striker

Decent performance but still highly frustrated at Villa losing the ball too easily and that has happen from early in the game hence seeing Bruce shouting at the players to keep the ball. Still feel that Villa are sitting a tad too deep but you can’t argue with the score line so far.

Very wary of this game concerning Villa. I hope with news that Preston may be under strength Bruce or the players don't think they just have to turn up to win. Preston are decent and it will still be a difficult game.

Sincerely hope you are right.

Starting off on a positive note concerning Bruce he has made some astute signings for not a lot of money and improved Villa defensively. I was against Villa signing Terry and didn’t think due to his age he would be able to stand up to the rigours of the Championship nor play enough games to warrant his mooted wages. I was wrong on both counts due to Terry proving to be one of the main reasons why Villa have improved defensively. That being said I still feel, watching Villa, that there is so much more to Villa’s squad than we’re actually seeing at the moment. For instance when Bruce played Hourihane further forward in his correct position there was a stark improvement in performance and goal return.That has been nullified once again by Bruce reverting to ultra defensive mode against a very poor Birmingham City side. When OHare was given his chance he excelled yet dropped back into the U21s. Davis should have started against Birmingham and that was highlighted by how much Villa improved when he finally came on and should have scored. I also don’t think it was the right decision to start Kodjia so quickly. Clearly Kodjia is still struggling for fitness and should have been given more time coming on from the bench rather than starting games. I’m also not sure with the current squad available that Kodjia’s maverick style fits into Bruce’s team. He’s been shoe horned with other players dropping out or changing position to accommodate him. Kodjia isn’t and never will be a team player. For me Bruce is still struggling to find his best team and formation. Considering other teams in the Championship Bruce has an embarrassment of riches available and maybe therein lies the problem? Bruce didn’t have that at his other promotional sides where generally the team picked itself. Many times I have thought to myself this season that there are better players on the bench than actually on the pitch or not even chosen in the match day squad. For many of the reasons stated above I don’t think Villa will achieve automatic promotion this season which is scandalous considering the quality available to Bruce but I do feel despite Bruce’s negative playing style Villa will probably scrape into the lottery of the playoffs. Whether that’s going to be good enough to get Villa back into the Premiership only time will tell?

I honestly feel at this moment in time Villa will be better as a team without him.

Pretty much this all day long. OHare has been excellent every time I’ve seen him play for Villa.

Really didn’t look like winning the game until Davis came on. Until then it was very dull stuff indeed and lucky to be on level terms. Bruce still has a lot to do for me to be convinced he is the right man to lead Villa back into the Premiership.

Jedinak holy God.

Going to wait until they score before making the required change.

Don’t think anyone thought this was going to be a classic in the footballing sense but I can’t help thinking on the evidence of that first half performance Bruce is again paying too much respect to the opposition who have been generally poor. I’d sacrifice a midfielder and put Davis on with Kodjia playing off him and filling in midfield when Birmingham have the ball.

Villa showing nothing in the last third. Need to show a bit more composure.

Must be hung like a racehorse as well then. Good luck to the Villa.

Arguably one of the worst Birmingham sides Villa have faced in recent times so no excuses for sitting back and playing on the break but I feel Bruce will do exactly that. Irrespective of how Villa set up I still think Villa will win comfortably but it would be great to see Villa paying the opposition less respect and putting Birmingham to the sword.

Can't say i've enjoyed watching Villa under Bruce (didn't see the Fulham game as away on holiday) but I do remember someone on site posting that Bruce gained his other promotions while being at those clubs for a season and a half or more. So the closer he is getting to that milestone (not sure exactly how long he's been at Villa) the results are improving and it is results and points that will get Villa promoted rather than just performances. I'm still not warming to him though as I didn't like a lot of things he said and where blame was placed for poor form but I could stomach it if he gets Villa promoted.

In my opinion Lyden would do no worse than Whelan and would give Villa more energy in midfield. Can't understand why Bruce won't play him when you consider how the other kids have done.

The point is they shouldn’t be, not with the money spent and their manager spending a lot less time with his players than Bruce with Villa’s squad.

Just watched his press conference before the game. He hadn’t watched Wolves live. Just watched videos. I mean wtf?? You are playing one of your mooted rivals for promotion which have a new manager and a plethora of new expensive players and you don’t take the time to go and watch before you play them in a Derby? I know managers can’t go to every game but surely to goodness it’s poor preparation to rely on videos for such an important match. Bruce was found wanting and yet again exposed as a neanderthal prehistoric manager when pitted against someone more progressive yesterday and it will sadly be the same against Fulham. Its clear for everyone to see that although Bruce has been promoted four times from the Championship, football even in the lower leagues, is now evolving beyond what Steve Bruce can offer so it’s now time for a change. That doesn’t necessarily mean that with a new manager coming in it would result in another drastic turnover in players but rather a modern progressive coach being more tactically astute with the players available.

Brilliant point which just goes to show that you don’t need a lot of time for your team to gel if your manager buys the right players to fit the system you want to play.

Not under Bruce! Too static. No movement other than sideways passing until hoof into the final third and then absolutely no idea what to do with it. Any build up play was way too slow giving Wolves players ample opportunity to get back into position. This has been the case time and time again when Villa play better teams under Bruce and Villa will get spanked playing this way again against Fulham. Ruddy didn’t even have a save to make other than basic catching. Dreadful performance until O’Hare was brought on but by then Wolves were in third gear taking the piss playing keep ball and they should have won by a greater margin.

My only concern is that Wolves have a younger team which may work against Villa over the 90 minutes but I still expect Villa, at the very least, to take a point. Ultimately I feel the automatic promotional spots will be between Villa, Wolves, Leeds and Boro but there’s no need for Villa to fear any of those teams now.

Building Wolves up too much. Villa have the better players so I expect Villa to win the game.

Bruce will probably go for Hutton?

No, not literally.

I just hope Bruce doesn't get the jitters and tinker too much with the team and system. The only change should be the one that's forced upon him with De Laet coming in for Taylor. Otherwise as you were with Kodjia told to drop into midfield when Wolves have possession. Any sign of two holding midfielders being played or five at the back and Bruce will be handing the initiative to Wolves from the start that Villa are shitting their pants.

Is there some sort of penalty if Villa appeal and it's turned down?