striker

Very good post and your first point concerning Baker was something I’d mentioned when Terry was signed. I just wonder how much Landsbury is earning? Sustainable or another to go?

Continuity for the sake of it isn’t the answer when your manager has failed more than once to meet the remit. Getting good players on loan is based on you being able to afford to pay a large chunk or all of their wages. That’s something the club can no longer afford negating both your reasons for keeping him. The main question the board will have to consider is whether they feel Bruce can utilise the U23s more to build a side capable of being competitive in the Championship next season which is something he is not reknowned for? Furthermore another worry for me under Bruce would be that since the affordability isn’t there to bring those better experienced pros in on loan he will revert to journey men pros way past their sell by date and labour the club with more players they can’t get rid off on 2-3 yr contracts.

And nothing wrong with that at all mate. Personally after Terry leaving I think Bruce will also leave by mutual consent. The financial state the club is now in won’t allow Bruce to bring in the quality of experienced pro he would desire to replace those that will leave. Its time for a radical change using youth and Bruce is simply too set in his ways and long in the tooth to build a new dynasty at the Villa.

I was totally against Villa signing John Terry because I felt he would spend most of his time injured. How wrong was I. Contributed far more than I thought he ever would. However he struggled badly in the playoff final and it was clear to me at least that this would be his last season as a player in the top flight even if Villa had managed to beat Fulham. No way could he have coped in the Premier League now. I really don’t think Villa will miss him as much as some may think particularly if Chester is retained. Chester for me has been the best centre back in the Championship this season and will have learnt how to organise a defence from Terry even if that defence consists of younger players next season. If Chester is sold however then with both Terry and Chester gone the younger players will have to step up quickly.

I’ve been banging on about your point concerning handing the opposition the initiative all season.

And who would have thought that TRO??

Agree with the poster who has said lack of announcements coming out of the club at the moment concerning Bruce doesn’t mean one thing or the other yet. It’s too soon considering what has to be discussed and agreed upon. Either way I do think there will be a short announcement by the club or indeed Bruce by the end of next week.

While I accept your point on the difference between playing against 10 men for an hour rather than 20 minutes Villa played much better in the second half against eleven than they did 10 because Fulham were still going forward when they could which left them more open. When they went down to 10 they parked the bus and Villa really struggled to create anything which imo would have still happened if they’d been down to 10 for an hour.

If Bruce is retained nothing would change at the Villa from the last two seasons. Players returned to their clubs will be replaced by others with ‘experience’ so that they can handle the expectation level at the club. This in turn would again stifle the growth of those young players doing so well in the U23s who would not get a consistent run in the first team because Bruce would be under so much pressure to succeed that he would repeat this season’s mistakes. Furthermore those expecting a change in style of play if Bruce is retained are kidding themselves. It will be the same safety first approach which with few exceptions will not score enough goals to attain one of those automatic places which should be the expectation for a great club like Villa. Really that’s the choice for Xia. A safe pair of hands which will stagnate Villa possibly into the lottery of the playoffs again or employ a manager who will discard all the worse traits of that and build a new new young vibrant energetic team who will probably at worst reach the playoffs anyway? I will be astounded if it’s the former!

Thanks mate. Even more gutted this morning like many others but if the board and owner get it right then no reason at all why Villa won’t be promoted next season.

Listening to his post match interview I don’t think he will. Decision seemingly will be left to Xia.

Bruce generally put all his eggs in one basket and opted for experience in the transfer market. One team built to get out of the Championship and two others then to stabilise and push on in the Premier League we were told (Not by Bruce to be fair). The problem with the first team was and many called it, too many players signed in the twilight of their careers who were then expected to execute a physical system over a very long arduous season in the Championship. Bruce was asking Adomah and Snodgrass to continually provide attacking intent while also covering for suspect full backs and no surprise when both players were affected by fatigue even before the playoff final. That cut Villa's offensive capability in halve hence too much reliance on keeping a clean sheet for most of the season and indeed on Grealish when he came back. The signing of Whelan added to the aging Jedinak was never going to be the way forward especially with Terry at the heart of the defence and that was again noted on here. Villa's play for the most part this season was predestrain, laboured and predicable which was in contrast to two of the three teams promoted. That should now be a lesson learnt by the board and chairman. The way of Bruce's type of management has now gone. Moyes sacked. Big Sam also sacked and if Villa are to move forward then the same must happen to Bruce. With players out of contract, players returning from loans and players no longer having the legs for yet another Championship season it is now time for a new young vibrant Villa which is already there in the U23s. UTV.

Sorry but on that performance alone today Terry won't be such a big loss on the pitch but Villa could and should offer him a defensive coaching role at the club if Bruce is retained.

Sorry but disagree with that. Villa’s U23s under the right manager will get Villa automatic promotion next season.

And that will be a very good thing under a different manager.

As commentary just stated end of the road for a lot of that Villa team and I would include Bruce in that. Simply not good enough and I stress again a travesty that more of the U23s were not given a chance. Bruce’s tactics have cost Villa today and generally over most of the time he was here. Looking at that last shot of Xia before the end of the game if Bruce doesn’t fall on his sword it will be pushed in. Like everyone else, gutted.

I’m sorry but Terry is having a mare but now helped by the sending off.

Can’t believe Villa started with the same tactics against Boro. Have looked ponderous and a team full of players which are in the twilight of their careers against a young vibrant Fulham side with a progressive manager who teaches and preaches pass and move football. Villa do have players like Fulham but they’re stuck in the U23s and it’s scandalous that they haven’t been used more. For me Bruce’s biggest mistake. One last thought on that pathetic first half performance. Terry showed exactly why on 40 minutes he should never play in the Premiership again and sadly the Fulham’s mangers comments prior to the game have so far proven right.

He wouldn't even be a good addition if still in the Championship next season.

Like the way Brucey is staying generally quiet leaving Jokanovic to do his team talk for him. Players will be fired up after the comments about Terry in particular. I think the way Villa will play in this one will surprise even the purists with Bruce telling his team to be far more attacking than normal. Expect Villa to go for the Fulham throat early on scoring twice and the Fulham players then panicking. 3-1 to the Villa and back where they belong.

Just read about this. Awful news and condolences to his family.

Would not want to see Kodjia back for this one. So poor when he came on in the first game he actually looked awkward to me. Davis on the bench would imo be a much better option to hold the ball up if Villa are under pressure in the latter part of tonight’s game.

Agree with this. Another performance like the second half and I feel Boro will win the tie. Got to forget about the one goal advantage and go all out to win the second game especially when at home.

Excellent 1st half performance last night. I actually thought after Villa scored Boro were there for the taking and with just a little more ambition the tie could have been over. Second half Villa sat on the lead too much and invited Boro more into the game which was a disappointment for me. Grabban was poor and Kodjia worse when he came on. Kodjia is still well short of match fitness and should be replaced by Davis on the bench for the second leg. Davis coming on instead of Kodjia in the second half would have pushed Villa further up the pitch more with Davis holding the ball up and allowing the likes of Grealish and Grabban to run past him. As it is still a slight advantage going into the second leg but I’m still a little concerned about Villa’s older players if getting to Wembley as most of them were starting to blow out their arse after seventy minutes.

Courtesy flushes wouldn’t go amiss either.