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.
Adomah off for Kodjia.
Bolassie to get a run out.
And there’s the goal.
Dack scores.
Awful!
Bolassie and Hourihane coming on.
It’s almost embarrassing how Bruce is purely reactive.
F**ing useless – take Adomah off and it leaves us exposed on our left flank. Grealish is not a defensive midfielder.
No chance – another loss and another failure to hold a clean sheet
I could see it coming get Th a twat out as manager, 3 subs put on and we put 1 on.
1-0 down. Death knell for Bruce?
Last orders at the bar please, last orders at the bar. Oy, you, Bruce, out. Your barred.
Put down your glass
Git off your ass
Git on your hoss
and so long boss.
Is that a Sham69 lyric?
Villa fans drifting away.
I don’t blame them.
They’ve had nothing to cheer at all today.
We always look like conceding even when we are on top.
Hope that Wes and Nassef have a Plan B.
Could this be curtains for Bruce. Anyone got any suggestions on excuses for him.
The man has no idea what he’s doing, time is up get him out please.
I’m sick of listening to commentators praising Bruce for being a promotion expert. I’ll tell you now he will never ever get a team promoted again. Football has moved on from his heyday. Time for a change. I would take a bullet of defeat to Rotherham if it was the final nail in the coffin for Bruce. Que hourihan scoring. Makes no difference.
Tekkers , said the same to my mates, he’s had his day and its time to move over,
a very lucky man today.
Tekkers, those praising Bruce for his record don’t realise that the difference is nobody cared if Bruce didn’t get Hull or Blose up. There was no real pressure. Pressure makes a a huge difference. Bruce is expected to get Villa up. It is his sole objective, Nothing less is good enough. His record is more of a millstone round his neck, while the amount he’s spent just adds to the weight on his shoulders. Looks a step to far, unfortunately.
Tekkers, those praising Bruce for his record don’t realise that the difference is nobody cared if Bruce didn’t get Hull or Blose up. There was no real pressure. Pressure makes a a huge difference. Bruce is expected to get Villa up. It is his sole objective, Nothing less is good enough. His record is more of a millstone round his neck, while the amount he’s spent just adds to the weight on his shoulders. Looks a step to far, unfortunately.
Hourihane curler from the free!
Get in!
Conor scores!!!!
Bruce has the look of a dead man walking.
Yes he looks really resigned.
Having said all that’s been said Abraham had two gilt edged chances to score and didn’t take either.
Great goal from Hourihane, and a get out of jail card for Bruce.
Take nothing away from him that was one hell of a free kick. Could we play with either McGinn or Hourihane in the defensive mid field role?
For all the negatives – me included – the defence did look better with Tuanzebe at CB, Chester looked more himself – but I would still play Hutton at LB over Taylor with Elmo at RB
Hope you enjoyed your meal Hitch. Trust Villa to leave you with indigestion.
I’ve had one of those days Holte – brilliant meal from Michelin star chef Chris Harrod but managed to bump the car – grrrrrr – my fault as well!
Oh well at least we didn’t lose!
Hope there wasn’t too much damage. Don’t take it to Bruce’s Garage because you will end up with the steering wheel on the left hand side.
LOL
Great goal from Hourihane, but yet another dreadful performance.
I have no idea how Bruce can make such a good squad on paper look so bad.
Positives from today…Jedinak didnt play centre back and Hutton didnt play left back.
Oh and Bradley Dack is very good, we should try and sign him in January and play him on the left…oh wait no he’s left footed!
Parts from Ferrari, mechanic from Massey-Ferguson.
Bruce has had long enough, and spent much more than his competitors, but he seem incapable of fashioning a machine which is of the same quality as its components. And that is his function – blending the players he has acquired into a promotion winning team. Nobody on this blog thinks he is getting there.
I like the analogy OLL. We just should be so much better.
Scrappy goal when we actually looking the better team. Bruce has an embarrassment of attacking talent, but lacks the b@lls to use them and go at teams. The defence had a better shape to it. Still not impressed with Taylor but maybe he would benefit from a run in a stable back 4.
we missed a chance to move up the table with 3 points but it looked like being worse. Always feels a lot more positive to equalise late on rather than be in front and concede.