Well, the headline might seem a bit strange, but that’s actually how I see this game, if truth be told.
Of course, I want us to win it, but if we assume that Kevin Macdonald is correct when he says this’ll be the only game he takes charge of, the result doesn’t really mean or tell us much, does it?
I’m obliged to talk about the game, even though I very much doubt I’ll get to see it and it’s a bit of a sideshow.
Squad news;
Millwall have Jed Wallace back from suspension, while Tom Bradshaw, Steve Morison and Aiden O’Brien are pushing for recalls after coming off the bench on Wednesday.
As for the Villa, Chester is suspended after deciding not to appeal, due to the risk of having the suspension increased. A wise choice, in my opinion; we need him back as soon as possible.
Mile Jedinak is out.
We have a poor record against Millwall away, with us not having won in the last six trips there.
But looking at their record this season, that’s also poor.
They haven’t won in their last eight games, a record pretty similar to Preston’s.
Which should mean we have reasons to be confident, eh?
Er, well, combine the way the way we collapsed against Preston and the fact that every team on an awful run seems to turn it around against us and I’m not at all confident.
Macdonald might try something a bit different, like playing players in their best positions as much as he can, but I don’t see him changing too much. It’s not his style and he’s more of a continuation of what went before.
You never know, he might get us trying something consistent for two halves, though.
I’m going for something like 2-2 and that’s being generous to us, to be honest.
No, on second thoughts, Millwall can score and we can always concede, even if Chester plays.
A 2-1 loss, I’m afraid.
Onto the most important issue then (for the next week or two at least), I see David Moyes has been installed as the favourite for the manager’s job.
There’s not a hope in hell he will get it.
He’s another old school, yesterday’s man, far too similar to Bruce.
And the word is he turned us down, the last time we approached him. Enough said.
And then Dwight Yorke has announced that he’s put his CV in.
Is he for real?
He has no experience and while he was a good player for us, that’s all there is.
Dwight, stop embarrassing yourself, get into a lower club, demonstrate some success and actual work and us fans might well approve your application in the future.
You have to admire his cheek though.
Comments
116 responses to “Millwall – Villa; A slight distraction to the manager hunt”
Good to see Kevin Mcdonald keeping up the stupid positioning of players and leaving bolasie on the bench who is our best player. Hope he gets the sack was useless his last time he took over. Typical villa.
Pointless ranting at MacDonald – he didn’t ask to be put in this position.
We just don’t have the allround squad quality that some fans think. We have a few very good players of which only one is a defender. I don’t care who the new manager is, with this squad we don’t have a hope in hell of promotion.
Agreed Hitchens. We need to lower expectations so the new boss has a chance. IF we can hang in there and be ‘there or there abouts’ before January and then get a new goalkeeper at at least on decent CB, then maybe we can put a run together in the New Year. Let’s not forget, Terry and James Collins are still out there. Why hasn’t anyone moved mountains to get one of them in! Huth another option but injured…
I’d like to know what people think of this:
sell Jack for 25 million and offer roughly half to Albion for Johnstone. Then spend the other half on a CB and a LB…we don’t need midfielders or strikers!
BFR – tbf I think we need to see what the new manager can make of young Jack who really isn’t performing. Either he gets his arse out of his hands and starts performing or I agree that we should consider offloading him in January IF we can get a decent fee.
We have to improve the defence in January (and we’ll probably have to sell to buy) and that includes a new gk – Nyland only cost £1m so we can ship him out and get a decent gk in, a new CB and LB.
Although we are only 3 points of 6th – I can’t see us improving over the next couple of months. Luckily I’m going to be in the sunshine for most of that time on a diet of rum and coke so won’t have to suffer it close at hand!
There or thereabouts why not keep Bruce then?..im sorry Mcdonald does deserve stick for today. He’s done this as a dig at the owners and to show his support for Bruce. Every man and his dog knew we needed some sort of shakeup today to start a fresh. It didnt happen and guess what!??? We LOST!! With a pathetic showing that Bruce was providing. Dont think everything falls at Bruce feet. People like Mcdonald dont help either. He needs to go and we need NEW thinking asap. Some of the u23s deserve their chance. O’hare was quality last night scored a hat-trick so was Jack Clark and Blackett-taylor, give them a chance for gods sake! Bedeau a CB!! Give him a chance instead of Bree a RB!! The Villa make things so complicated its unreal!
MacDonald is in charge of the U23’s and has been for years – the very players you are extolling – yeah let’s sack him as well!
Yeah hes in charge but its Delaney that does all the work and doesnt get the credit he deserves. How many have come through under his management?..At the end of the day the u23s is irrelevant. He picked the team today to stick 2 fingers up to the board and to salute our hero Bruce. Its those old school thinking staff that we need rid of.
Well, I bow to your greater knowledge of the workings at VP.
Adam, if those kids, who do have great potential, were thrown into the team, with this VP crowd, they would NOT handle the pressure. Too many ‘fans’ would get on their back the moment they misplaced a pass, or made an error due to inexperience. Maybe Bruce knew that. Sorry, but VP is not the most hospitable of places. If we were as abusive and hostile to the opposition as we are to our own players and manager(s), we’d have more of a chance. Sorry if people don’t like that, but the truth hurts.
Hitchens theres no need to try and patronize because someone doesnt agree with you is there?? Im not saying i have greater knowledge. But from when ive watched the u23s its generally Delaney running the team from the touchline…last night they won 8-0, Delaney was managing…big fat ron you are wrong..have you not seen how our fans react to youth players?? They get a tremendous reaction when they come on and there is no way the fans would get on their back.
He doesn’t want the job that’s for sure.Grabban scored again . The Scum are 3-1, i can see them looking down on us, Im starting to wonder if this lack of efforts is down to wages, some on 50 grand, the rest lower down to 20- 25.that team should be miles better than the championship.
Just listened to it and sounded like once millwall equalised the players just give up nor give a shit.
I don’t think henry can sort this out. Dea Smith migjt onstall some fight.
Bruce left us with no defence.
That’s true Hitch, take a look at the stats 388 passes Villa 157 Milwall, shots on goal 15 Milwall 6 Villa it gets worse. They should hold their heads in shame.
Just hope whoever they’ve lined up isn’t having second thoughts after that performance
Just hope they’ve got someone lined up, full stop! Bruce made mistakes but if no replacement, can’t sack! Same mistake Bruce made with Elphick! (slaps forehead)
look defence was poor again but that aside, we have as much problems creating good chances, just stretching the opposition once and a while would help. we are too slow in possession, we are lacking ideas and to be honest we are not good enough to play as the big team we think we are. millwall just wanted this more than us and the way they took their time winding the clock down against us shows you how much of a sclap we are. plus referees are totally against us home or in tricky away games like today. we have to get used to getting nothing even if its a stone wall.
just hope to got the owners make the right decision and quickly. they have at least a international break to work with the players
Carlos Queiroz or Christophe Galtier next Aston Villa manager.
Only had the ODD report on WM as I took to the garden to smash a few things up…….I take it we were our usual crap……..just heard a scum bloke being allowed to comment on OUR team…SOD OFF……mind your own business.
Today…especially the score was not going to mean anything apart from getting points…..with or without Bruce this was a loss anyway.
If anyone else tries to defend Bruce they are barmy…..we have a team with no defence or organisation and cant see a Henry type sorting that out…..and long term an English type would be same as a Bruce……bring on a proper foreign one ….quickly…..
Rantings over…
Defensively we are screwed, but with the attacking options available to us we should be creating more and scoring more than most in this division. We are far too slow in possession which is why we are not creating the chances we should be. We do need to realise that being a big scalp means we need to have players with fight in them. We do lack leadership in our ranks, particularly with Chester and Jedinak not playing. Whether a new manager can solve the issues we have is to be seen. We desperately need to add defenders come January, although FFP might limit our options. Maybe if we did get a sizeable fee for Grealish to boost the coffers then this will have to be considered. Preferably I would rather a few others like Lansbury were sold if they aren’t going to feature.
Holte – just looked at the table and we are joint 4th highest scorers which suggests we are not as bad as it seems in our attacking play BUT we have the worst defence bar none in the Championship. That’s more relegation than promotion stats!
I know Bruce had to work under difficult circumstances in the summer but to leave so poor at the back is unforgivable and allowing Elphick to leave nothing short of negligence.
Exactly Hitchens. The Elphick descision is what cost Bruce his job. I said it before many times and say it again. I am sure he regrets that decision.
…and that’s why I said earlier, if we can hang in there until January, within touching distance of the top 6, then get the defensive reinforcements, we would still have a chance of a successful season. All depends on the new manager…
We are scoring goals Hitch but today’s game where we dominate possession but get massively beat on shots on goal suggests we need to be even more ruthless particularly away from home. We go sideways across the middle a bit too much rather than use players with pace. Bolasie and El Ghazi are quick and Grealish isn’t a slouch, so we should have it within the squad to go from back to front quicker. The quicker you get it to the front man the less time the defence has to organise themselves. McDonald was never going to get an instant fix. He hasn’t in the past so I was certain we were going to lose today. A new manager with a new philosophy of doing things could prove to be what we need with the quality at his disposal.
Totally agree Holte. I took my wife to the Wigan game – her first ever match, and even she commented on how slow we were, and that Wigan were quicker! Like you say, we’ve got the players! Would love to see El Ghazi and Bolasie in the same team!
Not arguing with you on any of those points Holte – you’re right we should be creating far more chances than we do but giving away goals every game puts so much pressure on the team that it must have a negative effect which creaties an overly cautious approach. The midfield / attack needs to have confidence in the defence but they have none. I know this hurts but look at WBA for the answer!
Like you I’m hoping a new manager can find a solution but I fear that until we address our defensive frailties not much is going to change.
Holte – maybe another manager can get Lansbury to produce what he’s capable of. I’m sure he can play the role Jack does…
You could be right. For some reason he hasn’t had any opportunities under Bruce.
…like so many others! Even though they’re all his signings!
Supporting Villa is like looking into the abyss, endless. Like it or not, this team will need a large cull and a full rebuild.
A new keeper and centre back need to priorities in Jan. An overhaul is not required. We just need to make the most of squad and get them playing with confidence .
What is wrong with Jed Steer? Performed well against Hull in first match of the season. Plus had a very successful season at Preston North End a couple of years before.
What is wrong with Tommy Elphick as a Championship defender? Proven with Bournemouth.
What is wrong with Richard De Leat? Premiership winner with Leicester, Championship winner with Middlesbrough and arguably best player in pre-season.
Nothing in reality, except Bruce did not want them. We have a poor defence, which would be stronger with them
In the team. We are now up against FFP and are most likely having to pay the majority of their wages each week whilst they are in loan, likely to cost us between £50-60k per week, roughly £2.5m this year. Could this be perceived as incompetence?
Can they be recalled from their loans?
So to all the media fans of Bruce who keep singing his virtues this is his true legacy.
Spot on Sid. I still think to be a top team, a ‘top’ goalkeeper is needed though. But if FFP dictates, then of course, Steer would be a decent option…
Btw, could someone please explain FFP to me? Excuse my ignorance, but what’s he point in having wealthy owners if they can’t do anything? I really don’t get it!
BFR – under FFP it seems it’s all about losses not liquidity – I don’t get it either. You can be a profitable company and still go bust without liquidity!
Under Xia we may have been within the allowable FFP accumulated losses but we would still have gone bust because we ran out of cash.
Steer was decent against Hull but i prefer Nyland..i think he is better than Steer. Theres obviously a reason he was loaned out and thats because he isnt rated at all. Having said that Bunn is even worse! Sad state of affairs really on the GK front. Makes you wonder what the point of loaning Moriera was?? Prob just for mendes to make some money imo.
Totally agree Sidforever, I would have kept all of those players. De Laet was looking back to his best pre season and Steer did a lot less wrong than the newbie. Also Elphick was dropped after a win and scoring a goal! Complete madness! Bruce’s decisions that cost him his job. Like you said we will be paying most of their wages probably including McCormack. Isn’t Micah Richards a defender still on our books?
Totally forgot about Richards! Wow, Bruce really was stubborn, eh?
Agreed Sid and you have perfectly identified the poor decisions Bruce made directly leading to his downfall
Definitely agree that a cull or an overhaul is not required!
Today was just more of the same. I’ve no comment on KMac as it’s unfair to judge him on today. Whilst it’s nowhere near the same the U23 side that he has coached were fantastic last night. That’s probably a better performance to judge him on rather than the first team that he has only had for a couple of days.
That’s not me endorsing him as a replacement for Bruce, but I suspect in the long run he wouldn’t be worse.
The inadequacies in the squad were avoidable, or at least they could have been mitigated. We had big bids in for a LB and CH at the close of the window. That money wasn’t spent so must be available in January. Bruce could have made life easier for us by keeping Elphick, but decided not to.
Anyway. The past is the past. Get a good appointment for manager, stay in touch until January, make a couple of signings and we will be in good shape.
I’m feeling pretty positive about things right now/
Im really warming to the idea of Henry as manager now. I think he touch of class about him. I also think he will know exactly what system he will want to play and then make sure the players learn it. I think in Jan he will then be able to maybe get rid off those that dont fit his system and sign a couple he feels will suit his system and he will get us at least to the playoffs i reckon.
What’s happening lads Henry Terry joint managers?
Henry is to be the new manager of Aston Villa and his first ‘signing’ will be John Terry.
Terry is set to return to Villa Park as Henry’s No2 in a dream line-up for Villa’s hierarchy. It is believed both interviewed for the post as manager but Henry’s greater experience got him the nod. The duo have been told they are expected to win promotion to the Premier League ‘sooner rather than later’.
The news is likely to thrill Villa’s hardcore support, who had grown frustrated with life under Steve Bruce
Sounds good to me Bill. Terry back around the club can only be a good thing. Where did you read that?..The two of them are destined to be top managers i personally believe.
It was dropped out on BT sports by shite his name escapes our left back from Arsenal, more news later they both have agreed to come to Villa.
That might be our saviour to all our worries.
The like button gone again.Badger.
Bill, the freebie version of like button only lets you have 25 buttons per page.
I did pay for it previously, but then found we didn’t need unlimited buttons, as general Villa interest had dropped off and there weren’t that many replies.
Let me explain how it works.
Let’s say you comment on something and 5 people reply DIRECTLY to that comment.
If that happens 7 times in a single page, you can see we have 35 comments and the button hits it’s limit.
If there are straightforward comments with few DIRECT replies, we don’t have a problem and just move onto a new page, where the 25 buttons limit applies.
I changed back to the freebie version because the cost comes out of my pocket and we have zero money coming in.
No worries, it’s not expensive and I’ll pay for it again, now there’s a demand, which means it will be sorted shortly.
I’m happy to do it, as the debate has been excellent lately 🙂
No Badger no worries I understand what’s the rules. Don’t bring extra cost over me I thought it was going Titus up again.☺
Like button sorted mate 🙂
Oh, Bill,
You adding news comments, is much appeciated and covers for me when I’m not available.
But do me a favour and please add a link or just say where you’re getting it from, so we can weigh up the reliability of it.
Cheers 🙂
Will do. ☺
I’ve seen the same reports Bill. Someone has to be top dog, and I guess that would be Henry. Selecting his No 2 is odd, and not sure Terry would want to be second fiddle. If the rumours are true you would think Henry and Terry must have spoken and decided they could work together. With their past rivalry I would be surprised if they are great mates.
Who knows? We will no doubt find out soon enough.
Although I would like Smith at Brentford as our new manager, Henry and Terry does excite me. Why, could result in the team’s skill base in both attacking and defending significantly improving.
Sounds like they’re mitigating the risk of taking on an untried Henry by employing Terry who knows the club and players well. Although Terry might have wanted the top job being an assistant at a club like Villa is still a great opportunity for someone who’s just finished his playing career. If he can’t sort out our defence then no-one can.
It’s a brave move if true but I think we’ve all had enough of playing safe haven’t we?
Best of luck to them both.
Sun now claiming that Patrick Vieira, now at Nice, might be interested.
Somewhat torn if true as Vieira was one of the true greats and someone who I always thought might make a good manager one day.
After wondering if anyone half-decent would be applying for the job are we going to be spoilt for choice?
I’m not convinced by Henry on his own, but with Terry as a number 2 and with his presence then I would definitely like that prospect. Hopefully he can have a playing role included. Also this would soften the blow of the pro Steve Bruce players. Thankfully the Moyes links seems to have dried up. Let’s hope we hear something soon so they can get a head start before international break concludes.
Arsenal and France legend Henry has interviewed for the chance to replace Steve Bruce at Villa Park, and is reportedly set to get the nod for the job.
However, former Chelsea and England captain Terry – who has not officially retired as a player since leaving Villa in the summer – also applied for the manager’s job, and will become Henry’s assistant manager.
Henry’s greater experience – thanks to a brief spell coaching Arsenal’s youth teams and over two years as part of Roberto Martinez’s coaching staff at Belgium – has given him the edge on Terry.
But the duo seem a strange pairing, given their legendary status at two of London’s biggest rivals and the fact they never played or worked together before.
Well lads it seems close to the truth, and I think its a good move on behalf of the club.
The Guardian are reporting that Terry will join on the coaching staff whoever is manager which might suggest this a pre condition by the owners. Terry could be massively important for us – I just hope, if it’s true, he joins as player coach at least until January.
We are in a real mess again and it’s going to take some sorting but, in our favour, is there are no real stand out teams in the Chsmpionship this season.