Let’s face it, unfortunately Forest are a total shambles at the moment.
They have no manager, an owner who wants out, the team are struggling in the league and to cap it all, there’s going to be a protest.
Which all in all means I’m sure I’m not alone in having a lot of sympathy for their fans.
We’ve been there, after all.
So it should be a simple task of out-playing them, out-scoring them and back on the bus in time for a few celebratory beers back at whichever nightclub, shouldn’t it?
Hah!
I’ve been looking at what side I think Bruce will play and I’ll tell you what, I’ve found it decidedly tricky.
The back four maybe picks itself, unless you’re of a mind to stick our new full backs straight in. I’m not convinced you want to throw the whole lot in, in one fell swoop, but if you are, who am I to argue?
I’m just not convinced Bruce will do it, although I’d expect the new lads to get minutes.
After the way Brentford apparently ran and passed through us with ease, the obvious thought would be to stick Jedinak in as the holding mid, but he’s injured (again), so that’s that thought straight out of the window.
I’ve seen it mentioned that Gardner is the next best option and indeed that would be my thought (although Lansbury is supposed to be able to play the role, even if he looked poor the other night).
But I don’t see how you can fit him in, given that Lansbury and Hourihane are certain to start.
Green and Adomah were apparently our best bets going forward against Brentford, so I don’t see how it would be fair to drop either of them.
Which all means that if we’re going two up front, we’re trying to fit five players in four spaces.
Why two up front?
Well Bruce has said that’s how he wants to play and there’s no way I see Scott Hogan not starting.
You could harshly drop Green and play Kodjia on the left, I suppose, to accommodate Gardner in the middle, but wouldn’t we be going down the same road of leaving the lone striker isolated?
If that happens, I don’t think I’ll be best impressed.
No, it has to be a 4-4-2 (or a 4-4-1-1 if you like) against a team in Forest’s present state.
They’ve actually won their last two games, but I’m sure you know what I mean. We’ve just pinched their best midfielder and McCormack can’t play this one, after all.
No, there’s no excuse now.
Bruce has the tools required and we have to go at them from the off.
Sod this sitting deep stuff; we should press and play a high line.
Most of all, we need to see some serious movement from the players and they need to be creating space for our undoubted quality (at this level) players to pass into.
Of course, it might well be that things don’t work out.
The team might not click. In fact there’s every chance it won’t.
But there’s no excuse now to not show some proper attacking intent. You might as well lose fighting and threatening as trying to play safe and hope for something and yet still lose, in my opinion.
If we play as well as I believe this side is easily capable of, I can see a 3-1 win, no problem.
But if we see the rubbish we’ve been accustomed too over the last few months, I can’t see past yet another away defeat.
And a fall into yet more abject doom and gloom, as we slide further down the table.
The pressure’s on, Mr Bruce.
No excuses, you have to get the players performing and I want to see you on the touchline ordering the players to get at them.
Oh, in other news, Gabby has done his hamstring, which strikes me as quite convenient. No matter though, as I don’t think anyone, including the manager, cares. His days as a Villa player are surely numbered.
Villa to lose 1-2.
I’m worried about this one.
We need to be tearing the lower level teams a new arsehole, but I don’t see it happening.
It’ll be a 12.30 kO where I am, which means I’ll have a major amount of time to drown my sorrows.
Will I get a decent stream via my paid-for wifi?
I doubt it.
Which means I’ll be relying on you guys to keep me informed.
Fingers crossed, we need a convincing win.
Otherwise my head gets it.
The old feeling of dread is starting to return – nothing more to say
Hepburn-Murphy has signed a new 3.5 year deal according to BBC. He’s injured at present but expect him to appear on the bench when fit. A positive end to the window – well done to Bruce et al.
I really hope we win so it lifts the friggin mood on here, 1-3 villa hogan brace & kodjia UTV COYL
I just hope that the Brentford game woke them up, if this goes against us I’ll be heading to the other side, i just don’t understand how Newcastle can turn it around and we didn’t, in fact lower teams have. I’m thinking coaching has a big part in this its not always the manager, you get them thinking their good ,then find out they are not, you cannot sack them legal reasons, i don’t know just upset with the whole soding out come. Score today? not a clue.
Ever since Colin Calderwood arrived – coincidence? Perhaps SB needs to get back on the training pitch?
Hitch I’ve said this before since calderwoods been at the club our forms dipped, not sure whats going on there.
Two matches on Sky at the same time Barca and Villa. I’m going to watch the Barca game while keep my fingers crossed that Villa win.
Main reason I’m not going to see the match is the off chance that my watching might be putting a jinx on them so I’ll try not watching and see what happens.
Clutching at very small straws I know.
Villa to win 0-3. We have to get it right some time!
delighted with RHM signing new contract. great newslooking forward to seeing him introduced instead of bringing gabby on murphy will be the super sub.
forest have won their last two home games so not such a easy touch. yes they are in shambles off field, caretaker manager, protests against the owner.
i think a change of formation will see a comfortable win. 3 5 2 recall for the captain. johnstone,
bree baker elphick chester, taylor,
hourihane lansbury bjarnason
kodjia hogan
0 2 villa win hopefully this will be the new start, i reckon the next 6 games will define the rest of the season. derby and newcastle are massive games coming up. but before and around them 2, are winnable games. if we can reach those two big games with some form and confidence, we are right back in the fold . i think this forest game is massive, just for the confidence it will bring. for the following games.
only takes one good performance, we are gonna do some serious damage to a team soon. we just need to get that confidence and only way that comes is with wins and goals. we have plenty of goals in this team now. POSITIVE VIBES
Remember the match at VP…we played them off the park with all our forwards but the lack of mods let them waltz through to grab the 2-2 draw…well we have forwards and mids now so….ah but this is the Villa….fingers crossed for a position result.
……positive…..
Without a fit holding midfielder, I’d expect 3 at the back. Problem is one of those 3 is most likely Elphick who is painfully slow and positionally disastrous. 2-1 Forest and another away loss.
Most of the teams we are playing have settled teams which is a massive advantage over our virtually total overhaul in the summer and now again january.
Bruce must use the remainder of this season and the summer to get the team used to each and push for promotion next season.
It will not happen this year.
Think that’s absolutely right Steve. Whilst we all want to get back to the Prem, promotion this season (OK I know it’s unlikely anyway) could do more harm than good.
I don’t expect a lot this season like mentioned it’s about regrouping & getting the team to gel but everytime we lose & the way we lose really feels like a good kick in the bollox that never changes UTV
It is up to Bruce to get it right now.
We need a win today will we get it ?. Need a massive improvement form last week. Player’s are going to need time to bed in.
We need to get it into our heads , there is no play offs this season.
4-3-3?on paper looks good COYL
With Baker at LB?
Looks like it Giddy.
Surprised Bjarnasson starts after he looked so unfit.
Aston Villa
34 Sam Johnstone
6 Tommy Elphick
12 James Chester
2 Nathan Baker
16 James Bree
20 Birkir Bjarnason
5 Henri Lansbury
14 Conor Hourihane
40 Jack Grealish
26 Jonathan Kodjia
9 Scott Hogan
Substitutes
23 Jordan Amavi 19 Andre Green 31 Mark Bunn 21 Alan Hutton 37 Albert Adomah 7 Leandro Bacuna 22 Gary Gardner
No Taylor – not fit?
Dunno Hitch.
Looks a bit narrow, that team, but hopefully Bruce has done his homework.
Agree Badger – relying on full backs (Baker?) to provide width?
Well Bruce is going all in – I just hope it works better than midweek.
Surprised to see Bjarnason starting again.
Not sure what formation Bruce is going for… it could be a 4-4-2 Diamond with Baker out left or 4-5-1 with Kodjia out wide or 5-3-2? No idea what he’s planning but from his comments post game about going back to the basics I’d assume a 4-4-2?
He’s brought Grealish in to open doors by the looks of it.
Bloody hell, I’ve got a cracking stream.
vipbox, link 1
Badger – Taylor is ill according to Sky