It’s been a rather fun week as far as football goes. Villa scoring goals for fun, getting up the right end of the table, and enjoying the feel-good factor that inevitably accompanies winning.
As we all know, and Keith Wyness helpfully pointed out over Twitter, the key to all this has been consistency in the side. We’re actually starting to look like we know what we’re doing. Now, of course it all comes with a tiny grain of salt in that it’s been a favorable run of fixtures. But those do happen, and when they come at the right time, and you take advantage, it might well be season defining.
Beyond a consistent side and formation, Keinan Davis’ emergence has obviously been vital, giving Villa something they’ve lacked since Benteke. With Jonathan Kodjia’s return, suddenly Villa have two up top that both demand attention and complement each other. Albert Adomah’s form has obviously been excellent, Conor Hourihane has really started to shine, and Robert Snodgrass has added a complementary wide threat defined by his outstanding work rate and commitment.
And they’ve all been rewarded with goals, except for Kodjia, who has turned into a lovely assists provider. That will change, of course, as he plays himself back into fitness and regains his sharpness.
At Burton Albion, we didn’t necessarily create an embarrassment of gilt-edged chances. But we did create very good chances, and players playing with confidence converted them. If we had a bit of luck, it was the kind of luck you make by being on the front foot and playing without fear.
The first two goals were encouraging for different reasons. On the first, Kodjia, ghosting along the edge of the box looking to shoot, pulled the defense with him. Rather than force it, when he saw no clear shot, he laid it off to Elmohamady, who in turn delivered a perfect ball into the danger zone. With everyone previously preoccupied by Kodjia, Davis came through with purpose to get on the end of it with real power and finished the move emphatically. Great moment. He’s been so close so often, and he was just not going to be denied on that one. Hourihane was instrumental to keeping that possession ticking over, providing an outlet on both sides, and Taylor vitally nicked a ball to keep it with us and allow the move to continue.
The second was lovely because it showed Villa playing very quickly and actually making a team pay for pressing up tight. Slicing through Albion with precision, Hourihane, Adomah, Davis and Snodgrass all did everything quickly and exactly right. On a different day, maybe Adomah’s finish doesn’t find the back of the net. But it was a lovely and assured move involving so many players, a beautiful transition from defense to offense with no long ball required. Plenty of running and intent after a ball won in our end, and getting it forward with everyone singing from the same sheet.
It showed a great understanding and players that really complement each other.
So…This is what we were looking for. We know the quality’s there. And it’s starting to show. I’ll tip my hat to Bruce on the Snodgrass acquisition. I thought it was superfluous at best, and at worst, a dangerous over-reliance on former players to the detriment of team spirit.
But Snodgrass has provided a vital injection of energy and commitment, and is helping raise everyone’s game. It’s also allowed Elmohamady to play to his strengths. If Bruce was always going to look through his trunk of old toys to find missing pieces, he could’ve done worse.
Heading into this afternoon’s clash with Bolton, Bruce has done the right thing by not fixing what it isn’t broken. As we’ve said, ever since the Norwich result, he had the license to stick with a side that had a good game and finally showed real promise. For me, I’m declaring a personal moratorium on worrying about how it came together. What matters now is that it did and Bruce has gone with it, and I give him credit for that. It might’ve been a no-brainer, but he saw it, too, and put his job on the line. He’s been rewarded with performances that almost surely did save his job.
Now there’s one more fixture Villa should be looking to win in this September stretch. We might not climb as far up as we would’ve hoped after three straight league wins, but we’ve gotten back in the mix. Another good outing is obviously what we’re all hoping for to cement the progress, and further instill belief in the players.
So…Come on you Villa boys. Let’s do this.
Over to you.
The Author
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 128
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Thanks JC =- we’re off!
cheers JC wolves 2-0 up at Burton
hull 2 blues 0
Yes, JC, you’ve reminded us nicely of where we’re at and got us into the mood…
Now *your* job is on the line as after that warm-up Villa have got to win! 😀
Wolves already 2-up!
JL- yes a little perspective maybe
IanG (previous thread): “If we go up John would you give him more money? the next rebuild will potentially be the most important considering the age of the squad.”
I’m not going to worry about the next stage just yet. And even if I did stop to think about it a successful manager has to be supported to get somewhere, surely?
Just as we’ve been making noises at things not right at Villa – when in fact they were just in the course of repair – we might just be pleasantly surprised by Bruce on the return to the top-flight.
Looks like Bolton playing Villa at their own game … little possession and using breakaway tactics.
JL- yes mate its why I want to see us play on the front foot more, teams will have seen we play on the counter.
Ohare is just the sort to break these down
pen to villa 🙂
1-0
JL – And we may not be pleasantly surprised.
blind faith is usually limited.
penalty 1-0 codger
Codger’s 20th goal for Villa.
And it’s not about blind faith it’s just about keeping cool and trying to be reasonable, as I see it.
In the top6 as things stand just now! 🙂
Sluggish, and perhaps to be expected, but good enough so far.
This is the kind of game that Villa will see more of. Davis getting a lot of attention, Adomah doubled up. But the moment of quality from Kodjia keeping the ball alive in the box makes the difference. Just have to be patient, and the opportunities will be there to put it away as long as everyone stays tuned in and no one puts valium in the halftime tea.
JL- Well if Bruce’s promotions are an indicator of his worth in this division then his inability to compete in the prem is also, he has spent plenty too.
JL – Reasonable? that comment wasn’t.
Reasonable & keeping cool are relative & changeable & not a critical projection.
No problem, you are welcome to keep cool, it’s freezing here!
JC- Definitely thats why being one of the best teams it doesn’t help in this division to play to negative, like anything practice makes perfect and if breaking teams down teams is whats required your better having done it a fair bit.
Boro, Preston and Ipswich losing at home!
JC – At least now they’re losing they have to come out of their half more or carry on playing on the counter & hope.
The possession stats are amazing 66.5% to the Villa
JL – Still not top 6 I think, could do with QPR getting it together
MK,
You claim the right to state it as you see it. Others presumably have the same right?
Aside from which I was simply speaking about giving people chances instead of assuming it could all fail miserably. That p.o.v. (to me, at least) is not being reasonable.
Everyone knows that there are two possibilities at the end of a good story, but I’m always looking for a +ve outcome. And if we get promotion in the right manner then there would be a basis for optimism.
Also Burton copping another one from Wolves
MK “Still not top 6 I think”
Why are you saying that when Villa are shown as 6th as I write?! 😀
Sorry, not MK … IanG I’m responding to.
JL I was never good at maths.
I was looking for a real time table position, you know one?
IanG,
On the BBC match report page…
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41369646
JL- you have every right? not sure if you are meaning that for me but Bruce is not a very successful prem manager that is fact hence he has never got that big job, nothing to do with being fair to him he just hasn’t impressed in that league or big rebuilds.
And just as I wrote that Preston have come back so Villa are now 7th! 😀
MK,
I’m concerned at what he does at Villa … not before nor under any other regime.
Today’s situation is a different story for him, Villa and us.
Let’s see how he gets on with it. Let’s wish for others what we would wish for ourselves.
Mark – Bruce’s record in the prem is undisputedly not very good.
JL – Not my pov just factual, which is why IF we get promoted I am still to be convinced.
IanG,
I don’t quite see how anything can be “factual” before it’s fact or based on what we know to be true given the same conditions.
I doubt that any of us really knows what the real facts are.
JL- lets put it like this if the Villa Hierarchy had a list to choose a manager to get them Promoted and Bruce was top you would assume that they would compile a very different one when looking for a prem quality Manager?
As I am self employed I can’t get sacked whether I wish it or not, if you prefer a positive slant if Bruce departs then look at it like I do, he would be doing whats best for Villa.
Well, who plays at left-back next match?
MK,
A totally nebulous p.o.v. in my view. Sorry I can’t get my head around arguments like that. The issue is pure speculation.
Mk and others – I cant believe that you are all whinging away about SB not fit to manage us in the Premier. Why the hell are you bothering about this in the middle of a game when what happens IF we get up really shouldnt bother us at the moment.
Sometimes I think some ‘fans’ want us to fail or if we dont fail there will still be something to find and moan about.
Me today? I was concentrating on watching a poor game which probably in previous days we would have lost. Another win and another clean sheet. And moving up the table….
Yes we have more difficult games ahead but please just give this team and its management a chance …..
Yours in total bewilderment, oldvilla
Oh, and we’re only 5 points off top place!
Yippee!!
Now we’ve got no left back with Taylor red carded sounded a bit of an iffy decision.
As it was 5 minutes ago, is that factual JL?
According to your criteria apparently not.
In fact are we a fact?
Too much semantics sometimes.
It is quite reasonable to be concerned about potential situations, even though events can make it redundant, such as we have still to get promoted.
The match sounded like hard work to get anything going.
Well they’ve got 2 weeks before the next match.
Next match Wolves, and as they won in a similar way at Burton today perhsps we and they are roughly equal in ability? Well, we’ll find out in 2 weeks.
OV – because I for one am only listening to a commentary, & it wasn’t a very good one.
Also the match was poor & not so flowing.
Lastly I must be female because I can multi task
IanG,
Your semantics appear to confuse the facts, mate! 😀
JL – Sadly looks like we’ll be without our only left back against Wolves unless OV saw something that will help overturn the red card.
IanG – no isnt wasnt a good one but dont all teams have bad days? And we won. Again.
And all anyone can do is talk about SB being no good if we get promoted. And from what I saw, it wasnt a red card so hopefully we will appeal and get it rescinded.
The ref was a total twat all game ….. the standard of refs in this division is abysmal.
oldvilla
I am baffled sometimes.We all say how tough this division is,and we all,or a lot of us expected a tough encounter today.So,when we get a tough match and have to dig in,people complain.We won it was difficult,what do you expect?It’s hard and we ground out a 1 nil,lovely,shows we can battle as well as knock the goals in.COYVB
Well, as far as Bruce and the PL goes, I’ll worry about that when we get there.
Main thing is getting the points today. Ugly game, a little lucky there at the end, and then unlucky with Taylor.
Hopefully that will get overturned. Officiating was abysmal, Davis should file a police report for repeated muggings.
Spot on B6toBrasil and JC. Summed up perfectly.
Thank you!
oldvilla
And I should say, watching the game, it was overall very comfortable for Villa except for that little spell at the end.
Not sharp, but still trying to do the right things, battling well against a physical side with no real forward threat.
As B6 says, winning ugly against a side desperate for any kind of result, it’s a win you’ll take all day long.
Cheers, OV. I am actually an optimist at heart. 😉
OV- trust me listening to that game on the radio gives you plenty of time to think (it was pretty boring) and it was a thread from earlier anyway, just passing the time.
JL- nebulous is it? on what grounds?
oh well , so you would happy to play in the prem with the same side? better players won’t be looked at as we need to give them a chance.
Brasil who’s complaining? about the game? not me we won.
I sit here astonished at what some think is negative, is talking not possible any more without having to be gushy rubbish?
oh well off for a pint.
No Mark,if it was you I would have named you in the post,in fact not on here.I was naughty,and for the first time in literally years I looked on the Villa Blog,some on there are already predicting a loss at Wolves.
Thanks to all lucky enough to see the match.
Any other rays of light about the match?, as the avfc commentary was abysmal, & from what I could make out some of the lads were a bit worn.
Snodgrass & the pharaoh seem to have struck up a partnership.
The forwards had it tough – but scored – I nearly missed a stitch.
Whelan appears to have had a better match, & needed to.
When is O’Hare going to be let off the bench?
Apart from that I nearly fell asleep & stabbed meself with me knitting.
Talking about Bruce & joshing with JL passes the time while waiting for the avfc commentator to say something human & informative to anyone who is only on audio [It was on DAB radio & don’t have one?
Does that answer your question O yodelling one.
Mark
I’m off to raid my wine cellar [well box].
As for Wolves, anything could happen, they could all injure themselves celebrating for instance.
Yes we won!
Happy days…
OV
ps: the ref was the thing that stood out most on the audio, it all sounded like it was about him.
tw*t sounds about right.
JC
Thanks for the thread, JC. Good to see Kodjia get a goal. Most predicted a dreary game against Bolton, sounds like they’re a real park the bus team.
I’m really looking forward to the Wolves’ match. Sounds like they’re a genuine candidate for promotion this year.
I enjoy there being lots of games in this division, especially since those pesky international breaks seem to interrupt the season all too often.
Hi lana,
Yes it was a large bus it seems, to be fair I don’t think they have much choice.
Yes lots of games goody
I was looking forward to the wolves game with optimism, but Taylor’s red card has dented it a little as we will be unbalanced if we use the viking.
Let’s hope the red card gets rescinded.
The codger was getting back to being a little selfish, but he got the penalty, & I’m surprised anyone had a shirt left on their backs.
I always thought it was against the rules to force the opposition into nudity.
When my lad was playing junior football there were times when the parents were called on to help with the officiating. I never felt that confident doing it tbh and when you cocked up, the opposing parents would enjoy letting you know and you had to work hard to concentrate on making the right decisions against the backdrop of abusive parents.
Watching the officials today reminded me of those days when the real officials didn’t turn up and the parents had to do the job.
After 20 minutes I said to my wife, “this referee is bloody useless and might spoil this game.
At half time I said to her “it’s not just the referee, this linesman is hopeless too.”
I don’t think they were biased, they were just inept and unable to do the job (no different from me with my lads under 10 team)
The loudest noise all game was right at the end when the whole crowd stood to boo and shout “you’re not fit to referee!”
He really really isn’t, and shouldn’t officiate at this level again.
We’ll appeal the red card but it will be upheld although probably only a 1 game suspension.
It looked totally inocuous at the time but I wouldn’t be surprised if Taylor’s foot was raised and he caught the opponent. Based on that I expect them to say the card was right. The same would apply to at least 20 other tackles during the game which the referee chose to ignore completely.
As IanG pointed out, the holding, pulling, rugby tackling and manhandling was outrageous today. I am bemused at how the referee couldn’t see it. Actually I’ll go further than that. . . he DID see it. . . he must have done, but he chose not to apply the rules.
If you think I’m going on about the officiating, it’s because It was so so bad that despite us winnjng I am still angry about it.
I will drive 450 miles this weekend to watch the game, spend well over £100 to watch that incompetent twat ruin the game . . . . . and get paid for it!!
MK: “nebulous is it? on what grounds?”
No grounds … just clouds! 😀
rObbO,
Re the reffing,I have been in that situation many times.When I ran my boy’s team,if there was no ref allocated then if you were the home team I HAD to ref.My heart sank when I heard that we didn’t have a ref,abuse from the away parents and abuse from the home parents for being in favour of the away team.Not suprised there is a shortage of refs though,the abuse and intimidation at schoolboy level is frightening.I don’t miss it one bit.
The standard of reffing in this division is absolutely shocking and the previous comments are correct – they should never be in charge of these games as they really havent a clue and obviously have never played the game.
Mark K – “I sit here astonished at what some think is negative” ………….. surely it is negative to discuss how crap SB will be if we get promotion when we are playing a live game? And winning. And not conceding. And moving up the table.
And dont you think that the Villa heirarchy will recognise this IF we get promotion? Which is so far away at the moment that it begs the question as to why it is relevant today?
Why not just enjoy yet another win, discuss the pros and cons of todays game as heard or seen …… and then move on to the next more difficult games. I dread to think about what will happen on here the next time we draw/lose/concede a goal ……….. the internet will implode with weight of comments on here …… whoops I need to put a winking smiley now don’t I? 😉
IanG – like your style and sarcasm 🙂
Yours moving forward dealing in facts and not looking back or too far into future, oldvilla
Good evening each,
I didn’t get off the golf course until nearly 6.00pm this evening, so didn’t know the score until I got in the locker room, very pleased with the three points from what I thought was a potential banana skin.
So asked one of the lads, “How did the Blues do?” answer, got done 6-1
But they hope to do better in the second set……
Hey Old Villa, anyone can raise whatever topic they want but I agree that speculation about Bruce right now seems a little unnecessary.
If it upsets you that Mark keeps looking way into the future though you could suggest he looks back to the past and ask how his revered RDM had done after 10 games last year compared with Bruce
(Time for a winky smiley thing)
Archie – love that second set comment 🙂
robbo – yep I know anyone can say whatever they want but surely there is a point when it seems like the game going on is irrelevant and it is just finding something to speculate about which isnt helpful? And please don’t mention RDM lol!!
oldvilla
Archie
Just come back in after sampling some japanese bottle, & to be fair it was quite good.
Did you say Golf?
r0bb0
Daren’t look too far into the future in case it’s not there mate.
Referee was a complete amateur being paid under false pretences & a fully paid up member of the twat club.
It was one of them games where Bolton came to snuff us out and “topple the big club ” syndrome kicked in , and before the penalty Codger the greedy fuck should have passed to Adomah,
The game today was like some of the games we won when we won the league , we played shite in some of those games ,
Well back to the bar methinks , l think the 6-1 loss to the shite up the road has stopped some of these fans in the social also moaning about our game , bloody ejits , a wins a win,
This has took me nearly half hour to type
Enjoy the rest of the weekend all
Jenny xxxxxx
Definitely a game which Bolton came to spoil and stop Villa at all costs. How Wheater managed to get away with his treatment of Davis time and time again, beggars belief, and similar treatment was dished out to Kodija. The referee must have seen most, if not all of this and his linesmen, but they chose to ignore it.
At least Kodjia managed to earn and score his penalty to get us the all important three points. Did not necessarily agree with Bruce’s subs again, but hey ho, we got the win. Let the battle begin once more. Terry outstanding in defence again, as was Johnstone between the sticks, really hope Bruce gets his way and signs him in the January window.
Adomah still looking good, and a much improved player, and Davis was outstanding in holding his own against the bully boys. Whelan seems to be the weakest link at the moment.
PP,
Agreed about the form of Johnstone but what a shame for Steer! To my mind Steer is as good and what was his cost?
Another slim home win but again I’ll take it. I expected a rapid start from us but that never materialized. SB needs to drill Codger into the team ethic. It doesn’t matter who scores as long as the ball ends up in the onion bag. Codge only had to square the ball for Adomah to tap home but was greedy and it could have cost us 2 points. Yes, he did earn the penalty but if we had got 2 in front then Bolton may have folded.
Wolves next. I hope SB doesn’t make the same mistakes he made after the last internationals break when Brentford was given the hospitality of VP on a silver platter. He needs to set up with fresh players and rest some of those tired legs especially if they have been used in the international games. With a bit of luck Jedi will be fit. Go for the win and not a defensive point.
Blimey aren’t I the popular one 🙂
Robbo- Revered RDM?? since when? As you brought it up to have pop at me mate most of his 11 games were against the sides that all finished above us, two got promoted. As he had more disrupted summer and relegated squad to turn round 7 draws and one win was not the worst that could happen.
Then from 10 points behind at that point Bruce failed as well last season.
Mind you he only had about 36 games and a Pre-season and two windows this season to arrive at being 7th this season after an awful start, first 5 games worse than RDMs and now apart from Borough the easiest run of games we will get this season but don’t let that get in the way of having a go, anyway how have we done against the top teams?
OV- Scroll your way up to the top of match day posts and you will see that it is JL that posted a comment from the previous thread that IanG answered to a question I posed. So it wasn’t me that started that conversation on match day but your best pal JL, so I expect him to receive your righteous wrath but he wont as his names not Mark king 😉
Still back to the game, we have reached the heights of 7th with some sterner tests to come, from what I have seen of our games and the highlights teams quite often run straight through the Midfield at times a little to easily even Bolton did, I expect the better teams will not be quite as slack in the finishing department, lets hope we can out score them or shore the mid up somehow.
Mark K – “Blimey aren’t I the popular one”
Don’t flatter yourself mate, you are just someone who winds others up.
whoops here’s the winking smiley to make it all ok 😉
Not sure how you make out JL is my “best pal” but I do know you sometimes misinterpret what is said to suit your own pov 😉
And I only responded to what I saw on this thread ………. maybe I’ve got it all wrong, as it wasn’t just aimed at you. So don’t feel persecuted at all ……..
The game was pretty rubbish really but we battled to win which maybe we wouldnt have done a year ago …………….. so progress, no? And positives for me were the aged defence who looked solid and there appears to be a real partnership developing between Terry and Chester, plus Johnstone looks solid.
Whelan had a very good game with some great passes sprayed about the pitch and some good interceptions.
BUT – other parts of the team looked a bit out of touch and tired or maybe just complacent after our last few wins and the fact we were playing bottom of the table Bolton.
How many games unbeaten now? And how many clean sheets? And goals scored? And where are we in the league now?
Do you believe in the Villa? Oh yeah……
oldvilla
OV- I wind people up? you really don’t know me at all, just think you have taken a disliking to me mate stands out a mile and you don’t seem to like what I write, if that winds you up then thats your problem. And the winking smileys are there to denote that things are being said jokingly and not to hide some perceived malicious intent because people take things the wrong way quite a lot it seems.
We agree on one thing it was a poor game and was as dull as ditch water to listen to thats for sure
https://7500toholte.sbnation.com/2017/9/30/16389630/instant-recap-aston-villa-1-0-bolton-wanderers
MK: “I wind people up? you really don’t know me at all”
It would seem, Mark, you don’t read into what you write what others read. I think OV is talking about your style and its effect on others who may not see the issues the way you do.
Not saying I or anyone else here is perfect, either, but just clarifying what I think OV is intimating.
As me starting that thread off, yes but I did that hours before the match was due to start and in response to IanG. I do agree with OV that when we’re on a run of 7 or 8 matches undefeated it does seem odd that the anti-Bruce feeling still refuses to dissipate – even a little. Actual promotion and what happens next are what I’ve said before – they’re nebulous issues just now.
JL
It’s as if people think that the subject came about at that time by design, which of course it didn’t, & as we were listening to the match & it was very dull, we just had a conversation which as Mark said was ongoing, which you also took full part in.
If what Mark says is considered as a little extreme by some, then your stuff in which you deliberately counterpoint his opinion, is also extreme.
Personally speaking it’s making a complete mountain out of a molehill, & not even a swiss mole.
It’s the first time any of us have had the time to post anything during the match, but this one was so dull the posting was a kind of a mirror to that in real time.
As far as OV being a little vicious & projecting his tunnel vision, I think Mark has a point as he does not usually attack anyone, but some people mistake intensity with aggression, then get aggressive.
But hey ho it’s all allowed, but as you may also be labelled as a windup [& many more of us] it’s a bit of a cul de sac.
So let’s keep it moving without any naice or otherwise tantrums, it’s more fun.
IanG – Who has said anything about what Mark says as being extreme? I certainly haven’t. So where did you get that from?
And me being vicious and projecting my tunnel vision?!! What are you talking about? Surely I was discussing the game and not the fact that SB would be crap in the Premier ……. which most certainly is tunnel vision.
I wonder if I, and others, are writing in a language that no-one else can understand which is why your read things that arent said……
I’ll just shut up again then and let you rip the club and team apart ……
oldvilla
Jl – maybe I don’t get the gist of some posts and maybe they don’t get mine which far from wanting to rip the club apart as OV puts it it’s out of concern for the club just as I thought garde would of been good for the club long term and I backed him to the hilt. It’s only an opinion after all people can like or dislike it but claiming it reflects the character of the person is to far, it’s just football.
Not that it really matters but you posted an answer to iang at 318 pm as I was pointing out to OV you started the convo during the match . I’m amazed that I’m actually writing this to be fare it’s not excactly a crime is it?
so when did cup defeats not count,people writing about long unbeaten run,we have played some worst sides in this league and in forest game and saturday game v bolton it was horrible,kodja back tolast season motto i shall not pass,taylor with another shocking tackle think back to march and colemen,same people writing he didnt mean it,how bruce has nerve to complain about red card card, watching matches in pl there are not many of our players that will step up so another major rebuild will be needed again has the doc the funds to do so
yes we won 4 league matches ina row but has it blinded us to the many faults or is that our standards are that low a 1 goal victory over worst side in league is regarded asprogress
mk
dont pass any heed to ov more comebacks on here than any old rock star but never with a point just ripping into someone
Good morning James G,
Your happy go lucky, cheerful posts have been missed recently ……… but its good to see you rating the progress the club has made so highly, plus your glowing words about the team.
At first I thought you were ‘ripping’ into the team and management but then I realised that I just dont understand your chirpy funfilled factual posts ……….
Me – comebacks? I take a break every now and then as life does get in the way of posting sometimes.
Never with a point? Try reading my posts a bit more carefully and you’ll find that I make comments/points about the team and the club both positive and negative.
oldvilla
IanG: “If what Mark says is considered as a little extreme by some, then your stuff in which you deliberately counterpoint his opinion, is also extreme.”
If you consider my voice of fairness as being “extreme”, then so be it! 😉
As for the comment about “OV being vicious and projecting a tunnel vision”, I am utterly bemused! How on earth OV can be described as much as just beyond my ken. Or Tom for that matter! 🙂
As to this particular thread I sit far more closely with OV – obviously – as the Bruce has been greatly vindicated i.m.o. We’ve still not achieved the target (of promotion) but to my mind it’s clear that Bruce has identified problems that needed fixing and by and large has fixed them, or getting there.
If what’s been achieved is not all down to his conscious effort but circumstances, then I think he’s earned that fortune.
Did anyone stay up to see the highlights of Newcastle and ‘Pool last night?
I thought Clark’s hands need to be tied behind his back! What awful defending! And pundit Murphy said it was six of one and half-a-dozen of the other!!! These ex-players acting as pundits act as the worst example to youngsters i.m.o.
I’m now glad Clark went.
Oh dear!
We seem to becoming a real group of grumpy old men on here….where is the love, light and laughter from Kristina, or our delightful Jenny.
We need to find some positives, some amusing tales, share a beer perhaps, and finally celebrate with a meal in the caff, of curried goat, rice n’peas.
I was at Saturday’s game, and it was the bully boy tactics of Bolton and a shocking standard from the officials, that spoilt what should have been a good game. No real fault of Bruce, or the team.
Jesus, I go on a stag to Liverpool and had to hear all my prem loving mates console me with ‘poor Villa’ and back on here, the same ol shite is being spoken, summed up as follows
MK likes to analyse what he sees both on and off the pitch in terms of how well we are being managed, what gaps are there and how we can improve whether by tactics or selection and is castigated for it.
OV/JL seem to deal with the superfluous, around lets just be happy we won, don’t worry about the past, don’t worry about the future just revel in beating the bottom side 1 nil at home.
In the past, I’ve clearly tended to agree with MK, I was never happy with Bruce’s appointment, last season and the beginning of this have been mostly around mis-use of a squad, we’ve gotten in the past, moments of managerial clarity from Bruce like ‘I should have never of played so many new players at once’ to ‘I now can play 4-4-2’ which was arrived at not by design but by default.
It is these revelations that makes me place zero trust in what Bruce thinks he is doing, the mere consistency of selection, the paucity of quality in the opposition has driven September to be a good month overall points wise but for those who are deemed positive there is little critical analysis and more about it being all about results and 3 points and screw how we achieve it.
I’m sorry if my own negativity causes offence but, for the money spent on the squad, I believe there is every right to challenge if we see things as poor, if we see missed opportunities and equally praise when it is due. As for the Bolton game, the highlights tell me Kodija is back but not the Kodija I want, Bolton are playing a survival game and will cause nobody challenging at the top any problems, so a fair performance under the circumstances. Referee was poor.
Who is off the training ground for the next few week, I know Hourihane/Whelan/Hogan for my country, just wondering
If I may talk about the future albeit a few weeks from now Wolves will provide a better gauge than any of the Sept games as to what progression has been made, hopefully everyone returns uninjured, we find a left back by default not design if Taylor is going to be absent so Bruce has no excuses around selection and anyone who cares to analyse the team can do so safe in the knowledge it’s not entirely unique circumstances that doesn’t allow comparison with previous games.
D O’R – deal with the superfluous? Revel in beating the bottom side 1-0?
Where have I reveled in Saturdays win? When I actually said it was a load of rubbish?
What is superfluous exactly?
You’ve disappointed me with those words, you seem to be someone else that takes no notice of the actual words written.
Carry on everyone nothing to see here, this blog is doomed …….
yours in some sadness, oldvilla
ov
every post you make you are moaning about fellow posters,complaining they dont read your posts,and that you read theirs
most people post not to get get abuse, but usually after these last 5/6 years its frustration at how inept our club has become taking no real heed of beating bottom side 1 0 with bolton having good chances to equalise,every blog facebook are united in thinking bruce is not fit for purpose if we get promoted and he is certainly not doing anything to show different, and on to one of your pet players taylor another shocking tackle saturday for nothing bit like colemens last march,and to end hutton has got about 5mins last few matches and it shows
JL I didn’t say OV was vicious, just that what he wrote attacking MK was clumsily so under the circumstances, but he entitled to [& get the feedback].
I see no point in attacking someone, just challenge their opinions.
Also there are a lot of tunnels in the alps – the joke aspect too obscure?
If one takes an opposing position, the more extreme/wrong the other is considered, then ours is no different ask einstein/shakespeare, the only difference is the motivation.
The idea is not only to express opinions but surely to have a little fun.
PP maybe a bunch of old women might be more accurate, they do say the sexes change round a little as we get ancient.
If we’re fed up with a subject we can always post & start another one [& hopefully the same thing won’t happen again, but if it does no problem].
IanG – ffs you said this – “OV being a little vicious” and now you say you didnt say I was vicious!!
And then I wrote ‘clumsily’ and ‘attacked’ MK – where was this ‘attack’ exactly? Wrote clumsily – oh dear I must go back and retake my A level so I dont do this again.
And I am not an old woman thanks ……
I hadnt realised what sensitive souls we have on here …… but please dont expect me to kiss and make up for something that has been imagined and was what was called debating when I was at school/uni …………….
oldvilla
Anyone guess what Cryptic Tony is on about?
Dr. Tony Xia ✔@Dr_TonyXia
I believe football ‘ll be evolving with more dramatic changes following years.People not into all these changes won’t be surviving long.
https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/people-are-starting-to-feel-alienated-already-aston-villa-fans-react-to-key-mans-cryptic-post/
OV – Really is this what you call debating? where have you addressed what we were talking about IE Bruces suitability for the prem??
you just decided it wasn’t appropriate and here we are discussing your comment still .Why start your post with “MK and others” for instance and why throw accusations? and as for the pal thing I recall that was one you used on me when JG joined a convo once about the same thing as per.
“Don’t flatter yourself mate, you are just someone who winds others up.
whoops here’s the winking smiley to make it all ok
Not sure how you make out JL is my “best pal” but I do know you sometimes misinterpret what is said to suit your own pov ”
Best will in the world theres not much meat to go on there to discuss is there.
MK – then try reading more of what I write instead of cherry picking what you think is relevant.
I had already said that as far as I am concerned, whether SB is up to managing us in the Premier is irrelevant at the moment and therefore I dont see the need to debate it. If you and others do then thats fine, carry on.
More important to me is the points we get week by week and our position in the Championship week by week. Is that so wrong?
But of course I’m vicious and attack people and write clumsily …….. brilliant!
oldvilla
OV
As JG & MK said, you don’t read the posts properly – then go off at a tangent.
As MK says there’s not much meat on this.
Unless of course we’re in reactionary mode.
As Mark said, what we were talking about you didn’t debate or contribute other than to dismiss.
Too much emoting not enough craic if you ask me.
DOR – this is all I can find, I make it 11
Davis & Suleiman in the U 20s squad
Onomah U21s
Wales
Chester & Taylor [I thought Taylor was banned]
Scotland
Snoddy & Hutton
Iceland
The Viking
Ireland
Whelan, Hogan, Hourihane
Egypt
Elmo
Switzerland
OV
Not picked
Adomah, Jedi, Codger
DOR: “OV/JL seem to deal with the superfluous, around lets just be happy we won, don’t worry about the past, don’t worry about the future just revel in beating the bottom side 1 nil at home.”
😀 😀 😀
Well, there we go. I’ll treat that comment about me/OV as a joke, Darren, as it almost sounds that it is meant as such!
OV and I just see Villa as getting somewhere so what’s the point of the muck-raking *and* all the on-going insinuation that Bruce is not fit for purpose.
As I’ve said several times, Bruce may not be the perfect manager but i.m.o. he’s done more to change things round in a +ve way than any other manager we’ve had this past 5 or 6 years. And I’m not talking of coaching ability here but *managing* ability.
Why analyse something that ain’t broke? It’s just not worth the effort. Looking at the past (except from the p.o.v. of trying to learn from history) is never worthwhile anyway – especially when the solution is getting into gear. It doesn’t generate contentment – or do you just like being a grumpy Villa supporter? 😀
And, yes, 1-0 wins against awful opponents are to be taken in their stride just as they were (as someone else has said) back in the season when Villa won the League (1980-81).
When Bruce’s ‘way’ breaks down I’ll be concerned, but not until.
I said: “Looking at the past (except from the p.o.v. of trying to learn from history)”
And also from the p.o.v. of bringing back happy memories.
OV- Ask yourself why you bothered posting that at all? If you can’t see the point then is there any point chiming in to tell everyone Off? nothing wrong with enjoying a win, I was until you posted. Whats important to you is no problem, just don’t expect everyone else to be in accord.
As for not reading your posts, I certainly did and they are usually quite inflammatory toward me, I am far from a shrinking Violet but is there any need? two or three others today have read them and came to the same conclusion, what can I say? as for cherry picking JL is the king of the quote marks on here, I have no worry’s with it thats his style.
If your going to enter a debate with me try not throwing the insults first you will find that it doesn’t put my back up and I can maybe understand your p.o.v better when I don’t feel insulted and while we are at it that goes for JL too, I can do without being told my thoughts are nebulous or any other fancy word he chooses to deliver his judgement.
We could be in Vegas.
Very sad!
MK,
OV only states what he observes … comments about Bruce that very often seem to serve little *constructive* purpose to someone who is enjoying the current spate of results.
The future will look after itself. We have little control on what happens in the future and what we can control we might as well influence positively rather than analytically. And that philosophy applies to everything, not just football.
I suggest we have a “We Love Bruce” session. 😀 Or don’t we trust positivity?
Having read the cryptic tweet by Dr Tony, I am sure he is directing his remarks towards the imminent introduction of video technology, and the affect it will have on players that cheat, and the fans that feel that the game will be poorer for it.
The technology has already changed other sports, and football will be the better for it. Let us see an end to all the pushing, shoving and shirt pulling, and many other little cheating tricks. What a difference there could have been to Saturday’s game if Bolton had had to play by the rules.
Old women may well be truer……come back the young ones…..and Frem and a few more….
PP – with you there
Dr.T’s post is a bit too dramatic to be merely about video technology. I’d suggest the borders are coming down and the elite are planning to break away from their respective leagues and form a super league where more of the global pot is distributed to fewer teams.
Barcelona have just mooted the idea of leaving the Spanish league and you can be guaranteed other leagues would love to have them
Dr.T also mooted VR previously, I’d say the technical evolution is something he is very interested in, certainly the Asian market is ready for ‘real’ game experience through a headset.
JL – there was some amount of jest in what I said but equally it serves no purpose in being dismissive of other people’s thoughts/opinions merely because you don’t believe it to be constructive. You’ve called out the issue before, it would appear you are ‘old-school’ in terms of less analysis, more attempting to enjoy’ as opposed to others who like to deep-dive. I see both sides as valid but decry the need to say nothing can’t be said on a forum beyond the obvious like personal attacks/racism.
What inherently is so wrong with suggesting that the past forms opinion, that the future is something we may not control but have hopes for how it should turn out and stating those hopes, or extrapolating a current opinion that if all things being equal may result in X future outcome.
None of us are perfect but at least allow the members to write what they feel, challenge to encourage debate but don’t be dismissive. There’s way too much he said/she said going on at the moment.
JL- I am quite aware of what OV does as some of the observations are about myself no?
If you can tell me how saying oh good we won is any more constructive I’d like to know how? but I suspect its more a spiritual matter to you.
Am I even trying to be constructive? how many comments actually are? in fact I am de-constructing sometimes in order to understand them at a level you don’t want to go. Sometimes I post them in hope someone will engage with me, The main reason that I can see you don’t want to go there is at least partially your beliefs and hence you are dismissive, maybe I’m wrong.
Now this site is a little haven, a gem, people like yourself who are spiritual can express your beliefs and thoughts to your hearts content and will receive little aggravation from the people on here. In fact they hold you in great respect for your Villa knowledge and your contributions.
You have used History a few times to explain why you think things are happening or will happen and yet I mention RDM for instance or Bruces past in the prem as a comparison or possible proof and I get ridiculed or dismissed, seems a bit one rule for one…..?
I have no problem with talking about any subject that gets thrown up on here I enjoy it as you well know. You and I have engaged in conversation on many topics some we align on some we don’t but I have always shown interest generally in what you have to say. I wish you would show me the same courtesy/tolerance but hey that’s life.
I am sure you have tried other forums where its not to your liking? so I understand that maybe you want to keep this one within the boundaries you enjoy, I however think free speak is important even if its a rant about Bruce and I will defend that persons right to Rant or talk rubbish as long as its not personal or abusive.
Right now for some Bruce Bashing 🙂
Just joking, will be interesting to see how the Club and Bruce handle the Davis situation, He has been offered a new contract and has refused it. Throws up memories of last Autumn and RHM doesn’t it where Bruce refused to play him. Davis is now integral to our way of Playing recently, will he get the RHM treatment? I very much doubt it. As for will he show some thanks to villa and sign eventually, He’s a clever kid apparently, so my betting is on him seeing if we are going up before bailing if we don’t.
https://ninetyminutesonline.com/young-villa-starlet-rejects-initial-contract-offer-club-source-confirms/
Another ex-Villa player doing well – http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2017/10/03/do-enda-stevens-bouncing-back-at-sheffield-united-after-aston-vi/
I wonder if we can come up with an x-Villa starting 11 for the championship.
DOR: ” it would appear you are ‘old-school’ in terms of less analysis, more attempting to enjoy’ as opposed to others who like to deep-dive.”
No. That’s not exactly right. Please see below. The matter is to do with the club being on the most +ve position just now than it’s been since 2011, so why not enjoy the moment a little bit more.
Analysis is all very well if something is not going too well and you want to get to the cause of the issue. That I understand. But when it’s comment made that’s against a manager when he’s actually a major reason why we’re now doing better, is a mystery to me.
As for “what happens when we get to the Prem?”, well, we’ll find out when that happens. At present we haven’t a clue. We are where we are and going back and talking in terms of what might have happened appointing another manager isn’t exactly +ve or realistic is it? It just keeps the anti-Bruce feeling going. It’s bizarre to my mind.
MK: “You have used History a few times to explain why you think things are happening or will happen and yet I mention RDM for instance or Bruces past in the prem as a comparison or possible proof and I get ridiculed or dismissed, seems a bit one rule for one…..?”
I believe in the principle of “time and place”. When the context/situation fits then perhaps I have alluded to a past happening, but the context of what we’re talking of here is a winning team. That’s 8 matches undefeated let’s not forget – which in comparison with the results of the last 5 or 6 years – is quite staggering and should be a welcome relief to my mind.
MK: “I am sure you have tried other forums where its not to your liking? so I understand that maybe you want to keep this one within the boundaries you enjoy,”
It’s nothing of the kind. Like OV I am simply amazed that in the current context of things that people still want to make critical asides towards Bruce, giving the definite impression that it’s an ingrained dislike of Bruce that’s the issue.
==================
In short, I have no wish to curtail other people’s views on the matter – and I don’t think that’s OV’s intent either – *except* that if comments are to be made both of us would prefer to see they’re in accord with what’s actually developing at the club and what is happening on the pitch! 😉
I thought this blog is called “Aston Villa Life” not “The Anti-Steve Bruce Blog”! 😀
Again the above is looking to dictate what is appropriate for the forum, unless I/everyone speak(s) in positive terms about the manager and our unbeaten run then it’s not appropriate.
Ok, so you an OV are completely and entirely correct, there is no need to analyse when doing well, there is no need to mention the future as we don’t control it and there is no need to mention the past as the now has no equivalent in the past.
Now I know the forum rules you can expect me to tow the line. Never will I berate a player for a poor performance because he is a victim of a specific circumstance at a specific time, I won’t lambast Bruce over team selection because no other manager would make the same decision and therefore is exempt from blame because we’ll never know what another manager would have decided with the same resources and circumstances, weather, opposition, time of the year for the outcome to have been different.
Perhaps to merely accept our current circumstance where winning one-nil against the bottom side in the second division is to be exalted allows for a more placid temperament but perhaps and apologies for challenging the required status quo, it would generate a greater debate on what is a forum that lives and dies by debate if people challenged the result and say it was poor, that Kodija was poor, that team selection could have been different, that Bruce happening on 4-4-2 with Davis doesn’t need to be a masterstroke of Bruce’s undoubted genius that we can just accept he is lucky to have bad circumstances and an inability to fully incorporate other strikers into a system that led to Davis’ arrival.
Sorry but I don’t get the premise that being in the second division winning games is anyway good beyond the satisfaction of not being beaten. Clearly it’s no fault of anyone at the club now that we are in the second div it’s a constant reminder to me of how neglected we were and how far we have fallen that we celebrate beating teams who have not been either near the prem in years or will never be near it. As I mentioned previously, being consoled by fans of prem teams that it’s a shame we were relegated and ‘I heard you won the other week’ just doesn’t cut it.
Do you know what even debating what can and can’t be said on the forum has it’s own life, long may it continue.
Jl- that’s simply addressed it’s about context That half of this good run came about not entirely by design and with a rather large smattering of luck against some apponents like Brentford and forest and the inability to beat 10 man borough who parked the bus much like Bolton. Last season we won 7 out of 8 for a better points haul but ultimately it lead to nothing other than to prove two players worth. The four wins look decent but really were expected concidering the opposition.
Wish you would stop making this about an emotional attack on Bruce it’s not he just does not convince me as he does you. No point in me raising his good points (man management etc) you cover it daily.
It’s been a run of easier games at the right time what happens next could define our season let’s hope it’s for the better.
Dor – I suspect your right about xias comment and it will be a real kick in the teeth for teams not deemed in that stratosphere they will become feeder clubs with little chance of rising. If there is reason to enjoy now it’s because soon it may not excist in this format.
DOR: “Again the above is looking to dictate what is appropriate for the forum”
Well, Darren, if that’s how you wish to interpret what I’ve stated, that’s up to you.
I was merely expressing what seems to me and OV a reasonable pattern of thought that we’d think that fans would take if their team was achieving some success. And we are achieving some success.
JL- unfortunately success means promotion this season, we are undoubtedly playing better than previous and however the team selection was reached that has to be a plus. If we come back from the internationals and play as well against stiffer opposition then that has to be an announcement we are going to be in with a chance of going up, after the yo-yo winning/ losing streaks of last season we do look more likely and so we should.
http://www.myoldmansaid.com/the-unlikely-aston-villa-player-thats-been-the-key-to-improvement/
MK
I’m not so sure it’s here now any more if I look back.
It’s all change & very fast, & not all good, as in the world.
‘We’re here to service the machine’ is a quote that seems relevent.
MK: “unfortunately success means promotion this season”
That’s one interpretation – the ultimate measure, I agree. But in the context of the last 5 or 6 years, 8 games undefeated is in itself a success of a kind. And that includes scoring 4 goals in two of those league matches. Unheard of before.
Yes, I also agree we’ve a way to go yet and we have to see what happens against better teams.
But that’s when … I don’t see much point in going into anything much by way of analysis until we see what does happen.
In the meantime, we have had success – of a kind.
JL- We had success of a similar if less convincing way last season, 1 loss in 9 under RDM, 2 losses in 13 under Bruce and our best points scoring run in years 7 wins in 8, aren’t stats great 🙂
This is how I see the recent run as good as it is to see and be in.(from 7500toholte)
“The next five matches are much tougher
Villa have done well recently. They’ve also played three of the four worst teams in the Championship, plus Nottingham Forest, who are probably a lower-half side at the end of the day.
That won’t be the case over the next five-match run. Villa visit Wolves on 14 October to start the month, then host Fulham the next weekend. A crosstown trip to a poor Birmingham City side follows, but derbies are always tough. The run finishes with a trip to Preston North End on 1 November, and a visit from Sheffield Wednesday that Saturday, where Villa will wrap up three matches in seven days.
If Villa are still fighting around the right end of the table, it will show great progress — and will mean the club are in a great position headed toward the festive season. Wolves and Preston are two of the six teams ahead of VIlla right now, Fulham and Wednesday are really good sides lingering just back of us, and Blues is a derby. Three wins would be a fantastic result.”
https://7500toholte.sbnation.com/2017/10/2/16394436/expected-villa-bolton-jonathan-kodjia-adomah-passing-xg
still nearly two weeks until we play Wolves with some boring internationals in-between, I used to look forward to England games and although they have the makings of a good side the opposition drags the games down these days.
As for the rest of the season there are no easy runs left, nearly every other games a test, if he gets us up he will of had to earn it thats for sure from now on.
October
October 14: Wolverhampton (a), 3pm
October 21: Fulham (h), 3pm
October 28: Birmingham City (a), 3pm
October 31: Preston North End (a), 7:45pm
November
November 4: Sheffield Wednesday (h), 3pm
November 18: Queens Park Rangers (a), 3pm
November 21: Sunderland (h), 7:45pm
November 25: Ipswich Town (h), 3pm
December
December 2: Leeds United (a), 3pm
December 9: Millwall (h), 3pm
December 16: Derby County (a), 3pm
December 23: Sheffield United (h), 3pm
December 26: Brentford (a), 3pm
December 30: Middlesbrough (a), 3pm
January
January 1: Bristol City (h), 3pm
January 13: Nottingham Forest (a), 3pm
January 20: Barnsley (h), 3pm
January 27: Sheffield United (a), 3pm
February
February 3: Burton Albion (h), 3pm
February 10: Birmingham City (h), 3pm
February 17: Fulham (a), 3pm
February 20: Preston North End (h), 7:45pm
February 24: Sheffield Wednesday (a), 3pm
March
March 3: Queens Park Rangers (h), 3pm
March 6: Sunderland (a), 7:45pm
March 10: Wolverhampton (h), 3pm
March 17: Bolton Wanderers (a), 3pm
March 31: Hull City (a), 3pm
April
April 2: Reading (h), 3pm
April 7: Norwich City (a), 3pm
April 10: Cardiff City (h), 7:45pm
April 14: Leeds United (h), 3pm
MK: “We had success of a similar if less convincing way last season”
Yes, but no comparison, i.m.o. We have a very different set up in the team now and it looks much more capable in my view.
JL- Its a maybe for me John and a few injuries away from being the next experiment, Bruces inability to get something early doors without Kodjiah and Snodgrass and ignoring one of this seasons and lasts best players in Adomah gives me little confidence in him seeing the way if a couple of those get injured, same for the defence, lose Chester or Taylor? We are thin on the ground to play the Bruce way but rich in the squad to play many others IMO.
I would like to see Snodgrass dropping into the middle behind two strikers with Green and Adomah on the wings, that way a Kodjia/Davis /Hogan pairing up top would get service from all avenues and villa take more control of matches.
Stink game with a positive result for us. Most Villans have the footballing nous to see it for what it is. Fans who went to the game enjoyed winning without necessarily enjoying the football.
Great to feel the love on here.
The upcoming game against Wolves gives us the opportunity to compare work in progress of both clubs.
Each club was purchased by Chinese owners at about the same time. Initially Fosan and Recon followed the same business model. Both appointed Italian managers who spent big on predominantly overseas players. In a matter of months, both managers had been relieved of their posts and replaced with British alternatives. SB used his January window to buy mainly British players whilst Lambert spent most of his available funds on securing the signing of Helda Costa who had been on loan with them until then. The resulting outcome was Villa 13th and Wolves 15th at the seasons end.
At this point the business models of both clubs diverged. Recon stayed with SB and funded his British/Irish model of age and experience during the summer window. Fosan dumped PL and appointed Nuno who followed a mainly Portuguese model of youth. Here’s most of his outfield squad with ages in brackets. Neves (20); Saiss (27); Vinagre (18); Costa (23); Jota (21); Cavaleiro (24); Bonatini (21); Miranda (26); Doherty (25); Bennett (27); Batth (27); N’Diaye (27).
Nuno has hit the ground running and shows what is possible. He’s the bookies favourite for promotion and I wouldn’t mind betting Wolves wage bill is significantly less than ours. SB has taken time to find his best 11 and time will tell which model was best. In the meantime we can make a comparison after the 2 teams collide on the 14th Oct.
good post plug
showing the difference in old style brittish managers and the way forward
Go away for a couple days, hit an int’l break, and there’s nothing to do but bicker!
One thing to remember is something you already know: It’s very hard to read many comments and know the tone in which they’re delivered. Some, pretty easy.
Blogs are for deep dives, by and large. So when you’re not in the mood for that, it’s okay. Just don’t necessarily expect much different.
The other thing as I stress repeatedly is that it’s often best to just ignore comments that wind you up. I’ve written more on this before, but you know…And if something can’t be left alone, it’s usually more productive to address the content rather than the poster. Often people don’t post to blogs because they don’t want to get called out and sucked into arguments or made to look foolish.
I’ll get something new up here this evening or tomorrow morning, see if I can’t throw some fresh chum into the water.
Well done JC!
Some fresh words would be good. It needs a change from JL’s constant defence of SB, no matter what the argument is…although I do understand him wanting to put a positive slant on him…
MK is getting more frustrated by the minute, but I do sympathize, and most others are somewhere between, except maybe OV, who seems to be so wound up, he may fly at any moment..
I did send a message to the lovely Jenny, in the hope that she might rescue us, and respond to ST75’s hugs and kisses.
Where would the world be without our Marks and JLs? be a lot poorer without them.
Get that man a pint, great summary PP
I should acknowledge my own tetchiness in my last few posts, entirely forgot there are human beings on the other side of the names on this page and I should disagree with a little more humility and respect more.
This may be Monty Python-esque in ‘What has the Romans ever done for us’ but ‘what has Bruce ever done for us’ can only really be written at the end of every season, in the interim, the hopes of 1000s rest in the swings and roundabouts of squad selection and tactics being correct enough to secure 3 points per game and it’s this that I want to discuss/debate/cajole/tease out.
Onwards to next year and a few pints of whatever when we meet up under the banner of AVL and raise a toast to Gary Steamer Haddon
PP-more like questioning my sanity 🙂
I think this is a potentially a pivotal time that every Villan wants to see us prosper in, the alternative is we flounder again and lose precious time that someone else could use to right the ship. The Later September results are encouraging but could be a false flag and by the time October/Novembers over we might wish we had pulled the trigger or hopefully not. I for one wish we had played some tougher teams but maybe thats what our extremely experienced side needed some cannon fodder.
Spoke to a very knowledgeable chap today who does a bit of coaching used to scout for reading too in the past his son plays for Oxford utd at some level, he’s an electrician. I told him I like the look of Wilder at Sheff utd he said he is amazing, when he was at Oxford he would go and watch his sessions and take notes saying he directed and instructed everything, a very cool character that never got rattled much and worked with all the youth teams too.
Last season I liked Wagner this season its Wilder, By the time we get our own manager starting with W I hope its not Wanker.
mk
we have had enough managers starting with w wasters
MK i think train left the station. Rumor over here at the time was the Yank only brought in Tom Fox because he promised he could get us Wenger. Obviously he didn’t deliver, but he did give us a wanker in Riley.
The collective opinion appears to be that JL’s view is not required. How’s that for freedom of speech? 😉
Well, to attempt to make myself clear of my stance, I’ve written a new article…now up.