Well the good news is that the proper footy is back.
There’s more good news, in that Hutton and Samba are both fit and available for selection.
Hmm.
But the really good news is that Jonathan Kodjia is really close and will feature for the U-23’s on Monday, according to the OS.
While I’m not going to get carried away and expect him to hit the ground running, scoring a boatload of goals that propel us to the top of the table in short time, this is a massive psychological boost to us Villa fans.
His return will also provide Steve Bruce with a very pleasant dilemma where he has to decide if he’ll throw Kodjia straight back in.
I know it seems a no-brainer, but what about Hogan, who looks close to coming good and Davies, who has looked excellent? Don’t they deserve a bit of a run?
Decisions, decisions, eh? and who’d be a manager?
Onto the actual game then and Brentford have had as poor a start as us.
Talking of poor starts, Bruce has said we’ve had an “average” one.
I’d suggest he looks at the table where the average should be 7 points and not the 5 we currently have.
Whatever, there’s no doubting Brentford have had a poor start.
They’ve gained two draws in their first five games, meaning they’re second bottom in the table.
Hence, unless we revert to the “expect Villa to end the opposition’s poor run” syndrome, we should expect to come away with all three points, shouldn’t we?
I’d originally expected this game to be probably the last one in what I thought was a tough start, but now expect it to be very winnable.
Which should hopefully prove a nice continuation from the week before the international break and better still, a good start to what will hopefully prove a very fruitful September, where we climb the table.
I’ll go for a 2-1 win.
But I’m very interested in what you think, so I’ll add a poll.
[polldaddy poll=9826128]
Fingers crossed we don’t slip up here.
didnt brown envelope harry take 3 of brentford players on deadline day,3points is only result acceptable 5 points are not an average start along with performances v cardif reading,seen a bit in mail today our 2nd 11 value nearly 40m and only 1 not bought either under rdm or bruce
I believe so, JV.
I don’t profess to know what’s gone on at Brentford, but it seems selling their best players has really hurt them, at a glance.
I got a glance at that 2nd X1 headline and it’s frightening really.
But it’s the way things are going and I’d expect it to get worse, with the latest relegated clubs’ money.
Blimey, someone thinks we’ll lose!
(Oohah, own up).
And some call me pessimistic?
Went for a draw. Defensively we’re as bad as they are conceding 9 goals (even with the amazing Terry) and they average a goal a game so far. It’s gotta be a low blow to lose three starters to City though. Jota, Dean and Colin. They’ve seem to have gone with potential, signing the likes of Watkins so I don’t think they’re looking at pushing on but we’re also very good at giving under-performing and low confidence sides that confidence.
Andrew, moving players en masse never works, imo.
Blues will do ok, but not great imo.
We should have enough to beat Brentford, is the point.
And if we can’t, well ,,,,,
Especially three starters and Jota was their best player.
I got your point and I agree, we should. I just don’t think we will.
If we don’t win today Bruce’s position has to be untenable
this headline cannot be serious
bir mail bruce urges club to sign right back stephen kelly
Bruce still our manager? Not long for him now. Can’t come soon enough
Agree I know we are only an average team but this is a real low point
I think Bruce is the reason we are average. We should be right at the top of this league with the squad we have. Nowhere near good enough and it will probably be too late when he is fired (end of this month I expect)
Why bother running down the wing and then stop and pass back…everytime.
Brentford should be at least 3 – 4 up.
Promotion requires us winning our matches. Dr Xia has stated September crucial. It would not surprise me if we loose against Middlesbrough on Tuesday SB will be picking up his P45. 6 games and 6 points, whereas top 2 on 16/14 points respectively. SB has nearly had a year and there is very little improvement in our position. I think it’s time for someone new.
Agree. Not a chance in hell of us beating boro
Oohah
I’m going to the Boro match with one of my oldest friends, who is a Boro fan. Driving from the South coast. I reckon the journey back will be a fun one!
The key question is who can manage Villa? An issue is that a number of managers are on the “sack merry go round”. £m pay off move to new job 6 months later. If we go for this approach I would be happy with Sam Alladyce, he knows how to grind results out and that is what counts at the moment to be promoted out of the Championship.
However, part of my thought process is go for an untried British manager, who has demonstrated promise with an unfancied team. There is always the risk it is a Graham “who” Turner. But it appears too many Villa managers cannot cope with us, the Villa fans expectations and SB is struggling with this issue.
Sadly, this dies lead to us Vila fans looking at our expectations. We were greatly let down by our former chairman, who through mismanagement allowed large swathes of our great club to decay. Our new chairman cannot change this overnight and it will take years. I fear we may be in for a torrid time, like we had in the late 60s / early 70s.
Is this view held be others?
I agree Sidforever who do we get to replace him. Oddly enough it wouldn’t surprise me if we beat Boro simply as they may start as equals favourites and will open up against us. But Bruce is not the man there is no way on the planet we will finish top 6 this season at best about the same as last season. Terry is a huge liability yet he is undroppable as prob written into his contract. Taking captaincy of Cheshire who did nothing wrong was a piss poor piece of management and Chesters confidence seems to have gone since Terry has come. Odomah is another waste of space. How can you play Elmo and Odomah in the same game in virtually the same positions. I assume Odomah has also got a clause in contract he can’t be dropped either. Are Elmo and Odomah an improvement on Adomah? Definitely not. Whelan is another useless spare part. Bruce has done well with Johnstone but he’s not our player and will be bk at Utd in due course. Snodgrass looks a decent buy tbf. But getting Terry and selling Baker for example is a sign of a manager who dosnt know what he’s doing though it called be a Dr X decision. The midfield is pathetic there is no balance, no leadership, no cohesion it’s a mess.
Johnstone our man of match BUT takes more time than Burridge over goal kicks…hello we need a goal.
Johnstone and Snodgrass were only positives. Rest of the team are useless. Bruce has to go no ifs buts or maybes enough enough
Garbage. I would like someone to tell me why Bruce should keep his job. I can’t see it.
There isn’t a single reason to keep Bruce, problem is Dr Tony is badly advised and listens too much to Wyness and co who are dinosaurs just like Bruce.
Why are our owners badly advised. Lerner was as well
Well that was painful. Yet again we play deep and with caution but its no surprise. We are exactly the team we were last season, frustrating draws at home with the odd flukey win and utterly hopeless away. There has been no progress in the last 10-12 months, none at all.
Bruce and the coaching staff really are the worst tacticians we’ve ever seen at the club and the more the inevitable sacking is delayed, the more the club and its supporters will suffer. Dr Tony is going down way in my estimations with his inability to act over this farcical situation
There was one top manager out there today, step forward Dean Smith, he’ll get Brentford much further up the table. Then again I am biased with him being an ex Hereford player!
We should of got Rowett last year. Bruce should surely do the decent thing and go
There were a lot of missed opportunities oohah, David Wagner being the most blaring one. The board didnt even approach him because Wyness was fixated on Bruce’s “championship experience”. As much as I want Bruce out, Wyness needs to go with him. All this BS about a new 60k stadium is nonsense, if we can’t even barely muster a shot at home to Brentford.
Agree Villain1. Even Rowett would of been a decent choice. Bruce is well past his sell by date not because of his age but his thinking