It’s a very short one, as I’m up to my nuts in work again.
I very much doubt I’ll get to see the game.
The truth is, I haven’t really kept track with who we’ve signed and who we’ve lost.
But us looking to bin Adomah is a disgrace, in my opinion, especially when he did such a good job for us last year and was voted as the player’s player of the year.
I know many of us think we need to look towards a younger squad, but is this how you should repay your best performers, even if they’re not performing at the moment?
I believe Adomah has plenty to offer, albeit he needs a rest.
Bruce has denied all sorts, but I’ve no doubt it’s true, given his brother’s comments.
Onto the game then and d’you know something?
I really don’t care about the result here.
That sounds mad, I know, but my opinion is that whatever happens, it won’t be season-defining.
Yes a loss will see us move further down the table, but it’s a long game and one that I suspect that will see us in a better position overall, than tomorrow’s league table.
The sad part is that I can’t be bothered to offer much at all to the debate, as all that matters is results.
Our footy is poor and I’m beginning to wonder what on earth Bruce is thinking, given his attacking signings when opposed to his generally negative approach.
I don’t believe it bodes well, but let’s see eh?
You want a prediction?
1-1.
At best, imo.
Comments
88 responses to “Sheff Utd- Villa; God knows, tbh.”
Not nice to hear fans fighting when we all want the club to do well. It probably is about Bruce in v Bruce out.
Bruce has no idea, players in wrong positions , Jedinak not a centre back, Tuenaze not a right back, Christ sake , I could do a better job, if it doesn’t improve with the new players he has too go, we should be better going forward but we got no decent defenders
11th in the table. Quite a drop! I wonder if Bruce will mention that he’s had to start over again this season as reason for defeat.
I am sure any one of us could write his script for him with a number of repeated key words or phrases – now heard far too often!
I would welcome Dean Smith as a replacement, but agree with Hitch that new owners will be looking for a marquee appointment.
Dreadful tactics. Dreadful performance. Surely this is it for Bruce. We seem to have no style of play or idea of how to play together. Literally straight from the kick off today we whacked it out of play. Embarrassing.
We did absolutely nothing to address our defensive issues before the end of the window. We have no balance, especially on the left, with 2 right footed players and our front man is completely isolated.
I hope not Holte, I’m to patriotic when it comes to football , get a foreign manager in you end up having foreigners in football that then means lack of English footballers for England, yes Dean Smith, why not he’s Villa and no doubt so are his family. I wonder what Bruce’s excuse is today.
Appointing a foreign manager is a risk although Wolves, Fulham and now Leeds look like they have got it right. Dire football can be tolerated if results are going well, but now we can’t get a win and now get thrashed. Dean Smith might not win us promotion this season but the football will definitely improve, plus he’s a Villa man and local lad.
Didn’t bruce promise a better showing after the burton defeat.
I think the players must be bored with playing the same way all the time.
Steve, he’s all talk and excuses, I hope that when it comes to owning a club they put their foot down and show us fans they mean business. Fans fighting among themselves, it’s all about principles, I like Bruce and I don’t like Bruce, how about the colours and badge and history, we all want the same thing, I’ll have to leave this whisky alone its nearlly all gone.
Disaster Bill – whisky I mean
Banners and protest are needed now if these new owners don’t show proper intent and rid us of this dinosaur.
Just read Bruce’s after match comments – seems to me he’s resigned to losing his job so perhaps he already knows he’s on borrowed time. I won’t resort to calling him a dinosaur but perhaps he’s too obstinate for his own good.
In many ways I think it’s sad as imho he’s a decent and honest bloke and undoubtedly stopped the rot when he came in for which I will always be grateful – but football is a cruel and unforgiving business – although he’ll be amply rewarded financially, failure eats away at your self esteem.
Im back, has he gone yet? No I’ll have another drink. Badger get from under that tram, you was at work when we had to suffer that shite. Even Nath as gone for a walk.
Bill, have you found an alternative whisky source?
I’m trying to resist emptying the bottle of Rioja on the table in front of me – bit like watching Villa – a sort of self flagellation!
Hitch, its the cheap one , Grants,, it still makes me happy untill in the morning and a sore head. Badgers back from work he’s just heard the score and gone back to work. New Post.
Drink the Rioja Hitch. You will find you are more philosophical after it!
Cheers DS – but I won’t be able to say philisphicol – hic!
Bruce has come out and blamed the players, typical.
Get Dean Smith in.
Or every Delia Smith will do.
That’s funny Bill. Nice to smile after such a dismal performance
I’ve not posted on here for years, but would like to say a few things:
I was delighted when the new owners kept faith with Steve Bruce in the summer. He’d done an excellent job of stabilising our club, and let’s not forget, losing both his parents in the run in last season didn’t seem to rock the Villa boat. For all that, thanks and much respect.
Unfortunately, it has become clear that it’s time to make (the right) change if we are serious about automatic promotion this year. Bruce has made a catalogue of inexplicable errors this season, which will probably mean that we’ll be playing a 4th season in the Championship, including:
1. Both signing and persevering with Nyland. The warning signs were there against Wigan, and compounded against Ipswich, but he’s still there. He didn’t cost much, so just write off that money. Simply not good enough. Losing Johnstone was not Bruce’s fault, but not signing an adequate replacement is. Fraser Forster might’ve been a good bet…
2. In Tommy Elphick, we had a leader who achieved promotion to the Premier League with a much smaller club that us. Surely, Chester and Elphick, two captains with vital experience, would’ve been perfect after Terry’s departure? When he came in last year, he did a good job and was even named man of the match on occasions. This season he started, we won, and he scored a goal. Then he’s out. Even though we’re desperately short of centre backs for a long hard season. Huge mistake, in my opinion.
3. Which brings us to Jedinak. He simply isn’t a centre back. Far too slow and a liability. Everyone can see it. Persevering with him in that position erodes confidence in Bruce’s ability to get us up, both from the fans, and I would think, from the squad. It’s so obvious.
4. I really started to worry when Andre Green was send away to Portsmouth after being our main man in pre-season. Yes, he needs some work but surely that’s what coaches are paid for? A rough diamond gone for another season. Compounding the mistake is the fact that there is now less competition for the wide positions. Having Green, Adomah, Bolasie, and El Ghazi would’ve been perfect strength in depth and competition for places.
5. Which brings us to Albert Adomah. OK, if he’s not a long term solution, fine. But, by alienating the player of last season and a double figures from midfield player, again, I would imagine the squad may be losing some respect for Bruce. Because the message is, what’s the point in doing well, if that’s how you’re later treated. He should’ve been shown more respect and kept as back up with the expectation that he’d win his place back like last season.
5. Conor Hourihane. I know he divides opinion, but you don’t take a double figures from midfield man out of the team because they’re rare. You ask him to repeat the trick and try to beat last season’s tally. Simple.
6. The formation. So much talent in the squad but too many defensive players in the team. Our aim should simply be to win the league, but to do that you have to say to the competition: “we’re better that you so we’re going to attack you and beat you.” And if that means the odd glorious defeat along the way, then so be it.
We could go on, but things aren’t right. Like I said before, much respect to Bruce for the work he’s done, but it’s starting to look like the task is too much.
Incidentally, I chose ‘Big Fat Ron’s Claret Blue Army’ because the football we played under that man should be the model for all Villa managers. We’re so, so far away from that attacking swaggering football now, but it doesn’t have to be that way…