striker

I would agree with you but the players have already been rested after the international break.

No need to change anything from the game against Reading. Same team Bruce (no tinkering) then Villa will increase the pressure on Cardiff and Fulham with a narrow win.

Just a word of caution. Villa haven’t secured a playoff position yet and considering present form, should not be taken for granted. Lose against Reading with other results going against Villa I really don’t think at the present time Villa have the right mentality for a scrap.

Yes he was excellent, the best player on the pitch but if Villa don’t gain promotion through the playoffs then I feel it would be better to start bringing in the likes of Suliman rather than giving yet another contract to a player nearing the end of his career. Villa must start to build for the future and not under the present manager if the club are to move forward.

On that performance I now worry if Villa can still secure a playoff spot. Players look dead on their feet even after the international break. No pace, no movement, no ideas and consequently no cutting edge. Time and time again particularly in the second half Villa went for the Hollywood ball out of defence instead of keeping possession and moving forward as a team. You cannot continually rely on individual brilliance to pull you out of a tight spot because more often than not it doesn’t happen. I said some time ago that Bruce should be utilising the U23s more to get that youthful exuberance especially through the middle to revitalise the team. At the moment his reliance on experienced is back firing at the business end of the season and that was always a worry of mine for Villa.

Team looks generally flat in that first half devoid of any spark. Hull are awful so if Villa fail to beat these it will be a terrible result.

Another great opportunity goes amiss.

Been generally poor so far against a very average Hull side.

Should have scored there. Practically an open goal.

Agree with this and from such an apparent experienced Championship manager.

Fulham scored again.

Fulham have scored.

Wouldn’t have Kodjia starting. Bring him on for the last twenty over the next two or three games to build his fitness up then start him. Bruce brought him back too early last time so hopefully the manager will have learnt from that?

Really for the first time this season this is a must win for the Villa if they are going to have any chance of securing that automatic second place spot. There can be no excuses for either Bruce or the players after the international break.

That’s some post TRO. If as you imply managers shouldn’t be judged on players purchased, how much money they’ve spent in relation to others and their remit then how should we as fans and respective club boards judge whether managers are doing a good job or not? Furthermore, as has been pointed out to you time and time again whenever you bring out the ‘there is not a rake of managers better’ point there are teams above Villa this and last season with managers who have had far less resources to fall back on. That is a very good argument which you continually fail to consider. I see you’ve also mentioned personal dislike of the manager as to why some are criticising him. That’s more than a tad unfair. Most on here have praised him when the team has done well and criticised when he hasn’t. That I’m afraid is the natural way of things something which in your defence of Bruce you seemingly fail to grab hold of. Bruce’s remit this season is clear. It’s promotion or bust. He said so himself and he personally is under no illusions what will happen if he fails. He has also set out his transfer policy on that basis bringing in experienced players nearing the end of their careers to try and insure promotion rather than trying to bring more of the younger players through even when injuries hit. At the moment it is now looking like automatic promotion is beyond Villa. That may change of course but if it doesn’t and Villa have to settle for the playoffs then that is the bare minimum of expectation and some would argue with the personnel and resources made available to him, it falls below that.

Would like to see those who keep making excuses for Bruce answer your second paragraph. I really don’t think Xia will tolerate a second failure to gain promotion anyway and rightly so.

TRO as you know I always respect your opinion but the statement above is factually incorrect. Keith Andrews did criticise team planing (too reliant on individuals) which was thinly veiled criticism of Bruce. Personally as I mentioned in the game reaction thread I think Bruce got it wrong against QPR and tonight again. Last fifteen minutes of the first halve tonight Villa looked very dangerous and I couldn’t envisage them not scoring. However Bruce panicked and needlessly went with two up front when it wasn’t needed. From that point onward Villa lost all cohesion and rarely threatened again. No doubt in my mind Bruce has cost Villa points this season by not utilising the squad enough and being tactically inept. I also watched Terry closely. Struggling to turn or even run at jogging pace now. That’s not criticism for the sake of it. Terry has played far more this season than I ever expected and has been a revelation for Villa but the international break has come at the right time for him and maybe some of the other older players as well who are starting to look decidedly leggy.

Really for me this defeat was down to Bruce again. The last Fifteen minutes of the first half saw Villa looking very dangerous and I couldn't for the life of me see Villa failing to score. However as soon as he changed it to a two up top after half time Villa lost their shape and potency. That was totally the wrong move and stank of panic.

Sausage?

No their goal mouth is better than Villas.

Played decent since the goal and both Snoddy and Grealish have provided some great crosses but Grabban hasn't yet been able to take advantage. If Villa get the equaliser I would back them to go on and win this comfortably, that is if Villa don't concede again.

Taylor should have been sent off for that.

Villa are all over the place. Conditions the same for both teams. Villa just don' look up for it.

Awful defending. Bjarnson lost his man.

Well it’s white, fluffy and cold but it can be fun.