Bazmonkey

Absolutely this. Doesn't help only having three in midfield with him being one...the other the immobile Whelan in front of the back four leaving either adomah on one wing or elmo on other which can be some 60 yards away depending on where he picks up the ball...theres no upfront option as kodjia is marked out the game most of the time

Probably why he didn't play last night...missed opportunity with this one

Absolutely...been saying this for two years...this lad can play and would bring the gaps in the midfield closer to the forwards....have we got 7m though

Killing our midfield...slows everything down...beaten for pace all the time...offers nothing going forward. Last night he just watched his pass never followed it and spent it pointing and players to get across because he can't. In the first half he did a pass to Tuanzebe and just stood there...tuanzebe gave it back taking out the attacker and Whelan looked surprised...in the end he ran on to it and we were away... Whelan should be brought on late on when we are protecting a lead and under pressure. Grealish came on...though I know he's not grealish but when he made a pass he followed it or looked for a return..our play for better in the second half...why....movement. There's plenty of DM out there who younger fitter and offer more than a block tackle now and then

11 players....no team Typical Villa

I think he will go..his reaction Monday said it all...hope he stays and we can build a team with him in it. Though...i wonder if he wants to go to spurs and is thinking it through. With alli Eriksson in front of him will he get many games. The lure of champions league and new ground sounds appealing but if you look at spurs are they just the bridesmaid never the bride club. Walker...left for more money more chance of winning things...rose the same...their wage structure may be their downfall as the likes of Kane Eriksson alli maybe be tempted by interest if they don't start winning things...if they do go...where will spurs be...cant buy success as they will be paying for the ground for next 10 years. Maybe he might stay????

Same set up same performance. Great we got a win after the summer we have had but as someone said earlier playing like this will not always work and is more likely to cost us against better teams. Hull were poor but for better finishing and the result could have been different. The midfield needs life and energy in the middle...not the wings but in the centre...regardless what formation Bruce puts out we effectively play with 3 in the middle. One of which is Whelan who looks like he will pass out if he moves more than 10 yards. Too many times last night and last season the midfield are over run...whelan and hourihane naturally sit deep so its no wonder there's no option to go long and hoof it. I think we would be better with a five man midfield but in a 2 and 3...support for back four but more importantly support in attack.

Jack's face says it all. Been like it all game...just hasn't looked his normal self.

Commentator...pass splits the midfield What's he watching...midfield has been missing since the game started

If only this team had movement and composure

Is that the woods from Brentford? Good player..bossed every game we played against them...keeps the ball moving but importantly keeps moving himself. Would love to see him sign...doubt he will

The thing is it's Bruce with the task of identifying players something which he struggles with. Plus we won't be going anyway with him...though with him we have better chance. The lack of news coming from either player or club is slightly worrying. If we need to sell then sell...it was 20 mil when we were in trouble and it's still 20 mil is now, according to reports. If we don't need to sell...say it...then it's the players choice not ours if he wants the move. Would love him to stay but if he goes he goes he goes. Good luck to him, no doubt he will be in the England squad soon playing for one of the media darlings. It happened with Barry Milner downing young...move to a big club all of sudden they are great players

Hard to have any movement when we the ball when most of the players are behind the ball due to the defensive set up..5 at the back and Whelan in the middle that's 7 defensive minded players

As much as I want someone else in who can build a team with youth and play better football which is not Bruce's remit, I think they will keep him, but only for a year. With it being so close to the start of the season I think the new owners don't want to cause too much disruption. I'd like to think they area good business men and they will see next season as one to keep it steady, get over the FFP issues then next summer tell him thanks bit no thanks and start with no financial issues and get someone else in. Having seen most of the games and Burton on Sat this will another year of turgid football relying on talent to win games. Next may we will finish near the bottom of the top half, Bruce will go, new manager, new players, new money sponsors or kit, old players contracts gone so a push for promotion 2019/20 can happen

The obvious choice would be someone who knows football and the dealings that go with it. We need a CEO who can basically negotiate well The likes of Hogan lansbury and a few others were nowhere near what they on now at their club. This is when wyness should have said no to these players. Hogan was probably on 10k at Brentford...wyness should have said Scott.. you can have 15k or go back to Brentford. Maybe if he did this to a few of the other players...the problem we have now wouldn't be as bad if we did this better.

Got it...i don' think we have made 45 mil profit this year. If we to find 45 mil why is Tony letting some local chap design our shirts and not get a bigger name (no disrespect) and sponsor to soften the blow rather than sell our main asset

Can someone just clarify what this 45 mil is... Is it to balance the the books....get back to 0.00....we owe 45 mil to someone or something...we need 45 to pay for what we have left

In light of the recent statement from Tony with club now having to cut its cloth accordingly I think whether he stays or goes we are going to be in this division for a few more years. Bruce has done a good job in turning what was a losing mentality in the dressing room to a winning and more closer group of players within one win of the promise land. However, i feel he has hit the glass ceiling with us as I don' think he has the tactical ability nor for finding the right players to give a run for going up a serious challenge. Three more teams have come down with wanting to compete straight away. Add in the teams that just missed out derby Boro milwall etc it' going to be tough. If we were able to keep the same team and add maybe two or three players I would be inclined to give him one more year but we haven't. The club faces big changes this summer I just don' have the faith in current set up to make it any better. I think a new manager new backroom staff and whatever wyness is is needed. To be competitive we can't rely on individual talent to win games like this year. It's be mentioned in this topic and others but need someone who can get a tune out the current players and find new players to fit...if it' a wolves way..great...if its a Cardiff way...who cares...its about results and going up. I'e seem to many games this year when square pegs have been put in round roles...no tactics...basic mistakes...booting the ball nowhere..no composure...cant take a throw in...and the worse...setting up with defensive midfielder at home and from the start of the game allowing teams to come on...we have at times played some good stuff but a game is 90 mins not 20 or so. These managers and backroom staff are out there...wolves found one and ended up getting in good players for about the same money as we have spent...young ...good players....not over 30's from premiership teams who have been in relegation battles...elmo...whelan...jedniak...we cant expect these players to play football when for years they havent...having said that Snodgrass and Terry were good additions and it showed in terry's leadership and Snodgrass' early form. Fortunately I feel it' been a waste of two years and now with ffp it might be another another two years before we see the benefits of whatever we decide to do. Tony has a big decision...either way come August I'll be behind who and whatever team goes out and we go again. UTV

Villas main problem over the years is the lack of movement in the midfield and unfortunately Whelan is not helping the situation He' lack of mobility often results in the ball going out to the full backs and them hoofing it long as there's no option inside. Likewise when we attack there's no option for an easy pass backwards because he sits too deep because he can't afford to be to high up the pitch as he can' get back Yes he gets a tackle in and a block now and then but he' passing and decision making is poor. He had a head in the first min from a Forrest long ball and instead of cushioning the header to grealish I think it was it went over him to a Forrest player and with one pass took him and grealish out of the game. Gets done for pace too much and often ends up 2 yards in front of the back 4 on the 18 yard box. As a midfield i think we are one good player from a decent midfield that will produce better football and more attaking options.a more mobile player would help this. Someone like woods from Brentford thinks always mobile, making passes, giving an outlet watched him play three times and has always pulled the strings against us. There's one from staff utd but cant think of his name. Thor came on and the midfield looked more mobile...maybe a string of games with him playing there might help????

Problem with Bruce is his answer to when it goes wrong is get another player...if that don't work..get another player in...theres no stability...diferent starting 11...different set up every game. I was not surprised to see the set up last night...too defensive with round pegs in square holes. He needs to get the midfieldsorted..its neither to shirt in numbers or too defensive. Last night it was going to be 5 at the back rather than 5 in the middle and then add Whelan that's 6...this results in one supporting the players up front...thus happened when Davies held it up it pretty much came back to the full back as there was no option to pass it inside. We need more mobile midfielders Whelan just sat in the middle all game leaving hourihane and onomah to cover the whole pitch. We always seem to be one player short all over the pitch. There is a good team there but Bruce doesn't seem to know it and it's a concern after nearly 12 months in charge. I know he hasn't played well but he is out of position when he comes on and that's Thor...maybe he could do the Whelan role as he's more mobile..i don't know. Id like to see something like this..bit more movement and options up top and defend Johnson Bree Chester Terry Taylor Thor lansbury Onomah hourihane green Hogan/Davies

The last elmo play sums up villa in general..rather than lay it off backwards he does a hitt and hope hoof over his head...no composure...just poor footballing ability

3 at the back was always going to turn in to 5...no midfield..some one put a call out for Whelan....cant keep the ball...forwards isolated...running back rather than closing down....back to norm

It's not absurd. Just an opinion. But I am using 30 years of watching previous Villa teams and 15 years of coaching to come up with this opinion. I would love to see them go up but IMO based on what I've seen the team is not good enough. I will gladly hold my hands up if proved wrong.

There is no way this team is going up next year. The inability of most if the players to do basic football tasks is shocking and add to fact our manager simply hasn't tries to rectify it. The way Fulham scores their first goal is pretty much how we defend for most of the game. Players collapsing to the 6 yard box. Not knowing where to go..who to mark. If you look at all the goals we conceed there are always more players in the box than opposition. Add to the fact possession, this needs to be improved big time, we can't keep playing games with 30% hoping kodj will score and we will win. I was neither for or against Bruce but the has made fundamental mistakes, team selection, formation but then the players are not good enough. I thinking should have the summer but i think we will be in same position come christmas, we will win a view lose a few and be in mid table. Bruce needs to buy a team, not players, talent alone won't win games. It's a big summer this year, players, staff, the board. We are going to be joined by another three teams all wanting to go up, it's not going to be easy...UTV

Been poor all game...apart from a couple of minutes when we scored and got a corner....last to everything...no pressing...no movement...no possession...equaliser was always going to happen..for a 3 and a 5 to work you need to have possession.....if not you end up with 5 at the back and inviting them to come on...get a bit of belief boys and start playing