mattjpa

Im not picking an isolated random period of form though, im picking our last 6 games which now reads won 4 draw 2 and bears much more semblance than the results that preceded it when referring to form. This points per game return extrapolated over a season would see us promoted. If Blues win 6 in a row they are indeed in title winning form, it doesn't mean they will win the title as they more than likely wouldn't be able to maintain it. Dont want to sound pedantic but you picked up on my terminology originally which I think is correct. Im talking about form, you are talking about points return so far this season which I agree is not going to get us promoted. Im an optimist when it comes to the Villa but Im living in hope that 4 promotions give SB enough experience to be able to manage a forward momentum (something he hasnt managed up to now ill conceed)

Form in football is generally considered to constitute the last few games. Most form guides list the previous 6 games. Even before last night we were won 3 drawn 3. 12 points from 6 games, 2 points per game, play-off/promotion form. (In the interests of a fair response, I have discounted last nights result). But, as you requested, this is me letting you know promotion form has kicked in. And you are right by the way, its a lot quieter in here today

high5

And yet the players you describe as "probably the best" are a combination of the remnants of the worst ever team ive seen in my lifetime with the best players cherry picked off, RDM's bizarre spending spree and Bruces own signings who he is frequently criticised on here for.

this thread constitutes mass hysteria. Bruce is doing what he thinks he needs to do to get us up. If that includes sitting back and letting Nottingham Forest act like Barcelona in their own half then so be it, we got three points and controlled the majority of the game without the lions share of possession. for me, he has got teams up before, he has earned the right to do as he sees fit. While we are achieving promotion form and results I fail to see how there can be much of an argument against him (apart from some faux outrage at throw away interview comments, mainly coming from his biggest detractors and throwers of insults). When results turn again and when it becomes an improbability for us to hit playoffs we should part ways

We may have shown alot of short-termism by getting shot of Baker and signing Terry but Ive got to say its an absolute pleasure watching him play in a Villa shirt. Consummate, commanding, assured on the ball. At his age it proves what a class act he is. Signing a legend of the game coming to the end of their career is always risky but for every Pires/Ginola there is a chance you will get a Merson. Im hoping that in a year or two we will be able to look back on JT in the same vein

Aston Villa are the proof that once a club hits a certain level of dysfunctionality, throwing money at it will not solve the problem, only time, patience restructuring and rebuilding from the ground up. We are not the first and wont be the last to come down and struggle - see Portsmouth, Leeds, Blues, Sunderland, Derby etc. As much as some dont want it in the short term, this guy can get teams winning and has done with worse squads than ours

As much as im in the Bruce in camp, I cant argue that he stitches himself up with comments like last year was about staying in the division. It wasnt the case at all BUT there was never much chance of much more - maybe sneaking playoffs at a push. I still maintain that had we gone up last year we would be right in the shit in the prem as we simply were not ready for it. I know its not the status quo for this page but I think we need to keep him for the time being. He has the players he wanted, big game players are coming back, there is competition for each and every position, he has had 2 transfer windows and a pre season. We are reaching the nadir of his reign and a couple of months more could get us rolling into a footballing behemoth. Its unfortunate for him that he has expended all of his goodwill already and is probably only ever two games from the bullet.

So would you prefer him to just take it? Stay quiet and be humble about the abuse? Potato head, fat, usless, stupid, dinosaur who hasnt got a clue? F##k that. Im glad he has come out fighting, shows spirit and defiance which should hopefully disseminate through to the team. And the comment regarding the fans refers to the vocal minority who seem to think changing the manager, coaches, backroom and subsequently playing staff every time we lose 4-5 matches will yield instant success. Eventually, we are going to have to give someone the time to build our club back up and for me SB deserves that chance.

I completely disagree. i want a manager who has the bottle to rub it in peoples faces and i commend him for doing so. He doesnt need to court the fan base as there is plenty of support there for him already. Every manager will make mistakes and go through bad patches im glad TX has given him a chance to ride it out. Giving the internet bed wetters the middle finger if anything gets him more respect from his supporters and hopefully the team as well...

And yet...He was a poor finish from Snodgrass and an on the line block from Hogan away from a comfortable win against a promotion favorite which would have seen us having 8 points from last 4 league games, The required 2pts per game average, Unbeaten in 5, progressing in the cup and two clean sheets in a row whilst bedding in some promising youngsters and nursing our best 2/3 players back to full health. You can pick it apart anyway you like (I also understand the chaos theory and that if either of those chances went in the rest of the game would have been different) BUT its fine margins and if we had a break a few of the critics would not be as vocal right now. Im not his biggest fan but its not as black and white as some make out...

Or the alternative is sack the manager, then start sounding out potential replacements, develop a shortlist, ask clubs for permission if candidates are already in work, interview candidates, second interview candidates, choose a manager, negotiate terms, offer a contract and get it signed. Then start planning for 2018-19 season as this one will be too far gone. Who would want to be that club? its a big bad world out there....

Also need to remember that a Boro win could give them the confidence to knock us out of the cup next week

This team is now full of Bruce players, we still stand a good chance of getting up if he stays i think. It is also full of quality, more than enough to turn this around and go on a run to crush this league. Nothing is lost yet. I think people just need to change their pissy pants and get on with supporting the team. This game is however a watershed with the fans for him. Lose and the damage could be irreparable. I think the board will hold their nerve till the end of the month regardless

Well the future of the football club wont be decided by the pages of Villatalk and just because a few have the opinion in here does not give precedence to general public opinion on the terraces. Put it this way, Wyness has said we need stability, pulling the trigger previously has contributed to the mess. Tony Xia has quoted publicly some management guff about supporting him to achieve the end goal. The Holte End gave him full support throughout the game midweek. Not general supporting the team, actually supporting Bruce. To top this off, he has managed 2 wins and 8 goals in a week with an injury ravaged squad missing 3 of our best 5 players, including our talisman top goalscorer. He has convinced JT to come here, has a positive net spend this summer, has brought through several really good kids and given them a chance and has even managed to get a song out of some of our previous deadwood like Gabby Please dont see this as a defence of Bruce as I agree, he chats shit, is too defensive and we have played crap football for the majority of his games here which has been masked by Kodjia's individual brilliance. Im just making the point that this game is not make or break, not even close. Im at the conclusion we will win most of our upcoming home games and he will be here till at least Feb, barring another collapse in form

This will sound so small time and I hate the fact that im writing it but.... Bruce should get someone to compile some Brentford videos and watch them to see exactly how they got such devastating form out of Hogan and set us up accordingly. Build the team around him. As far as I can see he is our only plausible hope at the moment and we seem to have a ready made replacements in RHM/Gabby when he is injured or tired. I watch his youtube video highlights and its surely no coincidence virtually all his good goals come from chances made along the floor through the middle We dont need to keep throwing money at this bloody squad, we need to learn how to utilize what we have got.

The defence would like to offer Alex McLeish, your honor

Terry has not been responsible for one of the goals this season, i think he has more than held his own. we cannot defend for 70+ minutes every game, it will kill us.

We have midfielders who are shackled and dont attack. we are obsessed with wing play and high balls into the box when we play one up front, neither of our attackers are big or good in the air. we went through 40mins of smashing the ball high and long to to Hogan/Gabby who lost the aerial duels against big CBs they had no chance of beating, conceding possession and watching it come straight back as we ran around watching a team of lesser players pass it around and create openings. I have argued and argued we need to give him time and get stability back but I am absolutely gobsmacked at how poor we have been, truly astonished. He has played 3 different teams and a couple of different formations and we have been battered 3 times. Its a perfect storm and he has been terribly unlucky with injuries but I dont think he will win the fans back, i really dont. And if thats the case, there is only one way this can end so it may as well happen now rather than later. For anyone saying the players arent trying, look at the stats and see how much they are having to chase the ball and think about how hard that must be to keep up. Give the other team the ball, let them play and their confidence grows, the fans get behind them and suddenly fear and doubt creeps in. It all stems from how we are being set up and coached to play.

pretty sure that Agbonlahors goal went from defence to the back of the net in 6 seconds. Not being argumentative just saying it is possible. Theres a good chance that this is what Brucey is trying to coach into them, they just arent doing it. I think our issue is less the speed at which we can break on teams and more that when we are faced with two banks of 4, we either lack ability or confidence to split the lines. Worryingly though, there were alot less talented players doing exactly that for Hogan at brentford if you watch his highlight vids in youtube. I dont know what the answer is though

Very important to win tonight. This could end up being Brucey's Moscow if he cans it by selecting a weak team and giving the impression he does'nt care

TBF Gabby is absolutely ripped at the moment. Must have taken some real hard work to get in that shape, credit where its due

Strongest team available whilst resting a couple of the more senior first team lads - maybe Terry and Whelan. Absolute necessity to get a good win under our belts, 2-0 will do just fine.

I dont think there is any chance of the manager getting sacked - non whatsoever. Keith Wyness clearly stated a couple of days ago that stability is the key to getting us back, they are big enough to not listen to the FIFA generation of fans who think sacking a manager will cure everything. Our squad and team are too good to go on a long losing spree bad enough to get him the bullet. Im not a massive Bruce fan but we have to be brave enough to keep faith now - too much has bee n invested in him already which we couldnt afford to do in the next guy that would come along. I just wish he would make a **** substitution or change of formation between 45-70 mins when things are turning against us....

Disagree with this, fella. Hourihane, Lansbury, Adomah, Grealish, Green, Elmohamedy and Bjarnesson have all been solid creative players - be that at different levels or in different leagues. Surely we can see 3-4 of these hit form and start to unlock the turgid defences most championship teams have. Last season was the warm up, no excuses this time