carewjust4u

11 minutes ago, bannedfromHandV said:

Maybe worth putting a little bit of context to this.

My own view is he's just not good enough, not that he hasn't or doesn't try hard but he just isn't good enough - it's not his 'fault' we signed him.

I think the whole 'Champions League' thing got taken out of context too and people have just run with it.

 

If he goes, thanks for trying, thanks for not kicking up a fuss when you weren't in the team, thanks for sticking around last season when so many others gladly jumped ship, thanks for trying.

 

Good luck for wherever you end up.

Exactly my thoughts, the way we villainize our own players is borderline ridiculous sometimes (although Lescott definitely deserved it).

Get him in the starting XI right now.

12 minutes ago, Junxs said:

Not sure what point you're trying to make? 

Apart from our 2 fortunate goals their keeper was not really called upon to make any saves. There was a goal line clearance from Adomahs shot but that was it really. 

Whereas Steer got man of the match 

The double save the keeper made their keeper made in that passage of play? Plus, we had two more shots on target than the oppostion (8 vs 6).

So i'm not sure what point you are trying to make.

Onomah is having a great game, always making the correct decision.

Just now, Demitri_C said:

Oh come off it. We have been very poor against a young colchester team. Its a lil rain not exactly impossble

Very poor is a little melodramatic isn't it. We are playing our second team, many of which haven't played a competitive game together. Whereas Colchester are at home, playing their first team, and treating it as a cup final...did I forget to mention we are winning?

2 minutes ago, andym said:

Playing the second string of a side 2 leagues below who also have to deal with those same conditions, and we are argubly fortunate to be winning.

And arguably they were fortunate with their their deflected goal.

2 minutes ago, romavillan said:

Impossible conditions?!!? It's just **** raining, the pitch looks ok to be honest.

Have you ever played in conditions like That? You can see the water spraying off the ball every time it's kicked, it's so difficult to have a good touch of the ball...nevermind control it and turn at speed.

The negativity is becoming so boring, this is our second team playing in impossible conditions...and we are winning.

2 hours ago, Hoof hearted said:

Anyone else think the Samba substitution was more of a message to the board that Bruce wants (and needs) a big target man? It's all well and dandy having all these "clinical/clever" strikers but if you aren't going to set up the team to play to their strengths then they are pissing into the wind.

It's the reason I'm coming around to the idea that Bruce isn't the manager for us, but that's for another thread.

You're looking too much into it, it was the final few mins of the game and he wanted a few flick on's up top. Samba has played there before (bizarrely), and Bruce was just utilising the resources he had to hand.

We will play, we will win, people will criticise Bruce, and the world will keep turning.

Didn't Newcastle lose their first two games of the season last year? Cheer up boys.

5 hours ago, nick76 said:

One bad season doesn't make a career.  He's proven before he has ability and scoring record.  I appreciate maybe he goes on loan so we get others instead but allow me until the close of the transfer window before I reflect on that once other moves are made.  I still think this is bonkers

I agree with the logic behind your comment here, but it is worth noting that he has never played well in a side that has performed well as a team. He has had a career of scoring heaps of goals in teams built around him, in which those teams did not play well as a unit.

He will never play well for us, as we will not build the team around him.

It's a shame as you can see he has talent, but there's far too many cons to justify keeping him.

42 minutes ago, Dante_Lockhart said:

Hutton doing all the attacking and defending on the right-hand side scares the crap out of me.

2 hours ago, Stevo985 said:

I'm not being funny, but when did he save all these great shots?

His best shot stopping display was in his debut. Since then he's done nothing of note whatsoever imo.

yes he improved as the season went on, but he was still well short of what we should have been looking for.

I went to the Brighton game and he saved a fair few, was unlucky to be beaten by Glen Murray from distance.

Of course that is only one example, but I just feel the kid is getting a bashing from his early form.

this has been the longest summer of my life...is it Saturday yet?

People have strange memories.

He has a terrible start, then showed he was a great shot-stopper.

Just needs to work on his kicking.

17 hours ago, JAMAICAN-VILLAN said:

Fair enough.

The original poster clarified his thoughts re: wages and transfer fee etc so I probably agree to an extent.

On another note What most Gabby haters like to use, even purposely so, is his "ratio: goals" etc. when in all honesty every Villa fan knows Gabby is more of a "Forward (LW/RW)" than a "Striker".

They just don't like him so the goalpost will continually move no matter which of the previous complaints they had about him he fixes/makes up for, so he could bust his gut, get 300 assists in a game and it would still be....... BUT...... Shisha Pipe.......Flabby (Even though he looks almost at his best)........ Pregnant Women........ Old.... Thick..... etc

i'd be surprised if he got 1 assist every 300 games.

19 minutes ago, DaveAV1 said:

I agree we had an exceptionally poor defence when we were relegated, but our defensive stats, i.e. goals conceded per game were virtually identical under RDM as they were under SB. 

I haven't seen the stats, i'd be interested to see them if you can dig them out. I just remember us crumbling under pressure and condeeding almost every game in the last 10 mins. Watching RDM's villa was like watching Freddie Flintoffs boxing bout, lots of punches thrown (none of which connect), and absolutely no defence.

31 minutes ago, TrentVilla said:

Well yes, I'm aware those moments happened in the game but they don't really change my overall opinion of Bruce, the football his side is producing, my view on what he is getting from the resources at his disposal or my views on the coming season.

The positives are as I previously posted mainly about the defence and to an extent the midfield. 

That we created two chances and got a penalty doesn't really change my view that we are pretty woeful going forward.

It doesn't change my view that on the basis of yesterday (and his tactics at Hull and Sunderland) our main tactic will be lump it to Elmo to win flick on's.

It doesn't change my view that we once again won't score enough goals.

It doesn't change my utter frustration that he had about £18m worth of his own signings on the bench because he seems unable to get the best of them.

We may well win the first 5 games of the season 1-0 and we will all be delighted. But right now, I'm not convinced by Bruce or more accurately his football.

We shall soon find out for sure if it's going to be good enough.

 Fair enough, youre always going to have it's a glass full/empty scenario. To be honest I can see your logic and I can't  disagree with the reasoning behind your points. 

But for me we came into this league with one of the worst defences I have ever seen, we now have the best in the league. We came into this league with the most flimsy ineffective midfield I have ever witnessed, Bruce has almost fixed that. Attacking wise I can agree it's not the most effective and we will no doubt be frustrated at times, but with the quality of Kodija and gabby looking as though he's hungry, I have faith.

Last season I remember watching Bruce's press conferences and every time he'd bemoan the team's inability to keep the ball and play out his game plan. Since then he's bought in Whelan, Terry and Elmo who have all played well this pre season, mainly when it comes to playing the ball forward. There were a lot of times yesterday when the team looked intent on progressing down the pitch, which was rarely seen last year..which is what I was alluring to in my previous post.

As you said this is all pure speculation and the first few results will provide clarity. But, for me Bruce is no mug and I can see he's identified our weaknesses and is making progress, which is why I'm positive.

8 hours ago, TrentVilla said:

That works both ways.

I can appreciate the sentiment behind your comment, but surely you can recognise that we won a penalty, gabby had a 1on1, a goal disallowed and countless crosses into the box. Surely there must be some positive football in there somewhere?

4 minutes ago, TRO said:

I think it is more a case that posters simply don't all agree.

I seen improvements today, the passing was snappier and we was closing down and tracking better......I also seen a decent Watford team,from the premier league  who failed to score ( should have in my view).

I think there is still a concern about the creativity, but I tend to think that is more player, than manager.

I don't buy this notion that SB is inhibiting them from scoring......I also I believe JT for one would have something to say about that.....I also think Steve Round would be having a quite word too, if there was any mileage in it.

The players have to do the business......Kodjia will do it when he returns.......and it will be the same manager.

I am not going to go in to this season with anything other than a positive attitude, but yes I see some things like, very little damage from the flanks or not particularly impressive through balls.....But I don't think the manager is oblivious to this, he will know and it will be discussed with people i have just mentioned.

As for Steve Bruce not making it until Xmas......only results will do that......If he is getting them he will still be here.

If he is getting the results but the football is dour and unconvincing, he will go back to the market and get players in who can do that.

 

This x100.

He's immense, our stand out player this first half against Watford. His passing ability has really surprised me, pinging balls out wide for fun. Could this be the start of us playing actual fast direct attacking football..?

He looks dangerous so far today, gotta say I'm impressed. If he can sustain this he will definitely be an asset over the season.

Targeting redemption maybe?

we'd definitely win the league with that team.