Oh, what a brutal week that was. And then there was Villa to top it off.

The September of Truth has so far yielded two points, and no goals. Villa sit 20th, with seven points from the campaign to date, and a negative-two goal differential.

No wonder Bruce is getting annoyed by the vultures. Hi, Steve! Just circling around here, lovely day, you don’t look anything like a dead man walking, not a bit. Pay me no mind, though might have a sit down over here and watch some football. Nothing at all to do with you. I just like watching things that look dead or dying. But you’re fine, mate. Really. Picture of health.

Obviously I jest, a bit. But just as obviously, Bruce does feel the pressure, and who wouldn’t at this point. The owner wants promotion. The supporters want promotion. The team don’t seem sure, and Bruce, well, he’s in the middle of it.

Do supporters have a role in all this? I think they do, yes. We’ve talked for years about the atmosphere at Villa Park, and it can’t help. Obviously you pay your money, you can react however you like. And there’s not been much to like. If there’s any cloud hanging over Villa, I would have to point to the stands. It’s a vicious circle. The one thing Bruce can do about it is put his vaunted man-management skills to work, and at least get performances that excite the fans and maybe even make them a bit proud of the lads. Hope is what we need.

So, as always, my sage counsel is to get behind the team on match days, spur them on, help them get as comfortable as they can be so they have a chance to play their best football. Afterward, we can all vent our spleens in the pub, online, or in the loo.

Speaking of which, we’ve got another match today. Barnsley away, as you know. They’ve played one less and are also sitting on seven points in 19th. Which means we’ll play one up top, look a bit confused, miss a few chances, look to Kodjia, and lose 2-1.

I’m sort of kidding there, too. As you can see, I’m having trouble taking this very seriously at the moment. Too many martinis last night. Wasn’t in the mood for screwing around, and need to cut down on the beer calories.

I also figure if I’m negative enough, we’ll get a result. If you want it to rain, best thing you can do is wash the car.

I will say I thought we were unlucky against Middlesbrough. A couple of those opportunities really should’ve gone in, and while the midweek matches are hard for me to watch uninterrupted, we did look like we were trying. And we all know that it can be more difficult to break through against 10 men. Which doesn’t mean you shouldn’t, but…

Today, what I’d like to see is Bruce try getting Kodjia and Davis to work together. Maybe that’s a 4-4-1-1. However you label it, we’ve got an athletic player who can link up play and a free spirit who can score. I think it’s worth a shot having them out there together.

Jedinak I guess may be a question, which is understandable. But if that means Whelan comes back in…Well, that’s us playing with 10, near enough.

Anyway, the team sheet will be out soon, maybe before I’m done getting this up, wait, there it is…Looks like Bruce is listening, and we’ve got Kodjia and Davis in. No surprises elsewhere, except maybe Adomah, which probably isn’t a surprise given how Bjarnason was judged after Tuesday:

Johnstone
Elmohamady Chester Terry Taylor
Snodgrass Whelan Hourihane Adomah
Kodjia Davis

As always, I’ll be hoping and praying that Bruce is the messiah, and is just taking a bit to get warmed up. I’d much rather be a happy little songbird than a vulture.

Over to you.

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

Comments 44

  2. Mark King

    JL Millwall are tough at home 19 shots to leeds 1!!!! Not seen them play but will look out for them.

    so annoying because the league looks so open and we I am afraid have dropped the ball, 20th as it stands 10 points behind the top teams.

    Looks an attacking line up fingers crossed, Barnsley have scored plenty though this season.

  3. John Clark

    Yeah, can’t have any problems with the selection, overall. We know he’s going to play Elmo and Whelan…just have to see if Elmo really deserves to be in there over Bree or De Laet. And would always feel better if we had an option rather than Whelan.

    But obviously, I like seeing Kodjia and Davis both in. Fingers crossed.

  4. Mark King

    JC- Elmo in because of snodders I suppose but De laet I would say is our most cultured and probably quickest defender. I like it when Bruce gets rattled it lights a fire under his arris
    3 points today or I fear the worst, good chance to get over away day blues, they are not Bristol.

  6. John Lerwill

    In reality I think Elmo was always expected to play in defence (judging by comments made at the time of his signing) so it would seem that Bruce sees more in him for the position than the other two, not “rattled” as such. In fact it’s Hutton who is on the bench.

  14. Trinity

    Villa deserve to be 2-0 up. A few passes still going awry, but that goes for both teams. Glad Adomah is stepping up. It’ll keep young Green from getting complacent. Davis is holding up the ball well. Even Terry is looking the part today. Villa is in the box seat,

  16. angel_8

    If Hourihane can keep this up he’s the box to box player we craved for aka Gary Gardner. Im really impressed with how well Hourihane defended…shielded the back 4 better than Whelan

  21. angel_8

    Davis has good feet. Surprised he looks weak when in front of goal. Looks like he’s only left footed. What about Snodgrass…jury out. He does some clever stuff, but I hope we dont sign him. I think he’s a championship player.

  28. John Clark

    Good day.

    Adomah filled in very nicely for Green, lots of energy, goal(s). Kodjia rusty, to be expected, but he and Davis could be quite a combination. Hourihane, good game. Nice delivery from Elmo for Davis’ well-deserved first.

    Might have a side here.

  30. Paul Pears

    JL,

    I will always give credit when it is due, and today Steve Bruce actually picked a very good team, used the right formation and tactics. He will probably now go on and put a few good results together, if he does not become over defensive again. I was also reasonably impressed with Snodgrass, who looks a good addition to the side.

    The most important decision today was starting with Davis, Kodjia and Adomah, who should have been starting every game after the cup match…!!

  33. r0bb0

    Having watched yesterday’s game I’m convinced that our problem lies between the ears of the players.
    For most of the first half (after we scored) we were truly awful. Second to the ball, lacking belief, lacking passion. Every 50:50 ball was going to Barnsley and for 10 minutes or more we had less than 20% possession. That’s disgraceful for a team of players with the latent talent of Villa’s current crop.
    Even during this spell, the two exceptions I’d make were Snodgrass and Johnson. I saw Snodgrass bundled out of play but leaping back up, keeping his eye permanently on the player about to take the throw in and rushing into place to defend it. Far too often our players are sauntering into position with their backs to the player with the ball.
    Towards the end of the game you could see our players ‘wanting’ the ball, slick, clever passing and an almost arrogant swagger about our play. I’m sure this is the sort of thing that Bruce often sees in training.
    We’ve gone through some awful years and that sense of defeatism has run deep within our team ( and let’s face it, within us, the fans too). If we can truly break the cycle and ‘believe’ we can win this league, then we can.
    The players are good enough and now they need to start showing it every week, not just when we’re three up with 10 minutes to go.

  35. Plug

    Amusing leader JC, thanks for making me smile.

    What a difference it makes playing 2 up front. I didn’t completely agree with his team selection but 4-4-2 is the way forward imo. I’d have preferred to see De Laet at RB.

    One swallow doesn’t make a summer. Barnsley are not likely to be promotion material. If I want to be critical, I thought Taylor gave Hamill far too much room and didn’t get tight enough to cut out their main threat. But I did enjoy my Saturday evening.

    Now let’s have a look at O’Hare and some other young ones against Boro.

  36. Mark King

    Very Welcome win and 3 points and a good day for us, first away and second win. That has to be tempered against the fact Barnsley had sold 19 players and completely rebuilt their side. Last season they were a quick counter attack side that Hourihane excelled in, this season the manager has them on the front foot, perfect for the Bruce crocodile laying in the shallows. They played very well to start but we got two bits of fortune, a keeper cock up and why was their player tackling Davis there? he was on his own and no threats to goal from that position but thank you very much for that. Once we got two up that was that really.

    robbo- I think the blame lays at both the players feet to an extent and Bruce and what he asks them to do. They are not really a negative bunch of Players and Bruce likes the counter, we don’t turn the ball around quick enough to be more threatening. If you are asked to concede possession and withdraw you will get edgy if your instinct is to get in their face or simply play footy.

    Playing that way gives JT the protection he needs to as long as he is not ran at or caught out in the open he looks good intercepting passes and crosses as he reads the game well, him and Taylor both got done fro pace a few times, better teams won’t be so ineffective. Wish we had got a younger player. Snodders brings some grit for sure shame wheelan doesn’t where we most need it and not sure Jedinak has the ability on the ball nor the fitness.

    Noticed that once Hogan was on the pitch and Onamah several opportunities came up for the through pass but were made to late, onamah likes to run with the ball and by the time he see’s the pass its to late. I would like to see Doyle-hayes tried like snodgrass his head is up and he almost see’s the opportunity instantly and acts and with such accuracy, he could be the Key to this team evolving into more than counter attack, we are capable of fluid play it just need to be quicker.

    Don’t know if anyone saw but our U23’s got done 4-1 by borough U23’s who are top of the table. We had a weakened side though no Doyle-hayes and O’hare our engine room and spark. Clark got sent off late on as did a borough player. If I was Bruce against Borough I would field a strong side with Bree or de laet at RB and Doyle hayes for wheelan, use it to cement a side while trying a couple of options.

    We have the makings of a very good side but then we have had that for months and its why I get so frustrated watching Bruce trying to mould them into Hull MK 2 when they should be Villa MK1.
    We are not out of the woods yet but its a start don’t waste it again Mr Bruce.

  37. John Lerwill

    Plug: “4-4-2 is the way forward imo. “

    You agree with Bruce, then? 😉

    As to Taylor, apparently he was carrying a knock. But Villa keeper only had one save to make all match, and even that wasn’t a big ‘un.

    Yes, we have to be cautious about the result as Barnsley are not one of the stronger teams, but, hey, if we win all the remaining matches against the weaker teams we should finish OK.

  38. Mark King

    JL- Taylor had 8 stitches in his shin a mere scratch 😉

    thought it was more of a 4411 with Kodjia in free role, don’t think he linked much with Davis but thats Kodjia.

    A lot of the so called weaker teams are up top at the moment and the better teams that have not started so well you would think will improve, the two we have beaten so far were not great defensively on the day it has to be said and the ones that were we have failed to score. The counter attack is not a tactic that will suit all games either.

    We are at that point where a false Dawn could delay the Doc taking action or it could be an actual Dawn. Next three on paper should be wins then we get Wolves away where we will definitely play on the counter, they are an attacking team. Then Fulham, The shitty and PNE.

  39. Archie

    Enjoyed the win last night and I thought the travelling support was brilliant.
    I think the team has learnt to stand up for themselves. What the Barnsley team lacked in talent they made up for in grit and determination, they work hard and tackled hard.
    It seems to me we’ve been bullied out of a lot of games but displayed more desire and a willingness to mix it with the opposition last night
    Another twenty eight wins like that and we’re up.
    I’m not a betting man but someone in the club last night said the Villa were priced at 11 to 10 on to win last night which came as a surprise, well the bookies don’t get wrong very often.
    The journey continues, Archie

  40. John Lerwill

    Archie,

    Agreed.

    MK,

    “We are at that point where a false Dawn could delay the Doc taking action or it could be an actual Dawn. ”

    😀 😀 😀

    I call that ‘hedging your bet’. C’mon, have some faith … 6 games undefeated and 0 goals conceded in the last 3. It’s a start, but a foundation on which to build. And it will be i.m.o.

  41. Mark King

    Sorry Jl if we looked more competent while winning then I might see it as something more. We will not get handed goals match after match like that either and clean sheets have come largely through johnsons efforts to . I don’t have much faith in Bruce’s methods so he will just have to prove me wrong. The back four yesterday had over 200 international caps the team as a whole? god knows. Still took a youth player to get the result. We should not be relying on faith hope or charity.

  42. John Lerwill

    MK: “We will not get handed goals match after match like that either “

    Makes up for those that didn’t go in the previous 2 matches, right? 😉

    You win some, you lose some, you score some, you miss some. As said before, footie is not a fine science, but luck tends to balance out.

    It’s been painfully obvious that you don’t like Bruce’s methods. I am not 100% OK with it either, but after 7 years and 7 managers I’d think a bit more of helping Bruce get somewhere wouldn’t be a good idea. He’s in a better state than his predecessors i.m.o. – now we seem to have a team that has talent *and* willingness to fight for the cause.

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