striker

Totally agree but isn't it amazing when you actually put a player in his best position and he starts performing.

I don't think he has to be that good to be better than Whelan or Jedinak but I admit I haven't seen much more of him than you or other posters. Nevertheless he does look a very tidy footballer to me with better passing ability than the other two which is a massive bonus for a DM and will only get better with more game time. There's also no assurance that he would have the same impact as either Davis, O'Hare or Green but look what has happened when Bruce by chance or otherwise has given Villa youth a chance.

Lyden no matter what age he is should be 1st choice DM now and would be at most other Championship teams. There was no need to bring in Whelan. With Jedinak almost ready to come back I can't see Lyden getting much game time which is a shame.

Delighted for Davis and that debut plus recent performances by other young players should tell Bruce that he should use them more.

I could never see the sense in signing John Terry and then selling Baker when Villa already had a settled centreback partnership which was working. When you then consider wages and mooted bonuses paid to Terry would it not have been much better to stick with Baker especially if Villa are promoted this season. Ready made Premiership CB partnership to take into next season but Terry will be too slow for the Premiership and Villa will be looking at paying substantial money on a replacement.

Thing is though all of the young players have looked good even in pre-season and I'd add Lyden to that as well. Bruce needs to give them more of a chance.

This is an excellent point and one i've mulled over for some time. Football has changed quite a bit over the last couple of seasons with teams adopting a more placid pass and move game than trying to win by out muscling the opponent. Thats why I think Bruce and as a consequence the Villa team is struggling.

Yet he has purchased most of the team now so he and no other is to blame if his purchases can't handle the pressure. Buying a player isn't just about their ability it's making a judgement on their character as well. Funny how O'Hare and Green aren't burdened by the shirt yet Bruce's signings are and cost millions. I'm agreeing with you by the way.

Football Focus doing a piece on Wagner at 12 today. Should make for an interesting watch, the one that got away.

Great in the sweeper position mate.

Gallagher would be a good loan signing and even if Bruce is sacked I would much rather have Gallagher as an option for the new manager coming in than see him go elsewhere. Bamford at Boro might be another alternative as he isn't first choice at Boro and can link play?

Or instead of purchasing Whelan give Lyden a chance. Really do feel Bruce is not playing the best DM at the club.

What makes you think that when he hasn't been fantastic anywhere else in a very long time if ever?

Good. Most vastly overrated player I've seen in a long time and imagine him trying to stay injury free in the Championship.

Yeah mate you're probably right but I do think Pardew would set the Villa up to play good enough football to get out of the Championship. It's when getting to that higher level he may well be found out again. Not much of a choice though at the minute unless you are prepared to pay compensation.

A Villa fan now mate but Moyes was great at Everton. Thought he was a little unlucky at Man U as any manager replacing Fergie was on a loser from the start. A little unlucky at Real Sociedad as well when he couldn't sign the players he wanted but no I wouldn't want him at Villa now. He would probably end up being another Bruce.

I think Norwich will turn over Villa at home then Bruce will be axed.

I tend to think that any manager worth his salt would get the current squad at Villa promoted. Being realistic, of the current crop available, and if you're not looking to pay out compensation, I'd go for Pardew as his teams tend to be organised playing good football.

Can it be any worse?

If Bruce is sacked lets hope Villa have someone else lined up to come in right away because it's unthinkable to have Calderwood in charge for a few games.

Just watched Bruce's post match interview. Disturbing.

This goes right back to the cup game against Spurs whereby he set up defensively against a Spurs team full of kids and made no effort to win the game.

How often could you say that about Villa under Bruce Tro? This was exactly the point why myself and other posters were debating with you. The problems with Bruce at Villa ran deeper than just bringing in the likes of Whelan to allow Landsbury and Hourihane to play. Villa had the same problems when Jedinak was in the team even though results improved but the performances didn't. That performance yesterday was an accident waiting to happen especially up against a wryly old dog in Warnock who knew how to exploit Bruce's tactical naivety. Trying to hoof it into channels against a Warnock side is tantamount to committing football suicide. Unfortunately Villa won't magically start to play better football under Bruce no matter what system he changes it to. The football will continue to be turgid because on his own admittance he simply doesn't do tactics. He hasn't the capability to coach pass and move football and neither has his current number two. It will be more of the same until he is sacked and hopefully that will be after the game against Reading.

Didn't see the game but kept reading the match thread. Not too good is it. Watched the first half of the Boro Sheffield game though. Boro's performance was head and shoulders above anything that Villa have produced under Bruce. Boro under Monk will probably finish in the top two and be promoted automatically. Very impressed by Bamford who did everything that Villa have been missing up top. He isn't even first choice at Boro and only played today due to injuries. Even Gestede looked decent with plenty of movement. Just goes to show what a manager who plays pass and move football can do even with average players. Bruce is on borrowed time now. Lose against Reading and I think Xia will pull the trigger.

Can Bruce be subbed?