If I’d had time to do a preview, it was going to be something along the lines of “well, we beat the Tykes 3-0 on their patch, so surely we can expect the same today?”
To then counter that it just doesn’t work like that and anything was likely to happen, because it’s the Villa after all, isn’t it?
I saw via my phone during a smoke break, that we’d gone one up after just five minutes via Scott Hogan.
And that was the last I heard/saw until I was driving home and listening to WM on the radio, where to my delight I found we’d won and Hogan had got another, along with a third by Hourihane, very ably assisted by some incisive play by Jack Grealish.
I feel I should hold my hands up a little here.
It wasn’t so long ago that I said I couldn’t see Scott Hogan ever scoring many for us, as although I thought he makes all the right runs, so we don’t play to suit him.
Likewise Grealish, who I’ve acknowledged is a cut above anyone else we have at the club, yet I never felt he’d be the right player for Aston Villa and would be better suited elsewhere.
Well, that’s now two good games on the trot they’ve had, with Hogan now scoring 4 in three games and Grealish apparently pulling the strings again.
It’s seriously beginning to look like I might have been totally wrong on both counts and long may it continue.
I guess I’m just fickle.
It’s the same on my views of Steve Bruce really and my opinions will vary depending on how we’ve performed and more importantly, the results we’ve got. After all, the latter is all that counts, isn’t it?
Which yet again, just goes to show what a funny old game it is.
How long ago was it that we were 10 points off second and all looked doom and gloom?
I said last week, that we were beginning to look in a very decent position and with Wolves losing and Derby drawing, we’re looking even better today.
My point here is, that although I’ve blown hot and cold with regards to Bruce, so I’ve consistently said that I believe he’s the right man for us.
As it stands, I can’t see anything changing my mind, even if we fail to get promotion this season.
If we do fail, well, that’ll be another story.
I gave my Derby workmate some abuse/banter about the Bristol City result this morning and when it stopped, he admitted that in his eyes the race for second is now between Derby and us.
What was more interesting, is that when I pointed out that Derby have a seriously bad recent record of running out of steam in the last couple of months, so he conceded that I was right and it’s a worry.
I also temporarily have in my midst, a couple of Smoggy supporters, who after a very brief conversation, seem quite knowledgeable. Plenty of room for a bit of banter there, I reckon, which is great, because I love it.
Not much else to say, except all us Villa fans will no doubt be very content for this weekend.
Well, I’d be a lot more content if I didn’t have to work tomorrow; but we can’t have everything can we?
I’ll take automatic promotion as compensation, ta very much.
Please let it be so and we worry about being in the Prem if it happens.
Of course, I’m too long in the tooth to take anything for granted, which raises another point.
I heard a Wolves fan slating his club for having a monster pre-game fireworks display today, where he felt like they were celebrating without having won anything and maybe slacked off.
It’s a good point. While we’ve done nowt yet, so we need to keep the effort at 100%. Which Bruce himself suggested was a bit of an issue today, where we were also a bit slack and apparently let them back into the game too easily.
This is the part I like about Bruce and what makes him the best bet currently.
He’ll let them know we can’t afford that, in no uncertain terms.
And there I think I really have finished, although lots of thoughts/possibilities are streaming through my head.
Enough.
Well done lads and Up the Villa!
Oh and well done you people who have kept the debate going in my absence.
That’s the whole point of the site, where any stuff I chat is only meant to raise a few points.
It’s great to see you all move things on and update each other, as well as myself.
Cheers.
We loan them and if we get promoted they will have gone back to their clubs and we will need more signings.
If we dont loan them and we get promoted we will still need to make more signings as most of the squad are too slow and old.
If we do or dont loan anyone and dont get promoted we still have what we have now.
Conclusion…get the loans in….
Couldn’t agree more Villaawayindiv3.
The whole point of loans is to get players who can play for you that you pay a very small fee for as well as part of their wages. Now for a club our size, the reason we can get guys like Snodgrass and say Bristol City can’t, is because we can pay in full.
We need a couple players right now. We have no money. Kodjia is out for the rest of the season, Hogan and Davis have 6 goals between them. Hogan can not score in the next game and go on a run of 8 games not scoring, as he’s shown before this little run that he’s capable of being unreliable. If we don’t get loans in, we could still go up, but we’d have to buy a lot of players anyways in the summer. We could loan in players, and it’s possible to see if they’re any good, like Ulloa, and go up, and buy them permanently. Or they can go back and be sold elsewhere. Either way we’d have to buy in the summer and loans now give us a better chance of getting us up.
We have signed the Man utd player one in the bag.
Suspect that means Elphik will be leaving then. Not a premier league player so not bad business in the short term, especially if he can play in midfield as well.
According to the aston Villa News, he is different gravy, what ever that means, reading about him he will suite the club how he plays.
Tuanzebe utterly pointless signing – not needed in defence or midfield. Even without signing another striker I think we will be fine – Ulloa would help us blow away the competition but we have managed fine so far with the squad built in the last two windows so we will still go up – we have just spread the goals around more this season than last. Players have shown right throughout this season when called upon, by and large they have stepped up. We will go up – only 6 points off our 2 per game target as well (56) – when we hit that we will be top 2 no danger – don’t see us losing another game all season at home either.
Understand your point Owen but if Thor or Elphick are sold then it becomes more appropriate. I, for one, am keeping an open mind – he certainly comes with a good reputation and tbf Bruce has been pretty canny with his loans so far (Onomah possibly excepted).
I kind of agree with you Owen about the Tuanzebe signing.
Elphick has proved more than good enough when called upon and with Bjarnason looking comfortable in the holding role it does seem pretty pointless. Unless Elphick or Bjarnason are on their way out.
I’d much rather it was Samba and Whelan but hey, I’m only a supporter.
I would like us to sign a striker. As much as I rate Hogan I think we need that bit of quality as cover for him that at the moment we lack.
I think its now obvious the only way we can improve is by loan deals, we’ve no money, I wouldn’t go judging till it becomes perfectly clear , we don’t know what’s going on in the minds of professional coach and managers. Yes we do need a striker badly but when we get hit by injuries like we do its time to juggle the players. So the information I got is right with the player we have now wait for Ulloa that’s going to the line on signings.
We are going to have injuries and a tired squad as the games will come thick and fast and each will be more important than the last so signing a quality player on loan, even as cover, is a wise thing to do.
Ulloa would be perfect IMHO alongside Hogan up front. A big target man who can hold up the ball when necessary and who can also knock in a few goals.
With both these players in we have to have a good chance of second place or, who knows, even first. Wolves have just lost badly at home and teams have been known to blow up in this league before.
UTV
Here is his roll in Villa team
Tuanzebe can play at centre-half or as a defensive midfielder.
He’s expected to feature more often in front of the backline rather than actually in it.
Of course Villa have regulars John Terry and James Chester, who hasn’t missed a minute since signing, in the heart of defence and only injuries or suspension will break that partnership.
See the Manure fans seem to rate him very highly and generally support a loan to Villa – fair play to them
We’ll soon see about Axel – interested to see what type of team Sheff U play in the cup, the cup will distract them if they go through just like it has affected Bristol. Villa win on Tuesday and they could be second, reckon they will be Saturday night if they win Tuesday and Saturday Derby are drawing a lot recently.
With the signing of Tuanzebe you would expect him to play regularly so who will be the one who gets kicked out. Suggestions are he will play in front of Terry and Chester so it looks like Jedi, Whelan and Thor could be keeping bench warm or possibly one on way out. Will Elphick be on his way seeing as he can play centre back too. McCormack is on his way back so a cut price move looks possible. A lot on here want these loans because they think they will be better than what we have got, but championship football is different to reserve team football plus time to integrate into team. Look at Hourihane and Hogan only now fulfilling their potential. In my opinion he should have to prove himself in training and as substitute appearances before starting. Like Owen said Tuesday night against Sheffield United will tell us more.
1st…WOLVES….4 Billion
3rd ALBION….2.6 Billion
8th VILLA…1 Billion
West Mids rich list.
It’s what you do with it that counts!
Tuanzebe has joined. yeah more steal if he plays the protector role, in front of Terry and Chester. this would allow the team to attack more forceful, knowing the back door is solid.
jedi and whelen both come with health warnings. jedi has no legs. he sits in front of terry and chester. but doesn’t have the mobility to get about the pitch let alone our own half of pitch. or last a run of games.
whelen i think was the best option of this role, but he has made elementary mistakes which cost us goals. he does alot of good hard grafting but them mistakes haunt him.
then there’s birkir who has done a great job as emergency stop gap player. but seriously. hes played one and a bit games in this position. hardly qualifies him to see out the season. its not as simple as keeping the [passes simple. he has to fill in for the full backs, cover the centre backs, pick up late runs from deep midfield. birkir would be found wanting against the teams that attack villa.
iam happy with this utd loanee. off all the backline at villa this season probably only Chester will be here next season if promotion is achieved. the holding midfielders are also well past their sell by dates. this utd loanee is hungry for success.
looks like we could / should be selling a few players. which players are we wanting to see off and which ones are we most likely to see off
i think Elphick will be sold. lansbury / birkir might also go if theirs a good bids received,
any news on the foxes striker our saviour Ulloa ??
anybody think we will get a bid for mccormack
just reading leeds fans reactions to hear they are after Elphick and Mccormack
they most want Elphick and some still want Mccormack. but they saying he cant sign because hes played for 3 clubs. whats this all about. if this is the case, why have villa not extended his loan down under. seems daft decision to loan him in the first place, knowing it would stop us selling him in january
Nath – isn’t there a rule limiting the number of clubs a player can sign for in the same season but I think McCormack can play for one more. Having said that I’m not clear whether that rule includes overseas clubs.
Nath – here’s the rule
With regards to reported ineligibility to join another English club, article 5.3 of FIFA’s regulations on the status and transfer of players states: “Players may be registered with a maximum of three clubs during one season. During this period, the player is only eligible to play official matches for two clubs.”
how many clubs has mccormack been registered this season. my memory is crap. hes not a player i had high hopes on this season. i remember he went to forest was this years or last season ?? i am confused because their are loads of pieces on him, saying we are looking to sell him. also we won’t be loaning back down under.
i seen some villa fans thinking he might have changed, he might fit in this time around. i don’t think thats the case. he want or needs to play in the grealish role or then you move grealish to accommodate him,
Just us and Melbourne, and he never played for us, so he can technically leave again.
Forest was last season Nath I think he’s been registered at just two clubs this season but don’t recall him playing for Villa this season? ( other than friendlies) On that basis we can sell him – 3 registrations and playing for 2 clubs
thanks guys 🙂
Hope Tuanzebe proves to be all that he is being made out to be. Onomah came here with the big potential from Spurs but has flattered to deceive. Still think playing a few first team games in a strong Man Ure team, where mistakes are less likely due to possession and territorial advantages they hold over the majority of teams they play against. At Villa our possession stats are usually lower than opposition, and we come under more pressure than Man Ure do, which finds a lot of players out. I agree he offers the mobility lacking in Whelan and Jedi but still would hope team remains unchanged against Sheffield United if all are fit and not sold!
Hard to take United fan’s opinions on their youth, as we clearly as fans rate our own. I’ve never watched him but if he’s any good in midfield, then great. I’m actually wondering what happens with Bjarnason though. He went from wanting to leave to giving an interview that he doesn’t, because Bruce is giving him time. I’m wondering if Bruce told him Axel was coming in or not. Should be interesting with those two. Axel in the more intense games when we need a stronger and quicker player in midfield, Bjarnason in the lesser games? Bjarnason will want to play for the world cup so I hope he’s asking Bruce what will happen.
Linked to a few French strikers, one is 22 who has 1 goal so far this season however he scored 10 in 27 last season. Should be interesting what striker we get.
What we’ve got here is failure to communicate lol a favourite quote
i know a few utd fans, they are annoying at times so full of themselves and their club. but the ones i know really do know everything about their club and every player. they have seen him loads and he is very highly thought off. they compared him too wes brown early years where he was a composed defender. hes impossible to knock off the ball. he fast and impossible to get past. they say he is definitely one for the future.
i have seen a small video which backs up their claims, he does look the part but can he step up to championship lvl. i think he will. he has hunger to break into the utd side next season. he will have been told go to villa and win your place in the utd 1st team squad for next season. in short PROVE YOURSELF. desire and hungry goes along way. but back that up with real talent and you will play at any level
i do feel for birkir but he needs to compete for midfield positions further forward. he came to us as a scoring winger. i hope he gets another chance. but its for the best for villa that we pick the best team. players fighting for positions only improves this status quo.
Oh I hope he does well, but he only played 4 games last season and about a minute of this season. Sure he has supposedly done well in cup games, I’m just baffled how he can’t get into a team that starts Jones and Smalling is all. But he has very little game time, and U23’s doesn’t really count for much, so putting someone inexperienced in terms of any playing time is hard to say makes up for a player who usually plays on the wing playing in midfield, but has a hell of a lot of experience. Obviously you pick your strongest side, but he hasn’t proven anything in league game time against experienced players as of yet. And a few good games in the cup isn’t enough.I full on expect him to play though.
Hope we look on loaning Doyle out now though. He needs game time to compose himself as a player.
📅 TV dates: 2⃣ games moved…
Villa v @Wolves – NOW Saturday 10th March, 5.30pm
@HullCity v Villa – NOW Saturday 31st March, 5.30pm
1⃣ change, not for TV…
Villa v @ReadingFC – NOW Tuesday 3rd April, 7.45pm
Loving it!
Not because I like these kick-off times, but because I will actually get to see them.
Or more accurately a large part of them.
Sheffield utd v Villa is on Sky …. main aven’t.
middlesbrough home
west ham away
brentford draw
bristrol city home
wolves away
wish me luck, i’ll need it
Blackburn,
Charlton,
Portsmouth
West Ham
Fulham,
looking good i fancied fulham too
watching that Tuanzebe again, he seems to always have time. its not a good way to judge a player just seeing clips like this. in them clips, he does seem to make his own space very well, when there wasn’t any visible. i know thats a hard thing to do. even top players can struggle with that. just look at us before christmas, rushing passes under pressure.
gareth barry was good at this, he used to never rush, time was plenty to look up and pick the right pass. grealish is another one i admirer. he invites the challenge and knows he can evade that and the time and space will be more.
its a damn shame we have the weekend off lol for us fans dying to see him get a game and see how this helps villa. which it will benefit us. he has the speed to stop the breaks on us, teams have all season been targeting our slowness changing shapes from attack to defence, terry is experienced and not allow many to run at him, but hes backing off and giving space. Tuanzebe plays as the man sitting, terry won’t be as exposed in that situation.