Preston have 5 points from 10 games.
I don’t think I need to say anything more than that, apart from they’re either going through a torrid time or are totally rubbish.
So it has to be a Villa win, right?
Well, yes, of course it should be, but do you have any faith that we’ll get the victory?
I think we will win, but I no longer expect it, even against clubs that are going through a worser patch than us.
Straight to the squad and Tammy Abraham is a doubt after his being subbed off in that awful Bristol City game because of a calf problem.
Scott Hogan and Keinan Davis, the former supposedly close last week, are still out with groin problems.
The good news is Bolasie might start.
Whether he’ll start as a winger might well be debateable (ahem).
As for Preston, Josh Harrop is out for the rest of the season.
The good news for them is that Calum Woods and Michael Crowe are close and might feature.
It’s Bruce’s latest comments that I want to have a look at though.
My thoughts are in bold;
“We’ve been close. We’ve lost twice in 10 games. The three or four draws we’ve had could have been wins.”
Er, Should have, could have, would have. Quite simply, they weren’t, even after the easiest start we’ve had in years. Just to remind you, we’re 15th in the league and if you draw, you might as well have lost, if you’re supposedly challenging for promotion.
“We could quite easily have been four or five points better off – and yet we’re still only two points behind the play-offs.”
True. And six points behind the leaders. Is that where you’re aiming for, the play-offs again?
That’s not good enough.
“I know patience is a dying art in football, but I am convinced that we will be fine the longer the season goes. We’ll get there.”
Bloody right it’s a dying art watching the crap football you play. We had a monster crowd against Sheff Wednesday, yet you probably cost the club at least a couple of thousand fans who won’t turn up again while you’re in charge.
That said, I believe you’re correct in saying we’ll get better.
But we’ll always be playing catch-up, as we’re miles away from looking like a challenging team.
“The nucleus of this team is fine. We’ve just got to stay patient and let the new signings settle into their surroundings.”
I totally agree, it’s a great team on paper.
So why do they look like a total bunch of amateurs that don’t have a clue what to do?
It’s not just the new signings either. McGinn apart, I’m struggling to think of a single player who looks on top of his game.
I really doubt that’s much to do with new signings.
I’d like to see one of the interviewers ask Bruce about the 2 wins in 21, or whatever it is now, as that’s quite simply a shocking record.
I read an article today about RDM and it seems he was sacked for having a very similar record to Bruce, at this point.
I don’t believe it matters what Bruce says.
His head is on the chopping block if he doesn’t start winning consistently.
Another two or three weeks of not winning and we then go 10 or more points behind.
I’m going for a 2-1 win, purely because I don’t see us not conceding, even against poor sides.
The win is purely because we’re at home.
Regardless, I predict another rubbish game to watch.
Because that’s what you get under Bruce, as it stands.
A win, simple and anything else is unacceptable.
The pressure’s on you , Steve.
Just get it.
Steve Bruce is history. Relying on him is like banging your head against the wall. He is the wall. He can’t change.
I’ve just half watched Palace v Bournemouth. After going into half time one nil down, Palace came out fired up, dominated and scored quickly. Howe responded immediately to wrest the initiative back. Bruce would have sat there on his hands until we went behind before doing anything.
I don’t really care what the result is here. Clearly we should win. Then again, if I was Preston manager I would be convinced that villa were there for the taking.
Bruce is days away from getting the sack, and I doubt whether the result against Preston will make any difference, one way or the other.
And in response to paper reports, no, I couldn’t care less that he managed Blues. In fact, I would take Monk in place of him (and even Rowett). Bruce is just mediocre. I would prefer something above that.
A season too late but I’m convinced it’s imminent.
I concur, DS.
It’s the footy that does it for me.
It’s utter rubbish and just reminds me of Lambert when he tried safety on his slow way out.
My big worry is who will come in and play with the verve that we all think the side should play with?
I really thought Bruce would be up to the challenge, but even he’s bottled it.
Managing the Villa is a big challenge. Our expectations are quite rightly high.
And to be honest, that’s worrying.
I’m now coming round to thinking that we have to go for a foreign manager who doesn’t know us too well, yet has a plan.
Edens and Sawiri have been described as football fans. Neither, as far as I can make out, will have been raised on a diet of football since birth, so it stands to reason they have been drawn to the game later in life. They have, apparently, been meeting up for World Cups and big football competitions for years. If that’s true, they will have become enthused through the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Man Utd, and Brazil, Germany etc. They will not be happy with the hopeless football served up by Bruce.
I too am worried by the question of who will they bring in. My take above tells me that it won’t be Dean Smith, but a much more exciting, unproven in the UK name. If so, that has its risks. I’m not over concerned though. We have a good squad, and an enthusiastic, attack minded manager will push us in the right direction. I would rather we had a proper go and failed, rather than the current approach which serves up such embarrassing football and fails anyway.
It’s on Sky but it’s on the red button so I can’t get it. I’m actually not too bothered about that if I’m honest. Watching Villa these days is like watching paint dry.
I keep waiting for news of Bruce’s demise and that’s getting like watching paint dry too.
Somebody make something happen, please.
“Watching Villa these days is like watching paint dry.”
God, it’s not that good, imo.
Same here Pat57, I’ve arranged to visit my lad to watch, I got BT and smart tv and pay Now sky but like you, no red button. I’m not confident about this game it starting to look like Man utd 2, players controlling a managers future. We need to win and convincingly or he’s gone.
It’s got to the point where I don’t care about what Bruce says. He’s had over 100 games to get things right and has failed with arguably one of the strongest squads in the championship. With every game none of us know what formation he will adopt, and the worrying thing is neither does Bruce. Last season he stumbled on winning situations, like when Hutton and Adomah were switched from right side to left side because of injuries, and apart from end of season they performed well. I sometimes wonder what they actually do in training during the week. Every game so far we have looked like eleven individuals rather than a team. Tomorrow night could be one of our lowest crowds in the championship. I think we should scrape a win. I agree with Badgers forecast 2-1 although I wouldn’t be shocked if we only drew or even lost. To be honest I’m torn between wanting a win and a defeat to hurry Bruce’s departure. A draw would be the worst because it will offer nothing other than a bit more time for Bruce to offer his excuses. Right now I will be amazed if he is in charge after international break.
It’s a waste of time analysing what Bruce says…. its just tired old cliches. He’s had 2 years which in the grand scheme of modern football is a long time and has delivered absolutely nothing.
Whether you’ve been Bruce out since day one like me or more recently, realistically the results no longer matter. We could win 3-0 or lose 3-0, the priority for the future of this club is to get Bruce, his dinosaur tactics and his abysmal coaching staff out of this club.
Sawiris and Edens are the antithesis of Dr T (in more ways than one) so we have no way of knowing what they are thinking but I suspect at this point in time a betting man would get long odds on Bruce staying much longer.
It’s a reality that the more pressure a manager is under the more desperate they become and the thought process becomes muddled as they seek the ‘magic’ solution.
Bruce increasingly looks and sounds like a man under pressure – better he goes now than this continues – and with an International break looming ……..
Oh yes the game tonight – no idea. Preston haven’t won in nine (actually I think they have lost nine on the bounce) so they’ll probably win tonight.
How often do you hear about struggling teams coming up against us and turning their season round when they beat us. Lambert set so many unwanted records that we could be playing a pub team and I wouldn’t be confident.
So news coming out of imminent appointment of a new Technical Director. No prizes for guessing the first item on his to do list.
Hitch, take a look at company house, there £2 .7. Million paid into Villa. could it be? You know who.
I saw that Bill. I suspect that it’s just ongoing funding from the owners due to continuing losses. It is better for the club financial position than a loan.
Or converting loans into shares rather than receiving repayment – tax efficient.
Thought it might be pay off time DS, off to watch the match at my sons place.
let’s hope its not something for nothing and wasting my time. Score? as the meerkats say Not a clue.
We should be beating these without any tactics so I guess we may be in for a win!
are we on the red button again tonight. ?? also are man city playing on tv cause its champions league innit tonight. my local will be watching them
tonight game with preston. they are bottom but they are not rubbish, they are only losing by the odd goal. its a game we have to win forget the manager stuff. we need to kick off this season and if fans are to protest, make it after or before but not in the game.
Nath – is on the red button.
cheers 🙂 hitch
Bunny in goal tonight – what does that say about Bruce’s gk signings?
Bunn not Bunny LOL
You were right first time Hitch
dropping the keeper is a big mistake. he might as well come out and say i quit. hes losing the dressing room if he hadnt already. fans and players will both signal the end after tonight.
i fancy the three in middle of midfield, i would prefer bolasie for kodjia. axel is centre back with chester. so no excuses. i think the players will try their best to fook this up just to finish off bruce, i hope they win for the fans and our season, bruce will be gone what ever the result now.
Nath – I read an article that suggested Bruce signed Nyland to prove ‘a point’ to the new owners who, by implication, were involved in signing Campos Moreira (sic) who’s out of Mendes stable!
Playing Bunn is strange and is a further indication that Bruce is under severe pressure.
Bloody hell, I’ve been busy and had it in my head it was an 8pm kickoff.
I’ve missed the first 8 minutes!
Bunn in for Nyland?
I’m not surprised, tbh, as Nyland has been awful.
A big admission that Bruce got it wrong though.
Good effort from Grealish then and Kodjia has a cross/shot that we should have scored.
Grealish in the LB position again.
That’s ridiculous, to my mind.
Kodjia scores a good header from a Abraham cross.
Quality!
1-0
Oops. it was Elmo’s cross.
Badger – as I’m away thought I would watch on AVTV so paid my £10 and can’t even get on the site; getting server error and bad gateway messages – bl***y waste of money – suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. Last time I’ll be doing that.
Strange that you can’t even access the site.
Tell them and they should refund you.
Have you accessed the site before, while you’re away, outside game time?
Yep – no trouble until 1 minute before kick off. Tried through the app and via AVFC – just keeps telling me server error
Get your compaint in straight away, Hitch, to insure the refund.
Plus they might be able to advise, although I wouldn’t bank on it.
The app appears to be locking me out of the site as now it’s half time I can access through AVFC site. Can’t be bothered tbh and am going to delete the app which is cr*p anyway. Good that we’re 2-0 up though
I’ve never been able to watch via the app, Hitch.
On a tablet and EFL rules says I can’t watch unless through the app – who makes this stuff up!
Another good cross for Abraham, but it looked a blatant push in the back, not given.
Abraham runs in from the left and megs the goalie.
Great work and it’s 2-0.
HT and it’s a very easy 2-0 up to now.
Er yes, Preston are indeed crap and you can why they’re bottom.
They’ve offered nothing.
Let’s score a few more, to give the lads a boost.
Yes they are crap. They haven’t won since the first game of the season and have conceded 21 in 10 games. Nice to be strolling for a change though. I thought we were poor for 20 mins or so and then was in the kitchen cooking the dinner. Missed both goals. Maybe I should go and make a dessert, help create a couple more 🙂
thought Robinson played pretty well in the bit I saw. There again, as a winger he wouldn’t have got a game here anyway.