DaveAV1

He's nowhere near quick enough to be a winger, in fact he slows down all of our attacking play by needing too many touches. As for cutting inside, that would be great if he had any sort of shot on him, apart from trying to curl it inside the far post. With his lack of work rate and powderpuff tackling it's hard to see where he could fit in a modern midfield. I'm afraid like you, I'm running out of excuses and the will to think up any new ones for him.

I agree, what sort of bonehead would agree to that? Wait a minute........

If it was just gelling TRO then surely we'd see some attempts to play a certain way and some sort of progress, even if it were slow progress. But we play different formations and chop and change players game by game. Perhaps there is a plan, but I'm afraid I can't see what it is. Talk of Richards coming back just adds to a sense of floundering desperation. It's a bit like justice, it can't just be done, it has to be seen to be done.

Generally those at the top have a great work ethic too. Apparently they have to drag Ronaldo off the training ground everyday and do you ever hear anything about Messi going out on the pop? I hope your lad enjoys his football at what ever level he reaches. Hopefully lifts the European Cup as Villa captain

Well yes it does sound familiar. There's nothing wrong with either plan, it's the way you go about fulfilling the plan that's crucial. I'd like to think that the Doc will continue his personal involvement and enthusiasm for considerably longer than it took his predecessor to get a tattoo on his ankle.

Obviously the relegation issue needs putting to bed first, and that is some way off being dealt with in our current state. However if we do scrape together a few points, it will be interesting how the team performs under the greatly reduced pressure of mid table mediocrity. Whilst that isn't acceptable for a club like us with the recent levels of investment, a short period of time when we're not looking up or down may do the club as a whole the power of good.

Plus his confidence and ability to beat a man.

Cheers Norton. Pretty head on response from the Doc, that's the spirit lad! He's no quitter, he'll keep battering away until we get it right and woe betide anyone who doubts his determination! You'll do for me Doc

I didn't think the article was particularly scathing. What did the Doc tweet?

I thought that was the plan when Steve Round came in. Perhaps the last managerial change came a little early for him, I don't think appointing Bruce was ever the long term plan. The Doc said as much soon after Bruce was appointed. With that in mind, I'd have hoped that behind the scenes medium and long term plans were being put in place. That should obviously include identifying a short list of potential managers that would be able to impose a style of play that the board desire. All future managers should be able to fit in with that plan, like at Southampton. So I believe that there are now 2 and a half basic plans. 1 is to see out the season with Bruce unless relegation becomes a serious worry, which they may think it already is. Then appoint their chosen manager for the task ahead. 1.5 the danger of relegation is so great they have to act and get a temporary arse kicker in. 2 the chosen one is gettable now and the trigger is pulled. Knowing Villa it's probably none of the above!!

I don't think they deliberately down tools or why would they try in training in order to get into the team? But I do think that some players need a different mindset when actually playing a competitive match. Achieving this mindset is the trick and what successful managers are good at. There's only a very small percentage between success and failure on the pitch. Which is why anyone can beat anyone on their day. A lot of it is in the head and our heads are shot.

Unbelievable. I've no idea what he was doing and to make it worse Lescott was running in porridge, the bloke gave him 3 yards!

He was captain before and both him and the team were diabolical. Besides being everyone's pal doesn't make a good leader. Even if he was a good leader, and I don't think he is, he is such an incredibly bad footballer he shouldn't be anywhere near the team. What worries me the most is that Bruce has said he would play every game if fit!!! If that's the case and he is nearing fitness then why did he just buy Bree? Or is he thinking of replacing Chester or Baker? Surely he's not that far gone? Is he??

I'm not sure if I could cope with that! But I'd settle for them hitting the woodwork 7 times and missing a penalty, while we fluke one off the ref's arse in the 96th minute . Slaughtered but win 1-0 and the Doc sacks Bruce for trying to sign the ref.

There was always 3 in that marriage

If Tim Sherwood and Paul Lambert had a love child it would be Steve Bruce. Tactically inept and a new plan every other game. Desperate.

Or Eric Pickles

"Doris the tea lady is great around the place. Always a Hobnob and a smile to go with a hot cuppa. The lads love her, she's been around the place forever and has still got 28 years left on her contract. She'd be up and down that pitch with her teapot and never spill a drop." Come on Steve it's time to have your afternoon nap and take your little blue sweeties......

I agree it should do, but nobody seems to have told the back 4.

It's a fact that Bruce has vast experience in this league and knows it inside out. But perhaps we should look at it the other way round. This league knows Steve Bruce inside out and they've got him sussed. They know his style, his strengths and of course his weaknesses. Added to that teams look at us as a big cat to shoot at, they're fired up for every game. Have you seen how teams celebrate when they beat us? We fail early on to frighten teams, to overawe them. We don't take the game to the opposition. Newcastle have scored loads of goals early in games, they don't give teams chance to settle. They come with the plucky underdog approach and instead of slapping them back down we let their confidence grow. Bruce has always been at plucky underdog teams, he hasn't experienced what it's like from the other side of the fence. It's a different mindset, Rafa knows how to act like a top dog, Bruce doesn't. P.S. I can't stand the Fat Spanish Waiter, but you get my point.

I was going to like this, but it didn't feel appropriate. It just feels very, very worrying. Tony get your gun.

I agree with you there Al.

A reputation that increases with every game we play.

Yeah but we bought him with the intention of him being a good player and paid a lot of money for him, with that in mind there was a good chance he'd be off to the ANC. It wasn't really bad luck. However since we knew he had been picked, I think we should have tried to keep Gestede until later in the window. Perhaps that just wasn't possible.

The African Nations Cup was a stroke of bad luck?