While pre-season matches are nothing much to get excited about (especially the early ones) the fans are eager to take a look at what the current set of players can do. This is especially in the light of the fact that few new signings are expected to arrive this summer: although Johnstone has been announced as a ‘signing’, he was of course with us last season, so nothing new for us there. Terry is the only one who is actually ‘new’ to us, but while he is of interest, the fact that his role is defensive does not take away our concerns about the team’s creativity and scoring ability.

So I was very interested to see how the players from last season’s January ‘window’ were shaping up in readiness for the new season. But – sorry to say – I saw nothing in the Shrewsbury match that made me feel that extra bonding and understanding had developed amongst the players. Sadly, I continued to see the two strikers looking somewhat adrift, combined with rather stodgy and ineffective play from Hourihane, the one player who I thought might spark some life into the team. However, in common with a number of others, I do sense that he may be more effective further forward. Should he be the ‘missing link’, sitting just behind both Kodjia and Hogan?

The midfielders Bjornason, Lansbury and Jedi I’m willing to accept as workaholic midfielders who will rarely be originally creative, but we do need that extra dimension, I feel, to create chances for the strikers. A player with that ‘bit extra’, who can turn a defence and perhaps score a few himself. I’ve been hoping that would be Hourihane, but a doubt persists. But if not him, then who else? Gardner – though clearly having a useful shot on him – doesn’t quite cut it for me. And his shots usually just hit the woodwork.

We have for some time now looked upon ‘Our Jack’ as signalling the birth of a new era at Villa Park. I for one thought he’d step up to the challenge following Villa’s relegation season, but I’d say he mostly disappointed, apart from a couple of wonderful strikes and gaining a couple of penalties. He’s coming up to age 22, and really, if he doesn’t step up to the mark this season then I doubt that he will at all. If he’s not careful he’ll be just another of those great hopefuls that emerged from the youth ranks and then fizzled away.

But there’s the half-glass-full in me that says he can and will make the grade. Whether he’ll ever reach his potential only time will tell, but I am sure that he will now be taking his career seriously and striving to get his beloved Aston Villa to where they truly belong – at the top. If he doesn’t, I’m still not sure about Hourihane, so where will that leave Villa?

So Jack … reflect on this old tune and please try to win our hearts!

From a Jack to a King
From loneliness to a wedding ring
I played an Ace and I won a Queen
And walked away with your heart.

Comments 126

  1. I hope he does step up JL, I was encouraged to hear that Jack had approached the fitness staff to cure his reoccurring hamstring problem, I think his recent involvement with the England U21 has sparked something in him. Other than Kodjia and maybe green he’s the only one with something special in his locker.

  2. we have to many players that simply arent good enough,young and old , even yesterday before the subs we had no rhythm no style we didnt pass the ball forward ,think it was johnl mentioned it yesterday about running with ball beating a man, never once did we try , we where like the wolf and 3 pigs huff puff going nowhere
    my team
    i havent a clue because we still need a winger a midfielder that can pull team together so try

    johnson
    bree terry chester taylor
    green houirane new player amavi
    grealish
    hogan/kodja

  3. I have looked through Lansbury and Hourihanes goals and assists for last season for their old clubs and have come to the same conclusion that I did with RMC and Hogan. There old teams all played with more freedom and attacked quickly and in numbers .

    We have been told to give Steve Bruce a pre-season and he will sort the turgid play out we saw last season but I have to say so far against poor opposition? no real sign of it, The teams we are playing are about to get better too. The only thing I can say is we are still missing a few players notably Grealish, Adomah,Kodjia, Jedinak, Delaet that may make a difference to how we play but my gut instinct says no, we will just be hard to beat with Kodjia up top again being the sole threat.

  4. One last thought, Is our Name and reputation having an effect of teams making them more cautious against us thereby nullifying Bruces stay at home tactics? We saw it last season with RDM and Bruce where teams worked us out by half time and then got bolder second half. Newcastle played a solid 442 last season with decent midfield a decent winger and a quick forward, no park the bus they applied pressure and tried to control games on the whole. Seems to me that with our players that style would suit us better if teams are indeed being cautious. We saw so often the ball launched out to the wings when the opposition were really still in a good position, no attempt was really made to work the ball down the middle or pull the defence about which we have to have in our locker as the favourites to win the league IMO.

  5. Mark
    Hard to disagree with what we’ve seen so far.
    We still don’t create enough movement off the ball as a team, just as individuals.
    It seems they’re being coached out of the freedom to play as a team, which I was saying last season, & as you say relying on individual efforts which has it’s limitations.
    The midfield is nowhere near balanced, & they’ve all turned into Hutton playing habitually far too much.
    If you don’t look you can’t see, as they say, & disjointed is the word, some trying to express freely & others trying to project the plan onto spontaneity.
    All they’ve done so far is mostly cancel each other out.
    But, it is still early preseason, & unsullied hope still lingers, even though the transfer scenario is depressing as expected.

  6. Mark: “We have been told to give Steve Bruce a pre-season and he will sort the turgid play out we saw last season”

    A tad unfair I think. From what I recall, people like me just said let’s see how pre-season *and* early season goes before we can start making absolute judgments. I think that view was – and is – fair, though I think your views do (now) seem to be justified – *if* things stay as they are.

    To me it all depends on whether we can find that spark of creativity, and if the Jack does become a King then all the issues you’ve come up with may be nullified.

    But we still have to wait and see whether Jack does want to be crowned! 😉

  7. JL- I think its very fair considering its probably the single most important thing he had to do imo. The addition of 3-4 experienced premiership level players to a team that cannot pass the ball to each other and apparently cannot handle the pressure of being at Villa seems like sticking a plaster on a severed arm. The teams that went up were not exactly brimming with Prem players just had good game plans and good coaching in that plan. At this point we don’t even have a good plan it seems.

    Things can change but when it appears exactly like last season I am puzzled to know how it will in less than 3 weeks.

  8. You may well all be right and our playing style (or lack of it) will hold us back from progress this year but I’m still prepared to wait in hope and anticipation.
    Let’s not forget that we had a couple of very successful runs last season ‘despite’ the perceived shortcomings so it may not need much of an improvement in playing staff, team spirit or individual player attitudes to see us into the top 6 at least.
    Last season I said that I don’t give a stuff about our playing style as long as we get promoted and I feel exactly the same this year.
    When I walk away from Villa Park I find that if we’ve won I’m happy . . . if we’ve lost I’m sad.
    At some point it would be lovely to win in style but for now, I just want to get back to playing in the big boys playground.

  9. Robbo- I can completely understand your view point mate, this season is about promotion, it will be with a team that will have to torn apart to stay up though, something I find a little to short sighted for my liking. I would forget fancy football for effective football too but we don’t even play like that imo, Newcastle were effective, whatever it is we are doing we are not very good at it and most the players seem not suited to it.

    The other compelling thing from last season is non of the teams that got into the top 8-11 played like we did and even Cardiff one above us under warnock didn’t. Most of our games were not commanding performances and a fair few wins against the run of play, I can’t remember any teams that have gone up managing that for a whole season, you have to score goals as well as defend and we are piss poor at that.

  10. Mark,

    Though I take on board what you’re saying, I think that r0bb0 is perfectly correct in saying that at least we had some reasonable runs going last season. However … and it’s a big ‘however’ … those runs were not entirely convincing, so I agree with you in your general comment.

    We *must* move up a notch or two from the performances in the last two-thirds of last season, without doubt. Not to improve on ‘style’ necessarily but just to show that Villa are a truly worthy team.

    I keep on saying it depends a lot on whether Jack or another player can provide that spark of originality to make the necessary difference to give us those extra notches.

  11. JL- I can’t disagree with what you are both saying John, we had some good but rather fortuitous runs at times, we also had some complete stinking runs too were we fell apart without Kodjia and Jedinak. If this team is still that fragile and still playing the same way? well I will be amazed if we go up. It will only take 2-3 injuries to the wrong players and we are stuffed if 90% of the squad are not up to it without them.

    We saw it last season when we could not score more than one under RDM and we crumbled, how long will take them if we can’t finish teams off? Having two or three experienced players is Bruces answer to that problem IMO. Teams will turn up for a point no doubt at VP and be happy but the real problem was our away form, 14 goals away from home! it has to improve and the play has to improve to do that.

    The other problem is what do we do if Bruce cannot sort it? we have no money to throw at managers this season and I cannot help but feel Bruces approach is a mismatch for a club our size, we should be looking to control games as much as possible, we are a big club we should begin act like one, maybe that would bring some swagger to the players step?

  12. Mark,
    I do believe that over 46 games luck does tend to run both ways and whilst we had some wins against the run of play we had just as many losses so I just don’t accept that argument.
    I do agree with you though that if we do get promoted then we’ll need to make big changes to the team, which isn’t ideal. Let’s hope that some of the younger players do manage to come through this season!

  13. Robbo- I cannot say I remember a lot of games under Bruce that we were unlucky so to say, maybe a couple, Under RDM we truly were unlucky with hitting the wood work and worldly saves in some matches but we attacked and fell apart with no plan B. We were pretty poor against most of the top teams under Bruce only lost once to sheff wed under RDM so I don’t think the problem lies with the players just the approach/coaching.

    Yes I hope the youngsters get a chance we really do have decent crop, at Least 5-6 I believe will make the step up, I do fear though that Bruce is not the man to gamble on them.

  14. Have to agree, not worried about style over results, and we did manage to put together some runs.

    If form holds and we remain stingy, then we have less to do up front. But obviously, still have to get something done. So, yes, Hourihane or Grealish, both, or someone else, have to create and also chip in with goals.

    If we need to end up playing 4-5-1, we just obviously need to get some goals from midfield and set pieces. And in the end, I’m not sure I really like the idea of two forwards just sort of hanging out up top given our connectivity problems. If they’re not going to defend vigorously up the pitch, or if one of them isn’t dropping deep to help link up, then the extra striker just ends up being a wasted body since we’re not routinely getting both of them involved and troubling defenses. To his credit, RMC was trying to come back for the ball yesterday, he just wasn’t having a very good day doing anything useful with it.

    But if a midfield 5 allows us to have Green on the pitch, for example, it feels to me that he’s more likely to make something happen than when we have two forwards just waiting for service that never arrives.

    I’m okay with 1-0s as long as they don’t feel like let-offs. And if, as so often didn’t happen last year, we can just make periods of early dominance count a bit more frequently, we might get more opponents playing into our hands having to chase the game.

    The other trick obviously is just getting off to a better start points-wise and being in the playoff mix all season as opposed to being under scrutiny for underperforming and adding the pressure of needing to make up ground.

  15. JC- I think 451 will happen with jimmy danger up top as sure as eggs is eggs, If RMC goes hogan will not a have partner for 442 and he certainly didn’t seem to suit the lone striker role, neither does Gabby so suddenly we are down to one viable striker.

    We are trying 442 at the moment I think because it isn’t always clear with the fullbacks bombing on so much but it is Bruces preferred set up in the champs. Remember when he got the new players in Jan? he tried it then and eventually went through every formation known to man to get a win but failed until Jedi and Kodjia returned.

  16. Mark, last season is already becoming hazy, but my memory is that we were unlucky not to beat Brighton away, Newcastle at home and then were the better team at home with 10 men against Brighton in the last game of the season.
    I agree that we were not so hot against the other top 6 teams, but 3 out of 4 performances against the best two teams in the league were pretty good.

  17. Robbo-Newcastle at home was under RDM where he tried a Bruce first half and they battered us second half went mental and really should of won ended with 5 forwards on the pitch and tish scored. Against Brighton second half we produced our best display up to that point grealish came on and played well but next game he changed it all and shortly after sold half the players involved. Last game we had ten men Didn’t we and Grealish scored, Grealish liked Brighton 🙂

  18. Mark,

    I don’t remember Newcastle “battering” us in either match! 😀

    In fact their 3 goals came from Villa rather than their own creativity.

    Yes, I agree with r0bb0 that against the promoted teams we did fairly well, but we have to do a lot better if we’re going to get promotion ourselves.

    Despite all of what you’re saying, it just needs one or more players finding the personal form to unlock opposing defences. If we have that then there’ll be no problem.

    Jack *can* be King! 🙂

  19. JL- Heres the report form the Newcastle game they should of been out of sight by half time, whatever terminology you use they were all over us like a rash first half.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37392374

    Wasn’t one man’s brilliance in Kodjia the only reason we won games last season? we are talking about us winning the title or promotion, it will take a team not one man no matter how good, he can be stopped or injured and then what? Its a team performance I want to see and a switch from going long to the wings otherwise Grealish won’t even see the ball 🙂

  20. Mark,

    Though it’s true that Newcastle certainly had the better of the first half, I’d by no means say we were “battered” from what I remember!! And their goal was simply the o.g.

  21. JL- well I remember it being embarrassing as they had complete control and we sat deep, gayle was clean through and Diame missed a sitter amongst others, read the report unless the bbc are wrong too 😉

  22. it is a bit sad out of 36 games in charge 1 half vbrighton and home game v brighton 1st half v preston and thats only good performances under bruce

  23. Mark
    Let’s agree then that In both games against Brighton, Villa were the better side.
    My mate (a Brighton fan who doesn’t like to give compliments to Villa) said that we were the best side they’d played against all season.
    So what is it about the way they play that suited us and in particular, as you pointed out, suited Jack?

  24. Mark,

    1. Yes, Newcastle did have some outstanding moments in the first game – in the first half only. But they still scored only via an o.g.

    2. At Newcastle we gave away their goals.

    All 3 goals were Villa’s mistakes rather than Newcastle’s own creation.

    In neither game did Newcastle show up very greatly i.m.o. though, yes,, they were of course better than us.

  25. Mark,

    Unfortunately, I didn’t write any comments on Villa’s first match against Newcastle on my website, but I did record the following on the match at their ground:

    There then came a visit to high-flying Newcastle, and there were fears that Villa could be taken to the cleaners, but Villa’s strong side played well – competitively at least, for the first 40 minutes and then went down to a scrappy goal following Newcastle’s first corner of the match. Another scrappy goal sealed their win, but then both Villa’s strikers had to come off with injuries, Hogan’s being the far more serious-looking, and which brought Villa down to 10 men for the final few minutes.

  26. vs Newcastle at VP last Season

    As John Clark rightly reported in his article after that match, Villa were not showing too well for the first 65 minutes, but then (he says) “it was a draw that finally felt like a win”. See his article: http://www.astonvillalife.com/blog/2016/09/24/villas-turn-to-turn-the-tables/

    It’s worthwhile reading that article again and all the comments made.

    Mark King said:

    If you think about it Rafa had no answer once we got a head of steam up, first half RDM played into his hands and they should of been out of sight much like most of our season, second half they had no answer to a simple switch, there failing was finishing which has plagued us even when we haven’t looked organised we still should of scored more.

    … which I think was a very fair one in summing it up. 🙂

  27. Oh dear God, we are placing promotion success on a youngster who has failed to deliver consistently since making the first team, sorry but too many Villan’s eggs are in the Jack basket just because he is a ‘local boy, done good’.

    Sorry, I’ll reiterate I’m reading nothing into the Shrewsbury game. I await with baited breath the start of the season. What I will say about the near future is that a leopard (Bruce) doesn’t change it’s spots and privately and now publically (at least within this group) I have no expectation of any change in the level of performance or results not least because there is the known pressure that its all or nothing this season, there is no room for error and it’s that added pressure plus an inability to control the games that will see us move to a top ten position but still miss out on play-offs.

    What the club needs is not players, it needs a manager with a proven ability to obtain maximum performance thru clever tactics that the players buy into and playing to the players strengths. We’ve missed an opportunity to get the manager/tactics right first and buy the players for the system as should Bruce fail, the next manager can only work with what he has as opposed to getting the best players for his system due to FFP. So any new manager may have gaps with the current squad that will only ever be filled in a makeshift way.

    I am thinking that far ahead because I can’t see beyond Bruce doing the same as last year. Any opposition manager worth his salt would easily counteract Kodija upfront by marking him out of the game because the midfield is unbalanced with too many like players taking up the same positions and therefore not a huge defensive risk to the opposition, Bruce hasn’t figured out how to create for McCormack and Hogan yet but how difficult would it be to push Hourihane up closer to the strikers and lose a man in midfield other than his approach is about the fear of losing as opposed to attack is the best form of defence, beyond some winning mentality and a few shirt sales, central defence only needed cover and Samba could have provided that so I don’t get why our only signing would be a defender (at this point).

    The squad is bloated and needs to be trimmed down, not least because there are players preventing some of our youth from getting extended runs in the team, all the more difficult given an aversion to risk that Bruce has such that the like of O’Hare, Davis, Lyden, McKirdy won’t get a look in, only Green has made the jump at this point.

    I’d expect Hourihane to be more controlled on the defensive requirements of playing in a 10 than Jack but that is more so down to experience. Jack was a luxury we couldn’t afford in the relegation years, trying for promotion where attack is of the essence makes him less of a luxury, however he is still naïve and do we have time to allow him develop in that role if promotion comes before performance.

    Setting my stall out at a very low level based on what I’ve seen last season, based on who joined us for half the season and based on the players knowing they have no wiggle room beyond promotion. The arrivals from last season couldn’t handle the pressure of playing for Villa or weren’t prompted by joining a club like ours to go above and beyond.

    Doesn’t make for good reading but it’s were I’m at right now.

  28. Darren,

    I (for the most part) agree! 🙂

    However, my basic prenise is that i.m.o. we need someone who is capable of unlocking the opposition. Therefore Jack might be the one in question to accomplish that: who else can do it? But he (I agree) has steps to climb before he can be a permanent inclusion.

  29. Hi everyone, taking a chance… I’m a swede 48 years going to a work in Newcastle on Wednesday/Thursday 19-20/7 but now took an earlier flight 18/7 to pass by Birmingham and see if I could get the chance to see the Walsall pre-season game. Seem to be sold out at AVFC, if anyone of you reading here know about someone having one ticket too much or changing their mind of going send me a message. Or if I will not be able to get a ticket, would you recommend that I try and get a ticket at Walsall ground? Can you sit quite and calm among Walsall supporters without risk of harm 🙂 Or last option, should I go somewhere in Birmingham to watch the game, pub where supporters hang out? Any tips?

  30. Hi again, please disregard the question of buying anyones ticket. It is very tight that I will have time getting to the match at all. So only option probably, if I get there in time, is to buy ticket at the stadion and sit with Walsall supporters 😮

  31. Robbo- my guess is they are not a high press side, they are solid at the back and play a passing game. Our lot don’t like to be rushed imo.

    JL- Which is what I said ?? RDM set up defensively and at Home, we barely got out our half I call that getting battered, when I spoke to Rob initially I never mentioned the away game anyway 🙂
    I read the article very thoroughly ta, Rafa said they missed a lot of chances and should of been out of sight then defended poorly which they did, I think by the end we had 5-6 forwards on the pitch. the switch in tactics was throwing the kitchen sink onto the pitch and we should of won we hit the post but still only registered 2 shots on goal.

    Dor- I agree mate, RDM loses three games and looks lost but still only had half a team for 5-6 matches, club push panic button and employ the god of champs promotion who entirely changes the teams approach instead of slight adjustments, Then buys players from teams with a different approach and fails partly with them ( have more to do with Round etc and buying players with re-sale), Now stuck with those players who can’t grasp how to play the Bruce way and he doesn’t know how to change himself. The rush to get promoted last season after declaring its a two year project was daft considering our circumstances. They should of got a manager that would of added the players that RDM was unable to buy in the summer to balance the side and continued to be forward looking instead of changing into reverse without depressing the clutch.

    Hello Villa29, sorry mate no tickets but I would think you would be safe enough in the walsall end just act dumber than them.

  32. Hi All ,
    Heading over to the midlands in a few weeks for a driving holiday . Warwick castle , Harry potter world ,etc. Was hoping to call into bodymoor heath with the kids to watch villa train . Is there a limited slot for supporters etc. any advice would be greatly appreciated

  33. I’m good Prox, looking forward to many Saturdays of enjoyment, haven’t decided where to go yet though, its just miscommunication with me and JL, keeps the posts up though 🙂

  34. Mark,

    So you take Rafa’s comments to heart? 😀

    We might have won that match, period, though they clearly had the better of the first 65. We also had one goal disallowed, which – if I remember correctly – may well have been an incorrect decision.

    The point is that someone (who, I forget now! r0bb0 perhaps) wrote that against the promoted teams we didn’t do so badly over 4 matches – and I rather agree with that – despite those first 65 mins vs Newcastle at home.

  35. Prox: “Still bickering with John , I see .”

    Yep – I keep making all kinds of nice comments about him – and even agree with him – yet he’s still looking for the knock-out! 😀

  36. JL- “yet he’s still looking for the knock-out!”

    If you stood stiil and stop changing the rules then I might stand a chance 😉

    So is the plan is to only play the promoted teams? whats the procedure for finding out who’s going up this season? 😉

    Its unbelievable that we now have a squad bigger than when we got relegated and almost as many unwanted players and Bruce wants a squad of 24, 2 less than RDM wanted.

  37. Mark,

    Yes, the squad is far too big and if left as it is the youngsters wouldn’t get a chance.

    But there’s over a month left to offload what they want to … and I’m sure they do want to.

  38. Jl- yep a month left and they will try to shift players as they did for the last six years, I don’t know if others clubs get this problem we seem to accumulate players like dust

  39. Good post DOR.

    I agree and do not really see any improvement so far under Bruce. I have the feeling that unless Villa have a really good start to the season, Bruce will be gone by October. I cannot see the good DR tolerating anything less than being in the top three by the end of September.

  40. MK.

    Two excellent tit bits. I really hope that young players like Sulliman get their opportunity.

    JL,
    I will watch with hope tonight on YouTube, but I fear that it will not be realised, and I feel that over the last six years, I have been very patient, at least in the past you could see a future…!!!

  41. Mark – yep, patients’ patience helps to get a cure! 😉

    PP – I know what you’re saying but I still can’t believe that it’s not going to work out right this season. 5 of the last 6 years were under a different ownership, and one without understanding. We surely have a better formula now, but it’s taken its time (understandably i.m.o.) for the situation to get turned round.

  42. Reports villa going strong tonight. Been on holls so missed the shrew game…not good i take it!

    Moxley just said bruce ‘not. Happy. At. All.’

    Thats why strongish team tonight.

    1mill for elhamedy is good business. Need whelan in and linked o lawrence from foxes…on loan at ipswich, very good midfielder.

  43. Andrew,

    Yes, I always thought midfielders were there to create chances. Against Shrewsbury they seemed to think the game was about passing between themselves! And that’s when they got to play a decent pass! 🙁

  44. andrew
    how many midfielders can we play bruce has signed birr lansby houirane gave gardner new contract plus elmo whelan this window along with 6/7//8 that already here

  45. Bruce has been unhappy so many times now I have lost count but still it stays the same, come on Villa give us something to cheer tonight we can’t lose this one or we might as well pack our bags and move cities.

  46. well vertout on the bench and Richards, times are hard, wonder if Gil wants a game while we are at it, he’s sure to play for us this season lol 🙂

  47. Team: Johnstone, Bree, Samba, Terry ©, Taylor, Lansbury, Hourihane, Bjarnason, Amavi, Green, Agbonlahor.

    I hope samba has a good game, he looked good last week. And Amavi playing? can’t work out if we are selling these players or they just want to leave or we can’t budge them. Never seen anything like it in my life???

  48. Well nothing fantastic but I can see a team in what’s on the field … except Hourihane I have to say. We do need someone in that slot who can really show the way i.m.o.

  49. Another drab, dull friendly from Villa, who never looked like winning. Walsall unlucky not be ahead from the first half, and aquitted themselves well.

    Samba was ok, but Lansbury poor and Hourihane. The mid field looked better with the youngsters on.

    Nothing to look forward to yet……!!!

  50. JL- there’s a team there all right but I don’t think Bruce can find it, just going through the motions, what does he coach them in? Samba looks a shoe in to sign, Hogan? I feel sorry for him, runs his guts out but gets nothing from the team.

    Thought Lyden did very well deserves a start above any of the mid-fielders we have on that show, more grit and composure than any of them.

  51. mark k
    how many players can one manager need , even at hull sunderland he wasnt this bad
    johnson bunn steer sarkic
    hutton bree delaet elmo
    taylor amavi
    terry chester baker elphik samba richards
    jedi whelan houriane lansby gardner birr bacuna grealish adoamh vetout green tisc leyden
    gabby kodja hogan rhm mccormak davies
    35 players have i left out anyone

  52. PP,

    Lansbury? I thought he was one of the better players in all honesty. Hourihane I agree – we need something more in that slot.

    First half (which at least saw quite a few goal attempts – much better than vs Shrews) I thought would be a springboard to a better second half. But it was poor second period – even Green seemed not to be able to get his mojo working.

    I don’t think for a moment that’s the play we’ll see from Villa when the season really kicks off, but it shows that we’re still very short in the creativity department.

    But – wait for it! – I thought that Gabby put in the best centre’s performance so far. 🙂 But that’s not saying a lot. Perhaps he and Codger would be a good pairing.

    I’ll stand back for the flack!

  53. Mark,

    He wasn’t on the field too long to make a good assessment, but I do agree that Lyden seems to have the touch that should at least put him on the bench.

  54. JL- I have seen him many times John he always puts in a captains performance, can tackle, makes Robsonesque runs into the box, can pass, and scores Goals but most of all he is self assured, typical Aussie grit like Jedinak. I think you will grow to like him.

    What I am not seeing is a plan with what we have right now, Thor who received most of the chances first half is hardly lethal (GG would suit that role better or even Lyden/ hourihane).

    Why is it when Hogan played nothing came into the box of note to attack and he gets isolated and we resort to the long ball out wide. Gabby allows the team to move up the pitch more granted but then is ineffective as a goal scorer as was Thor whom you would assume was told to get in the box.

    I think as soon as Kodjia is fit he will be in(as the name of the game is winning for Bruce) making this pre-season rather pointless tactics wise, we should have been working on how to get the best out of Hogan and RMC if he’s staying, Kodjia will never be coached and will score anyway given enough of the ball but will also limit the teams overall goals as he has to be the focus.

    Really do not understand why we have continually included players that want to leave and given them time over others? could be Bruce has targets he will promote immediately when players leave (putting them in the shop window?) or he doesn’t rate what he has and they are all for sale.

    As a prelude to coming out of the blocks this season it looks a shambles

  55. “We’ve got a fantastic group here and the (confidence will come) definitely.

    “The boys only have one goal – to get this club back to where it belongs.

    “We have to fight week in week out. We have to grind out 1-0 wins and get back to where we want to be.”

    So Lansburys view is the same as mine, we will be trying to grind games out every Fecking one of them 🙁

  56. JL- I know probably you and a few others will think I am moaning but that is a paucity mindset right there, I’m all for being positive and we should be seeing ourselves as top dogs, the effort should never be in doubt nor respect for the opposition, you give them respect by being the best you can against them. In my eyes that statement is full of fear.

  57. Caught the second half of the Walsall game, fairly turgid is all I’ll say.

    I’m hoping that the meaningless of the result, the multiple substitutions being a pre-season friendly far outweighs any desire the players may have to actually perform at the highest level and there will be another gear engaged for the season starter.

    Give Samba a contract tho, with Elphick leaving and it being no loss, he’s definitely showed desire and the art of defending in spades in an attempt to convince Bruce to offer him something.

  58. I am really getting the feeling that Villa will not progress in the modern day world of football, until they have a coach, who is not only experienced, but fit enough to match the players, becoming involved in their everyday training, in the same way as all the sides who are successful today.

    The days of Bruce, Allardyce and the rest of the unfit old boys have gone. Today is about being fit, athletic and engaging with the players, in the same way as Pocchetino, Eddie Howe, David Wagner and many, many more.
    Their is no real vision, plan or future, apart from collecting a few over the hill players, in the hope that we can grind out a few results.

  59. Mark,

    Yes, I’ve seen Lyden a few times and am already convinced that he has the ability. I agree.

    As to “grinding out results” … well, that may mean that’s what they’re prepared to do in the last third of the of the season when they’re tired. I wouldn’t take those words literally, but like you (and others) I’m not convinced we’ll see any champagne football this year.

    But to see wins being garnered and us being in the top two all season will be difficult to argue with – if that’s what happens.

  60. Dor- I am pleasantly surprised by samba far more than a big lump and can work with any of the cbs we have, has got good head on him in the absence of Jt he assumed control at the back

  61. Darren,

    You would have seen a better first half … Green went through the Walsall defence like a dose of salts at one point and that run should probably have ended better. And there were several other attempts, mostly by the Icelander – but not very convincing ones. Terry actually ‘scored’ with a good header but some other Villa player had fouled.

    Dunno what happened second half. I expected it to get better – not worse.

  62. Jl- can’t remember the last team to get promoted with a counter attack style? Hull maybe? Burnley were hard to beat and workmanlike but still scored 72 while conceding 35. Thing is it’s not the end of the season and that’s all we pretty much did anyway to win, if he’s thinking like that now it’s coming from somewhere, that’s all I will say on the matter

  63. Jl- Walsall went from containment to attack imo some of their passing in the midfield and final third showed us what we lack. They also had first half chances and lack finishing like us but their approach work was admirable

  64. Mark,

    Well, I’d have said that if all the chances had gone in first half then we’d have led 6-3 at h-t. Apart from one chance I don’t there’s were any better than ours.

    But I’m not trying to defend our performance … it was better than against Shrews (first half at least), but still not a kind of play that makes you look gladly to the future in terms of style of play.

  65. Jl- at around £100 mil of players we should of had the best chances. Saw one headline saying if villa can’t buy a goal what chance do we have?

  66. Mark: “at around £100 mil of players we should of had the best chances.”

    Perhaps it just underlies the fact that it’s rare that success can simply be bought off the shelf. If you have oodles like Chelski or Sheikh City then perhaps you can buy success at the very top … but perhaps not at this level.

    It comes back to ‘The Villa Way’ principle (that Round seemed to have agreed with) and developing a team based on practicalities.

    Trouble is the money has been spent and we have to use what we’ve bought … apart from those they’re already disposing of, or trying to.

  67. jL- I don’t disagree mate, the one factor thats most important whether you are Man city, Huddersfield or us you have to spend it wisely. But considering the teams we are playing at the moment are as much in turmoil transfer wise and trialist wise as us probably more so, you would expect to see a bit more of a gulf in class and shape maybe? Most of our team have had a season together near enough and are internationals.

  68. Elmo a very good signing for us. Especially for 950k. Very good crosser. Whelean next, pictured at vp training. 1.5 mill. Another signing that strngthens us. Helps the jedi situation. Need 1 more younger athletic mid now. If we get lawrence ill be very happy.

    Ps dont worry about friendlys they mean nothing.

  69. So we are strengthing our weak areas with 2 players who last season played over 60 prem games between them. All for 2.5 mill. Smart.

    Now to sell vertout, amavi, hutton, richards, gg, and bacuna please!

  70. Andrew: “dont worry about friendlys they mean nothing.”

    I think it’s about the way we’re playing, Andrew.

    Overall I agree with you, but you do expect the team to be showing some signs of creatitivity – and if you don’t practise it in friendlies, when otherwise are you going to get the opportunity?

    Friendlies provide the opportunity to play the clever pass to get your colleague used to the way you think and bring about some anticipation … not playing mainly backwards as was shown in the Walsall game (second half) yesterday.

  71. Elmo on a three year deal, bet rounds shoulder hurts after having it forced behind him during the negotiations 🙂

    Andrew- I suppose your team looking just as inept at scoring as last season doesn’t matter either?

  72. Guys

    We had no adomah, hogan, grealish, kodjer, mccormack…basically our goals!

    But yes mark we have to score more this season…else bruce is a goner.

    Elmo 29. 3 year deal standard.

    Only downing has more accuarte crossing stats in the prem since 2013 than elmo! Gonna see some crosses coming in!!

  73. If your very worried about friendlys dont worry we won today in a behind closed doors one at bh! Jack, ross, micah hogan, chester basically ones who didnt play last night playeyed and we won! Against some saudi side. So panic over!

  74. Andrew: “We had no adomah, hogan, grealish, kodjer, mccormack…basically our goals!”

    Well, yes, but apart from Grealish (if he were to do the job he’s supposed to do) there’s no-one in that list that provides chances for others of great notes. Adomah is OK, but I feel as though he doesn’t quite give enough to be selected on a regular basis.

    Perhaps we’ll see Green and El-M being the main wingers, and that may well help, though I don’t think that Mac and Hogan are much physically suited for the centring game. If we are going to see more centres then I’d see Codger and Gabby being the strike force in all honesty. In fact I think we should let Mac go.

  75. Andrew,

    I’ve always before said the same about friendlies, but I do think that there should be more of a statement of intent from the players given all that’s gone on these past few years.

    But I agree there’s still time…

  76. andrew- just fitness eh? why did bruce say its the time to get your tactics over to your players then? you need to get on the blower 😉

    last year toon thrashed all their friendlies and drew one Brighton lost a load, but your missing the point its about how you play not winning, if we showed progress other than having two solid cb’s then I would agree with you but two thirds of the team appear not to be working as required. come the season they will be to scared to try anything, they should be playing with more freedom, why aren’t they?

  77. John

    Ha yes i should of just said we had no kodjer last night so how will we score!

    It will be kodjer and hogan up top.

    I just pray we manage to pick out some of his runs! Maybe with elmoy he might get some service?

    I remember when we had saunders the number of times froggat crossed for him to score was silly.

    I really like hogan. Hope the most it works for him.

  78. Mark

    Didnt realise he said that!

    I meant the toon from a few years ago…think it was them?!

    I dont think we will see a bruce team playing flying free flowing footy mark. Freedom? Not sure we are going to get that.

    Tight at the back and nick a goal through kodjer and hogan will be the plan.

    But it will also see a team give 100% and work hard which will be an improvement on the last few years?!

    A winning team that i can be proud of is what id like.

    Bruces task is no doubt build a team to get out the league at all costs. He aint fussed about pretty footy.

  79. Andrew- I can’t honestly see why we Bought Hogan mate, we do not play to suit him at all, Maybe Wheelan will conjure up some through balls from forty yards for him, we really could of done with a Murry type of forward or Rhodes, I like Hogan as a player just not for Bruce.

  80. Andrew- the problem I see with being a counter attack side is it only works if the opposition allow you the space or if you can grab the first goal. Our pattern last season was attack for 15 mins then sit back and allow them on to you. Problem is only the top sides generally take that offer up and if you don’t punish them when the chances come you will concede eventually if you give them that much of the ball. You are then left without that plan B because all your eggs are in the plan A basket.

    The other thing I noticed is the managers seem very adept at seeing our weaknesses usually fullback and CM and play around us even though we are sitting there waiting for them to come on to us. Our ability to turn winning the ball in our half into attack is to slow and only Kodjia or Adomah getting the magic bag out caused the opposition problems.

  81. Mark: “we brought in 3 attacking mids in Jan to play in our half, thats what annoys me”

    Yes, you’re right there! Hourihane worries me … the Icelander *might* turn out good … while I think Lansbury is settling into a pattern that works, I feel.

    With more midfielders being touted, though, where will they all play? Or is a 3-5-2 (or 3-6-1!) definitely the idea? In which case do you play with wing-backs or real wingers?

  82. JL- Well Bruce has been playing 442 and he says he favours it for the champs so I am a little confused as to what he is doing really? I cannot see a back three of Terry, Chester and Samba having the pace to cope if the full backs push up. we will of course have Jedi and wheelan sat in front of them almost a back 5-7, where will the goals come from?

    PP- just saw your earlier post I agree mate

  83. Andrew- I haven’t worked out why he’s considered for the attacking role? he’s just a busy CM imo, both the others came with 6 goals each and 14 or so assists each?

  84. andrew
    wouldnt trust them stats on elmo,hull spent at least 1 season in champion ship and if i remember last season they didnt attack very much
    as for whelan keeping out record signing that same one heading home having failed miserabley

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