striker

Pen.

Dreadful performance so far. Awful game.

Continually losing possession again. Not the start needed.

No Tish, not even on the bench? What's happened?

I think he's said there won't be 'a huge influx of players' coming in. Two different things really. Still feel the Villa need a minimum of 5 players. Keeper, RB, 2 midfielders and another striker to cover for the African Nations. I would assume that the loan market would be utilized for at least two signings?

This would imo be Villa's best team and agree with the too much respect bit. Should be spanking most teams in the Championship but continually hand the initiative to the opposition with conservative team selections.

I'd expect a reaction from both the players and manager after the abject defeat against Norwich. Hopefully a hugely positive one which will result in a badly needed win in a televised game to rid any thought of hoodo's influencing the players. Tishbola must be given a chance in this one to bolster the midfield and one would hope that Bruce will now stop trying to shoe horn Kodjia into a wide role. Thierry Henry he most certainly is not. If Bruce wants to still play on the break at away games then he has the new Gabby at his disposal (Kodjia) with McCormack playing in his preferred no 10 role to supply him. That for me would create a much better forward balance than either player being played wide. Adomah and Ayew can play on the flanks if needed and have the footballing brains to tuck in when opposing teams have the ball.

The amount of games played in the Championship would not suit a player who at best can now only play one game per week without injury. Not that Carrick was a realistic choice anyway. However If you are thinking of someone of that type of experience and passing ability then Barry would be a better choice but again not sure he would go to the Villa at the moment. A player/coaching role might entice him? A midfield comprising of Jedinak and Barry wouldn't have enough energy to push Villa through a Championship season though. It would have to be one or the other and for me Barry would offer Villa more.

That was as bad as under Garde. No, probably worse. Wrong team and wrong tactics against a team losing 6 out of the last 7. Villa let Norwich rebuild their confidence throughout the game until they finally scored.

Villa really should, along with Newcastle be dominating this league but if you set up so defensively from the start you automatically hand the initiative to the opposition. That is a travesty with the attacking players Villa have.

Worst performance I've seen from the Villa this season.

Bruce has to change it now. Elphick not closing down quick enough.

Ha, good point.

Not for 10m. Very average player.

Best thing to say so far Villa ain't losing.

Would he contribute more to the Villa than Grealish at the moment? Probably not and at least McCormack has some physicality about him. Don't think he would get into the team as he would be third choice in his position so better to keep him in the shop window and get some money back than play him in the U21s.

I still think Villa will need to bring in a striker (loan) if/when Kodjia, Adomah and Ayew head off to the African Nations.

I like Bruce as manager, I really do but this conservative approach to games won't allow the Villa to dominate this league in the way that Villa should and it does allow teams to gain in confidence when they play against Villa. Would Leeds have had Grealish and Ayew on the bench and Kodjia playing out wide for instance? Still don't think performance wise that Bruce is getting the best out of what he has at his disposal and that may also have been said of previous managers here.

Especially when you consider who is continually playing in midfield.

Don't like to say it but Rafa knows how to organise a team, even one down to 9 men. When Forest got the second goal thought Newcastle looked the more threatening. Lansbury looked a better player when moved into the middle in the second half and pinged some great passes like Shelvey in the first. Looks a more mobile version of Huddlestone and better than anything Villa have currently in midfield.

Villa will take Leeds alright no problem.

My point concerning selling Elphick wasn't anything to do with him not being in the starting 11. It was due to him being too slow and other teams identifying that weakness and continually trying to exploit it. Ayew on the other hand is a player I enjoy watching because like Grealish he runs at defenders and has the confidence and ability to do something out of the ordinary. Grant it he can be greedy but he creates space for others to run into by dragging defenders towards him and he tracks back.

I can see the potato head thingy but he does have nice hair. The perfect fit for Villa and much, much more to come with hopefully a few of his own signings in January.

Haha Grasshopper. Good one.

Huddlestone ahead of either Westwood or Gardner would be an improvement for the Villa. Lansbury is another Villa should be looking at to compensate for a lack of pace and goals between Huddlestone (if signed) and Jedinak to have the right balance in midfield.