It’s only a short one, as frankly I have better things to do than try to explain what I saw tonight.
Suffice to say, that while I suppose I should be thankful for a Villa win, it’s really not saying much.
If this is seen as a good performance today, well I can only see it as fake news.
The last I’d seen, we had 61% possession, with 10 shots off and 2 shots on target.
Which isn’t brilliant in itself against what I thought was a very poor Rotherham side.
It probably ended higher than that, not that it’s that important, as I was looking more at how we played.
And I remain totally convinced that how we set up is totally wrong.
It was all long balls, very many Cowans-like, across the pitch.
Some worked, some didn’t.
But when it’s backed up by next to no movement in the middle, it’s totally wasted.
I totally fail to see how by-passing the middle of the pitch will get you anywhere these days and keeping it constantly played wide offers very little threat, yet this seems to be Bruce’s only tactic.
Grealish is also totally wasted on the left, especially when he has to defend in our third.
It’s no surprise that Abraham and Bolasie scored, as they’re the only ones being allowed to get in there, it seems to me.
It’s almost like Bruce doesn’t trust the others.
But what sums it all up is that it’s boring to watch.
Make no mistake, lowly Rotherham caught us out at least three times and a better attack would have got goals.
Perhaps I’m being harsh in my assessment, but basically I think I’ve totally lost patience with Bruce now.
I just don’t see him being the future.
I have no problem whatsoever with the scouting staff being axed.
With Bruce in charge, they’ve been a total waste of time, as he only looks to top players on loan.
Can you think of any prospects we’ve brought in lately, that have come good?
I can’t.
Our scouting has been rubbish for years, just the same as our supposed kids “coming though” from the academy.
They’re that good, Bruce can’t get rid quick enough.
The only decent scouted player I can recall lately was Benteke and that was under Lambert, of all people.
And even then, he was known.
The only defence I have of Bruce ATM is that we are introducing 4 players who will need time to gel whoever is in charge. My argument is that our dependence on loan players will only ever be resolved if promotion is achieved. If we fail again then we will be back to square one with ageing players at the end of their contracts and loan players going back to their parent clubs. Bruce and his coaching team are struggling to get a talented group of players to gel into a top team. Letting Elphick and Clark go out on loan whilst not replacing them could be Bruce’s biggest mistake. Like Badger said that if we are winning we can tolerate poor performances, but with the players we have, we should expect better displays than what we are seeing. I think new owners are evaluating Bruce’s position on a match by match basis so next few games will be vital for him. I personally would like Dean Smith but I’m not sure he would come anyway. At least McCormack has gone. I don’t think anyone is on the ‘fence’ about that being a good thing.
I think the most telling statistic about McCormack is the complete lack of interest in him in the EFL (or Scotland) even on a ‘no risk’ loan move. Anyway, he’ll be able to get Usain Bolt’s autograph – that’s if he can catch him LOL.
Now, if only we could ‘lose’ Micah Richards somewhere.
It’s clear that plenty has been going on behind the scenes at VP. On top of the purge of the scouting team, Xia has had his shares bought by the new owners, leaving him with either no financial interest in the club or very little. Certainly he no longer has any influence in the workings of the club.I think that is what is behind his critic tweet of a few weeks ago.
Bruce is on borrowed time, and he knows it. Unless he can get the team to gel quickly and start winning regularly with decent football he will walk the plank. i don’t believe for a minute that the owners aren’t working on finding a replacement.
I totally agree with Holte66 summary above.
*cryptic not critic
Think your right DS Villa, I have read that along the Many news feeds I get ,it seems them seven that’s gone Bruce is under scrutiny and he’s aware things have to change, and now Bruce is quoted saying he’s always wanted 2 upfront.
Don’t recall that as being quoted by him.
Our new owners are building the scaffold for Bruce’s reign.
Interesting point about him needing time whilst embedding new players into the team. But he’s always doing that. Maybe if he tried embedding some our younger players he might have more stability.
No, tbf Bill – Bruce has said on a number of occasions that you have to play two up front in the Championship but feels he has been continually thwarted through injury and McCormackgate!
Please do not read this as a defence of Bruce which saves you all sticking pins into your Hitchens60 doll!
West Ham defender.
Collins has been invited to train with Aston Villa’s squad by Bruce and could join the Championship club as a free agent.
The Wales international is available after leaving West Ham at the end of last season and was close to joining Ipswich earlier this month.
Bruce has made contact with the 35-year-old and is open to the idea of offering him a short-term deal with Villa.
It is understood that Collins is struggling with a muscle injury that has restricted his training, though he has held talks with Bruce this week.
Paul Hurst, the Ipswich manager, said: “I’ve been made aware he won’t be signing for Ipswich Town – I’m surprised we’ve not seen anything in the press in some shape or form. I had a message from James and that deal is dead and buried now.
“I made no secret of the fact we wanted to do something there but I stand by the fact he wasn’t fit at the time. That was what was best for the football club.
“But if what I’m led to believe is happening, is happening then I wish him well. He was here and genuinely did enjoy his time here.”
Collins played for Villa for three years, between 2009 and 2012, under managers Martin O’Neill, Gérard Houllier and Alex McLeis
Well he’ll be cheaper than Terry and two years younger!
This is madness.
Why sign an ageing back-up, that no one else wants, no doubt on serious money, that we’ll probably hardly ever use?
Samba last season, wasn’t it?
Meanwhile, Mitch Clark is getting good write-ups.
Or maybe we could just recall Elphick?
Maybe not, at a guess.
https://www.myoldmansaid.com/efl-present-championship-clubs-with-ffp-fine-guidelines/
Well this might change the look of the Championship table come the end of the season.
I don’t know why the EFL / Prem don’t just abandon promotion and relegation it would be more honest and end the farce that FFP is there to protect the fans whereas in reality it’s designed to protect the richer clubs across Europe.
One would think someone in the EFL would have the brains to realise that FFP in its current form does not work but no, the answer is to make the penalties more severe.
What a joke.
new owners at villa have been busy again today i see, they are putting their own stamp on the club. which will mean another manager at some point soon. when they appoint their manager, he will have a small squad with the loan players returning home and he will have a blank canvas to work start of with. which will be better than starting with lots of players he doesn’t rate and wants out.
elphick has played something like less than 50 games in 5 years, which is very poor, if he stayed he wouldn’t be automatic choice for a starting role, so guessing here, maybe he wants to play games and wanted reassurance from bruce he would play, once he was told he wouldnt be automatic starte. he wanted to leave
whoever the manager is presently its a tough time. its all about gelling the players into a team. its gonna take time with no short cuts, loan players were recruited, because they were hamstrung with ffp. at least the owners have rushed in quality players in such short time, they had before the window shut.
R was missing starter
A plus
Great news , Bruce has found a replacement for our centre back problem.
Wow he’s found him. I don’t think so Bruce.
Mile Jedinak has been backed to fill the big boots of John Terry at Aston Villa.
Boss Steve Bruce will continue with the 34-year-old in the heart of defence against Sheffield Wednesday following the morale-boosting shut out in midweek.
Bruce believes the criticism aimed at Jedinak has been unfair and blames his team as a collective for shipping too many goals this season rather than the Australian.
.
Bill
Wow, Bruce seems desperate to be sacked. Tuanzebe MOM in his last match at centre half. I anticipate a new manager at the turn of the year.
I wouldn’t back against that Sid, infact it could be sooner than that.
Villa on Sky , not on tomorrow but on Friday red button, also Tuesday 28th on red button, if you have a smart tv don’t buy because they don’t have red button.
I fell for that this week.
Weird mine has a red button. BRUCE OUT!
Your not on Now tv then.? SKY you can ,if I’m missing something let me know.