Well, we didn’t totally embarrass ourselves, but that was frankly rubbish wasn’t it?
The first half, I couldn’t understand what we were trying to do, as it seemed we were trying to play for a draw, which wouldn’t have suited us at all.
I think both sides created one chance each, which says it all, as we parked the bus and it made for incredibly tedious watching.
It seems both managers thought the same and the second half was totally different and the pace was immediately stepped up, meaning we had much more of what I was expecting in a cup tie.
The trouble is, as soon as the pace moved up a gear, so our deficiencies showed and Spurs were always more likely to score.
You don’t need me to tell you we lack creativity and I’m afraid Grealish, who should be having the same sort of laugh he has on his nights out at this level, doesn’t do enough for me. Perhaps I’m being unfair there, but we know he has more skill in his little finger than most Championship players. We just too rarely see it in my opinion.
I’m being critical, but you really have to remember that Spurs made nine changes for this game. Yes, Nine.
This was basically their second string and I’m afraid I find that very worrying, as they were easily the better side overall.
That said, there were plus points.
Tshibola worked hard and surely demonstrated that he’s way better than Westwood or Gardner as it stands.
And Johnstone looks way better in goal than any other option we have.
I immediately felt he positions himself better, not that I’m any expert when it comes to goal-keeping.
Once Spurs got the inevitable goal, Bruce bought Green and Davies on, which seems to demonstrate that he’s willing to look at the kids and that’s surely a good thing.
But the reality is the opposition were mostly at the same level, so it’s not a real test.
Baker seemed to twist his back or something, which is a concern, as we can’t afford to have him out.
I don’t know, perhaps you’ll think I’m being far too negative in my assessment.
But I can’t get away from their nine changes, where we played our strongest side.
Any incoming players can’t arrive fast enough, I’d say.
While everybody is riding their usual hobby horses, I am not going to abandon mine – which is “You build teams from the back.”
So I was delighted to see our new goalie! Anybody who comes as a young GK to Manure and stays on their books has to be exceptional, United have such a wide choice. I was impressed with his performance, he could do nothing about either goal except make a guess before the ball was headed/kicked and get lucky.
The game turned on Baker’s jarring injury, he isn’t quick at the best of times and that slowed him. Villa’s defence lacks reinforcements and a replacement for Hutton.
Because teams are built from the back and the midfield is still crap, I think its is not worth criticising the forwards for not creating. If they are still as bad when they do have a good midfield behind them, then we can let rip. Gabby however is not going to improve. He does not know what to do when a defender is blocking a shot at goal except hit the ball and hope it misses the defender but not the target.
OLL agree with pretty much all of that – strange how Baker has gone from Villan to hero but It’s good to see one of our younger players coming through the ranks.
Whilst I agree we do need to improve our RB I don’t think it’s an absolute priority in this window over improving the mid field.
Johnstone looked the real deal on Sunday – here’s hoping.
Giddy – latest transfer rumours – Bruce to swop McCormack for Brady which is just possible assuming Brady is prepared to stay in the Championship. Bidding for Barnsley’s 19 year old RB – James Bree (£4m suggested) but that’s according to the Sun!
Also more legs on Bruce in for Downing on loan.
If that swop were to happen expect us to go for another striker.
Giddy, you beat me to it 🙂
Oops, Hitch, I mean.
I beat you to what???
I see it now 😀
Nothing mate, my mistake.
A couple of interesting reports, but they’re from the Sun.
Reminds me of the MON days all over again, when you look at the wages.
I hope it doesn’t blow up in our faces, but my opinion is you have to push the boat out and pay stupid money to make them come;
“Aston Villa have lodged a “quick” bid for Norwich left-sided flyer Robbie Brady, according to a report.
The Sun claim the cash-rich Championship club have offered striker Ross Ross McCormack as a straight swap for Republic of Ireland international Brady.
It is said that Villa have proposed the one-on-one exchange as manager Steve Bruce steps up plans to strengthen his squad this week.
The Sun report that Villa are ready to tempt Brady with a £50,000-a-week contract offer to prise him away from Carrow Road.”
and;
“Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce is ready to offer £4million to Barnsley for defender James Bree, according to a report.
The Sun claims that Bruce wants to purchase the 19-year-old and place him straight into his side as he plans an overhaul at the Midlands giants.
It is reported that that the young right-back has been watched by top Premier League sides, but Villa are optimistic about their chances with the first serious cash offer.”
It definitely seems Bruce isn’t too keen on McCormack, doesn’t it?
Remember I suggested it before the Mirror and it seemed a daft idea?
Very surprised I was right, tbh, as I thought the amount we paid for him would prove a barrier to selling.
I now suspect Bruce will take a scalping on him, as long as he can get a replacement.
I can see Norwich playing hardball
A quick deal might suit them mate, as I don’t think they have any money.
But agreed, they aren’t going to let us have him for RM and a couple of mill.
It’s why I suspect we’ll massively lose on RM, but it’ll be partly hidden in valuations.
It makes sense for this sort of move, imo.
I should have read that article more closely.
A straight swap?
No chance, imo.
Badger – I read that Norwich were prepared to let Brady go because they wanted to strengthen in other areas – so I suppose, in part, it depends on whether McCormack meets that need or whether they expected to bring in more than one player with the Brady money.
Still it seems Bruce is very clear about what he wants and, if rumours are to be believed, it looks pretty good to me.
I reckon they’ll want at least some money, Hitch, especially as signing McCormack will probably mean increased wages.
Yes, it’s sounding very good and the original 2 or 3 seems to have gone out the window.
I think it was OLL who suggested there might be a major clear-out and I’m beginning to think he might right. Too many players have been given every chance and proved that they can’t perform, even at this level, imo.
That Bree link might have some legs, as apparently Palace are looking fave to get Jenkinson. Goes back to that not having to move house and shake the family up etc.
But Man City are supposed to be in for Bree too.
Another money or game time? question.
Or a deal – ManC buy him and loan him out to us. Not ideal but provides us with a short term solution – better than nothing.
Having said that let’s be positive and assume he would prefer the game time with us.
Yes, that’d be good.
I like positive, even when I find little cause to be 🙂
Well, the RM-Brady deal doesn’t seem to have lasted long, lol
http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2017/01/09/report-explains-why-talks-broke-down-over-villas-proposed-mccorm/page/1/
wonder where the new
sylla dawkins or grant holt are going to crawl out from ,very like a lambert window linked with everyone
Totally agree JVillan.
Most of the links look decent, don’t they?
But I have a feeling that’s not what you meant really.
know what badger i would take staying another year in this league if we got the right man in the summer,one with a plan a style,a way of playing, a plan b, one that doesnt involve most players here, just look at the way spurs reseve full backs play same as first choice why ,they sign right kind of player and have been for last 5/6 years , steve round coming with some kind of reputation what from yes levy made mistakes, as did liverpool and they got in right in klopp
for me brian little was last villa manager that did most of above till deadly butted in and landed collymore
As suspected Badger – Norwich expect to acquire more than one player out of the Brady deal. Alledgedly they have turned down £9m from Palace and want £12m for Brady. Suspect they value McCormack around £8m.
Given that McCormak is 30 and Brady 24 and we need his sort of quality in midfield we should just bite the bullet and accept McCormack isn’t going to work at Villa.
Agreed, Hitch.
RM just won’t work, imo, as he does best playing off another striker and that’s why Bruce wants rid.
He prefers a 4-3-3, or more accurately, a fluid 4-3-3 = 4-5-1 option.
Seems we massively over-paid for RM.
I said the same about Kodjia, in fairness.
The difference?
Goals, which is all that matters.
It’s a funny old game.
Cheer you up a bit result in tonight’s Westbromwich game with Villa 3-3 Murphy scored.
I hope we keep McCormack, his game is similar to that of Michael Owen. Other than counter attack breakaways, the quality of the pass that sets him behind a defender in the box is the key to his success when the defence is in position. That obviously requires him not to be double-marked – and in turn that means there has to be another goalscorer up in attack so the defence can’t double-mark. We haven’t got the midfield player of that pass yet so we are well short of the service needed. Kodjia apart – nor do we have the other striker.
ross was a panic buy after holloway slagged villa off[he was correct] and instead off doc paying off gabby they overpaid for ross by 100 percent 6m was all he was worth rudi younger and had scored in pl only worth 6m how?
JVillan, (in reponse to your 9.51pm comment)
Actually, that’s fair comment, as I’m not convinced by Steve Round, even though consensus says he’s the best. I don’t really see what he’s done, but there you go, the experts agree.
Both Spurs and Pool have burned serious, serious money in getting to where they are.
And they didn’t have Lerner to contend with.
I’m still convinced Bruce is the right man for the position we’re in now and even he won’t think he’s going to be here for very long.
Maybe we’re doing the very basics before we try and think top 6 in the Prem?
In fairness, Everton fans hated Steve Round.
Liverpool had just as bad before they got bought out in all honesty. Gillette was atrocious for them. They’ve gotten lucky with their new owners.
Gotta ask, what makes you think Bruce is the right man? He’s typically always been all talk. He claims this isn’t the type of play he wants when we lose, sound familiar? McLeish said the same thing every time we lost. Even though he set us up defensive. As does Bruce, because that’s all he knows. Mind you a step up from Di Matteo, definitely. But there’s a reason why British managers don’t succeed, even in England.
Four promotions, Andrew, as simple as that!
He’s proven and has been there and done it.
I’ve said previously that I think he’ll only be given a quick stint in the Prem because he hasn’t proven himself there.
I guess you’re probably thinking that it won’t help us progress and make us properly prepared for the Prem.
To which I’d say let’s cross each bridge as we come to it.
We need to get back up asap, else we can kiss £50k wages goodbye, along with any hopes for the next 10 years, imo.
I accept that SB isn’t everybody’s cup of tea but I’m with Badger on realistically assessing who best fits the bill (and was available) for now.
Here’s the point though, the critics of SB on here haven’t really come up with a viable alternative.
It’s quite funny really, as we’re being linked to everyone because we need improving all over.
One thing I can guarantee is that 90%+ of what we read is utter shite.
Still, I know some of you love it 🙂
As for loving it Badger not me I assure you. I hate all of this will he, won’t he business. I just wish it could all be kept under wraps and then they’d just tell us when something has actually happened instead of all this flim-flam and lies.
Also notice we’re on TV again this weekend. Just hope we can get at least one mid-field player in before the game otherwise a draw against Wolves might be a good result. We were bloody lucky last time we played them so just hoping that we can somehow pull something out of the bag.
January is going to be a very long month I think.
I don’t like it either Pat, as it just perpetuates bullshit in the press.
But,
I was reading an article that said it was Rupert Murdoch who started it.
When he bought the Sun, he realised that he couldn’t get match reports in the paper up north because of the time it had to be printed (in the south).
So they played the rumours game to fill space.
Then Murdoch bought a northern printing plant, dropped the rumours and started printing the match reports.
Only to get lots of complaints that the rumours had been dropped!
And I can see why.
We all know it’s usually bollocks, but we can’t help reading it, can we?
Read that article you posted Badger and thought it was really interesting and informative particularly around how these various stories are sourced. I’m not saying it answered all the questions but thought it did provide a little more insight.
I think I fell into the trap of believing what I read on the web, I’ve not bought a paper for donkeys year’s because I thought it was bollocks, but reading that same article as Badger about how rumours first came about has got me thinking that all we read is shite paper talk, the Birmingham mail with the Sun are the worst of the lot. All them players we are going to have might never happen.
Just reading comments on Bruce, can say I’m right down the middle. He was the only choice when we hired him, and he has certainly steadied the ship. Whether we make the play offs this season or he needs his own full season next, I’m quietly optimistic he will get us up. As for when(I hope) we get back to the premier league, I see no reason why he can’t take us mid table at the very least. Just look at what he did at Wigan, and even Sunderland where he had money. He certainly didn’t do a bad job at either.
As for Round, I’ve already mentioned I feel this could be our best window in years. While I enjoyed some of our signings in the summer(Kodjia, Chester, Jedinak and Adomah top my list) I do feel we literally threw away money just at any player with a good record in this league(McCormack) whereas this window, Round, Wyness and Bruce have been doing their homework and no doubt know who they want and won’t be bullied into over paying.
Talk this morning is that talks for that young right back Bree are progressing well and a move has edged closer. Now the fee is apparently 4 million, but so far this window we have sold Gestede for 6 million, brought in a young keeper, who had a very good debut might I add, on loan and if this right back comes in that is good business so far. Now whether Bree is any good is another thing, but Barnsley do have a record of bringing up quality.
Anyway, that’s my take on it all.. could write a book on it!! Nervous about the next game, it’s one Lambert will certainly be up for!! Here’s hoping..
IIRTW, if we can get Bree and Lansbury for £7 mill, you’d have to see that as very good business, especially in the winter window, where everyone is supposed to be over-priced.
There does seem to be a better stategy being used, I agree.
You’ve got to be kidding me?
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/576894/Aston-villa-youngster-Aaron-Tshibola-laughing-gas-hours-after-fa-cup-tie-tottenham-snapch
Badger that went up yesterday morning, I click on it to see it had been removed, I couldn’t believe it either, I then thought the Sun was liable to be summoned.
Any possible influence from other individuals within the team, who the fuck am I supporting a bunch of junkies????
Ps if he wasn’t Bruce’s flavour of the month before he certainly fucking is now
According to the Sun Man City is leading the chase for Bree –
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/2577339/manchester-united-city-arsenal-tottenham-west-ham-barnsley-james-bree/
And Badger you’re right as much as I hate it I’m still reading it!