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Just now, Eastie said:

Yes should be lansbury not onomah , and grabban on left , B.B. at dm 

Yep, completely agree mate. Let’s hope that SB has got this one right tonight. 

Not saying we should change shape and have 2 up top but keep the 4-1-4-1 and play Grabban off the left. Obvious solution to our lack of cutting edge that Bruce bemoaned after Fulham without sacrificing the formation that has served us so well. 

Bruce reverting to type possibly? When was the last time he surprised us with an attacking line-up when we have injuries. He goes too defensive when injuries kick in. He has more attacking options to use yet still plays it safe. Preston at home?

Green must be injured or not close enough to match fitness - not even on bench. 

18 minutes ago, Demitri_C said:

No chance derby would loan to a promotion rival though mate 

Valid point mate but if Leeds could get him....Anyway, we do need someone and I'm not convinced we are even close.

2 minutes ago, Demitri_C said:

Need a striker no question for me

 

Completely agree. Hogan is not exactly bullet proof and Davis is still too raw/unprolific should Scott get injured again. I would have looked at loaning Chris Martin from Derby as a player who knows the Championship and can score a few goals but he's on his way elsewhere, Leeds I think?....

Ok, I'm not a Bruce fan and still believe that his default style of football is now dated and in no way see him as the future of our club. However, maybe we have to view it that there are now two types of 'manager'. IMO there is a manager and a head coach - some may argue that this is just semantics but I see some legitimate differences in the two specific roles. Bruce is your definitive 'manager' i.e. manages the staff and players he recruits effectively in order to get the best out of those players. He is not a coach and so is heavily reliant on his coaching team to impart the tactical organisation and game plan onto the players. Bruce is not hands-on on the training pitch and simply watches/oversees whilst getting feedback form his coaches - upon which he makes decisions on team selections. This may well explain the reasons why we are suddenly so much more of an attacking unit now that he has recruited his preferred attacking coach i.e. Agnew. Now, this is not a criticism of Bruce, actually I am defending him and trying to understand the way in which he manages. Yes, he is heavily dependant on his coaches but HE recruits them as part of his workforce knowing what they can produce in conjunction with the players. For that he deserves credit.

Personally, I prefer a more of a 'head coach' manager. Someone who is very heavily involved in the tactical set up and coaching of the team. Yes, they still have a team of coaches but as the head coach they are fundamental in what that training looks like and they spend a lot of time on the training pitches actually directing and taking the sessions. I see Wagner, Hughton and Howe as these types of 'managers'. Even Klopp, according to material  have read about him, is an extremely hands-on 'coach'.

So we have two types of 'manager' in football and SB is definitely the in the former category. I credit him for finally getting all the components of his workforce to click and his appointment of Agnew looks excellent. IMO, however, the modern game has tactically developed exponentially and this is why we are seeing so many more 'head coaches' enjoying success as they play a crucial and extensive part in training the players directly to impart their own tactical knowledge. for this reason, I believe we need the latter type of 'manager' to have long term success.

Just my thoughts on a rainy Sunday morning here in Swansea...with the sun definitely starting to come through over VP. 

Mirror reporting Ulloa to Palace is pretty much done; willing to pay all of his £60K wk wages. Tying this in with KW interview, it does appear that a striker may not be coming in. Big risk imo.

1 minute ago, Michael118 said:

Gil, Amavi, Westwood, Bacuna, Cissokho, Kozak & Sanchez for me are all Premier League quality.

The only players of similar quality Bruce has signed are Johnstone, Snodgrass and Terry. Johnstone and Snodgrass are both on loan and Terry is at the end of his career and we'll be lucky if he can still have a positive impact at Premier League level.

For me, the squad is in a far worse position now than when Bruce took over which is the most disappointing thing. He swapped a lot of untapped potential for 'safer bets'', but players I thought, in general, had much lower ceilings.

 If he gets us promoted, then great, but if he doesn't and we change managers, I think we've taken some giant steps backwards under him.

Amavi apart.....that sentence....words fail me!! IMHO

Not hopeful this one will go ahead - ice and snow forecast for Fri and Sat   

6 hours ago, VILLAMARV said:

Same goes for everyone up the top. Wolves, Leeds, Cardiff and Sheffield Utd will all have their off days and their tough games.

Cardiff have a potentially easier couple of months ahead than the rest after only losing to Preston away and drawing with Fulham (a) and Weds (only points dropped at home so far). They've put everyone else away so far and to be fair Leeds, Wolves, Sheff Utd and us of course. Weds, Sunderland, QPR and Burton are the only teams in the bottom half they've played. Tricky October with Millwall, 'Boro and Ipswich lying in wait but after that winnable games on paper through Nov and up to Xmas with Bristol City and Norwich their only other top half opponents. 5 of the top half (as it stands) to play before Xmas but only 1 of the other 5 teams that currently sit in the top 6.

Sheff Utd's performances against Wolves and Weds will do them the world of good and show they mean business against the bigger teams after losses away to 'Boro and Cardiff and at home to Norwich. 7 of the top half to play before Xmas, 2 of the other 5 teams in the top 6. Not drawn a game yet.

Leeds beat Ipswich at home and lost away to Millwall and Cardiff in their last 3 games. Goalless home draws with Preston and Fulham show they are hard to break down (as they were last year I seem to recall) but they have a lot of the top teams yet to come and that Ipswich game aside their wins have so far been against Forest, Burton, SHA, Sunderland and Bolton. 6 of the top half to play before Xmas, 2 of the other 5 teams in the top 6.

Wolves have so far lost to Cardiff and Sheff Utd, drawn with Brentford and Bristol City and won their other 6 games against 'Boro, Millwall, Derby, Hull, Forest and Barnsley. Still 6 of the top half to play, including us, Fulham, Norwich and 3 of the other 5 teams in the top 6

Preston have the win against Cardiff and creditable away draws at Leeds and 'Boro to give them confidence against the bigger teams. But away games at Fulham, Wolves, Ipswich, Bristol City and their home game with us is a tricky October/Nov with 7 of the top half yet to play before half way at Xmas and 3 of the other 5 teams in the top 6.

Ipswich have played 1 game less than the others (9) and arguably have had the easiest start of the lot. No Shame in a spirited loss away at Leeds and a defeat at home to Fulham imo, though losing away to QPR is the blot on the copy book. Their away win at Millwall is the only one of their 6 wins against anyone 19th or above, i.e. their other 5 wins have come against the bottom 5 clubs. Still have 8 of the top half to come and 4 of the other 5 teams in the top 6.

Outside the top 6 we get to Bristol City who, since their abhorrent loss to SHA, are now 8 games unbeaten in the league (10 in total). @They've drawn against every side from the top half they have faced so far (5) and beaten Barnsley, Bolton, Derby and Reading along the way. Cup wins against Stoke and Watford aside they still have to prove they can beat the big teams for me. 7 of the top half teams to come before half way at Xmas and still 5 of the top 6

And then us. Terrible return of 1 point from 3 games wasn't the start we were looking for. Appalling performance against Cardiff followed up by another demoralising loss at Reading, yet we're unbeaten since then. However we have only played Cardiff out of the top teams and 'Boro, Bristol City and Norwich the only other teams in the top half we've faced yet. 7 of the top half teams to come before half way at Xmas and still 5 of the top 6. same as Bristol City. I think we still have a lot to prove and so does Bruce. However, as long as we pick up the 3 points against Bolton we'll be heading in the right direction and despite our misgivings about us people wont be looking forward to playing us imo. 7 points from 3 games against the bottom 6 so far and 4 points from 3 games against other teams in the bottom half. 11 out of a possible 18 against bottom half teams. 5 points from 12 against the top half teams so far.

It's all to play for obviously and totally in our own hands. I don't think there's a team to be feared among them and as much as I've not joined in the calls for Bruce's head yet he seriously needs to carry this on through October and November to even think about being here at Xmas. He cant do any more than beat what's ahead of him and we're starting to do that. Long may it continue. UTV.

Very good analysis VM. Provides a real sense of perspective around our recent upturn and the level of opponents it has gone against. Great to see us winning games and getting points but still not convinced Bruce will maintain this level of accumulation over the next 2 months. IMO our best hope is playoffs under Bruce and for me that us simply not good enough. 

2 hours ago, Eastie said:

Never liked warnock , however on reading his autobiography my opinion on him change a lot - one of the best books I've ever read . 

Which one Eastie? The Gaffer or Made in Sheffield?

What was he like and why do you think unable to handle pressure, mate?

4 hours ago, Folski said:

My aunt met him in the Cheeky Pup Bar, in Quinta Do Lago, Portugal last night. Said he was enjoying his holiday and looked relaxed.

What the hell is he doing on holiday?

Unbelievable!! Hey Steve..how about training all the players not on international duty. How about working with your coaches to pinpoint exactly what is wrong with the team/set-up and then putting it right with an effective system and game plan. How about being the bloody Aston Villa manager - the job you were always waiting for!

Nah, just piss off for a 'well earned' break! Please, please just stay out there and don't come back. 

Fair point mate and I tend to agree. However, think we're stuck with KW and SR for the foreseeable......

He may be likeable but if we look at his 40 odd games in charge it shows that at our club he has just not been a very good football manager. These inconsistencies have been evident over his entire tenure so, imo, he has now long outstayed his welcome and we need a more modern thinking Manager who would undoubtedly get so much more out of our very talented squad. We have no time left to wait and see with SB - we must get promo this season or the future remains very Championship-based!! An interesting 3-4 weeks ahead!!

1 minute ago, Demitri_C said:

Read the opening part of my post mate that answers your question 

Sorry mate didn't phrase my reply too well. I was more interested in your comment re 'not right for the club to sack him yet'. Is your concern one of lack of stability? 

4 hours ago, Demitri_C said:

Although i feel he should be doing far better i dont think it would be right for the club to sack him yet. 

Why not when he has around 40 games to turn us into a team that is competitive at the top end of the division with a clear game plan and system? At what point would you sack him?

4 hours ago, sne said:

No game until September 9th.

Perfect time to get rid of the underachiever and give the new guy our esteemed football people have scouted time to work with the squad.

Hopefully, whoever it is won't need 15 new players, 11 months, 2 transfer windows and a preseason to make the team not look like complete strangers meeting up for a random game of kick around where everyone is to hung over and knackered to be bothered to cross the half way line.

Just imo, but I would be amazed if DrT hadn't already instructed Round and Wyness to start looking for a replacement; or at least discussed options. A bad defeat vs Brentford and I wouldn't be surprised if Bruce was sacked. 

9 hours ago, villabromsgrove said:

Bruce has had two good results in a week, so what does he do? He changes things! He comes up with a dog's breakfast of a shape and system that nobody can play, and then he has to change it after the first 20 odd minutes because we are being torn apart.

Result? We now have an out of shape team with no proper right back! Remind me, how many right backs do we have?

In the end we sneak a point because of a lucky deflection from a weak shot that was never going in.

What do Hogan and Bree have to do to start a game? Why does Bruce totally discount Adomah?

Why the hell are we wrecking our season by letting this clueless manager continue to try and guess what to do in the next game, and the next?

Nail on head, sir. 

9 hours ago, TRO said:

And who is that?

I am sure there must be such a manager out there who would walk to VP. I think Jokanavic (sic) would be gettable and my first choice.....if not there are other managers outside of the usual suspects currently out of work. I'd even be tempted to give Smith a go - averaging around 25 shots a match with 60% possession for the season. Team plays the expansive football we require. Agreed Brentford are a bit suspect defensively at moment but with better defenders this would be resolved. Admittedly Smith would be a gamble but I genuinely think he would do a better job than SB. 

Bruce already has the 'must not lose' mentality engrained into his phsyche and will never change. I understand your point TRO but Bruce will not take us up so do we just stick with him because there is no obvious replacement in your eyes? We should NEVER go away to a championship team and play 5 because Bruce thinks it would 'make us more solid' !! I mean come on......and Bruce wants us to get our 'swagger' back??!! We are Aston Villa, we should go at every team we play and attempt to dominate them and try to blow them away (within reason) as we did vs Norwich first half. 

This job, or rather the expectation, is too big for SB - he will never succeed because if this. We must change now or else the season is over and a third season in the championship makes me extremely nervous. 

Shocking set up from Bruce. Again we go away and pay far too much respect to a mid table team. We are Aston Villa ffs!! The boost it must have given City seeing our line up. 

Bruce returns to his negative, defensive setting which totally wasted the first 20 mins and allowed City to get their tails up. If anyone seriously thinks he will get us promoted after watching our first 5 games of the season as a collective is, imo, deluded. 

We now have the ideal opportunity to replace him with a forward thinking, expansive manager who will quickly recognise that attack for us will reap the rewards. Bruce out....for the sake of this season. 

30 minutes ago, DCJonah said:

But if we pay even a small amount of his wages we are paying someone to help a rival team who have the same ambition as ourselves. 

It's absolute madness. 

I just don't see the advantage of it. If we're that desperate for another player then I worry about how we've been financially run so far and the true state of our squad. 

 

I see your point, however, if SB doesn't see RMC being good enough for us and would rather replace him with someone who is better/more suited to the team but has to move RMC on before doing so i can sort of understand the thought process. Fully agree that it is a gamble but if RMC will just sit on the bench/be unused all season replacing him would make sense......Also, SB maybe does not see RMC being in the right condition to be a success elsewhere in this division....only time will tell I guess as i'm pretty sure this loan will go through sooner rather than later.

12 minutes ago, DCJonah said:

If it's a loan and we are still paying some of his wages I just can't see the FFP benefit that makes this worthwhile. 

Bruce clearly doesn't fancy RMC and so is looking to replace him but cannot at present due to FFP limits. If however, (and I may be wrong), for example Sunderland pay £20k/wk of his wages that will free up these wages for a loan/new signing without exceeding FFP. Additionally any loan fee would also contribute to reducing our FFP commitments.

All IMO but I can see why SB is willing to allow the loan to take place.

4 minutes ago, AVTuco said:

Yes, I agree largely. I was just trying to make a point that shot-stopping is quite important . Typically for me I failed, but I go again!

No mate, I failed to spot the obvious irony......it's been a long day!!