striker

Spot on.

Not good enough.

Ayew has been doing that and so has McCormack. Villa need better midfielders around them.

Agree 100% with this and anyway Kodjia has pace in abundance when he comes back again.

I agree buying another striker on its own won't improve things. However Bruce has already confirmed one link to a midfielder (Lansbury) and Villa have also been linked to another. With both those midfielders signed and a mooted RB on the way service to the forwards should dramatically improve. Bruce also stated that if he can improve the forward line he will do it. So I guess listening to the manager there is a plan in place to bring both in. If you consider the Gestede money 4m on top of that doesn't sound a lot in today's market for Rhodes who has previously been clinical in front of goal in the Championship.

Fixed that for you.

A second striker who can score goals.

Bruce won't do that. Think we'll see at least another three new signings ( two CMs and a RB) before the window shuts and all of those will go straight into the first team and improve it. I also feel Villa need another striker and a central defender (to cover for Baker as Elphick is a mistake waiting to happen) but that may be asking too much for a January window?

He needs to be replaced this window if the Villa are to progress. Awful player.

Looking at Bruce yesterday towards the end of the game and afterwards he knows what a gigantism task he has ahead of him to get the Villa back where they belong. It's going to take time and probably more time than even Bruce realised. Its therefore up to the fans to give him that time and it may mean at least one more season in the Championship before we see a squad and team good enough not only to get promoted but to be able to stay in the Premiership. Bruce isn't stupid and in fact he has been very honest in his interviews about recent performances which haven't been acceptable to him nor the fans. Throughout his career he has been a winner and knows what it takes to get out of this league so don't turn against him before he has a chance to get his own players in and let's all have the patience to let him get on with it.

Which was my point. Villa would be looking for a new manager by the end of this week. Bruce needs to be given the tools to start rebuilding now and not in the summer which has been suggested. Signing those linked midfielders for the fees mentioned would certainly not imo be short termism. It would signify the start of a rebuild and give plenty of time for those new players to bed in If Villa don't gain promotion this season.

How did Fulham and Leeds get the best out of McCormack? If I was Bruce I'd be looking at a few videos or contacting the managers of those clubs at the time McCormack was there to get advice as clearly Bruce doesn't know what to do with him.

I would like to be a fly on the wall if Xia informed Bruce on Monday morning that he will not finance anymore signings until the summer.

After watching that this evening I feel it may be in Villa's best interests not to get promoted this season. Even with a few new additions just imagine the bulk of that squad in the Premiership next season. Sure fire relegation again and possibly the lowest points total ever. Not sure the club could recover from that in it's present condition? Bruce needs to be given time to not only rebuild the squad into a competitive unit but to rid the club off the shower of shite that is currently there. It is certainly going to take more than one January window to do that and it may actually take two seasons in the Championship before Villa are ready to face the elite again and stabilise in the Premiership. This is not easy for me to write because since I've joined this forum it is Villa's result I look for first now rather than Everton. I was also very moved by the tribute to former manager Taylor from both Villa and Wolves fans. Both sets of fans did their clubs and indeed Taylor proud. Now we need the players to do the same.

This really is awful.

Changes. Not before time.

Pretty poor again. Sorry but Jedinak really is an awful player. Totally useless. How Bruce thinks Villa can get by with McCormack and Gabby up front this month is beyond me.

Considering the amount of time it has taken Amavi to get back up to speed (and some might say he hasn't got there yet) it could be even longer than suggested to see Laet back to his best. It is therefore imperative than Bruce signs a decent RB this window.

Just something to consider. I understand the feeling that he has been less effective than most Villa fans hoped going forward but when played out wide he has a shit load of tracking back to do to help cover for the FB. In today's game being effective going forward while constantly having to track back is a very hard thing to do stamina wise. If Villa sign better midfielders this window who can actually hit a through ball for Ayew to run onto but also have good positional sense to sit when needed to help negate Ayew's defensive duties then you might see a more effective Ayew in the run in.

My thoughts exactly and truly a very sad loss for anyone connected to the Villa. In my neck of the woods there's a saying that the good always go first. RIP.

One thing I noted concerning Gollini was his kicking. Johnston's first game against Spurs showed how weak Gollini's kicking really was. Another poor signing and better to move him on now if a better replacement can be found.

Need to win not only for the points but to be a more attractive proposition for the players Bruce wants to sign.

If this is true ffs Bruce don't play him on Saturday.

Bringing Benteke back would mean having Westwood back in the team to hit those floating corners.

Made my night that. Thanks mate.