Sam3773

Last Friday? Sure he didn't just try and use Visa? ?

He would be if he didn't live in China. Their new money rules could choke him out.

Hey, don't mind me. Just poking my head in to see if any decisions had been made about our manager before the season starts.. In three months.. With a month long international tournament in between. And a month of preseason. Two weeks after the transfer window opened. I'll pop back later then.

I wouldn't be surprised either from both angles. It hasn't worked how he wanted it to, but also for us, new Chinese rules mean it's difficult for him to pump money abroad. Xia almost has two FFPs to get around. Ours and China's. I imagine it's very difficult for him to fund the club at the moment.

Simon Jordan of all people, who seems to have been following the Villa for a few years (for some reason) was on TalkSport last night. Said he knows some things so has to be careful what he says, but expects to see a change of ownership at the club. He probably knows chuff all, mind.

Watch him go get Leeds promoted next season as Champions.

Perfect, then he knows how to deal with a car crash. But really, I seem to recall reading somewhere that might fancy a return to the dugout.

I've come to float the initials AVB. Before anyone mentions salary, I'm sure the man with the most promotions ever from the Championship isn't on a small packet.

I don't think you can take the final in isolation as a reason. Bruce himself seemed annoyed/upset/angry that we played so deep in the first half. Doesn't strike me as a decision he made. Not sure why he reverts to putting all the strikers on with no service, mind. I also believe he has done pretty well given circumstances. Our top scorer of last season was out for most of this one, and still hasn't got back to anywhere near the player he was. The entire spine of our team in Grealish, Jedinak and Terry were out for decent periods injured. And we still finished 4th. Would we have got automatics without the injuries? I'd be pretty confident. There's also an adage that another manager could have done better with this squad. I disagree. That's not a compliment to Bruce, though. The squad put together, on the whole, aren't designed to play quick attacking football. There's very little pace for that. However, Bruce put the squad together, so with the resources (money) Bruce had, then yes, potentially another manager could have done better. I'm not absolving Bruce by any stretch. He's the manager and has ultimate responsibility. Also, I've made it clear in the latest 'new manager' thread that I'd be happy with a change, but let's not kid ourselves here by making Bruce out to be a disaster because really, he was far from it and if we do keep him, I'd back him to get us 'there or there abouts' again. I'd much rather dominate and do it the easy way. ?

Bit unfair, they won about half of games under him in the three or so months he was there. He left when they were 6 points off the top, after the club had been given a 3 point deduction for fan violence. Shortly after he had to be taken to hospital after getting hit on the head... During fan violence. In terms of winning games though, given the circumstances, he didn't do overly bad.

Thanks. I've had a cider - I'm amazed it's legible!

Dean Smith - Brentford are doing well, sure, but that's their system. They have a number of coaches, psychologists, strategists, etc that have been there ages. When a manager goes, a new one slots in. It's easy to want Smith based on how Brentford play football, but how much is Dean Smith, how much is the pre-existing set up? (I seem to remember everyone wanting Warburton from Brentford around that era). Lee Johnson - I have the distinct pleasure of living near Bristol. The general consensus is that they want Johnson out and question his game management. Very inexperienced and very risky, also, is his football particularly attractive? John Terry - People saying this is his first foray into management are forgetting that time he managed Chelsea from the bench to lead them to Champions League victory. Really though, he needs a coaching role and experience first. He probably knows that and isn't stupid enough to Tim Sherwood his way into management, damaging any reputation. Steve Bruce - He's so close to being perfect, right? I mean, he's such a likeable bloke, he's sorted out the dressing room, he's brought in great players for this league using his connections but his tactics are just to archaic. Did it work? Well, yeah it did actually - a lot of the time. Did it fail? Yeah it did! It's easy to say he was without this best players for a lot of the season in Terry, Grealish and arguably Kodjia, but his tactics have brought about failure. Sam Allardyce - Really, if hoofball is on the cards I'd really rather keep Steve. I don't subscribe to win percentages, but Sam's are particularly shocking. Oscar Garcia - I see Garcia's name pop up whenever there's a chance we may change manager, I've even floated it a few times. In my opinion he would come to us, after managing in the Championship before. I'll let him describe his style: "My obsession is to attack and to have the ball as many times as possible. If we have the ball, we will have many chances to score and to win. That’s my philosophy." That'll do for now in my thoughts. I think Bruce will stay for what it's worth. I can see Xia being talked into dreams of stability, contacts, dressing room, etc. But if he does go, I think Garcia, if given time, could be our Nuno, Jokanović, etc. You want sexy, stylish attacking football? A 'Villa Way'? Someone not in a job at the momentum? Who can build something to get up, stay up and push on? I think Garcia is that man for us.

Wyness and Moyes. It's written in the stars. Bruce in.

Here comes that hope and optimism again! It's our year, lads.

Wasn't there always and endgame with Bruce? I mean, if he failed at getting us up, chances are he would be gone. If he got us up, his history in the Premier League suggests he would struggle with his tactics and would be gone. Team OAP were always built for this season and a rebuild was always on the cards following today, one way or another. What do I want? Consistency, but consistency under the right manager. I don't want to be thinking "either way, he'll be sacked soon" if we go up or stay down. Let's pick the right man who can work with youth, can play some exciting football, stick with it, get up in a couple of seasons, then push on with that same man. That was never happening under Bruce sadly. Very likeable bloke and he has turned the dressing room around, but now we need someone else to take it up a level.

Annnnnd fin.

Just got my email, an hour and a quarter after I purchased!

Anyone get an email confirmation or something? It's showing on the website in my tickets but no email to confirm..

I got one in 533!.. Loads left by the looks of things. Will sell out tonight though, I'm sure.

4:00pm and 7500 in the queue. This ticketing system is a sod to all.

I've loved the championship this season and being at the business end. My reasons for wanting to go up are the squad. We have a great group currently who have integrated themselves with the fan base better than most before them and seem to have a brilliant team bond. That being said, when I take my claret tinted glasses off, how many are gonna stay if we go up? How many are PL quality? Either way, the 26th is likely the last game with this group. ?

Birmingham beat them two weeks ago. Derby beat them last week. Wembley isn't Craven Cottage. Man up. Let's do tomorrow first.

Just bought mine. Loads left in North and Trinity stands. I'm in the North for the first time ever. I hope it serves beer.