handsworthvilla

I'm confused by peoples desire to see Drinkwater starting. He hasn't even been on the pitch yet whilst we've been ahead in a game. I'd go Hourihane, at least he can move

Spot on Ironically, the same people calling for Smiths head due to his positive/open approach are probably the same ones who called for Bruce's head due to his negative/closed approach. If Villa were in Newcastles position now with Steve Bruce in charge, I guarantee there would be significant numbers calling for his head due to the lack of goals / excitement / mediocrity. You really can't win The vast majority turned on Bruce and called for an attack minded coach. We get an attack minded coach, he takes us up, we playing attacking football (with the consequences that come with that approach) and now suddenly the grass is greener and we should be parking the bus again. Baffling

I actually had no idea that drugs were so prevalent at football until I went to the green man for the first time. Practically legalised in there

If you would have offered me our current position before the start of the season I would probably have taken it - I was realistic enough to know it would be a struggle and felt we were very light up top. As it has turned out, I'm actually disapointed with our position. But thats just because we have turned so many winning positions in to losses (Spurs x 2, Arsenal, Liverpool for example). Whilst I also thought our problem would be firepower, its been the opposite, and we've leaked goals horribly.

Very true - agree you can find evidence / stats to support pretty much any narrative you come up with. Pundits do it all the time. I find it incredibly frustrating watching a pundit after a game berating a manager on the losing team for all the team selection decisions he got wrong. If his errors were so obvious to the pundit, why didn't he mention them before the game started?

We were losing both of those games when Drinkwater was substituted. In fact in both games it was his replacement who played a part in us getting the points (Luiz assist vs Brighton and Luiz equaliser vs Watford). He has played 4 games for us in the PL and he's been substituted 4 times, on each occasion we've been losing. He can't take any credit for any points.

He has started 4 games for us. In each of those 4 games he's been subbed off with us losing at the point of his withdrawal. We've been able to rescue points twice after he has been withdrawn (Brighton / Watford) . If he continues to start I'll be baffled at what is going on

It is absolutely astonishing that Chelsea paid £35 million for this guy

I'm genuinely concerned that as part of the negotiations to sign him Smith has provided some concrete reassurances about his playing time. I can't think of any other reason why he is consistently making the starting 11 when there are other options available. When he initially signed Sean Dyche said this which I found strange at the time - "I presume Villa have told him he is going to play every game, or a version of it, I don't know and there is no angle." "I am just expressing my opinion that they must have said he is going to play a lot for him to make the decision to go there." Then he gets thrown in to the starting 11 for the game against City which I found bizarre, and he has started every game that he has been available since (he was not on the bench for Bournemouth so assuming he wasn't available for selection). I'm speculating here, but if this is the case then it is an absolutely absurb situation that our PL status is being jeapordised by assurances we've provided to secure an unfit player on loan. If he is selected to start the next game I will be seriously questioning Smith's judgement. I've seen milk turn quicker than Drinkwater yesterday.

Yeah I just had a look at their main forum and its ridiculous the amount of tickets on offer. I was thinking if I do manage to get some Villa tickets I'll sell these Fulham ones but I doubt there will be anyone to buy them !

I've managed to get 2 tickets in the Fulham end through my friend at the FA, it was impossible to get Villa tickets through him. I'm wondering whether it is even worth the hassle now, but then I also have a feeling we won't be the only 2 villa fans in their end considering their ridiculous selling policy of 5 to each customer

Very true. I have to say that what I read on VT (and FB etc) is pretty unrepresentative of what I hear from other Villa fans in person. I find the fact that there is a 'next manager speculation' thread on here completely baffling. I remember reading the vitriol being poured over him after the Brentford game at Christmas on here in particular. When I look at what has happened to Sunderland this season it makes me appreciate Bruce's stabilising effects even more. We were arguably more messed up than Sunderland when we were relegated, and the fact we haven't completely fallen apart like them is partly the responsibility of Bruce. Looking at our many of our key players this season (Johnstone, Terry, Snodgrass) they are only here because of Bruce's ability to use his network and work the loan system. I don't think he gets enough praise for how he has worked the free agent / loan market this season to our advantage.

Game postponed

I think Bacuna is crap. But you do have a point here (if these are genuine posts) that Reading fans don't have such a one-sided view of him (which is what the previous poster insinuated with his quotes)

Really stepped up in the absence of Jack/Albert. I said when we signed him I was quite surprised and thought it was a coup, considering it was only a year prior he was tearing up trees for Hull and got bought for big money in the Premier League. When he arrived he looked a little unfit probably because he hardly played for West Ham, but now he is flying and looks a good bet for either a goal or assist in most games.

What are people's thoughts on Daniel Amartey from Leicester? Decent pedigree and would potentially keep Whelan further away from the first 11

Well, I said successfully (rather than well) but I suppose that's semantics. Personally I would say if a centre half plays in two consecutive clean sheet wins that's fairly successful. But like I said, I'm sure if i was to bother searching your post history you used your eternal wisdom to comment at the time of those consecutive clean sheets about how horrific Jedi played at the time (rather than using hindsight to point it out now). Anyway, what do I know, I'm just a barefaced liar who completely made up the fact that Jedi has played at CB for us before

Assume you said that at the time then? Or is it only a Bruce f*** up if we don't win?

Conveniently ignoring the two examples of him playing at centre back in clean sheet wins which dispels your argument, very nice.

Is it? A quick search of "Jedinak at centre back" on google tells me he played CB vs Sheffield Wednesday and Wigan last season with Chester (both wins with clean sheets). Elphick was on the bench for both of them games as well . That's without bothering to investigate further (I recall there being a few more occasions). I assume if I was inclined to search through your posts I would find comments after both of them wins saying that Jedinak shouldn't be playing at centre back and that Bruce was stupid for selecting him there? Or are you happy to ignore this hideous selection error as long as we win?

Don't blame Mile for completely miskicking the ball and looking like a shaking leaf, it was 100% all Bruce's fault for playing him at CB. Lets completely ignore the fact that he has played there several times successfully last season, Bruce played him there today so he must be sacked! Oh and the goal he scored? Bruce can't take any credit for that, Elphick definitely would have scored that if he was selected.

Really cant understand the stick he gets. His technique and ability is head and shoulders above anything else we have in midfield. Its no coincidence that every side (Sheff Utd included) try to kick him off the park, he ghosts pasts players easily and takes the ball in to dangerous areas.

Correct he had no long range shots (although i've never seen him hit a long range shot, don't know why you would expect that from him?) In terms of going past players - countless times during the match. I lost count how many times he was fouled (must have been in double figures) after rolling players and going past them. In terms of defence splitting passes, he played some great cross field balls from left to right, and also had some good intricate play with Hourihane / Taylor on the left.

I must have been watching a different game, I thought we were alright compared to recent performances. Grealish was superb, completely different team with him in the starting 11. Unlucky not to nick it in the second half. Take away Jedinaks two individual mistakes and we were by far the better team. Not much Bruce can do about Jedi completely missing the ball twice, but I imagine Bruce will take the flak for it

This may be a little pedantic, but just to pick you up on your point that "even though we are winning a lot of my enjoyment has been taken out" .... I see this point phrased differently by other posters also. I get the point you are making, ie; that we are winning but it is crap to watch. BUT I don't see how that can be any less enjoyable than what we have witnessed for at least the past 3 seasons. At least we are fairly consistently winning! If you are measuring the enjoyment levels of winning with a crap style (this season) vs losing and looking terrible pretty much every week (past 3 seasons) then surely logically you should be enjoying this season more, not less?! I understand frustrations around playing style but I don't get how anybody can be getting less enjoyment out of watching Villa than they have done over the past few years, it just doesn't make sense considering the upturn in results.