striker

Fitted the way Di Matteo wanted to play but under Bruce will probably be an expensive bit part player and it wouldn't surprise me at all if you see McCormack leave at the end of January when Kodjia and Ayew return from the African Nations?

The one attribute Gabby has been known for (pace) wasn't there yesterday. Looked unfit and top heavy. Was surprised at this after his pics and statements on social media. Has a lot to do if Bruce is going to rely on him in January when Kodjia and Ayew are playing in the AN.

Disappointed overal with Villa's performance particularly in the second half where possession retention was awful. Really didn't look like scoring with only one shot on target which proved enough to get a point. On the plus side Jedinak's best game for Villa and Hutton also looked solid. Baker and Chester are also forming a formidable central defensive partnership but Amavi looks half the player he was before his injury. Gardner and Westwood did alright but January can't come soon enough to sign better midfield players if Villa are to progress into the playoffs. A point won rather than two lost.

Agbonlahor.

Villa just incapable of retaining possession. Been poor so far and Birmingham deserved their goal. Tish must come on now. Nearly scored again ffs.

I know it's a derby game but Villa need to take more care with their out ball. The amount of times it has lost possession would I'm sure give rise to concern for Bruce. Just inviting too much pressure back onto the Villa defence again. Villa have better technical players than what I can see so far is a very poor Birmingham side so I would expect to see Villa retain possession better in the second half and go on to win the game comfortably.

Good luck to the Villa today. Please win.

Haven't seen those Bristol City supporters around here in a while.

The little I've seen of Vertout he has more to his play than the current batch of midfielders at Bruce's disposal but there's no point in recalling him if he doesn't want to come back and even if he did he would have to be played in his natural position to get the best out of him. Vertout seems to have settled better back in his homeland and I can't see his partner wanting to come back here either so it might be better the club cut its losses and allow Bruce to bring his own players in.

Number ten role for me. In behind Kodjia. Has everything to play that role and the brains to drop deep when Villa need an extra body in midfield. Being the provider it would teach him to look for a pass rather than thinking he has to do everything himself.

Well done the Villa again. Not conceding goals either. Finally Villa have a manager who actually knows what he is doing.

Would like to see Lyden replace Jedinak in the same role. A Lyden, Gardner, Tish midfield would give the Villa far more bite and energy in midfield than with Westwood and Jedinak. I'd play Bacuna at RB instead of Hutton while Chester and Baker should be Villa's 1st choice central defensive partnership from now on. Elphick is just too slow even for Championship football now and Richards is carrying far too much timber for my liking. Amavi should now be 1st choice LB again to give opposing teams more to think about. Ayew must start as he is by far Villa's best and most effective player. I think Fulham will score though on the break so Villa will need to knock in more than one to get the three points. Going for a closely fought 2-1 win for the Villa.

Wouldn't swap him for Hart and I mean that. Has the making of a very good keeper. Great potential so the fans should stick with him. Might turn out to be Di Matteo's best signing?

Bruce Almighty.

Well done to the Villa getting the win. Give Bruce a bit of time plus a transfer window and he will get it right. Massive boost to confidence.

Watched the game yesterday. Right from the off the Villa looked nervous. Misplaced over hit or under hit passes everywhere which continued into the second half. Total lack of confidence and belief in what they were trying to do. Reminded me of a bunch of lads getting together on a Sunday morning for a kick around trying to get rid of hangovers. No cohesion and no pressing as a team. Watched McCormack wave his hands in total despair as Wolves were continually given free range of Villa Park to do what they wanted. Thankfully the Wolves were without bite upfront because a more clinical team would have put Villa to the sword yesterday by at least four. Bruce's expression after the game said it all and was reflected in his post match comments. Not fit enough or simply don't have the legs in midfield to press teams to get the ball back again particularly in the second half of games. Jedinak even taking into consideration his long flight back from international duty is an awful signing. Can't pass, doesn't have enough bite in the tackle to defend or enough energy to press. Surely Sanchez would have been a better option? Bruce must, must, play a three in midfield (no Jedinak) from the next game until January as Wolves continually drove a bus through Villa's centre yesterday and other teams will do the same. After yesterday have now revised my prediction than the Villa will gain promotion this season and I take no satisfaction whatsoever in saying that.

Welcome to the madhouse that is AVFC Steve and lets hope by the end of the season both you and the fans get a brucey bonus back to the big time.

I now think the Villa will be promoted this season under Bruce and for that reason imo a two year contract would be enough.

This post for some reason has really annoyed me. So, so defeatist and exactly what is wrong with the Villa. Villa are imo two decent midfielders away from being a very good team that, under the right manager (one who actually knows what he is doing and plays to the strengths of the squad rather than trying to fix square pegs into round holes) can still gain promotion this season. If the new manager is indeed Bruce then he will not play a two in midfield and will certainly not over laden the team with forwards. That in itself will improve the balance of the Villa team plus make the Villa much harder to beat while still carrying a goal threat. Bruce will also be backed in January to improve the midfield. Apart from Newcastle (who Villa have already drawn against) and maybe Norwich there is no other team in the Championship that should be a worry. Top six gets you a playoff spot in a very poor league. Currently Villa are sitting in a false position due to more than a bit of bad luck (how many times have Villa hit the woodwork this season and conceded late in games) plus this season being under the stewardship of yet another inept manager, even worse than Lambert, Sherwood and Garde. Sorry for the rant but with so many games to play yet with a better manager to come in who will be backed in January to improve an already decent squad I see no reason at all why Villa can't have a very strong second half of the season and at the very least gain a playoff spot.

You would have thought then if Bruce was Villa's first choice and he does want to come to the club they wouldn't make him wait? Sounds to me waiting on a decision from someone else first.

Good points but a manager having a word is imo is trying to boost confidence. A player or athlete showing spirit, well to me anyway, is still giving 100% despite his form being poor and not wanting to hide. Maybe spirit and confidence are the same thing but to me there is a difference.

Why should any manager have to inject spirit into a player? That is one of the basic requirements of any competitive sports person especially footballers who are paid fortunes. Any footballer lacking spirit shouldn't be on a pitch. Westwood just isn't very good and no amount of spirit will make up for that.

Not sure forming a list is the right way to go about it. Villa don't have time for that. Indentify who you want and go and get him. Decent managers prefer to be first choice.

Wouldn't it be lovely just to get a manager who knows what he is doing producing a set way of playing that the players and fans can identify with. If you look back at recent Villa managers they have chopped and changed systems so much that the fans play spot the ball with every team selection prior to the team being announced. Villa won't gain any consistency or go on a run of good results until that stops.

Referring to Di Matteo as a manager is being rather kind.