Herman22

I really don't want Terry coming in as the boss. The link with Rui Faria would make sense. It would see him come in as a coach or assistant and get some experience. There is no doubt that having Terry on the staff would mean a lot to the new boss and allow him to hit the ground running. I don't see it happening but if Henry is now out of the running the best option has to be Brenden Rogers with Terry as an assistant.

I think Moyes at the club in any position would be a step backwards. I have always liked Moyes as a man, but his managerial stock has fallen so far over the last 5-6 years I don't want him anywhere near the club.

You have the old Fergie or Wenger idea of a football manager. The way football has gone if one man was doing all the things away from the football pitch he wouldn't have time to go to the games. Everyone is going on about how well Dean Smith has done at Brentford. But Brentford have a massive team working around Smith. They have two directors of football, a head of football philosophy, the list goes on.

The role of a football manager is not the same as it used to be. The manager now is the head of a series of disciplines and the surrounding team is almost as important as the man at the top. You look at top clubs with top managers and this is now the way it works. Man City is a great example. Pep is the face but he has analysts and coaches for almost every facet of the game. Trusted managers who report to him. Henry could be that media face and with his own football ideology, with others working in the background make the vision a reality.

I still think Henry will be the man picked once Bruce gets the boot. There had to be something in those reports during the summer, I suppose the question is does he still want it? I have no problem with Henry but I think he will need an experienced team around him. Could Wenger be convinced to take a DoF or similar role?

If SB is so sure the ref bottled the Chester red card it will surely be appealed? With no Chester we have nothing at the back. Can only see a loss and perhaps another Shef United away performance.

Thought Bunn was at fault for the second and third goal last night. He clearly demands no respect from his teammates as he didn't organise the wall for the second goal. He made a half-hearted attempt to get people in line and then just gave up. The third was headed straight at him, I think Nyland would probably have saved it. But it all boils down to Bruce's desperation, just throwing players in now in the vain hope of stumbling on something.

It's the Rotherham game all over again. SB needs a win but I don't think it will be enough to save him. He needs to realise that the backline isn't working. Nyland getting a lot of stick but the consistently terrible Hutton escapes any criticism. I think this will be the best we can hope for from SB: Nyland Elmo Chester Tuan Taylor Hourihane Bolaise McGinn Grealish ElGazhi Abraham This has shit 1-1 written all over it.

For me: 1. Sherwood, sold (and was forced to be fair) the makings of a very decent squad and bought in complete crap. We are still paying for the likes of Richards. Lescott goes down as the worst signing of all time. And starting the season with Guzan as No. 1 was never going to work. 2. McLeish, no wanted him from day 1 and that never changed. 3. Bruce, has had every chance to make a success of his time at Villa and has failed miserably. His transfer dealings have been nothing short of terrible and development of young players is non-existent. The best players at the club are still the ones DiMatteo brought in before he arrived or were already here. (Chester, Kodija, Jack) 4. DiMatteo, I think if he was given a full season we wouldn't be talking this nonsense about Bruce "steading the ship". RDM had a poor start but at least he was trying to play football, the team couldn't stop letting in last min goals that eventually cost him. 5. Garde, think he was given a pretty terrible job to do. When he signed no one in Jan I think we all knew the writing was on the wall. But never did anything to make me think he was going to make a go of it. Real pity as I think under the right owner he could have been a real success.

While my Villa heart says "yeah he is a realistic target" the realist in me thinks this has to be a fantasy. He's a top top manager and given his record at Monaco he will be looking to move to one of Europe's elite clubs if he walks away from Monaco. I put him in the never going to happen pile, alongside Zidane!

I’m not sure who would have watched it. But if you ever wanted to see a manager who is past it vs one who is up and coming the United Derby game was that. Lampard set up to keep hold of the ball and attack United and it worked. Mourinho just like Bruce expects better player to get him out of trouble and it’s not working anymore.

I'll watch it on Sky as I love to ruin my Friday nights. I said in another thread that I think our team is perfect for a diamond but SB will never play it. Nyland Elmo Chester Tuan Taylor Bikir Hourihane McGinn Jack Kodija Abraham This system all hinges on two pieces of play. The CBs need to take the ball and either pass it out of defence or if the other team sit deep run it out to midfield. Everything with this will come through the middle and it depends on players passing quickly and moving into space to receive the ball back. It also needs the full backs to be forward and wide. They are used only if going through the middle is being blocked off by the other team flooding the defence. It allows you to overload the attack if you can control the ball as all of the front 5 can push on and the full backs are advanced. It also means that if you lose the ball you can crowd out the player in possession so you win it back or force them to kick it aimlessly. This works well with our team as the strikers like to drift wide (especially Kodija) by doing this they can drag the CBs out of position with the expectation the midfielders may find space. That's what I would do. I expect SB to go with a 4-5-1 and hope to nick something from a set-piece.

No doubt SB will say he is one of the "mad few" that he can never convince. The simple fact is that this is the general consensus among villa fans and SB is on borrowed time. He said at the weekend he would never walk away, I think that is down to his pay off more than any sense of loyalty to the club.

This is the article:

It has to be good news. Even if there is a release clause I'm sure it won't be a joke amount like the Delph one. Jack has had a poor start to the season, but he is still the most gifted player to come through the Villa academy is quite a while and should be rewarded. We now need a manager who can get the most out of this talented bunch!

I think he will get the next three games unless we get another Shef United type battering. We play Friday, Tuesday and Saturday then there is a two-week international break. To save his job he will need 6-7 points. But with two games away I can't see us getting more than 4. To get automatic promotion you need two points a game. That should always be the yardstick. We are currently at 1.44. I think in 3 more games we will be around the same. Mid-table form and we haven't played a top 6 side yet (besides maybe Brentford) he will have to go.

You are probably right. I do think if we are going to replace Bruce with some similar drivel we are as well to stick it out with him. If we are going to make a change, it has to be a real change in terms of philosophy and needs to be aimed at getting us to the PL but also keeping us there. I've been saying for a while that a diamond could work with the players we have. It would get Jack up the field and give defensive stability as long as the fullbacks are able to get forward and the centre-backs play it out to feet. SB likes to play it wide and get crosses into the box, but this would allow us to press the ball and try to control the game rather than flinging it into the box and hoping for the best.

I don't know if anyone else has mentioned him, but what about Marco Rose? He's Red Bull Salzburg manager and plays football in the Klopp mode, high press. Has also managed a team that is better than those they are playing against so manages expectation well. Plays attractive football and reached a Europa semi-final last season where they lost out to Marseille. I'm not sure you can attribute this to him, but they have found some real gems too like Naby Keita and Mane who are both at Liverpool now. I think he would take some convincing but would be a fantastic appointment. *Edit* I've just found this video on YouTube for anyone interested!

I thought the positives from Tuesday were Jedi, Hourihane, Bolasie off the bench and Kodija and Abraham up front. So they all have to start. I'd go with: Nyland Elmo Jedi Chester Taylor Bolaise Hourihane McGinn Grealish Kodija Abraham It would be great to see the likes of Hogan and Davis on the bench again as if we are going to play two up front we will need back up.

You know SB is one of these lads who doesn't know what twitter is. He probably has a Nokia 3310 that has 8 numbers in it. Rings up JT's voice mail every night just to hear his voice before bed.

You have to think with players the quality of Kodija and Abraham we have to go with two up front more often. Especially in home games. I also think Hogan plays better when he has someone beside him so the system could be adopted even when we have injuries/ suspensions. Davis to come back too who can be a real focal point.

Well worked goal. Nice finish from Tammy!

Well on top. Need to make the breakthrough during this spell.

I agree with this. It must be frustrating for him to get the ball back in a decent position, look up and see that Elmo has gone to RB and Adomah is standing beside Taylor. We seem to play wingers mainly for their defensive work, and our full backs never overlap. We need to put out a team that wants to attack. Go with Thor, Grealish and McGinn or Hourihane in midfield with a front three of Tammy, El Ghazi and Bolasie or Kodija. If we get attacking players on the pitch Jack will supply the bullets.

Chester has come out today and backed SB. He's obviously been taking notes from the boss too. This is what he said: “I fully expect us to be there or thereabouts at the end of the season.” https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-dressing-room-message-15165810