Back to the proper footy then and it’s Blackburn away tomorrow.
The good news is, it’s a 5.30pm kick off, so I’ll get to see it.
Straight into team news and it’s not good on Blackburn’s part, as Dominic Samuel and Ben Gladwin have been pretty much ruled out for the season. Jack Rodwell is unlikely to make it.
On the plus side (for them), Bradley Dack might play after recovering from a knee problem.
The news on our part is that Hogan is ready and of course, Tammy Abraham and Yannick Bolasie will be available.
Which makes things interesting, as our striker and winger situation suddenly look pretty good.
The big question for me is does Bruce go with one or two up front?
I’m guessing Abraham is guaranteed to start and Hogan won’t get a look in.
I’m also guessing that Kodjia will be dropped and it’ll be Abraham up top on his own, scratching for bits, just as Kodjia often does.
If so, I think that’ll be a mistake and I’d like to see Abraham and Kodjia given a stint together.
Bruce has often talked about how we should go two up front, but let’s see if he does it, now he’s got the chance.
If Bruce goes one up front, I predict the fans will be on his back straight away.
Why add another striker if we only ever go with one ineffective one, because we don’t play to his needs, anyway?
If we’re going to use wingers to keep lobbing the balls in, either get a battering ram who might get on the end of them or double your chances by putting two strikers in there, in my opinion.
But what do I know?
It would seem I know nothing about defence, along with most of us, if Bruce’s “I know what I’m doing” attitude is to go by.
I’m the same as the rest of us, in thinking that letting De Laet go out on loan is quite bizarre, especially when coupled with Elphick also being loaned out.
But at the same time, I can partly see why these players have gone.
I strongly suspect that Bruce was told that the only way he could bring players in, was to balance the books and both defenders were touted as being on high wages.
It all makes sense on paper, as for whatever reason, Bruce just doesn’t rate (or most likely just doesn’t get on with), the two defenders.
Which is fine. That’s the manager’s prerogative to play the players he thinks are best suited to the team.
But to so unbalance the squad is for me, bordering totally unforgivable.
A poor result here won’t immediately cost Bruce his job.
But should we lose, the clamour for his head will make his sacking very hard for our owners to resist in the near future.
I’ve previously said that I don’t think Bruce has long left as our manager.
But I’d be very happy if he proved me wrong and we go on a monster winning streak.
That’s all I want to see. The Villa winning.
Whatever manager we have doesn’t really matter, although it would be a plus if we played with some verve and panache.
My prediction?
We need a confident performance and to get back to winning ways quickly.
One each, if our defence can have at least an average game.
Not very confident, I’m afraid 🙁
Well I’m in for a comfortable week withl football just purchased a week on NOW and drinks are in, out in the morning fly fishing all looking good. hope he use his head tomorrow and let us see the new lads in action but my concern is our defence, no mention of Terry ,Hitch as called it right 60 grand for his service is to high ,that alone would spit the team knowing he getting twice as much as the others.this is it for Bruce a win is a must. Utv.
Got the Scum and the dirty gets on, we have more in our ground than the both put together, it’s empty, all they go to see a game is to sing shit on the villa and go home happy. Brain dead twats .
Watching Small Heath v Tesco FC. Thought Johnstone could have done better with first goal but made up for it with penalty save, although it was a poor penalty. Empty seats my lord! Oh yes plenty of them. As for tomorrow, and with us being blessed in striker and winger options suddenly, surely Bruce will play 2 strikers with Bolasie and El Ghazi and sacrifice McGinn for Bjarnasson possibly. Although knowing Mr Negative I’m sure it will be one up front and Elmo in front of Tuanzebe, although miracles do happen.
Sacrifice McGinn?.
God no, he’s the link, for me and has to play if we’re going two up front.
Grealish and McGinn is the way to go.
But yes, I know what you mean.
Two up front means more defence overall 🙁
If he persists with Jedinak at CB we are doomed and tbf that’s not the Jedi’s fault. I would like to see either Bree or Tuanzebe play at CB with Elmo moving to RB. If Bolasie not match fit, play Adomah at right wing – if I recall he switched wings last season so has played there before.
Like you Badger, I don’t feel very confident about tomorrow – the squad looks terribly unbalanced to me. However, for those fans wanting to see attacking football with the players we now have it should be about scoring more goals than the opposition rather than keeping clean sheets to win 1-0 – but will it?
Can a leopard change its spots?
So we’ll probably be caught between the two which pretty much ensures failure.
Hope I’m wrong and Bruce surprises us all – but I’m not holding my breath.
Completely off topic – for those of you watching ‘The Great British Menu’ we’re off to Chris Harrod’s The Whitebrook tomorrow to celebrate our wedding anniversary – brilliant chef but then I’m biased as he’s our daughter’s brother in law.
Anyway apologies for the commercial but it’s well worth a visit.
Oh yes – booked early so that I’d be back in time to watch the Villa – there are some things you just can’t compromise on!
Hitch, i hope you haven’t sacrificed dessert for watching Villa because it probably won’t be sweet for us.
Hope not Holte – think the missus might complain if I try and drag her out of the restaurant early!
You’re right though, I’m not at all confident after our performances in the last few games – isn’t it 5 without a win?
Congratulations Hitch, you and your wife have a good day. You lucky lad put a good word in for me, I love my food.
Thanks Bill
SB certainly is in the last chance saloon. After this it is Indian territory. Oddly enough might apply to leaving VP as it once did to Kansas.
Another Sheffield style drubbing and he is gone, and even a narrow defeat at Blackburn might be enough to convince the owners they have a dud.
finally a game to wash the stench of defeat out of our hair. iam excited to see abraham lead the line for us. kodjia has been absolutely frustrating. he has improved lately, but still can not lead the line well. doesn’t offer any out balls, he cuts a figure of frustration, rolling around and complaining all the time.
Abraham will run the channels run, in behind and offer a out ball all the time. he will also score goals with any half decent service. too much shit is aimed at jedi. he isn’t a cb but he can play the position if called upon. its not the players who pick the team.
we need more strength down the middle, against utd we got pulled all over the place, they were good, but we allowed them too much room and space to do their stuff. houirhane needs to be reinstated with mcginn central partnership
blackburn might have got a hammering themselves last game, but that will be expected they will av a up and down season,they wont be a pushover, they will attack in numbers and be in our faces from the start to the end, we need to ready for a cup final game. we should win but if we play in the same way we did last time out, we will lose again no worries about that.
Nyland
Elmohamady Chester Tuanzebe Hutton
Whelen
Hourihane Mcginn
Adomah Grealish
Abraham
i would like to see something like this. we have some decent players, new ones like el gazia might need some time to adapt to the rough and tumble, so bed them in games allow them to settle in first. Bolasie Kodja also to call upon from the bench. Bolaise isn’t probably match fit yet
3 3 draw today
Looking on the bright side after Tim it means Bruce has one less game to manage our club. He is a man with a plan. His plan being if it doesn’t work keep doing it. It’s taken him 4 transfer windows to get the defensive players he wanted. Bruce reminds me of the story of the naked emperor. His mates in the press say how wonderful he is. Yet we the fans on the side can see he is naked and clueless.
Hoping for a win but if Blackburn go for us I expect the defence to crumble again.
I can’t even be bothered to slag Bruce off any more.
You’d think that with the players we’ve got (defence excepted) I’d be looking forward to the match being on TV but I’m not. We might squeeze a draw but is that good enough for a club like ours?
Oh well if it turns out like the Sheffield game I can always turn over and watch Barca instead.
Prediction – a flaky 1-1 draw
Think we will lose 2-1 today. Dack will tear us a new one.
Your all like me, had enough, if we lose this its got to be his head for me. I’m not taking no more excuses he has to go.fed up of giving reasons that don’t add up.
We are the Villa if you cannot motivate player to work socks off then do yourself a favour, do one.
Looking good Leeds and Middlborogh loosing, time to show our intent by winning this game. 1-2 Villa.
Just seen the team.
Boring and predictable.
Sack him now please before kick off.
Ex-Villa boys doing well. Robinson and Johnson scoring for Preston, Bannan for Sheff Weds and Clark for the barcodes. Could do with a few current ones scoring tonight.
For the visitors, Steve Bruce makes three changes with Glenn Whelan, Anwar El Ghazi and Jonathan Kodjia dropping to the bench.
Neil Taylor, Tammy Abraham and Albert Adomah all come into the starting XI for the game at Ewood Park.
Kick-off is at 5.30pm and if you aren’t at Ewood for the match then you can follow all the action via our social media accounts or by tuning into iFollow Rovers.
Rovers: Raya, Nyambe, Lenihan, Mulgrew (c), Bell, Evans, Smallwood, Bennett, Dack, Armstrong, Graham.
Substitutes: Leutwiler, Reed, Rothwell, Brereton, Williams, Conway, Palmer.
Aston Villa: Nyland, Taylor, Tuanzebe, Chester (c), McGinn, Grealish, Jedinak, Abraham, Hutton, Elmohamady, Adomah.
Substitutes: Moreira, Whelan, Hourihane, Bree, El Ghazi, Kodjia, Bolasie
BRUCE OUT
Again 6 of the 10 outfield are defensive, Bruce is to satisfied with the point rather than going for the 3, this is why we didn’t get promoted last year and why we won’t under Bruce this year. Got draw written all over it or a loss. Fed up with this negative attitude, stick Abraham up top with el ghazi and Bolasie on the wings, tell Grealish to stay in the top 3rd of the pitch to make him more dangerous. Yawn