they were rarely incisive passes to release attackers. We now have midfielders who are able to do that.
    Adama could have provided a great transition from defence to attack with his speedy, mazy dribbling skills but he hasn’t yet developed a final ball.
    With greater solidity at the back, forward thinking midfielders and a couple of good strikers it feels as if we now have the components to build a successful team. Add in Green and Adomah on the wings and we have the potential to attack down the sides or through the middle.
    I’ve not been bored watching Villa this season (unlike previous years) because you feel that success is at least a ‘possibility’ this time.

  110. Hey Andrew, it must be something to do with the air down here in Devon that makes us optimists!
    There aren’t many away games that are on our doorstep but at least this year the 4 hour (on a good day) drive back down from Villa Park hasn’t ‘always’ been a sombre one this year

  111. Robbo

    Without doubt im more excited with this villa team than ive been for years.

    Adomoah
    Chester
    Green
    Jack
    Kodjer
    Hourihan
    Lansbury
    Hogan
    Bree

    These are all players in geniunely excited to watch.

  112. Andrew, I went to an away game at Wigan and although we won the experience was painful because to make up for the lack of support they allowed a bloody drummer in the ground. This mindless moron banged his bloody drum throughout the game . . . . can’t stand the things. ( we still made more noise than the home fans mind you)

  113. Morning robbo

    Ah yes, those long lonely drives back home after a crushing defeat!

    This season has been a rollercoaster but christ its 100 times better than last 4 years. Literally hated everytihng on and off the field under randy.

  114. Drummers and trumpets should be banned. Might not appear so bad hearing it on tv but when your sat near the bugger in the stand its not good.

    Remember those terrible horn things at the wc in south africa. Must of been horrendous

  115. I saw a fascinating graphic yesterday that showed all four leagues, with the teams that had sacked their managers highlighted in colour. They’d highlighted the ones who’d changed managers twice in a different colour and a different colour again for the one team who’ve changed their manager 3 times.
    The best conclusion you could draw from it was that sacking the manager is no guarantee of Improvement.
    The team with 3 managerial changes (Leighton orient) was propping up all 4 tables . . . it certainly hadn’t worked for them.
    In the premiership, 5 of the bottom 6 have changed their manager ( no team above them has). In league 1, 10 of the bottom 11 teams have changed their manager, but none of the teams above them have.
    It’s less clearcut in the championship but Villa and Cardiff are two teams for whom it seems to have worked. Norwich and Derby have changed managers and are above us, but (like Birmingham) they changed managers because they were trying to maintain a promotion push rather than fighting off relegation.
    Birmingham are the one team who have perfectly demonstrated a negative bounce from managerial changes. They sacked their manager in order to maintain a promotion push and are now staring to consider relegation instead!
    Serves their ignorant owners right

  116. Andrew, I’d add the Jedi to your list, I always find him entertaining. I actually like seeing Baker throw himself around with no thought for his own safety too!
    Add in some of the academy players to the mix and yes, it is worth the entrance fee (and petrol money) this year.
    Oh . . . . maybe I’m perverse, but I like seeing one of the very fastest players in the championship dashing down the wing too
    (That’s Hutton btw)

  117. Andrew: “Reality is we are safe in mid table, not going up not going down.”

    We won’t know until we’re at the end of the season, Andrew! 😉

    I’m inclined to err towards your p.o.v., but on the other hand you just never know … until you know!

  118. Devon

    I’m a little in awe of you fellas (r0bb0 and Andrew) in Devon, as I’ve been trying to get down there for the last 2 years (to live), but obstacles keep on being popped up.

    Both sides of my family stem from that neck of the woods and I seem to have a magnetic pulling me … but not strongly enough!

  119. Robbo shame about rhm injury because he would be getting minutes off bench.

    Looking at the league table its clear why bruce wants 2 up top. 37 goals scored is bloody awful. Not going to get promoted like that. Goals against is fine, on a par or better than 3 of the 6 teams up the top.

    Id rather we went 442 than 352 in our quest for 2 up top. Green, adomah on the wings.

  120. John
    Born in Erdington, went to school in sight of Villa Park, lived in various places here and overseas but having moved down to Devon 5 years ago I honestly can’t think of anywhere I’d rather be.
    If only I knew how to put pictures on here I’d show you my view now . . . . but maybe that wouldn’t help!

  121. robbo
    you say you have been happier watching villa this season than last 5/6 ,well the matches you seen live must be great because the ones on sky bbc or derby match that mark put uplink for where brutal, as for players adoamh not good enough for boro yet one of our best players, chester who pulis who knows a centre half wouldnt play is our best defender

  122. Morning folks I agree with JL the champs seems to be like one of those seaside horse race games with no sense to it so we will see although it would be poor timing for us if we went up in this state.

    On possession as a stat it bears out in the long term that if a team has the ball they win more, yes you can see games in every league every day of the week where a team with low possession wins but look at the team in this league that sit in the top 6 and Fulham who are making a late run, they all play football bar Leeds who mix it up. When we had delph and benteke at times we could look like world beaters playing like that great if you want to win 6 games a season against the odds

    Leicester lost the the best DM in the league so I would assume that drinkwater who was Vardys main supply is a bit busy to pas to him along with the enevitable of teams sussing them out, easy if that’s your one tactic no?

  123. James, it’s all relative.
    Under Mcleish and eventually Lambert too, there was absolutely no joy in going to the games and an all-pervading feeling that things were getting worse.
    If you feel no sense of optimism now I do think that says more about you than Villa.
    I know that sounds a bit harsh and I’m sorry about that but I do think it’s true.
    That’s not to say that I think you’re completely wrong to be negative about the team or club.
    You shouldn’t confuse the ‘optimism’ of some on here with ‘satisfaction’ for how things are going though.
    I’ve not seen anyone say that they believe that Bruce is going to take us to where we (and Xia) would like to see us go. If he gets us promotion then I think he should be given a chance to see how he can do in the premiership and I (along with many others) will suspend judgement and hope he proves to do better than we expect him to.
    I haven’t seen anyone say that we have a squad that can challenge in the premiership either. I personally think that this squad could be good enough to win the championship next season and I think that Bruce may be able to make that happen.
    Right now that’s good enough for me.

  124. robbo
    so we should break out the champagne because we have won4 out of 5,not worst run in jan /feb
    we have bruce as a manager for next ,2 years takes us up next season gets sacked at xmas because bruce teams all struggle,
    at least under lambert we had great wins , great goals ,some great players ,now we have dross ,how many games this season have we been decent scored great goal, i can only comment on what is on tv, or sky commentary during match even last couple matches we handed the ball to rotheram sheff wed with 10 men we ended up with 1 19year old attacker on field, sorry if i take this as a future to be un happy about football wise

  125. Mark, I made a posting in the previous thread which I still believe in to explain why high possession tends to be a side effect of having good players but it is not what wins games.
    The manager’s tactics, the players understanding those tactics and the players having the skills to apply them are what matters. That can apply just as well to low possession football and high possession. Leicester last season doesn’t ‘prove’ the point but it’s as good a demonstration of it as you’re likely to get.
    Under O’Neill we generally had less than 50% of the possession but we still won a lot more games than we lost.
    There were times under Lambert that we DID have high possession but we did bugger all with it.
    Mourinho and Ferguson were happy to play a waiting game and score on the break when circumstances required it.
    Try asking an Arsenal fan right now if they think that possession football is what really counts. They have better players than most other teams in the premiership but they tend to lose against the top teams because it’s not having the ball that matters, it’s what you do with it that actually wins those games.

  126. Robbo- look at the top six in our league, they all cant have much better players can they? Huddersfield £3m net, that just does not bear out, finding players to suit what you want is key, don’t always have to be the best.

    In Arsenal you are taking the worse case scenario as Wenger just wont change but who can doubt his success and arsenals, champs league each season, cup wins, must be hard on them, if only they had gone route one 🙂

  127. James, I’ll read what you’ve written and comment on it. If you did the same we might have a more sensible discussion.
    I haven’t even put the champagne in the fridge yet!
    It’s just not true to say that ‘all Bruce teams struggle’. It may make you feel better to type it but it just is wrong.
    He took Birmingham to 10th in the premiership. Their second best season ever.
    He got Hull promoted to the premiership and to their highest ever premiership position (ok it was only 16th, but this is Hull we’re talking about)
    He took Wigan to their second highest ever premiership position.
    He says himself that Villa is the biggest club he’s ever managed. He’s given each of those cash limited clubs their best or second best premiership seasons ever.
    Do I expect him to do the same at Villa? No I don’t, but I’d love him to prove me and you wrong.
    To say that our players are dross is just immature and silly.

  128. Mark, couldn’t agree with you more about needing to find players to suit what you want.
    I don’t think any of us are yet clear what it is that Bruce wants but hope that ‘he’ knows and is working to a plan . . . time will tell.
    In recent games, whether through planning or circumstance, we may be starting to see some sort of system developing but I think we all fear that he’s about to throw all the cards up in the air again.
    As far as im concerned the jury’s still out but hey I’m hopeful that it will still turn out well.

  129. Robbo- Bruce has stated he wants to play 442 in the champs, so far the players he has play better in a 433 down to Jedinak and Kodjia. I don’t think Kodjia will ever suit a 2 up top either, as far as players there are plenty of comparisons to be had in the hull side he built lansbury= huddlestone (but worse defender) Diame= hourihane hogan=Hernandez and he liked two wingbacks = bree and taylor.

    we will see but pretty much Hull MK2

  130. Mark,
    That’s what I was alluding to when I mentioned the cards being thrown up in he air again.
    Kodjia and Adomah seem to be building a mutual understanding but that’s because Adomah seems to be an ideal ‘team player’ who enjoys creating goals. I don’t think that’s what we brought Hogan in for so like you I’m struggling to see how it will work. Could be exciting if it did though and as long as we see the next 9 games as part of an extended pre-season then I guess we should give Bruce some leeway to find out if it can work?

  131. Mark, I take your point about Arsenal, but if you look back at the ‘invincibles’ squad he built back then, what a fantastic group of players he brought together. They were individually so good that every statistic was almost bound to be good.

  132. robbo- I think Wenger got so hooked into developing players instead of the big buys he has now stubbornly stuck to his ideals, lets face it his big buys never seem to work so well, maybe that malleable mind is required, he does seem to coach his style into players rather than having an eye for the taylor made.

    On Bruce have you noticed we are looking very British suddenly?

  133. My feeling is that Bruce has tried to mix experience and potential in his players, but the most imortant thing he demands, is the pride to wear the shirt and battle until the final whistle. Gradually he has managed to bring a group of players together who will achieve this.

    Just hope we can field a good solid team today.

  134. robbo- I just heard Henri say they could do with more flair players and I was thinking when I wrote about Kodjia he would do well for Arsenal and dare I say Grealish would to.

  135. it says a lot of quality of our players when bruce prefers to play jedi at centre half over 2 thats costing 100 thousand a week in wages,or youth centre half v wigan,same as playing hutton as a winger

  136. JG- I think Palace would take Jedi back 🙂 amavi was looked at and Bree has been scouted by the top clubs. Surprised we got Hourihane and Lansbury on so little and the lower prem clubs didn’t bother, the answer may be in the wage we offered or the quality. Hogan injury record not helping him but I think kodjia just might go in the summer for £20m .

  137. robbo
    on bruce past record mcleish won a trophy for blues and there fans will tell yes bruce had couple good seasons but almost bankrupted them at same time, wigan it was either john doyle or steamer [rip]quoted wigan chairman about damage bruce did to club ,and hull where happy enough for bruce to walk,and never seen any big club beat down doors to give him job, we were desperate after rdm and just looked at 4 promotions thought yes he will get us up,didnt happen so now we have to give him more time to fail

  138. mark k
    jedi palace couldnt believe there luck
    amavi bruce prefers tatlor 3 rd choice at swansea
    bree bruce prefers hutton
    lansby has been about for years , we paid 3.5 m plus 42 thousand wages, soton are paying new italian striker 40 thousand a week, he was out of contract in summer

  139. Arsenal

    The interesting thing about them is that since they lost their all-British defence they’ve not won the title. I think I’m right in saying that.

  140. James – “mark k
    jedi palace couldnt believe there luck
    amavi bruce prefers tatlor 3 rd choice at swansea
    bree bruce prefers hutton
    lansby has been about for years , we paid 3.5 m plus 42 thousand wages, soton are paying new italian striker 40 thousand a week, he was out of contract in summer”

    I would ask – who said Palace couldn’t believe their luck? Their fans seemed to want him back! Can you provide the quote from Palace or is it something you thought up?
    So what if Taylor was 3rd choice at Swansea – he’s doing ok for us at the moment so what is your point?
    Does Bruce really prefer Hutton to Bree. There is good competition there, so agian what is your point?
    And again – what are you trying to say about Lansbury? And comparing him to the S’ton guy?

    Sorry mate but I am fed up of your negative stuff constantly on here and so poorly thought out without any facts to back it up.
    Must try harder 1/10.
    oldvilla

  141. james, jedi played really well at centre half and Bruce is right to try using him there and give him a chance to extend his career.
    It would mean that we’d need to find a replacement defensive midfielder for next season because I’m not sure we have a ready replacement.

  142. James, I think what winds people up is not so much your view that the team and manager are not very good, but the ‘fake facts’ that you keep coming up with.
    If you keep making things up then you’ll inevitably find yourself coming in for increasing ridicule.
    I think a lot of people share many of the sentiments behind your views. There are plenty that are not convinced by Bruce and a smaller number who think our squad isn’t strong enough to win the championship. Your view is at the extreme end of negativity but someone’s has to be!

  143. So Arsenal had 77% possession, their highest of the season, far more passes in the opposition box than WBA but only two shots on target and lost 3-1.
    I rest my case M’lud

  144. robbo- yet Liverpool won recently with similar and Everton beat WBA 3-0 with 63%. WBA did win the same fixture last season too, looks like Arsenal need to shoot more I’m resting all my cases 😉

  145. Haha
    Fair enough
    Truth is that no one game proves a point one way or another .
    Just seen today’s team but I’m not sure who’s playing where yet

  146. Old villa- for a positive bloke you sure do seem obsessed about others posts that are deemed negative mate? you are not god and neither am I 😉

    On Jedinak I like him and posted Palace would have him back, he could conceivably be our player of the season for me.

  147. Old villa – you seem to have problem with mine and James? should we leave? bit intolerant mate isn’t it on a blog about opinions? you give it straight don’t expect a flowery response mate 🙂

  148. Mark K – if it was opinions it wouldn’t be too bad but it is completely non factual thoughts to suit the occasion.
    Anyway I’m out of here as I don’t need all this crap to be honest ……
    Good luck and JohnL, I will be in touch as I would to purchase some of your good stuff if you mail to Switzerland
    Oldvilla

  149. Robbo and us with £40m net? 😉

    Old Villa- up to you mate its still opinion, which has a tendency not to be entirely fact anyway just thoughts based loosely on how that person perceives whats going on

  150. Mark,

    I’m sad that someone like OV has to go. Frankly, I understand about his point on things being not factually right, and (after all) if we are to have an opinion it should be based on facts and experience, and not on heresay.

  151. Mark,

    The guy is a long way from Brum and wants to be cheered up, for goodness sake!

    We could be a bit more accommodating i.m.o.

    Can you go out and wheel in an armchair for him, please?

  152. Frem’s still waiting on the wingers, not getting much to enjoy from his travels today so far.

    Also, new post up if you want to get off the long thread during the match.

  153. JL- ? As I said its his choice I enjoy him being on here and I’ve posted a link to the commentary,and I have learnt to enjoy others company no mater the view in my time on here, had some scraps too, without alternate views its a stale place haven’t we lost enough of those recently? Old Villa if your out there pick your lip up mate and get back on here 😉

Leave a Reply