Lately, I’ve been left fuming after most of our performances.
Sometimes, it’s best not to post knee jerk reactions straight after the game, as they can leave you looking like a mug.
So I’ve left it a couple of days to try and think reasonably in hindsight.
Nothing has changed though and I’m 95% of the way there to calling for Bruce’s head after the utter load of rubbish I witnessed during the Blackburn game.
I’ve often said that I can stand boring, turgid footy if we’re getting results.
Ok, the “entertainment” bores me, but the feeling I get when we win more than makes up for it.
Winning is what it’s all about, after all, isn’t it?
But when rubbish footy is combined with poor results, it’s just not good enough.
Apparently Bruce looked resigned when Sky showed a shot of him.
I didn’t see that on the Villa feed, but I’m not surprised, as he must also know it’s not good enough.
Four draws and a spanking loss in the last 5 games says it all.
Bruce’s recent comments have been interesting, to say the least.
He asked if he’ll ever win over certain sections of the fans and the answer is, no he won’t, because his football is so poor. What I seriously think he doesn’t realise is that it’s not just a section of fans that want him gone; It’s a majority.
The 5% of me that doesn’t want to call for his head is the fact that I think he’s partly correct when he says that the team need time to gel.
The problem I have is that I don’t think we have time for it to gel.
If we go another few weeks of poor performances combined with poor results, we might as well kiss promotion goodbye, hence we need to start getting wins quickly.
But who do we think will come in and get the team firing instantly?
That’s the question.
Bruce has also come out with the fact that we brought in £25 million, while paying out £2 million last season, as his latest excuse and while that’s admirable, it certainly didn’t seem like that and it’s been said lots of times that most other managers in this league would practically give a limb to get the squad we’ve got.
And it’s this part that makes me question Bruce the most.
How can he make what looks a great squad, on paper at least, look so poor on the pitch?
There’s just no urgency, no pace and most importantly, no incisiveness to our game.
Some pundit came out and said he doesn’t see a team.
I think he’s right, as I don’t either.
We rarely seem to target any of the opposition’s players and it’s all just reactive, instead of proactive and there’s just no plan that I can see.
It’s just a case of “ok, go out and win the game”, which you would think is enough, given our players.
And might have been enough under the likes of Clough.
But it’s not, when you face a team that is well-drilled, with a plan, these days. Which is exactly what most teams are.
It’s not like our players look like they’re busting a gut either, which worries me.
I along with many of us, see that Grealish hasn’t performed lately, for example.
Is it just poor form or more than that?
I don’t know, but it just seems endemic in the whole team, to me.
Onto tomorrow’s game then and this is our first game at home in a while, so it’ll be interesting to see the fans’ attitude if we perform poorly again.
If, horror of horrors, we concede an early goal against a team of such poor resources compared to ours, I dread to think what the reaction will be.
This ought to be a very straightforward win for us, but Rotherham did well in beating Derby on Saturday (something I took great delight in teasing my Derby mate over, will my mickey taking bite me on the butt?).
We don’t do straightforward, these days, do we?
I have to go for the home win, 2-1, but I have serious doubts.
And that’s a shocking state of affairs.
If we lose this, I can only see one conclusion.
Abraham.
He’s deserved that.
1-0
Static at times but I think that Kodjia and Abraham might work. Nice through ball from Kodjia to set up the goal
Abraham looks very decent to me Hitch.
And yes, I can see a partnership forming there.
It’s the backup that doesn’t convince me.
The mids don’t offer options in their movement.
We seem to be very static at times Badger – I would like to see the mids running past the player with the ball taking defenders with them.
Still have the collywobbles with our defence!
Absolutely, Hitch.
El Ghazi booked for a sloppy tackle that wasn’t malicious.
Harsh, imo.
Comms saying it’s a very flat atmosphere.
Hardly surprising, as all we’re doing is hitting it long from the wings.
There’s absolutely nothing down the middle.
And it’s crap to watch.
Very underwhelming performance so far.
Not totally convincing but Abraham looks a good signing.
Grealish playing wide left which, apparently he prefers to central mid.
Dropped a right changer , bought now for the week and it don’t have the red button. Seen Villa was on twice thinking great get the week, what a wholly.
It’s weird watching on red button – only one camera and very muted sound so no sense of drama at all – bit like AVTV on Sky LOL
It’s probably the same feed Hitch.
Never mind Bill, Bruce will probably put 11 behind the ball 2nd half to hang on to lead.
“Hopefully more on the way in the second period” say the comms.
To say the very least, imo.
Very good stream on AVTV, I must say.
Blimey, that Smith fella looks a big unit!
God this is so average!
Everything seems flat. No tempo to our game. Atmosphere non existent.
I think I need to look at a bit of decorating.
The paint in the living room doesn’t look as sharp as it did.
So looking at paint is more interesting than the match?
Says it all.
Yep.
Hey, replays on the AVTV feed.
That’s a plus.
Better than Sky then!
This is worse than boring. Rotherham to get an equaliser as Villa haven’t appeared since half time.
I’m not jealous. Rather have no replays.
Jeez, Rotherham very close then.
We are so easily caught out with a fast attack against us 🙁
Great work from McGinn then.
Robs the ball and plays through to Abraham.
No dice.
Bolasie on.
I missed who’s come off.
Another good chance for Rotherham, who seem in the ascendancy.
Bloody poor again.
Bruce Out. Way a load of shit. I think the players have given up on Bruce too.
Adohma coming on for Kodjia
28,000, I think, btw.
Bolasie makes it 2-0
I’m still underwhelmed.
Elmo ball from the right and an easy header.
Bolasie
Bruce gets a stay of execution, although the football was generally dire. Positives were Abraham and Bolasie getting their first goals which will help their confidence.
Bruce out.