screwdriver

his first (and only) contribution was his trademark burst past his opponent then put his "cross" out for a goal kick

I think we've been done on this one.

not to mention the destruction of the original trinity road stand.

I didn't enter the stadium till 3.05 as a statement of disrespect.

the big question is will he wear a suit or traccy in the dugout?

We need to bring in Tom Heaton and Gary Cahill in Jan.

If Smith is to bring attacking football to Villa his biggest problem is the lack of work rate  especially by Kodjia and Abraham. They don't seem to press with any intent. Most of the midfielders are happy just to jocky their opponent instead of getting stuck in. McGinn the exception of course.

Hearing Villa have hired Smith I felt similar to when we hired John Gregory. Underwhelmed.

The problem I see with Conner is he seems incapable of rapid changes of direction when pressing. so when someone goes past him he can't readjust his body, he's basically left for dead.

This is the same for Lansbury from what I can rememeber. and also Jedi due to his slowness. This is going to be a problem if a forigen manager comes in and wants to play a high tempo pressing game.

Hourihane is good enough for the championship with the ball at his feet. A bit too cautious when passing often goes for the safe square ball. (that may have been the bruce coaching influence) sometimes he takes what seems like forever (from where I sit) to make up his mind what he's going to do.

16 minutes ago, sparrow1988 said:

This club has been ran shambolically for far too long now.

The board just need to stop playing championship manager (the computer game), hire a manager and give him exactly what he wants instead of committee's getting into bed with agents and choosing players.

Love or hate bruce he didn't rate Elphick and Moreira. I don't either. It's a joke we have to pay their wages. Just to get mendes on board we have to take his slag heap.

I'd forget about Mendes, Wolves have had the cream of talent from his filofax. There's no one left.

If the new manager wants a 6ft 4 inch centre half and chooses one, the board will have to go all out and get him.

Liverpool do exactly that give klopp what he wants time and time again even if they have to pay over the odds. Obviously Villa are not going to pay 75m for a centre half.

But if Bruce wanted Terry the board should of delivered.

I actually rate Anwar El Garzi  I think he can do everything he just needs to get up to match speed by playing 5 games in the same position.

no manager resigns these days they're on too much money.

However hearing his wm interveiw he sounded very upset, like he's on the brink of walking.

The thing is if I had made loads of money through football and didn't need to work again why put yourself through all the hassle?

Bunn was way better than the other two. He keeps the jersey for me

What a clearing in the woods I couldn't believe it when he stepped up.

He should of blasted it straight down the middle.  I would have put it in the top corner.

Bjarnson should have man marked Johnson who changed the game when he came on roughed him up

Bruce made the wrong decision taking Abraham off. Kodjia should have been subbed. Abraham works harder than Kodjia.
Bolasie should have grabbed the ball for the pen.  Even if he had missed he had scored the equalizer which would of let him off the hook.

It reminded me of euro 96 penalty shoot out when hard man ince bottled taking the pen and southgate stepped up

Bruce needs to grow a beard, wear a waistcoat and change his name to sergio brucio.

If we sack bruce all that will happen is someone will come in and put James Collins at the back and Kenian Davis up front and we will win a few draw a few and lose a couple, then repeat the process.

Nostradamus screwdriver predicts Steve Bruce will go to Stoke and get them up

whilst Villa hire Smith and he gets Jedi and Chester to play one twos on the edge of our own penalty area to the delight of the football purists whilst we finish 13th buit the fans post wildly on message boards about exciting football.

8 hours ago, DaveAV1 said:

 No disrespect, but I can’t see that Tony could have at the time, or Ranieri is able to now, build a side and create a style and identity from the wreckage of what Steve Bruce is going to leave them.

Villa are two players away from mounting a challenge. A specialist centre half - James Collins... and a striker who can actually hold the ball up and bring others in _Davis. Even a transfer window isn't needed.

All managers on the outside looking in can see that. If Bruce doesn't keep his job im sure they'll be queues round the block to take the job and be proclaimed as a genius who never spent a penny of Villa's money to do what dino-Bruce couldn't.

He's good on paper. However he usually has zero impact. like Hourihane but without the goals.

I think his only ambition will be to get one more big contract after Villa.

The problem with English players is fans and journo's are obsessed with playmaking midfielders then forget we need grafters to do the ugly side of the game.

England used to be blessed with this type of warrior David Batty and Paul Ince etc .

Now we have a problem every english midfielder wants to be the number 10 in the hole. The only english ball winner is Dyer a converted centre half...and he is terrible in midfield.

It's not too late for Lansbury  he could work on his long distance running, and rapid changes of direction.  get into the Villa team. Get us back in the prem,  grow his hair really long again and wear a head band (the lansbury version of grealish's socks rolled down look) then surely an england call up wouldn't be far away as there is zero competition in this area. there's only frustrated number 10's like John Jo shelvey  lumps who think they can play.

he's well down the pecking order in attacking midfield. His best bet is learn how to be a DM. Jedi with legs.

depends how happy he is getting paid just to turn up to train. Very content I should imagine.

1 minute ago, wilko154 said:

Most managers in this league would bite our hands off to have the squad we have.

Any manager in this division with Kodjia, Abraham, Grealish, Bolasie, McGinn, Hourihane and Chester should be getting promotion with ease.

Rose tinted glasses off, we should be in the top 6 at the very, very minimum after the run of games we have had so far this season.

Every manager would take Grealish. The rest are average champ players. Bolasie has had serious injuries. Chester is small for a centre half A lot of managers wouldn't touch him because of this. Pulis got rid because he isn't the normal 6'4" stopper. Straight out of the moneyball movie.

Hourihane scores a few but is anonymous most of the time. Abraham is just another grabbon, knock it long and nothing sticks but will get a few tap ins. 

We are not miles better than anyone else. We have about 3 good players Grealish Chester and McGinn.

The rest are average champ standard. I bet you can look at all the other teams and find 3 or good players. Wednesday have bannan and that kid up front Adam reach was a pest all game.

Albion and stoke have the best squads. They should run away with it however they both have poor managers.

the correct decision imo we have started better than last season, sheffield weds game was end to end a draw would have been about right, they beat us last season.

He's going nowhere until a new director of football comes in. OR if he loses 5 on the bounce which would never happen with the quality of our players and the shitness of the champ.

The problem is the balance of the team isn't right...at the moment...too many square pegs in round holes. He needs to go back to basics. I keep saying it but Davis is crucial.

Davis and James Collins in the team and Bruce will be swaggering down broad street singing every loser wins by nick berry

I still believe Kenian Davis is massive to Bruce. I think he will transform the season like he did last year.

Nothing sticks up front with any of the other guys.

It would be a tough deal to get over the line especially in the middle of a season.

Poaching the celtic manager would be a massive statement of intent.

They can have Paul Lambert.

reminded me of paul scholes the way it came in off the crossbar.

I'd defiantly move him on in January if he doesn't kick on.

I am hoping for a little pre xmas spell where he bags another 8 goals of course. Wasn't in the game at all yesturday suprised he stayed on the pitch so long.