Oh dear, oh dear, what to say?
I had the game on Radio WM, but the site’s SSL security certificate ran out which meant that you were probably seeing a warning about the site being unsafe. Let me reassure you, it isnt.
Anyway, I updated the certificate, only for the site to crash, which meant I was working on that and didn’t really concentrate on the commentary.
Hence any real assessment is vague at best, but the general tone of the commentary was easy to catch and when you hear “worrying”, “no shape” and “poor” etc, you have to be concerned.
I’ve said previously that our first few fixtures are tough and I hinted that I didn’t think we’d have many points racked up, which would probably lead to fans calling for Bruce’s head.
But from what I’ve seen on various other Villa sites, it seems the clamour has started already.
Now of course, it’s still very early days, but we’re already five points down on the league leaders and you have to wonder how much of a lead we might be able to pull back before it’s too late to challenge.
The most single worrying thing today was the comment that “Cardiff are a very average side, that will finish around tenth at best, yet they still beat us comfortably”.
So where does that leave us?
By the sounds of it, Warnock did his homework and targeted our right side, meaning Hutton had a shocker.
But more worryingly, it seems our defence was utter rubbish today, something I find strange given that we are supposed to have beefed it up. Words like “slow” maybe justify why some of us were concerned by Terry’s signing.
And just maybe my viewpoint about playing our “best” eleven so they get to know each other was also justified?
I don’t know.
As I said, it’s early days. Nothing is certain yet and Cardiff away is never going to be an easy game.
But we have another tough game coming up, away to Reading.
Are we confident that we’ll get anything there?
We need to start gaining points, even if they’re only single one’s because if we don’t, the season will be over before it’s really up and running.
I wonder what Tony Xia is thinking?
No reasonable owner is going to sack a manager this early, but you have to wonder how many poor performances he’ll tolerate.
I’m also intrigued as to how some of our more positive posters are going to react to this result.
I expect some very lively debate!
Things aren’t looking good at the moment are they?
badger
bruce picks hutton the worst full back ever,picks gabby the best no scoring forward you will ever get,after signing 13 players god help us,no point letting him linger any longer,no clue bruce
Garbage. Crap manager. He will be out after 10 games but it will probably be too late .
Badger I’d love bruce to turn it around win the next ten on the bounce but I can’t see it happening.
This side appears to me to lack character, a Harlem globe trotters type team of hastily assembled from players who looked like the best players at their former clubs but with no long term plan as how to forge them into a team.
It doesn’t look good mate, we are in danger of becoming a Nottingham Forest.
Bad day at the office or what it’s pointless calling the samaritans as they’ll be busy dealing with fans of Chelsea. Stupid saying this so early in the season but readings a must win game not only for Bruce but the fans
Another defeat coming our way I’m afraid. The players are good enough. The manager and coaches are useless
Giddy where’s Bill P?
Abroad in think???
Soaking up a few rays.
Hey Giddy who do Samaritans phone when they’re feeling at their wits end?????
In Russia mate drinking the vodka and away from the football – lucky bloke!
BWS haven’t a clue mate
So where are the fans who laughed at the list I made again? Calamity Bruce fails again. This time being rolled over by Neil bloody Warnock. That’s the biggest embarrassment of it all. “But but but we change managers too often and even though I said he needed a pre-season and he got one and nothing’s changed, we need to keep him for that stability, even though he’s stabilizing us as a awful side who aren’t likely to go up and there’s no signs of getting any better even with the amazing Terry and Whelan”… Pretty sure I nailed most of the pro-Bruce comments set to arrive shortly.
Well done Andrew saves me the bother of posting 🙂
That’s what I’m here for, Hitchens. That’s what I’m here for.
I’m here & your list was a joke so no improvement on brucey before you say ‘so Bruce isn’t a joke’
You haven’t even heard of a single manager on the list I made, so taking your response seriously. A no go mate.
Really karanka now your going down the I know about football & you don’t really Mr. Fucking football brains of the world I do watch everything about football other teams Inc managers & with the net my fucking worlds my oyster
Ps no wonder nath gives you a hard time looking forward to seeing on motd tonight
I do watch all kinds of football. And wow, you remembered Karanka, good for you.
Lol you think I’m bothered by Nath giving me a hard time. That’s hysterical.
How could I forget karanka it’s not very often I piss myself laffing, mastermind for you next questions on everything about football
You do realize Karanka actually took Boro up though, right? Just like your buddy did with Hull. Except Karanka didn’t walk about right before the start of the season, he stuck around despite not having money and the owner signing awful players. Karanka decided to speak his mind instead of run for the hills.
Yeah he should try PR did a great job pissing every fucker off, I’d love that mentality at the villa if we haven’t enough ongoing issues already
Thought you were old school? Thought you liked the type of manager who didn’t hide from his comments and lambasted people and the players who aren’t good enough? Or the owner who didn’t back him when asked?
I think you will find that Neil ‘etc’ Warnock has an exceptional record against the Villa – not that I’m offering it as an excuse.
Like all fans I’m very disappointed with today’s performance; I try and be positive, not blinkered, but I do want Bruce to be successful (for the club’s sake). He has to show he can turn this round quickly or yet another manager will be driving into Villa Park; the question is, if Bruce fails, can anybody successfully manage this club?
See Giddy, instead of acting like an emotional 12 year old girl, this is how you make a comment.
Anyways Hitchens, that is the problem. Has he shown any signs of change, progress and the like? Not at all. And I’m sure even the most pro-Bruce fan can call this, Bruce’s team. After 2 windows and a pre-season.
can everybody see the above comment ????See Giddy, instead of acting like an emotional 12 year old girl, this is how you make a comment.
now why call giddy names ?? if he calls you names will you be crying and asking badger to ban him and you threw the first insult
You can dish out the abuse when it suits you. Like Andrew I don’t give a shit. It’s not relevant. The point is Bruce. You still in favour? If you are say so and tell us why. I think he is crap. My supporting evidence is his record.
His team, his squad, pre season on top of 2/3 of last season. Tell me why he is fit to manage this club. I can’t see it.
Andrew you just proved your mental age show me in my previous posts I name called or got personal you’ve just shown your true colours
Figured I’d take a page out of Old Nath’s play book, you know the one you like so much?
Oh if he calls me names I’ll call people names fucking grow up
You’re an incredibly angry and aggressive person, aren’t you? Saddest part is, despite the hostility, I’m calm as hell. But you keep getting angrier and angrier if that makes you feel better. I’ll just start ignoring you like I do Nath. It’s actually quite easy when it adds nothing of worth to the convo,
Andrew I told you before I really don’t care what you have to say. I don’t want to communicate with you even if that’s just by txt. if I have nothing to offer the convo, its just like looking in the mirror for you. because you offer absolutely nothing also. your as argumentative as me.but you cry if somebody is pointing out your flaws. you started calling me names, like this was suppose to upset me. so I return the insults. you threaten to tell tales to badger. its handbags stuff. I grew out of this at primary school.
yesterday you are discussing a subject with giddy and insult him saying hes acting like 12 year old girl. like this is a normal response to a adult debate. can you see the patterns, if you can’t win a argument you resort to name calling or slagging ppl down. but when this is done to you. you call for badger
Nath people who get cornered resort to these tactics basically they’ve got nothing in reserve, he says I’m the angry one nahhh I didn’t resort to name calling. He is a very unintelligent individual as proven in many posts
Its still early days this season we cant go sacking bruce yet but its worrying we didnt have a striker on the bench not even davis or murphy!? Not sure what he was thinking there. By the time kodjia is back we could be sadly too far behind already! Squeaky bum time.
When is it time then? 10 months at the club, no signs of Progress. And if this is the kind of stability our fans want, then we’re completely screwed.
Karanka lol talk to middlesbro fans they say he was ultra defensive his major flaw. boring football. lack of goals. this sounds familiar. so question is why was this great manager on the brilliant manager list you drew up from your great footballing knowledge.
another question none of them had any decent record, if I was gonna prove I knew it all I would have stuck with rafa like ooahaha. but you had to pull a rabbit out of a hat and suggested 4 or 5 names that even their mothers hadn’t heard of lol
don’t reply to me or I will tell badger on you or uncle oohahahah
why I am here I will say. I listened to the game on welsh radio so I am not best placed to comment. only on what was said. we were second best again. the welsh radio station were happy with Cardiff saying they were impressive, top 6 was their height of ambitions, oh they mentioned 3 of their players and how they bullied chester and terry and the fullbacks. I am too pissed off to bother to watch the highlights.
Nath your wasting your time he’ll only start name calling tut tut
iam watching athletics chilling with my beer. I just got lappy on to read posts from those posters that have gone like langford.
You said you would accept boring football if it gets us promoted. Then you slag Andrew for suggesting a manager who you think plays boring football. Make your mind up
Last October i heard fan after fan bigging up Bruce’s experience and ability in the championship. At that time I said we needed a progressive young coach to rip up the setup like David Wagner, not a tactically inept dinosaur. Now Wagner sits at the top of the PL while we continue our descent down the football league. Where is the Bruce fan club now I ask? How many times will it take to learn that we need a young progressive non-British coach
villain1
there is 3/4 on here that are backed into corner they backed bruce since day 1 and his team selections signings,
I backed Bruce from day 1 and still do! I may think differently after 15 games until then just support!
be much to late after 15 games lang ,rdm was sacked after 11 and all i heard bruce hadnt time to much to catch up,we need a modern man or neil warnock 3m profit in charge same length of time as bruce just lookat difference two sides
The trouble is LV you had total faith in Lerner so that brings into question your judgement unfortunately mate.
Me having faith in Lerner….thats the funniest thing I’ve heard! 🙂
Abysmal….nothing short of abysmal! I dont want anyone jumping on Bruce’s back though! This was completely down to lack of desire and passion from the PLAYERS….you’ll not convince me that Bruce tells them to play that way. Having said that, I will be blaming Bruce if he doesnt swing the axe for Tue. Only Onomah came out of the game with any real credit imo! Terry was slow and leggy. With hindsight, I feel Baker and Chester would have been a better pairing!. Gabby = terrible, Taylor = poor, Terry = very slow, no sign of the leadership I expected, Hutton = poor today, but commited as always. Hogan = willing, but no supply. Johnstone = awful, ship him back to Manure and bring back Steer!
Lack of passion, desire and commitment is totally unnaceptable!
But, fuck it, We’ll win on Tuesday at Reading 🙂
johnson taylor terry all bruces men,hutton has been a liability for years yet gets praise for putting in a shift [big fucking deal he gets paid well enough]gabby the doc should have got shot of that rotten egg first day,and yes hogan gets praise every where tonight hardworking but no end ball 3more bruces men whelan elmo lainsby, time for a change
Its irrelant ‘whose men’ they are, they should have been better than they were today….so I’m agreeing with you to a point! What I dont agree with is your knee jerk reaction! The reason being that I know we’ll be in the top 2 by the end if the season….and thats all that matters! Do you want Conte, Klop, Hughes and Howe sacked after todays defeat….FFS, get real!
You “know” we’re going to finish in top two, very realistic based on 4 away wins in 24 championship away matches,
You take delusion to a whole new level im afraid
lang
its no knee jerk reaction,have wrote the same since bruce first day here.villa to big a club for a man away from top level for 20 years,thats the same shocking performance from villa in 30 of bruces 40 games in charge and what makesit worse it was all old supposedly professionals taylor terry huttongabynot young lads learning there way
Langford Koop & Conte in the the same breath as Mr Steve Bruce?
Me thinks not.
Klop
Langford. You can’t be serious comparing those 4 to us, can you? The difference is this isn’t a knee jerk reaction. This crap has been going on since he’s been in charge. It’s not 1 or 2 games. It’s 37 league games. 10 months of football. And he’s failed.
What’s his stats over the 37 games?
That should make interesting reading.
15 wins
7 draws
15 losses
38 goals for
41 against
Comparing them?…..what on earth are you talking about?
You don’t want anyone jumping on Bruce’s back but he signed 8 of the 11 starters today and brought Gabby back which should never have happened. He made these decisions and he will pay for them. Its abysmal management from a man so far out of touch with the modern game its frightening.
Sorry Langford, but he admitted it was hit fault. He said after 6 months (which it’s been 10 so he’s a bit off), he can’t get it right and said he knows the consequences if he can’t get it right after 10 games. Which hopefully is the mark where he goes.He is in fact at fault for this. It’s his squad. Why is it Bruce gets a pass but past manager’s didn’t?
Langford I’ve seen many a SB side Blues Wigan Sunderland and never been impressed.
All lightweight and no longevity.
Just went on Wikipedia. Overall, he has a better win ratio at Villa Park than he does anywhere else but Palace. But he’s the man for the job.
Bruce is pants. He really is. Picking Gabby in his first 11 is proof enough. There are lots of other reasons but there’s no point. You either have blind faith or not. He has past promotions – past relegations too. He is more likely to deliver the latter than the former. Support your club by all means but don’t be blind to the obvious
I solely wanna read 1 comment that’s Pro-Bruce that has nothing to do with the fact that they’re tired of changing managers. For footie reasons, why would anyone want to keep him? Has he shown progress? Has he shown the ability to change? Is he getting results? Is he close to creating a formula to get results? The answer is no too all of them. And I really hope he’s gone before Kodjia gets back because Kodjia will win us games no matter the manager (unless he plays Hogan up front with him which proved to not work last season) and it’ll keep him around.
With those stats we should be there or thereabouts so wtf is going wrong?
Then again as the Mark Twain quote goes – “there are lies, damned lies and statistics.”
I mean in fairness a lot of his losses were in the Premier League, not the Championship. Wikipedia just didn’t split up the results in which division.
bws
the only half decent side bruce had was the blues even tho it pains me to say it,but that nearly 20 years ago,when mobile phones where just getting popular,
10th – 12th and 13th I was about to say come on it’s hardly setting the world alight but on reflection it’s the Blues we’re talking about so I suppose it’s up there with turning water to wine.
as much as i hated savage he is type of player we need inthis league
Mate that is one thing we’re definitely missing, a bit of bite, a touch of nastiness.
I said this befor this manager of ours may have been half decent in the past but he simply hasnt kept up with modern day football he is a dinosaur ready to be made extinct harpoon the f ucker and lets put him out with the rest of the old relics weve had with his shyte shambolic team pickings tactics abonglahorn up front i mean what the f uck has bruce been on the crystal meth and what the f uck are they doing on the trg ground calderwood and all his inept cronies and that goes for the money suckers at the top of the club as well you get that rotund money sucker wyness talking a good game but what he talks and what we see are 2 completely different things yes lets fekin get a villa style we already have one its called the prehistoric shyte style i knew when charlie came in this shute would go down champions league he said absolute shyte more like vanarama league in 5 years. And next week we will still get all the villa tourist k nobs out for a day out not propa fans they come and eat burger and drink a beer and buy a program and take pics fooking whoopee doo im so cool look at me im at villa park they post to facebook and then clap away as all the shower of shyte trudge out to the pitch and then clap and cheer when we manage a single pass that actually finds our player like we just won the f uckin world cup thats what this club has come down to bruce is like a dinosaur nearly extinct we got bruce we may as well have got fat ron back this shower of absolute shyte not fit to wear the shirt and terry can piss off back from the hole he crawled out of anotha f uckin dinosaur after one last fat check from Dr fkin dolittle and the same for players from another decade i mean shyte like whelen and elohamanday seriously what about the young players rather play some of them but then you see their reserve scores and you realise the whole trg team must spend there time playing the caracas and watching homes under the hammer rather than doing any substantial trg with the players, bruce oute, round out, wyness out and any other dumb fucker who is hanging onto that fat underserved, overinflated paycheck while the real man on the street struggles to even put food on the table this worl is a f ckin scam world and i am cheesed off with it i would rather watch my invalide father who has dementia do crown green bowls and he even forgets the balls when we turn up to the green thats how bastard bad aston shyte villa are
There’s nobody really defending Bruce on here. The penny is dropping. We need to change the manager. He is not even close to good enough. He spent 20 or dolso years under Alex Fetguson but has clearly learned nothing. Instead of playing attacking football and going for the jugular he plays it cautious/ oh bollocks, can’t be bothered. He’s not worth it
It’s a bit hard to defend a manager who just lost 3-0 miserable performance all round it would be the same if we won 3-0 & put on a great performance you’d look stupid coming on here slagging Bruce off.
And that Giddy is a decent point. How do you draw any real conclusions when there is no consistency in the results or the performances from week to week or even from 15 minutes to 15 minutes within a game (and I’m not talking about style of play here).
Perhaps everyone needs a reality check – our name might be Aston Villa but we have to fight like everyone else in this league. Perhaps too many of our players think the rest of the Championship will bow before our name and history.
So did many past and forgotten empires.
Except the performances are consistent. Not a single game have we dominated or even been good the entire game. We’re a 1 half team, and that’s even pushing it.
The results are also incredibly consistent. 15 wins, 15 losses, 7 draws. 40%ish win ratio. Not good enough.
With Bruce if we go a goal down away from home you may as well go home. We have to score first goal to stand any chance and even then we struggle to hold onto a lead
Hi, being a Welshman, this was an easy trip for me and my Cardiff (Chelsea/can’t believe you can support 2 teams) friend.
I am a lifelong villa fan, and honestly went to the game today knowing very little of the opposition! They could have won 6-0.
Johnstone- saved us prob 3 goals. Although not convinced!
Hutton- terrible game, shown up 3 times in 1st half
Chester- I like
Terry – quality!!! Some fans will critisize, but he is a brilliant! In the ref and linesman ear all game! Him being there will gain us points if others stand up (need jedinak back ASAP)
Taylor – I liked Amavi!
Elmo- inj
Whelan – disappointed me! Slow, my Cardiff fan mate was quick to point out the champ is faster than than the prem!
Lansbury- play the boy up top (no. 10 role)! Try it for f’s sake. Ask a forest fan!
Omajoh- left midfield – really!!!
Played much better in cm. I like
Gabby- shit as per usual! No touch, no finish, sorry but not needed!
Hogan – needs help with him ( never getting that with gabby)
My team going forward
Johnstone
De laet
Chester
Terry
Taylor
Jedinak/whelan
Omajoh/hourihene
Adomah
Green
Lansbury
Hogan
Of course kodjia in straight away when fit!!!!!!
O’hare looks quality on the ball, but needs time.
Bruce’s selection of team had me baffled today, particular omajoh on the left( he looked more puzzled than me). 4 league games. Give him! And 8 points absolute minimum!
really good post there,you saying much what i read on game
Good post agree 😄👍
“15 wins
7 draws
15 losses
38 goals for
41 against”
Those last two lines are truly eye-opening, imo.
It needs to change quickly, if we’re going to challenge.
And that’s regardless of if you think Bruce is the man for the job or not.
has the public lynching finished lol
just a question lol i feel its only right to support my brucie. over his career which spans back to the Jurassic period. how come villa managed by many different managers, all struggled to beat brucie teams. i could mention them individually but i haven’t the time to check my facts with wiki like others do.
lets start with one of my main memories and why i hated bruce and the scum he managed so much more. the year was fook knows i think taylor was our manager Dublin and another player sent off. in a 3 nil defeat or was it 2nil. famously remembered for the goal keeping error enkleman.
that was two games that season we lost 5nil over both games, was this a one off. i don’t think it was. i recall we struggled against brucie scum and he moved to wigan and i remember we struggled against them
so we were always shit before bruce how shit well it seems we were shitter than brucie teams for years.
i don’t recall giving my support to bruce after rdm got the sack,. i recall many mangers all dropping out of the running, it became public knowledge bruce and another candidate which i think was moyles. i think they went with the better option. the german from hudderfield didn’t want the job and that had nothing to do with me. would he have done better ??? it doesn’t matter really does it. Andrew could have done better but he never applied for the position shame really him and wiki would have sorted us out
i gave my support to all the managers of aston villa while they were villa managers only. yes its for the reason of sacking to many managers is a massive reason our squad is dog shit and taking ages to correct. i will say i think our squad currently is better than any villa squad for years. it has more quality and more ability. that’s is down to brucie. why we still shit is beyond me. but i am supporter not owner. he will sack bruce or not. but we are in a stronger position because bruce has made big improvements to squad.
Blah blah blah.
Reason why we’re shit is tactical reasons.
Lansbury has performed consistently in this division for a few seasons by playing the number 10 role yet now for only reasons Bruce knows he’s used as an holding midfielder.
Ross McCormack has consistently scored goals at this level but despite Bruce saying the slate has been wiped clean he continues to get overlooked by a player who’s goal scoring record is quite simply shocking.
Houriaine had the highest number of assists last season before we signed him and that was with an average team. Since he’s arrived here he’s been shit, why? Maybe cause he’s also, like lansbury, told to play deeper which nullifies what he has to offer.
Hogan, brilliant at Brentford and scoring goals for fun but just by watching his movement you can see he’s being starved of service. He’s quality.
I wanted Bruce and still do but for how much longer I don’t know. He desperately needs to change his tactics and start playing players where they’re going to hurt the opposition.
I’d like to see a 4-3-3 formation with lansbury/hourihane wrong playing the number 10 role and Hogan and McCormack up top. Then have Adomah on the right, Green on the left and Omanah as a holding midfielder.
Back four of Taylor, Terry, Chester and Bree with Steer in goal who I thought was very very unlucky to lose his place against Cardiff after his heroics against colchester.
Is Bruce a good or bad manager?
There is an awful lot of emotion on here; quite rightly following yesterday’s apparent horror show – fortunately I missed it!
His record suggests he is if getting promotion from the Championship is the yardstick but, on the other hand, he isn’t because many claim he’s a dinosaur plays boring, negative football and out of touch with the modern game but then you could claim the same for Puliss and Warnock?
The roots of our problems lie in years of mismanagement which, if we are frank, was continued by an over enthusiastic and, some might say, naive owner at the outset of last season for which we are now suffering the repercussions. As a club we are still in a pile of shit with no money, an unproven owner and a divided fan base.
I fear if Bruce can’t, at least turn the tide under those circumstances then expecting a young foreign manager to do it, whether he comes in after two or fifteen games is grasping at straws.
I don’t profess to know the answer but with the FFP squeeze closing in I fear for our club
I will continue to positively support Bruce and our players until it’s beyond doubt that we can achieve promotion.
Can we win at Reading – yes of course we can. Will we – this might just be John Terry’s biggest challenge!
*can’t achieve promotion
Six pointer Tuesday reading are a place above us must win
We won’t beat reading forget it. 2.0 to them
bacuna hat trick revenge of the champions league player.
Just been reading twitter according to some he hasn’t got games to turn our fortunes around but days.
if that is true makes you wonder, why they didn’t sack him last game last season. Dwight yorke gets my vote I vote yorke is he foreign is he young (manager years) hes the man for men get record lost 0% just checked my wiki he has assisted with Trinidad so sign him up
can not find a sack race market in any bookmakers online for championship loads do premiership. if anybody can find one would love to know the price on bruce sacking. odds on promotion have drifted on villa winning the league and promotion have drifted.
Conti and Benitez won’t last
Remember the next manager must have the ability not only to get us out of this league but maintain Premier league stability I’d say we’ll be seeing a good number of managers coming & going over the next few seasons