A'Villan

Was a labourer for a gardener for 4 years, working on high end property. Some terrific gardens to maintain. When we lived in the mountains, my Dad had his Rose garden make a gardening TV show. At his current house, we built a woodfire oven in the backyard and sit among his roses and miniature hedges arranged in woven symbols and eat some of the best pizza I've known. It's a nice break from the city, where I live, where the only gardens are the botanical gardens and a few parks here and there.

Given our track record I agree. I am not so much speaking about my rating the players we got rid of, merely the fact that top tier clubs came in for them.

World Cup and an all nighter tonight. Basketball and sleep during the day tomorrow. 11pm-5am volunteer shift for the at risk tomorrow night.

Presunto Culpable. "Two young Mexican attorneys attempt to exonerate a wrongly convicted man by making a documentary. In the process, they expose the contradictions of a judicial system that presumes suspects guilty until proven innocent." There's a few good documentaries, I'm currently drawing blanks though. I'll be back.

I think that paints a slightly more accurate picture than the one I painted. I overlooked Richardson, Guzan and CNZ being out of contract. Still, Bruce didn't really have much difficulty in ridding the 'deadwood'. 5 of 8 (from memory) went to top tier sides, so were sought after players.

I currently work at one of the three major mental health facilities in Melbourne. I have had struggled with quite intense and acute issues myself at various points in my life. Thankfully there is no trauma in my life at this present time and I am able to live with sound mind. I also work with the homeless through the Salvation Army and with at risk youth through a local organisation. I am a youth mentor and also walk the streets between 11pm and 5am on a weekend looking for the vulnerable (no, not in a predatory way you cheeky bugger) in order to give them aid. That might involve our van collecting them (swear we're not predatory) and giving them a free ride home, hanging with them until they sober up a little, taking them to our building where there's free food available and where they can lay down and rest if they choose. So I am exposed to it in many ways. I've seen all sorts of mental conditions from the textbook diagnosis', conservatives, psychopathic, free spirited, you name it. My view is that mental health is an issue for everyone, whether they know it or not, you don't have to be seeing a doctor. Although one may never experience depression, anxiety, be catatonic, PTSD, MPD, psychosis, schizophrenia etc. Maybe you aren't a hardwired psychopath either. Whatever the condition may be. If shit goes downhill for you, it can happen to anyone. Research is showing increasingly that it is environmental circumstance rather than genetic makeup that causes depression, for example. Trauma can cause a whole host of illness. So it's as much about the upkeep of healthy individuals as it is the treatment of the unwell. Did you know, that in a survey done by the Salvation Army, over 70% of Melbourne's homeless reported being sexually abused as children. That's sickening, whether the information is accurate or not. That insight really hit home for me. The stigma is often that these people isolate themselves due to substance abuse issues and are responsible for their own demise. I'm getting tired of it. The stigma. I think the people passing judgement and condemnation are as sick as those they point the finger at, only the illness is ignorance. We need some leadership that isn't so focused on military posturing and WOMD, their political career and further dividing the gap between rich and poor. We need people who understand the most fundamental part of leadership, looking after the people you are in charge of and looking out for thy neighbour. Corporate media: The rich telling the middle class to blame the poor. For every level, there's another devil. My father once said to me, "There might be shit on the side of the footpath, but you don't bend over and smell it" This was in relation to my discovery of the Northwood Documents and MK-Ultra. I only wish I had the presence of mind to reply, "No, you pick it up and you take care of it accordingly, like you would your mood when you are low, or your child when they need it" Looking after one another and the environment that we live in.

If you're English when you go in to the toilet, and English when you come out, what are you while you're in the toilet? European. (You're a peein')

Super daggy training kit release?

Di Matteo cleared out more deadwood than Bruce and brought in some talented players. Adomah, Kodjia, Chester. Paid out our arse, for Kodjia especially. Still worthy signings from a football perspective.

18 players of his 25 man squad that were runners up in both the Europa League and Copa Del Rey in 2011-2012 were either youth products, free transfers or purchased for less than 300k. So yes he is capable of getting players who's market value is pittance and less capable than first division to perform to world class standards. They lost to Barcelona and Atletico in those two finals. Not bad, hey!

Playing 3 at the back? I though Walker and Rose would be the full backs in a 4-2-3-1!? Goes to show how much I've seen of England.

I haven't actually seen England play or how they set up for some time. I was under the assumption it would be something along the lines of: Dier Henderson Young Alli Sterling Kane Surely more potent than Russia, perhaps not as compact. Agree with rest of your post regarding midfield but not sure that they're so far off the teams mentioned. You look at club form and these players aren't too far apart.

Oh my bad, I wasn't sure and thought it might be Bruce. I wouldn't have a clue, I've not come across anything bashful yet. All I've read is that he was the liaison between the party wanting to buy 30%, and then elsewhere the same thing except suggesting this was cause for his sacking.

I think Brazil are the best team in the tournament and are favourites to win. Then again who saw Germany beating them like they did. Tournament football can throw in some curveballs, Can't see Sweden beating England unless it goes to penalties. Same with Russia. Croatia maybe. Point is Southgate is spot on when he says seize the moment, as they dodged a bullet in avoiding Brazil, France and Belgium en route to the final.

"Well said" doesn't do this post justice. A pretty accurate summary of my sentiments too, except that I was possibly a lot more confident of promotion under Bruce early on with less reservations about the squad assembled due to an ignorance of the expense at which it was built and the future consequence. While we agree on Bruce's shortcomings, we may differ on the topic of how useful some of our signings can be for the future. Whilst we grossly overpaid, we are not going to lose them all, and we have a number of players in their prime, previously elite in this division, albeit they have not enjoyed resounding success while at Villa, I see no reason why a good manager can't rekindle their form, hopefully for what will be a competitive campaign at least. I hope anyone banging the drum about Bruce out supporters being rigid/close minded in their thinking reads your post.

Melbourne, Australia.

I am surprised by this post from you, Hanoi. Just to clarify you are talking about Round here? Because Bruce's remit was definitely to push for promotion. And failing promotion is not the defining measure of his performance or main concern from a significant number of posters who object to his position at the club.

Have seen some pretty alright local gigs just at pubs, although it's not a pastime that I frequent. The one time I did pay $80 for a ticket to a concert was for Kanye West. Terrible show.

@bickster I wasn't. Thanks for the thought. It's a little different from what I'm used to in terms of sound and production but I like the concept and message.

It might appear that way but I don't think it's an accurate attribution. There was an article published about a relationship to one of his players that shows another side to him. We are always negotiating and I would hope that a coach or manager have the ability to be demanding should a player or board member renege on their end of the deal. I actually admire the low tolerance for a change in agreement, I've read that in all cases there were decisions made that would of been detrimental to Biesla's planning and what was achievable. You have to be demanding to be an elite performer in a competitive activity.

I think @sheepyvillian has considered and factored most of that in to his/her thinking. Saying that he/she wants a manager that will reach their objective does not imply a lack of understanding for the events and requirements of last season. If I am right in thinking that, then I would pose the question, so what if we had got promoted? Bruce achieves the targets, are we therefore defining the season as a success? We are a division higher, with some promotion money, yet in my view we still lack the most fundamental ingredients for success. Sound decision making. From Bruce to Wyness to Xia it's been indulgent and even negligent. That's how it appears to me. It's like we were going to wing it to the Champion's League.

The next step is always the most important one and where my interest is. Where we could have been is one division higher, how significant that step up might've been goes beyond my understanding of the club. The way I see it though, based on what's transpired, is that we'd still be governed by the decisions of the same leadership, who let their mouths overload their backs and were negligent in the process. There was no Villa Engine plan it was an appeal to the fans at best, propaganda at worst. There was talk of European success within an impractical amount of time. Maybe I am missing some stroke of genius that Xia possesses (and I initially thought he might have) and has been robbed of due to improbable misfortune. All that has come and gone would suggest that is not the case though. Back on topic, Bruce is not immune from responsibility in all this. He failed on many fronts. Yet I am not prepared to dismiss him as a complete failure. It is a competition, and that involves everyone. Villa were not the only team trying to best their opponents. I agree with you in that Bruce should of had us automatically promoted, but he was not so far off. Minor victories include remaining competitive and on track for our objective all the way to the last possible hurdle, which we stumbled on. Imagine Jack's run and shot had gone in. One shot. This failure of a manager might have achieved the success that makes or breaks him in your view, from what I gather. Another minor victory was the performances against Bristol and Wolves. Took them to school and showed our capability in this division. If you didn't enjoy a moment of Bruce's tenure last season then that's your prerogative, I did, and I consider that another small victory. @sheepyvillian

Don't let your apathy for the clubs predicament stop you from enjoying the important things in football, mate. ?

I am only going off what I have seen and know of the squads, which is nothing of Uruguay apart from the Cavani and Suarez threat. Croatia have some good players and are well organised, although I thought the score against Argentina flattered them. It was Argentina who gave the game away, even the Modric goal was a result of poor positioning and effort in the lead up to him receiving the ball from Argentina. England have above average talent in each position, I know success has been few and far between for England but I look at the quality in the squad and think they can beat anyone with a good showing and a bit of luck. I would say on England's day they're a Neymar, De Bruyne or Mbappe away from being as good as it gets.

I said it was between Belgium and Brazil and now they meet in the QF. If I was English, I would be thinking there's a lot of teams left that we can beat, should beat, even. I like what Southgate has said about making the most of the opportunity. I'd say you're the 4th strongest team left in the competition. Surely one of Brazil, Belgium, France or England win from here. Who would you play should you make the Semi Final? I don't see Sweden causing you any problems based on their game against the Swiss, perhaps their number 10 might.