Here we go again then and it’s another game on a stupid Monday night in front of the Sky cameras.
Seeing how we’ve gone around fourteen live games without a single win, that’s a bad omen in itself, but all runs have to come to an end don’t they?
Hmm.
As much as I try to retain any optimism (as much as some others think I don’t), I think this particular match couldn’t have come at a worse time. More so when you consider we’ve played “lesser” teams at home and lost.
We’ve played Brighton away, so this is probably the toughest fixture we have left this season…
I’m sorry. As much as I try to look on the bright side and recall that Blues and Wolves have turned Newcastle over on their own turf, combined with the fact that the Barcodes have the second worst record for individual errors (after us), so I think I’m clutching at straws.
The truth is I don’t think we’ve got a hope in hell of taking anything away tonight, as much as it might leave me open to abuse.
Let’s face it, we’ve won two away games all season haven’t we?
So why should we expect to get anything from this one, in front of a big crowd that are constantly being wound up by Mick Quinn and a media trying to create a rivalry that really isn’t there?
I was supposed to be doing a Q&A with a Newcastle blog, mainly to see what their thoughts were on that latter point, but sadly I’ve just been too busy and it didn’t happen. I’m pretty sure they’d have agreed there isn’t really a problem between the two sets of fans, but I digress.
So what’s been going on recently then?
Bruce says he had a message from Xia saying his job’s safe.
Xia has got the hump over some site saying he’s gambling with the Villa re; parachute money.
Players have been coming out and saying it’s not been good enough and we’ll be better.
And we’re already being linked with players for the summer.
Yawn.
None of it’s of any consequence and all that matters is we start putting points on the board.
So what do we know about the game?
Both our new full backs, Taylor and Bree are doubtful, but the good news is Mile Jedinak might be back after a groin injury. And how we could do with him being fit. It’s been no co-incidence that we’ve looked worse at the back without him, in my opinion.
There have been calls for Sam Johnstone to be dropped and while I’m not sure what it would do for his confidence, so it might be better to get him out of the spotlight. Frankly, he’s been poor for us, hasn’t he?
Bruce has talked about putting Kodjia back on the left, as he thinks he’ll be more dangerous there and that’s something I think the manager will definitely do.
Will Grealish get the spot in the hole? Possibly, but I’d be tempted to save him for later as he sums up the team, in not being a 90 minute player.
Otherwise, the rest of the team pretty much picks itself and whatever eleven starts, it probably won’t be far off what we think is our best eleven on paper.
As for Newcastle, they might have Dwight Gayle back. Great and that’s all we need.
I can actually see us getting a goal tonight, as Newcastle won’t feel any need to sit back against us, which might see us get opportunities, but we’re struggling to convert chances.
Newcastle, on the other hand will also create and with our defence conceding from pretty much any mistake, it doesn’t bode well.
I’m going to go for a 3-1 loss then and it’s more about the performance, I feel.
The last time we beat Newcastle away was the infamous punch up game which we won 3-0 and I attended.
How I’d love to see a similar result tonight.
I find it unbelievable this is acceptable for a load of you!!!!
Newcastle, at their worst contained us with ease and now, playing better (only very slightly) are making us look so crap!!!
Please wake up. Steve Bruce will not take us anywhere with his defensive negative football approach. The game adapts over the years, he hasn’t!!!
About time we played a formation, with players in their best positions and stopped tinkering to fit them in!! Yes that means some new players will get dropped… GOOD. Lansbury and the Viking been crap.
Hourihane is a fantastic player and Bruce has no idea how to utilise him and Kodjia IS NOT A WINGER!!!
Spot on. Around Villa Park nowadays you’d be forgiven for thinking we’re Steve Bruce FC not Aston Villa FC. The man is completely lost, he’s winging it and hasn’t got a clue how to solve this. You don’t need to know anything about body language to tell that. I’m astonished and deeply concerned Dr Xia is standing for this, and its a very worrying sign going forward that the owner has some very poor advisors around him who are influenced by Bruce’s pals in the media.
I agree.
This is RELEGATION form. We have 2 games at home. He needs 6 points or he is gone.
Have to agree with you fir once may as well go for Rowett if he can keep that shower of shite up he can keep us up
Hear hear
Bruce get you’re monkey wrench out.
Ok Newcastle scored from set pieces when they had several men in our 6 yard box. Big surprise. When do we get any numbers in their box? Lacking ambition. Poor manager. Don’t worry. Keep backing him. Come back on here in 6 games and see what you think. By that time it will be too late.
1 point in 8 games. Back the manager. Don’t make me laugh. He looks like a rabbit in the headlights.
Hourinane has been disappointing in a villa shirt up to now.
Because when he gets the ball, he only has 1 player in front of him.
Fucking hell, how I yearn for the counter attacking days of Martin o’Neill.
Get rid of this idiot now.
I hate to say it, but Gary Rowett is now our only hope.
If we let this idiot stay in charge, we will be in div 1 next season.
Why play 1 upfront and your most dangerous attacker left wing. I just dont get it. Absolutely no attacking threat at all.
Looks like Hogan seriously injured plus if Kodjia out as well – we really are cursed. This has all the hallmarks of a team getting relegated
Hogan knee f##ked by the look of him, a pity for the player but £12 mil for a player that’s had serious cruciate problems? Come on.
Ankle I think BWS – not that the detail really matters.
I hope you’re right h60.
We knew he had a bad injury record but still wasted £12m on him ffs
I’m not giving him my support anymore, he’s had his chances, I’ve seen the other side of him looking like a lost child, Calderwood has the ear of Bruce and it showing now. Sorry he’s got to go and quickly.
Welcome on board Bill, no idea route 1 football and as made little to know impact and for all the deniers out there one name – ‘Neil Warnock’.
Just look at that last 6 minutes of the game, tip tap to each player ,no creative idea or knowing how to open up the defence, players lofting balls to the opposition , can anyone see we are going nowhere, again he will say not acceptable., he’s not acceptable if you ask me.
No urgency
I intended on giving him five games to see if there was any signs of improvement. This was game 3. I’m almost ready to agree with you. I don’t think these players are too bad but the coaching and tactics are not working. Calderwood is a fucking knob head. We’ve went backwards since he came in. The curse of the Scottish ! Relegation looms
But it’s Bruce’s fault for appointing him!
If indeed he did.
I’m not at all convinced, fwiw.
To cap it all, I lost the stream and it seems Hogan has seriously done his ankle?
Unbelievable!
No write up from me tonight.
I need to mull things over.
Looks like his cruciate AGAIN.
Cruciate?
Bloody hell 🙁
I don’t believe our luck.
Although we weren’t playing to his skills anyway.
it’s worrying BWS, I tell you straight.
We are cursed Badger in convinced
Certainly seems like it 🙁
Mate I posted before we bought him he looked like he wasn’t moving property but hey ho what do us mere mortals know?
To pay £12m is a disgrace. He will never be the same again that’s assuming he ever plays again. Going to be touch and go
Oohah his knee (possibly both) have gone I looked at him on YouTube and posted (look it up) his running action didn’t look right and he was a risky signing.
Bruce just said it might not be as bad as they think. But if what u say is true the medical should of picked up on that
It was his ankle i’m sure? looks like a break to me.
That’s what I’m hearing Guest.
With some suggesting they heard a snap????
How, fuck knows? up in the Gods.
Bruce just been interviewed says hogan didn’t think it was as bad as he thought. But won’t know till xray
Could be Achilles tendon, bad enough around 12 months out.
No its as clear as day on sky, his foot pretty much bent under his leg, if it isn’t a broken ankle i’ll be amazed.
Mate you’d be surprised, playing once and one of the lads did his ankle, it was horrible, leg facing one way, foot the other. But it was just dislocated, he was back within three months or so.
My point is it may not be as bad as it looks.
There are so many things wrong with Bruce its just not worth writing down. Most influencial players tonight were Bacuna and Gardner ffs!
Players heads have dropped but worse still Bruce’s head has dropped – maybe waiting to be put out of his misery. Need a manager to complement players – don’t think Rowett would.
Appoint me I’d compliment them “you look nice today” followed by now empty your locker and f##koff.
I’m waiting for Bruce to come on and explain that game.
“We stay strong and go again at the weekend”
No Lambert’s not back, Brucie actually just said that
Ha ha just heard it thought the sane
Bruce has to go, enough is enough.
Agree
bruce out said before xmas he was shite manager say it again spud out
Count me in, where do I sign?
League points 1st January 2016 – 20th February 2016 = 8 points (Premier league)
League points 1st January 2017 – 20th February 2017 = 1 points (Championship)
Bruce is not working and another managerial gamble that has not paid off so far. The hope was he could inject something into the team to push for playoff places. We all felt the initial confidence and excitement that it was still possible. Now we are in another relegation battle having invested £75m in the squad. Most of the deadwood have been moved on and replaced. But the same old villa remains. As much as Bruce is loosing my support I see no alternative and have resigned myself to the fact that we are now a fallen giant and will remain so for a long long time. The doc gambled on instant promotion and I fear for the future and feel we will become the new Leeds in chopping and changing manager every year in the hope that we find the new messiah.
Have to agree Doc gambled on instant promotion the way Lerner gambled top four! We could be on the wilderness for years I’m afraid. We may need another 2-3 seasons holding our own in this division before we can challenge for top 6
We havent played well once under Bruce. Not fucking once.
First half Newcastle were not at the races and instead of taking the game to them, we decided to play negatively, time waste and be happy not to be losing. Then the inevitable happens and we concede. Elphick beaten twice by Lascelles for their 2 goals, that wouldnt have happened against Baker.
The setup is all wrong. Hogan completely isolated again. Kodjia looks lost out wide. Bjarnason isnt good enough, a complete mess.
Not only that, our passing was poor and even our effort levels werent that great when we gave it away.
I saw one positive tonight and that was Taylor. Actually played well at LB.
Im sick to death of watching this crap week in week out. First time we have lost 5 games in a row since the 70s…and we’re not even in the top flight.
Bang on Plan A – Put 11 behind the ball don’t concede…
Concede.
Plan B ??????????????????
Elphick has been the biggest disappointment for me I really thought he’d be one of our best players this season but he is woeful. He should never be picked over Baker. Though I do think this Taylor looks good and was our Motm imo
In the first half we harried and pressed them. That’s why they created very little. As soon as we conceded, heads dropped, we stayed off them, and the second half was a stroll for them.
I don’t think the management can motivate the team. I don’t think the players believe in and trust the coaching team. It’s a recipe for disaster, but the players are top 4 material.
Wrong manager/coaching staff. Painfully obvious.
Xia must be despairing. Us too mate. Put him out of our misery Tony.
Yes first half we did on but let’s face it we never looked like scoring the whole game. Teams only need to go 1.0 up against us and it’s game over you have blame the front 6 we barely score a goal a game
Was Moyes in the crowd today?? Why would he watch Newcastle Villa? Is he still unhappy at Sunderland and would he be the choice of Round? Not sure if he’d be on my shortlist if Bruce goes but scratching my head as to who would be.
I’d take Dwight Yorke now it’s that bad !
At least he’s one of our own.
Behave he’s a joke
No more of our friends from north of Adrian’s Wall please.
Not a chance. Why pay off Bruce to get another flop in the door?
Probably just wanted to watch a game as it’s local to him and on paper was a big match. Wouldn’t read anything in to that
I am all for us striving for stability, but think Bruce now has to get the boot, our form is an embarrassment and maybe a new manager may just get the ‘new manager bounce’ where we win one or two, which could just keep us away from relegation..
We are properly in the brown stuff now and think the next few games will shape our destiny !!
Anything less than 7 points from our next 3 games Bruce should be shown the door. It was hard enough being the laughing stock of the premier league last year but I consoled myself with the belief that a year or two in the championship, building away from the spotlight might be the making of us. Now we have become the laughing stock of the championship and a nailed on 3 points for the opposition. Instead of being a big scalp for the opposition it’s near an embarrassment for them if they don’t beat us .
It is frightening, as this time last year I really didn’t think we could get any worse….. I was wrong !
No wonder the they’re doing some good deals on the Early Bird Season Tickets!
I think it’s touch and go what division we will be in. I don’t know where the next point is coming from if I’m honest
No surprise to me I said at begging of season we would finish mid table at best. When Bruce came I thought we may have an outside chance of top 6 but more likely to finish top 12 now we won’t even do that
The most basic rule at this level is you have to win the battle to win the war especially away from home. Villa need earn the right to play football but they are usually over powered and bullied by these so called lesser teams who work their socks of. The other basic rule is you do it for 90 mins not 45! And basic rule 3 is you make sure you train hard and get as fit as you probably can so you can concentrate for 90 mins. If Villa just stuck to those basics the whole of next season we will improve overnight simples
People are including the managers from the Lerner era in the count of manager’s and they shouldn’t. The Doc’s employed two and yea three in a season ain’t so clever but he’s new to the game so you can forgive him but the question is who’s advising him? Wyness?
And who employed him?
Lerner.
Doc do yourself a favour and f##k him off and anybody related to that dark chapter in the history of AVFC.
This is the same mistake Lerner made he surrounded himself with yes men and pen pushers! If Villa are to be successful the Dr needs to bring in top football people that know what they are doing. Players like Ian Taylor who literally sweated blood for the club needs to be held up as an example to players of the absolute minimum of what is required even if you have a bad game then sweat blood!
The team is that bad and disjointed that anyone would struggle. But we’ve nothing to lose by getting another manager. But on paper this team should be more than good enough for top 6 next season. What we mustn’t do is spend loads more money on players in preseason. We need to stick with this team and bring in a couple of players like Ian Taylor who may not be mega talented but will run through a brick wall for us. That’s what we miss date I say it we need a Robbie savage who will work for 90 mins and be in the face of the opposition.
Gary Rowett anyone? Look at the state of the Blues since he left. Obviously he was doing something right,
Sounds good to me Big B.
Mark Warburton – no compensation, his team all available, knowledge of the league and plays a better brand of football.
I’d take him to and give him time. He’s not your journey man pension plan manager but a man with a plan that builds a club but would he stand on Windasses toes?
What about Rowett
Yes nothing to lose. Though strange he is still out of work and not been linked with anyone!
Feel really sorry for the younger fans. My lad is 9 years old and I can see its been sucking the life out of him. Seen a young arsenal Fan about the same age interviewed about Arsene Wenger and he was complaining that it wasn’t fair that he hadn’t seen them win the premier league yet ! My lad speaks up and said at least you’ve seen them win a game !
I feel for you mate trying to sell it to him, that’s a tough gig at the moment Tekkers.
Ha ha that funny but sad as well