striker

Reading some comments on here from Stoke forums I've noted Stoke fans stating it's probably time to let Whelan go. Doesn't fill me with a lot of confidence that Villa are going to be reliant on two aging DMs who are going to be expected to stand up to a more physical league with more games played than the Premiership. Jedinak found it tough enough last season and that was a season ago.

Fair post and those managers did rely on him for years but Hughes is keen to sell him now which should tell you a lot. Not convinced at all that these type of signings are the way to go for Villa. You also have to consider that most of the 1st team squad are Championship ready now so Villa could afford to either bring a younger DM in on loan with a view to buy to add more stamina and energy or indeed give Lyden a chance.

I agree with the overall point that another defensive midfielder is needed but I'd hoped for someone better than Whelan who at his best was average and now is, well, imo the wrong side of average. Concerned that if Whelan is signed the defensive spine of the team will lack pace and energy.

Bruce out.

Will be surprised if Bruce targets any more young players with a view to playing them in the 1st team this coming season. He is under tremendous pressure to secure promotion hence the signing of Terry, the mooted interest in Whelan and other more experienced players.

New manager, better players and an expectancy to be promoted for a club that's hopefully turning the corner. Those are totally different circumstances to when he first joined the club. If I was him I'd hedge my bets and stay to January to see how it goes. If he applies himself he might even get a move back to the Premiership even if Villa are floundering in mid table. Could see the likes of West Ham, Burnley, Swansea or Bournemouth being interested if he does well until January window.

Very good post and about where I'm at currently concerning the Villa. Will be watching the last couple of games in pre season to see if Bruce has intergrated the players into a system that is more offensive and suits the players better than last season.

Sigurdsson is an excellent goal scoring midfielder who can also create and he has done his consistently in the Premiership over several seasons. Is he worth 50m? Nope but he will certainly not be a waste of a transfer fee.

Would rather see him playing for Villa this season and proving that Sev are a bunch of rocket polishers than loan him to them.

Sea, Villa just don't sign experienced players.

For once mate we agree on something.

Not too disappointed at all with the sale of Amavi falling through if it means Villa won't be signing Whelan and Elmohamady although Xia might stump up the money anyway? I'd much rather keep Amavi than using the proceeds of his sale to buy two duff players nearing the end of their careers.

Pretty much this but Bruce must find a system to get the best out of what he has and stop asking attacking midfielders to sit in behind the ball and defend while playing hoof to a striker that likes ball to feet. For me this was the main problem last season and not just players having difficulty settling.

Would love to see one of the younger players given that chance but I think Whelan will be signed before the window closes to cover or play alongside Jedinak.

I would add 2 that with the squad at his disposal and imo a poorer Championship than last season it should be automatic promotion and not just pushing for the playoffs.

Mentioned the possible signing of Crouch before on here so would be delighted to see him back in a Villa shirt if the rumour is true. Would give Villa the option they are missing up front since Gestede left and is much better than Gestede anyway. Not advocating too many more experienced signings but on a 1 year deal would be a much better signing than Terry and he is something that Villa lack up top. Someone to hold the ball up giving time for Villa's attacking midfielders to run off him which was sadly lacking in Villa's play last season.

Constipation is an awful thing mate.

So if those players weren't shoe horned then according to your post they were forced into defensive positions by the opposition? With all due respect that's nonsense. Right from the start of most games under Bruce last season Villa set up defensively, continually handing the initiative to player for player inferior opposition. So much so in fact it destroyed the confidence of Hourihane one of the best free scoring AMs in the Championship. Bruce is being given a lot of credit on here well as far as I can see anyway. Most posters have mentioned his promotional record and due to that are prepared to give him pre-season and the start of next season despite the awful turgid football played under him and despite finishing 13th with a budget and squad most Championship managers would die for. Concerning Terry I do not think he is the coup you think he is, not now and not for the mooted deal he is on. I would have loved to see him go to Birmingham and then watch Kodjia rip him a new one in the derbies. I think he'll be targeted by niffty Championship forwards as Elphick was. Furthermore imo he will be out muscled. Your comment concerning Redknapp I suppose is a fair one but as recently as last season, results in the Championship showed that you don't have to spend fortunes if you can find a system to suit what you have available and gain success.

Can't agree with any of your post apart from the last two lines. You say that too many players were content with a non win yet didn't Bruce buy two attacking midfielders and allowed neither to play their natural game asking them to sit deep. He purchased a forward who likes ball to feet yet the team kept hoofing it because midfield were sitting too deep. Any manager has to adapt to the players he has to make an immediate impact on the team and Bruce showed signs of doing that when he first came to the club yet when given the chance to build on that with his own players 'to play the way he wanted' he then shoe horned those players into a system that didn't suit destroying the confidence of Hourihane in the process. He also didn't identify the impact of losing Kodjia would have on the team by bringing someone else in. I think my friend you would do a very good job of being Bruce's PR man to cover all of that up by blaming the players. I honestly believe there will be no repeat of Xia or Wyness changing the goalposts again this season considering what the expectations are concerning promotion so the team must start well and continue that until the end of the season if Bruce wants to keep his job.

That worries me even more now. Bruce couldn't settle on a system last season and has now even more options to keep changing it. Furthermore while I understand the interest ( being light in the DM department) I'm not keen on Bruce's pursuit of Glen Whelan. Clearly with the signing of Terry and already having Jedinak in the squad Bruce is going for broke in pursuing promotion with bringing in another player who is in the twilight of his career. The problem with that is if Villa are promoted next season then the team will need yet another rebuild to stay in the Premiership which throws out the stability argument.

I honestly think despite his current squad position that mooted fee is on the low side for Amavi who I feel once settled will again turn out to be more than a decent left sided player in an inflated transfer market. There's an obvious dearth of decent left sided players available. Really surprised there's no offers from the Premiership particularly Liverpool.

Yes mate that's the other point of view and hopefully for Villa the right one although I have my doubts?

No mate not having a dig at all at Bruce. I just think it's odd that a manager who is already under tremendous pressure to get Villa promoted this season signs someone who might be the fore runner to take his place if sacked. Surely that's only going to increase the pressure on Bruce?

Thing is though he probably won't play 46 games or anywhere near that.

Yep as close as he did with Di Matteo when at Chelsea. Said it before but if Villa start badly next season then Bruce has signed his successor.