https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x55lx9r_qpr-vs-aston-villa-0-1-championship-all-goals-highlights-18-12-2016_sport
I have to say I really enjoyed that game as much as any I’ve watched in a while.
Okay, the quality wasn’t the best, but I felt the team did what I mostly want and that’s keep the pace up and try to entertain.
Unfortunately, it seems that keeping that pace up introduces more errors and we looked really poor early on, with simple passes being mislaid.
Fortunately, QPR’s quality is worse than ours and we won out in the end; a result that still keeps us in the promotion game.
Steve Bruce made several changes and my opinion says we looked better for them.
I’m going to concentrate on the pluses, as it’s alway easier to moan, isn’t it?
I know some of you don’t rate Bunn as any better than Gollini, but I have to massively disagree.
There were a few situations where Bunn commanded his area in a way I don’t believe Gollini would and I feel the defence trust him more.
Dare I say, I thought Hutton played well? That’s another one that many might disagree with, but for me, he simply did. Rangers certainly didn’t get much change out of him, but I should also point out that he had much better support, with Chester and Jedinak helping him out.
Chester? He was excellent along with Baker, who was a welcome return.
Amavi was very good, getting back for good defensive work, while also looking to get forward. I felt he faded somewhat in the second half, which wasn’t surprising, given his work-rate.
Jedinak, after a dodgy start, where all he seemed to do was give the ball away, got better and he really is a rock in covering the defence.
Adomah, I thought looked a threat and he also helps Hutton too.
Gardner didn’t do a fat lot, but he does provide more work than Westwood. This is the position we need to improve on, I’d say.
Bacuna looked like he deserves a run to me. I don’t think he was anything special, but he just offers more, especially over someone like Westwood.
McCormack? He was played out wide and it just doesn’t suit him, as he needs to be around the box more. He was again anonymous and as I’ve previously suggested, I don’t think he suits Bruce’s thinking.
Kodjia worked his socks and indeed his shirt off. He led the line and provided lots of movement. His penalty attempt was poor, but his hard work paid off and he got a thoroughly deserved goal.
Subs:
Gabby? I can only think that Bruce is trying to keep him in the shop window, with a view to getting rid. We all know he’s finished, after all. Who’s going to pay anywhere near his wages though?
Westwood was purely about fresh legs, surely. He offers nothing in attack and doesn’t help in defence in the last few minutes.
Gestede serves a purpose, but should he have done better in the one on one? I think so.
This game offered us a few things.
We won for the first time on Sky in ages.
We have another away win in the bag.
And it was an away clean sheet.
All in all, a very good day, where I believe we’re six points off the play-offs.
It’s all still to play for, which is no doubt a position we wouldn’t be in, if we were in the Prem. Well, not in a positive way, at least.
I’ll add the video as soon as I find it.
UTV!
bruce might not like golini and tish ( as reported allegedly) because they were just signed and are on probably very good wage, too good for what bruce regards as squad player.maybe theres nothing more than this.
other players like gabby, who has been given another final chance. maybe this is to get him fit and on the radars of other clubs, as bruces attempts to finally get him out of here.
finally if bruces wants tish out then he has a plan to strengthen midfield this window. he will not reveal his hand to fans, as that will drive up the price of his targets or alert other competition for that player. stories surrounding gestede reveals hes a well coveted player. looks like they will have no problems regaining their transfer fee on him
that might be the trigger. if villa can sell their big wages which bruce doesnt fancy. this will lead to more room for his players to slot in. i like gestede but we havent used him correctly. if a club like palace bought him, he would get better service for his skills there trust me.
Nath – all good points. I commented earlier that, with all the agent talk around Gestede (Pat Murphy says no official approach to Vila yet), SB may have let it be known he’s available in January.
Taking your point on wages v playing value then SB may need to move some players out before he can buy because of FFP where it has been suggested we are close to the financial limits. It would make sense for him to move players with good resale values that are on high wages that he doesn’t see as part of his plans – and on that point Gabby would be first in the queue for me on wages alone.
At the risk of angering Badger (I don’t like the Mail web site either) here’s link to a report in Mail which suggests OLL might have been right after all
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-transfer-update-dr-12356715
this article was good and it kind of explains, why bruce seems to be moving certain players closer to the exit door. also this article says 5 players incoming, much higher than i was expecting. if he is moving players on because hes balancing the books with this fair play b/s, his hands are tied. he has not got problems with players other than, they probably aren’t regarded as his 1st team starters and are probably on 1st team wages in his eyes too much
before season started. villa announced they were shutting the upper north stand ??? to save money. did they do this measure, wouldnt this lower the fair play b/s budget
Nath thought it was upper Trinity – not that it matters as the question stays the same. I suppose if you can’t sell the seats it’s probably beneficial to reduce costs by reducing ground capacity as I assume FFP looks at revenue and costs? – not that I understand FFP – anybody help here?
but reducing the capacity is also reducing your financial income, wouldn’t this mean reducing the FFP i would i thought so. i would also have thought we would sell out VP. we are bigger than them barcodes. what ever they think. if the prices are value we have fans that will fill VP sort the team out as well and skyies the limit
Shutting a section of the ground makes no difference to any FFP rules because it can always be reopened. I also guess this applies to demolition on a temporary basis for rebuilding – so long as it does not last more than one whole season.
Odd isn’t it – this runs contrary to what were supposed to be Bruce’s own words a couple of matches back. The B Mail actually quotes and names the CEO Wyness so I would think they now have to go for the 5 players. If no attempt is made then the CEO and owner have made a noose for their own necks, when they could have been much more vague about January plans.
Apparently it’s now being reported (but I haven’t seen the actual report) that SB is not looking to move Tshibola on in January but is expecting him to stay to ‘provide cover in the squad’. What do you believe or not believe in the press around transfers?
i first thought when ppl started to put one and one together, that sb wants players he can rely on at minute. players he knows and knows they will graft or they have the right temperament. experience is also a major attribute hes wanting. ltr when he has stamped his philosophy he will bring in some kids. like murphy green and i thought tish was in this group not quite ready.
iguess we all will have to wait. but this jan sales will be very interesting. we have to also remember the mess we was in last season, its gonna take a few windows, more if bruce starts ripping up last season spending. i think tish and golini look decent prospects. but maybe bruce wants now not ltrs,
if bruce starts ripping last summer,,,,, not season spending. just the RDM signings like tish and golini particular
Hitch, I’m not angry at all 🙂
The Mail is a great source for Villa news.
It’s just that it was a nightmare to view and I just couldn’t encourage it.
In fairness, it’s now improved drastically and doesn’t lock up my computer anymore.
As for FFP, the link explains it fairly simply, but is a bit outdated.
The important point to note is that a club is now assessed over 3 years with a permitted average loss of £13 mill per season.
The problem is it doesn’t explain when that 3 years begins. Is it ongoing from previous years or did it start this season?
Either way, we might be seriously close and it would explain why players would have to leave;
http://www.financialfairplay.co.uk/financial-fair-play-explained.php
so badger is just the debts nothing to do with income. thanks for this i always wondered what FFP entailed
also theres a video i recommend you all should watch 🙂 if you have 6 mins of your life to spare. but i am glad you posted this badger, as i always wondered how they worked out this. newcastle villa and norwich are really the first three teams to really have a massive advantage because the 3 years its worked on now as before it was 12 months to get your house in order. also we all received the parachutes in larger lump sums.
Nath, for clarity, income and spends are both involved.
It’s a simple matter of doing the sums on an account sheet and then adding any contribution from the owner, which is quite simply extra income.
I’d also assume parachute payments also count as income, but again it’s as clear as mud.
And I find my tax self assessment sums a piece of piss (the tax avoidance side apart).
And then you have this, straight from the horse’s mouth.
Which just confuses things even more.
If the last line in the quote below is correct, we must be miles over that already??
“3) Are clubs no longer allowed to have losses?
To be exact, clubs can spend up to €5million more than they earn per assessment period (three years). However it can exceed this level to a certain limit, if it is entirely covered by a direct contribution/payment from the club owner(s) or a related party. This prevents the build-up of unsustainable debt.
The limits are:
• €45m for assessment periods 2013/14 and 2014/15
• €30m for assessment periods 2015/16, 2016/17 and 2017/18”
http://www.uefa.com/community/news/newsid=2064391.html
I wonder if it also include any parashoot money in its calculation? Villa must have been running at a loss over the last 5-6 years, what would they have been given for the drop, a bit mind boggling that.if they let 5 players go, can we have 5 players back.
I assume losses are calculated through standard accounting practice which would support closing parts of the ground if it’s thought we can’t sell enough seats to cover the costs. What complicates matters (if I’ve remembered correctly) is that player acquisitions costs can be written off over a number of years whereas 100% of income from player sales is accounted for at the point of sale.
I would have thought that parachute payments would be accounted for as income in the year received.
If you recall Man City avoided FFP through a massive sponsorship deal from one of their Quatari Sheik mates (or even family!)
As I understand it the object is to avoid creating unsustainable debt through continual losses not debt in itself. Now I better read Badger’s link 🙂
Pardew sacked.
A job for Sam Alladyce then, no jobs safe into days world.
Or maybe Rowett?
Nice choice,imo.
Yes Taylor made for rowett mind you no premier league experience will they take a gamble, only a year ago pardew was a candidate for the England job how a managers fortunes change dog eat dog or what
If the new owners had any balls, they’d go for Rowett.
But they’ll probably go for the bigger name, as there’s too much at stake.
If they pick a supposedly monster name like Zola, I’ll piss myself as much as I am at the scum.
And while I’ve got nothing at all against Palace, it’ll serve them right.
Allardyce makes good sense, imo.
Badger I agree. Palace are in a hole and Sam can dig them out. Appointing anyone else and they’re likely to do what we did last season and totally implode.
As for Rowett he can sit tight for a while and do a bit of punditry. As the season progresses he’s going to get loads of offers.
Just glad we’re not in that position at Christmas. We’ve got 31 points and first target is 46 or so to be sure we won’t go down (don’t forget that it wasn’t that long ago when it looked a real proposition). Once we’ve got that the rest of the season is a free hit.
I’ve got a good feeling that next year is going to be an exciting one for Villa fans and for all the right reasons too.
UTV
From Bruces’ Presser today;
“We always knew he (Kodjia) was going to the Africa Cup of Nations.
This is why we needed to get Gabby in some sort of shape which he is now, quietly and efficiently over the last three months he’s got back into condition.”
I think that puts paid to any of us who had Gabby’s departure on our Xmas list 🙁
https://www.avfc.co.uk/News/2016/12/23/press-conference-pre-burton
That’s us fucked for a month, there’s me thinking things might be looking up.
I’ve got this scary feeling Bruce will play him too.
Unbelievable.
and you wonder why i don t like bruce
like we need an archangel for more than xmas
happy xmas to all including who dont agree with my post
that and the fact gardner has got a new 4 year deal what the fuck are they watching ,its bad enough westwood bacuna got 5 year deals
JV – even though you don’t like SB it’s hard to deny that he’s done a pretty good job since he joined us. I’m pretty sure that the deals for Gardner, Bacuna and Westwood were in place before SB arrived so you can hardly lay that at his door.
What I would love to know is who would you have appointed if not SB – and don’t go back to before RDM was appointed – that would be cheating 🙂
We don’t always agree but Happy Christmas mate and here’s to a sparkling 2017 for all us Villans.
Whoops – big slice of humble pie – didn’t realise that Gardner had just signed a new, improved contract. Still ‘tow out of three ain’t bad!) 🙂
Now, is that not trying to use your brains, Gabby? Ffs Bruce he’s got to be living in the past Gabby, he’s finished in the game and you don’t play speed at his age, doubt is now coming in about his abilities to me, Start useing the grey matter Bruce and don’t listen to has been coaches.
Bill – I hope that Gabby is there to cover any major injuries and not as a main player. McCormack must be ahead of him and I would like to see Murphy in before Gabby as well. We should be looking forward not backwards.
Here’s another thought though – if we’re paying Gabby all those wages the bl***y least we should expect is that the bloke is fit and can play when needed. Never did like the bomb squad approach – self defeating cr*p.
hitchens
that today gardner new contract is just like lerner time giving new contracts to duds and to be fair gardner has had enough chances
me i would have wanted someone fresh not of the merry go round managers wagner of huddersfield or rowet someone that the players want to play for and not none of this crap signing 3rd choice utd nobody keeper players from hull
allthe players i am seen linked are not good enough if we go up adoamh wasn t deemed good enough by boro and honestly i agree
we bought 9 in summer and we cannot make same mistake now
Fair enough JV but neither Rowett nor Wagner were available so I still maintain Bruce was the best choice given the managers available and the need to secure promotion – also all I’ve heard, read suggests the players do want to play for Bruce. As to the players we sign then the first priority is promotion not trying to buy PL players that either wouldn’t be interested in signing or would be on a last hurrah payday – we’ve tried the latter route already – Lescott, Richards anyone?
Let’s learn how to walk again before we start trying to run.
i just think it is 2 steps forward and 1 back
and back to last summer crazy as it sounds i would went back to remi garde he knew the problems within the club
never mind
happy xmas and hope for 6 points before the new year
I like Bruce but like the rest of use I can not understand why he is giving Gabby playing time. He is finished and not the answer in January.
Does that mean he’ll get the nod before Mccormack????
No Giddy , more like the No bell prize. How can any manager not understand fans feelings?.Gabby has had his day piss I’m off.
So Sam’s got the job, stood to reasons that, kick in the balls to the FA.
My god, who sanctioned that 4 year deal for GG?
I really like him and want him to come good, but the fact is he promised a lot and has looked poorer as time’s gone on, for us at least.
2 years at best, with options until he actually proves himself in a Villa shirt, would have been my offer.
Otherwise, I’d have let him go.
As it currently stands, that’s an incredibly mediocre signing and no, it isn’t just current form.
He’s done nothing apart from look a good prospect.
The worrying thing is, I’m not convinced this is down to Bruce.
Unless it’s yet another case of a player looking superb in training.
In fact, I’ll go further and say Bruce has had nothing to do with this, whatsoever.
well badger
what is bruce actually doing ,forced to play gabby,new contracts to one of the worst midfielder i have seen even lambert kept sending him out on loan, maybe i am not wrong on bruce
happy xmas mate keep up the goodwork with the site
I can’t agree with your views about Bruce at all and think you’re wrong about him.
I do however, think Xia has a lot more say than we realise, which would explain why Gabby and GG are being kept. They’re Villa and I think that counts for a lot to our owner.
But, as is my usual position, it’s all about the debate.
Hence merry Xmas to you fella 🙂
I’ll say the same generally when I do the preview tomorrow.
I have a suggestion for Bruce if he is tempted to play Gabby – and it isn’t go and lie down in a darkened room. Play him at left-back and move Amavi forward.
OLL That’s maybe not as daft as it first sounds. I sort of agree with Badger about Dr. T’s influence but I find it hard to accept that Bruce has been told to play Gabby or sign GG on a 4 year contract. We need to know more about the GG deal – specifically wages to determine whether it represents a good bit of business for the club – anyway surely 2 year contract is in no ones interest as it means no resale value after 12 months and can talk to clubs after 18months!
My only issue with Bruce like most is playing shabby & GG besides that I’m quite happy. If in general you just don’t like the chap well your going to find anything to pick holes in. We’re all villa fans & opinions differ I’ll still wish everyone a merry Christmas 🎄 even if we disagree UTV
What! A 4 yr deal for GG only just heard ffs
Interesting fact from the Mail –
‘All three Premier League managers – Paul Lambert, Brendan Rodgers and Alan Pardew – who have signed Crystal Palace striker Christian Benteke have been sacked’
Got nothing but respect for Benteke after he almost single-handedly kept us up but it’s strange isn’t it?
Wonder if that will affect his future with managers scared that they might get the sack if they sign him? Come on Gianfranco put a bid in!
Yes, I saw that article.
I’d take Benteke back in a heartbeat.
It’s just coincidence and he’s a great player if you give him the service.
Lambert was just crap, Rodgers should never have bought him if he wasn’t going to use him correctly and I can’t comment on Pardew, as I haven’t watched a Prem game this season(!)
I do believe he’s scored a few for Palace though, so it’s not his fault.
Need to keep Zola at Blues – IMHO he’s a poor manager – another example of Chinese going for a ‘name’
Hitch I’m sure there’s some Chelsea link to China possibly they feel the club is lucky 🍀 so if you’ve been associated with them at some stage then your the right man for the job. It’s all Chinese to me 😁
Giddy – Confucius he say ‘there is more than one starling in a pie’ 🙂
Happy Christmas mate
Well the parts of Birmingham is now own by the Chinese , my old place where I grew up in Nechells, any house on the market is bought by Wing Yip for his staff and the ground.,you can spit on blues ground from Nechells. That island on Bristol road he paid for. It’s all Chinese now.