Let me get this straight from the off.
I’m utterly disgusted at the result today.
The fact that an ex Walsall player put two goals against us, says it all.
But I firmly believe that sacking Steve Bruce is not the solution to our problems.
I know. That’s going to go totally against the grain.
But there’s something badly wrong. There has to be.
Consider Nigel Spink believes there’s an over-hanging cancer at the club.
And now Tony Morley, after saying at half time that we could easily beat Barnsley, now seems to also accept that there’s something seriously wrong down the Villa.
I respect Morley and believe he can read a game.
I also believe Steve Bruce can read a game and is not a manager who has to rely on other so-called tactitians to tell him what to do.
So why are we starting out with the set-ups that we are and not making the subs when it seems they’re required?
Is Bruce really that poor a manager?
I’m not having that as an excuse, personally and think there’s something we’re not seeing from the outside.
That said, on the face of it, it’s simply appalling.
Morley says he can’t understand why we don’t make the changes when it’s blindingly obvious they’re needed.
I’m the same.
In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if Bruce wants the sack.
Which if you seriously think about it, is a frightening thought.
Because if someone of Bruce’s experience in handling players can’t cut it, what chance has any younger manager got?
Am I talking rubbish?
Think about it again.
Look at the managers we’ve had. The players we’ve changed. The hierarchy we’ve changed. The coaches etc we’ve changed. And even the owner.
Whatever has been changed, it simply hasn’t worked.
So is changing the manager again going to work?
I’m afraid I just don’t see it.
That said, I know my arguments aren’t going to cut much ice.
Morley said we could beat Barnsley easy, at half time, but basically described us as a load of jellyfish ten minutes after.
The facts are that if we carry this on, we’re going down; no ifs and buts.
And I know it’s what you’re thinking too.
And it’s why I’m reluctantly putting a poll up.
Sad days.
Comments
154 responses to “Villa 1-3 Barnsley; There’s something very wrong at the Villa. Bruce POLL.”
Guardian has a pretty good comparison piece and summary of our current issues.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/who-scored-blog/2017/feb/16/aston-villa-relegation-championship-steve-bruce-league-one
This is an excellent read, Marvin. I do not disagree with any of it. The insight is the high proportion of individual errors leading to goals, higher than any other team in the division.
There may be just as many individual errors at the other end, leading to missed chances – we certainly create plenty, so the wastage must be high. But it is the defensive errors which stand out. We know about our keepers – but some reading this might not see that dodgy keepers lead to the back four in front of them making more errors as they try to stop balls reaching the goalmouth. I would like to think that excuses Baker, but i don’t think it does, he is just slow and while I hoped the Championship itself was slower than the Prem, it is still too quick for him. Hutton we know is often out of position, Amavi is good going forward but bad in reverse. Elphick a shadow of his last season self. So Chester is really the only up to standard defender.
The dodgy rearguard is not a unique problem faced by SB without parallel. You can point to Pulis, Allerdice, and Warnock who have been pitched into leaky teams and who have adapted the style of play to suit the team’s failings, at least making them harder to beat.
It seems to me SB has two urgent choices: 1/ keep the foot on the gas and get the forwards to convert more of their chances; 2/ Defend much nearer our goal and look to strike occasionally on the break. Hopefully it starts on Monday.
Blimey….after reading that I’m gripped with crippling fear now. Good article though.
UTV
Great read – But as Dan says, its a very worrying article.
Badger – keep the site going. You will know if it starts to fail by the lack of posts. The more posters you have, even with their 1×1 hissy fits, means people are reading it.
Badger – you’re doing a great job – keep it up mate.
Interesting post from the Guardian article linked earlier:
It makes no sense: Villa played my team Brighton and they were the best side I’ve seen at the Amex all season, including Huddersfield and Brentford – they were unlucky to only draw. They pressed feverishly that night, harried, passed well and really looked like a premiership side slumming it for a season. I gather that hasn’t been the case elsewhere. Football is a strange game but the Championship is very tough to get out off and isn’t the sabbatical for superior talents that it was once thought to be. Norwich rediscovered this (Brighton beat them 5-0) and are now galvanising themselves for a push on the play-offs. I think Bruce nailed it when he talked about Villa’s higher than merited player salaries and a club mindset that needs radical readjustment, not unlike Newcastle maybe, and Sunderland..
The players are there to perform to this level consistently. The question is why isn’t it happening? Where is this pressing? It has been abandoned as quickly as it started. We are easy to unpick because we don’t pressurise the opposition. If we did that I believe we would be less likely to be undone by individual errors.
In the context of this season DS the Brighton game was a false dawn – we have not played as well since.
Pressing opponents is not very risky when your forwards and midfield are doing it, but when your defence is near half way and the opponents come at you four across the front, with the ball it is high risk. Can you rely on our defence to make every one on one tackle? I think the answer is no, and if they don’t they can be done for pace, Brentford being an example.
balance is what we lack. getting the right balance from being safe to over committing. pressing isn’t EASY to achieve with a bunch of new players not used to each other. yes they will have pressed before in other teams. but to press successfully, you need understanding of your team mates. how can they read each other in such a short period . we are asking the impossible.
this brighton game was by far the best display in years not this season. but they didnt win the game. every dog has its day and that was ours, but more importantly we look forwards not back. we need to give these players time. to achieve a unity. the bond that makes teams not individuals. then we will see better displays and more point yields.
i hope we can give this management team the time otherwise where will we be if we keep restarting, this rebuilding process.
calderwood started after brighton game
I’m beginning to think that is significant JV.
Watched Jordan Veretout put in a fine performance at Old Trafford last night, he’s obviously not good enough for Villa yet, but if we can get down in to league one it might be worth bringing him back. Maybe Carles Gil would come back too!!
Veretout could have been great had we kept Garde, a more tactical manager, but he definitely won’t be coming back to Villa.
Gil – super creative and exactly the sort of player we want Grealish to be, but his little injuries were always his problem. With that being said so much has gone on since he was sent out, I honestly can’t remember if he left on good terms or not? Or if there was a sell-on clause at the end of the loan?
It would be great to have another look at Gil, Veretout, Sanchez but somehow i dont think they would like lfe in the championship!
Well done Lincoln, bet Westwoods gutted.
Wiemann having a good game against Chelsea, in fact the whole team doing well with Lambert at the helm.
A couple of Ex-Villans who are through to the next round are Gestede who contributed a spectacular bicycle-kick goal to Boro’s victory. While at the other end Guzan was playing just like he did with Villa, standing to one side at a free kick and diving too late to prevent 2 other shots going in. Lucky for him one was ruled out for a foul.
The wife said to me this morning ” when are villa playing?” I said “We don’t lose until Monday night!” Gallows humour eh? But I know come Monday I’ll start to get more optimistic again. The emotional roller coaster of being a villa fan.
Right it’s Saturday night….I’m off to open a bottle.
UTV
My wife, who loyally switched from being a Tractor Girl to a Lioness on marriage, needs a similar distraction. We won’t be watching Villa from behind our sofa, or through slatted fingers behind the Toon platoon at the pub. We will be at Gander Green Lane watching an even bigger hiding, though after Munich and Lincoln you never know.
I fancy Villa to do better than Sutton.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the EFL and TV for scheduling Newcastle v Villa on a Monday evening and thereby ensuring my weekend hasn’t been ruined.
How good a feeling would it be to stuff those geordies tomorrow! It still amazes me how bitter they are still from the day we sent them down. Always going on about us and hoping we fail. They cant get enough of it now theyre doing well. Praying for 3 points and in inspiration change of form!!
Is Jedi a definte no tomorrow?
Adam, we need a mirical
Miracle , sorry Adam pushed wrong tab, wanted to say they do happen, tomorrow is now men from the boys , hope we have men.
Villa to win (maniacal laughter) – sorry got to go the wife says the men in white coats have arrived š
i think villa will summon a performance again to match this night when we almost beat the best team in the division. (brighton). when your the underdogs in a game. that gives you the freedom to play. this unexplained phenomena will happen tonight hopefully.
on paper newcastle and villa are the best in this league. somehow they have managed to bring this on the pitch. where we haven’t. brighton and leeds are amongthe best teams with newcastle.
iam going for a similar game display, we will some how manage to surprise newcastle, and we will dominate and create chances and some how miss the majority game will end 1 1 and we will keep referring to the night we almost beat the magpies that monday night
Love your undying optimism Nath and hope you’re right about the performance. Will be watching from behind the sofa tonight š UTV
To think, the so called hospital wanted me to move my sofa to put a bed in told them go and get stuffed need it to hide behind when Villas on box.